《I will eventually become a divine being through accumulating constantly》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Running and Charm Art

    The spacious playground was lively with eight high-school boys in sportswear dashing around the plastic track. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was a physical test, a thousand-meter run for boys.


    For some reason, although it was just a class physical test, there were quite a few students by the trackside.


    Especially girls.


    Dressed in short skirts that were clearly not meant for physical activity, they were obviously not there for a PE class, all eyes were firmly on the boy leading on the track.


    As the boy crossed the finish line, the PE teacher precisely stopped the stopwatch in his hand.


    "Xue Jing, 2 minutes and 36.79 seconds."


    The PE teacher announced the time somewhat incredulously, while the student responsible for recording also paused in surprise, then took a pen and jotted down the result in a notebook.


    Xue Jing gradually slowed down, breathing lightly.


    The buzz of the girls floated over faintly, but he paid no attention to it and instead gazed at the translucent panel only he could see in front of him.


    [Completed the physical test kilometer run, Running experience +20]


    [Running Lv3 (258/800)]


    ''Gained 20 points, a bit more than usual...'' he thought to himself.


    He then looked at another skill on the panel.


    [Charm Art Lv2 (89/500)]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you...]


    Amidst a flood of notifications, the ''Charm Art'' skill''s experience continued to rise visibly fast, piling on +1 after +1, quickly reaching (151/500), and although the pace slowed, it still occasionally ticked up by +1.


    ''This useless skill sure increases quickly,'' Xue Jing felt somewhat resigned.


    He glanced at all the skills on his panel.


    [Fitness Lv2 (158/500)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv1 (199/300)]


    [Cooking Level 2 (257/500)]


    [Running Lv3 (258/800)]


    [Charm Art Lv2 (153/500)]


    ''This is my harvest for the month,'' Xue Jing thought with a faint sense of satisfaction.


    He was a transmigrator.


    A month ago, he had inexplicably arrived in this world, which bore some resemblance to the Earth of his previous life, becoming a high school senior named Xue Jing and inheriting the former occupant''s memories.


    And with his transmigration came the translucent panel before him.


    Xue Jing called it the Skill Panel.


    Whenever he mastered something to a certain level, it would activate the corresponding skill on the panel.


    Thereafter, as long as he continued to practice that particular skill, he would keep gaining experience, and his grasp and understanding of that skill would improve accordingly.


    As long as one practiced, the skill would improve, the effort would yield results, and it wouldn''t be wasted.


    For instance, ''Running'', which he activated half a month ago; he improved it to Lv3 in just half a month, and his time for the thousand-meter run went from 3 minutes and 42 seconds to 2 minutes and 36 seconds.


    Without much egregious effort and without professional guidance, such progress would have been impossible.


    But with the miraculous Skill Panel, he achieved it with ease.


    And indeed, the level-up of "Running" wasn''t just about improving his understanding and speed of running, but also contributed to a significant enhancement of his physical fitness.


    ''Is this what it feels like to cheat the system?''


    Xue Jing sighed.


    At this moment, another male student dashed past the finish line.


    "Li Ge, 3 minutes and 22.17 seconds."


    The physical education teacher pressed the stopwatch.


    This was a very respectable result for a high school student, but with Xue Jing''s stellar performance preceding him, the teacher''s expression remained unchanged.


    Li Ge, panting heavily, slowed down and took slow steps toward Xue Jing, leaning on one knee with one hand and draping the other over Xue Jing''s shoulder, he gasped:


    "I demand an immediate urine test... You must be on drugs, how can you run so fast..."


    Xue Jing chuckled, about to reply, but then he noticed a few girls in school uniforms on the side of the track, chattering excitedly about something.


    Then, one of the girls, who was pretty with a delicate face and slender figure, her cheeks slightly flushed, walked toward Xue Jing.


    In her hands, she carried a stack of white towels, and her long, slender, fair legs under her short skirt were so pale in the midday sun they almost reflected light.


    Li Ge also noticed this scene and without saying anything, silently withdrew his hand from Xue Jing''s shoulder, and stepped a short distance to the side.


    Shaking his head and muttering as he walked: "Futile effort."


    The Star of the Heavens from our Elite Class, if the girls from his own class are out of reach, what chance do you little lasses stand?


    The girl holding the towels obviously couldn''t hear his muttering. She approached Xue Jing with a shy face, looked up at him, and mustering her courage, said:


    "Senior, please wipe off your sweat."


    Xue Jing glanced around, hesitated for a moment but still took the towel, saying, "Thank you."


    The girl, not expecting Xue Jing to actually accept it, froze for a second, her face flushing red: "No... no problem."


    Having said that, she immediately turned and jogged back to her friends, her steps a bit bouncier.


    As soon as she returned, her friends began to tease her loudly, laughing and joking, and some seemingly made embarrassing remarks. She couldn''t help but chase after one and hit her a few times, sneaking glances at Xue Jing a few times during the process, thinking she was being covert.


    Xue Jing''s classmates, who were also in the physical education class, saw all this, shook their heads smiling, and some girls even clicked their tongues, as if somewhat disdainful.


    Xue Jing wiped the sparse sweat from his forehead with the towel, not sure if it was an illusion or because the junior girl had held the towel against her chest for too long, but it seemed to have a faint fragrance.


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability toward you, Charm Art experience +45]


    Li Ge stepped forward, holding his chin curiously, "Weird, you actually didn''t refuse, could it be that you''ve finally come around?"


    "Hey, not to say anything, but why let the water flow into someone else''s field when it can water your own, if you really want, in our class..."


    Xue Jing shook his head to cut him off: "Don''t want to."


    "Then why?" Li Ge asked.


    Xue Jing twirled the towel on his finger as if spinning a basketball, casually saying, "It takes quite some courage to come over with a towel in front of so many people. If I refused, someone with a slightly thinner skin might end up with a psychological shadow."


    Pausing, Xue Jing continued, "If she really has that intention, I can refuse when she comes to find me alone later on."


    Li Ge shook his head and said with a sigh, "You even think about this, you''re mature like an office drone... It''s because of you being like this, that these junior girls, knowing they don''t stand much of a chance, still keep coming over."


    "Why not make it simple and pick someone in the class to date, and let everyone else give up the idea."


    "The male students at Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School have suffered enough because of you, Old Thief Xue. The junior girls are widowed for your sake, and the junior boys go hungry, aren''t you afraid that everyone will gang up against you in a clandestine duel?"


    Xue Jing glanced at his Charm Art on the Skill Panel.


    [Lv2 (209/500)]


    He closed the panel, stretched out his hand, and patted Li Ge''s shoulder: "I''ll be counting on you to protect me when the time comes, my good brother."


    Li Ge hurriedly waved his hands: "Hardly necessary."


    ...

 Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Death of God

    Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School.


    It''s officially Qingcheng University Affiliated Middle School.


    As a top-tier high school affiliated with an Outer Ring university, Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School stood among the top ranks, with its students generally living up to the label of ''excellent.''


    "...thereafter, the administrative divisions of Zhuxia were re-planned..."


    The geography teacher spoke while writing on the teaching board.


    Unlike in Xue Jing''s previous life, even though the countries on this planet called Earth Star roughly corresponded to those he knew, many things were wildly different.


    The biggest difference was an event at the end of the nineteenth century that affected the entire globe, now called ''The Death of God.''


    Due to that event, the Anno Domini era, which started with Jesus''s birth, formally ended. The following year after God''s death started the ''New Calendar,'' and history before The Death of God was referred to as the ''Old Calendar'' or ''Old Era.''


    Now, it was the year 267 of the New Calendar.


    Xue Jing twirled a pen in his hand, appearing focused on the lecture but in reality his mind was elsewhere, barely paying attention to the class.


    He opened his Skill Panel, which showed no skills related to studying whatsoever.


    As a student in the Elite Class of a key high school, his academic performance was quite outstanding. Judging by the activation conditions for other skills, it was impossible for him not to meet the basic Lv1 activation requirement in academics.


    However, on the panel, Chinese, Math, Physics, Politics, History... none were present. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Perhaps... these subjects are merely "knowledge" and not "skills"?''


    Xue Jing speculated.


    The skills recognized by the Skill Panel should involve specific action-oriented capabilities, whereas subjects like Chinese and Math are just knowledge stored in the brain, not skills.


    ''If that''s the case, attending class really feels like a waste of time...''


    The ballpoint pen in Xue Jing''s hand spun quickly as he contemplated feigning illness to skip class and go home to grind skills. Suddenly, he noticed ''Charm Art'' gaining experience on his panel again.


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    He looked around quietly and locked eyes with a female classmate wearing glasses who was secretly peeking at him. The girl''s face reddened as she quickly looked away, pushing her glasses in a feigned casual manner.


    Xue Jing felt somewhat helpless.


    Charm Art was a skill he had activated only in the past two days.


    As the name implies, it was a skill that enhanced his own charisma and attracted others.


    The effect was that it made his actions and expressions more charming. His expression management improved, and as the level increased, even his body underwent changes¡ªhis physique became more symmetrical and attractive, and his facial features slightly altered.


    However, this was a skill he didn''t need.


    In this life, he could only be described in six words.


    Innate Freeloader Holy Body.


    He had no need for something like Charm Art; just standing there made him a human aphrodisiac.


    Yet this skill, which he needed the least, was also the one he could level up the easiest.


    Part of the reason was that one of its conditions for gaining experience was for people to have emotions like ''liking or affection'' towards him¡ªthe stronger the emotions, the more the experience gained.


    Also, actively performing actions that made others feel favorable towards him granted even more experience, such as the time he accepted a towel from a junior during physical tests at noon, which earned him a whopping 45 points.


    This was why he hadn''t specifically tried to grind ''Charm Art,'' yet still managed to level up to Lv2 within two days.


    Just casually walking down the street earned him plenty of experience, so naturally, he leveled up quickly.


    ''If only other skills were this easy...''


    Xue Jing spun his pen, thinking listlessly.


    ...


    At five in the afternoon, the class dismissal bell rang.


    Xue Jing packed his things, about to call Li Ge to leave together, but at the classroom door stood a slightly taller middle-aged man with a receding hairline, waving at him.


    It was their class advisor and Chinese teacher, Du Shiwei.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing gestured to Li Ge, indicating that he should go ahead, then he slung his backpack over one shoulder and approached Du Shiwei, asking curiously,


    "Mr. Du, were you looking for me?"


    "Yes." Du Shiwei nodded, sizing Xue Jing up with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.


    This student was not only academically excellent¡ªwhich was expected of Elite Class students¡ªbut he also had exceptional physical appearance.


    When there was a need for students to visually represent the school during events, he was the perfect choice to boost their prestige.


    It was a pleasant surprise that his athletic abilities were also impressive.


    "Xue Jing, here''s the thing. I heard from Teacher Chen that your long-running performance in the physical tests was quite good. The school sports meet is next month, would you be interested in participating and earning some glory for our Elite Class?"


    Du Shiwei patted Xue Jing''s shoulder and smiled.


    Xue Jing instinctively thought to refuse¡ªhe had no interest in competing¡ªbut something suddenly came to mind. He pondered for a moment, then nodded his head.


    "The teacher has already said so, I''ll participate."


    Du Shiwei beamed with delight, "Good, good, good, I''ll sign you up then. Do you want to participate in the 800-meter or the 1500-meter event?"


    Xue Jing asked, "Teacher, how many running events are there in total?"


    "For pure running, there''s the 50-meter dash, the 100-meter dash... the 400-meter dash, the 800-meter dash, the 1500-meter dash... and there''s also a relay race." Du Shiwei counted them off on his fingers one by one.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Can I participate in all the events?"


    Du Shiwei was stunned, "You want to dominate all the events, eh? Ambitious."


    "Well... it''s possible, but several of these events are on the same day. Can you endure it, physically speaking?"


    Du Shiwei looked worried.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Don''t worry, teacher, I probably can."


    Even if I can''t now... next month I definitely can.


    Xue Jing glanced at the "Running" and "Fitness" skills on his Skill Panel.


    "Okay then, I believe in you," Du Shiwei said, patting his shoulder again.


    "Let''s leave it at that for now. I''m going to sign you up. If you really do take first in everything, the teacher can also gain some prestige because of you."


    Having said that, Du Shiwei turned and left with a spring in his step.


    After he left, Li Ge, who had been standing not far away, came over and asked, "What did Old Du want?"


    Xue Jing hoisted his backpack and walked with him towards the outside of the teaching building, replying, "The school sports meet next month, he wants me to participate in the long-distance running events."


    "You agreed?" Li Ge asked.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Something''s not right, very much so or even extremely so," Li Ge fell into thought.


    He and Xue Jing were longtime classmates and close friends, deeply understanding each other.


    Because Xue Jing himself was a person who easily attracted attention, he essentially lacked interest in such attention-grabbing activities, and had been this way throughout high school, never participating in any activity he could avoid.


    This time he actually wanted to participate in the sports meet. Li Ge could almost see an illusion of Xue Jing crossing the finish line first, with the younger female students'' eyes brimming with hearts.


    He didn''t doubt whether Xue Jing could come first, given the performance Xue Jing had shown at noon, currently no one in the school could compete with him.


    "Not just the long-distance running, but all running-related events, I will participate in them," Xue Jing added.


    Li Ge stopped in his tracks, "Audacious! Old Thief Xue, are you really planning to monopolize all the younger females'' affections by yourself? It looks like you''re on a path to certain doom!"


    Xue Jing slapped him on the head, laughing, "Cut it out, you have a girlfriend already. Why worry about distributing younger females?"


    "That''s not to say, after all, I was the former student council president. I need to always consider the big picture for my fellow students..."


    The two headed towards the school gate, bantering all the way.


    "Aren''t you planning to apply to Star University, how is your preparation going?" Xue Jing asked as they walked.


    Li Ge shook his head, sighing, "It seems bleak. For someone from the Outer Ring to get into an Inner Ring University, the difficulty is incredibly high. I tried some past papers, and I''m far from the admission score. Do these Inner Ring universities even intend to recruit students from the Outer Ring? It feels like a carrot dangled in front of a donkey, visible but unreachable."


    Star University, formally known as Star City University, is a municipal higher education institution in Star City.


    Within Zhuxia, there are nine major ''urban circles,'' each with ''Inner Ring,'' ''Outer Ring,'' and ''Edge'' distinctions among its cities.


    Qingcheng and Star City both belong to the ''Fifth Urban Circle,'' with Qingcheng being an Outer Ring City and Star City an Inner Ring City.


    Inner Ring cities are extremely developed, and even a well-developed Outer Ring city like Qingcheng can only be considered a ''rural area'' in comparison.


    If he managed to get into Star City University from an Outer Ring background, it would truly be a case of Fish Leaping Through the Dragon Gate.


    Xue Jing patted Li Ge''s shoulder, "Keep it up."


    "What about you, what are your plans?" Li Ge asked in return.


    "There''s one more semester before graduation. Are you going to advance directly to Qingcheng University? Or are you going to try like me?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, "I haven''t decided yet."


    His overall grades were slightly worse than Li Ge''s, and if even Li Ge wasn''t hopeful about getting into an Inner Ring University, he had even fewer reasons to hope.


    Even if he were accepted, his status as someone from the Outer Ring would require him to pay a hefty tuition fee to the school, a fee so exorbitant that it was essentially a ''migration fee'' for Outer Ring people to become Inner Ring residents, often enough to bankrupt a modestly wealthy family.


    Of course, despite this, countless people still eagerly pursued this opportunity, seeing it as a real chance for social climbing.


    "Maybe... I''ll go into martial arts," he said.


    Li Ge frowned, disapproving, "Martial arts? You want to become a Martial Artist? That path is not easy to walk, too competitive and dangerous, and you don''t even have the basics. Are you planning to feed the competition?"


    "Not necessarily."


    "Maybe I''m one in a million, a peerless genius," Xue Jing said, his eyes on the Skill Panel, speaking softly.


    ...

 Chapter 3: Chapter 3 The Cat That Speaks Human Language

    ```


    Li Ge rode his bike to school, while Xue Jing took the bus. After they parted ways, Xue Jing hopped on the bus, got off three stops later, walked a few hundred meters, and then arrived home.


    He greeted the security guard, entered the residential complex, went to his building, took the elevator up to the ninth floor, and took out his keys to open the door.


    After entering, he tossed his backpack onto the sofa, stretched his limbs a bit, and walked into his ''fitness room''.


    The so-called fitness room was originally a storage room. After the awakening of the Skill Panel, Xue Jing cleared out the clutter, bought a number of fitness equipment pieces, and turned it into a small gym, for which he had almost spent all the living expenses he saved each month. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, in this life, he was not one of the orphans from Zhu Tian Orphanage; he had both parents and an older sister who had just started college last year. Although his family wasn''t wealthy, they were quite happy.


    The only problem was that his parents were very busy with work, often traveling away from home, and since last year, his sister Xue Wan had been studying in another city, which meant Xue Jing was mostly living alone.


    Xue Jing started with a set of stretching exercises, then stepped on the treadmill, started it up, set the pace at 12 km/h, and planned to run at this speed for ten minutes to warm up.


    As he ran, he fell into contemplation.


    "During the noon physical test, running a thousand meters gave me ten more experience points than usual..."


    "So, this means that ''participating in specific events'' is the trick for quickly farming experience points?"


    The reason Xue Jing agreed to the head teacher Du Shiwei''s request to participate in the school sports meeting after school was to confirm this point.


    If this was the way to gain more experience, a regular physical test could increase his experience gains, then participating in formal competitions should increase it even more.


    ...


    An hour later, with sweat pouring down like rain and breathing heavily, Xue Jing unscrewed a 500ml bottle of mineral water and drank it all in one go.


    He opened the panel.


    [You have completed a strenuous workout, Fitness Experience Points +98]


    [Fitness Lv2 (256/500)]


    He calmed himself for a moment and felt the changes in his body.


    Hmm, if it''s just by feeling, there''s nothing noticeable.


    But he knew that his physical fitness had improved a bit more.


    The Skill experience changes were reflected in real-time on his body and not only when leveling up.


    "To dedicate time exclusively to fitness training seems a bit counterproductive," Xue Jing pondered.


    From his understanding these past days, the ''Fitness'' skill could enhance all aspects of his physical condition and was an extremely useful skill and his primary target for grinding experience points.


    However, he didn''t really need to be in the gym working out to level up this skill.


    According to his observations, the way the skill gained experience was ''any activity that exercised the body''.


    For example, when he ran, he not only gained ''Running'' experience but also some ''Fitness'' experience at the same time.


    Therefore, engaging in other physical activities could also increase his ''Fitness'' experience without having to specifically spend time using fitness equipment.


    Like... Martial Arts Practice.


    The world of martial arts in this world was much more advanced than in his previous life.


    He had seen with his own eyes martial arts competition videos online where Martial Artists would kick their opponents flying ten or more meters away, smashing into a wall and leaving a human-shaped imprint.


    Their movements were unbelievably quick.


    He also wanted to delve into martial arts, but¡­ he didn''t know where to begin.


    Shortly after the Skill Panel had awakened, he had earnestly practiced with the help of online videos and secret manuals, but up until now, there had been no response from his panel.


    Activating a skill wasn''t as simple as blindly practicing; it had to be the real deal, otherwise, he would already have an array of skills by now.


    There were a few Dojos in Qingcheng where one could practice martial arts, but the fees were exorbitantly high, and he couldn''t afford them, nor did he want to ask his parents for money since it was really too expensive.


    "As long as I can get started, with my unbeatable talent and shocking wisdom, cultivating a peerless divine power that''s both forceful and dominating should be a breeze."


    ```


    But no matter how strong his talents or high his intelligence, without a master to lead the way, even the cleverest woman can''t cook without rice.


    The Skill Panel might help him get from level 1 to level 100, but it couldn''t make him jump from 0 to 1 out of thin air.


    Xue Jing rested for a while, then got up and headed to the bathroom.


    ...


    After washing his hair and cleaning his body, he soaked in the bathtub for fifteen minutes. The soak relieved his fatigue, though his muscles were still a bit sore.


    In the bathroom, Xue Jing looked at himself in the mirror.


    What reflected back was an elegant visage, intelligent and abstinent. When expressionless, he appeared cool and detached, but just a slight upturn of his lips would light up his face like a warm sun in the winter¡ªnot blazing, but a gentle warmth that was enough to touch the soul.


    Though slender, his body didn''t appear gaunt. Thanks to his skill training over the days, blocks of defined muscles had started to emerge. Because the skill enhanced his physical condition in all aspects, these muscles developed without any disproportion, all shaped in the most perfect way possible.


    His gaze traveled downward... Hmm, a bit of a potbelly.


    He twisted the half-length black hair that was not even long enough to reach his eyes, Xue Jing put on his clothes, left the bathroom, and prepared to go out to replenish food and household supplies.


    After changing his shoes, he stepped out of his home, left the residential area, and walked toward the nearest supermarket.


    It was now half-past seven in the evening; the sky had darkened, and most people had already had their dinner, so the streets were quite busy.


    While waiting for a traffic light on the road, Xue Jing suddenly heard several sharp screams nearby.


    Curious, he looked toward the source of the noise.


    Across the street, an old man with a Mediterranean haircut, seated in a wheelchair and dressed in a classic sleeveless white tank top, was deftly maneuvering the wheels with both hands, swiftly darting in and out amongst pedestrians.


    Was he... drifting?


    Strangely enough, the old man was performing wheelchair drifts with his manual chair with such skill. He pivoted and swerved with ease, and as he navigated a few drain covers with turns, he managed to add a professional ice skater''s smoothness to his movements, achieving an utmost silky glide.


    The wheelchair zipped past, whipping up a breeze that lifted the skirts of passing schoolgirls in short skirts, causing continuous screams, and the old man in the wheelchair even found time to whistle at the girls, eliciting angry retorts and coquettish rebukes.


    Watching the old man''s carefree figure drifting away, Xue Jing fell into contemplation.


    If wheelchair maneuvering counted as a skill, this old man must be at least Lv10.


    Well, he had indeed encountered something amusing.


    Shaking his head, the light turned green, and Xue Jing crossed the street and entered the supermarket.


    He bought some beef, pork, vegetables, eggs, sausages, plain noodles, scallions, ginger, garlic spices, and some used-up or nearly used-up seasonings, along with some snacks and fruits. After paying at the checkout, he walked out of the supermarket with a big bag.


    As Xue Jing was making his way back the same route, he paused upon passing a dark alley.


    "Hmm?"


    A small black cat with four white "gloves" on its paws had leaped down from somewhere and was now in his path.


    Miao Miao had no collar, but there was a white gold metal ring fitted around the tip of its tail¡ªwhether it was a domesticated cat adorned by its owner or a stray cat forcibly ringed by a passerby playing a prank was unknown.


    It was dirty and unkempt, with patches of fur missing, presumably from fighting with other cats, and its coat was dotted with dried blood, clearly showing it had suffered quite a bit.


    After jumping down, Miao Miao staggered up to Xue Jing, glanced at him once with its emerald-like vertical pupils, then collapsed sideways on the ground.


    "Playing dead for sympathy?"


    Xue Jing chuckled softly.


    But the cat seemed pitiable, and by chance too. He crouched down, planning to give it a few pieces of sausage.


    Just then, the fallen Miao Miao muttered in a daze, surprisingly articulating human speech, "I never expected... the world of a stray cat... to be this cruel, grrr."


    After speaking, it closed its eyes and fainted.


    ...

 Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Divine Skills

    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing wore a confused expression, first doubting that he had heard a hallucination, then he glanced around and found no one else, which suggested that it wasn''t someone pulling a prank by pretending to speak as a cat nearby. He checked the cat for any devices that could make sound but found nothing.


    After pondering for a while, Xue Jing calmed down, suppressing his leaping curiosity.


    Although talking cats were a common trope in fantasy works, encountering one in reality was somewhat eerie, and it seemed wiser not to engage with it.


    He quickly pulled a few sausages out of the grocery bag, tore off their wrappings, placed them on the ground, and then immediately stood up, ready to leave the place.


    However, as he was about to get up, the unconscious Miao Miao''s tail swept unintentionally, causing the platinum tail ring fitted on it to brush against his finger.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    [Contact interrupted, Divine Absorption failed]


    The translucent Skill Panel automatically popped up with two lines of text that had never appeared before.


    Xue Jing paused, halting his steps to move away.


    "Now... there''s no helping it, the Skill Panel is the foundation of my existence. To investigate this anomaly, I have to take it back with me," he reasoned.


    He sighed, and for some reason, he felt oddly excited.


    Xue Jing bent down without any regard for the dirt, and hugged the black Miao Miao with four white ''gloves'' on its feet, the platinum tail ring touching his body.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    On the panel, what was a pale blue transparent interface now had streams of golden specks emerging, steadily gathering toward the bottom of the panel, where a new skill was faintly taking shape.


    "Divinity... sounds pretty high-end," Xue Jing mused with some anticipation. Holding Miao Miao, he was all set to return home when something came to mind, and turned back to the supermarket.


    Once inside the supermarket, he bought a bag of cat food in the pet section, and requested a larger bag from the cashier to combine the groceries and the cat food, then left the supermarket carrying Miao Miao in one hand and the big bag in the other, heading back to his home.


    Upon entering, he first placed the bag with the ingredients and cat food on the table, then sat on the living room sofa with Miao Miao in his arms.


    Because the Skill Panel had notified him, he couldn''t risk breaking contact with Miao Miao''s tail ring, lest the Divine Absorption fail.


    Although he didn''t know what would happen after the absorption of the so-called ''Divinity'' was complete, as per typical storylines, it wasn''t likely to be a bad thing.


    The golden specks kept gathering on the interface, and while Xue Jing cradled Miao Miao with one hand, he gently stroked it with the other.


    The fur was dirty and matted, with patches missing, but upon a closer look, one could tell that the cat had an exceptional appearance.


    The fur was uncluttered, its four white ''gloves'' were clearly defined against its body, its whiskers were neat, and there were white tufts like eyeliner at the corners of both eyes, slender and refined, making it a feline beauty that could captivate someone with its graceful looks.


    "Little Miao Miao is quite a looker," Xue Jing murmured as he petted Miao Miao, feeling a sense of anticipation in his heart.


    He wasn''t sure exactly what he was anticipating; whether it was the changes to the Skill Panel after the Divinity was absorbed or the exciting changes this talking Miao Miao might bring to his life.


    "..."


    Suddenly, Xue Jing laughed.


    "After all, I''m still ''Xue Jing''..."


    Bringing home a talking cat, the thought that surfaced wasn''t one of unease about the unknown risks, but rather stimulation over the changes it would bring to life.


    This was the spirit of youth, not that of a middle-aged person seeking stability.


    Having resolved an internal query, Xue Jing relaxed, waiting for the Divine Absorption to complete while picking up the remote and turning on the TV to the news channel.


    "...The 37th Under-19 Unlimited Elite Fighting Tournament is about to begin its qualifying rounds soon, with the star athletes of major clubs eagerly awaiting their chance... Let''s interview some of the seeded contestants in today''s event..."


    "...At 2 PM on October 8th, a brief ''boundary quake'' occurred on Huaijiang Road in the East City District of Qingcheng, registering at a magnitude of 4.1. Under the direction of Governing Councilor Chu Minyi, the public orderly conducted emergency evacuation with no casualties reported..."


    "...Kangde Security Company has recently announced that it has successfully dismantled the large criminal organization ''Dragon Cult.'' Guan Yingzhi, the head of Kangde, declared that the Dragon Cult is an unlawful gang disguised as a religious group that has plagued society for over sixty years.


    In order to protect the stability of society and the safety of citizens, Kangde Security will not allow any unlawful elements..."


    "Recently, a smuggling ring operating in the Intersecting Boundaries brought a large amount of illegal goods past the Border City defenses and is currently making its way inland. Residents of Qingcheng are advised to take necessary precautionary measures..."


    ...


    Time passed without notice.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    As a line of text appeared on the Skill Panel, the floating golden specks also dispersed.


    And there, on the Skill Panel, at the very bottom of the Skills section, a new skill emerged, with its golden text glowing, unlike the regular skills in black.


    [Twin Lifes (Inactive): Divine Skill, Divinity required for activation 525/500]


    [Conditions met, would you like to activate?]


    [Yes/No]


    Divine Skill?


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed sharply.


    Just by hearing it, he knew it was clearly not on the same level as ordinary skills.


    Xue Jing immediately tapped on [Yes].


    [Activation Successful]


    [Twin Lifes Lv1 (Divinity required for upgrade: 25/100)]


    [Effects:


    Passive: You possess two lives, allowing you to choose a resurrection time within seven days after death. Cooldown period: three months.


    Active: Unlocked (Divinity required for unlocking 25/500)


    Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock condition: Reach Level Lv10, Divinity 25/2000)]


    "!?!"


    Shocked.


    Although he was mentally prepared and knew that ''Divine Skills'' were definitely not ordinary, Xue Jing never anticipated they would be this outrageous.


    "Ban, you''ve laid your cards on the table, huh? You''re not planning to interact with me as an ordinary golden finger anymore?"


    A moment ago, the Skill Panel was just a run-of-the-mill golden finger within the scope of human capabilities, mundane, albeit with a slightly faster growth rate, but still within the realm of reason.


    But ''Twin Lifes'' just carried him with one step into the threshold of the transcendent world.


    This is a skill that defies both reason and physics.


    Two lives, and the ability to choose your resurrection time after death¡ªthis means you won''t have to fear corpse camping, and it prevents the joke of being immediately resurrected only to be killed again.


    What kind of unparalleled life-saving Divine Skill is this? It''s not even a one-time use Resurrection Coin but can be used again after its cooldown.


    Although the cooldown is somewhat long, but if you round it off, it''s basically the same as unlimited respawning.


    And according to the panel, this is only the passive effect of ''Twin Lifes''.


    "Damn it, why."


    Xue Jing felt as if ants were crawling all over him.


    If the passive is this amazing, the active must be incredible too.


    But it needs Divinity to unlock, where is he supposed to get that from?


    And what kind of effect is this ''Divine Incarnation''...


    With countless thoughts whirling in his mind, Xue Jing''s expression flickered between light and shadow.


    At this moment, Miao Miao, the cat in his arms, suddenly fluttered her eyelids and slowly opened her eyes.


    She raised her head, and her emerald-like beautiful vertical pupils looked up at Xue Jing holding her.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing momentarily put aside his thoughts and reached out to pet Miao Miao''s head.


    He spoke somewhat guiltily, "You awake?"


    He hadn''t gotten the cat''s consent before using Divine Absorption, and he didn''t know what effect this would have on Miao Miao.


    Caught up in the excitement earlier, he hadn''t paid attention, but now that he thought about it, taking without asking seemed a bit...


    Although Xue Jing believed his own moral standards to be quite flexible and volatile, and despite realizing this point, he would have secretly performed the Divinity absorption for the Skill Panel anyway, the ''victim'' waking up in front of him still inevitably made him feel guilty.


    Miao Miao, curled up in Xue Jing''s arms, stared at him for a while as if she hadn''t grasped her current situation yet.


    Her gaze shifted around, surveying the surroundings, then it returned to Xue Jing''s face.


    A glint seemed to flash through her emerald vertical pupils. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Miao Miao spoke.


    "Meow~~"


    That voice.


    Gave Xue Jing goosebumps.


    ...

 Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Are You Still Pretending?

    "..."


    Xue Jing''s expression was somewhat subtle.


    Had Miao Miao never learned how normal cats meowed? How could it be so different?


    What are you pretending to be?


    Xue Jing slid his hands under Miao Miao''s front legs and lifted it up to his eye level.


    Miao Miao looked utterly innocent, just like any ordinary kitten.


    "..."


    "You can talk, right?"


    Xue Jing was upfront and wanted to have a serious talk with Miao Miao about what it really was, why it could speak, what the platinum ring on its tail was about, how to find a similar one, and why a speaking divine cat ended up almost crushed in the stray cat world.


    However, Miao Miao''s face showed an ''I have no idea what you''re talking about'' expression of innocence, looking just like a normal cat.


    "Meow~~"


    "Stop pretending, I heard everything, just talk properly."


    "Meow?"


    "Just speak up, and you can have as many dried fish as you want."


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao licked its paw, completely indifferent.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Still pretending?"


    He placed Miao Miao on his lap, one hand pressing down on the back of its neck while the other reached towards the base of its tail.


    This was one of the most nerve-dense areas on a cat''s body, and most cats loved being petted there, arching their backs involuntarily from the pleasure.


    Xue Jing''s fingers skillfully scratched the area at the base of the tail, and the little black cat''s eyes immediately bulged.


    "Meow!!!"


    It let out an almost agonizing cry, its buttocks involuntarily raised high, its limbs struggled, but Xue Jing firmly held down the neck, rendering it immobile, only able to continuously cry out.


    After a while, Xue Jing stopped his actions, by which time Miao Miao had given up struggling, lying weakly on Xue Jing''s thigh, panting with its tongue out, eyes rolling back, a look of complete defeat.


    Yet, even subjected to such brutal treatment, it never said a word from start to finish, maintaining the appearance of just being an ordinary kitten.


    This even made Xue Jing doubt himself somewhat.


    Could it be that the Divine Absorption from the Skill Panel, had absorbed its ability to speak? Had it really become a regular kitten?


    If it wasn''t for the extremely tense ''meow'' when it woke up, Xue Jing would have believed it.


    But Xue Jing really had no way to deal with it.


    As long as Miao Miao didn''t plan on having a frank and open communication with him, and kept pretending, he surely couldn''t really resort to torture to force it to speak.


    Having just benefited from its help, Xue Jing''s moral standards, however flexible, would not allow him to do such a thing.


    Shaking his head, he finally spoke, "Alright then, let''s leave it at that for now, are you hungry?"


    Miao Miao responded with a listless "meow."


    Xue Jing took it as a yes.


    He placed Miao Miao on the couch and then stood up, went to the kitchen to get a large bowl, opened the supermarket bag at the table, took out the bag of cat food, tore it open from the opening, and poured it into the bowl.


    Putting the bowl filled with cat food in front of Miao Miao, Xue Jing thought that as a cat that had suffered a lot in the stray cat world, it would start eating immediately.


    Unexpectedly, Miao Miao just glanced at the cat food in front of it, then clicked its tongue and turned its head away without hesitation, not even giving it a second glance.


    "Hmm?"


    Seeing this, Xue Jing suddenly had a thought.


    This reaction¡­ didn''t seem quite right.


    It wasn''t the response of a picky cat displeased with the taste of the food, but more like¡­ the thing in front of it wasn''t even considered food at all.


    A lightbulb went off in Xue Jing''s mind as he suddenly understood.


    He might have misunderstood from the beginning.


    He recalled the words the cat had spoken earlier.


    "I never imagined... the world of a stray cat... could be so cruel."


    This statement hinted at two possibilities.


    The first possibility was that it was a domestic cat that had never been outside wandering, so it was unfamiliar with the world of stray cats.


    It was also because of hearing this statement and thinking of this point, coupled with its vulnerability to the extent of being bullied by stray cats, that Xue Jing subconsciously felt it was essentially a cat that, for some unknown reason, had learned to speak human language. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But there was another possibility... It was unfamiliar with the world of stray cats and the reason it could speak human language was that it was not a cat at all, but some creature capable of speaking human language that had taken on the appearance of a cat.


    The most likely possibility was... a human.


    Xue Jing squinted his eyes, didn''t say much else, turned around, and entered the kitchen to start preparing dinner for the day.


    After he left the living room, Miao Miao, who was unaware that Xue Jing had deduced much information from a casual action of its own, immediately stood up from the sofa.


    It jumped to the floor, tiptoed silently to the corner leading from the living room to the kitchen, sneakily poked out half of its cat head, and confirmed that Xue Jing was indeed cooking before finally breathing a sigh of relief.


    ''I never expected him to have heard me speaking earlier.''


    Miao Miao felt troubled, its tail twisted, and its gaze shifted to the ring at the tip of its tail.


    ''GOD-1391¡¤Cat Tail Ring... That jerk, after taking so much money, didn''t even explain the specific effects of this Divine Relic; I can''t transform back once I''ve transformed!''


    Miao Miao''s face, very human-like, displayed a gnashing of teeth expression.


    After raging helplessly for a while, Miao Miao collected its thoughts and looked around the room.


    ''This is a good place to hide; the security company''s people would never guess that I have turned into a cat and am hiding in an ordinary person''s home.''


    Recalling its own experience of being chased and bitten in the territory of stray cats, it shuddered.


    ''I''ll just stay here until I get accustomed to this Divine Relic and can transform back, then I''ll leave.''


    Miao Miao calculated in its mind.


    ''However... to avoid involving this kind-hearted young man, let me just be an ordinary cat.''


    It knew that kind-hearted people, who would take home a strange, talking cat, could easily get dragged into danger if they interacted and formed an emotional bond with it.


    Therefore, it had to cut off this possibility from the beginning.


    Without interaction, there would be no deep involvement; when the time came, it would just leave, disappearing without a trace, and they would never cross paths again.


    ''Although he has already heard me talk, no worries, it''s all his imagination; I just need to make him think he''s a cat-loving young man who loves cats so much he is hearing things!''


    ''As long as I don''t admit it myself and stubbornly act like a normal cat, no one can expose me!''


    Having made up its mind, Miao Miao nodded satisfactorily, its tail standing erect and swaying due to its buoyant mood.


    ¡­


    Xue Jing busied himself in the kitchen for quite some time, making spicy stir-fried beef, bitter melon with scrambled eggs, and silky tomato meat soup¡ªthree simple home-cooked dishes.


    [You have completed a dish, Cooking Experience +20]


    [You have completed a dish, Cooking Experience +21]


    [You have completed a dish, Cooking Experience +20]


    [Cooking Level 2 (318/500)]


    Xue Jing opened the fridge, took out yesterday''s leftover rice, filled two bowls, heated them in the microwave, and then brought everything to the dining table.


    He didn''t speak, picked up one bowl of rice, and started eating.


    Meanwhile, Miao Miao, which had been starving for two days and was planning to forcibly feed itself cat food, stared dumbfounded at the delicious-looking dishes on the table.


    The aroma transformed into a tiny seductive hand, pinching its nose and drawing it involuntarily closer to the dining table, even knocking over the bowl filled with cat food without noticing.


    By the time it snapped back to reality, it found itself sitting upright at the dining table, right in front of the other bowl of white rice that Xue Jing had served.


    Turning its head awkwardly, it saw the good-looking young man shoveling rice into his mouth while looking at it with a smirking gaze.


    As if to say, are you still pretending?


    ¡­

 Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Aiming

    Xue Jing''s nearly mocking gaze stung Miao Miao''s face, and all it wanted to do was jump off the table right away, but its body wouldn''t obey.


    "..."


    After being silent for two or three seconds, Miao Miao pretended it couldn''t comprehend Xue Jing''s gaze at all and meowed softly, lowering its head to bite into the white rice with a crunch.


    It wasn''t unheard of for a cat to eat whatever its owner ate. As an ordinary cat, having the same food as its owner was perfectly reasonable and logical, nothing strange about that.


    Eating the same food as humans ¡Ù Being human.


    Miao Miao convinced itself and completely ignored Xue Jing''s increasingly mocking gaze. Time to show off!


    First, it bit into the rice, then flicked out a claw to use as chopsticks, hooking a piece of spicy stir-fried beef from the plate, cooling it with a huff, huff.


    Xue Jing watched speechlessly as Miao Miao, wary of the heat due to its sensitive cat tongue, puffed air on the food.


    After blowing on it a few times, Miao Miao carefully bit the beef into its mouth.


    The flavor spread delightfully across its teeth and tongue, and having not eaten for two whole days, Miao Miao couldn''t help but express an incredibly human-like blissful expression.


    With the first bite igniting its taste buds and awakening its stomach, Miao Miao broke its inner barriers and sped up its eating, alternating between a mouthful of rice and a mouthful of dish, reveling in the feast.


    Occasionally, it ate too fast to cool the food and got burned, letting out a ''rua''.


    "Eat slowly; I''m not competing with you."


    Xue Jing smiled helplessly, watching Miao Miao struggle a bit with its claws hooking the food, so he helped it by placing dishes into its bowl, allowing it to focus solely on eating, and even served it a bowl filled entirely with meat soup.


    By the end of the meal, the table was cleared, a third of which had gone into Miao Miao''s belly¡ªan impressive amount, considering its size.


    Not a single grain of rice was left in the bowl filled with white rice; Miao Miao had licked it clean, lying on its side on the table, belly swollen and rounded as if pregnant.


    Xue Jing cleaned up the dishes and wiped the table, then washed his hands before picking up Miao Miao from the table and placing it on the sofa.


    Watching Miao Miao lick its paws as if picking teeth like a human, Xue Jing coughed and spoke:


    "So, now that you''ve fully exposed yourself, can we talk?"


    Miao Miao''s ears twitched, and it stopped licking its paws, looking innocently at Xue Jing.


    "Meow?"


    Have no idea what you''re talking about, as I''m just a harmless little kitty.


    "..."


    "What, acting innocent after freeloading?"


    Xue Jing laughed in exasperation.


    He extended his hands and pinched Miao Miao''s face, scratching its cheeks with all ten fingers.


    This was also one of the spots that cats loved to be petted the most, very satisfying.


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao immediately couldn''t handle it, squinting its eyes in pleasure and meowing blissfully.


    It was resolved to keep up the act.


    If it didn''t talk, if there was no communication, no problems would occur.


    "..."


    Seeing that Miao Miao still wouldn''t admit anything, Xue Jing was momentarily at a loss.


    "Forget it, go take a bath."


    Though he had already bathed earlier, he got dirty from holding Miao Miao, and after cooking several greasy dishes, he wasn''t exactly clean.


    At the thought of bathing, Xue Jing glanced at Miao Miao, who had already smudged the sofa, and twitched the corners of his mouth, lifting it up.


    "Come on, bath together with me."


    Miao Miao was stunned for a moment at these words, then positioned its paws in a salute like the French military, shaking its head like a bobblehead, ears flattened back. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Meow meow meow meow meow!"


    "Cursing your mom, huh? You''re definitely taking this bath, not even Jesus can stop you, I''ve decided!"


    Xue Jing huffed, picking up Miao Miao and heading towards the bathroom.


    "Meow!!!!"


    ...


    In the glass shower, Xue Jing brought a small stool inside, sitting on it and squeezing shower gel onto his hands before starting to thoroughly clean the thoroughly wet Miao Miao.


    Miao Miao had already resisted, but to no avail, displaying an utterly listless demeanor as Xue Jing''s hands traveled up and down its delicate body.


    "Meow meow meow meow meow¡­"


    Speaking in cat language, Xue Jing continued his thorough petting unperturbed.


    Having no idea what you''re saying, after all, I''m just a harmless, terrifying upright ape.


    During the process, Xue Jing tried to remove a platinum ring from Miao Miao''s tail but found that though it seemed not tightly fitted, it was as if embedded in the tail, immovable.


    He didn''t force it, cautious not to hurt Miao Miao, but he understood inside that the item was unremovable, evidently a "Divine Substance" recognized by the Skill Panel, its mysterious nature not surprising.


    After thoroughly grooming Miao Miao without missing a spot, Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction and turned on the showerhead to start rinsing.


    After the rinse, Miao Miao looked comically slim due to its fur sticking to its body from being wet.


    "Meow."


    Miao Miao began shaking off water vigorously, then was about to step out of the bathroom but was called back by Xue Jing.


    "Hold on a moment."


    Xue Jing quickly rinsed himself as well, then picked up Miao Miao and stepped out of the glass shower.


    Approaching the bathtub, he turned on the hot water, adjusted the temperature to fill the tub.


    He then held Miao Miao and entered the bathtub.


    "Meow~~" "Ah~~"


    The water level rose and spilled over, both the man and the cat emitting sounds of sheer pleasure.


    Xue Jing supported himself with both hands on the sides of the bathtub, lying inside with only his head visible, while Miao Miao was sprawled on Xue Jing''s chest, its head resting on the edge of the tub, tail swishing under the water creating ripples.


    It comfortably squinted its eyes, purring contentedly.


    "Hmph, and you said you''re not human,"


    Xue Jing spoke casually.


    What kind of cat enjoys a bath this much?


    "Meow~~"


    Miao Miao couldn''t even be bothered to pretend anymore, simply striking a pose, and nonchalantly meowed once as a response, completely unbothered.


    Lying on Xue Jing''s chest, feeling his strong, steady heartbeat, Miao Miao was a bit dazed.


    How long had it been... since it last enjoyed this feeling of security?


    His body seemed lean when clothed, but quite impressive once undressed, those pectorals...


    Perhaps feeling finally at peace, Miao Miao also started to notice that the young man in front of it was quite attractive indeed.


    Once this realization hit, it was like a small hole had been bored into a dam of thoughts, and they began to flood in.


    Miao Miao couldn''t help it and sneakily glanced at the young man''s belly.


    While soaking in the bath, and wholly bored, Xue Jing suddenly saw a notification pop up on his Skill Panel.


    [Someone has developed a fondness for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    "Hmm?"


    He shifted his gaze to Miao Miao, his expression subtle.


    ...


    After the bath, he stepped out of the tub, first toweling himself off and then wrapped Miao Miao in another towel to dry it.


    Then carrying it to his room, he took out a hairdryer and a comb, plugged it in, and began to blow-dry Miao Miao''s fur.


    While combing smoothly, he carefully dried every corner with the hairdryer, Miao Miao had by this point completely given up resisting and let Xue Jing do as he wished.


    "Meow~~"


    Since it had come to this, what could it do but let him handle it.


    Once the blow-dry was complete, a shiny, well groomed black cat appeared before him.


    Emerald vertical pupils matched with slender white eyeliner created an unmistakably refined and charming appearance from that feline face.


    Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction, "Factory settings restored~"


    At that moment, he noticed that the patches of fur missing from Miao Miao''s body... seemed to have all grown back?


    And the belly that had been distended from overeating had also flattened.


    "Interesting,"


    Miao Miao seemed to realize it exposed something again, pretentiously stretching lazily, turned its body away, not letting Xue Jing see its stomach.


    "Meow~"


    Xue Jing didn''t say more, he turned and left the room, heading to the living room.


    In a corner on the living room wall hung a plastic dartboard, covered with dense punctures, and the surrounding white walls were also filled with scratch marks and pinholes, clearly a scene of some serious dart throwing.


    Xue Jing took several darts from a holder next to the dartboard and walked to the front door, the farthest straight-line distance to the dartboard at nearly five meters.


    He picked up a sharp dart, held it with three fingers around the shaft, and aimed for a while.


    "Whoosh!"


    The dart flew from his hand, fiercely stabbing into the dartboard with a loud thunk, the sound was loud, giving the impression it almost pierced through the dartboard.


    It didn''t hit the bullseye, but hitting the dartboard from this distance was already a good show of accuracy, quite skilled.


    Xue Jing threw the remaining darts in his hand, all hitting the dartboard, with one even getting close to the bullseye.


    Over the past week, he had been spending some time each night practicing darts, hoping to develop some sort of throwing skill.


    Thuds continued to echo in the living room, during which Miao Miao also sauntered out of the bedroom into the living room, lazily glanced at Xue Jing, jumped onto the couch, stepped on the remote to turn on the TV, and found an animation to watch on the video app.


    Having completely given up, aside from not speaking, it didn''t even bother to pretend anymore.


    Xue Jing merely glanced at it, suppressing the urge to throw a dart at it, and continued the motion of throwing and retrieving darts.


    About forty to fifty minutes later, Xue Jing, holding a dart and targeting, suddenly had a strong premonition.


    This throw, it would definitely hit the bullseye.


    Without any reason, surely it would, easily!


    His eyes brightened, and the dart flew from his hand.


    Thud!


    An unprecedented loud sound startled Miao Miao watching TV nearby, its fur slightly bristled.


    On the dartboard, the dart was deeply embedded in the bullseye, right at the center point, piercing through the dartboard.


    Xue Jing looked to the panel.


    [Conditions met, skill activated: Aiming]


    [Aiming Lv1: (0/300)]


    ...

 Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Health Cultivation, Library

    At precisely 5 a.m., Xue Jing awoke from his sleep on time.


    Despite just waking up, he felt no fatigue at all¡ªhis spirit was fully charged, as if the very moment he opened his eyes, sleepiness was completely banished.


    He opened the Skill Panel.


    [Early to bed and early to rise, Health Cultivation experience +37]


    [Health Cultivation Lv1 (236/300)]


    Health Cultivation was a skill that Xue Jing had activated a week ago.


    From his observations, the effects were to enhance some physical qualities, significantly improve sleep quality, and very noticeably, increase his energy levels.


    Since the activation of the Health Cultivation skill, he almost never felt tired throughout the day, was full of drive, able to immediately do things he thought of, significantly reduced procrastination, and could fall asleep shortly after closing his eyes, completely ridding himself of insomnia.


    It could be said to be the most satisfying conventional skill he had.


    However, this skill seemed only to gain experience through early sleeping and rising; he had also tried eating supplements, maintaining a regular diet, and other Health Cultivation tricks, but they barely made a difference.


    Closing the panel, Xue Jing prepared to get out of bed to wash up and run, but he noticed the feel of his left arm felt fuzzy¡ªlifting the blanket, indeed, Miao Miao was holding onto his arm with its four white paw ''gloves,'' sleeping soundly.


    Xue Jing felt somewhat troubled.


    Although he had let Miao Miao thoroughly expose the fact it wasn''t just an ordinary cat yesterday, he still couldn''t make it talk.


    As long as Miao Miao didn''t speak, he was unable to obtain information about Divine Substance, and unlocking the active effect of "Twin Lifes" was still out of reach.


    Moreover, he couldn''t openly say he needed "Divine Substance"; he was extremely cautious about everything related to the Skill Panel, not intending to reveal any of it to anyone.


    "Let it be, things will sort themselves out when it comes to it."


    He pulled his arm from Miao Miao''s embrace, got out of bed, and covered Miao Miao with the blanket, leaving only a cat head exposed.


    It was still pitch-dark outside; he went to the bathroom, switched on the light, and began to clean up.


    After finishing, he changed into clothes suitable for running, put on a sports watch, laced up his shoes, and went out for a run.


    Not far from the residential area where Xue Jing lived, there was a small garden for strolls and recreation, and a red brick path laid out around the garden, constructed especially for use during quieter times, making it perfect for running.


    At this point in time, Xue Jing was alone there.


    The sky was still dark, and the streetlights had not yet been turned off; under the illumination of these lights, Xue Jing walked onto the ''track,'' did some stretching exercises,


    and then started running at a pace far above that of an ordinary jog, almost like ordinary people sprinting with all their might.


    This was his current ''jogging'' speed.


    One lap, two laps, three laps¡­


    An hour later, Xue Jing gradually slowed his pace and came to a stop.


    He gasped heavily, sweat pouring down his body, feeling a burning sensation from his toes up to his thighs, and his lungs as if they were being squeezed by a hand, constantly kneading, each breath he took was pushed out, barely alleviating the feeling of oxygen deprivation.


    A few minutes later, his breathing gradually steadied, and he recovered; he lifted his right hand and looked at the data on the sports watch.


    Running duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 13 seconds, average speed: 18.3 kilometers per hour


    This average speed was already close to the level of professional half-marathon athletes from his previous life.


    Maintaining this pace for an uninterrupted hour was still a huge challenge for Xue Jing''s current body.


    Recently, he had been running like this every morning.


    Originally, he couldn''t manage to run every day¡ªmuscle damage simply couldn''t recover quickly enough.


    But since activating "Health Cultivation," his body''s recovery ability greatly increased, no matter how tired, just a sleep, and he would wake up feeling completely refreshed.


    Xue Jing opened the panel.


    [You completed a long run, Running experience +205]


    [Running Lv3 (463/800)]


    Running a distance of over 18 kilometers increased the Running skill by 205 experience points.


    As this skill''s experience increased and the level rose, everything related to running on his body strengthened.


    His postures and force applications became more perfect; how to use strength to avoid injuries while bursting powerfully, which posture can reduce wind resistance and run faster, how breathing rhythm should synchronize, all ingrained in his body like instincts.


    His physical qualities were boosted as well, especially lung capacity and leg explosive power.


    Xue Jing glanced at the "Fitness" skill again.


    [You completed a long run, Fitness experience +32]


    [Fitness Lv2 (288/500)]


    He went to sit on a bench in the garden, taking a rest for a while.


    "Comfortable."


    Very tired, but the visible satisfaction of improving himself brought him joy that far surpassed the fatigue.


    Even without mentioning the growth speed of the skill panel, just being able to clearly see one''s own progress was an incredible cheat. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It''s like how some people can''t stick to exercising for long but can play games all night for days¡ªthe biggest difference lies in whether one can accurately recognize that they are progressing.


    The certainty of receiving real-time feedback and the anticipation of knowing one would become strong could elicit a powerful motivation from deep within most people.


    It almost brought one halfway into the saintly realm of ''unity of knowledge and action''.


    It was already past six o''clock, and the day had fully brightened; people were gradually starting to appear around him.


    Xue Jing wiped the sweat from his forehead and slowly walked back home.


    Arriving home, he took off his clothes and threw them into the washing machine, then showered, feeling refreshed and invigorated.


    Miao Miao hadn''t woken up yet, even though it had slept with him the previous night¡ªclearly, its biological clock was very un-cat-like.


    Xue Jing went to the kitchen, pulled out six eggs from the fridge, placed them in a pot, and added just enough water to cover the eggs before setting it on the induction cooker.


    He also poured a large bottle of pure milk into another pot and heated it on the gas stove until it was hot, turned off the heat, and added oats and some sugar, making a pot of sweet oat milk.


    Then, he took out the bread slices from the cabinet that he had bought yesterday morning and hadn''t finished¡ªthis was his breakfast for today.


    Because it was too simple, it hardly counted as cooking, so the "Cooking" experience did not increase.


    He ate four of the boiled eggs, peeled the remaining two, and put them on a small plate. The oat milk and bread were also left unfinished, all of which he prepared on the dining table for Miao Miao to eat when it woke up.


    Although the cat constantly refused to communicate, which greatly displeased him, it still brought him the opportunity to transform through the Skill Panel, and for this Xue Jing was truly grateful.


    After all this, Xue Jing changed into his uniform, slung his school bag over one shoulder, and casually picked a dart from the holder next to the dartboard.


    At the front door, he opened the door and simultaneously turned and threw the dart, then immediately turned his head back without looking at the result, stepped out, closed the door, and locked it.


    And on the dartboard hanging at the corner of the wall, a dart was firmly embedded in the bulls-eye.


    [Precision Strike on Bulls-eye, Aiming Experience +1]


    Xue Jing left his house, walked a distance, caught a bus, and during the ride with a girl student sneaking glances at him, he gained more Charm Art experience over three stops, then got off the bus and arrived at Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School.


    It was around six-thirty in the morning, with crowds bustling at the school gate; Xue Jing followed the stream of people into the campus, but instead of heading to his class, he walked directly across from the Affiliated School''s teaching building.


    As the affiliated middle school of Qingcheng University, Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School and Qingcheng University''s campuses were interconnected, allowing students to visit each other freely.


    Xue Jing was heading to Qingcheng University Library.


    In this world, there existed certain anomalies that were not found on Earth in a previous life.


    However, due to various considerations, official information about these matters was quite tightly sealed off; some information could be found online, but it was all vague and simplistic in detail.


    But not being able to find it online doesn''t mean it couldn''t be found in Qingcheng University.


    As one of the top universities in the Outer Ring, the students who studied there were the future elites of society, and they were entitled to know some secrets.


    Xue Jing was a student in the specially-established Elite Class of Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School.


    The Elite Class was a special class that naturally had special privileges. As long as students in the Elite Class maintained their grades and kept up their status until graduation, they could choose not to take the college entrance exams and be directly promoted to study at Qingcheng University.


    Thus, students in the Elite Class already had some of the privileges of Qingcheng University students, such as accessing the seventh floor of Qingcheng University Library.


    The first six floors of the library were accessible to ordinary students of the Affiliated School, but not the seventh floor; it held documents and archives not found online and was off-limits to anyone who wasn''t a Qingcheng University student or an Elite Class student from the Affiliated School.


    Xue Jing had been curious once and ventured into this floor, but it was too chaotic and cluttered with documents and archives, with no computers to search or locate books, making it hard to find exactly what he wanted to know; he had not returned since.


    But it was the only place where he might find information about "Divine Substance", so he had no choice but to search and try his luck.


    The library of Qingcheng University covered a vast area; numerous access gates stood at the main entrance. Xue Jing took out his library card, swiped it at the sensing area of the access gate, was verified, and walked into the library.


    He went straight up without stopping, directly to the sixth floor, and at the staircase leading to the seventh floor, there was another gate; he swiped his card again, passed through, and reached the seventh floor.


    Compared to the modernized decoration of the first six floors, the seventh floor of the library appeared plain and unadorned with old bookshelves, old tables and chairs, old documents, and dim old-fashioned lamps hanging from the ceiling, giving the impression of having traveled back in time upon entering.


    But it had a historic depth that the first six floors lacked.


    Nobody was usually on the seventh floor, especially not early in the morning, and Xue Jing thought it should be empty.


    However, to his surprise, in the area with old tables and chairs for resting, there was already a young girl sitting there.

 Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Leeway of the Strong

    The girl was seated by the window, dressed in a snug white T-shirt and light-colored skinny jeans, with a pair of canvas sneakers on her feet. She sat upright in a posture that was impeccably proper, which tightly accentuated the curves of her figure.


    Her hair was silky black, long and straight, tied high in a ponytail with a white hair tie, reaching down to her waist. Under her bangs, her eyes, quiet and focused, watched the book she held in her hands, occasionally turning the pages with her neatly trimmed fingers.


    Possibly because she was too absorbed in her reading, the arrival of Li Ge was met with no response from the girl.


    ''A student from Qingcheng University? Looking at her age... she doesn''t seem like one.''


    Li Ge was somewhat surprised as he glanced twice at the girl, pausing as he noticed her slightly purple-tinted beautiful eyes.


    She wasn''t wearing a uniform, probably not a student from the Affiliated Middle School; perhaps she''s a college student with a younger appearance.


    He wasn''t particularly concerned and turned to head towards the bookshelves.


    The seventh floor had a total of four rows with sixteen double-sided wooden bookshelves each, plus wall-mounted bookshelves that completely covered three walls, leaving only one area for a lounge, all of which were packed, even overstuffed with dense arrays of old books and documents.


    The collection of books was astonishing.


    Without computer indexing and no classification of the books, trying to find specific materials in such a sea of books was as difficult as reaching the heavens, no wonder this place was seldom visited.


    Li Ge randomly chose a row of bookshelves, went to the middle, and looked somewhat painfully at the old disordered documents laid out in front of him, not knowing where to start.


    He picked up a relatively intact book randomly, wiped the dust off it, a wine-red hardcover with no designs. The center featured a title in sans-serif font and the bottom right corner had the author''s name and the date of publication in smaller white letters.


    "Hypotheses on the Phenomenon of Intersecting Boundaries", Author: Ning Furen, Published: New Calendar Year 87.


    ''An antique book from nearly two hundred years ago...''


    The overlapping of realms was a peculiar phenomenon that appeared on Earth Star after "God''s death".


    Just as the term suggests, the overlapping of realms meant ''two worlds coming together''.


    If we were to say that the world is a car driving non-stop on the road, then the overlapping of realms would be like two cars colliding.


    This phenomenon would cause parts of the two worlds to embed into each other''s ''bodies'', and these overlapping areas were known as the ''Intersecting Boundaries''.


    The globally accepted explanation for this phenomenon is that the ''driver'' had died.


    Without ''God'', the driver, at the helm, the vehicles were left to clash and collide uncontrolled on the road.


    "..."


    Li Ge opened the book and glanced through a couple of pages. The theories, though quite flawed by modern standards, were considered cutting-edge research back then and laid an indispensable foundation for current research on the phenomena of realms overlapping. Although outdated as theoretical data, it was still very valuable as historical data.


    After placing the book back in its original spot, Li Ge continued to look for a needle in a haystack, searching for any clues related to ''Divine Substance''.


    An hour later.


    He browsed through the document "Eternal Night War Chronicles" he held in his hands and then placed it back on the shelf.


    Li Ge shook his head, as he had expected, there were no fruitful findings. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since he had anticipated this, he wasn''t disappointed.


    He composed himself and checked the time on his phone¡ªit was already half-past seven, nearly time for class.


    Just as he was about to leave, he saw the girl he had noticed earlier in the lounge area walking towards him with a book in her arms.


    Li Ge''s gaze was naturally drawn to an eye-catching part of the girl''s anatomy¡ªnot that he was looking there, but it was where the book she was holding lay.


    It was a thick book, about as wide as three fingers, wrapped in black leather with a peculiar cover.


    The cover depicted a figure with a halo over its head, covered with numerous wings from top to bottom, radiating brilliance, holding an azure Earth Star in its hands aloft. The figure''s face, blurred upwards as if shouting something, with light flowing like blood from its entire body and plunging into an abyss below its feet.


    The meaning represented by this cover was known to the world: it was "The Death of God," or more precisely, "Divinity''s Death."


    Similar imagery, Li Ge had seen in countless paintings, movies, and games.


    Li Ge looked at the title of the book.


    "If God Had Not Died".


    He nodded politely, sidestepped to let the girl pass him. When she was up close, Li Ge noticed her face¡ªshe was quite pretty in a clean-cut way, not strikingly stunning at first glance, but the more he looked, the more attractive she seemed.


    The girl also nodded at him, then tried to stuff the book she was holding into the topmost gap on the bookshelf, but struggled a bit since she was not tall enough, tiptoeing to reach.


    Seeing this, Li Ge spoke up softly, "Let me help you with that."


    He reached out, motioning for her to hand him the book, which she did without resistance.


    Watching Li Ge easily place the book into the gap on top of the shelf without even tiptoeing, the girl with slightly purple-tinted clear eyes blinked and said, "Thank you."


    Xue Jing grunted in response, not minding this trivial favor.


    After completing the task, he did not linger and walked straight out of the library toward the Affiliated Middle School''s classroom building.


    ...


    By the time he entered the classroom, morning reading was almost over, and classes were about to officially start.


    All the students had arrived, except for a few who were whispering, the majority were silently flipping through books or doing worksheets.


    The pressure on students in the Elite Class was still very high.


    Xue Jing was quite popular in this class, and although the atmosphere during morning reading wasn''t ideal for talking, many classmates still nodded at him as a way of greeting.


    Xue Jing responded to each of them, but when he arrived at his own seat, he stopped in his tracks.


    His desk and chair were scratched.


    The wooden fiberboard was covered with crisscrossing scratch marks, looking dreadful, and the desk was scribbled with many words like "Kill kill kill," "You''re dead," "Watch your back after school," and other threatening phrases.


    "Tsk, such ugly handwriting."


    Li Ge came over, looked at the words on Xue Jing''s desk, and clicked his tongue.


    "What happened?" Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged.


    Such an incident of bullying, had it happened to anyone else, be it a high school student or an adult, would have caused some stir inside.


    However, at that moment, like his demeanor, his heart was undisturbed, driven purely by curiosity to know what had happened.


    Just as those who exercise regularly tend to have more confidence, physical strength naturally fosters inner strength as well.


    At that moment, facing high school-level bullying tactics, he felt like a lion looking at a little kitten baring its claws at him.


    "Not sure, it was like this when I came in the morning," Li Ge leaned against a nearby desk and shrugged.


    "The drawer was stuffed with some disgusting things like dead mice and cockroaches; I''ve cleaned them out for you, but these words are written with an oil-based pen, so there''s no easy fix at the moment."


    Xue Jing patted his shoulder gratefully, "Thanks."


    "For what? We''re brothers," Li Ge replied, and then added:


    "The priority now is to find who did this, or if it keeps happening like this every day, it''s going to be unbearable."


    "Have you pissed anyone off recently?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought carefully; he felt he had been quite peaceful and couldn''t recall provoking anyone.


    "Don''t know, but it doesn''t matter. From the words written on the desk, this isn''t some coward''s prank but a threat and a warning."


    Xue Jing touched the desk, heavily scarred with scratches, pausing his fingertip on the words "Watch your back after school."


    "I guess they''ll show themselves during lunch break or after school, just wait and see."


    People, simply by being outstanding, can inadvertently block others'' paths and attract resentment; this he had experienced in his past and present lives.


    There''s no need to reflect on what you might have done wrong; thinking about it is pointless. Facing issues and solving them is the way to go.


    Xue Jing sat down, intending to put his backpack into the drawer, but hesitated midway, feeling disgusted since it had previously held dead rats and cockroaches, so he hung the backpack on a hook on the side of the desk instead.


    Then, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and settled into a restful posture, ready for class.


    Seeing how effortlessly calm Xue Jing appeared as if nothing had happened, Li Ge couldn''t help but remark, "So cool, Lord Jing."


    "But why don''t we just tell the teacher?"


    Li Ge was somewhat puzzled.


    With his eyes still closed, Xue Jing casually said, "Just like calling the police isn''t always the solution, teachers aren''t omnipotent either. Telling a teacher might solve this, but the process would definitely be troublesome and likely lead to future problems."


    "I have a simpler solution; no need to involve the teacher."


    Li Ge grunted, fell silent for a while, then couldn''t help adding, "You look so cool, with a strange, mature composure... or perhaps the ease of a strong person? Those few words you said, they had some real force..."


    As the two were chatting, suddenly, there were voices calling from the classroom door: "Xue Jing, someone''s looking for you!"


    Xue Jing turned to look, and there at the doorway stood a pretty schoolgirl in a uniform skirt.


    It was the junior from yesterday, who had brought him a towel during the physical fitness test.


    ...

 Chapter 9: Chapter 9 School Spirit

    ```


    The junior girl''s eyes were red and swollen; it seemed she had just cried, exuding a pitiable softness that stirred sympathy.


    From a distance, she waved to Xue Jing, attempting a forced smile as a greeting.


    Seeing her like this, Xue Jing had an epiphany and muttered softly, "So that''s it..."


    "Hmm? Why''s this junior here? Pretty brave of her, not even waiting for the lunch break to end, rushing straight to our class to find you," Li Ge said, puzzled.


    He was a bit nearsighted and was not wearing his glasses at the moment, so he didn''t see the junior''s expression clearly. He turned to Xue Jing with a smile, "Be gentle when you reject her, don''t break the girl''s heart too harshly. Actually, trying out a relationship wouldn''t be bad either, and with those long white legs, it wouldn''t be a stain on your reputation..."


    Xue Jing didn''t say much, just acknowledged with a hum and stood up to walk out of the classroom.


    Many in the class had noticed the beautiful junior at the door and, following someone''s shout earlier, knew she was there for Xue Jing. Their eyes followed as he walked out.


    After Xue Jing and the junior left, the gossip flames ignited in the class and a wave of enthusiastic discussion erupted.


    ...


    Xue Jing followed the junior to the stairwell at the end of the corridor. By then, since class was about to start, the hallways were empty of other students.


    "This will do." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing spoke.


    "What''s the matter?"


    As soon as the junior heard Xue Jing speak, tears began flowing uncontrollably.


    "I''m sorry, senior... It''s all my fault..."


    She began to explain what had happened. Weeping made her speech erratic and emotional, and her words were somewhat difficult to comprehend. But Xue Jing didn''t hurry her, patiently listening until she finished, only interjecting with questions when he truly couldn''t understand something.


    It wasn''t until she had finished recounting the ordeal that Xue Jing finally understood what had happened.


    Simply put, this pretty sophomore had an admirer in her class, named Pei Youguang.


    That name was well-known at Affiliated Middle School, and Xue Jing remembered him as one of those influential bullies on campus.


    The problem started from the previous day during the physical test when the junior brought him a towel.


    Somehow, the act of her handing him the towel made it to Pei Youguang, who loudly declared this morning in class that he''d teach Xue Jing a lesson.


    "..."


    Although Xue Jing had an inkling about what was happening when he saw the junior''s tear-stained face looking for him, having it confirmed still made him feel a mix of laughter and helplessness.


    "Senior, I''m really sorry, I begged him for a long time not to trouble you, but he just wouldn''t listen..." The junior sobbed, continuously wiping away tears.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    Are you sure this isn''t adding fuel to the fire?


    He was somewhat speechless.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he knew these teenagers weren''t fully considerate, he might suspect the junior was intentionally fanning the flames.


    These types of boys, who thought of using violence to assert dominance, were clearly very impulsive. Hearing that the girl they liked was pleading on someone else''s behalf would only ignite their anger even more, perhaps even subconsciously affirming that they were right, that they had found a ''weakness'', otherwise, the junior wouldn''t appear so frightened.


    However, Xue Jing wasn''t blaming her.


    He nodded and said, "I understand. You can go back now."


    He paused, then added, "This is not your fault. Don''t worry about it; I''ll handle this."


    Did the junior have problems? To some extent, yes.


    But as to how serious those problems were, they weren''t so grave.


    Even if there was fault with the likes of Baosi, Daji, or Concubine Yang, the blame surely wouldn''t fall entirely on them.


    "Senior..."


    The junior was touched.


    "I''ve actually always..."


    ```


    She wanted to take this opportunity to say something, but she found that Xue Jing turned around and walked back to his class, clearly not planning to listen to her subsequent words.


    "..."


    The younger student understood his meaning. It was an ostensibly harsh but actually gentle rejection. She fell silent for a while, gave a self-deprecating smile, and walked away feeling dejected.


    ...


    "So the person causing you trouble is Pei Youguang?"


    Li Ge pinched his chin, his brows deeply furrowed as Xue Jing finished recounting what had happened.


    "That''s not very good, Lord Jing."


    Xue Jing pulled out the Chinese language textbook he needed for the first class from his backpack, placed it on the desk, and casually replied, "What do you mean?"


    "You don''t really keep up with this kind of news, so you might not know, but Pei Youguang is trouble."


    Li Ge explained.


    "Let''s just say it like this, if we were assigned hats when we entered Affiliated Middle School, he would be reporting straight to Azkaban."


    "This guy is from the Martial Arts Club. Relying on his bit of martial arts training, he bullies students routinely. It''s commonplace to hear that he has beaten up someone, and it''s said he often harasses female students."


    Li Ge moved his chair closer to Xue Jing and lowered his voice, "That''s not even the main issue. I''ve also heard that he has killed someone and even sexually assaulted a female student."


    "As far as I recall, last semester, a girl from the second year, class seven, suddenly transferred schools. It is said she moved because of his bullying."


    Xue Jing''s brows furrowed. "That can''t be true, can it? If he really did something like that, how could he still be at the school?"


    Li Ge: "I initially thought the same, but then I discovered that the students he bullied were all too scared to tell their teachers or parents. It seems that the school is also turning a blind eye."


    "So I asked around in the second year, and that''s when I learned that Pei Youguang''s dad works for a Governing Councilor, so he has strong backing."


    "Actually, if you think about it, it makes sense. For a bully like him to get into Affiliated Middle School, he must have a very solid background."


    Governing Councilor, theoretically the highest level in the power pyramid of a city, with around thirty members in Qingcheng, including a chief and three deputies.


    Working for a councilor indeed qualifies as a mighty background.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and asked, "Has he really killed someone?"


    Li Ge shook his head, "There''s no concrete statement about that, but many people have seen Pei Youguang carrying a knife. If he dares to do such things, it wouldn''t be surprising if he has killed someone."


    "We should tell a teacher. What if someone like Pei Youguang actually decides to seriously hurt you?"


    Li Ge was seriously worried.


    Xue Jing smiled.


    Quite intimidating. Most students would be frightened out of their wits by this Pei Youguang upon hearing this.


    However, Xue Jing didn''t find him particularly fearsome.


    The ways of the world have their logic. Many things become transparent once the level of Consciousness reaches a certain point, allowing one to see through appearances and grasp the essence.


    These sorts of vile acts are absolute taboos in human society. Forget having a dad who works for a Governing Councilor; even the councilor themselves wouldn''t act so blatantly, almost as if they wanted the whole world to know.


    Those at the pinnacle of power still need to outwardly comply with the rules. How much more so for a mere campus bully?


    The average student, not yet out in the real world, lacking in awareness, hears these rumors and becomes scared, mentally adding layer upon layer of "tiger skin" to Pei Youguang, making them increasingly fearful of him.


    On the contrary, the more Xue Jing heard, the more he stripped away Pei Youguang''s tiger skin.


    Some people, the more they lack something, the more they emphasize it.


    "No need to tell the teacher."


    "I will have a good talk with Pei Youguang myself."


    Xue Jing said softly.


    The bell for class rang, and the homeroom teacher, the Chinese instructor Du Shiwei, walked in.


    ...

 Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Pebbles

    This morning''s classes included Chinese, English, Physics, and Physical Education.


    Unlike Xue Jing''s previous life, Zhuxia seemed to put extra emphasis on physical education, at least that was the case at Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School. Not only were there quite a few PE classes every week, but it was also unlikely for a PE teacher to be "asked to take leave".


    After three cultural classes, following a short break, the entire Elite Class headed to the changing room to swap their school uniforms for indoor sports attire.


    "Hey, hey, those abs."


    A tall classmate wearing glasses was startled when Xue Jing took off his shirt.


    "Not bad, Xue Jing. How come I never noticed before? You''ve got some great abs."


    As soon as he spoke, all the male students in the changing room turned their attention toward them.


    "Holy crap!"


    "Lord Jing is awesome. How did you get such beautiful abs? Teach your brothers."


    "Firstly, I''m not gay, and secondly, can I touch them?"


    "Envious of the future Mrs. Xue."


    "Can I take a photo? Not that I wanna see it, it''s just that I have a sister going through puberty who is really looking forward to this."


    Xue Jing quickly pulled on his short-sleeve sports shirt, with a look of speechlessness: "Can you guys not be so gay? It''s creepy."


    Next to him, Li Ge finished changing and teased with a laugh, "You''re scared by just a joke, you''re a deep closet homophobe, aren''t you? With your conditions, if you keep not getting a girlfriend, don''t blame the guys for overthinking."


    Xue Jing kicked him, causing him to stagger: "Get lost."


    ...


    "Good shot!"


    Inside the gym, Xue Jing made a long jump shot. The basketball left his hands and accurately dropped into the basket, immediately followed by cheers.


    After a quick high-five with his teammates to celebrate, Xue Jing took a quick breath and glanced at the panel.


    [Shot accurately hit, Aiming experience +2]


    [Aiming Lv1 (78/300)]


    The Aiming skill, which he had just activated last night, when applied to basketball¡ªa sport requiring precision¡ªwas like playing at a lower dimension.


    Within the three-point line, he could achieve nine out of ten shots even with opponents disturbing him, and outside the three-point line, he also had a very high probability of scoring. With just his shooting ability alone, he already had professional-level talent.


    As such, even though he wasn''t relying on his physical prowess to dominate aggressively, he was still causing a few classmates on the opposing team to feel utterly dispirited.


    Especially since the girls who were resting on the side were watching the game.


    Even though the girls were very modest and didn''t make a sound, the awkwardness of being background decor for someone''s showing off was still haunting and inescapable.


    Xue Jing was not the kind who loved to show off; he had initially planned to just play casually without picking on his classmates.


    This thought persisted until he made his first basket and saw the +2 experience for Aiming.


    "Keep it up, keep it up, there''s still a chance, we can win this back!"


    From the opposing team, Li Ge clapped his hands to encourage his teammates, barely keeping their spirits up.


    At the sound of the PE teacher''s whistle, the game recommenced.


    "Block him, block him! Block that shot!"


    "Uh..."


    Immersed in the basketball game, the students of the Elite Class failed to notice that a few figures in school uniforms had walked into the gym through the main entrance.


    Leading them was a tall teenager with a somewhat chubby face. After coming in, he casually pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and placed it in his mouth with authority. Immediately, someone by his side lit it for him with a lighter, the whole procedure mimicking how minions light a cigarette for the boss in movies.


    The teenager pinched the cigarette between two fingers, expertly puffing smoke rings, eyes slightly squinting as he watched the ongoing basketball game and said:


    "Which one is Xue Jing?"


    Someone immediately pointed out, "It''s him, the one who just shot the basket!"


    The portly youth stared for a while, then clicked his tongue and said, "This pretty boy looks quite human-shaped, no wonder Shiyu likes him."


    Someone hesitantly voiced from the side, "Pei, maybe let''s not do this, Xue Jing is from the Elite Class, and the school..."


    Hearing this, Pei Youguang turned his head to look at the speaker, who promptly shut his mouth.


    "What''s there to fear about the school? Even the principal has to be polite to my dad, what''s there to be afraid of? What the hell is the Elite Class anyway? If I, Pei Youguang, want to finish him, I''ll finish him!"


    Pei Youguang took a drag on his cigarette, spoke decisively, filled with confidence and domineering spirit.


    The lackeys nearby were instantly subdued by his charisma, showing looks of admiration.


    "Let''s go. It''s enough to recognize the person. It''s not good to start anything here. We''ll deal with him after school."


    As he said this, Pei Youguang turned to leave first, and his followers lagged a step behind him, making for quite a scene.


    ...


    The gym class ended, and the aiming experience had reached (158/300), progressing rapidly.


    The growth in skill experience was reflected in real time in Xue Jing''s performance, so his shooting got smoother as time went on, his hit rate steadily increasing, causing his male classmates to put on masks of pain one after another.


    "Damn it, if I play basketball with you again, I''m a dog!"


    In the class, Li Ge cursed loudly.


    He then quickly added, "Unless I''m on your team."


    Xue Jing was packing his things into his bag, heard this, and smiled, "Okay, next time I''ll take you flying."


    At home, practicing throwing darts, hitting the bullseye only earned me 1 point of experience, but playing basketball with others outside, scoring a basket earned 2 points. The system clearly wasn''t encouraging practicing behind closed doors.


    After a while, Li Ge also packed up his stuff, slung his backpack on, walked over to Xue Jing, and said earnestly, "Let''s go, I''ll walk you back."


    Xue Jing looked at him, his expression as if he was about to make a noble sacrifice, and found it a bit funny and touching.


    Unlike Xue Jing, Li Ge viewed Pei Youguang through a lens of terror, seeing him as a thug who might kill, set fires, and bully students. Knowing that this thug was likely to cause trouble for Xue Jing after school and still being willing to go back together, it could be said that he was quite loyal.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "No need, I can go back on my own."


    However, Li Ge insisted, "You needn''t say more, a bro isn''t like that, I said I''d walk with you, and I will!"


    "Okay then," Xue Jing stopped refusing.


    He added, "But remember, I''ll handle this. You just watch from the side, got it?"


    Li Ge was a bit puzzled, but he nodded anyway. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two left the classroom and headed towards the school gate.


    Compared with the usual, Xue Jing''s demeanor was normal, whereas Li Ge''s steps were heavy, his face full of worry, as if he was heading to his execution.


    As they walked onto the sports field, something suddenly came to Xue Jing''s mind.


    ''Hmm... I remember he said he had some martial arts training? Just in case, I better prepare.'' Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He lowered his head and searched on the ground for a while, then walked to the side of a pebble path.


    Li Ge saw Xue Jing suddenly squat down, pick up some stones, and put them in his pocket, and asked curiously, "What are you doing?"


    Xue Jing felt the stones in his pocket, checking their size and texture, and said offhandedly, "It''s showdown time, I''m actually a successor of ''Little Li Flying Dagger''."


    Li Ge: "Huh?"


    ...

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Ingenious Use of Aiming

    Xue Jing and his companion had just reached the school gates when Li Ge suddenly patted Xue Jing''s shoulder with a solemn expression, pointing to a student heading straight toward them.


    "Here he comes! That guy is one of Pei Youguang''s underlings." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The newcomer sported semi-long hair and walked with a sloppy gait. To emphasize his individuality, he wore his uniform in a haphazard fashion, with the top two buttons of his shirt undone, his tie loose, and the sleeves of his jacket rolled up to his elbows. He also held a cigarette in his hand as though he believed it made him look really cool, his face exuding an air of smug satisfaction.


    "You''re Xue Jing, right? Pei Youguang, knows about you, he''s got something to discuss, come with me."


    As the student faced Xue Jing, he had to tilt his head back to compensate for his lack of height, not wanting to diminish his own presence, thus he spoke as if he were looking down his nose at others.


    "..."


    Li Ge''s expression grew even more grave. Although he had resolved to follow his heart and back up Xue Jing, a deep sense of panic echoed within him as the moment approached.


    Xue Jing looked down slightly at the other and said with a smile, "Let''s go."


    This unexpectedly calm demeanor caused a flicker of surprise to pass across the student''s face.


    Which student wouldn''t tremble like a sieve when they heard that Pei wanted to see them?


    And yet this guy could still smile?


    But seeing that Xue Jing was playing along so smoothly, he didn''t say much. He simply grunted affirmatively and led the way out of the school gate.


    Xue Jing and his companion followed, and this scene was witnessed by many students. The usually bustling area near the school gates suddenly fell into an eerie silence.


    It wasn''t until the group had moved some distance away that people slowly began to talk again.


    "Isn''t that Pei Youguang''s underling, Zhou Juncheng? Are they going to bully someone again?"


    "Who''s the guy following him? He''s really good-looking."


    "You don''t recognize senior Xue Jing? Have you been attending Affiliated Middle School for two years for nothing? He''s the recognized school hunk."


    "It looks like Pei Youguang is going to bully him, what should we do?"


    "Tell a teacher?"


    "No way, Pei Youguang''s family is so powerful, telling a teacher won''t help, and you''ll get marked by him!"


    The discussion at the school gate grew louder and incessant.


    ...


    "Lord Jing, maybe we should run for it," Li Ge whispered to Xue Jing, his voice low as they followed the student.


    "We''re taking a back route, and there''s fewer and fewer people around. They must be leading us to a secluded place. If something happens there, we won''t even be able to shout for help!"


    Xue Jing looked helplessly at Li Ge, who was both cowardly and loyal; it was hard to believe he was still following along despite his fear.


    After pondering for a moment, he said, "I have a favor to ask you."


    Li Ge was taken aback, "Tell me."


    "You do this..." Xue Jing whispered a few words and then handed over his cell phone from his pocket.


    Li Ge took the phone and nodded.


    The student leading the way hadn''t noticed the two ''lambs to the slaughter'' quietly scheming behind him, puffing on his cigarette and thinking about how to deal with Xue Jing later.


    Having the chance to bully a student from the Elite Class, who was usually out of reach, brought a twisted thrill to his heart.


    And so, the three of them walked into a dark alley.


    Xue Jing looked up.


    It was an old alley, its walls built with bricks and tiles, dark in color and severely oxidized, clearly of great age.


    Trash littered the ground, and an odd stench lingered. At the end of the alley stood five or six students dressed in uniforms from Affiliated Middle School, mostly smoking, and the portly teenager who was leading the group had his back to them, striking a pose. His companions looked on with ill intent in their eyes.


    It seemed the moment Xue Jing walked in was the one Pei Youguang, a portly youth, had been waiting for. He slowly turned his body around, his triangular eyes fixated on Xue Jing, took a fierce drag on the cigarette in his mouth, and then immediately threw it to the ground and stomped it out.


    "Xue Jing... right."


    His voice was deep as he spoke.


    As he began to speak, the younger students around him wickedly smiled and pulled out weapons such as baseball bats, wooden sticks, and knives.


    They were masters of this intimidation tactic; by this time, the students they summoned would typically start begging for mercy, some even wetting themselves on the spot out of fear.


    However, they realized something was different this time.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak. He methodically took off the suit-like school blazer he was wearing and handed it to Li Ge, who stood behind him.


    He then slowly unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt on both sides and rolled up his sleeves to reveal his well-defined forearm muscles.


    Li Ge swallowed hard, quite afraid, but still did as Xue Jing had previously instructed: taking the blazer and retreating several meters away, then taking out his phone, turning on the camera, and aiming it at the group in the dark alley.


    "..."


    "Huh? What''s this kid trying to do?"


    Before Pei Youguang and the others could unravel their confusion, Xue Jing suddenly crouched slightly, adopting a runner''s starting position.


    In that instant, Pei Youguang was inexplicably reminded of a nature documentary he had watched, where a tiger ready to hunt crouched on the ground, gathering strength for the pounce.


    Then, he saw it.


    The ''tiger'' shot out like a cannonball towards them.


    In the blink of an eye, Xue Jing sprang forward like an arrow released from its bow, covering the distance to confront Pei Youguang and his crew. He swung a punch, hitting the student at the forefront squarely in the face with a thud. The victim''s upper body jerked violently backward, dropping the baseball bat from his hands and collapsing to the ground, passing out without making a sound.


    "Damn it, get him, mess him up!"


    Pei Youguang cursed in anger upon seeing this, and those around him reacted as well, moving towards Xue Jing with their weapons in hand.


    Xue Jing''s gaze was cool as he observed the ''slow'' moving sticks and knives coming at him.


    Once the skill "Aiming" was activated, Xue Jing found that his vision had greatly enhanced, both static and dynamic.


    Especially when he concentrated, his dynamic vision, far superior to before, even granted him an ability similar to ''bullet time.''


    This was the source of his confidence in his fighting ability; physical fitness and running could not give him much combat strength, and facing an armed opponent, getting stabbed would still promptly take him out. But with Aiming, his sense of slowed-down dynamic vision allowed him to possess Insight like that of a martial world expert, as if he had activated the Sharingan.


    This was why he dared to face Pei Youguang and his gang alone.


    Of course, his greatest reliance was "Twin Lifes"; having an extra life gave him the capital to take risks recklessly, without any fear whatsoever.


    Dodging several armed attacks in quick succession, Xue Jing found a gap, his eyes flashed, and while jumping back to evade, he threw a punch, grazing past the chin of one of the students with precision.


    The accuracy brought by Aiming is not only useful in throwing objects but also in fighting.


    In fact, fighting is a sport that requires a great deal of precision. Although the distance of a punch is very short, hitting a dodging target accurately in the chaos of a fight is not an easy task.


    Therefore, the precision of a punch is also an important indicator of a fighter''s combat strength.


    And now, Xue Jing, who had virtually no real combat experience, reached an outrageous level of punch precision under the enhancement of the Aiming skill.


    Aiming, a skill that seems only useful for throwing and shooting at a glance, is actually extremely terrifying in boosting unarmed combat strength.


    The student who was hit in the chin immediately felt his brain shake back and forth in his skull, the world turned upside down, and he fell to the ground limply.


    "Chen Hao, what the hell are you doing, putting on a show here!?"


    The punch was so fast and covert that no one noticed it except for Xue Jing, who threw it, and Chen Hao, who took it. Pei Youguang only saw one student swing a bat and miss Xue Jing, then immediately fall to the ground as if it were an act, leading him to curse loudly.


    "Damn it, all of you back off, I''ll do it!"


    ...

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Fighting, The Cost

    Pei Youguang reached out to part the crowd, intending to personally take care of Xue Jing.


    Although the combat power of this pretty boy senior was unexpectedly strong, causing him some surprise, Pei Youguang was confident that he would not be his match.


    After all, he had trained in a dojo and had received true transmission!


    However, just as he had stepped forward and before he could throw out a few more harsh words, everything went dark before his eyes, and a sharp pain shot through his left eye.


    "Ah!!"


    Pei Youguang covered his left eye and cried out in pain, with blood flowing out from between his fingers.


    He said furiously, "Despicable scoundrel!"


    It was Xue Jing who had pulled out a quail egg-sized pebble from his pocket and casually threw it, hitting Pei Youguang''s left eye with precision, resulting in a critical weak point attack.


    Enraged beyond measure, Pei Youguang, enduring the pain in his left eye, opened only his good right eye and charged at Xue Jing.


    He swung a reverse Swing Fist with extreme speed, but because he only had the vision of his right eye, he misjudged the distance. Not only did he miss the dodging Xue Jing, but he also accidentally punched the wall.


    "Bang!"


    A crisp sound echoed as the brick wall was actually cracked with a small hole from the punch, and seeing the power behind it, Xue Jing''s eyes twitched. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Is this¡­ martial arts?''


    Xue Jing took two steps back and pulled out another pebble from his pocket. Seeing this, Pei Youguang, with the psychological shadow of his left eye being damaged, could not help but use his hand to protect his only remaining right eye.


    But Xue Jing didn''t throw the stone; instead, he mimicked the actions from a martial arts video and delivered a spin kick with built-up force, severely kicking at Pei Youguang''s head. Although the latter managed to react in time and put his hand up to block, the power behind the kick was beyond his expectation. It pressed down his blocking arm and still hit his head, causing him to stagger.


    "He has trained in martial arts too?" Pei Youguang felt the force of the kick and his color drained away in shock.


    "No, that''s not right; it was pure physical strength without ''energy.''


    But that made even less sense.


    How could he, who has not trained in martial arts and relies on brute force, overpower my ''energy''!?


    Is this guy really a high school student?


    Xue Jing was unaware of Pei Youguang''s thoughts or he might have mockingly commented, do you know the value of ''Running'' when it comes to explosive leg strength?


    Having landed a blow, he immediately followed up with an offensive, closing the distance and raining punches and kicks on Pei Youguang.


    Under the relentless assault from Xue Jing, Pei Youguang was unable to regulate his breathing, preventing him from using his ''energy'' and forcing him to continuously endure the beating and defend.


    Xue Jing used both his hands and feet, getting more fluent and excited with each strike. The fighting moves he had earnestly learned from videos over the past month were being executed more smoothly, gradually becoming more natural to him.


    Pei Youguang''s lackeys on the sidelines were stunned; this was their first time seeing Pei so embarrassed, getting beaten down like a dog!


    Li Ge, who was not far away recording the video on his phone, was trembling with excitement, unable to speak.


    Lord Jing, Jing, God Jing!


    It was uncertain how much time had passed, but in a moment of ''Fortune Comes to a Prepared Mind,'' Xue Jing''s previously chaotic and unstructured striking suddenly clicked and was followed by a beautifully executed right Swing Fist.


    The angle of his fist was particularly tricky, bypassing Pei Youguang''s defensive guard and slipping through the gap, hitting Pei Youguang''s face squarely.


    Accompanied by the sound of breaking bone, Pei Youguang was lifted off his feet by the punch and fell backwards.


    [Conditions met, Skill ''Fighting'' activated]


    Xue Jing, still maintaining his punching pose, stared blankly at his own fist.


    A tingling sensation spread through his muscles, which began to squirm and change internally.


    His strength increased, his Flexibility enhanced, more adept at exerting force. It was as if a heavy iron coat had been shed, gifting him a lightness akin to a swallow.


    Not only that, but once he stood up straight, his body suddenly cracked with the sound of bones rubbing against each other. He had grown slightly taller.


    His skeletal structure had changed, becoming thicker and harder, causing his whole body to appear as if enhanced in proportional size by Photoshop.


    "Pei!" Several underlings cried out in alarm, looking at Pei Youguang lying on the ground, his nose caved into his face, a ghastly sight.


    Clang clang, everyone involuntarily dropped their weapons, looking at Xue Jing with fear.


    Xue Jing closed his eyes and focused, sensing the changes within himself.


    The scene fell silent for a moment.


    After a while, Xue Jing opened his eyes and looked calmly at the several subordinates of Pei Youguang.


    Those whose sight was swept by his gaze felt like prey animals targeted by a top predator, their legs went soft, and they knelt on the ground.


    "Xue... Xue," we...


    One of them began with trembling lips.


    But before he could finish, Xue Jing interrupted, "Pick them up."


    "Huh?" The group was puzzled.


    "I told you to pick up your weapons."


    Xue Jing''s tone was unfaltering, instantly sending a chill down the students'' spines, like children frightened by the sudden sternness of their father, and they involuntarily picked up the weapons that had been discarded on the ground.


    "Attack," he ordered.


    "..." The students looked at each other, not daring to move.


    "I will only count to three," Xue Jing said, his eyes flashing coldly.


    "One."


    "Two."


    "Ahhhh!!" Unable to withstand the pressure, one of the students raised his baseball bat and swung it maniacally at Xue Jing.


    Once one person took the lead, the others, influenced by the herd mentality, charged at Xue Jing together.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang."


    The students fell apart like burst sacks, each with a punch or foot imprint caved into their faces.


    In the quiet alley, students in Affiliated Middle School uniforms lay twisted and sprawled everywhere, either passed out or groaning while clutching their wounds, with only Xue Jing standing.


    He had a cold, intellectual look, untouched by the fight, his clothes only slightly disheveled, and, coupled with the surrounding scenery, he appeared like a gangster in a suit from a movie, an elegant yet violent contrast.


    "..." Li Ge stared at the scene, stunned for a long time before slowly regaining his composure and stopping the recording on his phone.


    He walked up to Xue Jing, wanting to say something but not quite daring to speak.


    Seeing his hesitant look, Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "How is it, cool or not?"


    With his usual gentle tone, Xue Jing somewhat softened the violent impression from before, and Li Ge relaxed a bit, laughing,


    "Cool, insanely cool, from today on, I am Iron-blooded Jing."


    Xue Jing patted his head, "Cut the flattery."


    He reached out for the phone, "Let me see how well you recorded it."


    The video showed the entire process clearly from when Xue Jing entered the alley, except for some shaky segments where Li Ge''s excitement caused his hand to tremble; overall, it was well recorded.


    It had also followed Xue Jing''s directive to turn off the sound and only capture the video.


    When the video showed the students being threatened by Xue Jing to pick up their weapons, without sound, it appeared as though the students, still not giving up, picked up their weapons to continue attacking Xue Jing.


    Li Ge, puzzled, asked, "Why do this?"


    Xue Jing calmly explained, "Under Zhuxia law, in cases where the opponent is armed and intends to commit violent crimes, the victim has the right to unlimited self-defense."


    Li Ge scratched his head and said, "Weren''t they surrendering at that point?"


    "What does their surrender have to do with me?"


    Xue Jing seemed to be speaking to Li Ge, yet also as if he was talking to himself.


    "People must always pay a price for their mistakes."


    ...

 Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Power

    Pei Youguang had a dream.


    In his dream, his family was happy and fulfilled. Although his father was as stern as ever, he was always proud of him. His mother would always sneak him pocket money behind his father''s back, cup his head in her hands, and tell him, "Mama loves you." His siblings in the dojo looked up to him as their leader, and he became a world-renowned martial arts prodigy, the center of attention.


    He would not be scorned by his father as if he were an invisible man, his mother was still alive, and he was not always seen as just an accessory to his genius brother who went to the Inner Ring City. Nor did he have any experiences of being humiliated in the dojo and running away, unable to bear it.


    Everything was so beautiful.


    "..."


    His father in the dream seemed to be saying something to him. Pei Youguang strained to listen, but he just couldn''t hear it.


    His father repeated himself many times, seemingly impatient, and then he slapped Pei Youguang across the face.


    "Slap!"


    Pei Youguang woke up, feeling his right cheek burning with pain.


    "Hey."


    Xue Jing squatted down, looked at Pei Youguang who was lying on the ground, now with his eyes open but still a bit dazed, and slapped him again. Slap, producing symmetrical imprints on both cheeks.


    "Pei Youguang, right? You had something to talk to me about? What is it, speak up."


    Xue Jing said coldly.


    Pei Youguang: "¡­"


    After coming to his senses and realizing the situation, Pei Youguang fell silent for a while and then showed an embarrassed smile,


    "No¡­ nothing anymore."


    Xue Jing nodded, "If there''s nothing, that''s good."


    "But now that you''re fine, I do have something to talk to you about."


    Pei Youguang touched his nose, now sunken into his face, the pain making him hiss sharply, but upon hearing Xue Jing''s words, he quickly said, "Please tell, please tell."


    He wasn''t a defiant person. Having been bullied countless times from a young age, he had long learned to swallow his pride and bear insults quietly.


    Although after entering the Affiliated Middle School he had grown accustomed to throwing his weight around and almost forgot his past, now he had been abruptly reminded of his muscle memory by Xue Jing''s two slaps.


    He didn''t pull rank using his family''s background anymore. All the students at the Affiliated Middle School knew he had connections. Now that Xue Jing dared to hit him, it meant he wasn''t afraid.


    Whether it was confidence through backing or just sheer audacity, Pei Youguang had lost either way.


    He could only yield.


    Looking down at him, Xue Jing asked, "I heard you have killed someone? And bullied female classmates?"


    Pei Youguang said with a forced smile, "No, no, those are all rumors."


    "What about that girl who transferred out last semester?"


    "¡­ I was pursuing her, but I really never did that sort of thing. That classmate transferred out because she was too scared, if it were true, the school would not have waited until now to expel me."


    Saying this, Pei Youguang glanced at the fallen lackeys beside him, hesitated for a while, and said softly, "Please don''t spread this around, but I''m still a virgin."


    Xue Jing slapped him backhandedly across the face.


    Slap¡ª


    "I don''t want to hear this kind of useless information."


    Pei Youguang covered his side face, "Yes¡­"


    "Since nothing like that happened, why didn''t you clear things up?"


    "Clarifying it might not work, and¡­ with such rumors, all the classmates are afraid of me¡­ I thought it was cool¡­"


    Xue Jing delivered another slap to his face.


    Silently he said, "Are you brain-damaged, wanting to take on the name of a strong criminal for yourself?"


    Pei Youguang didn''t dare to talk back, "What you said is right."


    "From now on, be a good student and don''t get involved in these pointless schemes. Write a reflection when you get back, listing everything you''ve done and haven''t done. Recite it ten times in front of the whole class during morning reading, and have your underlings record it. I''ll check it later."


    Pei Youguang said with difficulty, "Ah, this..."


    Slap¡ª


    Pei Youguang covered his cheek with one hand and frantically waved the other, "I''ll write it as soon as I get back."


    Xue Jing hummed, seemingly asking casually, "By the way, the punch you threw at the wall had quite some power. What was that about?"


    Pei Youguang honestly answered, "I''ve practiced martial arts. The punch just now, I used ''Power''."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "Power? Is it something like the ''Inner Strength'' you read about in wuxia novels?"


    Pei Youguang first nodded, then shook his head, "Power, also known as Inner Strength... It''s not some supernatural energy, but a way of using Physical Strength. It''s a skill that draws out the body''s inherent potential through coordinating muscles, bones, blood, breathing, and so on. That''s ''Power''."


    Pei Youguang recalled what the master at the dojo had taught and explained.


    "To put it in scientific terms, ''Power'' is essentially kinetic energy. Different organs within the body cooperate in movement to accumulate kinetic energy, which is then released through ''moves'' to produce far more force than an ordinary punch or kick."


    "I''ve heard that some impressive Martial Artists can exaggerate the use of Power to the point where they can punch through a tank''s armor with their bare flesh and blood. I don''t know if that''s true."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, remaining silent.


    Seeing this, Pei Youguang immediately understood and hastened to say, "If you''re interested, I could teach you. Although I only know a bit about Basic Energy Harnessing..."


    Xue Jing, seeing his eagerness, patted his shoulder, softening his expression a bit, "Then I''ll trouble you with that."


    Pei Youguang cautiously said, "It''s no trouble at all, but about writing the reflection and reciting it in class... could you possibly let that slide?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and then said, "No, but you don''t have to read it ten times. Once will be enough."


    "..." Pei Youguang felt there was no difference between ten times and once, as both meant a loss of ''dignity''. It seemed an odd concession, but he didn''t dare argue and could only chuckle, "Thank you very much."


    "Alright." Xue Jing stood up.


    "That''s settled then. I''ll come to find you this afternoon or tomorrow when I''m free to learn ''Power''. From now on, study hard and be a proper student; don''t let me hear about you bullying anyone again."


    Pei Youguang: "I''ll do as you say."


    ...


    After Xue Jing left the alley, the underlings lying on the ground pretending to be unconscious slowly got up, rubbing their heads and groaning as if they were just waking up.


    "Hey, Pei, where''s that Xue... Senior Xue?"


    Pei Youguang sat up, reached into his school uniform pocket, pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes, and thought about lighting one but then decided against it with a sigh.


    "From now on, we''re to call him Jing."


    The underlings looked at each other in confusion but agreed nonetheless.


    The scene quieted down for a moment, and Pei Youguang looked thoughtful: ''He hasn''t trained in martial arts, but he has such physical aptitude... He must be what the dojo masters call someone with good aptitude...''


    ''Just like Big Brother...''


    Whether he was convinced by the beating or something else, Pei Youguang had an intuition that Xue Jing was not an ordinary person.


    The phrases ''cling to the big thigh'' and ''Dragon''s Achievement'' flashed through his mind, but the limits of his perspective and understanding made it hard for him to discern the pros and cons.


    After a while, he shook his head.


    "Forget it, I won''t think about it. In any case, getting on good terms with him is the right move!"


    Pei Youguang decided to follow his intuition.


    ...


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 Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Battle, Cool!

    After Li Ge left on his own, Xue Jing also walked to the bus station, ready to go home. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the way, he opened the panel to check the gains from this time.


    [You experienced a fight, Fitness Experience Points +109]


    [You experienced a fight, Aiming Experience Value +50]


    [You experienced a fight, felt very comfortable, Health Cultivation Experience Value +33]


    [Condition met, Skill activated: fighting]


    [You experienced a fight, fighting Experience Points +68]


    [Fitness Lv2 (431/500)


    Health Cultivation Lv1 (269/300)


    Cooking Level 2 (279/500)


    Running Lv3 (502/800)


    Charm Art Lv2 (398/500)


    Aiming Lv1 (208/300)


    fighting Lv1 (68/300)]


    The first thing to note was the Experience Points, his fitness skill alone had risen by over 100; usually, an hour of hard work in the gym would net him a similar amount, but now he had earned that just from a not-so-tough fight.


    Aiming increased by 50 points, which likely included his use of dynamic vision during the fight and aiming while throwing punches, plus hitting Pei Youguang in the left eye with a stone, which also yielded much more than the usual training sessions.


    What really made Xue Jing incredulous was that the "Health Cultivation" Experience had actually increased by more than 30 points.


    A skill that previously only increased in Experience through early bedtimes and early rising was gaining Experience from a brawl?


    So fighting is a Health Cultivation exercise, huh.


    However, Xue Jing considered the panel''s prompt of "feeling comfortable," and it made sense.


    A key aspect of Health Cultivation is to maintain a good mentality, the influence of which on the body is indisputable; often there are stories of severely ill patients who miraculously recover because they maintained a very positive attitude.


    After the fight, he indeed felt exceptionally clear-headed and exhilarated, with a sweeping sense of joy.


    Fighting, thrilling!


    "It seems I should frequently engage in things that make me happy..."


    The massive gain in Experience Points, once again, confirmed that the panel didn''t encourage a withdrawn lifestyle; he still needed to get out more.


    Last of all was the newly activated skill¡ª"fighting."


    Xue Jing truly didn''t expect to activate a skill directly linked to combat ability here.


    He thought that following the videos for training during the past month was a waste of time, but all that accumulation exploded into effect at this moment.


    In the quiet path, seeing that there was no one around, Xue Jing performed a high leg split, lifting his right leg, creating a vertical split in the air.


    At this moment, he almost felt no pain from the stretch between his legs, a level of flexibility he never had before.


    After raising his leg above his head and holding it there, he did not feel the slightest strain; his left foot alone provided a very stable, well-balanced support.


    "fighting" had changed his body structure.


    Human bodies subtly change due to different living habits and ways of exercising, like how the body structures of gymnasts and weightlifters are completely different.


    Years of training align their body structures highly with their professions, one being light and flexible, the other sturdy and powerful.


    Upon the activation of the fighting skill, Xue Jing''s body had been ''specialized;'' from the structure of a normal person to one ''suited for fighting.''


    Beyond the basic physical enhancements, reaction speed, explosive power, flexibility, Anti-Strike, agility, fist sensation, sense of balance... every attribute related to fighting had also been enhanced to varying degrees.


    "This skill has only enhanced my ''fighting ability,'' it hasn''t made me directly master ''fighting techniques''..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    "So, it seems, just like Chinese, mathematics, and physics, techniques also fall under ''knowledge'' rather than skills themselves. ''Fighting'' can help me better control the techniques but can''t directly instill them into me..."


    "Rather than calling it ''Fighting Skills'', it seems more like ''Fighting Talent''."


    In fact, other skills are pretty much the same. ''Cooking'' enhances his control over heat and use of cooking utensils, but it doesn''t provide him recipes directly; ''Fitness'' doesn''t give him fitness knowledge but simply strengthens his body.


    ''Running'', ''Aiming'', ''Charm Art'', ''Health Cultivation'' are all the same, only enhancing his related abilities, without directly imparting knowledge.


    "Anyway, I was thrilled."


    Xue Jing looked pleased.


    This feeling of becoming stronger is truly addictive. His body, already light as a feather from the ''Fighting'' enhancement, felt even lighter.


    "Going home to pet my cat."


    ...


    After taking the bus to the street where his neighborhood was located, Xue Jing didn''t go home immediately but stopped by the supermarket to buy some ingredients before returning home.


    He took out his keys, turned the lock, opened the door, and found Miao Miao squatting at the entrance, seemingly waiting for him.


    As soon as it saw him come in, Miao Miao immediately meowed, its tail ringed and gently swaying behind it as a greeting.


    After placing his backpack and the bag of ingredients on the living room table, Xue Jing squatted down, grabbed Miao Miao''s head with both hands, and started rubbing its cheeks back and forth.


    "Did the little kitty want some petting, huh?"


    Miao Miao initially tried to struggle but instantly succumbed to the exquisite technique and couldn''t help but squint its eyes in pleasure.


    "Meow~"


    The feel of the cat''s head was delightful. Xue Jing petted it for a while and, reluctant to stop, then gripped its cheeks with one hand and said with a smile:


    "Hungry, huh?"


    Despite knowing that the cat in front of him was most likely a transformed person, Xue Jing''s tone inevitably softened, much like when teasing a small child.


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao tried to push away with its two white-gloved paws, attempting to free itself from Xue Jing''s grasp on its cheeks, but to no avail. It meowed helplessly, indicating it was indeed hungry.


    Xue Jing chuckled, let the pitiful Miao Miao go, and picked up the ingredients from the table to head into the kitchen.


    Miao Miao''s face showed a very anthropomorphic dissatisfaction, pawing at its aching cheeks.


    ''Stupid humans, always so rough.''''


    Miao Miao, having somewhat forgotten it was not a cat, thought angrily.


    It paced with feline steps to the corner leading from the living room to the kitchen and sneakily peeked at Xue Jing. Confirming he was busy, it immediately dashed into his room.


    Since Xue Jing had returned so abruptly earlier, some things had been left unhandled.


    Once in the room, Miao Miao jumped onto the computer desk and with difficulty moved the mouse with its paw. Using ''One-Claw Zen'', it pressed the keyboard keys to clear the browsing history and then uninstalled a suspicious program, making the computer look ''as if nothing had happened.'' Then it shut down the computer.


    After finishing, Miao Miao sighed in relief, silently left the room, went to the living room, jumped onto the couch, curled up lazily, its paw resting on the remote control, and turned on the TV.


    "... The head of the Public Security Bureau in Qingcheng, Shang Mingyang, stated that the police have confirmed the escape route of this batch of smugglers at the Intersecting Boundaries. It is very likely they will pass through Qingcheng. The bureau has now issued a yellow safety alert, urging all residents to be exceedingly cautious regarding their personal safety..."


    In the kitchen, Xue Jing''s phone suddenly rang.


    He put down the soy sauce and soup ladle, washed his hands, wiped them on his apron, and took out his phone from his pocket.


    Xue Jing checked the incoming call display, which showed a number without a name but one he remembered well.


    He pressed the answer button and said, "Hello~ Mom, what''s up?"


    ...

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Xue Wan

    "Son, have you eaten yet?"


    The tender voice of his mother, Nan Jiayu, came through the phone speaker.


    Xue Jing smiled, switched the phone to speaker mode, and placed it in the basket next to the stove. While busy cooking, he replied, "Not yet, what''s up? Why are you calling all of a sudden?"


    Although his parents were often away on business trips in this life, their love for the two children at home was no less than any other parents'', and they spent all the money they earned on their children.


    "I can call even if there''s nothing up, can''t I? Can''t I even listen to my own son''s voice?"


    Xue''s mother, Nan Jiayu, feigned anger.


    "You''re right, my fault," Xue Jing immediately conceded.


    Nan Jiayu then inquired kindly about Xue Jing''s recent situation, and the two of them chatted about home matters for quite a while.


    "Your dad and I will probably come back around New Year''s Day, and we''ll bring you some gifts."


    "Also, be more careful on your way to and from school lately, don''t just wander about. It''s best to stay home. I just saw in the news that there might be a gang of smugglers from the Intersecting Boundaries operating in Qingcheng. Those people are desperate criminals. If you notice anything suspicious outside, you must not go near."


    Nan Jiayu instructed seriously.


    Xue Jing immediately realized that this was the real reason she had called.


    He reassured her, "Don''t worry, Mom, I know what I''m doing. If anything happens, I can run faster than a dog."


    "That''s good to hear."


    Nan Jiayu sounded very pleased and then suddenly seemed to remember something. She asked, "By the way, have you talked to your sister lately?"


    Xue Jing: "It''s been about half a month since I last called her. We did chat on WeChat a few days ago, why?"


    Nan Jiayu was silent for a moment before saying, "Yesterday afternoon, Wanwan suddenly called and said she missed your dad and me."


    "Isn''t that normal?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    "It is normal, but I just feel something isn''t quite right. That child is just like your father, seems lively on the surface but likes to keep things to herself and not let others know when there''s something wrong."


    "It may be a mother''s instinct, but I feel a bit uneasy. Son, when you have time, ask her about it. Wanwan and you have always been close since you were kids and you''re of the same generation. If there''s something wrong, she might just tell you."


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing promised, "Alright, don''t worry, Mom, I''ll ask her."


    ¡­


    After finishing the call with Nan Jiayu, Xue Jing appeared thoughtful.


    His sister, Xue Wan, was a very cheerful and beautiful person, always someone people noticed in school. She regularly topped the lists for school beauty, and her grades were always excellent. Although she didn''t get into an Inner Ring university, she got into a top Outer Ring university, ranked even higher than Qingcheng University, and she had always been someone people could count on.


    But growing up with her, Xue Jing knew she wasn''t as perfect as she appeared. She wouldn''t get up unless forced, liked to cheat during games, had a terrible temper when losing bets, and never admitted defeat. Even claiming liars are like dogs, she could easily bark "Woof, woof, woof" without any pressure.


    She would also trick her female classmates into treating her by introducing them to her ''handsome brother'' under his name...


    But the biggest flaw was just as their mother had said: she liked to keep things to herself.


    Xue Jing felt a bit worried. After thinking for a while, he picked up his phone, dialed a number, but his finger lingered on the call button and didn''t press it. Instead, he exited the dialing screen and put away his phone.


    "Better call her at night."


    He decided to call his sister Xue Wan late at night, when people are more inclined to confide.


    After putting away his phone, he continued to work in the kitchen, cooked a pot of rice, and made three dishes, his cooking skills improving by more than 50 points.


    After having lunch with Miao Miao, Xue Jing picked up the cat, who had sprawled out on the floor from being too full, and walked into his room to sit down in the computer chair, pressing the power button.


    With one hand on the belly of the reluctant Miao Miao and the other on the mouse, Xue Jing planned to look up information about "Power."


    He opened the browser and entered a commonly used search engine website. Just as he was about to type, his gaze shifted.


    Xue Jing''s computer keyboard was black, which hid dirt well. Usually, dust and stains were hard to see.


    However, with his Aiming skills activated, his vision was exceptionally sharp, so he could see things that most people couldn''t.


    He distinctly saw black and white hairs stuck in the crevices of the keyboard.


    "Is this... cat hair?"


    Xue Jing unnoticeably shifted his gaze toward the Miao Miao in his arms.


    This little thing, did it touch my computer?


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing made no fuss about it and pretended he hadn''t noticed, beginning to search for information on Power.


    Skipping many useless ads and incorrect information, it took him about fifteen minutes before he finally found some useful content on a question-and-answer platform that was somewhat professional, similar to Zhihu.


    He was engrossed in reading, and the Miao Miao in his arms also sat up on his lap, looking at the webpage.


    ''Hmm? Looking for martial arts information? Is he planning to practice martial arts?'' Miao Miao thought while watching.


    ''These half-baked articles, all pretense without understanding, can only fool laymen. "Reaching high levels can develop supernatural abilities" ¡ª can that really be trained? Without consuming banned drugs or implanting alien implants, even a "Limit Breaker" who has crossed the Dragon Gate is just a mortal of flesh and blood.


    There are no human miracles in this world, only ruthless determination and technology...''


    Miao Miao lifted its head and looked at Xue Jing''s gently curved chin.


    ''If he''s really interested in martial arts... once I leave, perhaps I could introduce him to that person, as payment for the rent I owe for staying here...''


    Thinking, Miao Miao yawned.


    After eating, drowsiness followed persistently.


    It curled up on Xue Jing''s thigh, the comforting scent of the young man lingering no its nose, and slowly drifted off to sleep.


    "..."


    Noticing that Miao Miao''s breathing was calm and prolonged, signifying that it was completely asleep, Xue Jing quietly exited the website.


    He opened the search engine and typed in "screen recording software that can be hidden," selected one after a moment, and successfully downloaded a screen recording application that met the requirements.


    He set it to "enable autostart" and "automatic recording," then restarted the computer. After checking the results and finding no issues, he then shut down the computer.


    Having completed these tasks, Xue Jing gently picked up Miao Miao, placed it on his bed, and then tiptoed out of the room.


    ...


    In the ''gym,'' Xue Jing looked at the barbell on the bench press rack in front of him.


    It was a standard barbell weighing twenty kilograms, with two twenty-kilogram plates hanging on each side, adding up to exactly one hundred kilograms.


    This was his regular weight for bench press workouts, though he could actually add about twenty more kilograms if he pushed his limits.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, picked up two fifteen-kilogram plates from the yoga mat covered with barbell plates on the floor, attached them to the rod, then picked up two five-kilogram plates and put them on as well.


    In this way, the weight of the barbell reached one hundred forty kilograms.


    Xue Jing lay down on the bench press rack, grabbed the barbell with both hands, took a deep breath, lifted the barbell from the hooks down to his chest, and then exerted force. His muscles instantly tensed up as he lifted the barbell!


    The one hundred forty kilograms barbell was slowly raised with scarcely a tremble in the process, very stable, evidently leaving some strength to spare.


    After successfully lifting it, Xue Jing did not stop but repeatedly performed bench presses until he completed a set of nine, then placed the barbell back on the hooks.


    He breathed slightly heavily, feeling refreshed.


    "After activating ''fighting,'' my physical fitness has improved considerably, and with the additional 100 plus Fitness Experience Points gained from fighting, my limit on the bench press increased by about twenty to thirty kilograms."


    Though this increase might not seem like much, it must be noted that there is a diminishing marginal effect in physical training.


    The closer one gets to the human limit, the harder it is to increase strength.


    With dedicated training, a person could move from bench pressing sixty kilograms to one hundred twenty kilograms in just two or three years, but to reach one hundred forty kilograms is no longer a matter of effort; even ten or eight years or even a lifetime might not suffice. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, the twenty to thirty kilograms increase that Xue Jing achieved in his bench press weight is highly significant.


    Having tested the bench press, Xue Jing walked to the standing punching bag in the middle of the room, took a deep breath, focused his gaze, and threw a punch!


    "Bang!"


    A loud explosion sounded as Xue Jing''s fist heavily imprinted on the punching bag, creating ripples on its leather surface, and it almost seemed as if the force of the punch was spreading outward, the heavyweight iron base filled with sand, weighing over 150 kilograms, suddenly tilted dramatically to the side.


    Xue Jing stretched out a hand to steady the punching bag, nodded, and muttered to himself, "Not bad."


    ...

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16 My House is Quite Big

    At 1:30 in the afternoon, Xue Jing arrived at school.


    Just like in the morning, he didn''t go directly to his class but entered the Qingcheng University campus once more, heading to the Qing University Library.


    Compared to the sparse population in the morning, there were quite a lot of people in the library at this time. However, everyone was very quiet, with basically only the sound of flipping pages to be heard.


    Xue Jing''s arrival caught the attention of many students. A short-haired girl sitting in the lounge area with an extracurricular book in her hands looked towards Xue Jing, who was clad in the Affiliated Middle School uniform, with bright and shining eyes, whispering excitedly to her best friend:


    "Look, look! That boy is so handsome!"


    "Should we go ask for his WeChat?"


    Her best friend, while staring at Xue Jing, teased her, "I thought you liked older guys? Why are you chasing after a young pup from the Affiliated Middle School?"


    "Even if I''m not fond of sweets, when faced with top-tier desserts like this, I can''t help but salivate!" said the short-haired girl, her eyes sparkling.


    "Come on, I''ll go ask for his WeChat, and you bolster my courage¡­"


    As she said this, she stood up from her chair.


    The chair was pushed back, causing a friction sound with the floor that was a bit sharp.


    It seemed as if Xue Jing had heard the noise, he turned his head and looked toward the short-haired girl.


    "¡­"


    That glance from those cool and detached eyes made the girl feel as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, chilling her from scalp to heel, extinguishing her desires in an instant.


    It wasn''t until Xue Jing had ascended the stairs, leaving her line of sight, that the short-haired girl suddenly clutched at the ample fruits in front of her chest, gasping for air as if she were a drowning victim who had just been pulled ashore.


    Her best friend was stunned for a moment before quickly patting her back to help her catch her breath, asking with concern, "What''s wrong, Lin? Are you alright?"


    The twin-tailed girl named Lin, still shaken, said, "I don''t know why, but that boy... he seemed quite dangerous. I think I won''t ask for his WeChat after all."


    ¡­


    Unaware of the psychological impact his inadvertent glance had just inflicted on someone, Xue Jing continued to ascend and arrived at the seventh floor.


    The seventh floor was as deserted as ever, a stark contrast to the bustling six floors below. Only a girl sat there, in an old chair, holding a book, still sitting so perfectly upright that not a single fault could be found, the light blue skinny jeans stretched tight like a perfectly ripe peach.


    This was the same girl Xue Jing had encountered in the morning at the same spot.


    Different from the morning encounter, when the girl saw Xue Jing this time, she nodded at him, her waist-length ponytail swaying gently, and a hint of a smile appeared on her clean and pretty face.


    Xue Jing smiled back but didn''t speak, also nodding his head in return.


    He thought this silent exchange of nods was quite interesting.


    Walking into the bookshelf area, Xue Jing began to look for clues that might relate to ''Divine Substance.''


    Under the dim yellow lights, Xue Jing and the girl were busy with their own matters, clearly demarcated. They seemed like two unrelated passersby to each other yet there was an inexplicably natural harmony between them.


    An hour later, Xue Jing had learned a bunch of things that ordinary people didn''t know, but still came up empty-handed in regard to Divine Substance. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I should go to class first."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing put the book back on the shelf and left the library.


    The silent seventh floor was left to the girl alone, as if she were a lone Bound Spirit confined to this place, with only the occasional turning of a book page to prove her real existence.


    ¡­


    When Xue Jing walked into his own classroom, he found that the desk and chair originally defaced by Pei Youguang had been replaced with a whole new set.


    "It was that second-year student, Pei Youguang, who moved it over. He swapped out your desk and chair," explained a classmate who had come in quite early.


    "I see," said Xue Jing in response.


    He didn''t mind it much, as chairs and desks are still functional no matter if they are scratched or not. However, that set of graffiti-covered furniture had indeed been stuffed with filthy things in its drawers, so it was quite good that it was replaced.


    Pei Youguang is pretty sensible,


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    It wasn''t in vain that he had earnestly lectured him.


    The four afternoon classes quickly passed by, and Xue Jing greeted Li Ge, saying he had something to do and told him to go ahead first.


    Then he packed up his textbooks, slung his backpack over one shoulder, and walked out of the third teaching building where he was.


    The Affiliated Middle School has three teaching buildings, one for each year, with twenty classes per year.


    Xue Jing arrived at the corridor of the second teaching building where the second-year students were, leaned against the pillar at the doorway, took out his phone, and while browsing some martial arts explanatory videos, he waited.


    He was quite eye-catching, and the second-year students exiting the building couldn''t help but let their gaze linger on him a bit more than usual.


    He didn''t have to wait long; soon, a plump young man bandaged up with band-aids on his nose and eyes, wrapped like a mummy and surrounded by a crowd of lackeys, came out.


    It was none other than Pei Youguang.


    The lackeys beside him also had various injuries, just not as severe as Pei Youguang''s.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing, Pei Youguang was momentarily stunned, then hurried over and said eagerly, "Hey, Jing Bro, are you waiting for me?"


    His behavior immediately stunned the surrounding second-year students.


    "Is that Pei Youguang?"


    "Ah? That''s Pei Youguang? He''s wrapped up like a mummy, I didn''t recognize him."


    "Who''s that guy? Why does it look like Pei Youguang is... fawning over him?"


    "It''s Xue Jing from the third year! This morning I saw him getting called out at the school gate by Zhou Juncheng, I thought he was going to get beaten up by Pei Youguang, but it seems like nothing happened to him at all..."


    "Stupid, with Pei Youguang looking like that, he definitely tried to hit someone but ended up being hit instead."


    "What happened? Wasn''t Pei Youguang trained in martial arts? How did he end up getting beaten like this?"


    Whispers of discussion came from all around, with the students sporting expressions of excitement as if they had stumbled upon juicy gossip.


    This school bully wasn''t well-liked on regular days, so now that he seemed to be at a disadvantage, everyone was quite pleased.


    "Serves him right, always bullying others; now he''s run into a tough nut to crack!"


    "Finally, someone can handle him."


    "I''m in the same class as Pei Youguang. This morning he was still saying he was going to teach Xue Jing a lesson, supposedly because Lin Shiyu likes Xue Jing... Look, Lin Shiyu is coming out."


    The younger school girl Lin Shiyu, wearing a school uniform skirt, with long, straight legs that shone in the sunset, walked out of the teaching building and saw Xue Jing. A look of embarrassment appeared on her beautiful face.


    Having her confession rejected that morning and now encountering the person concerned left her feeling awkward.


    Fortunately, Xue Jing didn''t even glance at her, as if he hadn''t noticed her at all. Although it seemed a bit heartless and made her feel dejected, she couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief.


    Lin Shiyu quickly grabbed her bag and, holding on to her best friend''s hand, scurried away.


    "Jing Bro, you came to learn Power from me, right? Come on, let''s go to my place. My house is quite big, and we have almost all the equipment needed for Martial Arts Practice in the dojo..."


    While speaking, Pei Youguang gestured with his remaining good eye to his lackeys.


    One of the lackeys immediately understood and stepped forward to offer politely:


    "Jing Bro, let me carry your backpack for you."


    "Mm, let''s go," Xue Jing smiled, handed his backpack to the lackey, and followed Pei Youguang out of the school.


    ...

 Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Breathing Skills, Good Aptitude

    (I''ve made some changes to the protagonist''s family background and character settings, as well as fixed the pacing issues of the previous chapter. Readers who have read it may revisit it, especially chapters 15 and 16. Sorry for the trouble, and thank you for your understanding.)


    (Thank you all for your rewards, monthly tickets, and recommendations. As a newcomer, I''m flattered and will strive to repay you by writing more!)


    ...


    Qingcheng has four major districts: east, south, west, and north. There''s a saying that goes, ''The east is rich, the west is poor, the north is noble, and the south is lowly,'' which roughly describes the residential division within Qingcheng.


    Residents of the East City District are mostly wealthy, with major companies and corporate headquarters primarily located there¡ªit can be said that every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. The North City District, on the other hand, is home to officials and dignitaries, with extremely high security. The issue here is not the cost of the land, but rather that money can''t buy it.


    The West City District is where the majority of common folks reside, which is also where Xue Jing''s home is located.


    Of course, this is not an absolute, and living in the East City District doesn''t guarantee wealth, nor does living in the West City District guarantee poverty¡ªit''s after all just a loose division.


    But there is no debate about the ''lowly'' reputation of the South City District.


    It''s a true slum, the ultimate destination of all crime in a city, governed not by law but by gangsters. Even the Public Security Bureau has no control over it. Many criminals simply vanish into its depths, impossible to find, with only the security companies behind the gangs having any say there.


    However, Xue Jing had never been to the South City District. Since childhood, his parents and other elders had warned him countless times to never go near it, so he didn''t know much about it except for what he heard from others.


    He never imagined that Pei Youguang, who his classmates said had a ''strong background,'' actually lived within the South City District.


    Although it was just on the periphery of the South City, close to the West City, it still touched a bit of the ''slums'' edge.''


    "Jing, come in," said Pei Youguang, taking out his keys to open the gate of a rather large house and speaking to Xue Jing.


    The house''s exterior looked quite old, with a square shape and a front yard that covered a fairly large area. The white brick walls were full of mottled signs of age, severely oxidized and yellowed.


    The surrounding environment of the house was also a picture of backwardness and decay, with many areas on the street cluttered with bottles and cans, which appeared to have not been cleaned for a long time.


    Xue Jing shook his head and followed Pei Youguang inside.


    Contrary to the antiquated exterior of the house, the interior decoration was surprisingly nice, with grey faux wood flooring, a large fluffy carpet in the middle of the living room, and all kinds of furniture that, while not exuding great taste, at least seemed quite harmonious.


    Xue Jing took off his shoes, walked into the living room, hung his backpack on a hook at the entrance, chose an armchair to sit on, and said:


    "Are you living here alone?"


    Pei Youguang, who was retrieving a beverage from the fridge, paused for a moment and nodded, "Yes."


    With a casual tone, Xue Jing said, "Why are you living here? Isn''t your dad working for a councilman? Even if he can''t get into the North City District, he should at least be able to live in the East City District, right?"


    Pei Youguang tossed a bottle of soda to Xue Jing, opened one for himself, took a big gulp, sighed with satisfaction, and then said, "My relationship with my dad isn''t that great... This house belonged to my mom. After she passed away, she left it to me. I moved in here after a fight with my dad two years ago."


    "There''s a Golden Wind Dojo nearby, supposedly the Arena Master is from the Inner Ring City and is a descendant of the ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword.'' After I moved here, I joined the Golden Wind Dojo out of admiration and trained martial arts with the masters for a few months... Later, some things happened, and I left the dojo."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    It seemed that Pei Youguang also had his share of difficulties.


    However, everyone has a story to some extent, and Xue Jing was not interested in digging deeper. So he stood up and said, "We should not delay any further. Let''s begin teaching me ''Power'' now."


    That was his sole purpose for coming here.


    Upon hearing this, Pei Youguang also got up, threw the empty bottle he had finished drinking into the trash bin, and said, "Alright, Jing, follow me. Let''s go to the training room."


    ...


    This was a large room of about seventy square meters, covered with a thick layer of matting and filled with various types of fitness equipment, as well as some machines that Xue Jing didn''t understand the use of.


    In the center of the room, several punching posts and sandbags were placed, all of different materials, looking worn, evidently in frequent use.


    "If you want to develop power, the key lies in breathing,"


    In the training room, Pei Youguang began to explain like the old masters in the dojo.


    "Power is the kinetic energy produced by the movement of internal organs in the human body, but our control over our bodies is very limited; we can''t control the flow of blood, nor the functions of the internal organs, and even our control over muscles is merely ''tense'' and ''relax''. Therefore, we must first learn how to affect these parts of the body that we can''t usually control.


    That''s where ''breathing skills'' come into play,"


    "Next, I''ll teach you a set of ''breathing skills.'' This set of basic breathing skills is something every dojo disciple learns. With it, you can exert influence over your body''s internal functions."


    After finishing his explanation, Pei Youguang sat down cross-legged on the cushion.


    "Come, Jing, follow my lead," he said.


    Xue Jing did as instructed, sitting down cross-legged like Pei Youguang.


    Pei Youguang then proceeded to detail the specific steps of the breathing skills, demonstrating and instructing Xue Jing to follow along.


    The breathing skills weren''t too complicated, but they were extremely challenging. Some steps involved very long intervals between inhaling and exhaling, requiring one to take in a large amount of oxygen at once. With such a volume of oxygen rushing into the lungs, those with insufficient lung capacity didn''t even qualify to practice.


    Pei Youguang had thought that Xue Jing would surely be unable to keep up with the breathing skills on his first try. It had taken him a whole month before he barely managed to complete a full practice of the breathing skills when he first trained.


    So, he expected with a hint of mockery to see Jing''s embarrassing coughing fit, but he was shocked by the end of the full set of breathing skills.


    Xue Jing had actually followed through the whole sequence, succeeding in completing the full basic breathing skills on his first attempt!


    "Is it over?"


    Xue Jing, after inhaling a large amount of oxygen and feeling unaccustomed to it, felt very dizzy, his heart racing, with a nauseous urge to vomit, and his vision blurred, as if flames were burning throughout his body.


    This was due to the large amount of oxygen entering the bloodstream through the alveoli, causing the blood to circulate at an excessive speed and raising the body''s temperature.


    It was a rough experience, but he had completed it.


    "Jing, awesome," said Pei Youguang, truly impressed, giving a thumbs up.


    Only someone like him, who had practiced it, knew how difficult it was to practice breathing skills, yet Xue Jing did it outright on his first attempt.


    Perhaps this was what the old master referred to as ''good aptitude''!


    Pei Youguang couldn''t help but feel envious.


    "Once you get used to the breathing skills and practice them often, even turning them into your instinct and using them constantly, you can continually improve your physical condition. However, I haven''t managed to do this myself yet. Currently, I can''t perform the breathing skills too many times each day, or my body won''t be able to take it."


    "Once you''re accustomed to it, you''ll start to feel the rhythm inside your body while breathing. When you learn how to use different breathing patterns to influence and even control them, you will naturally develop power," explained Pei Youguang. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing, with his eyes closed, was calming the various strains caused by his first time performing the breathing skills.


    After a long while, he opened his eyes and said, "Teach me again."


    Pei Youguang, concerned, replied, "You''ve just been introduced to the breathing skills, so it''s best to practice just once for today and continue tomorrow. Otherwise, I''m worried your body won''t handle it."


    Xue Jing shook his head: "It''s fine, continue."


    He had already memorized most of the steps of the breathing skills but needed another go to solidify his memory and ensure he made no mistakes.


    ...

 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Buying a Life

    After practicing the complete breathing technique with Pei Youguang again, Xue Jing had thoroughly memorized all the detailed steps of the breathing skills.


    This completion of the breathing skills, just like the first time, was very uncomfortable, but it was slightly better compared to the first attempt, as if he had adapted a little.


    At this moment, Pei Youguang, having conducted the breathing skills practice twice in a row, also felt a bit uncomfortable. He touched his head and exclaimed,


    "Not only did you successfully complete the cycle on the first attempt at practicing breathing skills, but you also did it twice in a row..."


    "If the master at the dojo knew this, he would probably be shocked beyond belief."


    As Xue Jing slowly recovered from the strain of the breathing skills, he said, "Youguang, thank you for this time."


    Pei Youguang, flattered, quickly replied, "Hey! What''s there to thank me for, Jing? It''s an honor for me that you allowed me to teach you..."


    Though his words carried a hint of flattery, he genuinely felt that way.


    Considering Xue Jing''s natural talent and substantial potential, it was obvious to anyone that his prospects were boundless. Pei Youguang felt fortunate to have the chance to build a ''teaching bond'' with Xue Jing while he was still emerging.


    Such basic breathing skills, which were not very valuable, enabled him to establish a relationship with a person of boundless potential, which he considered a huge gain.


    Pei Youguang lamented, "Unfortunately, I do not have the dojo''s secret medicine here. Breathing skills should be combined with the secret medicine for training to achieve the best effect. I remember the master calling this process ''blood cleansing''..."


    "He said that blood is the fundamental source of energy for the body, and the cleaner and finer the blood, the stronger the energy it provides. Each dojo has its unique ''Blood Cleansing Secret Method''. If you join one, maybe you''ll have access to them, Jing."


    While Xue Jing listened to him speak, he opened his panel to take a look.


    [You practiced a breathing technique, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You practiced a breathing technique, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [Fitness Lv2 (463/500)]


    Having performed the breathing skills twice, his fitness experience had increased by over thirty points?


    Pei Youguang mentioned that breathing skills could improve physical fitness, but he hadn''t expected the effect to be so significant.


    "A complete cycle of the breathing technique takes about fifteen minutes, which means over sixty points in an hour."


    By focusing solely on physical fitness, one could gain about a hundred points in an hour.


    It seemed that breathing skills were less efficient than dedicated physical training, but it wasn''t so simple.


    Physical training required specific equipment and environment, whereas breathing skills could be practiced anytime, anywhere!


    If he could maintain the breathing skills operation for twenty-four hours, then by ''idling'' for a day, he could increase his fitness experience by over fourteen hundred points!


    This was an incredibly significant increase!


    Of course, at the moment this was impossible, as the breathing skills posed a tremendous strain on the body. After performing two complete cycles, he already felt that he could not continue without injuring himself.


    Nevertheless, having an additional method to increase fitness experience at any time and place made Xue Jing very satisfied.


    About twenty minutes later, Xue Jing felt he had fully recovered.


    He stood up, looked around, and suddenly his eyes lit up as he noticed a machine in the corner.


    Pei Youguang, noticing his interest, smiled and said, "That''s a strength-testing machine, Jing. Would you like to try?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Pei Youguang replied, "Alright, I''ll go turn it on for you."


    He ran to the back of the strength-testing machine, pressed a button, and the screen on the machine''s stand lit up, displaying the previous test score.


    [1472N].


    "The data unit for this machine is N, which stands for ''Newton''."


    Pei Youguang explained,


    "1472 Newtons, converted into the more understandable KG, or kilograms, is approximately one hundred and fifty kilograms."


    Pei Youguang was a bit proud, "This is the data I punched out the day before yesterday using Channeling Energy, impressive huh?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Yeah, pretty impressive."


    He paused, "Let me give it a try."


    Seeing this, Pei Youguang immediately gave up his spot.


    Xue Jing stepped forward, positioned himself, took a deep breath, aimed at the slightly worn leather pad on the strength-testing machine, and threw a powerful straight punch!


    "Bang!!"


    A loud explosion, the heavy strength-testing machine shook slightly, and the numbers on the monitor on the stand started jumping before finally stopping.


    [1773N].


    Pei Youguang''s eyes widened slightly.


    "What the hell!?"


    1773 Newtons, converted into weight, is roughly around 181 kg.


    "Jing, you haven''t actually trained secretly just to trick me, have you?"


    Pei Youguang clicked his tongue in amazement.


    "No Channeling Energy, purely brute force, to punch out 1773 Newtons, that''s almost 180 kg, that''s insane!"


    He touched his nose wrapped in bandages, "No wonder you almost blew my nose off at noon..."


    Xue Jing laughed heartily, "How about that? Not bad, right?"


    Pei Youguang nodded repeatedly, "That''s more than good, bro. If you learn to channel energy, you could immediately qualify for a Professional Martial Artist certification."


    Xue Jing didn''t reply but instead looked curiously at another machine nearby with many buttons, "What''s that?"


    Pei Youguang smiled, "That''s for training reflexes. You see all those buttons, right? It''s like playing whack-a-mole. You need to press them as soon as they light up, the faster the better..."


    ...


    Xue Jing stayed at Pei Youguang''s home until about eight in the evening, agreed that they would often come over during this period, then he finally bid goodbye and left.


    Before leaving, Pei Youguang had asked if he could be spared from the morning reading tomorrow, which Xue Jing denied.


    He had initially made him read mostly to tweak the school bully, but now he let him read sincerely for his benefit.


    Carrying a reputation as a merciless killer wasn''t a joke.


    Pei Youguang was too young to understand the consequences, or maybe he vaguely understood but was somewhat resigned due to certain reasons, but Xue Jing did not want him to ruin himself like that.


    Although he had done many wrong things before, as long as he hadn''t made a fundamentally irreversible mistake, there was still a chance to correct his ways.


    Xue Jing walked on the streets, although it was only eight o''clock at night, the street in the South City area was very quiet, with only a few shops still lit up.


    The evening breeze blew, swirling the bottles, jars, newspapers, and plastic bags around the quiet street, creating a series of echoes.


    Xue Jing carried his school bag on one shoulder, looking natural as he walked towards the nearest bus stop. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Behind him, a few dozen meters away in a narrow alley, several people were lurking, eyeing his back with nefarious intentions.


    One of them, a man with a tuft of white dyed hair at the front, chuckled, "It''s rare, to find a fat sheep this late outside, wearing a school uniform from Qingcheng University Affiliated Middle School?"


    Standing in the middle of the group, a middle-aged man with a long scar on his right cheek deeply inhaled on a cigarette he was clutching and slowly exhaled, dressed in a sleeveless black sweatshirt, his muscly right arm newly tattooed with a dragon over his shoulder.


    "Wandering around on our Razor Gang''s turf so late at night, we can''t let him go without leaving something behind."


    "If he can afford the tuition at the Affiliated Middle School, he should be able to afford the ransom too, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Night Raid

    Dark night.


    Xue Jing walked on the streets just outside the perimeter of South City.


    The narrow and poorly planned blocks were crammed together in disarray, all the buildings old and dilapidated, some could not even be called houses, but were merely shanties made of sheets of iron and planks of wood.


    The construction material of these houses was obviously inferior, having lacked basic maintenance for a long time, some parts were already crumbling.


    The ground was littered with floating tin can garbage, uneven cement surfaces with puddles everywhere, a few stray dogs watched Xue Jing, as if waiting for something.


    "..."


    Xue Jing stopped.


    Even though there was no one to be seen on the streets, he had a strange feeling.


    Just like the calm before a storm, the dark night seemed to be gestating a terrifying beast, with an indistinct sense of something swelling and contracting.


    It was his heartbeat.


    Even though he wasn''t using any breathing skills, the blood in his body suddenly began to circulate faster, his body temperature started to rise as if it was about to boil.


    The hair on his back stood up, his scalp tingled as if there was an extremely sharp knife resting on his neck, slowly scraping against the skin.


    Without any reason, without the aid of any senses, the "fighting" instinct latent deep within his body was reminding him of danger.


    Without any hesitation, Xue Jing chose to trust his instincts.


    Run!


    On the street, Xue Jing crouched slightly, his thigh muscles tensed, and in an instant, the leg strength from "Running" exploded, whooshing towards the outskirts of the street!


    Just as he suddenly started to run, shouts and curses came from the crevices and alleys between the houses.


    "Damn it, he''s noticed!"


    "Wants to run, chase him down!"


    "Shit, this little bastard is so fast!"


    From various hidden alleys, more than a dozen figures emerged, chasing after Xue Jing.


    Most of them were armed with a variety of weapons, knives, sticks, machetes, baseball bats... The clanging sound of metal weapons dragging on the ground was incessant.


    These people were obviously not doing this for the first time, the positions of each person, centered on Xue Jing, had almost formed an encircling net.


    If Xue Jing had acted just ten more seconds later, once the encirclement was fully formed, there would be no escape.


    But now, there were only two people directly in front of him!


    "Orange, Little Li, stop him!"


    The people behind were shouting, Xue Jing looked at the two in front on the road, one was a skinny teenager in a red T-shirt wielding a baseball bat, the other was a fierce-looking young man with a crew-cut, his hands empty.


    The distance between Xue Jing and the two was rapidly closing, and although contact was imminent, he showed no sign of slowing down.


    The crew-cut young man didn''t move, while the teen with the bat took two steps forward, raising the bat, ready to swing, seemingly about to treat the charging Xue Jing like a baseball.


    Closer, ever closer.


    Just as the skinny teenager''s gaze focused and swung his bat, Xue Jing''s body, without any decrease in speed, suddenly ducked.


    The whooshing bat grazed his head, brushing few strands of hair, and at the same time, Xue Jing, squatting down, clenched his right hand and on rising, delivered a ferocious uppercut "Rising Dragon Fist" to the skinny teenager''s chin!


    With his "Aiming" skills, the precision of his punch was incomparable, hitting the teenager''s chin directly.


    "Bang!"


    A blast sounded at the same moment, faintly accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, Xue Jing felt from his fist the sensation of having smashed something.


    The strong inertia from the running, combined with his 180 kilograms of "Punch Force", the intense kinetic energy sent the skinny teenager flying nearly a meter into the air; when he landed, he was already rolling his eyes and motionless, his neck twisted at an exaggerated angle, the skin on his chin uneven, obviously his jawbone had been completely shattered.


    "Little Li!"


    "Damn it, this kid''s a bit tough, everyone be careful!"


    The people following behind called out in shock.


    Xue Jing did not pause for long, merely a brief moment, before he continued charging forward.


    The remaining buzz-cut youth, who initially wore a casual expression, understood through the previous scene that Xue Jing was not an ordinary weak student.


    His expression became serious as he raised his fists, his knees slightly bent, adopting a boxer''s stance to meet the oncoming attack. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was fully prepared, confident that he could react no matter from which angle Xue Jing attacked.


    As long as he could momentarily block this rapidly running student, his companions would catch up, and then it would be like catching a turtle in a jar or beating a dog in a dead-end street.


    He stood ready for battle, his face stern, watching as Xue Jing rapidly approached.


    ''Left punch, right punch, or a kick?''


    And just when he was about to make contact with Xue Jing, at the most critical moment¡­


    Xue Jing didn''t pay him any attention and simply ran past him.


    The buzz-cut youth was taken aback.


    It seemed to him that Xue Jing, as they brushed shoulders, gave him an odd look that seemed to say: What are you doing?


    "Fuck you!"


    The buzz-cut youth instantly turned red with rage, cursed loudly, and chased after Xue Jing.


    On the main streets on the outskirts of South City, Xue Jing was running ahead with a dozen people chasing after him.


    A few minutes later, as they watched Xue Jing''s figure getting further away, everyone gradually began to slow down and stop.


    "This... this damn brat... how... how can he run like that..."


    A panting person leaned on his machete to support his tired body and spoke in broken sentences.


    "Damn it, spent all day hunting geese, but the geese pecked out our eyes, this time we really screwed up, didn''t catch the guy, and even got a brother hurt."


    "What now, Duan is still waiting in the warehouse, we couldn''t handle this trivial matter, no idea how badly we''re going to get chewed out."


    "What else can we do, everyone has..."


    A dyed-haired youth didn''t finish his sentence when he suddenly stopped.


    At the corner of the street at the end, just as Xue Jing was about to disappear from their view, he suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, and looked toward them.


    "Hey, that little bastard, can''t run anymore huh?"


    Someone sneered.


    "Let''s go, we''ll get that dog, made us exert so much effort, later we definitely need to mess him up good."


    "My pliers for pulling teeth are almost rusting, this kid looks so prim and proper, just the type those girls who like pretty boys fancy, not sure if he can still..."


    Mockingly, the group approached Xue Jing.


    ...


    As the curses and footsteps behind him became fainter, Xue Jing knew he had escaped the danger.


    The accelerated heartbeat brought on by the sense of crisis slowly subsided, but a rage began to smolder in his heart.


    Out of nowhere, a bunch of people chased him like a dog, no matter the reason, he took note of this grudge.


    Rationality told him he should leave immediately and not take risks, it would be safer to seek revenge after becoming stronger; there was plenty of time for a gentleman''s revenge, even if it took ten years.


    But his emotions told him to fuck rationality!


    He slowly turned around and looked across the street at the dozen or so figures.


    He opened his panel and confirmed the passive effect of "Twin Lifes," feeling a surge of confidence.


    He looked around on the ground and spotted a half-piece of red brick about the size of a fist nearby.


    Xue Jing picked up the half brick and weighed it in his hand.


    Under the astonished gaze of the dozen or so people, he walked towards them with a blank expression and steady steps.


    ...

 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Guerilla

    "Huh? What does this kid want to do?"


    Watching Xue Jing approaching them, someone expressed their confusion aloud.


    "Wait, what is he holding in his hand..."


    A short-haired youth suddenly pointed at Xue Jing''s right hand.


    "A brick?"


    "He mustn''t think that picking up a brick from the ground would be intimidating, haha, what can a brick do?"


    Someone scoffed, weighing the metal baseball bat in their hand.


    The crowd snickered as they walked towards Xue Jing.


    On the quiet night street, one side was a dozen gangsters clustered together, and the other was a lone student in a school uniform, both slowly approaching each other.


    As Xue Jing moved forward, he gauged the distance relying on the instinct of aiming.


    Just when the two sides were less than twenty meters apart, Xue Jing stopped in his tracks.


    ''This should be about right.''


    Barely feeling that it was an excellent throwing distance, Xue Jing, going with the feel, raised the half brick the size of his fist in his hand.


    "That kid is about to throw a brick, watch out!"


    Someone called out a warning.


    No sooner had he spoken than the head of a close-cropped youth beside him suddenly exploded.


    "Bang!!"


    "Ah!!"


    Red brick fragments splattered everywhere, cutting several wounds on his face and some fragments even lodged in his eyes, causing him to cry out in pain.


    The youth with the close-cropped hair hit by the brick was now lying silently on the ground, a large gash on his forehead, blood gushing out.


    "Fuck!"


    "What the hell!?"


    "Did someone get shot!?"


    "No, it''s that kid''s brick!"


    "Sheng Hua has passed out!"


    "Damn it, get him, go!"


    In the ensuing chaos, some went to help the youth with the exploded head, some stood dumbfounded, but most immediately rushed towards Xue Jing at full speed.


    However, the instant Xue Jing threw the half brick, he turned around without hesitation and started running again!


    "Fuck, chase him!"


    "Don''t run, you little bastard, I''m going to kill your whole family, fuck your mother!"


    ...


    Minutes later, everyone stopped, panting heavily, looking at the figure in the school uniform in the distance.


    They just couldn''t catch up!


    Just as they stopped, Xue Jing also stopped and slowly turned around.


    A bad feeling arose in everyone''s hearts.


    Soon, their premonition came true.


    In the streets of South City area, there wasn''t much else, but there was garbage everywhere.


    Xue Jing picked up a 500ml glass beer bottle from the ground.


    Seeing this, the gangsters immediately panicked.


    "Fuck, find cover!!"


    "Move, this spot is mine!"


    People were pushing each other for a spot behind a plastic trash can.


    "Spread out, spread out!"


    In the panic, the glass beer bottle whizzed in, blasting the head of a tall, thin youth who couldn''t dodge in time.


    "Bang!"


    "Ah!!"


    The tall, thin youth clutched his head, blood pouring through his fingers, "He''s got nothing left in his hands, go get him now!"


    He seemed to be a minor leader; as he commanded, people hurriedly emerged from their hiding spots.


    But by then, Xue Jing had already run far away.


    The crowd glanced at each other, unsure whether to chase.


    "What are you waiting for, chase him!"


    The tall and thin young man said in frustration.


    Seeing this, the others had no choice but to chase after Xue Jing once again.


    After several chases, and running at full strength, everyone''s physical strength was barely holding up. This time, they didn''t chase for long before most of them slowly started to lag.


    As they slowed, Xue Jing immediately noticed and stopped in his tracks.


    "This..."


    The crowd swallowed hard, watching fearfully as the good-looking boy in the school uniform slowly turned around.


    Just as Xue Jing picked up something off the ground again, someone in the crowd couldn''t keep it together anymore.


    "Run!!"


    Hearing this shout, those who were already contemplating retreat instantly scattered, desperately diving for nearby cover.


    "Move, move, I was here first!"


    "What the hell are you squeezing for, get lost!"


    "Damn it, clumsy fool, risk your own life, I''m out!"


    Faced with an enemy they could never catch up to, and who might randomly choose a "lucky" spectator for a headshot when stopping, everyone genuinely felt fearful.


    Regret, overwhelming regret engulfed everyone''s hearts.


    Who the hell decided we should catch this Affiliated Middle School student!?


    "Whoosh!"


    A rusty steel rebar, over thirty centimeters long and as thick as a finger, flew straight towards the crowd like an arrow. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Plop!"


    A gangster hiding behind a tin shack saw the steel rebar pierce through the thin iron sheet, missing his head by mere centimeters, and burst into tears right there.


    His legs gave out, and he fell to the ground. Looking up, he saw Xue Jing in the distance bending down to pick up something from the ground again.


    "Mommy!!!"


    The gangster immediately began sobbing bitterly, wishing he had more legs to run away from Xue Jing faster.


    But before he could get far, a small concrete block flew from afar, striking him precisely on the back of the head. As it exploded into a cloud of dust, it cracked his skull open.


    "Run, run, run fast!"


    Fully devoid of any desire to resist, the crowd fled back the way they came, heads down in sheer terror.


    Thus, the situation reversed.


    In the night of South City, a bizarre scene unfolded on the outer street.


    A dozen or so young men with various hairstyles and tattoos were screaming and fleeing desperately, while a good-looking student in Affiliated Middle School uniform, looking like a well-behaved boy, was relentlessly pursuing them.


    From time to time, the student would randomly pick up some hard trash from the ground and hurl it at the crowd ahead. Each throw was accurate, with sounds of heads being struck ringing out continuously.


    The weapons in their hands had also fallen to the ground, becoming projectiles for Xue Jing to throw.


    "Here it comes again!"


    "Bro! Dad! Daddy, grandpa! Please, stop throwing them!"


    "I surrender, I surrender, ah, stop throwing them!"


    All the while, everyone was screaming as they ran.


    The commotion was loud and caught the attention of residents in the neighborhood, who opened their windows to look out. Seeing such an absurd spectacle, they clicked their tongues in amazement.


    "Hey, isn''t that the Razor Gang? What happened?"


    "Is another gang invading to take over this territory?"


    "No, wait, why is there a student? And he seems to be wearing an Affiliated Middle School uniform."


    "Hey, weird and bizarre, why are they being chased by a student?"


    A young man with blonde hair finally couldn''t run anymore and stopped to catch his breath.


    Just then, a figure like a nightmare approached him from the side.


    The blonde-haired youth turned his head and saw Xue Jing standing emotionlessly in front of him, his cold, sharp gaze piercing through him as he held a metal baseball bat.


    "...OK, OK, I beg you to spare my life."


    The blonde-haired youth smoothly knelt down, his eyes filled with terror, pleading.


    "Bang!"


    The whooshing baseball bat brutally struck his left ear, sending him flying sideways for several meters; he lay motionless on the ground.


    Xue Jing, holding the blood-stained baseball bat, slowly walked towards the rest of the gangsters who were nearly unable to run anymore.


    The baseball bat dragged on the ground, its metal surface scraping against the concrete, making a clanging sound.


    His footsteps were neither fast nor slow, but each step seemed to land squarely on the hearts of the crowd.


    Step by step.


    ...

 Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Triumph of Martial Arts!

    "Wrong, bro, I was wrong, please, stop..."


    "Bang!"


    "Wait, we are from the Razor Gang, you..."


    "Bang!"


    "Hey, can we make peace?"


    "Bang!"


    On the street, the scattered members of the Razor Gang lay defeated where they fell, like golf balls neatly placed. Xue Jing, holding a metal baseball bat, approached each one and, no matter what they said, their heads exploded with each swing.


    Before long, only one crew-cut youth remained standing on the scene.


    Xue Jing slowly walked up to the crew-cut youth, the metal baseball bat in his hand dented in several places and covered in blood due to the excessive force and numerous hits.


    "I''m very curious,"


    he began.


    "As an utterly harmless student, it''s normal for me to visit a classmate''s house, isn''t it? Nothing odd about that at all."


    "I never cause trouble on any ordinary day, I wouldn''t drive onto a spacious sidewalk when traffic jams occur, and when the taste of food in restaurants doesn''t match the price, I just pinch my nose and pay. Encountering thugs like you scares me to death, and I always take detours to avoid you."


    "Not to mention, I''ve never even been to South City before, so there''s no way I could have inadvertently provoked you."


    "So what exactly did you plan to do by suddenly rushing out at me?"


    The tone of Xue Jing''s speech was not harsh, as if he was casually chatting with a friend.


    But the fear on the crew-cut youth''s face deepened with each word Xue Jing spoke, until by the last word, his legs gave out, and he fell to the ground, frantically waving his hands:


    "No way, not at all, bro, we were just passing by... Ah!!"


    Before he could finish speaking, Xue Jing swung his bat, smashing it against the youth''s ankle.


    The sound of bone cracking erupted, and the crew-cut youth''s ankle twisted into a grotesque angle.


    "Answer the questions honestly when asked, and don''t make unnecessary excuses. Didn''t your teacher teach you that?"


    "Yes... yes."


    The crew-cut youth, his face pale with pain, hastily said:


    "We are under Duan Kaiping from the Razor Gang. Brother Duan saw you walking alone on the street in your Affiliated Middle School uniform and thought about kidnapping you to extort your family..."


    Xue Jing shook the baseball bat in his hand and asked, "Where is this Brother Duan now?"


    "Brother Duan felt that, as a student, there was no need for him to act; he let us handle it while he waited in a warehouse on the next street!"


    The crew-cut youth spoke very fast, afraid that anything might dissatisfy Xue Jing and result in another hit.


    "Is this Brother Duan very formidable?" Xue Jing asked.


    "Brother Duan is a core member of the Razor Gang, authorized to have ''Razor'' tattooed over his chest... He, with the Gang Leader''s connections, trained in martial arts at the Golden Wind Dojo. I''ve only seen him in action once; he split a coke can in half barehanded as if he was wielding a razor!"


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    Golden Wind Dojo... He had just heard about it from Pei Youguang, who had trained there to learn "Power."


    That a dojo would let these gang members who casually engage in kidnapping and extortion train there proved it wasn''t a good place, hence its location in South City.


    ''To split a coke can in half means slicing a throat would be even easier... His combat power isn''t low.''


    Xue Jing pondered.


    After this, he had squarely confronted the Razor Gang, injuring many of their members. Although it was entirely their fault, he did not believe the gang members would be reasonable with him.


    First, Xue Jing considered the possibility of silencing them, but he soon realized it was impractical.


    Not to mention whether he could bring himself to do it, the commotion they caused was too loud, probably witnessed by many. Asking a few bystanders would lead straight to him.


    So, there was no way out.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and then asked, "Tell me more about your Razor Gang."


    He paused, "How big is your influence, how formidable are you exactly, and how many key members like ''Brother Duan'' do you have?"


    The crew-cut youth hesitated, then replied, "Our Razor Gang is one of the seven peripheral gangs in the South City area; we control a few streets around here... There are several dozen core members like Brother Duan."


    Xue Jing squinted, "What''s your gang leader''s relationship with the Golden Wind Dojo?"


    "The gang leader is a direct disciple of the Arena Master of the Golden Wind Dojo..."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing felt a headache coming on.


    Just as he thought, pulling out one root revealed a clump of dirt. These entrenched gang forces were entangled in various relationships; provoking one would unravel many.


    Was he to deal with the Razor Gang and then the Golden Wind Dojo? And after that, what else might emerge?


    Wouldn''t this be endless?


    Hey, can we make peace?


    "But... there''s not no way to break the situation."


    Xue Jing felt he could use the situation to his advantage.


    The Razor Gang was backed by Golden Wind Dojo, but in Qingcheng, they weren''t the only dojo around.


    Dojos needed to conduct business, take your money, and let you become a disciple for martial arts practice.


    Xue Jing didn''t believe that with his unmatched talent and astonishing wisdom, he wouldn''t be treated with utmost respect in any dojo he joined.


    You Razor Gang have someone powerful backing you, right? I''ll soon be just as powerful!


    Even, he thought of a cunning plan.


    He''d take the initiative and pay to join Golden Wind Dojo first!


    By the time the Razor Gang came looking for trouble...


    I acknowledge your power, but if I choose to join directly, how will you deal with that?


    However, he currently had a very bad impression of both Golden Wind Dojo and the Razor Gang, and unless he had no choice, he didn''t want to do this.


    Xue Jing felt a sense of urgency.


    Previously he hadn''t felt much pressure. Although he wanted to practice martial arts, he wasn''t in a hurry, but now he needed to figure out how to gather money to join a dojo as soon as possible.


    "Thank you for the information."


    Xue Jing said to the crew-cut youth.


    The latter quickly smiled obsequiously, "It''s no trouble, bro, it''s all in a day''s work... Look, can you let me off the hook for this?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Alright, I''ll give you a chance."


    Having said this, he looked around and picked up a few handy stones from the ground not far away.


    Seeing this, the crew-cut youth was traumatized, a bad premonition arising in his mind.


    "Run, I''ll only count to ten."


    Xue Jing tossed the stones in his hand.


    "One."


    "Hey? Bro, look at my foot..."


    The crew-cut youth grimaced, pointing to his foot which had been broken by Xue Jing''s stick.


    "Two."


    "Wait a second, wait a second, can we start counting again?"


    "Three."


    The crew-cut youth grit his teeth, endured the intense pain in his ankle, pushed himself off the wall, and hobblingly made his way towards the other side of the street.


    "Four."


    But since he could only move one foot, he really couldn''t walk fast.


    "Five."


    The counting voice, like a death knell, slowly came from behind him; he scrambled to speed up, only to trip and fall.


    "Six."


    He struggled to get up, but in his haste, he touched his injured ankle and fell over again from the pain.


    "Seven."


    He moved forward in a mix of rolling and crawling.


    "Eight."


    "Ahhhhhh!"


    He cried out in fear.


    "Nine."


    "Ten."


    Xue Jing watched the crew-cut youth who hadn''t made it twenty meters away and threw a stone at him.


    "Bang!"


    The final headshot noise echoed through the night.


    Xue Jing looked around at the bodies strewn about, looked at the stone in his palm, squeezed it tightly, and confidently declared:


    "It''s the victory of martial arts!"


    ...

 Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Sect Leader

    "...So, you weren''t beaten up, but you beat someone else up?"


    At the dinner table, Miao Miao stood on its hind legs, forepaws crossed over its chest, like a dignified little miss of a cat.


    A look of disbelief was written all over its face.


    It had been so worried it couldn''t even pretend to be dumb and keep silent¡ªlittle did it know, the situation was the complete opposite of what it had imagined.


    Xue Jing''s appearance was overly deceptive, so cultured that anyone meeting him for the first time would think he''s an intellectual scholar-type man, even though Miao Miao had seen him well-muscled, it still subconsciously believed he was the one likely to be bullied.


    "Thank you for being so worried about me, Wan," Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing chuckled.


    Then, seeing Miao Miao standing up with its paws crossed looking too adorable, he couldn''t help but reach out and pinch its cheeks.


    The fight had been worth it, with an unexpected bonus.


    Accidentally achieving success, Miao Miao, who would otherwise not choose to speak, had actually started talking because it was worried about the bloody scent of the Razor Gang thugs on him.


    While touched, Xue Jing also couldn''t help but find it amusing.


    "...Don''t call me Wan, you must respectfully refer to me as Sect Leader!"


    True to its name Ning Fengwan, the cat stretched out its paw and slapped Xue Jing''s hand away, saying indignantly.


    The childish voice of a young girl didn''t seem to have any deterring effect on Xue Jing, who nodded and said with a smile, "Alright, Sect Leader Wan."


    He then reached out again to pet Miao Miao''s head, stroking back and forth.


    If this were a comic, by now Ning Fengwan''s forehead would have bulged with veins as she tried with both white-gloved paws to stop Xue Jing''s caresses, which were ineffective, and she exclaimed in frustration:


    "Show some respect for your elders!"


    When it had been pretending to be a cat, it was okay; it could deceive and comfort itself that it was just a cat, and being petted was no big deal¡ªmight even be somewhat enjoyable.


    But now that its identity had been completely exposed, being ''teased'' like this spread a wave of embarrassment from the tips of Ning Fengwan''s toes right up to the top of her head.


    Xue Jing saw that it was really getting anxious, so he withdrew his hands and curiously asked:


    "An elder? Exactly how old are you, Wan?"


    Miao Miao replied discontentedly, "You should call me Sect Leader."


    After a pause, "Anyway, I''m older than you, that''s for sure."


    When Ning Fengwan spoke these words, her tone was somewhat evasive, but Xue Jing didn''t pay it much attention as he stroked his chin and said:


    "Leader of Dragon Sect... the same Dragon Sect mentioned in the news reports?"


    He had heard this name before in news reports, described as a ''gang disguised as a religious organization,'' which Kangde Security Company had now dismantled.


    Wait? My Miao Miao is a mafia boss?


    Miao Miao crossed its paws over its chest and lifted its head proudly, huffing in a young girl''s voice:


    "Correct, it''s that Dragon Sect, scared now, aren''t you?"


    Finding it a bit adorable, Xue Jing couldn''t resist any longer; he enveloped its cat head with both hands and began to rub its cheeks back and forth, laughing, "So scared, Sect Leader."


    Miao Miao gritted its teeth, "Where are you scared? Let go now!"


    Xue Jing withdrew his hands and asked, "The news said that the Dragon Sect has been destroyed by Kangde Security, so are you all alone now?"


    Miao Miao stretched out a paw and signaled toward the pot of chicken soup, asking Xue Jing to serve a bowl for it and then said:


    "Well... you could say that for the time being."


    Xue Jing took the ladle, scooped up half a bowl of chicken soup, added a large chicken leg into the bowl, and placed it in front of Miao Miao.


    "So, what are your plans for the future?"


    Miao Miao tore off a bite of the tender, delicate chicken leg, chewed it, and its face showed an anthropomorphized expression of enjoyment.


    After swallowing the meat, he said, "You don''t need to concern yourself with these things. It''s better for you not to know. I am only temporarily staying with you, and I''ll leave soon."


    Miao Miao showed a serious expression.


    Even though she had coincidentally started communicating with this boy, Miao Miao still wanted to avoid getting him involved as much as possible.


    For a behemoth like Kangde Security Company, even the official government found it to be a massive headache. For an ordinary person like Xue Jing, if Kangde sneezed, he would be blown to smithereens.


    "Alright."


    Seeing its serious demeanor, Xue Jing also nodded in agreement.


    Then, as if asking casually, he questioned:


    "By the way, Wan, since you are a person, why can you transform into a cat?"


    "You should call me Sect Leader," Miao Miao initially expressed dissatisfaction before explaining, "Well, about that."


    It stretched its tail forward, and the platinum tail ring reflected and twinkled in the light.


    "This is a type of artifact known as a ''Divine Relic,'' purportedly the legacy left behind after ''God'' died."


    "I don''t quite understand the specifics, I just know that every Divine Relic possesses some miraculous abilities, like this one."


    It shook the tail ring on its tail.


    "I bought this from a swindler, serial number GOD-1391, Cat Tail Ring, and its power is to allow the wearer to transform into a cat."


    "...It''s just that once transformed, temporarily you cannot change back," Miao Miao''s mouth twitched.


    Xue Jing''s mind stirred.


    "Serial number GOD-1391? Are there many Divine Relics? The serial numbers go beyond a thousand," he commented.


    "Hmm... there should be many, I think. I don''t know about these things; I''ve only seen this one Divine Relic. The serial number and the name were told to me by that swindler," Miao Miao said.


    "...Okay," Xue Jing replied, somewhat helplessly.


    This was almost the same as saying nothing at all.


    The plan to obtain more ''Divine Substance'' through Miao Miao had apparently gone up in smoke.


    The upgrade and unlocking of the active effects of ''Twin Lifes'' was still far in the future.


    However, it wasn''t without gain; at least he now knew that these items were called Divine Relics, and judging by the serial numbers, there seemed to be quite a lot of them, at least over a thousand.


    As Xue Jing watched Miao Miao lowering its head, eating chicken and sipping chicken soup, an idea suddenly occurred to him, and he spoke up:


    "Oh, there''s one more thing."


    "Go on," Miao Miao replied, her speech muffled with a mouthful of chicken.


    "The Leader of Dragon Sect sounds very imposing. You must have a lot of clout on the streets and be well-informed, right?" Xue Jing began with a bit of flattery.


    "Hmph, of course," Miao Miao replied haughtily as she lifted her head.


    "Here''s the thing. I want to join a dojo for Martial Arts Practice. Which dojo is more formidable? Sect Leader, do you have any recommendations? Oh, and if I could leverage your supreme authority to get a discount on the tuition fees, that would be great." Xue Jing made a request.


    Miao Miao nodded, "Regarding that, I was actually about to discuss it with you."


    "You''ve taken me in and allowed me to eat and live at your place without charge, so I must repay this kindness."


    "In a few days, I''ll introduce you to someone. When it comes to Martial Arts Practice, there should be no one more formidable than this person in Qingcheng."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "Who is it?"


    "The Old Dojo Master of Hidden Dragon Dojo, ''Dragon King'' Li Qi."


    A name spilled from Miao Miao''s mouth.


    ...

 Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Banned Drugs, Old Martial Arts, Leaping Through the Dragon Gate

    "Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He remembered this dojo.


    When he first accessed his awakening panel and planned to learn martial arts, he had looked up the tuition fees of various dojos in Qingcheng, and Hidden Dragon Dojo was one of those that charged the highest fees.


    However, the high fees were not the reason Xue Jing remembered it.


    It was because, online, Hidden Dragon Dojo had a very high rate of bad reviews... All complaining that the teaching quality did not match up to the tuition fees.


    Xue Jing''s expression was slightly peculiar.


    Miao Miao licked its paw, yawned, and said:


    "The reputation of Hidden Dragon Dojo is very poor... but that''s just the opinion of outsiders."


    "In the real circle of martial artists, no one underestimates Hidden Dragon Dojo, especially the old dojo master, Li Qi."


    Miao Miao stretched its front paws forward, stretched lazily, and arched its back high.


    "He is one of the few who hasn''t taken ''Banned Drugs'' yet successfully leapt through the Dragon Gate, breaking human limitations as an old martial arts expert."


    "Decades ago, during his peak, he had a great reputation in the Inner Ring City, famous alongside ''Vajra Zhou'' and ''Asura Chen'', and was known as ''Dragon King Li''."


    "Although now he is just an old man in a wheelchair, he''s more than capable of teaching you martial arts."


    Xue Jing reached out to lift Miao Miao onto his lap, curiously asked:


    "Banned Drugs? Leaping Through the Dragon Gate? Old Martial Arts? What do all these mean?"


    He felt as if a brand-new door was unfolding before him, behind which lay the world of martial artists.


    Miao Miao seemed sleepy, its eyes half-closed, as it lay down on Xue Jing''s lap; the latter stroked its back gently, transmitting a familiar comfort, lulling it toward sleep.


    "Banned Drugs are made from products found in special intersecting boundaries and are highly stimulative, causing the consumer''s body to undergo various transformations, thereby possessing a non-human physique."


    "For instance, one type of drug can alter the nature of a person''s skin, giving it the toughness of steel, and there are even some drugs that can make a person grow extra limbs, turning into a six-armed monster..."


    "Since the appearance of Banned Drugs, the development of martial arts has taken a completely new path..."


    "And those martial artists who refuse to use Banned Drugs and insist on pursuing human limits with their natural bodies are called ''Old Martial Art Sect''."


    Miao Miao yawned continuously, "As for Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, it''s too early for you, and you might even never come into contact with it in your lifetime, so there''s no need to know too much right now..."


    Having barely finished its last sentence, Miao Miao''s eyelids closed, curling up in Xue Jing''s embrace, breathing evenly, and fell asleep.


    Xue Jing gradually stopped stroking its back, gently picked it up, returned to his room, placed Miao Miao on his bed, and covered its body with a thin blanket, leaving only the head exposed.


    Then he quietly left the room, took a shower in the bathroom, changed into pajamas, put the bloodstained school uniform in the washing machine for cleaning, and then took his phone to the balcony.


    By now it was ten-thirty at night, Xue Jing lit up his phone screen, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and opened the dialing interface.


    He had a rather cautious odd habit; he never stored family members'' contact names in his phone, so even if his phone were lost, whoever found it couldn''t scam his family members using his phone.


    Although it was unlikely this habit would ever need to be used in his lifetime.


    After entering a string of numbers, Xue Jing made the call.


    It didn''t make him wait too long; after three or four rings, the call was connected.


    "Hello hello hello~ woof woof woof?"


    A cheerful and pleasant voice came through the phone.


    As a child, Xue Jing often played a fighting game with his sister Xue Wan; they would often wager something, either a piece of candy or some pocket money.


    When Xue Jing lost, he would surrender his wager honestly, accepting his loss graciously. But when Xue Wan lost, she often defaulted on her debts, hence the bets were later accompanied by the phrase ''defaulting is acting like a dog''.


    That day, the world lost a person but gained a dog.


    "Sis, are you asleep?" Xue Jing started with a laugh.


    "Do you want to listen to what you just said?" Xue Wan responded grumpily.


    After a pause, she continued, "What''s up with you calling at this time? Just letting you know, I''m broke."


    Xue Jing: "Am I the type of person who only calls you when I need money?"


    Xue Wan: "As long as you''re not, tell me, what''s up?"


    Xue Jing: "Venmo me 50."


    Beep... Beep... Beep...


    The call was immediately hung up by Xue Wan.


    Xue Jing chuckled and redialed.


    "What''s up? I need to sleep," Xue Wan said helplessly.


    After a moment of silence, Xue Jing spoke softly, "Sis, is something bothering you?"


    Xue Wan seemed stunned for a moment before saying, with a laugh and a cry, "What could possibly be bothering me? I''m fine. Don''t overthink it."


    Xue Jing thought for a while and continued to ask, "Are you sure everything''s okay?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Absolutely... You seem a bit overly concerned about your sister. That''s not good; your little girlfriend might get jealous,"


    Xue Wan joked.


    Hearing that her tone was indeed normal, Xue Jing quietly sighed in relief: "Mom is really worried about you, studying alone in Maple City..."


    ...


    Having not seen each other for a long time, Xue Jing and Xue Wan still had a lot to talk about, and they chatted for a long while.


    By the time Xue Jing hung up, it was already eleven o''clock.


    "It seems like nothing''s wrong."


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    There seemed to be nothing amiss with Xue Wan just now; it must have been mom''s needless worry.


    After stretching lazily, Xue Jing walked back into his room.


    He didn''t go back to bed but instead sat cross-legged on the living room couch.


    He began practicing basic breathing skills.


    An hour later.


    Xue Jing sat dizzily with his eyes closed, leaning on the couch.


    His body was radiating heat due to the blood rushing too fast, almost like a fever.


    After a while, Xue Jing recovered and opened the panel to check.


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    Several skills levels had enhanced his physical condition and, having gradually gotten used to the breathing skills, he managed to perform four complete cycles this time.


    "Power..."


    Xue Jing stretched out his right arm, touching the elbow with his left hand, pondering.


    While circulating the breathing skills, he seemed to have touched a crucial point; at a certain moment of breathing, the muscles in his right arm twitched.


    Trying hard to recall that sensation, Xue Jing attempted to replicate it but failed after several tries.


    He wasn''t in a rush since it seemed that the right moment hadn''t arrived yet.


    After drinking a glass of water, Xue Jing returned to his room, lay down on the bed, stroked Miao Miao who was sleeping beside him, closed his eyes, and drifted into sleep.


    ...

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Channeling Energy, Kicking the Pavilion

    Three days later.


    In Xue Jing''s home, within the ''gym''.


    [You have performed a set of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You have performed a set of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You have performed a set of...]


    As he watched the panel pop up with the same message over a dozen times, Xue Jing felt the various rhythms in his body as he breathed.


    The stretching of bones, the functioning of organs, the flexing of muscles¡­


    He stared blankly at his arm, the muscles under the skin expanding and contracting with his breath, as if they were living entities with their own consciousness.


    Not knowing how much time had passed, until a certain critical point, Xue Jing felt streams of heat surge from all over his body and rapidly converge to his right arm in rhythm with his breath.


    He silently moved to stand in front of the punching bag in the center of the room, bent his knees slightly and placed his right hand towards his lower back, assuming a posture as if readying for a Straight Punch.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath and threw out a Straight Punch.


    "Bang!!"


    This punch was not fast in comparison to the ones he had thrown before, nor did it seem very powerful.


    But the punching bag, which weighed a good three hundred pounds, was sent flying as if hit by an oncoming car. With the point of impact as the center, the entire bag arched like a shrimp and flew into the wall, shaking the whole room.


    [Conditions met, activating skill: Channeling Energy]


    [Channeling Energy Lv1 (0/300)]


    In an instant, what had been a sporadic burst of energy that he had mustered by chance, quickly became something he mastered, turning it into his instinct.


    Xue Jing''s eyes shone with delight.


    He immediately began to circulate his breathing skills as the internal organs of his body complied with his breath, generating various rhythms, transforming it into kinetic energy, ''producing'' the Power.


    Xue Jing thought, and the Power flowed to his right leg, then with a lift of his foot, he stomped down!


    Crack¡ª


    The tiled floor cracked, and even the steel-reinforced concrete beneath the tiles split a bit, sending a tremor through the floor.


    [Punching the floor, Channeling Energy Experience Points +1]


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    Now that he had a hammer in his hand, he couldn''t help but treat the floor like a nail.


    He hoped his mother wouldn''t notice when she got back.


    Miao Miao sat crouched beside him, tilting her head as she looked at Xue Jing, her face bearing an anthropomorphic expression of utter bewilderment.


    "...You said you just encountered breathing skills three days ago?"


    "Yes," Xue Jing nodded as he straightened the punching bag he had sent flying with a punch.


    "Have you never been involved in martial arts before?" Miao Miao''s tail began to wag.


    "How many times are you going to ask," Xue Jing replied somewhat helplessly.


    "I''ve told you, I possess invincible aptitude and astounding wisdom."


    He said this with all seriousness, without blushing or skipping a beat.


    Miao Miao rolled her eyes, "You''re quite talented, but to claim you have invincible aptitude is premature. In this world, there are geniuses who master the Power immediately upon encountering breathing skills."


    "Some big corporations can even use special technological means to create these ''geniuses''."


    "The world is vast, and you just have a bit of talent, so don''t get ahead of yourself."


    Ning Fengwan earnestly advised.


    Xue Jing smiled, walked over to her, and pinched her arrogantly cute little face, "I got it."


    "Don''t be handsy, and remember to call me Sect Leader," Miao Miao stated demurely.


    "Of course, Wan," Xue Jing rubbed her cat head as he spoke.


    Ning Fengwan just issued a habitual rebuttal; she had gotten used to Xue Jing''s impudence over these three days.


    "However, since you have such a level of talent, and you''ve already developed your Power, we''re going to have to use a different approach to enter the Hidden Dragon Dojo,"


    Miao Miao pondered for a moment before speaking.


    "Hmm? What do you mean?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    Miao Miao leaped gracefully onto Xue Jing''s shoulder, where she sat down, began licking her paw, and explained:


    "If you enter purely on my recommendation, you''ll be a bona fide ''connection entry'', inevitably looked down upon and treated differently."


    "So how do we get in, Teacher Wan?" Xue Jing saw its adult-like demeanor, which was somewhat cute, and teased her.


    Seemingly quite pleased with being addressed as teacher, Miao Miao''s tail couldn''t help but wag, and a touch of anthropomorphic pride appeared on its small face.


    "Of course, we follow the rules of the Rivers and Lakes, challenge the dojo!"


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, at the South City District Wharf.


    A sturdy old man with short, graying hair, a gloomy face, and a straight posture like a thousand-year-old pine, dressed in a black short jacket, walked slowly into a warehouse with his hands clasped behind his back.


    In the warehouse, Duan Kaiping and a young man in black named Yun Ye had been waiting for some time.


    Seeing the old man walk in, Duan Kaiping immediately took on a solemn expression, knelt down before him, prostrated with his hands on the ground, and respectfully knocked his forehead to the floor, saying, "Kaiping pays respect to his teacher, may the teacher''s fortune be as vast as the ocean and his life as long as the heavens!"


    Yun Ye, standing beside, scoffed at this display, his disdain apparent.


    ¡­


    The old man, who was none other than Arena Master Jiao Hongyuan of Golden Wind Dojo, showed no change in expression and simply said to Duan Kaiping, "Mhm, rise."


    He then turned to Yun Ye and said, "The goods?"


    Yun Ye stretched his neck and gestured behind him with his thumb toward a three-meter-tall shipping container placed within the warehouse.


    "Knowing you''d be back today, I brought it along. It''s right inside there."


    "And with that, our transaction with Kangde Corporation is concluded. Transfer the remainder of the money to..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Jiao Hongyuan turned his gaze on him, cutting him off without any fluctuation in tone.


    "Concluded?"


    "You might have forgotten. When the order was placed, Kangde Corporation made it crystal clear that the transaction was to be kept confidential, with absolutely no leaks."


    "What kind of operation are you running, swaggering your way through Border City and barging right in?"


    "Now that The Sixth Agency is involved in the investigation, do you realize how much trouble this is?"


    Yun Ye sneered, "What''s it to you?"


    Jiao Hongyuan smiled.


    "I''ve heard that the ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother'' can birth special insect species corresponding to the different things it''s fed. I''m curious to know if that''s really true."


    Yun Ye frowned and, without hesitation, raised his left hand, protected by a gauntlet-style glove, aiming it at Jiao Hongyuan.


    However, at the same instant he lifted his arm, Jiao Hongyuan''s sturdy body had vanished from its spot.


    Duan Kaiping didn''t even have time to realize what happened when Jiao Hongyuan suddenly appeared behind Yun Ye, flicked his right hand to shake off the fresh blood.


    "Golden Wind... White Rainbow Sword..." Yun Ye managed to utter his last words in a gravelly voice before his head and left hand slid off, falling to the ground together.


    The headless body remained standing, the cuts on its neck and arm so smooth there wasn''t a single rough edge, as if made by an exceptionally sharp divine weapon.


    "Teacher... this..." Duan Kaiping swallowed, unsettled.


    "This lot of desperadoes, whether in their personal conduct or their methods, are far too crude. He''s lucky to have died by my hand," Jiao Hongyuan said slowly.


    "Teacher, what about the others?" Duan Kaiping asked worriedly.


    "Naturally, they''ll accompany him. Kangde Corporation has already been dealt with."


    Jiao Hongyuan, with his hands clasped behind him, gazed at the three-meter-tall shipping container in front of him, and it might have been an illusion, but it seemed like a fierce, beast-like breathing could be heard coming from within.


    "Kaiping, where are the things I asked you to prepare?"


    Duan Kaiping replied respectfully, "They are all ready. All the roaches have been cultivated by us, not purchased from outside, and the people are also ready¡ªall officially recorded as deceased or missing..."


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded in satisfaction, "Prepare some more; after some time, when the attention from above shifts away from Qingcheng, we can commence the plan."


    "Yes," Duan Kaiping responded.


    "By the way, Teacher, didn''t little brother accompany you back?"


    "He''s still in Maple City participating in the selection competition. He has to fight a few more bouts..."


    ¡­


    In the East City District, in front of a tall building.


    Dressed in casual attire suitable for activity, Xue Jing shielded his eyes from the glaring noon sunlight and looked up at the upper floors of the building.


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo is on the seventeenth floor; GOGOGO, let''s go up!"


    Miao Miao, perched on Xue Jing''s shoulder, pointed upward with her paw, urging him on.


    ¡­


    sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Charm Art Lv3, Leave the Rest to Me

    "So handsome, such a tall younger brother..."


    "Wow, a cat sitting on his shoulder too, that''s just too cute."


    "Why does even the cat look so good? I''ll sneak a photo from this angle and post it online; it will definitely blow up."


    ...


    In the bustling streets of East City District, with skyscrapers dense and orderly, Xue Jing stood on the street with Miao Miao, his overly youthful face somewhat out of place with the surroundings.


    You could vaguely hear a few beautiful office ladies, dressed in OL outfits and wearing delicate makeup, whispering nearby, and his Charm Art experience points kept increasing.


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience points +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience points +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience points +1]


    [Someone toward you...]


    [Charm Art upgraded to Lv3 (0/500)]


    Turning off the panel, Xue Jing asked:


    "Are you sure I won''t get killed on spot if I go challenge them like this?"


    Miao Miao first looked at the young man with confusion, then sniffed his scent.


    Why does he suddenly look better and smell even nicer...


    Shaking her head without overthinking, Miao Miao lightly hummed, "If your Sect Hierarch has directly sent you here, of course there is certainty."


    "In fact, this is the correct way to open up the Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Oh? How so?"


    Miao Miao''s tail swept across Xue Jing''s cheek, wrapping around his neck.


    "The disciples in the dojo are also ranked. Those who merely pay to enter, even if they are seriously taught, cannot achieve fame without talent. To maintain its reputation, the dojo must rely on the truly initiated disciples, and these are the ones with talent."


    "As for how to select initiated disciples... each dojo has its own methods, and one of Hidden Dragon Dojo''s methods for selecting initiated disciples is ''self-recommendation''."


    "In the path of martial arts, mentality is especially important. Having an undefeatable spirit allows one to throw unbeatable punches. Confidently showcasing your talent to the dojo gives you a chance to become an initiated disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    "What could better display your spirit and talent than ''challenging the dojo''?"


    Miao Miao teased:


    "You dare to challenge the dojo without much training in martial arts. With such unbeatable resolve and astonishing wisdom, Old Man Li would definitely appreciate it."


    Xue Jing rhetorically asked, "What if I get severely beaten up when I go up there?"


    "That won''t happen."


    Miao Miao shook her head.


    "The dojo, wanting to keep its reputation, also cares about face. They generally only send someone of a similar age to accept the challenge."


    "Although you''ve just learned to channel energy, your physical quality is incredibly strong, which is very rare at your age. Peers in Hidden Dragon Dojo likely won''t be a match for you."


    "Besides, what we want isn''t necessarily a successful challenge. Even if you get beaten up after going up there, as long as the people from the dojo see your potential talent, that goal is considered achieved."


    "Just stop thinking about it, hurry up and go in, just say you want to challenge the dojo, and leave the rest to me!"


    Miao Miao urged him.


    "..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Alright."


    After all, it was a chance to enter the dojo for free, and he was very confident in his current self.


    He opened the panel to take a look.


    [Fitness Lv4 (139/1200)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv2 (109/500)]


    [Cooking Lv3 (12/800)]


    [Running Lv4 (873/1200)]


    [Charm Art Lv3 (12/800)]


    [Aiming Lv2 (169/500)]


    [Fighting Lv1 (196/300)]


    [Channeling Energy Lv1 (12/300)]


    Over the past three days, although he spent most of his time researching how to control his energy through breathing, he still managed to gain a lot of experience in other skills.


    The biggest gain was in fitness, advancing from Lv3 to Lv4. His physical condition was once again significantly enhanced, with his bench press reaching two hundred kilograms. Although he hadn''t tested his punch force, he estimated that it was at least two hundred forty kilograms.


    If he used his power, he wasn''t sure how powerful his punch could be.


    He was now afraid that he couldn''t restrain his strength and might accidentally kill someone.


    Walking into the office building with Miao Miao, he entered the elevator and pressed for the seventeenth floor.


    This building was a Grade A office building, located in the costly East City District. The rent was extremely high, yet Hidden Dragon Dojo managed to lease an entire floor of two thousand square meters. Xue Jing roughly calculated that the monthly rent was at least four hundred thousand Zhuxia currency¡ªa considerable sum indeed.


    The elevator reached the seventeenth floor, the doors opened to a long corridor, and at the end was an automatic transparent door with a sign hanging above it, inscribed with the flamboyant characters "Hidden Dragon Dojo".


    Xue Jing walked through the door with Miao Miao. Just as they entered, Miao Miao left a message, "You just focus on challenging the dojo; leave the rest to me," then jumped off his shoulder and dashed into the dojo, disappearing from sight.


    "Challenge the dojo? How do I even do that? I''ve never challenged anyone before..."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and approached the reception close to the main entrance, where a receptionist, dressed in a cheongsam uniform and possessing both a good figure and looks, was seated.


    "Excuse me, miss."


    Xue Jing approached, his handsome face breaking into a smile that was as warm as the winter sun.


    The girl was secretly slacking off playing on her phone, and suddenly hearing someone, she jumped in surprise and quickly looked up. "Yes, may I..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the young man in front of her and was momentarily lost for words.


    She saw fields of flowers, clusters of stars, her long-forgotten first love, and the synthesis of all the wonderful things in the world...


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +54]


    "..." Seeing the message that popped up on the panel, Xue Jing paused and restrained the smile at the corner of his mouth.


    The girl finally came back to her senses, her face flushed as she looked down and stood up, somewhat at a loss for what to say. "H-hello, can I help you with anything?"


    As she spoke, she sneakily glanced up at Xue Jing.


    My goodness... How can there be someone so good-looking in this world...


    Xue Jing hesitated for a moment, then somewhat awkwardly said, "Uh... Could you please notify them that I want to challenge the dojo?"


    The girl: "What?"


    ...


    Meanwhile, after slipping into the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Miao Miao seemed very familiar with the place and headed straight to a room marked ''Heart-Nourishing Room'' after making several turns.


    No sooner had it reached the door than a slightly aged voice from inside said, "Come in."


    He was able to detect the nearly silent steps of the cat through the door.


    Miao Miao, not surprised in the least, extended her white-gloved hand, pushed open the door, and walked inside.


    In the spacious room, there was only one man, who was wearing a classic old man''s outfit of a white vest and shorts, sitting on a wheelchair, his balding head shining.


    "It''s been a long time, Old Man Li." Miao Miao said softly, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hm? That voice... Girl Ning?"


    Li Qi exclaimed in surprise.


    "You rascal, where have you been? Not even sending a message to let this old man know you''re alive. I''ve been wheeling around every day looking for you, utterly exhausted."


    Li Qi touched his bald spot and shook his head with a sigh.


    "Save it, you perverted bald old man. The only reason you go out in your wheelchair is to blow up girls'' skirts," Miao Miao snorted disdainfully.


    Old Man Li was displeased: "Hey, who are you calling small?"


    "So, you''re not denying you''re a perverted bald guy..." Miao Miao said, speechless.


    "Enough nonsense, I''m here for only one reason..."


    ...

 Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Am I Here for a Blind Date?

    After Xue Jing declared his intention to challenge the dojo, the receptionist picked up the phone on the desk with a puzzled face and notified the dojo of the news that "someone is here to challenge."


    She looked at Xue Jing, who was sitting on a lounge chair with his arms crossed, resting with his eyes closed, with a sense of pity.


    Such a good-looking guy, it''s a pity that his brain seemed a bit...


    But even so, it''s not like it wouldn''t work...


    Even if he were put in a house as a piece of meat... as decoration, it would still be superb.


    Unaware of the improper fantasies the girl at the front desk was having about him, Xue Jing sat in his chair, silently playing the part of a master, quietly waiting for Hidden Dragon Dojo''s response.


    A few minutes later, the receptionist answered a phone call, spoke a few words, then hung up, stood up, and said to Xue Jing,


    "Sir, Mr. Sir."


    Xue Jing opened his eyes to look at her.


    The girl tried her best to show the most attractive smile she had practiced in front of the mirror and said softly, "Please follow me."


    Xue Jing nodded and stood up as well.


    The girl led the way, dressed in a form-fitting dark cyan cheongsam that highlighted her beautifully shaped figure, with slits on either side that went up nearly to her thigh, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her long, fair, and shapely legs in high heels swinging from side to side.


    It was unclear whether she was doing it on purpose, but as she walked, she exaggeratedly swayed her full and pert curves, stretching the cheongsam tight and revealing their shape. Xue Jing, following behind her, ended up taking a few more glances.


    Oh, the cheongsam is indeed a great invention.


    Following the cheongsam-clad girl into the interior of the dojo, which was in stark contrast to the modern decoration outside, the dojo''s interior was decorated with an ancient style.


    Wooden corridors carved with dragons, phoenixes, and mythical creatures, traditional Chinese folding screens, and ancient paintings adorned the place, aligning well with Xue Jing''s impression of an Ancient Martial Arts Dojo.


    However, upon reaching the most spacious training hall on the entire floor, the style shifted again, and it was no longer ancient.


    In the large and square training hall, over a white rubber floor, there were several different styles of punching posts and sandbags, as well as a variety of fitness equipment, most of which Xue Jing didn''t recognize.


    Besides those, there were octagonal rings padded with soft mats in each corner of the training hall where disciples in white training garments were sparring, with quite a few other disciples standing around watching eagerly.


    "You can look around here for now and take a tour,"


    After leading Xue Jing inside, the girl in the cheongsam said to him with a smile.


    Xue Jing hummed softly and began looking around, observing the environment.


    Seeing that this handsome young man didn''t show further interest and seemed rather indifferent towards her, the girl in the cheongsam was a bit disappointed, but nonetheless, she had to head back to the reception in her high heels.


    Xue Jing watched the combat on one of the rings for a while and found it quite intense, with punches landing solidly on flesh, which explained why the surrounding disciples were so excitedly cheering them on.


    ''These must be the regular paying disciples, but their level seems much higher than I anticipated.''


    He didn''t watch much longer and removed his shoes before walking barefoot to the rest area, where he sat down on a leather couch.


    The disciples around him took notice of him.


    "Hmm? Who is that guy? Is he new here?"


    "He didn''t change clothes, so probably not. Is he here for a tour?"


    "Hee hee, he''s really good-looking. I''m going to ask for his contact info; I want to snag a young one today," said one of the female disciples, eyes lighting up.


    However, before they could act, a commotion suddenly came from the entrance of the training hall.


    "The Old Dojo Master and several of his direct disciples are here!"


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted, looking towards the entrance.


    He saw a group of five or six people, led by an elderly man with male pattern baldness sitting in a wheelchair, entering one by one and walking towards him.


    Behind the old man in the wheelchair was a girl who looked to be in her twenties with a childlike appearance. She was pushing the wheelchair, her bright eyes lively like a young animal''s, curiously looking at Xue Jing.


    Flanking the girl on both sides were two men and one woman.


    One was a muscular middle-aged man with long hair that fell to his waist, a handsome and cold appearance, dressed in a black training garment with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms.


    The other was a young man in his early twenties, handsome with peach blossom eyes, who was sizing up Xue Jing, nodding and making clicking sounds from time to time.


    The last one was a pretty, short-haired girl with a cool complexion, resembling the middle-aged man in appearance, seeming to be father and daughter. She, too, wore a black training garment, had an impressive figure, and held an astonishingly large meat bun in her hands, constantly taking bites. The astonishingly large parts of her body also swayed with every step she took.


    After sizing up the group, Xue Jing''s gaze settled on the cat perched on the armrest of the wheelchair.


    Miao Miao licked its paw and nodded at him.


    "What''s going on? Even the Old Dojo Master is here. I''ve been at the dojo for so long, but this is the first time I''ve seen him in the training hall."


    "All the Direct Disciples who never leave are here too. Is something big happening? Could it be that our dojo is finally going under?"


    "What a cute cat... I''ve been single for so long that even a cat looks graceful and handsome to me."


    "Zhu and Meng are right in front of you, and yet you''re looking at a cat... You deserve to be single."


    As the Arena Master and the Direct Disciples arrived, the trainees in the training hall sensed that something was amiss and gradually fell silent, except for some sporadic whispering.


    "..."


    Old Man Li came to a stop in front of Xue Jing, with four Direct Disciples lined up behind him, each with a distinguished appearance and demeanor. They looked quite imposing, whereas Old Man Li himself resembled an ordinary old man you might find by the roadside.


    "I hear you''ve come to challenge our dojo?"


    Old Man Li asked.


    As soon as he said this, it immediately caused a stir among the crowd.


    Xue Jing first glanced at Miao Miao, then stood up with a calm demeanor and nodded,


    "Indeed." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing him stand up ready for action, Old Man Li immediately waved his hand and sighed, saying, "No rush, no rush. A challenge is a challenge, why so serious? Sit down first."


    Xue Jing, who had just stood up, paused for a moment, his mouth twitching slightly before sitting back down.


    Old Man Li gave Xue Jing a once-over, and for some reason, his eyes seemed inexplicably kind.


    "What''s your name?"


    Xue Jing looked puzzled: "Xue Jing..."


    "How old are you?"


    "Seventeen..."


    Old Man Li nodded, seemingly satisfied, "Mm... The age is quite suitable, and the zodiac signs aren''t in conflict."


    "Where do you live? What do your parents do?"


    "Are you an only child? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"


    "You attend Affiliated Middle School, eh? Nice."


    As Old Man Li kept asking various questions, the atmosphere on the scene gradually got weird.


    Xue Jing was completely baffled.


    Did I come here for a blind date?


    The cat on the armrest of the wheelchair had veins throbbing on its forehead from embarrassment and anger.


    What exactly did this old coot misunderstand!?


    "Meow!" It quickly interjected to stop the conversation.


    If this continued, she would be too ashamed to live in Xue Jing''s house.


    Hearing the clearly dissatisfied meow, Old Man Li reluctantly stopped his questioning.


    He cleared his throat and said, "Well then, let''s get to the point. Little Jing wants to challenge the dojo. Who''s interested?"


    He looked toward the disciples beside him.


    The young girl with a youthful face lit up, quickly raising her right hand: "Hey hey hey! I''ll do it!"


    ...

 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: True Gender Equality Advocates

    "Zhu, stop messing about,"


    a young man among the direct disciples shrugged and said.


    "Your skills aren''t perfected yet; being too rough or too gentle is risky. He could be our future junior brother; what if you hurt him?"


    "I, the most mature and steady here, will..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Old Man Li, looking thoughtful, interrupted, "No, let Shanying do it."


    The young man questioned, "Huh?"


    The master was just being warm and kind to this boy; didn''t he seem to like him quite a bit?


    Why let the junior sister do it... Now it''s going to be a disaster; he''s likely to end up traumatized before even getting started.


    The young man looked at Xue Jing with eyes full of pity.


    "Yay!"


    The girl named Zhu Shanying cheered, her bright eyes curving into two crescent moons.


    Without anyone seeing how she moved, she suddenly flashed to Xue Jing''s side with incredible speed.


    She took Xue Jing''s hand and quickly walked towards the nearest sparring ring.


    "Junior brother, follow me!"


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered¡ªthis speed...


    He didn''t resist, letting the girl''s soft hand lead him forward.


    Miao Miao, sitting on the armrest of the wheelchair, pursed her lips, feeling inexplicably irked for some reason.


    Once Zhu Shanying led Xue Jing onto the sparring ring, she let go of his hand and then bounced to the opposite side of Xue Jing with two backflips, landing gracefully and elegantly. She then saluted Xue Jing with folded fists, her eyes curving into a smile, "Junior brother, please give me your guidance!"


    Xue Jing was somewhat amazed by her displayed agility; backflips were not difficult, but achieving such a cat-like lightness and natural ease was a different matter altogether.


    This was his first time facing someone who had truly practiced martial arts, and he was a bit excited at the prospect.


    He imitated the girl, also folding his fists, saying, "Please give me your guidance."


    As they got ready, the other disciples crowded around to watch the spectacle.


    "Hey, hey, what''s going on? Wasn''t that guy here to challenge the dojo? And why did the Arena Master question him like he was sizing up a prospective match for marriage? What''s with the current situation? I can''t figure it out."


    "Right, being confused is the correct reaction; I don''t get it either... Anyway, since it''s Zhu going into action, he''s definitely in for a beating."


    "I bet fifty cents he''ll break at least an arm and a leg."


    "Be more confident; I''ll bet five bucks he breaks all his limbs."


    "Tsk, tsk, poor guy."


    Xue Jing inexplicably noticed that almost everyone around him was looking at him with a pity he couldn''t understand.


    At that moment, the young direct disciple walked to the center of the ring, patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, and comfortingly said, "Be careful, if you can''t handle it, give up quickly, and I''ll come to save you right away."


    Xue Jing: "..." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now..." The young man stood between the two, raised his right hand, and with a downward sweep, announced, "Begin."


    After saying that, he immediately jumped back out of the ring.


    "Junior brother, be careful!"


    Zhu Shanying, with a happy smile, took a step forward and dashed towards Xue Jing like an arrow released from a bow, her speed outrageously fast.


    She clenched her bare hand into a fist and swung at Xue Jing.


    And then... Xue Jing caught her wrist and used her momentum to perform a shoulder throw, slamming her heavily onto the ground.


    "Bang!"


    He didn''t hold back with the throw, even applying power with a substantial force that made the entire platform shudder.


    The girl lay flat on the ground, immediately falling into a baby-like sleep.


    "Eh?" the spectating disciples.


    "Hm?" the young direct disciple with a dumbfounded face.


    ```


    The two true disciples who looked like a father and daughter and had been silent since they came in couldn''t help but glance sideways, looking towards the young man standing on the stage.


    Miao Miao''s eyes shone with pride, and her tail couldn''t help swishing back and forth uncontrollably.


    The entire dojo fell into a strange silence.


    "So... does this mean I''ve successfully challenged the dojo?"


    Xue Jing stood on the stage, looking at Li Qi in the wheelchair, and asked with confusion.


    "..."


    In the silence, Li Qi looked at Xue Jing, then glanced at Miao Miao on the armrest, and sighed,


    "... You really did find an excellent prospect for this old man."


    ...


    Walking home, with Miao Miao perched proudly on Xue Jing''s shoulder, she said,


    "Beating a Hidden Dragon Dojo direct disciple without having trained in martial arts means you can go to the Hidden Dragon Dojo anytime and receive free teachings from Old Man Li without anyone daring to object."


    "And for me, I don''t owe Old Man Li a big favor. On the contrary, because I brought you to him, Old Man Li should be thanking me."


    "Win-win, we win twice."


    Her tail brushed Xue Jing''s cheek, bringing a soft itchiness. He thought for a moment, then said,


    "I didn''t expect things to end so quickly. I thought the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s direct disciples would be very strong. I was even prepared to be badly beaten."


    "You haven''t thought wrong," Miao Miao said.


    "In fact, that girl is indeed very strong, much stronger than you are now."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Then why?"


    Miao Miao laughed and said, "Instead, I want to ask you, why should being stronger guarantee a win?"


    "There are countless examples in this world where the weak have defeated the strong. Some people can''t even win against eight hundred with a hundred thousand soldiers. If such a huge gap can be overturned, what about you and that girl?"


    "Martial arts is not about comparing numbers. There''s no rule that the person with higher numbers will definitely win. Mindset, state of mind, will, intelligence, decisions... even just an insignificant bit of luck can become the key factor influencing the outcome."


    "If that girl had been more cautious, not starting with such wide, sweeping straight punches, if she had known a bit about you, understood your reaction speed, if she had readied her energy to protect her body beforehand, if you hadn''t gone all out when you saw your chance..."


    Miao Miao said meaningfully.


    "Any slight change in these little factors, and she wouldn''t have lost to you. But the undeniable fact is, she lost."


    "This is the world of the Martial Artist."


    Xue Jing seemed enlightened.


    "This is also a good warning for you. With your talent, you are likely to become very strong in the future, but you must not get too carried away, or you may end up just like today."


    Miao Miao reminded him.


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "I''ll keep that in mind, Teacher Wan."


    Hearing this address, Miao Miao nodded her head in satisfaction.


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Fighting Experience Points +211]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Fitness Experience Points +121]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent and felt a pleasant mood, Health Cultivation Experience Value +89]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Aiming Experience Value +56]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Channeling Energy Experience Points +139]


    [Fighting has been upgraded to Lv2 (107/500)]


    Xue Jing glanced at the prompt on the panel, feeling his body become even more robust, and silently smiled, a sense of satisfaction arising in his heart.


    "By the way, you didn''t hesitate to hit that pitiable girl so hard. You don''t have some kind of aversion to women, do you..."


    Miao Miao suddenly asked.


    Xue Jing gave her a curious glance and shook his head.


    "That''s not it. I''m a true believer in gender equality, treating men and women the same when it comes to fighting..."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Just Call Me Lord Jing

    The next morning, Xue Jing woke up, freshened up, made breakfast for Miao Miao who was still asleep, and immediately left the house to catch the bus to the East City District, and entered the office building where the Hidden Dragon Dojo was located.


    He took the elevator to the seventeenth floor, and upon entering the main door, he saw the cheongsam-clad lady who had received him the day before sitting at the reception.


    Xue Jing walked up, tapped on the reception desk, and said with a smile,


    "Good morning."


    Because she had come to work so early and was yawning while sneakily playing with her phone, the receptionist in the cheongsam got startled, looked up to see it was Xue Jing, hurriedly put away her phone, and stood up.


    "Good... Good morning, Young Master Xue."


    Young Master?


    This somewhat corrupt-sounding title made Xue Jing feel uncomfortable.


    He waved his hand and sighed, "What Young Master? There''s no need for such formality, just keep it simple, calling me Lord Jing will do."


    The cheongsam-clad lady: "..."


    She felt that this title was even more excessive than Young Master.


    However, she immediately spoke up, smiling sweetly, "Yes, Lord Jing~"


    "Eh," Xue Jing responded with a sound, now feeling quite comfortable.


    Yesterday, after he defeated Zhu Shanying, a Direct Disciple, Li Qi announced on the spot that he would take him as a disciple, adding another Direct Disciple to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    From then on, he was the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s junior Direct Disciple, his status only second to Li Qi, the Arena Master. Ordinary disciples had to respectfully address him as junior brother, while non-disciple staff also had to call him ''Young Master''.


    ''It feels like I''ve suddenly jumped social classes...'' Xue Jing thought, leaving the reception and walking into the dojo.


    The receptionist in the cheongsam watched his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight, then sat down with a somewhat wistful expression.


    Xue Jing made his way directly to the training hall.


    It was still early, and the training hall only had a few diligent ordinary disciples inside. When they saw him enter, they all greeted him, calling him junior brother with quite a respectful attitude.


    This was also one of the reasons why Ning Fengwan suggested he enter the dojo in the form of a ''dojo challenge''. After the ordeal yesterday, having witnessed his strength, no one would have any complaints about such a young and talented youth suddenly becoming a Direct Disciple.


    "Junior brother, over here, this way."


    A calling voice reached his ears, and when Xue Jing turned his head, it was one of the Direct Disciples, that handsome young man.


    "...Senior Brother," Xue Jing nodded and said with a smile.


    The young man smiled back and said cheerfully, "My surname is Chen, my name is Fuguang, just call me Senior Brother Chen."


    "Come with me, junior brother, I''ve been waiting for you for a while now," he said, heading outside the training hall.


    Xue Jing got up and followed.


    As Chen Fuguang led the way, he said,


    "You are a Direct Disciple, so you have a private cultivating room. I''ve already cleaned it up for you. From now on, you will practice there. I''ll show you the way first."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Thanks, Senior Brother."


    "By the way, Senior Brother Chen, where are our master and the other brothers and sisters?" he asked, puzzled.


    "Master has an appointment with the doctor today. He has some chronic leg issues. Every now and then he goes to check on it with the doctor. He''ll be back later," Chen Fuguang explained with a smile.


    "As for the other brothers and sisters... let me introduce them to you first,"


    "Currently, there are four direct disciples staying in the dojo. Besides me, ranked fifth, the one you sparred with yesterday was Zhu Shanying, Sister Zhu, ranked sixth. She is the youngest direct disciple apart from you. You also met the other two yesterday, Senior Brother Meng Boshang and Fourth Sister Meng Qingjiao."


    "Are those two related?" Xue Jing recalled the resemblance in their appearances and expressions and asked.


    Chen Fuguang smiled and nodded, "They are father and daughter. Senior Brother Meng was the first to join our master, and later he married and had a daughter, Meng Qingjiao. She had great talent, so our master also took her as a disciple and taught her."


    "We, direct disciples, usually have work to do. It was a coincidence that all four of us were present yesterday. Senior Brother Meng and Meng Qingjiao are hardworking; after you left yesterday, they went out for work and haven''t returned yet. Sister Zhu is accompanying our Master to see the doctor..."


    As they spoke, the two rounded a corner and arrived at an elegantly decorated, antique-style corridor. Xue Jing looked up and saw a total of seven doors on both sides of the corridor, three on the left and four on the right, with signs bearing Chinese numerals, neatly numbered one to seven.


    "Our Master''s name is Li Qi, so when he established the dojo more than twenty years ago, he said he wanted to take seven direct disciples. Therefore, no matter how many times the dojo has moved, we always prepare seven cultivation rooms in the renovation,"


    Chen Fuguang said with some emotion.


    "Now that you''ve joined us, our Hidden Dragon Dojo finally has its full complement of members."


    The two stopped in front of the door marked ''Seven'', and Chen Fuguang pushed the door open.


    This was a spacious room of roughly eighty square meters, with a deep red solid wood floor that seemed quite expensive, virtually free of any furnishings, and completely visible at a glance.


    "This cultivation room will be yours from now on."


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder and changed the topic:


    "Alright, Brother has some urgent matters to attend to, so you can have a look around the dojo. Master will be back soon."


    Xue Jing nodded and laughed, "It seems that being a direct disciple is indeed very busy, and Senior Brother Chen also has to go out for work early in the morning."


    Chen Fuguang waved his hand, "Not really, I met a rich woman at the bar last night, and I have arranged to share some martial arts insights with her today..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    ...


    After hurriedly leaving, Xue Jing didn''t wander around but stayed in the cultivation room, sitting in meditation to practice his breathing skills.


    As the levels of his various skills related to physical fitness improved and combined with the gradual development of Power, his body''s adaptability to the breathing skills greatly increased.


    He could now perform about twenty cycles of Basic Breathing Skills in a row before feeling the strain. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You have practiced the breathing skills once, gaining 16 Fitness Experience Points]


    [You have practiced the breathing skills once, gaining 16 Fitness Experience Points]


    After two breathing sessions and half an hour, an elderly voice suddenly came from beside him:


    "Your Basic Breathing Skills bear traces of the breathing skills from Golden Wind Dojo. Where did you learn it from?"


    Xue Jing opened his eyes, only to find Li Qi in his wheelchair right next to him; he didn''t know when he had arrived, as quiet as a ghost.


    He quickly stood up and greeted Li Qi with a fist and palm salute: "Master."


    He paused, "A classmate at school was once a disciple at Golden Wind Dojo, and he taught me."


    Li Qi nodded and said with a smile, "Don''t be so formal. I was just asking casually. You are Girl Ning''s little boyfriend, so besides the master-disciple relationship, we have another connection."


    Xue Jing was taken aback, but he did not refute the remark about being the little boyfriend. Instead, he asked curiously, "Master, what is your relationship with her?"


    Li Qi thought for a moment and reminisced, "I suppose... it''s like wanting to be her grandfather but ultimately not becoming one."


    Xue Jing: "Ah?"


    ...

 Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Old Affairs, Hidden Dragon School Kungfu Body

    Li Qi waved his hand, "It''s all old stories. Back in the day, I and Girl Ning''s grandmother were fond of each other and almost became a thing, but unfortunately, her husband didn''t agree..."


    Xue Jing: "?"


    "Go on."


    Xue Jing rarely ignited with a gossip flame.


    Li Qi touched his smooth bald spot, humbly said, "Hey, it''s really nothing. When I was young, I looked quite decent, pretty much just like you, so there were more temptations around me.


    Back then, I was still young and full of vigor, liked all those fighting and killing stuff, so I found a way to sneak into the famously notorious Dragon Cult. At that time, Girl Ning''s grandfather hadn''t become the Sect Hierarch yet. I was close to him like brothers, often visiting his house..."


    Li Qi''s eyes revealed nostalgia.


    "The first time I saw sister-in-law, her buttocks..."


    Xue Jing sat down, listened intently, afraid of missing a single word.


    Who knew Li Qi would just smack his lips, "Alas, there''s nothing good to say, the past is unbearable to recall."


    Xue Jing got a bit anxious, "Don''t stop, Master, tell me more."


    Li Qi gave him a glance, "Are you here to learn martial arts or to listen to stories? Young people should not pry into the matters of the older generation."


    Xue Jing moved his mouth, nearly cursed out loud.


    Damn cliffhanger!


    "Alright, let''s hear this kind of things later, let''s talk about serious matters now," Li Qi said.


    Xue Jing gathered himself and nodded in agreement, "Yes."


    "Come here, let me check your bone." Li Qi waved him over.


    Xue Jing walked up to him.


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Xue Jing did as he was told.


    Li Qi stretched out his somewhat withered palm, grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, and gave it a vigorous shake like he was flipping noodles!


    Xue Jing only felt an irresistible formidable force pouring into his body through his wrist.


    He felt like a small boat amidst stormy waves, involuntarily making various movements, his bones making a series of crackling sounds.


    "Hmm... Huh?"


    Li Qi, using the feedback from the transfer of power, probed Xue Jing''s body, initially puzzled, then surprised.


    "What kind of exercise do you do usually?"


    He asked, puzzled.


    Xue Jing said, "Just some running and stuff, nothing else really."


    After hearing that, Li Qi murmured, "Impossible, can it really be?"


    He lifted his head, his originally cloudy old eyes now frighteningly bright, "Do you, lad, know what condition your body is in?"


    Xue Jing, a bit unsettled, asked in confusion, "What''s wrong, Master? Is my health not good?"


    "Not good?" Li Qi shook his head, seemingly wanting to laugh.


    "It''s not that it''s not good, it''s too good, to an almost impossible level."


    "Your body, is like it was made by some god with obsessive-compulsive disorder, every muscle, every bone, every organ¡­ all balanced and perfect to a frightening extent."


    Li Qi marveled endlessly, stroking the muscles on Xue Jing''s forearm as if they were a rare treasure.


    "If it weren''t for my certainty that I have nothing worth coveting, I would definitely think you were a manufactured genius created by those big corporations with technological means."


    "I never imagined that such a perfect human physique could actually exist in this world..." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    There was no doubt, it was because of the Skill Panel.


    Since he had activated the Skill Panel, especially after activating the "fighting" skill, his body had transformed into this state.


    In some respects, he was indeed the ''man-made genius'' Li Qi spoke of.


    "Little Jing,"


    Li Qi''s gaze towards him grew much more eager.


    "Without a doubt, you are the most suitable person in the world to cultivate the Hidden Dragon School."


    "If it''s you, you can surely cultivate the most perfect Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body."


    "Kungfu Body?" Xue Jing''s gaze shifted.


    He heard a new term again.


    Li Qi smiled and said, "The so-called ''Kungfu Body'' is the physique gradually tempered by cultivating a complete set of martial arts from a specific school."


    "Each school''s martial arts practices and fighting skills are different, each with its own focus, whether it be flexibility and swiftness or powerful forcefulness. People practicing different martial arts will eventually develop a physique suited to their martial arts."


    "Just like how a sprinter''s leg muscles are definitely more developed, a fighter''s muscle structure is completely different from that of a basketball player. This body, trained to adapt to different things, is the Kungfu Body."


    "For example, the Golden Wind Dojo you know of, their school is named Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword. Once the Kungfu Body is fully cultivated there, the internal structure of the body is completely different from ordinary people, capable of generating sharp force like a blade.


    Hitting someone with a fist is like slicing them with a knife, tearing off a large chunk of flesh with each pull and even using a Palm Knife to chop off a person''s head is not difficult."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up with excitement, "Then what are the characteristics of our Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body?"


    Li Qi smiled, "The features of our Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body can be said to exist, yet also not exist."


    Xue Jing: "Hmm?"


    Li Qi said with a bit of smugness, "Hexagonal Warrior, ever heard of it?"


    "The core philosophy of our Hidden Dragon School is eight words¡ª''Hide the Dragon in the Body, Nourish the Dragon in the Heart.''


    "Once the Kungfu Body is fully developed, it''s like having a whole True Dragon hidden inside your body, large or small, ascending or hiding, agile, with speed, strength, defense, penetration...encompassing everything, possessing five ultimate moves, three Ultimate Skills, capable of handling all situations, without any weakness."


    He then sighed, "Of course, excelling in everything often means dilution in all aspects. Hidden Dragon School demands extremely high physical talent; those without enough talent will only become mediocrities if they cultivate Hidden Dragon School."


    "Even your senior brothers and sisters don''t all possess sufficient talent. Although they also cultivate Hidden Dragon School, they each find ways to alter their training methods, developing other Kungfu Bodies with different focuses."


    Li Qi patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, saying, "Your physical talent is the greatest I''ve seen in my life, so balanced it''s unbelievable, perfectly suited for the ''Hexagonal'' philosophy of Hidden Dragon School."


    Sounds awesome...


    Xue Jing eagerly said, "Please teach me, Master."


    Li Qi laughed, "Okay, no time like the present. Today I will first teach you about Static Posture from Hidden Dragon School''s Dynamic and Static Postures¡ªthe Coiling Dragon Art."


    He grabbed Xue Jing''s hand and with just a shake, force extended through the palm into Xue Jing''s body, controlling his movements.


    Uncontrollably, Xue Jing''s legs spread apart, his torso leaned to the maximum limit to the left, his hands clenched into fists beside his ears, and his whole body crackled with a sound like bones popping, his posture resembling that of a dormant dragon.


    "Remember this pose, as well as the corresponding breath and the tremors of force on various nodes of the body."


    Li Qi instructed.


    "Coiling Dragon Art, this posture aims at ''Cultivating Dragon Qi'', is cultivated by meditatively visualizing the dragon''s posture, mimicking the appearance of a dragon, thus nurturing an overwhelming presence of Dragon Qi."


    "Once you are proficient in this posture, I''ll teach you the Dynamic Posture ''Armor Shaking Skill'' to ''Train Dragon Strength.''


    Xue Jing spoke not, focusing entirely on memorizing all the changes inside and outside his body at the moment.


    ...

 Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Younger Martial Brother, You Scared Me

    Maintaining the Coiling Dragon Art posture, Xue Jing remained motionless.


    With each breath, countless hidden nodes within his body were continuously stimulated. If one were to connect all these nodes with a line, they would find their arrangement resembled that of a dormant True Dragon.


    As time passed, Xue Jing felt his body begin to heat up and itch as if countless needles were pricking him. His blood and energy circled rapidly within his body, faintly producing a sound akin to trickling stream water.


    Merely half an hour later, he was sweating profusely, exhaling nearly scalding hot breaths through his mouth and nose. The nodes within his body not only itched and felt hot, but they also gradually became painfully swollen.


    Xue Jing began to breathe haphazardly and was unable to maintain the Coiling Dragon Art posture. He collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, falling into an almost oxygen-deprived state as if his lungs were being squeezed dry.


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Practice, Fitness Experience Points +98]


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Practice, Channeling Energy Experience Points +89]


    Glancing at the panel, Xue Jing couldn''t help but be surprised.


    Just half an hour of Coiling Dragon Art posture practice, and he had gained both 98 Fitness Experience Points and 89 Channeling Energy Experience Points!


    The efficiency was twice as fast as direct gym workouts, and it simultaneously provided Channeling Energy experience! sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Good, good, this is your first time maintaining Coiling Dragon Art Posture for so long, just as I expected. You are extremely suitable for the Hidden Dragon School," Li Qi said from his wheelchair, expressing his joy.


    "Aside from you, the direct disciple with the best Physical Talent is your eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang. The first time he tried the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Standing, he lasted twenty-three minutes."


    "You lasted thirteen minutes longer than him."


    Xue Jing: "?"


    Thirteen what? Say that again.


    "How is it, did you memorize all the steps of the Coiling Dragon Art well?" Li Qi asked.


    After catching his breath for a while, Xue Jing closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then nodded.


    "I''ve memorized them all, thank you, Master."


    Coiling Dragon Art had countless complex details. Even achieving the correct posture was challenging, let alone the stimulation of nodes by the circulation of energy and blood within the body, which was many times more difficult than maintaining the posture. Such a complex posture skill would have taken an unknown amount of time to memorize using ordinary practices.


    But Li Qi, with his incredible control of energy, merely shook Xue Jing''s hand to help him achieve the most standard Coiling Dragon Art posture. This allowed him to focus entirely on remembering every step, a method of teaching that was simply like playing at a lower dimension.


    "Good, good body and good mind," Li Qi nodded, very satisfied.


    After resting for a while and stabilizing his breath, feeling recovered, Xue Jing asked,


    "Master, what shall I learn next?"


    Li Qi shook his head and said, "Martial arts practice should not be rushed. The Coiling Dragon Art imposes a great burden on the body. People without enough talent can suffer greatly after just a few minutes. Although your talent is excellent, you should not overtrain at the beginner stage."


    "I have already asked Shanying to prepare the Sleeping Dragon Salve. She will help you apply it later to recover your body, and then you can continue training tomorrow."


    Xue Jing hesitantly said, "Shanying is going to help me apply it?"


    Thinking of that young-looking girl... he wondered if he had hurt her yesterday.


    Li Qi waved his hand and said, "She volunteered to help you."


    "Shanying is a year younger than you and possesses a rare, pure Red Child nature. Although she is nominally your senior sister, there are aspects where she might need your care."


    "Now that you have joined my tutelage, she finally has a playmate of her own age. She will be closer to you, so you should get along well."


    Xue Jing nodded in agreement.


    "Ahaha, here comes the Sleeping Dragon Salve~"


    As if waiting for this moment, a cheerful young girl''s voice came from the doorway of the training room. Zhu Shanying entered, holding a fist-sized white porcelain bottle. Her young face was filled with smiles, seemingly unfazed by being defeated by Xue Jing the day before.


    "Hmm, you young people chat for a while. I woke up early today and need to go back to sleep for a while..."


    Li Qi waved his hand and wheeled himself out of the training room.


    As soon as he left, Zhu Shanying turned her gaze toward Xue Jing.


    "Come on, little junior brother, take off your shirt and come sit over here."


    Sitting on the ground in a duck-sit position, Zhu Shanying patted the floor, signaling Xue Jing to sit in front of her.


    The young girl in a fitted training garment had her hair tied up in a bun and her bare, uncolored beautiful jade feet exposed, embodying a naively seductive charm in this posture that showcased feminine beauty.


    "..."


    Xue Jing always felt something was off, but it wasn''t a good time to refuse. He could only nod, grabbed the hem of his T-shirt with both hands, lifted it up, and his perfectly god-crafted upper body was exposed.


    "Wow."


    Zhu Shanying exclaimed.


    "Pretty impressive, little junior brother."


    "You flatter me, Sister Zhu," Xue Jing said as he came over to her, turned his back to her, and sat down cross-legged.


    Before long, Xue Jing felt a pair of soft, slightly cool, and silky hands spreading salve on his back.


    Wherever it was applied, there was a sensation as if menthol balm had been rubbed on, creating a hot and spicy feeling.


    In the quiet, Xue Jing thought for a moment and spoke:


    "Sister, I''m truly sorry about yesterday. You weren''t injured, were you?"


    Zhu Shanying''s movements paused as she applied the salve, then she said with a smile, "Of course, I wasn''t injured."


    "However, although my body wasn''t hurt, my feelings were a bit hurt."


    The girl''s fingers wandered over Xue Jing''s back, suddenly pressing down hard on a spot, channeling energy deep into his body, making Xue Jing inhale sharply from the pain.


    Zhu Shanying''s voice, cheerful and velvety, rang by Xue Jing''s ear.


    "Little brother, don''t think I''m not competitive."


    The girl''s fingers twisted, scraping forcefully across Xue Jing''s muscles.


    "Don''t move, okay? Sleeping Dragon Salve needs to be rubbed in this way for the medicine to penetrate deep into the body and work effectively."


    "..."


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at the smiling Zhu Shanying and didn''t speak, silently enduring the massage that clearly carried a hint of revenge.


    After a short while, it was the young girl who couldn''t keep up anymore.


    "...You could say something," the young girl exclaimed tenderly.


    Xue Jing said in a low voice, "It''s nothing, as long as you''re happy, Sister."


    Zhu Shanying: "..."


    "Alright, it was my fault, actually losing to you because of my own carelessness, yet still thinking about revenge, taking the opportunity to deliberately tease you..."


    "Can you not be mad at me..."


    Zhu Shanying said, sounding pitiful.


    Xue Jing was speechless.


    After thinking it over, he said softly:


    "I''m not mad at you, it''s just really painful, so my voice might have dropped."


    "Keep going, Sister, don''t mind me."


    Seeing that he really wasn''t angry, Zhu Shanying breathed a sigh of relief, patted the budding Lailai, "That''s good, little brother, you scared me..."


    ...

 Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Is the Dragon Cult Going Down?

    "Alright, I''ve done your upper body, now take off your pants," she said with a laugh as she patted Xue Jing''s broad shoulders.


    "Uh, I''ll handle the rest myself, no need to trouble senior sister,"


    Xue Jing hesitated, speaking somewhat awkwardly.


    "Hehe, I''m just kidding."


    Zhu Shanying''s eyes were filled with amusement as she found Xue Jing''s discomfort quite entertaining.


    "You''re cute, junior brother."


    "Okay, then I''m going to start on my homework. Junior brother, you follow the method I just used, apply the Sleeping Dragon Salve, and massage it in with Power. I''m heading out first."


    The girl stood up, bid farewell, and left the practice room with light steps.


    After she left, Xue Jing took off his pants and, following Zhu Shanying''s earlier instructions, braced himself against the pain as he applied the medicine and massaged his legs with Power.


    The Sleeping Dragon Salve truly was Hidden Dragon Dojo''s secret medicine, its efficacy was exceptionally remarkable; initially, it was hot and painful, but soon the areas where it had been massaged emitted a warm and comfortable sensation, relieving much of the pain caused by practicing the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Not yet recovered and unable to continue practicing, Xue Jing, having nothing else to do here, left the Hidden Dragon Dojo and took the bus home.


    At this time, Miao Miao was still not awake, and Xue Jing didn''t disturb it but instead turned on the computer in his room.


    After discovering that Miao Miao had accessed the computer, he installed a covert screen recording software to start automatically with the computer, not knowing if it had recorded what Miao Miao was doing.


    After about ten seconds of startup time, Xue Jing used the shortcut key to open the screen recording software and then opened the video folder, indeed finding a recorded video.


    He unconsciously turned his head to glance at Miao Miao still sleeping on the bed, hesitated for a moment, but still opened the video.


    In the video, the mouse slowly moved to the browser on the computer desktop. It seemed that due to the inconvenience of the cat''s paw, the operation was very slow.


    After opening the browser, Miao Miao first entered a website in the address bar, then downloaded a software named in garbled text from a hidden spot on the page.


    After a series of incomprehensible operations by Xue Jing, the software was successfully installed.


    When the software opened, no screen appeared, only a small icon was added at the bottom right corner.


    Then, Miao Miao opened the browser again, entered another address, and after a few seconds of connection, what appeared in the video was a website named ''Inside World''.


    It appeared to be a forum with very many subchannels.


    [Banned Drug Trading Zone][Alien Implant Trading Zone][Bounty Order Zone][Intersecting Boundaries Hunter Zone]...


    At this moment, an advertisement popped up on the screen.


    [Still annoyed by your neighbor''s non-stop noise? Still angry at your partner who betrayed you? Still troubled by the existence of competitors? Kill''em APP at your service. Place an order and someone dies, quick resolution, saves time and effort, place an order now, the first order comes with a free death style selection package ...]


    Xue Jing: "..."


    In the video, Miao Miao didn''t even seem to look, directly closing it with an ''X''.


    Then, it didn''t enter any channel; instead, it clicked on the login in the upper right corner, entered the username and password, successfully logged in, the username was [Sect Leader], with an avatar of a chibi anthropomorphized dragon.


    The mouse moved and clicked into a personal interface, which opened a private chat function, and a chat interface popped up immediately.


    Chat history:


    [October 10, 10:29]


    [Sect Leader: I''m still alive, currently very safe, do not worry]


    [October 10, 21:39]


    [Followers of the Dragon: Sect Leader!! It''s so good that you are still alive!]


    [October 10, 22:46]


    [Followers of the Dragon: Sect Leader, Kangde Corporation is trying to kill us, everyone is talking about disbanding, we can''t stay in the Fifth Urban Circle anymore...]


    [October 11, 01:23]


    [Followers of the Dragon: "Sigh, Mr. An said the old Sect Hierarch is dead, and persisting is useless. He took a cab and left in the middle of the night¡­"]


    [October 11, 08:31]


    [Followers of the Dragon: "Miss Ji said she''s going to the Third Metropolitan Circle to take refuge with relatives¡­"]


    What followed was a string of who left.


    [October 13, 12:18]


    [Followers of the Dragon: "Sect Leader, what shall we do? So many people have left¡­"]


    In the video, Miao Miao started typing. Since typing with cat paws was inconvenient, she spelled out one letter at a time, very slowly.


    [October 14, 15:26]


    [Sect Leader: "It''s fine, it''s much quieter now."]


    After replying, Miao Miao clicked on the X, cleared the browsing history, uninstalled the software that looked like a VPN, and then shut down the computer.


    After watching the video, Xue Jing pinched his chin and thought: "Looks like the Dragon Cult is about to disband¡­"


    But fortunately, it seemed Miao Miao wasn''t too heartbroken about it. All she did was send a ''It''s fine.''


    Xue Jing stood up and walked to the bed, reaching out to touch the sleeping Miao Miao''s head, his gaze gentle, and softly chuckled:


    "If you have nowhere to go¡­ staying by my side is also fine."


    ¡­ S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next day, Monday.


    When Xue Jing got up in the morning, the pain from practicing the Coiling Dragon Art had completely subsided. He wasn''t sure if it was the effect of the Sleeping Dragon Salve or the [Health Cultivation].


    As usual, after making food for Miao Miao, he headed out to school.


    He went straight to the Qingcheng University campus, entering the seventh floor of the library.


    To activate the active effect of "Twin Lifes," he still needed to keep searching for clues about the Divine Relic.


    This time, having obtained specific names from Miao Miao, finding them became much more efficient, feeling able to skip over any books and records unrelated to the words ''Divine Relic.''


    "Classmate, you come here every day specifically, is there something you''re trying to find? Maybe I can help you."


    A soft and pleasant voice came from beside him, Xue Jing turned his head.


    He saw the high ponytail girl who had always been on the seventh floor standing next to him, her pretty face and slightly purple eyes were looking at him.


    The girl was dressed in a pure white form-fitting T-shirt, her hands holding a book against her chest, the upper half of the book compressed in her well-developed southern hemisphere, making the title invisible.


    Xue Jing subconsciously opened his panel to check and saw that Charm Art wasn''t active, clearly, this was a purely benevolent inquiry without any ulterior motives.


    He shoved the book he was holding back into the shelf and casually responded:


    "Are you a student at Qingcheng University?"


    The girl replied, "Um¡­ I suppose so."


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, though not hopeful, he still asked: "Have you heard of a ''Divine Relic''?"


    Upon hearing this word, the girl''s expression visibly paused, then she revealed a slight smile.


    "It seems, classmate, you''re not just any ordinary student."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow:


    "You actually know about this thing?"


    "I know a bit." The girl gestured with her hand towards the seating area.


    "Let''s go there and sit down to talk more."


    ¡­

 Chapter 33: Chapter 33 The Day God Died, GOD-1567

    The girl sat erect on the wooden chair, her slender legs clad in tight jeans slightly pressed together, and her delicate, fair face almost glowing. Her smooth ponytail reaching down to her waist swayed gently.


    She placed her right hand over her ample chest and introduced herself with a smile:


    "My name is Wu Youqing."


    "The kind of naive you see in ''childish,'' and the clear skies of ''sunny.''"


    Xue Jing introduced himself as well: "Xue Jing, the ''king'' radical plus the ''scenery'' of ''view.''"


    "Hmm... So first off, how did you come to know about the concept of ''Divine Relics''?"


    Wu Youqing asked curiously.


    "...Sorry, I can''t reveal that," Xue Jing shook his head.


    Miao Miao was probably still being pursued by Kangde Security Company at the moment, so he definitely couldn''t disclose any information rashly.


    "I can only tell you that I have indeed come into contact with Divine Relics, and if possible, I hope you can provide me with information about them."


    Xue Jing said thoughtfully.


    "Of course, if you don''t want to tell me, that''s okay too. It is my fault for not being able to provide information upfront."


    Wu Youqing did not show any dissatisfaction with Xue Jing''s vague words. She pinched her chin and tilted her head, asking, "So, the ''Divine Relic'' you encountered, was it of the oddity type or the living creature type?"


    "There''s a living creature type for Divine Relics?" Xue Jing expressed his surprise.


    That response indirectly answered Wu Youqing''s question. She nodded, "Looks like you''ve encountered the oddity type then."


    After saying this, the girl thought for a moment, stood up, walked over to the resting area against the wall, and crouched down to pull at a wooden handle on the wall that wasn''t very conspicuous.


    There was actually a hidden cabinet within the wall.


    Because of the way she was crouching, the curves of her hips were extremely noticeable, and with the contrast of her slim waist, their presence was strikingly pronounced, which made Xue Jing take a few more glances.


    Tight jeans are indeed a hallmark of a great civilization.


    Xue Jing had thought that Wu Youqing would take out some secret documents from such a well-hidden spot, but instead, she clanked about and brought out a set of tea utensils and a transparent water jug filled with water, placing them on the wooden table.


    "Do you prefer tea or coffee?" Wu Youqing asked as she wiped the tea utensils with a cloth.


    "Are those the only two choices?" Xue Jing looked towards the hidden compartment.


    "There''s also this." The girl turned around and took a 330ml modern canned Coca-Cola from the compartment.


    Although this world had followed a different historical trajectory from the Earth of his previous life, the things that should have appeared still did.


    Xue Jing reached out to take it: "Just this one."


    Wu Youqing didn''t hand it to him, though. Instead, she took a blue flower-patterned gold-rimmed porcelain cup from the tea tray, cracked open the aluminum can tab with a snap, and poured the black carbonated liquid into the exquisite cup. She then slid it over to Xue Jing with two fingers, like a bartender at a pub.


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched, "Fancy."


    The girl didn''t reply; instead, she took out a package of tea leaves of an unknown brand, tore it open, poured it into a teapot, and then picked up the transparent jug to pour water into it¡ªthe water was actually hot, and it was unclear when it had been boiled as it continuously emitted steam upon contact with the air.


    As she went through the steps of brewing tea, Wu Youqing spoke up, "Two hundred and eighty-seven years ago, ''God'' died."


    "Or to put it more precisely, ''the Deity'' died."


    Xue Jing listened quietly.


    The death of God was the biggest event in the history of this world. Even after so much time had passed, it remained a hot topic of discussion.


    But after all, whether the ''God'' who died was indeed the omniscient and omnipotent Lord from the Christian Bible, that couldn''t be confirmed. Therefore, the formally accepted term by the world is ''Death of the God.''"


    ''God'' is the deity of this world, who has no name, but is simply what humanity comprehends as ''God'', all other names are but imposed by humans themselves.


    It''s acceptable to call Him ''God'', ''Allah'' is fine too, ''Brahma'' works as well; if you wish, naming Him ''Primordial Heavenly Venerable'' is also not out of the question.


    The reason why He is generally referred to as God is simply because the concept of God in Christianity has become deeply ingrained in people''s hearts, and it most closely matches the definition of ''God''. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    287 years ago, ''God'' appeared in the material world for the first time, and it was also the last.


    According to historical records, on that day, every human on Earth Star saw with their own eyes... or rather, perceived in some unknown way, a colossal luminous humanoid with both hands cradling the Earth Star, who after emitting a loud and mournful wail, disintegrated into countless points of light.


    In that moment, the three words ''God is dead'' were etched into the consciousness of every human like a branding of thought.


    From that day on, the planet started to experience ''Intersecting Boundaries Phenomena'' from time to time, which after going through ''Boundary Shakes'', ''Weak Intersecting'', ''Strong Intersecting'', and other stages, gave birth to various ''Intersecting Boundaries''.


    The emergence of Intersecting Boundaries brought countless opportunities and crises to humanity.


    The administrative division of the nine major urban clusters of Zhuxia today is a historical remnant of a crisis caused by an Intersecting Boundary.


    "What most people don''t know is that, at the moment of ''God''s death'', He left something behind."


    Wu Youqing stirred the liquid in her teacup with a small spoon and began to explain the origin of Divine Relics.


    "The points of light that dispersed when God died¡­ let''s just call them ''Blood of the God'' for simplicity''s sake."


    "This ''Blood of the God'' scattered across the world and took residence in various objects."


    "Be it artifacts, or living creatures, or perhaps even a segment of human fantasies¡­"


    "These things that were housed and transformed by the Blood of the God, we call them¡ªDivine Relics."


    Xue Jing was listening so intently, and at this moment, Wu Youqing also pushed the cup of freshly brewed tea in front of him.


    "Try it."


    Xue Jing took the cup, his mind elsewhere as he picked up the tea and sipped, swallowing.


    Then, he immediately furrowed his eyebrows and looked into the tea.


    The amber-brown liquid appeared to be unmistakably black tea, and the nose was met with the slight bitter aroma of black tea.


    But the taste in his mouth was an unusual sweetness.


    "What is this?"


    "Guess," Wu Youqing said, her eyes mischievous, as if carrying a hint of triumph from her successful teasing.


    Xue Jing, perhaps reminded of something, blurted out subconsciously, "Don''t tell me it''s ''Youqing Tea''¡­"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized they were somewhat improper, but he figured a beautiful girl like Wu Youqing probably wouldn''t get the innuendo¡­


    Before he could finish rationalizing in his mind, he immediately saw a blush on Wu Youqing''s pretty face, her eyes looking at him strangely, as if to say: I didn''t expect this from you, Xue Jing¡­


    Xue Jing coughed lightly, "Don''t keep me in suspense, sister."


    Wu Youqing gave him a glance and lifted the transparent jug with one hand, while cradling the bottom with the other, introducing, "Serial number GOD-1567¡¤Sweet Water Jug."


    A Divine Relic?


    Divine Relic!


    Divine Substance, right before one''s eyes!


    ¡­

 Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Please Let Me Join Your Team!

    ```


    "Is this a Divine Relic?" Xue Jing narrowed his eyes, feigning interest as he unconsciously reached for the ''Sweet Water Jug''.


    Seeing this, Wu Youqing did not refuse and directly handed the Sweet Water Jug to him.


    [Divine Substance detected, Divine Absorption in progress...]


    Looking at the prompt that appeared on the screen, Xue Jing blinked, suppressed his excitement, and held the Sweet Water Jug in his arms without changing his expression, curiously touching it here and there.


    On the screen, [Divinity] was rising at several points per second, 26, 27, 28...


    "Why don''t you guess what the specific function of GOD-1567 is?"


    Unaware of the strange operations Xue Jing was secretly conducting, Wu Youqing, seeing his ''naive'' demeanor, couldn''t help but chuckle as she spoke.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "The water poured out is sweet without adding sugar? And it also has the function of producing hot water out of thin air?"


    Combining the name of the Divine Relic with what he had seen and felt before, he voiced his speculation.


    "Close, guess again," Wu Youqing said.


    At her words, Xue Jing took a closer look at the water jug in his hands, feeling that something was still amiss.


    As time passed, Divinity on the panel continued to increase, and Xue Jing suddenly frowned, saying somewhat uncertainly:


    "The amount of water... seems unchanged?"


    The water jug was made of transparent material, allowing a clear view of its contents. When taken out, the water inside was brimming to the top.


    Wu Youqing had just used it to brew a pot of tea, pouring out a significant amount, but when Xue Jing looked at it, the water level inside the jug still seemed full to the brim.


    A nearly unbelievable speculation crossed his mind: "The water in this jug... is unlimited?"


    At his words, Wu Youqing looked slightly surprised, and then nodded her head, her pretty face revealing a hint of satisfaction as she said, "You guessed right."


    "GOD-1567¡¤Sweet Water Jug, its function: it can produce hot water that has the same physical properties as normal water but carries an unusual sweetness."


    She paused for a moment, "Moreover, the water inside, will never run out."


    "As an excellent student of Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School, you should understand what this means," the young girl said with a smile on her face.


    Of course, Xue Jing understood what this meant.


    "Ignoring the law of conservation of energy..." he murmured.


    Material equivalents were energy, so infinite water equated to infinite energy.


    The capability to output unlimited energy to the external world without consuming any energy, this jug, while seemingly mundane in function, was in reality one of humanity''s ultimate dreams.


    A type-one Perpetual Motion Machine!


    If one were to speak grandly, this item was a true entity capable of overturning the fundamental laws of the universe.


    The significance was immense.


    "This, is a Divine Relic." Wu Youqing leaned back slightly, with her slender legs clad in tight jeans, crossed in a queenly manner.


    "Its very existence symbolizes ''unreasonableness'', as if it was a prank by the gods."


    On the panel, [Divinity] had risen to two hundred.


    To hold onto it for a longer period, Xue Jing began to make small talk:


    "Is such a useful Divine Relic only used to make tea?"


    Wu Youqing replied, "Do you think it would be making full use of it to turn it into a ''Perpetual Motion Machine''?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Though it was just an ordinary-sized water jug with an outflow efficiency that wouldn''t exceed 1000 milliliters per second, its attribute of unlimited output was sufficient to devise ways to turn it into a somewhat limited but still significantly impactful Perpetual Motion Machine.


    Especially since the water poured from the jug was ''hot water''.


    The majority of human energy usage is merely about boiling water in various ways.


    "From the moment GOD-1567 was discovered, the first person who acquired it had this idea, yet it is impossible."


    "Over the years, through research into thousands of Divine Relics, humanity has derived five laws." Wu Youqing extended her right hand, spreading her five fingers, then closed them until only her index finger remained extended.


    ```


    "One of them is that ''Divine Relics possess random transfer nature.''"


    "No matter how good the containment measures are, they are of no use. Any Divine Relic possesses the ability to randomly transfer with trigger conditions that are unclear. They can be transferred to another place at any time, with no pattern, unpredictable, and simply impossible to intercept."


    "Given that the Sweet Water Jug might disappear and transfer at any moment, it is impossible to specifically spend a lot of time and tens of billions in funds to make a Perpetual Motion Machine powered by it. This would only be a waste of manpower and resources for nothing."


    The young girl spoke eloquently.


    "I see," Xue Jing nodded in agreement.


    So, this jug was not as useful as imagined; its perpetual nature was non-replicable and couldn''t theoretically be applied elsewhere. Moreover, it could transfer at any time, making it impractical as a power source for a Perpetual Motion Machine.


    As a result, such a Divine Relic with mind-blowing significance was, in reality, nothing more than a toy capable of pouring out sweet, hot water.


    No wonder Wu Youqing would leave it here, in what seemed like a wasteful display.


    "In summary, all Divine Relics are similar to GOD-1567 in that they all have aspects that surpass human scientific understanding, being neither logical nor physical," the young girl said.


    Xue Jing listened to Wu Youqing''s introduction while watching the progress on the panel.


    [Divinity held: 397]


    "I never imagined that such wondrous things existed in the world," Xue Jing remarked.


    "Do you just believe that?" Wu Youqing raised an eyebrow.


    "No need to test its authenticity? Aren''t you afraid I''m deceiving you? Maybe this jug''s water was just pre-boiled, with some sugar added, and there''s a hidden compartment for replenishing the water?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, looking serious, "No need, I trust you."


    The panel''s reaction was the perfect proof.


    Wu Youqing snorted lightly, "Naive."


    Then she couldn''t help but laugh, "But somewhat cute."


    She reached out to take the Sweet Water Jug back from Xue Jing''s hand. He saw her movement and said nonchalantly:


    "Sister, would you like some water? I''ll pour it for you."


    Having said that, he stood up, took a teacup from the tea tray, filled it with the jug, and pushed it in front of Wu Youqing.


    The girl didn''t say much, withdrew her hand meant to take the jug, then picked up the cup, slightly pursed her red lips, and took a sip, frowning slightly.


    "The water from GOD-1567 has a plain sweet taste, yet the components tested show not a hint of sugar, identical to ordinary water."


    "It''s a pity that this sweetness is too cloying and doesn''t taste that great; otherwise, it could be used to make real ''sugar-free desserts''."


    Wu Youqing said with a bit of regret.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 502]


    Finally, I can activate the active effect of ''Twin Lifes''!


    Xue Jing suppressed the urge to jump up in celebration, placed the Sweet Water Jug on the wooden table, thought for a moment, then turned to Wu Youqing with a puzzled expression: S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister, I''m very curious, how do you know so much, and why are you telling me all this?"


    The young girl smiled slightly, rummaged through a small bag on a nearby chair for a while, took out a business card, and handed it to Xue Jing.


    "Let me introduce myself again."


    "I, Wu Youqing."


    Xue Jing took the business card and looked at the words on it.


    "CEO of Wu''s Divine Relic Containment and Research Co., Ltd."


    "I hope you..."


    Before the girl could finish her sentence, Xue Jing who had read the business card stood up from his seat, walked in front of her, and sincerely took her hand.


    "Please let me join your team, dear sister."


    Wu Youqing: "..."


    ...

 Chapter 35: Chapter 35 D-Class Divine Relic Custodian, Twin Lifes Active Unlock

    Divine Relic Custodian Company!


    What kind of Immortal organization is this, I must join!


    Just hearing about it I know there will be many opportunities to come into contact with Divine Relics, and what''s the difference between that and letting a mouse into a rice barrel for him?


    The only source of Divinity currently is Divine Relics, so any opportunity to come into contact with more Divine Relics must not be missed.


    He still doesn''t fully understand the function of Divinity, but just a single Twin Lifes is enough to show him its importance.


    Having more contact with Divine Relics, what if he activates one or even multiple Divine Skills in the future?


    Damn it, if he could have a set of Divine Skills like Twin Lifes that defy logic, then who in this world could stand against him?


    "Mmm... I was actually planning on inviting you to join as well," she said, "Since you''re interested, that''s even better."


    Wu Youqing was quite stunned for a moment before replying with a strange expression on her face.


    "So where is our company located? I don''t mean anything by it, I just want to take a look," said Xue Jing with an unchanged expression.


    The girl was rummaging in her bag while saying, "Our company headquarters isn''t in Qingcheng... it''s a bit far from here, I''ll take you there later."


    Xue Jing showed clear disappointment, and seeing this, Wu Youqing smiled and said, "It seems you''re really interested in Divine Relics."


    "There might not be anyone in this world who loves Divine Relics more than I do," Xue Jing sighed.


    Upon hearing this, Wu Youqing nodded in satisfaction, "That''s the best, our company needs employees just like you the most."


    She took a document out of her bag and pushed it in front of Xue Jing.


    On the cover were five vertical characters: Employment Agreement.


    Xue Jing picked up the document and flipped through it.


    It was a contract agreement for the position of ''Divine Relic Custodian.''


    It was not much different from a regular labor contract, but it contained additional confidentiality agreements, such as not disclosing one''s work outside, and not leaking any research information related to the Divine Relics already in the company''s possession, among other things.


    There were also some benefits and insurance agreements, such as compensation for disability or death during the containment process...


    "... Is a Custodian''s job very dangerous?" Xue Jing asked.


    Wu Youqing nodded, then shook her head, "Divine Relics are divided into D, C, B, A according to their danger level."


    "Since you are just starting, you''re classified as a D-level Custodian, the company will only assign ''harmless'' D-level Divine Relic containment tasks to you."


    "For this level of Divine Relic, if you follow the assigned procedures exactly, there''s basically no danger."


    "If you grow in the future and rise to a C-level, the ''dangerous'' level, or B ''high-danger level'', then you will be involved in truly risky work."


    Xue Jing suddenly realized, "I see... What about A-level then?"


    "A-level is the ''highest danger level''. The harm that this level of Divine Relic can cause is incalculable, potentially affecting an entire city, an entire country, and some might even have a global impact."


    "You don''t need to worry about A-level Divine Relics for now. Such level occurrences are not something a person or a company can resolve. When that time comes, official agencies will intervene."


    Wu Youqing explained.


    Xue Jing nodded, "One last question... Why did you choose me to become a Custodian? Just because I''ve been in contact with Divine Relics doesn''t mean I''m qualified to be a Custodian. This job obviously requires enough professional skills. On what basis did you decide that I could be a Custodian?"


    Wu Youqing didn''t understand him at all, didn''t know about his panel, didn''t know he was practicing martial arts, didn''t know how powerful he would be in the future, and just wanted to hire him simply because he had encountered Divine Relics before, which actually seemed quite strange.


    Seeing that Charm Art didn''t show any reaction on the panel, obviously, she wasn''t captivated by appearances.


    At his words, a smile appeared in Wu Youqing''s beautiful eyes.


    "You''re mistaken about one thing," she said softly.


    "It''s not that ''you came into contact with Divine Relics'', but that ''Divine Relics came into contact with you''."


    Xue Jing''s gaze flashed, as if he understood, "You mean..."


    "For many years, through our research on Divine Relics, we''ve roughly deduced that Divine Relics themselves likely possess some degree of ''personal will''."


    Wu Youqing stretched out her hand and caressed GOD-1567, "They... actively approach those who attract them."


    "These Divine Relics probably possess some sort of power to influence fate. You might think you encountered a Divine Relic by coincidence, but perhaps... it''s not a coincidence at all."


    "It''s not you who found the Divine Relic, but the Divine Relic that found you," Wu Youqing said word by word.


    "The ability to attract Divine Relics is extremely rare. In fact, just by joining our company, even if you do nothing, I estimate that the probability of encountering Divine Relics would increase significantly."


    "I am such a person, and because of this unique constitution, I ultimately became the CEO of this company."


    "Even... the fate of you and I meeting here might be influenced by a Divine Relic."


    Wu Youqing laughed.


    "Now you understand why I want you to become a Custodian at our company," she said.


    Xue Jing suddenly realized.


    So that''s how it is...


    No wonder the salary is so generous.


    Xue Jing glanced at the employment agreement''s monthly salary of two hundred thousand, along with the various bonuses and subsidies for successfully containing Divine Relics.


    Xue Jing sincerely said, "Salary or not doesn''t matter to me, what''s important is that I like Divine Relics. I''m willing to join your company, big sis."


    ...


    After signing the employment agreement and exchanging contact information with Wu Youqing, making a pact to contact him whenever there was a Divine Relic containment job, Xue Jing left the library.


    First, he went to the comprehensive building''s teacher''s office at the Affiliated Middle School to ask his homeroom teacher Du Shiwei for leave, then hurried back home.


    Upon entering the door, he headed straight for the ''gym'', sat down cross-legged in the center of the room, and opened the panel.


    [Twin Lifes Lv1 (Divinity required for upgrade: 502/100)]


    [Passive: Possesses two lives; can choose when to resurrect within seven days after death, cooldown time: three months]


    [Active: Unlocked (Unlock condition: Divinity 502/500, currently unlockable)]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock condition: Divinity 502/2000, level reached Lv10)]


    Xue Jing took a deep breath and clicked to unlock the active effect.


    [Unlocked] S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Active: At each Lv1, designate one physical-related ability to produce double effect upon use]


    [Currently selectable: Physical Strength, Physical Defense, Action Speed, Reaction Speed, Calculative Ability, Concentration, Memory...]


    There were dozens, if not hundreds of options extending beyond, but Xue Jing didn''t look closely.


    "Designate one ability... to produce double effect?"


    Xue Jing pondered, chin in hand.


    "Does this mean if I choose ''Physical Strength'', then I could have double the strength when using Twin Lifes?"


    It was somewhat subtle.


    This ability... seemed quite powerful, yet it also seemed... not to live up to the powerful passive effect of Twin Lifes.


    Was there something he had overlooked?


    Xue Jing fell into contemplation.


    "Which ability should I choose for the first one?"


    ...

 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Divinity Skills Beyond the Physical

    [Physical Strength][Action Speed][Physical Defense].


    Xue Jing''s gaze moved back and forth among these three items.


    Without a doubt, these three were definitely the biggest boosts to his combat strength at this stage.


    The rest, such as [Reaction Speed][Perception Ability][Instinctive Intuition], were also good, but obviously, for now, their effects were not as direct as speed, strength, and defense.


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing first dismissed [Physical Defense].


    Having the passive resurrection effect of Twin Lifes, he didn''t need this life-saving ability at the moment. Moreover, as a Stone-throwing Immortal, if he encountered an enemy he couldn''t defeat, he certainly wouldn''t get close to them, so [Physical Defense] was dispensable.


    All that was left to choose was between strength and speed...


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing chose [Action Speed].


    Now, with his skills enhanced, his physical strength was not weak. Coupled with Power, handling human-level physicality was a breeze.


    His senior sister, Zhu Shanying, whom Miao Miao once described as ''much stronger than him,'', had fainted on the spot from his judo throw, although it was because she didn''t use Power for Defense, it still somewhat revealed that martial artists were a bit like glass cannons, high attack, low defense.


    Speed was different, however; it was an attribute that was forever scarce and one could never be too fast with.


    In the world of martial arts, no defense is impregnable, only speed is unstoppable!


    Xue Jing clicked on [Action Speed].


    Instantly, he instinctively understood how to use the active effect of [Twin Lifes] as naturally as breathing.


    "Twin Lifes, activate!"


    The next moment, Xue Jing was like a video set to fast forward, his action speed suddenly doubled.


    He stood up, walked over to the standing punching bag, channeled his Power, and punched it flying away, the whole process incredibly fast.


    "Eh? This feeling..." Xue Jing paused, his eyes reflecting his thoughts. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, he tested it again by setting up the standing punching bag, punched it again, just as incredibly fast, as if a fast forward button was pressed.


    The standing punching bag flew out again, hitting the wall.


    "So it''s true, indeed..." he muttered.


    "One last test..."


    Xue Jing walked out of his house, left the residential area, and went to the small garden track where he usually jogged in the morning.


    It was already eight or nine in the morning, and being a Monday, most people were at work or school, leaving few people in the garden, just a few elderly men and women walking, doing Tai Chi, and exercising.


    Xue Jing took out his phone, opened the stopwatch function, and confirmed that no one around was watching him, then pressed start on the timer!


    In an instant, he shot forward like a cannonball, moving at speeds impossible for a human, streaking across the track like a meteor.


    In a matter of seconds, he had run half a lap, then he stopped and pressed the stop button on his phone.


    [5 seconds 12]


    "This track is two hundred meters in total, half a lap is one hundred meters... it took only 5 seconds 12."


    "So, this is the true nature of the active effect of [Twin Lifes]?"


    A look of surprise flashed in Xue Jing''s eyes.


    "To ignore any physical law, to directly make one''s action speed gain the effect of doubling..."


    "Simply, conceptually, my speed has doubled!"


    Xue Jing was overjoyed.


    It is known that physical training has diminishing marginal effects.


    To increase one''s running speed from twenty seconds per hundred meters to twelve seconds is relatively easy, just requiring persistent high-intensity training for a while.


    But after achieving twelve seconds, factors like air resistance and physical limits mean that every 0.1-second improvement requires a hundred times, even a thousand times more effort.


    Once reaching the ten-second domain, it''s even more absurd, every 0.01-second improvement is a remarkable progress, unachievable without enough talent and ample resources.


    But now, Twin Lifes simply ignored all that, making his speed simply double!


    From 10 seconds 24, it directly became 5 seconds 12!


    Imagine this, he was in the midst of a high-stakes close combat where not a single mistake was permitted and suddenly he activated "Twin Lifes". His hand speed doubled instantly. What concept is that?


    This was an acceleration that defied logic and instinct; no one could have anticipated it, almost ensuring a sure hit.


    This is Twin Lifes, a Divine Skill that transcends physics!


    "It''s a pity, it really is just the speed that has doubled¡­ The attack strength is still calculated based on the original physical properties."


    Speed equals mass, and the faster the punching speed, the higher is the attack.


    However, Twin Lifes only doubled his speed, which means even if he could throw punches at the speed of sound because of the doubled speed, the kinetic energy released is still that of the original speed, not that of a sonic speed punch.


    Despite this, he still felt that the "Twin Lifes Speed" could be described as invincible.


    "So, does Twin Lifes also ignore physical laws and double "Physical Strength" and "Physical Defense"?"


    At this thought, Xue Jing became a bit restless.


    He definitely needed to rush and absorb some seventeen or eighteen Divine Relics.


    "I''m bloody desperate!"


    He picked up his phone and glanced at Wu Youqing in his contacts.


    She was his only channel to access Divine Relics, and he had no idea when she would bring some work his way.


    With a sigh, Xue Jing collected his thoughts.


    Just as he was planning to continue testing the effect of Twin Lifes Speed, he suddenly discovered¡­ it seemed to be unavailable.


    He opened the panel and saw that the originally shining, golden "Twin Lifes Lv1" had become dull.


    "Ah? There''s also a cooldown period?"


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched.


    He carefully looked at the "Twin Lifes" on the panel; the golden light was slowly returning.


    "Just now, I ran for over 5 seconds, plus the time I used it inside the house..."


    Xue Jing did a quick calculation, it seemed like he had used Twin Lifes Speed for about 20 seconds, and it had entered cooldown.


    In that case¡­ he would need to use this skill more strategically.


    He wasn''t sure how long the cooldown was or whether upgrading it would extend the usage time.


    "Ban, is this really your limit?"


    Xue Jing was somewhat disappointed.


    ¡­


    When he returned home, Miao Miao had already woken up and was nestled on the sofa in the living room, watching a cartoon on TV while licking its disheveled fur.


    Seeing Xue Jing come back, it yawned, exposing a few sharp teeth.


    "Didn''t you go to school, you''re back so soon?"


    Xue Jing smiled and said:


    "I missed Sect Hierarch so much, I couldn''t help but take leave and come back."


    This statement was a joke made in high spirits after activating Twin Lifes.


    What Xue Jing hadn''t expected was that upon hearing this, Miao Miao paused for a moment, then turned its face away, its back towards him.


    "Is that so¡­"


    The childish female voice seemed a bit shy, not quite able to hide its mood as the cat''s tail flicked uncontrollably.


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    If he said right now that he was just joking, would he be scratched on the spot?


    ¡­

 Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Cheating-like Twin Speed

    In the afternoon, Xue Jing observed that "Twin Lifes" on the panel flashed back with a pale golden glow and conducted further experiments, from which he drew some conclusions.


    "The usage time is about 20 seconds, and after it''s fully used up, it takes about six hours to cool down to 20 seconds..."


    "The cooldown recovery is ongoing at all times. Suppose I use one second of ''Twin Speed'', leaving 19 seconds, one-twentieth of six hours is 18 minutes, meaning I will fully recover to 20 seconds of usage time after 18 minutes."


    Xue Jing derived detailed usage data from his experiments.


    Unfortunately, the usage time of level 1 Twin Lifes is just too short; he had to calculate his resources carefully.


    "Speaking of which, practicing the Coiling Dragon Art is also an ''action'' that can be accelerated with ''Twin Speed''."


    "This could directly double the efficiency... but the current duration is still too short; I''ll worry about it later."


    ...


    At three in the afternoon, Xue Jing still hadn''t gone to school; he had taken the day off.


    Taking the bus to Hidden Dragon Dojo, perhaps because it was the afternoon shift change, the receptionist at the front desk wasn''t the same qipao-clad lady as before, but another equally beautiful receptionist dressed in a qipao.


    Although she had not met Xue Jing before, she seemed to have been forewarned and seen his photo; upon seeing Xue Jing, she stood up and sweetly called out ''Lord Jing'', which made Xue Jing feel a bit odd.


    ''This title isn''t much better than the young master.''


    Upon entering the dojo, Xue Jing first went to check out the training hall.


    "No, no, your way of channeling energy is too rigid. We have an old saying in martial arts: ''Train to lift a thousand pounds, apply with just four ounces of effort.'' You''re only using your muscles, which belong to ''dead strength,'' both strenuous and ineffective..."


    In the center of the training hall, Zhu Shanying was instructing an ordinary disciple as many other disciples watched.


    Just as Xue Jing walked into the training hall, Zhu Shanying turned her head toward the door for some reason. Her eyes, nimble as newborn animals, immediately lit up, and she waved her hand joyfully and shouted, "Hey, hey! Junior brother, over here, come here!"


    Xue Jing paused slightly and, not wanting to refuse, walked toward the center of the hall.


    "Is he the new direct disciple of the Old Dojo Master? Junior Brother?"


    "He looks really handsome, even better looking than Senior Brother Chen..."


    "I heard he defeated Zhu, and the Old Dojo Master was amazed by his talent and accepted him as a disciple right then and there?"


    "Who told you that, it''s all nonsense; Zhu was just caught off guard and didn''t dodge..."


    Many disciples who hadn''t been at the dojo that day and thus had not met Xue Jing turned their curious eyes on this new junior brother.


    "Junior brother, you arrived just in time. Let''s have a sparring match, and show them the correct way to use power," Zhu Shanying said with a smile, taking Xue Jing''s hand and leading him toward the nearby sparring ring.


    The girl''s hand was soft and smooth, not at all like that of someone who practiced martial arts. Men of weaker will could be ensnared by such a hand, though Xue Jing remained unyielding and stood his ground.


    Zhu Shanying, unable to pull him forward, looked at Xue Jing with some confusion.


    "Um... perhaps we should forget it, I am still not quite skilled, I''m afraid it won''t have much of a teaching effect," Xue Jing hesitated before speaking.


    Zhu Shanying gave him a reproachful look. "Didn''t you defeat me before? How can you say that you are not skilled? Come on, your senior sister will be gentle, it won''t hurt a bit..."


    Xue Jing remained expressionless, having already sensed that Zhu Shanying still harbored the intent to recover her dignity somewhat. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After thinking for a moment, he nodded and agreed.


    Zhu Shanying was instantly overjoyed and, holding Xue Jing''s hand, led him up to the sparring ring, shattering the hearts of countless male disciples with their overly intimate behavior.


    "Eh, who do you think will win?"


    "That''s no question, it was clearly because Zhu was careless last time. Junior Brother has just started learning martial arts; how could he possibly win?"


    "Sigh, I hope Zhu will be gentle; don''t hurt our junior brother too badly."


    "Damn it, I can''t be wrong this time, right? I bet fifty cents, Zhu, wins!"


    The watching disciples were somewhat excited.


    In the sparring ring, the two of them stood facing each other.


    "Junior brother, be careful."


    Zhu Shanying crouched down slightly, positioning her hands in a stance, and cautioned Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing nodded, mimicking Zhu Shanying''s stance, but having never practiced it, even the ordinary watching disciples could tell he was a novice in fighting skills.


    However, Zhu Shanying had personally experienced this junior brother''s prowess and did not underestimate him, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of focus.


    However... In the next moment, her whole body suddenly leaned and fell toward the right.


    "Eh?"


    Xue Jing suddenly crouched down with incredible speed, delivering a powerful low sweep with his right foot that knocked her legs off the ground, causing her whole body to topple to the side.


    The incident was sudden, and Zhu Shanying, based on her past experience, initially focused her attention on the upper body since no opponent typically used a low sweep with a long wind-up at the start of a match.


    ...unless the opponent''s speed was extremely fast, which naturally made their movements unrestricted.


    Caught off guard due to insufficient intelligence, Zhu Shanying, though startled, was not thrown into disarray and was about to brace herself with her hands to regain balance.


    However, just when she was momentarily suspended in mid-air without any leverage, Xue Jing had already, with speed beyond reason, grabbed her wrist...


    "Bang!"


    Zhu Shanying lay on the arena floor, her face showing a blank expression, not knowing what had happened.


    It was another shoulder throw, with the same result.


    This time, the girl had preemptively used Power for defense, which prevented her from being knocked out.


    But to her, it made no difference... this was only a contest, not a fight to the death, and she had already lost.


    The discussions among the surrounding disciples abruptly ceased, falling into silence.


    "I yield, Senior Sister Zhu."


    Xue Jing, looking at the girl lying on the ground in a daze, spoke softly.


    After speaking, he turned and walked down from the arena, slowly heading toward the dojo''s entrance.


    Along the way, all the disciples Xue Jing passed involuntarily stepped aside as if there was an invisible wall of air around him, clearing away everything.


    Not until Xue Jing had left the dojo did the disciples slowly come to their senses and looked toward Zhu Shanying, who was still lying on the arena floor.


    "This... Senior Sister Zhu..." a disciple hesitatingly spoke.


    The girl did not respond, just gazed blankly at the ceiling.


    ...


    Xue Jing made his way to his training room, sat down cross-legged in the center of the wooden floor, and opened his panel to check.


    The pale golden light of Twin Lifes had dimmed slightly.


    The spar with Zhu Shanying had used Twin Speed for about three seconds.


    It was the first application of this skill in real combat, and the effect was exactly as Xue Jing had anticipated, even surpassing his expectations.


    Damn powerful!


    Not to mention the sheer speed of this skill, the unexpectedness that defied logic was truly terrifying.


    Zhu Shanying had sparred with him once and knew his attack speed, had mentally prepared in advance, but she had no room to react to the sudden surge in his speed.


    If he could exploit the huge disparity in speed properly, the advantage it provided was indeed massive.


    Anyone who has played games knows how torturous this ''Quick-Slow Blade'' can be.


    [You have experienced a battle, Fighting Experience Points +97]


    [You have experienced a battle, Fitness Experience Points +81]


    [You have experienced a battle, felt joy, Health Cultivation Experience Value +49]


    [You have experienced a battle, Aiming Experience Value +26]


    [You have experienced a battle, Channeling Energy Experience Value +69]


    [Channeling Energy increased to Lv2 (9/500)]


    "Hmm? Not considered a victory against the odds anymore?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    The previous time he had beaten Zhu Shanying, the panel indicated a victory against the odds, but not now.


    It seemed the panel had decided that with the activation of Twin Speed, he was no longer considered weaker than Zhu Shanying?


    ...

 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Five Major Practices, Leaping Through the Dragon Gate

    In the cultivation room, dressed in black training garments, Xue Jing was assuming a posture, his Power channeling throughout his body, stimulating his nodes as he practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills.


    At Level 2 Channeling Energy, his use of Power had reached a new level, allowing for even finer and more detailed stimulation of the critical nodes within his body.


    His body temperature rose slightly, and sweat seeped out from the pores all over his body, drop by drop falling to the floor, gradually forming a puddle on the solid wood flooring beneath his feet.


    This time, Xue Jing persisted for nearly an hour before he couldn''t help but collapse to the ground, ending his practice of the Coiling Dragon Art.


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +198]


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills practice, Channeling Energy Experience Points +187]


    The results were quite gratifying, almost twice the gain from his last session of practicing the Coiling Dragon Art.


    "Gradually adapting..."


    Xue Jing felt the aching in various parts of his body.


    Although the duration of this cultivation session was longer than the last, the feeling of swelling and pain was more bearable. This was not only due to the upgraded Channeling Energy but also because his body was gradually adapting to the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Xue Jing picked up the remaining Sleeping Dragon Salve from yesterday that was in the cultivation room and began to apply and massage it onto himself.


    "With this, and the recovery capabilities from ''Health Cultivation'', I feel like I could train again today." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    Applying the salve on his own was somewhat inconvenient, so after struggling for more than ten minutes to get it done, he sighed with relief, lying on the floor resting.


    "Junior Brother, are you there?"


    Chen Fuguang''s voice suddenly came from outside the cultivation room.


    Xue Jing paused slightly, sat up, and said, "Yes, Senior Brother Chen, please come in."


    The door opened, and Chen Fuguang, dressed in casual clothing and with hands clasped behind his back, walked in. Seeing Xue Jing''s sweaty appearance, he smiled and said,


    "Oh, practicing?"


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded, "Just finished."


    "I heard from Master, you persisted for more than half an hour the first time you practiced the Coiling Dragon Art."


    Chen Fuguang said with admiration,


    "I thought our eldest senior brother with his monstrous muscles was already outrageous, but I didn''t expect you to be even more so."


    "It''s rather embarrassing to admit, but when I first practiced, it hurt so much after three minutes I didn''t want to continue, which really irritated Master," said Chen Fuguang, shaking his head.


    "Although the Coiling Dragon Art is much simpler and easier to practice than the Armor Shaking Skill, it''s still far from what ordinary people can endure. Only you, junior brother, and our eldest senior brother seem to relish it."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than a person suddenly leapt into the cultivation room through an open window.


    It was a middle-aged man with a clear, handsome face and long hair reaching his waist. He must have been around two meters tall, with an extremely burly and robust physique. His oversized training garment was stretched taut, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal muscles that gleamed almost like metal, imposing a powerful sense of strength.


    After leaping in through the window, the man landed as lightly as a cat, his toes touching the solid wood floor nearly without sound, a stark contrast to his imposing build.


    ...


    If it were simply someone climbing in through a window, that wouldn''t have been anything out of the ordinary.


    The problem was... the Hidden Dragon Dojo was located on the seventeenth floor of an office building.


    "Eldest senior brother."


    Chen Fuguang, seemingly used to such an entrance, casually greeted the middle-aged man.


    Xue Jing also snapped back to reality amidst his shock, quickly saying, "Senior Brother!"


    Senior Brother Meng Boshang did not speak but nodded at Xue Jing with a barely discernible curl of his lips, as though he had smiled but also as though he had not.


    Xue Jing was quite puzzled and didn''t quite understand Senior Brother''s attitude towards him.


    Meng Boshang still did not speak and silently walked out of the training room, his destination unknown.


    "Senior Brother always takes the road less traveled, eh? Every time he takes a stroll around the Hidden Dragon Dojo and just enters through whichever window he finds open."


    Chen Fuguang exclaimed.


    Xue Jing walked over to the window and glanced out, confirming that he was indeed ten stories high.


    "Seventeenth floor... that must be over seventy or eighty meters, right? How did Senior Brother get in?"


    Xue Jing wondered aloud.


    Chen Fuguang chuckled: "For us martial artists, the limitations of terrain have never been an issue."


    "Especially for someone like Senior Brother, leaping directly to the seventeenth floor dojo from the ground is hardly a difficult feat."


    "Directly to the seventeenth floor?"


    Leaping more than seventy meters from the ground, how much power would that require?


    Two words surfaced in Xue Jing''s mind.


    Superhuman.


    "Senior Brother is a master who has almost reached Perfection in the Five Major Practices and is about to Leap Through the Dragon Gate. Even the Public Security Bureau has to seek Senior Brother''s help for matters they can''t handle," Chen Fuguang said, his face beaming with pride.


    "Five Major Practices? Leaping Through the Dragon Gate?"


    Xue Jing asked curiously.


    "Right, you''ve just started, little brother, so your understanding of martial arts cultivation must still be superficial. Let me tell you about it," Chen Fuguang said, sitting down cross-legged on the solid wood floor.


    "In our martial artist''s cultivation, there are Five Major Practices concerning the body which consist of skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood."


    "These five elements are interconnected; there is no strict sequence in their cultivation. They can be trained simultaneously or with particular emphasis on certain aspects."


    "As for our Hidden Dragon School, we progress evenly in all Five Major Practices, which makes us extremely versatile. However, this also means that those who do not cultivate well lack any remarkable characteristics and become mediocre," he continued.


    "Those who have Completed the Five Major Practices have reached the theoretical pinnacle of human physique. At that moment, if one can go even further and break through the body''s limits, it is akin to Fish Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, shedding the mundane, undergoing a complete transformation, and continuing the climb to even greater pinnacles.


    It''s said that our master had reached this level over twenty years ago."


    Chen Fuguang talked with enthusiasm.


    "Five Major Practices, Leaping Through the Dragon Gate..."


    "So is ''Leaping Through the Dragon Gate'' the highest realm in martial arts?" Xue Jing asked with curiosity.


    Chen Fuguang shook his head. "I''ve asked the master about this, and his reply was that there is no end to the martial arts."


    This sounded like an empty platitude, but Xue Jing could only nod in agreement, after all, it was what the master had said.


    "However... the master did mention some ancient legends to me."


    Chen Fuguang suddenly continued.


    "It is said that there is a legendary ultimate state of the body passed down among ancient martial artists, known as the ''Treasured Body''."


    ...

 Chapter 39: Chapter 39 The Legend of the Supreme Ancient Body

    ```


    "What is a ''Treasured Body''?" Xue Jing asked curiously.


    Chen Fuguang explained, "The so-called Treasured Body literally refers to treating one''s body as a ''treasure'' and forging it into one."


    His voice took on a melodious tone, "In ancient times, there was a poem that went¡ª"


    "Flesh hosting dragon and elephant, tendons like iron built,"


    "Skin bursting like glazed glass, unyielding jade bones underneath."


    "Blood like molten lava scorching red gold, utmost perfection and marvel, a true Treasured Body."


    "It refers to the legendary ''Five Realms of the Treasured Body''."


    "''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant,'' ''Iron Tree Entwining Tendons,'' ''Lustrous Glass Skin,'' ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' ''Dripping Blood Melts Gold.''"


    "These five great realms are the ultimate physical states that ancient martial artists dreamed of."


    As Xue Jing listened, entranced by the realms depicted by ancient martial artists, he couldn''t help but ask further,


    "What specifically do these five great realms represent?"


    Chen Fuguang, very pleased with Xue Jing''s reaction that greatly satisfied his desire to share, smiled proudly and said,


    "The so-called ''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant'' refers to muscular flesh that harbors the power of dragons and elephants. Among aquatic creatures, the dragon has the greatest force, and among land creatures, the elephant is the strongest. These two are considered the most powerful beings in legends, so ''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant'' should be easy to understand."


    "There is an old saying that goes: Why does one strive to shake the land under heaven? Solely to cultivate the flesh of dragon and elephant."


    As Chen Fuguang spoke, he began to shake his head and sway, getting excited. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Secondly, ''Iron Tree Entwining Tendons'' refers to sinews like the roots of an iron tree. Trees are naturally tough, but iron trees are even more so, surpassing in both hardness and resilience. Muscles and tendons are inseparable, with muscles being the extension of tendons and tendons the essence of muscles.


    Possessing sinews like the roots of an iron tree can bind the flesh of dragon and elephant, maximizing their potential."


    "There''s a saying that praises: Divine power limitless, moving mountains with ease, iron tree tendrils tightly winding the body."


    Chen Fuguang listed these attributes as if counting treasures, and when he got to the sayings, he almost sang them like a professional storyteller.


    "Third comes ''Lustrous Glass Skin,'' which doesn''t refer to the skin''s outward appearance but rather its nature, as flawless and impervious as glass. Once attained, the body would have no weak points, capable of retaining all energy, blood, and spirit, minimizing consumption, shutting out external pressures, impervious as diamond glass, and unharmed by divine weapons."


    "There''s a saying that praises: Perfect worldly affairs are rare since ancient times, as impeccable is the glass skin without blemish or leak."


    "Fourth is ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' which involves tempering one''s bones into unyielding jade. These bones would then possess an unparalleled function of blood creation, endlessly circulating blood and essence energy. Physical consumption would no longer pose an issue, combined with ultimate hardness and sharpness. No weapon could harm them, and no object could withstand their damage.


    Utilizing such bones to execute martial arts techniques significantly enhances their killing power."


    "There''s a saying that praises: A thousand years, ten thousand years, eroding worldly winds, yet not wearing down a set of unyielding bones."


    Xue Jing teased, "Why doesn''t it rhyme when you get to the bones?"


    Chen Fuguang gave a sigh and waved his hand, "What does rhyme matter? It''s about looking cool."


    "Don''t interrupt, let me finish," he said.


    Chen Fuguang gathered his emotions again, his eyes reflecting a touch of vastness,


    "Fifth is ''Dripping Blood Melts Gold.'' It''s recognized by ancient martial artists as the most difficult to achieve of the Five Realms of the Treasured Body. It refers to the moment when one mobilizes their body, their blood boiling fervently, hot as volcanic lava.


    A single drop has the power to dissolve solid gold, and as blood is the source of human dynamism, imagine the might such blood could unleash!"


    "There''s a saying that praises: True gold fears not the furnace''s trial, only the martial artist''s blood that melts gold!"


    Surprised, Xue Jing said,


    "This feels less like a description of realms and more like a myth."


    As soon as he spoke, Chen Fuguang''s expression suddenly darkened.


    The previously fiery atmosphere abruptly came to a halt.


    "Yes, it''s just a myth."


    "No one can achieve it."


    A sigh escaped Chen Fuguang.


    In the past, Master Li Qi had described this ultimate pursuit of the body by martial artists with the same fervor before sighing listlessly afterward.


    Putting aside whether such realms were even attainable, but even if they were, what then?


    The times had already changed...


    ```


    ```


    Genius can be manufactured, a few shots of banned drugs and the corresponding scientific training methods can quickly produce a strong fighter, not to mention the existence of ''Alien Implants''.


    Ten years of hard work in martial arts is not as good as one surgery.


    Even if someone does manage to cultivate a Treasured Body to the fifth level, it is still uncertain whether they can defeat the crystallization of new era technology.


    The path of the Old Martial Arts has long reached its end...


    Chen Fuguang''s face was full of melancholy, he stopped speaking, and Xue Jing also noticed something and did not persuade him, only remained silent.


    He and Chen Fuguang were different, possessing the greatest anomaly in this world.


    What others couldn''t do, for him, was not impossible.


    The five realms of the Treasured Body...


    Maybe he could try, see if he could become a ''Martial Arts Myth''.


    "Alright, Junior Brother, you go ahead and train, I''m busy with work and will leave first," said Chen Fuguang, patting Xue Jing on the shoulder with a smile.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Take care, Senior Brother Chen."


    ...


    Two days later, in the training room of the Hidden Dragon Dojo,


    Xue Jing stopped practicing the Coiling Dragon Art and stood on the solid wood floor, slowly steadying his breath.


    Under his feet was a staggering pool of sweat, enough to make one question just how much water the human body could possibly hold.


    [You have completed a session of the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills Practice, Fitness Experience Points +208]


    [You have completed a session of the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills Practice, Channeling Energy Experience Points +201]


    [Fitness has been increased to Lv5 (59/2000)]


    [Channeling Energy has been increased to Lv3 (198/800)]


    Xue Jing''s body crackled crisply, his overall physical quality suddenly increased, receiving an all-around enhancement.


    He gripped his hand, power pulsed with his breath, and a patch of skin on his arm suddenly bulged as if a mouse was scurrying beneath it.


    After moving his fingers, the ''mouse'' scurried up to his index finger. Xue Jing posed his thumb and index finger in a flicking gesture, snap!


    Just a flick of the fingers produced a loud, powerful pop!


    "Great! Power through the fingertips, a Finger Flicking Strike, as a teacher, I didn''t expect that, aside from your exceptionally outstanding physical talent, you also possess such great ability in channeling energy," said Li Qi, who was sitting in a wheelchair, clapping his hands with a laugh.


    Looking at the disciple before him who he couldn''t be more satisfied with, Li Qi felt even the bald patch on his head seemed to shine a bit brighter.


    "As the saying goes, ''A resonant force is worth a thousand gold.'' To finely control power to extend to the fingertips, and be able to kill with a flick, in the Old Era, that alone would classify you as an expert, honored as ''Master'' once you stepped outside," he said.


    A smile of satisfaction appeared on Xue Jing''s face as well. He smiled and said,


    "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent guidance."


    Li Qi hummed in agreement, then said, "You''re progressing too fast, far exceeding my expectations, it might be possible to try the next step ahead of time."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "The next step? Is it the Armor Shaking Skill?"


    Li Qi shook his head, "No, it''s the Visualization Method."


    "The Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills aim to ''cultivate Dragon Qi'', but where does this Dragon Qi come from? It comes from within the heart!"


    "You have to cultivate a dragon in your own heart."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Boy Who Screams Traffic

    Xue Jing followed Chen Fuguang into the venue.


    Somehow, the soundproofing in this venue was incredibly effective. It was almost quiet outside, but as soon as they entered, a cacophony of noise instantly assaulted their ears.


    Xue Jing looked up to see the seats filled with a dense crowd, and a rough count told him there were at least a few thousand people there. In the dimly lit space, neon lights flashed everywhere, illuminating the faces of people who were shouting loudly.


    In the center of the venue was an octagonal cage ring raised more than a meter off the ground and quite spacious. Inside, two muscular men clad only in shorts were fighting barehanded, striking with fierce moves that produced a cracking sound upon contact.


    "This is the Fist Competing Pavilion, junior brother. You should know what this place is," Chen Fuguang said with a smile as he watched Xue Jing observing his surroundings.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I know."


    Fist Competition is a unique method of commercial competition in this world.


    Due to the prevalence of martial arts, companies found a peculiar way to resolve their disputes: each would send one or several Martial Artists to sign an agreement beforehand and engage in ''Fist Competition'' fighting matches.


    The representative who won the Fist Competition could, according to the prior agreement, claim the benefits stipulated in the contract.


    Initially, this was only a form of competition among a small circle of company owners who were martial arts enthusiasts.


    But decades ago, a major figure skilled in martial arts took charge in ''Cangting'' and enacted a new law known as the ''Fist Competition Act.''


    Since the enactment of the ''Fist Competition Act,'' this form of dueling spread far and wide, becoming popular throughout the country and even globally.


    To this day, any company with some reputation would support one or several players specifically for Fist Competition matches.


    As Fist Competitions attracted more attention, aside from their inherent commercial competition significance, they also accrued considerable additional commercial value.


    Some large companies'' Fist Competitions featured renowned star players, each event drawing tremendous interest, with massive promotion beforehand, renting large venues for ticket sales, and even involving some gray areas like bookmaking and gambling...


    Indeed, some companies would even fabricate disputes to attract attention and hold Fist Competitions to rake in money.


    "Practicing martial arts is a very costly affair."


    Chen Fuguang led the way while speaking.


    "Junior brother, you''ve just started training, so you might not feel it yet. ''Coiling Dragon Art'' only requires some healing medicines for care, but once you start practicing ''Armor Shaking Skill'' in ''Dynamic Posture,'' you''ll discover that your body is like a bottomless pit."


    Chen Fuguang shook his head.


    "The practice of ''Kungfu Body'' in our Hidden Dragon School requires many secret medicines, and a lot of the materials must be obtained from the Intersecting Boundaries, purchased from those immensely greedy companies there, especially materials related to the ''Dragon Breed.''


    "Cultivating Dragon Qi, Training Dragon Strength, the ultimate goal of the Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body is to harbor a True Dragon within one''s flesh. Naturally, many materials related to the Dragon Breed are needed, as they are the source of Dragon Qi and Dragon Force."


    "And all of these require money, lots and lots of money!"


    Chen Fuguang said slowly and earnestly.


    "We disciples only have the role to honor our Master; there''s no logic in bleeding him dry, so we have to earn this money ourselves. Aside from Zhu, whose family has substantial wealth, all the other senior brothers and sisters are busy for exactly this reason."


    He then patted Xue Jing on the shoulder.


    "The Hidden Dragon Dojo is prestigious, and many matters that need to be handled by Martial Artists are entrusted to us. The remuneration for resolving these commissions, aside from a small part used to maintain the Dojo''s operation, is spent on ourselves."


    "For example, today''s Fist Competition is a match where Boss Zhao of Haoteng Real Estate has contracted us to represent the company. The fee is this much."


    Chen Fuguang stretched out his hand, spreading five fingers.


    "Five hundred thousand?"


    Xue Jing spoke.


    "Correct, all the major dojos in Qingcheng take on this kind of job. The usual appearance fee is around three hundred thousand, but our dojo has a bigger name, so we charge higher than the average market price,"


    "These small companies that lack the capability to sponsor Fist Competition fighters are our clients. For such deals, our opponents are typically the direct disciples from the various dojos in Qingcheng."


    As they talked, the two had already moved from the noisy center of the venue to the quiet backstage rest area for the competitors.


    Chen Fuguang removed his casual clothes, wearing only a pair of crimson fight shorts, his muscular physique more distinct and imposing than when clothed.


    "Sooner or later, you''ll be dealing with these things too. It won''t hurt to learn more now," Chen Fuguang said as he sat on the soft mat in the rest area, smiling.


    Xue Jing nodded in understanding, feeling somewhat excited inside.


    Such real combat could bring him far more experience than regular daily practice, not to mention the money to be earned. It was a win-win situation.


    However, his martial arts skills were not yet perfected, and he thought his teacher probably wouldn''t agree to let him participate. It would have to wait.


    "The Fist Competition match between Haoteng Real Estate and Honghui Real Estate will begin shortly. Please have the competitors from both sides prepare!"


    An announcement from a staff member came from outside the rest room door.


    The next moment, the door opened, and Boss Zhao, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, stepped inside. His chubby face was covered in sweat, and he kept wiping it with a handkerchief, anxiously saying,


    "Master Chen, are you ready?"


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing''s shoulder, stood up, and walked towards the competitor''s passage.


    "Watch, little junior brother, and see your senior brother''s valor."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded, following behind him.


    Chen Fuguang seemed quite famous. As he emerged from the competitor''s passage, the noise and cheers from the audience immediately grew louder.


    The cameras set up for filming all focused on him. Chen Fuguang waved at the audience, performed a nimble somersault on the spot, and struck a boxing pose for the cameras, eliciting even louder cheers.


    Xue Jing, as the accompanying person, stood straight and proper behind him, not speaking, but his outstanding appearance still caught the attention of many.


    The photographers seemed to notice this youth who simply ''screamed potential,'' with one even directly moving the camera to focus on him.


    Inside a particular box, a young man with bandages on his head and a buzz cut suddenly pointed at Xue Jing on the screen.


    "It''s him, it''s him! That little brat who threw things!"


    "Damn, it''s this son of a bitch. Finally found him!"


    "Duan, look, there he is!"


    Duan Kaiping, large in stature, shirtless, with a dragon tattoo crossing his shoulder and a razor etching, took a deep drag from the cigarette in his mouth and put down the poker cards in his hand.


    His gaze moved from the screen to the refined and handsome youth, and then to Chen Fuguang beside him. His eyebrows instantly furrowed deep.


    ...


    S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 41 What Do You Want to Do to My Little Junior Brother?

    ```


    "It''s Chen Fuguang from the Hidden Dragon Dojo..."


    "Why is that kid following behind him?"


    Duan Kaiping furrowed his brows tightly, feeling a very bad premonition.


    A person''s fame is like the shadow of a tree, and the reputation of Li Qi, the Old Dojo Master of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, is significant¡ªeven in the circles of Inner Ring City, let alone in a ''backwater place'' like Qingcheng.


    Although more than twenty years ago, a ruthless person had broken his legs and squashed his fighting spirit, turning him into almost a cripple, the past majesty of ''Dragon King'' was still held in high esteem in the underworld.


    Such a figure''s disciples would naturally be no ordinary individuals.


    Compared to other dojos that widely opened their doors, Li Qi was quite strict in selecting his direct disciples to inherit his mantle. To this day, he had only taken in six, each with a reputation in the martial arts world.


    Even though Duan Kaiping was a disciple from within the Inner Gate of the Golden Wind Dojo, he wasn''t a direct disciple, and his status was fundamentally different from that of direct disciples like Chen Fuguang.


    Therefore, seeing the young man he had once tried to kidnap now walking alongside Chen Fuguang, he immediately felt incredibly anxious.


    Pat.


    The door of the private room was pushed open, and a young man with semi-long hair, bare-chested, with a razor tattoo on his chest, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, walked in.


    His physique was somewhat lean, not bulky, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that his muscles were tightly coiled, as if filled with steel beneath the skin, exceptionally rigid, even giving off a blade-like sharp sensation.


    "Senior Brother Su."


    Duan Kaiping hurriedly got up to greet him.


    The others also stood up and called out, "Boss!"


    The leader of the Razor Gang, Su Bijin, nodded and said indifferently, "Everyone, sit down."


    After everyone was seated, he noticed Duan Kaiping seemed hesitant to speak, and frowning, he said, "What''s it, spit it out, don''t act like a woman."


    Duan Kaiping gave a sheepish chuckle, scratched his head, pointed at the screen showing Xue Jing, and recounted the events from a few days earlier.


    After listening, Su Bijin''s mouth twitched, and he slapped Duan Kaiping on the head, scolding:


    "You fucking idiot, don''t you know it''s a critical time right now? Didn''t Master tell us not to stir up any trouble for now? Are you acting dumb?"


    "Causing trouble is one thing, but you couldn''t even handle it cleanly, truly useless."


    Duan Kaiping muttered, "We still don''t know what relationship this kid has with Chen Fuguang... Maybe it was just a chance meeting?"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Fuguang in the screen wrapped his arm around the young man''s shoulder, as if talking about something, their relationship seeming very good.


    "..."


    Su Bijin turned his gaze emotionlessly towards Duan Kaiping.


    ...


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +3]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +5]


    ...


    [Charm Art upgraded to Lv4 (0/1200)]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +6]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you...]


    Suddenly the panel started flashing like mad, a flood of notifications for increased Charm Art experience popping up.


    Only then did Xue Jing notice the cameraman pointing the lens at him.


    His brow furrowed slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he moved a couple of steps to the side, attempting to get out of the camera''s view.


    However, the cameraman seemed determined to capture his popularity, the lens staying firmly locked on him.


    Chen Fuguang, standing next to him, noticed the situation and put his arm around Xue Jing''s shoulder, advising:


    "Junior Brother, you have to get used to it. With such exceptional talent and good looks, you''ll definitely be a superstar martial artist in the future. You can''t avoid this kind of attention."


    Fortunately, at this moment, the photographer also realized it was time to stop, and the camera turned in another direction.


    ```


    "Alright, just watch from down here and see how formidable our Hidden Dragon School is."


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder and turned to step onto the stage.


    As both fighters ascended the stage, the host began to introduce the competitors from each side.


    Chen Fuguang''s opponent was a man with a higher fat content, his muscles not very pronounced, and his stature quite imposing, almost resembling a mountain of flesh.


    According to the introduction, he was a disciple from the Tiger-Rhino Dojo named Xiang Jun, practicing the ''Tiger-Rhino Twin Form'' martial arts style.


    "Tiger and rhinoceros, huh¡­" Xue Jing''s gaze settled on the man''s hefty body.


    Shape Imitation Boxing typically has distinct characteristics, and martial artists who specialize in twin forms usually choose ''Tiger-Crane Twin Form,'' which combines agility with brute strength. Xue Jing had never seen the aggressively powerful Tiger-Rhino style before.


    The match began with the sound of the bell.


    Xiang Jun was extremely heavy; every step he took on the eight-sided ring seemed to shake the ground as he charged at Chen Fuguang. He didn''t resemble a man but a rampant rhino that even lions and tigers would prefer to avoid.


    As the two fighters clashed, Xue Jing was watching intently when suddenly, a hand reached out toward his shoulder.


    Since the activation of the panel, skills like fitness, fighting, and aiming had greatly enhanced Xue Jing''s reaction speed. The moment he sensed the hand, he reflexively lifted his arm and grabbed the wrist of the incoming hand.


    Su Bijin looked at his hand being held with some surprise.


    Seeing the puzzled look on the young man''s face, Su Bijin tried to show a friendly smile as he said:


    "Hello there, young man, my name is Su Bijin."


    "I''m a disciple of Jiao Hongyuan from the Golden Wind Dojo and also... the leader of the Razor Gang."


    "Bang!"


    A corner of the octagon cage suddenly burst open, and the disciple from the Tiger-Rhino Dojo, Xiang Jun, lay on the broken netting with a deep fist imprint indented in his chest, like kneaded clay, knocked unconscious.


    Chen Fuguang stepped out from the broken part of the cage and, looking at Su Bijin reaching for Xue Jing''s shoulder and being caught, spoke with an icy gaze: S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey, what do you think you''re doing to my junior brother... ?"


    Su Bijin''s mouth twitched at the mention of ''junior brother.''


    It was the worst possible scenario he had imagined.


    This kid... damn it, he''s been made a direct disciple by Li Qi!


    "¡­Let''s step aside for a word, Master Chen," Su Bijin said with a forced smile.


    ...


    In the private room, Duan Kaiping was on his knees, earnestly and without embellishment recounting the attempt to abduct Xue Jing that night.


    As soon as he finished speaking, Su Bijin slammed his head down to the floor, smashing the floorboards with a bang, and blood started to seep out from beneath Duan Kaiping''s prostrate face.


    "Brother Xue, this was the unscrupulous work of our Razor Gang. I, Su Bijin, apologize on their behalf!"


    "I hope you can be magnanimous and let bygones be bygones, considering this an obligation I owe you. If you need the Razor Gang''s assistance in the future, just come to me!"


    "If there''s anything you''re still unsatisfied with, just say the word, and I''ll make sure it''s done!" Su Bijin proclaimed, thumping his chest.


    He believed that, given his status, offering such a humble apology was a significant gesture. A young man like Xue Jing must have never witnessed such a grand gesture and would surely let go of any resentment.


    However, Xue Jing seemed unmoved, showing no emotion on his face, and simply said quietly:


    "Senior Brother Chen, what do you think?"


    If Su Bijin''s grand apology had been directed to him as an ordinary young man, then Xue Jing might have been impressed by his generosity and agreed to forget the enmity, especially since he wasn''t really harmed.


    But it was obvious that the other party was intimidated by the Hidden Dragon Dojo, and that made Xue Jing quite reluctant.


    Chen Fuguang clearly understood his junior brother''s intention.


    He nonchalantly sat down on the sofa, propping up one leg over the other, and said carelessly:


    "If apologies were enough, then what''s the point of practicing martial arts?"


    "Let''s stick to the rules. Cut off a hand first."


    ...

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Raise a Dragon in Your Heart

    "Amputate the hand?"


    Lying on the ground, Duan Kaiping suddenly raised his head, looking towards Su Bijin with a panicked expression.


    The latter slightly furrowed his brows, "Master Chen, isn''t this a bit too much?"


    The body of a martial artist, trained and honed, is like a precision machine; missing an arm or a leg is akin to missing a crucial part of that machine, greatly troubling its overall function.


    Especially since their practiced technique was the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, the essence of which resided in the limbs¡ªamputating a hand was not just about losing the hand itself.


    To say it would be crippling was an understatement.


    "Too much?" Chen Fuguang glanced at Su Bijin, his eyes playful.


    He leaned back on the couch, hands crossed and resting on his crossed knee, speaking lightly:


    "You might not know how much my mentor values my little junior brother. If he were to find out his disciple had encountered such treatment, chopping off a hand or two wouldn''t suffice, even if your master Jiao Hongyuan came, he might not be able to handle it."


    Su Bijin''s expression changed.


    Escalating things to involve Li Qi was something he couldn''t accept.


    Currently in a critical period, if he upset Hidden Dragon Dojo and they discovered anything, even a slight trace, it would be catastrophic for him and Golden Wind Dojo.


    With this in mind, Su Bijin clenched his teeth, his left hand miming a knife''s edge, and harshly chopped towards Duan Kaiping.


    "Shh."


    Without much ado, one of Duan Kaiping''s arms quietly fell off, the cut so clean that neither bone nor flesh showed any ragged edges.


    "Aahhhh!!"


    Clutching his severed limb with his other hand, Duan Kaiping screams agonizingly, chillingly.


    This sudden act stunned everyone in the private room, even Xue Jing and Chen Fuguang paused for a moment.


    That was decisive? Just like that?


    "Is this¡­ good enough now?"


    Su Bijin suppressed the anger and frustration simmering inside him, slowly said.


    Being forced to amputate his own subordinate''s hand was a tremendous humiliation for a gang leader, a severe blow to his authority.


    If he couldn''t protect his own men, who would follow him in the future?


    But he had no choice; messing up the big plans of those security companies would put them at risk. They might be fine, but they would push all the blame onto Golden Wind Dojo, and the consequences would be much graver than the humiliation he was facing now.


    Su Bijin had no choice.


    "..."


    Chen Fuguang gave him a deep look and then said:


    "Little junior brother, let''s go."


    After finishing, he stood up and walked out of the private room.


    Xue Jing, thoughtfully nodding, followed behind Chen Fuguang.


    In the room, only Duan Kaiping''s wails echoed.


    Disturbed by the sounds, Su Bijin pointed at the hand on the floor and shouted:


    "Pick up the hand, pick up the hand!!"


    Duan Kaiping, sweating profusely from pain, still managed to shakily pick up the fallen hand.


    Su Bijin took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, put one in his mouth, and seeing none of his people moving, he cursed: S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you all blind? Light my cigarette!"


    His men finally snapped to action, urgently fishing out lighters from their pockets.


    Su Bijin lit his cigarette, taking a harsh drag, pulling almost the whole cigarette through in one go, then slowly exhaled the smoke.


    Amidst swirling smoke, his gloomy gaze followed the direction in which the Chen brothers had left.


    ...


    "Master Chen, Master Chen, I truly thank you this time!"


    At the entrance of the Fist Competing Pavilion, Boss Zhao grasped Chen Fuguang''s hand, swinging it up and down, his chubby face grinning like a bloomed old chrysanthemum, ecstatically happy.


    Chen Fuguang sighed, "Taking money for services. there''s no need for thanks, Boss Zhao, no need for formality."


    The two exchanged pleasantries before Boss Zhao finally took his leave to take possession of the plot of land he had acquired through the Fist Competition agreement.


    Chen Fuguang, with Xue Jing in tow, got into the car, turned the ignition, and slowly drove out of the parking lot before he said thoughtfully,


    "This Su Bijin has a problem."


    Xue Jing also had many questions, and upon hearing Chen Fuguang bring it up, he asked, "Senior Brother Chen, what is your take?"


    Chen Fuguang held the steering wheel as the car stopped at a traffic light intersection.


    "These gangsters are famously hot-tempered. My original intention was to provoke him into making a move, to teach him a lesson and stand up for you, but I didn''t expect him to be able to endure it and actually prefer to chop off his subordinate''s hand to keep the peace rather than blow things up."


    The light turned red, and Chen Fuguang pressed the gas pedal.


    "That being so, I felt I couldn''t bully him too much, otherwise it would have seemed that we were in the wrong."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, "Great patience often precedes great strategy."


    Chen Fuguang nodded, "Exactly, that''s what I thought as well."


    "We need to investigate what Golden Wind Dojo has been up to recently... Such vengeful gangsters will not let things rest. We should also find an opportunity to completely disable them. When we get back, I will discuss this matter with Master and Senior Brother."


    Xue Jing looked apologetic, "I have caused trouble for Senior Brother and Master."


    Chen Fuguang waved his hand and smiled, "Don''t say that. Between brothers, what''s a little trouble?"


    "We martial artists are fierce and competitive. It''s inevitable that we get into trouble outside. I have had Master and Senior Brother clean up after me many times, but none of that matters."


    "Sooner or later, we will likely need your help, Junior Brother."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded his head.


    ...


    Two days later, Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the training room.


    Xue Jing ceased his practice of the Coiling Dragon Art, standing on the hardwood floor, slowly steadying his breath.


    The pool of sweat at his feet was so exaggerated it could make one question how the human body can hold so much fluid.


    [You conducted one practice session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills, Fitness Experience Points +208]


    [You conducted one practice session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills, Channeling Energy Experience Points +201]


    [Fitness level increased to Lv5 (59/2000)]


    [Channeling Energy level increased to Lv3 (198/800)]


    Xue Jing''s body crackled crisply, and his comprehensive physical quality suddenly jumped up a notch, receiving an overall enhancement.


    He clenched his hands, Power surged with his breath, and a patch of skin on his arm suddenly bulged as if a mouse was scurrying beneath it.


    Moving his fingers, the mouse swiftly moved up to his forefinger. Xue Jing positioned his thumb and forefinger in a flicking gesture, and with a snap,


    a single flick made a powerful explosive sound!


    "Excellent! ''Power Through Fingertips'', ''Finger Flicking Strike''. I didn''t expect that besides your exceptional physical talent, you would also possess such great skill in channeling energy,"


    Li Qi, sitting in a wheelchair, clapped and laughed.


    Looking at the disciple in front of him, who could not be more satisfying, Li Qi felt even his receding hairline shine a bit brighter.


    "There''s an old adage in boxing, ''A good sound is worth its weight in gold.'' In the Old Era, anyone who could direct their Power to the tips of their fingers and execute a ''Finger Flicking Strike'' would be considered a master and respectfully called ''Master'' outside the home."


    A satisfied expression appeared on Xue Jing''s face, and he smiled, saying,


    "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent teaching."


    Li Qi hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Your progress has been so rapid, far beyond my expectations. Perhaps you could try the next step ahead of schedule."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "The next step? Do you mean the Armor Shaking Skill?"


    Li Qi shook his head, "No, the Visualization Method."


    "The Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills aim to ''cultivate Dragon Qi,'' but where does this Dragon Qi come from? It emanates from the heart!"


    "You must nurture a dragon within your own heart."


    ...

 Chapter 43: Chapter 40: Divine Relic Law, Meditative Visualization Lv1

    "Try it first. Clear your mind, think of nothing, and let your body''s instincts run the Coiling Dragon Art," Li Qi said.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and assumed the stance required for the Coiling Dragon Art, trying his best not to think.


    After several days of practice, he had already mastered the flow of the Coiling Dragon Art. Even without deliberately controlling it, once he assumed the stance, his body instinctively began to operate, gradually stimulating countless nodes and cultivating the Coiling Dragon Art.


    However, he could only maintain this state for less than three minutes before his spirit began to flutter restlessly, and he involuntarily took over control of his body again, actively running the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes and shook his head, "Master, I can''t maintain that state for long."


    But Li Qi was satisfied, "You don''t need to maintain it for long, just being able to do it is enough."


    "Genius is truly genius. You get it with just a hint. Compared to you, Chen Fuguang is simply a club. I almost died of frustration when I taught him back in the day."


    "..." Xue Jing didn''t know what to say, so he pretended he hadn''t heard.


    "I''ll go prepare something. Just wait here, and don''t move," Li Qi instructed.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    After Li Qi wheeled himself away, Xue Jing took out his phone and saw that he had an unread message on WeChat.


    Opening it, he saw it was from Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing felt a thrill but realized it wasn''t a job offer, just some files sent by the other party.


    [Wu Youqing: These are materials related to the Divine Relic. Try to learn as much as you can, as you''ll need it in the future.]


    [Xue Jing: PandaHeadOK.jpg]


    [Xue Jing: Big sister, when will there be work to do?]


    On the screen, Wu Youqing sent an emoticon of Miao Miao patting a head to comfort someone.


    [Wu Youqing: Don''t rush. Our company doesn''t have performance reviews. Even if we don''t acquire a Divine Relic for a whole month, salaries will still be issued.]


    [Xue Jing: Hey, what big sister says. The salary doesn''t really matter to me, I mainly enjoy acquiring Divine Relics.]


    [Wu Youqing: Smirk.jpg. So you''re saying it''s alright if we don''t send one then.]


    ...


    After chatting with the wealthy CEO for a while and seeing that Li Qi hadn''t returned, Xue Jing opened the materials about the Divine Relics that Wu Youqing had sent.


    The Five Laws of Divine Relics


    [First, Divine Relics are unique. All Divine Relics are one of a kind and cannot be replicated.]


    [Second, Divine Relics cannot be destroyed. Even if a Divine Relic is physically pulverized to dust, it will reappear elsewhere in random form.]


    [Third, Divine Relics invariably have side effects, which are independent of the power of the Divine Relic and follow no discernible pattern.]


    [Fourth, Divine Relics possess a Transfer Nature. Any Divine Relic has unspecified random transfer capabilities triggered by unknown conditions, unpredictable in nature.]


    [Fifth, Divine Relics are just that: Divine Relics. Even if they possess thoughts, emotions, language abilities, or even human appearance, they are just Divine Relics, not actual living beings. Therefore, no Divine Relic has human rights. To reiterate, no Divine Relic has human rights.]


    "..."


    Xue Jing carefully read through the five laws of Divine Relics, his finger lingering on the fifth point, "Divine Relics are just Divine Relics," his face thoughtful.


    "I always feel something terrible must have happened for them to add this bizarre law," he muttered.


    Shaking his head, he closed the document, then opened another one.


    Divine Relic Atlas (lambda version)


    As he clicked it, a long list of selectable serial numbers appeared.


    [GOD-001¡¤¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-002¡¤The First¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-003¡¤Divine¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-004¡¤Emerald¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-005¡¤Mirror¡ö¡ö]


    ...


    [GOD-015¡¤Reversal¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-016¡¤Ashes¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-017¡¤In the Name of the Father¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-018¡¤Death''s¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öPartiality]


    [GOD-057¡¤Golden¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-066¡¤Future¡ö¡ö]


    Xue Jing first started from the top hundred in the sequence, only to find that they were either entirely blocked or partially covered, and clicking on them would only prompt "Insufficient Permissions"; thus, he couldn''t review the content.


    He continued scrolling down, and from serial number 300, he occasionally glimpsed the full names of the Divine Relics but still lacked the permissions to access the details.


    Only after serial number 1000, when he clicked on a Divine Relic was he able to see a simple introduction.


    Xue Jing randomly picked one.


    [GOD¡¤1057¡¤Rapid Heart-Wrenching Pill]


    [It will disguise itself as an ordinary heart-saving pill and often randomly transfers into the bottle of common heart-saving pills. After ingesting, it causes excruciating heart pain. The consumer will not die or lose consciousness for any reason within two hours, remaining distinctly aware of the pain for the full duration.]


    Xue Jing: "..."


    What kind of devilish Divine Relic is this?


    However, it could also be considered a life-preserving artifact, truly deserving of being called a Divine Relic, it completely defies reason¡ªabsolutely non-lethal within two hours...


    As he was engrossed in his reading, the cultivation room''s door opened, and Li Qi wheeled himself in.


    In his hands, he held a porcelain medicine bottle, opened the stopper, and poured out a pitch-black pill, handing it to Xue Jing.


    "Eat it,"


    Li Qi said.


    Without any suspicions, Xue Jing took it and threw it into his mouth, swallowing it directly.


    The taste was peculiar, a strong medicinal flavor with a faint, hardly detectable fragrance mixed within.


    Xue Jing asked, "Master, what is this?"


    Li Qi slowly replied, "It is a Secret Medicine concocted using the body fluid of a ''Dragon-type Creature'' from the Intersecting Boundaries as the main ingredient. It has a certain level of hallucinogenic effects."


    "... Can I ask what kind of body fluid it is?"


    "Some things are better left unknown," Li Qi said with profound meaning.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "Little Jing, look at me," Li Qi suddenly said.


    Xue Jing instinctively met Li Qi''s gaze.


    Boom, Boom, Boom!


    Xue Jing felt as though his brain was suddenly hammered, noises reverberating around his ears, his vision going white.


    When his vision restored and he looked up again,


    there was no trace of Li Qi in front of him, the entire cultivation room held only a dormant, lifelike old dragon!


    The old dragon had four feet and five claws, its head adorned with qilin horns, its body covered with closely packed golden scales, yet it was scarred all over, its eyes weary, almost lifeless.


    But merely by being glanced at by those dark golden vertical pupils, Xue Jing was frozen in place, unable to move, and even breathing seemed like a luxury. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only when he regained his senses and thought to rub his eyes, he raised his hand and was startled.


    Are these¡­ dragon claws?


    His arm was unexpectedly covered with layers of scales, and his fingertips had grown sharp claws.


    With a flash of realization, Xue Jing immediately assumed the stance of the Coiling Dragon Art, his entire being¡­ the whole dragon stayed low on the ground.


    He left the operation of the Coiling Dragon Art to his instincts, immersing his whole heart in the sensation of ''having become a dragon.''


    ...


    He did not know how much time had passed.


    Xue Jing slowly opened his eyes, and for a moment, his gaze intensely shone, his pupils transforming into dark golden vertical pupils, but it was merely a fleeting moment before they returned to normal, almost like an illusion.


    [Condition Satisfied, Skill Activated: Meditative Visualization]


    [Meditative Visualization Lv1 (0/300)]


    ...

 Chapter 44: Chapter 41: Dynamic and Quiet Qi, Real Combat Training with Meng.

    Looking at "Meditative Visualization" on the panel, Xue Jing felt the changes happening within himself.


    His mind felt like a long-dusty pearl that had finally been cleansed, shining light that could pierce through mountains and rivers.


    This was a truly wondrous feeling where every thought in his consciousness raced like lightning, almost without hindrance.


    ''Is this... an increase in wisdom? No, it must be the concretion of the spirit, able to exclude any unrelated thoughts.''


    No sooner had a doubt surfaced in his mind than Xue Jing immediately and firmly deciphered its cause.


    ''"Meditative Visualization," its effects must be the enhancement of "thought control capability," "emotional control capability," and... also the enhancement of "imagination"?''


    Xue Jing tried to visualize a dragon in his mind.


    In just an instant, a true dragon with huge wings on its back and five claws on each of its four feet was sketched out vividly, every detail lifelike, down to each mane hair and golden scale.


    Then, with a shift of his thoughts, his whole person entered the dragon''s body, transforming into the true dragon, stretching its massive body, its muscles rolling like waves, its golden scales flashing dazzling light.


    In the training room, Li Qi watched in astonishment as Xue Jing, standing in the center, radiated an inexplicable majestic aura.


    "Just the first time doing meditative visualization... and you''ve directly cultivated ''Dragon Qi''?"


    Xue Jing exited the meditative visualization, his body''s ''Dragon Qi'' dissipating, and looked towards Li Qi, puzzled, and asked,


    "Master, what exactly is ''Dragon Qi''?"


    Perhaps influenced by his prior transformation into a true dragon in his consciousness, his voice sounded much deeper than usual, carrying an indescribable weight and authority.


    Li Qi smiled warmly and began to explain, "The so-called ''Dragon Qi,'' to put it simply, is a kind of emotion."


    "Humans are quite miraculous creatures, extremely susceptible to emotions, like an angry person whose punches are definitely heavier than usual. You must have heard of stories like ''an old grandmother, in a burst of desperation, lifts a car off her grandson,'' right?"


    "Killing intent, fighting spirit, confidence, anger, greed, willpower... these unseen, intangible, abstract mental forces, when combined in certain ways, can gather to form an ''emotion'' that positively influences the physical body."


    "Mimicking a dragon''s posture in Coiling Dragon Art and visualizing a dragon using the Visualization Method, if sustained over time, will cultivate a strong ''Dragon Qi'' that makes you see yourself as a dragon. When you throw a punch, it will naturally carry the powerful momentum of a dragon, unleashing the mighty force of a true dragon."


    Xue Jing suddenly understood.


    Li Qi continued to explain, "We martial artists refer to the stirred-up emotions as ''Dynamic Qi'' and the ability to control emotions as ''Quiet Qi''."


    "Without Dynamic Qi, how forceful can your punch be in a fight if your heart lacks spirit? Without Quiet Qi, if you let emotions control you, you''ll just end up being manipulated by others."


    "Every qualified Martial Artist must learn to cultivate Quiet Qi and accumulate Dynamic Qi. By using quietness to control activity and combining stillness and motion, one can be invincible in all situations."


    Xue Jing nodded earnestly and said, "Disciple has learned much."


    Li Qi, pleased, said, "Generally speaking, disciples who have just cultivated Dragon Qi, because they see themselves as dragons, tend to act more wildly, which shows a lack of Quiet Qi."


    "But you are as usual, not at all affected by the Dragon Qi, which clearly shows pretty good talent in Quiet Qi as well."


    Xue Jing simply glanced at the "Meditative Visualization" on the panel.


    Yet another divine skill...


    It enhanced imagination and thought control capabilities, essential for activating ''Dynamic Qi.''


    It also strengthened emotional control capability, meaning that ''Quiet Qi'' would be improved synchronously... S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a string of skills related to physical talent, he had finally obtained a skill related to mental and consciousness talent.


    "Let''s stop here with Coiling Dragon Art for today. Your progress has exceeded my expectations, and it''s time for you to start learning ''Fighting Skills.''"


    Li Qi said, taking out a cell phone from his pocket, fiddled with it for a moment, then put it down again.


    "Fighting Skills? How do I practice that?" Xue Jing was invigorated.


    Li Qi chuckled and said, "Martial arts practice comprises simply these four activities: ''Cultivating, Training, Fighting, Killing.''"


    "Coiling Dragon Art is to cultivate Dragon Qi, Armor Shaking Skill is to train Dragon Force, killing techniques are for later, and as for Fighting Skills... it''s all about self-perception."


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled, "Self-perception?"


    "Fighting Skills refers to the methodology of battle, including your personal habits, strategies, instincts... It''s an entire fighting system that you need to build gradually on your own."


    "The only way to practice Fighting Skills, naturally, is to fight!"


    "Fight fiercely, continuously, and the Fighting Skills will gradually take shape on their own."


    Li Qi said with a smiling expression.


    It seemed to coincide with Li Qi''s words that, as soon as he finished speaking, the door of the training room was pushed open.


    A woman with short, cold-featured hair and a curvaceous body dressed in black training attire walked in.


    She was holding a handheld pancake, nibbling on it continuously. As she moved forward, the impressively sized areas of her body stretched the usually loose training garment tight, as if it were about to split open at any moment, creating a heart-stopping sight.


    Xue Jing was stunned, "Sister Meng..."


    Hidden Dragon Dojo''s fourth direct disciple, Meng Qingjiao.


    The daughter of the eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang.


    And she was the woman with the best figure Xue Jing had ever seen in his two lifetimes, bar none.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao didn''t speak, but just nodded her head with a cold expression, came over to Xue Jing, and with her other hand that wasn''t holding the pancake, she touched his head.


    Was she trying to express affection and closeness?


    Xue Jing was somewhat unsure, but he didn''t resist either.


    "Qingjiao''s control over her energy is the best among the disciples, even her father, Boshang, can''t compare with her," Li Qi said leisurely.


    "Let her be your opponent in training your fighting skills."


    Xue Jing hesitantly looked at Meng Qingjiao''s ''World Cup.''


    This was much bigger than Wu Youqing''s ''European Cup,'' and Zhu Shanying''s ''Asian Cup.'' Wouldn''t this be inconvenient?


    However, he soon cast aside his distractions, took a deep breath, and said with a fist salute towards Meng Qingjiao, "Please teach me, senior sister!"


    Since the girl herself hadn''t made much of it, he felt it wasn''t right to be overly sensitive himself.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao didn''t speak and still just nodded her head coldly. Then, she quickly gobbled down the pancake in her hand in two or three bites, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster''s as she chewed continuously and soon swallowed it down.


    Then, with one hand behind her back and the other gesturing an ''invite,'' with a bit of pancake crumbs still on the corner of her mouth.


    Her tall figure was as straight as a pine, exuding a faint Grandmaster presence. However, her figure was too attractive, round and lustrous, which somehow felt a bit provocative...


    Fortunately, after Xue Jing activated "Meditative Visualization", his mental control greatly improved, quickly shaking his head to clear away all distractions and his gaze became serious.


    "Be careful, senior sister."


    As soon as the words fell, Xue Jing pushed off the floor, shooting towards Meng Qingjiao like an arrow released from a bow!


    "Bang!"


    Xue Jing merely felt a blur before his eyes and was struck by a burst of soft power in the chest, involuntarily flying backward onto the solid wood floor.


    "Your intentions were too obvious," Li Qi commented from the side.


    "Don''t consider Qingjiao''s female identity, you can''t afford that in real combat. You must try every possible way to win, be it despicable or malevolent. In martial arts, standing means victory, lying down means defeat, regardless of the methods."


    "Engage your mind, use any means, just focus on winning without any reservations!"


    Xue Jing nodded, quickly got up in a carp flip, and prepared himself again, continuing his charge towards Meng Qingjiao.


    This time, he didn''t avoid the sensitive key parts, hitting wherever he saw gaps, but after only two moves, he was again sent flying back.


    He didn''t say much, just stood up and continued.


    In that manner, he kept initiating challenges, but also kept getting defeated.


    Every time he was sent flying away, Li Qi pointed out his shortcomings, and like a sponge, Xue Jing absorbed the fighting knowledge, gradually getting better.


    From being thrown away upon contact to lasting two moves, and then ten moves, it took Xue Jing one hour.


    To last twenty movements, Xue Jing took three hours.


    As the sky gradually darkened and the crescent moon hung high, Xue Jing could no longer keep up, only managing a few steps before his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground.


    ...

 Chapter 45: Chapter 42: Fired at the Wrong Place...

    [You underwent a real combat training session, Fitness Experience Points +188]


    [You underwent a real combat training session and felt pleasure from being hit, Health Cultivation Experience Value +78]


    [You underwent a real combat training session, Aiming Experience Value +109]


    [You underwent a real combat training session, fighting Experience Points +267]


    [You underwent a real combat training session, Channeling Energy Experience Value +219]


    [Aiming advanced to Lv3 (8/800)]


    Xue Jing lay on the ground, finding it extremely difficult to breathe, his body devoid of any muscle strength to even squeeze out a bit of energy.


    Exhausted.


    From his birth to now, even adding his past life, he had never felt such exhaustion.


    Yet, alongside the fatigue, a strange sense of satisfaction and pleasure emerged.


    This was the brain secreting endorphins, rewarding himself for his excessive effort.


    Li Qi looked with relief at Xue Jing, who lay motionless on the ground.


    With his keen eye, he could tell that this was not a lazy type of fatigue from avoidance but a genuine state of having used all his strength, reaching his limit.


    Talent, temperament, will.


    As a Martial Artist, the disciple before him lacked none of the qualities, each beyond his expectations.


    Meng Qingjiao looked at Xue Jing lying on the ground, and after confirming that he likely wouldn''t stand up again, she tiptoed over, crouched down, and touched the sweat-soaked back of Xue Jing''s head.


    It seemed to be both comforting and praising.


    "¡­"


    Li Qi smiled at her, "Let''s call it a day today, Qingjiao. Go ahead and have your meal."


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, patted Xue Jing''s head again, stood up, and left the practice room.


    "How do you feel?" Li Qi asked, smiling.


    Xue Jing squeezed a bit of strength into his throat and said in a muffled voice, "I feel great."


    Li Qi burst into hearty laughter.


    ...


    At 5 a.m. the next day, Xue Jing woke up on time, exactly, to the second.


    [Early to bed, early to rise, Health Cultivation Experience Value +38]


    [Health Cultivation advanced to Lv3 (3/800)]


    Instantly, Xue Jing felt revitalized, a warm current flowing through his body, filled with an unleashing energy, hardly feeling like he had just woken up.


    Upon closer examination, although he had been nearly comatose from exhaustion the previous night, he could not feel it at all now; it was as if last night''s combat training had never happened.


    Already fully recovered.


    What is Health Cultivation?


    Xue Jing smiled, delightedly reaching out to pet Miao Miao.


    "Hmm?"


    He reached out and grasped at air, lifting the blankets to see, Miao Miao was not on the bed.


    Lately, he was used to petting Miao Miao as soon as he woke up and felt off without doing so.


    Xue Jing got up and walked to the living room, turned on the light, and found Miao Miao just coming in from the balcony.


    "Hmm? Teacher Wan, did you just go out?"


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    Miao Miao shook her body, raised her butt, stretched, yawned, and said sleepily:


    "Went out to handle some stuff¡­ so sleepy, I''m going to sleep."


    Without waiting for Xue Jing''s response, she dashed into the room, burrowed into Xue Jing''s blankets, cuddling the remaining warmth, and fell deeply asleep.


    Xue Jing was curious, but since he had promised Ning Fengwan not to inquire into her matters, it wasn''t right to ask further.


    After washing up in the bathroom, Xue Jing changed into a sports outfit and went out for a run.


    One hour later.


    The alarm on his watch vibrated, and Xue Jing paused, panting lightly.


    [You completed a long run, Running Experience +258]


    [Running elevated to Lv5 (57/2000)]


    This skill, one of his earliest activated, had finally been elevated to Lv5.


    Xue Jing quickly crouched down, swung his arms back, lifted his heels, and with a sudden leap, he shot forward a considerable distance.


    He looked back and roughly estimated that he must have jumped close to four and a half meters.


    "Previous world record for the standing long jump on Earth¡­ Weren''t they a bit over three meters?"


    Xue Jing thought uncertainly.


    Now, the explosive power of his legs had completely exceeded the limit of ordinary people.


    And that was without using any Channeling Energy.


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing walked back home, took a bath, made breakfast, left some for Miao Miao, and then headed out to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    After arriving by bus, he entered the office building, took the elevator to the seventeenth floor, and without any delay, went straight to the training room.


    To his surprise, as soon as he pushed open the door, there was already someone sitting in the training room.


    A short-haired beauty sat neatly on the hardwood floor, holding a giant triple-layered beef burger, silently nibbling away.


    There were a few burger wrappers balled up on the floor, indicating she had already eaten quite a few.


    "..."


    Seeing Xue Jing enter, Meng Qingjiao nodded at him, then started eating faster, constantly chewing, her thin lips coated with grease, looking as if they were painted vermilion, and a bit of yellow cheese sauce even stuck on her perky nose.


    "Meng, are you here to help me train?"


    Xue Jing sat down cross-legged in front of her and smiled.


    Meng Qingjiao, still eating her burger, nodded her head, making a vague mmhmm sound.


    Seeing how much she enjoyed eating, Xue Jing considered for a moment and then said, "Sister Meng, next time I''ll cook something for you, I''m quite good at cooking."


    According to Chen Fuguang, Meng Qingjiao must be very busy, but she still made time to come and help him train in fighting skills. He couldn''t just not reciprocate.


    Xue Jing opened the panel and glanced at his Cooking skill.


    [Cooking Lv3 (501/800)]


    Although he hadn''t deliberately practiced this skill, his daily cooking had been steadily adding one to two hundred Cooking Experience Points every day.


    Now he wouldn''t dare say he was on par with a great chef, but at least within the domain of home-cooked meals, he was proficient enough to ensure the flavors were top-notch. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meng Qingjiao, hearing this, lifted her brows slightly, her eyes lighting up a bit, and nodded.


    She put the last bite of the burger in her mouth, then rolled up the wrapper into a ball, threw it to the floor, and reached out to pat Xue Jing''s head.


    This seemed to be her way of expressing closeness.


    After patting his head, the short-haired beauty stood up, took a few steps back, one hand behind her, the other gesturing a ''please''.


    "Sister Meng, you just finished eating, don''t you want to rest a bit?"


    Xue Jing expressed his concern.


    Meng Qingjiao shook her head, rubbed her belly, as if to say it was fine.


    Since she had no issues, Xue Jing was agreeable. He stood up, said, "Be careful, Sister Meng," and charged towards Meng Qingjiao.


    In the training room, a new round of fighting skills training began.


    ...


    Three days later.


    In the training room, Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were exchanging blows with fists and feet flying, fiercely engrossed in the fight.


    Differently from before, after three solid days of intense fighting skills training, Xue Jing had acquired a significant level of real combat experience. With his skills enhanced, his fighting style had shape and substance, his punches and kicks whistling through the air, sharp sounds echoing as they continually targeted Meng Qingjiao.


    The latter, with her usual calm and chilly demeanor, parried Xue Jing''s attacks accurately, each block perfect in timing, neither too much nor too little.


    Those knowledgeable in martial arts could see she was feeding moves to her opponent with absolute superiority, not truly engaged in a hard-fought battle.


    Xue Jing sent a Straight Punch towards Meng Qingjiao''s exposed chest, but it was quickly parried as she swiftly defended herself, grabbing his wrist, halting him just an inch from her chest.


    A flash of insight sparked in Xue Jing''s eyes as he finally identified a genuine flaw.


    Using his breathing skills, he channeled his energy, focusing it at the tips of his fingers, and the fist only an inch away from the chest, his thumb and index finger pinched together, followed by a swift flick!


    "Pop!"


    A sound burst through the air, Power Through Fingertips, the Finger Flicking Strike.


    A soft sensation transmitted back, and Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    ...

 Chapter 46: Chapter 43 Why Meng Doesnt Speak

    "Slap."


    Feeling the continuous touch at his fingertips, Xue Jing realized something was wrong and his expression changed.


    Caught up in the fight, he hadn''t thought too much, only seeing the distance between his fingers, he subconsciously felt an opportunity and used a flick.


    He truly hadn''t done it on purpose.


    While Xue Jing was still stunned, Meng Qingjiao''s palm struck his chest, sending him flying.


    She still used Soft Power.


    Xue Jing rolled over and stood up, asking Meng Qingjiao with concern,


    "Senior Sister, are you alright?"


    Meng Qingjiao shook her head.


    She gave Xue Jing a deep look, her expression unchanged, and had it not been for a barely noticeable blush on her face, one would think nothing had happened.


    The atmosphere turned a bit awkward for a moment, but fortunately, Li Qi broke the silence, "Alright, let''s call it a day for today''s training."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing also breathed a sigh of relief.


    After what had happened, he somewhat felt inappropriate thoughts emerging, his fighting spirit completely gone, or perhaps it was ''Dynamic Qi'' that had dissipated, leaving his punches powerless, and he simply couldn''t continue fighting.


    As astute as Li Qi, he noticed this and ended the training session for the day.


    "Qingjiao, you go and rest," Li Qi said gently.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded, thought for a moment, walked over to Xue Jing, and patted him on the head as if to say it wasn''t a big deal.


    Xue Jing was momentarily taken aback, managing to detect a hint of maternal tenderness in that cold and beautiful face.


    After the short-haired beauty left, Xue Jing watched her shapely figure retreat, thinking to himself,


    ''Next time, I''ll make a grand meal for Senior Sister Meng... with all my efforts.''


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing opened the panel to take a look.


    [Fitness Lv5 (827/2000)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv3 (468/800)]


    [Cooking Lv3 (751/800)]


    [Running Lv5 (699/2000)]


    [Charm Art Lv4 (66/1200)]


    [Aiming Lv3 (567/800)]


    [Fighting Lv3 (520/800)]


    [Channeling Energy Lv4 (217/1200)]


    [Meditative Visualization Lv1 (251/300)]


    These three days of practical training had been greatly beneficial to him.


    Especially in fighting and Channeling Energy, having both increased a level respectively, and Fitness, Aiming, as well as Health Cultivation all gained substantial experience.


    Of course, these are only the stats displayed on the panel. The practical combat experience he gained over these three days and the fighting skills system that was starting to take shape were not reflected on the panel.


    This was the real substantial increase in combat capability.


    "Although I''ve grown used to your rate of growth, it still surprises me every time," Li Qi said as he stroked his chin.


    Xue Jing humbly replied, "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent guidance."


    Li Qi waved his hand, "As martial practitioners, we need to learn how to deceive, we can''t always be bluntly honest."


    "In actual combat, as long as you can deceive your opponent, that''s winning half the battle. Misinformation can be fatal in a critical fight, remember that."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Disciple understands."


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing asked, "By the way, Master, why don''t Senior Sister Meng and the eldest senior brother talk?"


    He voiced the question that had been puzzling him since he joined the dojo.


    He had originally thought that this father and daughter were of a taciturn and aloof nature, but after spending several days together, he found that they were different from what he had expected.


    When the eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang, saw him, he would always nod his head towards him, showing a smile that he wasn''t sure could be counted as a smile, probably trying to express goodwill.


    As for senior sister Meng, there was no need to even mention it. Every day she would take several hours to feed him moves and train him in fighting skills, and would even pat his head. Even ... when he accidentally hit her frontal armor, she did not get angry, obviously really treating him like a much-loved junior brother.


    Apart from the perpetual silence and lack of expression, they had practically nothing to do with the word ''aloof''.


    "..."


    Li Qi was silent for a while before he sighed and said,


    "When Qingjiao was young, something happened..."


    "Boshang, in his youth, followed me around the circles in Inner Ring City, and he had some reputation, living up to the title of a promising young talent. He knew many daughters of wealth and status ..."


    "He and one of them, Qingjiao''s mother, were mutually attracted to each other, and soon after that, they got married and had Qingjiao."


    At this point, a trace of sorrow and regret shone in Li Qi''s aged and dim eyes.


    "Back then, I was overconfident in my martial prowess, acting brashly and arrogantly, challenging others to fights every day, but eventually, I met my match and was severely beaten, having my legs broken and my ''True Dragon'' within my heart destroyed, draining my will."


    "I had too many enemies, and upon learning that I had become half-crippled, countless others kicked me while I was down."


    "At that time, Boshang would stay by my side every day to ensure my safety, inevitably neglecting his family. One day, only Qingjiao and her mother were at home when our enemies came knocking..."


    "To protect her, Qingjiao''s mother hid Qingjiao and told her, ''You must absolutely not make a sound until mommy comes back''."


    Xue Jing listened in silence, already having a rough idea of what had happened.


    "By the time Boshang and I sensed something was wrong and rushed back, we found Qingjiao, who had been starving in the cellar for several days, while her mother had disappeared, her fate unknown to this day."


    "Since that day, Qingjiao has never spoken again."


    Li Qi''s gaze turned towards the window.


    "Boshang was originally an outgoing and cheerful person, but later on, to avoid making Qingjiao feel like she was an outsider because of her disability, he too stopped talking."


    "In order to avoid our enemies and protect Qingjiao, we left Inner Ring City dejectedly and came to Qingcheng, where we opened the Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    Xue Jing remained silent, not knowing what to say.


    But in his heart, a pang of pity for Meng Qingjiao couldn''t help but arise.


    ''You must absolutely not make a sound until mommy comes back'' - the reason she has been unable to speak ever since was too heartbreaking.


    Since he wasn''t involved, he couldn''t comment on the past as narrated by Li Qi, and could only remain silent.


    "... As one gets older, it''s inevitable to become more sentimental. I''ve spoken too much." Li Qi suddenly laughed.


    "You needn''t mind these matters, they''re all old stories, and they''re in the past now."


    Li Qi reassured Xue Jing.


    "Master, do you want to take revenge?"


    Xue Jing pondered and then asked.


    Li Qi shook his head, "What''s the end of endless vengeance ... it was my fault for stirring up too much trouble and accumulating a mountain of enmity, which led to Boshang''s family encountering such a disaster."


    "To say whether I have thoughts of revenge, of course I do. My only remaining obsession is to find those who hurt Qingjiao and her mother, but ..."


    Li Qi shook his head, "I have too many enemies; I don''t even know who to pinpoint anymore."


    Without a second thought, Xue Jing blurted out, "Then don''t think about who it was specifically; just smash them all to pieces in the future."


    Li Qi was rendered speechless. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re even more brazen than I was at my peak. All of my enemies are big shots from Inner Ring City, not the trivial figures from Qingcheng here; each is difficult to deal with. How could you smash them all to pieces?"


    Xue Jing blinked and said earnestly, "I believe I can do it."


    Li Qi laughed heartily.


    "Then I shall look forward to that."


    ...


    Please vote with the monthly ticket if you can!

 Chapter 47: Chapter 44: Glasses and Hairspray are a Perfect Match

    At noon, Xue Jing had his meal at the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    After he started his martial arts practice, his appetite gradually increased. If he were to eat ordinary food, his consumption would need to be measured in basins.


    The direct disciples of the Hidden Dragon Dojo typically ate specially prepared medicinal meals for their main courses, accompanied by some nutrient pastes that Xue Jing had never seen before.


    After eating, his whole body would feel warm and toasty, and practicing the Coiling Dragon Art at this time would yield more experience points than usual.


    [You practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills once, Fitness Experience Points +258]


    [You practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills once, Channeling Energy Experience Points +221]


    [You practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Visualization Method once, Meditative Visualization Experience Points +79]


    [Meditative Visualization advanced to Lv2 (30/500)]


    After an hour of standing practice of the Coiling Dragon Art, Xue Jing gradually calmed his breathing and sorted out the hot energy within his body, as the ''Dragon Qi'' gradually dissipated from all over.


    A breeze seemed to pass through his mind like one in the summer, bringing a refreshing coolness that penetrated his heart and made his thoughts clearer and more focused.


    With closed eyes, he visualized the entire training room in his mind, then walked a few steps forward, naturally squatting down to pick up a bottle of mineral water from the hardwood floor, unscrewed it, and gulped it down.


    He then walked to the window and without any hesitation, reached out and opened it to welcome the fresh air outside.


    It did not seem at all like he had lost his sight.


    When people close their eyes, they lose their sense of distance, balance, and direction.


    But now, even with closed eyes, as long as Xue Jing visualized the training room in his consciousness, everything here was as clear to him as if he had ''spiritual power scanning'', no different from seeing with open eyes.


    "Maybe if I continue like this, I could develop a ''Mind''s Eye''?"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    Without using the eyes to see, relying solely on the ''imagination'' of consciousness, to anticipate every move of an opponent, freeing oneself from the dependency on the senses.


    That was his future expectation for the Skills of Meditative Visualization.


    While he was resting, his phone on the floor suddenly vibrated.


    He looked at it and saw a message from the wealthy dominating woman.


    [Wu Youqing: There''s a job, hurry over.]


    Xue Jing immediately became spirited.


    Damn, there was finally some work!


    He immediately stood up, changed his clothes, and almost ran out of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, boarding the bus.


    First, he went home to get his library card, took the time to rub the face of Miao Miao, who was napping, then quickly left the house and headed straight for Qingcheng University''s campus, arriving at the seventh floor of the library.


    After entering, Xue Jing looked around; apart from Wu Youqing, who was sitting in the rest area wearing glasses, he did not see Wu Youqing anywhere else.


    He looked around again, then suddenly realized something was wrong.


    Huh? The Wu Youqing wearing glasses... isn''t that Wu Youqing?


    He turned around abruptly.


    The girl took off the rimless glasses she was wearing and looked at Xue Jing with a smile brimming with meaning.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Xue Jing felt that Wu Youqing seemed much prettier than when he had seen her before.


    "Your ''consciousness intensity'' is very high, to be able to find out I was here so quickly," the girl said with a blink of surprise.


    Seeing Xue Jing staring at the glasses in her hand, Wu Youqing smiled and said, "As you can see, this is a Divine Relic."


    "Would you like to try them on?"


    Without a change in expression, Xue Jing reached out to take the glasses while curiously asking, "What is the function of this Divine Relic?"


    [Detection of Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    "GOD-1280¡¤Ordinary Looking Glasses."


    The girl explained.


    She sat up a little straighter, projecting the developed European-sized bosom with pride, trembling slightly.


    For some reason, Xue Jing felt that Wu Youqing was now much more attractive than before, and he couldn''t help but fix his gaze on her.


    "It''s a simple effect, it makes one''s presence diminish, becoming ''ordinary and unremarkable'', and won''t draw the attention of others."


    Wu Youqing looked at Xue Jing''s drifting gaze with a teasing expression.


    "However, the function of the glasses is to suppress presence, not to eliminate it¡­ Once you take off the glasses, the suppressed presence will burst out all at once, especially attracting people''s attention. The longer you''ve been wearing the glasses, the stronger the burst of presence will be."


    Xue Jing suddenly understood.


    So it wasn''t that he suddenly became a lecher, it was because of the glasses'' effect that made Wu Youqing more attractive than usual.


    That''s alright then.


    He directed his gaze to the charming aspects of the girl and began to look openly.


    - This wasn''t his desire to look; it was the fault of the Divine Relic.


    "BOSS, didn''t you say there was a job?"


    Xue Jing spoke up.


    Wu Youqing took out a stack of documents from the bag beside her and handed them to Xue Jing.


    "This mission is very special. It''s a C-level containment mission¡ªnot something you should be dealing with, but..."


    The girl lifted her chin, gesturing him to look at the documents.


    Xue Jing put on the [GOD-1280], and in an instant, his presence transformed from Innate Freeloader Holy Body to an unnoticed stone on the roadside, catching Wu Youqing slightly off guard.


    He flipped through the documents.


    [Divine Relic Sighting Report]


    [At 2:32 PM on October 18th, a stabbing incident occurred on Lianming Street in the South City area of Qingcheng; the assailant was identified as a blonde, tattooed young woman wearing a crown]


    [At 1:11 AM on October 19th, the same woman reappeared¡­]


    In the documents, there were a lot of sighting reports, with several color photos attached to the side. The photos showed a young woman in her late twenties wearing a black dress, with golden dyed hair, a neck tattoo of an exaggerated large spider, and a beautiful crown on her head. At the center of the crown was a black flower.


    [Confirmed, the crown worn by the woman is ''GOD-1105¡¤Crown of the Wicked Woman,'' classified as a ''Dangerous'' Divine Relic. Please proceed with containment as soon as possible]


    After reading the last passage, Xue Jing turned to the next page to find the information about [Crown of the Wicked Woman].


    [GOD-1105¡¤Crown of the Wicked Woman]


    [It actively approaches females with malevolent thoughts, and once worn, continuously strengthens the wearer''s inner malevolence. At the same time, it synchronously enhances the physical abilities of the wearer, until she becomes a peerless great villainess.]


    Xue Jing placed the documents on the table.


    "Finished reading?" Wu Youqing asked.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Finished¡­ So why am I assigned to this C-level containment mission?"


    Wu Youqing''s eyes brimmed with amusement as she sized him up from head to toe.


    "[Crown of the Wicked Woman] can continuously enhance the wearer''s malevolence¡­ Women too have reputations."


    "Seeing an attractive man, they can''t help but want to possess him; that''s also a kind of ''malevolence.''"


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    He understood why he was chosen for this containment mission.


    He adjusted the rimless glasses on his nose.


    "So these glasses were prepared for this purpose?"


    Wu Youqing nodded, smiling, "You naturally have a good foundation; once you wear [GOD-1280] for a while and then take it off, that momentary burst of presence is enough to shatter the already weak psychological defenses of the [Wicked Woman], igniting her desires."


    "At that point, you''ll be able to easily remove the [Crown of the Wicked Woman]¡­ This containment mission is tailor-made for you."


    Xue Jing was speechless.


    This was asking him to sell his charm.


    But it was indeed suitable for him.


    Perhaps he could take a shot¡ªafter removing the glasses, a swipe of styling gel on his head.


    From now on, shall I stand above the heavens?


    ¡­


    Begging for monthly votes, can you please stuff your big monthly votes into my saucy book? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 48: Chapter 45: Activate, Power of Twins!

    "BOSS, where did these glasses come from?"


    Xue Jing pushed up the GOD-1280 on his nose and glanced at the panel.


    [Divinity: 201]


    "Borrowed from another containment company," Wu Youqing replied, arms crossed.


    Xue Jing was startled.


    "There are other containment companies?"


    Wu Youqing gave him a strange look. "Did I ever say there weren''t?"


    Xue Jing shook his head. "That''s not what I meant... I just thought our company seemed so mysterious and high-end, I assumed it was the only one in the country without any branches."


    "You''re mistaken. Divine Relic Custodian Companies are somewhat special, but not that upscale. If I were to describe it... it''s essentially no different from street sweepers cleaning the roads."


    Wu Youqing shook her smooth, high ponytail, her slightly purple pupils shimmering like amethysts.


    "You know, all Divine Relics possess random transfer abilities... That means no matter how good the measures, they can''t be fully contained, so containment must be continuously and indefinitely carried out in an endless cycle."


    "There are thousands of known Divine Relics in the world. Just think about it, thousands of Divine Relics could appear anywhere at any time. The workload is tremendously large, too much for a single company to handle."


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing asked,


    "Since they''ll transfer anyway, can''t we just ignore them and let them be?"


    Wu Youqing objected, "That won''t work. All Divine Relics have unreasonable powers; they''re too dangerous. If we did that, the whole world would quickly fall into chaos, even if containment is like ''drawing water with a bamboo basket,'' it must continue without pause."


    "I see."


    After pondering again, Xue Jing asked, "Are we in a cooperative relationship with other containment companies?"


    "Not necessarily, it depends on the situation," Wu Youqing responded.


    "The containment task is essentially outsourced to us by the officials, who allocate funds to each containment company based on their performance annually. Some companies might engage in aggressive competition to earn this money."


    "If you encounter people from other companies while carrying out containment tasks, be careful too."


    Xue Jing nodded, understanding.


    "Alright, and if anything goes wrong or you encounter any unmanageable dangers, retreat immediately, safety first," Wu Youqing advised.


    "Understood." Xue Jing acknowledged, then suddenly added,


    "By the way, big sis, I want to test out the effects."


    Wu Youqing was slightly taken aback. "What effect?"


    As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xue Jing removing the [Ordinary Glasses].


    It was like a common stone shaking off dust, suddenly emitting a blazing, brilliant light.


    In that moment, Xue Jing re-entered the state of the Innate Freeloader Holy Body.


    "..."


    Wu Youqing showed no reaction, only silently averting her gaze from him, a barely noticeable blush tinting her cheeks.


    Xue Jing, looking at the panel displaying[Someone has developed a favor for you, Charm Art Experience Points +19], silently smiled.


    It seemed that the effect was very good.


    ...


    Holding a stack of documents about the wearer of the Glory of the Wicked Woman, Xue Jing left the library, planning to go home and prepare.


    Wearing frameless glasses, he boarded a bus, looking over the information in his hands.


    ''The name is... Lou Huiying.''


    ''The main activity area is in South City...''


    ''Bars, discos, male host clubs, KTVs... quite the standard range of a gang leader''s activities,'' Xue Jing silently remarked.


    The information indicated that Lou Huiying had already made a name for herself with the physical enhancements from the Crown of the Wicked Woman, establishing a small gang called the Rose Gang.


    Every day was a spree of indulgence within her controlled territory.


    The malice released by the Crown of the Wicked Woman was unmasked, drawing discontent from nearby gangs.


    However, due to her formidable personal combat strength, no one could handle her for the time being.


    Xue Jing glanced at the GOD-1105 information again. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Crown of the Wicked Woman... Theoretically, the stronger the wearer''s malice, the greater the enhancement to physical abilities... the current upper limit is unclear, the highest record is an international female fugitive, rated at a danger level of 4.2 with the Crown''s enhancement..."


    "But once it is removed, the wearer''s physical abilities will gradually revert..."


    "I see..."


    Xue Jing looked at the materials, thinking of a strategy quietly.


    Without realizing it, the bus stopped, and Xue Jing got off and walked back home.


    As soon as he entered the door, Xue Jing casually called out, "Teacher Wan?"


    There was no response.


    He searched around the house but couldn''t find Miao Miao.


    "Out again?"


    Xue Jing wondered.


    Lately, it felt like Miao Miao was always going out, and he had no idea what she was doing.


    He didn''t pay much attention and went into the ''gym,'' opening the panel.


    [Divine Absorption Complete]


    [Divinity Held: 311]


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Compared to the nearly five hundred points of divinity provided by the GOD-1391 Cat Tail Ring and the GOD-1567 Sweet Water Jug, this ordinary-looking pair of glasses had only provided just over three hundred.


    "It seems there''s quite a big gap in the divinity that each Divine Relic can provide."


    After lamenting, Xue Jing swiped to the Divine Skill page and clicked [Twin Lifes].


    [Twin Lifes Lv1 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 311/100, can upgrade now)]


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Twin Lifes Lv2 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 211/300)]


    [Passive: Have two lives, can freely choose the time to resurrect within seven days after death, cooldown: 80 days]


    [Active: Each Lv1 can specify a physical ability related to oneself, producing double effects when used]


    [Currently Activated: Action Speed]


    [Options Available: Physical Strength, Physical Defense, Reaction Speed, Calculative Ability, Concentration, Memory...]


    "The cooldown time for the passive has decreased by ten days... If upgrading Lv1 reduces it by ten days... then wouldn''t reaching Lv10 mean infinite resurrections?"


    Xue Jing looked at the updated passive effects, somewhat surprised.


    This was an upgrade worth the level!


    He then looked toward the active effects, his eyes thoughtful.


    "Hmm... let''s go with [Physical Strength]."


    Xue Jing made a decision.


    This choice should provide the highest combat boost for him at the moment. Whether in hand-to-hand combat or testing the waters with a thrown stone, both would receive significant enhancements.


    He was about to confront someone wearing the Crown of the Wicked Woman, who had strong physical abilities; choosing Physical Strength should be the right move.


    Xue Jing pressed [Physical Strength] on the panel.


    [Currently Activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed]


    After activation, Xue Jing resisted the impulse to test it out on the spot and stepped out of his house.


    On the small garden running track where he often jogged, Xue Jing picked up a thumb-sized pebble from the ground.


    After looking around, he fixed his gaze on a camphor tree twenty meters away.


    Holding the pebble, he raised his arm, operated the breathing skills, power surged in, and Xue Jing''s gaze intensified.


    [Power of Twins], activate!


    "Whoosh!!"


    The pebble whizzed through the air like a cannonball, the air wailing in friction, and flew straight towards the camphor tree.


    "Bang!!"


    A loud explosion startled the nearby pedestrians, one young man close by was so frightened that he fell to the ground.


    "Was that a gunshot?" he stood up, still in shock, and spoke.


    The curious crowd also came forward to see what had happened.


    "Wow, is this some kind of stunt?"


    "Could this be a meteorite?"


    "No, wait, it looks like a pebble?"


    "How did he do that, shoot it with a sniper rifle?"


    On the camphor tree, whose diameter was over fifty centimeters, the outer bark had burst open radially, exposing the white heart of the tree.


    At the center, a pebble that had split into several sections was deeply embedded, penetrating a full three inches.


    ...


    So itchy, really want a big monthly ticket...

 Chapter 49: Chapter 46 Both of Me are the Same X Too!

    ```


    South City District, Lianming Street.


    Lou Huiying, dressed in a black dress, stepped out of a restaurant holding a metal baseball bat in one hand and picking her teeth with a toothpick in the other.


    Her hair was dyed a bright gold, looking dry and disheveled, a bit like a bird''s nest.


    On her head, she wore a delicate tiara carved with black flowers, but her eyes were too shadowy, making her look not like a princess but more like a wicked witch who had stolen the princess''s tiara.


    "Where to go next, hmm..."


    She murmured softly to herself, scanning her surroundings with eyes that made anyone who met her gaze shudder immediately and hastily look away.


    Seeming to relish the fear she inspired, Lou Huiying''s eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up.


    The feeling of doing whatever she wanted was just too damn good.


    This street was all hers!


    Whatever she wanted to do, she''d do it!


    Go to a restaurant to eat, and after eating, demand money from the owner; if they don''t pay up, bust their head!


    Sing at a KTV, and afterward, demand money from the owner; if they don''t pay up, bust their head!


    Go to a club to find a man, get satisfied, then demand money; if they don''t pay up, get satisfied once more!


    This world was just too fucking perfect!


    But that wasn''t enough!


    She wanted more, to control even more streets, take even more money, bust even more heads, screw even more men!


    "Hey, Lou, take care."


    The middle-aged, somewhat balding restaurant owner stood at the doorway, bowing and scraping to Lou Huiying.


    Seeing him reminded Lou Huiying of something, and she stretched out a hand, pressing it on the owner''s head.


    Gripping his skull, she licked her lips and said:


    "Your two sons, why didn''t I see them today?"


    The owner''s mouth twitched, understanding her implication.


    "Umm, they both had the day off today..."


    Lou Huiying''s hand, which was gripping his head, began to tighten, like a vice grip, making the owner feel as if his skull was gradually cracking open, and he couldn''t help but cry out in pain.


    "Stop, stop stop stop! I get it, get it, Lou, I understand, I understand!"


    Feeling the vice grip on his head slightly relax, the owner breathed a sigh of relief and fearfully said:


    "You... whichever one you want, I''ll call him over."


    Lou Huiying''s eyes flicked up.


    "Which one?"


    She got close to the owner, glared at him with wide eyes, and a grotesque smile stretched across her face as saliva kept dripping out:


    "I fuck both of them all the same!"


    Owner: "..."


    ...


    Outside Lianming Street, more than a dozen gang members armed with various weapons walked with aggressive intent towards the street.


    The leader was a middle-aged man in a black sleeveless tank top with a dragon tattoo that extended over his shoulder.


    "With Duan heading the charge this time, that crazy bitch Lou Huiying is as good as dead!"


    "This worthless woman dares to mess with our Razor Gang; she must really be sick of living!"


    "Damn it, she actually shoved that baseball bat up my ass; my butt still hasn''t clamped shut. Duan''s got to get revenge for me, I''m gonna fucking puncture her too!"


    Duan Kaiping frowned as he heard the noisy shouting of his underlings.


    He had been warned by his master Jiao Hongyuan that they were in a crucial period, and his disciples should try not to cause trouble and keep the Razor Gang members under control.


    Alas, he had avoided looking for trouble, but trouble had found him.


    This crazy woman Lou Huiying had emerged from God knows where, acting outrageously, even daring to ride roughshod over the Razor Gang.


    A portion of Lianming Street was under his watch, and all protection money usually flowed to him, but now this woman had snatched it all away.


    If he didn''t make a stand now, he would look even more cowardly in the eyes of others, which would be strange.


    So today, he had reluctantly prepared to take matters into his own hands and kill this woman.


    "Shut up, all of you."


    Duan Kaiping snapped irritably.


    Seeing him flare up, the underlings immediately shut their mouths.


    A bunch of useless idiots.


    Duan Kaiping cursed inwardly.


    ```


    ```


    Can''t even handle a woman, and now Laozi has to do it himself.


    Before too, couldn''t catch a damn student, got pelted with a few rocks and flopped around like a dog.


    He irritably reached into his pocket for his pack of cigarettes, and put one in his mouth.


    A sharp-witted underling immediately pulled out a lighter and lit it for him.


    He took a deep drag of the cigarette and exhaled a cloud of white smoke.


    At this moment, a normal-looking young man with glasses walked past him, Duan Kaiping gave him a glance, felt a sense of familiarity but didn''t pay much attention, and instead turned to his underlings and instructed:


    "When the fight starts, you guys just watch from the side, don''t fuck things up for Laozi..."


    ...


    "Huh?"


    Xue Jing turned to look at this group of street youngsters.


    A few of them looked familiar to him.


    They seemed to be the ones who had wanted to kidnap him when he left Pei Youguang''s house that day.


    So the leader of this group, ''Duan'', was obviously Duan Kaiping.


    Xue Jing pushed up his glasses on his nose, which glinted slightly under the sunlight.


    "Interesting."


    He thought for a moment, then walked into an alley, made a circle, and came up behind Duan Kaiping and his group, following them from a distance.


    News of the Razor Gang coming to cause trouble quickly reached Lou Huiying''s ears.


    Just sitting at the entrance of the restaurant smoking and wondering how to beat two with one, Lou Huiying suddenly saw one of her underlings run over, gasping for breath:


    "Boss Lady, not good, Duan Kaiping from the Razor Gang is here!"


    Lou Huiying raised an eye, indifferent, "Duan Kaiping? Who''s that jackass?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ever since she put on this accessory, she felt she was getting stronger at an exaggerated speed daily.


    She was fucking Wonder Woman herself!


    Duan Kaiping? Even Duan Zhengchun would die if he came!


    "He''s a core member of the Razor Gang, they say he can chop off heads with his palms, a tough guy indeed!"


    The underling said anxiously.


    "They''re already outside now, Boss Lady, let''s scram!"


    Lou Huiying snorted, didn''t speak, picked up the metal baseball bat in her hand, and headed straight outside.


    Before a 1V2, smashing a head as an appetizer isn''t bad.


    If this Duan... Duan Zhengchun? is good looking enough, then it''ll be a 1V3!


    Three, I''d handle the same way!


    Black mist began to seep out from the crown on Lou Huiying''s head, and she suddenly felt her strength increase further.


    On the other side, Duan Kaiping had already arrived inside the street, and from afar, he saw a woman with a baseball bat, her hair full of blonde strands, immediately realizing she was the target and quickly walked towards her.


    The two approached each other and sized up one another. Lou Huiying had a look of disappointment on her face.


    "You stinking whore, I heard you''re quite bold," Duan Kaiping squinted, taking a drag of his cigarette, about to drop some classic tough-talk and assert the Razor Gang''s prestige to the onlooking street residents.


    But before he had barely finished speaking, a howl followed and a metal baseball bat flew towards his forehead at high speed.


    Duan Kaiping''s heart raced, instinctively ducking his head; the bat skimmed his scalp, bringing a sting of pain.


    He touched the fresh bald spot on his head, his anger ignited.


    "You bitch, asking for it!"


    He quickly brought his hands together as if they were a blade, and slashed at Lou Huiying.


    Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, better with no blade than having one, possessing a sharp Power that could sever steel, although Duan Kaiping hadn''t reached such a level, cutting through flesh was still easy.


    However, to his surprise, when his hand blade struck Lou Huiying''s neck, it was like hitting a tree stump wrapped in thick cowhide, making a crunching sound and only leaving a slight red mark.


    Duan Kaiping immediately realized something was off; this woman wasn''t right!


    At that moment, the baseball bat swung at him again, incredibly fast. Although it came in a brute and straightforward manner, by the sound of it, one knew the force was terrifying, definitely not to be taken head-on.


    As Duan Kaiping prepared to dodge, a loud "pang" exploded from his thigh.


    A rock the size of a thumb, not knowing where it came from, hit him in the thigh, penetrating it like a bullet and leaving a bloody hole.


    After being hit, Duan Kaiping screamed, his movement paused, and the howling bat immediately hit his head, flinging him seven or eight meters away, crashing through a barber shop''s glass and falling inside, motionless, his life or death unknown.


    "Brother Duan!!"


    All the underlings were instantly shocked.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 50: Chapter 47: A Woman Unvirtuous, With Intention to Throw Punches

    Lou Huiying rested the baseball bat on her shoulder and touched the slender red mark on her neck, clicking her tongue.


    "Still pretty painful."


    It was the first time she felt pain again after a long while since she donned that headpiece.


    Having dealt with Duan Kaiping, Lou Huiying felt a sense of accomplishment and was about to return to the restaurant when she saw a bespectacled youth walking towards her at a leisurely pace not far away.


    For some reason, even though the youth appeared quite ordinary and not at all special, Lou Huiying inexplicably felt a tingling sensation on her scalp and her footsteps involuntarily halted.


    She just watched as the youth reached her, pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose¡ªhis eyes obscured by the glare of the afternoon sun¡ªbut she knew he was looking at her.


    "Kid, did you do what just happened?"


    Lou Huiying narrowed her eyes and asked.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled, "Yes, it was me." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lou Huiying immediately became cautious, "Are you carrying a gun?"


    A moment ago, Duan Kaiping''s thigh suddenly burst open with a bloody hole, the kind of power that was clearly caused by a bullet fired from a gun.


    Although she didn''t know if her current self could withstand a bullet, she had no desire to find out.


    "A gun... kind of." Xue Jing smiled.


    "But don''t worry, I won''t use a ''gun'' against you."


    Xue Jing took off his jacket, threw it on the ground, twisted his neck and stretched his limbs, starting to warm up as if no one else was present.


    Having observed her exchange with Duan Kaiping earlier, Xue Jing had already gained a rough understanding of her level of martial prowess.


    She was strong and resilient, but her fighting skills were crude, obviously untrained in any formal fighting technique.


    ¡ªShe was a perfect live-training bag.


    This was a good opportunity to practice his fighting skills, so Xue Jing decided then and there that he wouldn''t rely on visual advantage by taking off his glasses; he wanted to defeat her head-on.


    With Twin Lifes activated, and now possessing both the Twin Speed and Power, he was itching to put them to use.


    Of course, if something did go wrong, he would take off his glasses halfway through the battle to trigger his ''Hard Control'' skill.


    Lou Huiying heard his words and saw his actions, realizing what he meant.


    "You? Take me on? With what, you?"


    Lou Huiying''s eyes showed scornful derision.


    Hmm... But upon closer inspection, this youth, although wearing glasses making it hard to see his features clearly, had a great physique, and likely looked good too; playing along with him could be entertaining.


    "Then bring it on, let''s see if your fists are as tough as your mouth..."


    Lou Huiying licked her lips.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak further. Instead, he took a deep breath, circulated his breathing skills, and let Power surge inside him as his blood flow started to accelerate and his body temperature gradually increased.


    In his consciousness, he visualized a True Dragon with wings sprouting from its back, and a faint ''Dragon Qi'' began to emanate from him.


    Lou Huiying frowned, sensing that something was amiss.


    This youth, could he actually be... very strong?


    "Who the hell are you!?"


    Lou Huiying demanded.


    After thinking for a bit, Xue Jing smiled and said, "You can call me... the Arm Master."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Xue Jing immediately activated Twin Speed, charging towards Lou Huiying.


    His speed was beyond normal, like someone had pressed a fast-forward button, capable of achieving a certain degree of First Encounter Strike effect, with nearly no one able to react in time.


    Lou Huiying was no exception; she hadn''t systematically learned fighting skills and was severely lacking in vigilance. She was caught off-guard by Xue Jing''s extreme speed, unable to react at all.


    "Bang!"


    The fist cut through the air, carrying Power, and struck Lou Huiying''s chin hard.


    She was knocked into a severe backward arch, her upper body bending backwards, but she didn''t fall.


    From the feeling upon contact with his fist, Xue Jing understood how tough this woman was. His gaze sharpened as he activated the Power of Twins, following up with a snap kick to Lou Huiying''s waist.


    The force of the kick could have bent steel bars, and Lou Huiying was sent flying more than three meters away, crashing into a concrete wall and fracturing it.


    Xue Jing, having gained the advantage, immediately followed up with more attacks, closing in on Lou Huiying with Twin Speed and continuously punching her face with both hands, mercilessly.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang!"


    The dull sound of heavy blows echoed, with the first punch, Lou Huiying''s head slightly sunk into the wall.


    With the second punch, it sank deeper.


    The countless fists that followed continuously drove her head deeper into the wall, embedding it there as cracks around the hole where her head was lodged spread out in all directions on the concrete wall.


    "Crash..."


    Finally, the wall couldn''t bear the relentless pounding and completely collapsed, breaking into countless pieces of stone and burying Lou Huiying amidst them.


    Xue Jing took a slight breath and, looking at his slightly reddened fists, clicked his tongue and said:


    "Damn hard..."


    The residents who were watching, including Duan Kaiping''s dozen or so underlings, all had their mouths agape, staring at the youth with glasses, standing tall as a stately pine.


    "Filming a movie?"


    "Damn, even the wall is smashed to bits; I hope Lou isn''t shattered as well."


    "Hiss... such brutality, even if she''s like that, she''s still a woman at the end of the day, to strike with such force."


    "An unvirtuous woman warrants a deliberate punch!"


    "Who the hell is that guy? Even Duan Kaiping got flipped over by a single hit from Lou, yet he''s managing to dominate her in the fight?"


    From amidst the rubble, a slender arm suddenly stretched out.


    "Crash..."


    Lou Huiying slowly sat up, with dust and small stones continually falling off her body.


    A punch that would kill an ordinary person outright, she took countless to her face, but at this moment, aside from some bruising, she surprisingly seemed to be mostly unscathed.


    "Kid... you''ve really fucking pissed me off!"


    Lou Huiying ground her teeth as she enunciated each word with effort.


    The black-flowered tiara on her head faintly emitted a black vapor, flowing into her body, while it fortified her physique, it also further amplified her malicious thoughts.


    Xue Jing''s gaze hardened as he watched her, but excitement surged within him.


    This was fighting!


    Thrilling!


    Lou Huiying abruptly stood up, and with a heavy stomp, she cracked the cement ground and charged toward Xue Jing.


    Though it was completely unskilled, the sheer explosive power of her legs meant that her speed was still extremely fast as she reached her hand towards Xue Jing.


    Fast, almost got him.


    Lou Huiying stretched her mouth in a grotesque smile, drool spilling out.


    As long as she caught him, she swore she would tear this youth to shreds!


    However, just as she was about to grab Xue Jing, he simply stepped back, causing her outstretched hand to grasp at nothing.


    Immediately after, Xue Jing reached up and grabbed her long golden hair.


    With a fierce yank downward!


    As Lou Huiying''s head was pulled down, Xue Jing channeled the Power of Twins and dealt a vicious knee strike, embedding his kneecap directly into her face.


    The head that had just fallen was rocketed upward again, and even Lou Huiying, despite the heavy hit, couldn''t help but scream in pain as blood gushed from her nose.


    But her rage only intensified; twisting her waist, she forcefully stopped her head from tilting back and in a turn, grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist.


    Before she could do anything more, Xue Jing''s other hand was already in front of her eyes, his fingers flicking out.


    "Aaaaah!!!"


    Power surged, channeled through his fingertips; this lethal flick on the soft eyeball was unbearable even for Lou Huiying. She immediately let go of Xue Jing''s hand and covered her eyes, screaming in agony.


    In Xue Jing''s mind flashed the teachings of Li Qi.


    "Dishonorable or malicious, as long as you win, any technique is permissible. The person who stands at the end is the one who has the right to speak!"


    Xue Jing''s eyes hardened; without hesitation, he unleashed a Spartan Kick straight toward Lou Huiying''s lower abdomen.


    Not just men''s that place, but also women''s that place, was a significant weak point!


    ...


    I beg you, lords, to cast your monthly votes for the author, it really matters! Starting now, for every additional one hundred monthly votes, I will add one more chapter daily on top of the scheduled three, please!

 Chapter 51: Chapter 48: What Are You Pretending to Be?

    The Spartan Kick, with the heel as the final point of force, possessed the most lethal power among all front-kicking actions.


    "Puff!"


    Despite being Lou Huiying, under the ferocious kick aimed at her vulnerability, she doubled over like a cooked shrimp, covering her stomach with both hands, as blood and vomit burst forth from her mouth.


    Without any hesitation, Xue Jing continued forward, his right leg raised straight up, higher than his head, the power churning, building up to the limit, like the blade of a guillotine, and he suddenly chopped down!


    Lou Huiying, clutching her abdomen and bending over, took the brunt of the blow to the back of her head, like a plummeting onion, and Xue Jing fiercely drove her into the ground with one foot.


    "Bang!"


    Her face was deeply embedded into the hard concrete, dust billowing around, from her as the center, a crack spread more than a meter in diameter.


    Lou Huiying did not move again, the dark crown fell off, rolling to the side, looking like a mere hair ornament, with no special features.


    All the onlookers at the scene were rendered speechless, intimidated by the young man''s terrifying martial prowess and his ruthless treatment of the woman.


    Xue Jing didn''t care about the spectators'' thoughts, he straightened the glasses on his nose which had slightly shifted due to the intense action, bent down, and picked up the "Crown of the Wicked Woman."


    "Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing divinity¡­"


    He pulled out his phone, took a photo of the dark crown, and sent it to Wu Youqing.


    "Custody successful," Xue Jing murmured to himself.


    Glancing again at Lou Huiying, who lay face down on the ground motionless, Xue Jing stepped forward, extending his right foot, and flipped her body over.


    To prevent her from being suffocated with her head buried in the ground.


    As for the punishment due to the many evil deeds she had done after wearing the Crown of the Wicked Woman ... he would leave that to the residents she had oppressed these days.


    The folks of the South City district were simple and the major gangs were full of talent; without the Crown of the Wicked Woman, Lou Huiying, reduced to an ordinary person, was bound to face difficult days ahead.


    Just as Xue Jing was about to leave, he suddenly heard a deep, indifferent voice from behind:


    "Oh? Nearly came too late, but it turned out just in time."


    "Hey, kid."


    "Hand over what you''re holding. That''s not something you''re qualified to touch."


    Xue Jing paused slightly, slowly turned around, and looked towards the source of the voice.


    It was a quite burly man dressed in a suit and leather shoes.


    He was impeccably dressed, his clothes nearly wrinkle-free, and his tie perfectly tied. His hair, slicked back with hair oil, lacked a single strand out of place, making him look like he had OCD.


    The man''s facial features were stern, his eyes carried a hint of indifference, his gaze at Xue Jing was condescending.


    Xue Jing lingered on his face a little longer, feeling something odd.


    His skin was very pale, unnaturally so. There were several indentations on his cheeks, as if the skin was sewn on by very precise methods, giving a sense of disharmony and eeriness.


    That went for his eyes too, one was a normal black while the other emitted a faint glow of dark red.


    "What if I say no?" Xue Jing asked, his tone completely steady.


    He glanced at the panel.


    In the Divine Skills section, beneath "Twin Lifes," wisps of golden light seeped out, continually gathering.


    He had seen this phenomenon before.


    It was the same as when he first encountered a Divine Relic, the moment Twin Lifes was activated.


    A new Divine Skill was being born.


    Xue Jing closed the panel, tucked the "Crown of the Wicked Woman" into his neckline, ensuring it was in constant contact with his body.


    Noticing his action, the man''s eyes narrowed.


    "Kid, you''re courting death."


    The man took off his suit jacket, threw it aside, and began walking towards Xue Jing, loosening his tie as if ready to fight.


    The dark red prosthetic eye analyzed the data of the youth in front.


    "Physical Power Level estimation: 1.7~1.9"


    "Physical Mutation Rate: below 1%"


    "Traces of martial arts practice detected, no evident specialized parts, unable to calculate combat model"


    ¡­


    After a plethora of data assessments, the final evaluation came in.


    "Comprehensive danger level estimation: 2.1~2.5"


    The result surprised the man.


    Appearing to be only sixteen or seventeen years old... living in a rural area like the Outer Ring City, to have an assessment over 2 at this age, the kid is quite talented indeed.


    But...still too weak.


    The man''s eyes revealed scorn.


    "Kid, I''m giving you one last chance,"


    "Hand it over."


    He walked up to Xue Jing, with his arms crossed over his chest.


    "I can spare your life, just break an arm and a leg."


    "Kneel down and thank me for this mercy."


    His words were tinged with an irritating sense of entitlement.


    Xue Jing was silent for a moment, blinked, and then smiled:


    "You piece of shit, you probably haven''t played tough muck like this, have you?"


    The man''s gaze turned cold.


    "Let me guess, you must be the type who is willing to be a lowly, groveling dog, but still tries to squeeze into circles that aren''t yours. Now you feel so cool because you can enter this circle, superior to others, walking with a swagger, unable to resist imitating those higher-ups you encounter every day."


    "But¡ª you haven''t really played this role before, have you? It''s too rigid, really, I''m embarrassed for you."


    Xue Jing''s smile was as brilliant as the sunshine.


    "I''m curious, you lower-class stinking dog, who are you trying to impress here?"


    A member of the Razor Gang watching couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    "Pfft..."


    When the man heard the laughter, it seemed to hit a nerve; his face turned from green to white, and his prosthetic red eye flickered between shame and outright fury.


    "You''re dead...you''re dead...you''re dead..."


    "I''m going to...kill you!"


    He was about to make a move, but Xue Jing had already taken the initiative, launching a crotch kick without hesitation towards the man''s groin.


    "Smack!"


    Following a dull sound, the man''s eyes revealed scorn:


    "Despicable martial artist, always using such despicable tricks, how could we not be prepared?"


    Xue Jing immediately realized something was off; the feeling of hitting the target didn''t feel like a human body, but rather like kicking a rubber-made, hard tire.


    "It''s over!"


    The man suddenly lunged for a bear hug, extremely fast, almost like a beast snapping its jaws at Xue Jing.


    This move was almost certainly secure, according to the evaluation from the prosthetic eye, a youngster with a physical power level of less than 2, at this distance, it was impossible to dodge.


    However, the man grasped at air.


    The young man was extremely quick, ducking down to dodge the bear hug with a speed far exceeding his rating, took a step back and distanced himself.


    Then¡­ without hesitation, he turned and ran!


    "Damn it!"


    The man was furiously angry, smashing the floor as he chased after Xue Jing.


    ¡­


    Xue Jing weaved through the complex alleyways, deep in thought.


    ''Who is this person? A custodian from another containment company?'' S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''His body is strange...has he used banned drugs, or does he have an alien implant?''


    ''Outer Ring City lacks medical facilities, and the use of alien implants is prohibited...could he be from Inner Ring City?''


    Continuous thumping sounds came from behind.


    Xue Jing looked back.


    While he zigzagged, using light-body skills in the alleys, the other party simply brute-forced his way through like a tank, smashing countless walls in a straight line as he rapidly closed in.


    Seeing the distance being closed gradually, and knowing that Twin Speed couldn''t be maintained for long, Xue Jing glanced at the progress of the Divine Absorption on his panel.


    The light points of pale gold were still converging.


    ''First, find a way to buy some time and see what the new Divine Skill is.''


    Xue Jing made up his mind.


    He turned into another alley, his gaze sweeping across the area like lightning, took a few steps forward and picked up a rusty, bent nail from the ground.


    ¡­

 Chapter 52: Chapter 49: The Dark Flame, Blessed One

    "This little bastard really can run!"


    The man cursed under his breath while using his prosthetic eye to lock onto Xue Jing''s trail.


    Martial artists are such a pain, all nimble like monkeys, darting here and there, it''s so frustrating.


    After shattering another wall, the man waved away the dust and stopped in his tracks.


    The tracking traces displayed in his prosthetic eye ended here, with three question marks appearing in the upper right corner, indicating insufficient data to determine the direction.


    "Got away?" The man''s face darkened.


    "No, if he could''ve escaped, he would have done it earlier. He must be hiding!"


    The man switched his prosthetic eye mode from [Tracking] to [Insight].


    "You can''t run away, you cur."


    In the dark red view, every detail of the alley was scanned into the chip for thorough analysis.


    A silhouette exactly matching Xue Jing''s physique appeared in the prosthetic eye''s vision; ''he'' leaped and dodged into the alley, looked around for a moment, and then bent down to pick something up from the ground.


    The prosthetic eye was still analyzing when suddenly a sharp whizzing sound came from above.


    Instinctively, the man raised his right hand and extended two fingers in front of his eyes, just in time to catch a rusty nail.


    But before he could react further, immediately following the nail, a figure dropped from the sky at an unbelievable speed, throwing a punch straight at him!


    The figure''s speed was so incredibly fast that the man had no time to react; the punch had already struck his palm, which was holding the nail, and forcibly drove the nail forward, directly into his prosthetic eye!


    "Aaaahhhhh!!!!"


    The rusty nail brutally penetrated his eye, sinking in completely, and the man screamed in agony as blood poured out, covering his eye as he wailed.


    Seeing his surprise attack had succeeded, Xue Jing immediately pressed on, bombarding the nail-pierced eye of his opponent with a continuous barrage of punches.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang..."


    The already embedded nail was driven deeper into the man''s body with each successive punch.


    "You''re asking for it!!"


    The man roared in anger, enduring the pain, opened his other eye to regain his vision, and forcefully pushed outward with both hands, breaking Xue Jing''s barrage of attacks.


    Then he kicked out at Xue Jing, who immediately raised his arms in defense, placing them in front of his chest.


    Xue Jing was knocked back several meters by the kick, slamming into a wall and leaving an imprint of his body.


    "..."


    Although he had braced himself with his power for defense, Xue Jing still felt a painful sensation, his arms burning and his chest feeling tight.


    "Such inhuman strength."


    Xue Jing casually picked up a handful of stones from the shattered wall on the ground and threw them at the man.


    "Pitter-patter..."


    The stones, which almost served as bullets in his hand, had no effect on the man but made him cover his face with his hands, shielding his eyes.


    "I''ll tear you limb from limb, you despicable runt!"


    The man bellowed.


    He truly hadn''t expected to fall head over heels in a rural place like Outer Ring City, and to suffer such a loss at the hands of a kid who had just barely passed a Level 2 evaluation.


    "Lowly dog, you''re just a bit thick-skinned."


    Xue Jing taunted.


    He opened the panel and glanced at it.


    His new Divine Skill shone even brighter.


    Enraged beyond control by the taunt, the man charged at him like a heavy tank.


    Xue Jing activated his Twin Speed, stepped to the side to dodge, and the wall was directly smashed through by the man.


    ''Damn it!''


    The man felt like spitting blood in frustration.


    If it weren''t for the fact that [ISE] couldn''t pass the security check to be legally brought into Outer Ring City, would he have allowed this kid to hop around like this?


    He would have fucking obliterated him already!


    At that moment, as Xue Jing dodged to the side, his gaze sharpened, and he suddenly kicked out, brushing precisely at the man''s chin.


    It was a stroke of Fortune Comes to a Prepared Mind, an effortless, antelope-hanging strike, with almost perfect angle and timing.


    The force of Xue Jing''s kick, combined with the man''s forward momentum, immediately caused a concussion in the man''s head, making him feel as though the world was spinning.


    ''This is bad!''


    As he watched the ground get closer, the man sensed trouble.


    The most valuable part of his body was the [C5-grade Protective Membrane] on his skin, which provided excellent defense against the Power of martial artists.


    But even so, he couldn''t withstand a heavy blow to the chin, the most vulnerable part of the human body¡ªthe brain.


    The man collapsed to the ground and struggled to stand up, but the concussion had destroyed his sense of balance, and despite his efforts, he couldn''t get up.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes and picked up a discarded pressure cooker lid from a pile of trash in the alley, walking towards the man.


    "Bang!"


    The lid''s edge struck the man''s occiput harshly, making a loud noise.


    "Bang bang bang bang!!"


    After continuous heavy blows, the handle of the lid couldn''t bear the force and broke off, and the lid flew away.


    "You... wait for me, I will... eat you alive..."


    However, the man seemed to be fine and even gradually regained his balance, slowly standing up, and shouting threats.


    Xue Jing clicked his tongue, "What a monster."


    This was simply not a human''s anti-strike capacity.


    At that moment, a dazzling golden light bloomed on the panel.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    And beneath Twin Lifes, a new Divine Skill appeared!


    [Shadow Flame (Inactive): Divine Skill, Divinity required to activate 539/500]


    [Requirements met, activate now?]


    [Yes/No]


    Xue Jing hesitated, unsure whether to upgrade Twin Lifes and activate another active effect or to activate this new Divine Skill.


    But [Shadow Flame] sounded like an offensive skill...


    After considering, Xue Jing made his decision, clicking [Yes].


    [Activation successful]


    [Shadow Flame Lv1 (Divinity required to upgrade: 39/100)]


    [Effect: Turns shadows into tangible Shadow Flames]


    [Divine Incarnation: Locked (Unlock requirements: Divinity 39/2000, level to reach Lv10)]


    In the alley, from every shadow untouched by sunlight, countless black streams, like whirlpools, converged toward Xue Jing.


    Whoosh¡ª


    Clusters of black flames began to burn and bloom on Xue Jing''s body.


    The black flames grew fiercer and transformed into a magnificent coat of Dark Flame.


    The man, gradually recovering from his daze, witnessed this scene, and the pupil of his only flesh eye drastically contracted.


    He opened his mouth wide, his expression gradually shifting from anger to fear.


    "You...!"


    He seemed to want to say something, but he couldn''t speak any longer.


    An arm wreathed in Dark Flame grabbed the lower half of his face and lifted him high.


    The man''s pupil shrank tightly, terrified to the extreme, and didn''t dare to resist at all.


    ''Inhuman strength, the Blessed One...''


    ''He is a Blessed One!!''


    ''Am I actually contending with a Blessed One?''


    ''Ha, hahaha, haha...''


    ''I''m dead, am I going to die?''


    ''It''s over for sure...''


    "Better watch how you talk in your next life," said Xue Jing softly.


    "Boom!"


    The countless Dark Flames, under his control, converged toward his arm and poured into the man''s mouth.


    The man convulsed a few times, his skin swelled up, his eyes rolled back, and shortly after, he stopped struggling.


    Trails of Dark Flame emerged from his eyes, nose, and ears and dissipated into the air.


    "..."


    Gazing at the now still body in his hand, Xue Jing dropped it to the ground, calming the inner turmoil prompted by his first deadly encounter.


    The black flames wrapped around him, dancing quietly, as though he was clothed in the deathly attire of a god from the Netherworld. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...

 Chapter 53: Chapter 50: A Wave of Fatness, Miao Miao Transforms

    In the alley, Xue Jing sat on the ground, watching a cluster of Dark Flame burning in his palm.


    "Shadow Flame..."


    Curiously, he let the cluster of Dark Flame jump back and forth between his hands.


    It was very smooth to control, like an extension of his own limbs, without any hindrance.


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing casually picked up a piece of brick from the ground and controlled the Shadow Flame to attach it to the brick.


    "Boom!"


    The silicon-based material, which was supposed to be difficult to burn, ignited like wood.


    The brick gradually melted in the Dark Flame and turned into ashes after dozens of seconds, dissipating into the air.


    "It''s completely different from ordinary flames."


    "Or rather, its essence is not a flame, it just appears in the form of black fire."


    Xue Jing mused.


    He used the Shadow Flame to ignite another brick, this time only burning it for a while before dispersing it.


    He touched the stone, finding it pit-marked on the surface from the burn but without any signs of carbonization, and it felt ice-cold.


    "The temperature does not change, it''s not a high-temperature attack... it''s conceptual damage to the material, without any specific properties?"


    Xue Jing experimented with the Shadow Flame in the alley for a while, gaining a preliminary understanding of the Divine Skill "Shadow Flame."


    "The larger the area of surrounding shadows, the more Shadow Flame I can convert, and the smaller the consumption..."


    "The damage it causes is unrelated to physical properties... it''s only related to intensity... this person''s skin is very tough, it takes a long time to burn through."


    Watching a cluster of Shadow Flame burn for a long time before finally burning a small hole in the man''s arm, Xue Jing nodded.


    On the panel, the golden light of the words "Shadow Flame" was dim, and it could no longer be used, not knowing how the cooldown was calculated.


    Xue Jing stood up, stretching lazily.


    "Huge gain~"


    He looked at the panel and sighed.


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fighting experience points +452]


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fighting experience points +633]


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fitness experience points +422]


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fitness experience points +558]


    ...


    Among the string of prompts, his skill experience points skyrocketed.


    [Fitness increased to Lv6 (28/3000)]


    [Health Cultivation increased to Lv4 (25/1200)]


    [Aiming increased to Lv4 (102/1200)]


    [Fight increased to Lv4 (805/1200)]


    [Channeling Energy increased to Lv5 (127/2000)]


    What''s called a hefty gain.


    This is what the fuck is called a hefty gain!


    Xue Jing''s body crackled, and he clenched his fists, feeling that he was nearly twice as strong as before.


    More importantly, he had activated a purely offensive Divine Skill¡ªShadow Flame!


    This greatly enhanced his lethality.


    "It''s true that it''s good to fight more often."


    Immersed in the satisfaction of growth for a while, Xue Jing then remembered that there were a lot of things he had not dealt with.


    First, he took a photo of the man''s body and sent it to Wu Youqing, detailing what had happened.


    After all, having killed a person, Xue Jing felt somewhat out of his depth and needed to find a backer to settle things.


    Compared to the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Wu Youqing, the lady boss with a semi-official background, seemed more reliable.


    After all, it was the matter of retrieving the Divine Relic that had brought this about; Wu Youqing surely couldn''t ignore it.


    Wu Youqing didn''t leave Xue Jing waiting long, quickly making a call, and Xue Jing immediately picked up, saying:


    "Hello, BOSS, it''s exactly as I described in the WeChat message."


    From the phone, Wu Youqing''s gentle voice came through, "I understand, don''t worry, you have done nothing wrong, I will handle it."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Send me the location, don''t move the body, I will send someone to take care of it, just go home directly as if nothing happened."


    "Come find me at the library tomorrow."


    Xue Jing readily agreed.


    After hanging up the phone, he sent Wu Youqing his detailed address, thought for a moment, dragged the man''s body into a pile of trash, and slightly covered it up so as not to be noticed by passersby.


    Then he dusted himself off and left the alley.


    ...


    By the time he got home, Miao Miao had already returned.


    Opening the door to a cat greeting him was something that could generate a sense of happiness.


    Having killed someone, Xue Jing was uneasy, but his heart eased quite a bit after seeing Miao Miao.


    "Ha~~ you''re back." Miao Miao yawned, rubbed its emerald eyes with a paw, and said lazily.


    "Hm?"


    Miao Miao approached Xue Jing, its cute nose twitching slightly.


    "Blood scent... did you get into a fight again?"


    Xue Jing picked it up, rubbed his face against its face, and smiled, "Something small happened, but I''ve taken care of it."


    "Come on, Teacher Wan, it''s been a long time since you had a bath..."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Feng Wan started struggling in Xue Jing''s arms.


    "...Cats don''t need a bath every day, hey, let go, go wash yourself!"


    ...


    "Ah~"


    In the bathtub, Xue Jing, holding Miao Miao, submerged into the slightly hot water, and both of them let out a comfortable sigh.


    Miao Miao lay on Xue Jing''s chest, its tail swaying back and forth, brushing against his chin.


    It turned its head slightly and inadvertently glanced at Xue Jing''s Divine Sword, which was difficult to look away from, then quickly averted its gaze.


    In the silence, Miao Miao''s youthful feminine voice echoed in the bathroom.


    "Young man, are you feeling down?"


    Xue Jing, slightly taken aback, smiled and said,


    "I am a bit, but seeing you makes me feel a lot better."


    Ning Feng Wan proudly raised her head and snorted, "Flattery does not work on this Sect Hierarch."


    Xue Jing glanced at the panel.


    [Someone has developed favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +21]


    He chuckled, didn''t expose it, but simply pinched Miao Miao''s face.


    "Hmm? Why are you wearing glasses in the bath? They''re all fogged up."


    Miao Miao glanced at the glasses on Xue Jing''s nose, which were all fogged up, and felt a bit awkward.


    So it reached out a paw and flicked.


    The glasses dropped.


    "Hm?"


    Completely off his guard, Xue Jing hadn''t expected this, and by the time he thought to put the glasses back on, it was too late.


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +89]


    The presence he had been suppressing all day erupted suddenly with the removal of the glasses; in that moment, Xue Jing was almost the epitome of a Succubus.


    Miao Miao stared at him, completely dazed.


    Then, the unexpected happened.


    The tail ring on Miao Miao''s tail began to emit a platinum radiance, gradually brightening, then bursting into a blinding circle of light.


    Xue Jing instinctively shielded his eyes.


    Suddenly, he felt a heaviness in his chest.


    The fuzzy sensation of Miao Miao was gone, replaced by a soft, slick touch... Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not exactly... within the soft and slick, there was still a bit of fuzziness.


    He opened his eyes and looked.


    He found himself looking into a pair of narrow, seductive eyes.


    ...


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 Chapter 54: Chapter 51: Unsheathed

    Moist black hair cascaded down her back, droplets of water gliding down her strands onto her soft, jade-like skin, flowing into the bottomless ravines.


    With her willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes, her beauty was almost inconceivable, as if her radiant face, seemingly unaware of what had happened, was caught with her mouth slightly open in a bewildered state.


    Two sharp little canine teeth added a touch of dangerous cuteness to her, and the two cat ears on her head trembled slightly, causing Ning Fengwan''s face to gradually turn a shade of embarrassed red.


    She clasped her hands over her chest, and the long cat tail encased in a white gold tail ring that grew on her tailbone wrapped around Xue Jing''s head, covering his eyes.


    "Don''t look!!"


    The girlish voice was almost breaking into a cry.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He felt the silky soft touch rubbing back and forth across his chest, adding a slightly fuzzy sensation and a subtle nub... Xue Jing''s expression immediately became odd.


    He indeed stopped looking¡­ but it seemed that looking was not the issue now¡­


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing spoke up to comfort her, "Teacher Wan, calm down, I didn''t see anything."


    Seeing that Xue Jing''s eyes were covered by the cat tail, indeed showing that he could see nothing, Ning Fengwan gradually calmed down.


    "..."


    But soon, she realized an even more fatal truth.


    The touch transmitted a shudder-inducing thrill of electric current.


    "Mmm~"


    Xue Jing heard a strange sound next to his ear, and his expression instantly became even more peculiar.


    "How could it¡­ suddenly revert."


    Ning Fengwan, while suppressing the thrilling sensation, gritted her teeth and said annoyedly.


    "It might be that you accidentally triggered the transformation condition of this Divine Relic," Xue Jing tried to speak in a calm tone.


    But inevitably, his voice wavered slightly.


    His heart was beating fast.


    His body, in the throes of late adolescence and at the Great Perfection Realm, was like a piece of paper that ignites at a single touch, difficult to restrain.


    Trigger conditions?


    Ning Fengwan, suppressing her embarrassment, recalled the earlier scene.


    She had taken off Xue Jing''s glasses, and then¡­


    developed a tiny bit¡­ just a tiny bit of feeling for him.


    And then reverted to human?


    What kind of nonsensical trigger conditions are these, could she be the protagonist of some cat-girl theme narrative from another realm?


    Ning Fengwan, who had been watching animations recently and had learned many things, twitched the corner of her mouth.


    All reverted to human, yet the cat ears, the canine teeth, this tail¡­


    Damned ''Divine'', what kind of crappy legacy is this!


    "..."


    "You..."


    Ning Fengwan suddenly angrily slapped Xue Jing.


    "Don''t think anything messy, this was just an accident!"


    She saw that the holy sword¡­ was drawn.


    "There''s nothing I can do to control it," Xue Jing said calmly.


    After pausing, he continued, "But¡­ if you don''t get out soon, there might be more things I can''t control."


    Ning Fengwan: "..."


    "Hmph, then I''ll move the tail away, and you cover your eyes with your hands¡­"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Seeing this, Ning Fengwan carefully held the edge of the bathtub, ready to stand up.


    But then, another accident happened.


    Either she was too emotionally unsettled and made a mistake, or because there was still some shower gel left on the edge of the bathtub, as soon as Ning Fengwan pushed herself up to leave, her palm slipped.


    She sat back down, creating a splash of water.


    Not only that, but for some reason, Xue Jing''s body was now somewhat slippery. Ning Fengwan watched helplessly as she slid down...


    "Hmm~"


    "Hiss..."


    Xue Jing sharply inhaled a breath of cold air.


    "Teacher Wan, you..."


    Ning Fengwan was on the verge of collapse and said ashamedly, "It wasn''t on purpose..."


    Xue Jing trembled and covered his eyes with his hands.


    His voice also trembled, "I understand... Please leave now."


    "Otherwise, you might not be able to leave at all."


    Watching as Xue Jing''s veins bulged and he was about to lose control and truly reach the realm of Great Perfection of his youth, a trace of fear emerged in Ning Fengwan''s heart. She quickly got up and fled the bathroom like she was escaping.


    "..."


    As the door closed, the bathroom fell silent. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing sighed, suppressing the restless energy within him.


    But still, he could not calm down for a long time; his divine sword was more difficult to suppress than an AK.


    He gently touched his chest with his hand.


    He didn''t know if it was because of the shower gel or something else, but it felt sticky...


    Xue Jing wore a bizarre expression.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in a secret basement in the South City district,


    Jiao Hongyuan, a man of robust and upright stature with an aged face, stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards the center of the basement.


    There lay a four-meter-tall, enormous ''Nest.''


    The exterior looked like a bee''s nest, but the color was closer to sky blue. Its surface, like flesh, constantly squirmed, and from time to time, it would pulsate like a heart, emitting a dull sound.


    "Clang."


    The cover above the basement was lifted, and a figure with a bandaged head, leaning on a cane, came down the stairs.


    Jiao Hongyuan turned to glance at him, noting his appearance, and asked with puzzlement,


    "Kaiping, what happened?"


    Duan Kaiping leaned on his cane, bowing awkwardly to Jiao Hongyuan, "I''ve seen Teacher."


    "Something happened today¡­" His face showed difficulty as he explained how he had gone to trouble Lou Huiying but was unexpectedly ambushed, resulting in Lou Huiying shooting him in the head.


    Jiao Hongyuan frowned.


    "Didn''t I tell you to avoid causing any trouble lately? Are you deaf?"


    Duan Kaiping felt as if he was plunged into an icy cave under his cold gaze, and sweat flowed freely; he quickly knelt down, enduring the stabbing pain in his thigh.


    "Teacher! I was wrong!"


    He swallowed, feeling as if an extremely sharp dagger was sliding across his neck, its cold light threatening, ready to easily sever his head at any moment.


    After a long while, as the cold, knife-like gaze faded, Jiao Hongyuan said indifferently, "All right, get up."


    "Yes." Duan Kaiping breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and then noticed that his body was completely soaked in sweat, and a puddle had formed at his feet.


    "Has ''Number One'' grown any bigger?" Jiao Hongyuan suddenly asked.


    Duan Kaiping quickly nodded, "I just checked the cage, and it''s already bigger than a dog, growing at a frightening speed."


    Speaking of ''Number One,'' a trace of fear flashed in his eyes, and goosebumps covered his body.


    It wasn''t fear of its strength or anything else, but a sheer psychological repulsion to its appearance.


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded his head.


    "Number One is just a test subject; the proportions are still not perfect. The Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother can birth even better children..."


    "However, Kangde Corporation seems to want to test the effects first. After a while, once Number One has fully grown, we''ll release it."


    Duan Kaiping respectfully nodded, "Yes."


    ...


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 Chapter 55: Chapter 52: Promotion and Salary Increase

    By the time Xue Jing emerged from the bathroom, an hour had passed.


    He walked into the living room and saw Miao Miao curled up on the sofa, wallowing in self-isolation.


    "Hmm? You''ve changed back?"


    Xue Jing exclaimed in surprise.


    On the sofa was not the beautiful black-haired cat-eared girl, Ning Fengwan, but a black cat with four white-gloved paws.


    "Mm," Ning Fengwan buried her cat head in the crevice of the sofa and responded in a muffled voice, sounding very dull.


    She didn''t know how to face Xue Jing anymore.


    To have such an intimate contact with him in her human form... and to have even brushed against that unsheathed holy sword.


    For a girl who had never even held a man''s hand, it was too much stimulation.


    At the thought of it, she wanted to slam her head against the wall and die on the spot.


    Ning Fengwan stretched out two cat paws and covered her face.


    "Wan, how did you change back, and can you change again?"


    Xue Jing sat down on the sofa beside her.


    "You should call me Sect Leader..." Ning Fengwan said feebly, then sighed,


    "...I don''t know, I just calmed down and then turned back into a cat."


    "Now I can''t turn back into a human again, this is really inexplicable."


    She felt a bit disappointed, yet she was also secretly relieved.


    If she could completely return to her human form, she would have no reason to continue staying at Xue Jing''s house, and she would have to resume her role as the Sect Hierarch of Dragon Cult.


    Although she had temporarily reverted due to triggering some special conditions, the situation was still unstable, so she had to continue staying with him.


    "Hmm... I''ve recently met someone who knows quite a bit about Divine Relics. I''ll go ask her about the specifics tomorrow," Xue Jing pondered.


    Ning Fengwan nodded her head without asking Xue Jing how he came to know such a person, simply gazing at him with her emerald green, vertical pupils, her eyes full of complex emotions.


    For a moment, silence descended, and an awkward air gradually filled the space between them.


    Xue Jing had been pretending as if nothing was amiss after coming out of the bathroom, but he was beginning to feel the strain.


    He cleared his throat and said unnaturally, "I''ll go out for a walk."


    Then he got up, took his keys, and left the house.


    Upon hearing the door close, Ning Fengwan sprawled upside down on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.


    Images of what had happened in the bathroom floated through the girl''s mind, making her toss and turn restlessly on the sofa.


    ...


    The next morning, when Xue Jing woke up, he lifted the quilt and, seeing Miao Miao still asleep beside him, smiled.


    After cooling off separately the day before, the awkward atmosphere had dissipated by the time Xue Jing came home, and the way they interacted had seemingly returned to normal.


    At least on the surface, it was.


    As for how things would develop in the future, and what the incident in the bathroom the previous night would ultimately lead to ¨C only time would tell.


    After preparing breakfast as usual and a notification on his panel, Xue Jing''s [Cooking] Skills finally advanced to the level of Lv4.


    He went out for his routine jog, took a bath after returning home, and then set off for Qingcheng University.


    Without any delay, he made his way directly to the seventh floor of Qing University Library.


    In the dimly lit, old library, there was still only one girl, sitting on a wooden chair, engrossed in her book, exuding a serene atmosphere all around her.


    Today, the girl wasn''t dressed in the body-hugging white T-shirt and skinny jeans from before, but in a black blouse paired with an off-white grey checkered women''s shirt tied at the waist, accentuating her slender waist. She wore fitted black trousers that hugged her long, shapely legs and simple white canvas shoes on her feet.


    Because it was a novel experience, Xue Jing couldn''t help but take a few extra glances at her before pulling out the "Crown of the Wicked Woman" and the "Utterly Ordinary Glasses" from his backpack and placing them on the table in front of Wu Youqing.


    "BOSS, mission accomplished," Xue Jing said with a smile, sitting down in a chair.


    Wu Youqing closed the book in her hands and blinked, with her light purple eyes looking towards Xue Jing.


    "You did well this time, you worked hard,"


    she said softly.


    "I''m sorry that I didn''t anticipate someone else would come and interfere unexpectedly, putting you in danger," the young girl said, with a hint of guilt on her face.


    Xue Jing shook his head and replied, "You''re not omniscient, how could you foresee everything? Since I chose to join the company and signed the contract, I was prepared for this. This level of danger is to be expected, don''t worry about it."


    Wu Youqing nodded and said softly, "Even so¡­ due to the special circumstances of this containment mission, I will upgrade it to a C+ level evaluation, and increase your profit share as compensation."


    She took a document from the bag on the chair next to her and handed it to Xue Jing.


    "The man you killed has been taken care of yesterday, and his identity has been investigated."


    Xue Jing took the document and opened it.


    A passport photo was printed on the file folder, showing the man Xue Jing had killed yesterday.


    His name was Zhu Yingkun, hailing from one of the three major Inner Ring Cities of the Fifth Urban Circle, Yuan City.


    "This man was a C-level Custodian affiliated with Xu''s Containment Company."


    Wu Youqing leaned forward slightly, toward Xue Jing, and said. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "However, when I contacted Xu''s Shelter yesterday, they were quite certain that Zhu Yingkun was not assigned to handle this containment task, it was his own personal action."


    "It''s an unclear and confused matter now, and that''s as far as it goes¡ªbut I don''t think Xu''s Shelter is trying to pass the buck."


    "To leave his own jurisdiction and come all the way from the Inner Ring to here to contain a C-level Divine Relic, it really doesn''t seem like an assignment given by a containment company."


    The girl spoke softly in front of Xue Jing, with her hair hanging down before her eyes, giving off a faint and elusive fragrance.


    "Regardless of the reason, I will have Xu''s Shelter give you some compensation," she said.


    Xue Jing nodded, "If you''ve decided, that''s fine."


    In any case, he hadn''t been at a loss, he had pulverized the other party.


    "Speaking of which, the autopsy report of Zhu Yingkun is a bit strange," Wu Youqing said meaningfully, gazing at Xue Jing.


    "Apart from one of his eyes being destroyed, there''s hardly any wounds on his body surface, but his internal organs are as if they have been gnawed away into nothingness."


    "That kind of wound, even detection can''t figure out how it happened¡­"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Hmm¡­ can I decline to comment? Pretty please?"


    For now, he didn''t know how others would view an ability like Shadow Flame, akin to superpowers, so it was better to keep it hidden.


    Wu Youqing nodded, unconcerned, "It''s fine if you don''t want to say anything. Everyone has their secrets, and it''s enough to know that you have the necessary containment abilities."


    She took out another item from her bag.


    It was a black identification card similar to an ID card, with a material resembling obsidian, reflecting slightly under the dim light.


    The front was embellished with white brushstrokes depicting ''Death of a God'', exquisitely crafted.


    The back held several lines of text.


    [Wu''s Divine Relic Containment and Research Co., Ltd.]


    [Special Hire C-level Divine Relic Custodian¡¤Xue Jing]


    ¡­


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 Chapter 56: Chapter 53: Containment Certificate Privilege, Cat Goddess Bastet

    ```


    Is this considered a promotion with a raise?


    ```


    Xue Jing touched the [C-Class] inscription on the card.


    "You performed very well this time, even in the face of special circumstances, you managed to complete the containment task smoothly. Based on my personal judgment, you already possess the qualifications to be a C-class Custodian."


    "This is also the highest level I can appoint you to directly. Any further promotion requires official recognition, where you would undergo some special assessments and tests for advancement."


    Wu Youqing saw Xue Jing curiously playing with the card and smiled, murmuring softly:


    "This is a containment license, an official special license. With this, you will find it much more convenient when carrying out containment tasks in the future."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "Oh? So, am I an official now?"


    "You''re a semi-official," Wu Youqing emphasized.


    Xue Jing toyed with the containment license, wondering about the material it was made of¡ªit felt extremely comfortable to the touch.


    "What specific conveniences does it bring?" he asked.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment and replied, "For example, like yesterday when you killed that man in self-defense, if you were apprehended by the Public Security Bureau, as long as you present your containment license and explain the situation, you''d get released on bail and could leave immediately."


    "They will then investigate the specific circumstances. As long as it''s confirmed that you didn''t engage in any regular criminal activities, the matter would be over."


    "Of course, if you did commit a crime and tried to use the containment license to exonerate yourself, after the Public Security Bureau investigates and confirms your actions, they would arrest you again. Because you possess a containment license, you would be labeled a high-risk criminal.


    They would directly deploy highly capable experts to deal with you, and they might even adopt a shoot-to-kill policy."


    Wu Youqing crossed her arms and stated:


    "So, this card only provides you some conveniences; it doesn''t allow you to do whatever you want."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Understood."


    He stroked the containment license in his hand, unable to part with it.


    Although it wasn''t a ''do-whatever-you-want card,'' the feeling of becoming a ''privileged individual'' was indescribably strange and delightful.


    "In the future, you''ll be able to undertake C, that is, Dangerous level containment tasks. Your compensation and subsidies will also increase correspondingly. However, as I mentioned before, starting from C-class, the containment items all possess significant dangers, so you have to be even more careful."


    Xue Jing nodded in agreement.


    "By the way, BOSS, since I''ve been promoted, I should have higher access to the Divine Relic information now, right?"


    Wu Youqing hummed affirmatively, took out her phone, operated it for a while, and sent Xue Jing a website via WeChat.


    "This is a special website for Divine Relic information, set up by an official organization. Take a look."


    Xue Jing did as instructed.


    Upon clicking, he was taken to an odd website with an all-black background and a single input box in the center.


    "Take your containment license and place your right thumb on ''God''s'' face for ten seconds," instructed Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows, extended his right thumb, and touched the ''Death of God'' painting on the face of the containment license, pausing on God''s face.


    After ten seconds, the white lines on the containment license started moving chaotically, aligning and rearranging themselves, eventually forming a sequence of letters and numbers at the bottom.


    [FDS54#$dfkjs]


    "This is a special feature of the containment license¡ªthe ''Dynamic Key.''"


    "Only through this key, which changes every three minutes, can you log in to this website."


    Wu Youqing explained.


    Xue Jing nodded to indicate he understood.


    The General''s Token, right?


    Xue Jing entered the key one by one into the box and clicked login.


    The next moment, it displayed [Login successful, welcome, C-class Custodian, Mr. Xue Jing].


    The webpage, after login, was also quite simple, with a gray-white background. It began with [GOD-001] and listed countless Divine Relic serial numbers below.


    Each serial number was highlighted and clickable.


    Compared to the files Wu Youqing shared with him earlier, the website revealed more information about the Divine Relics, at the very least, the danger levels of each.


    However, the relics within the top hundred serial numbers had three question marks instead of a danger level rating. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ```


    Xue Jing scanned the area, and it might have been because his authority had increased, but for a few of the Divine Relics ranked within the top hundred, he could now see their specific names.


    [GOD-018¡¤The Unreasonable Favoritism of the Death Goddess]


    [GOD-041¡¤Emperor''s Pinnacle]


    [GOD-051¡¤Refined a Thousand Times]


    [GOD-069¡¤Cinderella Boy]


    ...


    Xue Jing was very curious, but when he clicked in, the prompt [Insufficient Authority] still appeared, preventing him from reading the detailed information.


    He scratched his head and rapidly scrolled down to find [GOD-1391¡¤Cat Tail Ring].


    To his surprise, the danger level marked for the Cat Tail Ring was B.


    Wasn''t this thing only supposed to transform people into harmless little kittens, the kind that can''t even beat an ordinary stray cat?


    And yet the danger level is B!?


    Xue Jing clicked in.


    There were detailed introductions to the Cat Tail Ring and various records of tests performed on it by the experimental staff, and so forth.


    After reading for a while, Xue Jing''s gaze became serious.


    [...Originally a ''harmless level'' Divine Relic, the wearer, after becoming a cat and going through an adaptation period of about a month, would be able to freely transform between human form and cat form]


    [In the New Calendar year 15¡ö, on ¡ö¡ö month ¡ö¡ö day, following the Bastet incident initiated by the Heretical God Cult, during the conferred ceremony ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, the danger level of GOD-1391 was adjusted to ''high danger level'']


    [When the wearer undergoes overly intense emotions, it will cause the GOD-1391 to fuse with the wearer, ultimately transforming into ''Bastet''...]


    [¡ö¡ö records, Dr. ¡ö¡ö upon seeing ¡ö¡ö¡ö, fell to the ground, shouting out in frenetic ecstasy: Oh great and wild Cat Goddess Bastet...]


    The changes in Xue Jing''s face caught Wu Youqing''s attention.


    "What''s the matter, Xue Jing?"


    She asked softly.


    Upon hearing her, Xue Jing came to his senses and pondered for a while.


    Should he ask Wu Youqing for the detailed information about the Cat Tail Ring?


    But if he were to speak up, he would inevitably reveal the fact that he had a connection with the wearer of the Cat Tail Ring.


    If he didn''t ask, then he would not know what impact becoming ''Bastet'' would have on Miao Miao...


    Should he wait until he is promoted to a higher-ranking Custodian and gains greater authority to understand more? But would there be enough time?


    What if Miao Miao becomes ''Bastet'' in the meantime?


    After weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Xue Jing finally decided to speak, "BOSS, I want to know exactly what ''Bastet'' refers to in the GOD-1391 data..."


    After hearing this, the information about GOD-1391 emerged in Wu Youqing''s mind, and then a realization dawned on her.


    ''I see.''


    She was a clever woman.


    No sooner had Xue Jing spoken than she surmised that his encounter with the Divine Relic was precisely [GOD-1391].


    It was because he had seen the data and had concerns about the current wearer of the Cat Tail Ring that he decided to reveal part of the truth.


    Recalling that Xue Jing had previously been unwilling to disclose information related to it, Wu Youqing smiled.


    ''It seems that this iteration of ''Bastet'' is someone with a sensitive identity, someone who cannot be revealed to the public...''


    The young woman considerately chose not to say much, simply answering:


    "Normally, with your current level of authority, you wouldn''t be able to access this information. However, since you''ve specifically asked, I''ll briefly explain."


    "Have you ever heard of... the Heretical God Cult?"


    ...

 Chapter 57: Chapter 54: Ah, the Gap

    "Heretical God Cult?"


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment, "After the New Calendar, major Intersecting Boundaries gradually appeared around the world, and we humans, through our exploration of these boundaries, found many things."


    "Among them were... traces of deities from other worlds."


    "We differentiated them from ''God'' and named them ¡ª¡ª Heretic Gods."


    Xue Jing asked, "So the Heretical God Cult is a religion that worships Heretic Gods?"


    Wu Youqing nodded, her light purple eyes revealing a meaning Xue Jing could not understand.


    "Some people who found traces of the Heretic Gods in the Intersecting Boundaries, through translating records about the Heretic Gods there and trying countless methods, ultimately came up with a set of unique rituals. They managed to make contact with the Heretic Gods and even... received their blessings."


    Xue Jing frowned, "So the Heretic Gods are actually living deities? Aren''t the Intersecting Boundaries formed by the collision of two worlds that have lost control of the deities?"


    Wu Youqing spoke in a deep tone, "That''s correct ¡ª¡ª but after all, is death truly the end for a god? Just as ''God'' could leave behind a bunch of Divine Relics, that ''dead Heretic Gods'' still posses the ability to connect with mortals and even grant them power is understandable, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    His worldview was slightly shaken.


    "In short, followers of these Heretic Gods can contact them through a unique set of rituals and conduct a gifting ceremony." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Those who successfully carry out the ceremony and receive the blessing of a Heretic God are referred to as ''Blessed Ones''."


    Wu Youqing got to this point, sighed, and seemed somewhat dejected.


    "Regarding the Blessed Ones, you don''t need to understand for now. What we need to discuss now is about GOD-1391."


    The girl steadied herself and brought the conversation back on track.


    "About a hundred years ago, there was a Heretical God Cult known as the ''Lion Holy Church'', worshipping a Heretic God named ''Bastet''. After they figured out the rituals, they conducted countless gifting ceremonies. Though they made contact with Bastet, no one could ever win her favor."


    "Until later... a follower took an alternate approach, considering that since Bastet is the Cat Goddess, perhaps she prefers cats over humans. So, he changed his thinking."


    "He acquired GOD-1391, transformed into a cat, and held the gifting ceremony again... He succeeded, yet he also failed."


    Wu Youqing said, "The gifting ceremony was a success... but the subject was not him, it was GOD-1391¡¤Cat Tail Ring."


    "Thereafter, GOD-1391 acquired even more mysterious powers."


    "If the wearer has a high compatibility with it, during intense emotions, they will undergo fusion with GOD-1391, causing their physical form to exhibit feline characteristics."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing couldn''t help but recall Ning Fengwan''s appearance after turning back into a human in the bathroom.


    Cat ears, a cat tail, canine teeth... and that round softness, along with the sparse furry feel...


    Xue Jing hurriedly forced himself to interrupt his own musings.


    Meditative Visualization has its drawbacks, a too vivid imagination, with every detail appearing all too realistically in one''s mind.


    "¡ª¡ª As the fusion process deepens, the wearer begins to possess Bastet''s powers, until ultimately, they become the Incarnation of Bastet."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed as he said, "Does this mean... possession will take place?"


    Wu Youqing shook her head and smiled, "That won''t happen. Don''t forget, the Intersecting Boundaries are formed by the collision of worlds that lost their gods ¡ª¡ª Bastet has long been dead."


    "The Incarnation of Bastet is how the Lion Holy Church describes it. They see a person who fully inherits GOD-1391''s power as the earthly incarnation of Bastet, with a status equivalent to Jesus in Christianity."


    "Moreover, fusion is not that easy. Depending on the emotion that first triggers the fusion, thereafter the wearer must continue to evoke the same kind of emotion to deepen the fusion process."


    The emotion that first triggered fusion... Xue Jing wore a strange expression.


    Does that mean that in the future, when Ning Fengwan becomes emotional towards him, only then will the fusion process deepen?


    After pondering for a while, Xue Jing asked, "So, you''re saying that GOD-1391 only brings power to the wearer, and there is only benefit and no harm?"


    "In theory, that''s how it is... At least, over the past hundred years, everyone who has become the ''Incarnation of Bastet'' has not exhibited anything amiss," Wu Youqing said softly.


    "The only problem is that this thing is a sacred object of the Lion Holy Church."


    "Even if a transfer occurs, the Lion Holy Church will stop at nothing to retrieve it, and it''s rare for it to be lost to the outside."


    Wu Youqing hinted subtly.


    Xue Jing nodded thoughtfully, indicating he understood.


    ...


    After chatting a bit more with Wu Youqing, Xue Jing left the library.


    He got on the bus, ready to head to the Hidden Dragon Dojo for his martial arts practice, which required persistent effort.


    Sitting in his seat, Xue Jing was scrolling through his phone when a message suddenly popped up on the screen.


    [...Account ending in 3166 received a deposit of 231,511.31 Zhuxia yuan, current balance: 235,212.25 yuan...]


    Xue Jing''s spirit lifted.


    Payday had arrived!


    No, this must be the financial reward for this recent containment mission.


    He had read the employment contract carefully when signing it; the reward for a C-level containment mission varied from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan, depending on the difficulty.


    The containment of the "Crown of the Wicked Woman" was supposed to be on the easier end for a C-level task, so the substantial reward this time was mainly due to the compensation for the unexpected incident.


    Xue Jing was delighted as he stared at the balance displayed in the message.


    The fingers scrolling through his phone couldn''t help but speed up a bit.


    He found himself frequently returning to the home screen to open the message and check it again.


    This was the first time in his life that he had seen so much money, and he didn''t even know how to spend it.


    Maybe tonight he would buy some expensive ingredients and make a nice meal for Miao Miao.


    ...


    In the Hidden Dragon Dojo, within the training room.


    "Bang bang whack whack bang..."


    Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were fiercely sparring in the center of the room, exchanging punches and kicks that tore through the air with their sharp whistles, each move packed with strength.


    Li Qi and Chen Fuguang were watching intently from the sidelines, their eyes glazed over in amazement.


    Li Qi was a bit better off, somewhat used to Xue Jing''s rapid pace of improvement, although it still surprised him today.


    Chen Fuguang was utterly dumbfounded.


    How many days had this little junior brother been training?


    And he could already spar like this with Sister Meng?


    Ten minutes later, Xue Jing carelessly left an opening and was hit by Meng Qingjiao''s soft power, sending him flying backward.


    He slowly got up from the ground and exclaimed with admiration,


    "Sister Meng, you''re so strong."


    Meng Qingjiao shook her head and walked over to him, patting his head as if in praise.


    Xue Jing had grown accustomed to her way of communicating and smiled.


    He actually quite enjoyed this feeling of being pampered by an older sister.


    Li Qi scratched his receding hairline and glanced over at Chen Fuguang:


    "Guangfu, how long did it take you from starting training to being qualified to learn the Armor Shaking Skill?"


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Chen Fuguang''s mouth.


    "... Master, it was about eight months, I believe."


    Li Qi scoffed, "Eight months my foot, it was nine months and seventeen days."


    Chen Fuguang: "..."


    Why ask me if you remember it so clearly?


    Li Qi gave him a look, then glanced at Xue Jing, "Heh, what a gap."


    Chen Fuguang: "..."


    ...

 Chapter 58: Chapter 55: Armor Shaking Skill, Skill Sublimation!?

    In the training room, Meng Qingjiao and Chen Fuguang had already left, leaving only Xue Jing and Li Qi.


    Li Qi wheeled around the training room twice and said pensively, "I originally thought that even with your exceptional talent, it would still take at least another month before your body was ready to start training in the Armor Shaking Skill."


    "But now it seems that your growth rate has once again exceeded my expectations."


    "It''s time to teach you the Armor Shaking Skill."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s spirits lifted.


    "Please teach me, Master!"


    Li Qi chuckled, "What''s the rush? The Armor Shaking Skill is not like the Coiling Dragon Art; it can''t be learned overnight. It requires a lot of supplementary materials¡ªit''s not about simply practicing a few movements."


    "Wait here for a while. I''ll make the arrangements."


    Xue Jing nodded his head.


    After Li Qi left, Xue Jing took out his phone and glanced at it, discovering a message from his older sister Xue Wan.


    [Xue Wan: [Image]]


    Xue Jing looked at it. It was a photo, presumably taken by Xue Wan herself, seemingly shot inside a large sports venue. The main perspective was from the spectator seats, filled with a sea of people who were all watching the center of the venue¡ªthe large fighting stage.


    Due to the distance of the shooting angle, only two people could be clearly seen on the stage, but there were four big screens set up above the venue showing a close-up view of the stage.


    Two incredibly young men on the stage were entwined in combat, with the ground around them cracking and becoming pitted in various places. It was hard to believe that the scene of devastation was the result of a fight between two humans.


    [Xue Wan: Live from the U19 fighting competition~ The two on the stage are your age. How do these Martial Arts Practitioners even train to be like this? It''s simply inhuman.]


    Xue Jing smiled and typed a reply.


    [Xue Jing: Just like that, I suppose. I think it''s mediocre. Let them throw a punch at me, and I definitely won''t utter a sound.]


    [Xue Wan: Heh, if you''re trying to amuse me with that old joke, I must say, you''ve failed miserably.]


    [Xue Jing: Heh, so not funny, huh?]


    After chatting for a bit, Xue Wan sent him another picture.


    The photo featured an odd middle-aged woman who seemed to be sitting in the seat next to Xue Wan. She watched the match on the stage with a calm demeanor, seemingly indifferent to the intense battle ensuing, a stark contrast to the excited audience around her.


    The middle-aged woman looked quite ordinary. What was strange was her hair¡ªinky green, seemingly styled into dreadlocks that fell like vines from her head, adorned with flowers of different colors.


    [Xue Wan: This is my university''s horticulture professor, quite fashionable, right?]


    Xue Jing''s fingers paused; he looked carefully at the photo.


    For some reason, he felt there was something odd about the middle-aged woman in the picture.


    As he was about to reply, Xue Wan sent another message.


    [Xue Wan: Got caught taking a sneak pic... Let''s end the chat here, the professor is going to scold me.]


    Xue Jing sent back an emoticon of a nodding head and put away his phone.


    After a while, at the entrance of the training room, Li Qi wheeled back in.


    In his hand, he held a peculiar item that looked like a white thermos connected to a... oxygen mask?


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Master, what is this?"


    Li Qi held up the object and explained, "This is a Nebulizer Inhaler."


    "It turns the medicinal liquid into particles smaller than 1 micron... Just put it on, and you''ll see."


    He handed the nebulizer inhaler to Xue Jing.


    After receiving it, the latter examined it for a moment, placed the oxygen mask over his face, secured it with the elastic band behind his head, and fixed the entire nebulizer inhaler onto his head.


    It looked quite strange.


    "We martial artists, each school has its own ''Blood Cleansing Secret Method,''" Li Qi said leisurely.


    "With the advancement of technology, practicing martial arts has become more convenient. The Blood Cleansing Secret Method of the Old Era has also evolved, much like this nebulizer inhaler..."


    "I''ve adjusted our Hidden Dragon School''s secret medicine into a liquid and loaded it into the device. This converts the liquid medicine into tiny particles that can pass through the alveoli.


    Then, using the corresponding breathing skills, the medicinal power enters the bloodstream through the alveoli, gradually soaking and cleansing the fresh blood, and even permeating the brain, internal organs, and marrow, throughout the body."


    "This method of drug absorption is far more efficient than ''eating,'' without wasting any medicinal power," Li Qi exclaimed with admiration.


    "This is one of the scientific martial arts training methods developed by the big companies over in Inner Ring City, smashing all the old methods of the Old Era to pieces. Even the most stubborn Martial Artist can''t help but hold his nose and use these ''exotic tricks and ingenuities.''


    Xue Jing, upon hearing this, curiously eyed the nebulizer inhaler in front of him, and gave it a shake, hearing the sound of the liquid inside moving.


    "Armor Shaking Skill is a form of Dynamic Posture, consisting of five sets of movements, each corresponding to skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood, and also to the five major ''killing moves'' of our Hidden Dragon School."


    "Today, I will teach you the first set of movements, which is for ''Skin Training''!"


    After saying that, Li Qi reached out and grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, giving it a sudden jerk like swinging dough!


    Strong and exquisite Power surged through the palm of his hand into Xue Jing''s body, causing him to involuntarily start performing various movements.


    Midway through the first movement, Xue Jing began to feel his entire skin tingle, as if he had been electrocuted, with hair standing on end, mingled with some prickling pain that was hard to bear.


    At the end of the movement, his whole body trembled violently, much like a True Dragon Shaking Armor, stretching out its dragon body with scales shivering, and despite the intense pain and numbness of the skin, there was a sense of exhilaration as if he wanted to scream out loud.


    Immediately following was the second movement, where the tingling and intense pain became even more unbearable, culminating in another round of trembling at the end of the movement.


    Then came the third, the fourth...


    Each movement was far more difficult than the previous one. When he had completed all twenty-seven movements, Xue Jing involuntarily collapsed to the ground, convulsing all over, almost bursting into tears from the pain.


    This was... Armor Shaking Skill!


    Far more difficult than Coiling Dragon Art, even with Xue Jing''s current physical condition, just practicing the first set of movements once was nearly unbearable.


    His entire skin felt numb and hot, as if being electrocuted while numerous needles were simultaneously pricking all over his pores, the pain was so intense it felt like he could fly.


    But at the same time, there was also a subtle feeling of comfort welling up from his skin, as if the bark of a tree, dry for many years, suddenly burst with vitality, quite exhilarating.


    Xue Jing opened his panel, intending to see the practice results of Armor Shaking Skill but saw a prompt pop up on the panel.


    [Detected "Fitness" Sublimation condition...]


    [Conditions not met, Sublimation failed]


    [Fitness Lv6]


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    First, ?????


    Second, Level reaching Lv10 S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Third, Required Divinity: 1000]


    Xue Jing was startled and sat up quickly, disregarding the intense pain throughout his body.


    Skill Sublimation!?


    ...

 Chapter 59: Chapter 56: The True Legacy, Soft Power

    The skills on this panel can actually be sublimated!?


    Xue Jing was shocked.


    But when he looked at the requirements, his brows furrowed.


    The skill level needs to be Lv10, which is relatively simple for him. Fitness was one of the easiest skills for him to grind, as long as he kept up with martial arts practice, it would eventually reach Lv10.


    But needing 1000 Divinity gave him a headache.


    Why the hell is it double the amount required to activate a Divine Skill?


    However, by changing his perspective, the more Divinity needed for sublimation, doesn''t that mean the sublimated skill will be more powerful?


    With this thought, Xue Jing felt much better.


    Alas, there really was no surplus at home, and there were two children to feed. Now he had another use for Divinity, besides Divine Relics. Couldn''t there be some other channels¡­


    And the remaining condition full of question marks¡­


    Xue Jing guessed it probably had something to do with the Armor Shaking Skill.


    It might be related to the Armor Shaking Skill itself, or something that triggers a bodily reaction during the practice of the Armor Shaking Skill.


    In any case, he would find out if he continued to practice it.


    He couldn''t help but have strong expectations for the effects of Fitness after sublimation.


    [You have practiced the Armor Shaking Skill, earning +209 Fitness Experience Points]


    [You have practiced the Armor Shaking Skill, earning +208 Channeling Energy Experience Points]


    Looking at the skill experience gained, there was no surprise this time. It was normal for the Armor Shaking Skill to yield so much experience because it was so difficult to practice.


    And also... Xue Jing pinched the skin on his arm.


    He felt as if his skin had been awakened to some strange vitality. He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but it seemed more resilient when pinched.


    This must be a benefit that was not reflected in the [Fitness] skill, but had a direct effect on him.


    He had felt this when practicing the Coiling Dragon Art too, but it wasn''t as noticeable as with the Armor Shaking Skill.


    "Turn on the nebulizer inhaler," Li Qi said next to him.


    Xue Jing did as told and pressed the button on the nebulizer inhaler.


    The next moment, the nebulizer began to hiss, and light-red mist started to billow out in the oxygen mask.


    "Use the breathing skills that accompany the Armor Shaking Skill I just taught you," Li Qi reminded him.


    Xue Jing recalled the sensation he had felt when Li Qi had controlled his body and started the breathing skills to absorb the medicinal mist.


    The light-red mist had a strong traditional medicine scent, and it felt very thick and difficult to inhale, but Xue Jing endured the discomfort, continued the breathing skills, and drew it into his lungs. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could feel the medicinal mist flowing down the trachea, into the lungs, into the alveoli, into the bloodstream, and, under the control of the breathing skills, permeating the blood while constantly delivering medicinal strength to specific locations.


    Before long, he began to feel his skin become as hot as if ignited, scarily hot, and it started to turn red.


    All the pores throughout his body began to open and contract rhythmically... open, contract, open, contract...


    Half an hour later, the nebulizer inhaler stopped, and no more light-red mist came out. Xue Jing slowly ceased the breathing skills.


    "How do you feel?" Li Qi asked with a smile.


    Xue Jing got up, stretched out both hands, feeling as if he had been drenched in sweat on a hot summer day and then suddenly cooled by air conditioning¡ªa refreshing sensation all over his skin.


    "My skin... is breathing," Xue Jing murmured with half-closed eyes.


    "Very good, to catch the feeling on your first practice. If you follow this feeling, you will eventually learn one of the five lethal moves of the Hidden Dragon School," Li Qi said contentedly.


    "Its name is¡ªGolden Scales Transformation."


    "Golden Scales Transformation?" Xue Jing repeated, brown-nosing, "Did Master come up with that? A great name."


    Li Qi sighed, humble, "I''ve told you, we in martial arts mustn''t always speak blunt truths, we need to get used to tricking..."


    "Alright, I have prepared a medicinal bath for you, it should be ready now. Go and soak in it, and remember to keep using the breathing skills while soaking, to find that ''skin breathing'' sensation. This way you can absorb the power of the medicinal bath¡­"


    "The Armor Shaking Skill is extremely harsh on the body, and every practice requires a full set of Secret Medicine nourishment, otherwise, mere days of practice could kill a person¡­"


    ¡­


    In the following days, Li Qi taught Xue Jing the remaining four sets of Armor Shaking Skill movements, corresponding to the muscle, sinew, bone, and blood.


    Each set was harder than the last, and each one required different Secret Medicines, different medicinal baths, and sometimes Li Qi would even perform acupuncture personally, leaving him looking like a hedgehog.


    Xue Jing couldn''t help feeling that this was the true nature of martial arts practice... The idea of just getting a manual and practicing at will described in novels was unrealistic.


    The cultivation technique was only one aspect, even an insignificant aspect. These Secret Medicines and their corresponding methods that accompanied the technique were the real crux, the core heritage of the major Martial Arts Sects.


    Time flies, and before long, seven or eight days have passed.


    In the Hidden Dragon Dojo, inside the training hall.


    "Ha!!" "Bang!"


    In front of the strength-testing machine in the training hall, ordinary disciples, dressed in training garments, are lining up. One by one, they take their turns to accumulate power and punch at the machine, generating a stream of numbers on the display screen.


    "Wen Zhaorong, punch force 201.3 kg..."


    Xue Jing, dressed in a black training garment, stands upright next to the punch testing machine, his sturdy figure resembling a tough pine tree firmly rooted to the ground, conveying an unshakable sense of stability.


    In his hand, he holds a stack of notebooks, and with a pen in the other hand, he writes in them, recording the results of the disciples'' punch force tests.


    Today is the monthly minor test day at the Hidden Dragon Dojo, used to check the progress of the disciples'' martial arts practice.


    Among the other direct disciples who were extremely idle, Xue Jing was pulled in by Li Qi to help, responsible for recording the results of the minors'' tests.


    On the soft chairs in the nearby resting area, several female disciples who had already completed their tests sat watching Xue Jing while they giggled and whispered to each other.


    "Junior brother!" Another young disciple approached the strength-testing machine, greeted Xue Jing with a bow, and upon receiving a nod from him, began to position himself in a fighting stance and threw a punch with all his might at the machine.


    "Bang!"


    Xue Jing glanced at the screen and wrote in the notebook, "Yi Yingyu, 212.2 kg..."


    Yi Yingyu seemed a bit surprised by his score, his face showing delight as he bowed to Xue Jing again before happily moving on to the next test.


    "Junior brother, why don''t you test too? Let everyone witness the prowess of a direct disciple!"


    A pretty female disciple teased from the side.


    No sooner had she spoken than many voices echoed in agreement.


    "Yeah, yeah, junior brother, give it a try, we''re all very curious."


    "I wasn''t present the two times junior brother made a move, it''s such a loss. Show us a little of what you can do today~"


    "Junior brother has only been practicing for a short time after all. Even if he''s a genius, his punching power might not be very strong, let''s not pressure him."


    And there were those who tried to provoke him.


    Xue Jing simply smiled and said softly, "No need, there''s nothing much to test, and I doubt it would show anything special."


    Once he said this, the disciples immediately became more insistent.


    "Hey~ why be like that? Showing us a little won''t cost you a limb."


    "Junior brother, are you really afraid of showing weakness? Don''t worry, you''ve only started not long ago; nobody will laugh at you."


    "If anyone dares to laugh at junior brother, I''ll be the first to not let them off. Just give it a try..."


    The disciples were always curious about this very young direct disciple and rarely had the chance to get close to him, so they couldn''t help but want to tease him.


    At that moment, a figure walked through the entrance of the training hall¡ªit was Chen Fuguang.


    He waved towards this side without saying anything, and only Xue Jing noticed him.


    Xue Jing looked at the insistent disciples in front of him, considered for a moment, and then smiled, "Alright, I''ll just give it a quick try."


    The crowd immediately started clapping.


    "Great! Let''s witness junior brother''s elegance!"


    "That''s more like a direct disciple. It''s fine to not be strong for the time being, the most important thing is to not shy away from the spotlight."


    "Everybody make way, let''s watch junior brother perform!"


    The disciples all laughed and made noise.


    They didn''t mean any harm; they just wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Xue Jing and join the fun.


    The disciples cleared out, making space for Xue Jing.


    He stepped in front of the strength-testing machine, not bothering to assume any particular stance, and with his body sideways, he casually swung a backhand punch at the machine''s padded surface, like tossing a bottle into the trash.


    "Puff!"


    A muffled sound emerged, but the screen showed no response.


    "Huh?" The disciples looked perplexed.


    But after Xue Jing threw his punch, he had already turned to walk towards the entrance of the training hall.


    While everyone was still perplexed, the padded surface on the strength-testing machine suddenly ripped apart with a tearing sound.


    Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, the padding continued to split at various points, and the foam within, like withered leaves, crumbled one after another, falling to the ground. All that remained in the place of the original padding was a bare metal pipe.


    Seeing this scene, everyone looked as if they had seen a ghost, their expressions filled with disbelief.


    "Is this... Soft Power!?"


    ...

 Chapter 60: Chapter 57: Poor Literati and Rich Warriors, A Banquet for the Second Generation

    Soft Power, also known as Hidden Power.


    It represents an advanced technique for manipulating Power.


    By minutely controlling the Power and concentrating it at one point, then channeling it into the target and unleashing it there, one can achieve this effect.


    Xue Jing threw a punch using Soft Power, directing all the Power into the punch pad of the Strength-Testing Machine without touching the machine itself, leaving the machine unaffected while the punch pad was torn into pieces by the Soft Power.


    Those skilled in using Soft Power, such as Meng Qingjiao, could even manage it with ease, striking silently and effortlessly, a mere touch of their palm capable of sending Xue Jing flying dozens of meters without hurting him, focusing all their Power on "Thrust."


    Since the day before yesterday when Xue Jing''s Channeling Energy reached Lv6, he had quickly learned how to use Soft Power.


    However, he was not yet proficient, as his punches still made a dull sound, failing to achieve the state of silent and effortless lifting.


    "Junior Brother, please go get a punch pad from the warehouse and fit it onto the Strength-Testing Machine,"


    Xue Jing said with a smile, as he patted the shoulder of a junior disciple.


    He suddenly felt slightly strange, as if he were a leader who caused trouble for others and needed their help to clean up his mess...


    However, he had not actually planned to strike, it was only because the disciples enthusiastically invited him that he couldn''t restrain himself from showing off a little. Even without dismissing the fact, it was definitely the cheering disciples'' fault that the punch pad was destroyed.


    The disciple, unaware of the thoughts going through this Senior Brother''s mind, hurriedly nodded and respectfully said, "Yes, Junior Brother!"


    He inadvertently established a bit of authority in the process...


    Xue Jing chuckled, said no more, and left the training hall at a leisurely pace.


    Just as he was leaving, he saw Chen Fuguang standing there, and Xue Jing immediately asked,


    "Senior Brother Chen, do you need something from me?"


    Chen Fuguang put an arm around his shoulder and smiled, "The dojo just received a mission that''s very suitable for you. Would you like to try it?"


    At these words, Xue Jing''s face showed a trace of interest.


    "Please tell me about it," he said.


    Since he had started practicing Armor Shaking Skill, he deeply realized the meaning of the phrase "the poor excel in literature, the wealthy excel in martial arts."


    The various secret medicines he needed daily for his training cost, on average, over ten thousand Zhuxia currency each day.


    That was just the cost price! It only included raw material costs and processing fees, essentially meaning Hidden Dragon Dojo was losing money by supporting him.


    Many of the raw ingredients for these secret medicines needed to be sourced from Intersecting Boundaries, purchased from those gluttonous Intersecting Boundaries companies, especially materials related to "Dragon Breed," which were outrageously expensive.


    As the training deepened, the required medicine would only increase in quantity and price...


    This was why Direct Disciples were always so busy and often elusive--because they needed to earn money.


    Currently, Xue Jing''s regular income included only a monthly salary of two hundred thousand from the containment company and bonuses from completing containment missions--an unstable income.


    This was insufficient to support his Martial Arts Practice needs.


    Therefore, he also had to start, like other Direct Disciples, taking on some "assignments."


    Hidden Dragon Dojo was renowned, and many affairs requiring Martial Artists were entrusted to it from various sectors of society. These assignments were a significant source of income for Hidden Dragon Dojo, even exceeding the tuition fees paid by ordinary disciples by a large margin.


    As long as he completed the assignments, Xue Jing could earn a considerable commission, which was why he had asked Chen Fuguang a few days earlier to give him any suitable assignments.


    There was finally some news.


    Chen Fuguang took out his cellphone, operated it for a moment, and then handed it to Xue Jing.


    On the screen was an address.


    [East City District, Jinhai Street No. 617, Rui Zhu Hotel, Telephone: XXXXXXX]


    After memorizing it, Xue Jing handed the cellphone back to Chen Fuguang, who, taking it back, said, "The client is Rui Zhu Hotel. According to them, last night one of their guests was attacked mysteriously."


    "Mysterious attack?" Xue Jing showed a puzzled face.


    Chen Fuguang nodded and mumbled, "It was a young woman in her twenties, on a business trip from out of town to Qingcheng. She was in her room at midnight, and suddenly she was murdered. Her body was mauled terribly--it''s unknown whether it was the work of a psychopathic killer or something else."


    "The surveillance didn''t capture any clues?" Xue Jing asked.


    "No, the hotel corridor''s surveillance didn''t capture anyone coming to that floor several hours before and after her death."


    "Therefore, the murderer likely entered the room from somewhere else, such as a window or balcony."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "So they suspect the killer might be a martial artist who used light-body skills to enter the room and commit the murder?"


    Chen Fuguang grunted affirmatively and said, "Exactly. Actually, murders in hotels are not uncommon. Generally, you just report to the police, and let the Public Security Bureau handle it."


    "However, unfortunately, Rui Zhu Hotel has a banquet tomorrow... it''s organized by a group of influential second-generation kids from North City District. Their parents are either Governing Councilors or company heads, and none of them can afford an incident, so Rui Zhu Hotel had no choice but to enlist several dojos to enhance security at the event."


    Xue Jing complained, "Someone died, and these people don''t find it unlucky. Don''t they think of changing the venue?"


    Chen Fuguang smiled helplessly and said, "Originally, Rui Zhu Hotel did suggest changing the venue or date, but these second-gens, hearing about the death, were even more thrilled by it, saying it adds an exciting and thrilling element, and insisted on having the banquet tomorrow."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow. "Talk about taste."


    Once people have both money and power, they naturally lose a lot of things, such as worries...


    The saying goes that you seek what you lack, so it wasn''t surprising to see these influential youths creating their own troubles; it was quite normal.


    "This time your assignment is to protect these influential youths at the banquet. Besides our Hidden Dragon Dojo, there will be disciples from a few other dojos present."


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder.


    "I don''t think the killer will come looking for trouble. Most likely, it''ll just be a formality to complete the assignment. But you also need to be careful. If you encounter any danger you can''t handle, don''t hesitate to run immediately; safety is most important--it doesn''t matter what happens to those rich kids."


    Xue Jing nodded with a smile.


    "Tomorrow night, someone from Rui Zhu Hotel will come by car to pick you up. Little brother, you just need to follow them."


    "Well then, brother, I also have an assignment to tend to, so I''ll be leaving now. Call me anytime if you need anything."


    Having said his piece and given a few more instructions, Chen Fuguang then left Hidden Dragon Dojo. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing saw him off at the door before returning to the training hall to continue recording the students'' test results.


    Unlike before, this time all disciples were seriously and silently going through the tests, none dared to tease him again.


    The sponge fragments on the floor had already been cleaned up, and the punching pads that had been replaced emitted a distinctive smell of new leather.


    ...


    Seeking monthly votes...

 Chapter 61: Chapter 58: There wont be any accidents!

    By the time the monthly minor test had ended, it was already noon.


    Xue Jing loosened his wrists, placed the notebook with the recorded scores in the office, had a meal of medicated cuisine in the cafeteria, and after leaving the cafeteria, he made his way through several turns to arrive in front of a room.


    He pushed the door open and entered, immediately greeted by an extremely strong scent of medicinal herbs.


    The room was like that of a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, with densely packed, numbered medicine cabinets filling the four walls. A rough count showed there were several hundred compartments, each crafted from wine-red solid wood, with characters carved on the outside, indicating the type of medicine contained within.


    This was the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s Medicine Storage, with the four walls filled with medicine besides the large Medicine Preparation Table in the center of the room, covered with various instruments for preparing medicines.


    Xue Jing expertly picked up a scale pan from the table and began selecting the medicines he needed for the day from the various cabinets.


    After he had finished picking, the scale pan was filled to the brim, and he carried it over to the Medicine Preparation Table to start preparing the Body Refining Elixir of the Hidden Dragon School, according to the steps taught by Li Qi.


    Once the preparations were complete, Xue Jing placed all the medicines into a container resembling an electric kettle, poured in water at the appropriate ratio, turned on the switch, and let it simmer automatically.


    Having done all this, Xue Jing took the notebook and pen from the Medicine Preparation Table, opened it and started writing down the specific quantities of the medicine he had used.


    After writing it down, he referred to the price list beside him and did some calculations, totaling about twelve thousand Zhuxia currency.


    "Who can afford to practice martial arts...," Xue Jing sighed.


    Half an hour later, with a ding, the Secret Medicine was ready.


    Xue Jing picked up the Nebulizer Inhaler beside him, resembling a thermos, opened the lid, and poured all the prepared medicinal liquid into it.


    The black medicinal liquid emitted a strong, pungent odor, which Xue Jing faced with an unchanged expression, already accustomed to it.


    After pouring, Xue Jing walked out of the Medicine Storage, closed the door behind him, and returned to his own cultivation room.


    He placed the Nebulizer Inhaler aside, took a deep breath, assumed the proper stance, and began practicing the Armor Shaking Skill of the day.


    This technique comprised five sets of movements, one for each day, completing a cycle in five days. Today, Xue Jing was practicing movements related to ''Bone Training.''


    As he operated his breathing skills, Xue Jing started to pose in a series of strikingly difficult positions.


    At the end of each movement, his body would tremble like a True Dragon Shaking Armor, followed by the sound of numerous bones grinding against each other from within his body, resonating like thunder rolling across a cloud-packed sky.


    Intense stabbing pain and scorching heat emerged from the depths of his bones, but Xue Jing remained unaffected, his expression unchanged, as he practiced the Armor Shaking Skill step by step, slow but resolute.


    An indeterminate amount of time passed.


    Following the final tremble and the cacophony of bone-cracking sounds, Xue Jing''s breathing gradually returned to normal, and he stood in place.


    As if having an epiphany, he gleaned something from the full set of Armor Shaking Skill movements, a sense that was fleeting and vague, impossible to grasp firmly.


    "Master said that this set of Bone Training movements corresponds with one of the five main offensive techniques of the Hidden Dragon School, the ''Seal Cloud Tail,'' which relies on one''s own formidable Root Bone to guide, bear, and channel the enemy''s Power, enhancing one''s own body before launching a Counterattack Skill," he thought.


    "If I could have an intense enough battle, maybe I could capture that inspiration...," Xue Jing considered.


    Shaking his head, he picked up the Nebulizer Inhaler beside him, turned it on, and inhaled the pale black medicinal fog into his lungs, using the corresponding breathing skills.


    As he circulated his breathing skills, he glanced at the panel.


    [Fitness Lv6 (2108/3000)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv4 (669/1200)]


    [Cooking Lv4 (681/1200)]


    [Running Lv5 (1821/2000)]


    [Charm Art Lv5 (335/2000)]


    [Aiming Lv5 (227/2000)]


    [Fighting Lv5 (785/2000)]


    [Channeling Energy Lv6 (733/3000)]


    [Meditative Visualization Lv3 (337/800)]


    In these seven or eight days, he had spent all his time diligently practicing martial arts and ''grinding'' other skills, accruing substantial gains.


    Aiming had leveled up again, reaching Lv5, enhancing his accuracy, vision, Reaction Speed, and other areas.


    Plus, with the daily practical training with Meng, his Fighting skill had also leveled up again.


    Meditative visualization within the practice of Coiling Dragon Art had also advanced a level, enhancing his consciousness and spirit-related abilities, and his body''s ''Dragon Qi'' grew increasingly intense.


    Of course, there were also gains that were not directly visible on the panel.


    The practice of the five Armor Shaking Skill movements brought about a strengthening of skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood. Although it wasn''t reflected on the panel, Xue Jing could clearly feel the benefits himself.


    For instance, he could now utilize Soft Power, which, aside from the growth of his Channeling Energy skills, also had a lot to do with the ''Blood Training'' aspect of the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Blood is the source of human kinetic power; the cleaner and more exceptional the blood, the more smoothly energy flows through it, like adding lubricant to gears, making it exceptionally smooth.


    Staring at the conditions for the ascension of the [Fitness] skill for a while, Xue Jing closed his eyes and began to circulate his breathing skills seriously, silently absorbing the medicinal mist.


    ...


    Elsewhere, in North City District, a certain villa.


    In the spacious and luxurious living room, Pei Youguang sat in a corner on the couch feeling like he was on pins and needles and very uncomfortable.


    He couldn''t help but glance toward the group of people seated in a circle, chatting and laughing with ease, showing a complex expression.


    He felt his presence there was superfluous and out of place.


    Pei Youguang looked toward the young and handsome man at the center of the crowd.


    Dressed in a very simple leisure outfit, the saying "clothes make the man" seemed inapplicable to him and instead became "the person beautifies the clothes."


    His clean, handsome face bore a warm smile like the sun, and he mingled effortlessly with the sons and daughters of wealth and status, not showing any timidity and even vaguely regarded as the center of the crowd.


    The simple clothes he wore seemed as if they had become the elaborate attire of a banquet.


    "Only someone like big brother deserves to be here," Pei Youguang sighed, gazing at his own brother, Pei Tiancheng, somewhat spellbound.


    For some reason, he suddenly thought of another figure.


    ''Hmm... If Jing were here, maybe he could compare with big brother,'' he thought.


    It had been a long time since he last saw Jing, who had been taking leaves of absence lately and hadn''t been to school for many days.


    They had only met once at school previously, and Jing mentioned that he had joined a dojo and became a Direct Disciple... How enviable.


    "Youguang, why are you sitting so far away? Come over here, I have something to tell you."


    At that moment, Pei Tiancheng''s gentle voice came from the center of the group.


    Pei Youguang jerked to attention, quickly stood up and found a place to sit next to his brother. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Being too hasty, he even bumped into a pretty girl with exquisite makeup; she rolled her eyes and disdainfully twitched her mouth, tutting, as if she wanted to say something, but after glancing at Pei Tiancheng, she held her tongue.


    "Tomorrow is Ye''s banquet, remember to dress up nicely and don''t disgrace our Pei family," Pei Tiancheng said.


    His voice was consistent in its gentleness, quite pleasant, making the girls from wealthy families nearby reveal smiles.


    "Ah? I have to go too?"


    A look of difficulty appeared on Pei Youguang''s plump face.


    What was he going for? To make up the numbers?


    A well-dressed man sitting on the couch said with a smile, "The younger brother of Pei is also an attractive talent; how could he disgrace us?"


    "However, the hotel hosting the banquet is rumored to have a murderous demon on the loose. Should there be any danger, Pei shouldn''t just focus on protecting his own brother and neglect us, your sworn brothers and sisters."


    As soon as these words were spoken, laughter erupted in the living room; upon hearing of the murderous demon, all eyes gleamed with excitement and interest.


    Having a banquet in a hotel where a murderous demon might appear was thrilling - it felt like a scenario straight out of a detective novel!


    Pei Tiancheng chuckled and shook his head.


    "Rest assured, everyone, although my martial arts are not perfect, I do have some skills, and these cowards who attack only defenseless women are far from being a concern in my eyes."


    His tone was as gentle as ever, but a strong confidence was unmistakable.


    "I assure you all, tomorrow night will be a wonderful banquet with no accidents."


    ...

 Chapter 62: Chapter 59 The Banquet with Hidden Dangers

    East City District, Rui Zhu Hotel, seventh floor, inside a certain suite.


    In the pitch-dark room, a figure with his upper body bare and both his head and legs wrapped in bandages, sat in a chair, continuously flicking ashes from his cigarette.


    Amidst the swirling smoke, the faint light filtering through the gaps in the curtains revealed a gloomy male face.


    It was indeed a member of the Razor Gang, a disciple from the Golden Wind Dojo, Duan Kaiping.


    His gaze shifted toward a corner of the room, his expression fluctuating uncertainly.


    There stood a rectangular object about two meters long and one meter wide, upright in the corner of the room, completely wrapped in circles of black tape, obscuring whatever was inside.


    Occasionally, there would come rustling and clicking noises from within, inexplicably sending chills down one''s spine.


    Duan Kaiping stared at the rectangular object with a terrified gaze, took out his phone, and made a call.


    The call was quickly connected.


    "..."


    Even though he was just making a call, Duan Kaiping immediately turned respectful, nodding and bowing as he ingratiatingly said,


    "Yes, I''m very sorry, I didn''t expect this. I had already fed ''Number One'' in advance, yet it still managed to break out of the cage and go hunting on its own... Fortunately, it has been in the cage since birth and considers the cage its home, so it returned on its own after eating..."


    "..."


    "Rest assured, it won''t go wrong, these foolish heirs have no idea that they are our targets. They even dare to hold a banquet today... I''ve already installed the device you provided. I''ve calculated it, and the range should just cover the entire floor, ensuring that they won''t be able to contact the outside world when the time comes."


    "..."


    When the person on the other end hung up, Duan Kaiping put away his fawning demeanor, took a deep puff of his cigarette, and continued to gaze nervously at the rectangular object.


    The rustling sounds persisted intermittently.


    ...


    Nighttime, Hidden Dragon Dojo, Nourish the Heart Room.


    "This one, how about this one?" Zhu Shanying held up a neatly folded burgundy suit, clearly of very high-quality fabric.


    "For a banquet, it''s necessary to dress properly, I have experience, trust me!"


    She cheerily said as she held the clothes up to Xue Jing''s frame.


    Beside her, Chen Fuguang clicked his tongue and spoke, "Sister Zhu, that''s not right. You should know what our little brother''s biggest advantage is--his youth! Look at that face, full of youthful charm."


    "I say, he shouldn''t wear something that makes him look too mature. We need to highlight our advantages. I think the Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School uniform is quite good, also a suit style, but it has a fresh, youthful feel... I wanted to apply there just because of the good looking uniform, but unfortunately, I didn''t get in." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing sighed, helplessly saying, "I''m going there as a bodyguard... I can wear anything, really. I''ve already coordinated with the hotel, everyone else is almost there, Senior Brother Chen, Sister Zhu."


    Zhu Shanying''s young and delicate face, with eyes bright and spirited as a newborn animal''s, widened as she rebuked, "You are representing our Hidden Dragon Dojo. How can you dress casually? You need to outshine the other dojo disciples!"


    "Mine is good, wear this one, I picked it out from my closet at home after a long time!"


    Just then, Meng Qingjiao, who had been silently standing to the side, also came over holding a set of clothes.


    "Sister Meng," Xue Jing was startled.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao, her cool face showing no emotion, simply handed the clothes to Xue Jing, then raised her hand and gently touched his head.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Alright, I''ll wear what Sister Meng picked."


    "Eh~why like this, I was here first," Zhu Shanying pouted, a bit disappointed.


    Chen Fuguang glanced at the clothes and flattered, "Sister Meng does have taste."


    Xue Jing smiled.


    With no need for modesty among those present, he stripped down to his shorts and changed into the clothes.


    It was a Republic-era style black linen martial arts uniform, a pure white inner shirt paired with a black jacket and trousers. The turned-up sleeves revealed the white lining, perfectly suited to the clean, neat temperament of a martial artist.


    Overall, it was the kind of outfit commonly seen in kung fu movies set during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era.


    However, with Xue Jing''s already maxed-out physique and looks, he managed to infuse the outfit with a high-class feel, standing tall and firm like a lofty pine, profound and imposing like a mountain, resembling a young Grandmaster at his peak.


    "Hmm, it just feels... very fitting?" Zhu Shanying pinched his chin, hesitating.


    Chen Fuguang rolled his eyes, "Nonsense, with our junior brother''s figure and face, even a burlap sack wouldn''t look much different."


    Xue Jing also looked at himself in the mirror and nodded.


    I really am handsome.


    "Alright, thank you senior brothers and sister, I''ll be going now."


    Xue Jing smiled at the three of them.


    "Go ahead, go ahead, junior brother, this is your first time going out on a mission, remember, safety first. If you encounter a dangerous situation you can''t handle, run immediately, don''t hesitate!" Chen Fuguang patted his shoulder.


    Zhu Shanying also nodded repeatedly, "Safety first, don''t force yourself."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao stretched out her hands, took his palm and squeezed it, seemingly conveying encouragement.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I understand, senior brothers and sister, no need to worry."


    They kept giving instructions like they were worried about a child going away to study for the first time, and only then did they let him leave.


    He walked out of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, took the elevator to the ground floor, exited the office building, and looked around, soon hearing a few car horns.


    Xue Jing turned his head and saw a well-known luxury sedan parked on the nearby road.


    He walked over, the car door opened, and a slightly overweight middle-aged man wearing glasses and a well-fitted suit stepped out from the driver''s side.


    The man looked at Xue Jing and spoke with a respectful tone,


    "Are you Master Xue from Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "Yes, that''s me."


    "I''m the driver assigned to pick you up, my name is Zhao Dequan, you can just call me Zhao. I was the one who spoke with you on the phone just now."


    While speaking, he opened the rear door of the sedan and gestured with his hand for Xue Jing to enter.


    "Please get in the car."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Thank you for your troubles."


    "Don''t mention it, it''s all part of the job," Zhao replied respectfully.


    After Xue Jing got into the back seat, Zhao closed the door and quickly jogged around to get into the driver''s seat.


    The car started with a vigorous and pleasant engine sound and headed towards the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    ...


    The East City District in Qingcheng is often referred as ''East Wealthy,'' and saying that every inch of land there is worth its weight in gold is an understatement.


    Being able to open a large hotel that occupies thousands of square meters in such a place indicates substantial financial power.


    And naturally, the person who can reserve the top-level banquet hall in such a hotel is either very rich or very prestigious.


    The sedan slowly drove into the parking lot, and after parking, Zhao got out of the car first, then walked around to the rear seat to open the door.


    Xue Jing stepped out of the car, looked around.


    In the spacious parking area, there were luxury and sports cars whose names he couldn''t recall parked all around, and the people stepping out of them were young, well-dressed, and of distinguished presence.


    They were chatting and laughing as they walked into the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    After getting out of the car, Xue Jing followed Zhao, who was leading the way, and also entered the hotel.


    ...

 Chapter 63: Chapter 60 Jing! ?

    ```


    Xue Jing followed the driver, Zhao, into the automatic doors of the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    He was modestly dressed, which should have made him inconspicuous, yet his appearance and aura were too outstanding. Along the way, he caught the attention of many people.


    "Hmm? Who is that person?"


    A muscular young man clad in white, designed for ease of movement, pointed at Xue Jing in the distance, his face expressing confusion.


    "Judging by his clothes, he looks like someone who practices martial arts. He probably isn''t here to attend the banquet as a second-generation wealthy... Which dojo''s disciple is he from? Is he also invited to take care of security? He seems too young for that."


    Next to him, a man in a suit glanced at Xue Jing and Zhao, and after a mental comparison, he laughed and said,


    "Master Li, that should be a high-ranking student of the Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoquan''s eyes twitched with doubt, "I''ve seen all six direct disciples of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, including the youngest lass, but I don''t recognize this lad?"


    "They can''t take on new disciples?"


    Someone nearby teased.


    Li Zhaoquan heard this and turned to glance at the speaker.


    "Zhang Daqing, you rascal, why are you here too?"


    Zhang Daqing, tall and slim, dressed in a dark teal suit, stepped forward, elbowed Li Zhaoquan''s shoulder, and nodded towards Xue Jing.


    "''Dragon King'' Li Qi has always said he would take on seven disciples. This one might be the seventh. Kept quite secret, he''s able to handle tasks already, and no one in the circle knows. Probably has been secretly training for a while, maybe to make a sensational debut."


    Li Zhaoquan curled his lip,


    "What could a kid who''s not fully grown do? Most likely this job today was just a formality, and Li Qi let him come here to mooch some credit and gain some experience. As long as he doesn''t fall behind, that would be good enough."


    He looked at Xue Jing''s facial features and chuckled,


    "Who knows, he might also be here to hook up with a few rich ladies and misses."


    Zhang Daqing clicked his tongue and shook his head, sighing, "Don''t say that. You may not even beat him. His lower body is extremely stable; every step is the exact same distance, no more, no less. His upper body doesn''t even sway, showing a strong control over his body, and his skill in channeling energy is quite tempered."


    Li Zhaoquan was dismissive, flexing his large muscles on his arm, "What''s the use of using Power well? Even if he can amplify a single force into ten, he''ll still be knocked out by a punch with a hundred or a thousand times more power, it''s meaningless."


    Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes, "There''s no point in talking with you bunch of meatheads."


    ...


    "Master Xue, take a look."


    Zhao took out a blueprint from the hotel lobby and spread it out in front of Xue Jing.


    "This is a map of the banquet hall," Zhao explained.


    He pointed a finger at an area on the map that was circled.


    "We''ve invited six masters today, each in charge of security for a different area. This is your responsibility."


    "Once you''re in the banquet hall, the security of this area is all on you."


    Xue Jing carefully looked at the map and committed it to memory, then nodded and smiled, "Don''t worry, leave it to me."


    As they walked towards the elevator, Zhao continued to mention several points to note, which Xue Jing remembered one by one.


    After all, he was there to make money, and his work attitude was quite serious. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Following Zhao through several elevators, Xue Jing arrived on the twenty-second floor of the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    "If you go straight along the corridor, you''ll reach the banquet hall. Today is Ye''s exclusive event. He ordered that, unless necessary, others should not come close. I can''t go in, so I can only accompany you this far."


    Zhao''s attitude was as respectful as ever.


    Xue Jing nodded, turned, and walked toward the banquet hall.


    After a short walk, just around a corner, he saw a pair of double doors. He went over and pushed them open directly.


    Xue Jing had expected the banquet of these wealthy and noble second-generation elites to be like in the movies; to the gentle sound of piano, countless men and women would be elegantly toasting and conversing about matters beyond the reach of common folk.


    Yet, as he pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, he was greeted by the noisy booming beats.


    "everybody----"


    ```


    "Let''s get hyped!!"


    In the midst of shouts and cheers, neon lights flickered across the venue.


    Xue Jing paused slightly, eyeing the extremely out-of-place DJ booth in the center of the hall, and the DJ atop it, dressed in hip-hop style, headphones on, hands constantly rubbing the surface of the booth, although what he was actually doing was unclear.


    "Hmm? Did I walk into the wrong place?"


    He slipped back out quietly and checked the floor.


    22nd floor, banquet hall.


    "This is the right place, isn''t it?"


    He pushed the door open again and walked back in.


    The raucous and dynamic music resumed, and Xue Jing looked around the banquet hall. Above his head were several elaborate and magnificent crystal chandeliers, the walls were decorated with artistic murals and sculptures, and beneath his feet lay a large patterned carpet. The overall decor was clearly classical in style.


    Except for the oddly placed DJ booth in the middle...


    "You might as well have gone straight to the disco," Xue Jing said somewhat speechlessly.


    Had they specifically rented out such an expensive hotel banquet hall just to change the scene for a dance party?


    Watching the dozens of well-dressed youths swaying to the thumping music, Xue Jing smiled and didn''t pay it much mind.


    After all, he was only there on security duty. What the attendees chose to do was none of his business.


    Even if he had opened the door to find dozens of people doing improv, his job for the day would still be the same.


    Xue Jing surveyed the hall and, after comparing it with the map he''d seen earlier, headed towards his assigned area to start patrolling.


    From a distance, he could also see several individuals whose postures and auras clearly suggested they had martial arts training. They were presumably other dojo disciples hired by the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    By now, the noisy music was reaching its end; as the last beat sounded, the several crystal chandeliers on the ceiling lit up, and the previously dim hall was instantly bright.


    About ten staff members entered from the main door, dismantled the DJ booth in the center of the hall, and carried away the parts one by one.


    Xue Jing nodded. It appeared that dancing was just one of the night''s events, not the main purpose.


    And as the lights came on, he himself became more visible.


    "Hmm, who is that?" Nearby heiresses spotted him, their eyes suddenly sparkling.


    But before they could act, a muscular man dressed in white martial attire approached Xue Jing.


    "Are you the new direct disciple taken in by Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    The man was quite direct and immediately asked as he came up to Xue Jing.


    The commotion caught the attention of those around them.


    A few men and women holding wine glasses and standing together also looked over.


    "Hmm? What''s happening over there?" inquired Ye Chenglin, organizer of the banquet, curiously.


    "Seems like a conflict between two security guys arranged by Rui Zhu... Are they having a dispute?" someone answered, a curious look crossing their face.


    "Let''s go check it out!" said Ye Chenglin with a laugh.


    A group of them promptly made their way over to where Xue Jing was, with Pei Youguang among them.


    He scratched his head, following behind his elder brother Pei Tiancheng.


    Upon getting closer, he glanced casually at the two security personnel in a dispute, lifted his glass for a sip--ptooey!


    "Jing... Jing bro?"


    Staring at the familiar figure standing amidst the crowd, Pei Youguang couldn''t help spitting out his drink in shock and disbelief.


    ...

 Chapter 64: Chapter 61: Is He Taking Drugs?

    "Whose dojo disciple is that? He''s quite the looker, just a bit too young."


    "That brute Li Zhaoquan, what''s he up to? Picking on a kid?"


    Disciples from various schools were also coming forward to join in on the excitement.


    Zhang Daqing chimed in from the side, "I heard that one is a new direct disciple of the Hidden Dragon Dojo; today should be his first public appearance."


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo? Then, is he that ''Dragon King''s'' closed-door disciple?"


    "Why not throw a big apprentice reception to liven things up? The circle has been too quiet lately, not much fun at all."


    "That''s where you''re wrong. That person has always kept a low profile when it comes to taking disciples; aside from the first disciple, Meng Boshang, whose circumstances are unclear, the other disciples were all taken on very quietly..."


    A few people practiced in the martial arts discussed excitedly.


    In the name of people, in the shadow of trees, renowned throughout Inner Ring City''s circles, even someone as distinguished as the old dojo master Li Qi enjoyed a high reputation; and even more so in Qingcheng, this ''countryside'' location.


    Though it''s said that an adversary broke his legs over twenty years ago, killing his spirit and leaving him a half-invalid, the old ''Dragon King''s'' prestige still commands great respect on the streets.


    The commotion among the onlookers didn''t affect the two people at the center.


    Xue Jing looked up at the burly man in front of him, a question mark forming in his mind.


    Seeing Xue Jing silent, as though frightened, Li Zhaoquan grinned and loudly said,


    "Don''t worry, you don''t have to be afraid; it''s working hours now, and I won''t trouble you at this time."


    Then, his tone shifted,


    "However...we''re colleagues now, and if there''s danger later, we''ll need to cooperate. That means we must understand each other''s level beforehand, don''t you think?"


    Xue Jing showed no emotion and calmly asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    Li Zhaoquan stretched out his right hand, rolled up his sleeve to the elbow, revealing muscles hard as chunks of iron, and grinned,


    "Let''s have a go."


    In the Old Era, for a martial artist wanting to earn a living through martial arts, reputation was everything.


    Therefore, renowned martial artists absolutely would not fight each other lightly. If one lost, their brand would be tarnished, and even if there were to be a fight, it would be a closed-door, private affair, with the results never spoken of publicly.


    If there were to be a formal fight betting on the honor of both parties'' schools, it would essentially mean that both sides had irreconcilable, major conflicts, and the duel would not only settle who was superior but also determine life and death.


    Given this situation, a certain martial etiquette known as ''having a go'' emerged among martial artists.


    Impressive martial artists had their kung fu ingrained in their very bones. Just by casually exchanging a few moves, the exertion and retraction of their power allowed them to roughly understand the other''s level. With this understanding, there was no need for a public ruckus. Everybody favored peace over conflict, making it a kind of ''soft contest.''


    Hearing the other side suggest having a go, Xue Jing didn''t mind.


    He had only started practicing martial arts not long ago and didn''t quite understand the rules of the circle, just thinking it was probably a form of greeting among martial artists when they first meet.


    Thus, he too extended his right hand and placed his forearm against the other''s.


    Visually, the difference in the size of their arms was quite significant, like that between a child and an adult.


    "They''re having a go! Now we''ll have a good show; Li Zhaoquan loves that brute play, pressing people down to their knees with a simple hand-shake; it''s his trademark move, and many have suffered from it!"


    "The Tiger Soul Dojo places the utmost importance on refining qi force through flesh training, and they have deep expertise in it. This young man has just started his career; I''m afraid he''s about to learn a hard lesson the tough way."


    Hearing a couple of other dojo disciples'' discussions, Pei Youguang wanted to remind Jing brother to be careful but glanced at his elder brother, Pei Tiancheng, hesitated, and then stopped himself.


    At that moment, however, a change occurred in the arena.


    As soon as Xue Jing made contact with the other''s hand, he instantly felt an overwhelming force, like a tidal wave, surging from the other''s forearm, and it came without warning.


    He blinked, his expression unchanged, as he too channeled his power and pressed it towards the other man.


    "Hmm?" Li Zhaoquan''s expression changed slightly.


    He felt like he was not having a go with a minor but was pressing down on an increasingly agitated bull.


    ''Not good, I can''t subdue him!'' Li Zhaoquan clenched his teeth, continued to apply more force, his face turned a shade of flush, and his arm began to tremble slightly.


    ''This man, he''s quite strong,'' Xue Jing thought, surprised as he took another look at the other man.


    With all his skills and having practiced the Armor Shaking Skill and the Five Major Body Cultivation for many days, his strength had increased rapidly. Although he had not tested it, even without any technique, his punch force must be at least 800 kilograms. He could be considered explosively strong in terms of pure physical quality.


    But the person in front of him seemed to have the intention of surpassing him, likely a bit stronger than him in terms of Qi Force.


    "How interesting," Xue Jing slightly narrowed his eyes, piqued with curiosity.


    He activated the Power of Twins with a mere thought, instantly doubling his strength.


    "Crack..."


    In less than half a second, a barely perceptible sound of bone cracking could be heard.


    Li Zhaoquan''s face changed slightly, and a few drops of sweat appeared on his forehead as he slowly withdrew his right hand.


    Without changing his expression, he clasped his fist towards Xue Jing and said in a loud voice, "Worthy of being a top disciple from Hidden Dragon Dojo, I am Li Zhaoquan!"


    Xue Jing also withdrew his hand, smiled, and returned the gesture, "Xue Jing."


    "Good, Brother Xue Jing, I''ll treat you to tea when I''m free. I''m working now, so let''s leave it at that... Um... I need to use the restroom urgently!" Li Zhaoquan said quickly.


    Seeing Xue Jing nodding with a smile, Li Zhaoquan then turned around and walked towards the door at a comfortable pace.


    "Is that it?" The crowd was somewhat confused.


    Zhang Daqing, who was not far away, felt something was amiss.


    What''s happening, since when was this brute so polite?


    He pondered for a moment and then stealthily followed Li Zhaoquan, exiting the door after him.


    Then, he watched as Li Zhaoquan suddenly crouched down at a corridor turn, letting out a sharp intake of breath.


    "Hss!"


    Li Zhaoquan was seen holding his right forearm with his left hand, continuously rubbing it.


    His right hand trembled uncontrollably, resembling someone with Parkinson''s disease.


    Li Zhaoquan grimaced in pain, his face twisted.


    "What the hell kind of monster is this?!"


    Looking at his trembling arm, he deeply regretted his impulsive action.


    This was no mere new learner of martial arts; if someone told him this kid had been lifting weights in the womb and was born holding dumbbells, he would believe it.


    Was he actually overpowered by an adolescent in sheer strength? sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uh... what are you doing?"


    Suddenly, a voice Li Zhaoquan did not want to hear at that moment came from behind him.


    He immediately stood up, turned around nonchalantly, and faced Zhang Daqing''s somewhat mocking face.


    "Just wanted to take a leak, do you know where the restroom is?"


    He tucked his still-shaking right hand behind his back and spoke indifferently.


    Zhang Daqing clicked his tongue. "You keep pretending; I''m watching."


    The corner of Li Zhaoquan''s mouth twitched.


    "If you saw it then why the fuck are you asking."


    He gave up on pretending and continued to rub his right forearm, occasionally letting out a sharp hiss of pain.


    Watching him suffer, Zhang Daqing found it slightly amusing but also couldn''t help but feel inwardly alarmed.


    That new disciple from Hidden Dragon Dojo... what exactly was his background?


    Could he have subdued Li Zhaoquan in Qi Force by taking drugs?

 Chapter 65: Chapter 62: It is they who want to meet me, not I who want to meet them.

    "So why the hell did you go looking for trouble with that guy?" Zhang Daqing pinched his chin and asked, tilting his head.


    "..."


    Li Zhaoquan scratched his head.


    "There are quite a few babes here, so I just wanted to show off a bit..."


    Zhang Daqing was somewhat speechless, "You''re really not afraid of stirring up trouble, are you? That guy doesn''t live alone; mess with him, and maybe tomorrow ''Little Dragon King'' Meng Boshang will come knocking on your dojo''s door to challenge you."


    "It''s just sparring, I won''t really do anything to him, I''ve already got my excuse ready." Li Zhaoquan said confidently.


    Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes, too lazy to say more.


    "Hiss... My bone really broke, this guy''s not normal, we absolutely can''t mess with him..." Li Zhaoquan rubbed his arm.


    Zhang Daqing quickly waved his hands, "What ''we''? Don''t lump me in with you, I have nothing to do with this. I''ve been looking at him with nothing but friendly, kind and warm eyes..."


    ...


    "Huh? It''s over just like that?"


    A group of rich and noble young ladies and gentlemen were somewhat puzzled.


    It looked like these two were about to clash, so how come after a short exchange it was all over?


    Ye Chenglin looked towards Pei Tiancheng.


    "Pei, what do you think happened here?"


    The rest of the small circle also turned their attention to him.


    Pei Tiancheng smiled and took a sip from the glass in his hand, saying, "That''s called ''touching hands.'' Among highly skilled martial artists, when two people want to test each other''s skills, they only need to touch hands to know the other''s rough level; they don''t need to actually fight."


    The second-generation rich kids who were not familiar with these things suddenly found it amazing, expressing their astonishment.


    "So, they''ve already tested each other just now? Pei, who do you think had the upper hand?"


    Ye Chenglin asked with interest.


    "Don''t even need to mention it, it''s definitely the good-looking bro here." A girl immediately spoke up, staring at Xue Jing with gleaming eyes.


    "That big meaty guy ran so fast, he must have lost," another girl quickly chimed in.


    Next to them, a young man sporting a slicked-back hairstyle felt a bit miffed, "Hey, hey, hey, you guys, these aesthetic addicts, don''t just judge by looks, they were comparing martial arts skills, not in a beauty contest, Pei, you''re the most knowledgeable here, what do you say?"


    Pei Tiancheng looked towards Xue Jing and spoke with a calm voice, "It seems that this young man is indeed stronger."


    "See, I told you, he definitely won!" The girl immediately beamed with joy.


    "Pei, Pei, what about you then? If you compared with him, who would be stronger?" Someone suddenly asked.


    Pei Tiancheng smiled, a trace of confidence appearing on his face.


    "It''s not a fair comparison; I''m a bit older than him."


    With that said, everyone there was no fool; they understood what he meant.


    He was suggesting that he was stronger than the other, but modestly used age as the reason.


    "Wow~" The group looked at him with admiration.


    Next to them, the portly Pei Youguang hesitated before muttering, "Uh, that... I know him."


    "Hmm?"


    All eyes turned towards Pei Youguang.


    The usually overlooked Second Young Master Pei suddenly found himself the center of attention and became a bit flustered.


    "Oh? Second Young Master Pei knows him?"


    Ye Chenglin''s gaze was curious.


    "Yes, he''s my senior from the same school." Pei Youguang said, inevitably reaching to touch his nose, which had healed quite a bit but still throbbed with a dull pain.


    He had been beaten up by him not long ago... he added in his mind.


    "Second Young Master Pei... could you introduce us to him?" A girl in a sexy off-shoulder dress asked eagerly, her eyes shining as she spoke to Pei Youguang.


    The European cup accents made Pei Youguang''s mind go blurry for a moment. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the first time a girl had spoken to him voluntarily after he started hanging out with Pei Tiancheng, and she called him Second Young Master Pei.


    "Second Young Master Pei, please, we beg you."


    "Just introduce him to us..."


    The other rich daughters also joined in, and for a moment, Pei Youguang felt under the illusion that he was actually quite popular.


    Introducing them to Jing... shouldn''t be a problem, right?


    ```


    Aside from being a bit worried about whether his body could take it...


    Just when Pei Youguang was already in a daze, Pei Tiancheng glanced at him.


    "Youguang."


    Pei Youguang immediately regained clarity and hurriedly said, "Big brother!"


    Pei Tiancheng smiled softly and said, "I also want to meet him, such an outstanding youth..."


    "Thank you for your trouble."


    Pei Youguang didn''t dare to retort and bowed his head, saying, "Yes..."


    ...


    After finishing the exchange with the man named Li Zhaoquan, although feeling a bit baffled, Xue Jing didn''t mind it.


    He wandered around the hall for a while and, seeing a long table filled with a buffet, he walked over, wanting to grab something to eat.


    Picking up a plate from the table next to the cutlery stand, faced with a dazzling array of dishes, Xue Jing was somewhat indecisive.


    "Jing, Jing!"


    A call came from the side, Xue Jing turned his head and saw a portly young man, dressed in a black suit, looking dapper.


    It was actually Pei Youguang?


    He raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "It''s Youguang, what are you doing here?"


    Pei Youguang chuckled, adjusted his collar, and said, "I''m here to attend the banquet. I never expected to see you here, Jing."


    "Jing, I saw the way you ''sparred'' with that big guy just now; you''re amazing."


    He gave a thumbs-up.


    Xue Jing picked up a meatball from the buffet table and said, "Oh? You noticed?"


    Pei Youguang scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, "I didn''t notice... actually, my big brother told me. He said you won."


    After chatting leisurely for a while, Pei Youguang then pondered for a moment and said:


    "Jing, my big brother wants to meet you..."


    Xue Jing, as if he hadn''t heard, reached out with his fork to pick up a fried meatball from the plate, put it in his mouth, and chewed for a while before swallowing.


    Pei Youguang quickly added, "He said you are an outstanding youth, and he admires you a lot. He just wants to get to know you. Jing, my big brother is really capable, a genius who got into Inner Ring University through martial examination..."


    "There are many people over there, all wishing to befriend you, all from Qingcheng''s upper social circle... the sons and daughters of influential families..."


    Seeing that he seemed a bit anxious, Xue Jing put down his plate, pulled out a paper napkin from the table, and leisurely wiped his fingers.


    Then smiling, he said, "Youguang, you might be a little mistaken."


    He placed his hand on Pei Youguang''s shoulder, the smile on the corner of his lips carried a slight chill.


    "Be it your brother, various second-generation members of your circles, or the workers at the convenience store on the street..."


    "Wanting to get to know me and be friends is not an issue; I welcome it."


    "But if they really want to be friends with me, then they should come to me by themselves."


    "One should strive for what they want, not wait for others to bring it to them."


    Pausing, Xue Jing continued in a soft voice: "It''s them who want to meet me, not the other way around. Don''t get it twisted."


    After saying this, he patted Pei Youguang''s shoulder and turned to leave.


    Pei Youguang stood there, stunned for a long time, before a sudden panic set in his heart.


    He had screwed up.


    Pei Youguang felt as if he had plunged into an ice cave.


    He could feel that at that moment, his relationship with Jing had grown much colder.


    Only then did he realize that the manner of his ''introduction'' was somewhat humiliating to Xue Jing.


    Wanting to get to know him, yet not coming over on their own and instead having someone else call him over...


    This commanding way was undoubtedly condescending.


    As if it was an honor for Xue Jing to know them, imbued with a sense of entitlement.


    Even they themselves probably hadn''t realized it.


    Pei Youguang watched Xue Jing''s tall and straight back, firm like a sturdy pine, wanting to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn''t utter a word.


    He had screwed up...


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 66: Chapter 63 The Invisible Monster

    Pei Youguang returned to his group looking completely disoriented.


    Seeing him in such a state, Pei Tiancheng frowned.


    "Youguang, where is your senior? Why didn''t he come with you?"


    The others also turned their puzzled gazes toward him.


    Pei Youguang hesitated, started to speak, then stopped, thought for a moment, and scratched his head.


    "Haha, we were chatting so happily that I forgot to mention this to him." His plump face broke into an awkward, foolish grin.


    As soon as he said this, everyone''s faces showed dissatisfaction and surprise.


    "Second Young Master Pei, how could you forget something like that?" a girl said with a displeased expression.


    Pei Youguang forced a smile: "Sorry, sorry..."


    Pei Tiancheng seemed contemplative, then after a while, he nodded and said indifferently, "I see... well, let it be then, he has his duties, and we shouldn''t disturb him."


    It seemed he had quite a high status within the group, and though others still had many objections, they no longer spoke up.


    Yet subtly, their rejection of Pei Youguang, who had never quite fit into the circle, intensified.


    Noticing the somewhat somber atmosphere, Ye Chenglin clapped his hands to draw everyone''s attention and said with a smile:


    "Enough, there''s still an event tonight. Later, when it gets late, let''s go explore that suite where someone died; maybe we''ll encounter something thrilling!"


    ...


    Meanwhile.


    Zhao Dequan, the driver who had brought Xue Jing to Rui Zhu Hotel, was using both hands to push a cart toward the elevator, loaded with a cream cake that was stacked seven or eight layers high.


    As the hotel manager, he wouldn''t normally need to do this himself, but the guests at the banquet hall on the twenty-second floor were not ordinary guests.


    To prevent any mishaps due to the clumsiness of staff and considering his desire to build relationships with these wealthy and powerful second generations, he had decided to deliver the cake himself.


    "Ding--"


    The elevator doors opened, and Zhao Dequan carefully pushed the cake inside, moving slowly.


    "Hm?"


    Once inside the elevator, Zhao Dequan glanced curiously at the person next to him.


    It was a tall man, dressed in black sportswear, wearing a black baseball cap, large sunglasses that completely hid his eyes, a mask covering the lower half of his face, and even construction gloves on his hands.


    The man was also pushing a cart, on which lay an oblong object completely wrapped in black tape, unidentifiable.


    "Uh... hello," Zhao Dequan greeted the stranger out of habit.


    The Rui Zhu Hotel had almost been deserted since someone died there yesterday, with guests checking out, and apart from the banquet hall on the twenty-second floor, the entire building was nearly silent.


    He hadn''t expected to meet... a guest?


    Something felt off about Zhao Dequan''s unease.


    The man''s attire seemed suspicious, and Zhao knew all the hotel employees, so this man was most probably not one of them...


    However, having grown savvy over his midlife years, Zhao understood very well that sometimes, less is more.


    It was not his place to concern himself with who someone was or what they were up to; investigating people was the sheriff''s job, ensuring safety was security''s responsibility, and he was just a manager...


    Many guests are odd... this is quite common.


    He reassured himself.


    The elevator doors slowly shut.


    The strange man remained silent.


    Zhao Dequan fidgeted, feeling as if the eyes hidden behind the sunglasses were constantly watching his neck.


    "It''s so hot today... even though it''s almost November, hehe." Zhao Dequan forced a laugh and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the unstoppable sweat on his face.


    "..." The man said nothing.


    Zhao Dequan''s hands nervously moved back and forth on the handle of the cart as he watched the elevator numbers slowly climb.


    17th floor, 18th floor, 19th floor...


    Just as the elevator was about to reach the 22nd floor.


    "rustle rustle----"


    The object on the man''s cart suddenly shook, making a strange rustling noise.


    Zhao Dequan''s mind raced back to when he was young, living in a dilapidated rented room where, in the dead silence of midnight, cockroaches would scuttle across his wooden bed right beside his ears...


    ..."


    The strange man turned his head toward Zhao Dequan.


    Even with the sunglasses, it was clear that the man''s gaze was fixed on him, causing Zhao''s heart to pound like thunder, his eyes gradually filled with fear.


    "Ding--"


    The elevator doors opened.


    "Help--"


    He only had time to utter a single word before Zhao Dequan''s head slid off his neck.


    Blood gushed out, turning the huge cream cake into a ''strawberry cake''.


    "Tsk." Duan Kaiping rubbed his blood-stained hand disdainfully against the corpse.


    A rectangular object wrapped in black tape suddenly began to shake violently.


    Duan Kaiping''s expression changed, "Damn, it smells the blood and it hasn''t been fed for a day. It''s going to rampage!"


    He immediately leaned on the trolley, kicked Zhao Dequan''s body and the cake to one side, and started sprinting down the corridor with the rectangular object as he exited the elevator.


    Before long, he saw the grand doors of the banquet hall. By then, the rectangular object''s trembling intensified, and the black tape made crackling noises as it began to split all over.


    Duan Kaiping''s expression drastically changed. He fiercely pushed the cart toward the banquet hall doors while simultaneously pulling out a remote-control-like device from his pocket.


    There was a red button on the device. Duan Kaiping did not hesitate to turn back and dash towards the stairwell meant as a fire exit; he then pressed the red button.


    In a hidden spot on the twenty-second floor, a little black circular box suddenly blinked red.


    "Beep-- Beep-- Beep--"


    ...


    "Sorry, I don''t use a phone. I don''t have WeChat,"


    In the hall, Xue Jing was smiling as he shook his head, declining the flirtations of a young woman dressed in a sexy off-shoulder gown.


    "Eh~ Don''t lie, handsome boy, just add me~ I won''t eat you up~"


    The young woman was relentless, whining as she clung to Xue Jing''s arm, subtly pushing his hand into her soft embrace.


    Xue Jing, unperturbed, silently sighed to himself, Rich women sure are something...


    Just then, he frowned, pulling out his phone from his pocket.


    The young woman''s eyes lit up, thinking she had managed to coax the attractive young man and couldn''t help but feel a bit smug.


    "That''s right, come on, add me. I will tell you so*many*things~"


    As she spoke, her voice gradually became seductive and enchanting, making her words especially alluring.


    Xue Jing, however, paid her no attention, instead silently staring at his phone with furrowed brows.


    The palm touching his phone felt a barely detectible tingling sensation. Had he not practiced the Armor Shaking Skill for many days, becoming more sensitive to touch, he might not have noticed it.


    Before he could think more about it, the phone''s screen suddenly went dark.


    Following that, the lights across the entire banquet hall all flickered off simultaneously.


    The room plunged into complete darkness.


    "Eh? What''s happening?"


    Someone exclaimed in surprise immediately.


    "Is it a power outage?"


    "Wait, let me turn on my phone''s flashlight... Huh? My phone''s dead too?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The noise in the room escalated.


    Xue Jing patted his phone in his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    --He was quite sure his phone had been fully charged.


    Moreover, it wasn''t just his phone; in such darkness, not a single person out of the dozens present could use their phones to provide light. Apparently, everyone''s phones were disabled.


    Together with all the lights in the banquet hall being out... it seemed like all electrically powered devices were malfunctioning.


    All these phenomena inevitably made him think of one thing.


    "EMP..." he muttered to himself softly.


    Electromagnetic Pulse, a high-tech method capable of instantly destroying all electronic devices.


    "Ah! I''m so afraid of the dark. You have to protect me, handsome," the young woman clutched Xue Jing''s arm even tighter, burying it deeper into her softness.


    She laughed playfully, unfazed by the sudden darkness.


    It was just a power outage, after all; what was the big deal?


    Just then, a loud noise suddenly came from the direction of the banquet hall''s main entrance.


    "Bang!!"


    The sound of shattering glass, along with what seemed like something hitting the ground, was so shrill in the darkness that it startled everyone.


    "What the hell!?"


    "Damn, that scared the hell out of me!"


    "Ahh!!"


    The woman in the gown was also frightened, emitting a sharp scream.


    Xue Jing took the opportunity to break free from her grasp and walked forward two steps, his deep eyes quietly scanning the surroundings.


    In the darkness, it seemed as if invisible monsters were crawling around.


    ...

 Chapter 67: Chapter 64: Taking Action

    ```


    "What''s that sound over there?"


    "Must be someone running around in the dark and smashing into the door, breaking its glass. Seriously, in this darkness, they should be more careful."


    "Does anyone''s phone still have battery? Mine''s completely dead."


    "So is mine."


    "Mine too... Does anyone have a charger?"


    "It''s a blackout, what good is a charger? Anyone got a power bank?"


    The scene was noisy, but everyone basically just thought the hotel had suddenly lost power, and there wasn''t much panic.


    "Something''s not right," Pei Tiancheng said as he pressed the power button of his phone for a long time, but it remained unresponsive.


    He frowned, "How can it be that the hotel loses power and so many people''s phones die at the same time?"


    In the darkness, Ye Chenglin spoke up, "Let''s not talk about that now. Who knows how long the blackout will last. Let''s just leave the hotel first. The elevator won''t work, so we have to take the stairs... Does anyone have a lighter for lighting the way?"


    Pei Youguang quickly said, "I have one."


    He reached into his pocket and fished out a branded oil lighter.


    "Snap--"


    He flicked his finger and lit the lighter.


    In the pitch-black lobby, a source of light appeared.


    Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. Humans have an innate fear of the dark etched into their genes, and the sight of light again brought a feeling of happiness.


    "Everyone, please come over here,"


    Ye Chenglin clapped his hands and called out loudly.


    "Follow the light. Come this way. Let''s walk out slowly, no rushing, and watch your step."


    The young people in the lobby were mostly either friends of Ye Chenglin or brought by his friends. Combined with the sense of security from the lighter''s flame, they all obediently gathered together.


    "Ah, such a good party, but why did the power have to go out? What''s Rui Zhu Hotel up to?"


    "It might not be the hotel''s fault. Maybe there''s an issue with the power plant? Perhaps this whole area is without electricity." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think this is kind of fun. It feels thrilling. If this were a suspenseful horror film, we would probably be in grave danger by now, haha."


    People chatted and laughed, and though they were in a dark environment, the presence of so many others and the source of light chased away most of the unease, creating an odd feeling of ''exciting yet reassuring.''


    As a result, most people were in a good mood and didn''t feel too unhappy about the abrupt end to the party.


    "Why don''t we go check out that suite where someone died? Wouldn''t that be more thrilling?"


    Someone suddenly suggested in Ye Chenglin''s group.


    "Let''s not, it''s too scary without any lights. I''m a bit afraid..."


    A girl said in a soft voice.


    "What are you afraid of? There are so many of us here, even if a ghost came, it wouldn''t know who to grab. Besides, isn''t Pei here? His martial arts are so strong, he could protect us if anything happens."


    The person said carelessly.


    Pei Tiancheng smiled, about to speak, when suddenly he heard a rustling noise. He quickly turned his head and in the corner of his eye, it seemed as if he saw a dark shadow darting by.


    "What is that!" he shouted sharply.


    The others jumped at his outburst.


    "What''s wrong, Pei? What happened?"


    "Don''t scare me, my heart can''t take it. There aren''t really ghosts, are there?"


    Pei Tiancheng stared intently in one direction. In the faint light of the fire, everything in the hall was barely visible, indistinct.


    "I might have seen it wrong,"


    he said uncertainly.


    But just as he finished speaking--


    "Pff--"


    Before everyone''s eyes, it seemed as if the person in Ye Chenglin''s group who had proposed exploring the dead person''s suite had vanished on the spot!


    "Ying Yang!?"


    "Where did he go? What happened!?"


    "Hey, don''t scare me!!"


    The next moment, a piercing and extreme scream came from the banquet hall.


    "No, what is this thing, aaaahhhhh!!"


    That scream was so visceral that it made one''s hair stand on end, as if the person was undergoing unimaginable agony.


    "It''s Ying Yang''s voice!"


    "What exactly happened!?"


    The crowd immediately burst into a frenzy.


    Several Dojo Disciples, including Li Zhaoquan and Zhang Daqing, immediately stepped in front of everyone. Zhang Daqing said with a serious look:


    "Everyone, stay together, don''t run around!"


    While they were organizing everyone, they quickly discussed among themselves:


    "Did you see clearly?"


    "No good, there''s only one lighter, it''s still too dark. I just saw a shadow; I don''t know what it was."


    "Does anyone else have a lighter? Light them all up now!!"


    One of the Dojo Disciples shouted loudly.


    Though the young people present were in a panic, thankfully they were obedient. Several more sources of light gradually appeared in the crowd, brightening the hall a bit more.


    "What... what the hell is that!"


    Suddenly, someone pointed, trembling, towards a corner of the hall.


    Everyone looked in that direction and immediately began screaming.


    "Aaaahhhhh!!"


    In the corner lay a body, riddled with holes and bites all over, its face gnawed beyond recognition. But by the clothes, it was clear that it was the person who had disappeared while screaming only moments earlier.


    And on the body was perched a creature.


    The creature was pitch-black, appeared to be nearly two meters tall, and had human-like legs, but at the place of arms, it had six scythe-like appendages with sharp barbs. Its head resembled a human''s, yet it had two enormous compound eyes, two antennae atop its head, and its mouth was a bug-like mandible that was ceaselessly moving as it chewed on a mass of flesh.

 Chapter 68: Chapter 64: Making a Move_2

    It had several giant thin wings stacked on its back like those of a cockroach, and its rear end resembled the lower body of a cockroach, with two tail hairs at the tip that trembled nonstop like steel needles; the whole entity was an alien monster that appeared as if a cockroach and a human had fused together.


    Everyone, including a few martial arts-practicing dojo disciples, couldn''t help but get goosebumps and have their hair stand on end.


    Insects, by nature, were creatures that made most people''s skin crawl, and cockroaches were among the most discomfort-inducing insects.


    And a cockroach that was bigger than a person, even looking as if it were a hybrid with a human...


    "Ahhhhhh!"


    The crowd immediately retreated and ran away from the monster, pressing themselves against the walls of the hall, still screaming incessantly.


    "What the hell is that? An escaped experiment from a biotech company? Or is it a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    Zhang Daqing said, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.


    "I don''t know... what do you think, should we fight it?" Li Zhaoquan swallowed hard.


    "Fight? Never mind if we can''t beat it, I''m terrified of bugs, I don''t even want to touch it..." another dojo disciple quickly shook his head.


    At this moment, someone couldn''t stand it anymore and broke away from the group, running towards the direction of the banquet hall''s main door, attempting to escape.


    "Hey! Don''t panic!"


    Zhang Daqing shouted urgently, but the person ignored him.


    The ''Roach Man'' seemed to notice its prey trying to escape. Its head tilted slightly, looking at that person, its antennae twitched.


    The next moment.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The floor exploded as the Roach Man transformed into a black shadow and dashed towards the person at extremely high speed, like a streak of black lightning.


    The escaping person didn''t have time to scream, instantly being bisected at the waist and falling to the ground, a mess of white, yellow, and red spreading on the floor.


    The figure of the Roach Man appeared beside the two halves of the body, its sharp insect leg spur dripping with bits of flesh and blood.


    "Hisss¡ª" The crowd immediately gasped, frozen with fear.


    "How the hell do we fight this!?" A dojo disciple cursed loudly.


    In the dim firelight, the Roach Man''s antennae moved slightly, looking towards the crowd.


    Then, the four thin wings on its back suddenly opened, the wingspan reaching nearly three meters, creating an extremely terrifying visual effect.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    It flew up, swooping at the people like a cockroach from the south suddenly flying at their faces!


    "Damn!!"


    No one dared to face it; several dojo disciples immediately jumped to the sides to dodge, letting the Roach Man plunge into the crowd.


    "Pei, save us!!"


    The members of Ye Chenglin''s group screamed desperately for help while Pei Tiancheng, with gritted teeth, stepped forward to block in front of the crowd, preparing his stance.


    "Ha!!" He shouted loudly to boost his courage, anticipating the Roach Man''s flying speed and threw a straight punch, ''bang'' sound echoed as he sent the Roach Man flying backwards, crashing into a long table.


    This act boosted everyone''s spirits.


    But before they could even cheer, the next moment, the Roach Man, lying on the ground, raised its rear and stood up immediately.


    Then it bent its legs slightly, assuming a crouched posture.


    Pei Tiancheng''s instincts immediately sent a danger warning; he realized something was wrong and roared, "Run!!"


    Before the crowd could react, they saw Pei Tiancheng jump to the side, falling to the ground.


    Just as he dodged, a black shadow whisked past where he had been, cutting three or four people in half along the way like threading skewers.


    "Ahhhhhh!!"


    The crowd screamed once more.


    The Roach Man seemed to understand that its speed was something these prey could not deal with.


    So, it once again assumed a sprinting position, lunging at the crowd.


    A dojo disciple was caught off-guard and was pounced on mid-air without any resistance, having his head bitten off by its mouthparts.


    Even Pei Tiancheng, a highly skilled martial artist, and the dojo disciples couldn''t confront it, and everyone immediately despaired, screaming and scattering in all directions, with no discipline whatsoever.


    In the chaos, Xue Jing''s gaze followed the shadow of the Roach Man, with hints of Dark Flame flickering in his eyes.


    "So that''s how it is... Looks human, but its internal structure is entirely different and is more like the hydraulic makeup of an insect, allowing it to burst with an acceleration far superior to that of a human body."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Moreover, it takes a punch and is virtually unscathed, its life force is like that of a cockroach too?"


    "Impressive."


    "But not unsolvable."


    Xue Jing made up his mind and stepped forward.


    In the center of the hall, the Roach Man''s antennae wriggled atop its head as it seemed to be picking its next prey for slaughter.


    At that moment, it saw a piece of prey that seemed quite substantial and actually walked towards it voluntarily.


    From the scattering crowd, Pei Youguang saw someone walking towards the monster and took a closer look. Despite the dim lighting from the fire, he immediately recognized that it was Xue Jing!


    "Jing!?" he exclaimed anxiously. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What is Jing trying to do? This could be deadly!


    The rest of the crowd also noticed this scene.


    "What is he trying to do? Is he seeking death?"


    Even though they were full of fear, they couldn''t help but wonder.


    Zhang Daqing, Li Zhaoquan, and Pei Tiancheng also watched the figure, thinking: Has he gone mad?


    This monster, with its speed, life force, and killing power, is practically specialized in attacking humans, not something these young people could confront!


    Don''t you run fast, or are you seeking death?


    Such professional dedication? Taking on a bodyguard job and not caring about your own life?


    Ignoring the thoughts of others, Xue Jing strode up to the Roach Man and stood firm.


    "Bang!"


    The floor exploded, and a black cannonball, like lightning, struck Xue Jing.


    His gaze intense, he focused, and his Aiming reached Lv5, providing him with dynamic vision far beyond normal human limits.


    The speed of the Roach Man, imperceptible to others, was clear in his sight.


    Twin Speed, Power of Twins, all fucking engaged!


    Xue Jing, as if the acceleration button had been pressed, swiftly turned around with a powerful straight kick!


    "Bang!!"


    As if perfectly calculated, the flying Roach Man was precisely hit by his kick in the chest!


    The kick was extremely fierce, full of force and enhanced by the absolute double power of the Power of Twins, directly sending the charging Roach Man flying back more than twenty meters, embedding it into the stone wall of the banquet hall, leaving a huge imprint.


    "Guah¡ª"


    The Roach Man in the wall opened its mouthparts and vomited a few mouthfuls of dark green blood.


    In the dim light, the crowd, originally running and screaming everywhere, fell abruptly silent, staring dumbfounded at the young man who was slowly withdrawing from his kicking stance.


    Xue Jing looked at the Roach Man inside the wall, his tone utterly even as he spoke:


    "You seemed to be having a lot of fun just now."


    "Now, let''s have some fun with me."


    ...


    (This is almost two chapters long, begging for monthly passes...)

 Chapter 69: Chapter 65: Ingenious Use of Shadow Flame, Killing Move - Seal Cloud Tail

    The mouthparts of the roach man writhed, emitting a series of eerie, clicking sounds.


    Its pair of emotionless compound eyes intensely fixed on the prey, which seemed to have excellent flesh but was elusive to catch.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    It extended its six legs and scraped itself out of the stone wall, scattering debris everywhere, creating a tinkling noise in the silent hall.


    With the barbs on its legs hooked onto the wall, the Roach Man hung there as if its feet were firmly planted on the ground.


    "Boom!"


    The stone wall exploded, and dark lightning struck again, this time with even greater speed and spontaneously blasting a circular ring of airwaves that spread out, extinguishing several lighter flames in the hall.


    The banquet hall returned to darkness.


    Just then, unbeknownst to everyone, two flames of Dark Flame ignited in Xue Jing''s pupils, quietly pulsating within.


    He slightly shifted his body, managing to precisely dodge the roach man''s rapid sprint attack in complete darkness, and as they crossed paths, he counterattacked with a punch towards the roach man mid-air.


    "Bang!"


    The explosive sound spread, and the Roach Man was punched and sent flying again.


    But this time, it managed to recover in the air, its six legs with barbs grabbing onto the hall''s carpet, sliding backward several meters, ripping through the carpet and forcefully stopping itself.


    With the Dark Flame burning in his pupils, Xue Jing looked at the roach man and whispered,


    "You beast... It''s not only you who can move freely in the dark."


    Originally, Xue Jing did not plan to step forward.


    The Roach Man''s strength was one thing; the main issue was the poor battle environment.


    Affected by a suspected EMP phenomenon, all electrical devices in the hall were disabled, and with only occasional lighter illumination, the restriction on visibility was too severe.


    In such conditions, even if he had the power to fight the Roach Man, he stood no chance against it.


    The enemy hidden, me exposed; there was no way to fight effectively, rashly advancing was merely presenting oneself as an easy target.


    However, as the Roach Man sprinted and pounced around, he subconsciously followed its movements with his gaze.


    But under the dim and weak light of a lighter, he could hardly see anything.


    At that moment, perhaps because his desire ''to see clearly'' was too strong, "Shadow Flame" spontaneously activated and ignited in his eyes.


    Suddenly, his vision brightened substantially, seeing in black and white as if it were broad daylight.


    This was the real reason he decided to step forward.


    "''Shadow Flame'' also grants ''Dark Vision''... The interface didn''t make it clear; I had to discover it myself," Xue Jing shook his head.


    He stepped forward, rushing towards the Roach Man.


    The latter also opened its mouthparts, emitting strange hissing sounds, and swung its six legs like blades towards Xue Jing.


    Because the light from the lighters was extinguished by the airwaves, all present heard only a loud bang and had no idea what was happening.


    Pei Youguang hastily lit his lighter again.


    Under the faint illumination, everyone widened their eyes.


    The young man who had stepped forward was now locked in combat with that monster!


    The six legs, like six sharp blades, continuously struck out, relentless as a sudden stormy downpour.


    Yet the young man dodged agilely, evading each strike perfectly, as if navigating through each raindrop on a stormy day, his agility unbelievable.


    He even managed to counterattack from time to time with punches and kicks, striking the roach man and causing a series of muffled impacts.


    "This¡­"


    Pei Tiancheng and several Dojo Disciples watched the battle, utterly speechless.


    They had initially wanted to help, but upon seeing this scene, they immediately abandoned the thought.


    The fighting speed and rhythm were so fast they couldn''t even see clearly, let alone keep up.


    "In the martial arts world, speed is unbeatable; overbearing speed is the most despairing," he said.


    "Going forward would only hinder them and make him even more distracted by taking care of them," he added.


    "Everyone, now''s our chance!"


    "Let''s move towards the main entrance, slowly and calmly, no rushing or pushing!"


    Ye Chenglin quickly spoke.


    The crowd snapped to their senses.


    "Right, let''s hurry. Staying here will only hold him back and distract him!"


    "Once we leave, he can fully deal with the monster. After going out, we can also find a phone to call for help!"


    ...


    "Boom!"


    "Rip¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing''s fist hammered into the face of the Roach Man, sending him flying back several meters. At the same time, a bug leg hooked his clothing, tearing it and revealing his pale skin and bulging muscles underneath.


    "It''s really tough..." Xue Jing shook his numb fist.


    The Roach Man, with an exoskeleton covering its body, was extremely hard. Punching it felt like hitting stone.


    Even though he had landed several heavy blows, the Roach Man still seemed unfazed.


    The Roach Man charged at him again.


    Xue Jing, now accustomed to its attack pattern, instinctively sidestepped to dodge.


    At that moment, the Roach Man''s four massive thin wings unfolded behind it!


    The creature flapped its wings furiously in the air, making a sharp turn while rushing forward, and rammed directly towards Xue Jing!


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened, his scalp tingled, his body hair stood on end, and a sense of extreme crisis enveloped him; the shadow of death loomed over his heart.


    The world slowed down.


    In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Xue Jing''s mind like a revolving lantern.


    And finally, he focused on a particular image. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A two-winged True Dragon navigating tirelessly through the sea of clouds, its body wreathed in heaven''s thunder, scales shimmering intensely, radiating layers of light, with golden vertical pupils that commanded everywhere it looked, capable of exhaling Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires with every breath.


    The True Dragon lazily rolled in the clouds and occasionally flicked its tail.


    Instantly, the boundless sea of clouds rolled back like tidal waves, revealing clear skies in a blink.


    The Roach Man collided with Xue Jing.


    The immense force of the impact spread through Xue Jing''s body, threatening to tear him apart.


    Yet at that moment, blessed by Fortune Comes to a Prepared Mind, numerous bones throughout his body trembled, emitting a thunderous rumbling sound, gradually enduring and absorbing the tremendous force¡­


    This strike, strong enough to shatter stone and bend steel, did not make Xue Jing retreat even half a step!


    His whole body tingled with Power, layered upon layered, wrapping all the kinetic energy that entered his bones, converting it for his use. All his strength surged towards his right hand, focusing at one point.


    In the dim banquet hall, a sound of a dragon''s chant echoed, making everyone instinctively turn their heads towards Xue Jing.


    They saw¡ª


    A colossal True Dragon, eclipsing the sun and the sky, swinging its massive tail.


    "Puff¡ª¡ª"


    The Roach Man''s head burst open, its dark green blood spattering like bullets, splashing even those at a distance.


    Xue Jing stared blankly at his fist, still hearing the sound of his bones ringing in his ears.


    Hidden Dragon School killing move¡ªSeal Cloud Tail!


    ...

 Chapter 70: Chapter 66 The Sense of Security Brought by Xue Jing

    The roach man''s head was smashed by a single punch, and the onlookers hadn''t had the chance to process what had just happened.


    Without a head, the roach man somehow moved again, its six insect legs stretching out to embrace Xue Jing.


    "Tsk, figures it''s a cockroach," Xue Jing frowned and leaped backward, avoiding the roach man''s deadly embrace while kicking out mid-air.


    Under the explosion of the Power of Twins, he broke two of the roach man''s stacked legs, sending its torso flying backward.


    "Crack!"


    Xue Jing didn''t pause; instead, he immediately activated the Twin Speed, bending forward and dashing up to the roach man, his gaze sharpening as he reached his hand into the gaping hole where its head had been.


    Cockroaches, as creatures, do not have their weakness in their heads. Even without it, they won''t die, at least not for eight or nine days, until they perish from thirst and hunger for lack of food.


    Their real vulnerability lies just below the throat, above the chest, in the nerve ganglion beneath the esophagus.


    A sticky and disgusting sensation transmitted up from his palm, and Xue Jing, suppressing his revulsion, scooped up what seemed like a soft object.


    The roach man immediately convulsed, struggling frantically as several sharp legs sliced deep, bone-deep gashes in Xue Jing''s body.


    Xue Jing hardened his heart. Instead of dodging, he strengthened his whole body with Power for defense; then, gripping the soft object, he hoisted the headless roach man into the air before slamming it into the ground and pinning it there.


    In the banquet hall, shadows cast by the lighter''s flame allowed numerous black streams to flow towards Xue Jing''s palm. Inside the roach man''s body, unseen by others, a burst of Dark Flame exploded.


    The surface of the roach man''s body suddenly swelled, then stiffened. Its convulsions and struggles gradually ceased until it lay motionless.


    Pei Youguang, holding his lighter, watched Xue Jing''s movements, and thought he saw wisps of Black Flame rising from the creature''s body. But it was so dark that it was hard to see clearly, almost like an illusion.


    He mumbled to himself, "My god... Dark Flame of Bashen?"


    As the roach man stopped moving, Xue Jing withdrew his palm from its body.


    "Is it... over?"


    The crowd stared blankly at the young man standing in the center, his body covered in wounds and smeared with dark green goo.


    The monster that seemed to have leaped out of a horror movie no longer stirred; it lay dead on the ground.


    "It''s dead, it''s dead!"


    Someone exclaimed excitedly.


    Many people''s faces were splattered with the foul-smelling, dark green goo from the roach man''s burst head, but they were unconcerned, their excitement and joy at having survived a harrowing experience unchecked.


    "Who is that guy? Which dojo''s disciple is he? I want to donate money to his dojo, I''ll donate a freaking million!"


    "You can spare a million? I''m donating two million, damn it, and I want to acknowledge him as my brother. If that doesn''t work, even an adoptive father will do!"


    "Second Young Master Pei, Second Young Master Pei, hurry up, take us over there, let us meet him!"


    Noticing Pei Youguang standing stunned to the side, someone quickly nudged his shoulder and urged him on.


    Li Zhaoquan, Zhang Daqing, and the other surviving dojo disciples gazed at the blood-drenched Xue Jing with vacant eyes.


    Zhang Daqing stretched out his hand, patted Li Zhaoquan on the shoulder, and gave him a thumbs-up.


    "Old Li, from now on, I am completely convinced by you."


    "You dared to provoke such a person; from here on out, in the entire Qingcheng martial arts circle, who wouldn''t commend Old Li for his courage?"


    Li Zhaoquan swallowed hard, feeling weak in his knees.


    What did he do just now¡­ with that guy?


    Shook hands¡­


    His bones still ached.


    Suddenly, Li Zhaoquan appeared thoughtful.


    "Old Zhang, I might have just made a huge gain," he said.


    Zhang Daqing looked at him curiously, "What are you talking about?"


    "Look, this Xue... Xue, he''s definitely going to make it big in the future, right?" Li Zhaoquan pinched his chin.


    Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes, "No shit."


    "Then tell me, the sparring I just had with him, it was exceptionally intense, wasn''t it? I only lost by a slight margin at the end, a narrow defeat."


    Li Zhaoquan patted his own arm.


    Zhang Daqing stared at him in disbelief, "You... Are you planning to brag about this to others in the future? Do you have no shame?"


    Li Zhaoquan chuckled.


    ...


    "Ying Yang..." Ye Chenglin walked to the first victim''s body, his face showing grief.


    As he began to speak, everyone was jolted from the joy of their narrow escape, realizing that several friends had died.


    "Why on earth... Where did this monster come from, and why did the power at the Rui Zhu Hotel suddenly go out, even our phones stopped working."


    "This must be a targeted, organized, premeditated assassination against us; I will definitely have my dad look into it!"


    Ye Chenglin shouted angrily.


    He felt panic inside.


    Those who attended the banquet today were not ordinary people, but several had died. As the organizer of the banquet, he was definitely going to be blamed, maybe even mostly blamed.


    Even if his father was a Governing Councilor, this was still too much to handle!


    He glanced at Pei Tiancheng standing beside him, anger burgeoning in his heart.


    Damn it, what a bold claim, saying ''nothing would go wrong with me here''. Bullshit!


    Recalling how Pei Tiancheng had simply jumped aside when faced with the monster, causing several people behind him to get killed, Ye Chenglin felt a surge of bitter resentment.


    All these martial arts bodyguards turned out to be good for nothing... Thank goodness that young man was there; otherwise, everyone might have died today.


    Pei Tiancheng beside him looked like he wanted to say something but in the end, he didn''t; he just sighed.


    He, too, had not anticipated... that it would be just a banquet. Even though someone had died the day before, he thought the danger would merely come from a common psycho killer or something similar and that he would easily take control with lightning.


    Who could have expected such a terrifying creature to appear?


    At that moment, a tall figure, drenched in blood and exuding an inexplicable oppressive aura, approached.


    Everyone''s eyes gleamed with excitement as they looked at him, wanting to say something, but they were intimidated by the aura he radiated. No one could utter a word, and silence ensued.


    Xue Jing spoke as usual, "Everyone."


    "Even though that beast has been killed by me, we might not be out of danger yet and need to remain cautious."


    "Based on my estimation, the instantaneous failure of all electrical devices was probably due to an electromagnetic pulse, which is likely manmade."


    "Given it''s manmade, then that creature must also have been deliberately let in, not accidentally appearing here."


    Everybody listened quietly to his words, with no one interrupting.


    "¡ª These matters will be left to everyone to investigate later. I''m just a security officer, my duty is to ensure your safety for now."


    "Let''s go, I will lead you out of here."


    Having said that, Xue Jing took the lead towards the door.


    Though his body was covered in wounds and blood, his words were filled with conviction to the people who had just witnessed his martial prowess. It sounded utterly persuasive. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone hurriedly followed him.


    Now, only by staying close to this man did they feel a semblance of safety.


    ...


    (Requesting monthly votes...)

 Chapter 71: Chapter 67: Great Harvest, My True Dragon, Born Here

    Xue Jing thought that with the enemy having arranged such a large-scale ambush, complete with electromagnetic pulses and non-human monsters, there would probably be more surprises along the way.


    But unexpectedly, the journey was quite peaceful. Under his leadership, everyone safely descended the stairs to the hotel lobby.


    The moment they saw the bright lights, everyone couldn''t help but sigh in relief.


    Never before had they felt so profoundly that humans truly cannot do without light.


    "Is it safe? Is it really safe?"


    "Thank goodness, let''s hurry. I just want to go home. I never want to come to this hotel again!"


    "Hold on, we can''t be sure we''re out of danger yet. First, call our families and the police, let them come pick us up!"


    The group discussed excitedly.


    The front desk receptionist, who had been yawning due to the lack of guests at the hotel these past few days, suddenly screamed when she saw a figure covered in blood leading a group of people through the stairwell entrance.


    "Ah!!"


    "What are you screaming for, shut your mouth!" Ye Chenglin, already in a bad mood, couldn''t help but scold her harshly upon being assaulted by the noise.


    After scolding, he seemed to realize something, and looked at Xue Jing somewhat nervously, but upon seeing that he didn''t seem to care, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Ye Chenglin showed a strange expression.


    Why did it feel like he was in front of a father...


    The scolded receptionist shrank back, covering her mouth and trembling.


    Xue Jing approached her, smiled, and said softly:


    "Sister, may I borrow your phone?"


    His appearance was truly frightening, covered in wounds and blood. The receptionist, making a pained face as if about to cry, reluctantly took out her phone and handed it over to him, trembling as though she was being robbed.


    Xue Jing didn''t care. After getting the phone, he woke up the screen, dialed the police while thinking:


    "So, the range of this EMP was just the banquet hall layer... The hotel lobby isn''t affected, no wonder nobody noticed anything strange for so long."


    "If that''s the case, then the device emitting the EMP must still be upstairs. I''ll have the sheriff search for it later."


    The emergency services picked up the call, and Xue Jing briefly explained what had happened. The Public Security Bureau took it seriously and said they would send someone immediately.


    After calling 120, his injuries, although not severe, also needed some attention, otherwise, he didn''t know if the monster''s fluid might infect his wounds.


    A few other people were injured too, some by the Roach Man, others by their own missteps in the dim escape environment.


    After making the calls, Xue Jing handed the phone to Ye Chenglin and others, telling them to call their families one by one.


    Once done with these tasks, Xue Jing walked over to a sofa in the lobby and sat down to rest.


    The others didn''t dare bother him, but they unintentionally moved closer to him, feeling more secure the nearer they were to him.


    Xue Jing ignored them and opened the panel.


    [You experienced an intense battle, stimulating your body''s potential: Fitness Experience Points +1027]


    [You tasted victory in the intense fight, leaving you very soothing: Health Cultivation Experience Value +829]


    [You gained new insights into sprinting: Running Experience Value +538]


    [You acquired a bit of a killing aura, attracting certain groups more powerfully: Charm Art Experience Value +551]


    [Your accuracy improved through the intense fight: Aiming Experience Value +518]


    [Your understanding of fighting greatly deepened: Fighting Experience Points +1539]


    [You learned a new skill and deepened your understanding of Channeling Energy: Channeling Energy Experience Points +1347 (meets specialization requirements)]


    [You visualized the true dragon sweeping the Cloud Sea: Meditative Visualization Experience Value +1211]


    [Fitness upgraded to Lv7 (135/4500)]


    [Health Cultivation upgraded to Lv5 (298/2000)] S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Running upgraded to Lv6 (359/3000)]


    [Fighting upgraded to Lv6 (324/3000)]


    [Meditative Visualization upgraded to Lv4 (748/1200)]


    Even though Xue Jing had been mentally prepared and knew there was a significant reward coming, he hadn''t expected it to be this huge!


    Just the four-digit Skills Experience Points gain alone, there were a whopping four of them!


    A series of bone-cracking sounds erupted from his body, his flesh and tendons writhed ceaselessly, and all his wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    His physical condition dramatically improved, the blood that flowed from his wounds was extremely viscous, vividly red, as pure as rubies, almost glowing, and it even faintly emitted a fresh fragrance.


    However, Xue Jing didn''t focus on the changes in his body, but was staring at the panel that showed [Channeling Energy Lv6 (Option to specialize)].


    Option to specialize? What does that mean?


    He clicked on [Channeling Energy], and a description immediately popped up on the interface.


    [Conditions met, can convert Basic Energy Harnessing into Specialized Energy Harnessing, would you like to specialize?]


    "Conditions? Does it mean I have comprehended ''Seal Cloud Tail''?"


    ''So, does this ''Specialized Energy Harnessing'' relate to the Hidden Dragon School''s martial arts?''


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up; this was another new function of the panel he discovered after the upgrade of [Fitness].


    And unlike the insufficient conditions for the upgrade in fitness, this time he could directly [specialize]!


    "Specialized Energy Harnessing; it looks far more potent than Basic Energy Harnessing."


    Xue Jing didn''t hesitate and immediately clicked to specialize.


    [Specialization Successful]


    [Channeling Energy Lv6 (2080/3000), total 6880 Experience Points, converted to Hidden Dragon Vigor Lv4 (1880/4000)]


    Hidden Dragon Vigor!


    Xue Jing immediately began practicing the Armor Shaking Skill breathing methods, mobilizing the internal forces of his body to produce power.


    An extremely smooth sensation naturally arose.


    It was as if a machine that had been operating for years and had rusted was cleaned of rust and freshly lubricated; the power moved freely and smoothly within his body.


    At that moment, if someone came close to Xue Jing, they would hear a surging, torrent-like muffled sound coming from inside his body, mixed with an indistinct fine dragon''s chant.


    It was as if a great dragon was using his body as a river, churning through the waters, freely moving about!


    "Yes, Dad, hurry over here, I nearly died here, this must be¡­"


    In the hotel lobby, a young man making a call to his family on his phone suddenly stopped, unable to speak.


    Confused inquiries came from the phone''s receiver, but received no response.


    It wasn''t just him, everyone in the lobby, including Pei Tiancheng and a few Dojo Disciples who had trained in martial arts, silently stared at the figure sitting on the couch, their eyes filled with terror and awe.


    It was like the ordinary civilians of ancient times, finding themselves in the Golden Throne Hall facing the True Dragon Emperor, an invisible yet tangible pressure making it hard for them to breathe.


    A faint golden glint flashed in Xue Jing''s eyes, his body suffused with Dragon Qi.


    "The ultimate goal of Hidden Dragon School, is to harbor a True Dragon within one''s own body, yielding a dragon''s chant and grandeur with every movement, possessing the mighty power of a True Dragon!"


    "My True Dragon is born here!"


    ...

 Chapter 72: Chapter 68: The Key to Breakthrough

    ```


    It wasn''t clear whether it was because of the special identity of the victim or some other reason, but the sheriff arrived very quickly, completely void of the sluggishness often depicted in movies where they only show up after the criminal has left.


    In just about five minutes, the sound of police sirens was incessant in the parking lot of Rui Zhu Hotel, with an impressive turnout of more than a dozen vehicles all at once; the mobilized police force was quite exaggerated.


    Not long after the police cars arrived, several ambulances also made their way, their sirens blaring almost simultaneously with the police''s arrival.


    "... That''s the situation in detail."


    Xue Jing sat on a bench inside the ambulance, his upper body bare, covered with shocking wounds.


    Two nurses were handling scissors, cotton swabs, bandages, antiseptics, and other items with utmost care, tending to the temporary treatment of his injuries.


    A uniformed middle-aged sheriff was taking notes, writing down everything Xue Jing described.


    "So you mean to say, you took down that monster single-handedly?" the middle-aged sheriff asked.


    After giving it some thought, Xue Jing nodded and said, "You could say that."


    Others hadn''t really been of much help; only Pei Tiancheng had managed to land a punch on the cockroach, but it was almost ineffective.


    Once he stepped in, there simply wasn''t any chance for the others to intercede. They couldn''t match the reaction speed, and given the severely limited visibility, fighting the cockroach monster was like delivering food on a platter.


    "Okay, I''ve recorded everything here; thank you for your cooperation," the middle-aged sheriff said as he closed his notebook and put away his pen, then patted Xue Jing on the shoulder where there were no wounds.


    "Truly, a young hero..." he remarked with emotion.


    Xue Jing smiled and asked, "Sir, you''re from law enforcement, experienced and knowledgeable, do you know anything about the origins of this monster?"


    The sheriff hummed in affirmation, seemingly hesitant, and then chose his words carefully before saying, "I can only tell you that this thing is probably related to the Intersecting Boundaries."


    Compared to the young man before him who had personally killed the monster, he knew much more about the origins of the creature.


    As early as a month ago, people from ''higher up'' had come down to Qingcheng to investigate a smuggling gang involved with the Intersecting Boundaries.


    It was rumored that the smuggling gang carried something extremely dangerous. If not dealt with swiftly, it could even escalate into a city-destroying crisis.


    Thus, all the unusual cases that had occurred in Qingcheng over the past month had drawn high-level attention from the Public Security Bureau, and this was why they dispatched such a large police force immediately upon hearing of a ''monster'' sighting.


    This time... they might have finally caught a lead.


    The middle-aged sheriff glanced at Xue Jing.


    It would only be a matter of time before those people came to question the young man.


    "Intersecting Boundaries..." Xue Jing nodded, as expected.


    Such a monster was either the creation of a mad scientist from a biotech company, or a mysterious product of the Intersecting Boundaries¡ªcertainly not a natural creature.


    "That will be all from me here. You take care of your injuries. We might give you a call later to ask some questions, or summon you to the Public Security Bureau. I hope you''ll cooperate then," said the middle-aged sheriff.


    Xue Jing agreed, "Of course."


    The middle-aged sheriff gave a few more instructions before turning to leave.


    By this time, a considerable duration had passed since the alarm was raised.


    One after another, expensive sedans kept arriving at the hotel''s parking lot, out of which many well-dressed middle-aged individuals stepped.


    They found their children and engaged in conversation, still shaken by the events.


    In addition to these people, there was also a short-haired female journalist in office attire, holding a recording pen and interviewing several individuals. A cameraman with a camera followed behind her.


    Everyone she interviewed pointed in the direction of Xue Jing.


    ```


    "Alright, big sisters, that''s enough. I have urgent matters and need to head home now," said Xue Jing, as he glanced at the female reporter approaching.


    The two nurses, who had been tending to his wounds and unintentionally stroking his chest and abdominal muscles, quickly responded, "No, your injuries are quite serious. You should come with us to the hospital first."


    The other nurse nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes."


    Xue Jing smiled but said nothing, picked up his tattered shirt from the chair beside him, draped it over himself, and jumped straight out of the ambulance.


    Ignoring the nurses'' discouragement and attempts to make him stay, he took a few swift steps and sped away from the parking lot.


    He certainly did not want to end up on the news, as his family seeing him injured would surely worry them to death.


    Shortly after Xue Jing left, a sedan hurriedly drove into the parking lot, and a middle-aged man with a look of panic descended from the vehicle.


    "Ying Yang! My son! Where is my son? Has anyone seen my son? Why hasn''t he called me?" he frantically asked among the crowd.


    Someone, unable to bear it, said softly, "Uncle, Ying Yang, he''s already..."


    The middle-aged man shuddered, squatted down in agony, and covered his face with his hands.


    ...


    At the Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the Heart-Nourishing Room,


    Xue Jing, wearing only a pair of shorts, sat on a single bed while Zhu Shanying held a transparent medicine bottle, occasionally pouring liquid medicine onto his hand to apply on Xue Jing''s wounds.


    "How could this have happened? It was just an ordinary security task, and yet such a monster appeared. Junior brother is really unlucky," muttered Zhu Shanying while applying the medicine.


    "The tasks for the dojo are inherently dangerous, accidents like this are unavoidable," responded Li Qi, sitting in a wheelchair, shaking his head before reassuringly adding,


    "Fortunately, you survived, and even turned misfortune into a blessing by successfully mastering a powerful technique of our Hidden Dragon School. Indeed, for martial artists, the edge between life and death is the best form of tempering."


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing said, "Master, there''s more."


    "I think... I''ve grasped the essence of the Hidden Dragon School." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Qi was momentarily stunned.


    Then, as if realizing something, he quickly wheeled himself to Xue Jing''s side, reached out, and grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, channeling his power into his body.


    This time, although Xue Jing did not think to resist, his body involuntarily reacted; his power surged within him, a faint sound of a dragon''s chant emanated, and it forcibly pushed Li Qi''s hand away.


    Far from being shocked, Li Qi was overjoyed and laughed heartily,


    "Dragon, you''ve raised a dragon within you!"


    Zhu Shanying, puzzled, asked, "Master, what are you talking about?"


    It took a while for Li Qi to stop laughing before he explained, "To hide a true dragon soaring through the clouds, one must nurture a hatchling within oneself. Your junior brother has fostered the ''dragon'' within his flesh!"


    "He has infused his spirit and heart into the Dragon Qi, integrating it into his physical body. The mind and body unite, power circulates and roils as if it were a living dragon, even possessing a sort of ''consciousness'' to some degree."


    "From now on, practicing martial arts is no longer just training but nurturing the dragon within. That is the true core of our Hidden Dragon School!"


    Li Qi''s gaze towards Xue Jing could not have been more satisfied.


    "Little Jing, you''ve obtained the key to ''breakthrough''."


    ...

 Chapter 73: Listing Remarks

    My book will be shelved tomorrow on the 1st!


    Thank you for the support from readers, Lords and Ladies, I am truly grateful. For a noob like me to achieve this with my first book, it feels just like a dream.


    Because the results are so good for me, I''ve been writing with trembling hands, fearing that something might not be quite right and that I''ll ruin it. The pressure has really pushed me to the brink, I feel like I''m on the verge of depression.


    But luckily, it''s finally time to go on the shelf. It''s a matter of life and death this time, so I earnestly ask every reader, Lord and Lady, for a first subscription. This is really very important, not only for the arrangement of future recommendations but also for the morale of the author. If my mindset collapses, the quality will suffer, I''m truly begging you.


    Next, about the updates.


    Even among authors known for their slow updates, I reckon I might still be in contention for ''the slowest of them all.'' A daily grind of five hundred words per hour, occasionally pulling out eight hundred by some miracle, it''s hard to bear.


    Even so, I''ll try to buckle up after it goes on the shelf, ensuring at least three updates, aiming for four (6000 to 8000 words) while trying to maintain quality.


    I''ve said before that for every 100 additional votes before going on the shelf, I would release one extra chapter on top of the regular updates. When I said that, it was 758 votes, and now I see it has surpassed 2000 votes, you guys are amazing...


    Let''s just count it as 2100 votes. So 2100 minus 700 equals 1400, which means I currently owe 14 chapters... Now I am beginning to sweat profusely.


    I hope that when it''s shelved on the 1st tomorrow, everyone will cast their monthly votes for me, please, I beg you!


    ...


    Coming to Qidian to write has been incredibly stressful; this place houses what can be called the most professional and discerning readers in the entire online literature community. I''ve personally witnessed countless authors come to prove themselves only to fall with barely a whisper, and it''s truly intimidating.


    But many people have told me that writing on Qidian is similar to chasing after a girl. If you put her on a pedestal, you''ll never win her over; you have to keep calm and just write what you''re good at. Don''t try to purposefully cater to what you ''imagine the Qidian readers prefer,'' otherwise, you''re more likely to falter.


    Yet, when I truly started writing, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of trepidation like that felt in the presence of a goddess, which made my writing less than ideal.


    Especially when I messed up a plot before, leading to fluctuating readership, my confidence just completely crashed...


    Then I could only forcibly reassure myself, treating each chapter as if it were the last and telling myself not to fear a collapse in performance. I convinced myself to consider all readers as indescribable outer gods, accepting thunder and rain as blessings and peacefully accepting fate''s decree. After all, no matter what the results, the writing must continue.


    Somehow, I managed to hang on with some self-PUA until now...


    Promise me, even if you''re going to nurture the book, you''ll pick up a first subscription before you do, okay?


    Thanks to my editor Canaan; Director Nan who was patient with me pestering him daily about the data, always explaining things clearly to me, and offering many incisive suggestions ¨C where in the world could one find such wonderful editors!


    It''s not flattery really, these are good editors.


    Thanks to the chapter promotion from Director Dan, the author of "The Final Priesthood"; the book is really good. I originally wanted to imitate Director Dan and write a ''muscle-bound righteous bro'' book, but I lost my way halfway and completely missed the mark.


    Thanks to the chapter promotion from Director Xue, the author of "My Superpowers Refresh Weekly"; Holy Heart Language, forever divine. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thanks to the chapter promotion from Master Qingquan, the author of "The King of Beast Tamers." "Unscientific Beast Taming" is great, and I don''t know how this book will fare, I''ll have to wait and see when I have time.


    Thanks to my operations officer, Bai, who really helped me a lot. The book''s current achievement is largely due to him. Like me, he''s been constantly injected with my negative energy about the performance, but he''s always full to the brim.


    Being a newbie, I haven''t joined a single Qidian group, nor do I have any connections; it''s all about relying on editors to help get some back-scratching done...


    I won''t mention matters of daily life; I suppose no one really wants to hear a sob story.


    There''s nothing more to say, so here''s to wishing Lords and Ladies eternal youth and everlasting life.


    Please, I am begging for a first subscription and monthly votes!!!

 Chapter 76: Chapter 70: Made the News? (Seeking first subscription, seeking monthly ticket!)

    "..."


    The three people in the alley were dumbfounded by the sudden scene, staring at Xue Jing with wide eyes.


    "...So cool." Yun Qin muttered softly.


    Ning Fengwan widened her cat-like eyes, "Jing¡­ why are you here?"


    Xue Jing grunted and pinched his chin.


    "Would you believe me if I said I was just passing by accidentally?"


    Ning Fengwan gave him a dismissive look, "Stop messing around and go home. What are you wandering around for in the middle of the night?"


    Her tone carried a hint of urgency.


    Mr. An glanced at her, then at Xue Jing, a hint of a different color flowing in his crimson vertical pupils.


    "So, the Sect Hierarch is temporarily staying at this young man''s house."


    He shook his head and looked at Ning Fengwan.


    "Sect Hierarch, come with me to the main sect. There''s nothing good left in Qingcheng now. Once we reach the main sect, not even Kangde Corporation will be able to do anything to us."


    "Once you successfully receive the infinite divine grace from Ananda Tashasha, given time, it''s not impossible to eradicate Kangde Corporation."


    "..."


    Miao Miao shook her head and said in a childish voice, "No, I don''t want to go."


    Mr. An paused, withdrew his hand, and asked in confusion, "Why?"


    He did not understand ¡ª being the Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult and a believer in Ananda Tashasha, how could she not want to go upon knowing she could receive such grace?


    Hmm?


    Mr. An turned his head and looked at the young man who had just descended from the sky.


    His gaze lingered on that excessively handsome face for a while before he suddenly realized.


    Ning Fengwan sighed, about to say something.


    But Mr. An spoke directly,


    "Sect Hierarch, you wouldn''t want anything to happen to this young man, right?"


    Ning Fengwan: "..."


    Yun Qin: "..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    At these words, the other three were all taken aback.


    Yun Qin muttered softly, "...underhanded."


    Ning Fengwan''s cat face showed a distinctly anthropomorphic chill.


    "You''re threatening me with him?"


    Xue Jing also narrowed his eyes, stepping forward as danger tinged his voice, "I can''t pretend I didn''t hear that."


    Realizing he had said something likely to be misunderstood, Mr. An quickly clarified,


    "No¡­ it''s not a threat, I mean, Sect Hierarch, if you continue to stay in Qingcheng and live at this young man''s house, if Kangde Corporation finds out, it will surely cause trouble for him. It''s better to follow me to the main sect quickly."


    "..." Ning Fengwan was indeed hit in a sensitive spot by these words.


    She cursed irritably, "There would be no issues if you guys hadn''t come looking for me. I told you to not find me for now!"


    "I never wanted to be the Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult; it was that old man''s unilateral decision to make me the successor. That''s still fine, but he also caused such a huge problem before he died!"


    "Now you want me to go to the main sect and receive some divine grace? If you want to receive it, go receive it yourself. Don''t involve me!"


    Yun Qin inadvertently shrunk her slender body, her small face behind the sunglasses full of innocence.


    Xue Jing listened to their conversation; not understanding what had exactly happened with the Dragon Cult and Miao Miao, he found it inappropriate to comment further.


    After a long silence, Mr. An finally said, "¡­Alright, let''s leave it here for today. If Sect Leader changes her mind, contact me anytime."


    Ning Fengwan remained silent.


    Mr. An turned and left the alley. Yun Qin looked at Ning Fengwan, but seeing her say nothing, she felt somewhat disappointed and dejectedly followed Mr. An away.


    Only a person and a cat remained in the alley.


    "..."


    Xue Jing smiled gently, "Let''s go home, Teacher Wan. I''ll make a late-night snack for you."


    Miao Miao blinked her emerald-like vertical pupils, was silent for a while, then gently hummed in agreement.


    ...


    The next morning, as soon as Xue Jing woke up, he first checked the wounds on his body.


    The situation was better than he had anticipated; all the wounds had already scabbed over.


    Originally, he thought he might have to rest for a day and stop his martial arts practice, but now, it seemed it wouldn''t affect his practice.


    He threw off the covers, stretched lazily, and looked at Miao Miao sleeping beside him.


    He reached out and touched Miao Miao''s cheek.


    After returning home yesterday, Xue Jing didn''t ask much, and Miao Miao didn''t say much either; they seemed to interact as usual.


    But Xue Jing could vaguely sense that Miao Miao might already be contemplating leaving.


    Because she didn''t want to drag him into trouble.


    Originally, she had maintained the appearance of a cat due to the Divine Relic, which was sufficiently inconspicuous, and it was safe to stay here.


    But now that the people from the Dragon Cult had found her, her risk of exposure had increased significantly.


    "Kangde Security Company¡­" Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    The security company was a very special entity, even vaguely stepping outside the bounds of typical corporations.


    In this world, due to various reasons, the proliferation of highly powerful individuals was rampant¡ªmartial artists, transformed people, and even the ''Blessed Ones'' that Xue Jing had heard about from Wu Youqing were all destabilizing factors.


    People possessing weapons easily develop murderous intentions; everyone with a hammer sees others as nails. With so many high-powered individuals wandering the streets, how could there not be trouble?


    Compared to Earth in Xue Jing''s previous life, the cost of maintaining public order in this world was far too high.


    With limited official law enforcement resources, what could be done? Naturally, they had to look elsewhere for solutions.


    Therefore, during a particularly chaotic period, the government outsourced a portion of ''law enforcement rights'' to various security companies.


    It allowed security companies to develop and maintain their own armed forces to assist the government in maintaining public order.


    Just think about it¡ªit is tremendously potent to legally possess one''s own armed forces, not to mention a share of ''law enforcement rights.''


    The phrase ''law enforcement rights'' is almost synonymous with ''sovereignty rights''!


    Even if it was limited rule, it still was rule.


    During that period, the major security giants began to grow savagely, gradually becoming enormous entities deeply rooted in the nation.


    Now, they had indeed become unshakable.


    Thinking about making enemies with such corporations, which even officials found headache-inducing, was enough to make one''s scalp tingle.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Forget it, no more thinking about this."


    "Martial arts practice, growth, someday I will solve all problems, and even if I can''t solve all problems, I will surely deal with all people who cause problems."


    Xue Jing resolved in his heart.


    "Damn it, what company mother company, all will be blown away with one punch!"


    ...


    In the training room at Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Xue Jing was practicing Armor Shaking Skill.


    Today, according to schedule, he was training "Blood Training," the most challenging of the five moves and the one that demanded the highest physical fitness.


    Like the other Armor Shaking Skill moves, it ended with a full-body tremble, christened True Dragon Shaking Armor¡ªwith blood boiling.


    Today, however, the sensation during his practice was completely different from before.


    After specializing in Channeling Energy into Hidden Dragon Vigor, it felt as if there was a dragon nourished within his body, this ''dragon'' acting like his own doppelg?nger, controlled smoothly and seamlessly.


    As the power surged, his entire blood was forged and tempered by the ''dragon'', becoming cleaner, and thicker, resembling mercury.


    With every tremor, Xue Jing could feel the ''dragon'' growing larger.


    After a long while, having finished all the moves, Xue Jing calmed his boiling blood, his body emitting nearly visible steam, frighteningly hot.


    "Hoo¡ª"


    He threw a Straight Punch into the air.


    Energy surged like a dragon, naturally flowing into his fist, concentrating at one point and then bursting forth explosively.


    The air tore apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound, and faintly, amidst it, the sound of a dragon''s chant could be heard, near the curtain, which looked as though it had been hit by an air punch, creating a circular indent that only reverted back to original shape seconds later.


    "This set of Blood Training movements corresponds to the ''Shaking Star Fire'' amongst the Five Major Practices of Hidden Dragon School."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "From point to plane, activating the energy, penetrating the enemy''s body to explode and create a Defense-Breaking Skill, specifically designed to deal with hard-skinned skilled practitioners."


    He threw another punch.


    "Hoo¡ª"


    Energy exploded, creating a gust of wind.


    "Using ''Hidden Dragon Vigor'' to deliver this hit, Shaking Star Fire, feels like releasing a dragon to bite someone inside¡ª"


    Xue Jing had a strange thought.


    [You performed one practice session of Armor Shaking Skill, Fitness Experience Points +331]


    [You performed one practice session of Armor Shaking Skill, Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +367]


    After checking his achievements on the panel, Xue Jing picked up the Nebulizer Inhaler next to him, beginning to absorb the medicinal mist.


    A few moments later, footsteps came from the doorway of the practice room.


    "Little junior brother, little junior brother."


    Chen Fuguang called at the door.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes, removed his Nebulizer Inhaler, and walked out of the practice room.


    In the corridor, Chen Fuguang stepped forward, clasped Xue Jing''s shoulder, and with a wink said:


    "Little junior brother, you''ve struck it rich."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "How so?"


    "Didn''t you slay a monster at Rui Zhu Hotel yesterday and save that group of second generations?"


    Chen Fuguang said, a hint of envy in his eyes.


    "Today, we at Hidden Dragon Dojo received a lot of donations, upon checking, it''s all from those second generations'' parents."


    "Master said, this money is your reward, all credited to your account."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up.


    That''s great, these wealthy and influential folks really know how to handle things.


    "How much money?" he asked curiously. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Fuguang pulled out his phone from his pocket, checked it.


    "Hmm... basically, each amount is over a million, we''ve already received several payments now, totaling twenty-two million."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Am I rich now?


    Chen Fuguang ruffled his head, laughing:


    "Don''t slack off just because you''ve made so much money. Martial arts practice is a great undertaking, mountains of gold and silver can be consumed by it, twenty-two million won''t last long."


    "You''ve just started the Five Major Practices, going deeper, you''ll need medicine for ''Organ Nourishing'', ''Nourish the Essence'', and even ''Nourish the Heart'', each ridiculously expensive."


    "Prepare to say goodbye to your twenty-two million."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    Poor literary, rich martial...


    "Oh right, little junior brother, there''s one more thing."


    Chen Fuguang tapped and swiped on his phone, then handed it to Xue Jing.


    "Look at this."


    Xue Jing took the phone, looked at the screen.


    On the screen, there was a news item.


    [Qingcheng Morning News]


    [Seventeen-year-old high school student beats bizarre monster to death, a martial arts prodigy from Qingcheng University Affiliated Middle School?]


    ...


    (Asking for monthly votes!)

 Chapter 78: Chapter 72: Charm Art Lv6, Special Mechanism (3K, Seek Monthly Votes)

    "Sparring commission?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed confusion.


    Zhu Shanying nodded, her bright and lively eyes sparkling as if they were constantly emitting little stars.


    "The client is also a martial artist, who became curious about you after watching the news reports, and wants to have a bout with you."


    "The reward is five hundred thousand, you know."


    The girl chuckled.


    After some thought, Xue Jing nodded and said, "Okay then."


    Since it was this kind of easy job, he naturally wouldn''t refuse.


    Although it was a little strange to pay five hundred thousand just for a sparring session¡ªit seemed too much¡ªthe spending habits of the wealthy are different from ordinary people. Perhaps for the client, this expense was quite normal.


    Zhu Shanying hummed with a smile, "The client requests the time to be tomorrow noon, and as for the location, they''ll call you when it''s time."


    Xue Jing nodded to show he understood.


    After discussing the formalities, Xue Jing, seeing that Zhu Shanying had no intention of leaving, thought for a moment and asked:


    "Sister Zhu, how come you seem to have so much free time every day?"


    Zhu Shanying raised her embroidered eyebrows, walked up to Xue Jing, stood on her tiptoes, stretched out both of her jade hands, and pinched his cheeks on both sides:


    "Little junior brother, are you implying that sister has too much leisure time? Are you fed up with sister bothering you?"


    Xue Jing helplessly said, "That''s not what I meant."


    He moved away Zhu Shanying''s hands, which were pinching his cheeks, "All the other senior brothers and sisters are so busy completing commissions that they''re on their feet all day... I was just curious."


    Zhu Shanying withdrew her hands, folded them behind her back, and with a tilt of her head, she huffed lightly, "Sister has a superpower, actually."


    Hmm?


    Xue Jing glanced at her, curious, "What superpower?"


    "Super rich!"


    Zhu Shanying said playfully.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "What do you think, are you tempted? I''m a super-rich lady, way beyond your imagination rich. If you could win me over, you wouldn''t need to worry about money for the rest of your life."


    The girl said with a smile, as if joking.


    She had thought that her little junior brother would be somewhat moved, and then she could tease him a bit, taking a small revenge for the two times he had thrown her over his shoulder.


    However, contrary to the girl''s expectations, Xue Jing shook his head with an unchanged expression.


    He stretched out his right hand and clenched it into a fist.


    "Money, power, fame... These external things, which can be lost at any time, are ultimately just inferior substitutes for strength."


    "For a strong person who possesses great power, they are nothing more than stones that can be found everywhere, so easily grasped that they are discarded without a care."


    "If I were to be with sister for the sake of money, then the day I become someone who regards money as mere stones, sister will also become just a stone to me¡ªsomething I can discard without a second thought."


    Xue Jing spoke in his usual tone.


    He really didn''t care too much about money at the moment.


    Of course, the main reason was that he had just made twenty million. He was in sage mode, not desperately in need of money anymore, which naturally made him indifferent and allowed him to say such pretentious words.


    "..." Zhu Shanying seemed spellbound, staring blankly at Xue Jing.


    After a long while, she finally sighed softly, with a complex expression on her pretty face, she murmured quietly, "I was just joking."


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +231]


    [Charm Art has been upgraded to Lv6 (125/3000)]


    Xue Jing saw the message that popped up on the panel but remained composed.


    Zhu Shanying didn''t realize her complex emotions were exposed by the panel; she looked at Xue Jing''s face with some puzzlement.


    Somehow, junior brother... seemed even more handsome.


    Keeping her thoughts to herself, the girl resumed her usual expression and walked to the center of the training room, beckoning to Xue Jing.


    "Little junior brother, it''s been a while since we''ve sparred. Let''s have a couple of rounds."


    Xue Jing limbered up and walked forward, laughing while he did, "Thanks for the honor, fifty thousand."


    Zhu Shanying''s eyes widened slightly, "Didn''t you say that money is just a stone that can be casually thrown away?"


    "That''s for the future... I''m worth a lot right now. The client spent five hundred thousand to book me. As a self-proclaimed super-rich lady, surely you can''t offer less than others, right?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes were full of teasing mirth.


    Zhu Shanying glared at him, "I don''t care, I''m your senior sister, and I get freebies!"


    After saying that, she immediately moved in close and threw a punch at Xue Jing.


    Two minutes later.


    "Bang¡ª"


    Zhu Shanying, who had once again been thrown over the shoulder and smashed onto the ground, cupped her face with both hands, curling into a ball.


    She went into a self-imposed isolation.


    ...


    Qingcheng University, Library, Seventh Floor.


    In the quaint and old attic filled with a sense of historical depth, under the dim glow of a large lamp, the girl sitting in the wooden chair was flipping through a book, reading quietly.


    Her posture was straight, her attire simple, her face without makeup but still charming, it formed an elegant picture amidst the old attic.


    At that moment, a breeze that seemed out of place in the closed attic stirred, causing the girl''s ponytail to sway gently.


    A woman with short hair dressed in a black form-fitting tactical suit appeared abruptly in the attic.


    She appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, of average looks with a blade-like scar at the corner of her eye. On her tactical suit¡ªat the elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, waist... all the easily accessible places¡ªwere all sorts of sharp blades of different shapes.


    And on the chest of her tactical suit was an emblem: a pair of fully spread white wings with a few feathers falling around it, looking quite exquisite.


    Wu Youqing didn''t seem surprised by the visitor; she calmly closed her book and from a hidden compartment next to her, she took out various tea utensils and a "GOD-1567¡¤Sweet Water Jug."


    Without a word, she silently brewed tea with the GOD-1567 and pushed one of the cups towards the seat opposite her. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The short-haired woman approached, sat down on the wooden chair, picked up the cup of tea, took a sip, and frowned slightly:


    "What an odd flavor."


    As Wu Youqing stirred her teacup with a spoon, she spoke, "Speak, what brings you here?"


    The short-haired woman seemingly pulled an obsidian-like card out of nowhere, showed it to Wu Youqing, and began:


    "Miss Wu, I am the captain of the 838 squad of the White Crow Task Force, which belongs to the Special Duty Department under the Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters, codename ''Void Blade.''


    Wu Youqing sighed, "You don''t have to list all that, I can''t remember it, just get to the point."


    Void Blade''s expression didn''t change as she said, "The procedure requires it."


    "Miss Wu, Xue Jing from the C-level Custodians at your Divine Relic Custodian Company is related to a case we are currently investigating. We are going to make contact, and I''m here to inform you of this."


    Wu Youqing furrowed her brows, thinking of the news she''d seen that morning, she spoke up:


    "Is it because of the incident reported in the news?"


    Void Blade stood up and shook her head, "I can''t answer that, but you have been notified, so now I will¡ª"


    "Stop." Wu Youqing''s tone was cold as she spoke.


    Her light purple eyes seemed to be faintly glowing, their color deepening slightly.


    "Go ahead and make contact, investigate by all means, as it''s all procedural. If he agrees to cooperate in whatever you need, I won''t intervene."


    But remember, don''t let any of those corrupt practices of the White Crow influence him."


    "If I find out something has happened to him, and it''s due to your actions¡ª"


    "Trust me, even if you have a member of the Institution Management Committee backing you up, they can''t withstand the fury of the Wu Family."


    "..." Void Blade''s expression remained unchanged, as if she didn''t register Wu Youqing''s threat.


    The involuntary cold sweat on her forehead, however, betrayed her inner turmoil.


    "Do you understand?" Wu Youqing spoke softly.


    "...I understand." Void Blade nodded.


    The breeze blew by, and the short-haired woman in the black tactical suit disappeared within the attic.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment, chin in hand, then took out her phone, opened the interface, and went to her contacts.


    She scrolled through, finding the number labeled ''Xue Jing,'' hovered over the ''call'' button.


    The girl seemed to think of something, and ultimately chose not to make the call.


    She exited the contacts, scrolled through her screen, and opened a video.


    It was a low-resolution surveillance video, on a decrepit old street you could vaguely make out two figures fighting.


    The last frame showed one of the figures enshrouded in dark flames, grasping the other person''s head and pouring the flames into their mouth.


    "Strange ability," the girl muttered to herself.


    "He has many mysteries... Letting the White Crow come into contact with him may not be a bad thing after all."


    ...


    The next day at noon, Xue Jing was quietly practicing Coiling Dragon Art in the training room.


    Armor Shaking Skill and Coiling Dragon Art, one dynamic, one static, one training Dragon Force, the other cultivating Dragon Qi, were complementary and needed to be practiced concurrently to progress evenly.


    His physical condition had improved leaps and bounds from before, and the burden of practicing Coiling Dragon Art was easily bearable for him now. He could even consider maintaining the posture of Coiling Dragon Art for twenty-four hours straight as a challenge.


    However, with martial arts practice, there is such a thing as too much; a balance between work and rest was necessary. Practicing Coiling Dragon Art for an hour or two each day was sufficient¡ªany longer and emotional fluctuations would become erratic, greatly reducing the efficiency of the practice.


    "You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills practice. Fitness Experience Points +228"


    "...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +217"


    "...Meditative Visualization Experience Points +116"


    Shortly after he had finished practicing Coiling Dragon Art, his phone on the solid wood floor began to vibrate and ring.


    Xue Jing picked up the phone and answered the call.


    "Yes, it''s me."


    "..."


    "No problem, I''m available now."


    "..."


    "Alright, I''ll be right there."


    It was the caller who wanted him to be a sparring partner.


    After hanging up, Xue Jing first went to the bathroom to take a shower and change clothes. Then he left the Hidden Dragon Dojo and hailed a taxi.


    "Driver, please take me to Mufeng Street in the North City District..."


    After getting into the car, Xue Jing gave the driver the address provided by the client.


    "Alright, sit tight," the driver replied cheerfully, spinning the wheel in a sharp turn.


    The car sped off toward the North City District.


    ...


    (Seeking monthly votes...)

 Chapter 79: Chapter 73: The Right Way to Make Friends (3K, ask for monthly pass)

    The traffic was too heavy at noon, and the taxi was stuck on a big bridge. The uncle, bored and fidgeting with the steering wheel, rolled down the window, pointed diagonally across the bridge, and said casually:


    "Look, that''s the suburban area of South City. Over a decade ago, a big company planned to develop that area, drawing a lot of investment and exciting the people of South City.


    But unexpectedly, it turned out to be a ''high-frequency earthquake zone.'' The buildings were only half-done when it became clear they couldn''t be sold, so construction was simply abandoned, leaving behind a whole bunch of unfinished buildings."


    Xue Jing followed his pointing, and could see clearly at the end of his line of sight, a large cluster of half-built buildings, most of them with their steel rebar exposed.


    "Now you can''t even find a living soul there, but there''s a pile of dead bodies. Many of Qingcheng''s unsolved cases where people died, the bodies were found there. It''s because the area is usually deserted, which makes it convenient to hide a body."


    Xue Jing sat in the back seat without responding, his gaze intensifying instead.


    With his Level 5 Aiming skill, his vision was extremely strong, far beyond that of ordinary people, equivalent to having built-in binoculars. Even at a great distance from the abandoned building site, he could still see many details clearly.


    Atop one of the unfinished buildings without a ceiling, there seemed to be a strange black shadow standing on a rusty piece of rebar¡ªit looked like... a cockroach?


    Xue Jing blinked, looked more carefully, and found that what was hanging on the rebar was just a large black plastic bag, flapping loudly in the wind.


    "An illusion..." He was a bit puzzled.


    Could it be an aftereffect of killing that Cockroach Monster two days ago? Now, seeing anything similar felt like seeing a cockroach.


    He shook his head and didn''t pay it too much attention.


    Perhaps there really was a slight psychological shadow left behind; after all, cockroaches are truly disgusting.


    ...


    North City District is where the majority of government officials reside, and has always been nicknamed ''Noble North.''


    Of course, this is just a saying and not absolute. North City District also has many ordinary residents. There are only a few government officials; if only they could live in North City, it would be a ghost district.


    This was Xue Jing''s first visit to North City District. He sat in the car curiously looking through the window for a while but didn''t notice anything different from East City or West City.


    However, as the car drove up a long slope, rounded two corners, and entered Mufeng Street, his opinion changed.


    On the clean and tidy street, one villa after another was interspersed among lush green trees. The pedestrians were well-dressed and carried an air of distinction; some even wore the kind of butler and maid outfits one might see only in idol TV dramas...


    The cars on the street weren''t all expensive luxury vehicles, but their license plates were all ones and fives, six six six six, nine nine nine nine, and the like.


    Such license plates, even on a Wuling Hongguang, would be quite imposing, giving an indication of the kind of people in the cars.


    After the driver uncle had driven into this area, his originally relaxed driver''s demeanor vanished, and he became extremely serious. Both hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his body leaned forward, his full attention engaged.


    Like taking a driving test, he was extremely cautious, afraid to scrape or bump into anything.


    Upon reaching the destination, Xue Jing scanned a code to pay, thanked the driver, and got out of the car.


    He turned around to look at the house in front of him.


    Well, a big villa.


    At the gate, wide enough for a big car to pass, there were already two people waiting.


    "Youguang?" Xue Jing asked with surprise.


    He looked at the plump young man who was scratching his head and forcing a smile, then at his brother, Pei Tiancheng, beside him.


    "Is it you guys who made the request to the dojo?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Pei Youguang approached with a smile and said, "Sort of."


    "Let''s not talk about that for now, Master Xue, welcome to our brothers'' home. Please, come in!"


    ...


    Xue Jing followed Pei Youguang and his brother into the villa, through a large courtyard, several corridors, and arrived at a spacious and elegantly decorated living room.


    He sat down on the sofa in the living room and was immediately served by several maids carrying trays of tea.


    One of them knelt down in front of Xue Jing, prepared the tea set, and brewed him a cup of red tea of an unknown variety with warm water.


    "Please enjoy the tea, sir." She respectfully extended her hand and glanced at Xue Jing''s profile, a blush appearing on her face.


    "Thank you," Xue Jing replied politely, lifted the expensive-looking cup and took a sip. He couldn''t taste much, but the flavor was quite good, with a strong aftertaste.


    Setting down the cup, he turned to Pei Tiancheng seated opposite him and began with a smile:


    "Master Pei, are you inviting me here because you want to practice with me?"


    Pei Youguang, standing beside him, had the corners of his mouth twitch as if he wanted to laugh but dared not.


    Pei Tiancheng immediately shook his head quickly and hurriedly explained:


    "No, it''s not me. Someone wants to meet you through me. They said they wanted to see you in person."


    "I thought you must be really busy, and it might not be appropriate to invite you directly, so I decided to pay for a request instead."


    Pei Tiancheng said tactfully, with an embarrassed look.


    Previously, at the Rui Zhu Hotel banquet, he wanted to get to know Xue Jing and asked Pei Youguang to call him over, but Pei Youguang came back alone.


    At that time, he already realized it was not because Pei Youguang forgot; it was that Xue Jing had pride, and wouldn''t do anything that smacked of groveling.


    He invited Xue Jing by way of a request this time because he was worried that a direct invitation would remind Xue Jing of that night''s incident and result in another refusal.


    Xue Jing was unconcerned with Pei Tiancheng''s complex thoughts, merely curious:


    "Oh? Someone wants to see me? Who is it?"


    Pei Tiancheng waved his hands, signaling the maids to leave.


    Then he spoke in a low voice:


    "I don''t know... He''s a man, seems to have a special background. My father respects him quite a bit and told me to accommodate his requests as much as possible."


    "Yesterday, Youguang and I had a drink with him. I did find out some things. He said he''s from a special government organization, but what exactly it is, I couldn''t find out."


    Pei Tiancheng paused, then continued:


    "However, this man is strong."


    "Although I''ve never fought him, I can tell from his appearance, demeanor, and certain habits that he''s likely used to fighting. He''s decisive and forthright in his speech and actions, disliking beating around the bush."


    Xue Jing nodded and asked,


    "Where is he?"


    Pei Tiancheng thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "He''s on the hill behind North City District, not far from here. He said he would take you to meet him when you arrived."


    Xue Jing noticed that Pei Tiancheng seemed a bit cautious in his words. Xue Jing reached out and reassuringly patted his shoulder, chuckling,


    "Relax, you''re the employer now. You call the shots."


    Pei Tiancheng let out a sigh of relief.


    "That''s good to hear."


    "No time to waste, I''ll take you there right away."


    ...


    On a grass-covered slope in the North City District''s outskirts, a man was lying in the sun with his legs crossed.


    With his eyes closed, he seemed to be in his early twenties, sporting a buzz cut, slightly dark skin, a resolute face, and a blade of grass tucked between his teeth that he was grinding.


    The man was dressed in a black sleeveless vest, green military pants, and black combat boots. His exposed muscles were robust and filled with a sense of solidity, glowing with an almost metallic sheen, as if forged from steel.


    "Hmm?"


    Suddenly, the man opened his eyes, sat up, and gently pressed behiend his ear with his hand.


    "Hello? Captain?"


    "..."


    "Ah? Don''t go too far? Didn''t you say we were going to try inviting him to join White Crow? Isn''t this part of it? Otherwise, what was the point of all my past suffering?"


    "..."


    "His backing? How strong can it be, anyway? Fine, I''ll try to pull my punches."


    "But, he might be our comrade in the future, you know how dangerous the Intersecting Boundaries are. It''s essential for comrades to know each other well... I''ll try to test his limits and will have to land some heavy blows."


    There was the sound of a car driving on gravel, coming from a distance. The man turned to look.


    "Enough talking, he''s here."


    After pressing behind his ear, the man stood up and stretched his limbs. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A black sedan slowly drove onto the grass and stopped.


    Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang got out of the driver and passenger seats, respectively.


    The rear door of the car also opened, and an overly handsome young man stepped out.


    "Oh? He does look the part," the man muttered to himself.


    He walked toward the young man, spreading his arms as if to embrace him. His arms were exceptionally long, reaching past his knees, similar to the limbs of an ape.


    The man grinned and said,


    "Xue Jing, pleased to meet you. You can call me ''Mountain Demon.''


    "So let''s not waste any time, let''s become friends right away."


    "The best way to make friends¡ª"


    "Is to have a fight!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the grass around him burst apart, and he vanished from the spot.


    Xue Jing, facing the Mountain Demon who appeared suddenly before him and was now swinging a punch at him, showed no change in his expression.


    True to what Pei Tiancheng had said, the man was swift and decisive.


    "Very well."


    "I don''t dislike this direct way of communication."


    The punch carried tremendous power, whistling through the air as if even a steel plate in front of it would be pierced.


    However, Xue Jing did not dodge or flinch, standing his ground and taking the punch straight to the chest.


    "Puh¡ª"


    As the Mountain Demon looked on in slight surprise, the fist that reached his chest felt as if it had struck a tire, the sound dull and heavy.


    Xue Jing''s bones trembled, emitting a rolling thunderous sound. The powerful kinetic energy from the punch was absorbed by his bones and transformed...


    His breathing skills activated, his power surged within his body, turning into a True Dragon that roamed everywhere, sweeping the kinetic energy in his bones into his own power.


    The sound of the dragon''s roar resonated.


    All the force converged in his right fist. Xue Jing spun around quickly and threw a backhand punch as powerful as the tail of a True Dragon sweeping the clouds from the sky.


    Killing move¡ªSeal Cloud Tail!


    "Bang!!"


    The air was torn asunder, and the grass within several meters was flattened into a fan shape by the blast.


    In the stunned gaze of Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang, followed by a loud explosion, the Mountain Demon was launched more than twenty meters away, his body rigid as a javelin, plunging into the sloping hillside.


    ...

 Chapter 82: Chapter 75 I Just Want to Touch the Divine Relic (4K, Asking for Monthly Votes~)

    "Dragon Wing Device?" Xue Jing muttered.


    Mountain Demon, with a sense of pride, said, "This is an Alien Implant made from the Core Organ of a Dragon Breed."


    "You know about the Dragon Breed, right? It''s a very special type of creature within the Intersecting Boundaries."


    Xue Jing nodded. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Secret Medicine he was now taking daily often used materials sourced from Dragon Breeds.


    However, information about the Intersecting Boundaries was always shrouded in mystery. He couldn''t find anything online, and he didn''t know what exactly a Dragon Breed was like.


    "The most significant characteristic of Dragon Breeds is their ability to fly," Mountain Demon said, looking towards the captain who was gradually approaching, now turning from a mere dot into a distinct human form.


    "All Dragon Breeds possess incredible flying abilities without exception, even those several tens of meters long and weighing hundreds to thousands of tons. They all manage to fly."


    "Flying for them is as natural as breathing, without any energy cost. They can stay perpetually in the sky, even sleep there, completely unaffected by gravity."


    "Based on years of research on Dragon Breeds, we''ve discovered that they can fly because they inherently possess an odd ''Anti-Gravity Biological Field.''"


    The woman in the sky had now arrived above Xue Jing and was slowly descending.


    Mountain Demon, looking up at her, said, "The Dragon Wing Device is made using the Core Organ of a Dragon Breed that possesses an ''Anti-Gravity Biological Field.'' Once implanted into the human spine and connected to the nerves, it grants the ability to fly."


    "It''s the best-selling Alien Implant from South Heaven Heavy Industries, highly acclaimed without competition."


    At this moment, the woman also gradually landed in front of them.


    Xue Jing glanced at her appearance.


    She looked average, with sharp eyes, appearing to be in her late twenties with a blade-shaped scar by her eye. Her black tactical suit, designed for easy access, was laden with various shaped blades everywhere.


    "You can call me ''Void Blade''."


    The woman introduced herself in a calm tone.


    "We are from the ''Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters'' under the jurisdiction of the Special Duty Department, the White Crow Task Force, specifically dealing with abnormal incidents related to the Intersecting Boundaries."


    She extended her right hand.


    "I am the captain of the White Crow Task Force 838, and the gorilla next to me is a team member."


    Mountain Demon: "Hey."


    Xue Jing also extended his right hand and shook hers, saying, "So you''re inviting me to join this ''White Crow Task Force''? Why?"


    Void Blade said, "You are very talented...that monster you killed a few days ago, did you know its origins?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Is it a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    "Yes, but also not really."


    As Void Blade spoke, she extended her right hand, tapping a few times on a silver bracelet on her wrist, which immediately lit up and projected a blue light, forming a 3D holographic image that slowly rotated in the air.


    The image displayed a creature with a human torso, legs, and six insectoid legs, exactly the Cockroach Monster that Xue Jing had killed.


    "We''ve examined the creature''s body, and it indeed contains some elements unique to Intersecting Boundaries creatures, such as¡ªCore Organs."


    She manipulated the holographic image with her other hand, enlarging the Cockroach Monster''s body, and then swiped her finger to slice open the area below the throat of the Cockroach Monster, revealing its interior cross-section.


    Inside it, numerous nerve pathways converged around a center that was a soft-looking sphere.


    Seeing this, something clicked in Xue Jing''s mind.


    He had reached into the body of the Cockroach Monster, and it seemed he had grabbed something¡ªprobably this.


    "This is a Core Organ, something every creature from the Intersecting Boundaries has inside, though its form varies¡ªlike a heart, a brain...or even limbs, nails, even skin."


    "The Core Organ is the source of the Intersecting Boundaries creatures'' special powers. For example, this Cockroach''s incredible burst strength and speed actually come from the energy supplied by this Core Organ. Otherwise, with such a large body but an insect-like structure internally, even breathing oxygen would be a problem, let alone anything else."


    Xue Jing puzzled, said, "Since it has a Core Organ, it''s clearly a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries. Why then say ''it could also be said not to be''?"


    Void Blade waved her hand, dispersing the Cockroach Monster''s holographic image.


    Then she tapped a few more times on her bracelet and a new holographic image appeared in the air.


    It was a continuously squirming creature that resembled a human brain in form but without the wrinkles, a peculiar insect.


    "This creature is called ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother.''"


    "It''s from the Intersecting Boundaries site F056, known as ''Rotten Flesh Lake.''"


    Void Blade said softly, "Its danger level rating peaks at 6.2..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Hold on, what exactly is a danger level?"


    Void Blade: "..."


    "Don''t they teach you this at the Dojos in the Outer Ring?"


    She seemed a bit incredulous.


    "Mountain Demon, give me the combat data from your fight with him." Void Blade turned her head and called out to Mountain Demon.


    Mountain Demon reluctantly said, "I''m not a gorilla..."


    He touched something behind his ear, performing some operation unknown to us, and Void Blade did the same.


    After a while, Void Blade looked somewhat surprised and said to Xue Jing, "Oh? Your current danger level rating has already reached between 2.9 and 3.1."


    Xue Jing shrugged, "I don''t understand."


    "The danger level is a rating system summarized by a doctor in Inner Ring City who is passionate about evaluating combat strength."

 Chapter 83: Chapter 75 I Just Want to Touch the Divine Relic (4K, Asking for Monthly Votes~)_2

    "A healthy adult male has a danger level of about 1 to 1.1,"


    "This grading system is exponential, similar to the Richter scale. A difference of 0.1 roughly equates to a multiple of 1.414; in theory, a person at level 1.1 is approximately 1.4 times stronger than one at level 1."


    "Simply put, the highest danger level of the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother is 6.2, which is equivalent to sixty-five thousand of you stacked together," Void Blade said.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    That was indeed dangerous...


    "Of course, this is an extreme case. In reality, the level of the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother fluctuates greatly, with a maximum of 6.2 and a minimum of 1.8."


    "The Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother can assimilate the genetic information of the creatures it consumes to spawn corresponding insect species, and it can even mix the genes of different creatures..."


    "A little over a month ago, a smuggling gang from the Intersecting Boundaries captured a Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother at ''Rotten Flesh Lake'' and took it out."


    "Upon receiving this news, we pursued them relentlessly until they fled into Qingcheng and suddenly disappeared."


    "It doesn''t matter that they disappeared, but the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother must be found; otherwise, if it eats something indiscriminately and spawns some monstrous creature, it won''t be a laughing matter."


    Void Blade looked at Xue Jing.


    "And now, through you, we finally have a clue,"


    Xue Jing frowned and said, "You mean, the cockroach monster I killed was spawned by the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother?"


    Void Blade nodded and said, "Correct."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly.


    "So this thing... was a fusion of a cockroach and a human?"


    "Probably. The Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother moves slowly, and it''s a large target. If it were acting alone, it wouldn''t remain undetected for so long; someone must be hiding it, intending to use it for some purpose."


    Void Blade looked at Xue Jing earnestly and said, "Xue Jing, you''re only seventeen years old, and in just over a month of martial arts training, you''ve reached such a level. Your talent is outstanding, and you have the courage to face creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries... Someone like you would be wasting your potential staying in the Outer Ring."


    "I hope you can join our White Crow Task Force. We are backed by the [organization], possessing the most professional and advanced training system in all of Zhuxia, and we can fully unlock your potential without any dead angles."


    "You deserve a bigger stage."


    Xue Jing remained silent.


    For a moment, he was truly tempted.


    But soon, he dismissed the idea.


    Joining the White Crow, backed by the organization, what Void Blade described sounded wonderful, but unfortunately, it wasn''t suitable for him.


    A training system superior to all others, he had had that from the beginning...


    Perhaps joining such an official organization would indeed accelerate his growth, but the thought of the accompanying lack of freedom made him uncomfortable.


    There''s no such thing as a free lunch... Accepting things from the official side inevitably required giving something in return. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What if the higher-ups asked him to carry out orders he was unwilling to execute?


    To be beholden to others for such a slight increase in growth rate wasn''t worth it.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "Sorry, but I must decline."


    Void Blade''s expression didn''t change, as if he had anticipated this response, he said, "No worries, I probably understand your thoughts, but don''t be too quick to refuse."


    "How about this, as the captain of Squad 838, I temporarily grant you the status of an external member of the White Crow Task Force."


    "You will still be free, not obligated to obey anyone in the organization, but when necessary, I will ask you to do tasks in the form of requests, which you can choose to accept or reject."


    "If you choose to accept and complete the task, I will also report to the organization and reward you accordingly."


    "If you eventually wish to join formally, you can become an official member at any time."


    "How does that sound?"


    Beside him, the Mountain Demon showed an expression of wanting to speak but stopping, and stopping but wanting to speak again.


    The captain was perhaps treating him... too favorably.


    Was talent really that amazing?


    Xue Jing: "..."


    The conditions were overly generous.


    However, they meant little to him, and he was about to decline, but then something crossed his mind.


    Xue Jing opened his mouth and asked, "Do you have any Divine Relics in this ''organization''?"


    Void Blade was slightly startled and, considering Xue Jing''s identity as a C-level Custodian, a hint of a smile passed through his eyes.


    "Yes, of course, there is. One of the research departments within the organization is the ''Divine Relic Institute,'' which houses many Divine Relics, including several in the top hundred rankings..."


    "Are you interested in Divine Relics?" Void Blade asked.


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "I am interested, not going to lie to you, I''m a Divine Relic enthusiast. My dream is to touch all the Divine Relics. Of course, just touching them is enough for me."


    Void Blade understood what he meant.


    "Then, as long as you complete the tasks commissioned by White Crow in the future, I will report to the agency and reward you with the opportunity to access the Divine Relics within the agency."


    Xue Jing extended his hand, sincerely saying, "Deal. Not going to lie to you, I''ve been a fan of White Crow for ten years. My dream is to become a member of White Crow... Naturally, as an external staff member."


    Void Blade shook his hand and laughed, "Deal."


    ...


    After exchanging contact information with Void Blade, Xue Jing called the Pei brothers back, and the three of them drove away from the hills behind the North City District.


    After they left, only Void Blade and the Mountain Demon remained at the scene.


    "Captain, is it necessary?"


    The Mountain Demon crossed his arms, tucking them behind his head, "He''s just a martial arts prodigy, although rare, it''s not too uncommon, right? To keep him, you even offered such conditions?"


    Void Blade shook her head, "You don''t understand."


    "This person... is not just a simple martial arts prodigy."


    She tapped her forehead with the silver bracelet on her wrist.


    Instantly, countless pixel-like colorful little squares erupted across her face, transforming her ordinary scarred face into a quite striking pretty face.


    "Yesterday, I made contact with that Miss Wu of the Wu Family to probe a bit, and her level of concern for Xue Jing was beyond imagination."


    The Mountain Demon exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Wu from the Wu Family? The ''Natural Gifted One''?"


    Void Blade nodded, "Yes."


    "She has always been searching for a way to rid herself of the Blessed One status... Only a god can contend with another god."


    "Apart from Divine Relics, she apparently cares about other things too... Xue Jing must have some special qualities that we haven''t discovered yet."


    Void Blade gathered her wind-blown short hair, her gaze following the direction Xue Jing had left in.


    "When you know it''s something good, even if you''re not sure what it is, you should grab it first then figure it out."


    "White Crow, that''s how greedy we are."


    She muttered softly.


    ...


    Sitting in the car, Xue Jing suddenly remembered something.


    Previously, while riding in a taxi, he had looked out the window towards the South City area and saw a building that seemed to have a cockroach-like creature.


    Although it seemed like he was mistaken, it was just a black plastic bag...


    But just to be safe, he took out his phone and sent the information to Void Blade via WeChat.


    Soon, he received a reply from her, stating she would investigate the area, and Xue Jing nodded and put away his phone.


    Xue Jing didn''t go to visit the Pei brothers but had them drop him off at his house instead.


    The Pei brothers tried to persuade him to stay, but seeing that Xue Jing really wasn''t interested, they gave up.


    After getting out of the car outside his residential complex and saying goodbye to the two brothers, Xue Jing was about to go home to play with his cat when his phone suddenly vibrated.


    He opened it to see a WeChat message from Youqing Wu.


    "[When you have time, come find me at the library.]"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and seemed to have no other plans at the moment.


    Since the rich and powerful boss is summoning, he might as well go and see if there''s a Divine Relic to touch.


    ...


    (Two chapters totaling 8K, already updated one chapter, currently owe 13 chapters, would love your monthly votes~)

 Chapter 84: Chapter 76: Killing Move - Whirlwind Thunder, Sports Meet (4K, Request for Monthly Pass)

    Xue Jing sat on the bus, idly scrolling through his phone.


    This was a new phone he had bought; his old one had been completely damaged due to an electromagnetic pulse at the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    He opened a current affairs news app.


    [The U19 regional preliminaries have concluded, with dark horse contestant Li Chengxuan from Golden Wind Dojo dominating in the Maple City division, boldly claiming to defeat ten...]


    [Recent frequent occurrences of boundary quakes in various regions, experts: A new Intersecting Boundaries may soon emerge.]


    [Six boundary quakes occurred in three days in South City''s Unfinished District, the highest magnitude being 5.6, which may trigger a ''weak overlap''. Residents, please be cautious...]


    "Unfinished District..."


    Seeing this news, Xue Jing''s thoughts drifted back to the cockroach-like shadow he had glimpsed from afar, which seemed like an illusion.


    "Wonder if White Crow has made any progress."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    The bus slowly came to a stop. Xue Jing got off and headed straight for Qing University Library, making his way to the seventh floor.


    In the old attic, a young girl was sitting alone on a wooden chair, silently flipping through a book, as if she were a Bound Spirit forever tethered to this place, unable to leave.


    Her long ponytail swayed gently; her beautiful face wore an eternally peaceful expression, and her graceful figure and proper posture painted a serene and elegant scene in the aged attic.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing arrive, Wu Youqing glanced at him with her pale purple eyes, then pointed at the seat opposite her.


    "You''re here, take a seat."


    Xue Jing stepped forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down.


    There were two cups of hot tea on the wooden table. Xue Jing picked up the one in front of him and took a sip.


    A strange sweetness...


    "BOSS, can''t we drink something better?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    Wu Youqing also picked up her tea cup and took a gentle sip.


    "This is your favorite tea, made with water from a Divine Relic."


    She chuckled.


    "I''ll choose Coke, thanks." Xue Jing stood up, went to the wall, pulled open a hidden compartment, and took out a can of Coke from inside.


    With a pop, he opened it and guzzled it down, the fizzy drink''s crisp refreshment coursing through his body.


    When he returned to his seat, Wu Youqing finally said,


    "White Crow must have contacted you by now."


    Xue Jing''s hand holding the Coke paused slightly.


    Then he nodded, "Yes, just now. They invited me to join White Crow, but I declined."


    Wu Youqing hummed in acknowledgment.


    "If it were any other division within the agency, it might be alright... but White Crow is not a good place to be. You made the right choice by not joining."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Why do you say that?"


    Wu Youqing set her tea cup on the table.


    "Do you know the meaning behind ''White Crow''?"


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Crows are usually considered ominous creatures, harbingers of death and disaster."


    Wu Youqing spoke softly.


    "The White Crow, contrasting with the crow''s color, is seen as a symbol of rebirth, a benevolent bird that brings good fortune; a beautiful wish is entrusted in this name."


    "The reason for this name is because the work of White Crow involves a very high mortality rate..."


    "They are responsible for investigating all abnormal events related to Intersecting Boundaries, often entering dangerous Intersecting Boundaries to carry out various tasks, and if a new Intersecting Boundary appears, it is also White Crow that is responsible for the preliminary exploration."


    "Those who join White Crow and live safely for three years are already considered elites; there are almost none who survive ten years. In the more than sixty years since White Crow was established, you can count on two hands the number of people who have retired safely."


    Xue Jing grimaced, "That is indeed dangerous..."


    It seemed he would have to carefully consider if White Crow approached him for work in the future...


    He couldn''t just agree for the chance to touch a Divine Relic.


    The revival effect of Twin Lifes could only be activated once in a short period...


    "By the way BOSS, what exactly is this ''agency''?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    This ''agency'', with a name too long for him to remember, and one under which even an impressive-sounding organization like White Crow was a subordinate''s subordinate.


    How immense might the agency itself be?


    After a moment of thought, Wu Youqing said, "It might be good for you to understand a bit about it."


    "The Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters, is a special organization established by Zhuxia after the start of the New Calendar, aimed at tackling various unusual disasters, and it has a history of over two hundred years."


    "In dealing with unconventional events, unconventional methods must be adopted; that was the founding intent."


    "Therefore, upon its establishment, the organization was granted an incredibly unbelievable range of authority and freedom."


    "It possesses an autonomous system, unaffected by all domestic judicial bodies, prosecutorial organs, adjudicative bodies, administrative bodies, military agencies; it operates independently of the five major agencies and is thus also known colloquially as ''The Sixth Agency.''


    Wu Youqing paused, then continued,


    "Simply put, you can think of it as ''a state within a state.''


    "For instance, if you joined White Crow Task Force, you would be a member of the agency. At that time, if you suddenly lost your mind and went on a killing spree in Qingcheng, or even madly detonated a nuclear bomb..."


    "Even if you committed crimes of that magnitude, you would not be subject to the laws of Zhuxia, and theoretically, the rest of Zhuxia''s governmental units would have no grounds to arrest you or impose any penalties on you."


    "Theoretically, the only body that could handle and judge you would be the internal court of The Sixth Agency."


    Wu Youqing smiled.


    "Of course, that''s just theoretically..."


    Xue Jing was somewhat dumbfounded.

 Chapter 95: Chapter 82: Reenacting the Scene with the Sect Leader (Requesting Monthly Votes)

    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience +668]


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience +784]


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience +851]


    [Charm Art upgraded to Lv7 (131/4500)]


    As several notifications popped up consecutively on the panel, Xue Jing paused slightly, somewhat astonished.


    The Charm Art experience points were rising way too fast.


    Based on past patterns, the more experience points he received, the more favorability someone had developed for him.


    Could it be that Sect Leader Ning...


    Xue Jing looked at Ning Fengwan, who was tightly embracing him and curled up in his arms, and a strange idea suddenly popped into his head.


    Maybe now if he asked her to call him ''Daddy'', she might just do it...


    He shook his head, dismissing this bizarre thought.


    The events of the afternoon with Zhu and Meng had left some side effects, making him a bit restless.


    Xue Jing was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed.


    The cat-eared girl was holding him very tight at the moment.


    Very, very tight.


    As though she wanted to meld her entire being into his body.


    As a result, some parts naturally pressed against him. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And the sensation... was far too soft.


    Xue Jing hesitated for a moment and said, "Teacher Wan, you... aren''t wearing any?"


    He looked down only to see that the lower half of Sect Leader Ning was not visible, while the upper half only had one of his T-shirts on.


    It made sense, the rooms of his sister Xue Wan and his parents were locked, and she couldn''t get into them, the only clothes she could find at home were his.


    At this moment, naturally, there was no external armor equipped.


    As soon as Xue Jing made this remark, Ning Fengwan''s body stiffened instantly.


    She had inadvertently forgotten about that.


    The cat tail behind her seemed to sense her emotions and began to shudder and sway uncontrollably.


    The girl released her hands from hugging Xue Jing and shifted her bottom, moving out of his embrace.


    Then, covering her chest with her hands, her face flushed as she said:


    "I couldn''t find any."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, pondered for a moment, and said:


    "Teacher Wan, there''s something I need to discuss with you."


    Seeing his serious and solemn expression, as if he wanted to skip over the topic and discuss important matters, Ning Fengwan immediately felt relieved.


    Although she felt an indescribable disappointment in her heart, she still asked softly with curiosity:


    "What is it?"


    Xue Jing explained the situation with the Cat Tail Ring [GOD-1391] to Ning Fengwan.


    "The bearer, when emotionally agitated, will fuse with the Cat Tail Ring and gain the power of the Heretic God Bastet..."


    Ning Fengwan furrowed her brows.


    "So does that mean from now on, whenever I get emotionally agitated, it will deepen the fusion progress with the Cat Tail Ring, till I fully become the ''Incarnation of Bastet''?"


    Xue Jing cleared his throat.


    "That''s correct, and... it''s not just any emotion, it has to be the type of emotion that triggered the first fusion."


    Ning Fengwan first showed confusion, "The emotion during the first trigger?"


    Then she immediately realized that the emotion she had experienced during the first fusion was towards Xue Jing...


    Her face immediately turned crimson, her hands covering her chest, she moved her bottom farther from Xue Jing, stretched the hem of the T-shirt to cover her glowing white thighs, and said weakly, "What... what are you thinking of doing?"


    Xue Jing rolled his eyes, "It''s not about what I want to do, it''s about whether or not you want to do it."


    Ning Fengwan''s face turned an even deeper shade of red.


    Xue Jing realized she had misunderstood and said helplessly, "No, that''s not it, I''m asking if you want to try and actively accept this power."


    "If we are to go against a big company like Kangde Security, we need to ensure that we have as many advantages as possible... The Cat Tail Ring, reputed to enable one to ''become the Incarnation of Bastet'' and connect with a deity, must be pretty powerful."


    "That Boss Wu said that so far, those who have become ''Bastet''s incarnation'' have not shown any abnormalities, just purely gaining Bastet''s power..."


    Ning Fengwan pouted and said, "Do you really trust this Boss Wu that much?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "It''s not that I trust her a lot... it''s just that I don''t see any reason for her to lie to me."


    In the past few days, Xue Jing had also sensed something off about White Crow''s attitude towards him.


    Members of an organization that almost symbolized the nation itself treated him with such courtesy, and Xue Jing didn''t believe it was just because they valued his talent.


    Moreover, considering the indifferent attitude that Void Blade had towards the death of their team members and the contrast in how they treated him...


    After much thought, the most likely reason seemed to be that the rich and domineering Boss Wu had played a role.


    Xue Jing felt that Wu Youqing was probably much more badass than he had imagined.


    Such a person, he guessed, didn''t need to specifically deceive him about anything.


    From their interactions over time, his impression of Wu Youqing herself was also very good; he didn''t feel she harbored any malice towards him.


    Ning Fengwan embraced her own thighs, her jade feet curled up as she stammered:


    "Should... should we try it?"


    After saying this, her face reddened, and she quickly added, "Don''t get me wrong, I just think that the more strength we have, the better our chances, it''s not because of anything else..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "I understand. You don''t need to explain."


    He paused, then hesitantly said, "So... shall we try it?"


    "How should we try?"


    The two looked at each other.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat, "How about... we recreate the scene from that day?"


    The young girl''s complexion turned a burning red.


    But after a while, she gently nodded and murmured almost inaudibly.


    ...


    In the bathroom, Xue Jing lay naked in the bathtub, soaking in warm water.


    Ning Fengwan had once again transformed into a cat and lay on his chest, also soaking.


    "How does it feel?" Xue Jing asked.


    Ning Fengwan did not dare to look directly below at the holy sword but said softly, "It seems... it seems not."


    Xue Jing recalled the situation at the time.


    It was because the "Plain Glasses" were removed and the suppressed presence exploded instantaneously that it instantly overwhelmed Miao Miao at that time.


    Now without that Divine Relic, how could he make Ning Fengwan overwhelmed?


    After thinking, Xue Jing gently said, "Teacher Wan, become human."


    Become human? In this situation?


    Ning Fengwan suddenly remembered what had happened that day in the bathroom, and her cat face humanized a hint of embarrassment.


    But inside... she didn''t seem to resist that much.


    After thinking for a while, she faltered, "Then you¡­ you close your eyes..."


    Xue Jing nodded and closed his eyes.


    He couldn''t help but swallow his saliva, feeling a bit restless inside...


    Shortly after closing his eyes, he heard Ning Fengwan apparently take a deep breath.


    Then... something heavy on his chest.


    The familiar touch awakened his muscle memory.


    Warm, slippery, with a bit of fuzziness, and a subtle graininess that could be faintly felt...


    His body moved slightly, brushing against it.


    "Mmm~" A strange sound came from beside his ear.


    "What... what should we do now?" Ning Fengwan said softly, seeming to endure and suppress something, her voice a bit deep.


    Xue Jing said, "Teacher Wan... pardon me."


    "Hm?" Ning Fengwan was puzzled.


    Before she could react, Xue Jing suddenly sat up from his lying position.


    She immediately slid downwards, letting out a cry of surprise.


    This time there was no collision incident.


    But their position turned into Xue Jing holding her from behind.


    In the cramped bath, the two were pressed tightly together.


    "Jing... you..."


    Ning Fengwan suddenly trembled all over, feeling tingles on her scalp, her complexion reddening to almost smoke.


    She could feel something scalding pressing against her back...


    ...

 Chapter 100: Chapter 85: Asura Blade Intent, Weapon Strike Lv1 (4K, Request for Monthly Pass)

    South City District Wharf.


    "Ga¡ª Ga¡ª"


    Seagulls circled in the sky, squawking noisily, as a giant cruise ship slowly docked.


    On the wharf, Jiao Hongyuan, a man with an aged face but a robust stature, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at a handsome young man on the cruise ship deck who was waving at him.


    Standing behind Jiao Hongyuan, the leader of the Razor Gang, Su Bijin, spoke with a smile,


    "Little junior brother really stole the show in Maple City this time, crushing the twelve preliminary matches with overwhelming victories, spreading the name of our Golden Wind Dojo throughout the whole Outer Ring.


    Jiao Hongyuan''s expression remained unchanged, save for a hint of satisfaction in his eyes; he spoke lightly,


    "It''s still early, that little brat doesn''t know who he is after winning a few matches, bragging about taking on ten in front of the media, without a semblance of composure, making a laughingstock of himself."


    Su Bijin had been a direct disciple of Jiao Hongyuan for many years and knew his temperament well, clearly seeing the deep satisfaction Jiao harbored, despite his customary habit of verbally pressing his disciples to keep them from becoming arrogant and rash.


    Laughing, he flattered, "It''s natural for the young to be spirited, and little junior brother is a prodigy. Even in the Inner Ring City, he would be considered a standout. A bit of arrogance isn''t bad, and he was just speaking the truth; Master need not take it to heart."


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded and grunted in acknowledgment. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then he spoke lightly,


    "Is White Crow still on to us that tightly?"


    Upon hearing this, Su Bijin briefly paused, his expression turning serious as he replied in a low voice,


    "Many brothers from the Razor Gang have been arrested... I guess it''ll be my turn soon."


    Jiao Hongyuan turned to look at him,


    "Have you taken care of everything?"


    Su Bijin nodded, "A couple of days ago, I intentionally stirred up trouble and had a fierce battle with the Blood Claw Gang, silencing everyone who knew about it, making it look like an accident during the fight... White Crow won''t find anything out."


    Jiao Hongyuan took two steps forward, his tone solemn,


    "Once this matter is exposed, we will definitely have no place to be buried, no luck can save us, you understand that, right?"


    Su Bijin, with a grave look, nodded.


    "Master, I understand¡­"


    Jiao Hongyuan, watching the young man descending the cruise ship''s staircase, spoke indifferently,


    "After this matter is settled, we will officially join Kangde Security, become a part of this giant entity, status, power, money... Setting aside these external things, Kangde promised they would provide us with ''breakthrough surgery.''"


    Jiao Hongyuan''s eyes showed a hint of fervor.


    "I''m old, and the decline of my vital energy is inevitable, self-breakthrough is a dim hope, leaving me no choice but to rely on such means... But who said technologically induced breakthroughs are inferior to natural ones?"


    "I''ve grown tired of seeing Dragon Gate grandmasters who''ve broken through on their own being hung up and beaten by artificially-enhanced warriors that have undergone several surgeries!"


    He patted Su Bijin on the shoulder,


    "Bijin, Kaiping''s death is a regrettable thing... but it''s just a small setback on the road to success. In this matter, among the direct disciples, you put in the most effort. After success, there will definitely be a spot for you in the breakthrough surgery arranged by Kangde."


    Upon hearing this, Su Bijin''s spirits lifted.


    He quickly bowed his head, suppressing the sudden excitement and quickened heartbeat in his chest, and said eagerly,


    "Thank you, Master!"


    After a moment of thought, Su Bijin asked, "And little junior brother?"


    Jiao Hongyuan gave him a look, "With Xue Jing''s talent, he''ll be able to break through without surgery... Those who leap over the Dragon Gate on their own not only elevate their bodies but also their spirit. The path he needs to take is different from ours.


    "Don''t let Xue Jing know about this matter. He''s still young and can''t yet understand our reasoning, you get it?"


    Su Bijin quickly nodded, "Understood."


    ...


    Hidden Dragon Dojo, Heart-Nourishing Room.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the hardwood floor and asked Li Qi,


    "Master, does our Hidden Dragon School have any weapon techniques within its martial arts?"


    Li Qi sat in a wheelchair, going through the steps of tea-making on the table in front of him. Hearing Xue Jing''s question, he paused his actions and smiled,


    "Why do you ask all of a sudden?"


    Xue Jing placed his hands on his knees, rocking back and forth, his body spinning around like a weathervane as he spoke,


    "Isn''t there an U19 unrestricted fighting competition coming up? I want to give it a try, but weapons are allowed in that contest and I feel at a disadvantage unarmed."


    In the end, Xue Jing decided to participate.


    The U19 competition had a long schedule. Upon checking the format, starting from the elimination matches in Maple City, it would be at least one to two months before he could face Otogirusu.


    For others, this period was short, hardly enough to make a difference, but it was different for him.


    From the start of his martial arts practice to now, in just over a month.


    Give him another month or two, and defeating Otogirusu might not be impossible.


    For GOD-519... it was worth a try.


    Li Qi lifted the teapot high, pouring tea like a thread into the cup, his hand steady, the tea swirling slightly along the bottom of the cup without spilling a drop.


    He then said, "U19... that''s a decent competition, it''s considered to have a high standard among traditional martial arts contests. Now many Dragon Gate grandmasters, even those who have won ''titles,'' participated in this competition when they were young.


    "You can enter if you want. Even though you haven''t practiced martial arts for long and it''s unlikely to achieve a high rank, it''s not bad to gain some experience."


    Li Qi held up his cup of tea, taking a sip, before continuing,


    "About the Hidden Dragon School''s use of weapons... Of course, there is."


    "The techniques of first-rate martial arts are fundamentally interconnected; moves that can be executed with fists and feet can certainly be done with a blade, and those performed with a blade can also be done with fists and feet."

 Chapter 101: Chapter 85: Asura Sword Intent, Weapon Strike Lv1 (4K, ask for monthly ticket)_2

    "The five deadly moves of the Hidden Dragon School, with the essence lying within the channeling of energy within the body, whether they manifest through fists and feet or swords and blades is of no consequence."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing also thought of the time he had taken Captain Void Blade''s sword to launch a spiral strike that penetrated the Cockroach Monster with the ''Whirlwind Thunder'' technique.


    Indeed, he had felt no discomfort at the time, everything had seemed natural.


    Li Qi wheeled himself over to Xue Jing and said with a smile:


    "Our Hidden Dragon School has three ultimate skills, one of which is called ''Eye-Dotting''. This skill seeks the ultimate ''Piercing Force'', and thus in actual combat it is generally not exerted with the bare body, but with a weapon in hand, focusing on a single point, capable of piercing through anything."


    "However, this is not a move specifically for deploying with a weapon... The highest realm of ''Eye-Dotting'' is rather to execute it without any weapon, using only the body, epitomized by the saying ''A lesser dragon needs external force; a true dragon has Dragon Qi''."


    "Once one has fully developed the Kungfu Body of the Hidden Dragon School, they possess the sharp Dragon Qi of a True Dragon and naturally no longer need to borrow power from weapons."


    Xue Jing listened with longing.


    "A lesser dragon needs external force; a True Dragon has Dragon Qi."


    What a domineering saying.


    "Overall, the martial arts of our Hidden Dragon School, whether it be hand-to-hand or with weapons, are fully transferrable to weapon use."


    Li Qi continued, pausing thoughtfully.


    "However... since you mention weapons, there are indeed other things I could teach you."


    At those words, Xue Jing asked curiously, "Please tell me, Master."


    Li Qi stroked his shiny bald spot, his eyes reflecting memories.


    "In my younger days, after leaving the Dragon Cult because of a matter concerning your Auntie, I went and mixed in with the Inner Ring City, where I managed to make a name for myself."


    Xue Jing''s eyes gleamed, interrupting eagerly:


    "Master, hold off on Inner Ring City for now, could you first tell me some stories about you and Auntie?"


    The last time Li Qi had spoken about Auntie was... the last time.


    And the story had been left hanging at ''Auntie''s buttocks''.


    Xue Jing had been curious about the continuation for quite a while.


    Li Qi was about to begin boasting about his past heroic deeds when he was interrupted, giving his disciple an annoyed glare.


    "Young people shouldn''t pry into the affairs of the older generation."


    Xue Jing earnestly responded: "Oh come on, Master, please tell us, I''m really curious about you and Grandma Feng Wan''s story, start from ''the buttocks'' and don''t leave out any details." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Qi rolled his eyes: "No way, I''ve only got so many stories, If you knew them all, how could I maintain the dignified image of a mentor?"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "Master, ever since the day I saw you drifting in your wheelchair and flipping up a high school girl''s skirt in the street, you lost any claim to having an image."


    Li Qi exclaimed in surprise: "You saw that?"


    Then he reached out a dismissive hand, "That''s just a little personal hobby of mine, you shouldn''t take it too seriously."


    "Fine, we''ll talk about Auntie''s story another time, let''s get back to what happened in Inner Ring City."


    Seeing that he still wasn''t willing to disclose the story, Xue Jing could only shrug helplessly.


    Li Qi reminisced: "At that time, I made quite a name for myself within the Inner Ring''s Old Martial Circle, known as ''Dragon King Li''."


    "However, Inner Ring City brimmed with talent, and although I was formidable, I wasn''t the only one."


    "There were two others at the time, famed alongside me."


    He held up two fingers and looked at Xue Jing.


    The latter nodded and cooperatively asked, "Then who were those two that could stand equal to you, Master?"


    Encouraged by the response, Li Qi carried on with enthusiasm:


    "One was ''Vajra Wishful Hand'' Zhou Liexiong, also known as ''Vajra Zhou''."


    "And the other was ''Asura Blade'' Chen Buyan, known as ''Asura Chen''."


    "I was in good terms with both of them, often exchanging martial arts knowledge, which benefitted me greatly."


    Li Qi stretched out his thin arm, then suddenly clenched his fist.


    On his wrinkled skin, a pattern of golden scales emerged, with spiral grooves spreading from his shoulder to his palm.


    "The ''Golden Scales Transformation'' and ''Whirlwind Thunder'' among my Hidden Dragon School''s moves were largely refined by taking inspiration from ''Vajra Wishful Hand''."


    "His martial arts philosophy ''Utmost firmness must be supple; the utmost firm becomes the utmost supple'' and his method of channeling energy is truly unique, allowing for effortless transitions between firmness and suppleness, a spectacle to behold."


    "However, what I''m teaching you today has nothing to do with the Vajra Wishful Hand, but with the ''Asura Blade'' instead,"


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "How so?"


    Li Qi thought for a moment and mused, "Hmm... it''s rather complicated to explain in words, so let''s just give you a direct experience."


    Xue Jing was unsure how to experience it and was about to ask.


    Just then, Li Qi suddenly looked up, locking eyes with him.


    Xue Jing saw... a blade oozing with endless blood flying out from Li Qi''s eyes, stabbing towards his own.


    The next moment, Xue Jing felt his body stiffen, an extreme chill creeping up from the soles of his feet, causing his hair to stand on end and his skin to tingle and ache as if pricked by countless needles.


    Death.


    He saw his own death.


    A blade oozing with endless blood kept slashing at him.


    Beheaded, split in half vertically, bisected at the waist, pierced through the chest, hacked into pieces...


    An onslaught of visuals of his own death suddenly flooded his mind. Countless corpses of Xue Jing formed mountains of flesh and rivers of blood, filling every space in his brain, leaving no room to think of anything else.


    Xue Jing did not panic.


    Having reached level 5 in Meditative Visualization, his mental control far exceeded that of ordinary people. Although his consciousness was now occupied by mountains of flesh and rivers of blood, he somehow forcefully retained a part of his thought process. He observed and contemplated his current state from a perspective similar to that of a deity.


    "Is this... pure and overwhelming killing intent?"


    Xue Jing recalled his first experience with the Coiling Dragon Art Visualization Method.


    The feeling was similar to that.


    "Master is indeed a person who once crossed the Dragon Gate; he can actually affect others with his spirit and consciousness out of thin air, and this is completely unscientific," Xue Jing sighed inwardly.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed when the mountains of flesh and rivers of blood receded like a tide, and his consciousness became clear again.


    He began to gasp for air as if he had been deprived of oxygen for a long time, cold sweat pouring down his body, soaking his black training garment and making him look as if he had just been fished out of the water.


    "How do you feel?"


    Li Qi, looking at Xue Jing''s still calm eyes, revealed a gratified expression and asked with a smile.


    "Terrifying," Xue Jing said evenly.


    Li Qi laughed heartily, "You don''t look scared at all. You are indeed my disciple."


    After a pause, he continued, "This is the Sword Intent of the ''Asura Blade,'' akin to our Hidden Dragon School''s ''Nourishing Dragon in the Heart,'' which is a spiritual form of kung fu. This Sword Skill is the most heavily charged with killing intent and the purest among all the martial arts I''ve seen, with its application of Dynamic Qi being truly supreme."


    "Back in the day, I had a close relationship with Chen Buyan. Although I never got the chance to learn the moves of the Asura Blade, I managed to learn its Sword Intent! Since you''ve shown interest in Combat Skills, I will pass this Asura Blade Intent to you. Even without the matching Asura Blade Skills and moves, just wielding a blade with this Sword Intent will be extraordinary."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Please teach me, Master!"


    ...


    Two days later, at the Hidden Dragon Dojo training hall.


    Xue Jing was clashing swords with his senior brother, Chen Fuguang, each wielding a long blade on the platform.


    The sound of metal striking metal was unceasing. After a short while, Xue Jing slowed down a change in his attack, revealing an opening, and was deflected by Chen Fuguang. His guard was broken, leaving him exposed, and in the next moment, the blade''s edge was across his neck.


    Xue Jing looked at the blunt long blade against his neck and exhaled, smiling, "I''ve lost again."


    Chen Fuguang withdrew his blade, propping the tip on the ground and resting his hands on the hilt, saying with a sigh:


    "Little Junior Brother, in just two days, your Sword Skills have already become quite decent."


    Xue Jing smiled, opening his panel to take a look.


    There, a brand-new Skill had appeared.


    [Combat Skills Lv1 (128/300)]


    ...


    (Another chapter in progress~)

 Chapter 105: Chapter 88 Li Qi: Compared to my apprentice, youre nothing

    "Junior Brother, Junior Brother."


    Xue Jing was practicing swordsmanship when Zhu Shanying''s voice came from outside the practice room.


    He paused, sheathed the long sword in his hand, placed it on the ground, took down the towel hanging on the wall, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    The door to the practice room was pushed open, and Zhu Shanying''s petite figure darted in.


    "Clang, clang, clang! The hero arrives!"


    The girl''s bright and lively eyes smiled into crescents, and she held a rectangular black cloth strip in her hands.


    "Junior Brother, look what I''ve brought for you."


    Xue Jing smiled and greeted her:


    "Senior Sister Zhu."


    Then he looked at the black rectangular cloth strip in her hand, curious:


    "What''s this?"


    Zhu Shanying grinned and said, "Guess what?"


    Xue Jing glanced at the black cloth strip, about to speak when his expression suddenly shifted.


    He inexplicably felt a strange sense of familiarity with the black cloth strip, as if it were calling out to him.


    Xue Jing took the cloth strip in his hand, and a feeling of blood connection spontaneously arose.


    He exclaimed, "What a good sword."


    Zhu Shanying was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, "How do you know it''s a sword?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "I guessed."


    Zhu Shanying pouted, "Junior Brother, you''re lying."


    "If you were guessing, you would''ve guessed it''s a ''sword'', so how could you directly say it''s a ''good sword''?"


    Xue Jing said in surprise, "Senior Sister Zhu, why do I feel like you''re kind of smart?"


    Zhu Shanying, upon hearing this, wasn''t too happy.


    She glared at Xue Jing and muttered, "What do you mean ''kind of''? I''ve always been smart."


    The girl reached out with both hands, grabbing the sides of Xue Jing''s cheeks.


    "Come on, tell me how you knew this is a good sword."


    Xue Jing untied the string around the black cloth strip and removed it.


    A long sword with a black scabbard embroidered with simple and elegant silver patterns appeared before his eyes.


    Xue Jing slowly drew the sword, revealing a silvery-white chill.


    His eyes lit up, and he fondly stroked the blade, chuckling:


    "It... was just introducing itself to me."


    Zhu Shanying said in confusion, "Huh?"


    Introducing itself? Can the sword talk?


    Xue Jing gently caressed the beautiful long sword in his hand.


    The black hilt, the silver-white blade, the total length was about one and a half meters.


    In terms of form, it should be considered an Imperial Forest Army sword, slightly curved, and under the sunlight streaming in through the window, it reflected glimmers of cold light, indicating its extremely sharp quality visible to the naked eye.


    The innate close feeling to weapons brought on by his "Combat Skills" allowed him to quickly understand everything about the sword.


    It was as if... the sword was introducing itself to him.


    Seeing how Xue Jing couldn''t put the sword down, Zhu Shanying also felt very happy, resting her hands behind her back and said with a smile:


    "This sword is a part of my grandfather''s collection."


    "Junior Brother, since you are going to participate in U19, you need a good weapon... I haven''t given you anything since you joined, so this sword is for you!"


    Xue Jing paused in his action, shook his head, about to say something.


    But Zhu Shanying stood on tiptoes, touched his head, and said with a smile in her eyes, "Don''t worry, my grandfather has lots of collections, and I''ve talked to him about giving this sword away, and he agreed."


    "I see..." Xue Jing looked at the beautiful long sword in his hand, thought for a moment, and said:


    "Thank you, Senior Sister Zhu... May I ask, how much is this sword worth?"


    Zhu Shanying tapped her chin.


    "Hmm... the main material of this sword is ''Dragon Bone Steel'', it''s an alloy made by smelting dragon bones from the Dragon Breed with other rare metals."


    "The smith is a master named He Jiuxi, who has retired now."


    The girl calculated with her fingers.


    "If you include its collectible value, it should be around twenty million."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    Merely unsheathing it equaled his entire fortune?


    In an instant, Xue Jing quickly discarded the notion that he was a wealthy man from his mind.


    "Zhu Shanying... this is too precious," he said.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    But Zhu Shanying spoke softly,


    "Junior brother,"


    "You once said, ''To the powerful, money is but a pebble that''s seen everywhere, easily acquired, and if lost, not even worth a second thought.''"


    She gazed at Xue Jing.


    "It''s just a mere twenty million worth of a sword, do you feel you can''t bear it, can''t pay it back?"


    The girl''s tone was extremely calm, completely different from her usual self.


    "..."


    Xue Jing stared steadily at Zhu Shanying.


    Her bright eyes seemed to carry a certain hope.


    After a long while, Xue Jing smiled.


    "I was being petty."


    He sheathed the long sword in his hand, and said earnestly to Zhu Shanying,


    "Thank you, Sister Zhu, I''ll accept the sword."


    In the little over a month he had been in the dojo, his strength had grown rapidly


    But his pride... didn''t seem to have completely caught up.


    Xue Jing rubbed his brow.


    He never thought the boastful words he had said before would come back like a boomerang and hit him. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yes, it''s just twenty million.


    To him, it was no longer something so valuable that he couldn''t pay it back.


    Just like a normal person wouldn''t feel uneasy just because a friend treated them to a meal, to him, this twenty million worth sword was just ''a meal.''


    He needed to reflect and adjust his mindset.


    "Humph, this is the junior brother I wanted to see," Zhu Shanying said with a smile reappearing at the corner of her eyes, patting Xue Jing on the back.


    "Junior brother, junior brother!"


    An anxious call suddenly came from outside the training room.


    Xue Jing and Zhu Shanying exchanged a glance, and then he carried his sword to the door and opened it.


    Outside stood a regular male disciple dressed in a white training garment, who, upon seeing Xue Jing, hurriedly said,


    "Junior brother, the master is calling you to the training hall."


    Xue Jing asked with perplexity, "What happened?"


    The male disciple explained, "People from the Golden Wind Dojo have come to us... it seems they''re looking for trouble."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed, "Golden Wind Dojo?"


    ...


    "So, you kid are here to challenge the dojo?"


    Inside the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s training hall.


    Li Qi sat in a wheelchair, looking at the two people before him, his tone completely steady.


    Standing opposite Li Qi, Li Chengxuan raised an eyebrow and said, "Please don''t get me wrong, sir."


    "Who in Qingcheng would be so suicidal to dare to challenge the ''Dragon King''s'' dojo?"


    "I mean for a pure exchange," he clarified.


    Li Qi gave him a look and harrumphed.


    "I''ve heard of you, young and yet able to practice the Golden Wind''s White Rainbow Sword to the ''Blade Reaching Four Edges'' level, indeed somewhat gifted," he acknowledged.


    Li Chengxuan immediately bowed slightly, saying with a smile, "It''s an honor to be recognized by you, sir."


    Li Qi ignored the flattery, stroking his balding head, and said indifferently,


    "But Jiao Hongyuan has protected you too well, making you a bit too conceited."


    "Compared to my disciple, your talent is but a piece of wind-dried dung by the roadside, which I can hardly be bothered to glance at."


    As Xue Jing approached the entrance to the training hall, he heard these words and his expression became complex.


    Master''s description... was uniquely vivid.


    ...

 Chapter 106: Chapter 89: The Interaction of Forces (4K)

    "..."


    "That''s a rather unpleasant way to put it, sir."


    Li Chengxuan considered himself skilled in maintaining his composure, but he was still young after all, and being belittled to such an extent by Seventh Master made him lose his cool a bit.


    His lips twitched, and his expression chilled.


    Next to him, Su Bijin quickly interjected,


    "Seventh Master, my junior brother didn''t mean it like that¡­"


    "Enough." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seventh Master waved his hand, cutting him off.


    "If it''s a challenge, then just challenge; no need for this flowery talk. We''re not incapable of handling it."


    His gaze turned to Li Chengxuan.


    "Kid, there''s an unwritten rule in martial arts, we try to match challengers with opponents of similar age, but you think because you''re young, you can play this game, you''ve miscalculated."


    "This damn rule is nothing in my eyes! Even if you were only three years old, if you dare trouble the Hidden Dragon Dojo, I''d personally squeeze the shit out of you!"


    As Xue Jing walked into the training hall and heard this, a bead of sweat trickled down his back.


    It seemed... he had entered the Hidden Dragon Dojo through a challenge too.


    Is it still time to thank master for not squeezing him?


    Su Bijin''s face changed.


    He didn''t think Seventh Master was just bluffing to scare people.


    In the past, even Master Jiao Hongyuan, who was far inferior to the formidable figure known as Dragon King, had to pinch his face and admit.


    Such an entity, even now a seemingly half-paralyzed old man in a wheelchair, no one could guarantee he was really disabled.


    A martial artist who had leaped the Dragon Gate and burnt away his mundane ties, breaking through human limits, who knew what capabilities he had.


    Su Bijin quietly stepped forward two steps, subtly shielding Li Chengxuan behind him.


    "Heh, then that''s even better. I''d also like to see the renowned Hidden Dragon School, which even my master had to bow down to."


    Anger flashed in Li Chengxuan''s eyes as he stepped forward.


    Three sentences not free from shit and piss, damn it, no class.


    He wasn''t afraid of this old man, a bit of respect by calling him Dragon King, without it, he''s just a dead cripple.


    "I''m just afraid you can''t even stand up!"


    At this, Su Bijin''s mouth twitched.


    But instead of getting angry, Seventh Master chuckled:


    "At any other time, you''d already be cleaning up your own shit."


    "But today, you''re in luck."


    "I really want to see how your wild turd compares to our diamond."


    He turned his head toward the door.


    "Su and Zhu are here!"


    Someone shouted.


    Li Chengxuan and Su Bijin shifted their attention towards the door.


    The surrounding disciples parted to either side, clearing a path.


    A youth in a training garment, tall and straight like a young pine, slowly walked over.


    His face was handsome, with piercing brows and bright eyes, perfectly proportioned features without a single flaw, shining with brilliance as he walked, as if enhanced by special effects.


    Li Chengxuan had always prided himself on his appearance, but upon seeing this youth, he uncontrollably felt a pang of shame.


    He narrowed his eyes, avoiding the youth and instead looked at the young girl lagging half a step beside him, his gaze brightening immediately.


    "Su."


    "Su, Zhu!"


    "Su, you came¡­"


    "Su¡­"


    All the disciples greeted the youth reverently.


    The latter nodded and smiled back at everyone.


    "Su, that person..." Li Chengxuan whispered quietly.


    Su Bijin nodded, glancing at Xue Jing.


    ...That''s the one who took out ''Number One'' and ''Number Nine.''


    Although he knew the person was very young, seeing him in person was still somewhat surprising.


    He thought for a moment, then leaned in to whisper, "Junior brother, this guy is strong, if you do fight him, be careful..."


    "I wasn''t asking about him."


    Li Chengxuan waved his hand dismissively, his gaze fixed brazenly on Zhu Shanying, and exclaimed:


    "What a cute girl, is she also a direct disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    Su Bijin paused, feeling that his focus was a bit off, but replied nonetheless:


    "Yes... her name seems to be Zhu Shanying, besides Xue Jing, she''s the youngest direct disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo, hardly ever seen in public, quite mysterious."


    Li Chengxuan clicked his tongue.


    "Su, I''ve changed my mind, we definitely should foster good relations with Hidden Dragon Dojo, we''re all in the same line of work, we should communicate more, seriously communicate..."


    Su Bijin: "..."


    Soon, Xue Jing and Zhu Shanying, under various gazes, made their way to the center of the hall, to Seventh Master''s side.


    Zhu Shanying, seeing the person opposite continuously staring at her, frowned slightly, sidestepped two steps, and stood behind Xue Jing, avoiding the gaze.


    "Master~"


    She sweetly called out.


    Xue Jing also respectfully said, "Master."


    Seventh Master chuckled in response, "Hmm."


    Then he looked at Xue Jing, "Did you hear what was said earlier?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Go, show him there''s a difference even among geniuses," Seventh Master waved his hand.


    "Junior brother, beat him up!"


    Zhu Shanying, standing behind him, pumped her little fist in encouragement.


    She then began directing the surrounding disciples.


    "Everyone, back off, move away a bit, clear the area..."


    The disciples also knew the main event was starting, moving back to clear the area while eagerly discussing amongst themselves:


    "Here comes the good show!"


    "Finally we see Su in action."


    "Actually, it''s not good, this challenger named Li Chengxuan, I''ve kept up with the recent U19 competitions, this guy is freakishly strong."


    "I''ve seen his matches too, he always deals with his opponents cleanly and never even uses weapons!"

 Chapter 107: Chapter 89: The Interaction of Forces (4K)_2

    """


    "He''s been quite popular online recently; he''s the dark horse from the Maple City division..."


    "Our older apprentice brother definitely doesn''t lack talent compared to him, but after all, he''s younger and has only recently started practicing martial arts..."


    "Ah? What do we do then? It''s not like he''s actually going to succeed in challenging us, is it...?"


    As these words circulated among the disciples, they instantly grew anxious.


    Seeing the situation had come to this, Su Bijin could only sigh and pat Li Chengxuan on the shoulder: "Junior apprentice brother, you really need to be careful; that guy is no ordinary opponent."


    Li Chengxuan casually acknowledged the warning, not taking it too seriously.


    After Su Bijin left the arena, Li Chengxuan turned to the youth in front of him and said with a smile:


    "So, you are Xue Jing?"


    "My name is Li Chengxuan... I''m a year older than you; if you don''t mind, you can call me ''Brother Li''."


    Xue Jing did not respond.


    "Don''t get me wrong; I really didn''t come here to challenge anyone. I just heard about a genius like you through the news and really wanted to meet you, so I showed up uninvited."


    Li Chengxuan glanced at the petite figure standing behind Li Qi''s wheelchair, cheering "junior apprentice brother, you can do it," and continued with a smile:


    "Rest assured, this is just a friendly spar; I''ll hold back and won''t make you lose face."


    "Of course, as an exchange, I''d like to ask you a few questions after we finish..."


    But Xue Jing shook his head.


    "You... sure talk a lot."


    "Bang!"


    The floor suddenly cracked.


    Xue Jing''s figure vanished from where he stood.


    Power surged, and the sound akin to a dragon''s chant erupted.


    Spiral grooves appeared on his right arm, twisting and extending towards the fist.


    Whirlwind Thunder!


    "Boom!"


    Xue Jing threw a punch at Li Chengxuan''s face, with the spiral force swirling a fierce current, making a sound like thunder exploding.


    Li Chengxuan hadn''t finished speaking when he was met head-on by the punch, immediately looking displeased.


    His hands moved swiftly, raising an arm in a highly intricate angle, using the toughest part of his elbow to meet Xue Jing''s punch.


    The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword Kungfu Body was activated, revealing a sharp power, intending to teach the insolent youth a lesson.


    "Bang!"


    A ring of air wave burst out from between the two.


    Li Chengxuan slid backward seven or eight meters, his feet dragging deep furrows in the rubber floor.


    He looked at his smoldering, somewhat numb elbow, his expression slightly changing.


    The power behind that punch... something was off!


    "Good reception."


    Xue Jing''s eyes shone; he clenched his fist, which now revealed a fresh red bloodline as if cut by a knife, feeling somewhat excited.


    Oddly enough, this was his first proper fight with a martial artist.


    Previous opponents were either transformed people or cockroach monsters.


    He had only had some non-combative, placid training with his fellow apprentice brothers and sisters.


    Now, he finally encountered a worthy opponent.


    Having his punch received, he instantly closed the distance again, rushing towards Li Chengxuan.


    Along the way, his power surged to his skin, spiraling within, and immediately, dense dragon scale imprints emerged on his skin from the neck down. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Golden Scale Skin!?"


    Seeing this, Li Chengxuan immediately became more serious, his gaze sharpening.


    He knew that his master once mentioned that the fundamental reason he had been defeated by the Dragon King, Li Qi, was his inability to deal with his opponent''s Golden Scale Skin.


    Who would have thought that Xue Jing, so young, had already learned this move?


    ''But... those are stories from years past.''


    ''The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword has improved significantly since then!''


    Li Chengxuan took a firm step, his eyes piercing as he charged towards Xue Jing.


    The two engaged closely, rapidly entwining in the center of the arena.


    "Clang, clang, clang, clang¡ª"


    Xue Jing was surprised to find that with every punch or kick that made contact with his opponent, it produced a sound like metal striking metal, as though his opponent was not a person but a humanoid form of steel.


    ''The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword... quite interesting.''


    His gaze shifted subtly, finding a non-vulnerability to exploit, he engaged his Twin Speed, suddenly moving faster, almost as if he had hit fast forward, his fist heading through a gap straight toward Li Chengxuan''s chin.


    The latter, though surprised, did not panic. Knowing he couldn''t possibly defend in time with his arms, he stooped his head, using the crown of his skull to take the punch.


    "Bang!"


    It sounded as if it had hit steel, and after the loud noise, Li Chengxuan appeared completely unharmed!


    "Master, what''s happening here?" Zhu Shanying asked in surprise.


    Li Qi, watching the two continue to fight, explained:


    "The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword turns one''s body into a blade. The Kungfu Body''s features are not only sharpness but also toughness."


    "This youngster has trained his Kungfu Body to the ''Blade Reaching Four Edges'' level, with even his hair as sharp and strong as a blade, let alone his naturally hard skull."


    Hearing this, Zhu Shanying expressed his concern: "Junior apprentice brother will be okay, right..."


    Li Qi smiled but said nothing.


    "Bang!"


    Xue Jing threw another punch, connecting with Li Chengxuan''s elbow.


    The Golden Scales trembled like a True Dragon shaking its armor, deflecting the sharp power, dissolving it into nothingness.


    The two exchanged blow after blow, their fists and feet colliding relentlessly. The more Li Chengxuan fought, the more alarmed he became.


    How is this possible!?


    Is he really only seventeen?


    Even on the U19''s competition field, he had never seen such an opponent.


    ''No, I can''t keep going like this.''


    Feeling the numbness and swelling in his limbs, Li Chengxuan glanced at Xue Jing who, still clad in Golden Scale Skin and as vigorous as a live dragon, made him deeply appreciate the helplessness his mentor Jiao Hongyuan must have felt back then.


    It''s time to strike hard.


    His eyes hardened with resolve.


    Golden Wind, White Rainbow Sword, Golden Wind to slash, White Rainbow to pierce.


    He crossed his hands to form an X, firmly withstanding Xue Jing''s onslaught and then, with a strong push, he repelled him.


    Subsequently, he channeled Spiral Force throughout his body, focusing it at his right fingertip.


    Xue Jing''s eyes flickered, instinctively sensing a hint of danger.


    Without hesitation, he promptly activated Twin Defense, while also shielding his chest with both hands.


    "Whoosh!"


    The next moment, the air tore apart, giving way to a white wave.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    Extremely sharp, like the tip of a blade, his finger sunk fiercely into Xue Jing''s arm.


    The Golden Scales trembled in unison, forming a barrier that could not withstand the concentrated, piercing tip of the finger. The scales shattered, and Xue Jing''s arm was penetrated, leaving a bloody hole.


    But... that was it.


    The fingertip collided with the bone in Xue Jing''s arm, making a crackling sound.


    "Ah!!"


    Li Chengxuan stumbled back two steps, clutching his own twisted fingers that had bone spurs jutting out from the skin, crying out in agony.


    "Didn''t your physics teacher ever teach you..."


    Xue Jing advanced upon him, Spiral indentations surfacing, swinging a punch toward Li Chengxuan''s chest.


    "The action of force... is mutual."


    "Boom!"


    Li Chengxuan was sent flying back dozens of meters with that punch, slamming into the wall and vomiting blood.


    "Stop it!"


    Su Bijin''s expression changed drastically as he called out to stop him.


    Xue Jing, as if he hadn''t heard, stepped forward, using both hands and feet, unceasingly bombarding Li Chengxuan who, plastered against the wall, had no room to dodge.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang!"


    Su Bijin immediately panicked, wanting to step forward, but a wheelchair had silently moved in front of him at some unknown time.


    "The fight''s not over, what are you rushing for?"


    Li Qi said with a faint tone.


    Su Bijin tried to disregard Li Qi and pass by him, but a chill suddenly ran down his spine.


    He saw... a pair of dark golden vertical pupil eyes.


    For a moment, his mind went blank, all thoughts vanishing.


    "Bang bang bang!"


    The concrete wall cracked as Xue Jing''s continuous beating embedded Li Chengxuan into the wall.


    "It''s over¡ª"


    Xue Jing raised his right fist.


    Just then¡ª


    "Stop¡ª"


    A furious and startled shout came from somewhere.


    Crash¡ª


    The glass of the training hall shattered as a figure rushed in from the window.


    "Kid, I told you to stop!"


    The figure extended an arm toward Xue Jing, striking with incredible speed. Xue Jing''s pupils constricted.


    He saw it, but it was too fast, and his body couldn''t react in time.


    Just then, another figure flashed in from the window.


    "Snap!"


    Xue Jing looked at the palm that was just a few centimeters away from his neck, still somewhat shaken.


    And that palm was firmly grasped by another massive hand.


    Xue Jing looked towards the tall figure standing in front of him.


    Eldest senior brother¡ªMeng Boshang.


    ...

 Chapter 108: Chapter 90 The Strength of a True Master (4K)

    "Big Brother!"


    Xue Jing looked at the broad and robust figure in front of him and spoke with unsettled fright.


    That instant just now was probably the closest he had ever come to death.


    The speed that left his body completely unable to react, and the bone-chilling coldness on his neck...


    He had no doubt that if that palm had touched him, it would have cut through his neck as easily as slicing through tofu.


    ''Is this... the gap between me and a true martial arts powerhouse?'' S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered.


    The gap in strength was simply too great.


    He had almost no ability to resist; if the other person wanted, he could have killed him on the spot.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t alone...


    Meng Boshang turned his head to glance at Xue Jing, nodded, and the corners of his mouth twitched, as if he were smiling. It seemed like he was just saying hello.


    The sandbag-like huge palm held the wrist of the person opposite firmly like a vise, unmoving, displaying a frightening amount of strength in the silence.


    Xue Jing followed the arm in front of him with his eyes.


    The neatly combed grizzled hair, the aged and grim face that still bore a look of shock and anger, the invisible Power around his body pulsating, cutting thin, long ravines into the floor around him.


    "Jiao Hongyuan, you shameful old dog,"


    Li Qi, sitting in the wheelchair a distance away, spoke coldly.


    "Your damn son sought out my disciple for a martial arts practice contest, was defeated fair and square, and now you old dog have the nerve to attack my disciple?"


    "Decades have passed, and have the few dog teeth that I, your father, knocked out grown back? Do you think I''m a soft persimmon that you can pinch whenever you please?"


    Jiao Hongyuan was at a loss for words for a moment; he looked at the deep human-shaped indent on the wall, where Li Chengxuan was embedded.


    "Master..."


    From the wall, came the muffled voice of Li Chengxuan.


    Jiao Hongyuan''s face changed, he twisted his wrist, and the Power swirling around him removed Meng Boshang''s grip.


    Then with a flicker of his figure, he had already moved next to the wall.


    As he moved, Meng Boshang extended his muscular, thick arm, protecting Xue Jing behind him.


    "Chengxuan."


    Jiao Hongyuan called out, seeing that Li Chengxuan was embedded too deeply to pull out easily. He then stretched out his palm and drew it across the wall several times, slicing it open.


    Steel rebar and concrete offered no resistance; they were cut through as if they were playdough by the Palm Knife, leaving smooth openings as if made by a Divine Weapon.


    "Crash, crash¡ª¡ª"


    Rubble fell, dust billowed, and Li Chengxuan extricated himself from the wall, looking utterly disheveled, with his body covered in bruises and rents in his clothing, revealing skin mottled with bruises.


    "Hiss¡ª¡ª"


    Yet, he seemed in surprisingly good shape, and was currently sucking in a breath of cold air, holding his protruding, twisted fingers.


    "Master, I was careless,"


    he looked at Jiao Hongyuan and said with his head bowed.


    Not far off, Zhu Shanying, upon hearing this, immediately curled his lip in dissatisfaction and said:


    "What do you mean ''careless''? If you can''t win, you can''t win; don''t make excuses!"


    "There are so many eyes here, and everyone saw it clearly!"


    The ordinary disciples around, intimidated by the inhuman strength Jiao Hongyuan had just displayed, didn''t dare to speak up, but they nodded in agreement nonetheless.


    What carelessness? It was purely a gap in strength.


    Jiao Hongyuan spoke quietly to Li Chengxuan, "We''ll talk about this when we get back."


    He turned his head toward Li Qi.


    Then, to everyone''s surprise, he bowed deeply toward Li Qi, hands clasped in a fist, and said loudly:


    "Seventh Master! I was wrong just now. In my haste to protect my disciple, I acted out of urgency and struck your disciple. I apologize to you here!"


    "In a few days, I''ll set a table, invite colleagues, and formally apologize to you in front of everyone, compensating you for all losses. You decide the amount of the losses, whatever it is!"


    "What do you think of this solution?"


    Jiao Hongyuan''s posture was unexpectedly humble, a stark contrast to his aggressive manner when he had burst through the window and attacked Xue Jing directly earlier, baffling everyone present.


    Li Qi narrowed his eyes, sensing something was amiss.


    This old dog was not someone known to Li Qi to be this mild-tempered.


    Whenever something is abnormal, there must be a demon at play.


    Li Qi, as a Martial Arts Grandmaster, understood the ultimate principles of martial conflict.


    The more the enemy doesn''t want us to do something, the more we must do it.


    Seeing that Jiao Hongyuan was so eager for peace, Li Qi might not know the reason, but he understood that he could not just go along with his wishes.


    "What''s the use of an apology if martial arts practice will suffice?"


    Li Qi scoffed with a laugh.


    "If you truly want to apologize, that''s fine. Chop off that hand you extended toward my disciple, and your father here will accept your apology."


    "This is too much!" Li Chengxuan shouted angrily.


    "The one being too much is you, punk who still needs his ass wiped after shitting! Daring to shout around here!"


    Li Qi scolded with flying spittle.


    Pointing at Li Chengxuan''s nose, he looked like he was about to stand up as he cursed:


    "You come here acting like a brainless prat, and even though you lost, you still have the face to yell. If you were under my tutelage, you would''ve been kicked down the drain long ago!"


    Li Chengxuan, with a finger pointed at his nose, wanted to retort, but he couldn''t refute the hard truths being thrown at him. Opening and closing his mouth he couldn''t find the words to say, and ended up shaking with rage.


    Jiao Hongyuan frowned slightly, gestured with his hand for Li Chengxuan not to speak, and then said to Li Qi:


    "Seventh Master, that condition is a bit too much."


    Li Qi chuckled dismissively.


    "Too much?"


    Without another word, he turned to look at Meng Boshang.


    "Boshang, close the doors and beat the dog."


    Meng Boshang''s serene face showed no change. He nodded slightly, his movements undetectable, as his long hair that reached his waist began to rise without any wind, coiling itself up, ready for a fight.

 Chapter 109: Chapter 90: The Strength of a True Master (4K)_2

    Xue Jing''s eyes showed astonishment from the sidelines.


    This was the realm of "Strength Reaching Four Extremities," where Power penetrated even the most minute parts of the body, allowing even the hair to be controlled freely.


    It was even possible to flick one''s hair to pierce through the human body, using hair to kill.


    Jiao Hongyuan''s expression changed slightly.


    "Wait a minute!"


    However, Meng Boshang paid no attention to his plea.


    In the blink of an eye, his enormous and robust figure vanished from its original spot.


    When he reappeared, he was already in front of Jiao Hongyuan.


    That sandbag-sized fist swung towards Jiao Hongyuan''s aged face.


    The air around them trembled, and concentric waves of energy erupted from the punch, blowing so fiercely that those nearby could hardly keep their eyes open.


    And as the direct target of this punch, Jiao Hongyuan felt an immense sense of oppression.


    "Ultimate Fist! This youngster is nearing his Breakthrough and is just one step away from leaping through the Dragon Gate!"


    With his wealth of experience, Jiao Hongyuan immediately recognized the level of the punch and could not help showing a look of shock.


    If he were twenty years younger, he wouldn''t be afraid, but as the saying goes, nothing is more fearsome than a young man''s fist. He had not achieved a Breakthrough, he was not an "Immortal of the Ordinary World," and his physical state could not remain at its peak. Having aged with the years, how could he possibly block this prime-aged junior''s Ultimate Fist?


    He had just enough time to raise his elbow, attempting to divert and dissipate the power of the fist with his own seasoned and sharp strength as the fist and elbow collided.


    "Bang!"


    A deafening explosion sounded, shattering all the windows on the seventeenth floor of the building housing Hidden Dragon Dojo, and the violent airflow knocked back everyone nearby, causing them to shield their faces with their hands.


    The entire building shook slightly, causing countless people to wonder if there had been an earthquake. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Standing very close, Xue Jing involuntarily squinted his eyes when the punch erupted, and the forceful airstream pushed him back more than ten meters off the ground, leaving him unable to see anything.


    In the chaos, he could only hear the sound of something happening in the arena.


    After a dozen seconds, when the airflow calmed, he fully opened his eyes and looked towards the center of the room.


    At that moment, all the equipment in the gym was scattered and shattered beyond repair, the floor was cracked everywhere, and the walls were full of fissures with several large holes also present.


    However, Jiao Hongyuan and Li Chengxuan had vanished, and all Xue Jing could find in their original standing spot was a pool of thick, mercury-like, nearly solid blood.


    The eldest senior brother Meng Boshang was also nowhere to be seen.


    "Is this...the true strength of a martial arts master?"


    Xue Jing stared at the mess within the room, somewhat dumbstruck.


    He would believe it if someone told him they were superhuman.


    The aftermath of just one punch was like a tactical nuke.


    "So am I still just a rookie up to now?"


    Xue Jing sighed.


    The explosive increase in his strength over the month of Martial Arts Practice made him think he was already quite strong.


    Only now, having witnessed the true power of a real martial arts master, did he realize that he was still far from the mark.


    "Clickety-clack¡ª"


    The sound of a wheelchair approaching came from the side.


    Xue Jing turned his head and asked, "Master, what''s the situation now?"


    Li Qi rubbed his eyes, which were irritated by the dust, and replied, "That old dog Jiao Hongyuan took a solid punch from Boshang and used the momentum to grab his disciple and run off. Boshang has chased after them, and by now, they''re probably still fighting."


    Xue Jing walked over to the shattered floor-to-ceiling windows and looked outside.


    The fierce wind at the top of the building rustled his clothes, and with the extreme vision brought by his Lv5 Aiming, he could vaguely make out a series of ring-like airwaves continually bursting out in the distance, moving farther and farther away.


    Presumably, that was the disturbance created by senior brother Meng Boshang and Jiao Hongyuan clashing.


    "Master, what should we do now? Should we try to help?"


    Xue Jing asked, turning back.


    Li Qi ran his hands through the sparse hair on the sides of his head and said, "No need. Jiao Hongyuan is old and weakened, no match for Boshang. We''ll just wait for news."


    He glanced at the wrecked Hidden Dragon Dojo and snorted coldly.


    "We''re not going to let this slide. I''ll make sure that old dog loses a layer of skin for this."


    After speaking, he turned his head towards a figure sneaking around.


    "Boy, where do you think you''re running off to?"


    Su Bijin, who had intended to sneak away amidst the chaos, stiffened upon hearing this.


    He slowly turned around and offered an awkward smile, saying, "I didn''t want to get in your way..."


    Xue Jing glanced at Su Bijin, thought for a moment, then whispered a few words into Li Qi''s ear.


    Li Qi''s expression shifted, and he pondered for a moment before speaking:


    "So that''s how it is..."


    "No wonder Jiao Hongyuan, that old dog, was so scared just now, trying to calm the situation and appease people."


    His gaze turned towards Su Bijin, who was squatting obediently at the original spot, and he said with ill intent:


    "Kid, you''re in big trouble."


    Upon hearing this, a bad premonition emerged in Su Bijin''s heart.


    ...


    "Dadadadadada¡ª"


    The helicopter hovered in the sky while Xue Jing and Void Blade stood not far from the office building of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, talking.


    "I had my suspicions before, but now I can almost confirm that there''s definitely a big problem with Golden Wind Dojo."


    Xue Jing spoke.


    "That guy is a Direct Disciple of Golden Wind Dojo, with no low status. He probably knows something. We''ll leave the person to you."


    Void Blade, clad in a black tight tactical suit that showcased her slender figure, directed people to escort Su Bijin onto the helicopter before turning back to Xue Jing.


    "If there''s indeed a discovery this time, it will be considered your achievement. Then, I will apply for your reward with headquarters."


    Xue Jing blinked his eyes, feeling somewhat bemused.


    If there was to be a discovery, rather than saying he had achieved something... it was more accurate to say Li Chengxuan had achieved something.


    This damn kid suddenly came running over to offer up a head, and now, even his master''s head was almost delivered.


    Whether or not Golden Wind Dojo was related to the Cockroach Monster, there were definitely shady things hidden within.


    After this incident, even if Golden Wind Dojo doesn''t collapse, it will at least be skinned.


    "Are you really not considering joining White Crow officially? I think you''re truly well-suited for this job."


    Void Blade tried to persuade him.


    "I''ve thoroughly checked your profile and what happened to you. On October 9th, you were confessed to by a female classmate from your school..."


    Void Blade recounted the recent incidents that Xue Jing had encountered.


    From being confessed to by a junior at school which triggered Pei Youguang''s jealousy, to visiting Pei Youguang''s household for martial arts practice, being troubled by the Razor Gang on his nighttime walk home, to the encounter with the Cockroach Monster at Rui Zhu Hotel and not long after, another encounter with a Cockroach Monster at school. He was always at the crime scene first.


    "Now, you are actively sought out by this Golden Wind Dojo, which looks very problematic..."


    "You have a strange constitution where trouble finds you without you looking for it... This is really rare and makes you extremely suitable for this line of work."


    Xue Jing felt somewhat speechless.


    What is this about trouble finding him...


    Wu Youqing also said that he possessed a special body that attracts Divine Relics. Now, not only Divine Relics but troubles too?


    Though, on second thought, it did seem to be the case.


    What was this, the Sacred Body of a typical protagonist from old web novels?


    Xue Jing repeatedly waved his hands:


    "It''s just a coincidence... There''s no such absurd constitution. We should believe in science."


    Void Blade pinched her chin:


    "Don''t disregard superstitions. Since God died, there have been many strange things in this world, like the Divine Relic you are so fond of. Each one can''t be explained by science..."


    She spoke meaningfully:


    "Who knows, the continuous troubles coming your way could be influenced by a certain Divine Relic, which you just haven''t discovered yet."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He shook his head and walked towards the office building of the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    "Alright, stop with the alarmist talk. We''ll leave the matter in your hands, I''m going back."


    Void Blade just smiled and said no more.


    ...


    Boarding the elevator in the office building, Xue Jing opened the panel to check.


    [You have been through a real combat...]


    Skipping a series of prompts for increased experience points, he looked directly at the bottom.


    [Fitness has risen to Lv8 (107/6000)]


    [Health Cultivation has risen to Lv6 (29/3000)]


    Fitness and Health Cultivation, which were already at the brink of leveling up, both advanced a level.


    Xue Jing clenched his palms, feeling the significantly enhanced physical quality, and while he felt elated, he also felt somewhat dissatisfied.


    Whether it was Jiao Hongyuan, who could easily take his life, or his eldest senior brother, whose punch made it impossible for him to get close, both made him keenly aware of the severe inadequacy of his strength.


    Suppressing the restlessness in his heart, Xue Jing said to himself:


    "No worries, take it slow, there will come a day..."


    ...

 Chapter 113: Chapter 92 Hidden Dragon and Crouching Tiger in Qingcheng, Perfect Sports (4K)_2

    Zhu Shanying smiled.


    "Thank you, Sister Zhu."


    Xue Jing expressed his gratitude.


    "In that case, Little Junior Brother, you keep practicing~ I have all the medicinal materials here, and that small room over there is for preparing medicines. You can use it as you wish."


    Zhu Shanying pointed to an inconspicuous door in the corner of the practice room.


    "I still have some things to take care of. I''ll come back to have lunch with you at noon, and then I''ll teach you how to ride a horse."


    The girl said, waved her hand, and left the practice room.


    Xue Jing suppressed the strange feeling of being taken care of, shook his head, took a deep breath, and began his daily training.


    ...


    Elsewhere, outside Qingcheng, in a deserted wilderness.


    Jiao Hongyuan opened his eyes and started coughing fiercely.


    "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With each cough, he spat out a thick, almost solid lump of black blood, involuntarily covering his chest with his hand, his face twisted in pain.


    Li Chengxuan, sitting beside him, quickly reached out to rub his back and asked with concern,


    "Master... are you all right?"


    Jiao Hongyuan waved his hand and looked down at his dantian area.


    There, his clothing was torn open in a circular hole, and his bare abdomen featured a spiral wound about three fingers wide.


    It should have been a large hole, but he controlled his muscles to forcefully contract it into a spiral shape.


    "A Kungfu Body cultivated for nearly sixty years couldn''t withstand a single blow from a junior."


    Jiao Hongyuan sighed.


    "Time spares no one."


    If only he were twenty years younger, would he have been bullied to this extent?


    "Master, what should we do now?"


    Li Chengxuan asked in a low voice.


    He was a bit panicked.


    The master he viewed as nearly invincible was beaten to such a state...


    And perhaps, it might possibly, seemingly, be his fault?


    No, Li Chengxuan denied the thought.


    He had gone to the Hidden Dragon Dojo to seek justice for Kaiping brother''s death and to properly inquire from that Xue Jing what had actually happened.


    Only, he had not expected the people of Hidden Dragon Dojo to be so dishonorable in martial arts...


    Hisss...no wait, they actually seemed quite honorable, only letting Xue Jing, who was younger than him, fight him...


    Forget it, none of that matters now, what''s done is done.


    Even though he had 99% of the problem, didn''t the people from Hidden Dragon Dojo have 1% of the blame?


    Both parties had issues; pondering who was right and who was wrong was pointless.


    Li Chengxuan thought to himself.


    Jiao Hongyuan looked at Li Chengxuan with a complex expression.


    It was as if disappointment mixed with something else.


    He sighed, dispirited,


    "Chengxuan, you should head to Maple City immediately, the elimination contest is about to start."


    Li Chengxuan said softly, "But... it''s still more than a week away, I wanted to spend more time with you."


    Jiao Hongyuan glared at him.


    "Don''t you understand the meaning? I''m asking you to get out of the way!"


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo is not to be trifled with. They won''t let this go."


    "And they''re well aware, I won''t let this go either."


    Jiao Hongyuan clutched at his stomach.


    "What comes next is not something for a youngster like you to get involved in, hurry up and go to Maple City. Your injuries also need to be treated; I know a very skillful doctor there..."


    Just then, a deep voice suddenly came from nearby.


    "Enough, save these trivial matters for later."


    A man clad in a black trench coat covering his entire body was sitting on a fallen dead tree trunk nearby, immensely tall.


    His arms were propped up on his knees, his broad palms stacked together, his green eyes emotionlessly staring at Jiao Hongyuan and his companion.


    The man had no hair on his head, with six-button-like objects embedded on top, his face partially covered with a black mask stitched into the skin around his eyes.


    Even though he was sitting, his stature was evidently immense, easily over two meters tall.


    As soon as Li Chengxuan heard the man speak, he became deathly silent.


    The reason they were able to escape from the monster of Hidden Dragon Dojo was entirely because this man had held back the monster.


    "Jiao Hongyuan, how is the task I gave you progressing?"


    "The conference is only two months away, don''t tell me that''s all the progress we''ve made."


    The man''s voice carried a mechanical chill, devoid of any emotion.


    Jiao Hongyuan coughed a few times before replying slowly,


    "The mature individuals have already been cultivated and are currently accumulating in number, why the rush?"


    The man stared at him for a while before nodding and saying,


    "That''s for the best."


    "Moreover, this is the last time I''m helping you... the company must not have any involvement in this matter, you understand."


    he man stated emotionlessly.


    "One must deal with one''s own affairs."


    Jiao Hongyuan huffed.


    "I never had any expectations, there''s no need to mention it again."


    The man gave him a deep look.


    "As long as you understand."


    ...


    Toward noon, Xue Jing stopped the blade he was swinging and sheathed the Crouching Rabbit.


    [You have completed a session of Sword Skills practice, Weapon Strike Experience Points +98]


    Having glanced at the panel, Xue Jing thought for a moment, decided not to continue training, and instead opened the door and left the training room.


    He walked down the stairs to the third floor, where Zhu Shanying had once shown him to the indoor swimming pool.


    It was a large pool, twenty meters long and ten meters wide. Xue Jing looked at the blue water, the distinct smell of chlorine from the pool reaching his nose.


    He removed his clothes, folded them neatly with Crouching Rabbit, and placed them on the ground before walking over to a nearby cabinet and opening it.


    Inside were various sizes of unopened swim trunks. Xue Jing selected a larger pair to put on.


    Bare-bodied except for the swim trunks, he displayed his perfectly sculpted body in the air as if crafted by divine hands.


    Approaching the edge of the pool, Xue Jing squatted down and scooped up some water with his hand.


    He then leapt forward with a splash, diving into the pool.


    He awkwardly fluttered in the water in a butterfly stroke form.


    ''It seems I''ve never swum in this lifetime.''


    Xue Jing thought while swimming.


    In a previous life, he had learned a bit and knew how to butterfly swim, a legacy from that past life.


    Xue Jing swam in the pool, initially clumsy, knowing the technique in his mind but not yet instinctive in his body.


    However, the superb body control of a martial artist allowed him to rapidly familiarize himself with everything about the butterfly stroke, his swimming skills improving at an incredible pace.


    "Splashing¡ª"


    Soon, he shot through the water like an arrow, shuttling back and forth in the pool like a torpedo, stirring up a great commotion.


    His powerful physical condition, enhanced by Running and breathing skills, allowed him almost no need for rest, swimming tirelessly.


    After an unknown amount of time, a prompt suddenly appeared on the panel.


    [Conditions met, Skill Activated: Swimming]


    [Swimming Lv1 (0/300)]


    Seeing the panel''s notification, Xue Jing pushed off powerfully, propelling himself to the shore and catching his breath briefly.


    "Sure enough, a skill can be activated."


    Xue Jing let out a breath and spoke.


    He looked at the water surface, feeling an instinctive familiarity.


    As if he was naturally a creature meant to live under water.


    Xue Jing kicked off the pool wall and dove back into the water.


    This time, his movements were much smoother and more graceful than before, almost naturally elegant.


    Like a fish that dwells in the sea, born belonging to the ocean.


    Even without using his arms, just by the agile movements of his body, he swiftly traversed through the water.


    "Puff ha!"


    Xue Jing raised his head out of the water, somewhat delighted.


    "My swimming has significantly improved, and even my physical condition, balance, and control have evenly increased a lot."


    He felt the enhancement that [Swimming] brought him.


    "Regarded as the best sport in the world, perhaps unparalleled, it comprehensively exercises every part of the human body."


    "Aside from demanding conditions, it is a nearly flawless perfect sport."


    "Awesome!"


    Xue Jing flipped over and dove back into the water.


    ...

 Chapter 114: Chapter 93: Fate Is Like a Knife That Cannot Be Defied, The God-like Xue Jing (4K)

    Xue Jing was thoroughly enjoying his swim in the pool when the door was suddenly pushed open.


    "Little junior brother!"


    Zhu Shanying pushed the door open and walked in, turning her gaze toward the figure darting through the water, her eyes lighting up.


    "So you''re here, I was wondering why I couldn''t find you in the training room."


    Upon hearing the voice, Xue Jing first dove fully into the water and submerged himself.


    His feet touched the bottom, his knees bent storing power, and then he pushed off fiercely.


    "Boom!"


    The water''s surface burst open like it had been hit by a bomb, with countless droplets flying everywhere, and a figure leapt from the center of the pool, landing directly on the shore.


    Wearing only a pair of swim trunks, his perfect body proportions were on full display under the excellent indoor sunlight, each muscle sculpted to the utmost human beauty, with numerous droplets running down his skin, glistening and exuding an indescribable sexiness.


    Zhu Shanying, witnessing this ''beauty emerging from a bath'', was completely stunned and found herself unable to look away.


    Xue Jing shook his head and reached up to slick back his inconvenient, medium-length hair, combing it into a slick back and then lifted his gaze to Zhu Shanying, a hint of a smile in his eyes.


    "Senior sister Zhu."


    He greeted her softly.


    Zhu Shanying, looking somewhat dazed, heard the greeting and came back to her senses, quickly shifting her gaze away as her cheeks turned red.


    "Uh... Uh, little junior brother, it''s noon, let''s go have lunch."


    Her tone was a bit dry.


    Xue Jing nodded, his Power surging and vibrating throughout his body.


    "Crackle¡ª¡ª"


    The droplets on his body scattered instantly, leaving him as dry as if he had been wiped down with a towel, with only a hint of vapor remaining.


    "The control of Power is still not refined enough... If I could vibrate it in such a way that not even the vapor remains, immediately drying my body, I would achieve the state of ''Not Even a Feather Can Be Added, Not Even a Fly Can Land''."


    Xue Jing thought to himself as he put on his clothes.


    The lunch arranged by Zhu Shanying wasn''t anything exotic like rare delicacies, but a slightly better medicinal cuisine compared with what was usually served at the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Ordinary food could hardly meet the nutritional needs of a martial artist.


    After lunch, Zhu Shanying led Xue Jing out of the main house to the stables on the left side of the estate.


    "Miss." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An old man wearing a cowboy hat, who looked to be in his fifties, stood at the entrance of the stables, addressing Zhu Shanying respectfully.


    "Uncle Bao~" Zhu Shanying also greeted him with a smile.


    She glanced at the stalls inside the stable and after a moment''s thought, said, "Uncle Bao, could you please saddle up ''Sixty-Six'' and ''Wind Eater'' and bring them out?"


    The old man named Uncle Bao nodded and entered the stalls within the stable.


    After quite a while, he returned, leading two tall and large horses.


    One was chestnut red with snowy hooves.


    The other pure black with a tuft of white hair on its forehead.


    "Thank you, Uncle Bao~"


    Zhu Shanying sweetly thanked the old man, then took the reins of the two horses from his hands and led them over to Xue Jing.


    "Neigh¡ª"


    The pure black horse with white hair approached Xue Jing, snorted loudly, and sniffed at him, seemingly catching his scent.


    Then...


    [A creature has taken a liking to you, Charm Art Experience Points +28]


    Huh?


    Xue Jing had an odd look on his face as he looked at the black horse nearly as tall as him and reached out to stroke its mane.


    The horse responded by nuzzling Xue Jing with its head as if to reciprocate.


    "Oh? ''Wind Eater'' seems to really like you, Junior Brother," Zhu Shanying said with a laugh, then stroked the mane of the chestnut horse.


    "Like this one, ''Sixty-six,'' they are both retired racehorses," she explained, then stepped onto the stirrup of ''Sixty-six,'' and swung onto the horse with great flair.


    Afterward, she shifted her seat backward on the saddle a bit and extended her hand to Xue Jing with a raised eyebrow, saying,


    "Come on, Junior Brother, get up here, and I''ll teach you how to ride."


    Xue Jing glanced at her outstretched hand, shook his head, and declined the offer to ride together.


    "No need, although I''ve never ridden before..."


    Xue Jing patted ''Wind Eater'' on the head, then took hold of the reins, stepped onto the stirrup, and swung himself onto the horse.


    "But imitation is not too difficult."


    He sat astride, holding the reins, and said with a smile.


    Zhu Shanying puffed out her cheeks, her pretty face showing displeasure: "Hey, riding requires skill; you''d learn faster if your Senior Sister taught you hands-on."


    Xue Jing ignored her and tentatively flicked the reins, gently squeezing the horse''s belly with his legs.


    Receiving the signal, Wind Eater snorted and began to move forward.


    "See, it''s quite easy," said Xue Jing, a bit cheerfully.


    Zhu Shanying rolled her eyes, pulled the reins, kicked the horse''s sides, and caught up with Xue Jing.


    "Ordinary people don''t learn to ride like this¡ªgiving signals without learning anything could be dangerous," she said with a pout.


    Xue Jing nodded: "I understand."


    His willingness to mount and ride directly was because he was confident that with his strength, he could easily handle any problems that might arise.


    Although Zhu Shanying was somewhat inexplicably disappointed that she couldn''t teach her Junior Brother how to ride firsthand, she still began instructing him:


    "Keep holding the reins at all times, never let go..."


    "When turning, be gentler with the left and right movements, there''s no need for too much force..."


    As she spoke, the two rode out of the manor''s back gate and came to the hills of the North City District.


    There was a vast meadow here, perfect for horseback riding.


    With Zhu Shanying''s guidance and Xue Jing''s current learning ability, coupled with the confidence his formidable strength brought him to try various bold maneuvers, he quickly grew accustomed to riding, propelling Wind Eater to gallop across the meadow.

 Chapter 115: Chapter 93 Fate is Like a Knife That Cannot Be Defied, The God-like Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Zhu Shanying was also riding ''Sixty-Six'' alongside him.


    Xue Jing immersed himself in the joy of riding, turning his head to glance at Zhu. He inexplicably felt the scene was familiar. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You are the wind, and I am the sand...


    Xue Jing shook his head, dispelling the BGM that suddenly sprung up in his mind.


    Half an hour later, as Xue Jing grew more adept, the Skill Panel suddenly popped up with a notification.


    [Conditions met, skill activated: Riding]


    [Riding Lv1 (0/300)]


    Xue Jing pulled back on the reins, and Wind Eater raised its front legs and stopped with a soft neigh.


    "As expected, it activated..."


    He touched the mane of Wind Eater beneath him, nodding his head.


    As he expected, ''Riding'' clearly counted as a skill.


    Xue Jing carefully felt the enhancements the newly activated skill gave him.


    "Hmm... Sense of Balance?"


    Xue Jing said, slightly unsure.


    He sat on horseback, and compared to before, he had a feeling of ease as if he were sitting on solid ground.


    "And... sense of direction."


    He looked to the left, without a hint of doubt in his mind, he instantly determined, this side is the ''northwest direction''."


    "Interesting, this can''t be all... just the changes I can clearly feel for now."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin with one hand, intending to flick the reins and have Wind Eater change direction.


    But before he could make a move, Wind Eater automatically turned its head in the direction he was thinking of.


    Xue Jing was startled.


    "Neigh¡ª"


    Wind Eater emitted a soft whinny.


    Xue Jing inexplicably sensed a bit of its emotions.


    It seemed a bit tired and also a bit thirsty...


    "Hmm? What''s this? Man-horse as one? Minds connected?"


    Xue Jing blinked.


    "Little junior brother¡ª"


    From a distance, Zhu Shanying rode up on Sixty-Six toward him and after coming closer, she pulled on the reins to stop the horse.


    "Why did you stop?"


    She asked.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing smiled, "Sister, I think Wind Eater and Sixty-Six are probably tired. Let''s head back."


    "Ah? We''re stopping already?" Zhu Shanying seemed disappointed.


    It was rare for her to have someone to accompany her riding, and she was really enjoying it, not wanting to go back yet.


    "Let''s ride again tomorrow. I find riding quite enjoyable. If Sister is willing, I''ll often accompany you."


    Seeing her expression, Xue Jing spoke to reassure her.


    "Really? You said it yourself, okay?" Zhu Shanying immediately said happily.


    ...


    Around five in the afternoon, Xue Jing rode back in Zhu Shanying''s family car to his own home.


    Upon opening the door, he saw Miao Miao sitting on the living room couch watching TV.


    "Teacher Wan, why didn''t you cook today?"


    Xue Jing entered the house, closed the door, and while changing his shoes, he jovially started the conversation.


    Miao Miao glanced at him with her emerald-like vertical pupils and retorted:


    "Do you still need me to cook? I see you enjoy your freeloading quite a lot."


    "How could that be? Freeloading is never as satisfying as food you make."


    Xue Jing hung the Crouching Rabbit on the wall, walked over to the couch, sat down, and rubbed Miao Miao''s head.


    "Besides, what do you mean by freeloading? I was just visiting my fellow apprentice''s home... Are you jealous over that too?"


    Xue Jing laughed.


    Miao Miao rolled her eyes: "Who''s jealous over you? Stop talking nonsense."


    With her tail ring gently swaying, Miao Miao stretched out her paw, licked it, looked up, and humphed:


    "Although we... had that sort of experience before, you''re still just my owner, nothing more... I don''t mind whoever you wish to be close with."


    "It''s just that little girl..." Miao Miao''s eyes showed contemplation.


    "Her background is quite mysterious, even Old Man Li doesn''t really understand her family''s situation. He only knows that she comes from the First Urban Circle."


    Xue Jing was surprised: "The First Urban Circle?"


    After the Eternal Night War, Zhuxia underwent major administrative changes, dividing into nine major urban circles.


    The urban circles were far apart from each other, with each middle region forming "isolation zones" that made transportation extremely inconvenient, even airplanes struggled to navigate through them.


    As a result, there was very little exchange between the urban circles, each maintaining a significant degree of autonomy, all under the jurisdiction of "Cangting," located at the center.


    Most civilians would never leave their respective urban circle in their lifetime.


    The First Urban Circle and the Fifth Urban Circle, where Xue Jing resided, were one in the north and the other in the south, extremely distant from each other.


    To travel from the First Urban Circle to here, one had to cross countless Intersecting Boundaries, which was an extremely dangerous affair...


    "I specifically asked Old Man Li, that girl''s family comes here from the First Urban Circle and stays for a while every year. Do you know what that means?"


    Miao Miao said meaningfully.


    "Either her family possesses absolute security forces that can traverse through the numerous Intersecting Boundaries without hindrance, or, her family controls a ''special air route'' that can safely go from the First Urban Circle to here..."


    "Regardless of which possibility, it signifies that her family''s power is extraordinary."


    "Being part of such a family comes with many rules; you better be prepared if you want to be their son-in-law."


    Towards the end, Ning Feng Wan''s tone couldn''t help but have a hint of sourness.


    Xue Jing heard it and just shook his head with a smile,


    "What are you talking about, Zhu and I are just normal fellow apprentices."


    Miao Miao hummed, "But that young girl probably doesn''t think so."


    "Not a kid anymore yet inviting a man over to her place alone, her intentions can''t be that innocent."


    A complex expression surfaced on Miao Miao''s anthropomorphic cat face.


    "Actually... if you really could have something with her and gain her family''s protection, I wouldn''t have to worry about you."


    The girl always harbored worries about staying by Xue Jing''s side.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "Let''s talk about that later; when the ship reaches the pier, it will straighten itself out."


    ...


    Three days later.


    North City District, behind the mountain.


    Xue Jing swung Crouching Rabbit on the lawn, chopping weeds, with ceaseless flashes of swordlight, and a sky full of green fragments flying around.


    His pupils dyed red, in his eyes, the swathes of grass being cut were not weeds but the heads of enemies.


    Bodies piled up into mountains, blood accumulated into seas.


    Deep within his heart, the Asura Blade dripping with endless crimson, was emitting an increasingly violent murderous intent.


    "Heaven gives birth to all things to nurture humanity; humans are powerless to reciprocate heaven."


    With the absolute mental control power brought by Meditative Visualization, Xue Jing firmly held his mind clear and never lost himself to the wild killing intent.


    "The life and death of humans are determined by heaven... Even the Asura Palm kills, isn''t it just obeying the commands of heaven... "


    "If heaven wants him to kill, he cannot refuse to kill..."


    Xue Jing''s blade handling became more forceful, his sword techniques increasingly sophisticated, and his cutting of the weeds more precise.


    "The Way of Asura is extreme and powerful, yet its purpose is not lofty."


    "There must be a form of Sword Intent, standing above the Way of Asura."


    Xue Jing''s swinging blade paused above a delicate little grass.


    The extremely sharp blade edge gently touched the grass, bending it, brushing over its body, but not harming it in the slightest.


    "If heaven wants you dead, you have no choice but to die."


    The blood in Xue Jing''s eyes slowly receded, replaced by a slowly emerging silvery-white radiance.


    Indifferent, divine, assertive... Those were eyes like those of a god.


    "Heaven''s intent like a knife... not to be defied."


    Xue Jing gripped the handle of his blade tightly, the silver-white glint flashing.


    "Crunch crunch crunch crunch¡ª"


    The grass in front of him, up to ten meters away, had all been cut at the roots, as if a lawnmower had ravaged it, leaving behind nothing but a bare patch of dirt.


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment in Sword Skills, gaining Weapon Strike Experience Points +998]


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment in Sword Skills, gaining Meditative Visualization Experience Points +1182]


    [Weapon Strike advanced to Lv4 (657/1200)]


    [Meditative Visualization advanced to Lv6 (113/3000)]


    Xue Jing''s silvery-white eyes stared straight at the blade in his hand.


    "A blade to act on heaven''s behalf?"


    "No, I am heaven."


    "The blade I swing is¡ªHeaven''s Will Saber."


    In those silvery-white eyes, not a single emotion was shown, resembling the God of the Azure Sky who commands the life and death of all beings.


    ...

 Chapter 116: Chapter 94 - Heavenly Sabre·Whirlwind Thunder, GOD-508·Hundred Feet Poles Top (4K)

    For a long while, the silvery-white color in Xue Jing''s pupils slowly faded away.


    He gently exhaled a breath.


    "Heaven''s Will is like a sabre, unyielding," Xue Jing mused. "This Sword Intent, born from the Asura Blade, intends something far more profound."


    Xue Jing observed the flowing silvery-white light on the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    "At present, this Sword Intent is only in its nascent form, not yet perfected, but it feels even more challenging to control than the Asura Blade," he continued.


    He recalled being immersed in the artistic conception of the "Heaven''s Will Saber," where he felt like the God of the Azure Sky, disdainful of all, indifferent to the myriad beings...


    "Compared to the Asura Blade, which plunges one into an uncontrollable fury, the ''Divinity'' of Heaven''s Will Saber doesn''t directly affect one''s consciousness, yet it imperceptibly elevates me, making me feel superior to all beings..."


    Xue Jing furrowed his brow slightly.


    "The pinnacle of Old Martial Arts is fundamentally about the spirit, influencing the physical genes with the spiritual mind; the stronger the spirit, the more potent the body, hence, possessing an invincible heart can unleash an invincible fist..."


    "If one has a heart that transcends all beings, naturally, one can wield a Heavenly Sabre that cuts through everything... But is this a good thing or a bad thing?"


    "Would I still be myself then?"


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but ponder.


    He then glanced at the [Meditative Visualization Lv6] on the panel, and his brow relaxed.


    "Trust Ban; even if the Heaven''s Will Saber attains perfection in the future, the level of [Meditative Visualization] will keep increasing, surely locking in my self, anchoring my original intent," he reassured.


    Xue Jing settled down, twirled the Crouching Rabbit Sword in his hand, and said to himself:


    "The Asura Blade has evolved into the Heaven''s Will Saber, but at present, it still only possesses Sword Intent and lacks the matching techniques to truly unleash its power."


    "However, the Hidden Dragon School''s techniques are versatile enough to be used in combination."


    He switched to holding the Crouching Rabbit with both hands, his eyes turned silvery white, his expression became indifferent.


    He then activated Twin Lifes Defense, stimulated his Power, and the Dragon''s Chant began.


    Both arms began to show spiral depressions simultaneously.


    He turned his head towards a small lake not far from the grassy area.


    "Heavenly Sabre, Whirlwind Thunder!"


    ...


    Pei Youguang stood by the lake, holding several flat stones, listlessly skipping stones across the water.


    "Shoo¡ª"


    Though a martial artist, he threw with enough Power that the stone skidded across the water several dozen times, a rather skilled technique.


    "Nice! A new record!"


    He was invigorated, ready to continue.


    "Youguang, stop playing, come help!"


    Pei Tiancheng''s call came from not far, and Pei Youguang could only scratch his head and replied "Yes."


    The brothers were invited today by Ye Chenglin and a group of friends to North City Back Mountain for a barbecue party.


    According to big brother Pei Tiancheng, the Ye family had been facing tough times recently... His father, a Governing Councilor, was heavily criticized, and with the "Great Council" soon to convene, it seemed unlikely he would retain his council seat.


    Thus, they invited these younger generation friends today to strengthen ties, hoping for a remedy...


    Pei Youguang didn''t quite understand these matters, thankfully, he didn''t need to.


    Currently, his only task was to maintain a good relationship with Jing... or at least keep it as it was.


    It was his father, who usually paid him no heed, who personally asked this of him... Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lately, his relationship with his father had improved quite a bit, even tentatively inviting him to live at home...


    He understood that all this was because he had started having ''value'' to the family.


    Although it felt a bit peculiar to him that his value wasn''t in himself but in his relationship with Jing...


    "Let Second Young Master Pei play, it''s just a barbecue, I can handle it,"


    A girl assembling the grill said with a smile.


    Another girl teased her, "Eh? You''re so gentle towards Second Young Master Pei, do you have some thoughts?"


    "We''re all friends who''ve been through life and death, and there''s that ''suspension bridge effect,'' right? It''s not strange to have feelings. Although Pei is a bit young, he''s a good kid, and I support this!"


    "Speaking of which, why didn''t they invite that Xue this time?"


    "Only Second Young Master Pei has Xue''s contact, but he mentioned that Xue is busy with Martial Arts Practice, and it''s not good to disturb..."


    "I really want to see him again... I haven''t properly thanked him before, sigh."


    Pei Youguang, listening to the conversation, pursed his lips and threw one last stone towards the lake.


    "Boom!!"


    Suddenly, a sound like thunder exploded, startling everyone.


    "Eh? Is it going to rain? That can''t be, the weather forecast said it was going to be clear today."


    "There are no rain clouds in the sky, either?"


    Confused, everyone looked towards the direction of the sound.


    At that moment, a silvery-white spiral dazzle rampaged across the lake.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡ª"


    Where it passed, the lake water reversed, adhering to it, and soon, a horizontal water tornado formed, roaring across the lake.


    "Holy crap, what is that? A dragon sucking water?"


    "Since when do dragons suck water horizontally?"


    Everyone was dumbstruck.


    And Pei Youguang, he just gaped at the hand he had just used to throw the skipping stone...


    "Huh? Did I do that?"


    ...


    Xue Jing looked at the land that had been plowed over and the agitated lake water, nodded in satisfaction at the power of the stroke.


    "This strike has a touch of fantasy to it now..."


    The union of Heaven''s Will Saber with the Hidden Dragon School''s Whirlwind Thunder technique had indeed produced an effect similar to ''Saber Qi.''


    "What''s this? Vacuum Slash? That''s hardly scientific."

 Chapter 117: Chapter 94 - Heavenly Sabre·Whirlwind Thunder, GOD-508·Hundred Feet Poles Top (4K)_2

    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected confusion.


    He felt there were still many secrets about spiritual mind powers that he didn''t know...


    "I''ll ask the master later."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing sheathed the Crouching Rabbit Sword, holding it as he turned and walked towards ''Wind Eater,'' who was grazing nearby with its head down.


    "Xi l¨¹ l¨¹¡ª¡ª"


    Seeing Xue Jing approach, Wind Eater also moved forward two steps and nuzzled him with its head.


    "Good boy."


    Xue Jing petted its mane and smiled.


    He stepped on the stirrup and swung himself onto the horse''s back.


    No signal was needed, just a thought, and Wind Eater began to run across the grass.


    Holding the reins and riding the horse, Xue Jing oped the panel to take a look.


    Fitness Lv8, Health Cultivation Lv6, Cooking Lv5, Running Lv6, Charm Art Lv7, Aiming Lv6, Fighting Lv6, Hidd Dragon Vigor Lv5, Meditative Visualization Lv6, Combat Skills Lv4, Swimming Lv, Riding Lv...


    "Running, Charm Art, Aiming, and Fighting are all about to level up."


    Xue Jing mused, looking at the Divine Skill column, skipping over Lv3 Twin Lifes and Lv Shadow Flame to check the Divinity count.


    [Held Divinity: 56]


    "There''s still a significant lack of Divinity. Over at Miao Miao''s side, it''s like squeezing toothpaste, barely managing to pull out a doz points a day."


    "Wh can I get another Custodian mission?"


    Xue Jing sighed.


    ...


    Riding back to Zhu Shanying''s manor, Xue Jing wt to the indoor swimming pool to relax for an hour, [Swimming] Experice Points +9.


    Zhu Shanying was not a. Although she had said three days ago that she wanted Xue Jing to ride with her every day, he rarely saw her and wondered what she was busy with.


    After swimming, Xue Jing took a shower and drove home.


    "Teacher Wan?"


    Upon tering the house, Xue Jing called out but received no response.


    He looked a but couldn''t find her; it seemed Miao Miao was out, probably because those from the Dragon Cult had come looking for her again.


    Xue Jing took out his phone, intding to call his sister, Xue Wan, to tell her he would be visiting Maple City in a few days.


    But just as he finished tering the number, before he could dial out, his phone vibrated with a call from an unknown number.


    Xue Jing directly answered it.


    "Hello?"


    "It''s me."


    A calm, mature female voice came through the receiver.


    "Captain Void Blade..."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    "You changed your number?"


    Void Blade said, "I didn''t change it. This is a call made to you through an crypted communication channel."


    "Let''s skip the small talk. I''m contacting you because I have a task I want to trust to you..."


    "Is it related to the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    "Yes."


    Xue Jing''s expression shifted as he changed his position on the sofa, thought for a momt, and said:


    "Go ahead... but just to be clear upfront, I might not accept."


    Void Blade calmly said, "I understand. Just list to me first before you decide."


    "Three days ago, someone reported that to the north of the Fifth Urban Circle, a new Intersecting Boundary was discovered..."


    "As it is not within the urban circle, it''s beyond our observation range, and we don''t know wh this Intersecting Boundary formed."


    "Upon receiving the news, the agcy st White Crow to ter first and scout the situation..."


    "But they couldn''t ter."


    Xue Jing puzzledly asked, "Why not?"


    "Because the rules do not allow it," Void Blade explained.


    "Intersecting Boundaries are born from the fusion of the Currt World and the Otherworld, and the rules within them undergo bizarre changes during the confusion of the two worlds, producing various incomprehsible chaotic rules."


    "White Crow started many tests three days ago and only just yesterday figured out the conditions to ter this Intersecting Boundary."


    Void Blade paused, th continued, "There are two conditions to ter: one is that you must be under eighte years old, the other is still unclear, but it seems to be ''natural beings.''"


    "Huh?" Xue Jing was dumbfounded.


    "Natural beings... do you mean people who hav''t undergone any modifications?"


    Void Blade affirmed, "Exactly... It''s still unclear if that''s the condition, but so far, tests show that people with Ali Implants, or those who have tak Banned Drugs, or undergone ''Super Surgery,'' cannot ter."


    Xue Jing thought for a momt, th asked, "Doesn''t the agcy have special personnel specifically for situations like these?"


    "Of course."


    Void Blade said. ?¡Ì?¦¥???§Á.?§°?


    "The Special Duty Departmt has a unit specifically made up of martial artists. It''s tasked with dealing with criminal martial artists and is known as ''Cease-Blades.'' There are many practitioners of Old Martial Arts in it..."


    "The problem is, the relationship betwe Cease-Blades and White Crow... isn''t very good."


    So that''s how it was.


    Xue Jing roughly understood.


    "This time, the situation is special. To avoid bowing down to Cease-Blades, the higher-ups have giv me authority to provide you with the reward in advance."


    Captain Void Blade spoke.


    "Do you not want a Divine Relic? I can give you one that is particularly beficial to martial artists..."


    Xue Jing blinked and asked, "What is it?"


    "GOD-508¡¤Hundred Feet Pole''s Top..."


    "As a Divine Relic Custodian, you should know the effects of this item..."


    Xue Jing sat up straighter, a covetous glow in his eyes.


    He certainly knew.


    He had scoured through all the information about Divine Relics that his currt level allowed him to access on the relic info site.


    The details about GOD-508 were clear in his memory.


    Hundred Feet Pole''s Top appeared to be just a section of bamboo, indistinguishable from the ordinary kind.


    However, its effect was simple: one just needed to place it on top of one''s head, keep it from falling, and continuously gage in an activity.


    After three days, GOD-508 would grow by one section.


    At the same time, the activity that one was gaged in would also advance a level.


    For instance, if one spt three days exercising, one''s physical fitness would increase; if practicing martial arts, one''s martial artistry would improve...


    This was called¡ªadvancing one step further at the top of the Hundred Feet Pole.


    The information revealed that a significant figure, whose name was obscured, had used GOD-508 and successfully achieved a ''¡ö¡ö Ascsion''...


    Although the particulars of ''¡ö¡ö'' were unknown, the fact that it was related to ''ascsion'' indicated that it was an extraordinary matter...


    The temptation was quite substantial...


    Xue Jing had already be very interested in obtaining a Divine Relic, let alone GOD-508...


    "What exactly is the situation with that Intersecting Boundaries?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Upon hearing this, Captain Void Blade understood that he was considering the offer.


    She took a breath and said:


    "The specific details are not clear yet. The test personnel ar''t strong ough to delve in, but since one can exit at any time, it''s likely a C-level Intersecting Boundaries..."


    Captain Void Blade shared all the information that had be gathered so far, and after listing, Xue Jing said:


    "Let me think about it."


    "Alright, give me an answer within a week." Captain Void Blade said.


    After hanging up the phone, Xue Jing fell into deep thought.


    According to Captain Void Blade, a C-level Intersecting Boundaries wasn''t too dangerous, and ev if there were creatures inside, their threat level gerally wouldn''t exceed 5.


    His task would be to ter the Intersecting Boundaries and install a special device in various locations within it, which would not only reveal all details about the Intersecting Boundaries but also allow for monitoring any changes happing inside at any time.


    It sounded like the difficulty wasn''t high...


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    About the Intersecting Boundaries, he knew too little; he needed to consult Wu Youqing for more details before deciding whether to accept.


    The style of the organization he had felt from contacting White Crow till now made him distrust Captain Void Blade''s words somewhat.


    "I''ll talk about it later."


    Xue Jing picked up his phone, oped the dialing interface, tered his sister Xue Wan''s number, and called her.


    After a few rings, the call was answered.


    Xue Wan''s cheerful voice came through the receiver.


    "Hello, hello, hello~"


    "My silly bean, don''t always call me if it''s not important. What if I get mistak for having a brother complex? Good m would shy away from me."


    Xue Jing ignored her teasing and said, "I''m going to Maple City in a few days. Is there anything you want me to bring?"


    A flurry of noises came through the receiver, clattering, as if Xue Wan had knocked something over. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah? You''re coming to Maple City!?"


    Xue Wan''s voice took on a hint of panic.


    Xue Jing asked suspiciously, "Why, is there something you don''t want me to see?"


    "How could that be..."


    Xue Wan laughed nervously.


    "My dearest bean coming to see me, I''m really happy..."


    Xue Jing said meaningfully, "It better be."


    ...

 Chapter 125: Chapter 98: The Silver Eyes of God, Ive Snatched Them, Now What? (4K)

    [Twin Born Lv4 (8/800)]


    [Passive: Possesses two lives, can freely choose resurrection time within sev days after death, cooldown: sixty days]


    [Active: Every Lv can designate an ability related to one''s own physical body, using it produces double the effect]


    [Currt Skills Activated: Physical Strgth, Action Speed, Physical Defse]


    [Currtly Available Choices: Reaction Speed, Calculative Ability, Conctration, Memory, Body Temperature, Flexibility, Perception Ability, Instinctive Intuition...]


    Xue Jing glanced at the Twin Lifes passive after reaching Lv4, and saw that the cooldown time had be reduced by t days, and nodded in approval.


    "Good, as expected, it''s a fixed t days per level..."


    This confirmed that after reaching Lv, the cooldown time for Twin Lifes would be reduced to an unimaginable extt.


    "Ev if it''s not infinite resurrection, it''s probably not far off,"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Next is the choice of the active effects."


    "The original plan was to choose ''Reaction Speed''..."


    Xue Jing looked at the dozs of options on the panel.


    He was now hesitating.


    Gerally speaking, Reaction Speed is a choice that ranks very high on the priority list for him as a Martial Artist.


    But...


    Xue Jing glanced up at the top of the panel.


    [Aiming Lv6 (870/3000)].


    The increase in Dynamic Vision from Aiming nearing Lv7 was too significant.


    With his currt strgth, getting double Reaction Speed on the basis of Aiming would actually be quite wasteful.


    Because his body could not keep up with his own Reaction Speed.


    Just like that day he faced Jiao Hongyuan''s attack, he had se the attack, but the body could not avoid it at all.


    His currt Reaction Speed was already sufficit for his own strgth, and it had ev exceeded what his strgth required.


    Increasing it further would just be a pure waste.


    "With the sword-drawing speed of someone like Otogirusu, ev if I can react, my body still couldn''t avoid it tirely. Perhaps choosing [Instinctive Intuition] would be better. It might help me to sse danger in advance through instinct, letting my body automatically avoid the oppont''s sword draw,"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    Th he recalled what Wu Youqing once said about the importance of spirit in martial arts.


    "Or should I choose an ability related to spirit? Like [Conctration]..."


    "This choice should help hance the Artistic Conception of Heav''s Will Saber and will be beficial for daily Martial Arts Practice as well..."


    "So difficult."


    Xue Jing shook his head, closed the panel, and decided to put off choosing a new active effect for the time being.


    "We''ll talk about it later."


    He wt out to the street, hailed a taxi, and headed to the restaurant arranged with his classmates.


    Soon after, the car stopped in front of a restaurant named ''Baolin.''


    ????§®§²??.§³§°?


    Xue Jing scanned the code to pay the fare, thanked the driver, and walked in.


    Since everyone was a studt with limited financial abilities, the chos restaurant was not very high-d, but it had a good reputation, and Xue Jing had eat here a few times and joyed the food.


    Upon tering, he wt straight to the private room area, came to the room Li Ge had st him via WeChat, and pushed the door op.


    Many classmates had already arrived.


    Studts from the Elite Class came in dozs, so a large room with five big tables had be selected.


    As soon as Xue Jing tered, Li Ge, who was sitting by one of the tables, promptly stood up and exclaimed:


    "Hey, hey, hey, the main character has finally arrived, hurry up and serve the dishes, I barely ate at noon and I''m starving now!"


    The other classmates also began speaking.


    "Xue Jing is here, have a seat, have a seat!"


    "I''ll go call the waiter to serve the food."


    "Come, come, here, sit at this table in the middle..."


    Xue Jing walked forward, sat next to Li Ge, and responded to his classmates'' questions with a smile.


    "Ah, it feels like a lot has changed since more than a month ago."


    Li Ge oped a large bottle of cola, poured a cup for both himself and Xue Jing, took a sip, and said thoughtfully.


    "Ever since you started practicing martial arts, it feels like you and I are people from two differt worlds."


    "I never thought you''d actually make it this far; ev the news is reporting you''re a martial arts prodigy, and the principal ev held a commdation meeting to praise you, but it felt weird that you wer''t there."


    Xue Jing put an arm a his shoulder and chuckled:


    "What, feeling all melancholic and lonely because your brother''s Range Rover is moving too fast?"


    Li Ge nodded, and hummed affirmatively.


    "A bit, yes."


    "But as much as I feel that small pinch, I hope more than anything that you really soar to heights so high, I can''t ev reach them."


    Li Ge said sincerely.


    "People always have to move upward. Since you have this talt and opportunity, don''t let any ties hold you back. I''ll only ever wish you the best."


    Xue Jing ruffled Li Ge''s hair with his other hand, laughing:


    "You don''t need to tell me. I''d do that anyway."


    Hearing these words from Li Ge stirred a complex mix of feelings inside Xue Jing.


    It''s normal for people to lose something while gaining something else.


    He wasn''t sad about this, but it still made him somewhat reflective.


    "You, do you remember wh we first met?"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows.


    Li Ge chuckled, "Of course, I do."


    That was during their first year of middle school, just after they had be assigned to the same class, and ev shared a desk.


    Upon first meeting Xue Jing, Li Ge had asked a peculiar question.


    "Wh you eat an ice cream, are you the type who licks it, or who bites it?"


    sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 126: Chapter 98: The Silver-White Eyes of God, I Snatched Them, What Next? (4K)_2

    Xue Jing felt it was utterly bizarre at the time, but still he spoke up, "The one that got bitten."


    Then Li Ge immediately shook hands with him, "Comrade!"


    Xue Jing thought this person was quite weird, but still interesting, so he asked in return:


    "Coke, do you drink Coca-Cola or Pepsi?"


    Li Ge didn''t hesitate and said, "I don''t give a fuck."


    Xue Jing laughed and immediately shook hands with him.


    "I don''t give a fuck either."


    The two built a wonderful friendship with just two bizarre exchanges.


    "What a fateful tie it is, sharing the same class and desk since middle school wasn''t enough, we ended up in the same high school and again in the same class, and later, we both entered the Elite Class."


    Li Ge clicked his tongue.


    "Damn, always hanging out with you, kid, I don''t even know how many romantic chances I''ve missed. All the girls were charmed away by you alone."


    "The most infuriating part is, you don''t even want them."


    As Li Ge looked at Xue Jing''s increasingly exaggerated face, he instantly felt annoyed.


    If he had that face, he''d walk around without wearing clothes.


    Such a waste.


    "Hm? How have things been with your girlfriend recently?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    "Haven''t seen her for quite a while, I''ve got to focus on studying for Star University; I don''t want to lag too far behind you..."


    As they chatted casually, time slowly passed by.


    When the food was all served, a group of students pretended their drinks were wine, like adults, and raised toast after toast to each other. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The meal was quite enjoyable, and it was almost ten-thirty by the time everyone started leaving.


    Finally, Xue Jing and Li Ge left the restaurant, chatted for a long time on the street, reminiscing about many past events, and then went their separate ways home.


    After Xue Jing reached home, he took a bath, practiced aiming at the dartboard for a while, then went to bed hugging Miao Miao.


    A peaceful night.


    ...


    The next day at noon, in the mountains behind the North City District.


    Xue Jing swung his Crouching Rabbit Sword, wrapped in Shadow Flame and turned pitch-black, practicing various basic sword skills.


    From time to time, a wisp of Dark Flame would flare up on the black blade.


    "This method of turning Shadow Flame into a ''coating'' demands a high level of control precision."


    "I can''t yet maintain the ''coating'' shape one hundred percent for an extended time; I need more practice."


    Xue Jing''s eyes flickered as he turned the ignited wisp of Dark Flame back into a black coating, thinking to himself.


    After a while, his phone vibrated and rang from his pocket.


    Xue Jing stopped practicing his sword skills, dispersed the Shadow Flame coating, twirled a flourish with his sword, and sheathed the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    He took out his phone to check it; the caller ID displayed ''Captain Void Blade.'' Without hesitation, Xue Jing answered the call.


    "Hello?"


    "The item has arrived; where are you?"


    The typically direct voice of Captain Void Blade came through the speaker.


    Xue Jing''s spirit perked up.


    The moment at Hundred Feet Pole''s Top has come!


    "I''m in the mountains behind the North City District; I''ll send you my location."


    ...


    In South City, within a temporary base in an abandoned building area.


    Captain Void Blade stood on a helipad marked with a large ''H,'' hung up her phone, opened WeChat, and checked the location sent by Xue Jing.


    Beside her stood a young man about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a navy blue Tactical Suit, wearing a talisman-like paper charm on his left ear.


    "What a big deal, we have to deliver it to him?"


    The young man snorted, opening his mouth as if he found it funny.


    Turning to look at him, Captain Void Blade didn''t answer his question but calmly countered:


    "Why are you personally delivering the item, Ning, the Troublemaker from Cease-Blades?"


    The young man frowned, dissatisfied, "Your people from White Crow really lack manners, don''t call me Ning. I''ve reached this stage all by myself; it has nothing to do with my family!"


    Then changing the subject, "As for why..."


    He was holding a plain-looking, fist-sized green bamboo segment.


    "I''ve been using this... don''t get me wrong, this was a reward I got for my contribution to the ''Troublemaker'' operation, unrelated to my family."


    Captain Void Blade nodded, his expression unchanging, simply saying, "So, why is it you delivering this?"


    "Didn''t I say I was fucking using it? Suddenly someone cuts in line, insisting they get to use it first."


    Ning''s gaze narrowed slightly.


    "How can this young master tolerate such a thing? Naturally, I had to see for myself who has the audacity to cut in line ahead of me," he said.


    After pausing, he added, "Don''t get me wrong. Although I refer to myself as ''this young master,'' it''s just a personal verbal tic that has nothing to do with my family."


    Captain Void Blade spoke softly, "Seeing for yourself is, of course, possible, but I must ask Ning not to cause any unnecessary trouble. That young man named Xue Jing is backed by a very powerful supporter."


    Upon hearing this, Ning burst into laughter.


    "A backer? How formidable can they be? More formidable than my family?"


    He quickly followed up by saying, "Of course, don''t misunderstand, I was just making a comparison. I''ve always relied on myself, not on my family."


    Captain Void Blade''s expression remained unchanged as he replied,


    "I''m afraid they''re indeed a bit bigger than your family, Ning."


    "Don''t call me Ning, I''ve said I rely on myself, on myself!" Ning replied in dissatisfaction.


    "So, who is his supporter?"


    ...


    About half an hour later.


    "Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the grass, eyes closed, concentrating, when he heard the noise of a helicopter rotor cutting through the air in the distance, so he opened his eyes and looked up.


    A black helicopter was gradually approaching his position from the horizon.


    He stood up and waited in place.


    Before long, the helicopter was close, slowly descending.


    The grass was whipped into waving like waves by the rotor''s draft, and Xue Jing put his hand on his forehead to block the assaulting wind from his eyes.


    The cabin door opened, and Captain Void Blade, clad in a tight black tactical suit that revealed her athletic, panther-like figure, jumped down from the helicopter.


    Following her was a young man who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.


    Xue Jing''s gaze lingered for a moment on the green bamboo segment in the man''s hand, then shifted to the approaching Captain Void Blade.


    "Captain Void Blade, it''s been a few days since we last met," Xue Jing said as he nodded and shook hands with her.


    Captain Void Blade also nodded, her tone calm, "You accepting this commission really helped me out a lot."


    Then, she turned her head to look at the young man beside her and began to speak,


    "This is..."


    Before she could finish, the man interrupted,


    "My name is Ning Yuantai."


    Xue Jing looked somewhat puzzled, but still nodded to him and said,


    "Hello, my name is Xue Jing."


    Ning Yuantai waved his hand.


    "Let''s skip the nonsense. I''m here specifically to pass ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'' to you," he said.


    "This thing was originally in my use, but suddenly you were arranged to cut in line. Do you understand my frustration?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing glanced at Captain Void Blade and received a helpless shrug from her.


    After thinking for a moment, he said, "I don''t understand... So what do you want to do?"


    Ning Yuantai twisted his neck, staring at Xue Jing intensely, and declared, "I know you have a powerful backer, but you must understand that one must rely on oneself, just like me. I didn''t use my family''s influence, achieved great things on my own, and earned the reward of ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top''!"


    Xue Jing cocked his head, confused, "What are you trying to say?"


    Ning Yuantai thumped his chest, the sound resonating loudly.


    "Come on, beat me and take ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'' by yourself, prove yourself¡ª"


    Before Ning Yuantai could finish, a fist as white as jade was already inches from his face.


    His pupils constricted; in his dazed state, he saw a pair of silver-white eyes.


    Indifferent, disdainful, as if nothing in the world mattered, reigning supreme above all¡ªthe Eyes of God.


    "Boom!!"


    A thunderous explosion, and a figure spiraled backward like a fan, stirring up windborne grass waves, gouging twisted furrows in the ground, and then, with a thud, crashed into the helicopter, embedding itself into the body of the aircraft.


    Xue Jing withdrew his fist, catching the green bamboo segment falling from the sky, his silver eyes unemotional as he looked towards Ning Yuantai, who was now lodged in the helicopter.


    "I''ve taken it, now what?"


    ...

 Chapter 131: Chapter 101 Extreme Test, Whirlwind Thunder Extreme, Xue Jing, Bring it on! (4K)

    Xue Jing was shocked.


    Using imagination to simulate actual combat in his consciousness actually got recognized by the panel and earned Experience Points!


    This was simply too outrageous... Wouldn''t this mean one could really stay home, cultivate in seclusion for ten years, and become invincible upon reemerging?


    "No, that''s not it... although you can grind Experience Points this way, it''s not that easy,"


    Xue Jing looked carefully at the gains listed on the panel.


    Firstly, the Experience Points he got were a bit few... The intense battle he had in the Consciousness Space, if it happened in reality, would yield at least a thousand or two thousand Experience Points, but the simulated battle only gave a little over a hundred.


    Moreover, skills directly related to physical fitness, like [Fitness], couldn''t be improved merely through imagination.


    "Lastly, the consumption is too great..."


    Xue Jing shook his still dizzy and fatigued brain.


    Half an hour of simulated combat had left his spirit feeling parched, and he didn''t know how long it would take to recover.


    "However, although there are many restrictions, it''s still a decent way to grind Experience Points..."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Moreover, grinding Skills Experience Points is actually just a side effect... The most important aspect of simulated combat is that it can provide me with almost unlimited actual combat experience..."


    "As well as the opportunity to experiment with my body without any reservations... Once my spirit recovers a bit, I''ll try to see to what extent I can compress the strength of Whirlwind Thunder."


    Xue Jing sat on the couch with his eyes closed, resting for quite a while, until his mind eased and wasn''t dizzy anymore, then he opened his eyes.


    He gently picked up Miao Miao, who had fallen asleep, and placed her on the couch.


    Afterward, he left the house, first went to a home store to order a mattress, then to the supermarket to buy a lot of ingredients, and started cooking after coming back.


    Since he promised Miao Miao a good meal, Xue Jing spent over an hour cooking a big table of dishes, earning more than two hundred Cooking Experience Points and advancing his Cooking to Lv6.


    "Time to eat, Teacher Wan,"


    Xue Jing washed his hands, walked over to the couch, and patted Miao Miao''s cat head.


    Miao Miao slowly opened her eyes, those emerald vertical pupils still a bit clouded. She yawned, licked her paw, and then used it to wash her face.


    Then she stood up, her rear end tilted upward as she stretched a very extensive lazy stretch, before standing straight up, transforming into the cat-eared girl form, and putting on the shirt and shorts that were on the couch.


    Just the shirt and shorts.


    Xue Jing glanced at the obvious protrusions on Ning Fengwan''s crookedly worn shirt, and being used to it, paid no mind, instead he petted the girl''s head and said in a gentle voice with a smile,


    "Go wash your hands, it''s time to eat."


    Ning Fengwan had just woken up and her spirit was still a bit hazy. Yawning and revealing two sharp little tiger fangs, she wrapped her arms around Xue Jing''s waist, leaning against him, looking like she was about to fall asleep again.


    "Ah Jing, you smell so nice..."


    The girl''s nostrils flared slightly as she took a couple of light sniffs on Xue Jing''s body, murmuring unconsciously.


    ?+?%?+-??§Ô?#-?


    Xue Jing curled his lips, grabbed her face with one hand, and pushed her away, "Alright, hurry up and eat."


    ...


    After eating, Ning Fengwan, touching her slightly rounded belly, lay on the couch with a face of lingering enjoyment.


    "Did you put drugs in the food? Why does it taste so good?"


    She looked at Xue Jing, who was wiping the dining table, and asked somewhat discontentedly.


    "Even though the ingredients and kitchenware are the same, why is it that whatever you make tastes so much better than mine!"


    Xue Jing casually replied, "I guess it''s just a matter of talent."


    Ning Fengwan felt a vein popping on her forehead: "Even if it''s true, it''s still infuriating to hear..."


    Xue Jing laughed, finished tidying up, and then said, "Alright, I''ve got something to do and need to go out for a bit, just stay at home and don''t wander off."


    Ning Fengwan turned over and didn''t answer, her black cat tail gently swaying.


    Xue Jing went to his room, took [Hundred Feet Pole''s Top], and also grabbed the Crouching Rabbit Sword, left the house, flagged down a taxi on the road, and headed to Zhu Shanying''s manor.


    After reaching the manor, he first stopped by the main house, found that Zhu was still not home.


    It seemed her family was indeed very strict.


    Xue Jing didn''t mind and went to the stables to lead Wind Eater out, riding it to the grassland behind North City District''s mountain.


    Once there, as usual, he allowed Wind Eater to go for a stroll by itself while he went to the lakeside where he trained regularly, took out his phone, and sent a message to Void Blade to return [Hundred Feet Pole''s Top]. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, he received a reply. Void Blade told him to wait there, and that he would be there soon to collect it.


    "I hope the authorities don''t come after me for this..."


    Xue Jing tossed the bamboo cane, that was still showing signs of yellowing, in his hand and shook his head.


    He went to sit by the lake, looking at the shimmering water, took a deep breath of fresh air, and assessed his current state.


    "My spirit has recovered quite a bit, I can try again."


    Xue Jing closed his eyes, settled his heart, and ignited his Imagination.


    In the Consciousness Space, countless pixel blocks appeared out of nowhere, rotating to construct the scene.


    Grass, trees, benches, street lamps...


    This was the small garden near his residential area.


    Subsequently, Xue Jing himself also materialized in the garden through the convergence of pixel blocks.


    He clenched his fists, ensuring his body data wasn''t incorrect, then with a thought,


    On the nearby grass, a figure around two meters tall with a very muscular build began to emerge sluggishly.


    He was clad in a black Training Garment, rolling up the sleeves to his wrists, exposing muscles as taut as steel, his face clear-cut, an aura of depth and solidity radiating from his whole being.

 Chapter 132: Chapter 101 Extreme Test, Whirlwind Thunder Extreme, Xue Jing, Bring it on! (4K)_2

    It was the eldest disciple¡ªMeng Boshang.


    Of all the people Xue Jing had encountered in reality thus far, he was the strongest existence, bar none.


    "Although I don''t know exactly how strong the eldest disciple is, I''ve experienced his moves up close and could generally simulate them," he said.


    Xue Jing nodded as he watched the imposing figure standing motionless before him.


    The data was insufficient for this eldest disciple, causing some ''distortion,'' making it difficult to fully reproduce his entire strength, but there was already a basic model; at least it could restore the strength he had shown on the day he took on Jiao Hongyuan.


    "Next, it''s my turn."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, stepped in front of the ''eldest disciple,'' and readied himself.


    His gaze sharpened as he channeled his energy, and the sound of a dragon''s roar emanated from within him.


    Spiral indentations appeared, climbing up and down his arms.


    "Body, let me see your limit."


    With that thought, he activated Twin Lifes'' Power, Twin Lifes'' Defense.


    The indentations wrapped around his fists and chest. Compressing the Spiral Energy Force to this extent was the utmost limit Xue Jing could reach without hurting himself.


    This time, however, he didn''t stop and continued to compress.


    The spiral indentations on his chest slowly and resolutely continued to expand.


    Upward, extending to his collarbones, neck...


    Downward, covering his ribs, waist...


    Xue Jing''s body began to tremble, his flesh emitting a cracking sound of unbearable strain, and the dragon''s roar also seemed to carry a hint of a mournful wail.


    Capillaries began to burst, dark purple spread beneath the skin, muscles were torn and snapped, and even the rigid bones were painfully squeezed by the tightening muscle spiral.


    As the spiral indentations climbed up his face and covered the temporal bones on both sides, Xue Jing felt an extreme pain assaulting his brain.


    This was the body signaling a warning, it could no longer continue.


    If compressed further, like a thread stretched to its limit, the surging power would cause his body to explode like a bomb. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Extreme!"


    Xue Jing threw this punch at the eldest disciple, who was in a defensive stance before him.


    "Boom!"


    Like an actual thunderclap on a clear day, the intense explosion seemed to make the ground tremble, while the violent torrents of air burst forth from the edge of his fist.


    The explosive storm blew their clothes rattling, their hairs fluttering backward incessantly.


    The path of the fist left behind a visible spiral of white air wave, and Xue Jing''s skin split open, with thick blood under intense pressure turning into a mist, spraying out several meters away.


    Blood flowed from his eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth... These were signs of internal bleeding caused by the internal organs being crushed.


    Finally, this punch contacted the arms the eldest disciple had placed in front of his chest.


    "Bang!!"


    Countless ring-shaped airwaves spread out from the center of the two men the instant they made contact. The grass within dozens of meters around them was flattened by the blast, nearby camphor trees rustled loudly, and the turf under their feet was torn away, flying all around.


    The eldest disciple''s body flew backward with great speed, his feet clawing into the ground, plowing two grooves nearly ten centimeters deep into the turf. He struggled to stop himself, yet still had to shift backward over ten meters.


    On his arms, where Xue Jing''s punch had landed, smoke was emanating from the surface. When the smoke cleared, the appearance was revealed.


    It was a dense, overlapping pattern of dragon scale marks, seemingly undamaged, almost without a scratch.


    "Just using localized manifestation of Golden Scale Skin to block it, huh... worthy of the eldest disciple," he said.


    Xue Jing knelt on one knee, one hand supporting himself on the ground, the other resting on his knee, vomiting a large amount of thick, fragrant blood.


    He endured the severe pain, gauging his current condition.


    "My body is all battered up... If I don''t receive treatment soon, I''ll likely die within a few hours," he said.


    With a thought from Xue Jing, countless pixel-like blocks appeared, filling and repairing the wounds on his body.


    In less than a second, he was back to his peak unharmed state.


    "This Consciousness Simulation is too convenient... being able to conduct risk-free testing just like that is more than delightful," he noted.


    "However, that my body''s limit strike could not break the eldest disciple''s defense does hit me hard," he mused. read-this-on-MVLeMpYr


    "Need to find some confidence," he thought.


    He conjured an image of Li Chengxuan beside him.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Extreme!"


    "Snap!"


    Flesh burst open, a mangled corpse flew forward, and an explosive spiral of blood painted the ground red for meters.


    "Yes, that''s more like it,"


    Xue Jing nodded, regaining his confidence.


    That was the performance of such an ultimate move against a peer.


    "Next, let''s see if I can pull off a combination of deadly moves. The Hidden Dragon School''s five major deadly moves have different Energy Channeling systems, making them hard to use simultaneously."


    ...


    Half an hour later, in the Consciousness Space, the exhilarated Xue Jing finally opened his eyes with reluctance.


    If it hadn''t been for the drain on his spirit, he could have continued for three more days.


    It was similar to the stage when you get hooked on playing a game and just can''t stop.


    [You have participated in a simulated combat, fighting Experience Points +151]


    [... Weapon Strike Experience Points +88]


    [... Visualization True Experience Points +133]


    [... Feeling refreshed, Health Cultivation Experience Value +122]


    [Combat upgraded to Lv7 (88/4500)]


    After glancing at the panel, Xue Jing calmed himself and introspected his physical body.


    "My physical quality improved a bit... my wingspan has increased, and my skeletal frame is thicker too."


    He stretched his hands backwards, linking them behind his back while keeping his body straight, raising them level with his shoulders.


    It felt effortless, with no strain at all.


    "The flexibility has gotten even more ridiculous."


    While leveling up the fighting skill did enhance his physical attributes, that wasn''t the key point; it was just an addition.


    The most critical aspect was how it specialized his body for ''combat''.


    It made him more and more suitable for fighting in all aspects.


    "Comfortable."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, feeling cheerful and relaxed.


    After resting for a while and recovering his mental state, he was about to start his daily training when he heard the sound of propellers "tat-tat-tat-tat" from the sky.


    Looking up, he saw a helicopter that appeared normal at first glance, but upon closer inspection, its side fuselage showed some uneven marks, flying his way.


    Xue Jing stood up and waited in place.


    ...


    Inside the helicopter, Ning Yuantai looked out the window at the slender figure on the ground beneath him.


    Three days ago, he was defeated by a punch from that person, even before he had finished speaking.


    Although it was his own carelessness for not dodging, the fact that he was defeated by a nearly age-matched peer was firmly etched in his mind.


    "Such age, such talent, no wonder even that Mr. Wu... holds him in high regard."


    "But today is different, I''m prepared."


    "To cleanse the disgrace, today is the day."


    Ning Yuantai talked to himself.


    "Ning, why are you following along? You should stay at the base, I could have gotten the top of Hundred Feet Pole for you," said the Mountain Demon, who was piloting the helicopter.


    "My status today is all thanks to myself."


    Ning Yuantai crossed his hands, preparing himself for a fight.


    "What I lost once, I must also regain by myself!"


    Staring at Xue Jing, who was rapidly approaching, he stated resolutely.


    After he finished speaking, for some reason, he suddenly recalled a pair of detached silver-white eyes akin to those of a deity, which sent a chill through him and cast a shadow over his heart.


    He shook his head, banishing those eyes from his mind.


    "Uh, are you sure?" the Mountain Demon asked with a peculiar expression.


    Being bold enough to seek a rematch after being knocked out with a single punch... Ning seemed to have some strange predilections.


    Unaware that his image had been severely twisted in the eyes of the Mountain Demon, Ning Yuantai, looking at Xue Jing''s figure afar, was resolute.


    "..." Void Blade remained calm by his side, not speaking a word.


    The helicopter slowly descended, and for some reason, this time it landed far away from Xue Jing, several dozen meters further than three days ago.


    As the propellers slowly ceased spinning and the cabin door opened, three figures jumped out one after another.


    Ning Yuantai gazed at the distant figure standing tall and firm like a towering pine and took a deep breath.


    Then he exploded with movement, disappearing from his spot, rushing towards his opponent at breakneck speed.


    "Second round!"


    "Xue Jing, let''s battle!"


    ...

 Chapter 137: Chapter 104: Zhus Prank, Organ Training, Sure-hit Technique - Eye-Penetrating Flow (4K)

    "Huh, Zhu, what did you do to me?"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows and asked directly.


    "Nothing¡­ nothing at all,"


    Zhu Shanying stepped back with her hands behind her, her face showing clear guilt.


    "I really didn''t do anything!"


    The young girl argued.


    Xue Jing looked at her twice, thought for a moment, and said,


    "I don''t believe that."


    He rubbed his temples, stood up, and walked towards Zhu Shanying.


    The girl, seeing him approach, kept retreating as Xue Jing would advance a step, she''d step back one, her hands still protecting something behind her back, as if they were playing a game of eagle catching chicks.


    "I really didn''t do anything... don''t come over!"


    She spoke somewhat frantically.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing not only did not stop, but instead speeded up and walked towards her.


    "Wait¡­ wait a moment!"


    Zhu Shanying had already backed up against the wall, with nowhere else to retreat.


    Xue Jing ignored her protests, reached out, and touched her head, feeling the softness of her hair that flowed like a black waterfall.


    Then, as if twisting a bottle cap, he turned his palm, causing her petite body to involuntarily pivot, revealing what she had been hiding behind her.


    "Huh? Lipstick?"


    What Zhu Shanying held in her hand was a small, rather expensive-looking black lipstick.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing rubbed his lips with his finger, took a look, and found a trace of red on his fingertips.


    "...I just thought you looked so pretty, and makeup would only enhance that." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So I couldn''t help but apply a little."


    Zhu Shanying said with a sheepish grin.


    "It really does look nice! If you dressed up a bit and wore women''s clothes, you''d be absolutely stunning!"


    Xue Jing gave her a speechless look.


    "Your idea is good, just don''t think about it again."


    Zhu Shanying quickly stepped forward, took his arm, and cooed,


    "Don''t be mad, little junior brother, I won''t do it again..."


    Touching his arm gently, she could feel the soft warmth of it. Xue Jing glanced at her and pondered,


    "I''m not mad... but the way you put it, it seems like you''re hinting there might be a next time?"


    The young girl continued to pout,


    content-source-MVLeMpYr


    "Not at all, you''re just too sensitive."


    "Alright, I came here to invite you to lunch together, let''s head downstairs, little junior brother."


    Xue Jing nodded.


    The two left the training room together.


    Zhu Shanying lagged a few steps behind Xue Jing, watching his back with a relieved expression.


    Then, she lightly touched her radiant red lips, her cheeks slightly flushed, and a smile crept into the corners of her mouth.


    ...


    After having lunch with the mischievous Sister Zhu, she went out to busily handle her business again.


    Xue Jing, feeling unusually drained and unwilling to practice martial arts today, decided to take the day off.


    Carrying the Crouching Rabbit Sword, he left the estate, hailed a taxi, and planned to visit Hidden Dragon Dojo to check on the renovation progress and meet his master whom he hadn''t seen for a long time.


    Although Zhu Shanying''s estate and Hidden Dragon Dojo were in different districts, they weren''t far from each other, just under half an hour away.


    Xue Jing paid with a scan code, thanked the driver, got out of the car, entered the office building, and took the elevator to Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    The sounds of hammering and drilling were continuous; Xue Jing went to the reception desk for a look.


    There sat a receptionist with an attractive figure dressed in a cheongsam.


    It was the same cheongsam girl Xue Jing had encountered on his first visit to Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    She was currently leaning on the reception desk, idly scrolling through her phone, looking like she could fall asleep any second.


    Feeling a bit playful, Xue Jing silently walked up to her and tapped the table with the knuckles of his fingers.


    The tap looked gentle, but the force went through his fingertips, producing a heavy thud on the marble table.


    The posture of the cheongsam girl leaning on the table was already susceptible to the vibrations of the table; she instantly jumped up from her chair in fright at the sound.


    Xue Jing, however, did not linger and quietly entered the main gate after his tap.


    The cheongsam girl looked up, saw nothing in front of her, and murmured somewhat scared,


    "...Did I see a ghost?"


    Entering the dojo, Xue Jing looked around. The renovations were nearly complete, with the corridors almost finished and the training area laying down a new rubber floor with new equipment being installed.


    It looked like it would be finished in a few days.


    After checking out the progress, he walked inside to the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    This room, made of special materials, had the best soundproofing in the entire dojo. Even with the ongoing noisy renovations outside, once the door was closed, the Heart-Nourishing Room remained quite quiet, only minor sounds could be heard.


    Xue Jing opened the door, walked in, and casually closed it.


    "Master."


    Xue Jing respectfully greeted Li Qi, who was flipping through an old thread-bound book at his desk.


    "Hmm? Little Jing, I haven''t seen you in days, and you''ve come at just the right time,"


    Li Qi put down his book and smiled.


    He moved his wheelchair closer to Xue Jing.


    "Let the old man see your progress these past few days."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Yes."


    He extended his hand, which was then grasped by Li Qi''s aged palm.


    A surge of power seeped into Xue Jing''s body through his wrist, prompting his body to instinctively move. The True Dragon inside him let out an irritated dragon roar, ready to counterattack automatically.


    At that moment, Xue Jing''s thoughts shifted, and his strong and powerful spirit immediately suppressed the True Dragon''s dissatisfaction, making it shut up and stay silent.


    Li Qi, seeing this, was slightly shocked.


    "You''ve managed to control the True Dragon inside you to this extent... Incredible, it hasn''t been long."

 Chapter 139: Chapter 105: The Overly Dangerous Silver Eyes and Charm Art, Xue Jing VS Xue Jing (4K)

    Hidden Dragon Dojo, inside the Medicine Storage.


    Standing in front of the Medicine Preparation Table, Xue Jing looked at the transparent container before him, which was filled with the boiled and prepared liquid ''Dragon Thunder Powder''.


    The golden liquid miraculously flickered with fluorescent light, occasionally revealing lightning-like thin lines.


    After it had cooled down slightly, Xue Jing poured it into the Nebulizer Inhaler, then put it on and pressed the start button.


    Golden fluorescent mist began to emerge inside the oxygen mask. Xue Jing closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and initiated his breathing skills.


    Through the perspective of inner vision, the tiny particles of the Dragon Thunder Powder, vaporized into mist, looked like tiny sparks as they were inhaled into the lungs, entered the bloodstream through the alveoli, and circulated throughout the body.


    Most of the particles ultimately targeted the brownish-red liver.


    Everywhere the particles passed, there was a tingling sensation, like being electrocuted, especially in the liver which was the main target. MVLeMpYr.com-chapter


    Once the particles entered the liver, they attached and soaked into the flesh and blood, and their medicinal properties were gradually absorbed.


    Xue Jing could feel the liver becoming gradually stronger and more resilient amidst the tingling and stabbing pain...


    Time passed until no more golden mist seeped out from the Nebulizer Inhaler; only then did Xue Jing open his eyes.


    In the dimly-lit Medicine Storage, his eyes suddenly brightened, like lightbulbs.


    "Did my vision improve? But that doesn''t seem quite right."


    Xue Jing felt his current field of vision.


    "It''s not just simply ''seeing things more clearly'' on a physical level, but it''s as if... I can see more things that I usually cannot see." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He reached out and touched the Medicine Preparation Table in front of him.


    He could vaguely make out, with his vision, some fine cracks and damage on the surface of the table, and instinctively the idea came to him that if he struck here or sliced there, the table would likely be easily destroyed...


    Although not very distinct, he definitely felt this way.


    "Martial arts really are quite idealistic... This is probably also a manifestation of ''spiritual power influencing one''s reality''."


    "A simple increase in eyesight wouldn''t have this effect..."


    Xue Jing remarked.


    He opened his panel to take a look.


    [You have practiced Armor Shaking Skill, Fitness Experience Points +352]


    [You have practiced Armor Shaking Skill, Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +330]


    First came two notifications, Armor Shaking Skill had added a few movements for Organ Training, thus gaining more Experience Points.


    But the following notification made Xue Jing''s eyes widen slightly.


    [You have taken medicine that moistens the liver, Health Cultivation Experience Value +218]


    The importance of the Health Cultivation skill needs no further mention.


    It has given Xue Jing almost endless energy, allowing him to maintain enough passion to keep striving upward without any thoughts of slacking or laziness; just this alone makes Health Cultivation a cheat-level skill.


    Not to mention the extremely strong physical and mental recovery abilities it provides.


    But all along, apart from the daily early to bed, early to rise for a few dozen points of Experience Value, there was no other steady way to gain Experience in Health Cultivation.


    Only activities like fighting which made him feel pleased with himself occasionally gave some extra gain.


    But now, he had finally found a method to steadily increase [Health Cultivation] Experience Value!


    Taking Dragon Thunder Powder, a type of Organ Nourishing Elixir... could cultivate health!


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly.


    "No wonder when Health Cultivation was just activated, those health supplements I ate had no effect."


    "Only medicine of the caliber of Dragon Thunder Powder can yield Experience Points..."


    He looked at the notebook on the table, which contained his recent medicine usage records.


    Upon comparing the price list and the amount used, the batch of Dragon Thunder Powder he prepared was worth over 330,000 Zhuxia currency...


    "Indeed a money-burning skill."


    Xue Jing scratched his head.


    And yet, the Dragon Thunder Powder for nourishing the liver is still considered cheap.


    Though each medicine for cultivating the internal organs is called Dragon Thunder Powder, their formulas differ, with specific requirements for dosage, heat control, and auxiliary herbs. The only commonality is the main ingredients are all soaked with Dragon Thunder.


    The most expensive among them was the Dragon Thunder Powder for nourishing the heart. Xue Jing did a quick estimation; the price goes upward of 400,000.


    Thanks for the invitation, I''m in Zhuxia, just got off the plane, with a net worth of 20 million, ready to beg for food.


    "The money I have now can only last two months, I need to figure out a way to continue earning money."


    Xue Jing thought helplessly.


    ...


    The next day, at the back mountain in North City District.


    Silver light scattered across the grass, with saber radiance spreading in all directions, Xue Jing wielded the Crouching Rabbit in his hand, with waves of silver-white Saber Qi ploughing up the surrounding grass into a mess.


    After a while, he stopped his movements, flung the Crouching Rabbit to the side, and channelled Power into the blade, shaking off the plant juice that stained it and returning it to a pristine state, then he sheathed the saber.


    Looking at the floating green scraps around him, Xue Jing glanced at a tree not far away and narrowed his eyes before speaking out:


    "If you have something to say, come out and say it, what are you hiding there for?"


    A few seconds after finishing these words, a figure walked out from behind the tree.


    It was Ning Yuantai.


    Xue Jing smiled, shook off the grass clippings stuck on him, and casually said, "What, came to pick a fight with me again?"


    Ning Yuantai made an awkward sound and said, "...I wouldn''t dare."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows rose: "Wouldn''t dare?"


    That answer was somewhat unexpected for him.


    "So what are you doing here?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    He wondered... could it be that Hundred Feet Pole''s Top really couldn''t be used anymore, and he had come to question about it?


    While pondering how to deflect the blame, Ning Yuantai scratched his head and said:

 Chapter 144: Chapter 107: Xue Jing Ambushed, A High Wall Between Unarmed and Armed (4K)_2

    "Don''t worry, no problem," Miao Miao replied in a youthful girl''s voice, calmly but brimming with confidence.


    After merging with the power of the Cat Tail Ring for a while, she had already changed significantly.


    Not to mention the two Heretic God abilities she had acquired, her physical abilities had also been greatly enhanced, embodying the agility and strength of the Cat Goddess.


    Finding a gap that the staff failed to notice and using her light-body skill to scale the cruise ship was nothing but a simple task for her.


    "Woo¡ª"


    The sound of a steam whistle came from the sea, and Xue Jing turned his head to look. A massive black and white cruise ship was parting the vast waters and heading towards the dock.


    "Alright, we''ll regroup on the ship."


    Miao Miao said, and then her tiny figure vanished in an instant, moving so fast that no one knew where she had gone.


    Xue Jing didn''t mind but picked up his phone to check the ticket inspection time again, then he opened his camera and took a photo of the massive incoming cruise ship to send to his sister, Xue Wan.


    ...


    What Xue Jing didn''t notice was that not far from him in the dock''s warehouse area, several figures were hiding in a dark corner of the wall, secretly watching him.


    "Are you sure? Is that person really Xue Jing from Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    One of the figures, a large bald middle-aged man, asked in a low voice.


    "It''s definitely him. That pretty boy look is unmistakable," replied a thin young man with long hair.


    "What do we do, big brother?"


    The bald middle-aged man pondered for a moment and said,


    "Go to the Golden Wind Dojo, notify Zhao, and take those ''guys'' out of the basement."


    The thin young man exclaimed,


    "Ah? Are we using guns? That doesn''t sound like a good idea."


    The bald middle-aged glanced at him and said indifferently, "That Xue Jing is a dangerous person who can defeat our junior brother alone¡­ Zhao might not be able to handle him, using guns is the only way to ensure nothing goes wrong."


    The thin young man looked worried, "But using guns will break the rules, and the Public Security Bureau..."


    "We can''t worry about that now," the bald middle-aged man said sternly.


    "These past few days, those from the Hidden Dragon Dojo have been causing trouble daily. Our master and the senior brother are severely injured. Zhang and Chen are in the Inner Ring. Su''s whereabouts are unknown, and now we don''t know what''s happening... "


    "Our Golden Wind Dojo has come to such a state in just a few days."


    "This Xue Jing is Li Qi''s most valued disciple. As long as we can capture him, the Hidden Dragon Dojo will have to compromise... "


    "Go on, take out all the ''guys.'' This is a rare opportunity; we''ll finish this in one fell swoop!"


    ...


    There was still some time before the ticket inspection, so Xue Jing, having nothing else to do, bought a bowl of Kanto stew and a portion of fries at the convenience store at the dock entrance. He walked to the seaside railing, where he stood enjoying the sea breeze and view while eating. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ga¡ª Ga¡ª"


    read-first-at-NovelFire


    Seagulls circled and squawked above, apparently noticing the food in the young man''s hand and casting menacing glances his way.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    A seagull dove from Xue Jing''s blind spot toward the fries in his hand.


    It was a habitual offender, adept at stealing fries, rarely failing in its endeavors.


    However, the young man seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, and just as the seagull''s talons were about to touch the fries, he moved them away.


    Following the first seagull''s failed attempt, the rest immediately swooped in to try to snatch the fries by force.


    The sound of fluttering wings was incessant as Xue Jing found himself surrounded by dozens of seagulls, encased in their midst.


    "Scram."


    A flash of silver-white passed through Xue Jing''s eyes.


    The tone was not harsh, and the voice wasn''t loud, merely the soft command to "scram."


    All the seagulls stiffened, their chaotic squawks coming to an abrupt halt.


    They then panicked as if encountering a savage beast, frantically flapping their wings as they scrambled away from Xue Jing.


    "Ah!"


    Some passersby, hit in the face and body by the frantic seagulls, couldn''t help but let out frightened screams.


    Black and white feathers scattered everywhere, and, as if nothing had happened, Xue Jing coolly skewered a fish ball on a wooden stick and popped it into his mouth.


    After finishing his snack, he dusted off his hands and took hold of the Crouching Rabbit Sword attached to the handle of his luggage.


    He began leisurely to unfasten the ropes of the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    Normally, weapons would not pass security, but he was a U19 elimination game contestant and thus had certain privileges.


    As long as he handed the sword to the staff for safekeeping after boarding, carrying it onboard was permitted, and he could retrieve it after disembarking.


    "Speaking of which, South City is the territory of Golden Wind Dojo, almost forgot that,"


    Xue Jing, holding the Crouching Rabbit Sword, turned around and looked towards the opposite warehouse area.


    Countless colorful containers were lined up, Xue Jing''s eyes slightly squinted as he looked at the desolate opposite side, seemingly noticing nothing unusual.


    But the faint sense of danger that had emerged in his mind stubbornly lingered.


    "Bang¡ª"


    A gunshot rang out, Xue Jing''s pupils contracted.


    In his field of vision, a steel bullet rapidly approached him; even with his dynamic vision at that moment, he could barely see it clearly, only perceiving a blurry line.


    "Clang!"


    Instinctively, Xue Jing swiftly drew his sword, positioning the blade in front of him.


    The bullet grazed the sword''s edge, splitting into two.


    Xue Jing did not hesitate to open his panel, and immediately applied the unselected Twin Lifes active effect to [Instinctive Intuition].


    [Now Activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense, Instinctive Intuition]


    The speed of the bullet, faster than the speed of sound, was something he couldn''t react to at the moment.


    He could only rely on instinctive intuition to make predictions.


    The next moment, dozens of figures emerged from behind the containers in the warehouse area.


    Each person was holding a firearm.


    Most were various models of handguns, but there were also a few with long-barreled guns that required both hands to hold.


    Xue Jing could not identify what kind of guns they were, when the sound of "Bang bang bang bang" of gunshots exploded incessantly.


    Dozens, hundreds of bullets were fired at him simultaneously.


    The pedestrians around screamed in terror and scattered in all directions.


    Xue Jing then stamped his foot on the ground and disappeared from his spot with great speed.


    Steel bullets hit the ground, railings, and benches.


    Some buried into them, others ricocheted, causing a mess where Xue Jing had originally stood, with stone shards flying everywhere.


    "To use firearms within the city areas... that''s quite bold."


    Xue Jing''s eyes slightly squinted, just as he was about to circle around and launch a surprise attack, a figure rapidly sprinted towards him.


    It was a very tall man, about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a goatee, dressed in a meticulous black suit and leather shoes.


    His gaze fixed on Xue Jing, his stern face showing anger.


    "Die!"


    With a loud shout, the man extended his palm in a ''Piercing Hand'' posture, thrusting towards Xue Jing.


    The fingertips rubbed against the air, actually making the hissing sound of a sharp object slicing through air, and faintly forming a sharp white cone at the fingertips.


    Xue Jing immediately recognized it as a technique from the Golden Wind''s White Rainbow Sword.


    "Aiming for my abdomen, not planning to kill me... I see."


    In a flash, Xue Jing understood what the other party planned.


    "Really underestimated me."


    "Dare to come close to me while I''m armed with a sword?"


    Xue Jing gripped the handle of the Crouching Rabbit Sword, his pupils tinged with silvery white.


    Spiral indentations appeared on his hands, extending towards his fist.


    The compressed spiral power poured into the body of the Crouching Rabbit Sword, causing it to tremble slightly and emit a buzzing sound.


    "Heavenly Sabre¡¤Whirlwind Thunder¡ª"


    "Boom!"


    A thunderous roar out of nowhere, a silvery-white spiral tornado of sword light whistled towards the man in the suit.


    The sharp white Piercing Hand met the spiral sword light tip to tip, and after a brief standoff in midair, clang¡ª


    "Ah!!"


    A scream, the man was blown back, the spiral sword light penetrated his palm, starting from his fingers, a deep spiral wound spread upward, directly gouging out the flesh of his entire arm, hanging tattered on the bones.


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing had somehow already appeared beside him, plunging a sword into his abdomen with a plop, the silvery white blade passing through his body.


    "Between the unarmed and the armed, there exists a high wall."


    Xue Jing looked at the man''s widened eyes, his tone flat as he spoke.


    ...

 Chapter 155: Chapter 113: Handy Shadow Flame, Hand Blade Waist Slash, Sea Bee Swarm Attack (4K)

    "This damn woman."


    The male with the Wei surname glanced at Qiao Ying''s body lying on the ground, a slight squint in his eyes.


    If it weren''t for her harboring ill intentions during the mission and insisting on getting involved with that young man, things wouldn''t have escalated to this extent.


    "Fortunately, she knew the task was more important... The trap is set, now to see what role it will play later." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man with the Wei surname shifted his gaze from Qiao Ying''s body to the young man not far away, who was spotlessly clean from head to toe.


    He very steadily unscrewed the cylinder of the revolver in his hand, silently loaded brass bullets into it.


    Experience the best on NovelFire _emp _yr.


    When he got to the last one, he took out a bullet that was all red and had a much sharper tip.


    After loading, he put the cylinder back in place, gave it a twist, and positioned the red bullet at the sixth round.


    "It''s a pity, I didn''t bring the [ISE] because it would have been convenient for action if we were to leave it at the base... Otherwise, I could have enjoyed a close-quarters fight with him."


    The man with the Wei surname seemed contemplative.


    "Now, with only one gun and without a massive firepower cover, it''s very hard to pose any threat to a Martial Artist of this level."


    "Should I go back to the room to fetch the equipment?"


    While he was pondering, Xue Jing, who had been going back and forth in the room, suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    He then bent down to pick up something from the ground.


    "Is that... dice?"


    The man with the Wei surname took a closer look at what Xue Jing had picked up.


    There were two sixteen-sided dice, presumably used in some sort of game, each face etched with Arabic numerals. They were much bigger than regular dice, almost a third the size of a fist, and by the looks of their color, they seemed to be made of metal.


    Just as he was wondering what Xue Jing was up to, he saw the latter close his eyes.


    Then he put one of the dice in his right hand, casually tossed it up, as if feeling its weight.


    The other hand was pointing in the air around him with an index finger while holding the other die.


    His finger stopped when it pointed in the direction of where the man with the Wei surname was.


    A bad premonition suddenly rose in the man''s heart.


    Trusting his instincts, he quickly dodged to the side.


    The next moment¡ª''Boom!''


    The spot where he had just been standing looked like it had been pierced through by a cannonball; the table, screen, glass, wall¡ªeverything in a straight line had a circular, spiraling hole torn through it.


    "¡ªWhat the hell is this thing?"


    The man with the Wei surname was astounded by the scene.


    Before he could make another move, a slender figure in a wine-red suit suddenly appeared before him.


    Just like being ''jump-scared'' in a horror game, startled but quick to react, the man with the Wei surname raised his revolver with lightning speed and didn''t hesitate to pull the trigger.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The revolving brass bullet flew towards the young man''s forehead and was, of course, deftly dodged as he tilted his head in advance.


    The man with the Wei surname hadn''t expected that shot to accomplish much, only aiming to briefly hinder the young man''s movements.


    After firing, he reached into the lining of his coat with great speed and took out a metal lighter with numerous tiny holes, quickly twisting the ignition.


    No sparks came out; instead, the entire lighter exploded with a ''whizz.''


    An intense flash and a deafening bang emanated from the disintegrating lighter.


    "Buzz, buzz¡ª"


    The man with the Wei surname turned away, while a transparent, thin membrane suddenly grew out of his ear canal, blocking most of the damage from the noise exceeding one hundred and eighty decibels.


    Even so, his brain still trembled, a constant ringing in his ears, and he could barely keep his balance, staggering a couple of times, almost falling to the ground.


    He didn''t move rashly but silently waited for his disoriented brain to recover.


    The Shock Bomb had detonated right in front of him, he had prepared in advance, avoiding the Intense Light by turning away; the reflected brightness did little harm to his Prosthetic Eye, and the ear membrane guarded against most of the Sound Wave.


    For ordinary people, a Shock Bomb would cause immediate blindness and unconsciousness, but for him, in a matter of seconds, he would be able to regain his vision and bodily balance.


    Xue Jing, though, would suffer much more severely.


    This was a weapon aimed at sensory perception; a Martial Artist''s senses are more Agile than those of ordinary people, so overly sharp vision and hearing would cause them to suffer even greater damage.


    Now both men could be said to be incapacitated, and as long as he recovered first, Xue Jing would naturally be at his mercy.


    "Too young, to come close to me without any Defense measures... it''s over," he thought.


    But at that moment, an extremely violent impact hit his back, catapulting him off the ground like a javelin, spinning forward.


    "Bang¡ª"


    He was embedded into one of the large load-bearing columns in the casino, piercing it right through.


    "What''s going on!?"


    With a scorching pain in his back, the man with the Wei surname touched his back and found the skin twisted up as if pinched by an invisible hand.


    Looking back, his vision, now recovered, saw the slender figure.


    Xue Jing stood upright, retracting the fist he''d swung, without showing any signs of lost vision or balance.


    The man with the Wei surname shook his head as if his vision hadn''t fully recovered; it was somewhat blurred, an Illusionary Vision... He thought he saw Dark Flames flickering in the young man''s eyes and ear canals.

 Chapter 156: Chapter 113: Handy Shadow Flame, Hand Blade Waist Slash, Sea Bee Swarm Attack (4K)_2

    The youth''s mouth moved slightly, as if he was saying something, but because his ears hadn''t fully recovered, he couldn''t hear clearly.


    "...So many tricks, too bad they''re useless against me."


    Xue Jing looked at the man with the Wei surname, the Shadow Flame quietly burning in his pupils and ears.


    As the man pulled out the shock bomb disguised as a lighter, Xue Jing instinctively used the Shadow Flame, turning the surrounding shadows into Dark Flame to block his ears and eyes.


    The violent intense light and sound wave, upon invading his eyes and ears, were directly incinerated by the annihilating Dark Flame, leaving nothing behind.


    He only felt as if a light breeze had brushed over his body.


    "This ability is too useful," Xue Jing couldn''t help but marvel.


    He stepped on the ground, approaching the man with the Wei surname, about to continue his attack.


    "Kid... don''t underestimate me!"


    The man with the Wei surname said in a low voice, and at the same time, his left hand suddenly swelled up significantly.


    It was not just a simple muscle expansion, but every part of the right hand enlarged to over ten times its original size in proportion.


    It was as if... a giant''s arm had been attached to a human body.


    "Hoo¡ª¡ª"


    The fist, several sizes larger than a cauldron, swung toward Xue Jing, bringing with it a fierce wind and momentum, stirring the air, clearly indicating tremendous power.


    But Xue Jing''s eyes lit up.


    "Interesting..."


    He even didn''t dodge and stood in place, seemingly ready to take the punch with his body.


    The man with the Wei surname had only intended to push him back, but seeing that Xue Jing seemed to have no intention of dodging, he immediately focused and gritted his teeth, causing the swollen arm to grow even larger.


    This move was his application of ''Giant''s Blood'' within his body, still very clumsy to use, and would increase the mutation rate of his body. He hadn''t planned to use it unless the situation was urgent.


    He hadn''t expected this kid to actually plan not to dodge and take it head-on...


    Then let you die!


    As the fist, much larger than his own body, came close, Xue Jing felt like he was standing in front of railway tracks, the giant fist like a train engine slamming into him.


    "Bang!"


    A loud noise erupted as the giant fist connected with his body, blasting out a ring-shaped wave of air.


    And Xue Jing actually stood firmly in place, not being directly blown away by the punch.


    He activated Twin Lifes Defense, his bones trembling and rumbling like rolling thunder, the immense force flooding into his body, yet absorbed, gradually supported, and transformed by his bones...


    Power surged, the Dragon''s Chant began.


    All the kinetic energy was completely absorbed by his bones. Even with Xue Jing''s physical resilience at that moment, his bones still began to wail with strain.


    With energy surging throughout his body, wrapping around the kinetic energy in his bones, Xue Jing turned around and threw a backhanded Swing Fist.


    Hidden Dragon School ¡ª Seal Cloud Tail!


    The long-unused Hidden Dragon counterattack skill erupted once again.


    In this punch, not only his own strength was included but also all the kinetic energy from the man with the Wei surname''s Giant punch.


    "Pff¡ªcrack¡ª"


    Without any resistance, the massive arm before him, starting from the knuckle of the middle finger, was cut open like it had been slashed by a knife.


    The slit kept tearing inward, like a piece of paper being ripped apart, from the fist bone to the forearm, the upper arm, the shoulder...


    "Aaaaah!!"


    Huge amounts of blood and flesh gushed from the gigantic arm, scattering to the ground, as the man with the Wei surname, with his massive left arm and shoulder split in two, howled in agony.


    Xue Jing, feeling his bones still trembling slightly, praised the man with the Wei surname, saying:


    "Impressive... How did you manage that move, is it a kind of Alien Implant?"


    The man with the Wei surname''s massive left arm slowly shrunk back to its original size, still split in two from the middle of the knuckle, hanging limply on the ground like two noodles dangling from his body.


    He clutched his shoulder, breathing heavily, staring straight at Xue Jing.


    This monster...


    He actually withstood a Giant''s punch with a human body. At this age, it''s simply astonishing.


    "Alien Implant... sort of. My bone marrow has been implanted with ''Giant''s Blood,'' which is the blood from one of the strongest races of the ''Land-dwelling Species,'' the ''Giant Species.'' It allows the body to undergo changes similar to that of a giant."


    The man with the Wei surname spoke.


    Seeing that he seemed willing to cooperate and not making another move, Xue Jing didn''t attack again but inquired:


    "I''m very curious, what exactly are you two, and what is your purpose on this ship?"


    The man with the Wei surname appeared to have conceded, showing no other actions, and honestly answered:


    "We are members of the ''Titan God Brigade,'' a hunter group from the Intersecting Boundaries... Our purpose here is to capture a sea-dwelling creature known as the ''Sea Bee King.''"


    Xue Jing was about to ask more when suddenly his body tensed, and he felt a chill run down his spine.


    Subconsciously, the imprint of dragon scales appeared all over his body, and he thought about using the Golden Scales Transformation''s absolute defense.


    "Snap¡ª"


    At that moment, a noise came from the side.


    "Jing... I told you, with you on this ship, something was bound to happen."


    Ning Fengwan, who had appeared behind him at some point, was wearing a beautiful black lace dress and glasses, and spoke with a speechless expression on her face.


    She was reaching out with her slender, jade-like palm, grabbing the wrist of Qiao Ying, who also had mysteriously arrived behind him.


    "Teacher Wan..."


    And...


    Her?


    Xue Jing looked at the woman in surprise¡ªshe was supposed to have been killed by him already.


    Her neck had returned to normal, but the red fingerprint marks still remaining there told of what had just occurred.


    In her hand, she held a black dagger that was glowing green at the tip, silently vibrating.


    "High-frequency weapon?"


    "Damn!" The man with the Wei surname cursed as Qiao Ying''s sneak attack failed.


    This nail that had been planted from the beginning, the one that was supposed to decide the outcome, had been disrupted by a girl who had come out of nowhere!


    "Bang bang bang bang¡ª"


    The man with the Wei surname quickly raised his revolver, firing four shots at Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan.


    Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan dodged by moving swiftly to the side.


    "Go!"


    With a loud shout, the man with the Wei surname took to the air as if flying, and so did Qiao Ying¡ª S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It turned out that both of them possessed a flying ability similar to the ''Dragon Wing Device''.


    "Teacher Wan, leave the female to you."


    Xue Jing looked at Ning Fengwan and spoke softly.


    "Don''t worry..." Ning Fengwan adjusted her glasses, and through the reflections in the lenses, her narrow, phoenix eyes narrowed as they followed Qiao Ying ascending into the air.


    For some reason, even though it was their first encounter, she felt inexplicably irritated at the sight of this woman.


    From the tips of her fingers, sharp, silver-white claws sprouted.


    ¡ªSerpent Slayer Spearhead.


    Then, she vanished on the spot, and like a cat, she sped along the walls on all fours, rapidly closing the distance to Qiao Ying; each swipe of her claws punctured ten small holes, making it seem as though she was running on flat ground.


    The casino was a bounded space, only three floors high and just over a dozen meters; to her and Xue Jing, it made no difference whether the enemy could fly or not.


    Xue Jing took a step and used the stair railings to propel himself directly towards the man with the Wei surname.


    After what had just happened, he was no longer in the mood to play around.


    The man with the Wei surname, looking to evade in midair, suddenly encountered a pair of serene, silver-white eyes.


    They were like the moon in the sky, tranquil and gentle.


    Swiftly and silently, moonlight sprinkled onto his eyes, causing the man with the Wei surname to stiffen, immobilized.


    Xue Jing extended his right hand, his palm shaped like the blade of a knife.


    Black streams of air floated out from the shadows around him, condensing at the ''edge'' of his hand blade, coating it with a layer of sharp black membrane.


    Spiral indentations emerged from his arm, converging down onto the hand blade, all coming together.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    A black spiral thread flashed through the air.


    The man with the Wei surname was cleaved in two in midair, bisected at the waist.


    The two halves of his body fell to the ground, with organs, intestines, and blood spilling out.


    The upper half of the man with the Wei surname had an expression of lost consciousness, but his fingers were still reflexively pulling the trigger.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The revolver fired its last bullet.


    Whether by intention or coincidence, the crimson bullet flew towards the ceiling. The specially made bullet caused an explosion, blasting a large hole in the ceiling.


    At that moment, the entire ship suddenly tilted and shook, and an ear-piercing alarm echoed throughout. Panic-stricken voices came from the speakers scattered about.


    "Sea... Sea Bee Swarm, we have a Sea Bee Swarm attacking!"


    ...

 Chapter 163: Chapter 116: Charm Art Sublimation, Purity Too Low, The Realm of Ultimate Skills (4K)

    "Bang¡ªBang¡ªBang¡ª"


    By the large swimming pool on the deck, Xue Jing, clad only in a pair of beach shorts, lay on a lounge chair. His physique was perfect for a human being, flawless and fully exposed under the sun as he wore sunglasses.


    The sounds of crew members repairing the cruise ship echoed in his ears. Half a day had passed since the Sea Bee Swarm attack, and it was now ten o''clock in the morning of the following day.


    After dealing with the Sea Bee Swarm last night, the crew, too weary and scared to continue, had only roughly patched up the leak in the hull to prevent more water from coming in before they all went to rest.


    It was only in the morning of the next day that the real repair work began. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the meantime, several rescue boats had carefully approached and, after a discussion with the management of the Infinite Nova, took away many passengers who were psychologically traumatized or severely injured during the sheltering.


    Xue Jing had initially planned to get on a rescue boat too, but none were bound for Maple City; they all aimed to take passengers to the nearest Qingcheng or other places.


    The Infinite Nova was supposed to sail back, but after learning that Xue Jing, the great benefactor who saved the entire ship, was headed to Maple City, the captain decided to give him a lift and directed the Infinite Nova to Maple City for repairs.


    And so, they came to the present moment.


    Picking up a cup of freshly squeezed juice from the small table beside him and taking a sip, Xue Jing stretched languidly, sat up, and took off his large sunglasses.


    "Splash¡ª"


    Water sprayed from the pool as Ning Fengwan''s slender figure emerged. She reached for the ladder and climbed out of the pool.


    The cat-eared girl wasn''t wearing glasses, and at the moment, she was dressed in a black and white backless one-piece swimsuit that perfectly accentuated her figure.


    As soon as she got ashore, she tilted her head, reached up, and patted her head, causing her cat ears to twitch as if trying to shake out the water.


    Then, much like a cat shaking off water, she began to furiously fling herself about, sending her black hair into a flurry around her.


    Droplets and mist exploded from her, soaking the front of Xue Jing''s body.


    Xue Jing wiped his face, looking at her somewhat speechlessly.


    "Hmph~"


    With a proud tilt of her chin, Ning Fengwan grabbed the juice from Xue Jing''s hand and took a sip.


    She then glanced around.


    "...It really is just the two of us here, no one else."


    They were the only two in the massive waterpark on the deck, utterly deserted.


    If not for the sounds of the ship being repaired reaching their ears, the whole cruise ship would have felt like a ghost ship.


    Shaking his head slightly, Xue Jing sighed softly, "I can''t understand what these passengers are thinking."


    Despite many passengers having been taken away by the rescue ships, there were still at least two thousand left on board.


    Even after yesterday''s Sea Wasp swarm attack, though most people weren''t in the mood to frolic, there should still be some around.


    In fact, when Xue Jing had first arrived at the waterpark, there were still dozens of passengers playing there.


    However, as soon as they saw him approach, all the guests fell silent and bowed reverently to him.


    Some even made praying gestures towards him, as if worshipping a deity.


    Afterward, everyone gradually left the waterpark area, leaving only Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan behind.


    "This Charm Art skill..."


    Xue Jing opened his panel and took a look.


    [Charm Art Lv10 (3221/?)


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    First, ????? (Fulfilled)


    Second, reach Level Lv10 (Fulfilled)


    Third, required Divinity: 1000]


    Last night, after he killed the Soldier Bee and was standing on the deck striking a hero pose, numerous panel alerts popped up.


    [Someone has begun to worship you with faith, Charm Art Experience Points +89]


    [...Charm Art Experience Points +102]


    [...Charm Art Experience Points +133]


    [...Charm...]


    The myriad of alerts pushed his recently leveled up Charm Art directly to Lv10.


    Then, similar to the Fitness, a Skill Sublimation prompt was triggered.


    Unlike Fitness, whose ''First Condition'' remains a mystery, Charm Art''s first condition was also a question mark, but it already indicated ''Fulfilled.''


    Now, only the last condition, a thousand Divinity, was needed to sublimate the skill.


    But ... it felt tiresome.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    He always had some reservations about the Charm Art skill and didn''t like it much.


    Yet, ironically, it was the skill for which he most easily gained experience.


    Just like yesterday, when he struck a hero pose and so many passengers witnessed it, pushing it straight to Lv10.


    So much Experience Points, if only they could be applied to other Skills besides Cooking.


    "Objectively speaking, Charm Art is useful," Xue Jing thought.


    Since obtaining a panel after crossing, he had inadvertently reaped many benefits from Charm Art.


    Many people''s kindness and Favorability towards him were thanks to this skill... Although he had not specifically thought about it, he understood that this skill had brought him many advantages.


    Nevertheless, he simply didn''t warm up to this skill.


    How to put it... it didn''t fit his aesthetic.


    There wasn''t a pure kind of beauty in its strength.


    This skill was powerful, but it was an ''impure kind of strong.''


    Simply put, it was crooked and a bit annoying.


    The purity was too low.


    Even knowing how exaggerated this skill would become upon sublimation and the benefits that would follow, he didn''t want to spend Divinity on it.


    It was like playing a game where a skill, though very useful, wasn''t cool enough, not likable, not something he wanted to use.


    "I''ll just leave it as it is for now. I''ll sublimate it someday when there''s an excess of Divinity to spare."

 Chapter 164: Chapter 116: Charm Art Sublimation, Purity Too Low, Ultimate Skills Realm (4K)_2

    Xue Jing looked at the experience bar behind his Charm Art level on the panel.


    (3221/?£©


    The experience needed for leveling up had turned into a question mark.


    However, he could still continue gaining experience points, and he didn''t know what the situation was.


    Had he reached the current level''s maximum and needed to ascend before he could continue improving?


    Or had it simply become invisible?


    As he pondered, Ning Fengwan beside him yawned.


    "...those two from the ''Titan God Brigade'' we ran into yesterday."


    The young girl began to speak.


    "These two, they might not be dead yet."


    When Xue Jing heard this, he interrupted his thoughts, somewhat surprised.


    "Oh? Why do you say that?"


    "Aren''t their bodies still on the ship? One was bisected at the waist, and the other was cut into six pieces by you..."


    Ning Fengwan sat down on the armrest of Xue Jing''s lounge chair, her ample buttocks slightly marked by her swimsuit, which became even more prominent as she sat down, exhibiting an astonishing sexual allure against the backdrop of her slender waist.


    "To say they are not dead... it''s also hard to say whether they are truly dead."


    The young girl stretched her hand to tuck her damp black hair behind her ear, a gesture steeped in a strange femininity. From Xue Jing''s angle, he could clearly see her exposed pale neck.


    "You know about ''consciousness upload'' from science fiction, right?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow:


    "That is very cyber... Has our technology really advanced to this level?"


    Ning Fengwan shook her head:


    "Just our own human technology is still facing many unsolvable problems. Right now, we can''t achieve that."


    "But, a company called ''Deep Blue Network'' has mastered the technology of ''consciousness upload'' using some method."


    Curious, Xue Jing asked, "What method?"


    Ning Fengwan ran her fingers through her hair and said casually, "I don''t know."


    "It''s the core secret of their company; they can''t reveal it to the outside¡­ However, many speculate that Deep Blue Corporation likely possesses a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries in the form of a ''consciousness life-form,'' hence they mastered ''consciousness upload.''


    "Anyway, since Deep Blue Corporation acquired this technology decades ago, many people have chosen to backup their consciousness in the Deep Blue Network."


    "Of course, it''s quite expensive."


    She twirled her long hair around her finger, looking at Xue Jing.


    "For a group of Intersecting Boundaries Hunters like the Titan God Brigade, who do things ordinary people can''t do, although their lives are at constant risk, every member is very rich; the cost of consciousness upload is not unaffordable for them." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yesterday, I checked the corpses of those two, and found that their thalamus was stuffed with a deep blue-colored small sphere connected to countless nerves."


    "Afterwards, I went to check on the Inside World forum and found that this sphere is used to upload their consciousness memory data to the Deep Blue Network at any time."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin: "No wonder these two seemed fearless of death..."


    Especially that woman, who was starry-eyed with love looking at him before she died.


    Originally, he thought it was because they frequently walked the line between life and death. Now, it seemed there was another reason.


    "But in the end, whether the dataized self after consciousness upload is still the original self, is also quite hard to determine."


    Ning Fengwan crossed her arms, pushing up her European cup: "This is one of the perpetual difficult problems for humanity, the Ship of Theseus?"


    Xue Jing sipped some juice and casually asked, "So, is Deep Blue Network the only one with ''consciousness upload''? Don''t they hold countless secrets then?"


    Ning Fengwan said, "Naturally, they would sign very strict agreements not to violate customer privacy... However, whether they adhere to them is another question."


    "Real secrets are also only known to the big shots... Currently, there seems to be no one considered a ''big shot'' who has uploaded their consciousness into the Deep Blue Network...


    After all, this technology has only been around for a few decades, and many concepts, ethics, as well as considerations from many aspects, have made consciousness upload not so popular, and thus Deep Blue Network''s market value is also ranked low among major companies."


    She paused, then continued:


    "Besides, there are other methods of life extension aside from consciousness upload... Only those like the Titan God Brigade, who frequently face life-and-death crises on a physical level and have a need for life extension, yet cannot access other methods, would choose consciousness upload."


    ...


    Having chatted leisurely with Ning Fengwan for a long time and gained much knowledge, Xue Jing went to have lunch at noon.


    Afterward, he returned to his suite.


    Ning Fengwan reverted to her Miao Miao form and was already curled up on the bed, deep in sleep.


    Opening the glass door of the balcony, Xue Jing stepped outside, inhaling the salty sea breeze and listening to the incessant sound of the waves, he closed his eyes, his mind sinking in.


    In the Consciousness Space, countless pixels rotated and emerged, constructing the Infinite Nova that was indistinguishable from the real one.


    Shortly after, Xue Jing''s own body appeared on the ship.


    Yesterday, he was so tired that he went straight to bed without having the chance to test how much stronger he had become.


    With a thought, countless pixels gathered in front of him, forming a barbell that looked rather exaggerated.


    The huge black weight plates on both sides were packed full, clearly indicating the weight was extraordinary.


    Xue Jing walked up, gripped the barbell, tensed his muscles, and lifted it.


    "A ton of weight... not bad."


    Xue Jing lifted the barbell above his head; the alloy bar could hardly bear the weight of the plates on either side, bending like a bow and emitting a creaking sound of metal distortion.


    He couldn''t recall how long it had been since he had tested his actual Physical Strength value.


    Xue Jing swung the barbell in his hands around and then hurled it upward with force.


    "Creak¡ª"


    The alloy barbell bent to an extreme state and then snapped with a loud crack.


    "Actual strength values don''t really matter anymore, they don''t align with the combat power you can actually exert..."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    A powerful Martial Artist can interfere with their own reality through their spirit, exerting combat strength beyond the physical limits of their body.


    Like him, in terms of pure physical strength at the physical level, he could probably lift one ton or two, and at most not more than five tons.


    Such a level of strength sounds quite impressive, but in reality, it couldn''t even lift a road roller.


    With the addition of Power, maybe he could exert seven or eight tons of strength, but it still wasn''t much in terms of combat power.


    However, what about the combat performance he could actually exhibit?


    One slash could send out Saber Qi extending over ten meters, and with the addition of Shadow Flame, he could create a black tornado and cause water to be drawn up from the sea.


    The strength of which, without going into details yet, the range alone was absurdly high, entirely beyond the things a mere few tons of strength could achieve.


    With a thought from Xue Jing, pixels gathered in front of him, forming a robust figure.


    "Come on, elder brother, it has to be you."


    Xue Jing clenched his hands into fists and clashed them against each other twice.


    After the figure of his eldest disciple brother, Meng Boshang, appeared, he glanced at Xue Jing and nodded with a calm and composed face, as if to say hello.


    Xue Jing was momentarily startled upon seeing this.


    It seemed that the upgrade to Visualization True had made the simulated figures a lot more lifelike.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Extreme¡ª"


    "Boom!"


    Meng Boshang stood with his hands behind his back, taking the punch on his chest. His front garment immediately burst open, revealing a robust chest.


    It was filled with densely packed dragon scale imprints, far more detailed than the Dragon Scale Skin that Xue Jing used.


    "...even the personality seems to be partly reenacted, previously it was definitely the arms blocking this move."


    Xue Jing was somewhat speechless.


    He felt that he had been shown up by his elder brother without even realizing it.


    With a thought, he healed his own injuries.


    "Come to think of it, I''ve also mastered Eye-Penetrating Flow, I''ve already learned all five of Hidden Dragon School''s ultimate moves."


    "Next up, I''m touching on the domain of Five Murders Combine into One."


    "Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point... how should I go about it?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    ...


    (Transition chapter, stuck on writing, update is a little late)

 Chapter 170: Chapter 119: One Slap Each, The Gate to the New World, The Bizarre Sister (4K)

    "Smack¡ª"


    The collision of lips was so intense it sounded like a clap of hands.


    Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian''s eyes widened as they stared at each other from just a breath away, utterly unable to accept reality, their eyes filled with disbelief.


    Thus, the kiss lasted for more than a second.


    "Click¡ª"


    The sound of a camera''s shutter snapped nearby, and a flash of light finally brought them back to their senses.


    They immediately pushed each other away with all their might, breaking free from the hold Xue Jing had on the back of their heads, and putting distance between them.


    "Ugh¡ª"


    Then they dramatically began to retch, furiously wiping their lips as if they wanted to tear off the outer layer of their skin.


    "Hahaha."


    Xue Wan held her phone, watching the photo she had just taken, covering her mouth with one hand, and trembling with laughter, absolutely delighted.


    "Sis, can''t you dodge a bit? Standing there like a block of wood."


    Xue Jing looked at her speechlessly and said.


    Xue Wan waved her hand, her face full of smiles, "I was so shocked that my legs went weak; I couldn''t move at all."


    So shocked her legs went weak?


    Xue Jing looked at her, cheerfully viewing the photo on her phone, and genuinely found no trace of her being startled.


    "My silly pea, it''s been months, how have you grown taller again?"


    Xue Wan stood up and reached out to touch Xue Jing''s head.


    She was tall and well-built, at least over five foot seven, and reaching Xue Jing''s head posed no challenge for her.


    While speaking playfully, Xue Wan''s eyes were quite gentle, obviously very happy to see her brother after such a long time.


    "...Hmm? What''s with your face, did you get plastic surgery?"


    She patted Xue Jing''s cheek, puzzled.


    "It doesn''t seem changed... but why does it look much prettier?"


    "Oh, these muscles..."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, and he grabbed Xue Wan''s hand which was wandering all over him.


    Meanwhile, an irritated and angry voice came from the side.


    "Hey, woman."


    "Did you just take a photo? Give me your phone."


    The shorter Du Mingluan''s face was dark as he reached out his hand towards Xue Wan.


    Xue Wan cocked her head, a look of ''don''t worry, I understand'' on her face, speaking in a friendly tone, "Don''t worry, I''ll add your contact later and send you the photo."


    Du Mingluan paused, "That''s not what I mean."


    On the other side, Kou Chengjian spoke irritably, "Why waste words with her? Just snatch it and smash the phone; this photo absolutely cannot get out!"


    After saying this, he couldn''t help but spit again, "Tsk! That''s really disgusting!"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Wan immediately hid behind Xue Jing and peeked her head out from over his shoulder, displeased, "This is the witness of you opening the door to a new world; it has so much commemorative value, we can''t delete it."


    Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian''s faces twitched as they looked at Xue Jing, who was shielding Xue Wan.


    Never mind that this woman might look pretty but was clearly somewhat crazy, it was this man who was the real instigator.


    But this man was not simple.


    Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian looked at each other.


    Although they had been focusing on each other just before, the fact that he could approach them with a speed they couldn''t react to and accurately grasp their heads¡­


    Clearly showed his exceptional martial prowess.


    Looking at his appearance, his age should be similar to theirs; he must also be here to compete.


    This was an opponent on their level!


    "So how do we do this?"


    Du Mingluan asked.


    Kou Chengjian, with a dark expression, said, "The most important thing right now is to destroy the photo."


    Xue Jing, while they were talking, turned his head slightly and glanced at Xue Wan, who was resting her chin on his shoulder with her eyes.


    "Just delete it. Although, coming from me, the instigator, it might not sound great... but as a male, I empathize with their aversion."


    Xue Jing sighed.


    Xue Wan shook her finger, a pleased look on her face as she spoke, "People are different; you might truly be repulsed, but look at these two ¨C they seem like they''re enemies, but at the crucial moment, they immediately start cooperating. This kind of understanding..."


    "Such a classic foe-to-friend literature!"


    "This photo might just be the witness to their first step; it would be a shame to delete it!"


    Xue Jing groaned.


    Hearing this, Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian clenched their fists so tightly they nearly burst into a fight on the spot to prove they absolutely had no such inclinations with the other.


    Kou Chengjian, struggling to hold back, gritted his teeth, "The photo first!"


    Du Mingluan''s fists crackled, "You take the left, I''ve got the right!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan''s eyes lit up, "See, that understanding!"


    Without another word, they both took a step and vanished from where they were.


    Du Mingluan appeared on the left, reaching for the phone in Xue Wan''s hand.


    Kou Chengjian appeared on the right, swung his fist, his thick joints stirring up a circular wave of air, aimed at Xue Jing - a diversion to try and occupy him so he couldn''t protect Xue Wan.


    At the same time, almost unnoticed, many small cracks appeared on the marble floor beneath their feet, soon bulging slightly as if something was about to burst forth.


    Xue Jing watched the two men approaching, his expression unchanged, roughly estimating their level from their movements.


    "They should be about the same level as Li Chengxuan... or maybe slightly stronger."


    "Is this the standard of the geniuses around here, aged seventeen or eighteen?"


    He thought to himself, but his actions did not slow down.


    Power and Twin Speed were activated simultaneously.


    The Power surged, and the True Dragon roamed within him.

 Chapter 171: Chapter 119: One Slap Each, The Gate to the New World, The Bizarre Sister (4K)_2

    His entire skeletal structure vibrated, emitting a deep rumbling, like rolling thunder.


    He stretched out his left hand and precisely grabbed Kou Chengjian''s wrist as it swung toward him, directly absorbing the Power carried by the punch into his bones via Seal Cloud Tail.


    His right hand did the same, catching the wrist that Du Mingluan extended towards Xue Wan.


    The speed of his movements was incredibly fast, preempting their attacks as if he and the two opponents were in different time flows.


    The force brought by their attacks was completely nullified by Seal Cloud Tail and absorbed into his skeletal system. By the time they realized and tried to muster their Power again, it was already too late.


    An unstoppable, overwhelming strength transferred from their wrists, and both men once again helplessly watched as they grew closer to each other¡­


    Clutching their wrists, Xue Jing drew upon the Power transformed by Seal Cloud Tail and, like flinging noodles, he violently threw them forward.


    "Pang!"


    Two silhouettes collided with each other, bursting out a circle of air waves.


    This time, it wasn''t mouth to mouth, but their cheeks inevitably pressed together, and their bodies stuck closely, as if they were hugging.


    "Ah, what?"


    Xue Jing was momentarily taken aback.


    He didn''t do it on purpose. It was just an instinctive reaction, feeling this way he could simultaneously inflict damage on the two men...


    "You motherf***er!"


    "Damn it!"


    Watching disbelief and anger crossing the men''s faces, Xue Jing knew they had misunderstood.


    "Forget it, let''s leave it at that."


    Xue Jing simply opened his hands and, like swatting mosquitoes, he slapped towards the two heads stuck together.


    "Smack¡ª"


    With Power flowing, Shaking Star Fire activated. As his palms made contact with their heads, Soft Power infiltrated, causing their skulls to shake violently. They collapsed on the spot, passing out.


    The two men lying on the ground were still closely pressed together.


    "Click-click, click-click¡ª"


    Continuous shutter sounds rang out around them, with flashlights flickering nonstop. Xue Jing looked around and found many people, dressed like reporters with cameras of different sizes, incessantly snapping photos.


    Xue Wan looked at Xue Jing with a puzzled expression:


    "You''re even more enthusiastic about this than I am... I didn''t expect this from you, Jing."


    Without a sound, the fractures that had bubbled up on the floor returned to normal. Apart from a few more cracked lines, it seemed like nothing had happened.


    Xue Jing sighed, "I didn''t do it on purpose... Anyway, let''s slip away."


    ...


    "Wu¡ª"


    At the railing of a platform near the dock, Xue Jing and Xue Wan gazed at the approaching huge cruise ship.


    The sea breeze brushed through Xue Wan''s smooth, long black hair. She moved her hair behind her ear, sighing:


    "I didn''t expect you to take the path of Martial Arts Practice... and to have such great talent. I never noticed it before."


    "Sister, I thought you''d surely end up being kept by some rich woman..."


    She looked at Xue Jing, her expression tender but tinged with complexity.


    "It''s just that this path always seems to involve some fighting and killing, which makes me worry."


    Xue Jing leaned his elbow on the railing, looking out at the sea, and casually said:


    "The person who makes people worry is you, sister."


    Xue Wan tilted her head: "Me?"


    Xue Jing glanced at her, implying, "Just now... There seemed to be something beneath the floor. That wouldn''t have anything to do with you, would it?"


    His observational skills were extraordinary; even at such a critical moment of being attacked, he wouldn''t ignore what he caught from the corner of his eye.


    Confusion displayed across Xue Wan''s pretty face: "Huh? What are you rambling about spirits and demons for?"


    Xue Jing stared at her for a while, although he was doubtful, he didn''t insist on prying into the matter, instead, shifting the topic:


    "By the way, I got a cat, and I brought it this time too."


    He himself had plenty of things he preferred to keep from his family, so he hardly had the right to press Xue Wan for answers.


    After meeting her and personally ensuring that his sister''s spirits were quite well, without any signs of despair from some terrible ordeal, he felt much more at ease.


    He''d leave the rest to take its natural course.


    "A cat? What kind of cat?" Xue Wan''s eyes brightened.


    "Picked it up on the road. Not sure what breed, but it''s pretty good-looking. You''ll know when you see it," Xue Jing said nonchalantly.


    Ning Fengwan had discussed it with him aboard the ship.


    For various reasons, it was decided that it was best not to face Xue Jing''s family in her human form just yet.


    Being treated as just a cat was quite nice.


    "Hmm? Can cats board cruise ships?" Xue Wan asked, puzzled.


    Xue Jing smiled faintly and said casually, "They can''t, in principle... but your brother, I carry a lot of weight."


    Xue Wan raised an eyebrow, reached out to encircle his neck with her arm, and locked it under her armpit, "I''m not sure about face, but I can certainly tell how big your face is!"


    Xue Jing''s head was locked in place, his face pressed against Xue Wan''s slender waist, "Let go, haven''t you heard that men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things?"


    Because of the pose, his voice sounded a bit muffled.


    "I once held you while you peed, and you''re still talking about not touching hands?"


    ...


    The cruise ship was gradually approaching the shore, and Miao Miao was squatting on the penetrating balustrade, yawning.


    "Why haven''t I seen Jing? Where did he go¡ª"


    She suddenly saw a sight that made her choke.


    On a platform not far away from the dock, Xue Jing was wrestling with a woman who looked very similar to him... wrestling?


    He was laying on the ground with a look of utter dejection, his right hand being wrapped by the woman, forming an impeccably perfect cross-hold.


    "That must be Jing''s sister, she''s very... very lively."


    Miao Miao''s face showed a very anthropomorphized strange expression.


    "Don''t think just because you''ve excelled in martial arts that you can raise your tail to the sky, do you understand the concept of bloodline suppression?"


    Xue Wan looked down at Xue Jing lying on the ground, saying smugly.


    "Alright, alright, I know you practiced in college, now let go," Xue Jing said reluctantly in a tone similar to coaxing a child.


    "A proper cross-hold is inescapable! Oh, right, there''s another move I wanted to try¡ªah!"


    Xue Wan hadn''t finished speaking when she let out a shriek of surprise.


    It was because Xue Jing got up effortlessly as if he had nothing on his hand.


    Xue Wan was left dangling in the air, looking just like someone holding a grocery basket fresh from shopping.


    "Had enough fun?"


    Xue Jing moved her from his arm to in front of him and slapped her head with his other hand with a loud and crisp "smack".


    "Hiss¡ªOw, that really hurts! How could you hit so hard!"


    Amid the playful wrestling, time passed and the cruise ship officially docked.


    Crew members on the ship threw ropes to the shore, and dock workers caught the ropes, tying them to the mooring posts.


    Under a series of operations, the cruise ship docked successfully and connected with the sky bridge.


    Xue Jing, accompanied by Xue Wan, boarded the ship from the sky bridge and along the way encountered many disembarking passengers who greeted Xue Jing with the utmost respect:


    "Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue..."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled in response, like an official inspecting the site.


    "Seems like you really do have quite a bit of face." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan said with a smile, patting Xue Jing''s shoulder.


    "Meow~"


    Upon reaching the deck, a cat''s meow was heard, as a black cat with four white ''gloves'' elegantly approached Xue Jing.


    "Wow~ It''s so cute!"


    Xue Wan covered her heart, clearly smitten by the cat''s cuteness, her eyes sparkling.


    "How can there be such a beautiful cat! Have I been single for too long? Why does even a cat seem attractive to me."


    Xue Wan quickly approached and gently picked up Miao Miao.


    "It''s so well-behaved... and smells so good."


    Rubbing her cheek against Miao Miao, Xue Wan said blissfully.


    "Ah, why didn''t I think of getting a cat earlier, should have adopted one long ago! What''s its name? Did you name it yet?"


    Xue Wan turned her head to look at Xue Jing.


    "A name?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then said off the cuff, "Call it Feng Wan."


    "Ah? Which ''Feng Wan''? The ''Feng Wan'' from Black-Boned Chicken White Phoenix Pills?"


    Xue Wan tilted her head.


    Upon hearing this, Miao Miao seemed to recall something unpleasant, looking annoyed as it made a face.


    "No, ''Feng'' as in Wang Xifeng, and ''Wan'' as in Li Wan," Xue Jing explained with a smile.


    "...Why did you give the cat that name? Been reading ''Dream of the Red Chamber'' too much, huh?" Xue Wan found it a bit amusing.


    "And they''re all married women... Brother, is this what you''re into?"


    ...

 Chapter 178: Chapter 123: Force of Utmost Firmness, You Have No Secrets Before These Eyes (4K)

    "Then I''ll just call you Little Jing."


    Jiang Siwei suppressed the excitement in her heart and tried to show a calm and sincere smile.


    She opened the briefcase she carried and took out a brown sealed document envelope.


    The seal had not been broken, Jiang Siwei tore it open and took out a paper document of about six or seven pages.


    "The club said they used a special channel to treat you as a signed player in advance and reported your name as a seed spot for this U19 knockout tournament... This is your official contract."


    "They said it can only be opened once you are here, I''m seeing it for the first time too... wait a moment, I''ll check it for you."


    As Jiang Siwei spoke, she began to flip through the contract documents.


    Xue Jing nodded and said with a smile, "No rush, take your time."


    A male waiter in servant attire came over from the side and asked respectfully, "Sir, would you like something to drink?"


    Xue Jing glanced at Jiang Siwei who was earnestly inspecting the contract, thought for a moment, and said, "Bring me a Coke... and also a cup of coffee."


    Dressed so much in the style of an office lady, this kind of city beauty must like drinking coffee ordinarily, he guessed.


    "What kind of coffee would you like?" asked the waiter.


    "I''m not too sure, you choose," Xue Jing said in a gentle tone.


    After a while, the waiter returned with a can of Coke and a cup of steaming coffee, and placed them on the table.


    "Please enjoy."


    Xue Jing picked up the Coke, pulled open the tab, and took a drink.


    Jiang Siwei sitting across from him, however, kept turning the pages of the contract, her eyebrows furrowing tighter the more she read.


    ''Such a strange contract... A one-year contract, a monthly salary of two thousand three... that''s the bare minimum, just to comply with the law.''


    ''For any competition, all prize money goes to the individual... there are no obligatory commitments... all activities are based on personal willingness...''


    The corners of Jiang Siwei''s mouth twitched as she felt her recently kindled ambition shatter completely...


    No wonder such a promising talent, who was bound to become a martial arts superstar without any surprises, was assigned to her.


    This was not a serious player at all... It seemed more like a privileged second-generation using their club''s platform to experience martial arts competitions.


    She thought she was finally going to do something big and nurture a top expert under her guidance.


    Jiang Siwei sighed, closed the contract documents, and pushed them towards Xue Jing.


    "I''ve finished looking, there''s no issue, Little Jing, you look at it too, and if it seems fine, you can sign it."


    Although disappointed, Jiang Siwei still put on a brave face and smiled at Xue Jing.


    Let''s treat it like a vacation... at least this one is a feast for the eyes just by looking.


    Xue Jing took the contract and opened it.


    Having trained in martial arts for so long and with an array of skills to bolster, his mental capacity was far above the ordinary, able to read and fully understand a page full of terms in nearly two seconds.


    Externally, it appeared that he was casually flipping through each page, finishing the entire document in a short time, like quantum speed reading, quite casual.


    "Hmm, done." Xue Jing nodded.


    It was exactly as Wu Youqing had said, a contract with almost no constraints.


    He picked up the pen and the stamp pad Jiang Siwei had passed to him, signed his name under the Party B column, and pressed his thumbprint with the stamp pad.


    "Good, now let me tell you about the schedule for the U19 knockout competition," Jiang Siwei said, collecting the contract documents and smiling at Xue Jing.


    "Here in Maple City, there are a total of thirty-two players in the knockout competition, among which twelve are seed players from major clubs..."


    "The official list of participants will be announced tomorrow along with the draw ceremony, and the competition will officially begin the day after tomorrow."


    "The first round is from thirty-two to sixteen, completed over two days with eight matches each day, followed by a day of rest, and the fourth day starts the second round, which is sixteen to eight, with a three-day rest period after that..."


    As Jiang Siwei explained, Xue Jing calculated the schedule and found that it barely allowed him to carry out his mission in the Intersecting Boundaries on separate days. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He still had five days until the final deadline agreed upon with White Crow.


    In five days, he had to head to the newly emerged Intersecting Boundaries for an exploration mission.


    ''The day after tomorrow is the thirty-two to sixteen matches; sixteen matches finished over two days, then a day to rest...''


    Xue Jing showed a thoughtful expression.


    ''This means, in five days, it''ll be the second round, sixteen to eight, right on the final deadline. Finish the match then rush off to do the task, should be just in time... perfect.''


    After Jiang Siwei finished explaining the schedule, she rummaged through her briefcase and took out a thick stack of documents, placing them on the table with a thud due to their heft.


    "This is the detailed past information of the competitors I''ve prepared in advance, about fifty people in total. Although the detailed list of competitors hasn''t been announced yet, it should fall within these fifty. Little Jing, take a look, it''s good to know more about your opponents."


    Xue Jing glanced at her, took the thick stack of documents, and randomly flipped to a page.


    The page featured information on a player named ''Gu Hongding'', including his photo, age, fighting style, school of martial arts practiced, what to watch out for when fighting him, past records, match details... a comprehensive array, very detailed.


    It was clear that Jiang Siwei had put a lot of effort into collecting this information, and the format was very neat, giving a clear and concise overview at a glance.


    "Wei, you''ve done well," Xue Jing commended.

 Chapter 179: Chapter 124: Extremely Rigid True Dragon, Wishful Shaping, Hidden BOSS Xue Jing (4K)

    "However, to learn this Ultimate Rigid Energy Method, there are still many challenges to be solved," said Xue Jing as he dismissed his juvenile pose and pondered.


    "First, to exert this hundred percent Pure Rigidity itself is a big challenge... The Vajra Wishful Hand likely solves this issue by cultivating a special Kungfu Body."


    He glanced at the tall and majestic Yin Muhu not far away.


    "The physique of Yin Muhu could have been achieved to this extent perhaps due to some inherent genetic factors, but reaching such a state definitely involves the training methods of his School of Martial Arts," he said.


    "A woman working to achieve a physique as robust as a man''s, if unaffected by external factors, would have to exert ten or even nine times the effort."


    It''s only by training with specific techniques and Secret Medicine that one can forge a body of such extreme rigidity and thus unleash equally extreme power.


    "Let''s give it a try," he said.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, inhaling a vast amount of oxygen into his lungs.


    Since the "Running" skill had been upgraded and had strengthened his lungs, currently, the lungs were the strongest of his five viscera.


    The robustness of one''s lungs is crucial for the circulation of power; Martial Breathing Skills absorb oxygen from the outside, which from the lungs enters the blood, providing the driving force that surges throughout the body, mobilizing various organs. This is the principle behind power. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The more oxygen that can be inhaled in one breath, the stronger the resulting driving force, and naturally, the more power that can be mobilized.


    This was one of the reasons why Xue Jing was able to ''overpower'' his fellow talented peers with his power.


    The difference in lung capacity between them was too great.


    As his blood circulated rapidly under the breathing technique, Xue Jing''s body surface grew slightly warm, and Power manifested as a roaring True Dragon.


    With a thought, he entered his inner vision.


    The True Dragon roamed throughout his body, treating his corporeal form as if it were rivers and seas, creating the turbulent sound of a mighty river wherever it passed.


    This Power-created True Dragon, with its appearance and details becoming more refined as Xue Jing continuously grew stronger, had also grown significantly larger.


    "First... try to eliminate as much Soft Power as possible," he thought.


    As Xue Jing''s mind flickered, the True Dragon instantly shed numerous fine scales from its body.


    These scales, falling like feathers, floated softly, appearing extremely pliable.


    The True Dragon roared, and the gaps left by the falling scales were quickly refilled by the surrounding flesh.


    The new scales looked extremely sharp and hard, and its body subtly shrank by a barely noticeable margin.


    At the same time, the previously agile and nimble form of the True Dragon stiffened significantly, resembling a rusted machine that could not easily turn, and its eyes even appeared somewhat dull.


    "Still not enough," he said.


    Xue Jing''s mind sharpened.


    The scales on the True Dragon''s body lifted abruptly, making the dragon resemble a startled cat.


    Then, a multitude of fresh blood sprayed from the gaps of the lifted scales, each drop an abstract thread of power.


    Not only Soft Power was drawn from the True Dragon, since it was difficult for Xue Jing to precisely remove only Soft Power, hence, he had to excise large chunks of power that contained traces of Soft Power altogether, like slicing flesh to cure disease.


    In this continuous process of removal, the True Dragon''s body continuously shrank, now only half its original size.


    Its movements also became more and more rigid, until at a certain moment, it nearly completely froze, appearing as if transformed into an inanimate puppet.


    "Hmm, this is probably the current limit," Xue Jing observed the dragon, now almost entirely made of Pure Rigidity, in his inner vision.


    "It can... still move," he noted.


    The rigid dragon managed to move, but it was the kind of movement where its body remained static, simply shifting in the air.


    It was like a video game character getting stuck.


    Xue Jing controlled it, bringing it over to his right hand, fortifying his right fist, and then suddenly swung at the nearby Yin Muhu.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    The fist, which completely defied aerodynamics with its rigidity, emitted an intensely sharp whistling sound due to friction with the air, displacing layers of air waves as it struck the well-built chest and abdomen of Yin Muhu.


    "Bang!"


    A sound akin to a hammer striking a bell rang out as Xue Jing''s fist and the steel-like body of Yin Muhu both trembled from the impact, causing both individuals to fly backward due to the mutual force.


    Planting his feet on the ground and carving two grooves in the solid wood flooring, Xue Jing stopped the backward momentum.


    "Rigid power is just too hard to control," he shook his head.


    "The main issue is still not reaching the true ''Pure Rigidity,'' as some Soft Power that cannot be removed still remains... This nearly there yet not quite state is the most uncomfortable," he reflected.


    "If all the Soft Power could be eliminated, giving rise to an ''Extremely Rigid True Dragon'' that could shatter with a slight exertion, then the next step of ''Wishful Shaping'' could begin," he mused.


    Xue Jing walked over to Yin Muhu, placed his hand on her shoulder, and began channeling power, permeating into her body.


    Through the invasion of power, he vaguely explored her internal body structure.


    He hadn''t reached the level of his master, Li Qi, who could perceive the entire body upon the incursion of power, only managing a rough exploration.


    "It''s still due to the Kungfu Body. Yin Muhu''s Kungfu Body is special, extremely rigid, ensuring that the power generated internally has very little ''Soft'' component, and the ''Rigid'' is distinctly separated, making it very easy to remove," he deduced.


    "If I''m not mistaken, when the School of Martial Arts related to Vajra Wishful Hand fully matures, all the generated power will be ''Pure Rigidity,'' even without needing any removal," he conjectured.

 Chapter 180: Chapter 124: Extremely Rigid True Dragon, Wishful Shaping, Hidden BOSS Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    "It seems I can only use persistent effort," he mused.


    "A martial artist''s Kungfu Body will adaptively change with the continuous practice of martial arts," he thought.


    "As long as I keep practicing relentlessly, pursuing the essence of rigidity, my current Kungfu Body will gradually evolve, becoming more suited to unleashing pure rigid force, and in time, the ''Extremely Rigid True Dragon'' will naturally emerge."


    A feeling of dizziness came over him, and Xue Jing pressed his temples, exiting the Consciousness Simulation.


    All of everything dissipated into blocks of pixels, and Xue Jing opened his eyes back in reality.


    "I''ll take it slow," he said to himself.


    Fortunately, the Hidden Dragon School''s Kungfu Body was quite versatile and innately had strong adaptability to martial arts from other sects, so the process shouldn''t take too long.


    [...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +306]


    [...Meditative Visualization True¡¤ Experience Points +288]


    After checking his gains on the panel, Xue Jing closed his eyes, and in just a few seconds, he fell into a deep sleep.


    ...


    The next day at noon, in the lounge area of the hotel lobby.


    Xue Jing, Yin Muhu, and Jiang Siwei were sitting on the sofa in the lounge area, watching a tablet that was placed on the table in front of them.


    It was brought by the agent, Jiang Siwei.


    The screen of the computer showed a live stream.


    A line of subtitles read below¡ª


    [U19 No-Limit Fighting Tournament - Regional Knockout - Maple City Sector Drawing Ceremony, About to Start]


    The video was still playing ads at the moment, and Xue Jing, bored, said, "Speaking of which, how much is the prize money for the U19 tournament?"


    Sitting beside him, Jiang Siwei thought for a moment before she answered,


    "The prize money itself isn''t much. The total prize pool this year is less than one hundred million Zhuxia currency... As for the champion''s prize, it should be around twenty million."


    "The prize money for martial arts competitions is just a bonus; what matters is the fame and honor gained during the competition," she said.


    Jiang Siwei glanced at Xue Jing, still feeling it was a pity.


    If this young man were willing, with the resources of the club he could quickly become a rising, unstoppable top new star.


    It''s a shame he doesn''t seem to be interested.


    But, he sure was good-looking...


    Jiang Siwei gazed at Xue Jing''s perfectly contoured profile, somewhat distracted.


    "It looks like it''s starting," Yin Muhu said from beside him, arms crossed over his chest.


    On the tablet computer, the advertising had ended, and the screen switched to a brightly lit, large stage.


    A middle-aged host with an honest face, dressed in a suit and shoes, stood on the stage, holding a stack of cards, rattling off various advertising slogans.


    Behind him was a huge screen displaying messages like audience barrages, text messages, and the like.


    "...well then, without further ado, dear viewers, please look at the big screen!" the host said, pointing his hand, and the image instantly changed.


    "Here it comes, the list of contestants." Jiang Siwei and Yin Muhu immediately sat up straight and started watching intently.


    On the screen, there were four groupings of names, eight each, totaling thirty-two competitors.


    Xue Jing''s name was also among them, positioned in the second row, third place.


    After confirming his name among them, he glanced casually at the other names.


    With just a sweep of his eyesight, he memorized all the names of the dozens of competitors.


    Comparing with the competitor information Jiang Siwei gave him the day before, he noticed that, except for someone named ''Deng Jizhou,'' all the other contestant''s names were included in that information.


    ''Pretty impressive,'' Xue Jing glanced at Jiang Siwei and nodded.


    "Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian from the two major branches of the Night King Style, Jiang Jinkang from the Rage Tide Sect, Ji Huaiyu from the Four Elements Dojo..." Yin Muhu listed the sects and names of some competitors.


    "They are all well-known young talents. This edition of U19 has too fierce a competition..." she said.


    After speaking, she couldn''t help but look at Xue Jing sitting beside her.


    ```


    "Especially with you around..."


    Xue Jing smiled but didn''t say anything.


    The live broadcast began to show detailed introductions of the contestants.


    Many of them had participated in public competitions before and had made appearances.


    "... Li Chengxuan, a direct disciple of Qingcheng''s Golden Wind Dojo, trained by the professional martial artist Jiao Hongyuan ninth dan..."


    On the computer, they were introducing someone Xue Jing was quite familiar with; then the screen cut to a playback of Li Chengxuan''s highlights from previous matches.


    "...the dark horse who made a surprising rise in the previous preliminaries, practicing the martial arts sect ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword,'' also known as the No-Blade Four Sword Style, which terrifyingly trains hands and feet to become true swords, and each strike is either deadly or injurious!"


    In the footage, Li Chengxuan crossed paths with an opponent in a flash, flicking the blood from his hand blade, as his opponent slowly fell to the ground, looking quite handsome.


    Yin Muhu curled his lips, "That''s some obvious posing... Too deliberate."


    Jiang Siwei laughed lightly, "Aren''t all young people like that? Loving to show off."


    ...It would be nice if he liked showing off just as much.


    Jiang Siwei looked at Xue Jing and couldn''t help thinking.


    He didn''t have the flamboyance of a young man and was too mature for his age, leaving no angle for others to grasp.


    As the contestant introductions continued, it was quickly Xue Jing''s turn.


    This time, the screen only showed a silhouette with a white question mark over it, followed by some basic information - conspicuously lacking in detail.


    Just the name, Martial Arts Sect of Hidden Dragon School, and the representative seed player of ''Galaxy Martial Arts Club.'' Nothing more.


    "Quite mysterious, huh? Doesn''t this give off a hidden BOSS vibe?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled.


    Jiang Siwei shook her head, "This is actually quite common. Many large clubs arrange for their newly signed young talents to make a stunning debut at U19, audiences are used to it."


    Yin Muhu, however, agreed, "You indeed are a hidden BOSS."


    Xue Jing waved his hand and voiced a modest protest, "What big truths you''re spouting."


    Soon, the contestant introductions were over, and the screen switched back to the main stage.


    "Next up is the drawing of lots... I hope Little Jing you can draw one of the first eight matches and finish on the first day,"


    Jiang Siwei said.


    "That way you''d get one more day of rest than the contestants in the later eight matches..."


    "For martial artists, injuries can happen easily in competitions, so having a little more rest time is always better."


    The knockout preliminary round was from thirty-two to sixteen, divided over two days, and after that, there was only one day to rest. Contestants who drew one of the first eight matches could finish on the first day, which was considered a good draw.


    Yin Muhu''s mouth twitched, "Er... I don''t think you need to worry about that."


    Jiang Siwei pushed up her glasses, curious.


    This strong-looking... girl seemed to have high regard for Little Jing.


    Although she had looked at Xue Jing''s information and knew he was quite strong, she had never seen him in action, so she did not have a specific understanding of his martial arts skill level. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yin Muhu scratched her head and grumbled in a sweet girl''s voice that contrasted with her looks, "I just hope we''re not in the same half-bracket... I don''t want to be sent home after just two matches, only to be ridiculed by that old coot of a master for an entire year."


    Xue Jing gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.


    "I think you won''t be that unlucky, Shady Girl."


    On the live broadcast, an elderly man in a training garment, with a clear, spirited face, walked onto the stage from backstage. His steps were extremely steady, and his body didn''t tremble at all as he walked.


    "Next, we invite the eighth dan, Xu Jinghong, to personally conduct the drawing of lots!"


    ...


    Maple City, at a top-floor suite in a certain hotel.


    Li Chengxuan soaked in a circular bathtub, holding a champagne flute filled to the brim, while two naked beauties embraced him, leaning on his shoulders on both sides.


    Watching the screen of the large TV in front of him, the initially pleased Li Chengxuan''s face suddenly darkened.


    [Match six: ''Hidden Dragon School'' Xue Jing VS ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword'' Li Chengxuan]


    "Damn it, this persistent little brat!"


    "Forget it, I was careless last time. This time on the field, I''ll definitely beat you to death!"


    Li Chengxuan issued his threat, yet a sense of unease he didn''t want to admit crept into his mind.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 181: Chapter 125 Maple City University Martial Arts Club, Xue Jing:

    "Li Chengxuan..."


    Xue Jing stared at the live broadcast for a moment, then couldn''t help but laugh.


    "That is quite a coincidence."


    The Yin Muhu beside her nodded and said, "I''ve watched a few competitions of this Li Chengxuan. His style ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword'' is quite interesting. It has a bit of a reputation in the Inner Ring circles. I''ve heard from my grandmaster that the Trio of Jade City had some disputes with the disciples of that style."


    Xue Jing chuckled, "I''ve heard my master mention that as well."


    Yin Muhu: "My grandmaster said that most of the trouble they encountered back then was stirred up by Dragon King Li Qi. He heard about the great reputation of the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword style, and when he saw a disciple from that style, went up to them, and just like ''What are you looking at''..."


    "But I think it''s probably frame-up and slander by my grandmaster. Most likely, it was him who stirred up the trouble..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He felt that it probably wasn''t frame-up and slander. Even if there was some embellishment, overall, it should be the truth.


    He didn''t know why Yin Muhu had such a deep prejudice against her grandmaster.


    "Li Chengxuan''s strength is not bad. Among the thirty-two contestants in this knockout match, he can rank within the top twelve. He already belongs to the ''Upper Circle''."


    Jiang Siwei said from the side, her hands typing rapidly on a thin laptop.


    "The general opinion among insiders is that if his luck is a bit better, he has a chance to be one of the final four to advance."


    "Little Jing, you need to be careful..."


    Jiang Siwei paused, then continued, "I know you''re very strong... but this is your first time competing, and you might not be used to it. The schedule for this knockout round is very tight, with three matches back to back in a short time. If you get hurt in any one of those, it will become a significant disadvantage in the following contests."


    "We need to not only win but do so while ensuring we minimize any injuries. It''s always right to be more careful."


    Xue Jing glanced at her, just smiled gently, and whispered, "Don''t worry, Wei, I''ll be careful."


    In the live broadcast, the spirited old man continued the draw.


    Soon Yin Muhu''s name also appeared.


    "The ninth match... Lucky, you''re not in the same half as me."


    Yin Muhu nodded in satisfaction, somewhat relieved.


    The structure of the knockout matches has the first eight in one half, and the following eight in another half. Xue Jing was in the sixth match, belonging to the first eight. She was in the ninth match, belonging to the second eight.


    The two halves would each have three matches, determining two advancing spots each.


    That way, until the knockout matches were all over, she wouldn''t face Xue Jing in the arena.


    Jiang Siwei wondered, "Aren''t martial artists supposed to value bravery and advancement? Being afraid of meeting Little Jing... that mindset doesn''t seem quite right, does it?"


    Yin Muhu gave her a look, extended her right hand, showed a thick index finger, and wagging it, she corrected:


    "It''s not about being afraid to meet him, but not wanting to meet him. There''s a difference."


    "Even if martial artists are brave and striving for progress, they aren''t brainless... Knowing that they''re likely to lose to an opponent, of course, they''ll avoid if they can. It''s not cowardice; it''s a strategic retreat."


    Yin Muhu said this as a matter of course, without any embarrassment.


    Xue Jing pinched her chin, agreeing, "Quail feast."


    ...


    After watching the drawing ceremony, Xue Jing had dinner with the two at the hotel, then they went their separate ways.


    Xue Jing returned to her room to practice the Armor Shaking Skill and the Coiling Dragon Art as usual.


    Afterward, she simulated combat in the Consciousness Space, striving to use almost pure Rigid Force throughout the fight. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When she felt her spirit beginning to wither, she exited the Consciousness Space, and it was already two o''clock in the afternoon.


    After a bath and changing into new clothes, Xue Jing walked out of the hotel, intending to visit her sister Xue Wan''s school.


    She first called Xue Wan to ask and after getting a positive response, she flagged a taxi and headed for Xue Wan''s school¡ªMaple City University.


    ...


    At the gate of Maple City University.


    "Wanwan, we are just about to go to KTV. Want to come sing with us? Some handsome guys are coming too!"


    A group of three female university students walked out of the school gate and, seeing Xue Wan holding Miao Miao beside her, one of the long-haired girls lit up and invited her.


    "Eh, what a cute Miao Miao. Was this cat in the school before? I feel like I''ve never seen it."


    Among them, the short-haired girl with glasses looked curiously at the Miao Miao in Xue Wan''s arms, reached out to pet it but was swiftly avoided by the cat after receiving a glance.


    Xue Wan chuckled, "This is my cat; it''s very shy and doesn''t let strangers touch it... You go ahead; my brother will be coming to the campus later, and I ought to show him around."


    "Your brother!?" The three university girls'' eyes shined.


    "Is it the brother you always talk about? The very handsome one?"


    "It must be that one! Wanwan has shown us his photo before. Wow, that god-like little brother is actually coming to our school... slurp (drools)."


    "Wanwan~~ introduce us, please~"


    The last girl among them, petite and young-looking, immediately hugged Xue Wan''s arm and said in a coquettish tone.


    Xue Wan''s expression turned odd: "Aren''t you going to sing with some handsome guys..."


    The long-haired girl turned serious: "Ordinary handsome guys, we can make plans with them any time."


    The short-haired girl with glasses quickly added, "A top-tier handsome guy is a rare opportunity, not just tasting but even an extra glance is life-extending~"

 Chapter 182: Chapter 125 Maple City University Martial Arts Club, Xue Jing:

    Xue Wan''s lips twitched, "Have a taste... and don''t you guys get any ideas about my little brother."


    "How could we?" the three said in unison.


    The long-haired girl smiled slyly, "But... if the little brother has designs on us, there''s nothing we can do about that."


    Xue Wan nonchalantly waved her hand, "Ah, don''t get your hopes up, that won''t happen."


    "Hmm? Why''s that?" the bespectacled girl asked curiously. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan laughed, "He''s grown up with me since we were kids... you know what I mean."


    The petite girl looked puzzled, "Huh? What do you mean?"


    Xue Wan pointed at her face, unveiling a beautiful smile.


    "Growing up with a top beauty like this, he''s built up an immunity to women!"


    The three gritted their teeth in frustration.


    But seeing Xue Wan''s indescribably pretty face, they had to deflate and admit, it seemed to be the truth.


    "Damn, give me some of your family''s genes!"


    "I want to tear that annoying little mouth of yours!"


    The group erupted in laughter.


    Miao Miao lay in Xue Wan''s arms and yawned, thinking to herself that women together could really be annoying.


    After a while, a taxi pulled in and slowly came to a stop nearby.


    The rear car door opened, Xue Jing scanned to pay, thanked the driver, and stepped out.


    He adjusted the glasses on his face and walked towards the school''s main entrance.


    From a distance, he saw his sister Xue Wan holding Miao Miao and talking with several girls.


    "Wanwan, has little brother not arrived yet? Call and ask," said the long-haired girl.


    "Yeah, call and ask. What if some female gangster attacked him on the way?" the short-haired girl asked worriedly.


    Xue Wan rolled her eyes at them, "What''s the rush..."


    Then her eyes shifted and she looked not far to the side.


    "Ah, here he comes."


    "Where, where!" the three college girls suddenly became anxious.


    Their gaze focused as they searched around, but they couldn''t find him.


    "Where the heck is he?"


    Just then, Miao Miao jumped out of Xue Wan''s arms onto the ground, stretched languorously, and with elegant cat steps, walked towards a nondescript man wearing glasses.


    Having reached him, she elegantly leapt onto his shoulder, sat down, and licked her paw.


    Xue Wan also waved at him, "Jing, over here, over here."


    The three college girls then noticed him.


    They all shared a dubious look, "Eh... is he, the little brother?"


    "Nothing like what we imagined..."


    "We thought he''d be like some kind of dazzling star."


    "Why does he look so... ordinary?"


    The petite girl stared at Xue Jing for a while, then suddenly said, "Wait, look closer, his face is actually quite handsome!"


    "But something''s off... it just doesn''t feel right."


    Xue Wan walked up to Xue Jing, adjusted his collar, and asked curiously:


    "Why are you wearing glasses?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "If I didn''t wear them, there might be some trouble."


    Xue Wan nonchalantly said, "Come on, let''s take a walk around the school, and by the way, have you decided which university you want to apply to? Senior year is just around the corner."


    The two of them started walking towards the school.


    "We''ll see... I might not even go to college," Xue Jing said after a thought.


    Xue Wan nodded, "I guess so... Your martial arts skills are so impressive, following that path could lead to great prospects, though our parents might hesitate... actually, I also suggest you should experience college, not for the degree, but the university life experience is one of a kind, you miss it and it''s gone."


    "We should really enjoy our youth..." Xue Wan said, her eyes betraying a slight complexity.


    The two approached the three college girls.


    "These are my classmates... they said they wanted to get to know you," Xue Wan said, extending her palm towards them and then towards Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing looked at them, the glasses on his nose reflecting the sunlight, and he said with a smile, "Hello, sisters, I''m Xue Jing."


    The three college girls paused, then exchanged glances.


    The long-haired girl smiled and said, "Hello, little brother, I''m Zhao Lu."


    "I''m Shang Ping."


    "I''m Wei Juan..."


    The other two also introduced themselves.


    They walked together towards the campus.


    Chatting along the way.


    "Your younger brother is still in his second year of high school, right? Has he considered applying to Maple University in the future?"


    "Does your brother have a girlfriend? Does he prefer someone younger or older?"


    "Your brother practices martial arts, right? Wanwan was bragging to us that you made the news..."


    The female university students continued chatting while sneakily taking out their phones to communicate in their private group of three.


    [Although he looks rather ordinary, there''s something inexplicably charming about his smile... So weird.]


    [It''s a bit subtle, but he''s definitely a top-notch handsome guy.]


    [If there''s a chance, we shouldn''t let it slip!]


    Miao Miao, sitting on Xue Jing''s shoulder, glanced at them, a hint of a mocking smile curling on her lips.


    After wandering around for a while, Xue Wan said,


    "Oh right, let''s go check out the Martial Arts Club. Our Maple University''s Martial Arts Club is quite famous."


    Zhao Lu''s eyes lit up, and she added, "Maple University''s Martial Arts Club often participates in the Outer Ring collegiate league, and they''ve won quite a few championships."


    "Why don''t you go take a look, Jing? Maybe you''ll be interested in Maple University after the visit."


    Xue Jing was primarily there to chat with his sister, so he was indifferent about the location. He nodded and said, "Sure, let''s go take a look."


    ...


    Maple City University Martial Arts Club, inside a spacious venue.


    Dozens of male and female university students, wearing training garments, were busy with club activities on the plastic floor.


    Some were sparring, some were exercising with equipment, and some were giving or receiving guidance.


    A tall man, nearly two meters tall with a muscular build and short hair, was personally teaching a younger club member.


    "No, don''t lift your foot so high. Feet are the foundation of the body, and any technique involving the feet must be cautious. Losing balance is a fatal mistake for a martial artist..."


    At that moment, someone rushed into the venue through the entrance.


    "Feng, Feng!"


    The person approached the man known as Feng, panting heavily.


    Feng calmly said, "What''s the hurry? Take it slow."


    The man nodded, took a few deep breaths, and then said, "Goddess Xue, Goddess Xue is here!"


    Upon hearing this, Feng''s eyes widened slightly, but he just frowned and said, "Just passing by, right?"


    The man shook his head quickly, "No, she''s really coming here, heading straight to our club with Zhao Lu and the other two, and there''s a guy with them!"


    Feng narrowed his eyes.


    "Oh right, I took a good look at that guy, and he looks a lot like Goddess Xue. Must be her brother?"


    The man added.


    Feng, hearing this, smacked the back of the man''s head and scolded, "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    It''s good if it''s the brother...


    The man, holding the back of his head, said in an aggrieved tone, "Can''t I catch my breath?"


    Feng ignored his complaint and said, "Be smart later, Wan... Xue Wan must be bringing her brother here to visit our Martial Arts Club."


    "I''ll greet them. We need to make a good impression on our little uncle... on her brother."


    ...


    As they got closer to the Martial Arts Club venue, Xue Wan suddenly turned to Xue Jing and said,


    "Oh, Jing."


    Xue Jing looked at her, puzzled, "Hmm?"


    Xue Wan smiled and said,


    "The president of the Martial Arts Club will probably want to give you some guidance."


    "Just agree to it, and then... you can be a bit harsher in your response."


    Xue Jing adjusted his glasses, which reflected the light, "Why?"


    Zhao Lu casually said, "What else? It''s just that thing... that guy is quite annoying. Wanwan has already made it clear she''s not interested, but he won''t give up."


    "But his martial arts skills are really strong. He even participated in the U19 last year. Brother Jing... any problems?"


    She said, somewhat worried.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "I should be a bit stronger than him."


    ...


    (Don''t scold, don''t scold, I''ll try to write a bit more...)

 Chapter 183: Chapter 126: Crazy, Cool, and Dazzling, What Kind of Champion Are You? Acting Lv1

    "That guy is pretty arrogant. He once got drunk at the male dormitory and publicly declared that Wanwan was his. Once he saw Wanwan chatting and laughing with a male classmate, he threatened the guy not to speak with Wanwan anymore.""He is skilled in martial arts and everyone at the school fears him. Now, almost no man dares to approach Wanwan."


    Zhao Lu listed the Martial Arts Club president''s wrongdoings. After hearing this, Xue Jing shook his head and sighed, "This guy really has no taste."


    Xue Wan raised an eyebrow, reached out with her slender hand to pinch his waist, and threatened,


    "What are you saying?"


    Xue Jing spread his hands, "Nothing."


    As the group talked, they walked into the Martial Arts Club venue. A male college student dressed in a training garment immediately lit up and came over, smiling,


    "Hey, Goddess Xue is here, welcome, welcome!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing looked at his sister, gave an ''uh'' sound, "Goddess?"


    Feeling embarrassed by her brother hearing this nickname, Xue Wan''s face turned slightly red, but she quickly justified herself with confidence, "What, is there a problem?"


    The short-haired girl wearing glasses, Wei Juan, laughed, "Wanwan is quite famous at Maple University, right? ''The most beautiful school flower of the decade''?"


    As she said this, she turned to tease Xue Wan.


    Xue Wan: "..."


    Xue Jing looked at Xue Wan and said with a teasing smile, "It seems they have quite a big misunderstanding about you, Goddess."


    Xue Wan glared at him, "You talk less."


    Then she cleared her throat and said to the male college student, "My brother is just visiting Maple City, and he''s practiced a bit of martial arts, so I brought him to see our Maple University Martial Arts Club... You''re not going to be unwelcoming, are you?"


    The male college student said exaggeratedly, "How could that be, very welcome! If Goddess Xue''s brother wants to come here and be the president, Feng would definitely step down immediately to offer his place."


    Xue Wan just smiled lightly and asked, "Where''s your president?"


    The male college student pointed to a tall man not far inside the venue, "Over there, teaching the new members. Chen is just too serious sometimes, might be a bit clueless about other''s feelings. Goddess Xue rarely visits our Martial Arts Club, and he doesn''t even come over to greet..."


    The man, dressed in a training garment, was earnestly instructing a club member on how to stand in a stance. He seemed very serious, but from time to time, he couldn''t resist sneaking glances at Xue Wan.


    Zhao Lu found it somewhat amusing and shook her head, "All for show..."


    "Let''s go over there," said Xue Wan.


    ...


    "Right, your feet need to be placed above your hands, your hands above your hands, and your butt over your head..."


    While sneaking glances at Xue Wan, Feng muttered to himself, not even realizing what he was saying.


    "Huh? Feng, I didn''t quite catch that, could you repeat it?" asked the confused junior he was instructing.


    Catching a glimpse of Xue Wan and company approaching in his peripheral vision, Feng suppressed his excitement and seriously said to the junior, "If you didn''t understand, it means you haven''t been diligent enough. Have you not been paying attention in Teacher Zhang''s classes?"


    The junior: "Huh?"


    By this time, Xue Wan was already close by.


    Today she was dressed sweetly, wearing a white lace blouse with semi-transparent long sleeves on both sides and a black pleated skirt covering half of her thighs, paired with a pair of little white shoes, revealing her sculpted, slender legs. She looked both sexy and sweet.


    Her waist-length, slightly curled black hair hung down naturally, smooth like a cascading waterfall. Without even a touch of makeup, her beautiful face carried a half-smiling expression. Merely by walking beside Feng, she instantly sent his thoughts into a whirlwind.


    Even though there was a distance between them, just the sight of her caused Feng to hallucinate, as if he could already smell her enticing fragrance, and his eyes betrayed a look of intoxication.


    "Senior Chen, instructing the juniors, I see?" Xue Wan asked with a light laugh.


    Chen Feng cleared his throat and tried to appear calm as he waved his hand at the junior, saying,


    "You go practice by yourself over there."


    There was no response.


    The junior was still staring blankly at Xue Wan.


    Chen Feng''s brows furrowed, and he suppressed the anger in his heart, giving a light slap to the back of the junior''s head.


    "Aren''t you going yet?"


    The junior snapped back to reality, hurriedly answered "Yes," and ran off to the side.


    "Wanwan, do you need something from me?" Chen Feng asked, feigning a tender voice that was deliberately deep, even trailing off with a pop.


    Standing behind Xue Wan, Zhao Lu seemed unable to tolerate this act, immediately covering her mouth to prevent herself from laughing out loud.


    "Senior Chen, I''ve told you not to call me ''Wanwan,''" Xue Wan said, furrowing her long, slender eyebrows.


    Chen Feng responded gently, "If you don''t like it, I won''t say it, don''t be angry, okay?"


    Xue Wan clicked her tongue and rubbed her right arm, which was getting goosebumps, as she said,


    "¡­Never mind, let me introduce you, this is my brother Xue Jing."


    Chen Feng''s gaze shifted to Xue Jing, his tone cordial, "Oh? So you''re Wanwan''s brother. I''m Chen Feng, you can call me Brother Chen Feng¡­"


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    Xue Wan gave him a look, her eyes twinkling with amusement, "Senior Chen, my brother recently started practicing martial arts too, and it seems he has quite a talent. He''s developed some skills, but lately, he''s become more and more arrogant, thinking he''s above everyone else¡­ I want to teach him that there are skies beyond skies, and people beyond people."


    "Senior Chen, could you do me a favor and teach him a lesson?"


    Chen Feng was taken aback, "This¡­"


    Xue Wan sighed, "The person I worry about most in my life is my brother, but now that he''s grown up, I can''t control him anymore. So I''ve decided that I need to find a boyfriend who can keep him in line."


    Chen Feng straightened up, crossed his arms, and said solemnly, "Wanwan, you don''t have to say more, I understand your intentions. I cannot shirk this responsibility."


    Xue Wan''s lips twitched, "¡­As long as you understand. But conversely, someone who can''t even beat or handle my brother, I would never consider. I hope you get that clear."


    Xue Jing cooperated very well, putting on a disdainful and cocky expression, looking down his nose as he said,


    "Sis, why bother with all the talk? Let''s just get started. No one from your pathetic Martial Arts Club looks capable of fighting."


    Chen Feng shook his head, chuckling, "Xue, you must be new to martial arts, so you haven''t heard of me¡ªlast year''s champion of the Southern Colleges Tournament¡ª"


    Before he could finish, his vision suddenly blurred.


    "Bang¡ª"


    A lean palm, moving at a speed he couldn''t comprehend, grabbed his throat, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him down.


    The rubberized floor bore the imprint of a human figure from the impact.


    The entire Martial Arts Club hall fell silent at this unexpected turn of events.


    Chen Feng was still lying on the ground, not yet recovered, when a foot stepped on his chest.


    The cool and disdainful voice reached his ears.


    "Ah? What champion were you?"


    Xue Jing said with utter scorn.


    [Condition fulfilled, skill activated: Acting]


    ¡­

 Chapter 189: Chapter 130: Harvest, New Divine Skill—Plant Pact! Reliable Youqing A Dream (4K)

    Countless roots around were visibly withering at a noticeable speed.Xue Jing took a step forward, walking toward the black-robed woman bound into a bundle by the Shadowflame Steel Barrier, the black semi-transparent giant wrapped around his body slowly dissipated into shadow flames as he advanced.


    The name was Nagu... some sort of plant that was gradually withering, no longer absorbing oxygen, and the thin oxygen density around was immediately replenished by the outside world, becoming abundant again.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, feeling his body revitalizing, and whispered, "Fortunately, I won."


    The situation was quite dire this time.


    He had indeed never really considered, someday facing a situation where oxygen was limited and he couldn''t use his power.


    "Even if the martial arts sect you practice is all-powerful, it cannot escape the framework of the system and cannot rid itself of the limitations of martial arts itself," he reflected.


    "Unless one reaches the breakthrough realm of ''Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, Turning Celestial,'' where consciousness and spirit themselves can control any minute part of the body, then it''s possible to escape oxygen limitations and use the power without the need for oxygen..."


    "Before that, I indeed need to be cautious whether the enemy possesses the ability to interfere with oxygen."


    He looked at the black-robed woman lying on the ground in a baby-like sleep and smiled, "Should I say that cleverness was mistaken by cleverness?"


    Using roots of otherworld plants that absorb oxygen to deal with him would indeed be a killing move if he were just a martial artist.


    However, the opponent couldn''t possibly imagine that he also possessed a divine skill like ''Shadow Flame.''


    The countless roots, although absorbing oxygen, also blocked the sunlight, creating a vast area of shade, which in turn provided him with the perfect environment to use Shadow Flame.


    The larger the area of shade around, the more Shadow Flame he could convert, and the smaller the consumption.


    Were it not for such a vast area of shade, he could not have used it so recklessly, even employing the bizarre move ''Susanoo,'' creating a giant made of the strongest Shadow Flame.


    "Fair to say, this move is pretty useful," Xue Jing touched his chin.


    As long as the Shadow Flame budget allows, this move is the strongest use of Shadow Flame right now.


    "Big is good, plentiful is beautiful!"


    Operating a Gundam was too joyful.


    Although he couldn''t operate a big one yet, with the upgrades of Shadow Flame, one day he would operate a real Gundam.


    Xue Jing silently raised the usage priority of Shadow Flame''s divinity by one notch.


    He opened the panel and took a look.


    [...Fitness Experience Points +611]


    [...Health Cultivation Experience Value +1539]


    [...Running Experience Value +315]


    [...Aiming Experience Value +458]


    [...Fighting Experience Points +512]


    [...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +433]


    [...Visualization True Experience Value +422]


    [...Acting Experience Points +498]


    [Acting raised to Lv2 (267/500)]


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Although it wasn''t a fight to the death, the Experience Points gained were quite good.


    After all, he was facing an opponent whose combat power was quite formidable, the strongest he had actually fought so far.


    As he didn''t win through martial arts, the martial arts-related Experience Points gained were slightly less, but still pretty good.


    The gain in Health Cultivation Experience Value was a bit outrageous...


    [Health Cultivation Lv7 (4486/4500)]


    Just a bit shy of leveling up directly.


    "The secret to longevity and health cultivation for men¡ªoperating a Gundam."


    Smiling, Xue Jing crouched down in front of the fallen black-robed woman, a thoughtful look in his eyes:


    "What should I do with her?"


    Just kill her?


    That would be unnecessary, as the woman had no intent to kill him, just wanted him to join her religion, although forcefully which was quite annoying.


    But letting her go just like that was obviously not an option.


    "She was instructed by the high ranks of the Flower God Society to find me, at the very least, I need to figure out why the Flower God Society is targeting me."


    Xue Jing considered several possibilities internally.


    "Speaking of which, this person is a Blessed One..."


    Blessed Ones are those blessed by gods, who have obtained Heretic God powers.


    Having such a direct connection with a god, there has to be something divine, right?


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up as he looked over the black-robed woman.


    Then he reached out, touching her mature and beautiful face. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His fingers touched the eyelid of her left eye, forcibly pulling it open to reveal the colorful iris.


    At the end of the fight, Xue Jing had seen the black-robed woman reaching toward this iris, seemingly about to do something.


    If there was anything likely to have divinity on her body, Xue Jing immediately thought of this.


    With the eyelid pulled open, and because she was unconscious, the colorful eye looked unfocused and empty.


    Without any hesitation or psychological barrier, Xue Jing''s finger pressed directly on the colorful pupil.


    "Gurgle¡ª"


    A slippery sensation was transmitted, and at the same time, the panel automatically popped up.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    Indeed! Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He opened the panel.


    The divinity value started to rise rapidly, several points per second.


    "It seems the gain will be quite good¡ªwait, this!?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes suddenly widened slightly.


    He saw, in the divine skills section, under [Twin Lifes][Shadow Flame], strands of pale golden light continuously emerging, flowing out, and gathering together.


    This phenomenon, he had encountered it twice before.


    "A new divine skill!?"


    Xue Jing was astonished.


    Years had passed... over a month, and finally, a new divine skill was about to activate?


    Considering the strong performance of Twin Lifes and Shadow Flame, Xue Jing, since activating [Visualize], rarely found himself restless and unable to control his emotions.

 Chapter 190: Chapter 130: Harvest, New Divine Skill - Plant Pact! Reliable Youqing A Dream (4K)_2

    He took a deep breath, his powerful mental and emotional control suppressing the excitement and restoring his calm.Yet, his eyes still could hardly hide the joy.


    "I didn''t expect such an unexpected gain... You''ve arrived at the perfect time!" His gaze toward the robed woman in front of him softened a great deal.


    What a Wealth-bringing Child!


    At this moment, perhaps because her eyeball was directly touched, making her uncomfortable, the eyelid of the robed woman''s other eye twitched slightly, and she woke from her coma.


    She opened her eyes, realizing that Xue Jing seemed to be doing something to her "Stigmata," she panicked and said:


    "What are you doing to me!?"


    She immediately struggled, and although her body was bound by steel rails made of Shadow Flame, turning her head was not a difficult task; she managed to avoid Xue Jing''s fingers.


    [Contact separation, Divine Absorption failed]


    Seeing this, Xue Jing frowned and showed no mercy as he slapped her across the face.


    "Slap¡ª"


    "Behave yourself."


    On the robed woman''s beautiful, mature, and fair face, a vivid handprint appeared immediately, the Power invading and vibrating her jawbone, causing her brain to shake inside her skull, and she passed out again.


    "Why does this feel so strange..."


    Xue Jing''s expression was odd, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.


    It was as if he was doing something bad...


    When in fact, he was merely rightfully claiming his compensation after being provoked.


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing continued to lift the eyelid of the robed woman, touching the colorful eyeball with his fingers.


    As time slowly passed, the countless roots around them had withered into black hemp stalks, which then shattered, scattering into traceless black ash.


    Only the messy concrete ground remained, strewn with broken holes everywhere.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    "Finally..."


    Xue Jing exhaled and opened the panel.


    In the Divine Skill slot, beneath Twin Lifes and Shadow Flame, a brand-new skill appeared.


    [Plant Pact (Unactivated): Divine Skill, Divinity needed for activation 518/500]


    [Condition satisfied, activate?]


    [Yes/No]


    "Plant Pact? Is it a wood-element skill?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He seemed to have caught onto a pattern in the activation of Divine Skills.


    The master of Thousand Red and Ten Thousand Glamorous was clearly related to flowers and trees, hence a plant-related Divine Skill was activated from its Blessed One?


    Twin Lifes was activated from the Cat Tail Ring, Shadow Flame from the Crown of the Wicked Woman... Are these two Skills somehow related to the two Divine Relics in a way he didn''t know?


    A hint of doubt surfaced in Xue Jing''s mind, but he shook his head shortly after.


    He clicked [Yes], activating the Plant Pact.


    [Activation successful]


    [Plant Pact Lv1 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 19/100)]


    [Effect: After signing a pact with a plant, one can control that plant]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock conditions: Divinity 19/2000, reach Lv10)] Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...A simple introduction in line with Shadow Flame.


    But any Divine Skill was bound to be extremely powerful.


    Just like Shadow Flame, as its level increased and it developed, it went from initially unremarkable to incredibly powerful.


    Xue Jing wanted to test the effects, but looking around, he found no plants nearby.


    "I''ll deal with this matter first."


    Xue Jing stood up, looking at the unconscious robed woman, his eyes reflecting contemplation.


    Although the robed woman had said she had sprinkled around a kind of Otherworld plant pollen that made people ''not want to come close'', which is why no one had approached for so long.


    But this pollen obviously couldn''t last forever, and this place was, after all, the entrance of Maple City University with a high volume of people; such an abnormal situation would probably soon attract the attention of official departments.


    Xue Jing was somewhat unsure of what to do now.


    He had just absorbed a wave of her Divinity and activated a Divine Skill, it wouldn''t be right to kill her and erase all traces of the deed.


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing took out his cellphone from his pocket.


    When in doubt, consult Youqing!


    Opening his contacts list and finding the note for the rich and domineering lady, Xue Jing made the call.


    He didn''t have to wait too long; after a few rings, the call was picked up.


    "What''s up?" Wu Youqing''s serene and lovely voice came through the receiver.


    "Youqing A Dream, only you can help me¡­"


    "Heh." Wu Youqing seemed to laugh on the other end of the line.


    "What''s it this time, Daxiong."


    Since his joke had been caught on, Xue Jing couldn''t help but chuckle, then he said:


    "It''s like this¡­"


    He recounted what had just happened¡ªhow he was approached by a Blessed One from the Flower God Society, refused their proselytism, and then defeated them, merely omitting the Shadow Flame.


    Actually, at this point, Xue Jing didn''t think he could keep his remarkable ability to use Shadow Flame a secret any longer.


    He guessed it must have been captured by the surrounding cameras.


    But for the moment, he didn''t know what excuse to use to explain it to Wu Youqing, so he chose to remain silent.


    "I see¡­" Wu Youqing''s voice was faint, as if she was contemplating.


    After a pause, she continued, "I originally thought you just had a physical constitution ''that easily attracts Divine Relics,'' but now it seems what you attract is not limited to Divine Relics."


    "Do you have any clue why you always seem to be sought out by these incidents?"


    Xue Jing was somewhat speechless.


    Why was there another person teasing him? Did he really possess a Sacred Body that naturally attracted trouble?


    He didn''t believe it; it was just a coincidence.


    "The person received orders from above, seeking me out with a specific purpose, not on a whim because they thought I looked nice and decided to forcibly recruit me," Xue Jing said.


    Wu Youqing''s voice carried a hint of amusement: "Just admit whether you''ve encountered any incidents or not."


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    Putting the teasing aside, Wu Youqing pondered for a moment before saying, "Flower God Society¡­ Alright, for now, take her back and keep her confined in the hotel."


    Xue Jing asked, "Can she be contained?"


    After all, this was a Blessed One skilled in magic.


    Although he had absorbed some of her Divinity, judging by what happened when the Divine Relic and Miao Miao had their Divinity absorbed by him and nothing happened, this robed woman probably wouldn''t be affected either.


    "There is definitely a part of her body that is different from ordinary people. Take a look," Wu Youqing instructed.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "There is something¡ªher left eye is strange, it''s multicolored."


    Wu Youqing hummed in acknowledgment, "That''s the ''Stigmata,'' the source of the Blessed One''s power."


    "After successfully receiving a Heretic God''s blessing, a part of their body will mutate, obtaining characteristics similar to the Heretic God they worship; this is called the ''Stigmata.''"


    "Her ''Stigmata'' is the left eye, right? Then gouge out her left eye," Wu Youqing said calmly.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly at the ruthlessness.


    Yet, without hesitation, he immediately crouched down, reached for the robed woman''s left eye, and pried it open.


    Then with his thumb and forefinger squeezing the upper and lower eyelids, he channeled Power deep into her eye socket, severing all the nerve endings connecting to the eyeball.


    With a dig of his fingers and a pop, he effortlessly removed the colorful, speckled eyeball.


    He wasn''t sure if it was because of the hard slap he had delivered earlier, but even with her eye being gouged out, the robed woman did not wake up.


    "I''ve removed it."


    "Good, now she can''t use the Heretic God''s power anymore," Wu Youqing said.


    "The Blessed Ones of the Flower God Society rarely have abilities related to physical enhancement. Once the Stigmata is removed, they''re basically ordinary people. Just tie her up with a rope and that should be enough."


    "Take her back to the hotel and keep her confined. I''ll speak with Maple City''s officials and the hotel about it," Wu Youqing said.


    "Then I''ll contact the Flower God Society to find out why they came to recruit you."


    "Once I have clear answers, we''ll consider how to deal with this person," she concluded with a clear and straightforward plan.


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but say, "Impressive as always, BOSS. You even have connections with the Heretical God Cult; is there anything you don''t know or can''t do?"


    "I just happen to know some things, and I can happen to help you, that''s all," replied Wu Youqing casually.


    After chatting a little while longer, Xue Jing hung up the call.


    He wiped the somewhat viscous fluid off the eyeball and slipped it into his pocket.


    According to Wu Youqing, the ''Stigmata'' has a certain level of immortality; it won''t rot or easily get damaged, so he didn''t need to worry about how to preserve it.


    Then, lifting the robed woman like carrying a sack, he leapt up and navigated through the crisscrossed buildings, heading towards the hotel.


    ...

 Chapter 192: Chapter 132: Interrogation, Near Gods Domain, Mutative Disease, Tree-man Syndrome (4K)

    Was the surgery successful?Qin blinked, her consciousness gradually becoming clear, and finally realized that something was off with her field of vision.


    There was also a faint tugging pain coming from her left eye.


    "What... what have you done to me!?" she exclaimed in both anger and fear, instinctively trying to use the power of the Heretic God...


    But the ''Stigmata'' did not respond to her at all.


    "Looking for this?"


    The handsome young man across her casually placed a bowl on the table and pulled a colorful, round gem from his pocket.


    No, that was an eye.


    That was my fucking eye! My Stigmata!


    "Give it back!" Qin demanded angrily.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Lady, you seem to have not quite grasped your current situation."


    He tossed the eyeball onto the table, and it bounced high into the air, smacking the ceiling before falling back down, where Xue Jing caught it.


    "Oh? Quite bouncy."


    Xue Jing held the eyeball in his hand, spinning it with his index finger like a basketball, his voice laced with mirth as he said:


    "Hey, if you were to casually toss this outside, it would probably bounce away and vanish, impossible to find. You can''t be careless with this."


    Qin''s mouth twitched:


    "You... don''t mess around, let''s talk this over properly."


    Xue Jing hummed a sound of acknowledgment, "Then let''s have a proper talk."


    While tossing the colorful eyeball, he said:


    "From now on, nothing you say will be admissible in court, nor do you have the right to remain silent, and whether you are lying or not, if I think you''re lying, I will boil this little thing, got it?"


    Qin sighed as if giving up, "I give up, just ask whatever you need to."


    Xue Jing''s voice was devoid of any inflection, "You''re cooperative... Is this eyeball that important to you?"


    "Not that important..." Qin started defiantly, but seeing Xue Jing''s narrowed eyes, she quickly corrected herself, "It is... quite important. This is a ''Stigmata'' of the Blessed One; if it were lost, even the gentle Merciful Mother would be upset..."


    Xue Jing uttered an indifferent oh, stood up, walked over to a small table, and pressed the start button on the electric kettle placed there.


    The kettle began making the noise of boiling water, and Qin blinked and added:


    "... or rather, she would be very angry. Generally speaking, unless the Merciful Mother is very fond of this Blessed One, it''s unlikely that a second divine grace would be bestowed to grant another Stigmata."


    After a hesitation, she continued uncertainly:


    "Though, it''s hard to say whether the Merciful Mother is really angry... We only roughly gauge Her mood from Her reactions, and thinking She would be angry might just be wishful thinking on our part, humans can''t truly understand the divine."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "Second question, who assigned you to find me, and why?"


    Qin did not hesitate, "It was the professor, Professor L¨¹ sent me."


    "Professor L¨¹ of the Horticulture Institute at Maple City University, your sister Xue Wan''s mentor."


    "She is a priest of the Flower God Society''s Maple City branch, the person in charge, everything was arranged by her, I''m just a tool executing tasks!"


    Qin swiftly sold out the person behind the scenes.


    Upon hearing his sister''s name, Xue Jing frowned, his expression turning serious, and asked:


    "Why? Does it have to do with my sister?"


    "Your sister, like me, is a Blessed One favored by the Lord of Thousand Red and Ten Thousand Glamorous, and it was Professor L¨¹ who personally conducted the blessing ceremony for her." Qin said.


    Xue Jing slightly squinted, "When did this happen?"


    Qin answered without hesitation, "It should be in the last couple of months... I also met your sister about a month ago during a routine gathering, that was the first time Professor L¨¹ brought her in front of us."


    Xue Jing recalled, the timing pretty much matched when his mother, Nan Jiayu, felt something was off about Xue Wan.


    Should I say ''like mother, like son''?


    "Your sister, she has good qualifications."


    Qin said, then feeling it insufficient, added seriously, "Very good."


    Xue Jing remained silent, his gaze prompting her to continue.


    "The so-called qualifications of a Blessed One are ''the degree to which they are favored by deities.''"


    "Your sister is one of the rare individuals who triggered the ''Dream Medium'' during the blessing ceremony."


    "The ''Dream Medium'' is the only mean of communication between us and the otherworldly Heretic God, specifically speaking, it''s like dreaming, where the Heretic God speaks to the Blessed One in dreams."


    "Of course, to say it talks isn''t quite accurate, the expression methods of Heretic Gods are very abstract, like your sister''s own description, she only went to a place in her dream where endless seas of flowers spread, each flower speaking in words she couldn''t understand, terribly noisy." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Those who can trigger the Dream Medium are called ''Divine Children'', meaning those deeply loved by deities and able to communicate with them, ranking above ordinary Blessed Ones."


    Qin uncomfortably shifted her bound hands and feet, but the steel wire rope was tied too tightly, restricting her movements. She sighed and continued:


    "Your sister, with such rare qualifications, has a promising future, as long as she is not mutated, it is possible for her to reach ''Near God''s Domain''..."


    Xue Jing calmly asked, "Mutation?"


    Qin tilted her head, "You don''t even know this... Well, you''re not a Blessed One, that strange Dark Flame power must come from some Divine Relic, right?"


    Xue Jing remained silent... In a way, she had guessed correctly.

 Chapter 208: Chapter 139: Life Force Accelerates Growth, The Suspicious Mr. An

    The next afternoon.


    Xue Jing was practicing the daily Coiling Dragon Art and Armor Shaking Skill in the gym.


    Among the Five Major Practices-corresponding to skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood-he was today working on the Armor Shaking Skill for ''Bone Training,'' which also corresponded to ''Kidney Training'' among the five organs. Strong kidneys lead to full bones, and vice versa.


    Since the practice of the Armor Shaking Skill puts a great strain on the body, Xue Jing had to alternate it daily, practicing only one set of movements per day to allow ample rest and recovery time for his body.


    Previously, Xue Jing had always done this, but today was different.


    His lengthy breaths slowly steadied, and Xue Jing''s whole skeleton continued to tremble violently, emitting a rumbling thunderous sound.


    From an introspective view, his kidneys were constantly expanding and contracting, each time squeezing out some dark turbid substance, which was then swept away by the torrent of blood.


    With each expulsion of the turbid substances, the kidneys imperceptibly became stronger, and their surfaces more crystalline and translucent, giving them a clean appearance.


    After a complete set of the Armor Shaking Skill for Bone and Kidney Training, his body was very tired, bearing various degrees of injury in different places.


    Martial Arts Practice emphasizes moderation; it was now necessary to stop and rest until the body had recovered tomorrow before continuing.


    However, Xue Jing had a thought.


    From the introspective view, a quietly burning flame inside his body manifested his robust life force.


    His strong and influential spiritual power began to interfere with the life force inside him, forcibly mobilizing it.


    The Life Fire began to burn fiercely and surged towards various injuries incurred from practicing the Armor Shaking Skill.


    In just over ten seconds, all the injuries healed completely, and his body was fully restored.


    He then continued to practice the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Not until he had practiced it thoroughly once more and his whole skeleton emitted continuous rumbling thunderous sounds did Xue Jing stop.


    He did not continue to force life force to rapidly heal the injuries, but instead picked up a Nebulizer Inhaler, already filled with liquified Dragon Thunder Powder, placed it on his face, and turned it on.


    He operated the breathing skills, inhaling Dragon Thunder Powder vaporized into golden mist into his lungs, to be transported to the kidneys and throughout the body by the blood.


    It wasn''t until the liquified Dragon Thunder Powder was depleted that Xue Jing took off the Nebulizer Inhaler and opened the panel to have a look.


    [You have practiced the Armor Shaking Skill once, Fitness Experience Points +351]


    [¡­ Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +333]


    [¡­ Fitness Experience Points +359]


    [¡­ Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +349]


    [You have taken a kidney-nourishing medicine, Health Cultivation Experience Value +221]


    After introspecting the burning situation of his life force within, Xue Jing opened his eyes.


    "Health Cultivation Lv8 brings robust life force that allows me to forcefully repair my body''s injuries, practicing the Armor Shaking Skill twice a day."


    "This way, the guaranteed increase in my daily Fitness and Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points has doubled, reaching seven hundred points... and the progress on the Five Major Practices that the panel does not show has also doubled."


    Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    His growth rate was accelerating.


    If life force itself didn''t also need time to recover, he could even continue to practice crazily all day, immediately forcing life force to heal injuries once done.


    But that would be a forced overdraft, and there would come a time when his life force couldn''t keep up.


    Nowadays, activating his life force once a day to heal injuries and practicing the Armor Shaking Skill twice, with the life force itself completely recovering the next day, maintained a just-right balance of inflow and outflow.


    As he advanced to higher levels of Health Cultivation in the future, his life force would grow even stronger, and soon he might be able to train three, four, or even five times a day...


    "A day''s routine gains would be several thousand experience points, wouldn''t that rocket one to the sky?"


    Xue Jing stood up and left the gym, walking into the living room.


    Ning Fengwan, in her cat-eared maiden form, was sprawled on the couch, playing with Xue Jing''s phone.


    Beneath her denim shorts were two slender, jade-like legs kicking alternately, with a tail atop her perky buttocks swaying leisurely from side to side.


    Seeing Xue Jing come out of the gym, Ning Fengwan flipped over and sat up in a duck-sitting position, handing the phone to Xue Jing and saying,


    "Jing, look at this."


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing walked over to her, took the phone, and glanced at it.


    The screen displayed a chat page, one he had seen before.


    It was the ''Inside World'' forum page, which he had glimpsed when he used screen recording software to spy on Miao Miao''s computer activities.


    [def3y64b: Sect Hierarch, are you in Maple City right now?]


    [def3y64b: I have urgent business with you. Let''s meet.]


    The chat history had only these two messages, and Ning Fengwan hadn''t responded. The messages were sent last night at eleven.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and asked, "Who is this?"


    Ning Fengwan crossed her arms over her chest, pushing up her bust contemplatively, "It should be Mr. An."


    "Only Yun Qin, that little girl, knows about my account on the Inside World forum, and she''s currently with Mr. An. This is a new account, created a few days ago, yet it knows who I am. It must undoubtedly be Mr. An."


    "But why didn''t he let Yun Qin contact me, instead opting to create an account himself?"


    Xue Jing sat down on the couch, casually asking, "How does he know you''re in Maple City?"


    Ning Fengwan shook her head, "I didn''t tell him¡­ Maybe he saw the news about your competition in Maple City and guessed I might have come with you?"


    Xue Jing placed his hand on his thigh, tapping lightly with his index finger as he thought for a while before saying,


    "Sounds a bit suspicious. Let''s ignore him for now."


    "However, the Dragon Cult headquarters is somewhat troublesome, and Mr. An has been wanting you to go there for the bestowal ceremony. We have to deal with this eventually."


    "Let''s leave him hanging for now. I''m leaving for the Intersecting Boundaries the day after tomorrow after the competition. We can talk about this when I return."


    Ning Fengwan nodded at first, then whispered, "¡­I''m a bit worried about Yun Qin; it''s been a few days since she last contacted me."


    Yun Qin was a follower specifically assigned to take care of her after she was chosen as the Dragon Cult''s heir, much like an ancient lady''s maidservant.


    Hardworking and loyal, she was one of the few people Ning Fengwan cared about within the Dragon Cult.


    Xue Jing was aware of this and, after a moment''s thought, said softly, "You use the Inside World forum to ask Mr. An about Yun Qin''s situation. If you can''t get anything, then we''ll go meet him." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing this, Ning Fengwan hesitated before shaking her head,


    "If she''s fine, there''s no need to contact her. If something has happened, then contacting now would be too late."


    "We have many enemies; we must be cautious. Mr. An seems a bit suspicious, so it''s better not to meet him for the time being."


    As Xue Jing was about to speak, a knocking sound came from outside the door.


    "Thud, thud¡ª"


    ¡­


    (There''s another 4K chapter tonight. I''m too sleepy now, going to sleep¡­)

 Chapter 212: Chapter 143: Huh, I Hit Xue Jing? For Real...Sorry, Im in a Hurry (4K)

    "Dragon and Tiger Strike Together! It''s Dragon and Tiger Strike Together! Until now, he''s been using only the ''White Tiger Form'' against his opponents, making everyone think he specializes in the White Tiger Form. Unexpectedly, Ji Huaiyu is also proficient in the ''Azure Dragon Form,'' and his skill in it is by no means inferior to the White Tiger Form.


    He''s reached the level where he can execute Dragon and Tiger Strike Together!"


    "Down he goes! Si Liyuan has fallen! As expected of the renowned Martial Arts World''s Four Elements move, under Dragon and Tiger Strike Together, no one can withstand the power of the dragon''s bite and the tiger''s pounce. It''s a pity for competitor Si Liyuan..."


    In the competitors'' lounge, watching the screen and listening to the commentary resounding in his ears, Xue Jing nodded.


    "The Four Symbols Shadowy Spirit School is somewhat interesting."


    The Four Symbols Shadowy Spirit School that Ji Huaiyu had cultivated was a school with similarities to the Hidden Dragon School, also one that practiced ''Shape Imitation'' by Meditative Visualization of powerful creatures.


    However, unlike Hidden Dragon School''s principle of ''Both Body and Mind as Dragon,'' the Four Symbols Shadowy Spirit School emphasized spirit over body and did not have the Hidden Dragon School''s domineering intent of transforming oneself into a dragon with ''Hidden Dragon in the Body, Nourishing Dragon in the Heart.'' Instead, it held the Four Elements Divine Beasts in high regard, worshipping them within one''s heart, borrowing the power of the ''spirit within the heart'' when making a move.


    In fact, to be precise, it''s not so much ''Shape Imitation'' as it is ''Divine Striking.''


    "Ji Huaiyu... this person is one of the most eye-catching genius competitors from the Outer Ring this year and has even attracted the attention of the top clubs from the Inner Ring, with the intention of bringing him into their circle."


    Jiang Siwei, sitting beside him with a notebook, was writing something in it while speaking.


    "There are even rumors that the Secret Martial Society had approached him too."


    Xue Jing looked at her, puzzled: "The Secret Martial Society?"


    Jiang Siwei: "You don''t know? Hmm... It''s a very famous yet mysterious organization within the martial arts circle, just like the ''Skull Club'' or ''Mutual Aid Society.''"


    "Rumor has it that the Secret Martial Society was established by a major figure currently living in Cangting for a certain purpose when he was young."


    "Although that major figure has since distanced himself from the Secret Martial Society, the organization has been preserved and passed down to the present day."


    "What the Secret Martial Society actually is and its purpose are unknown to anyone except its members. It''s very mysterious, but those contacted and absorbed by the Secret Martial Society are without exception martial artists of exceptional talent and potential."


    Jiang Siwei whispered: "Although it''s not very credible, there are rumors that this organization possesses the power to overturn nations."


    Xue Jing noncommittally: "Hmm...sounds pretty impressive."


    Jiang Siwei looked at her ladies'' watch on her wrist and reminded him: "Little Jing, there are fifteen minutes left in the halftime break before it''s your turn to go on stage."


    Xue Jing picked up his phone to check the time as well.


    [16:39]


    Twenty-one minutes until five o''clock in the afternoon.


    "Hmm...should be enough time."


    Xue Jing put away his phone and picked up the Crouching Rabbit Sword next to him.


    "By the way, who am I fighting again?" he wondered aloud. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Siwei smiled wryly: "You''ve really paid no attention to your opponent... It''s Gu Hongding from Kunqing Club, a very rare ''Battlefield Faction'' Martial Artist."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "What''s that?"


    Jiang Siwei explained: "In simple terms, it means using any means necessary... You''ll understand when you see him."


    Soon, a call from the staff echoed from outside the door.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, Competitor Xue Jing, please get ready for your performance!"


    Xue Jing wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but this time, the staff''s voice sounded much more cautious and respectful than on the day of his first appearance.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I''m off then, Wei."


    Jiang Siwei smiled: "Go on, may your martial fortune prosper~"


    ...


    In another competitor''s rest room.


    "Eh, I''m fighting Xue Jing? For real..."


    Gu Hongding, a stocky and slightly overweight bald man with a general''s belly, was sitting on a chair, scratching his smooth head.


    He looked over at his friend Deng Jizhou, who was also a competing contestant:


    "Old Zhou, don''t you know divination? Can you divine my fate? Is my luck strong today?"


    Deng Jizhou, with long hair and dressed in a black martial arts uniform, shrugged and said:


    "Already divined. As hard as titanium."


    Gu Hongding breathed a sigh of relief: "That''s good."


    Then he started putting on a full coverage, antique-styled armor made of titanium next to him.


    The scales gleamed metallic under the lighting, exuding an overwhelming sense of solidity.


    "You really have no shame, Old Gu."


    Deng Jizhou looked at him speechlessly.


    "What do you know, we from the Battlefield Faction have always been like this. This isn''t about having no shame; it''s purely a characteristic of our school!"


    Gu Hongding banged on his chest armor twice with satisfaction and nodded.


    "Damn, my opponent is that Xue Jing... You saw it with your own eyes too."


    "Without this gear, I wouldn''t dare to step on stage to fight him... I don''t want to end up like Li Chengxuan, with a body full of flesh gouged out."


    "To tell the truth, even though I only saw him make a move once, I could basically tell his strength is not on the same level as ours."


    "Us from the Battlefield Faction always prioritize survival... To think I have to fight an opponent who I clearly can''t beat, sigh."


    Gu Hongding sighed.


    Deng Jizhou smiled and responded:


    "But you didn''t concede defeat, nor did you run away. Instead, you''re seriously preparing, right?"


    His eyes showed a hint of pride.


    "Go on, Old Gu, the anthem of humanity is a hymn of courage, and although you''re shameless, you''re a brave hard man."


    "Fight on, I think you can win."

 Chapter 213: Chapter 143: Huh, I Hit Xue Jing? For Real...Sorry, Im in a Hurry (4K)_2

    ```


    Gu Hongding rolled his eyes, "Don''t even start."


    He paced forward, picking up the three-meter-long cleaver propped against the wall, and headed for the doorway, as the titanium alloy armor clanked and rattled.


    "I''m off then."


    Gu Hongding had a somber look, even carrying a hint of melancholy.


    It was as if he wasn''t heading to a competition, but marching towards a battlefield with certain death awaiting.


    Deng Jizhou found it a bit humorous, "Go on, just remember to be decisive. If you can''t make it, just surrender straight away. There''s no shame in that."


    Gu Hongding waved his hand without turning back, "I know."


    ...


    "The brief intermission comes to an end, let''s return to the match..."


    "...The upcoming battle is undoubtedly the most anticipated match of the day, featuring Kunqing Club''s competitor Gu Hongding against Galaxy Club''s Xue Jing..."


    Commentator Hao Yongyun, after rambling for a bit, finally announced:


    "Alright, enough talk, let us welcome¡ªcompetitor Gu Hongding!"


    As his voice fell, the spotlight converged on the entrance of the players'' tunnel.


    With each clanking step, Gu Hongding emerged from the tunnel, encased in an armor as thick as a tortoise shell, his figure as imposing as a Gundam under the spotlight.


    The audience''s applause was mixed with astonishment.


    "What is that? Cosplay?"


    "Damn, he''s actually wearing full body armor? How scared can this guy be..."


    "Haha, it kinda makes sense though, considering his opponent is my hubby..."


    "I was beginning to think he was off to war, acting all cowardly yet shameless, but becoming so shameless it''s actually amusing."


    "Keep it up, armored big bro!"


    The commentator introduced:


    "Competitor Gu Hongding, practitioner of the legendary ''Qitun Wushuang School''. He is one of the rare ''Battlefield Faction'' martial artists today, fighting in each match as if he is on an actual battlefield, giving it his all... Hmm, this armor is also considered a cold weapon, so it doesn''t violate any rules."


    "Let''s take a look at his hexagon stats chart."


    "Attack 7, Speed 5, Defense 8, Skill 7, Spirit 8, Intelligence 9... Oh~ besides ''Speed'', all are top-tier stats, it''s truly a luxurious lineup, no wonder he''s a seeded competitor."


    "And such a formidable contender, taking on his opponent so seriously, pushing the limits of the rules, who might that opponent be?"


    "Let us welcome¡ªCompetitor Xue Jing!"


    By the end of the commentator''s speech, his voice grew loud and excited when he mentioned Xue Jing''s name.


    The audience was very supportive, with applause and cheers almost ready to overturn the entire venue.


    The spotlight shone down, and a figure slowly emerged from the entrance of the player''s tunnel.


    Upon seeing him, the clapping and noise level increased by a notch.


    "Hubby, hubby, hubby!!"


    "Xue Jing, hubby, look over here!!"


    Exaggerated shouts came from the audience.


    This level of popularity was not on the same level as Gu Hongding or any other competitor who had appeared before, it was extremely exaggerated. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Standing in the ring, Gu Hongding couldn''t help but break into a sweat, feeling as if he had entered the opponent''s home court, with the entire audience against him.


    He removed the full-face helmet from his head, revealing a shiny bald head and wiped the sweat from it with his hand.


    Xue Jing was also slightly surprised, not expecting such a loud welcome.


    Carrying the Crouching Rabbit Sword, he walked towards the ring while nodding and smiling to the audience.


    Wherever his gaze fell, that part of the audience erupted in even louder cheers.


    The photographer, perched up high, once again smartly began to circle Xue Jing, creating a silky smooth 360-degree surround shot, clearly showing favoritism.


    This time Xue Jing did not smile at the camera, as if not seeing it, ignoring the photographer.


    Still, the applause from the audience remained enthusiastic.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, as you all must be quite familiar with by now, from his first match two days ago, his smile and swordplay astounded the world. One could say he reached the pinnacle from the beginning, not even the male lead of a martial arts novel could compare!"


    "He practices the ''Hidden Dragon School'', let''s take a look at his hexagon stats chart."


    "Attack 10, Speed ?, Defense ?, Skill 10, Spirit ?, Intelligence ?... Since competitor Xue Jing only has one match on his record so far, some stats are currently missing, but just from what he has shown so far, he has already obtained two perfect scores of 10!"


    "I''m really looking forward to seeing what kind of spectacular match Xue Jing will bring us today?"


    On the ring, Xue Jing looked towards Gu Hongding across from him, his eyes pausing for a moment on the obviously high-quality armor, and immediately understood why his adversary was a ''Battlefield Faction'' martial artist.


    "That outfit must have cost a pretty penny," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    Gu Hongding was taken aback.


    Having seen how Xue Jing had butchered Li Chengxuan with his sword, he had assumed that his opponent had a not-so-great temper, but he didn''t expect him to speak in such a friendly and gentle tone.


    "Uh... it was a bit expensive," he scratched his bald head.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... Then I''ll be extra careful."


    Gu Hongding: "Huh?"


    Before he could ponder further, the commentator had already brought the banter to a close.


    "...This match can be described as the strongest spear against the strongest shield. Who will ultimately claim victory? Let''s wait and see!"


    As the words ended, the referee stepped into the ring, halfway between the two competitors.


    "Both competitors, please take your positions."


    "Ready..."


    "Begin!"


    As the referee''s arm swung down between the two men, a sudden commotion erupted from the stands.


    ```

 Chapter 214: Chapter 143 Eh, I hit Xue Jing? For real... Sorry, Im in a hurry (4K)_3

    "Come on!"


    "Gu Hongding, come on!"


    "Come on, bald big brother!"


    The cheers had bewildered Gu Hongding.


    It was that phrase ''bald big brother'' that sounded a bit harsh...


    After a moment of thought, he understood, and a bitter smile appeared under his helmet-mask.


    ''There''s only one reason fans cheer for their idol''s opponent...''


    ''Pity cheers thinking I''m bound to lose, huh...''


    "Damn it, they really look down on me."


    Gu Hongding curled his lips.


    His gaze became serious as he pointed his three-meter-long saber at Xue Jing.


    It might seem like cheating, but his equipment was specifically designed to counter the opponent.


    That sort of distant Saber Qi looked imposing, but its power was definitely not as good as a direct slash of the blade.


    And a real blade couldn''t break through the defense of his armor shell.


    The martial art he practiced, ''Qitun Wushuang School,'' was developed for the battlefield.


    In a battlefield, which aspect of combat ability is most important?


    Endurance!


    The strongest point of Qitun Wushuang was its endurance.


    He could fight in his heavy armor for hours without growing tired!


    ''I''ll wear you down to death.''


    Gu Hongding thought as he looked at Xue Jing.


    As the match started, the cheers of the audience gradually quieted down, and they began to focus on the match itself.


    Xue Jing observed Gu Hongding for a while, then shook his head.


    He channeled his Power into the Crouching Rabbit Sword, driving it, sheath and all, into the ground of the arena and let it stand there before releasing his grip.


    He had entered the arena at 16:57.


    Now, it was about 59 minutes past.


    Xue Jing looked at the prepared Gu Hongding across from him, thought for a moment, and then spoke:


    "Sorry, I''m in a rush."


    Gu Hongding hadn''t yet reacted when he saw Xue Jing''s demeanor change completely.


    "Chan¡ª"


    The Dragon''s Chant echoed through the entire venue. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    White wave-like Dragon Qi surged from Xue Jing''s shoulders, enveloping him.


    An intensely fierce and dominating aura burst forth from his entire body.


    His eyes turned into dark golden vertical pupils, and with just a light glance, Gu Hongding felt his body freeze.


    At that moment, in Gu Hongding''s eyes, standing before him was no longer just another man.


    It was ¡ª a Dragon.


    A seclusive, divine-like Dragon that looked down at him like a mere ant ¡ª a True Dragon.


    All the spectators also held their breath, staring at the figure surrounded by Dragon Qi, heavy as the sea.


    In Xue Jing''s eyes, Gu Hongding''s reflection appeared.


    Most of his ''lines'' and ''points'' were detailed and apparent.


    In an instant, almost unnoticed by everyone else, he had vanished from his original spot.


    The next moment, the True Dragon''s claw pinned Gu Hongding to the ground.


    "Chan¡ª"


    Eye-Penetrating Flow ¡¤ Shaking Star Fire.


    Amidst the Dragon''s Chant, Xue Jing''s fist struck the fallen Gu Hongding''s chest.


    As blood boiled fiercely, his Power transformed into Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires, moving through the weak points, bypassing the armor, and flooding into Gu Hongding''s body.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    After a loud explosion, Gu Hongding twitched violently, and Xue Jing''s fist drove him nearly two meters deep into the ground of the arena, spreading violent circular shockwaves that made it hard for nearby spectators to keep their eyes open.


    "Bang!!"


    Centered on Gu Hongding, a huge circle of cracks spread across the arena, swiftly enveloping the entire structure.


    "Crack-crack"


    As the arena collapsed, the entire venue shook slightly.


    Everyone stared dumbfounded at the only figure still standing amidst the rising dust.


    This...


    Xue Jing first confirmed that the embedded Gu Hongding couldn''t stand up anymore, then pulled out his phone to check the time.


    [16:59]


    The next second ¡ª [17:00]


    "Done, just in time."


    Xue Jing nodded, satisfied.


    ...

 Chapter 217: Chapter 145: Sky Pirates Attack, Susanoo Reemerges, This Strike Pierces the Stars (4K)

    ```


    "A million Dragon Breed..."


    Xue Jing subconsciously glanced through the porthole beside him toward the horizon.


    The endless blue sky and white clouds revealed nothing... but according to what Captain Void Blade had said, were there really more than a million Dragon Breed orbiting the Earth Star at a distance of 10,000 kilometers that he still couldn''t see? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just adapting to the space environment beyond 10,000 kilometers is an extremely difficult task, let alone the fact that the Dragon Mother is protected by a million-strong Dragon Breed cluster, making it nearly impossible to kill it."


    Void Blade said.


    "For decades, every country in the world has thought of various strategies, like absolute firepower coverage and covert beheading operations... but the vast majority of weapons and methods are greatly limited in the space environment."


    "Among the million Dragon Breed, there are many with unique abilities, and their reconnaissance and detection capabilities are diverse; there''s not the slightest gap for covert infiltration near the Dragon Mother."


    The Mountain Demon took over the conversation from Void Blade, saying:


    "Actually, it''s not like there''s no way to kill the Dragon Mother, but the cost would be much greater than the price of letting it live."


    "The cost-performance ratio is simply too low, we might as well let it continue in space, and we just eliminate the overflowing Dragon Breed from time to time. It''s the small countries that lack the capability to resist the Dragon Breed that suffer."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Do Dragon Breed come to the ground to harass humans?"


    Void Blade replied, "Of course they do."


    "However, Dragon Breed are very intelligent creatures. In the territories of strong nations like Zhuxia, New Cross Church State, Arctic Second Federation, New Beiyang Council... the Dragon Breed generally avoid these areas because they have suffered losses there before."


    "But for countries that lack sufficient deterrence, the Dragon Breed are much more unrestrained..."


    "Now, every time the ''World Alliance Conference'' is convened, there''s a group of countries that suffer from Dragon Breed harassment, jointly requesting a campaign against the Dragon Mother..."


    ...


    Meanwhile, as Xue Jing was chatting with the two in the cabin.


    Not far from the plane, within the clouds, four silhouettes hovered in the air.


    Each one of them was dressed in rubbery wetsuit-like garments that covered their entire bodies except for their heads, and they were wearing dark-tinted protective goggles over their eyes.


    "Hmm? Are there still planes daring to fly at this altitude now? Are they asking for death?"


    One of the hovering men, tall in stature, spoke up in bewilderment.


    He pointed at the black plane in the distance, ripping through the air as it moved forward.


    The gaunt woman floating beside him followed his finger and frowned, "How can that be? It shouldn''t be possible."


    The third among them, a man with long hair, had his eyes light up as he exclaimed, "No, look behind it!"


    "There''s no ''contrail'', the plane isn''t emitting any fuel exhaust!"


    "It''s a Dragon Core Machine! Dammit, to actually see a Dragon Core Machine out here in the Outer Ring?"


    His voice grew excited.


    That was indeed a Dragon Core Machine!


    The production of such planes was extremely limited; there probably weren''t even a thousand of them in the whole world.


    To say nothing of the required technology, the raw materials alone were incredibly rare.


    Dragon Breed core organs suitable as a power source were precious items that couldn''t be bought at any price; you might not get one out of a hundred Dragon Breed.


    Moreover, such core organs had a wide range of uses, and making planes was not the most cost-effective application for them.


    All these reasons contributed to the rarity of Dragon Core Machines.


    "What do you say, shall we make a move and snatch it?" The long-haired man immediately proposed.


    The gaunt woman rolled her eyes, "What are you thinking, that it''s wild? A Dragon Core Machine isn''t a civilian product, who knows which major power this one belongs to!"


    The long-haired man argued, "What''s there to be afraid of, as if we don''t have a power backing us? If we had this Dragon Core Machine, our group would be much more efficient in doing things. This thing doesn''t have the problem of a mutation rate, it can stay in the sky forever!"


    The gaunt woman shook her head, "No, I disagree; we don''t know the situation with this aircraft, how many people are inside, what kind of combat power it has, it''s all unknown. What if we upset some kind of monster? It''s too late to call for backup now."


    "Stop dreaming, you damn military otaku. If you want to fly a plane, wait until we get back to the Inner Ring and buy yourself a ''Simulation Pod'' to experience it."


    The long-haired man pouted and didn''t argue with her anymore, looking towards the tall man, "Bang, what do you say?"


    Bang, with his tall figure, simply shrugged, "I follow Zhong''s lead."


    The last among them was a burly and muscular man who appeared to be in his thirties.


    His face was square, his expression calm and collected, with a purple diamond-shaped crystal embedded along the spine on his back, visible outside the tight suit.


    "See, we have Zhong with us!"


    The long-haired man seemed to find a compelling reason and his eyes shone brightly.


    "Zhong, what do you think?"


    Zhong, arms crossed and tapping his finger on his arm twice, stated succinctly, "Take it."


    The woman frowned and sighed, "...If something goes wrong, I''ll be the first to run and won''t look back at you guys."


    The long-haired man laughed, "No need to worry about us. With Zhong here, snatching a plane will be a piece of cake, right?"


    ...


    "By the way, Captain Void Blade, I saw in the information you sent me that the Pureblood Dragon Breed in the Roaring Waterfall is a ''Core Creature''? What does that mean?"


    Inside the cabin, Xue Jing asked.


    ```

 Chapter 219: Chapter 146 ISE, Shadowflame Wrap Armor, Is This the Divine Chosen? (4K)

    The black arrow, like a meteor reversed in direction, soared toward the edge of the sky, as a large amount of blood gushed forth from the long-haired man''s body, severed in two.


    Everyone present was shocked by the sudden turn of events.


    "Damn it, inhuman strength, that''s a Blessed One!"


    The tall man known as Wan Bang exclaimed.


    "Tan Hao has fallen, his ''Dragon Wing Device'' at his waist, it''s been shot to pieces!"


    Wan Bang watched the long-haired man''s bisected body plummeting straight to the ground and stopped moving forward, preparing to rescue him.


    The tall woman immediately stopped him, "Don''t bother with him! The Blessed One is too powerful, with such an obvious target you''ll be shattered by every attack!"


    "Tan Hao is already dead, he hasn''t been implanted with a regenerative Alien Implant, such a waist-cut wound is beyond saving, we should retreat for now!"


    She started to sound the retreat.


    Wan Bang angrily retorted, "Damn it, one of our companions has been killed, how can we retreat at a time like this? What do you think, Brother Zhong?"


    He turned to look at the robust man leading them.


    Brother Zhong''s expression remained unchanged as he concisely commanded, "Go."


    After speaking, he was the first to accelerate, flying towards the half-transparent black giant standing on the plane.


    Wan Bang did not hesitate to follow, the thin woman bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then flew after them.


    On the other side, Captain Void Blade, upon witnessing that arrow, immediately looked back and saw Xue Jing hidden within the shadows of the giant, causing her to feel a bit dizzy.


    "Xue Jing? What''s going on?"


    "Wait, you''re a Blessed One? Why didn''t you say so earlier?"


    One of the entry requirements to the Roaring Waterfall is a Mutation Rate of 0%, a Natural Person.


    A Blessed One''s Spirit and Consciousness would be contaminated by the power of the Heretic God, and they absolutely cannot enter.


    With this in mind, asking for Xue Jing''s help had seemingly turned the event into a farce.


    Upon hearing Captain Void Blade''s question, Xue Jing stroked his chin and replied, "It''s a bit complicated... have you heard of the ''Divine Chosen''?"


    Captain Void Blade was taken aback.


    Divine Chosen...


    She was aware of this concept, the other name for a Natural Gifted One, chosen actively by the deities.


    It is said that these Divine Chosen are free from the troubles of contamination and transformation... but whether they qualify as a ''Natural Person'' meeting the conditions to enter the Roaring Waterfall was questionable.


    After all, White Crow didn''t have the luxury to specifically find an underage Divine Chosen to test it.


    These were extremely rare individuals, less than twenty in the entire world.


    Captain Void Blade felt a headache coming on and wanted to discuss it thoroughly with Xue Jing, but the situation was urgent, so she had to say, "...We''ll talk about this later, let''s deal with the situation at hand first."


    Xue Jing activated his [Twin Instinct], looking at the tough man leading the three Sky Pirates across from him.


    The doubled keen intuition made the hairs on his body stand on end, warning him of the danger this man posed.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes and said, "Captain Void Blade, leave the leader to me."


    "The other two are up to you."


    Without waiting for Captain Void Blade to respond, he stepped on the fuselage, shooting forward like an arrow leaving its bow, toward the three people ahead.


    His Shadowflame Giant also surged forward with him, but the six-meter-tall behemoth''s bulk created significant drag, severely affecting its speed.


    Realizing this, Xue Jing immediately controlled the Shadowflame Giant, reducing its size to coat himself in a suit of armor that burned with scattered sparks of Dark Flame, wrapping his entire body tightly, leaving only a pair of eyes visible on his face.


    Contrary to the half-transparent Shadowflame Giant, the color of this armor was as black as ink, like a black hole, seemingly absorbing all the surrounding light. At the joints of the limbs and back, sharp black spines grew, and the gauntlets ended in pointed claws. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This technique shall be called¡ªEntwined Armor."


    Faced with Xue Jing''s movement, reactions among those present varied.


    Among the remaining three Sky Pirates, the leader, undaunted, merely sped up and charged straight for Xue Jing.


    The other two, lagging behind, turned their gaze towards Captain Void Blade.


    The latter tacitly raised the blades in her hands.


    "King versus king, general versus general, huh?"


    The gaunt woman said, sighing in relief as she viewed the situation.


    "That Blessed One, he should''ve just stuck with long-range attacks like before, yet he recklessly chose to engage Brother Zhong in close combat... a foolish decision."


    A smile began to edge at the corners of her mouth.


    In the sky, as the leading Sky Pirate was about to clash with Xue Jing, a transformation occurred on his body.


    An amethyst diamond-shaped crystal embedded in his spine at the back and waist, emitted a faint glow.


    Shortly after, the crystal proliferated and spread like a living thing, covering his entire waist and ribcage, then extending to his chest and thighs, and finally, even his feet and head were enveloped in the amethyst crystal.


    In barely a second, a complete suit of Amethyst Armor had formed.


    Amethyst and black met in mid-air, illuminated by the sun.


    "Boom!!"


    A colossal ring-shaped shockwave, strong enough to distort light, exploded between the two, scattering purple crystal dust and fragments of black flame outward.


    The other two Sky Pirates and Captain Void Blade were blown away by the spreading shockwave, and a nearby hovering plane tilted from the blast, tossing the Mountain Demon aiming secretly with a high-caliber sniper rifle inside into a head-over-heels tumble.


    When the shockwave dissipated and eyes reopened, the battlefield came into focus.


    A black and a purple figure stood face to face, palms clasped together, locked in a power struggle like two bulls wrestling.

 Chapter 220: Chapter 146 ISE, Shadowflame Wrap Armor, Is This the Divine Chosen? (4K)_2

    "Clack¡ªclack clack¡ª"


    The two, with only their eyes visible through their helmets, stared at each other. From their gauntlets, purple crystal dust and shattered fragments of Dark Flame kept falling, producing dull clacking sounds.


    Void Blade lowered her arm that was shielding her eyes from the strong wind and took a glance at the amethyst crystalline armor on the leader of the Sky Pirates, her expression changing instantly.


    ISE!?


    She immediately shouted, "Xue Jing, be careful of his crystalline armor, it''s alive!"


    At the altitude of ten thousand meters, where the cold wind was fierce, it was difficult for voices to be heard, but Xue Jing, with his Five Major Practices well-honed, had a strong kidney and thus exceptional hearing, barely making out Void Blade''s words.


    "Alive?"


    While pondering the meaning of these words, Xue Jing''s hands didn''t slow down, as spiral grooves began to emerge on his arms and shoulders.


    The Sky Pirate before him had an unusually strong physical constitution; even when Xue Jing used the Power of Twins, their clashing palms only tied in a contest of grip strength, and he even felt slightly overwhelmed.


    This was the first time he had encountered such a situation since he had started practicing martial arts.


    Unable to surpass in fundamental attributes, it was time to compete in skills.


    With a surge of Power, the True Dragon hummed softly, and thunder boomed. Whirlwind Thunder activated, and under the augmentation of spirally Compressed Strength, his grip strength massively increased in an instant.


    The Shadow Flame that formed the pitch-black gauntlets shattered immediately under this unparalleled grip, leaving Xue Jing''s fingers completely exposed.


    The Sky Pirate leader let out a light exclamation, clearly caught off guard by the sudden increase in Xue Jing''s grip.


    But his expression remained unchanged, and he didn''t strain against it. Instead, the amethyst armor on his chest moved and multiplied, bursting into several crystalline spikes that rapidly shot toward Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing had planned to rely on his Shadowflame Wrap Armor to withstand this attack and crush the pirate''s hand first, but the Twin Instinct, which had been active from the beginning, sent a warning.


    His intuition told him he couldn''t afford to resist head-on.


    Without the slightest hesitation, he trusted his instincts, shook his hands free of the Sky Pirate leader''s grip, then kicked his opponent''s stomach, causing himself to fly backward.


    The crystalline spikes missed their target, and after the kinetic energy from his backward flight exhausted, Xue Jing, unable to fly, began to fall downwards.


    At that moment, his body performed a backward somersault in mid-air, then his legs slightly bent.


    Black air flow emerged from the soles of his feet, forming into a thin plaque.


    He stepped on the plaque, pushed off forcefully, and his body shot toward the Sky Pirate leader like a bullet.


    As he moved, his eyes, visible through the slit of his helmet, turned silver-white, a sign of Divinity, and his pupils morphed into slits. Black air flowed over his palms, manifesting into a long black blade.


    At that moment, the Sky Pirate leader''s amethyst armor underwent another change.


    Multiplying and transforming, it formed a... Gatling gun.


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    The Amethyst Gatling aimed at Xue Jing, its six barrels spinning rapidly.


    "Da-da-da-da-da¡ª"


    A barrage of bullets, hundreds per second, stormed at him. His mobility hindered in the air, he found it impossible to dodge for the moment, so Xue Jing simply raised his blade to meet the onslaught.


    Under the guidance of Twin Instinct, he perceived the trajectory of every bullet, unleashed Twin Speed, and, following his instincts, swung his blade quickly, slicing through the incoming bullets or blocking them.


    However, facing such a crystal storm, the Shadow Flame blade, only as durable as steel, couldn''t withstand the onslaught for long and soon shattered.


    "Da-da-da-da-da¡ª"


    Xue Jing condensed Shadowflame Plaque under his feet, maneuvering around in the air. The stream of bullets followed his movement, shadowing him closely.


    As he dodged the bullets, Xue Jing pulled a dark red seed from his pocket and threw it into the air.


    Immediately, dozens of thick green vines sprouted from the seed, each stretching tens of meters, wildly thrashing in the sky like a gigantic octopus.


    Leader Zhong of the Sky Pirates was taken aback.


    Another ability? From which sect was this Blessed One?


    Plants? Does he belong to the Flower God Society?


    But the ability to manifest black material he displayed bore no significant relation to the Flower God Society, at least not any obvious one.


    Forget it, regardless of the enemy''s abilities, the fight must go on.


    Zhong didn''t pause at all, the Amethyst Gatling continued to fire, reducing the green vines to mere paper in its torrent, shattered and splintered, filling the sky with wooden debris.


    But Xue Jing was unconcerned; summoning the Oxygen-Absorbing Tree wasn''t meant to accomplish much.


    It served only one purpose.


    The tendrils, wooden chunks, and fragments, under the sunlight, cast countless shadows on each other.


    Shadow Flame was the ability to turn shadows into Dark Flame; the larger and deeper the nearby shadows, the stronger the skill.


    Under the night sky, moonlight cast upon the earth does create extensive shadows, but because the light is too faint and the shadows lack depth, Shadow Flame is much less effective.


    The more intense the brilliance, the deeper the shadows it casts.


    At this very moment, high above ten thousand meters, it was afternoon, and although the sunlight wasn''t as strong as at noon, it was still formidable.


    From within the profound shadows cast by countless wooden fragments, Xue Jing drew forth a thick black current.


    The current ignited into a Dark Flame, and then morphed into pitch-black crows with white, empty eye sockets.


    One, two, dozens, hundreds.


    The eyes of everyone present widened as they watched the dense swarm of soundlessly cawing Shadowflames.


    "What is that?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Crows? Alive?"


    Xue Jing pointed towards the Sky Pirate leader, and hundreds of crows immediately flapped their wings, fearlessly diving towards their target.


    The Amethyst Gatling fired at the approaching crows, but they dodged agilely in the air. Despite some being shattered by the gunfire, most of them continued to draw closer to the Sky Pirate leader.


    Without the pressure of being aimed at by bullets, Xue Jing immediately did a somersault without hesitation. Black plaques formed beneath his feet, and with a forceful push, he lunged towards the Sky Pirate leader.


    A black longsword reappeared in his hand.


    The first crow crashed into the Sky Pirate leader, bursting open and turning into a Dark Flame burning on the Amethyst Armor, creating a shallow crater from the annihilation.


    "This is..."


    The Sky Pirate leader Zhong''s pupils contracted.


    His Gatling transformed as blades sprouted from his wrists, with the gauntlets on his forearms and upper arms separating to form a drum structure.


    The other arm underwent the same transformation, and then both arms faced the oncoming flock of crows, the Amethyst Blades beginning to spin at high speed, turning into two meat grinders.


    Crows that collided with the meat grinders immediately burst into Dark Flames, annihilating the crystals, but whenever there was a gap, Zhong quickly made the Amethyst Armor proliferate and fill it.


    While he was busy dealing with the murder of crows, Xue Jing, wielding the black longsword, had already reached his side.


    "¡ª Black Heaven Blade ¡¤ Eye-Penetrating Flow."


    The dragon''s vertical pupil, piercing through the Cloud Sea Billow, reflected the sparse ''lines'' and ''points'' on the Sky Pirate leader''s body.


    The black longsword in his hand swung along an obscure ''line'' on the opponent''s neck.


    A flash of black light.


    The imperceptible crack in the Amethyst Armor was split by the blade''s light, and the longsword touched flesh.


    "Crack¡ª"


    A massive gash opened on the Skylord leader''s neck, and blood fountained out like a geyser.


    "Zhong!!"


    Seeing the scene, the expressions of another male and female Sky Pirate immediately changed.


    "Still daring to be distracted?" The Void Blade''s gaze sharpened as she fought them.


    She held two blades in her hands, and another three danced in the air around her.


    In an instant, her hands swiftly slashed out with the blades, their speed unimaginable, she completed the motions of slashing, switching blades, and slashing again within half a second.


    Five streaks of blade light flashed, and the male Sky Pirate named Wan Bang was instantly cut into over a dozen pieces on the spot.


    Simultaneously, gunfire rang out.


    A bullet flew from the plane''s hatch, piercing through the female Sky Pirate''s left abdomen.


    She clutched her wound, turned, and fled without hesitation.


    Void Blade wanted to chase after her, but the other party took out a capsule, swallowed it, and within seconds, their flight speed surged, quickly widening the gap.


    Seeing this, Void Blade stopped and turned her head towards Xue Jing''s direction.


    The sky filled with Dark Flame, roots and tendrils and rubble, the knight wielding a sword, nearly split in half, his opponent.


    Void Blade''s eyes narrowed slightly, remarking,


    "ISE''s combat methods are famously varied, but this time it seems like a fake ghost ran into a real one."


    "How many more tricks does this person have?"


    "Is this the Divine Chosen?"


    ...


    (Been slacking off recently, adjusting my routine, will make up for it with an extra update tomorrow)

 Chapter 221: Chapter 147: Primordial Return, Shadow Flame Lv5, Mythical Battle! (4K)

    High above the sky, Xue Jing split open the armor of the Sky Pirate leader with a single slash and was about to continue the pursuit.


    At that moment, the Twin Instinct that had been active all this while issued another warning.


    Without any hesitation, a black thin plate materialized in front of him as he kicked off with the back of his foot, retreating swiftly.


    Simultaneously, as he retreated, the body of the Sky Pirate leader began to change. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Amethyst Armor that covered the entire body moved as if alive, rapidly sprouting countless crystal spikes from its surface, each one dozens of meters in length, dense and numerous, resembling a super-giant Amethyst Sea Urchin.


    This spike eruption was fierce and fast, with each point sharp beyond compare. Had Xue Jing not retreated quickly, he would have been pierced with innumerable bloody holes by now.


    Xue Jing materialized several thin plates in the air, using them to leap and land on the body of the aircraft. He looked up at the giant ''sea urchin'' and frowned,


    "What in the world is that thing?" he asked with furrowed brows.


    Captain Void Blade flew beside him, floating in the air, also looking towards the ''sea urchin,'' and said,


    "That is an ISE, officially named Implant Silicon Based Organic Exoskeleton,"


    "It is made from a special living creature from the Intersecting Boundaries known as the ''Living Crystal Species'', a true ''living armor''."


    "Implanted into the human body at the spine through surgery, and connecting with the human nervous system, one can control it as naturally as their own limbs,"


    "The ISE can absorb energy from the human body to freely transform, proliferate, and other operations... The strength of the ISE depends on the grade of the Living Crystal Species used as raw material. The ISE used by this Sky Pirate is at least at grade B3."


    Captain Void Blade rattled off quickly, explaining the ISE in less than ten seconds.


    "... A skilled ISE user can utilize a technique called ''Primordial Return'' to entrust their flesh and Spirit to the ISE, reversing back to the biological state of the ''Living Crystal Species''... "


    As Captain Void Blade spoke, the ''sea urchin'' seemed to respond to her words, beginning to transform.


    All the crystals softened, curled up, withdrew, and condensed on the body of the Sky Pirate leader into a huge purple spherical crystal.


    Then, the sphere began to wriggle and change shape, first elongating into a rectangle, and then gradually edges and corners began to emerge from various places, as if an invisible artist were sculpting it.


    Head, limbs, tail...


    Before long, what appeared before Xue Jing and the others was a creature that greatly resembled a wolf.


    It was nearly fifteen meters in length, with sleek and elegant limbs, huge and sharp claws and teeth, and eyes that were the only red spots on the body of purple crystal.


    "ROAR¡ª!!"


    The Amethyst Giant Wolf opened its mouth for a piercing roar, vibrating and distorting the air to create a shockwave. Standing on the plane, Xue Jing, along with the plane itself, was blown backwards by the force.


    Captain Void Blade was also sent tumbling backward by the shockwave. She struggled to stop her retreat and then touched her hand to her ear, where she heard Jing''s voice through the communicator.


    "Captain!..."


    After listening, Captain Void Blade''s expression changed, and she quickly said to Xue Jing,


    "Jing has made a rough estimate of the data. This ''Living Crystal Primordial''s'' overall danger level is at least above level 5!"


    Xue Jing extended his arm in front of his eyes to block the wind, his eyes narrowly peering through his pitch-black helmet.


    "Captain Void Blade... you go into the cabin, and then get the plane to move further away from here," he said.


    Captain Void Blade understood that she was of no use here except to drag behind, so she nodded immediately, flew to the cabin door, and had the Mountain Demon open the hatch before taking refuge inside.


    After she went in, Xue Jing took a deep breath, his Power surged, his legs bent slightly, and he launched himself even higher with explosive force from his feet.


    Moving his fingers, numerous thick vines grew from the dark red seeds beside him, casting a myriad of shadows in the sunlight.


    He then accessed the panel.


    [Divinity possessed: 962]


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to the Divine Skill column.


    [Shadow Flame Lv4 (Divinity needed for an upgrade: 962/800)]


    The ISE strength of this Sky Pirate leader was formidable, and at the current level, whether it was Shadow Flame''s own power of Annihilation Destruction or its physical manifestation, it was unlikely to cause much damage to the opponent.


    And based on the threat level feedback from the Twin Instinct, the opponent''s attacks were clearly a significant threat to him.


    Now having employed ''Primordial Return'', it was evident the opponent had become much stronger.


    If he didn''t upgrade now, he feared he wouldn''t be able to win the fight.


    Faced with the choice of upgrading his Plant Pact to Lv4 or Shadow Flame to Lv5, Xue Jing didn''t hesitate and focused on ''Shadow Flame''.


    In the current situation, what he needed most was pure combat power.


    Although upgrading Plant Pact to Lv4 might be more versatile than Shadow Flame, Shadow Flame was currently his strongest skill, signifying the upper limit of his combat power in one aspect.


    Therefore, upgrading this skill would directly raise his limit, the best choice for the current situation.


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Shadow Flame Lv5 (Divinity needed for an upgrade: 162/1200)]


    The next moment, Xue Jing''s Dark Enchained Armor erupted with numerous Dark Flames, fiercely burning.


    From the shadows created by the interlacing roots, he extracted intense black currents that flowed towards him.


    The Dark Flames grew larger and larger, eventually covering around ten meters around him, and then began to materialize, forming a large, translucent black skeleton.


    Then came the sinews and flesh... Layers of human tissue emerged from the skeleton, finally forming a complete and massive robust human body, no longer just an upper body as before.

 Chapter 222: Chapter 147 Primordial Return, Shadow Flame Lv5, Mythic Battle! (4K)_2

    Xue Jing''s true body was hidden in the very center of the giant dark humanoid''s chest.


    "Boom!!"


    Following that, the Shadow Flame ignited on the giant figure, animating into a suit of ancient and exquisite armor covering the entire body. Each piece of the armor was even more intricate than that of Lv4, its color a deeper and darker black, dotted with bursts of Dark Flame.


    As the helmet materialized, covering the head and revealing only the pale, hollow eyes, the complete form of the near fifteen-sixteen-meter-tall Shadowflame Armor giant was finally fully assembled.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Amethyst Giant Wolf issued a challenging roar towards the dark giant, the sound so immense it seemed as though the heaven and earth trembled twice in response.


    In the distance, inside the cockpit of an airplane, Void Blade and Mountain Demon gazed through the cabin window at the mythic scene of the giant and the wolf, their mouths agape in astonishment.


    "He... he wasn''t at full strength just then?"


    Inside the ''cockpit'' at the center of his chest, Xue Jing was carefully feeling the changes occurring in the Lv5 Shadow Flame.


    "Very good, the scale has expanded, and the strength has greatly improved," he noted.


    "It''s also much smoother to control and allows for much more precise maneuvers..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled as he thought of a use for his newfound ability.


    "Maybe I can try..."


    As the power in his legs ran out, the giant, lacking the ability to fly, began to fall towards the ground.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    The Amethyst Giant Wolf howled and started to ''run'' on nothingness in mid-air, sprinting towards the dark giant with incredible speed. The giant body churned the air current, ripping apart the clouds on its way as if tearing them in two.


    Xue Jing controlled the dark giant, spreading its arms and legs wide in a free fall, getting closer and closer to the wolf that was rushing upwards.


    Just as the two were about to collide, Xue Jing''s gaze intensified.


    Inside the Shadow Flame animated humanoid, various changes began to occur.


    At that moment, if a Martial Artist could have seen through the body of the giant, they would have been astonished to find


    it was using breathing skills and mobilizing its Power!


    Spiral indentations began to appear on the giant''s armor-clad right arm.


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up.


    Although it couldn''t compare to the extreme precision of a human body, and while his method was quite crude and brutal, by forcibly mobilizing the internal veins and tissue movements of the giant, he did actually manage to generate some Power!


    "Come on!" he shouted.


    The giant''s right arm was raised high.


    "Damn Super Rolling Thunder!"


    The massive gauntlet-covered right fist swung out violently, sending a spiral-shaped visible blast of air towards the approaching wolf''s head.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!"


    An unprecedented terrifying noise erupted, and a ferocious wave of air tore open the clouds within a hundred meters, creating a kind of vacuum to some extent. The intense Sound Wave vibrations spread, causing the airplane''s windows to crack and show lines, almost shattering completely.


    "Quick, move further away! Don''t stay so close to them!" urged Void Blade.


    "Crack¡ªCrack Crack Crack¡ª"


    The purple crystal skull of the giant wolf shattered directly from the punch, scattering countless shards, while the dark giant''s entire forearm also burst into numerous flames of Dark Flame.


    "Awooo¡ª¡ª"


    The wolf let out a pained howl, flung dozens of meters away before forcibly halting its body. It shook its head as the shattered skull began to regrow and continued to pounce again.


    Xue Jing immediately drew out the dense black air current, transforming it into Dark Flame to refill the giant''s arm.


    Then the spiral indentations emerged again on both arms¡ª


    "Ora ora ora ora ora ora!!"


    Countless shadows of black fists bombarded the wolf, bang bang bang bang bang!


    A relentless barrage of random blows landed on the wolf''s crystalline body, shattering countless fragments and keeping it at bay.


    Each punch carried a weight that life could hardly bear, each one brutal and unforgiving.


    The wolf was battered into continuous cries, and in desperation, its crystalline fur stood on end.


    "Whiz whiz whiz whiz¡ª¡ª"


    A barrage of crystal spikes like a torrential rain assaulted the dark giant, striking its body, producing a cacophony of clashing metal sounds.


    The black armor was ripped apart, spikes penetrating the giant''s flesh, embedding deeply more than a meter before stopping. Seeing this, Xue Jing retracted the giant''s arms in front of his chest.


    "Zzzzzz¡ª¡ª"


    In a matter of seconds, the giant''s body was filled with dense, slender crystal spikes.


    Looking at his arms now penetrated and showing tips of spikes, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Countless Dark Flames burst from the giant''s body, burning and annihilating the crystal thorns stuck to his body, and then filling and repairing the giant''s body.


    Afterward, the giant assumed a double-handed grip, a mass of Dark Flames burned in its palms, materializing a long black sword.


    "For fuck''s sake, the Fatal Ascending Dragon Sword!"


    The giant swung the pitch-black long sword, chopping towards the giant wolf with a force capable of splitting mountains.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª"


    Starting from its head, the Amethyst Giant Wolf was split into two halves, the split extending from the head down to the abdomen, almost severing the body in two.


    Xue Jing, who had been keeping his Eye-Penetrating Flow active, sharply noticed something abnormal inside the wolf''s cleaved amethyst body.


    In a specific part of its right half, there was a slightly brighter ''dot''.


    That must be the location of the Sky Pirates'' leader¡ªXue Jing instantly realized.


    His entire body leaped out directly from the ''cockpit''.


    Twin Speed, activate!


    A black plate appeared beneath Xue Jing''s feet, and with a fierce shove of his feet against the plate, he headed towards the inside of the wolf''s body, which was gradually sealing itself.


    "Gundam fight''s over, now it''s pilot brawl time."


    Under Twin Speed, Xue Jing''s velocity was truly that of an arrow released from the bowstring, instantly closing in on the ''dot''.


    His right fist ignited with Dark Flame; corporeal Dragon Qi exited and coiled around his body while he activated the Power of Twins.


    "Whirlwind Thunder!"


    Thunder exploded, the spiraling Qi Force caused the Dark Flame to rotate as well, slamming into the crystal wall in front of him.


    "Crack!"


    The crystal shattered, and a spiral-shaped, deep hole was dug out. At the end of the hole, one could vaguely see a piece of rubber-like clothing buried within the crystal.


    That was where the Sky Pirates'' boss truly was.


    Xue Jing immediately dove into the hole, raising his fist high; his blood boiled as if Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires had been ignited, bursting forth.


    "It''s over."


    He muttered to himself.


    The fist capable of crushing steel and cutting iron passed through the crystal walls, bypassed the tough implanted skin membrane, and exploded within his body.


    ...


    In a distant plane, Void Blade and Mountain Demon were nervously watching the giant battle the giant wolf through the cracked window.


    "Xue Jing''s real body seems to have jumped in there?"


    "What''s the situation now?"


    Mountain Demon swallowed nervously.


    Void Blade spoke, "Xue Jing''s combat talent is high; he wouldn''t make reckless moves. He must have found the Sky Pirate''s weak spot."


    As if responding to her words, in a short while, the Amethyst Giant Wolf''s body stiffened up entirely.


    Then, its body began to crack bit by bit, the cracks growing more and more numerous and wider.


    As the cracks spread all over, the wolf''s body reached its limit, and with a crack, it completely shattered.


    Numerous crystal shards sparkled under the sunlight, like a magnificent curtain of rain, with Xue Jing''s tall figure standing amidst countless shimmering crystal rains, holding aloft a burly man who was limp and boneless like a rag doll.


    Void Blade stared at the scene, somewhat dazed.


    "I... Goddamn, he won!"


    Mountain Demon exclaimed in shock.


    Returning to her senses, Void Blade picked up the intercom on the wall and said, "Jing, drive over there."


    ...


    Xue Jing stood on a black plate in the air, dodged nimbly, and jumped onto the body of the airplane coming to pick him up.


    The hatch was opened, and holding the Sky Pirates leader, he flipped down with agile movements into the cabin.


    "Brother!"


    Mountain Demon immediately knelt down in front of him, hugging his thigh.


    "Mountain Demon has wandered half his life, lamenting the lack of a worthy master. If you do not cast me aside, I wish to become your sworn brother!"


    He spoke with genuine sincerity.


    Xue Jing tossed the Sky Pirates leader to the ground, ignored Mountain Demon, pretended to wipe the nonexistent sweat from his forehead, and sighed impetuously:


    "That was close, almost got killed, lucky I''m one step ahead..."


    ...

 Chapter 223: Chapter 148: Thats How the Divine Chosen Is, To Reap More, You Must Deploy More Gundams

    The Mountain Demon looked down at the air pirate leader, whose life or death was uncertain, and with a touch of skepticism, asked,


    "How much time has passed, and how have you become so strong?"


    "This air pirate''s individual combat rating has already reached level 5 or above... Level 5, do you know what that means? Even within the Inner Ring, that would mark him as someone well-known. He could easily serve as a mid-rank captain within White Crow."


    "And you have killed him just like that..."


    "Xue Jing, you couldn''t be hiding something from me, like some kind of daily check-in upgrade system, could you?"


    Xue Jing, unfazed, just waved his hand nonchalantly and said,


    "What are you thinking? You''ve been reading too many novels. There''s no such thing as a system or a panel in reality. I was simply chosen by a Heretic God out of the blue, becoming what they call a ''Divine Chosen''."


    The Mountain Demon scratched his head, "I''ve heard of the Divine Chosen... But is it really that exaggerated?"


    "That''s how the Divine Chosen is," Xue Jing affirmed.


    Captain Void Blade, listening to the conversation, secretly thought, "No wonder that Wu Family young mistress treats him so specially... Is it because of a sense of kinship with someone of the same kind?"


    "How should we deal with this guy?" said the Mountain Demon, gesturing toward the prostrate air pirate leader.


    "But first... is he dead or not?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing lifted his foot and flipped the prone air pirate leader over to face up, "I didn''t hold back, but I could feel he wasn''t dead after delivering the final blow."


    "But now..."


    He frowned as he took a look at the now motionless air pirate leader.


    Void Blade crouched down, extended her hand, and checked the air pirate leader''s body.


    "He''s dead... Other than the knife wound on his neck, there''s basically no damage to his body surface... This is the B5-level Protective Membrane, his muscles are of the R9 gold grade, with slight damage near the chest..."


    She examined and explained at the same time.


    "... The most severe damage is to his internal organs, almost as if they''ve been through a meat grinder, but next to his heart, he had implanted a ''Supreme Efficient Repair Device'' that triggers when his heart stops. These injuries shouldn''t be fatal."


    She calmly inserted her hand into the air pirate leader''s chest wound, fumbled around for a while, and amid the squelching sounds of coagulated blood and flesh, she pulled out an oval-shaped black stick with many broken circuits.


    "The repair device hasn''t activated. Was it destroyed, or did he manually cut off the activation mechanism of the repair device?"


    The Mountain Demon, somewhat impatient, spoke up, "Let''s not worry about the cause of death right now, just check if his ISE can still be used. It''s at least a B3-level Alien Implant that can''t be bought anywhere¡ªit''s a rare item!"


    Void Blade turned the air pirate leader''s corpse over as she slowly said, "Even if it''s not broken, it''s mostly unusable by others. B-level or higher Alien Implants are typically custom made for a person. These things already put immense strain on the body, and if the compatibility isn''t high enough, the rejection reaction will be severe.


    As soon as it''s installed, the Mutation Rate will shoot through the roof."


    The corpse was turned, revealing a purple diamond-shaped crystal on the spine at the waist on its back.


    The Mountain Demon''s eyebrows lifted, "It looks like it''s unbroken... Xue Jing, this is your spoil of war, how do you want to handle it?"


    After pondering briefly, Xue Jing shook his head, "I don''t know, got any suggestions?"


    The Mountain Demon looked to Void Blade, "Captain, can ''Black Nest'' modify this thing so that it becomes a general-type ISE compatible with most people?"


    Void Blade responded evenly, "Black Nest already has too many things to study. Even though they consume a large amount of funding from the institution each year, they''re still short on funds. If you go to them for help, they will charge an exorbitant fee."


    The Mountain Demon scratched his head, "What do we do with this thing then? Sell it on the black market?"


    Void Blade said, "This guy''s body is full of precious Alien Implants, quite valuable, but all are custom-made. Others can''t use them; the only option is to dismantle them and sell the raw materials."


    Xue Jing gestured dismissively, "Then please handle it for me, Captain Void Blade."


    Void Blade nodded and said, "Then I''ll help you list it on the black market through my channels, and I''ll take a cut of the commission."


    Xue Jing smiled and agreed, "That''s only fair."


    "By the way, why are there air pirates in the Outer Ring?" The Mountain Demon wondered aloud.


    Clearly, no one present could answer this question.


    "I''ll investigate it later," Void Blade said as she tapped a few times on her silver-white bracelet, which emitted a ring of light and scanned the air pirate leader from head to toe.


    "Dragon Core Machines aren''t something just anyone can deal with. If these air pirates had the guts to attack a Dragon Core Machine directly, they''re either greenhorns who don''t know anything or they have some backing power behind them."


    "... Judging by this body full of Alien Implants, it doesn''t seem like something a greenhorn could afford."


    ...


    The jet, spray-painted black, sped through the sky, flying northward as the daylight gradually dimmed.


    In the cockpit, Xue Jing lay back in a seat, one hand propping up the back of his head, and he opened the panel.


    [...Fitness Experience Points +1524]


    [...Pleasure, Health Cultivation Experience Value +1862]


    [...Running Experience Value +1337]


    [...Aiming Experience Value +1321]


    [...Fighting Experience Points +1262]


    [...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +1028]


    [...Visualization True Experience Value +668]


    [...Weapon Strike Experience Points +1560]


    [...Acting Experience Points +669]


    [...Aiming upgraded to Lv8 (223/6000)]


    [...Fighting upgraded to Lv8 (141/6000)]


    [...Acting upgraded to Lv4 (52/1200)]


    It was, without a doubt, a sizable haul.


    Fighting a life-and-death battle against a powerful adversary and emerging victorious, although most of the time he was using Shadow Flame, had earned him a considerable batch of valuable regular skill experience.


    "Health Cultivation really racks up the points, huh? Guess I should keep cranking up the Gundam, it''s truly satisfying," thought Xue Jing, and then he closed his eyes and introspected, feeling the changes that were happening within himself.


    Fighting had finally risen to Lv8, and as before, what strengthened was the ''foundation'' of his body.


    His bones had become harder, his bone marrow''s blood-forming abilities more impressive; the structure of his muscles and veins had been altered, now stronger and more powerful with heightened flexibility. Even the instincts deep within his genes had become more acute...everything about him was now better suited for battle.


    He opened his eyes and turned to look out the side window.


    Under the dimming sky where the sunlight was about to vanish, visibility was much lower than during the day, but when he looked down through the window, the powerful vision granted by Lv8 Aiming immediately pierced through the shroud of mist, breaking free of the dusk''s constraints, and brought the scenery below the ten thousand meters into view.


    Grassland, streams, a drinking hare, and in the brush, a fox with a predatory gaze.


    His pupils turned into a soft silver-white, and Moonlight Slash descended out of nowhere, cutting off a tuft of weeds in front of the hare, startling it into fleeing in leaps and bounds.


    The fox hiding in the brush was a bit confused, not understanding how it had been discovered.


    But seeing the hare gone, it had no choice but to chalk it up to bad luck, shook its body, and moved on from the spot.


    ...


    The time came to nine o''clock at night.


    "Look, down there that''s Border City No. 328," said Captain Void Blade to Xue Jing, gesturing for him to look down through the side window.


    With a speed of over a thousand kilometers per hour and after more than four hours of flight, they had almost crossed the entire Fifth Urban Circle, traveling from the far south to the far north.


    Xue Jing looked downward; beneath the pitch-black night, a desolate and dilapidated city was faintly visible, with only a few lights shining, too dark to discern any specifics.


    "Once we leave this Border City, further out lies the domain no longer belonging to humans¡ªthe ''Evil Land''."


    "We''ll arrive at the ''Roaring Waterfall'' in about half an hour. I hope you, the ''Divine Chosen,'' can make it in. If not..."


    Void Blade sighed with a hint of a headache.


    ...

 Chapter 224: Chapter 149: GOD-005, Stepping into Intersecting Boundaries, He... Cant Return (4K)

    An endless wilderness.


    The red, barren land had only sporadic, withered grasses still stubbornly struggling, while visible black ash permeated the air everywhere.


    The scorching temperature caused visible distortions in the void, and under the pitch-black night, a distant volcano spewed out bright red lava flows, illuminating a murky, fiery glow. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the cabin, Xue Jing looked out of the porthole and said,


    "Although I have heard that the environment of the ''Evil Land'' outside the urban area is bad... I didn''t expect it to be this bad."


    Void Blade, standing beside him and looking out the window as well, spoke in a calm tone, "That''s not entirely true."


    She pointed at the distant volcano that continuously erupted with bright red lava flows.


    "That volcano is a remnant of the ''Intersecting Phenomenon,'' a collision between our world and some Otherworld. It was tossed into our realm from the other realm when the two collided."


    "The internal motion rules are completely different from the laws of our world; the frequency of eruptions is absurdly high, which is what causes the surrounding area''s environment to deteriorate to this extent."


    Mountain Demon interjected, "The environment of this area is harsh, but that''s not entirely a bad thing. It keeps the Intersecting Boundaries creatures from liking this place too much, so at least near here, you don''t have to worry too much about being suddenly attacked by something dangerous."


    "Just be sure to prepare cooling measures and poison gas masks, and you''ll be fine."


    Void Blade shook her head, "We might still encounter attacks from Intersecting Boundaries creatures... Some special ''Flame Habitat Species'' rather like this environment; we still need to be careful."


    Mountain Demon opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of Xinsha Soda, twisted the pull tab, took a sip, and chuckled,


    "The temperature here hasn''t reached the level that higher-grade Flame Habitat Species prefer. No need to worry."


    "Speaking of Flame Habitat Species, I haven''t eaten ''Flame Crab'' in a long time... just thinking about it makes my mouth water."


    "After this mission, we definitely need to go to the Inner Ring for a meal."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "What''s a Flame Crab?"


    Mountain Demon smacked his lips, as if savoring the taste:


    "It''s a type of Flame Inhabiting Creature, appearing as a crab with constant flames burning on its body. The meat on them is naturally cooked, just peel back the shell and you can eat it directly, absolutely delicious to die for."


    "However, their breeding environment is very demanding, only a few cultivation companies have the capability to breed them, so they''re expensive. Especially the ''Joint Cultivation'' Flame Crabs are the largest and best in quality but also the priciest."


    "They have this King Crab, one in a hundred thousand, with a pound of its meat selling for over ten thousand. Last time, a record-size King was sold at an auction for nearly ten million, outrageously expensive."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Sounds great, I''ll have to try it sometime."


    As they chatted casually, the plane gradually approached its destination.


    ...


    In the night wilderness, several campfires quietly burned.


    Around the campfires, a dozen large and small tents were set up, various instruments laid out on the ground, and dozens of figures in bulky gray protective suits, wearing poison gas masks, were busy with their tasks.


    "Whooosh¡ª¡ª"


    A hissing sound from the sky, a black-coated plane, nearly invisible in the night, arrived above the campsite, then paused and slowly descended.


    "Captain Void Blade is back, those of you over there, hurry up and move, clear the space!"


    A man in a protective suit shouted to several nearby personnel who were chatting together.


    The personnel quickly dispersed, and the plane landed on the cleared ground.


    Hisss¡ª¡ª


    The cabin door opened, and Void Blade, Mountain Demon, and Xue Jing stepped out.


    As soon as Xue Jing disembarked, he felt a wave of heat enveloping his entire body.


    It was as if he was in a steamer, the sensation had moved beyond ''hot'' to ''scalding''.


    He took a brief breath of air, and immediately felt a sticky, scorching sensation in his nostrils.


    He glanced at the floating black ash particles in the air and frowned.


    Mountain Demon, already wearing a poison mask on his face and holding another in his hand, handed it to Xue Jing.


    "Put this on."


    Xue Jing reached out, put on the mask.


    Due to the mask, the air intake was less than usual, making it more difficult to breathe and uncomfortable, but it felt much better than directly inhaling volcanic ash.


    Another person emerged from the cabin, it was Jing, a petite girl who was also a member of the Void Blade Squad, already wearing her mask.


    "Captain Void Blade, welcome back."


    A man in a protective suit, wearing a poison mask, came forward and shook hands with Void Blade.


    After exchanging pleasantries with him, Void Blade gestured towards Xue Jing and introduced him:


    "This is Xue Jing, the new explorer for this Intersecting Boundaries mission."


    Xue Jing nodded, extended his hand, and smiled, "Hello."


    The man''s eyes brightened as he shook hands with Xue Jing and said, "Hello, hello, Xue, glad you finally arrived... I''m Shen Da, the head of this ''Roaring Waterfall Temporary Research Group.'' "


    Void Blade spoke, "This Intersecting Boundaries exploration task is entirely in charge of Doctor Shen. He will provide you with logistical support. As for what to do once you''re in the Intersecting Boundaries, just listen to Doctor Shen."


    Shen Da: "Let''s go, let''s talk inside the tent, the air here is not so good."


    ...


    This was a large tent covering an area of more than twenty square meters. As soon as Xue Jing entered, he felt a chill over his whole body.


    He looked around the interior, which apart from a small bed and several chairs, was almost completely filled with various instruments, constantly emitting beeps, clicks, and other mechanical sounds. The remaining space for movement was only about five or six square meters, making it rather cramped.

 Chapter 231: Chapter 152: The Abnormalities Gathered on Xue Jing, The Locals are Too Rude (4K)_3

    Xue Jing noticed that there seemed to be a tinge of hostility in A Pawar''s tone, so the captain hurriedly blurted out at a rapid pace:


    "We are the ''Dragon Hunting Group'' from That Country, here to capture the lord of this forest, the ''Long-tailed Dragon''. We really didn''t mean to spy on you, and we have no ill intentions!"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, "Dragon Hunting Group?" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A Pawar quickly nodded and said, "Yes, Dragon Hunting Group. We make our living by capturing dragons and selling them to the Nobles of That Country."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "So you''re saying you''re very professional, huh?"


    "Professional?" A Pawar was taken aback for a moment, "Yes... we are professional."


    Xue Jing immediately showed a friendly smile, lifted him off the ground like picking up a chicken, and had him stand straight.


    Then he helped pat the dust off his body and draped an arm around his shoulder, laughing:


    "Look at this fuss, it''s all a misunderstanding... By the way, since you''re professionals, do you have a way to find dragons?"


    A Pawar first marveled at Xue Jing''s impressive strength and then, a bit unnerved by Xue Jing''s sudden change in demeanor, hesitantly said:


    "I have a map of the dragon territories on me... It''s something we''ve compiled over the years. If you need it..."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing patted his shoulder hard and said with sincerity, "Good brother!"


    "You locals are too polite; truly a land of manners! I won''t refuse such generous hospitality... In return, how about I treat you to some dragon meat?"


    A Pawar immediately shook his head violently, almost shaking out sparks, "No need, no need, I''m just glad to be of help... you see?"


    He indicated the black steel barrier strapped to his body with a nod of his chin.


    Xue Jing smiled and snapped his fingers.


    At once, every Shadowflame Steel Barrier on the people dissipated.


    Seeing this, A Pawar breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled an old scroll map out of his pocket, spread it out, and handed it to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing looked up to see a map that was quite clear and straightforward, marked with red dots of various sizes, each accompanied by native script.


    "Look, this is where we currently are, the territory of the Long-tailed Dragon."


    A Pawar pointed to a red dot on the map.


    "The center here is the Roaring Great Waterfall... The closer the dragon is to the waterfall, the stronger it is, like here, here, and here."


    He pointed at several large red dots near the map''s center, "The dragons in these areas are terrifying. It''s best not to go near them."


    "We usually choose to hunt dragons on the outskirts..."


    After some time, Xue Jing had mostly grasped how to interpret the information on the map.


    "...That''s pretty much it."


    Xue Jing looked at the map, satisfied, and nodded, "Thanks a lot."


    "...Glad I could help," A Pawar said cautiously.


    "So, can we... leave now?"


    Xue Jing waved them off, "Go on, go on... Sure you won''t have a bite of dragon meat? It''s quite tasty."


    "No thanks, no thanks," A Pawar quickly refused.


    "Then we''ll be off..." He took off the headset and handed it to Xue Jing.


    He then said to the others, "Retreat!"


    With that, he took the lead and walked towards the edge of the forest.


    The others were silent as the dead, following behind A Pawar.


    They started off walking slowly.


    Once they were a certain distance from Xue Jing and sure he wasn''t going to follow, they immediately spread their legs and scurried frantically toward the edge of the forest.


    A Pawar was the fastest among them.


    "Captain A Pawar, wait for us!!"


    Deep in the forest, Xue Jing paid no mind to the commotion of the locals, merely spreading out the map to look at it.


    "Hmm, let''s start on the outskirts and gradually work inward, starting with this spot here."


    His gaze settled on the red dot closest to him.


    ...


    (My updates have been lagging these past couple of days; I''ll try to add more tomorrow...)

 Chapter 232: Chapter 153: Massive Gains, Crazy Grind, Soaring Experience Points and Divinity (4K)

    In a valley strewn with yellow sand.


    Xue Jing placed an already deployed monitor on the ground, letting its eight mechanical limbs dig into the yellow earth.


    He took out a tablet from the backpack held by the Shadowflame Crow and glanced at the map displayed on the screen.


    At this moment, there were already three spaced-out white dots on the map, indicating that he had placed three monitors in the Intersecting Boundaries.


    "Why do I feel that this Intersecting Boundaries is much larger than originally predicted?"


    Xue Jing moved in a series of leaps and bounds, jumped onto a cliff, and stood on a large rock more than three meters high, peering into the distance.


    Even with his ability to see tens of kilometers away, he still couldn''t see the edge of this world. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    According to the information given by White Crow, the total area of ''Roaring Waterfall'' should be between five hundred and over one thousand three hundred square kilometers.


    If the Intersecting Boundaries is roughly circular, then a diameter of one thousand three hundred square kilometers would only measure a few tens of kilometers across.


    With his vision, as long as there was no obstruction in sight, even if he was standing at the very edge of the Intersecting Boundaries looking towards the farthest other side, he should still have been able to clearly see the boundary.


    "Something''s not right, and even when calculating by the dragon breed distribution map, something''s not right."


    Xue Jing took out the map he had gotten from the leader of the ''Dragon Hunting Group,'' spreading it out to have a look.


    "From that Long-tailed Dragon territory forest to the nearest Dragon Breed territory, I''ve walked at least seven kilometers."


    He stretched out his hand, measuring the distance between the Long-tailed Dragon territory and his current location in the valley... roughly the length of half a finger.


    On the entire map, the two farthest-apart red dots were separated by about the length of an adult''s arm.


    "If half a finger''s length is seven kilometers, the farthest-apart Dragon Breed territories would be separated by at least a hundred kilometers."


    "This is just the map of the Dragon Breed territories, not the ''world map'' of this Intersecting Boundaries."


    "This area, obviously, is far beyond the area mentioned in White Crow''s data."


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected contemplation.


    "...Either White Crow''s surveyors were unprofessional and the data error is outrageous, or something has happened that I don''t know about."


    He thought back to the anomalies he encountered when he first entered the Intersecting Boundaries.


    "The GPS at the exit as well as the two ''monitors'' that were originally in place are not showing up on the tablet."


    "It seems indeed something has happened that I don''t know about..."


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the rock, a Dark Flame ignited in his hand, tossing it up and down.


    His gaze turned towards the horizon.


    A figure resembling a long snake was flying towards the direction of the valley.


    "There''s no need to ponder other matters for now, the bridge will straighten itself when the ship arrives at it."


    "The first priority now is to wipe out all the Dragon Breeds in this Intersecting Boundaries and blast my Divinity through the roof."


    The serpent-like figure flew from the horizon to near the valley and revealed its full appearance.


    It was a Dragon, clawless, wingless, with a single horn on its head, its entire body covered in smooth dark red scales and a serpentine form.


    Dragon-type Creatures have very recognizable characteristics.


    Firstly, their bodies must be covered with scales.


    Their heads must have Dragon Horns.


    Their eyes must be slit pupils.


    Lastly, and most recognizably¡ªDragons must fly.


    Their flight is attributed to the natural Anti-Gravity Biological Field they possess. Even if they have wings, these are just for flight assistance and are not used for take-off.


    "That one is the Dragon Breed marked on the map."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    At this moment, the Red Scale Dragon Breed flying nearby noticed on the rock of the cliff, a ''little bug'' sitting there, daring to invade its territory.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    It immediately flew close to Xue Jing, letting out a dragon''s roar that shook the whole valley, a visible wave of breath starting from its mouth, blasting forward, and the strong wind blew Xue Jing''s hair into a pompadour.


    Xue Jing smoothed his hair, slightly frowning, "You''re a bit forceful with your breath."


    Countless black currents were drawn from the shadows, surging towards his shoulders, igniting into a large-scale Dark Flame.


    Soon after, a seven to eight meters long right hand wearing elegant Gauntlets burst forth from the Dark Flame, gripping the Red Scale Dragon Breed flying in the air.


    "Gah¡ª!!" The whole serpentine body of the Red Scale Dragon Breed was seized by the giant hand, and was suddenly unable to make a sound.


    It struggled and writhed desperately, opening its mouth towards Xue Jing.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    A dark green liquid shot out from its throat with great speed, like a high-pressure water gun, forming a straight line.


    Xue Jing dodged in a flash.


    The dark green liquid pierced through the rock which he had been sitting on, leaving a big hole, and the splashed green fluid on the surroundings started fizzing with white smoke upon contact with the ground, seemingly possessing a strong corrosiveness.


    Seeing this scene, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Spitting randomly... The local Dragons really have low standards."


    He reached out with his right hand towards the Red Scale Dragon Breed and squeezed.


    Simultaneously, the Shadowflame Giant''s hand that was grabbing the Red Scale Dragon Breed squeezed as well.


    "Crack¡ª"


    With a crisp snap, the body of the Red Scale Dragon Breed was crushed flat, and its innards were squeezed out from both ends.


    A mist of blood erupted from its tail, while its head opened its mouth, and chunks of blood and flesh spewed out incessantly.


    [Slain a special creature with Divinity, Divinity +29]


    "Done... Time to find the next one."


    Xue Jing spread out the map in his hand and pointed at the red dot closest to his current location.


    "I''ll go around like this, first clearing out all the peripheral ones, then gradually moving inward, solving them in one circle after another..."

 Chapter 233: Chapter 153 Huge Gains, Crazy Grind, Soaring Experience Points and Divinity (4K)_2

    ...


    Two days later.


    Dressed in a black tactical suit, Xue Jing walked on water, speeding across a vast lake.


    With each step, a Shadowflame Plaque appeared beneath his feet, his whole body shooting forward like an arrow.


    As he advanced, the violent currents he stirred up sliced through the lake''s surface, sending waves in his wake and leaving a clear indentation that took seconds to fill back in.


    Yet, even at his extreme speed, something beneath the water was even faster.


    Under the lake, a massive shadow slowly approached him in the sunlight, gradually moving beneath his feet.


    The shadow appeared to be a giant fish over a dozen meters long, its tail thrashing as it drew nearer to Xue Jing, growing more and more prominent, larger and larger.


    Until at a certain moment¡ªboom!


    The lake''s surface exploded as a giant, bizarre fish with ribs as wings, a six-horned head, and shining golden scales leaped out of the water into the bright sunlight.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    Amidst the dragon''s chant, the strange fish opened its mouth filled with sharp teeth and lunged at Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged; he lightly tapped his toes and stepped on the Shadowflame Plaque, propelling himself skyward and narrowly avoiding the bite.


    "Crack¡ª"


    The huge jaws snapped shut in mid-air, the spray scattering, and the sound grating on one''s nerves.


    Xue Jing flipped in the air, oriented himself head-down, conjured another Shadowflame Plaque beneath his feet, and dove toward the fish below.


    Black currents converged on his right arm, igniting into Dark Flame and forming gauntlets entwined with armor as he stretched his palm out in a Piercing Hand pose.


    Spiral indentations emerged along his entire arm.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Penetration¡ª"


    The gauntlets, with their extremely sharp black claws combined with the spiral Compressed Strength of Whirlwind Thunder, created an immense Piercing Force.


    The droplets that filled the air from the fish''s leap were drawn in by the spiral force, forming a water spout.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    The Piercing Hand made contact with the head scales of the monstrous fish and, after about half a second of resistance, ground through the scales and penetrated deep into its hard skull, almost half a meter, but failed to completely pierce through due to the thickness of the bone.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    With a pained cry, the fish began to thrash wildly in the air.


    Xue Jing''s left hand gripped the scales on the top of the fish''s head to steady himself and prevent being thrown off, while the right hand entwined with armor deactivated, reigniting into Dark Flame.


    "Boom¡ª"


    Pure Shadow Flame incessantly annihilated the fish''s skull, burning through an arm-thick hole straight to the brain.


    Sensing the threat of death, the fish let out a howl as all its scales lifted, bristling like a frightened cat.


    Under each lifted scale, a pitch-black hole was revealed; the effect of the numerous small holes and raised fine scales was dense and horrifying. Xue Jing caught sight of this scene and instantly got goosebumps, his fear of holes triggering on the spot.


    "Hiss¡ª!"


    From the dense array of small holes, jets of water shot out like lasers,


    Xue Jing, realizing the danger, ignited his body in Dark Flame, transforming it into a glorious suit of entwined armor that covered his entire body.


    Even so, riddled with holes by the laser water cannon''s firepower akin to armor-piercing shells, the armor bore the marks on his Qi Force-condensed Dragon Scale Skin.


    "Clang clang clang clang¡ª"


    Amid the sound of metal striking metal, the water cannons were blocked by the Dragon Scale Skin. Xue Jing felt a numb, aching sensation throughout his body.


    He didn''t stop his momentum, immediately thrusting both hands into the hole made by the Whirlwind Thunder Penetrating Hand, then, with a surge of Qi Force, unleashed Dragon-Shaped Energy that wrapped around his body, spinning him at high speed like a drill.


    Golden Scales Transformation¡ª


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    In the fish''s agonized screams, flesh and blood flew from its head, with chunks of meat being ejected and scattered by the drill, creating a downpour of blood that tainted a swath of the lake red.


    Seconds later, Xue Jing burrowed entirely into the ''brain hole,'' and the fish ceased its thrashing, falling into the water and creating a massive splash.


    All was calm again.


    Seconds after that, a figure burst from the blood-tinted water and walked on the surface toward the shore.


    Upon reaching the shore, Xue Jing shook his body with a surge of Qi Force.


    The blood and water clinging to him instantly burst apart, turning into mist and droplets that dampened the surrounding ground.


    He shook his hair, flinging off the moisture, and in an instant, he was dry and refreshed.


    "Whew¡ª"


    Xue Jing let out a breath, feeling somewhat tired.


    He opened the panel and took a look.


    [Slaying a special creature with Divinity, Divinity +91]


    [Total Divinity: 1029]


    "The closer to the center, the more dangerous the Dragon Breed becomes..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed deep contemplation.


    Over the past two days, he had been relentlessly hunting Dragon Breeds.


    From the outskirts to the inner areas of the map, he had cleared two circles, slaughtering nearly thirty Dragon Breeds in total. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From the casually killed Dragon Breeds at the periphery at the beginning to the strange fish-shaped Dragon Breed which had just taken him quite an effort to kill, Xue Jing clearly felt the increasing difficulty.


    "Looking at this, I might not be able to defeat those three around the Roaring Great Waterfall yet."


    Xue Jing spread out the map he had taken from his backpack, his fingers touching the three thick red dots in the center.


    "However, just because I may not defeat them now doesn''t mean I can''t in a couple of days," Xue Jing muttered softly.


    Gaining Divinity in the past two days was hard, but the rewards were significant.


    It wasn''t just about the Divinity gains but the continuous real combat to the death had also caused a huge surge in experience for his regular skills.


    [Fitness Lv10 (1261/?)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv8 (5402/6000)]


    [Cooking Lv6 (2120/3000)]


    [Running Lv8 (2169/6000)]


    [Charm Art Lv10 (10000+/?)]


    [Aiming Lv8 (3596/6000)]


    [Fighting Lv8 (3623/6000)]


    [Hidden Dragon Vigor Lv7 (4521/9000)]


    [Meditative Visualization True Lv6 (988/7000)]


    [Combat Skills Lv7 (4197/4500)]


    [Swimming Lv5 (533/2000)]


    [Riding Lv4 (499/1200)]


    [Acting Lv5 (355/2000)]


    Among them, Fitness had the highest increase, with nearly six thousand experience points, pushing it directly to Lv10, one of the conditions for Skill Sublimation!


    After reaching Lv10, the experience value turning into a question mark also dispelled a curiosity of Xue Jing''s¡ªit seemed the regular skills'' limit was Lv10, and Charm Art was not an exception.


    Perhaps it''s only after Skill Sublimation that one could continue to improve.


    Unfortunately, for the moment, Fitness Sublimation fulfilled two conditions, reaching Lv10 and acquiring 1000 Divinity, but the final, unclear ??? still showed ''Conditions Insufficient.''


    Otherwise, he could have sublimated Fitness right there and then.


    Besides Fitness, the experience gained for other skills was also substantial.


    Running reaped nearly four thousand experience points, leveling up to Lv8, Health Cultivation gained over three thousand, Aiming three thousand, Fighting three thousand, and Hidden Dragon Vigor close to four thousand.


    Visualization True had reached Lv6, and the three skills Swimming, Riding, and Acting gained a considerable amount of experience, each rising by one level.


    One could say his grinding had reached its limit. Ever since obtaining the panel, he had never grown this rapidly before.


    The full extent of his foundational power had increased significantly.


    Closing the panel, Xue Jing, filled with a profound sense of satisfaction, reached into the backpack the crow was holding, rummaged for a while, and took out a ''monitor.''


    "Hm? This is already the last one."


    Xue Jing felt the inside of the backpack and found it was now empty.


    Over the past two days, he had followed Doctor Shen''s instructions, placing a monitor every set distance, and nearly thirty monitors from the backpack were now gone.


    "Each monitor should cover an area of about 110 square kilometers; originally, thirty monitors should have been more than enough."


    Xue Jing turned on the monitor''s switch, letting it take root in the soil on its own.


    "But now, clearly the monitors are far from enough... The primary mission of entering this Intersecting Boundaries has failed."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Never mind, it doesn''t matter. I''ll kill all the Dragon Breeds first. If all else fails, I''ll just have to figure out a way to kill that ''Dragon God.'' Once the Core Creature is dead, the Intersecting Boundaries will stop changing, and there will be no need for monitors then."


    ...


    (Got so immersed in watching MSI... It''s been a while since I watched the games)

 Chapter 238: Chapter 156: The Great Undertaking of Killing a God Will Be Realized in Your Hands (4K)

    The patrol team from That Country carefully advanced through the forest, with no one daring to make a sound.


    "Be careful, we''re almost at the site where the Flame Wailing Dragon fell... Tinier, let the Night Hidden Bat go ahead and check out the situation,"


    The middle-aged man leading the team gestured for everyone to stop moving, then spoke.


    The middle-aged woman named Tinier nodded her head and spoke in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.


    A large bat that had been silently circling above the forest seemed to receive some command, immediately changed its course, and flew forward.


    As the Night Hidden Bat went ahead to scout, the group stood in place, silently waiting without speaking.


    Perhaps due to the Flame Wailing Dragon''s roar just before, all the creatures in the nearby area had been frightened away, and not even an insect could be found.


    The entire forest was completely silent, eerily so.


    Renea, holding a bowl of water from which much had spilled due to the hurried journey, stepped slightly away from the group and walked behind a big tree, speaking softly to the Mirror Person reflected in the water:


    "Little Mirror, are you from the same foreign place as Xue Jing? Fellow countrymen?"


    The Mirror Person standing on Renea''s shoulder replied discontentedly, "Don''t call me ''Little Mirror''; I am decades older than you. Technically, you''d even be taking advantage if you called me ''Grandpa Mirror''!"


    Pausing, it continued, "Relative to you, he and I could be considered from the same place..."


    Renea asked in confusion, "Then what exactly do you want to do when you see him?"


    The Mirror Person stroked his chin, "Explaining everything from start to finish would be too troublesome; just take me to see him."


    Renea muttered, "Because you said Xue Jing was in a critical situation and needed to meet him urgently, I suggested to Uncle Ezaki that we come investigate. I''m even risking being close to a Flame Wailing Dragon, so let me know what''s going on..."


    The Mirror Person crossed his arms and said indifferently, "It''s not some unspeakable secret; just listen when we meet Xue Jing."


    At that moment, the silently flying Night Hidden Bat returned.


    Upon seeing this, Renea picked up the bowl of water and walked back toward the group.


    The Night Hidden Bat emitted a series of strange rhythmic sounds, and after listening carefully for a while, the middle-aged woman, Tinier, exclaimed,


    "The Flame Wailing Dragon... is dead."


    ...


    "This meat is a bit tricky to handle,"


    Xue Jing furrowed his brows.


    In front of him was a campfire, a few sticks arranged as a makeshift barbecue grill that was placed over the fire, with a piece of bone-picked, blood-drained, seasoning-rubbed Fire Dragon meat on top.


    "It must have been roasting for about half an hour now,"


    Xue Jing held a small stick in his hand and poked the Fire Dragon meat.


    Since he started roasting the meat half an hour ago, the piece had not changed at all.


    "Being a fire-type Dragon Breed, it''s indeed hard to imagine that the meat could be cooked with fire... might as well think of another way to eat it."


    "Maybe this thing, like the Mountain Demon said about the Flame Crab, doesn''t actually need to be cooked, and you can just start munching on it directly?"


    Xue Jing rubbed his chin.


    He took the Fire Dragon meat off the grill, looked at the somewhat tender surface of the meat, hesitated for a moment, and then brought it to his lips.


    Just as he was about to take a bite to try it, his gaze suddenly shifted and he turned to look toward a part of the forest a hundred meters away.


    Now, his sensory acuity was already dozens of times that of a normal person.


    When someone''s gaze directly targeted him, in Xue Jing''s senses, it was as if the intangible thing called ''gaze'' materialized, gliding back and forth across his skin.


    Clearly alarming.


    ...


    "That''s... the Flame Wailing Dragon, how tragic, it''s already dead!"


    In the forest, members of the patrol team from That Country hid behind large trees, looking toward the front where the ground was covered with magma and black soil in the ''battlefield'' with shocked expressions.


    "Who is that man? He seems to be eating... the Flame Wailing Dragon?"


    A somewhat dark-skinned young team member stuttered as he watched Xue Jing, who was roasting the dragon meat.


    "I must be dreaming... The Dragon God''s offspring, Flame Wailing Dragon, has been killed and even eaten."


    Someone covered their head, their eyes unfocused as they murmured to themselves.


    "Captain Ezaki, what should we do now?"


    A female team member swallowed hard, her face full of fear and anxiety as she asked.


    The middle-aged man, Captain Ezaki, looked solemn, took a deep breath, and was about to instruct everyone to covertly retreat.


    A man capable of killing the powerful offspring of the Dragon God single-handedly was an entity beyond his imagination. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whether the other party was from That Country or a foreigner, they were definitely not someone their patrol team could handle.


    It was better to retreat for now and return to report to the Shaman...


    "Whoosh¡ª" Find your next read on m-vle-mpyr


    A straight stick sliced through the air, penetrated a big tree, and embedded itself in a tree trunk right in front of Ezaki, sinking three inches deep.


    He looked at the stick just inches from his head, and cold sweat immediately broke out all over him.


    If it had hit his head, the only result would have been instant death.


    He stepped back two steps and fell to the ground.


    Having narrowly escaped death, his legs grew weak.


    "We''ve... been discovered; what do we do?"


    Seeing this, the patrol team members looked again at the young man roasting the dragon meat and immediately panicked.


    "Calm down, he didn''t attack directly; this was just a warning!"


    Ezaki stood up from the ground, heart pounding as he touched his chest with lingering fear.

 Chapter 255: Chapter 163 From now on, I am the king of this country, who agrees, who opposes? (4K)_2

    On the city walls, at the city gate, and even in the sky nearby, there were people and all sorts of ''Daruka'' engaged in a fierce melee.


    Flames, water streams, poison fog, lightning... chaotic attacks burst forth from various Daruka, crackling loudly, which left Xue Jing stunned.


    "What, did I come at a bad time? Are you conducting a military exercise?"


    Renea covered her mouth, distressed, "Wait... don''t talk to me just yet."


    She was not quite accustomed to the speed and jolting of the Shadowflame lion while Running, which made her feel unwell; she was dizzy and almost vomited.


    After a while, she patted her face, forcibly suppressed the urge to vomit, took a few deep breaths, and managed to recover slightly, then looked toward the city gate.


    "Huh, what''s happening?"


    Renea appeared perplexed.


    Xue Jing shrugged, "You''re asking me?"


    "Everything was fine when I left the house this morning..."


    Renea blinked but soon caught on and frowned.


    "It''s the people from That Country!"


    "That Country has invaded again."


    Xue Jing casually asked, "What, do your two countries have a grudge?"


    Renea nodded, "Yes."


    "This Country and That Country were originally one country, created by the Dragon God Priestess, named ''Dolama''."


    Xue Jing''s gaze sharpened.


    ''Dolama'' in the native language of the Intersecting Boundaries means ''nation'', so the country created by the Dragon God Priestess was named [Nation]...


    That makes sense... if there was only one nation in the world, there wouldn''t need to be more names to distinguish them, simply calling it [Nation] is quite logical.


    "That Country consists of a group of people who do not accept the ''Dragon God creation theory'' from the original ''Dolama''..."


    Renea was about to explain in detail when Xue Jing immediately waved his hand.


    "Let''s skip these old stories for now; I was just asking casually, and we can talk more about it some other time."


    The time was still tight, and he did not want to waste time listening to the inconsequential stories between these two countries.


    After he had killed the Pureblood Dragon Breed, if White Crow became interested in the native culture of the Intersecting Boundaries, they themselves could form an exploration team and ask.


    The pressing matters needed his immediate attention now.


    Xue Jing stood up from the top of the Shadowflame lion''s head, crossed his arms, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked up at the dozen or so Flying Dragons flying above the city gate.


    "Didn''t expect these to slip through the net... That''s right, the captain of the Dragon Hunting Group who gave me the map said they made their living by capturing dragon breeds and selling them to the upper echelons of That Country."


    "Almost missed out, still got a few sheep left unshorn."


    Renea was taken aback, about to speak.


    But at that moment, Xue Jing took a step forward, and like an arrow released from its bow, he dashed toward the city gate below the slope, moving at an unbelievable speed.


    ...


    "No way, we can''t stop them, That Country has brought too many dragons!"


    "All my Daruka are dead... what do we do now?"


    "Damn it, if it weren''t for the fact that our generation''s priestess is that failure... how could we be in this situation!"


    "We should never have let Lady Dottia conduct the sacrificial ritual! If she were still here, how would the despicable people from That Country dare to invade?"


    Facing the onslaught from That Country, the people of This Country were somewhat desperate as they faced defeat after defeat.


    Just then.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    A figure suddenly descended from the sky and landed in the center of the battlefield, making a loud explosion.


    The forceful impact caused a circular wave of dust to spread out from the center, sending mud flying, covering the entire battlefield and obscuring the vision of all the people and Daruka around.


    "What''s happening?"


    "Something fell from the sky! Was it one of the dragons being brought down?"


    In the midst of the dust, Xue Jing, dressed in a black tactical suit, slowly stood up, his gaze turning to the dozen Flying Dragons in the sky.


    "First off..."


    "Let''s round up these ones that got away."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath. Amidst the dragon''s roar, the Extremely Rigid True Dragon was born from within him.


    As soon as it appeared, it immediately shattered, turning into a fine powder-like force, that after Wishful Forming, once again took on the form of a True Dragon.


    It then split into two; one part surged into his blood, igniting Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires, and the other rushed into his muscles, stirring up thunder and lightning.


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s figure disappeared from the spot, and when he reappeared, he was already in the air, face to face with the nearest Flying Dragon.


    Before the Flying Dragon and the soldier from That Country riding it could react, Xue Jing threw a punch, hitting the Flying Dragon squarely on the head.


    Meanwhile, he suddenly had an idea and used the Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength to add a bit of Soft Power into his already formed punch.


    "Pfft¡ª¡ª"


    In the muffled sound, the Flying Dragon, without uttering a word, was sent flying backward, and the man from That Country on its back was also flung off.


    While flying backward, the Flying Dragon''s entire body began to swell crazily, like boiling hot water, forming countless large blisters. As it collided with another Flying Dragon, its body burst open, spraying flesh and bones all over the sky.


    The Flying Dragon that was hit also, like the first, was sent flying backward, its body swelling, and as it hit another Flying Dragon, it too exploded.


    This scene repeated over and over, one Flying Dragon exploding and colliding with another, and in just a short while, ten Flying Dragons had exploded and died in succession.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang bang¡ª¡ª"


    The continuous explosions and the sky full of blood mist and flesh put everyone on the battlefield in a state of shock.


    Everyone stared blankly at the scene in the sky, eyes vacant, motionless.


    It was not fear or shock, but complete incomprehension.


    Now, what was happening in front of them was beyond their wildest imaginations.


    Why can someone jump so high?


    Why can someone punch a dragon and send it flying?


    Why did the punched dragon explode?


    Why did another dragon explode after being hit by another dragon?


    They did not understand at all, they could not comprehend, they were utterly clueless. Discover what''s next on m-vl-em,py-r


    Xue Jing gently landed on the ground, looked at the result of his punch, and nodded slightly, quite satisfied.


    "This move, let it be called¡ª''Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron¡¤Hu Chuan''."


    He looked towards the few remaining Flying Dragons and snapped his fingers.


    A black airflow twisted around him, turning into the Dark Flame, forming a giant figure in armor that had only the upper body.


    The giant held a black colossal bow, poised with an arrow drawn back, and several black arrows appeared on the bowstring.


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh¡ª¡ª"


    The arrows flew out, accurately piercing through the necks of the remaining Flying Dragons in the sky, bringing them down killed.


    The giant then turned around, swinging a giant fist backward at the stupefied soldiers of That Country and the Darukas on the ground.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    With one swipe of the giant fist, a huge wave of dust rose, sweeping all the soldiers and Darukas within range, throwing them dozens of meters away.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª¡ª"


    The booming sounds were endless, and the people of This Country all stood at the gateway, watching in a daze as the giant god relentlessly crushed mortals.


    The soldiers of That Country started crying and screaming, hating that they only had two legs, desperately fleeing from the terrifying black giant.


    Before long, all the dust settled. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Shadowflame Giant turned into Dark Flame and gradually dissipated, and Xue Jing himself slowly stepped out from the flames.


    His figure, as if emerging from the depths of hell.


    Looking at that figure wrapped in black flame robes, godlike and devilish, the people of This Country immediately came to their senses and fell to their knees without hesitation, bowing their heads respectfully to the ground.


    Including all the Darukas, every living creature in front of Xue Jing kneeled down en masse.


    In the quiet atmosphere, the huge city gate slowly opened, making a creaking sound.


    About a dozen people, clearly more elegantly dressed than the others, walked out from the city.


    All of these people were male, with the youngest looking to be over forty years old, most of them grey-haired and elderly.


    Trembling, they approached Xue Jing.


    The leader of the group cautiously said, "I am the Great Elder of the Elders Council of This Country, may I ask who you are..."


    Xue Jing glanced at him but said nothing.


    Then, atop the hill, the Shadowflame Lion carrying Renea made a few leaps and quickly arrived beside Xue Jing, crouching down.


    Renea slid off the Shadowflame Lion somewhat unsteadily, hesitated for a moment, touched her chest, took a while to suppress the feeling of nausea, and then slowly approached Xue Jing, standing half a step behind him.


    Under everyone''s astonished gaze, Xue Jing slowly spoke:


    "Renea, from now on, you will help me with translations."


    "Tell them."


    His tone was completely flat.


    "¡ªFrom now on, I am the king of this country."


    "Who agrees, who opposes?"


    ...

 Chapter 256: Chapter 164: Plant Pact Lv6, Nice Weather, Perfect for Slaying the Dragon (4K)

    In the city of That Country, there was a considerably large, open, circular square.


    This square was shaped like a circle with a multitude of ancient-looking, time-weathered, green stones placed around its edge, each stone engraved with different mysterious characters.


    In the very center of the square stood a stage constructed of wood.


    At this moment, Xue Jing was sitting there in a dominating posture.


    Beneath him was an old wooden chair woven from branches and vines.


    Looking down at the citizens of That Country, who were busy moving various sacrificial items and laying them out on the square, Xue Jing yawned.


    The sudden invasion by That Country had done him a small favor, allowing him to display his personal combat strength directly in front of the Elders Council of This Country without needing any other reason.


    Afterward, things became quite simple. Once he had Renea translate that sentence for him, there was silence for a while, but nobody dared to stand up and object.


    The people of the Elders Council acknowledged a hero when they saw one and knelt down, submitting to him and welcoming this outsider as the new king of This Country.


    Xue Jing had no desire to play emperor, so he ordered the Dragon God worshipping ceremony to be held immediately to summon the Pureblood Dragon Species.


    Normally, this proposal would have to go through a vote by the Elders Council, with approval required by over two-thirds of the members, and after the decision to hold the ceremony was made, they would inform the Shaman, who would conduct a ceremony to ask the First Generation Shrine Maiden for permission. Once granted, they would then select a day...


    Anyway, it was very complicated.


    But however traditional or complex the rules might be, under the pressure of absolute martial force, there wasn''t anything that couldn''t be compromised...


    Under Xue Jing''s "skipped" guidance, all processes were abbreviated, and the construction of the altar began immediately, expected to be ready by noon the next day to hold the ceremony to summon the Dragon God.


    Since Xue Jing was not familiar with how to build an altar, he couldn''t help and instead sat idly on the throne, acting as a ''supervisor''.


    Out of boredom, he opened his panel for a look.


    [Divinity held: 1271]


    After killing those dozen or so Dragon Breeds from That Country, although each was quite weak and did not provide much Divinity, the small amounts added up to a considerable total of over five hundred Divinity.


    With the over seven hundred he already possessed, the amount of Divinity he now held had returned to the thousands.


    "How much Divinity have I gained since entering the Intersecting Boundaries?" Xue Jing wondered, reminiscing a little.


    He had upgraded Shadow Flame by one level, which cost twelve hundred Divinity.


    Plant Pact had been upgraded three levels, totaling to sixteen hundred Divinity.


    The two amounted to two thousand eight hundred, plus the current one thousand two, minus the five hundred provided by the Mirror Person...


    Up till now, this Intersecting Boundary had provided him with nearly three thousand five hundred points of Divinity...


    About the yield of seven Divine Relics!


    Plus, the steady stream of combat against various Dragon Breeds had yielded a wealth of regular skill Experience Points...


    "This is a bit like taking off," Xue Jing mused.


    All that remained was the final Pureblood Dragon Species.


    He wondered how much Divinity it could provide if he could kill it?


    Or perhaps... what he could gain wasn''t just limited to Divinity. Find new adventures on m,vl-em|p-yr


    As Xue Jing pondered, Renea, who stood by his side like a Shrine Maiden, spoke softly:


    "Your Majesty."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing came back to his senses, glanced at her, and waved his hand, saying: S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What ''Your Majesty''... Just keep calling me Xue Jing, Renea."


    Renea pouted and said, "Your identity has already been confirmed by the Elders Council and written into the ''Code of Law''...


    "If I am too informal, the Elders Council would take issue with it."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "But you are my personal translator, my only channel of communication. Would they dare to take liberties with you?"


    Renea didn''t immediately grasp the meaning of ''ÎÒ'', but when the simultaneous translation earpiece received such a difficult word to translate, it quickly explained to her the specific meaning.


    It was a self-reference used by emperors and rulers.


    Renea retorted, "It seems you''re getting into the role quite quickly."


    After a pause, she continued, "Maybe it''s just inertia... Because I''ve been called ''the most useless Shrine Maiden in history'', unable to tame even a single dragon, they have always been commanding towards me like this, and even now, they still look down on me."


    Xue Jing laughed softly and said:


    "Don''t worry, probably after tomorrow, you''ll no longer be ''the most useless Shrine Maiden in history'', but ''the most legendary Shrine Maiden in history''."


    Renea fell silent for a moment, her eyes shining with resolve as she spoke softly:


    "What do you need me to do?"


    Xue Jing reached into his Tactical Suit pocket and pulled out four... no, three and a half Serpent Slayer Spearhead claws.


    After a moment''s thought, he put two back and handed only the two intact ones to Renea.


    "When the ritual succeeds and summons the Dragon God, find an opportunity to drive these two claws into its body."


    Renea took the two claws, which for some reason made her heart race, and asked, "Where should I strike?"


    The Mirror Person in Xue Jing''s bracelet spoke up, "Anywhere will do... but the torso or head would be best."


    As Renea''s fingers caressed the two beautifully shining silver-white claws, she asked in doubt:


    "But... with my strength, it can''t be possible to harm the Great Dragon God, right?"


    Xue Jing replied, "Just stab it, and don''t think about anything else."


    Renea fell silent again, then spoke with a hint of dejection:

 Chapter 257: Chapter 164: Plant Pact Lv6, Nice Weather, Perfect for Slaying the Dragon (4K)_2

    ```


    "Then... will I die?"


    Attacking the Dragon God at close range... Regardless of what happens to the Dragon God after the attack, her own fate seemed quite obvious.


    Would she die?


    Xue Jing didn''t answer immediately but pondered for a moment before replying earnestly,


    "I can''t guarantee that to you, Renea."


    "Your actions are very dangerous, and I would not deceive you about that."


    "You might die, or you might not... The probability of death is much greater than that of survival."


    "All I can say is, I will do my utmost to protect your safety wherever possible."


    "What you are about to do is indeed that dangerous."


    Xue Jing reached out and gently touched her head, saying softly,


    "If you are afraid, you can refuse this mission; you shouldn''t feel burdened, it''s only human."


    Renea was stunned, somewhat lost in thought.


    A glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, and she murmured, "Why, why don''t you lie to me and say it''s not dangerous?"


    "Why don''t you threaten me, force me to do this?"


    Hearing this question, Xue Jing couldn''t help but give a wry smile.


    "...I''ve not fallen so low as to deceive and coerce a young girl."


    He paused, continuing gently, "Our partnership is based on mutual willingness, an equal cooperative relationship. Besides that, you are my friend; I would not do such a thing to you."


    Renea''s eyes lit up, "What if I choose to refuse?"


    Xue Jing laughed, "Then I will go and slay the Dragon God by myself."


    Renea''s eyes shone even brighter, "Without my help, it will be very difficult for you, right?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "Honestly, yes."


    "If you do not help me, the probability of killing the Dragon God will be very low... close to impossible."


    Renea''s voice trembled slightly, "Is it impossible without me?"


    Xue Jing said solemnly, "It is impossible without you, only you can help me, only you can do it."


    Tears suddenly slid down the corners of the girl''s eyes.


    "Only I can do it..."


    "After hearing such words, how can I refuse..."


    The girl, labeled as the ''most useless'' shrine maiden in history, for the first time in her life felt her self-worth affirmed.


    ...


    "Were you acting just now? Were you deceiving her?"


    In the valley, Xue Jing strolled, searching for the Dragon Thunder Plant.


    The dozen or so Dragon Thunder Seeds he had were almost destroyed in the deadly fight with the third Guardian Dragon; facing a Pureblood Dragon Species, he needed to collect even more.


    In response to Mirror Person''s question, Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "Why do you ask? Do I look like I was acting?"


    After a moment of silence, Mirror Person shook their head, "You don''t seem to be acting, but I feel that this child is very good at acting."


    "...I''m just purely curious whether you intentionally played the emotion card to make her volunteer?"


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing said, "A third of it was intentional I suppose."


    "I did feel that saying it that way would touch her, prompting her to volunteer for the task."


    "...However, not a single word I said was a lie."


    "If she''s unwilling, I wouldn''t force her; this is a partnership based on mutual consent and willingness."


    "I need to slay the Dragon God, and she does too. Given that we both need this outcome, I merely gave her a small nudge."


    Xue Jing squatted down in front of a golden crown of flowers, his fingers gently touching the petals, imprinting them with a Pact Seal.


    "If after all this, Renea still decides to refuse out of fear,"


    "then it only shows that her courage only extends so far. Such a person, I wouldn''t trust to hand over a crucial ''claw'' to..."


    With a sigh, Mirror Person said, "You are very mature... not like a child."


    Xue Jing put the golden seed into his pocket and laughed, "Is that a compliment?"


    Continue exploring at m|vl-em,py-r


    ```


    The Mirror Person folded his arms across his chest, not responding verbally but instead glanced at the glasses Xue Jing wore and teased,


    "Actually, you have a much simpler method to make her wholeheartedly do things for you."


    Xue Jing obviously understood what it meant but simply shook his head, saying,


    "If it really becomes necessary, I won''t be stingy in using this face."


    "The premise is that it really becomes necessary."


    The Mirror Person snorted lightly, teasing, "Did I ever talk about your face? You really love yourself."


    ...


    All day long, Xue Jing had been collecting Dragon Thunder Plant seeds throughout the territories of the Guardian Dragons.


    The final yield was about twenty-five or twenty-six.


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t collect more, but rather that the limit of the Plant Pact had been reached.


    To contract more seeds, he even used 1200 points of Divinity to upgrade the Plant Pact once again, reaching the same level 6 as Shadow Flame.


    Now, he had thoroughly pushed his strength to the current utmost limit, without a single drop of Ban left.


    By the time he returned to this nation, it was close to noon the following day.


    At this moment, the altar had been completely set up at the plaza.


    All sorts of ritual vessels were placed around the plaza, the meat of numerous creatures, and a variety of local foods, unrecognizable to Xue Jing, served as offerings and filled the now-transformed plaza altar everywhere. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hundreds of citizens of this nation, each dressed in different colored ceremonial garb, were each positioned and ready, waiting for the ceremony to begin.


    Atop the central high platform of the altar, Renea, her face covered in heavy makeup, wore the Shrine Maiden''s ceremonial attire and a splendid ceremonial crown, her hands each holding a hooked-blade-like ritual vessel, sitting quietly on her knees.


    Xue Jing did not enter the city but stood far away on a hillside, looking down at the worship scene below.


    Time slowly passed until, when the sun was directly overhead at noon, the ritual ceremony officially began.


    The Shaman below the platform seemed to be saying something and, after he finished speaking, all the participants of the ritual began their own actions, with Renea also starting to dance gracefully atop the platform.


    As the ceremony progressed, a mysterious and invisible power seemed to be gradually emanating from the altar.


    "BOOM¡ª!!"


    An earth-shattering peal of thunder came, and Xue Jing''s gaze turned toward the center of the Intersecting Boundaries¡ªthe Roaring Great Waterfall.


    Golden giant lightning bolts struck down from the sky incessantly, after which, with some delay, he could hear a thunderous boom.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Under Xue Jing''s watch, a massive shadow shot up from the Roaring Great Waterfall into the sky.


    Its speed was so fast that, due to the distance, it didn''t seem very impressive.


    But the continuous sonic boom screams from its body and the white airwaves spreading along its path of advance all emphasized a fact.


    Xue Jing''s pupils narrowed, "Supersonic..."


    At that speed, he reckoned his body couldn''t endure it just by standing on its back, let alone being hit by something moving at that speed...


    Xue Jing looked closely, his extraordinary vision imprinting the supersonically flying creature clearly in his eyes.


    Without a doubt, it was¡ªa dragon.


    Having entered the Intersecting Boundaries, Xue Jing had already seen quite a few Dragon Breeds, but never had any dragon given him such a strong sense of ''dragonness.''


    It was enveloped in a kind of absolute, domineering aura that overshadowed all other creatures, placing it at the top of the food chain.


    It had an air of natural superiority as if it were destined to be above all other creatures from birth, with no room for doubt, its pride taken to the extreme, its natural authority taken to the extreme.


    The dragon scales, like bark, didn''t have the roughness of the three Guardian Dragons but were finely crafted as if molded attentively by deities, elegant and magnificent.


    Huge wings, streamlined and elongated body, swaying slender tail, as well as two sharp, upward-curving Dragon Horns on the top of its head.


    Around the Dragon Horns wrapped twisting brown branches with beautiful flowers blooming on them, resembling cherry blossoms.


    "That is the Pureblood Dragon Species... a True Dragon," Xue Jing inferred excitedly.


    "Be careful, stick to the plan, and don''t be impulsive," the Mirror Person reminded.


    "Don''t worry," Xue Jing said softly, watching the True Dragon slicing through the air, leaving a trail of sonic booms.


    He took a deep breath, touched the Crouching Rabbit Sword hanging at his waist, and looked up to the sky.


    The cloudless sky featured only one sun at its zenith, casting down strands of sunlight.


    "Nice weather, just right for Slaying the Dragon."


    ...

 Chapter 258: Chapter 165: All-Out, Unreserved Battle (4K)

    The True Dragon, flying at supersonic speeds, covered tens of kilometers in less than two minutes and arrived thousands of meters above the altar in this nation''s airspace.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    The delayed sonic boom caused all the residents of this nation to cover their ears involuntarily.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    Above the sky, the clear day suddenly turned into a sky dense with dark clouds, and the atmosphere darkened. Golden lightning crackled and flickered within the clouds.


    Above the altar, the ritual was still ongoing; Renea continued the relentless Kagura Dance on the platform, while the Shaman chanted the prayers below.


    Xue Jing, with arms crossed, stood on a distant hillside, quietly observing the scene, silently waiting.


    "Glug¡ª¡ª"


    In the center of the thick clouds, a circular hole slowly opened.


    The majestically perfect form of the immense True Dragon, with an air of absolute dominance, flapped its wings and slowly descended.


    Upon seeing the supreme and noble figure, every citizen of this nation, regardless of their prior thoughts, appeared extremely fervent in their worship, solemnly kneeling down, prostrating themselves, and chanting the prayers they knew by heart to welcome this creator Dragon God.


    Renea, seeing the Dragon God slowly descending towards her, couldn''t help but take a deep breath and touched the two "claws" hidden in her waistband.


    Her heart was now beating so fast she doubted it would leap out of her mouth the next second.


    Nervous, limbs weak, an immense pressure, constantly getting closer with the Dragon God, nearly crushed her to the ground.


    "I can''t do it without you, only you can achieve this, only you can help me."


    Xue Jing''s gentle yet solemn words echoed in her mind, and after stiffening for a moment, Renea felt the pressure miraculously ease a lot.


    With impeccable etiquette, she kneeled down before the descending Dragon God, showing the Shrine Maiden''s submission to the deity.


    The wings, flapping violently, stirred the wind, fluttering her loose Shrine Maiden attire and her shoulder-length brown hair waved with the breeze, while the ritual crown on her head shook continuously.


    "Hush¡ª¡ª"


    As the Dragon God''s feet gently touched the ground, all beings within this nation knelt down, none daring to make the slightest sound, and the entire city fell into an eerie silence.


    With its feet gripping the platform on the altar, the Dragon God''s dark golden vertical pupils gazed at the kneeling Shrine Maiden, its head slowly stooped down, approaching her.


    "Hmm¡ª¡ª"


    A deep, engine-like rumble emitted from the Dragon God''s throat. Its long neck circled around the Shrine Maiden on the ground, scrutinizing her carefully, its gaze slightly narrowed.


    Then, the Dragon God abruptly lifted its forepaw, grabbed the Shrine Maiden in its hand, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky, pulling a trail of sonic booms as it returned to Roaring Great Waterfall.


    This was an outcome that surprised no one; each face revealed a "just as expected" expression.


    The most useless Shrine Maiden in history naturally could not earn the Dragon God''s approval; her only fate was to be captured back to the Holy Land''s Roaring Great Waterfall, to serve the Dragon God for life.


    The aged Shaman beneath the altar platform sighed deeply, his face full of worries.


    "What now... The Shrine Maiden did not leave any offspring; will the lineage of Dragon God Priestesses end with this generation?" Explore uncharted tales at m-vlem|p-yr


    "Had I known, even if she was still young, I should have..."


    ...


    On the hillside, Xue Jing watched the True Dragon surge back into the sky, clearly seeing Renea in its clutches.


    "Very well, let''s follow them."


    Xue Jing''s eyes slightly narrowed; the ground beneath his feet exploded, and he instantly vanished from the spot, racing towards Roaring Great Waterfall.


    As he raced, he watched the True Dragon, much faster than him, continuously increasing the distance between them and said:


    "Using the Dragon Species Force Field to protect Renea, shielding her from the damage of supersonic wind pressure, this Pureblood Dragon Species is quite considerate towards her."


    Mirror Person hummed: "Pureblood Dragon Species have always viewed other creatures disdainfully, almost like ants. This scene is rare... I wonder what story the First Generation Shrine Maiden had with it, to make it still willing to ''accommodate'' her descendants."


    The True Dragon''s flight speed far outstripped Xue Jing''s running speed; in no time, it had left his sight.


    Xue Jing was not anxious, though; he continued at full speed while constantly adjusting his mind and body to face the imminent great battle in the most perfect condition.


    In intermittent casual conversations with Mirror Person, he crossed tens of kilometers and arrived at the very center of Intersecting Boundaries¡ªthe ''Roaring Great Waterfall''.


    "Boom, boom, boom¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing, looking at the scene before him, was somewhat shocked.


    The silvery waterfall, like a giant dragon, cascaded from a sky-high peak, making a deafening explosive noise, nearly resembling thunder.


    It was an endless, furious flow of water, truly a silver river falling from the sky.


    At a glance, it was nearly two thousand meters wide, and looking down from the cliff, the height, obstructed by the dense spray formed by shattering water droplets, was obscured from view by the thick mist.


    But at least, it was also over three thousand meters high.


    "This small piece of Intersecting Boundaries can hold such a big scenic spot."


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the cliff''s edge.


    "That Dragon Breed is right inside the cave behind the waterfall."


    "Now, we wait."


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 Chapter 259: Chapter 165: An All-Out, Unreserved Battle (4K)_2

    "I hope Renea can succeed, and I hope she survives."


    The Mirror Person said, "It seems you gave her a Dragon Thunder Plant seed, didn''t you?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "That is a tree species... Once the True Dragon''s claws touch it, there will inevitably be a major commotion." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "When that happens, I''ll immediately control the seed to form a root bulb sphere, enclosing her within to keep her as safe as possible."


    The Mirror Person hummed in acknowledgment, "Next, it''ll depend on whether her fate is tough enough."


    "Wait, and keep hope alive."


    ...


    In the center of the cliff at the Roaring Great Waterfall, inside the huge Water Curtain Cave.


    Renea was released from the claws of the True Dragon, and because of the True Dragon''s immense size, she fell from a height of tens of meters, watching helplessly as she plummeted toward the ground.


    Believing she would die before accomplishing her mission, Renea was terrified, but then realized she had fallen into a soft embrace.


    Before she could calm her startled spirit, she looked up and suddenly exclaimed with joy:


    "Sister!"


    The person who caught and held her was her sister, the former Dragon God Priestess¡ªDottia.


    "Renea, why are you here? Who let you conduct the ritual?"


    Dottia held Renea''s face, her voice filled with both joy and urgency as she asked.


    She resembled Renea closely, with shoulder-length hair and slightly dusky, smooth skin, but differed in that her breasts were much more developed than Renea''s, giving off a strong maternal aura.


    It was these perfectly matched ''airbags'' that allowed Renea a safe landing from the air.


    With her face gripped, Renea spoke in a muffled voice: "It''s a long story..."


    Dottia softly said, "Then we''ll talk about it later."


    After speaking, she led Renea toward the Dragon God, and both of them knelt on the ground, reverently saying:


    "Great Dragon God..."


    The True Dragon, with its bark-like scales, glanced at them, ignored them, turned around, and went deep into the cave to lie down, half-closing its vertical pupils as if to rest.


    Renea was about to rise, but Dottia held her down, and the two continued kneeling on the ground.


    Only after about ten minutes, realizing that the Dragon God had no reaction, did Dottia finally relax. She stood up with Renea, holding her hand, and they quietly retreated to the mouth of the Water Curtain Cave.


    "Great Dragon God has a very bad temper, you must be very careful living here..."


    Dottia earnestly advised Renea.


    But immediately, Renea shook her head, speaking softly: "Sister, let me tell you about what has happened outside..."


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    Dottia paused, then nodded, earnestly starting to listen.


    Renea recounted everything from the beginning, how after inheriting the role of priestess, she had failed to tame even a single dragon and was considered the most useless priestess in history, narrating the events of the recent times.


    After listening, Dottia''s mouth hung open in disbelief: "It''s really that way... That foreigner, did he kill all the dragons, including the Three Nobles!?"


    Renea nodded affirmatively, saying: "He''s very strong, incredibly strong!"


    "That''s also why I conducted the ritual and came to the side of the Great Dragon God... Sister, do you want freedom?"


    Looking at the determined glow in her younger sister''s eyes, Dottia was somewhat spellbound.


    ...


    Before long, the two priestess sisters stood at the cave entrance, looking toward the sometimes visible, sometimes hidden Dragon God deep inside the cave.


    In each of their right hands, they held a silver-white, beautifully sharp claw.


    "... Once we take this step, we can''t turn back, Renea. We''re definitely going to die."


    Dottia''s voice trembled as she spoke.


    In her eyes were three parts fear, three parts excitement, and four parts concern for her sister.


    "It''s okay, sister."


    Renea, on the other hand, seemed very calm.


    She smiled gently at Dottia and said,


    "What difference is there now between us and death?"


    "Freedom and life, if we do nothing, we have neither, let''s take a risk, perhaps we''ll have both."


    Dottia was silent for a moment, then tenderly said,


    "Renea, you''ve become stronger."


    "Let''s go, meet our destiny."


    The two stepped cautiously and silently toward the cave, slowly approaching what seemed to be the slumbering Dragon God.


    Perhaps the Dragon God was truly asleep, not noticing them, or perhaps it detected them but simply did not care what two insignificant ants were up to, so it didn''t bother to open its eyes.


    The Shrine Maiden sisters reached the Dragon God with ease and clearly heard its thunderous, steady breathing.


    The sisters, one standing under the Dragon God''s armpit, the other beside its head, looked at each other, dared not speak, and simply nodded quietly.


    Then, they raised the silvery-white claws in their hands and swung the blades of rebellious faith at the deity they worshiped.


    The moment they raised the claws high, the True Dragon, a race favored by the heavens, received an instinctive intuition warning, causing it to suddenly open its vertical pupils.


    However, perhaps because it had been invincible since birth and had never faced anything threatening, although the True Dragon sensed the danger, its reaction was a moment too late.


    "Hissss¡ª"


    The two silvery-white claws plunged directly into its scales, which were many times harder than steel, like a hot knife through butter, without any resistance.


    Once the claws were inside the True Dragon''s flesh, they seemed to come alive, automatically burrowing deeper.


    "Roar¡ª!!!!"


    A mad, furious roar echoed through the heavens and earth, the entire Water Curtain Cave began to shake violently, the Shrine Maiden sisters'' eardrums were instantly ruptured by the sound waves, blood gushed from their ears, and they passed out.


    Outside, Xue Jing, sitting on the cliff, immediately noticed the commotion.


    He heard the rage and pain in the True Dragon''s roar, his spirit lifted, realizing Renea had succeeded!


    Without any hesitation, he immediately controlled the Dragon Thunder Plant seeds carried by Renea, extending dozens of thick golden roots to wrap around and protect Renea.


    At the same time, he mobilized his Power, channeling Whirlwind Thunder to boost his legs, as he blasted forward, stirring up layers of air waves, sprinting toward the Roaring Great Waterfall.


    "Pfff¡ª"


    As the water burst open, Xue Jing entered the cave, taking in the scene before him.


    The massive True Dragon lay on the ground, writhing like a fish out of water, continuously emitting painful roars, with golden lightning exploding from its body, shattering and piercing everything around it.


    Before it, stood a golden root-formed sphere, somewhat battered by the Dragon Thunder.


    Apart from that, there was a girl who resembled Renea, lying unconscious on the ground, blood oozing from her ears, yet, fortunately, not affected by the Dragon Thunder.


    Xue Jing immediately employed Twin Speed, shot forward, grabbed the girl on the ground, and threw her into the golden wooden sphere.


    The wooden sphere, controlled by him, opened a hole and received the unconscious girl, and then Xue Jing''s right arm ignited with Shadow Flame, transforming into a pitch-black armored giant hand, grabbing the golden wooden sphere and forcefully flung it out of the cave.


    Everything ready, Xue Jing looked towards the irreparable wounds under the flailing giant dragon''s armpit and head, his gaze sharp.


    "You did well, Renea, you defeated your destiny."


    "Now, leave the rest to me."


    Dodging a golden lightning strike, Xue Jing took a deep breath, reached into his pocket of his tactical suit, and pulled out a golden seed, scattering it into the air.


    Countless golden roots, branches, thorns, vines, and flowers twisted and entwined densely around him in the air.


    In the shadows of the cave, dense black currents were drawn and surged towards him, transforming into roaring Dark Flame.


    Intensely concentrated spirit ignited the Life Fire, Divine silver tinged his pupils.


    "Then, let''s begin," Xue Jing murmured softly.


    "With all our might, wits, and bravery exhausted."


    This would be his first battle of truly going all out without reservation in his life.


    "The feat of slaying the True Dragon shall be accomplished by my hands,"


    ...

 Chapter 266: Chapter 168: Explosive Harvest, New Divine Skill, Dragon Cherry Seed! (4K)

    Watching the Crouching Rabbit Sword dissipate with the wind, leaving not even the hilt behind, Xue Jing gently closed his eyes, his body freefalling through the air, plummeting toward the earth.


    The moment he was reborn, Xue Jing suddenly understood the meaning of the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    It wanted¡ªto sacrifice itself.


    To transform from a tangible, perishable blade into an intangible, immortal Sword Intent.


    Xue Jing understood its wish and respected it, transforming its tangible form into one of his Heavenly Saber''s mystic arts¡ªCherry Full Moon.


    The name ''Crouching Rabbit'' originally signified the sinking moon in the west.


    But ultimately, it defied the fate embedded in its name, becoming an eternal, ever-present mystic art in Xue Jing''s hands, never sinking like the full moon.


    This was the first Mystic Art Level martial arts technique that Xue Jing had learned.


    He had not expected that before the Hidden Dragon School''s "Eye-Dotting" technique, he would first obtain the mystic art of the Heavenly Saber.


    "You... you actually didn''t die!?"


    Only now did the Mirror Person, unable to contain his excitement, stand up from Xue Jing''s shoulder.


    "What in the world happened, you really almost scared me to death!"


    Xue Jing smiled, opened his eyes, and casually said:


    "Forgot to tell you, I have a third divine ability... Resurrection Armor."


    Mirror Person: "..."


    "You could''ve mentioned that earlier, dammit!"


    It cursed, utterly exasperated.


    "What''s up with the Heretic God that blessed you, giving you so many unrelated secret techniques. "


    "It really spoils you too much."


    Xue Jing: "That''s how it is with The Chosen."


    Mirror Person shook his head: "Don''t understand." Experience exclusive tales on m v|l -NovelFire.net


    Then it couldn''t help but laugh.


    "But, that''s great... I knew you wouldn''t just stop here."


    "This way, I can also leave the Intersecting Boundaries, and after I go out, I will gain true freedom."


    "We both have a bright future!"


    Xue Jing laughed heartily: "Is that so, congratulations then."


    Killing a monster that was originally deemed impossible to defeat, his heart was also filled with joy at this moment.


    For the Mirror Person, a Divine Relic who had provided him with much information and significant help, Xue Jing was also happy that it could achieve its wish.


    At that moment, the sky over the Intersecting Boundaries suddenly looked like a mirror, filled with dense cracks, emitting cracking sounds. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hm? What''s this?"


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    Mirror Person spoke with a smile: "The Core Creature, the Pureblood Dragon Species you killed, the ''flaw'' that the Mirror World relied on the core had also been shattered by you."


    "This is the phenomenon of ''Reflective Fusion'' being released."


    "If it were a pure Mirror World, it would mean the entire world is breaking apart, but for the Intersecting Boundaries, it will only strip away the specific uniqueness of the Mirror World itself."


    No sooner had its voice fallen than the sky, like a shattered mirror, completely broke apart, scattering numerous light spots.


    However, the Intersecting Boundaries itself underwent no changes.


    But Xue Jing vaguely felt as if some kind of bond that had been entangling him was gradually dispersing.


    "From now on, this Intersecting Boundaries will ''die'', it will no longer have any sudden changes, and it will maintain its original state, letting the creatures within the boundaries develop on their own."


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    The body of the Pureblood Dragon Species fell to the earth, its massive mass raising a cloud of dust like a mushroom cloud.


    Xue Jing, freefalling, followed after it, and just before hitting the ground, he activated several thin plates with the last bit of his Shadow Flame from the Blue Bar to cushion himself, landing steadily.


    Taking a deep breath, Xue Jing excitedly opened his panel.


    First to catch his eye, without a doubt, were the Divine Gains.


    [Killing a divine special creature, Divinity +2568]


    Two thousand five!!


    Xue Jing clenched his fist tightly, trying to suppress his excitement.


    This amount, even for him who had already gained a lot of Divinity in the Intersecting Boundaries, seemed quite massive.


    But he knew this was just an appetizer!


    [... Fitness Experience Points +3039 (Reached limit)]


    [You overcame the crisis of a massive power difference successfully killing a juvenile Pureblood Dragon Species, the sense of accomplishment fills you with unmatched joy, Health Cultivation Experience Value +4060]


    [... Running Experience Value +2930]


    [... Aiming Experience Value +3306]


    [... fighting Experience Points +3658]


    [... Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Experience Points +4681]


    [... Meditative Visualization True Experience Points +3511]


    [You resurrected in a life-or-death fight, marvelled at the spectacle of Cherry Full Moon, and gained a Sudden Enlightenment under the sacrifice of the Crouching Rabbit Sword, Weapon Strike Experience Points +6633]


    [... swimming Experience Points +1566]


    [... Acting Experience Points +1357]


    [Health Cultivation upgraded to Lv10 (278/?)]


    [Meditative Visualization True upgraded to Lv7 (1499/9000)]


    [Weapon Strike upgraded to Lv9 (4888/8000)]


    [swimming upgraded to Lv6 (499/3000)]


    [Acting upgraded to Lv6 (912/3000)]


    [Detection of ''Weapon Strike'' sublimation conditions...]


    [Insufficient conditions, sublimation failed]


    [Sublimation conditions:


    first, ?????


    second, level reached Lv10


    third, required Divinity: 1000]


    A long list of prompts, a massive gain in Experience Points and skill level upgrades, as well as the triggering of the [Weapon Strike] sublimation conditions...


    Like [Fitness] and [Charm Art], there was still a condition completely unknown, unclear how to meet it.


    Xue Jing, not stopping to digest the specific details of his power increase, immediately scrolled down to the end of the panel, his eyes focusing on the Divine Skill section.


    Beneath [Twin Lifes], [Shadow Flame], [Plant Pact], a new skill suddenly appeared!


    [Dragon Horn (Inactive): Divine Skill, Activation Divinity required 2639/500]


    [Conditions met, activate now?]


    [Yes/No]


    Huh? Dragon Horn?


    Xue Jing was slightly puzzled.


    The name felt odd, unlike Twin Lifes, Shadow Flame, Plant Pact which very directly displayed abilities, it wasn''t immediately intuitive what power it possessed.


    Although the relation to ''dragon'' was clear... This was something Xue Jing had anticipated.

 Chapter 267: Chapter 168: Explosive Harvest, New Divine Skill, Dragon Cherry Seed! (4K)_2

    Divine Skills and their sources of acquisition are indeed related... Slaying a Pureblood Dragon Species yielded the [Dragon Horn].


    But all these don''t matter; let''s activate it first.


    Xue Jing clicked [Yes].


    [Activation Successful]


    [Dragon Horn Lv1 (Divinity required to level up: 2139/100)]


    [Effect: Can conjure the horns of a True Dragon]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock conditions: Divinity 2139/2000, reach Lv10)]


    Yet another succession of plain introductions...leaving one utterly clueless about its functions.


    Considering for a moment, Xue Jing directly initiated it.


    "Pili pala¡ª"


    Instantly, sounds of electrical currents came from his forehead, and then, fine silver electric currents slowly appeared and gathered in increasing numbers.


    Amidst the crackling noises, two ''Dragon Horns'' appeared on Xue Jing''s head, resembling frozen silver lightning.


    The two Lightning Dragon Horns were shaped in a ''Z'' pattern, extremely sharp at the tips, surfaces constantly undulating, shimmering with fine silver electric currents, looking incredibly beautiful.


    Xue Jing had a realization in his heart as he stretched his hand towards a large, half-human-high stone on the ground.


    "Zzzzz¡ª"


    Amidst the sound of electric currents, silver lightning shot from his hand onto the stone.


    Instead of disappearing, the lightning wrapped around the stone like chains, one end remaining in Xue Jing''s hand.


    Xue Jing lifted his hand upwards and, after a slight sense of resistance, the stone was directly lifted into the air by his electric chains.


    "Is that¡ª!!"


    The Mirror Person''s eyes widened.


    "How do you still have abilities? No, this is new."


    "Have you acquired another God-Given Secret Art?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Seems like it."


    He withdrew the silver lightning in his hand, and the stone immediately fell back to the ground. Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelFire.net Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So it is, after using [Dragon Horn], I can now wield this silver lightning that influences ''gravity''."


    Xue Jing understood in his heart.


    What he had done just now was not lifting the stone with actual lightning.


    Rather, he had used the lightning to make the stone''s ''gravity'' zero, causing it to float on its own.


    "This is Dragon Thunder!"


    Lightning that affected gravity, a symbol of the Pureblood Dragon Species cherished by the heavens, Dragon Thunder!


    Xue Jing pointed with his finger, and a bolt of silver lightning shot out, striking the large stone.


    "Boom¡ª"


    The stone exploded, shattering into countless fragments.


    "Hmm, the sheer power is not bad either, especially the attack speed is very fast."


    Xue Jing nodded to himself.


    "So, next..."


    Xue Jing looked forward with anticipation. He took a deep breath, the two Lightning Dragon Horns on his head crackling.


    In the next moment, silver thunder enveloped his body, like a silver and white feather belt winding around him, flickering and undulating with the wind, giving him an ineffable aura of Immortality, as if a deity had descended.


    Under the influence of the silver Dragon Thunder, the gravity that had been binding him from birth gradually decreased to nothing, completely freeing him from its restraint.


    And thus, Xue Jing took flight.


    "Flying ability!"


    "Finally acquired!"


    Xue Jing slowly ascended to a height of about a dozen meters, his heart filled with surprise.


    Flying, escaping the bonds of gravity, one of humanity''s ultimate dreams, was realized by him at that moment.


    Without the use of Alien Implants, but purely by his own ability.


    This was something that even the highest levels of Old Martial Arts training could never achieve.


    Although he had previously indirectly gained the ability to move in the air through Shadow Flame, it was nothing compared to true flight.


    This was the ultimate symbol of freedom, a human dream!


    Xue Jing familiarized himself with the effect of the Dragon Thunder on his own gravity in the air, learning how to adjust it to move forward, backward, left, and right...


    Initially, he was quite unfamiliar and controlled it with difficulty, but with his learning capability at that moment, after just ten minutes, he was able to control his direction skillfully, freely flying through the sky.


    "Cool... just a bit slow."


    Xue Jing, at a height of dozens of meters, moved forward at a pace of approximately four or five meters per second.


    This was currently his top speed.


    He opened the panel, switched to the Divine Skill tab, opened [Dragon Horn], and chose to level it up.


    [Dragon Horn Lv2]


    [Dragon Horn Lv3]


    [Dragon Horn Lv4 (Divinity required for upgrade: 1239/800)]


    He had directly upgraded it to Lv4, spending nine hundred points of Divinity.


    The silver Thunder Feather Belt wrapped around Xue Jing crackled loudly, its lightning intensifying, and Xue Jing''s originally sluggish flying speed suddenly accelerated.


    He reached a speed of almost thirty meters per second.


    Although this wasn''t comparable to his running speed on the ground, it was still quite fast, exceeding a hundred kilometers per hour.


    "Let''s leave it at this for now and not hurry to continue upgrading; I''ll save some Divinity for backup."


    Xue Jing, having satisfied his desire to playfully fly, slowly descended from the air.


    Upon touching the ground, he dispersed the silver-white Lightning Dragon Horns on his head into currents of electricity.


    "...To think you''ve been given another God-Given Secret Art from a completely different realm, just what kind of Heretic God do you have?"


    The Mirror Person exclaimed in astonishment.


    "Could it really be as I suspect, an old master who has returned from the ''Great Silence''..."


    Xue Jing was about to speak when his gaze suddenly shifted, looking towards the True Dragon corpse nearby.


    At that moment, the thoroughly mangled True Dragon corpse, covered with countless fine cuts, was slowly collapsing inwards at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes: "What''s going on?"


    The Mirror Person said leisurely, "Don''t worry, it''s already dead."


    "...Pureblood Dragon Species are born from nature itself without parents, and upon death, they naturally return to nature."


    "Its flesh and blood will turn into nutrients that nourish the land. For the next several decades, even a hundred years, this area will be very fertile, and planting anything here will yield a great harvest."


    "Besides, it will leave something behind."


    Xue Jing asked, "What is it?"


    The Mirror Person said, "An egg."


    "It must be a survival instinct remaining even after death. From its corpse, a final Dragon Egg will be born, roughly inheriting its own genes."


    "However, only those Pureblood Dragon Species born from nature count; the Dragon Egg it leaves behind, even if very similar to itself, is just an imitation. Moreover, because it''s nothing but ''Embers'' after death, it''s even a step below the lineage of the Guardian Dragons."


    "The Dragon Egg is your battle trophy, how do you wish to handle it?"


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing smiled and said, "Let''s give it to Renea; I owe her a lot for this time."


    The Mirror Person nodded, somewhat gratified:


    "You''re quite generous... If you were to auction off that Dragon Egg, you''d probably get at least fifty million Zhuxia currency as a starting bid."


    Xue Jing: "?"


    He scratched his head: "Can I take back what I said?"


    The Mirror Person said irritably, "Don''t be so petty, once a word is spoken, it cannot be chased back even with a team of horses."


    Xue Jing laughed: "Just kidding, it''s just fifty million after all."


    He stretched lazily, planning to find a place to take a nap.


    Although he had been fully revived with Twin Lifes and did not feel tired at all,


    the memory of the battle that lasted several hours was still there, and following the inertia of the memory, he felt it was better to rest.


    The last move he made, ''Cherry Full Moon,'' also took a significant toll on his spiritual power, after all, it was a Mystic Art Level technique.


    "Hm? Wait a second, look at its head."


    The Mirror Person suddenly spoke, pointing at the Dragon Horn on the True Dragon''s corpse.


    There were dark branches wrapped around it, but the cherry blossoms that had bloomed on the branches had all withered and decayed.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing had a realization: "Right, I almost forgot about this."


    "This is the real ''battle trophy''!"


    Saying so, Xue Jing reached out to touch the dark branches on the Dragon Horn.


    With a touch, a ''Pact Seal'' was imprinted on the branch.


    Xue Jing checked his panel and saw that the Level 6 Plant Pact, which should have been close to a full Blue Bar due to the previous seeds'' demise,


    had its name dimmed and its Blue Bar consumed by more than half the moment he made a pact with the branches on the Dragon Horn!


    "The more powerful the plant, the greater the consumption."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up as he plucked the branches from the dragon''s head and threw them onto the ground.


    He then snapped his fingers, and the branches immediately took root in place, wriggling and multiplying, and in no time, they grew into a towering black tree dozens of meters tall.


    Countless silver-white cherry blossoms bloomed on its branches, a breathtaking sight to behold.


    A petal fell at a speed of five centimeters per second, landing gently in Xue Jing''s palm.


    "I shall name you¡ª ''Dragon Cherry''."


    Xue Jing murmured softly.


    After finishing, he felt something was amiss.


    Hidden Dragon School, Dragon Horn, Dragon Cherry...


    "Damn, it makes me look like I''m obsessed with dragons, with more than half of my martial arts and skills related to dragons."


    ...

 Chapter 289: Chapter 179 Superstring Entities, the True Face of God, Mother Going Home (4K)

    "Given that, then I''ll take on the task of the examiner."


    Xue Jing said.


    Wu Youqing gave a hum and said, "However, you''ll have to be officially in possession of the examiner''s position more than a month from now, so you still need to be extra careful before then."


    Xue Jing nodded: "I understand."


    After the two chatted for a while about various matters that had happened during this period, Xue Jing asked casually:


    "By the way, dear sister, since you are a Chosen Blessed One... Which Heretic God have you been blessed by?"


    Upon hearing this, Wu Youqing glanced at Xue Jing, drank the last of the tea from her cup, and then poured herself another cup.


    Only then did she speak at leisure:


    "What do you want to know this for?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing smiled and simply said: "I''m curious."


    Thoughtfulness shone in Wu Youqing''s pale purple eyes, and after pondering for a moment, she began:


    "Although it''s still too early for you to be dealing with these matters... listening won''t hurt."


    "Well, in that case, I need to start by telling you about the composition and origin of the universe..."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched: "...no way."


    Wu Youqing looked serious: "That''s the way it is."


    Do I really need to start from Pangu creating the world? Xue Jing scratched his head.


    Wu Youqing stood up, walked to the wall, and tapped on it with the plastic fork in her hand¡ªas if she was a teacher knocking on a blackboard with chalk.


    Seeing her start to get into her teaching play with great interest, Xue Jing sat up straight and also posed as if he were seriously attending a class.


    The wealthy and domineering lady nodded in satisfaction, a smile in her splendid purple eyes.


    "I ask you, what is the smallest unit that composes everything in the world, even the universe itself?"


    She asked in the tone of a teacher.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment and uncertainly said: "Quarks? Quantum?"


    Wu Youqing extended a finger and shook it.


    "No, the smallest unit of the universe, its name is¡ª''string''."


    "String?" Xue Jing was taken aback, then asked:


    "Is this the ''string'' from ''string theory''? Has this theory actually been proven to be true?"


    String theory is a unified field theory that describes the universe.


    The basic premise is that the fundamental elements of the universe are not various point-like particles, but various line-like ''strings''.


    Everything in this world, from constellations, galaxies, and clusters to electrons, protons, and quarks... everything is due to the motion and vibration of ''strings''."


    In Xue Jing''s previous life on Earth, this theory was considered the most promising Grand Unified Theory to explain all problems in physics.


    Wu Youqing said: "It''s somewhat true.


    "The ''string'' I''m talking about does indeed exist, but the one referred to in ''string theory'' is only similar, not the same thing... Think of the ''string'' I''m talking about as something entirely new and don''t link it to ''string theory''."


    Xue Jing nodded: "I''ve understood."


    Wu Youqing began to narrate:


    "The world we live in, this universe, is all made up of these ''Cosmic Strings'', including all the so-called absolute physical laws, all determined by ''Cosmic Strings.''"


    "Therefore, Cosmic String is the theorem of the universe."


    "What is called ''god'' by the most advanced scholars of humanity up to now, has a more accurate name¡ª''Superstring Entities''."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed slightly: "Superstring Entities?"


    He felt that he was beginning to touch upon the deepest secrets of this world.


    Wu Youqing nodded: "Correct... Superstring Entities, as the name implies, you must understand, they are existences that have transcended the binds of ''Cosmic Strings''... They have elevated their Rank, woven themselves into the fabric of Cosmic Strings, becoming a part of the strings, and even started to manipulate ''Cosmic Strings'' themselves."


    "One plus one equals two... This is an absolute truth, the most basic setting of the universe, but these ''Superstring Entities'', can manipulate Cosmic Strings, forcibly altering this theorem."


    Wu Youqing spoke faintly: "Guess what happens if 1+1=2 changes?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, indicating he didn''t know.


    Wu Youqing went to the wooden chair, picked up the small bag on it, opened it, searched for a moment, and took out two one-yuan coins, placing them on the table.


    "These are two coins."


    She placed the two coins together.


    "1+1=2... Two one-yuan coins together make two."


    "But if a ''Superstring Entity'' manipulates the Universe Thread to make it 1+1=3..." Read new adventures at m_v-l''e|-NovelFire.net


    Wu Youqing''s tone remained calm.


    "The two coins would just become three... Is that what you think?"


    Although Xue Jing had guessed some of the consequences, he still nodded along with Wu Youqing.


    "It''s not as simple as that."


    Wu Youqing took out another coin and placed it on the table.


    "If 1+1=3, then two one-yuan coins together would become three yuan, two bombs together would become three bombs."


    "And then... two units of energy together would become three units of energy."


    "That is already enough to cause terrifying consequences, but the truth is even more than that."


    "Because the ''1'' that appears due to equaling 3 is not included in the other universal laws, yet it does indeed exist, and therefore, this 1 will also react and stack with the other two 1''s, creating another 1+1=3, and the newly emerged 1 will continue to add on with the previous ones..."


    "Thus, everything in the universe would expand infinitely in an instant, energy accumulating without limit."


    "In the end, no particle combination in the universe would be able to maintain stable existence, turning into infinitely expanding yet dead silent blocks of energy, leading to the direct collapse of the universe."

 Chapter 299: Chapter 184: Meteor-like Colorful Fireworks, Superhero Xue Jing Makes an Entrance! (6K)

    Upon arriving at the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Xue Jing went straight to the Heart-Nourishing Room.At that time, only Master Li Qi and senior disciple Meng Qingjiao were inside the room.


    Li Qi was instructing Meng Qingjiao about something when he saw Xue Jing enter wearing a rather formal suit and vest. His eyes lit up and he exclaimed,


    "Truly worthy of being my disciple, with those clothes on, you''re nearly a match for the young me."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao''s cool demeanor did not change, merely casting a glance at her own master that was filled with ambiguous meaning.


    As if to say, "Huh?"


    Xue Jing smiled, without fluttering his face, "You''re too modest, Master."


    Li Qi waved a hand, "Let''s not discuss that, did you bring the gift I asked you to deliver?"


    Explore stories on mvl


    Xue Jing nodded and showed the ancient-looking scroll he was holding.


    "Hmm... this time, everyone attending Old Man Zong''s birthday banquet is quite notable in the Wuxing community. Since my legs are not agile enough to attend, the only ones from our dojo who can go are the two of you," said Li Qi.


    "Martial artists often fight and kill, which inevitably leads to many grudges. Among those attending the banquet, several have had frictions with our Hidden Dragon School in the past. While they would give face to Old Man Zong and are unlikely to start trouble at the banquet, you two must still be careful," Li Qi warned.


    "And if someone really causes trouble..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I understand, Master, I''ll just kill anyone who causes trouble."


    Li Qi glared at him, "I haven''t finished talking, why are you being so impulsive? We live in a society governed by law¡ªdo you understand what law is?"


    He waved his hand, "...Try to act in self-defense as much as possible."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Got it."


    Li Qi grunted, then continued, "Also, if you come across someone you can''t beat, just run. There''s no shame in that. Let your eldest senior brother help you recover your dignity later. Don''t lose substance for the sake of appearing strong in the moment..."


    Li Qi issued several more notes of caution, with Xue Jing smiling and nodding in response to each one.


    "...And the real purpose of your visit this time is that little girl Zong Shichan," said Li Qi while stroking his chin.


    "That child has quite extraordinary innate talent. Among all the people I have met, she would rank within the top five."


    "Although due to being a young lady, her Qi Force talents fall short of your eldest senior brother, and her Flexibility is slightly less than Qingjiao''s, she excels in every aspect. Her comprehensive Root Bone quality is second only to yours... She''s a very good fit for the six-sided philosophy of our Hidden Dragon School."


    "This is also why Old Man Zong, despite being angry at the idea of her switching to Hidden Dragon School, does not object to it," he said.


    "Tiger Soul School focuses on mastering Qi Force, which indeed is not very suitable for a young lady''s cultivation and would hardly allow her to realize her full potential."


    "...What do you think? She should make a good disciple, one that won''t shame you," Li Qi suggested, winking and nudging.


    Xue Jing remained indifferent and simply replied, "We''ll see after we meet."


    He wasn''t interested in taking on disciples, so it mattered little to him how talented the other party was. As long as they were obedient and not troublesome, he would give them recognition.


    On the other hand, even if they were the most talented in the world, even stronger than himself, but troublesome in temperament, he would refuse them.


    Li Qi chuckled and waved his hand, "Alright, off you go."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "We''ll be leaving now, Master."


    He turned to Meng Qingjiao and said warmly, "Let''s go, Senior Sister Meng."


    Meng Qingjiao nodded silently and followed Xue Jing out of the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    In the dojo''s corridor, Xue Jing glanced sideways at Meng Qingjiao walking quietly beside him.


    As they were going to attend the birthday banquet, she was not wearing her usual black Training Garment but a rather figure-hugging black long dress.


    In terms of style, it was quite conservative, very low in terms of exposure, merely revealing a little bit of her collarbone.


    But... as long as the stunning "World Cup" was present, even if she just casually threw a sack over herself, it would still be top-tier uniform temptation.


    At this moment, walking down the corridor with each step, the "World Cup" would gently sway, which, in stark contrast, made her slender waist and full hips unusually prominent, almost breathtaking.


    Xue Jing prided himself on not having a keen interest in carnal desires. As his strength increased, his tolerance grew, and it was rare for anything to make him waver.


    But with Senior Sister Meng... every time he was near her, Xue Jing dared not look at her directly.


    It was a kind of bashful feeling akin to an adolescent boy newly aware of gender differences who wouldn''t dare to look directly at a beautiful girl...


    Of course, such ''mental pressure'' was hardly anything to him and he could easily suppress it with his robust consciousness.


    With an unaffected face, he smiled at Meng Qingjiao and said,


    "Senior Sister, you''re usually so busy. How come you have time to attend the banquet today?"


    Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao turned her head to glance at him. Her cool and pretty face remained unchanged, only a hint of dewiness appeared on the corner of her mouth.


    "Tsk tsk¡ª"


    She reached out with the back of her hand to wipe away the dewiness from the corner of her mouth.


    Xue Jing blinked, "...Oh, I see."


    He nodded, "That''s true, after all, it''s a seventieth birthday celebration. There will surely be many delicacies at the banquet that you don''t see every day..."


    At that moment, Meng Qingjiao reached out and gently tugged at the hem of his clothing.


    Xue Jing turned to look, only to see Meng Qingjiao holding up her phone, flipping the screen to show him.


    It was a page in a notebook, with a few words written on it.


    [And also, to protect you.] sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing paused for a moment, then looked directly into Meng Qingjiao''s seemingly emotionless, pure, and clear beautiful eyes.

 Chapter 305: Chapter 186: Solution, Harvest, Apprentice (4K)

    The burning colorful fireworks slowly dissipated.Xue Jing clenched his fist and nodded.


    Although it was the first time he had used this move in the real world, he felt the effect was quite good.


    Flame Color Chain - Burning Wheel, this was one of the results he had achieved during his recent Consciousness Simulation.


    The term ''Burning Wheel'' was an ancient name for a whirlwind, used to refer to the Hidden Dragon School''s deadly move ''Whirlwind Thunder''.


    Fusing the Heavenly Sabre''s technique Flame Color Chain with the Hidden Dragon School''s Whirlwind Thunder... this method of combining moves from two different martial arts systems to create a new technique was practically an impossible feat.


    Just think about it, even the five highly compatible deadly moves within the Hidden Dragon School itself are so difficult to combine, let alone moves from completely incompatible schools of thought.


    But Heaven''s Will Saber was an exception... because it belonged entirely to the spiritual level, unrelated to the physical body, relying solely on spiritual power.


    It might not even be considered a school, merely an ''artistic conception''.


    This gave Xue Jing room to exploit.


    Intervening in personal reality with spiritual power, executing Flame Color Chain while the body also operated in sync, condensing Power and performing Whirlwind Thunder.


    This was a very difficult task because controlling the body also required the control of the spirit and consciousness, especially when performing complex moves like deadly techniques, which required considerable focus.


    This was not as simple as doing different things with each hand.


    It was like doing mental arithmetic, using your mind to simultaneously solve two complex advanced mathematics problems.


    Extremely difficult... but with the increasingly robust spiritual power from Visualization True, he had succeeded.


    He was quite satisfied with the results too, possessing both the terrifying burst speed of Flame Color Chain and the powerful attack of Whirlwind Thunder.


    There was even a subtle mutual enhancement, with both speed and power exceeding the original two deadly techniques.


    The first time it was used in actual combat, it had achieved remarkable results, instantly defeating the four Direct Disciples of the Golden Wind Dojo.


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    Xue Jing adjusted his slightly disheveled vest.


    After all, it wasn''t the most suitable clothing for intense activities; now two of the buttons at his collar had popped off, revealing a delicately shaped collarbone, creating a sense of disheveled elegance.


    He stepped forward, leaping back to the rooftop where Meng Qingjiao and Zong Shichan were, and took out his phone from his pocket.


    He opened the contacts, found Ning Yuantai, and pressed the call button with one hand while holding down Zong Shichan''s head with the other as she lunged to hug him.


    "Master!! I respect your boundless wisdom!"


    Zong Shichan''s delicate little face was flushed, and admiration almost seemed to spill out of her eyes.


    Xue Jing, while holding her back, casually said, "I know, don''t fuss." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The phone had barely started ringing, just a single tone, when it was immediately answered.


    "Xue, are you looking for me?" Ning Yuantai''s respectful voice came from the handset.


    "Yuantai, I''ve caught the Skin-Peeler, come over," Xue Jing said.


    "Ah?"


    On the phone, Ning Yuantai was taken aback.


    After a while, he hastily replied, "I''m on it, as expected of you! I''ll be there shortly!"


    Xue Jing hummed affirmatively and said, "I''m currently on... actually, I don''t know where this is, just check my location. I''ll wait for you on the rooftop of this building."


    After a few more words, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    Then he handed the phone to Zong Shichan.


    "Call your grandpa."


    Zong Shichan''s eyes lit up, she took Xue Jing''s phone in her hand, pressing it against her cheek with an enraptured expression.


    "A phone that Master has always carried with him..."


    "Sniff sniff... so fragrant, it has Master''s scent."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He formed the gesture of flicking with his finger, giving the little girl a flick on her forehead.


    Zong Shichan winced in pain, quickly rubbing her forehead, and tearfully looked at Xue Jing, "Master, why~"


    Xue Jing pinched her soft cheek with two fingers, "You little pervert, are you into objectophilia or what?"


    "Ouch ouch ouch ouch..." Zong Shichan yelled.


    After Xue Jing let go, she touched her now swollen cheek, not pleased, "Please correct your statement immediately, I''m not a pervert or objectophilic. I just genuinely like Master!"


    "If I could smell Master directly, I wouldn''t need to smell Master''s phone. It''s a matter of principle!"


    Xue Jing suddenly had a face of ''old man on the subway with a phone.jpg''.


    He bounced the little girl''s head like spinning a basketball and teased, "You little rascal, you''re not old but you sure do talk a lot. You''ve been surfing the Internet quite a bit, huh?"


    "Don''t press the phone against your face, it might look clean, but it''s never been washed or disinfected, it''s filthy."


    Zong Shichan giggled, looking to embrace him, "Then I''ll just press it up against Master himself!"


    Xue Jing pressed against her head, keeping her at bay, and said indifferently:


    "Cut it out, hurry up and call your grandpa to let him know you''re safe."


    "Alright..." Zong Shichan pouted, took the phone, and opened the dial screen.


    She was about to enter the number, but suddenly her hand froze.


    She said awkwardly, "... I don''t know my grandpa''s phone number."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I thought as much. You don''t look very bright. It''s normal for you not to remember the number."


    Zong Shichan retorted, "That''s not it. I just haven''t memorized it. If it was Master''s number, I''d definitely remember it!"


    Xue Jing laughed, "Pretty sly for your age."


    He took the phone back from the little girl, thought for a moment, and called Li Qi.


    "Hello, Master..."


    After connecting, Xue Jing briefly explained what had happened, asked Li Qi to inform the Tiger Soul Dojo so they wouldn''t worry, and said they would bring Zong Shichan back soon before hanging up the phone.

 Chapter 306: Chapter 186: Solution, Harvest, Apprentice (4K)_2

    And just then, a prompt popped up on the panel.[Divine Absorption complete] S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Divinity held: 2133]


    ''Nearly five hundred points of Divinity... a decent haul.''


    Xue Jing nodded.


    The reserve of Divinity surged past two thousand points, enough to upgrade Shadow Flame to the next level at level 6.


    But he wasn''t sure yet how he wanted to use it, so he decided to set it aside for now.


    Xue Jing also glanced at his Experience Points gain.


    [...Health Cultivation Experience Value +806]


    [...Running Experience Value +768]


    [...Aiming...][...fighting...][...Combat Skills...][...Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength...][...Visualization True...]


    Although the fight ended in an instant, it was still real combat, and the opponent was fairly strong, so the gains were substantial, with [fighting] and [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength] nearly leveling up.


    Turning off the panel, Xue Jing was in a great mood, and even found the annoying little girl Shichan much more pleasing to the eye.


    He joked around with her for a while, and about twenty minutes later, the sound of a helicopter''s rotors ''tak-tak-tak-tak'' came from the sky.


    The rooftop of this tall building was quite spacious, allowing the helicopter to land directly in front of Xue Jing, the airflow from the rotors blowing his hair back sleekly.


    The cabin door opened, and Ning Yuantai jumped down from the helicopter, running over to Xue Jing and quickly greeted:


    "Xue!"


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded at him, then pointed to a young man with dark circles under his eyes, still unconscious on the ground.


    "This is the Skin-Peeler."


    As he spoke, Xue Jing took a matchbox from his bosom, handing it to Ning Yuantai.


    "Found it on him."


    Ning Yuantai took it and said curiously, "So this is GOD-1291..."


    "I heard that after lighting a match from GOD-1291, since everyone''s perception and definition of beauty are different, the ''little girl'' they see is always different, but without exception, it will make the user become deeply obsessed..."


    "I don''t even know what kind of ''little girl'' I would see if I lit it..."


    Xue Jing laughed, "Now that you mention it, I''m a bit curious too... Why don''t you try it first?"


    Ning Yuantai hastily shook his head and waved his hands, "Xue is joking, of those who have ignited GOD-1291, none have successfully quit; I, a mere small potato, dare not..."


    As he spoke, he directed several crew members who had disembarked from the helicopter to inject an unknown serum into the young man with dark circles, then carried him onto the helicopter.


    After seeing that, Xue Jing casually asked, "What is that?"


    "Muscle relaxant... a special formulation." Ning Yuantai explained.


    "Handcuffs and the like don''t really restrain Martial Artists, so when we capture a Martial Artist, we administer a dose of this to them. Unless it''s a Breakthrough level Grandmaster, one jab and they won''t even be able to open their mouth."


    As he said this, Ning Yuantai walked to the edge of the rooftop, looking down towards the main street below.


    At that moment, the sound of various fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances could be heard, and the road was completely clogged with vehicles and onlookers.


    The large man-sized hole in the ground, broken trees, and bodies pierced through, alongside several buildings that had been penetrated, made Ning Yuantai exclaim:


    "Quite an intense fight, Xue."


    Xue Jing smiled, "You''ll have to explain things to the Qingcheng government on my behalf."


    Ning Yuantai replied, "No problem."


    Xue Jing acknowledged, "Alright, then that''s it. I''ll hand him over to you, I have other matters to attend to, so I must leave."


    Ning Yuantai nodded sincerely, "Xue, thank you for this time, I will request a reward for you from Cease-Blades!"


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "It was nothing much...But I still want the reward, preferably a Divine Relic."


    Ning Yuantai laughed, "I understand, your preference for Divine Relics is well-known throughout the Special Duty Department."


    As he spoke, he handed the matchbox back to Xue Jing, "Oh right, Xue, this war trophy is yours to dispose of as you wish."


    Xue Jing took it, raising his eyebrows, "What, no need to bring it back as evidence?"


    Ning Yuantai waved his hand, "No need, my word is evidence enough... Don''t get me wrong, it''s not about my family background, it''s purely because of my personal credibility."


    ...


    The helicopter ''tak-tak-tak-tak''ed away, and Xue Jing looked at the matchbox in his hand.


    The divinity of this thing has been completely absorbed by him, it''s of no use to keep it; he didn''t know what to do with it.


    "Hmm, I''ll take the opportunity to give it to Youqing A Dream."


    He thought to himself, sliding the matchbox into his pocket.


    "Done, senior sister, let''s head back," Xue Jing said with a smile to Meng Qingjiao standing beside him.


    As he spoke, he grabbed Zong Shichan by the collar from behind.


    Zong Shichan''s eyes widened, and she flailed her limbs in the air, struggling: "Master, I request to be carried like a princess!"


    Xue Jing casually said, "You''re not a princess."


    Zong Shichan said with all seriousness, "Because I''m very pretty, everyone at school calls me Your Highness."


    "Save it, Your Highness, I don''t offer that service."


    Xue Jing said indifferently.


    "Master..." Zong Shichan''s eyes shone brightly, her little face flushed with excitement, "Can you call me Your Highness again?"


    "...You little rascal, your skill in climbing the pole has really maxed out."


    ...


    While carrying Zong Shichan, amid the ceaseless chatter of the little girl, Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao returned to the Tiger Soul Dojo.


    Zong Jinkui was walking back and forth anxiously at the entrance with a group of Tiger Soul Dojo disciples. Seeing Xue Jing carrying Zong Shichan back, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Chan''er!"


    He approached Zong Shichan and hurriedly asked, "Are you hurt?"


    Zong Shichan shook her head, happily saying: "I''m fine, Master arrived just in time, Grandfather you listen, Master is super amazing!"


    The little girl began to describe what had just happened, using both hands and feet, focusing on the part where Xue Jing had made his entrance to save her and defeated the disciples of Golden Wind Dojo. However, her limited vocabulary made it somewhat incomprehensible.


    "Master went ''bam'' a cry, ''boom'' everything, those people..."


    Zong Jinkui''s mouth twitched, interrupting her: "Ah, right... Grandfather understands."


    Then, he patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, earnestly saying,


    "Little Jing, I owe you a huge favor!"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Just a fortunate occurrence, a little effort, Old Dojo Master need not worry."


    Zong Jinkui shook his head: "Big favors need no thanks. From now onward, even if I have to climb mountains or go through frying pans, I will repay this kindness."


    Xue Jing said, "Old Dojo Master, you overstate it."


    "Not at all... forget these empty words, we martial artists hold our promises dear, if you ever need anything, just come to me!"


    Zong Jinkui patted his robust chest, his aged and resolute face filled with gusto. Discover hidden content at §Þ??


    "Speaking of which, Little Jing, regarding the matter of Chan''er wanting you as her master... what do you think?"


    Zong Jinkui inquired.


    Hearing this, Zong Shichan immediately cast an expectant look at Xue Jing.


    "Master..."


    "Don''t worry, whether you take Chan''er as your disciple or not, I will still transfer this dojo to Old Man Li. You shouldn''t feel burdened; this small matter is nothing,"


    Zong Jinkui said loudly.


    Xue Jing looked at Zong Shichan.


    Although the little girl was a bit annoying and a bit quirky, she was good-looking and lively, and Xue Jing quite liked her.


    After thinking for a moment, he asked,


    "Shichan, I have only recently started practicing martial arts myself. Just keeping up with my own training is already enough to fill my time... You need to know, if I take you as my disciple now, I won''t be able to teach you anything."


    "All you would gain is merely a nominal title. Even so, do you still wish to take me as your master?"


    Before he had even finished speaking, Zong Shichan had already leapt forward to hug him.


    "Master!"


    She exclaimed joyfully.


    Xue Jing was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and patted her head.


    "Alright then."


    ...

 Chapter 307: Chapter 187: Mystic Art·Vital Point! Pure and extreme lethality, Skill Fusion! (4K)

    With such an incident, the birthday banquet obviously could not continue.After Zong Jinkui explained the situation to all the guests, everyone expressed their understanding and left one after another, with only a few who were extremely close to Zong Jinkui remaining.


    Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were naturally among them.


    What was meant to be a grand birthday banquet turned into a small family feast. While it was somewhat less lively, it became much more comfortable.


    During the meal, Xue Jing also spoke with Zong Jinkui about the Golden Wind Dojo issue.


    Zong Jinkui was extremely angry with the sect that dared to kidnap his granddaughter and intended to silence them upon discovery.


    But when Xue Jing asked what he planned to do, Zong Jinkui fell silent for a while before saying:


    "...do nothing."


    "The downfall of the Golden Wind Dojo is already a matter of fate, likely happening soon. It''s very complicated... Little Jing, you should also try not to get involved."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"


    Zong Jinkui picked up a large bowl filled with white liquor, downed it in one gulp as if drinking water, his expression unchanged.


    After contemplation, he spoke softly: "I also heard a bit from Qingsheng, apparently the Golden Wind Dojo is involved in a struggle between ''corporations'' and ''officials''..."


    Qingsheng refers to Zong Jinkui''s disciple Lin Qingsheng, who had successfully established a Tiger Soul branch in the inner ring of Yuan City and secured a foothold.


    "The current situation is like immortals fighting, and the Golden Wind Dojo is a pawn of one side... Getting involved is not a good thing; better to stay well away."


    Xue Jing nodded: "I see... Thanks for the advice, Old Dojo Master."


    Zong Jinkui''s advice echoed what Void Blade had previously said to him, to stay out of Golden Wind Dojo''s affairs.


    Certainly not one to bang his head against a wall, Xue Jing had no plans to get involved anymore.


    However, from the time he began his martial arts practice, the Golden Wind Dojo had already suffered too many losses at his hands, this time even having six of their direct disciples taken down by him directly.


    It was hard to know what Jiao Hongyuan''s reaction would be.


    But no matter, he would face whatever came; when the soldiers come, block them, when the water rises, cover it with earth.


    Jiao Hongyuan, who had been severely injured by the point-struck hit from the eldest senior brother Meng Boshang, no longer had the strength from his heyday; even if he took action himself, Xue Jing was not afraid.


    With all his techniques at the ready, Twin Lifes, Shadow Flame, Dragon Cherry, Dragon Horn... Xue Jing himself didn''t know how strong he was now.


    Unless he faced a breakthrough-level Grandmaster, he figured he should be able to handle anyone.


    "Master, eat this, this is delicious."


    Sitting next to Xue Jing, with her chair pushed right up beside him and her body almost leaning on him, Zong Shichan kept piling food onto his plate.


    After heaping a full bowl, she stopped using her own chopsticks and watched Xue Jing with her hands cupping her cheeks, seemingly lost in some fantasy, occasionally letting out a giggling laugh with her cute little tiger teeth on show.


    Xue Jing had grown accustomed to her quirky ways and didn''t mind, pushing the full bowl of food in front of Meng Qingjiao, who was eating voraciously, and fed all of it to his senior sister.


    Zong Shichan: "..."


    Love doesn''t disappear; it just moves on, doesn''t it?


    ...


    The banquet ended, and the host and guests were all pleased.


    Xue Jing declined Zong Jinkui''s and Zong Shichan''s invitations to stay overnight and bade farewell to Tiger Soul and his party before he and Meng Qingjiao got into the deep red convertible and sped back to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    The two took the elevator, entered the dojo, and came to the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    "Master..."


    Xue Jing began to report everything that happened at the banquet to Li Qi.


    After listening, Li Qi stroked his chin and said:


    "Although I expected some incident to happen, I didn''t think it would be related to that bunch of bastards from the Golden Wind Dojo again."


    "Now that you''ve killed so many direct disciples of the Golden Wind Dojo, an unbreakable enmity has been forged... We should find a time to eliminate that old ghost Jiao Hongyuan to prevent future problems."


    Xue Jing said, "Master, about that..."


    He repeated Zong Jinkui''s words and then added: Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We should still refrain from getting involved."


    Li Qi looked thoughtful and nodded: "Well then, we''ll leave it be for now."


    Then he looked at Xue Jing and smiled:


    "Little Jing, we owe you a lot this time for getting that old man Zong Jinkui to let his guard down."


    Xue Jing shook his head: "I am your disciple, Master; it''s only natural for me to share your concerns."


    Li Qi said with satisfaction: "You are too dutiful, my child..."


    "But, even if you consider it your duty, I must not fail to express my gratitude... Come here, in front of me."


    He beckoned with a wave of his hand.


    At his words, Xue Jing stepped forward in front of Li Qi, curious: "Master?"


    Li Qi extended his withered hand, grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, and said:


    "You have been practicing Hidden Dragon School for nearly three months, and your progress is outlandishly fast. Not only have you already comprehended the five major techniques early on, but you''ve also brought the ''Dragon Qi'' to a state of physical manifestation..."


    "Moreover, you''ve even begun trying to combine techniques for combined execution, touching the realm of the Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point... So, I will add fuel to your fire. How hot it burns is up to you."


    "You have only one chance... Remember the feeling that comes next."


    Li Qi''s aged, murky eyes suddenly brightened, changing to a dark golden vertical pupil.


    Sharp, majestic, noble... An air of arrogance only possessed by the strongest creatures at the top of the food chain erupted wildly from his entire body.


    Stay updated with M V L


    In the room with the doors and windows shut tightly, a visibly fierce energy endlessly poured from Li Qi''s body.

 Chapter 308: Chapter 187: Mystic Art·Vital Point! Pure and extreme lethality, Skill Fusion! (4K)_2

    At that moment, he was no longer a partially bald, middle-aged man of no import.Instead, he was the ''Trio of Jade City'', Dragon King Li Qi, whose name echoed throughout Inner Ring decades ago!


    A force such as Xue Jing had never seen or felt before, a mighty energy that reached its zenith, originated from Li Qi''s palm, transforming into an exceedingly exquisite, nearly tangible True Dragon that surged into Xue Jing''s body.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    Within the earth-shattering sound of the Dragon''s Chant, Xue Jing consciously did not resist, and thus his Spirit was immediately dispersed by the roar, losing control over his body.


    Following that, the Power manifested as a True Dragon scattered throughout Xue Jing''s body, entering every part of his Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, and Blood.


    Golden Scales Transformation, Whirlwind Thunder, Eye-Penetrating Flow, Seal Cloud Tail, Shaking Star Fire... his body, under the control of the Power, began to synchronize and operate the five deadly techniques of the Hidden Dragon School.


    In the obscure depths of his mind, Xue Jing''s diffusing Consciousness observed the transformations occurring within his body from a bystander''s perspective.


    His skin unveiled densely packed dragon scales, his muscles began to spiral and compress, his pupils turned into dark golden slits, his bones resounded with thunderous quakes, and his blood boiled as if ignited.


    The five distinct techniques operated simultaneously, each distinct yet inexplicably resonating harmoniously.


    The five distinct Powers began to find their ''gaps'' within this mysterious resonance, interlocking with each other, fusing into one.


    A force, immense and sharp to the extremes, as if nothing could withstand its terror, was cultivated under the operation of Xue Jing''s body.


    Its name was¡ª


    "Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point!"


    ...


    By now it was eleven o''clock at night, yet many floors in the office building were still lit, all occupied by office workers forced to work overtime.


    Within the entire office building, everyone suddenly heard a loud Dragon''s Chant.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!"


    Instantaneously, everyone froze, unable to move, even their eyeballs were fixed in place.


    In nature, weaker creatures, when confronted by a top predator in the food chain, protect themselves by having all their cells submit instantly, immobilizing like stiff corpses in a feigned death state.


    This is the most humble plea, praying that the predator might spare them due to their disdain for a corpse.


    At that moment, everyone''s primal instincts buried in the depths of their genes were awakened.


    It took several seconds before the people in the office building gradually recovered, starting to breathe desperately and cough to relieve their discomfort.


    "Cough, cough, cough... What on earth... happened..."


    "I... saw a dragon."


    "Thought I was going to die..."


    The sudden terrifying event left everyone in shock and panic.


    Meanwhile, in the Heart-Nourishing Room of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Xue Jing was staring blankly at his right fist that he''d just swung.


    Wisps of smoke were emanating from the fist, and the hairs on his arm were singed and curled, while the skin of his entire right arm appeared a reddish hue... a result of the intense friction with the air.


    Before him, there was almost no change, except for a fist-sized spiral hole in a windowpane.


    A normal pane of glass had been pierced by the fist wind, unshattered, just adorned with a ''Fist Hole''.


    Anyone with a bit of knowledge in physics would know how terrifying this was, what immense Piercing Force was required to achieve this ''too quick to shatter'' effect.


    Xue Jing''s gaze followed the spiral-shaped ''Fist Hole'' on the glass, looking into the distance.


    Experience tales at M V L


    Far beyond human limits, he clearly saw, a hundred meters away, at the top of a building, a decorative sphere about three meters in diameter.


    That was the famous ''Pearl Tower'' in the East City District, and the sphere was the tower''s symbol, the Pearl.


    And now, on the Pearl, there was a spiral-shaped Fist Hole, identical in size to that on the glass, piercing right through the entire Pearl.


    "This is ''Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point''..."


    Xue Jing marveled at the terrifying power of this strike.


    No great commotion, just a constant, extending ''Piercing Force'' along the direction of the punch.


    Simple, yet extremely terrifying.


    Great sounds are silent, great images formless, pure lethality.


    It was like adding that unassuming yet crucial ''Vital Point'' to a massive True Dragon!


    "Huff... huff..."


    Li Qi collapsed into his wheelchair, gasping heavily, while Meng Qingjiao silently stood behind him, reaching out to stroke his back and ease his breath.


    "...How do you feel?"


    After a moment, he asked.


    At that moment, Li Qi seemed to have aged a decade in an instant, weak to the extreme.


    Xue Jing walked up to him, knelt down, and placed his hand on his knee, worriedly saying, "Master, are you alright?"


    Li Qi waved his hand, took a few breaths, and said, "It''s nothing serious."


    "During your time in Maple City, I referenced the ''Spiritual Interference with Self Reality Theory'' you mentioned, and I have gained much."


    "Although it was only for a moment... I was able to exert my strength from my prime, and it was just right to use it on you."


    "However... that was the only time it could happen, as this old body truly has nothing left."


    He said in a light-hearted, joking manner.


    "Master..." Xue Jing was silent for a while.


    Li Qi smiled and said, "Alright, stop fussing, tell me about your feelings, how much did you understand?"


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing said, "Everything."


    In that instant, his consciousness had spread throughout his body, firmly imprinting all changes on himself.


    Li Qi was stunned for a moment, then his face showed relief.


    "Good, good, truly worthy of you."


    "With this, you could consider that ''Eye-Dotting'' has been learned... but, until I say you can use it, you must never employ this technique, unless you are absolutely out of options and must risk your life in a critical moment."


    Li Qi said solemnly.


    "Just now, ''Eye-Dotting'' was executed with my Power."


    "The requirements for using this technique are perhaps the highest among all the ultimate skills in various schools; your current physical strength in all aspects hasn''t met the standards yet. Forcing it could at least result in severe injuries and near-death, or even instant death."


    "Understood?"


    Xue Jing nodded seriously, "I understand, Master."


    Li Qi hummed a response, exhaustedly saying, "Alright, you guys should go rest too, I need to rest myself, I''m dead tired."


    Xue Jing got up, bid farewell to Li Qi, and then he and Meng Qingjiao quietly left the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    In the corridor, Meng Qingjiao reached out to tousle Xue Jing''s hair and straightened his slightly disheveled collar.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Senior sister, are you going back?"


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, her expression cool.


    "I said last time that I wanted to cook and treat you to a big meal."


    Xue Jing said after a moment''s thought. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Whenever you''re free, senior sister, you can come to my house at any time."


    Meng Qingjiao''s eyes sparkled.


    ...


    By the time Xue Jing got home, it was nearly midnight.


    He first went to the bathroom for a bath, changed into loose and comfortable clothing, then lay on his bed, gently petting the already asleep Miao Miao, and opened his panel.


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment of Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point, achieving a new understanding of fighting, Experience Points in fighting +3268]


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment of Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point, achieving a new understanding of Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength, Experience Points in Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength +4262]


    [Fighting upgraded to Lv10 (2624/?)]


    [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength upgraded to Lv9 (3187/13000)]


    [Detected potential skill fusion: Fighting + Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength]


    [Fusion conditions:


    First, Fighting Lv10 (fulfilled)


    Second, Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv10


    Third, required Divinity: 1000]


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing suddenly sat up, the mattress shook, and Miao Miao was jolted off.


    ...


    (I just realized yesterday was my birthday; since it''s on the lunar calendar, I never remember the exact day...)


    (I''ll write another chapter later to celebrate...)

 Chapter 309: Chapter 188: Skill Fusion, Start Working! Tutorial Lv1

    Miao Miao woke up the moment she was shaken off the mattress. According to the Butter Cat Paradox, even without fully coming to her senses, she gracefully flipped in midair and landed on all four paws."¡­Jing, what are you doing."


    The cat''s face showed a humanized dissatisfaction.


    Xue Jing blinked and casually said, "It''s nothing, just a leg cramp." Read chapters at M V L


    A leg cramp?


    Miao Miao''s mouth twitched.


    "Can''t be bothered with you."


    She leaned forward, raised her butt, stretched lazily, jumped back onto the bed, pressed her front paws under Xue Jing''s armpits to find a comfortable position, curled up her body, and lay down.


    "Just don''t cramp up again," she said with a pout.


    Xue Jing chuckled and shook his head while petting Miao Miao, looking at the panel only he could see in front of him.


    "Skill Fusion¡­"


    "Ban, why didn''t you mention this feature earlier?"


    Xue Jing calmed his somewhat excited heart and looked towards the conditions for Skill Fusion.


    Fighting Lv10, Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv10, and Divinity 1000¡­


    "Compared to Skill Sublimation''s mysterious conditions, Skill Fusion''s conditions are much friendlier, giving specific conditions directly, and they''re also not difficult, now just lacking ten thousand experience points for Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength¡­"


    Thinking further, Xue Jing felt something was amiss.


    "No, the actual difficulty of Skill Fusion is probably tougher than Sublimation; the real challenge is not in the three stated conditions, but in the ''trigger conditions''."


    "Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength is a specialized skill that has undergone two specializations; it is very rare to obtain this skill itself."


    "Moreover, it''s after I underwent a Sudden Enlightenment of ''Eye-Dotting'' that I triggered the fusion conditions, and this level of enlightenment itself is also a challenge."


    "There might also be issues like the compatibility between the two skills¡­"


    His gaze then fell on the Divinity condition.


    "1000 points¡­ Same as the Divinity requirement for Sublimation. It seems that the skill level after fusion is of the same rank as after sublimation?"


    Xue Jing was filled with anticipation.


    Fighting and Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength, these two skills directly related to his combat ability. What changes would occur once they fused?


    "Soon, just ten thousand Experience Points, and I''ll have it within a few days!"


    He clenched his fists and closed his eyes to inspect his body internally.


    Having reached Lv10 in Fighting, his body structure had changed again, becoming more suited to combat.


    "Feels like I''m hardly human anymore¡­ could practically claim my own combatant race lineage," Xue Jing thought to himself.


    If he had used Eye-Dotting before reaching Lv10 in Fighting like Li Qi said, it would probably have killed him on the spot.


    Now, though¡­ he should survive, probably just with severe injuries?


    "Time to sleep, need to store up energy for tomorrow''s grind!"


    ¡­


    The next morning, after Xue Jing woke up, he washed up, had breakfast, and immediately took a taxi to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    He went straight to his training room and began preparing for his practice.


    Following the daily routine, he practiced the Flesh and Spleen Training Section of the Armor Shaking Skill today.


    With a thought, sparks flickered on his forehead, forming two Lightning Dragon Horns, and silvery-white Dragon Thunder enveloped his body.


    Ten times the gravity immediately pressed evenly upon his body.


    Feeling the heavy pressure, Xue Jing felt much more relaxed than before¡­ Lv10 in Fighting had strengthened his physical resilience.


    He roughly estimated his condition and thought he could handle a bit more gravity.


    The moment that thought arose, the silvery-white Dragon Thunder wrapped around him intensified, increasing the gravity again by two times, making it twelve times.


    "Hmm, this should be the current limit," Xue Jing nodded. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The current level of his [Dragon Horn], could impose up to fifteen times the gravity on an object.


    "Alright, let''s start."


    He took a deep breath, activated his power, and began the strenuous practice of the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Over an hour later, Xue Jing collapsed on the floor, having gained 625 Experience Points for Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength.


    After resting for a while, he forcefully repaired his damaged body using Life Force and Dragon Thunder Electrotherapy, and continued to practice the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Only after having practiced three times consecutively did he end up sprawled on the floor in the training room, unable to even crawl.


    The entire training room looked like it had been flooded, the floor soaked with his sweat.


    Surrounding him were over twenty empty mineral water bottles.


    It wasn''t until twenty minutes later that he finally regained his strength, opened the panel, and saw that his Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength had gained nearly two thousand Experience Points.


    "...This won''t do. Although it''s fast, if I keep pushing myself this hard, life force recovery won''t keep up, and I feel like it might shorten my lifespan."


    Xue Jing thought, sweating profusely.


    "Practicing the Armor Shaking Skill under twelve times gravity three times in a row was a bit too much, better to stick to twice a day... and do something else to gain more experience for Wishful Strength."


    After resting for quite a while, Xue Jing got up, stretched lazily, and went to wash in the dojo''s bathroom.


    After coming out of the bathroom, when Xue Jing returned to the training room, disciples had already helped clean up all the sweat inside.


    However, a little girl just over one meter forty in height had appeared in the now clean training room. She was lying on the floor, seemingly sniffing it with her nose.


    "...What are you doing?"


    Xue Jing asked with a puzzled tone.


    Zong Shichan sat up, blinked her eyes, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye was quite eye-catching.


    "This is where Master usually practices martial arts... I''m trying to absorb Master''s aura."


    As she spoke, a hint of regret appeared on her tender little face:


    "But it seems to have no scent, what a pity."


    Xue Jing twitched his mouth and said speechlessly:


    "You little weirdo, can''t you be a bit more normal?"


    He walked to the middle of the training room and sat down cross-legged.


    Zong Shichan scooted over to him, her face beaming, embraced him, and cooed, "Master~~"


    Xue Jing casually said, "Didn''t I tell you I can''t teach you much? Why aren''t you going to your grandmaster instead of coming to me?"


    "I came here this morning and didn''t dare to disturb you while you were practicing martial arts. I only came over after I saw you go to take a bath."


    Zong Shichan, sniffing the scent of Xue Jing, said blissfully.


    "Master, you smell so good."


    Xue Jing pushed her head away with his hand, "Are you a dog or something?"


    Zong Shichan blinked, immediately put her hands on both cheeks, and acted cute, "Woof~"


    For a moment, Xue Jing almost hallucinated a tail wagging like a fan on her buttocks.


    ...Indeed, she''s not a dog, she''s a Xue Wan.


    After thinking a bit, he spoke:


    "Since I have become your master, I can at least teach you the basics of Hidden Dragon School''s Coiling Dragon Art."


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Zong Shichan exclaimed joyfully, "Really? Thank you, Master!"


    She immediately stretched out her right hand.


    Due to her young age, though she was thin, her hand still retained some baby fat.


    Xue Jing grabbed her hand, channeled Power, and flicked it like flinging noodles.


    Lv9 Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength, allowing him to elevate his control of Power to a new level, already able to perform fine control over someone else''s body with Power like Li Qi.


    Under his control, Zong Shichan immediately assumed the posture standing practice of Coiling Dragon Art.


    "Remember this feeling..."


    The little girl herself had a strong martial arts foundation and high talent. She effortlessly switched from practicing Tiger Soul to Hidden Dragon School, and began practicing it skillfully.


    Xue Jing nodded, correcting a few minor mistakes of hers.


    Half an hour later, Zong Shichan finished practicing and eagerly asked Xue Jing:


    "Master, how did I do?"


    Xue Jing hummed, "It should be okay, I guess?"


    He only had one reference, which was himself, so he wasn''t quite sure about these.


    After all, he had mastered it perfectly on his first try.


    "Master teaches so well~" Zong Shichan flattered.


    Just as Xue Jing was about to speak, the panel suddenly popped up a notification.


    [Condition met, skill activated: Teaching]


    [Teaching Lv1: (0/300)]


    ...


    (Thank you, lords and ladies, for your birthday month tickets and rewards~)

 Chapter 310: Chapter 189: Cease-Blades Reward, Extraordinary Skill: True Martial Lv1! (4K)

    Teaching?They actually gave such a skill at this time?


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He had occasionally instructed the ordinary disciples in the Hidden Dragon Dojo before, so why hadn''t it been activated?


    Could it be that the condition was that he must teach his own true disciple?


    Xue Jing thought about it and decided that probably wasn''t it.


    Of all the skills he had activated since he got the panel, none had required a specific identity.


    The reason he had now met the conditions to activate "Teaching" must be a matter of "teaching quality."


    Although he had also taught others before, limited by methods and the talents of the learners, the overall teaching quality wasn''t good, therefore not meeting the requirements to activate the skill.


    Now, using the cheat-level teaching method of controlling another''s body with Power, coupled with Zong Shichan''s extremely high talent, she had instantly learned the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Such a level of teaching quality directly activating a skill was not surprising.


    Xue Jing was somewhat distracted thinking about the "Teaching" matter, and seeing him silent, Zong Shichan asked curiously,


    "Master, what''s wrong?"


    Xue Jing came back to his senses, looked at her, and after a brief reflection, said,


    "Shichan, you should be rested enough, right? Get up, let me teach you something else."


    Zong Shichan blinked, "Eh?"


    She had just finished training less than a minute ago¡­ Is this the resting time for the Hidden Dragon School?


    The little girl''s face showed difficulty.


    She had just finished practicing Coiling Dragon Art, and her body was sore and weak, this rest time¡­ absolutely not enough.


    "Come on, stand up, I believe you can do it." Xue Jing said gently.


    "Master..." Zong Shichan''s eyes suddenly sparkled.


    This was the first time Xue Jing had spoken to her in such a pleasant tone, and the little girl was instantly dazed.


    She supported herself on her knees and struggled to stand, scratching her head:


    "But Master, shouldn''t we mix work with rest? Can we rest a little longer?"


    "With your talent being so great, wasting time is simply a travesty." Xue Jing said tenderly.


    "What rest? Only talentless mortals need rest; a genius like you needs continuous, rigorous refining."


    "Come on, give me your hand."


    "Oh¡­ okay." Zong Shichan somewhat blankly stretched out her slightly chubby hand, which Xue Jing grabbed.


    Another fling like tossing noodles, Xue Jing''s Power transmitted into Zong Shichan''s body, forcing her to involuntarily start practicing Armor Shaking Skill.


    Although relying on Xue Jing''s Power, after two or three movements, Zong Shichan began huffing and puffing.


    "Master¡­ Master, I''m so tired, can we take a break?"


    "Chan''er, little Chan, your potential shouldn''t just be this; I believe in you."


    Xue Jing said smilingly, encouraging her.


    "Persistence is the most important for us martial artists, having the talent to persist is even more important than physical talent."


    "Hard work pays off."


    Zong Shichan: "...Master, I feel like you''re CPU-ing me."


    Xue Jing with a sincere face: "How could I, you are my most beloved dear little disciple."


    Although she knew he was probably just spouting nonsense, hearing these words still made Zong Shichan''s face blush and her heart race.


    "Hmm¡­ okay then, I''ll persist a bit more for my most beloved master."


    She couldn''t hide the happiness in her voice.


    It was only after a complete set of Armor Shaking Skill - Skin Training Volume was practiced did Zong Shichan collapse on the floor, her body twitching.


    "Master¡­ Master... I can''t do this anymore."


    The little girl said weakly.


    Xue Jing opened the panel.


    [You conducted a high-quality teaching session, Teaching Experience Points +366]


    [Learn and re-discover, you gained insights during the teaching process, Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Experience Points +512]


    [Teaching upgraded to Lv2 (66/500)] S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huh? This skill can actually increase the experience of other skills?


    And it increases quite a lot? Continue your adventure with M V L


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes, looking at Zong Shichan lying on the ground half-dead.


    "Shichan."


    "Eh?" Zong Shichan, lying on the ground, looked up dazedly at Xue Jing.


    "You''re rested enough, right?" Xue Jing said smilingly.


    Zong Shichan''s face turned bitter, "... Master, I just finished training less than two minutes ago."


    "Two minutes is plenty long, time is money, even the work team''s donkey wouldn''t dare rest as much as you."


    "Is this Sparta?! Sparta didn''t have it as tough as you, Master!" Zong Shichan complained.


    "What''s wrong with the young people today, none of you have the spirit to endure hardship like our generation did?" Xue Jing said disappointedly.


    "Master, you''re only five years older than me and it''s not about enduring hardship!" Zong Shichan said incredulously.


    "I really can''t anymore!" She flipped over, switching to a lying position.


    "If we keep training, your dear cute little disciple is going to die right here!"


    Xue Jing knew he had indeed pushed her too hard.


    "Alright, let''s call it a day then."


    He smiled, shook his head, walked over to Zong Shichan, crouched down beside her, and gently touched her face:


    "You did wonderfully, I''m very proud."


    Zong Shichan''s face immediately blushed.


    "I¡­ I think I could try a bit harder."


    "Huh?" Xue Jing was taken aback.


    ...


    Over the next few days, Xue Jing worked hard to gain experience.


    Apart from his regular skill practice and real combat in the Consciousness Space, he focused on instructing Zong Shichan.


    With the activation of the "Teaching" skill, he changed his previous plan of handing Zong Shichan over to Master Li Qi for instruction, opting to teach her himself instead.


    The little girl was thrilled at first, but she quickly started to complain under Xue Jing''s Spartan training, being trained each day to the point of complete exhaustion.

 Chapter 311: Chapter 189 Cease-Blades Reward, Extraordinary Skill: True Martial Lv1! (4K)_2

    Apart from teaching the martial arts of the Hidden Dragon School, Xue Jing also taught her various other skills.Skills like Combat Skills, Running, and Aiming¡ªXue Jing could control Shichan''s body through Qi Force, making slight adjustments to her habits and power exertion, which also increased his experience during teaching.


    Teaching her was like teaching himself.


    Moreover, the effect of the [Teaching] skill, aside from gaining Experience Points for Xue Jing''s other skills, also revealed its true function to him.


    It was that the higher the level, the better the quality of teaching.


    Whatever he taught, as the level of teaching increased, Shichan found it increasingly easier to absorb the knowledge and made faster progress.


    This allowed her to make extraordinarily rapid progress in just a few days; her strength increased so swiftly that it significantly surprised Zong Jinkui, who continuously praised Xue Jing for his excellent teaching, extremely delighted.


    Li Qi had no disciples to teach, so he led a leisurely life, joyously zipping around in his wheelchair, flipping up the skirts of high school girls.


    Xue Jing gained a considerable amount of experience through his teaching process and was exceedingly happy as well. Continue your journey with M V L


    A triple win. A world where no one got hurt was achieved.


    Shichan: Huh?


    Meanwhile, the transfer of the Tiger Soul Dojo''s premises was also completed, all the ordinary disciples went back to their homes, and the direct disciples headed to the Inner Ring''s Yuan City, pledging to go under the discipleship of Lin Qingsheng, a disciple of Zong Jinkui.


    Since Zong Jinkui had smashed a huge hole in the premises in a moment of agitation when Shichan was captured, repairs were needed, so Li Qi decided to renovate it as well.


    The renovation was expected to take about a month, at which time it would be the grand move of the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    ...


    Four days later.


    Xue Jing''s head sprouted Lightning Dragon Horn, and his body was wrapped in silvery-white Dragon Thunder, slowly calming the blood that was boiling due to the practice of the Armor Shaking Skill Blood Training volume.


    After recovering with Life Force and Dragon Thunder Electrotherapy, he opened his panel and took a glance.


    [Fitness Lv10 (10000/?)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv10 (3278/?)]


    [Cooking Lv7 (320/4500)]


    [Running Lv9 (7290/8000)]


    [Charm Art Lv10 (10000+/?)]


    [Aiming Lv9 (6733/8000)]


    [Fighting Lv10 (3624/?)]


    [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv9 (12387/13000)]


    [Meditative Visualization True Lv7 (3569/9000)]


    [Combat Skills Lv9 (5898/8000)]


    [Swimming Lv6 (1597/3000)]


    [Riding Lv6 (1657/3000)]


    [Acting Lv6 (1912/3000)] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Teaching Lv5 (141/2000)]


    Over these days, he had reaped abundant gains; many high-level skills had almost reached the point of leveling up, and the newly activated [Teaching] had also progressed to Lv5.


    "...just over six hundred more, and I can have it done today," Xue Jing thought, looking at the experience bar for Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength.


    He picked up a pack of water bottles placed next to him and began to chug one after another, replenishing the water he had lost.


    While drinking, he began to ponder whether to overdraw some Life Force to train the Armor Shaking Skill again, or to push his dear disciple a bit more...


    At that moment, his phone on the floor started vibrating with a ringtone.


    Xue Jing picked it up, looked at the caller ID.


    It was from Ning Yuantai.


    He pressed the answer button, putting the phone to his ear, "Hello?"


    "Xue, it''s me," Ning Yuantai''s voice came through the speaker.


    "What''s up?" Xue Jing asked.


    "The reward from Cease-Blades for you has been decided; it will arrive tomorrow," Ning Yuantai spoke respectfully.


    "Oh? What is it?" Xue Jing asked, intrigued.


    "[GOD-1062¡¤Ice Skates]... It says here, you can only borrow them for three days," Ning Yuantai said.


    "That''s enough, I just love Divine Relics; it''s not about possessing them," Xue Jing nodded.


    Ice Skates, huh... He hadn''t expected Cease-Blades to actually consider these items as his reward.


    He had vaguely understood the Ice Skates'' abilities from the database. It was a Divine Relic with strategic significance in certain aspects.


    Its ability was¡ª''to skate on any terrain.''


    Once worn, even on a grassy field soaked with 502 glue, one could move forward as smoothly as if skating, unaffected by any terrain.


    And this ''any'' meant truly ''any.''


    For instance, the air could also be seen as terrain, enabling one to skate in the air as if flying.


    This Divine Relic was extraordinarily useful. According to the records in the data repository, it had shown miraculous effects in many rules and complex terrains at the Intersecting Boundaries, playing a significant role.


    "Also, there seems to be a Cultivation Technique, a gift from some big shot on Cease-Blades, said to be very useful for you."


    Ning Yuantai added.


    "Cultivation Technique? Got it," Xue Jing nodded.


    He wasn''t particularly interested in the Cultivation Technique, but since it was free, he wouldn''t refuse it.


    "By the way, Yuantai, how''s that weirdo with the second dimension copper refining fetish doing?"


    Xue Jing asked casually.


    "You mean the Skin-Peeler... The procedures are underway. Once he spills everything about his experiences and everything related to [GOD-1291], and fills the Divine Relic data repository, he will be executed."


    Ning Yuantai said, then added:


    "The little girl the Skin-Peeler met is quite unusual. According to him, she seems to master all martial arts in the world and taught him a lot."


    "That''s why he named her ''Yuyan''..."


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, and because he was about to gain Divinity, Xue Jing was in a good mood.


    Thinking it over, he decided not to torment his little disciple today and gave her a day off. He would strain himself and overdraw his Life Force to practice the Armor Shaking Skill once more.


    His Health Cultivation level was high enough, and his Life Force was exceptionally abundant and strong. So as long as he didn''t do this often, there were no side effects.


    If ordinary people did what he did, they would instantly reduce their lifespan drastically and leave irreversible fundamental injuries.


    Xue Jing assumed the posture, with Dragon Horns emerging on his head and silvery Dragon Thunder entwining, as twelve times gravity surrounded him.


    More than an hour later.


    [...Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Experience Points +632]


    [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength upgraded to Lv10 (19/16000)]


    Finally!


    Xue Jing collapsed on the ground, motionless.


    His body was exhausted to the extreme, but his mood was incredibly satisfied.


    Even after having the panel for so long, the satisfaction and sense of achievement brought by the skills level-up still thrilled him.


    "Huff¡ª"


    He took a long breath after quite some time.


    Eagerly opening the panel.


    "Huh? Isn''t Lv10 the limit for a specialized skill like Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength?"


    Xue Jing looked at the experience bar of Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv10 (19/16000).


    "Never mind, I''ll just perform Skill Fusion first!"


    He clicked on the faint golden ''Fusion'' word that appeared behind [fighting] and [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength].


    [Detected fusable skills: fighting + Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength]


    [Conditions met, spend 1000 Divinity to fuse?]


    [Yes/No]


    Xue Jing didn''t hesitate and clicked [Yes].


    The next moment, the two skills on the panel melted like ink and formed a vortex, intertwining with each other.


    Gradually becoming indistinguishable.


    As Xue Jing watched eagerly, the panel started to change.


    The ordinary skills bar and the Divine Skill bar suddenly began to move up and down separately, and a new skill bar emerged between them.


    And the first skill in the new skill bar also appeared.


    [True Martial Lv1 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade requires: Experience Points 0/10000, Divinity 1158/1000]


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly.


    Fighting + Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength fused... Transcendent Skill ¡ª True Martial!


    In an instant, his body suddenly started making countless cracking noises.


    Like muffled thunder, resembling waves.


    The surface of his skin rolled like waves, as if countless mice were scurrying underneath it.


    There was no pain, only a strong tingling and exhilarating feeling; Xue Jing closed his eyes, intently observing the changes inside his body.


    Skin, muscles, bones, blood, organs... Everything was changing dramatically.


    The Dragon-Shaped Energy automatically came to life without his control, issuing a joyful dragon''s roar, and moving around his body, as if it had been trapped in a shoal and finally reached the sea, arriving in the realm truly belonging to it.


    It was unknown how much time had passed when the changes in Xue Jing''s body gradually settled down.


    He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze extremely bright.


    Suddenly, his pupils emitted two sharp Dragon-Shaped Qi Forces, that pierced the nearby wall, creating two eye-sized deep holes.


    This was ¡ª controlling Qi with the eyes!


    ...

 Chapter 326: Chapter 197: The Commission from the Government, Only Xue Jing is Qualified (4K)

    Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the Heart-Nourishing Room, Xue Jing knelt in a very unobtrusive corner, bowing his head ever so slightly, not letting out a hint of breath from his body.Read the latest on M-V-L


    This corner was the ''most suitable for concealing'' place he subconsciously chose after looking around upon entering.


    After activating [Concealment], he instinctively learned this technique.


    In a space, which spot had the dimmest light, which spot was most likely to be ignored, and which spot wouldn''t naturally draw the attention of people''s vision¡ªhe understood all this at a glance.


    He seemed to have turned into a sculpture that blended perfectly with the room without the slightest sense of incongruity. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just like the cardboard boxes stored in a warehouse, the mops and plastic buckets placed in the corners of restrooms, or the books on bookshelves, there was a natural sense of ''he originally belonged to this place.''


    Therefore, when Li Qi opened the door to the Heart-Nourishing Room and entered in his wheelchair, he didn''t notice at all that a disciple of his own was squatting in a corner of the room.


    Chen Fuguang, who followed Li Qi inside, naturally didn''t notice either.


    The two of them started chatting in front of Xue Jing.


    "...If we can''t find it, there will be serious trouble. The government is already anxious. Chief Councillor Chi Liangyun is retiring next year and only wants a smooth transition. During his tenure, Qingcheng has been quite peaceful under his control. There were no significant achievements, but also no faults, yet now, in the end..."


    Chen Fuguang reported something to Li Qi.


    Li Qi''s dim and turbid eyes narrowed slightly, "I do know some news; Qingcheng should now be a chess piece in the conflict between the two factions above. Not just Qingcheng, but cities in the Outer Ring of the Fifth Urban Circle have also begun to have incidents, more or less."


    "Golden Wind Dojo has been completely dissolved. Most of the direct disciples have been killed by Little Jing, leaving only that old guy Jiao Hongyuan and his senior disciple Yan Xiangweng, and that Li Chengxuan who is now hiding somewhere unknown..."


    "It''s strange that a citywide carpet search like this turned up nothing..."


    Chen Fuguang thought for a moment and said, "Although it was a citywide search, there are still some places..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Li Qi suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him and turned his head sharply towards the corner, his turbid old eyes flashing with sharpness:


    "Who''s there!?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, he clearly saw the person in hiding and was momentarily taken aback:


    "Little Jing?"


    Xue Jing glanced at the panel that prompted [Concealment Experience Points +366] and stood up, patting the dust off his knees.


    "Master, Senior Brother Chen."


    He greeted with a wave of his hand.


    "Little Junior Brother, what are you hiding there for?" Chen Fuguang scratched his head, puzzled.


    "...Speaking of which, you hid really well. Master and I have been here for quite a while without noticing."


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "I just comprehended a bit on the method of concealing one''s breath and thought I''d try it out¡ªI didn''t expect not even Master to detect me."


    Li Qi glared at him, "No killing intent, no hostility, and not even moving; you were like a ghost. I''m an old man, not an immortal. How was I to see you?"


    Xue Jing complimented, "That''s not true, in my eyes, you are indeed an old immortal."


    Hearing this, Chen Fuguang winked at Xue Jing and gave him a thumbs-up, expressing admiration.


    Li Qi raised his eyebrows and modestly scratched his smooth bald patch, sighing, "I''ve always said people can''t be too honest, you child, should refrain from such blunt truths in the future."


    Xue Jing echoed his sigh, "You are right, Master."


    After some nonsensical chatter, Chen Fuguang said to Xue Jing, "By the way, Little Junior Brother, you''ve come at the right time."


    "The dojo has just received a commission specifically asking for you¡ªtake a look and see if you want to go."


    Xue Jing asked with curiosity, "A named commission?"


    Since he became famous in the Maple City elimination match, Hidden Dragon Dojo had received many commissions specifically asking for him, but most of these commissions... had impure motives.


    And the rewards weren''t much either, so Xue Jing asked the dojo to refuse them all on his behalf.


    Now Chen Fuguang mentioned there was a commission inquiring about his interest¡ªthis must be something special.


    "Didn''t you take a sparring partner commission last time? This client is the same as before, and the commission fee is quite substantial..."


    Chen Fuguang explained.


    "Last time..." Xue Jing thought for a moment before recalling what had happened before.


    Previously, Pei Youguang''s elder brother Pei Tiancheng had used a sparring partner commission to call him to their house, where he encountered the Mountain Demon of White Crow Clan.


    So this meant the Pei brothers had sent him this commission again?


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, took out his phone directly from his pocket, opened the contact list, searched for Pei Youguang''s name, and made a call.


    As if Pei Youguang had been holding his phone, waiting for the call, it was picked up immediately after just one ringtone.


    "Hello, Youguang."


    Xue Jing started.


    "Ah, yes, Jing, it''s me."


    There was a hint of nervousness in Pei Youguang''s voice from the receiver.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "What''s with the panic? Just speak normally."


    "I''ve received a commission from your end here at the dojo¡ªit seems to be from you. What''s the matter, couldn''t you just call directly without going around the bush?"


    He asked curiously.


    "Jing, it''s not me, it''s my father who wants to see you," Pei Youguang said in a low voice.


    "He says he has something important and needs your help, wants to meet you, but it''s not good to just come over or ask you to visit, so he thought of using the form of a commission like last time..."


    Xue Jing put down the phone, turned to Chen Fuguang, and asked, "Senior Brother Chen, how much is the commission fee they''re offering?"

 Chapter 327: Chapter 197: A Commission from the Government, Only Xue Jing is Qualified (4K)_2

    Chen Fuguang extended his index finger, "Ten million." Discover stories with M-V-LXue Jing''s eyebrows raised. He picked up his cellphone and said, "Looks like this is a pretty big deal."


    Pei Youguang said, "I''m not too clear either, but my dad did seem very anxious."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I''ll visit your house this afternoon to meet your father, but as for whether I''ll take this job, I''ll decide after I hear the details."


    Pei Youguang nodded repeatedly, "It should be like this... This afternoon is fine, I''ll have my dad wait at home for you then."


    After chatting a few more sentences, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    ...


    In the afternoon.


    Xue Jing kept his aura hidden to make his movements as undetectable as possible while he practiced his "Concealment" skill on his way to Pei Youguang''s home in the North City District.


    He had spent almost the entire day, apart from his daily martial arts practice, training "Concealment."


    From morning activation through teaching his young disciple, to hiding and eavesdropping in the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    When he arrived at the large villa of Pei Youguang''s family, he was accompanied by a prompt [+311 Experience Points], and his Concealment level had already risen to Lv4 (76/1200).


    This skill not only gave him the ability to perform "Aura Blockade," but it also granted him quite impressive spatial hiding techniques.


    Besides, there was an enhancement in control over his physical body and a boost in sensory agility¡ªespecially hearing and smell.


    It could be said to be a quite useful skill, second only to foundational skills like [Fitness] [Health Cultivation].


    Xue Jing quietly approached the grand villa''s entrance and simply strode in.


    The two security guards at the door seemed vigilant but only noticed Xue Jing''s presence three steps after he''d entered.


    "Eh?"


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue!"


    They had seen Xue Jing before, and together with Pei Youguang''s prior notice of his visit, they immediately recognized him and greeted him respectfully.


    Hearing the commotion here, two people chatting in the front yard also looked over immediately.


    One of them was Pei Youguang, while the other was a scholarly looking, slender middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle.


    "Jing!"


    Pei Youguang quickly blinked to signal to the middle-aged man beside him.


    Without needing the hint, the middle-aged man, upon seeing Xue Jing, immediately walked over quickly, extended his hand, and said with a smile:


    "Xue, good to meet you, finally. Eh, you are quite good-looking; no wonder ever since your last visit, whenever I get up at night to use the bathroom, I can always hear my maids mumbling your name in their sleep. It scared me so much I thought they were possessed."


    "But now that I see you in person, I fully understand why they did that!"


    Xue Jing shook his hand, responding noncommittally to the complement with a smile, "You are Youguang''s father, may I call you Uncle Pei?"


    The man, clutching his hand, nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course you may, I shall take the liberty to call you Little Jing."


    The man named Pei Xiao''en had a voice that seemed deliberately trained, deep and magnetic, quite pleasant to the ears.


    "Come, Little Jing, let''s go inside and talk."


    Pei Xiao''en gestured invitingly with his hand.


    As the group walked towards the inside of the villa, when Xue Jing passed by Pei Youguang, he smiled and patted his shoulder:


    "Let''s go, Youguang. Let''s go in together."


    Pei Youguang hesitated, then said, "Oh, okay."


    Seeing this, Pei Xiao''en''s gaze flickered thoughtfully.


    Then he quickened his pace, walked forward, and patted Pei Youguang''s shoulder as well, saying in a gentle tone, "Youguang, go and prepare some tea. Use the tea from the topmost cabinet in my room, and bring it to my study after you''ve brewed it."


    It had been so long since Pei Youguang had seen such a gentle demeanor from his father, his pudgy face showed a flattered and surprised expression, and he nodded repeatedly, "Okay, I got it!"


    "This way, please." Pei Xiao''en turned his head toward Xue Jing, leading the way.


    The two of them made several turns and arrived in an ancient-looking room, furnished with four large bookshelves.


    After sitting down on wooden chairs, the two chatted casually for a while. Pei Xiao''en was quite the conversationalist, seeming to know a little about everything, from the far reaches of the earth to the seas beyond.


    He even had considerable professional knowledge of martial arts, and conversed with Xue Jing astutely while maintaining an attitude of seeking advice, which satisfied Xue Jing''s desire to speak and made him quite happy.


    Xue Jing was also somewhat eloquent, but even he silently admitted inferiority when facing Pei Xiao''en.


    When Pei Youguang brought in two cups of tea, the two enjoyed the tea for a while. Pei Xiao''en talked about tea with vivid language, subtly mentioning how precious the tea they were drinking was to show his regard for Xue Jing before he began to discuss the pressing matters at hand.


    "...Little Jing, the reason I''ve asked you to come here is truly important, and even pertains to the survival of Qingcheng. I would like to entrust you with this matter," Pei Xiao''en said, setting down his teacup with a grave expression.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Go on."


    After considering his words carefully, Pei Xiao''en continued,


    "I am the secretary to Councillor Zhu, Chu Minyi. This commission to you is actually by Councillor Zhu''s will..."


    "Little Jing, you must be aware of the existence of a ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother'' in Qingcheng, as you personally dealt with several of the ''cockroaches'' it spawned."


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Pei Xiao''en''s voice lowered, "In fact, the origin of this Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother is linked to quite complicated matters, so complex that even I am unaware of the specifics. Let''s set that aside for now. The current issue is... we can''t find the Insect Mother."


    "Based on the speculations of experts, after this period of breeding, the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother may have given birth to a swarm capable of threatening the entire city..."


    "If it can''t be found soon, the longer we wait, the more terrifying the number of parasites we''ll be facing."


    "Yet, during this period, our government has already mobilized all forces within Qingcheng for a comprehensive search, practically turning the city inside out, but we still haven''t located the Insect Mother."


    Xue Jing voiced his uncertainty, "Could it be outside the city?"


    Pei Xiao''en shook his head, "Although that''s certainly possible, the Insect Mother would likely not be outside the city if it''s to achieve the effects ''certain people'' desire."


    "If it really is outside the city, then the matter would be much simpler, as the swarm could not breach Qingcheng head-on."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Then what do you need me for?"


    Pei Xiao''en said, "While we''ve conducted a thorough search, there are actually a few places we haven''t, or rather can''t, search." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That would be the homes of the thirty Governing Councilors located in the North City District."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows lifted, "That seems unlikely, doesn''t it? These are the thirty people most deeply connected to the interests of Qingcheng. Would they do something that could ''destroy the city''?"


    "It''s indeed unlikely, but this is the only remaining possibility, and we must verify it at all costs," Pei Xiao''en asserted.


    "Little Jing, I know this is a tough request, but can I entrust you with investigating this matter?" He asked pleadingly.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment before asking, "Why me?"


    "Because in Qingcheng, only you have the qualifications," Pei Xiao''en firmly stated.


    Xue Jing was taken aback, "Me?"


    Pei Xiao''en nodded, "Indeed, you belong to The Sixth Agency, an organization with the ''Act First, Report Later'' privilege. The Governing Councilors might occupy the highest positions in Qingcheng, but you are fully justified in investigating them."


    Xue Jing scratched his head, "Then why don''t you just find someone from the agency to do this? It''s not like you lack the connections."


    Pei Xiao''en smiled bitterly, "Actually, we don''t, or rather, we can''t find someone reliable... Investigating Governing Councilors is a risky business."


    "Those from the ''agency'' aren''t too keen on dealing with local government officials like us, especially those who are quite high-ranking and powerful."


    "And you, Little Jing, though I''m not fully aware of your circumstances, your reputation within the agency is quite high, and you are fully capable of handling this task."


    Pei Xiao''en stood up, bowed to Xue Jing, and begged, "Little Jing, could you please, for the sake of Qingcheng, for the safety of your hometown, accept our request?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected contemplation; he didn''t answer immediately, and Pei Xiao''en maintained his bow without moving.


    After a while, Xue Jing finally slowly spoke, "Let''s not rush the decision... Let''s talk about the reward first."


    ...

 Chapter 342: Chapter 205: GOD-771, Ambushed, You Must Attack This Taunting Clone First (4K)

    The duel between the two Qi-powered avatars in the imperial city did not result in a victory.After all, the two avatars were indistinguishable in every aspect, even the controller was the same person, Xue Jing.


    If a normal Martial Artist were controlling these two avatars, perhaps soon one of them might exhibit various minor mistakes, subsequently affecting the situation, causing the balance of victory to tilt and eventually deciding a winner.


    However, Xue Jing, who possessed the True Martial Body, had reached a ''Transcendent'' level of stability, which made it impossible for any mistakes to occur. The two avatars maintained one hundred percent perfect performance from start to finish, a true fifty-fifty draw.


    Controlling the two avatars to stop attacking each other, Xue Jing waved his hand, letting one of them dissipate.


    "This Qi-powered avatar is quite useful... Its very elements are made from my Power, so in terms of pure killing power, it''s the same as my real body. However, since it''s not my physical body, it can''t receive the boost from the Twin Lifes, so its actual combat strength is a bit weaker,"


    "There are also several other issues, the first being that it consumes a lot of physical and spiritual energy, and not to mention the spiritual power needed to ''Form'' it,"


    "Another point is, it''s quite vulnerable... after all, it''s just an avatar shaped by spiritual power. A slight direct hit to critical areas like the torso or head could disrupt its structure and disperse it..."


    "But this can be resolved by wearing the Shadowflame Wrap Armor..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    "Hmm, I still need to test the range, see how far it can go from my real body."


    As he was thinking, the door to the training room suddenly opened.


    Accompanied by a sweet and tender "Master~", a little girl in a training garment, Zong Shichan, ran in and rocketed into Xue Jing''s arms.


    Xue Jing caught her and patted her head, raising an eyebrow, "What''s up?"


    "Sniff sniff..." Zong Shichan buried her face in Xue Jing''s chest, taking deep breaths while blissfully saying, "Ah, I''m revived."


    "I haven''t seen Master for several days, if I couldn''t smell Master''s scent I would have died~"


    Xue Jing flicked her forehead, sending her head tilting back, "Are you here to do drugs?"


    Zong Shichan giggled, "Master is in my heart, forget about heroin~"


    Xue Jing twitched his mouth, stretched his hand and pinched her elastic cheeks, pulling them sideways, "...still not enough training."


    "Eh? Su Hu, what''s this?" Zong Shichan, embracing Xue Jing, unintentionally reached into his pocket and touched something, curiously pulling it out.


    Because her cheeks were being pulled, the words from the little girl came out somewhat muffled. Xue Jing looked at the object she was holding in her hand.


    It was a somewhat odd-looking electronic watch, red and white in color, with two protruding mushroom-like buttons on the top.


    "Hmm? How did I bring this thing here?" Xue Jing took the electronic watch, puzzled.


    This was one of eight Divine Relics given to him by The Sixth Agency, the [Proof of Love].


    Its effect was simple yet incredible... It could materialize the affection level one holds towards someone else or vice versa into concrete numbers displayed on the screen.


    The user, holding the device and looking at a target, presses the left button to display their own affection level toward the target, and the right button to display the target''s affection level toward them.


    He had absorbed the Divinity from these eight Divine Relics and then placed them back in the box, waiting for The Sixth Agency to collect them.


    The [Proof of Love] was also placed back in the box... he hadn''t even opened the box, so how did this thing end up in his clothing?


    Could it be Teacher Wan''s prank?


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, couldn''t figure it out, and decided to stop thinking about it.


    He would understand eventually, thinking more without any clues was useless.


    "Master, what is this?" the little girl curiously looked at the [Proof of Love] in Xue Jing''s hands.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, seeing the rare opportunity to have some fun, he smiled and said:


    "This is... kind of a high-tech gadget, it can show the affection level someone has for you, or you for someone else."


    Hearing this, Zong Shichan''s eyes lit up, "That''s amazing! But it feels like one of those IQ tax products like cat and dog language translators."


    Xue Jing smiled noncommittally, "Maybe."


    "Master~ how do I use this, teach me quickly!"


    Zong Shichan exclaimed enthusiastically.


    "Didn''t you think this was an IQ tax product?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Even if it is, I still want to play with it~"


    Xue Jing handed her the [Proof of Love], explained how to use it, and Zong Shichan immediately turned her gaze towards Xue Jing.


    Her tender, pretty little face showed a hint of anticipation as she pressed the left button of the [Proof of Love] towards Xue Jing.


    The electronic screen began to display fluctuating numbers, seemingly calculating something.


    Under the little girl''s transfixed gaze, the numbers on the screen stopped changing.


    "1365... Master, is this number high or low?"


    Zong Shichan asked in confusion, showing the number on the [Proof of Love] to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing was somewhat astonished, "The information I saw said that around 60 is enough to be friends, over 90 could be lifelong best friends, would not be surprising if married, and 120 could almost guarantee happiness after marriage."


    "You little rascal, what are your thoughts on me, to blow the scale up to over a thousand..."


    Zong Shichan stepped forward and hugged Xue Jing''s arm, her eyes curved into crescent moons, "My love for Master is indeed genuine!"

 Chapter 343: Chapter 205 GOD-771, Under Attack, You Must Attack This Taunting Clone First (4K)_2

    At that moment, the number on the screen rose by 30 points, reaching 1395.Xue Jing: "..."


    Is it so easy for the favorability to increase?


    "Right, let''s check the master''s favorability towards me..." The little girl, happily looking at Xue Jing, pressed the button on the left.


    The screen fluctuated, and this time it took less than two seconds for the numbers to settle.


    [68].


    Seeing this number, Zong Shichan fell silent.


    "This fake, inferior piece of junk!" The little girl slammed the Proof of Love she was holding onto the ground, fuming.


    "It''s fake, it must be fake! How can master''s favorability towards me be so low!"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "That''s quite a lot, isn''t it? It''s already beyond the friend line."


    He was somewhat proud, "This shows the difficulty level of getting close to me... Truly, I am impervious to beauty."


    "It''s fake, all fake!" Zong Shichan was almost driven to tears by frustration.


    Xue Jing drawled: "Then the more than a thousand favorability points you got for me must be fake too."


    Zong Shichan was desperate: "...That''s different, it''s genuine!"


    Xue Jing picked up the Proof of Love and patted the little girl''s head, smiling:


    "Alright, it''s just a toy after all, it doesn''t represent anything. Let''s go practice martial arts."


    "Let me introduce a new sparring partner to you, this is my Qi-powered clone."


    ...


    That night, Xue Jing walked along the road, leisurely heading home.


    He tossed around the Proof of Love he was holding, somewhat wary of its destructive power.


    This thing, yielding a good result was fine, but revealing an unexpectedly bad one amounted to a direct hit to one''s spirit, causing true harm.


    Zong Shichan was in a state of breakdown all afternoon, crying while she practiced, with tears rolling down from the corners of her eyes, grief flowing like a river.


    And that was just from the semi-belief in the uncertainty of the device''s truth or falsehood, resulting in such huge devastation.


    Although Xue Jing thought 68 was already quite high... The little girl thought otherwise.


    Looking at her pitiful little face, Xue Jing could not bear it, and increased her favorability by two points, crossing into the 70s.


    "This device still should be used carefully, otherwise even I could hardly escape the true damage of a direct hit to the spirit..."


    "Indeed, there needs to be some distance and mystery between people, understanding everything would take away the room for fantasy..."


    Thinking it through while on his way, Xue Jing first went to a supermarket, bought two large bags of groceries and daily necessities, and then entered his residential complex, heading toward the garden inside.


    This was the path he took every day, the shortest route to his apartment.


    The time was just past seven o''clock in the evening. Normally there would be some people around in the garden at this time, but for some reason, Xue Jing hadn''t encountered anyone today.


    He walked all the way to the center of the garden.


    On the red-bricked ground, there were several benches, yet only one person was sitting on one of the benches.


    It was a young man wearing a black jacket and jeans, with sunglasses on, dressed quite retro, as if he had stepped out of the 1990s.


    The quiet of the early night at nineteen o''clock was a bit eerie.


    Xue Jing squinted slightly and stopped in his tracks.


    Under the dim light of a few street lamps, the man slowly lifted his head, looked at Xue Jing, and took off his sunglasses with one finger.


    With a resolute and unemotional face, the man slowly spoke:


    "Xue Jing..."


    "Nice to meet you... You may or may not recognize me."


    He slowly stood up, showing off his nearly 1.9 meters tall stature and muscles that stretched his clothes tightly.


    "My name is Yan Xiangweng, the direct disciple of Jiao Hongyuan from Golden Wind Dojo."


    "You and I have a grudge of killing my master and destroying my dojo, which cannot coexist under the same sky."


    Xue Jing slightly tilted his head and asked, "So? "


    Yan Xiangweng''s body shook slightly, and streaks of golden Sword Qi ripped his upper clothes apart, revealing muscles that emitted a metallic sharpness and had an odd shape.


    He slightly crouched, posing in the White Rainbow Sword stance of Golden Wind, and said to Xue Jing in a flat tone:


    "Although I do not wish to bully the weak, today, you must die here to console the spirits of my fellow disciples and master from Golden Wind Dojo in heaven."


    "Rest assured, afterward I will seek out everyone from Hidden Dragon Dojo one by one. You won''t be alone on the road to the underworld..."


    Xue Jing carried two large bags of groceries and sighed,


    "You said you weren''t around last night, and then today you suddenly show up talking about revenge? What, do you only pick on the weak and fear the strong?"


    "Never mind, it doesn''t matter. My house is just next door; I''ll go drop these groceries off in the fridge."


    He gestured towards the two bags he was carrying.


    Yan Xiangweng shook his head, "No, you''re trying to run away."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing laughed.


    He walked directly towards the direction of his apartment.


    "I''m not asking for your opinion."


    Seeing Xue Jing''s unprotected posture as he headed towards his house, Yan Xiangweng frowned and muttered, "Seeking death."


    He charged forward, slicing through the air, striking toward Xue Jing like a sharp sword.


    The air split around him, like a tangible, transparent jelly cut by the blade.


    ''Is this all the most potential disciple of the Hidden Dragon Dojo can muster? Such a carefree attitude even in the face of a powerful foe?''


    ''Well, if he''s courting death, it''s his own fault.''


    Yan Xiangweng thought to himself, swinging his arm, carrying visibly Golden Wind Sword Qi, chopping at Xue Jing''s neck.


    Just at that moment,


    a pale golden, semi-transparent human shape suddenly appeared between him and Xue Jing, blocking the way.


    "...what!?"


    Yan Xiangweng''s eyes widened slightly.


    The pale golden figure bore almost an exact resemblance to Xue Jing, only expressionless.


    It swung its right fist toward Yan Xiangweng''s attacking arm.


    "Bang!!"


    A Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron exploded, blasting waves of air everywhere.


    Yan Xiangweng flew back at a speed far exceeding his attack, crashing through several streetlights with a crackling noise, and finally buried into the trunk of a large tree.


    "This¡­ what is this..."


    He clutched his trembling right arm, his face full of disbelief.


    Xue Jing himself, however, walked leisurely toward his home as if nothing had happened.


    "Stop right there, don''t walk away!"


    Yan Xiangweng shouted angrily, stood up, and stomped the ground, shattering the bricks beneath his feet as he rushed at Xue Jing.


    However, just like before, the Qi-powered avatar immediately blocked him, expressionless as it hammered him into the ground like nailing a spike.


    "You must attack this taunting avatar first."


    With his back to him, Xue Jing waved his hand and spoke without turning his head.


    "I attack your mom!"


    Yan Xiangweng yelled furious, pushing himself off the ground, but he was greeted again by the fists of the pale golden figure.


    Realizing he wouldn''t get close to Xue Jing without dealing with this entity, he roared and swung his hand at the Qi-powered avatar.


    The man and the avatar began fighting across the park, unceasingly attacking and defending, each punch and kick capable of tearing the ground and chopping down massive trees.


    Mid-fight, Yan Xiangweng sensed something amiss.


    Why has this thing turned black?


    The Qi-powered avatar, now clad in Shadowflame Wrap Armor, naturally didn''t answer his confusion. It stretched out its right hand, grasping a black long knife, and swiftly slashed Yan Xiangweng twice, leaving two deep, bone-exposing wounds on his body.


    "What the hell!?" He gasped in horror, hastily retreating.


    But by then, it was too late.


    Numerous Silver Cherry Blossom petals began to gently fall from the sky, and despite the weather obscuring the moon, a huge full moon appeared in the sky.


    The Shadowflame Wrap Armor-clad, pitch-black Qi-powered avatar flashed behind Yan Xiangweng and slowly sheathed its knife.


    The next moment, Yan Xiangweng''s body burst open with countless deep, fine injuries, blood spurting from every wound.


    "Cherry Full Moon¡ª¡ª"


    Yan Xiangweng read out the name of the ultimate skill in shock, word by word, then coughed up a mouthful of blood and slowly collapsed to the ground. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...

 Chapter 210 Entering the Inner Ring, Privileges of The Sixth Agency, Another Sky Pirates Gang

    Three days later.In Qingcheng''s South City district, at the White Crow''s temporary base.


    Xue Jing dragged a black rolling suitcase, heading toward the nearby airstrip.


    Miao Miao squatted on his shoulder, licking its right front paw to wash its face.


    This time, on his trip to Yuan City for the competition, he only brought Miao Miao along.


    Xue Wan originally wanted to go with him since she had never played in the Inner Ring City, but Xue Jing turned her down.


    One reason was that she didn''t have the permit to stay in the Inner Ring area for long, and the other was that Xue Jing had a feeling that this trip wouldn''t be entirely peaceful. For safety concerns, he decided not to let Xue Wan come along.


    Though usually a bit impulsive, Xue Wan was clear-headed when it mattered. Seeing Xue Jing''s serious attitude, she immediately obediently agreed to stay at home.


    A sleek black streamlined aircraft sat quietly on the tarmac, with a young man about seventeen or eighteen years old wearing a dark blue tactical suit and a paper talisman pendant on his left ear standing beside the plane''s hatch.


    It was Ning Yuantai.


    Xue Jing approached him at a leisurely pace, one hand pulling the suitcase, the other waving at Ning Yuantai, he greeted:


    "Ning."


    Upon hearing this address Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Xue, I''m not some young master anymore, whatever I have achieved today is all through my own efforts."


    Xue Jing laughed heartily, "That''s good, your character setting is very stable."


    As he said this, he looked toward the plane.


    He was very familiar with this aircraft, having flown in it two or three times before. It was the Dragon Core Airplane belonging to White Crow.


    However, compared to last time, there were some devices added to the plane''s wings and nose that Xue Jing didn''t quite understand, which seemed to be weapons.


    A few days ago, he called Void Blade to ask about the fastest way to the Inner Ring.


    Void Blade asked him to wait and then hung up the call. Shortly after, he called back, saying that the White Crow Commander had heard about his request and would dispatch a Dragon Core Airplane to take him directly, ready to take off at any moment and quickly reach the destination.


    And so, today had come.


    "Isn''t this White Crow''s plane? How come you are the one coming to pick me up?" Xue Jing curiously asked Ning Yuantai.


    "I mentioned to White Crow that I''m quite familiar with you, so they let me come over," explained Ning Yuantai.


    In terms of familiarity, it probably should be Void Blade and Mountain Demon... But it didn''t matter, Xue Jing smiled and said:


    "Let''s go then, are we ready to depart now?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded, "No problem, we can depart right now."


    The aircraft door opened with a hiss, and Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai walked towards the cabin.


    On the way, Ning Yuantai suddenly noticed that the exceptionally beautiful black cat on Xue Jing''s shoulder was squinting its eyes, staring at him with its emerald-green vertical pupils, exuding an inexplicable danger that made Ning Yuantai shiver.


    He couldn''t help but ask in confusion:


    "Xue, this cat is?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing reached out to pet Miao Miao''s chin, covering the overly evident malice in her eyes, and smiled:


    "It''s mine, too clingy. It gets anxious and meows restlessly if it doesn''t see me for one day, so I had to bring it along."


    Ever since Ning Yuantai had delivered the Divine Relic to Xue Jing''s house and, on a couple of occasions, finished all the food which led Miao Miao to resort to instant noodles, she had held a grudge against this person who also had the surname Ning.


    Now facing the man himself, the Serpent Slayer Spearhead in Miao Miao''s claws seemed a bit restless.


    After some thought, Xue Jing said, "This cat doesn''t get close to anyone but me, it''s best not to touch her... it''s quite dangerous."


    Ning Yuantai could feel the mysterious murderous aura emanating from the cat. Even though it was exceptionally attractive, he couldn''t muster the desire to pet it and quickly nodded in agreement:


    "I get it!"


    After both boarded the plane, the cabin door closed.


    After a while, with the sound of the engine starting up, the Dragon Core Airplane, propelled by the Dragon Species Force Field, hovered in the air like an extraterrestrial UFO, rising steadily and swiftly soaring into the sky, reaching the height of ten-thousand meters.


    Then, with the Dragon Species Force Field shifting, the airplane pierced through the airflow with a screeching noise, speeding northward at high velocity.


    Inside the cabin, besides Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai, there were over twenty members of ''White Crow'' and ''Cease-Blades'' dressed in fully armed tactical suits. Upon seeing Xue Jing, they all saluted him with serious expressions, calling him ''Lord Jing''.


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded in response before entering a small compartment designated for leaders with Ning Yuantai.


    "Speaking of which, if it weren''t for White Crow sending this Dragon Core Airplane to pick you up, it would have been quite troublesome to rush to the Inner Ring within a day or two."


    Ning Yuantai settled into a soft seat and took out a bottle of soda from a small refrigerator in front of him and said casually.


    As Xue Jing let Miao Miao down to rove freely, he replied, "Oh? How so?"


    "The Inner Ring... is rather chaotic."


    Ning Yuantai said euphemistically.


    "As Alien Implants aren''t banned here like they are in the Outer Ring, they''re quite prevalent. Many civilians implant some in themselves, and common flying devices like the ''Dragon Wing Device'' are quite common because they''re not very difficult to obtain, which has led to the rise of many ''Sky Pirate gangs''..."


    "Now, all Inner Ring cities have basically implemented ''No-Fly Agreements,'' and nearly all approaching aircraft are subject to indiscriminate anti-air attacks, so ordinary people who want to enter the Inner Ring have to travel by land."


    "To enter the Inner Ring by land, one must transfer multiple times, which is both complicated and time-consuming. Traveling from Qingcheng to Yuan City, at the least, takes over three days, which is quite torturous."


    Xue Jing tapped the armrest with his finger, curious:


    "With the No-Fly Agreements in place, why can the Dragon Core Airplane get in?"


    Ning Yuantai took a sip of his soda and explained, "It''s not that Dragon Core Airplanes can get in, but Dragon Core Airplanes belonging to The Sixth Agency can get in..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "This airplane is very useful and rarely available, but that commander dispatched it just to transport you to the Inner Ring."


    "They still hold you in high regard over there and would like you to officially join White Crow..."


    Ning Yuantai whispered.


    Looking out the window at the scenery, Xue Jing smiled and said, "I appreciate the gesture, but joining White Crow isn''t for me; I''m quite content with how things are now."


    Ning Yuantai made a face and said, "I feel the same way. With your martial arts skills, if you were to join anything, it should be ''Cease-Blades''."


    During the casual conversation, the airplane continually headed towards the Inner Ring, and several hours passed in the blink of an eye.


    Suddenly, Ning Yuantai pointed out the window and said, "Xue, look down."


    At his words, Xue Jing looked in the direction Ning Yuantai was pointing.


    Although they were tens of thousands of meters high in the sky, through the clouds, they could vaguely see a vast wilderness below with a huge, hexagonal, black structure sprawled across the land.


    "That''s the ''Joint Cultivation'' Intersecting Boundaries Biological Farm. From here on, we''re officially entering the Inner Ring area."


    As he spoke, urgent footsteps and various commanding shouts suddenly came from outside the small compartment.


    Xue Jing asked, "What''s happened?"


    "Things are a bit more dangerous here in the Inner Ring, so some preparations are needed. Don''t worry, it''s nothing serious," Ning Yuantai said nonchalantly.


    Hearing this, Xue Jing did not inquire further.


    Not long after, as if to confirm Ning Yuantai''s words, through the window, Xue Jing suddenly saw dozens of small black dots appear ahead.


    His exceptionally strong eyesight, defying all reason, needed only a slight adjustment of focus to see those small black dots clearly.


    They were... people.


    Dozens of them, each riding something like a tireless motorcycle, floating and flying straight towards the airplane.


    Their attire was strikingly uniform, all wearing jackets and leather pants studded with metal, and on each of them were visible traces of Alien Implants, not unlike human biological organs. They also all carried weapons on their backs that Xue Jing could not identify but looked to be very high-tech.


    "Tsk, these Sky Pirates, they swarm like dogs catching a whiff of stool," Ning Yuantai remarked.


    Xue Jing gave him an expressionless look.


    "Ah, I didn''t mean you," Ning Yuantai immediately realized his gaffe and hastened to add.


    ...


    Stay tuned with empire


    (I wanted to sleep for half an hour, but ended up sleeping for three. I couldn''t get the update ready in time, so I''m sending out this chapter first. I''m still writing the rest.) S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 211 Open the hatch, Ill be right back, the six-armed Shadowflame Demon God

    "Hmm?" The cat lying on Xue Jing''s thigh raised its head, and its emerald-like vertical pupils dilated towards Ning Yuantai. Its left forepaw''s Serpent Slayer Spearhead unsheathed, and the silver-white claws emitted a deadly cold light.It seemed that with just one command from Xue Jing, she would immediately strike, adding some decoration to the face of this Mr. Ning.


    However, her intention to seize the opportunity to act wasn''t successful, as Xue Jing pressed down her fluffy little head without minding Ning Yuantai''s slip of the tongue and asked:


    "Can you handle it, or do I need to step in?"


    Ning Yuantai patted his chest confidently and said, "No problem. Encountering sky pirate bands in the Inner Ring is just like going next door to the convenience store to buy a pack of cigarettes¡ªcommon and easily handled!"


    His voice had barely faded when the devices that looked like launchers on both sides of the plane''s nose suddenly lit up.


    Light red glows condensed and emitted a ''bubububu'' sound, followed by a roar as two pale red laser cannons were fired toward the sky pirates.


    However, this overly conspicuous frontal assault was ineffective as the pirates quickly dispersed, dodging the two light beams.


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to Ning Yuantai.


    "Hmm? This batch of sky pirates seems quite experienced, but don''t worry, just keep watching," Ning Yuantai said confidently.


    No sooner had he spoken than the Dragon Core Fighter''s wings launched countless missiles, trailing fireworks as they shot towards the sky pirates.


    Experience tales at empire


    These were unavoidable heat-tracking missiles, each one tightly locking onto its target with excellent agility¡ªcapable of turning on the spot, making them impossible to evade.


    But this time, the sky pirates had a countermeasure as well. At the front of each of their vehicles, a round hole opened up, shooting out a spherical red light.


    Dozens of red spheres were fired in all directions. The many heat-tracking missiles immediately changed their targets, pursuing the red lights instead, and not a single one hit any of the sky pirates.


    "A strong heat-inducing light bomb?"


    Ning Yuantai was taken aback.


    "How can an ordinary band of sky pirates have such a thing?"


    Xue Jing crossed his arms without speaking as Miao Miao jumped onto the armrest of the chair, looking out at the sky pirates through the porthole.


    They were raising their right hands and shouting something; although not audible, they appeared very excited.


    "The missiles we use have mature infrared imagery guidance technology. Ordinary heat-inducing decoys can''t interfere with the tracking, but these light bombs that can radiate a huge amount of infrared rays in an instant..."


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said:


    "Strange, although it''s a product from the last century, it''s still considered military-grade to this day. An ordinary band of sky pirates shouldn''t possess such a thing."


    Xue Jing glanced at him: "What do you mean?"


    "Don''t worry, the plane is manned by the elites from White Crow and Cease-Blades, all specialized in aerial combat. This band of sky pirates won''t be rampant for long," Ning Yuantai said, scratching his cheek somewhat embarrassedly.


    Xue Jing remained with his arms crossed, tapping his arm with his fingers, shaking his head, and standing up.


    "Forget it. Based on what you''ve said, there seems to be something odd about this band of sky pirates; they might have some reliance... The crew on the plane was, after all, arranged to pick me up. If there are any casualties, that would not reflect well on me," he said softly.


    "Have someone open the hatch. I''ll be back shortly."


    Ning Yuantai was stunned for a moment, not daring to refuse, he immediately responded in a low voice, "Yes."


    He reached out to grab the small intercom on the wall, pressed it, and commanded, "Open the hatch."


    Xue Jing patted Miao Miao on the head, signaling it to stay put on the seat, and then walked towards the exit of the small compartment.


    More than twenty members of White Crow and Cease-Blades stood in the aircraft''s corridor, fully prepared and waiting for the combat orders.


    "Lord Jing."


    "Lord Jing?"


    As they saw Xue Jing emerge, they respectfully greeted him one after another. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The members of The Sixth Bureau Special Duties Department, especially those from White Crow and Cease-Blades, mostly recognized this legendary young man who had once killed a Pureblood Dragon Species on his own. They understood very well what that entailed and thus held him in high regard.


    Without conscious thought, everyone parted to the sides, making way for him. Xue Jing walked past them, nodding at them with a smile.


    "Zzz¡ª" The hatch slowly opened, and the strong wind poured into the cabin, blowing through his shoulder-length hair.


    He reached out to brace himself at the edge of the hatch opening and looked down.


    From ten thousand meters in the air, the view was quite spectacular, and every so often on the ground, there would be strange structures the likes of which Xue Jing had never seen before.


    Without a second glance, he leapt up, exiting the plane and arriving in mid-air.


    His body turned in the air, relying on Core power, facing the Sky Pirates ahead.


    Then, with a crackling sound, two sharp, silver-white Lightning Dragon Horns grew out from his forehead.


    Amidst the sparks of electricity, a Silver-white Thunder Feather Belt appeared around Xue Jing, like the God''s Feather Robe of one who commands the thunder.


    A black stream also converged upon his body, igniting raging Dark Flames and morphing into a giant upper body of black shadow.


    This time, the giant underwent a huge change from before, possessing three heads and six arms, all wrapped in layers of armor.


    In the palms of the six arms, Dark Flames began to congeal, bringing to life six different weapons.


    They were a saber, a sword, a spear, a staff, a whip, and a bow.


    From a distance, it seemed like a character from myths, wielding immense spells.


    However, in terms of color, it looked more like a denizen of the demonic path, wrapped in Silver-white Thunder, resembling a Demon God.


    The dozens of Sky Pirates, who were previously howling in excitement, suddenly saw the arrival of this indomitable being and were instantly silenced, stuck.


    "What... what is that?"


    "A giant?"


    The Sky Pirates murmured stunned.


    But before they could snap out of it, the giant Shadowflame Demon God with only an upper body flew towards them.


    It moved incredibly fast, trailing colorful flames, and in the blink of an eye, it was amidst the dozens of Sky Pirates.


    A massive black saber, over ten meters long, swung out in the hands of the Demon God.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    "Clang, clang, clang, clang¡ª¡ª"


    With a single blow, as if even the void was split, the arc swept by the large saber exploded with intense winds, creating a vast vacuous crescent in the clouds. Within its range, several Sky Pirates, along with their flying vehicles, were instantly torn into fragments of flesh and machine.


    At the same time, the other five arms of the Demon God also struck out, each with a spear, iron whip, big staff, sharp sword, and giant bow attacking the Sky Pirates around.


    A pale golden Spear Glow swept across, the tip of the iron whip snapped with fierce sonic booms, the big staff shattered everything it touched like the legendary Sea-Calming Divine Needle, the giant bow predicted perfectly, each arrow shot down at least one Sky Pirate, and at most skewered three in a row like candied hawthorns.


    Merely at the very first encounter, what seemed like a professional band of Sky Pirates cried out for their parents and wailed for help as they suffered heavy casualties. Debris and chunks of bodies rained down towards the ground like rain.


    "Ahhh!!"


    "Damn it, fire, fire!!"


    The remaining Sky Pirates raised various weapons they carried on their backs and fired madly at the black six-armed, three-headed Demon God.


    All sorts of colored lasers and bullets struck the Demon God, and they had an effect. The Shadowflame Armor shattered, creating many wounds oozing with Dark Flame.


    Seeing that their attacks were effective, the Sky Pirates got excited and kept firing continuously without pause.


    But soon, someone noticed that the number of attacks landing on the Shadowflame Demon God was diminishing, and quickly only a few traces of shots remained.


    A Sky Pirate looked at his side, puzzled.


    Only then did he notice that of the dozen or so surviving Sky Pirates, only he and another person beside him remained; the rest had vanished.


    As he pondered in confusion, a colorful spiral of fireworks traced past him at high speed.


    The next moment, the only remaining companion by his side was grasped in the hand of a figure with Lightning Dragon Horns on his forehead and his body wrapped in crackling arcs of electricity.


    The figure''s slender hand tightly clutched his companion''s neck, and with a snap, blood and fragments of flesh burst out, his companion''s neck crushed to the thickness of sugar cane, killing him instantly as his body went limp.


    The man just held the corpse of his fallen ally, floating slowly in front of the Sky Pirate, looking down on him from above with calm, Silver-white eyes devoid of any human emotion, only indifference and contempt.


    "E...", the Sky Pirate''s mouth hung open, too terrified to utter a word, his trembling hands letting go of the gun, which fell towards the ground.


    Not far away, the black Demon God dissolved back into Dark Flames and slowly disintegrated, revealing a pale golden transparent ''pilot'' within.


    Xue Jing looked at the Sky Pirate in front of him, curiously surveying his red cockscomb hair and the sunglasses embedded on his face, and slowly said,


    "Your style is quite cyberpunk, but the technology level on you is lacking a bit."


    In a frantic bid for mercy, the Sky Pirate raised both hands: "Spare me, please spare my life!"


    Ning Yuantai, on the plane, stared out the window at this scene, completely dumbfounded.


    ...

 Chapter 213 Ning Fengwans Defense Broken by

    The plane drew ever closer to Yuan City, and Xue Jing suddenly noticed a layer of transparent, pale blue light enveloping the entire city from above.The color of the light membrane was extremely faint; even with Xue Jing''s vision, it was only after they had closed in and he concentrated his gaze that he discovered it.


    "What is that?"


    Xue Jing described the light membrane he had seen and asked Ning Yuantai about it.


    Ning Yuantai was initially stunned, then after pondering for a moment, he said uncertainly,


    "The thing you''re describing... I''m not too sure, maybe it''s some kind of wide-range holographic image generated by holographic technology?"


    "I didn''t see any light membrane..."


    Hearing Ning Yuantai''s reply, Xue Jing nodded and did not continue the inquiry, but he made a mental note of the light membrane''s existence.


    Although Yuan City was visible, it was only because the city was so large; in reality, the distance was still quite far. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It took a considerable while longer before the plane finally arrived over Yuan City.


    "Yuan City might not be considered big among Inner Ring cities, but its total area is around twenty times that of Qingcheng,"


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    "Inside, there are fifty-five districts, divided into D1 to D23 districts, C1 to C19 districts, B1 to B10 districts, and finally, the A1-A3 districts."


    "The U19 Grand Final you''re slated to compete in will be held in the Super Arena located in B9 district."


    Xue Jing said with a smile, "So the residents from D to A, the wealthier and nobler you are, the closer you live to A district, right?"


    Ning Yuantai replied, "Xue is clever, it''s pretty much like that. Though, the difference among the dozens of D to B districts isn''t that big. Only those living in the three A-class districts are really rich or noble¡ªwithout a certain status, it would be embarrassing to even enter."


    "I remember there''s an urban legend about Yuan City, saying that besides these fifty-five districts, there''s a special district that only certain chosen people can enter, called ''Imaginary Special District''..."


    As they chatted, the plane slowly descended.


    Just as the plane came in contact with the pale blue light membrane that only Xue Jing could see, a burst of red light suddenly flickered ahead.


    Accompanied by an alarm sound akin to a siren, holographic captions saying "Stop! Stop! Stop!" materialized out of thin air, encircling the whole plane with countless "Stop!" tightly packed together.


    The plane obediently paused mid-air, hovering without moving.


    Soon, several small flying vehicles resembling motorcycles without wheels flew over, with drivers all dressed in black uniforms, each sporting a silver trident-like badge on their chest.


    "Hmm? It''s not the sheriffs who''ve come but looks like it''s folks from Black Tide Security, judging by the uniform," Ning Yuantai said, somewhat puzzled, then turned to Xue Jing and added,


    "Don''t worry, Xue, leave it to me."


    After speaking, he stepped out of the compartment.


    The compartment door wasn''t closed, and looking out, Xue Jing saw the plane''s door open with Ning Yuantai standing at the entrance, speaking with the Black Tide Security personnel who were floating outside.


    "...this place feels weird." Miao Miao said from Xue Jing''s arms, her young girl''s voice clear and pleasant.


    She looked down at her two forepaws which had automatically deployed the Serpent Slayer Spearheads.


    Then she shook her cat tail, bringing the ring at its end in front of her.


    "The Cat Tail Ring is a bit hot, and the blood flow in my body is speeding up..."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "This place is the headquarters of the Dragon Cult, so ''Bastet''s'' powers probably sense the presence of ''Dragon''."


    Miao Miao looked out the window at the city, saying distantly, "I wonder how Yun Qin is doing."


    Xue Jing patted her head and was about to speak when Ning Yuantai''s voice suddenly rose sharply outside:


    "Recognizing this ID, you should know to which agency this plane belongs, so who gave you the nerve..."


    His voice was filled with irritation.


    Xue Jing stood up, placed Miao Miao on the seat, and walked out of the compartment.


    No sooner had he stepped out than he saw the Black Tide Security personnel outside the plane speaking sternly,


    "The rules in Yuan City are like this right now, and the order came directly from the Chief Councillor, so special treatment for no one; everyone entering the city must be checked, no exceptions."


    He said coldly.


    Laughing, Ning Yuantai crossed his arms and replied, "Eh, I just don''t buy it. I''m not letting you in today, what can you do about it?"


    The leading Black Tide Security personnel didn''t respond.


    After contemplating, Xue Jing spoke up,


    "Dragging this out won''t do any good. Since it''s a special period, let''s just let them check. There''s nothing on the plane that can''t be seen anyway."


    Hearing this, Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Since you say so, Xue..."


    He stepped aside, mouthing, "Come on in then."

 Chapter 216 [GOD-035·Giant God Machina], Combat Power Value Test (4K)

    "...How can he be so handsome?"The woman with gold and silver highlights looked at the scene before her, her eyes gleaming as she exclaimed.


    The man with a twisted grin and a shadowy countenance turned to her, moving the corners of his mouth that lacked cheeks: "...A little help."


    He struggled a couple times, only to find that the foot pressing on his back was as immovable as Mount Tai.


    "You said it''s really embarrassing to get counter-killed when trying to show off, super hilarious."


    The woman with gold and silver highlights glanced at him, her laugh tinged with scorn, and then she pulled a pistol from the holster at her waist, unhesitatingly pulling the trigger at Xue Jing.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    A subdued gunshot sounded, and a golden bullet burst forth, rotating as it shot towards Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    With Xue Jing''s eye power, he determined the bullet''s velocity to be around 320m/s right off the bat¡ªnot very fast. At such speeds, he could precisely flick it away with a snap of his fingers.


    However, he didn''t do so. Instead, almost simultaneously with the bullet''s discharge, he waved a hand toward the woman with gold and silver highlights. Shadow Flame quietly activated, condensing into a solid Dark Flame bullet that flew toward the golden one, intercepting it precisely in the middle between them.


    "Snap¡ª"


    The golden bullet collided with the Dark Flame bullet and immediately exploded into a large amount of Goldwater, enough to envelop an adult. One couldn''t imagine it had been contained in a tiny golden bullet moments before.


    Xue Jing pivoted on the foot stepping on the man, his Power circulating, and the ground instantly cracked, pressing the man nearly a meter deep into the earth, creating a human-shaped indentation.


    He then flashed behind the woman with gold and silver highlights, following a trailing colorful path of flame, and in the next moment, appeared behind her, kicking her into the Goldwater that had yet to touch the ground.


    "Ah!"


    The woman with gold and silver highlights screamed, engulfed by the Goldwater that stubbornly clung to her, leaving her wrapped in gold, immobile.


    All of this occurred in the blink of an eye. Xue Jing''s speed was simply too fast, and those around were only just beginning to react.


    Apart from the shadowy man, the woman with gold and silver highlights, and Qiao Ying, there were three other members of the Titan God Brigade. Seeing this, they immediately acted, heading straight for Xue Jing.


    But it was already too late.


    "Flame Color Chain - Burning Wheel."


    The Heavenly Sabre technique Flames Connecting Colors, combined with the Hidden Dragon School technique Whirlwind Thunder, enhanced both power and speed when used together, greater than when either was used alone.


    The spiraling trail of colorful flames wove through the air, too fast for anyone present to see clearly.


    "Boom, boom, boom¡ª!"


    After three explosive sounds, Xue Jing reappeared in the middle of the scene, the three members of the Titan God Brigade flung out, smashing through buildings and flying off to who knows where.


    Yin Muhu blinked, staring at the scene that could only be described as overwhelmingly powerful, somewhat dumbfounded.


    It had been less than a month since they last met... how had Xue become so much stronger?


    "Hmm? Who is that, using martial arts or an Alien Implant?"


    "Should be a practitioner of Neo Martial Arts, right? Which school, though?"


    "I''ve never seen him before. Oh, that U19 championship is starting soon, maybe he''s a contestant from out of town."


    "He''s so impressive and good-looking, and we''ve never seen him before... Could he be from the Outer Ring?"


    The surrounding spectators also began discussing amongst themselves in amazement. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, Ning Yuantai arrived at the scene, his body streaked with red streams as if he''d powered up with a King''s Fist.


    "Ah? Xue, you''re done already?"


    He looked around with a hint of disappointment and spoke.


    Of all the members of the Titan God Brigade present, only Qiao Ying, who was crouched on the ground, could be said to be standing.


    Xue Jing looked at her and seemed to recall hearing her name earlier. After thinking hard, he couldn''t remember what she was called.


    This was due to the side effect of the Divine Relic he was carrying, the "Proof of Love"¡ªwhich made it easy to forget the names of people who were unimportant to him.


    From what Xue Jing had seen in the Divine Relic archives, the side effect would trigger if the target''s Affection Level was above 10 but below 40 points.


    However, if the target was involved in something important, one could strengthen the memory by repeatedly reciting the name or similar methods, thus forcibly remembering it.


    It was a rather benign side effect.


    Xue Jing looked at Qiao Ying, who was staring at him dreamily. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to take any action against her and turned to Ning Yuantai:


    "I didn''t expect it to be so quick... The opponents were a bit weak."


    Yin Muhu shook his head: "I don''t think it was that the opponents were weak, it''s that you, Xue, are too strong... With that kind of absolute domination in speed, unless the opponent''s strength is equivalent to yours, can''t keep up with your pace, and doesn''t have sufficient defense, the outcome is always an instant defeat."


    Ning Yuantai sighed with disappointment for not having gotten the chance to fight alongside Xue Jing. He dispersed the red tornado stirred up by the Red Lotus Volcano Forbidden Technique and made his way over to the shadowy man that Xue Jing had stepped into the ground.


    "Hmm, this emblem..."


    Ning Yuantai pulled the unconscious man out of the pit and looked at a symbol on the right arm of his clothes.


    It was a golden symbol of two crossed arms.


    "He''s with the Titan God Brigade?"


    Xue Jing walked beside him and nodded: "That''s how they introduced themselves... Why, you know them?"


    As Ning Yuantai searched the shadowy man''s body, he answered:


    "Yes, I know them. They''re a well-known Hunter organization from the Intersecting Boundaries. Their leader is pretty powerful, known as ''Giant God Machina,'' wielding two ''combat-focused Divine Weapons'' ranked within the top three hundred."

 Chapter 216 [GOD-035·Giant God Machina], Combat Power Test (4K)_2

    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "A Divine Relic within the top three hundred?"The sequence number of Divine Relics, those ranked three hundred and beyond, simply represent the order in which they appeared and are not related to the specific strength of their abilities.


    However, those within the top three hundred are sorted by the strength of their abilities and their hierarchical relations. The closer to the top a Divine Relic is, the stronger its ability and the higher its rank.


    Even those Divine Relics that are ranked at the lower end of the top three hundred are at a completely different level compared to those outside the top three hundred.


    Ning Yuantai nodded and said, "Indeed, he possesses [GOD-205¡¤Giant God''s Left Arm] and [GOD-206¡¤Giant God''s Right Arm]."


    "These are two very special Divine Relics, not only are they rare ''direct combat types,'' but they are also part of a ''Divine Relic Set''..."


    "The effect is that, once equipped, they can extract the wearer''s physical strength, spiritual power, and life force to form golden energy limbs, like [Giant God''s Left Arm], which forms a golden energy left arm. The stronger the user, the larger the arm formed."


    "If one also gathers [GOD-203¡¤Giant God''s Skull], [GOD-204¡¤Giant God''s Torso], [GOD-207¡¤Giant God''s Left Leg], and [GOD-208¡¤Giant God''s Right Leg], and successfully wears them together, these six Divine Relics will merge into one, transforming into [GOD-035¡¤Giant God Machina]."


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but comment, "Who is this dark sorcerer?"


    Ning Yuantai continued, "This thing places a huge burden on the user. Each piece is rated above danger level B. Managing one piece itself is remarkable. However, the leader of the Titan God Brigade can wear two pieces simultaneously, boasting significant combat prowess. It is said that he once single-handedly subdued a Flame Habitat Species of danger level 7 named ''Hellfire Ghost.''"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, "Oh? That strong, huh?"


    Danger level 7 means it''s roughly 32 times stronger than level 6.


    The young Pureblood Dragon Species he had killed at Roaring Waterfall was about danger level 6, though he didn''t know the exact decimal.


    His victory was more a matter of exploiting weaknesses. The Pureblood Dragon Species had been significantly weakened by the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, its core abilities had been incapacitated, and its Dragon Thunder had been suppressed by his ''Plant Pact.''


    The true strength of a creature capable of supersonic flight in its prime wasn''t fully understood by Xue Jing.


    But he could roughly feel that, even with his significantly enhanced current strength, if he were to fight an unweakened Pureblood Dragon Species, he probably wouldn''t win, although it''s not completely impossible.


    If the leader of the Titan God Brigade could solo a level 7 creature... his strength was truly extraordinary.


    Yuan City really lived up to its reputation as an Inner Ring City, where even a random scuffle could draw out someone immensely powerful.


    "Hey, an Inch Dragon III-type Levitating Sword. These hunter groups are really wealthy, huh? The gear they carry isn''t bad."


    Ning Yuantai pulled a palm-sized, handleless black blade from the shady man''s body and nodded.


    He stood up, handed the blade to Xue Jing, and said, "Xue, your spoils of war... Although you might not find much use for this, it''s still a decent toy."


    Xue Jing took it, briefly examined it, couldn''t make much of it, and then slipped it into his pocket, saying,


    "Let''s go, let''s head to the base... Oh," he turned to look at Yin Muhu, "could I bring my friend along for a visit too?"


    Ning Yuantai: "According to the rules, we shouldn''t... but the commander instructed us to fulfill your not too excessive requests if possible. So, this should be fine."


    Xue Jing nodded and said to Yin Muhu, "Shady Girl, what do you think? Come with me, let''s talk and catch up."


    Although she didn''t know what the ''base'' was, Yin Muhu trusted Xue Jing wouldn''t harm her, and having just received his aid, it wasn''t a good time to refuse. So, she nodded, showing her agreement.


    The group quickly left the area, leaving behind several Titan God Brigade members lying around and Qiao Ying squatting on the ground, staring at Xue Jing''s retreating figure for a long time, unable to snap out of it.


    ...


    Using a Dragon Core Fighter as transportation meant their speed was extremely fast. Not long after, the plane moved from district C6 to Zhi Ge Sub Base located in district B3.


    The base occupied a fairly large area, approximately square-shaped, enclosed by nearly five-meter-high walls, featuring several strongly-built steel gates.


    From the air, Xue Jing calculated the size of the entire base to be around thirty thousand square meters. The arrangement of buildings and facilities inside was quite ingenious, exuding a simple beauty of high utilization.


    The plane slowly landed on the ground, and the cabin door opened as Xue Jing and his companions stepped out. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue tactical suit was already waiting outside. As soon as he saw Ning Yuantai, he smiled and said,


    "Ning, long time no see."


    Ning Yuantai, dissatisfied, said, "Old Xu, I''ve told you not to call me Ning. I''ve reached this point today all on my own; it has nothing to do with my family."


    The middle-aged man didn''t respond but turned his sparkling eyes toward Xue Jing:


    "So this must be Xue Jing, right?"


    He extended his hand, saying,


    "I am the chief of Zhi Ge Sub Base B3 in Yuan City, Xu Hongzhong,"


    Xue Jing shook hands with him and smiled, "Chief Xu."


    Ning Yuantai added by the side, "You can just call him Old Xu."


    Xu Hongzhong also smiled, "Yes, just call me Old Xu, it sounds more cordial."


    After some more small talk, Ning Yuantai waved his hand towards Xu Hongzhong:


    "Alright, Old Xu, you better hurry on with your tasks, I''ll take Xue around for a tour."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Hongzhong nodded at Xue Jing and Yin Muhu, smiled, and said, "Since Ning has spoken, I''ll take my leave."


    Then he arranged for a base member to help Xue Jing with his suitcase before quickly taking his leave.


    "Let''s go, Xue, I''ll take you around to experience some high-tech that you won''t find in the Outer Ring!"


    Ning Yuantai said, brimming with interest.


    Xue Jing had no objections, bringing along Miao Miao, who was perched on his shoulder, and Yin Muhu, they followed behind Ning Yuantai.


    Soon after, they entered a large building.


    On the way, Xue Jing remarked, "That Chief Xu we met earlier seemed quite strong."


    Ning Yuantai was a bit surprised, "Oh? You noticed?"


    "He''s famously discreet, never showing a hint of his aura. On a normal day, he just looks like an ordinary middle-aged uncle, but in reality..."


    "He''s a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster from the New Martial Sect who has crossed the Dragon Gate!"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows.


    He had vaguely sensed Chief Xu Hongzhong''s strength, but he did not expect him to be a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!


    Aside from artificial inferior products like Jiao Hongyuan who had achieved breakthroughs, he had never encountered a breakthrough master in the Outer Ring before.


    He sighed in his heart once again, Inner Ring truly was different.


    "Here we are, this is the place,"


    Ning Yuantai led Xue Jing and Yin Muhu, pushing open a set of transparent double doors, and entered a rather spacious laboratory.


    Xue Jing looked up to see the laboratory filled with various equipment and facilities he couldn''t understand; dozens of personnel in white lab coats were bustling around.


    "Xue, look at this,"


    Ning Yuantai pointed to a small compartment that resembled a transparent shower area and said.


    "This is a ''Physical Power Testing Machine,'' a device that can precisely measure Physical Power Levels, with an error margin not exceeding 0.001 levels, the most accurate currently available on the market."


    He then pointed to a circular platform not far away, above which was magically fixed a pale blue spherical water membrane about three meters in diameter.


    "And this ''Spiritual Power Testing Machine,'' is used for measuring spiritual levels."


    "Generally, by testing at these two spots, one can roughly determine what a person''s specific combat strength number is. What do you think, Xue, want to give it a try?"


    Ning Yuantai raised his eyebrows.


    Combat strength number, huh...


    Xue Jing looked at the two devices.


    He really didn''t know what his current combat strength was like, and he was quite interested in finding out.


    After thinking it over, he nodded and smiled, "Sure, let''s give it a try."


    ...


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    (I watched "Edge Runners" again for inspiration; it''s really good)


    (My hand feels a bit better, I''ve started looking into how to supplement vitamins daily... there''s quite a bit to consider)

 Chapter 217 Xue Jing, Surpassing Human Theoretical Limits, Breaking the Martial Saint Record! (4K)

    "Then I''ll do a demonstration for you," Ning Yuantai said happily.He gestured to someone nearby, and immediately a staff member came over holding a pair of shorts.


    Ning Yuantai first stripped off all his clothes, revealing a well-built physique, then put on the shorts, opened the door of the ''Physical Power Testing Machine,'' which looked like a transparent shower stall, and stepped inside. He then pressed a few buttons on the control panel, stood in the middle, and spread his arms.


    A few seconds later, a ring of pale blue light slowly rose from the bottom up, scanning his entire body.


    Suddenly, dozens of soft white tubes extended from inside the testing machine, each tube''s tip fitted with something like electrode patches, which attached to various parts of Ning Yuantai''s head, limbs, and torso. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While he was testing, Xue Jing watched and chatted with Yin Muhu beside him.


    "By the way, Shady Girl, your grandmaster, one of the ''Trio of Jade City,'' Vajra Zhou, where is he now?"


    Xue Jing asked casually.


    His master, Li Qi, had been crippled by an attack and spent half his life nursing the True Dragon within him, which was also killed, forcing him to leave the Inner Ring and barely survive in Qingcheng of the Outer Ring.


    The other two of the Trio of Jade City, Vajra Zhou and Asura Chen, should still be in the Inner Ring. Xue Jing was quite keen to meet them, if possible.


    When Yin Muhu heard Xue Jing mention her grandmaster, she pursed her lips, showing a bit of disdain as she said:


    "The last time I heard news of my grandmaster was half a year ago. My master mentioned that he seemed to have gone to Menghu Palace in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle to prepare for the battle, trying to compete for the ''Overlord'' title."


    "But the Overlord Battle ended three months ago, and this term''s Overlord is still that ''White Emperor'' Lu Shenliu. He has already clinched the title four times and if he wins again this year, he''ll earn the Eternal Title. I don''t know if my grandmaster didn''t participate or was eliminated..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed, "He went to compete in the title battle?"


    The seven major titles of Zhuxia, according to tradition, are held at different places.


    Martial Saint Battle at Jade Dragon Summit, Army Master Battle at Sky Mirror Lake, Flying General Battle at Pangu Mountain, Heavenly Position Battle in Zizhu Forest, Overlord Battle at Menghu Palace, True Dragon Battle on Thousand Year Island.


    The ''Tenth Dan'' however, being a title from the new era of martial arts grading system, does not have a fixed location.


    This is also one of the reasons why the ''Tenth Dan'' is not considered very prestigious; it lacks ancient history.


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    Yin Muhu folded her arms, shook her head, and said, "I don''t know where that old man got his confidence from. Lu Shenliu''s ''White Emperor Sword'' is known as the ''Most Ferocious in the Human World,'' and among the current title-holders of the seven major titles, he is also one of the highest ranked, already recognized as a sure winner of the Eternal Title."


    "If my grandmaster had set his sights on the ''Tenth Dan,'' maybe he would have stood a chance, but the Overlord... I really don''t know what he was thinking."


    Xue Jing said, "Senior Zhou must have his own considerations."


    He sighed inwardly. The ''Trio of Jade City,'' once merely young masters filled with promise, decades have passed, and now Vajra Zhou had dared to set his sights on the seven major titles... Whether he could achieve it or not, at least he had the ambition.


    He wondered what his master Li Qi would think upon hearing this news.


    As they chatted, Ning Yuantai also finished his testing and walked out of the testing machine.


    Wearing only the shorts, bare-chested, he said, "3.9 level... I''ve improved a bit since last month, sigh, still just shy of breaking 4."


    Xue Jing glanced at him and asked, "Is the calculation method for Physical Power Level the same as the danger level?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded and said, "Yes, by default, a healthy adult male who hasn''t undergone special training has a Physical Power Level around 1 to 1.1."


    "The scale is similar to the Richter magnitude scale for earthquakes. Each 0.1 level increase corresponds to an overall 1.414 times increase in combined physical strength, an increase of 1 level is 32 times, 2 levels are 1000 times..."


    "Of course, that''s combining overall strength, not just physical strength... otherwise, a level 4 Physical Power Level would be over thirty thousand times that of level 1, and I''d be a Kryptonian Superman by now," Ning Yuantai spread his hands.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    He then turned to Yin Muhu and said, "Shady Girl, why don''t you give it a try?"


    Yin Muhu blinked, pointed at herself, and said, "Me?"


    "Understanding your current exact strength completely, I think it''s beneficial. Give it a try," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    Yin Muhu nodded and said, "If Xue says so."


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai asked the staff to fetch the largest size crop top and the largest shorts for Yin Muhu, and had her go to the changing room to put them on.


    When she came back, her bare muscles now visible, Ning Yuantai said with a hint of envy, "Yin, you have a great figure."


    Yin Muhu, with her sharply contoured face, showed a proud expression, slapped her right bicep with her left hand, and said, "Not bad, right?"


    After she entered the testing machine, Ning Yuantai outside guided her on how to operate it.


    "Press the red button there, select the aspects you want to test... yes, just like that, now just follow the voice commands..."


    Soon, Yin Muhu also completed her testing, stepping out of the machine.


    "4.3 level."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, feeling a bit disheartened, "We''re about the same age, and I even practice the more advantageous Neo Martial Arts, and yet my physical level is so much lower..."


    "Is this really the difference in talent?"


    Yin Muhu said meaningfully, "You might be lamenting too early about this..."

 Chapter 220 Xue Jing is an ‘Exception; Fights with Otogirusu Five Seconds After Meeting (4K)

    Yuan City, within a certain dojo.Otogirusu was kneeling on the floor, a tea table laid out before him with two cups of light green tea on it.


    Opposite him sat a middle-aged man cross-legged.


    This middle-aged man was rather peculiar: his appearance plain, neither good nor bad; his physique mundane, neither short nor tall; his clothes ordinary, neither trendy nor outdated.


    Such a person, no more conspicuous than a stone if thrown into the street, exuded a chilling, unnatural aura.


    Distorted, uncoordinated... it was like seeing an African elephant in the Arctic ice, or a full Han banquet with a dish looking up at the stars, creating a disturbingly incongruous picture.


    This extreme discordance provoked unease in anyone who saw him, like a splinter festering under the skin, compelling a desire to remove him immediately and producing a visceral disgust.


    Yet Otogirusu seemed oblivious to this, his androgynous, beautiful face bearing no trace of revulsion, but instead he smiled and made a welcoming gesture, softly opening his mouth to say,


    "Mr. Hu, please try this, it''s the Gyokuro tea from my homeland."


    The middle-aged man known as Mr. Hu didn''t touch the tea in front of him; instead, he shook his head and looked around curiously, asking,


    "Isn''t your family one of the Six Major Zaibatsu in the Far East, why is your place so humble?"


    His voice was peculiar, faintly accented and sounded as if two people were speaking at once, both thick and thin tones intertwined.


    Otogirusu smiled slightly and responded, "The so-called Zaibatsu were not born as such; my ancestors during the Edo period were merely some minor nobility''s ''Otogi'', persons of such low status they didn''t even qualify to have a surname, until the Meiji Restoration allowed all citizens to take surnames, and we assumed the name Otogirusu."


    "One of our family precepts is never to forget the origins of the Otogirusu name, to remember our humble beginnings, and to avoid arrogance."


    "Being in a foreign country, having a roof over our heads is already a great fortune, how could we ask for more?"


    Mr. Hu gave him an inscrutable look, his face seeming to smile, "Your Chinese is good, but it''s too formal, not colloquial enough, a bit stiff."


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    Otogirusu humbly said, "I am still trying to improve."


    Touching his chin, Mr. Hu stared at Otogirusu, his expression eerie,


    "I''ve met quite a few Far Eastern People in the organization, but you''re the first ''normal'' one I''ve encountered."


    Otogirusu sipped from his tea cup with a raised eyebrow, "Should I feel flattered?"


    Mr. Hu shook his head, "Just talking, you take it as you will, is there really a normal person among us? Even those who seem normal are just mimicking."


    Otogirusu chuckled, "Mr. Hu, your words complicate my feelings."


    "Enough, I''ve come to ask for your help with something," Mr. Hu picked up the cup of Gyokuro tea from the table.


    Otogirusu prompted, "Please speak."


    Drinking down the tea, Mr. Hu smacked his lips and said,


    "You know Xue Jing, right?"


    After speaking, he paused abruptly, as if receiving some information, then realized,


    "Oh right, you''re about to meet him very soon."


    Otogirusu''s eyes narrowed.


    "I need you to lose to him¡­ as subtly as possible, as if you truly were defeated," Mr. Hu drawled.


    "Why?" Otogirusu asked.


    Mr. Hu held up a finger, explaining,


    "This man is harboring an incredibly complex ''abnormality'', constantly getting entangled in countless causations. Allowing him to grow, to develop, will one day bring great turmoil to the entire world."


    "In our industry, such people are known as ''exceptions''."


    Pointing his finger at Otogirusu, he continued, "But now, he''s grown for too short a time... and you, you are too strong."


    "I need you to play the sacrificial lamb, nourish him to achieve further advancements."


    "In return, I will tell you three things you want to know."


    Pausing, Mr. Hu added, "Anything."


    Otogirusu didn''t respond immediately but sipped his tea, placed the cup on the table, then rested his hands on his thighs, his posture elegantly rigid.


    He shook his head, stating,


    "I refuse."


    Mr. Hu''s expression did not change: "Oh?"


    "Mr. Hu, forgive my frankness, but you are insulting martial arts."


    Otogirusu''s expression gradually grew colder.


    "Free from guile, supremely honorable, exhausting both parties'' full capacities, burning oneself, striving intensely to defeat or to be defeated by the opponent, I believe this is the necessary respect owed to a true Martial Artist."


    "What you''re asking of me is to force me to insult him, to insult myself, and to insult martial arts."


    "I demand an immediate apology."


    Mr. Hu stiffened, then chuckled inexplicably: "An interesting lad."


    "Well, that''s alright."


    "If he is an exception, how could his trials be few, the Extreme Martial King of those days also..."


    He stood up, looking at Otogirusu.


    "I apologize to you; it was indeed an untimely request¡­ You really are a member of the organization, I see."


    As he spoke wistfully, Mr. Hu''s figure had already vanished from the dojo.


    Otogirusu sat there, unmoved by Mr. Hu''s sudden disappearance, his eyelids slightly lowered, deep in thought.


    Then, the room''s sliding door was pushed open, and a young man with a serious and determined face entered, speaking in the language of the Far East:


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 Chapter 220 Xue Jing is an ‘Exception; Fights with Otogirusu Five Seconds After Meeting (4K)_2

    "Young Master, who was that person just now?"Otogirusu turned her mind back to the present, glanced at the youth, and replied in Far East tongue, "He is known as Fox Sleeper."


    "Fox dens abandoned, hare tracks overgrown, all were once the grounds of song and dance... This is an old Zhuxia saying that describes the impermanence of the world''s flourish and decline, and that man is a lunatic who wishes to plunge everything into chaos."


    The youth seemed to understand but could only respond blankly, "...I see."


    Otogirusu smiled and asked, "Taiping, has Xue Jun replied to me yet?"


    He thought of what Fox Sleeper had just said, "You will meet him very soon."


    Fox Sleeper''s words were never wrong, so if he said so, then Xue Jing must have agreed to meet.


    As expected, the youth named Taiping nodded and said,


    "The Galaxy Club has responded, saying that Lord Jing will visit this afternoon."


    Otogirusu''s face showed anticipation: "Is that so? That''s wonderful."


    ...


    Around three in the afternoon, Xue Jing rode the suspension-style high-speed monorail and arrived at one of Yuan City''s so-called wealthy districts, Area A3.


    Following the address marked on his bracelet, he quickly found a sizeable dojo that featured a very Japanese style.


    Xue Jing looked at the dojo''s sign.


    "Ruo Gong Dojo... this is the place."


    "Let''s go, let''s go inside and see... Hmm? What''s wrong?"


    He turned his head to look at Miao Miao, seated squat on his shoulder, and asked in puzzlement.


    At this moment, Miao Miao was all fluffed up as if electrified, looking much more puffed up than usual, with her two front paws extended with the gleaming silver Serpent Slayer Spearhead, which in the sunlight shone brightly and made Xue Jing''s shoulder somewhat sore.


    "I don''t know... I smelled a strange scent, and then I became like this."


    Miao Miao was also clueless, but she vigilantly scanned her surroundings.


    "This feeling is the same as when we first entered Yuan City, on the airplane... I thought it was because we entered the territory of the Dragon Cult, but now it seems that''s not the case."


    She placed one front paw on Xue Jing''s head and stood higher, ceaselessly searching through the crowd for something.


    "Jing, there must be something strange here, or something strange was here just a moment ago, it''s quite terrifying..."


    Seeing this, Xue Jing reached out and stroked her head, smoothing down her bristled fur, and consoled her:


    "Don''t worry, I''m here."


    At that moment, a youth standing at the entrance of the Ruo Gong Dojo saw Xue Jing and his eyes brightened, and he trotted over to him.


    "...Are you Lord Jing?"


    He asked in a slightly off-toned and awkward Chinese, bowing his head respectfully.


    Xue Jing looked at him and nodded, replying, "Yes."


    Hearing this, the youth gave him a bow and said, "I am Ruo Gong Taiping, Lord Jing can just call me Taiping, please follow me, our young master has been waiting for you for a long time..."


    Ruo Gong Taiping made a gesture for Xue Jing to follow and then led the way ahead.


    Xue Jing, petting Miao Miao, followed behind him, entering the grand gates of the Ruo Gong Dojo.


    This dojo, not only Japanese in appearance but also in interior decoration, was adorned with sliding door rooms everywhere, a bamboo water feature named ''Startled Deer'' in the garden, and a zigzag bridge, all conveying a Zen-like atmosphere that brought a serene tranquility to one''s spirit.


    As they walked, there were no other people in sight, and the entire dojo was silent to the point of being nearly desolate.


    Following Ruo Gong Taiping, Xue Jing zigzagged down the solid wood corridor and quickly arrived in front of the largest room in the dojo.


    Ruo Gong Taiping moved forward, knelt on the ground, and slowly pushed open the sliding door, bowing respectfully inside and announcing:


    "Young Master, I have brought Lord Jing."


    A voice from within the room, androgynous in its magnetic gentleness, answered, "Please come in."


    Xue Jing stepped forward, removed his shoes, and walked into the room.


    In the center of the immaculate room, where the floor almost shone, a figure knelt on the floor with their back to Xue Jing.


    The waist-length high ponytail of sleek black hair, soft like a black waterfall, covered most of their back.


    Even upon seeing the person in real life, with Xue Jing''s powers of perception, he could not immediately discern whether the person in front was male or female.


    This impression only deepened when Otogirusu turned around.


    That beautiful face, unclear in gender and possessing both masculine features and the softness of femininity, bore a charm that transcended gender, making Xue Jing hesitate between addressing them as sir or miss.


    "Xue Jun, it''s been a long time."


    Otogirusu stood up, a gentle smile spreading across his face.


    He extended a hand, skin delicate to the extreme, not at all like that of someone who practiced martial arts, and began speaking in extremely fluent Chinese:


    "I am Otogirusu... just call me Suzuka."


    Xue Jing shook hands with him, and asked in confusion:


    "What do you need from me? Do you want to fight me ahead of schedule?"


    Faced with such direct words, Suzuka''s eyes lit up: Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xue Jun is indeed a man of temperament. Although that wasn''t my intention in inviting you here, if Xue Jun is so inclined, why not... start right now?"


    Anticipation laced Suzuka''s tone.


    "Start fighting five seconds after we meet?"


    Xue Jing had come here for the express purpose of trying to get "The Blade That Never Dulls" ahead of time, so he had no objections.


    He thought to himself, this Otogirusu is indeed as the rumors say, a martial arts fanatic.


    "He is quite an interesting person."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Then let''s begin."


    Miao Miao consciously jumped from Xue Jing''s shoulder to the side, and crouched down.


    Otogirusu glanced at her, his gaze lingering momentarily on the white gold tail ring on her tail, and then turned back to Xue Jing.


    His face bore an enthusiastic and somewhat flirtatious smile as he spoke:


    "Xue Jun... be careful."


    As soon as the words fell, Xue Jing instinctively took a step back, leaning to the left.


    An arm, shaped like a hand-sword, slashed through the space he had just dodged, utterly without warning.


    "Swoosh¡ª!!"


    Transparent Sword Qi trailed from where the hand-sword had swept, slicing the sliding door behind Xue Jing in two, and continued flying unabated toward the front.


    Just from this single exchange, Xue Jing immediately realized that the person before him was different from any enemy he had encountered before.


    It wasn''t a matter of strength... in terms of power, the Pureblood Dragon Breed and Jiao Hongyuan were both above Otogirusu.


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    But they did not possess a certain quality that Otogirusu embodied.


    "Pure, passionate, limitless potential..."


    He was¡ªenjoying himself.


    Xue Jing was suddenly reminded of a saying.


    ''Those who practice hard can''t beat those who like to practice.''


    ''Those who like to practice can''t beat those who enjoy practicing.''


    The sage says: those who know are not as good as those who like, those who like are not as good as those who enjoy.


    The man before him was someone Xue Jing had never come across before, someone who enjoyed martial arts practice, who enjoyed fighting.


    Even though he himself also liked martial arts practice and enjoyed fighting, his essence was still to achieve the things he could get through martial arts practice and fighting, not to treat the martial arts practice and fighting as the goal itself.


    But the person before him was different; he really treated martial arts practice and fighting as the goal, enjoying the act itself in a simple and pure way.


    "Interesting."


    Xue Jing''s eyes sparkled with amusement as he forcefully cut off and cast aside the utilitarian thought of ''defeat Otogirusu to obtain "The Blade That Never Dulls"'' with his strong spirit and consciousness.


    Facing such an opponent, he too felt a rare surge of interest in engaging in a pure fight.


    Power coursed through him, True Dragon awakening, the sound of the dragon''s chant echoing through the dojo.


    "Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron!"


    The Unparalleled Fist roared out, carrying almost the force of a True Dragon, blasting a ring of air-waves toward Otogirusu.


    Realizing the ferocity of the attack, Otogirusu''s face showed delight as he immediately extended his right hand in a palm-up strike posture, and struck upward.


    "Swift Style: Tan Tian Crush!"


    ...

 Chapter 221 A Hearty Battle, A Narrow Victory, Invitation from the Troublemaker Club (4K)

    Xue Jing''s Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron punch was blocked by Otogirusu''s palm lift and diverted upward, taking a curved path.A pale golden dragon-shaped energy surged from his fist, like a dragon ascending from a deep pool into the sky, piercing through the ceiling with a large hole and continuing its trajectory, extending hundreds of meters away.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    "What power," Otogirusu''s eyes shone as he exclaimed in Far Eastern language, unable to contain his admiration.


    As he spoke, his hands did not slow, his right hand shifting from a palm lift to a Piercing Hand, thrusting towards Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    "My Style: Glowing Night Branch¡ª"


    Vaguely, gem-like colors appeared on his palm, glittering and flickering.


    Xue Jing too extended his hand, grabbing Otogirusu''s Piercing Hand, and in the instant he gripped it, he felt an almost unstoppable immense piercing force. It was as if what he was holding was not a human hand but the horn of a charging rhinoceros.


    However, if this were truly a rhinoceros, he could pin it down with a single finger; unfortunately, it was not, and Xue Jing instantly judged that this strike was not good to resist head-on.


    So, he simply didn''t resist.


    He relaxed his feet, no longer gripping the ground, and his entire body relied solely on the strength of his right hand, holding onto Otogirusu''s Piercing Hand, or to put it another way, hanging onto Otogirusu''s hand like a hook.


    As a result, he was directly pushed back by Otogirusu, crashing through a wall with a loud bang, not stopping, continuing to bulldoze through several buildings until he came to the street, dozens of meters away, outside the Ruo Gong Dojo.


    During this process, he continuously held onto Otogirusu''s Piercing Hand, his posture unchanged, not allowing it to get even a fraction closer to his abdomen.


    The tremendous noise caught the attention of countless passersby on the street.


    "What happened? A fight?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm? Isn''t that Otogirusu?"


    Ruo Gong Dojo is located in District A3, where the residents are either rich or noble, and their access to information is much better than that of ordinary people; most of them recognized the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu.


    "This martial arts maniac is fighting someone again... Why is it so intense this time? Weren''t the previous ones over in an instant?" Find adventures at empire


    The crowd was immensely curious but also understood that it was dangerous to approach such a divine conflict, so they simply kept their distance to watch.


    But they soon realized that keeping their distance... was not safe either.


    "Flame Color Chain¨CBurning Wheel¡ª"


    "Suzaku Style¨CScarlet Dye¡ª"


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    A ring-shaped blast of air exploded out from the middle of Xue Jing and Otogirusu, with them at the center. Everything within dozens of meters was blown away instantly¨C tables, trees, houses... all were shattered, becoming part of the blast wave and spreading out over a hundred meters.


    "Aaahhh!"


    A few bystanders who were too close were blown away by the blast wave, screaming in terror, at a loss.


    A Far Eastern youth named Ruo Gong Taiping quickly intercepted and rescued the airborne bystanders, gently placing them on the ground.


    He sighed with a bit of a headache as he looked towards the two young monsters who had already started fighting fiercely, paying no mind to their surroundings.


    "Young master... at this rate, if we''re not careful, it could lead to an international incident."


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang¡ª!!"


    Explosive sounds continued without end as two figures intertwined, fighting in the sky one moment and on the ground the next.


    Each punch and kick was like a bomb exploding, pushing the air aside to create temporary spherical vacuums, countless vacuums appearing and being filled constantly, forming a violent stream of wind. It was a fearsome power that could nearly alter the weather.


    Though the two of them consciously kept the battle contained near the Ruo Gong Dojo, the destruction they caused was still immeasurable. Anything within ten meters of them was doomed to be shattered, and even a hundred meters out, there was still a risk of being affected by the aftermath.


    From the beginning of his martial arts training, the enemies Xue Jing had encountered had either been instantly killed or overwhelmingly crushed by him, with few possessing the strength to truly exchange blows, especially Martial Artists like Jiao Hongyuan, who should have been a formidable yet incomplete Limit-Breaking Grandmaster.


    In cooperation with his senior brother, the fight ended instantaneously.


    Therefore, he had never truly experienced a match between Martial Artists where they were evenly matched and fully engaged in combat.


    Not until this moment did he finally find the joy of facing a real ''challenge''.


    Attacking, countering, dismantling... Fast, incredibly fast, unbelievably fast.


    Xue Jing''s pupils concentrated to an extreme, his limbs almost turning into afterimages. Every move was exquisite, impossible for an ordinary Martial Artist to withstand even one.


    But Xue Jing and Otogirusu exchanged blows at a rate of dozens, even hundreds of times per second.


    "Suzaku Style... although I''ve long known this style is known for its speed, I didn''t expect it to be this fast."


    Xue Jing felt his own speed had reached its limit but found that, for the most part, he was on the defensive, with only about one-fourth of his actions being offensive out of the tens to hundreds of movements every second.


    If it weren''t for his Lv10 Aiming''s phenomenal Dynamic Vision, he wouldn''t be able to keep up with such a terrifyinly fast pace of combat.


    Even though he could keep up, he was still at a disadvantage.


    Of course, speed is just one part of combat strength. Xue Jing was simply trying to make Otogirusu lose ''convincingly'' by trying to defeat him in the area he excelled in.

 Chapter 221 A Hearty Battle, A Narrow Victory, Invitation from the Troublemaker Club (4K)_2

    Since there was no breakthrough to be found in that direction, it was time to change tactics.Xue Jing''s movements suddenly became sluggish, as if unable to keep up with the intense pace of the battle. Finally, he faltered and exposed a vulnerability.


    Without a second thought, Otogirusu saw the opening and struck directly at Xue Jing''s chest with a palm.


    "Puh¡ª"


    The air exploded into a vacuum from the force of the blow, highlighting its power. Yet, when it landed on Xue Jing''s chest, it only produced a dull thud.


    In the next instant, Xue Jing''s bones trembled with the sound of rolling thunder, absorbing and transforming the kinetic energy from the attack.


    Hidden Dragon School¡¤Seal Cloud Tail.


    Rather than launching a counter-attack, Xue Jing generated Qi Force, wrapping the kinetic energy within him and employing the absolute control power of True Martial to forcibly activate Whirlwind Thunder and Shaking Star Fire. At the same time, his body erupted in a blaze of colored flames.


    He extended his left hand, grabbed Otogirusu''s wrist, and held it before him, while he raised his right arm, elbow aimed at Otogirusu''s neck.


    "Flame-Colored Rainbow¡¤Thunder Plough Hot Knife!"


    This was a strike capable of killing an incomplete Breakthrough expert like Jiao Hongyuan, and although it lacked Shadow Flame and Dragon Thunder, it was still Xue Jing''s strongest combination attack at this stage.


    Otogirusu''s wrist was firmly gripped by Xue Jing, and struggling to break free was futile. He realized he would have to take the terrifying blow head-on.


    He wasn''t panicking though, raising his other hand to block the Thunder Plough Hot Knife imbued with the colorful flame stream.


    "My Style¡¤Undying Smoke¡ª"


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The unparalleled strike flashed by in mid-air.


    To Xue Jing''s surprise, he didn''t feel any sensation of striking a solid object.


    Not even the feeling of diverting energy as if hitting cotton; it was emptiness, a void, as though the strike landed on a mist.


    He was slightly taken aback, only to discover that Otogirusu had somehow escaped his grip and was now standing a short distance away.


    Otogirusu appeared worse for wear. A sleeve of his feathered garment was torn, revealing his pale arm.


    From the palm to the elbow of his arm, there was a deep gash, baring the bone and oozing viscous blood, clear as crystal.


    "Xue Jun, you truly surprise me," said Otogirusu.


    He looked at Xue Jing with eyes as tender as a lover''s, his cheeks flushed with excitement, exuding a charm more seductive than any woman.


    He gently touched the wound on his left arm with his right hand, smeared the blood on his fingers, and delicately applied it to his lips like rouge, adding an even more provocative allure to his already stunning visage.


    Xue Jing had a bizarre expression.


    This man... Not only does he look feminine, but his actions are so effeminate too.


    "I would love to keep fighting with you till the end of time... but unfortunately, we''ll have to call it a day for now."


    Otogirusu seemed to sense something and suddenly sighed with regret.


    No sooner had he spoken than a multitude of harsh siren sounds erupted from all directions. Dozens of police cars and aircraft descended upon the location of Xue Jing and Otogirusu from the sky and ground.


    "Nobody move, hands up!"


    Once the vehicles and aircraft came to a halt, scores of sheriffs and security officers, clad in riot gear and wielding a variety of firearms, aimed at the two at the scene.


    Facing the weaponry of nearly a hundred officers, an inescapable web, Xue Jing remained impressively unfazed, merely thinking to himself:


    "The law enforcement speed in District A3 is indeed fast... As expected of a wealthy area."


    Recognizing Otogirusu, one of the commanding security personnel showed a look of shock and immediately gestured:


    "Everyone, lower your weapons!"


    Following the order, the commander also holstered his pistol and hurried over to Otogirusu, asking in a quiet, puzzled voice:


    "Mr. Otogi, what''s happening here?"


    Otogirusu, clearly displeased by the interruption of his fight with Xue Jing, gave the commander a cold glance.


    He understood there was no helping it and spoke softly:


    "Sorry, I spontaneously forced this friend into a sparring match and got a bit carried away... I''ll compensate for all the damages caused today."


    As Otogirusu dealt with the law enforcement officers, Xue Jing turned to Miao Miao, who had unexpectedly appeared from somewhere and jumped onto his shoulder.


    "You two monsters, you''ve caused quite the upheaval."


    Miao Miao looked around and clicked her tongue.


    Only the area within a hundred meters of the center of Ruo Gong Dojo was full of pits and hollows, with buildings shattered, trees broken, and the ground looked as if it had been plowed twice, terribly damaged.


    Those who knew thought it was two people fighting, those who didn''t would think two modernized armies had clashed here in street battles.


    "No help for it, this isn''t the kind of opponent who allows me to control the whole situation, can''t control the extent of the damage."


    Xue Jing casually responded while opening his panel to take a glance.


    [You have narrowly won a hard-fought battle of equals, True Martial Experience Points +2672]


    [...Aiming Experience Points +2346]


    [...Visualization True Experience Points +1688]


    [...]


    Such a rare evenly matched battle, although not long and interrupted midway, still brought a substantial gain in Experience Points.


    After closing the panel, Xue Jing looked toward Otogirusu, who had already dealt with the enforcement officers and was walking toward him.


    "Xue Jun, I''m very sorry that my humble abode didn''t allow one to fight freely; we will have to continue our contest in the ring another time."


    Otogirusu said apologetically.


    Xue Jing also knew they couldn''t fight any longer today, so he nodded at the words and said, "If that''s the case, then I shall take my leave."


    "Just a moment, Xue Jun." Otogirusu gestured with his hand to wait a moment.


    He smiled and said, "Since you''re here, please come in for a chat, perhaps try some Gyokuro tea from the Far Eastern Island... I also have something I''d like to discuss with you, Xue Jun."


    ...


    In the dojo, having his clothes slashed by Xue Jing''s Thunder Plough Hot Knife, Otogirusu had changed into a white garment and was now sitting on his heels in perfect form, performing the tea ceremony.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged across from him, watching his movements filled with a sense of Zen tranquility, and felt it was less like he was preparing tea and more like a devout follower offering incense to Buddha.


    "Please."


    Xue Jing lifted the cup emitting a faint fragrance of green tea and sipped lightly.


    He didn''t understand tea, and couldn''t say whether the taste was good or bad, only felt it was lighter than any other tea he''d had before, nothing special.


    "Suzuka, go ahead, what do you want to talk about?" Xue Jing spoke softly.


    Otogirusu smiled, not minding the somewhat teasing ''san'' that Xue Jing added when addressing him, and said:


    "Xue Jun, have you heard of... the ''Troublemaker Club''?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing''s brows slightly rose.


    Troublemaker Club?


    Youqing A Dream had indeed mentioned it to him once before, describing it as a global-scale madhouse of a terrorist organization, and had specially instructed him not to get involved with it in any way.


    Why would Otogirusu bring this up?


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing spoke up:


    "I''ve heard of it."


    Otogirusu clapped his hands and said with a smile:


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    "That''s perfect... Xue Jun, I hereby sincerely invite you to join us in the ''Troublemaker Club'' and become one of us!"


    Xue Jing was stunned for a moment, looking incredulously and said:


    "Wait a minute, you''re a member of the Troublemaker Club?"


    One of the six major zaibatsus in the Far East, a noble standing at the pinnacle of the world, the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu, turned out to be a member of an international terrorist organization?


    And he just told him that, not even attempting to hide it. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What was going on?


    Otogirusu nodded and said, "Yes."


    "...And you just tell me this, no problem?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    "Xue Jun, there''s nothing shameful about this."


    A gentle smile appeared on Otogirusu''s handsome face.


    "Our aim is to ''make the world more lively''... There''s a deeper meaning behind it."


    ...

 Chapter 222 Righteous Troublemaker, God is an OCD, Contestant No. 1 — Xue Jing (4K)

    "Oh? Let''s hear it."Xue Jing sipped his tea and spoke softly.


    In Wu Youqing''s words, the Troublemaker Club was an entity as fearsome as a flood or savage beast, even advising Xue Jing to have nothing to do with them lest he be stained and unable to shake them off.


    But according to Otogirusu, there seemed to be a reason why this organization was so despised?


    Although Xue Jing was more inclined to believe Youqing A Dream''s words than his, since he was here, listening wouldn''t hurt.


    "People misunderstand the ''Troublemaker''; terrorist organization, shit-stirrer, eternal children, lunatics... these descriptions aren''t wrong," he said, "but they''re not the essence."


    Otogirusu, with an elegant posture, held the teapot and perfectly performed the tea ceremony ritual, refilling Xue Jing''s teacup.


    His voice was extremely gentle, like that of a well-bred young lady whose every movement and tone were cultivated.


    Of course, he was indeed a patrician. As for being a young lady... that was debatable.


    "After ''God'' died in the New Calendar, the present world experienced countless anomalies that should not have existed, straying from its intended historical path."


    "Among these, the universally acknowledged most severe impacts were from the continually emerging ''Intersecting Boundaries.''"


    "However, in fact, compared to the Intersecting Boundaries, some things that have appeared have far more serious consequences, it''s just that they haven''t erupted yet."


    Xue Jing asked, "What things?"


    Otogirusu slowly uttered two words: "¡ªHeretic Gods."


    ''God''s'' death drew the attention of numerous Heretic Gods to this godless world. These beings, beyond human comprehension, exerted their influence on our present world through their unique methods."


    "The many existing Heretical God Cults originated from this."


    "Xue Jun, do you know why these covetous Heretic Gods do not descend directly to interfere but instead go through the trouble of creating things like the Heretical God Cult?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing shook his head, indicating he didn''t know.


    He was not a true Blessed One. His knowledge of the Heretic Gods was basically gleaned from the few words Wu Youqing had mentioned, and his foundational understanding was severely lacking, let alone the deep secrets Otogirusu was now discussing.


    Otogirusu smiled slightly and said, "They do not come because they cannot come."


    "Because our world... is complicated."


    Xue Jing''s expression changed: "Go on."


    Otogirusu spoke softly: "We, born in this world, take for granted the fundamental physical laws, the seamless flawlessness of ''laws'' you might think are standard for every ''normal world''?"


    "However, that is not the case."


    He extended a slender finger and shook it.


    "Quite the contrary, our world is ''abnormal.''"


    "Within the Troublemaker Club, decades ago, there was a senior Chosen Blessed One who had deep exchanges with the Heretic God that blessed him for over twenty years... He organized and recorded all the information and knowledge he obtained from his communications with the Heretic God."


    "According to his records, that Heretic God once mentioned or expressed this sentiment."


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    Otogirusu paused, then continued:


    ¡ªHe had never seen such a meticulously precise world; the creator of this world was a damn perfectionist with OCD."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, deep in thought.


    Hearing Otogirusu say this, it indeed seemed to be the case.


    Although those born in this world took it as a given, it seemed that the rules of this world were exceptionally remarkable.


    Down to the microscopic level, every particle''s collision and combination, what phenomena would occur, and what effects they would produce¡ªall were exceedingly detailed. Humans, in order to understand this world, even created ''mathematics'', a discipline just as detailed and rigorous.


    Up until ''God''s'' death, this world seemed to have never had a bug; every phenomenon had a deep principle that could be explained, and whatever was momentarily unexplainable was not due to the world being faulty but rather to human limitations.


    If ''God'' were likened to a programmer, what kind of OCD maestro would he have to be to code such a perfect program (world)?


    Humans, born in this world, take this perfect world for granted without another point of reference and never consider that their home is an extraordinarily exceptional anomaly.


    "The more rigorous and perfectly logical a world is, the less ability Heretic Gods have to affect it," Otogirusu continued.


    "In fact, if it weren''t for ''God''s'' death causing the present world to collide with the Otherworld, creating overlapping phenomena and mixing in the Otherworld laws, resulting in flaws in the previously perfect logic and laws of the present world, Heretic Gods would have been utterly unable to influence our world."


    "Even now, although the laws have flaws, the interference Heretic Gods can enact on our world is still minimal... but this is only temporary."


    Otogirusu''s tone remained unchanged, but due to the gravity of the content, Xue Jing still felt a serious atmosphere.


    "More and more of the Otherworlds are adjoining our world, Intersecting Boundaries keep emerging, the number of new Intersecting Boundaries increases each year... the level of pollution in the present world''s laws is also rising, and the interference that Heretic Gods can exert will also increase."

 Chapter 222 Righteous Troublemaker, God is an OCD, Contestant No. 1 — Xue Jing (4K)_2

    "What the Heretic Gods are after, we do not know, but we would do well to keep them outside our door, lest we incur irreparable consequences,"Xue Jing cocked his head, "So what should we do, then?"


    Otogirusu spoke softly:


    "That''s exactly what we ''Troublemakers'' are doing."


    "Raise the ''temperature'' of the entire world, make it as lively as possible, make it more complicated..."


    "Well, this might be a little hard to understand. Let''s use an analogy."


    Otogirusu thought for a moment, then said:


    "If we view the world we live in as a computer, then the interference of the Heretic Gods is like a relentless, unstoppable virus slowly invading."


    "What we are doing is making the entire computer work as much as possible, increasing the difficulty for the virus to invade..."


    "This analogy might be inappropriate, but in any case, that''s how it is."


    Xue Jing noncommittally said, "Oh? From what you''re saying, you guys are actually doing a righteous deed for the benefit of the world?"


    Otogirusu shook her head, laughing, "I have no intention of crowning myself with a hat written with the name of justice... The other members of the ''Troublemaker'' feel the same."


    "Terrorist organization, shit-stirrers, brats, lunatics... these assessments and definitions of Troublemaker are all correct, everyone in the organization is just causing trouble according to their own thoughts."


    "But just maybe, someone, for a purpose that might be called ''justice,'' has brought these lunatics together, allowing them to make an even bigger mess, more joyously."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow:


    "Hmm? And you''re inviting me because you think I''m a lunatic as well?"


    Otogirusu shook her head, "Of course not... It''s just that some people, even if they''re not lunatics, can create havoc that is no less than that of a lunatic."


    He smiled meaningfully.


    "Xue Jun, someone has made a judgment about you, designating you as someone who will inevitably cause significant trouble."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, "Who?"


    Which bastard was slandering him.


    He, a person so law-abiding and meticulous, how could he possibly cause any trouble.


    Wasn''t this just a pure smear?


    Otogirusu stroked his chin, "Hmm... I can''t say, but if you, Xue Jun, join us, you''ll find out immediately."


    Xue Jing stood up and slowly said, "I''ll consider it."


    "Then, we''ve had our tea and said our piece, so let''s call it a day. I will take my leave now, Suzuka."


    Otogirusu also stood up, laughing lightly, "Xue Jun, I look forward to seeing you at the arena."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Me too."


    With that, he turned and headed toward the door.


    At the doorway, the sliding door was pushed open, and Ruo Gong Taiping stood outside, bowing respectfully to Xue Jing.


    "Lord Jing."


    Xue Jing glanced at him, nodded, and, led by Taiping, walked out of the Dojo.


    On the way, Xue Jing followed behind Ruo Gong Taiping, looked at the deserted Dojo, and casually said:


    "Mr. Taiping."


    Ruo Gong Taiping paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "It''s Taiping, Lord Jing." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing, who couldn''t remember names due to the side effects of "Proof of Love," waved his hand, "It''s all the same."


    "Why is there no one in your Dojo?"


    "The disciples are noisy on ordinary days; I was afraid they''d disturb the young master..."


    ...


    After leaving the Dojo, Xue Jing, having nothing to do, decided to go back to Zhige Base for Martial Arts Practice.


    Yuan City was vast, more than twenty times larger than Qingcheng; Zhige Base was located in B3 District, quite far from A3 District. Even with Xue Jing''s speed, if he were to run there, it would take a long time, so he''d have to take the high-speed monorail train back.


    On the way to the train station, Miao Miao spoke:


    "What do you think about what Otogirusu said?"


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "I don''t quite believe his rhetoric, but I also don''t rule out the possibility that what he''s saying is all true."


    "So what are you planning to do? The Troublemaker Club is officially defined as a terrorist organization; are you going to call the police and arrest him?" Miao Miao wondered.


    Xue Jing waved his hand and said, "How could I possibly call the police? He is the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu, an important figure in the Far East. Just on my word, claiming he''s a member of a terrorist organization, the authorities would instead take me into custody and accuse me of harboring ill intent and causing discord in the friendly relations between the two countries..."


    Miao Miao said, "Then what do we do? Do nothing and act as if nothing happened?"


    Xue Jing said proudly, "Hmm, this is where your knowledge falls short. You can''t solve everything on your own."


    "For things you can''t handle, you entrust them to those who can."


    He reached into his pocket and took out his phone.


    "When in doubt, call Youqing A Dream."


    Miao Miao pursed her lips and uttered a light, unintelligible hum.


    Xue Jing opened his contacts, found the number saved as Wu Youqing, and dialed it.


    He didn''t have to wait long, after just two beeps, the call was answered.


    "Hello?"


    A calming and pleasant voice came from the receiver, Xue Jing wanted to banter with Wu Youqing as usual, but under the gaze of a pair of emerald, vertical pupils, he inexplicably felt somewhat guilty and refrained from doing so, simply clearing his throat and began reporting seriously:


    "BOSS, here''s the situation: I''ve just made contact with Otogirusu..."


    He detailed everything Otogirusu had said, including his membership in the Troublemaker Club and the purpose of the organization.


    After listening, Wu Youqing on the other end of the call reflected for a moment and then said:


    Stay connected with empire


    "I see, I understand. Whether what he said is true or not, you don''t need to deal with this matter or respond to his invitation. I''ll go verify and handle it."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I understand."


    "However, if the identity he revealed is true, then it''s a bit of bad news that the Troublemaker Club has taken the initiative to contact you."


    Wu Youqing gave it some thought, then said.


    "According to what Otogirusu claimed, there must be someone in the Troublemaker Club who can see through the ''abnormality'' on you and has taken notice of you. Whatever the reason, if you have had dealings with this organization, you''re likely to be in for a heap of trouble, so from now on, be more vigilant."


    Xue Jing replied calmly, "No problem, I''m used to it."


    He had given up resisting his knack for attracting trouble, adopting a stance of dealing with whatever came his way head-on.


    Let them all come if they dare; I''ll knock you all scatter with one punch!


    "By the way, BOSS, speaking of which, is there really an ''abnormality'' on me?"


    Xue Jing asked with puzzlement.


    Otogirusu had indicated he was designated as someone who would cause great chaos... Xue Jing was skeptical, but words from Wu Youqing always carried weight in his eyes.


    If she mentioned an ''abnormality'' on him, then Xue Jing had to take it seriously.


    Wu Youqing hummed softly and said, "We''ll talk about that later, it''s a bit complicated to explain in a short time."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Understood."


    After talking for a few more moments, Xue Jing hung up the call.


    ...


    The next day at noon, in the living room of the Zhige Base residence, Xue Jing sat on the sofa, playing a holographic video with his bracelet.


    It was a live stream, and there was a line of text at the bottom.


    [U19 Unrestricted Fighting Competition ¨C Final Draw Ceremony, Starting Soon]


    Xue Jing didn''t have to wait long, and the screen soon switched to the live scene.


    On stage, the host in a suit and tie held a microphone, overseeing the draw ceremony.


    Soon, it was time to introduce the competitors; Xue Jing''s avatar was also among them, displayed on the screen at the back of the stage.


    There was nothing special about the introductions; it was a very formulaic description of the name, style, and master of each contestant, and that was it.


    Soon, all the competitors had been introduced, and the drawing officially began.


    On stage, a burly middle-aged man in charge of the draw took a drawing ball from the box, opened it, pulled out the slip of paper inside, and unfolded it in front of the camera.


    Number one contestant¡ªXue Jing.


    ...

 Chapter 224 Miao Miao Jealous of Youqing A Dream, GOD-542 Forgotten Greatsword (4K)

    One entire afternoon, Xue Jing had been experimenting with various uses of Double Flexibility and the cooldown situation of the Twin Lifes blue bar after leveling up to Lv5.Each active effect of Twin Lifes had different consumption rates, but they all shared one blue bar.


    Among them, "speed" had the largest consumption. Currently, if Twin Speed were used alone, the blue bar would be depleted after about a minute, making Twin Lifes unusable.


    "Strength" came next, lasting about 100 seconds.


    "Flexibility" was next, lasting nearly four and a half minutes.


    "Defense" was close to six minutes.


    Last was "Instinctive Intuition," which was almost six minutes, similar to Defense. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These active effects could be used simultaneously, of course, the consumption was cumulative.


    The ''blue volume'' of Twin Lifes was always in a state of recovery, which now recovered much faster than at lower levels. In a situation where the blue bar was completely empty, it would take about two and a half hours to fully regenerate.


    Compared to Lv4, the overall effect had improved significantly. Most importantly, the cooldown for passive revival was reduced by ten days. Now, after revival, it only took fifty days to revive again, which was much more lenient than the initial ninety days.


    Xue Jing''s idea of achieving unlimited revival at Lv10 seemed to be gradually coming to fruition.


    However, these were still premature considerations. Currently, Divinity was usually prioritized for use on Shadow Flame. After creating the Divine Incarnation, it would then be distributed to other skills.


    At six o''clock in the evening, as the sky darkened,


    Xue Jing looked at the battered rooftop and thought that choosing the rooftop as a training spot was a smart decision.


    If it had been inside, one such wrecking would have ruined the entire building.


    Being on the rooftop was much more convenient, at most, they would just need to lay a new floor.


    Xue Jing returned to his bedroom, took a bath, and felt refreshed, ready to go for dinner.


    At that moment, his mobile phone rang.


    He picked it up and saw it was a call from Wu Youqing, so he immediately pressed the answer button.


    "Hello? BOSS."


    Xue Jing sat down on the sofa.


    "About those matters of Otogirusu and the Troublemaker Club you mentioned yesterday, I checked thoroughly."


    Wu Youqing''s gentle and calm voice came through the earpiece, bringing a sense of tranquility that calmed the heart.


    "...He said, it''s very likely true."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "You mean?"


    "The ''Troublemaker''s'' actions, the theory that they are delaying the invasion of the Heretic God into this world." Wu Youqing explained.


    "Based on the information I gathered, starting from about sixty-three years ago, no new Heretic God Cults have appeared in this world. Over the past sixty years, incidents involving new Heretic Gods have been few and far between."


    "Since the New Calendar is just over two hundred years old, although researchers have noticed this slightly unusual situation, they thought it might be due to some cyclical rule."


    "But after I looked up information on the Troublemaker, I found that this group first appeared about sixty years ago, which precisely matches this data..."


    "It''s very likely that the decrease in Heretic God-related incidents over the past sixty years is due to their involvement."


    Xue Jing tapped the armrest of the sofa with his index finger, murmuring,


    "So you''re saying, the ''Troublemaker'' organization... might actually be righteous?"


    Wu Youqing differed in opinion, she softly said,


    "No matter how noble the goal, if the process of achieving it is filthy, then it must be regarded as filthy."


    "Even if the Troublemakers'' goal really is to delay the invasion of the Heretic God, their methods are hardly something that can be termed ''in the name of justice''..."


    "However, these philosophical speculations are not important. Considering that the ''Troublemaker'' has never publicly claimed to be just, they likely don''t care about others'' opinions."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded,


    "According to Otogirusu, the members of the Troublemaker are all real terrorists, problem children, and lunatics, merely gathered by this organization for a larger scale of revelry... they indeed never thought of pretending to be just."


    Wu Youqing hummed in agreement, saying, "In that case, our policy towards them doesn''t need to change. Continue treating them like terrorists. I''ll submit this suggestion to the higher-ups."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then asked, "How should Otogirusu himself be handled? He''s a member of the Troublemaker and also qualifies as a terrorist, right?"


    Wu Youqing stated, "There''s no way to handle it... All this has only been his one-sided account unless he actually performs harmful terrorist activities endangering the public, we can only treat it as a mere joke."


    "Even if we capture him, he only needs to claim he was merely joking, albeit too extravagantly, and we can''t help but release him. Doing so might even cause an international dispute, which would be counterproductive."


    Xue Jing nodded, "So, we just leave him alone."


    "Exactly," Wu Youqing said.


    "How sensitive is this guy''s identity? Why does it feel like any trivial matter involving him could potentially lead to international disputes?" Xue Jing casually asked.


    Wu Youqing laughed, saying, "The Six Major Zaibatsu of the Far East ¨C Moon Guardian, Shenjing, Otogi, Scarlet Dream Court, Deer Palace, Tenmanya ¨C you can think of them as the Thirteen Great Families in Zhuxia, except... the Zaibatsu holds an even more exaggerated position within their own country compared to the Great Families."


    She paused, then continued, "They, are essentially the equivalents of the Far East nation itself."

 Chapter 224 Jealous Miao Miao Over Youqing A Dream, GOD-542·Forgotten Greatsword (4K)_2

    Xue Jing: "Hmm?""Just like the Thirteen Great Families, the Six Major Zaibatsu are ''victors of the new era.'' Compared to the overly massive and quite complicated Zhuxia, the Far East only has two metropolises, ''Tokyo'' and ''Osaka.'' The scale of the Six Major Zaibatsu is enough to completely devour this small island nation."


    "They are the undisputed Kings of that land. Whether it''s the Prime Minister or the so-called ''Living Deity'' the Emperor, they are now nothing more than puppets raised by the Six Major Zaibatsu."


    "Therefore, as the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu, Otogirusu''s status is equivalent to that of a crown prince, a prince regent. We have to ensure, as much as possible, that he doesn''t suffer any mishaps in Zhuxia... Of course, all these are just according to basic diplomatic policies; he hasn''t received any special treatment."


    Xue Jing suddenly understood: "I see, I''ve been enlightened."


    Wu Youqing laughed: "You''ve extracted a rather important piece of information this time, uncovering the purpose and motivation behind the establishment of the Troublemaker Club, which counts as another merit for you."


    Xue Jing''s eyes immediately lit up, energized: "Is there a reward?"


    "Not at the moment, I''ll save it up for you," Wu Youqing said.


    Xue Jing pouted: "What''s the point in saving it up? Shouldn''t you reward me on the spot, to show how generous You are?"


    Wu Youqing snorted lightly: "I never said I was generous."


    "I don''t believe it! The wise and valiant Youqing Buddha would definitely not be stingy with a small reward. You must be an imposter. Who are you really!"


    "The wise and valiant Youqing Buddha is neither wise, valiant, nor a Buddha."


    "Hmm? You seem really dissatisfied with that title. From now on, I''ll call you Goddess..."


    "Xue Jing, it seems you''re really asking for it..."


    ...


    After chatting with Wu Youqing for nearly an hour, Xue Jing hung up the phone with a smile.


    He had just put away his phone and was about to follow his original plan to go out for dinner when suddenly, he turned his head sharply to look to the side.


    The room lights were off, and it was nearing nightfall. Only a faint light penetrated from outside the window, in the dark corner of the room, a pair of emerald-like vertical pupils stared at him eerily like two ghost fires.


    "...Teacher Wan, why are you crouching there?"


    Xue Jing cleared his throat and softly spoke.


    Miao Miao snorted lightly, her beautiful and enchanting cat face squinted, presenting an ambiguous expression.


    "Normally you''re so nonchalant towards women. It seems now that you just haven''t met one you truly like¡­ You sure had a lively chat with Boss Wu."


    Xue Jing kept his composure and smiled: "It''s a work necessity. That''s how you talk to a superior. After all, I too am a member of society..."


    Miao Miao neither agreed nor disagreed: "I''ve never seen a member of society call flirting with a superior a work necessity."


    Xue Jing walked up to her, lifted her into his arms, and petted her head as he pondered:


    "What''s this? Have you been wallowing in vinegar in that corner? As expected of a woman with an Affection Level of over two thousand towards me, that terrifying possessiveness..."


    Miao Miao''s mouth twitched: "That damn thing is definitely wrong. How could the Sect Hierarch possibly have such a high Affection Level towards you? It must be either a mistake, or you''re misreporting the situation. Affection Level isn''t calculated like that..."


    Xue Jing simply continued to gently stroke her head, his gaze warm and smiling, but he remained silent.


    Miao Miao felt increasingly uncomfortable under his gaze, feeling like a child lying to her parents, her cheeks heating up as if her parents saw through everything yet chose to be understanding.


    "Hmph!"


    In the end, she just snorted and turned her head away, no longer making eye contact with Xue Jing. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Another day passed.


    Today was the official day of the U19 Grand Finals.


    Xue Jing woke up very early today. Before five o''clock, he had gone up to the rooftop, sat down cross-legged, relaxed his spirit, thought about nothing, and began meditating to adjust his condition.


    Today his opponent was not Zhou Yinglin or Otogirusu, but Yin Muhu.


    Out of respect for his friend, although it wasn''t very necessary, Xue Jing still decided to take it seriously and go into the match in the best condition possible.


    Although under the influence of True Martial, the lower limit of his condition would never fall below one hundred percent, to try to perform above one hundred percent, he still had to put in some effort.


    It wasn''t to the extent of burning incense and bathing, fasting for three days, but at least meditating in quiet contemplation was a form of respect.


    At around eight o''clock, Xue Jing opened his eyes, and a brilliant divine light burst forth from within, intensely bright.


    He stood up, walked to the edge of the rooftop, and looked down.


    He saw Ning Yuantai slowly approaching the building where he was, not far away.


    Over his shoulder, he was carrying a bundle of cloth... a door panel?


    Xue Jing was unsure about what the two-meter-long rectangular object Ning Yuantai was carrying was.


    He turned around and went downstairs, came to the main entrance, and opened the door.


    Ning Yuantai had just gotten to the doorway when he saw Xue Jing and immediately waved hello,


    "Xue, good morning!"


    Xue Jing nodded to him and replied, "Morning."


    Then, curiously, he looked at the ''door panel'' Ning Yuantai was carrying and asked, "Yuantai, what''s that thing you''re carrying?"


    Ning Yuantai patted the ''door panel'' with his other hand, producing a soft thud like tapping on a rock, and laughed, "This was just air-shipped over this morning, it''s for you."


    "Old Xu said, it was a noble person who sent it to you."


    Xue Jing questioned, "A noble person?"


    Ning Yuantai leaned in closer to him and whispered,


    "I don''t know the specifics either, I asked Old Xu but he wouldn''t tell me, so I called my family to investigate, but then my father called me and only said ''I can''t talk about it right now''."


    Xue Jing tilted his head, "What is with this riddle man act?"


    Ning Yuantai shrugged, "Who knows... However, although they didn''t tell me anything, the phrase ''can''t talk about it'' itself reveals a lot of information."


    "The only ones who would make my family stay silent like this... would be the Thirteen Great Families, and it would have to be related to the direct lines of the Thirteen Great Families."


    "Xue, you might want to think about whether you have any involvement with the direct-line families of the Thirteen Great Families?"


    Xue Jing appeared contemplative, "The direct lines of the Thirteen Great Families..."


    Youqing A Dream? Although she had never mentioned it to Xue Jing, judging by her surname ''Wu'' and her almost miraculous ability to solve any problem, she was very likely a member of a direct-line family of the Thirteen Great Families... but considering his relationship with Youqing A Dream, if she was going to send something, there would be no need for such mysterious acting.


    The only other possibility left was the Zhu Family...


    The direct line of the Zhu Family in Capital City, especially the branch that showed him great animosity, wouldn''t send him anything.


    And the animosity of the Zhu Family''s Capital City branch wasn''t without reason; Xue Jing had speculated before that it might be related to his own Teacher Zhu, Zhu Shanying.


    If his own teacher was from a branch of the Zhu Family''s direct line...


    Could it be, this item was sent by Teacher Zhu?


    Xue Jing shook his head, breaking his train of thought, and looked at Ning Yuantai, extending his hand,


    "Let''s see the item."


    Ning Yuantai took down the ''door panel'' he was carrying and handed it over to Xue Jing.


    As soon as he took it, Xue Jing felt a heaviness in his hand, which raised his eyebrows.


    With his current base Qi Force, he was able to lift objects weighing up to several tons. To feel a noticeable ''heaviness'' from this ''door panel'', it must be significantly heavy.


    Xue Jing used his other hand to unwrap the cloth covering the door panel.


    In an instant, a rustic giant sword, two meters and thirty centimeters long and nearly forty centimeters wide, appeared before him.


    The texture of the giant sword was somewhere between steel and stone, with faint rust marks and barely noticeable chips, looking like an ancient battlefield weapon that had withstood the passage of time.


    "This is..."


    Xue Jing was momentarily stunned, and as soon as his palm touched the blade, a panel automatically popped up.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]


    After seeing this prompt, Xue Jing immediately searched through the Divine Relics information in his mind and soon knew what the giant sword in his hand was.


    "GOD-542¡¤Forgotten Greatsword?"

 Chapter 225 The War Buddy Forgotten by the World, Super Arena, Are You Selling This Cat? (4K)

    [GOD-542¡¤Forgotten Greatsword].This is a rather special Divine Relic... Although almost every Divine Relic can be considered special, the uniqueness of the Forgotten Greatsword still ranks quite high among them.


    Because, it is one of the few relics that humans haven''t figured out its abilities to this day.


    The reason is simple, because it was ''forgotten''.


    According to the records in the Divine Relic database, GOD-542 had some kind of power in the distant past, but after that power was used, it was lost, and at the same time, everyone forgot what that power was and what its original name had been. Even all records related to it disappeared, whether they were written on paper or stored online.


    Even the records of where the information vanished could not be traced back as if the world had activated some kind of repair program that automatically corrected everything related to it, filling in all the gaps.


    The evidence is that its original Divine Relic serial number ranking had vanished... there were no gaps from GOD-001 to GOD-541.


    If there are no flaws like this, then why is the Forgotten Greatsword identified as a ''forgotten Divine Relic'' rather than a ''newly emerged Divine Relic''?


    The database records it as follows:


    [...At that time, on the battlefield of ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, faced with the newly discovered object ¡ö¡ö¡ö spoke of, countless warriors suddenly extended their hands, all pointing at its ancient blade submerged in the ground, and in unison they said: It has been here, it existed, it is an old friend of mine, our comrade-in-arms.]


    [...Afterwards, all the warriors forgot the words they had just spoken, and that scene might have been the warriors'' final stubborn resistance to some kind of ''corrective force'', or perhaps just a collective prank on a whim... Regardless, the only record suggestive of GOD-542''s past existence, I solely chronicle here]


    "..." Xue Jing gently stroked the ancient blade of the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Its body, larger than a door panel, was dotted with inconspicuous rust and nicks.


    Its edge was not sharp, quite blunt, in fact; strictly speaking, it should not be called a sword but rather a large iron chunk resembling a sword.


    The sword was two meters three in length, with a guard nearly forty centimeters wide, and a hilt of about fifty centimeters. The whole sword gave off the impression of an old general whose time was waning, but whose remaining prestige still emanated a dangerous majesty.


    "Weighing over two thousand kilograms, using this thing to chop someone is clearly overkill. If it has a purpose for which it was created, then it must be for slaying non-human entities," Xue Jing exclaimed.


    The Forgotten Greatsword had no abilities, but the five essential characteristics that Divine Relics should have were all present, which was also why it was confirmed as a Divine Relic.


    It had transfer nature, meaning even if shattered, it would reappear and even had side effects.


    Its side effect was quite peculiar.


    When the user holds the Forgotten Greatsword, their jumping height is halved.


    Simply put, if a person could normally jump fifty meters, holding the Forgotten Greatsword would reduce it to twenty-five meters.


    Stay connected through empire


    This reduction in height is only related to the height of the jump and has nothing to do with other factors like strength, gravity, or air resistance.


    Seeing how much Xue Jing seemed to appreciate it, Ning Yuantai scratched his head in confusion:


    "Who exactly sent this thing over?"


    "It seems rather pointless... It''s too heavy. Even for you, it should be quite difficult to use it right now," Ning Yuantai said.


    Xue Jing hummed a response, then spoke, "That''s hard to say..."


    He held the giant sword in one hand and swung it violently to the side.


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª"


    A strong whooshing of wind, Ning Yuantai''s hair immediately started dancing wildly behind him as if it would fly off his scalp at any moment, his facial skin got pushed back by the current of the sword''s swing, creating ripples, and his eyes squinted slightly because of the strong gust.


    "Hiss¡ªdamn, if someone got hit by that, it wouldn''t be a joke," Ning Yuantai gasped.


    Xue Jing felt the weight of the giant sword as he swung it with one hand, for the first time since he started martial arts practice, he felt strain with a weapon.


    Generally, a weapon''s weight should be kept at around one percent of the user''s limit of Qi Force to fully control and swing it with ease.


    But the weight of this giant sword had reached about one seventh of his base Qi Force limit.


    This is like an ordinary person swinging something close to forty kilograms... at that weight, one would be doing well just to swing it, and if held in one hand, there was even a risk of dislocating a wrist.


    Xue Jing could channel energy to enhance his strength, and his own physical strength was extremely high, so he was not the same as an ordinary person. To say whether he could use the giant sword, indeed he could.


    However, he could not perfectly control a weight of this level, so there would invariably be many flaws in its use.


    It would be fine in an overwhelming situation; a sweep of the sword blade would scatter the weak, and the concept of "one strength subdues a hundred techniques" would render any flaws irrelevant. But when facing a martial artist of the same level, these flaws could be fatal. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So what was the intent of the ''Noble Person'' who sent the giant sword to him? Was it because they knew he liked Divine Relics and thus sent a gift to befriend him? Or were they trying to hint at something?


    Xue Jing''s gaze grew contemplative.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity Held: 893]


    At that moment, a notification popped up on the panel; Xue Jing closed it and shook his head.


    Regardless, receiving a Divine Relic is always good, and such an ''Exotic Weapon'' would undoubtedly benefit his ''Path of All Weapons Mastery''. He might as well use it for now.

 Chapter 225 The War Buddy Forgotten by the World, Super Arena, Are You Selling This Cat? (4K) _2

    He pulled out the Giant Sword, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and looked toward Ning Yuantai, casually saying,"Yuantai, I''m going to a competition this noon. Want to come with me?"


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai immediately nodded and said, "Absolutely, I''ve taken on the task to be your personal guide... Even without the task, missing Xue''s competition is out of the question!"


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled, "That''s great, then I''ll trouble you to be the driver this time... Carrying such a thing, it''s not easy to take a cab or a train."


    "No problem, it''s my honor to be Xue''s driver," Ning Yuantai declared, patting his chest.


    ...


    At noon, at Zhige Base.


    In the living room of the building, Miao Miao looked at the Giant Sword Xue Jing was carrying on his shoulder, almost poking the ceiling, and moved her lips before speaking,


    "Be careful when you go out, don''t scrape the door frame."


    Xue Jing laughed, "Don''t worry, I won''t."


    "This thing is really inconvenient to carry, are you going to bring it to the competition? How will you get it onto the car later?"


    Miao Miao wondered.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Use a small truck? Or maybe tie it to the roof with a rope?"


    He also felt a bit of a headache.


    Usually, the reason why more people chose swords over great spears as cold weapons was not only because swords looked cooler and matched personal preference, but mostly because great spears were extremely inconvenient to carry.


    And now, he had a Door-plank Sword that was even more troublesome to carry than the Nine Chi Great Spear...


    "If only the Green Cube could be used as a storage space."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He gently placed the Forgotten Greatsword beside him on the sofa, and its heavy, aged blade immediately sank deeply into the sofa, causing it to creak under the strain.


    Then, Xue Jing took out a small cube emitting a faint green light from his coat pocket.


    Since the Green Cube could only contain ''living'' things, and couldn''t even enclose inanimate objects like clothes, Xue Jing had never figured out how to use it properly.


    However, the space inside the Green Cube was quite peculiar; it was a space where one could move freely in all directions like underwater, except that one could still breathe and it was quite comfortable to stay there.


    He would occasionally open it to relax and "swim" for a while.


    Xue Jing twisted the cube around unpredictably for about twenty-odd times, then tossed it into the air.


    Suddenly, the Green Cube stopped midair, turning into a circle of green light swirling like a sci-fi movie''s teleportation wormhole.


    "Let''s give it a try..."


    Xue Jing picked up the Forgotten Greatsword from the sofa, trying to place it into the green vortex.


    He wasn''t very hopeful; he just thought that Divine Relics might differ from ordinary living or non-living items and that it could fit... besides, trying was free.


    But immediately, he was taken aback.


    The Forgotten Greatsword went directly into the green vortex, half of the blade sunk in, without being repelled.


    "Huh?"


    Seeing this, Xue Jing raised his eyebrows and quickly pushed the rest of it in too.


    The hilt completely disappeared into the vortex without any anomalies.


    "Can it really fit?" he exclaimed in surprise.


    Xue Jing reached into the vortex and pulled out.


    The Giant Sword was slowly withdrawn from the vortex.


    Strangely, he seemed to hear an uplifting German BGM in his ears...


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing took out a ''Proof of Love'' from his chest and tossed it into the green whirlpool.


    The ''Proof of Love'' contacted the vortex and, as if hitting a wall, was deftly bounced off, stirring only minor ripples on the vortex.


    "Teacher Wan," Xue Jing said to Miao Miao.


    "Understood," Miao Miao nodded, leapt up, turned in mid-air, and brought the platinum tail ring close to the vortex.


    The result was the same as with the ''Proof of Love''; the ''Cat Tail Ring'' was gently bounced off upon contact with the green vortex.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing''s pupils shrank slightly.


    "It''s not because it''s a Divine Relic... It''s because of this sword itself," he mused, looking at the Giant Sword in his hands.


    "Are you... alive?"


    ...


    Outside the mansion, a large, imposing black SUV slowly came to a stop, and Ning Yuantai hopped out of the driver''s seat.


    He looked towards the door where Xue Jing, with empty hands and a black cat perched on his shoulder, was standing and greeted him,


    "Xue... huh? Where''s the Forgotten Greatsword? Aren''t you taking it with you?"


    Ning Yuantai asked, puzzled.


    He thought he still had to transport that heavy giant sword, so he had specifically arranged for a heavy military vehicle.


    Otherwise, a normal vehicle couldn''t handle the weight of that sword.


    "I''ve got it; it''s in here." Xue Jing, with a mysterious expression, pulled out the Green Cube to show Ning Yuantai.


    "Huh?" Ning Yuantai was stunned for a moment.


    "Wait, this is the Green Cube?"


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head.


    "Really? Isn''t this thing only supposed to contain living beings? How did the Forgotten Greatsword get inside?"


    He said, his face filled with disbelief.


    Xue Jing shook his head, "I don''t understand it either; the only explanation is that it was classified as a ''living creature'' by the Green Cube..."


    Ning Yuantai stroked his chin, "This is a major discovery, oh! Scholars who research the history of the [Forgotten Greatsword] are quite numerous; this news is a huge breakthrough for them!"


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "That''s for the scholars to study. Let''s go to the ''Super Arena.''"


    Ning Yuantai quickly nodded and said, "Eh, okay."


    After getting into the vehicle, the huge engine roared like a monster as the SUV headed towards the base''s main gate.


    ...


    Yuan City B9 District, Super Arena.


    This was a massive multi-sports stadium that could accommodate over two hundred thousand spectators¡ªone of the iconic buildings of Yuan City.


    This open-air stadium, with no ceiling, looked like a giant bowl when viewed from above. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under the noon sun, a barely visible pale blue transparent film covered the entire ''bowl.''


    In the square outside the arena''s main gate, crowds numbering in the tens of thousands stood densely packed like ants.


    Although the crowd was entering at a rapid pace, people continuously replenished it from the exterior, maintaining the congestion.


    "Hm? It''s quite lively."


    Xue Jing said, peering through the window at the densely packed crowd in the square, which could trigger claustrophobia.


    "The U19 is held in different urban circles each year, and it''s been about seven or eight years since the Fifth Urban Circle was chosen."


    Ning Yuantai explained while driving.


    "People here in the Inner Ring usually have plenty of entertainment options, but the heat for this long-awaited competition is still very high. Plus, with a few unexpected star players joining, ticket sales have been quite good. I heard the two hundred thousand tickets nearly sold out."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing casually asked, "Star players? Which ones?"


    Stay connected via empire


    After thinking for a moment, Ning Yuantai said, "Like Wei Junwu from Phoenix Cry School, Otogirusu from the Far East, Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect..."


    "Most importantly, the disciple of the ''Eternal Warlord'' Wu Xuanzhu, Zhou Yinglin."


    "You''ve been living in the Outer Ring, so you might not be very familiar with him, but this person is extremely famous in the First Urban Circle, incredibly popular, with an absurd number of fans."


    "Of the nearly two hundred thousand tickets this time, it''s estimated that thirty to fifty thousand people are here specifically for him."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    Ning Yuantai continued suggestively, "Also, there must be a lot of people who came specifically to see you, Xue."


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled, "Oh?"


    "Yes, although the Inner Ring primarily uses the Super Network, which is severely isolated from the old internet, thus you''re not very well-known here... But you have your ''hometown supporters'' after all."


    "The number of people who have traveled to Yuan City from the Outer Ring in the past few days has increased by thousands. I guess, a significant portion of them are your fans."


    As they chatted, the car slowly drove into the parking lot and came to a stop in a parking space.


    After turning off the engine, Xue Jing stepped out from the backseat door.


    He waited for Ning Yuantai to get out of the car while looking up at the pale blue film above the arena.


    At that moment, suddenly a voice came from behind,


    "Hey buddy, you selling that cat?"


    As the words were spoken, a hand reached straight for the cat Miao Miao on Xue Jing''s shoulder.


    ...


    (Just to clarify, you might see a ''free'' marker on the books right now, but it''s not actually free¡ªit indicates a blind box part of a summer event at Qidian, where you can get a free ten-day access to one of the books by checking in on the event page for ten days (although you won''t be able to access chapters published within 48 hours)...


    So, don''t worry, you haven''t spent your money in vain; it''s just that the UI is designed in a slightly misleading way.)

 Chapter 227 Youre the Challenger, Pre-Match Interview, The Extremely Arrogant Xue Jing (4K)

    The excessive commotion outside the studio had already caught the attention of everyone nearby.Zhou Yinglin was the most watched competitor in this U19 Grand Final; as a disciple of the holder of the Eternal Title, every move he made was under the scrutiny of countless people.


    Various staff inside and outside the studio, the competing players, and the reporters all glanced towards Xue Jing, the sound of flashing cameras crackling incessantly as reporters excitedly captured this unexpected boon of news material.


    "That''s Xue Jing, a competitor in this U19, right? I''ve looked through some of his information, isn''t he from the Outer Ring? And he actually knows Zhou Yinglin?"


    "Sounds like there''s some bad blood?"


    "Both of their auras are just too terrifying... To be able to stand equal to Zhou Yinglin without falling short, looks like I need to do some thorough research on Xue Jing''s background when I get back. Shouldn''t there be some recordings of his matches online somewhere?"


    "Initially, I thought the champion would certainly be either Zhou Yinglin or that limitless Otogirusu, but now it''s hard to say!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Come on, what does a clash of auras prove? How could an Outer Ring person compare with the distinguished ''Gun Saint''s'' disciple..."


    "Wei Junwu and Song Nanxing might have a chance too, you know."


    "If you put it that way..."


    Ignoring the whispering buzz around them, Zhou Yinglin watched Xue Jing with sharp, eagle-like eyes and said blandly,


    "You might think you''re an incredible genius because since you started practicing martial arts, all you''ve met were mediocre at best."


    "In that backwater place of the Outer Ring, you might be right, but you''ll soon realize..."


    Zhou Yinglin enunciated each word, "Genius is just the threshold to meet me."


    Xue Jing blinked, "It seems like, you''ve got a bit of a misunderstanding."


    "I didn''t join this competition for you... Think about it carefully, why are you standing here."


    He stepped forward and walked into the studio,


    "It''s not that I wanted to meet you, but rather you wanted to meet me."


    As he passed by Zhou Yinglin, he said softly,


    "Don''t get your place wrong... You are the challenger."


    Having finished, Xue Jing didn''t linger and proceeded straight into the studio.


    Jiang Siwei, coming back to her senses, hurriedly followed behind Xue Jing with her documents in tow.


    Her expression was somewhat excited.


    Although she had always thought that Xue Jing was no ordinary person and was bound to become a star player, she never expected that in such a short time, he would have already reached a level where he could clash with someone of Zhou Yinglin''s stature.


    As an agent, there was nothing more delightful than having a top-level player like Xue Jing with visible potential, still in his ''juvenile'' phase and not yet at his peak under her wing.


    The only regret was that Xue Jing was quite lukewarm about building his personal brand, making her role seem somewhat redundant...


    But now these were just minor details. As long as she could stay by Xue Jing''s side, her life was set!


    "..." Zhou Yinglin''s expression remained unchanged, merely turning his head to watch Xue Jing''s retreating figure until he was out of sight.


    Otogirusu chuckled with a twinkle in the eye, taunting,


    "Mr. Zhou, it seems that when it comes to verbal wit, you are quite outclassed by Xue Jun."


    Zhou Yinglin was nonreactive, merely replying coolly, "Martial arts aren''t fought with the mouth."


    Otogirusu, curious, "Does that mean you admit to having lost the verbal duel?"


    Zhou Yinglin had no intention of arguing and, looking at Otogirusu with slightly narrowed eyes, he said,


    "You seem quite taken with him?"


    Otogirusu grinned, "I have always liked people who are pure and strong."


    Zhou Yinglin walked out, "Then take a few more good looks at him because soon, you won''t be seeing him anymore." Experience new tales on empire


    Otogirusu watched Zhou Yinglin''s retreating figure and, once he was at a distance, muttered to himself in Far Eastern, "I don''t think so."


    "...But Xue Jun is quite good-looking, indeed one should take a few more glances."


    Saying this, he turned and entered the studio.


    ...


    In the interview room, Xue Jing leaned against a blue backdrop that read ''The 37th U19 No-Limits Elite Fighting Championship Grand Final,'' sitting on a chair with a small wireless microphone clipped to his collar.


    Eight cameras were positioned all around him... There were originally only three, but as soon as the interview director laid eyes on him, he immediately gestured magnanimously and called for several more to be brought and placed in various positions.


    Jiang Siwei quietly commented to Xue Jing''s ear, "This guy''s shrewd; he knows the value of viewership."


    Xue Jing remained indifferent to this, merely declining the organizers'' suggestion to put on some makeup and sat in the interview room, quietly waiting for the interview recording to start.


    "Lights... OKOK, everything''s ready."


    "Okay, let''s begin!"


    At the director''s signal, all cameras started rolling, and a female staffer in her twenties standing off-camera, holding a notepad, smiled at Xue Jing and said,


    "So, could you first introduce yourself to everyone?"


    Xue Jing nodded and replied, "Hello everyone, I am Xue Jing, a competitor from Qingcheng in the Outer Ring."


    The staffer admired Xue Jing''s face, praising inwardly.


    No wonder the director suddenly decided to extend the interview and ask more key questions...


    With that face, even sitting silently would ensure high ratings and views.


    She perked up, flipped open her notepad, and cheerfully began,


    "So, the first question."


    "How does Competitor Xue Jing feel about successfully advancing to the U19 Grand Final?"

 Chapter 227 You Are the Challenger, Pre-match Interview, Xue Jing at His Wildest (4K)_2

    Xue Jing tilted his head, "There''s no difficulty here, what''s there to feel?"He spoke the truth, and the spirit of the director in the backstage control room was instantly lifted.


    Generally speaking, professional martial artist competitors from Zhuxia are conservative and modest due to the overall social atmosphere. To please most viewers and avoid attracting haters, they are extremely cautious and modest when speaking in interviews, as instructed by their management companies and clubs.


    It was rare to encounter competitors who spoke so "bluntly."


    And the appearance of such competitors meant that the traffic was incoming!


    Whether their statements were debunked by facts later or proved that they indeed had the capability to make outrageous claims, it stoked the audience''s emotions and generated interest in the competitor.


    The director immediately grabbed the microphone by his mouth and whispered:


    "Ask him a few more questions..."


    In the interview room, a female staff member, hearing the instruction through her headphones, looked at Xue Jing with a smile, and said,


    "Second question, Competitor Xue Jing, among the participants in this final, is there anyone you particularly need to watch out for?"


    Xue Jing, understanding that the organizers intentionally wanted him to make some harsh statements, would have typically made a humble comment to save face at this moment.


    However, he didn''t rely on competing professionally for a living, didn''t care at all, and saw no need to hold back, so he didn''t bother pretending and simply said:


    "There''s no one I need to particularly watch out for; they all seem about the same."


    The female employee''s eyes brightened, "Eh... About Zhou Yinglin, you don''t need to watch out for him either?"


    "Who is Zhou Yinglin?"


    "Hehe... What about Song Nanxing then?"


    "Ah? Is there such a person?"


    ...


    As the interview progressed, Xue Jing kept making explosive statements, thrilling the staff on site.


    The viewership and playback count were going to explode this time!


    Handsome and skilled, and knows how to stir things up, who else would be hot if not him!


    "...So, the tenth question, does Competitor Xue Jing have a girlfriend?"


    The female employee asked with a hopeful look.


    Xue Jing looked at her strangely.


    "Can you ask something more substantial... and by the way, is this interview going to go on this long?"


    The female employee quickly checked the small notebook in her hand and apologized, "I''m sorry, there are just a few questions left, it''s almost done."


    "So, does Competitor Xue Jing have a girlfriend?"


    Xue Jing said speechlessly, "What do you think? No comment."


    The female employee sighed, her tone slightly reproachful, "I think it''s a question the audience is very concerned about, just answer it straightforwardly..."


    Xue Jing crossed his arms, leaned back, and chuckled without expression, then casually said, "Then yes, quite a few."


    "Eh... so perfunctory."


    The female employee said dissatisfied, feeling that Xue Jing''s response was just a cursory effort to get by.


    After a few more questions, as Xue Jing''s impatience began to show,


    "...This is really the last question."


    The female employee, under Xue Jing''s gaze, felt an inexplicable pressure in her heart, making her scalp tingle a bit.


    "Competitor Xue Jing... do you have anything to say to the other competitors?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing got up from his chair and walked leisurely to the door.


    All the cameras in the interview room followed his steps.


    "There''s an old saying in Egypt¡ª''Only two types of creatures reach the top of the pyramid, the eagle and the snail.''"


    Xue Jing said softly.


    "Don''t be disheartened; you have a chance to catch up with me. Keep it up."


    With that, he opened the door and walked out of the interview room.


    The scene was silent, and all the staff were stunned.


    "What... did he mean by that?"


    "Damn, I get it; he''s saying he''s the eagle, and the others are snails!"


    "Damn, that''s too arrogant, love it!"


    "I''m floored, seriously floored; whether Xue Jing wins the championship or not, his level of show-off is definitely the best in this competition!"


    "He''s clearly showing off, but he talks like he''s encouraging... absolutely ridiculous."


    The scene was buzzing with noise as the staff discussed excitedly.


    The director was even sliding on his knees in the control room celebrating.


    This was definitely a moment and a quote for the ages, the ratings were going to explode!


    ...


    "Little Jing, that was amazing!"


    Jiang Siwei excitedly hugged Xue Jing and gave him a facial wash treatment.


    "You spoke so well, now the entire focus of the finals is going to tilt massively towards you; you were born for this, amazing!"


    Xue Jing first calmed down the annoyed Miao Miao with a pat, then gently pushed Jiang Siwei away and said,


    "I was just telling the truth."


    Aside from the intent to disgust Zhou Yinglin when he said ''Who is Zhou Yinglin?'', his responses to other interview questions were genuinely in line with his true feelings, without any pandering to the audience.


    That final ''encouragement'' towards all the competitors was also a spur-of-the-moment thing.


    Being on the same stage, in the same era as someone like him who stood out so vividly, must be somewhat desperate for others.


    Xue Jing didn''t feel guilty, but he did harbor a bit of compassionate sympathy for these people... which was why he gave them those encouraging words.


    Of course, he understood that these statements might be misinterpreted by many in the short term... but he didn''t care at all.


    Not relying on this career made him that defiant; he never had to worry about things like public appeal.


    "Xue Jun."


    At the doorway of the studio, Otogirusu stood elegantly, smiling softly at Xue Jing as he approached the door.


    He stood tall and handsome, attracting the attention of passersby, both men and women, who lingered their gaze on him for a long while.


    Xue Jing nodded at him and greeted, "Suzuka."


    "Xue Jun, your speech was brilliant."


    Otogirusu praised.


    Your journey continues with empire


    "Eagles and snails, what a perfect analogy; in this world, those who achieve great things are either geniuses with exceptional talents or relentless hard-workers, while the rest are mostly half-filled buckets shaking around, hardly making it big."


    "These people might not understand the meaning behind your words for now... but in time, once they realize and appreciate the value of that statement, they will definitely thank you."


    Otogirusu spoke softly, his eyes almost tender as he looked at Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing moved his lips slightly, feeling a bit goosebumpy, waved his hand, and said,


    "That''s an Egyptian saying; I just borrowed it... Alright, the competition is about to start soon, see you later."


    Otogirusu chuckled, "I''m really looking forward to your performance, Xue Jun."


    Upon leaving the studio, Xue Jing asked Jiang Siwei who was following behind him,


    "Wei, how long till the competition starts?"


    He was the first competitor, facing the second competitor, Yin Muhu, in the opening match.


    Jiang Siwei quickly glanced at her watch and replied, "About an hour and a half."


    "I know where Little Yin''s resting room is; we still have some time before the match, want to go see her?"


    Jiang Siwei suggested.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment then said softly,


    "No, it''s not good to disturb her now; let''s just head back to the resting room to prepare."


    Jiang Siwei had no objections, nodded, and said, "Alright."


    Once back in the resting room, Xue Jing pulled out the Green Cube from his pocket.


    This time, he merely twisted one layer of the Magic Cube with one hand and then tossed it into the air.


    A vortex of green light, resembling a wormhole, appeared in the air, swirling around. Xue Jing reached into it and slowly drew out the Forgotten Greatsword.


    He held the Giant Sword with one hand and spun a sword flower in the air, creating a huge airflow that blew all the lighter items in the dressing room around. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re going to fight her with this... isn''t it a bit much?"


    Miao Miao voiced her concern.


    Xue Jing gripped the handle of the sword, and gently leaned the blade of the Giant Sword on the ground.


    Even so, the moment it touched the ground, there was still a heavy ''thunk.''


    Xue Jing said with a smile, "Shady Girl said she had a surprise for me, I shouldn''t hold back either."


    ...

 Chapter 228 Otogirusus Strange Sentiments, Applause Please—Competitor Xue Jings Entrance! (4K)

    Time ticked away second by second, and the start of the U19 finals drew ever closer.In the competitors'' resting room, Yin Muhu, dressed in a training garment, sat cross-legged on the floor, her hands as big as clay pots resting on her knees.


    The angular contours of her muscular face faintly revealed feminine features, and her waist-length hair hung loosely, draping straight down to the ground.


    At the moment, whisps of white steam rose from her body, curling upward and causing the temperature in the entire resting room to steadily climb.


    As time passed, it was unclear if it was an illusion, but her robust physique seemed to have subtly shrunk a little.


    ...


    In a spacious fitness room backstage at the arena, Xue Jing held the Forgotten Greatsword in both hands, swinging it repeatedly to build harmony with the heavyweight weapon.


    With his [Combat Skills] at Lv10, like when he practiced with a spear, his solid sword skills terrifyingly radiated into the domain of the giant sword.


    Every second, with each swing, his control and proficiency with the giant sword in his hands soared at breakneck speed.


    "Hoo¡ª¡ª"


    The enormous blade and its weight created a fearsome current of air with each swing, whipping up a gale throughout the fitness room.


    Not far from Xue Jing, Ning Yuantai was squatting on a weight bench, idly scrolling through videos on his bracelet.


    Suddenly, Ning Yuantai''s eyebrows rose:


    "Oh? They''ve started broadcasting the pre-match interviews."


    He gestured a few times in the air, and a pale blue halo emanated from his bracelet, projecting a holographic video image into the space before him.


    Ning Yuantai spread his hands apart, and the holographic video correspondingly enlarged, turning into a three-meter-long by two-meter-high screen.


    Xue Jing merely glanced briefly and continued warming up with the giant sword without much concern.


    "Hello everyone, I am Wei Junwu, a competitor in this U19 competition..."


    As the interview video began to play, Ning Yuantai casually remarked:


    "After this one finishes, the opening ceremony will start... Xue, didn''t you also go for an interview?"


    Without turning his head, Xue Jing responded, "Yes."


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes lit up, "Then did you throw out any fierce words? These interviews are more fun when you say something bold. It''s a pity that most of us Zhuxia people like to pretend to be modest in front of the camera, even though everyone usually acts so high and mighty... "


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Fierce words? I don''t think so."


    The two chatted while the pre-match interviews continued to play in the background.


    Soon, after more than twenty competitors were interviewed, someone who made Xue Jing take special notice appeared on the video screen.


    "Hello friends from Zhuxia, I am Otogi Suzuka, a competitor from the Far East..."


    The ambiguous, gentle voice sounded, and cheers erupted from the spectator seats in the arena.


    Ning Yuantai cleaned his ear with his pinky and commented, "This Far Eastern person is so popular... truly worthy of being a world-class Martial Artist."


    Watching the beautiful Otogirusu being interviewed, Ning Yuantai couldn''t help but wonder:


    "But seriously, is he really a guy? He looks too unbelievable."


    Xue Jing stopped swinging his giant sword for a moment, propped the blade on the ground, caught his breath, and said:


    "He probably is."


    Ning Yuantai shook his head uncertainly, "I''m not convinced. With that face¡­ unless he grew up taking female hormones. But then, it would be impossible to reach such levels in Old Martial Arts."


    "Those attention-grabbing traps, even when made up and with maxed-out beauty filters, anyone with a keen eye can still detect the clear male features on their faces. But this Otogirusu, without makeup, without beauty filters, dressed in men''s clothes, still can''t hide the overwhelming femininity. "


    Ning Yuantai, looking as serious as if he was engaged in scientific research and stroking his chin, said, "I suspect he''s cross-dressing!"


    Xue Jing chuckled, "I think he''s just good-looking, that''s all."


    As they chatted, Otogirusu Suzuka''s interview video continued.


    "So, among the competitors this time, is there any that you particularly pay attention to?"


    In the video, the interviewer posed a new question.


    Otogirusu Suzuka''s lips curved into a smile, like one thinking of a beloved, revealing a tender expression on his face and softly saying:


    "Competitor Xue Jing... He is my favorite competitor in this match and the one I look forward to facing the most."


    The interviewer expressed surprise, "Eh... an unexpected answer. Your passion for martial arts is well known, and in previous interviews, the competitor you always looked forward to the most was undoubtedly the strongest. Why is your answer different this time? Is it because you and this Xue Jing have a special connection?"


    Iron-blooded Ning Yuantai cursed out loud, "What the hell is this idiot talking about? What''s with the unexpected answer? The strongest is definitely Xue, no question. What rubbish taste, is he blind or what? If your eyes aren''t useful, I suggest you donate them to someone in need, damn it!"


    Xue Jing was unconcerned about the interviewer ''underestimating'' him, as, to outsiders, Zhou Yinglin, a disciple of Gun Saint and holder of numerous past honors, was undoubtedly the strongest in this competition. This perception could not be shattered until he defeated Ying Lin.


    What Xue Jing cared about was Otogirusu Suzuka''s excessive attention and favorability toward him, which made the corner of his mouth twitch and his scalp tingle.


    sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 228 Otogirusus Strange Sentiments, Applause Please—Competitor Xue Jings Entrance! (4K)_2

    ```He really isn''t interested, buddy, it''s not about looks, it''s about whether he has that thing or not...


    "There is some history...to be honest, I''ve already fought with Competitor Xue Jing."


    Otogirusu covered his face with one hand, showing a blissful, reminiscent expression: "Ah~ Competitor Xue Jing''s fist... it''s really comfortable."


    "..." Xue Jing twitched the corner of his mouth.


    The interviewer seemed a bit embarrassed: "Oh... I see."


    Otogirusu quickly dropped his inappropriate expression and returned to his usual gentle and amiable demeanor: "Also, you got one thing wrong."


    The interviewer was startled: "What?"


    "There''s no difference... The competitor I''m most looking forward to is always the strongest one."


    Otogirusu stood up, turned his head to the side, and looked delighted: "Oh? It looks like he''s arrived."


    With that, he got up and left without caring that the interview wasn''t over yet.


    This was the end of Otogirusu''s interview video.


    After watching, Ning Yuantai nodded in satisfaction:


    "This person does have good taste, I''m starting to think he''s a woman in disguise..."


    Xue Jing sighed and asked: "What makes you say that?"


    "Liking Xue that much, it''s hard not to question his gender... Ah, but I''m different, my feelings for you are pure admiration."


    Ning Yuantai quickly waved his hands to explain.


    After resting for a while, Xue Jing continued to swing the Giant Sword, creating a howling gale with the blade.


    And the video moved on to the next competitor''s interview... it was Xue Jing himself.


    Perhaps it was in sequential order of filming, or perhaps it was done on purpose to contrast with Otogirusu''s earlier statements, but when Xue Jing appeared on the screen and began introducing himself, there was a significant uproar from the audience.


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes lit up: "Looking good, Xue!"


    However, Xue Jing paid no attention to his own interview, practicing with the Giant Sword with his back to the screen.


    Although he himself didn''t care, as the interview video played, his ''arrogant'' remarks stirred the audience''s noise, which grew louder with each of his statements.


    "There''s nobody in particular to watch out for, they all seem about the same."


    "Who is Zhou Yinglin?"


    "..."


    Ning Yuantai, thrilled, kept giving thumbs up: "That''s right, Xue, exactly the attitude I want to see, that''s so you!"


    Xue Jing didn''t respond.


    "There''s an old Egyptian saying¡ª''Only two creatures can reach the top of the pyramid, eagles and snails.''"


    "Don''t lose heart, you do have a chance to catch up to me, keep it up."


    As the video showed Xue Jing saying his final words and walking off, the noise from the venue suddenly went silent for a moment.


    Then, an immense wave of noise, almost enough to flip the entire arena, erupted.


    Both Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai in the gym could feel a faint vibration under their feet.


    "I... Wow."


    Ning Yuantai was a bit dumbfounded.


    "Xue, you should start a class on showing off, I''ll sign up first."


    "I want to show off big time, too."


    Xue Jing, without turning around: "You can''t learn this, it comes naturally."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head: "Ah? A natural show-off?"


    ...


    Meanwhile, many others were also watching this scene unfold.


    In the competitors'' rest area.


    "Junior Brother Song, it''s this guy!"


    "Damn it, he''s so full of himself. How can he say something like that?"


    A young man named Brother Xiong, wrapped in bandages with a cast on his left hand resting on his chest, angrily pointed at Xue Jing on the video and cursed.


    "Shut up." Beside him, a teenager with his leg crossed, hands folded casually, frowned slightly and spoke softly.


    His voice wasn''t loud, but Brother Xiong, like a child reprimanded by his parents, immediately fell silent and contracted, showing a hint of fear on his face.


    The teenager looked at Xue Jing and muttered to himself: "Those aren''t the eyes of someone bluffing, he means what he says... a powerful person."


    "Interesting."


    In the U19 main coordinator''s office, Zhou Yinglin sat where the main coordinator Li Ziyuan would sit, while the actual owner of the seat, Li Ziyuan himself, stood respectfully to one side.


    Watching Xue Jing in the video, Yinglin''s hawk-like sharp eyes seemed to have found prey, ready to swoop down and make the kill.


    ```


    Qingcheng, Xue Jing''s home.


    Xue Wan and Zong Shichan excitedly held each other''s hands as they watched Xue Jing on TV.


    "So handsome, Master is so incredibly handsome! I can''t take it anymore!"


    "As expected of my little bean, this kid has been eloquent since he was young!"


    First Urban Circle, Inner Ring, Capital City.


    In a certain room, a girl with a youthful face sat squatting on the bed, hugging a pillow, mumbling as she watched Xue Jing in the video, "Little Junior Brother..."


    She hugged the pillow even tighter.


    ...


    The pre-match interview concluded with Zhou Yinglin as the final highlight.


    "I will win the championship. It''s only natural," he said.


    In the midst of those indifferent words, an even louder roar erupted from the audience than after Xue Jing''s last statement.


    "This guy''s popularity is still so high, even though he''s from the First Urban Circle, it''s like he''s fighting on home turf."


    Ning Yuantai clicked his tongue.


    As the roar gradually subsided, dynamic BGM began playing inside the venue.


    "The opening ceremony performance has started, Xue, it''s almost time for you to go on," Ning Yuantai shouted toward Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing stopped swinging the Giant Sword in his hands, a fine layer of sweat beading on his body. The intense heat emanating from him made contact with the air around, faintly giving off some vapor.


    Warm-up finished.


    Xue Jing nodded, slung the Forgotten Greatsword over his shoulder, and walked towards his rest area. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he reached the entrance to the rest area, a staff member with a work badge was already waiting at the door, pacing back and forth with an anxious expression.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing, he showed a relieved look... after all, the records indicated that this contestant had a history of being late.


    Fortunately, it looks like he has a sense of time. Last time must have been an accident.


    "Competitor Xue Jing!"


    "Your match is about to start, please follow me to the waiting area."


    Xue Jing nodded at him, "Let''s go."


    Following the lead staff member, about ten minutes later, Xue Jing arrived at the waiting area.


    Forward was the entrance for the contestants; after that was the large arena.


    He placed the Forgotten Greatsword against the floor, clasped his hands around the hilt, and quietly waited for the opening ceremony to end.


    Soon, the singing and music stopped, and the announcer''s voice came through the speakers.


    "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the 37th U19 Unlimited Elite Fighting Tournament in Yuan City. I''m your commentator, Tao Xingshou!"


    "After three months of fierce competition, we''ve come to today..."


    The commentator rattled on, introducing the tournament, then went on to thank the sponsors and official guiding bodies.


    Finally, it was time to introduce the contestants.


    "...Well, without further ado, let''s not delay, please welcome the contestants to enter the arena!"


    "First up, please welcome¡ªYin Muhu!"


    Passionate, heavy BGM played.


    "Hailing from the Outer Ring''s Banyan City Diamond Dojo, Yin Muhu is a practitioner of the famous ''Vajra Wishful Hand''..."


    The commentator introduced incessantly. Enjoy more content from empire


    There was applause from the audience, but the response was not very strong. With Xue Jing''s hearing, he could even faintly hear some talking noises, given how close he was.


    "From the Outer Ring... haha, just filler..."


    "What a strange look... a woman?"


    Not hearing much, the commentator''s voice soon drowned out Xue Jing''s hearing.


    "Let''s look at the big screen to see Yin Muhu''s hexagonal data..."


    "Attack 9, Speed 8, Defense 9, Skill 10, Spirit 9, Intellect 8."


    "Wow, those are some pretty luxurious stats, almost no weak points. Worthy of a contestant who made it to the finals!"


    "Yin Muhu looks quite calm, it seems she is full of fighting spirit, her entire body radiates impatience."


    "So, who is the contestant that she is so eager to face? Let''s find out. Please welcome with applause¡ªXue Jing!"


    ...

 Chapter 232 Impeccable, the Nutrient of Near-God Move, The Dragon Cult Attacks (4K)

    "Impeccable¡­ Although I don''t think much of Zhou Yinglin as a person, every time I see his Heavenly Feather Garment, it makes one sigh that this truly is the epitome of human spear skills,"Wei Junwu spoke with a sense of wonder.


    "Zhou Yinglin reached the ''Ten Needles and A Hundred Threads'' realm a year ago, and now he is nearing the ''Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads,'' instantly thrusting nearly a hundred spears, each one incredibly precise and exquisite, no less powerful than a deathblow. With over ten variations in a single thrust, any reaction by the opponent would still fall within his repertoire of changes."


    He looked at Xue Jing beside him and said pointedly,


    "If he were your opponent, you absolutely couldn''t think of competing with him in terms of martial arts skills. Heavenly Feather Garment is the true pinnacle of Supreme Ingenuity in the realm of ''skill,'' and there''s simply no one better. Trying to find a flaw in him is impossible; you must find a way in other aspects..."


    Xue Jing did not respond.


    His eyes, indifferent with a divine silver-white hue, gradually lost their color and returned to their normal shape. Xue Jing turned his head and glanced at Wei Junwu indifferently,


    "Oh? Is that so?"


    Seeing him seemingly unimpressed and possibly harboring other thoughts, Wei Junwu became a bit anxious,


    "Old Xue, you really shouldn''t be so stubborn... I know you''re very formidable, and you didn''t give your all in the last match, but Zhou Yinglin is definitely an opponent you''ve never encountered before. Just now, he didn''t even use a third of his strength in the arena, you can''t underestimate him..."


    Xue Jing said, "I am not underestimating him."


    With that, he turned and walked toward the exit of the corridor.


    "It''s you guys... who are underestimating me."


    Wei Junwu was taken aback by Xue Jing''s last sentence, which sounded light and weightless.


    ...


    Xue Jing walked on the path leading to the resting room.


    His purpose for attending the match was to gather information on Zhou Yinglin''s martial skill ''Heavenly Feather Garment.'' Now that his goal was achieved, the other competitors'' battles were of no consequence.


    "The person behind Wei Junwu, the one who sent me the Forgotten Greatsword... Could it be Zhu or someone related to her? Or perhaps just an unknown major player who sees potential in me and wants to give me a hand?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed contemplation.


    After pondering for a long time, he shook his head.


    "This person must have good intentions, but I don''t quite like the method,"


    he said to himself.


    Many people have experienced this: something you can handle yourself and are about to resolve, and suddenly someone beside you suggests a solution.


    This ''solution'' is something you could have thought of on your own, but after being spoken by another, solving the issue seems as though it is thanks to their help.


    If the person doesn''t care about such trifles, it''s fine, but if they''re the type to seek credit, flaunting their assistance as if the entire success depended on them, it becomes thoroughly annoying.


    Xue Jing did not wish to be bound by such a ''favor'' that wasn''t a favor.


    It''s as if without the Forgotten Greatsword, without this ''hint,'' he wouldn''t be able to handle Zhou Yinglin.


    Xue Jing opened the Skill Panel and glanced at the [Combat Skills] in his regular skills column.


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    The first, ?????


    ...]


    The sublimation conditions full of question marks remained unmet, but for some reason, Xue Jing felt that the option seemed a bit clearer than before, though he wasn''t sure if it was just an illusion.


    After returning to the resting room, Xue Jing reached out and scooped up Miao Miao, who was sleeping on the couch, moving her to the side before sitting down cross-legged on the couch himself.


    He closed his eyes, and with his powerful spirit and consciousness, he brought his state of mind to a still, unperturbed level, his mind slowly sinking as he began Consciousness Simulation.


    In the Consciousness Space, endless pixels started to construct the simulated environment, quickly establishing the grand arena of the Super Arena.


    Xue Jing himself soon appeared on the stage, and with a thought, a figure with eyes as sharp as a hawk''s materialized not far in front of him.


    Xue Jing looked at ''Zhou Yinglin'' and snapped his fingers, equipping him with a Nine Chi Great Spear.


    With Lv8 [Visualization True], the created entities were almost lifelike, possessing a real sense of self. ''Zhou Yinglin'' looked at Xue Jing in front of him, his sharp gaze revealing a hint of murderous intent.


    The high Spiritual Level allowed this murderous intent to materially manifest in the outside world, distorting the air with vibration. Xue Jing immediately felt as if his exposed skin was being slowly sliced by a sharp wind blade, faintly causing pain. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing looked at ''Zhou Yinglin'' and said softly, "Come, do what you want to do."


    No sooner had the words left his lips than ''Zhou Yinglin'' took a step forward without any hesitation and thrust his spear like a dragon!


    Like a veil of rain, like a deluge, a cascade of spear shadows poured towards Xue Jing with ferocity.


    "Swish swish swish swish¡ª!!"


    The air screamed in agony as countless disrupted air currents twisted like many wild snakes.


    Different from Zhou Yinglin, who held back on the stage before, the ''he'' now was how Xue Jing envisioned a full-power, murderous Zhou Yinglin.


    There was no escape, no hiding, no blocking.


    As the torrent of spear shadows closed in on him, a realization dawned in Xue Jing''s mind.


    At this moment, almost any action he took would be in vain. Any defensive move, redirection, bouncing, or shock wave techniques would prove useless under this absolutely tight assault without any gaps.


    Any retaliation would be dissolved and penetrated under this pinnacle of Supreme Ingenuity, like being enveloped by a Heavenly Feather Garment from the sky above, without a single flaw.


    Xue Jing made no attempt to counter, instead standing quietly in his spot, without even the most basic Channeling Energy for protection. He emptied himself to fully comprehend the incoming impact.

 Chapter 232 Impeccable, Nourishment for Near-God Move, Dragon Cult Attacks (4K)_2

    ```"Ssssss¡ª"


    In an instant, he was first riddled with numerous blood holes that pierced through his body, then reduced to a pile of minced flesh, and eventually even the minced flesh was punctured into even smaller pieces.


    The next moment, countless pixel blocks whirled and combined, and Xue Jing reappeared, unharmed, on the platform.


    "...I see."


    He stroked his chin, pensive.


    "No wonder this martial art is called the supreme ingenuity among people... The difficulty is indeed extraordinary."


    The moment he was hit, Xue Jing experienced the variety of forces and the subtle changes in the Qi Energy as each spear stabbed into his body, and was truly taken aback.


    That was beyond what could be described as complex.


    Each spear thrust had energy channeling changes equivalent to that of a killer move, which was akin to solving a complex high-level mathematical problem.


    And such mathematical problems, numbering in the hundreds or thousands, came incessantly, each with their linkages, with the answer to one problem requiring the answer to another for reference, and yet another''s answer needing several other problems as references.


    The myriad changes within the complex energy channeling were all indispensable linked states, and only by combining all of the problems could the final answer be derived.


    "Such martial arts, the demand on aptitude is terrifying to the extreme..."


    "Not the physical aptitude, but the aptitude of the spirit and consciousness."


    "The required precision and calculation in channeling energy, an ordinary Martial Artist would suffer a mental overload after just two strikes."


    Xue Jing let out a slight breath.


    The incredibly complex changes in the Impeccable technique were too complex; he used his own ''death'' as a price to gain a microscopic understanding, but still, he hadn''t remembered even one-thousandth of the variations.


    This was the first time since he learned Consciousness Simulation that he had encountered such a difficult martial arts technique.


    "However... the first in supreme ingenuity among people?"


    "Seems to be a bit of an overstatement."


    "Complex as it is, it is still within the conventional range and cannot be regarded as ''the ultimate in human technique.''"


    Xue Jing clenched his fist, murmuring to himself.


    He had planned for his future martial arts a Near-God Move that could only be achieved with the absolute control of channeling energy provided by the True Martial Body.


    With the 100% error-free, stable performance of True Martial, to neutralize every martial arts move that came close.


    Any martial art in the world, even all physical damage, once it touched him, would be instantly analyzed and thoroughly understood, then completely neutralized with precisely opposite energy channeling.


    Absolute defense in the truest sense... that would be the true first in supreme ingenuity among people!


    "This ''Impeccable'' is a fortunate encounter. If I could thoroughly understand such complex energy channeling, it could greatly fill the gaps in the foundation of my ''Near-God Move.''"


    "Worthy of the top martial arts of an Eternal Title holder, the volume of martial arts knowledge it contains is terrifying."


    "Let''s continue."


    Xue Jing snapped his fingers and continued to let ''Zhou Yinglin'' come forth, aiming a torrent of spear shadows at him.


    In this way, Xue Jing, in an exaggerated manner that Zhou Yinglin couldn''t even dare to imagine, rapidly absorbed everything about the ''Impeccable.''


    When he felt his head swelling and his spirit and consciousness could hardly endure any longer, it had already been two hours later.


    Xue Jing exited the Consciousness Space and rubbed his aching brain.


    "This extreme learning method that comes at the price of dying is still too demanding on spiritual power."


    Impeccable was already difficult to learn, requiring continuous high-intensity calculation and memorization; the pain and fear brought by ''death'' were also a significant mental burden.


    Therefore, although Contemplation¡¤True had reached the high level of Lv8, Consciousness Simulation could not last too long.


    But the results were very gratifying.


    Xue Jing opened his panel to take a glance.


    [...True Martial Experience Points +1262]


    [...Weapon Strike Experience Points +1679]


    [...Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +1388]


    This was the experience gain from the panel, which was quite good for a non-combat scenario.


    The main point, however, was the learning progress of the Impeccable.


    Xue Jing estimated that he had grasped about one percent of the essence.


    The number might seem small and slow at first glance, but it was actually not the case.


    With this one percent as a foundation, his learning of the Impeccable would accelerate, creating a snowball effect, growing bigger as it rolled along.


    To completely master the Impeccable within a few days was not impossible.


    "You''re awake."


    Miao Miao yawned beside him, her eyelids drooping in a drowsy state, as she spoke.


    She stood up, stretched her front paws forward, arched her back, and raised her tail high, doing a cat stretch.


    "Looks like the competition over there has ended."


    Xue Jing picked her up and placed her on his shoulder, smiling, and said:


    ```


    "Let''s go, we''re heading back," he said.


    He picked up his mobile phone and glanced at it, skipping past the barrage of messages from Xue Wan, and opened the message from Ning Yuantai.


    [Xue, I saw you resting and didn''t dare disturb you. I''ve gone back to the car. Just come to the parking lot when you''re ready to leave.]


    Xue Jing replied with an ''OK'' emoji and then put his phone back in his pocket. He left the rest area and walked towards the exit of the arena.


    Although it had been nearly half an hour since the match ended, the audience hadn''t fully dispersed. There were still a few people lingering around the plaza outside the arena''s main gate.


    Xue Jing''s arrival didn''t attract anyone''s attention as he had initiated ''Aura Blockade,'' making his presence no different from that of a passerby.


    After stepping out of the gate, Xue Jing was about to head to the parking lot.


    At that moment, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    "...Teacher Wan, what''s wrong?"


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at Miao Miao.


    Or rather, looked at the paw that projected the gleaming silver Serpent Slayer Spearhead, making his shoulder ache slightly.


    Miao Miao, as if deep in thought, looked at its paw, then spoke in a tender young girl''s voice: "There''s something strange nearby."


    Xue Jing paused slightly and said discreetly, "Is it coming for us?"


    "Very likely."


    "If it''s targeting us and can cause the ''Serpent Slayer Spearhead'' to react..."


    Xue Jing and Miao Miao exchanged glances and said in unison, "Dragon Cult."


    "What shall we do?" asked Miao Miao.


    Xue Jing looked around at the sparse crowd, thought for a moment, and then said, "Let''s change location..."


    He took out his phone and sent a message to Ning Yuantai: [Wait a bit longer, I have something to take care of.]


    Ning Yuantai instantly replied with an emoticon of a bowing bear, with the word OK in its caption.


    Pocketing his phone, Xue Jing lifted his foot and soared up instantly, leaping dozens of meters to the rim of the Super Arena.


    His pupils fluctuated as he swiftly surveyed his surroundings.


    Soon, off to the northwest, he spotted a large park that wasn''t crowded. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next moment, without any apparent movement, he vanished from the spot.


    As he left, several figures in black robes emerged from nearby cover, exchanging looks.


    "He ran?"


    "He won''t get away; the ''Technique'' has locked on him... That cat on his shoulder is Qingcheng''s branch Sect Hierarch, Ning Fengwan."


    "Remember, we need a live capture, try not to hurt her."


    "She could potentially become the ''Holy Mother'' in the future."


    "Let''s go, catch up with them..."


    After a brief exchange, the shadowy figures followed their leader and sped off towards the northwest.


    ...


    The sky gradually darkened, as night slowly enveloped the heavens.


    In Yuan City, Zone B9, Dream Marsh Park.


    A figure descended like a falling star to the center of the park.


    Despite his incredible speed and momentum, his landing was almost silent. Landing on the grass, it made only a faint rustling sound, as if weightless.


    "Time to prepare for battle..."


    Xue Jing snapped his fingers.


    From the shadows, countless black streams converged, wrapping around him in a magnificent display of Shadowflame Wrap Armor, even Miao Miao was adorned in a suit of Dark Flame Cat Armor.


    Then, he took out a black walnut-sized Dragon Cherry Seed and tossed it to the ground.


    Since he wasn''t sure of the Dragon Cult members'' combat strength, he was preparing to go all out.


    The Dragon Cherry Seed rooted itself into the ground, quickly burrowing in, and after a while, black roots emerged from the soil, soon forming a large black cherry tree.


    The tree branched out endlessly, with Silver Cherry Blossoms blooming on it, a sight of breathtaking beauty.


    This Dragon Cherry tree wasn''t huge and blended with the rest of the trees in the park as if it had always been there.


    Xue Jing, eyeing the several small black dots swiftly approaching in the distant sky, muttered to himself:


    "As per tradition, a welcome gift is in order."


    He looked around for a target and his eyes soon brightened when he found a prime piece of rock.


    ...

 Chapter 236 Furnace Noble Species, Abundant Divinity,

    The alarm blared throughout the museum, and the staff was urgently evacuating the crowds.In the Flame Habitat Species exhibit, in front of a shattered glass window, a girl from the Arctic Federation named Sofia held a crab nearly one meter in length.


    The crab had a crimson shell, its entire body covered in blazing flames, with four claws and twelve legs, its eyes protruding outside of its body, the shell resembling a puffed-up loaf of bread.


    Sofia seemed unaffected by the temperature of the crab''s flames, hoisting it into the air by its claw.


    "Sofia Alexandra Yevna,"


    "what on earth do you want to do?"


    Otogirusu spoke softly.


    With her hand fan, Sofia lightly traced the crab''s body, neither quickly nor forcefully, and the fan was not sharp at all.


    Still, the once lively crab suddenly stiffened, a fine slit appearing in its middle, and the two halves of its body slowly slid apart, the cut astonishingly smooth.


    The fragrant scent of crab meat and roe filled the air, the flames on the crab ceased, and the innately cooked plump crab meat and roe shone with an appetizing luster.


    Breaking off a crab leg, Sofia brought out a large chunk of crab meat and started slurping it up.


    While slurping the crab, Sofia leisurely said,


    "Didn''t I say, the main purpose was to eat crab... Indeed, freshly-killed food is more delicious, have some yourself."


    She handed half of the Flame Crab to Otogirusu.


    The latter didn''t take it, nor did he speak, just gazed at her gently and without any hint of aggression.


    Sofia, feeling uneasy under his silent stare as she slurped the crab, sighed,


    "There''s also a minor matter I came for."


    She sat down on a chair, legs crossed, her ample thighs stacking up.


    "This museum recently acquired a rare item..."


    Sofia raised her right hand, which had a silver bracelet around her slender wrist.


    The bracelet emitted a light, forming a holographic photo in the air.


    In the photo was a person whose entire body had a black, transparent, crystalline texture.


    Otogirusu''s narrow, alluring eyes narrowed slightly, and he uttered the name of the creature in the photo softly,


    "A Furnace Noble Species..."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    An explosion suddenly occurred inside the glass window; numerous flaming materials were ejected outside, and Otogirusu, without looking back, extended his right hand, erecting an invisible wall of Qi Force that blocked all the flaming materials aimed at him.


    "Oh? It looks like that boy must have encountered it, based on this commotion," Sofia said casually. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "By the time I finish this crab, he''ll probably have been killed by that Furnace Noble... It''s a pity really, such a good-looking fellow, and he seems to fit our ''Troublemaker'' philosophy, but still, too young."


    "When he dies, I''ll take that Furnace Noble with me. It''s too rare, one of the few Flame Inhabiting Creatures that can resist ''Sky Ice'' erosion, and there''s a big demand for it back in our Arctic Federation... Little Suzuka, you won''t stop me, will you?"


    Sofia said, smiling mischievously.


    Otogirusu shook his head, "I have not been so presumptuous as to imagine I could stop you to such a degree..."


    Sofia seemed somewhat disappointed, "You''re so boring."


    Otogirusu laughed nonchalantly, in a gentle tone,


    "But you probably won''t be able to take the Furnace Noble with you."


    Sofia made a curious noise, "Why''s that?"


    "You underestimate Xue Jun." Otogirusu looked towards the glass window.


    But the view was obscured by a massive amount of burning flames, and it was impossible to see what was happening inside.


    "The one who will be killed isn''t him, but that Furnace Noble."


    Sofia snorted, noncommittal, "You must be well aware of what a Furnace Noble entails; you should know even you couldn''t make such a thing happen at this point... The guy seems younger than you, too."


    Otogirusu pondered for a moment, "Actually, I don''t have any basis for that... but my gut tells me so."


    "From the first moment I saw Xue Jun, I had the feeling... he was invincible in battle."


    Sofia said with interest, "Your intuition has always been accurate, this could make things interesting..."


    ...


    The ground was enveloped in roaring flames, the earth itself formed by flowing black magma, with Xue Jing clad in Shadowflame Wrap Armor and wielding the Forgotten Greatsword, standing amidst it all, looking around.


    The hundreds of degrees of temperature did not affect him due to the isolation of the Shadow Flame, the only issue being the oxygen was too thin.


    Since entering the Flame Habitat Species exhibit, he had killed a total of twelve Flame Inhabiting Creatures, but only three of them possessed Divinity.


    The combined Divinity of the three was around three hundred points.


    The yield was quite satisfactory.


    He hadn''t ventured too deep but moved back and forth in an area not far from the glass window, only killing those Flame Inhabiting Creatures that approached, attempting to escape through the breach.


    After all, he was just farming for Divinity; there was no need to let these creatures escape and endanger ordinary people.


    Even though it was the young girl with the fluffy hair who broke the window, Xue Jing had simply sped up the process... but if he let the Flame Inhabiting Creatures slip out and start a killing spree, he would still bear 2% of the responsibility.


    It didn''t constitute much of a psychological burden, but it was better avoided nonetheless.


    Another creature enveloped in raging flames roared as it charged towards him, Xue Jing couldn''t even make out its shape, nor did he bother to look, swinging the Giant Sword in his hand and extinguishing countless flames, while accurately striking at the approaching creature.

 Chapter 236 Furnace Noble Species, Abundant Divinity, _2

    "Boom¡ª!"Blood and flesh splattered as the monster was smashed into pieces, dead on the spot.


    [Killed a Divinity imbued special creature, Divinity +109]


    It was a decent harvest, Xue Jing''s spirit was uplifted.


    Soon, he would gather the earnings of either a Divine Relic or a Blessed One.


    Silver-white divine pupils pierced through countless flames, scanning the surroundings.


    The screams of dying Flame Inhabiting Creatures seemed to act as an awakening, making many monsters aware of the dangers of approaching this area.


    Xue Jing waited for quite a while but saw no new Flame Inhabiting Creatures coming this way.


    Just as he was considering whether to delve deeper,


    a pitch-black figure, treading on the burning magma, slowly walked towards him.


    Where it passed, the flames split aside like the parting of the Red Sea, seemingly frightened and avoiding it as if in terror.


    "Boom¡ª!"


    In an instant, an overwhelmingly tangible pressure shook the air and pressed towards Xue Jing.


    The surrounding flames flickered and jumped, bowing down as if they were medieval peasants before a noble.


    Xue Jing slightly squinted his eyes, looking at the humanoid creature approaching.


    Standing close to three meters tall, it looked like a small giant, its entire skin composed of black transparent crystals. Through its surface, countless thin circuits could be seen inside, resembling blood vessels, except what flowed was not blood but red-hot magma.


    The Black Crystal Giant had facial features similar to humans, but where its eyes should be, there were round rubies continually wavering like ocean waves. Through its transparent ''skin,'' countless magma nerves connected these two gems.


    As Xue Jing watched, the Black Crystal Giant slowly opened its mouth, emitting a sound like a steaming machine, with copious black smoke billowing out continuously.


    "Looks like a heavyweight... interesting," Xue muttered.


    This oppressive force was similar to the Guardian Dragons of the Pureblood Dragon Species he had encountered at the Intersecting Boundaries.


    The Black Crystal Giant seemed to feel the dangerous aura from Xue Jing as well; it halted, slightly raising its right hand.


    On the ground, countless streams of black magma surged and gathered in its palm, slowly forming a sword over five meters long, similar in shape to the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Then, beneath its transparent skin, countless magma circuits suddenly brightened, starting to flow at an accelerated rate, and its dark exterior began to emit a red glow.


    The Black Crystal Giant''s legs slightly bent as it crouched.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    It vanished from the spot, and the next instant, appeared in front of Xue Jing, with the black magma greatsword mere inches from Xue Jing''s face.


    As the Black Crystal Giant made its move, Xue Jing moved simultaneously.


    With the Twin Speed activated, he crouched down at an incredible speed, dodging the ominous-looking heavy strike, the Forgotten Greatsword in his hands switching to a two-handed grip.


    Whirlwind Thunder Force activated, spiral indentations appeared on his arms, and after spinning around, he performed a backward slashing strike, gathering Qi Force and forcefully smashing it against the waist of the Black Crystal Giant.


    "Bang-Crack¡ª!!"


    A dull impact mingled with a crisp sound of crystals shattering; the upper body of the Black Crystal Giant was violently smashed into a highly distorted and exaggerated arc.


    Yet, this strike that could have sent a tank flying did not break him, nor did his feet leave the ground!


    Seeing this, Xue Jing immediately realized that the thing''s physical resistance was absurdly high.


    With a thought, a Lightning Dragon Horn grew on his forehead, silver-white thunderbolts flickering on the Forgotten Greatsword, spreading through the blade to the Black Crystal Giant.


    Under the wrap of Dragon Thunder, a twenty-fold gravity pressed down, slightly halting the Black Crystal Giant''s ongoing move.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xue Jing pulled out a Dragon Cherry Seed, pressing it against its chest.


    From the walnut-sized seed, countless thick black roots immediately extended, tightly binding the Black Crystal Giant, wrapping it completely with not a single gap exposed.


    The life force-sucking characteristic of the Dragon Cherry began to take effect, attempting to drain the life force from the Black Crystal Giant.


    But right away, Xue Jing didn''t feel any life force flowing into the Dragon Cherry.


    "This thing... has no life force?"


    Xue Jing furrowed his brows.


    At that moment, the roots of the Dragon Cherry that bound the Black Crystal Giant started to tremble incessantly, making cracking noises like breaking wood.


    Xue Jing raised the Forgotten Greatsword above his head, numerous black currents twirling around the blade, coating it with a black sheath.


    Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood all moved in unison, his lungs using up half of their stored oxygen.


    "Mystique ¡¤ Awakening of Insects."


    With a terrifyingly explosive force, he struck down with the power to split Mount Hua.


    Along the way, all the currents were stirred aside, and the ground, originally ablaze with fierce flames, suddenly cleared into a circular vacuum zone several tens of meters in diameter as Xue Jing''s strike landed.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    A loud explosion. The roots of the Dragon Cherry offered no resistance, turning into wooden dust and debris upon contact, and the Forgotten Greatsword smashed unreservedly onto the head of the Black Crystal Giant.


    "Crack¡ª¡ª"


    The crystalline head burst apart, magma-like blood scattered everywhere, and the giant continued downward, cleaving through the neck, chest, abdomen...


    It almost split the Black Crystal Giant in half before the explosive force was spent, and then it stopped. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing opened the Skill Panel for a glance and saw no notification of having gained Divinity from the kill.


    This situation meant either the thing in front of him had no Divinity or it was not yet dead.


    And clearly, something that even he had to exert full effort against was unlikely to lack Divinity.


    Without hesitation, Xue Jing immediately raised the Forgotten Greatsword again, channeling all the remaining oxygen in his lungs into his body, and unleashed the Mystique ¡¤ Awakening of Insects once more, slashing towards the remaining body of the Black Crystal Giant.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    The remaining lower body turned to shreds under this strike.


    Only fist-sized fragments of the Black Crystal remained scattered across the ground.


    Xue Jing snapped his fingers, countless black currents converged, turning into a Dark Flame, which fell upon the scattered fragments, slowly burning them to Annihilation.


    The fragments of the Black Crystal Giant occasionally twitched as if trying to recombine, but each time Xue Jing, who kept a vigilant watch, smashed them down with the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Gradually, under the continuous burning of the Shadow Flame, all fragments slowly faded to nothing.


    Only then did a notification pop up on the Skill Panel.


    [Killed a special creature containing Divinity, Divinity +1237]


    Seeing this notification, Xue Jing finally breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand to disperse the Dark Flame.


    As the oxygen stored in his lungs was depleted, he could no longer persist in this place. Seeing a considerable harvest and not being greedy, he turned and dashed towards the outer world.


    ...


    Outside the glass window at this moment, Ning Yuantai had somehow moved next to Sofia and Otogirusu, holding a crab claw of the Flame Crab in his hand, gnawing at it. While gnawing, he waved his hand boastfully like a middle-aged man boasting at a dinner table:


    "Big Sister Sofia, you don''t know how fierce my Xue is."


    "Know about the Pureblood Dragon Species, how formidable it is? You guess what, it was killed on the spot by Xue."


    "Just a mere Furnace Noble Species, unless it is in a highly dense special mining area, in front of Xue, it''s just one punch per piece!"


    No sooner had the words ended than a figure suddenly leaped from the flames inside the glass window.


    After shedding the Shadowflame Wrap Armor, looking as if he had just gone to the restroom, Xue Jing arrived in the outer world virtually unscathed.


    He blew lightly to extinguish a small flame that had landed on his shoulder, brushed off the ashes from it, looked at the three people who were staring at him in surprise and smiled:


    "Ran into a bit of trouble, but it''s sorted now."


    ...

 Chapter 237 Otogirusu: Xue Jun, You Are the Happiness of My Life! (4K)

    For Xue Jing''s unscathed return, Ning Yuantai was the least surprised.He immediately raised his hand ¡ª still holding a half-eaten crab claw ¡ª and greeted,


    "Xue, you''re back. Did you encounter a Furnace Noble Species in there?"


    Xue Jing, holding his right wrist with his left hand, rotated his palm to relieve the strain from using the Forgotten Greatsword a bit too forcefully just now and casually asked,


    "Furnace Noble Species? What is that?"


    He actually had a faint recollection of the name.


    Previously, during a visit to Youqing A Dream, he seemed to recall that the cover of the book she was holding read "Furnace Noble Species."


    That must refer to the Black Crystal Giant he just encountered.


    "That''s a special creature from a unique Intersecting Boundaries."


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    After a pause, he added uncertainly, "Or perhaps it should be called a special... ''person''?"


    "Person?" Xue Jing was slightly puzzled, thought for a moment, and then asked,


    "Do you mean that thing is a Primate? That can''t be right."


    Softly, Otogirusu Suzuka interjected, "No, Xue Jun."


    "The Furnace Noble Species is not a member of the Primates, and it doesn''t even share the most fundamental and basic classification with us... it is a silicon-based life form."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, just like the ''Living Crystal Species,'' the raw material of ISE."


    No wonder he couldn''t absorb its Life Force with Dragon Cherry.


    It seems that this silicon-based life form either does not possess this thing called Life Force or the Life Force is fundamentally different from that of carbon-based life forms, thereby making it unabsorbable.


    "It is referred to as ''person'' because in its native world, it holds a position in nature similar to humans and also possesses cognitive abilities like humans, even developing its own racial heritage and civilization..."


    "Therefore, we regard it as a higher species compared to the typical creatures of Intersecting Boundaries, calling it ''Furnace Noble Species.''"


    Otogirusu Suzuka asked curiously, "Xue Jun, did you encounter a Furnace Noble Species in there? And you defeated it?"


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "It was quite difficult. I expended a lot of effort and finally managed to kill it... "


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai proudly slurped his crab claw and said, "I knew it, just a Furnace Noble Species is nothing but a punchbag in Xue''s hands..."


    "Wait a minute."


    He felt he might have misunderstood a word, so he continued to ask, "Xue, you said you killed it?"


    Xue Jing glanced at him, "What about it?"


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Ah? You really killed it?"


    Xue Jing hummed, "It was quite difficult. I had to smash it several times, and it still wouldn''t die. In the end, I used a special method..."


    Upon these words, not only Ning Yuantai, but even Sofia showed surprise.


    "Xue, as expected of you..."


    Ning Yuantai gave a thumbs-up.


    "A Furnace Noble Species can control and transform its own body, treating any silicon-containing material as its parts to smelt and install onto itself."


    "Each Furnace Noble Species has different preferences, smelting different silicon-containing materials onto their bodies, hence the significant difference in strength."


    Sofia looked at Xue Jing and said slowly.


    "For instance, the Lava Noble Species in there likes magma... That''s also why this museum can''t restrain it, yet it still chooses to stay here."


    "As long as there is silicon-containing material around, these creatures can continuously replenish their bodies, even if they are destroyed, they will recover, and not die even if only a fingernail-sized piece is left."


    "With your current martial realm strength, you should not be able to kill it... So you must be a Blessed One with a special attack-type God-Given Secret Art."


    Sofia fanned herself with her folding fan, glanced towards Otogirusu Suzuka, and sighed,


    "Your intuition was more accurate... It''s a miscalculation, had I known, I would have directly gone in to grab it."


    "Never mind, the main goal was to eat crab, and having done that is good enough."


    At this moment, a group of security officers clad in wide special explosion-proof suits, holding various weapons, quickly approached from the end of the hallway.


    Seeing this, Sofia waved her hand, "Let''s slip away, Little Suzuka, please take care of the aftermath."


    Otogirusu Suzuka bowed slightly to her and said in Russian, "It would be my honor, Sofia Alexandra Yevna."


    As soon as she finished speaking, the woman from the Arctic Federation named Sofia disappeared on the spot.


    Xue Jing, who had been mostly focused on her, hadn''t even noticed how she had left.


    "Xue Jun, leave the rest to me. Could you please wait for me at the museum entrance for a bit? I have a few more things I would like to talk with you about."


    Otogirusu Suzuka turned to Xue Jing and spoke softly, her tone as gentle as if whispering sweet nothings to a lover.


    Although Xue Jing was slightly put off by her, since she could help him avoid the trouble of explaining himself to the museum, he saw no harm in agreeing to her small request of ''a few more words,'' so he nodded in agreement.


    And so, Otogirusu Suzuka stayed to ''explain'' what happened and handle related matters with the museum staff, while Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai left the museum and came to the main entrance.


    "I didn''t expect this kind of trouble. Who exactly is that Sofia woman? I don''t know why, but I didn''t even dare to speak too loudly in front of her."


    Ning Yuantai commented reflectively.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment with a somewhat odd expression, "...I think she might have quite a history with you." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 237 Otogirusu: Xue Jun, You Are the Happiness of My Life! (4K)_2

    Although Sofia Alexandra Yevna did not personally admit it, considering her close relationship with Otogirusu and her rather unrestrained manner of conduct, there''s a high possibility that she''s a member of ''Troublemaker''.And ''Cease-Blades,'' to which Ning Yuantai belongs, seems to be archenemies with ''Troublemaker,'' according to Youqing A Dream''s description...


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai raised an eyebrow, "Is that so! I think so too, I always have a strangely familiar feeling about her, very familiar."


    The two chatted idly at the entrance, and it wasn''t long before an elegant and slender figure emerged from the museum.


    It was none other than Otogirusu.


    "Xue Jun."


    He walked out of the main entrance and lifted his hand to greet Xue Jing.


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai said, "Xue, I''ll go back to the car and wait for you first."


    Xue Jing nodded, and Ning Yuantai left immediately.


    "Suzuka, what did you want to talk to me about?"


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, as Otogirusu, who had walked up to him, approached.


    Otogirusu smiled gently and said, "Xue Jun, you''re so cold to me... Is it because with my strength, I''m unable to ignite your passion?"


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly, "...Actually, there are other reasons too."


    "Other reasons?" Otogirusu tilted her head in puzzlement.


    "Forget it, it''s my fault for not being able to arouse Xue Jun''s will to fight," she said with a shake of her head.


    "Xue Jun, my intuition has always been very accurate since I was young."


    Otogirusu took a few steps forward.


    "It doesn''t matter who it is, within the first glance of meeting someone, I can generally sense what kind of person they are, or even their strength, potential... these intangible things."


    "Xue Jun, do you know what I felt when I first saw you?"


    Xue Jing replied nonchalantly, "Oh? What feeling?"


    Otogirusu turned back to look at him, her eyes burning with an intense fighting spirit, but perhaps because of her exceedingly soft features, it strangely came off as somewhat tender.


    "I can''t win against this person... Absolutely can''t, no matter what, I just can''t come out on top."


    "Do you understand this feeling, Xue Jun?"


    Xue Jing, with arms crossed, shook his head, "I don''t understand."


    Otogirusu smiled gently, "Then let me put it another way... Xue Jun, do you know what kind of game is the most boring?"


    This time, without waiting for Xue Jing''s response, she continued:


    "The game where everything is prepared for you, where you can easily win without any effort, a game with no challenge at all, is the most boring."


    "As the heir to one of the Far East''s Six Major Zaibatsu... I have no complaints about my birth and I''m quite grateful, but in this world, there''s no such thing as an absolutely good or bad thing, everything has two sides."


    Otogirusu said softly, "I was born with almost everything... but for that same reason, I nearly lost everything as well."


    "The sense of achievement, fulfillment, or gratification... My efforts were meaningless, anything could be easily obtained, meaning there was no corresponding level of joy or happiness in obtaining anything."


    "Others might see it as being pretentious... but this is indeed how I truly feel."


    "Because of that, I eventually fell in love with ''Old Martial Arts''... It''s one of the few things I had to achieve through my own efforts."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Hmm... I somewhat understand."


    Otogirusu continued with a smile, "However, as you also know, even in the realm of ''Old Martial Arts,'' where personal talent and effort are paramount, the influence of resources is critically important. I had the best teachers, the most essential martial arts, the finest medicines... and very quickly, I surpassed everyone who had started with me."


    "The satisfaction of victory can only be achieved by overcoming strong opponents; no one feels proud of stepping on an ant."


    "From childhood to this day, all the people I''ve met were either ''those I could beat'' or ''those I would eventually beat''..."


    "But you, only you, Xue Jun."


    Otogirusu clenched her hand into a fist, trembling slightly.


    "The moment I saw you, before I even thought about it, my instincts had already accepted defeat. I can''t win, absolutely can''t, and won''t be able to in the future either."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "But... that''s exactly why it''s perfect!"


    Otogirusu''s tone also shook with excitement.


    "A challenge that is absolutely insurmountable, something I''ve never encountered in my entire life!"


    "If... If I could achieve what should absolutely be unachievable, the sense of accomplishment, the satisfaction... that would be such immense happiness!"


    "Xue Jun, you are the happiness of my life!"


    "..." Hearing the tender words, even more beautiful than a woman''s, from Otogirusu Suzuka, Xue Jing shuddered.


    "This..."


    He looked hesitant.


    He probably understood what Otogirusu Suzuka meant, but the way it was said... was way too overwhelming.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat, "Suzuka, I also want to ask you a question."


    Otogirusu Suzuka looked at him tenderly and said, "Please, ask."


    "Well... you''re straight, right?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing asked very directly.


    Upon hearing this, Otogirusu Suzuka was slightly startled, then smiled and said, "I like the opposite sex."


    Xue Jing sighed in relief, "That''s good..."


    But before he could fully relax, the next words from Otogirusu Suzuka made him tense up.


    "However... if the object of affection was Xue Jun, I could consider being ''Dual Wielding''..."


    Otogirusu Suzuka had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, and he involuntarily took a few steps back, "No... that won''t be necessary, please stick with ''one sword'' only."


    Seeing Xue Jing, who was usually very composed, now slightly flustered by his words, Otogirusu Suzuka laughed heartily, her laughter crisp and pleasant to the ear.


    "Hehehe... It seems I''ve found Xue Jun''s weakness. I can use this in the future."


    Xue Jing sighed, "Stop it, you win, I''m scared of you now, no more of this."


    After Otogirusu Suzuka toned down her laughter a bit, Xue Jing asked:


    "By the way, who exactly is that woman from the Arctic Federation?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka replied, "Are you interested in her, Xue Jun? She''s one of our ''Troublemakers''..."


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Not particularly interested... I''m just curious about how she left earlier; I couldn''t tell at all how she disappeared."


    Upon hearing this, Otogirusu Suzuka smiled knowingly, "I see... Indeed, that method is not ordinary, no wonder you were curious, Xue Jun."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Actually, she didn''t ''leave'' but ''vanished''."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Oh?"


    "Sofia Alexandra Yevna... She is the last remaining Grand Duchess of the Arctic Second Federation, the only ''Noble'' with a title of her own." Otogirusu Suzuka smiled.


    "The one we saw just now... Strictly speaking, was actually not her herself, but a kind of ''Clone'' existence."


    "She simply made this ''Clone'' disappear..."


    Xue Jing murmured in reflection, "I see..."


    ...


    Xue Jing didn''t chat with Otogirusu Suzuka for too long and soon bid farewell and left.


    After learning the source of Otogirusu Suzuka''s inexplicable warmth towards him, he breathed a sigh of relief... but not completely.


    The comment about potentially being ''Dual Wielding'' still left a shadow in Xue Jing''s heart, causing him to not want to be alone with Otogirusu Suzuka.


    "However, this guy''s ''intuition'' is almost like cheating."


    "Isn''t that almost the same as ''predicting the future''?"


    Thinking of Otogirusu Suzuka''s description of his intuition, Xue Jing shook his head.


    This was already verging on the realm of superpowers.


    It seems that he needs to be careful about this in the future when they meet in the arena.


    After gaining some Divinity at the museum, Xue Jing wasn''t in the mood to continue shopping and asked Ning Yuantai to drive him back to Zhige Base.


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    Back at the villa, Xue Jing opened the Skill Panel and, looking at the [2530] Divinity displayed, fell into deep thought.


    ...

 Chapter 238 Advancement of the Near-God Move, Twenty-Five Seamless Shots, The Moved Yin Muhu (4K)

    (There was a rather silly mistake in the last chapter, where the total amount of Divinity held by the protagonist was miscalculated, missing over a thousand points; it has been corrected. No need to look back.)[Divinity held: 3802]


    The unexpected gains from the museum incident included killing a few creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries that contained Divinity, one of which was the rare and powerful ''Furnace Noble Species,'' amounting to about sixteen hundred points of Divinity.


    Added to the Divinity obtained from the Forgotten Greatsword and the killing of two Blessed Ones of the Dragon Cult, Xue Jing''s total Divinity had again surpassed three thousand points.


    "There are a thousand points I can''t use... I can already sense that [Combat Skills] are about to ascend, the feeling is getting stronger."


    "But take away a thousand, and that leaves only two thousand eight... still not enough to upgrade Shadow Flame."


    Xue Jing glanced at his panel''s Extraordinary Skill column where [True Martial] was listed all alone.


    [True Martial Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade requirements: Experience Points 10361/20000, Divinity 3802/1000]


    "True Martial still needs about ten thousand experience points before it can be upgraded."


    "Twin Lifes, Plant Pact, Dragon Horn, there''s no immediate need to upgrade these... It''s like having money but not quite enough to spend, stuck in an awkward phase."


    Xue Jing shook his head and closed the panel.


    He was about to take a rest, Nourish the Essence, and then continue training the Impeccable technique with Consciousness Simulation.


    That''s when Miao Miao, who was squatting beside him on the sofa, playing with his cell phone with her paw pads, spoke up:


    "Looks like your situation with Zhou Yinglin has blown up."


    On hearing this, Xue Jing turned his head to have a look at the news report on the cell phone screen.


    [''Gun Saint''s disciple Zhou Yinglin''s purpose in attending the U19 tournament is actually to stamp out the talent from the Outer Ring?'']


    The news first provided a detailed description of Zhou Yinglin''s background, highlighting his high status and participation in the ''Small Dragon Gate Cup,'' a tournament similar in nature to U19, suggesting from every angle that he had no reason to travel great distances to join U19, thus leading to the discussion of Zhou Yinglin''s true motives.


    It went on to introduce Xue Jing, describing him as a phenomenal talent grown in the Outer Ring, and finally citing Phoenix Cry School Wei Junwu''s public statement, "Zhou Yinglin''s purpose in participating in U19 is to kill Xue Jing under the guise of an accidental blow," unveiling the explosive angle of the news piece.


    The level of diction and emotional manipulation in the entire article was exceptionally high, evidently the work of a seasoned writer.


    The news was also extremely viral, with the number of comments under the report already exceeding one hundred thousand.


    "Hmm? It''s caused this much of a fuss?" Xue Jing said offhandedly.


    His cell phone wasn''t equipped with a ''Super Network Connector,'' so he could only log in to the old net.


    With the degree of isolation between the Inner Ring and Outer Ring, he was indeed surprised that news from the Inner Ring could reach the old net of the Outer Ring so quickly and with such a high fever.


    It felt less like normal spread and more like someone was deliberately promoting it.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said:


    "Unnecessary... Are they expecting this to make Zhou Yinglin have second thoughts?"


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    He didn''t know if Zhou Yinglin would be affected, but his own fists were almost ready.


    They really treated him like a child, taking care. It seemed that the person behind this either underestimated him too much, or overestimated Zhou Yinglin.


    Now he really had no choice but to show off.


    At this thought, Xue Jing suddenly realized something wasn''t right.


    "No... If I look at it from the opposite perspective, maybe that''s exactly the ''Promoter''s'' purpose."


    "Offering me the Forgotten Greatsword, pointing out the flaw in Impeccable, letting Wei Junwu make public statements to try to deter Zhou Yinglin... these actions seem like they are helping me, taking care of me, but in fact, it may be just the opposite."


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    "Doing this deliberately... Is it to stimulate my ''young man''s pride,'' forcing me to prove myself?"


    "Maybe it is... But it''s also possible that I''m just overthinking."


    Miao Miao scrolled through the phone''s news comments with her paw, frowning and saying:


    "It''s really rare for you to be the one getting bashed. It seems Zhou Yinglin has a lot of fans."


    Xue Jing glanced at the screen and saw comments like [No, what level is Zhou Yinglin, what level is Xue Jing, don''t rub against him okay?][That Wei Junwu must have had a brain thrombosis for the last ten years to say something so stupid, what qualifications does Xue Jing have to be targeted by Zhou Yinglin?


    I almost laughed till I cried][Better wait to encounter Zhou Yinglin in the top eight before you speak, don''t become a laughingstock by failing to make it there], and others.


    The main point of discussion was that Xue Jing was not on a level where he could clash with Zhou Yinglin.


    These were among the more rational analyses; many others started to outright abuse Xue Jing the ''presumptuous small potato,''


    completely ignoring the fact that Xue Jing himself hadn''t said anything.


    About this kind of online mobbing, Xue Jing felt no emotional disturbance at all, merely thinking these people must be really bored, or too well-fed.


    On the other hand, the more Miao Miao read, the angrier she became, her paw pads hardening.


    She began to tap the screen to make comments, defending Xue Jing and squabbling with others, but she was quickly overwhelmed by the majority, her fur bristling with ridicule.


    "You''re saved by the lack of real-name system online... Otherwise, I, as the Sect Hierarch, would have to find each one of you and scratch up your faces!"


    Her delicate feline face showed an anthropomorphic gnashing of teeth.


    Seeing that Miao Miao was about to scratch the phone screen, Xue Jing quickly reminded her:


    "Be careful, it''s a hassle to replace a screen."


    Miao Miao retracted her claws, indignantly saying:


    "Jing, you must beat up Zhou Yinglin hard! Make a big show of it, and swell the faces of these idiots who can only hit keyboards!"


    Xue Jing laughed and patted her fluffy little head, comforting her as one might a child, "Okay, okay, don''t be angry. Stop looking at the phone. I''ll make you something to eat."


    S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 238 Advancement of the Near-God Move, Twenty-Five Impeccable Spears, Moved Yin Muhu (4K)_2

    Miao Miao huffed and pushed the cellphone aside with her front paws....


    The next day, within the Consciousness Space at the Super Arena''s grand stage, Xue Jing stood in the center of the stage with his eyes closed, his whole body relaxed, without any movement.


    Opposite him, ''Zhou Yinglin'' held the Nine Chi Great Spear, assuming the ''Hold the Pipa'' stance from the twenty-four spear skills moves, the tip facing Xue Jing.


    After a long standoff, Zhou Yinglin moved.


    The shadows of the spear turned into a flood, like a giant wave engulfing Xue Jing, its nearly infinite variations sealed off all escape routes and defensive positions, leaving only the option to endure the attack.


    Yet Xue Jing still did not move, not even channeling energy, merely letting his body relax, waiting for the spear''s flood to reach him.


    Just as the first spear thrust was about to touch Xue Jing, coming infinitely close to his skin.


    His intensely focused consciousness instantly gained insight into everything about that thrust, including its force, the energy channeling route, and all possible subsequent variations.


    Subsequently, his body instinctively responded.


    Power began to circulate, a force completely identical in magnitude but in the exact opposite direction, materializing precisely at the point of the spear''s strike.


    To the outside world, Zhou Yinglin''s thrust seemed to merely touch Xue Jing lightly, causing no harm, only emitting a ''ding'' of a crisp sound.


    Then came the second thrust, the third, the fourth...


    Having gained insight into the subsequent variations, Xue Jing concentrated opposing forces at the points struck by the spear, dissolving them one by one.


    The result was a constant ''ding ding ding'' of crisp sounds, but Xue Jing took not even a scratch.


    It wasn''t until the twelfth thrust that Xue Jing''s consciousness processing speed could no longer keep up, lagging by a beat, his physical energy channeling also a step too slow, and he was pierced, creating a small bloody hole.


    Once he started to lag, what followed was a complete defeat, as dozens of consecutive thrusts reduced him to chunks.


    Pixelated fragments swirled and converged, Xue Jing resurrected and reappeared on the stage.


    He nodded his head and said,


    "The Near-God Move¡ª''Return to Nothing''¡ªhas begun to take effect, my theory is indeed realizable, even the complex and perfect spear technique ''Flawless'' can be dissolved."


    "It''s partly because I already have a deep understanding of ''Flawless''; if it were a martial art that I had never come across before, I wouldn''t have been able to do this."


    "But as my understanding of martial arts continues to grow, there will come a day when I''ll be able to see through all martial arts in the world as if they were transparent, and even if faced with a martial arts attack I''ve never seen before, I would be able to instantly understand and dissolve it."


    He clenched his fist, and pixelated fragments swirled and converged, creating a Nine Chi steel spear in his hand.


    Then he walked towards Zhou Yinglin.


    "Flawless¡¤Ten Needles Hundred Threads."


    "Shoo shoo shoo shoo shoo¡ª!!"


    Cold light flashed, and the spear struck out like a dragon, jabbing towards Zhou Yinglin like a curtain of rain.


    "Ding ding ding ding¡ª"


    Zhou Yinglin responded with the same Flawless technique, and after fifteen sounds of clashing spear tips, Xue Jing stopped his spearing action.


    This was his current limit, fifteen thrusts.


    Compared to yesterday when he had just started ''Ten Needles Hundred Threads,'' he had improved by five thrusts.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Progress is decent, let''s continue training."


    He spent the entire day immersed in the training of Consciousness Simulation.


    Whenever his spiritual power was depleted, he would rest; once rested, he''d continue.


    With the help of ''Zhou Yinglin'' as a professional sparring partner, undergoing cheat-level intense training without regard for life or death, Xue Jing''s improvement speed was frighteningly unimaginable.


    Until the day for the top sixteen competition arrived, Xue Jing''s Flawless had reached the twenty-fifth thrust.


    The number of Flawless thrusts ''Return to Nothing'' could dissolve had also reached twenty-one.


    This meant that for Zhou Yinglin himself, the first twenty-one thrusts might as well have been non-existent to Xue Jing.


    At this time, just three days had passed since he had learned Impeccable.


    In a situation no one could have possibly imagined, in just three days, Xue Jing had almost completely unraveled Zhou Yinglin''s secrets.


    Approaching noon, Xue Jing arrived at the Yuan City Super Arena once again, with Ning Yuantai providing transport.


    Upon opening the door to the players'' rest area, two people were already there.


    Jiang Siwei and... Yin Muhu.


    Xue Jing looked at the delicate figure, a bit slender, and paused for a moment before smiling and saying,


    "Shady Girl, are you feeling better?"


    At this moment, Yin Muhu was wearing a very tight Martial Arts Uniform, with her entire waist and abdomen wrapped in bandages. Her slender waist highlighted her full chest, which presented a startling contrast to her presence, and her shapely legs, though concealed by long trousers, hinted at their graceful form from the silhouette.


    She was extremely tall, nearly two meters, but she had a large frame that did not display the skinny beanpole look that can come with excessive height. Instead, her figure was perfectly proportionate, any more would be fat, any less would be thin, her body so exceptionally well-formed that it could make world-class Victoria''s Secret models feel inferior.


    "Xue, I am feeling much better now," Yin Muhu replied with a smile, her tone a bit weak, indicating that her injuries were still quite severe.


    Xue Jing walked over to her, placed a hand on her shoulder, and began channeling energy to probe her injuries internally.


    "These injuries are too severe; you''re still suffering because you used some Ultimate Skills that overexerted your vitality, leaving your spiritual power overdrawn and your life force languishing. In this state, even potent medicines are off-limits, as they might do you more harm than good."


    "If you recover slowly, it will take at least three months..."


    Xue Jing slightly furrowed his brow.


    Three months was an awfully long delay for a Martial Artist around the age of seventeen or eighteen, an age when progress can be swift and significant.


    "It''s fine, three months is three months; Xue, don''t worry about me. This was something I anticipated and was prepared to face before the competition," Yin Muhu said with a carefree smile, her voice matching the gentle and innocent quality expected from a girl of her appearance.


    After a moment, Xue Jing said, "There might be another way, Shady Girl, stretch out your hand."


    Yin Muhu, although not knowing what Xue Jing intended to do, extended her hand in trust without hesitation.


    Her palms were slender, nearly matching Xue Jing''s in size due to her larger bone structure, even though she had lost some weight.


    Xue Jing took a black Dragon Cherry Seed the size of a walnut from his pocket, placed it in his palm, then joined hands with Yin Muhu, squeezing the seed between them.


    Jiang Siwei curiously watched the scene unfold beside them.


    Xue Jing''s thoughts focused, and the Dragon Cherry''s property of absorbing life force activated. It drew from his own life force, then transferred that energy to Yin Muhu.


    Feeling the serious injuries at her chest and abdomen suddenly begin to stir and rapidly heal, her vitality also slowly reinvigorated, Yin Muhu exclaimed in surprise,


    "Eh? What''s this...?"


    With Level 10 Health Cultivation, Xue Jing''s life force was to Yin Muhu''s as an African elephant is to a munchkin cat.


    The strong and pure life force promptly filled and even healed Yin Muhu''s body, which was as tattered as a riddled sack.


    "Xue..."


    Yin Muhu looked at Xue Jing with deep emotion, her beautiful face softened with gentle expressions.


    She instinctively felt that this ''life force'' contained traces of Xue Jing.


    Xue was transferring his own life force to her through an unknown method!


    "Please stop, Xue, it''s enough," Yin Muhu urged.


    She felt much better already, at least her vitality was replenished enough to take potent tonics. The remaining injuries didn''t seem worrisome, so she quickly asked Xue Jing to stop.


    Unaware that this amount of life force was but a drop in the ocean compared to Xue Jing''s profound reserve, she was already moved to tears.


    Experience new tales on empire S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, the injury was her own doing, as she had pushed herself to the limit in the competition...


    Xue was far too good to her, better than a real brother...


    ...

 Chapter 239 Aura Suppresses 200,000 Spectators, Has the Match Started? No, Its Already Over (4K)

    Xue Jing released Yin Muhu''s hand and retrieved the Dragon Cherry Seed.He briefly checked the consumption status of his Life Fire within his body and found that it was less than one percent; he didn''t feel a thing.


    With his recovery speed, he would soon be fully restored.


    Jiang Siwei looked at Yin Muhu, whose complexion had suddenly become rosy, with a surprised expression.


    "What''s... what''s going on?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Just think of it as a special kind of Martial Arts Technique."


    As he spoke, he glanced at Yin Muhu, his eyebrows lifting:


    "Hmm? Shady Girl, have you gotten more muscular?"


    Yin Muhu, whose injuries had nearly healed under the transfusion of Xue Jing''s Life Force, seemed to have grown slightly larger in stature.


    The Martial Arts Uniform that had fit very well was now a bit tight.


    Yin Muhu nodded and said happily, "The injuries have healed, and now I can gradually get my physique back!"


    Jiang Siwei said regretfully, "Ah, that''s such a waste; Little Yin looks so good now..."


    Yin Muhu clenched a fist, "What''s the use of looking good? I''m not in show business. As a Martial Artist, we need to speak with our fists. How can you have strength when you''re as skinny as a stick?"


    Xue Jing chuckled, "I think the robust Shady Girl is also quite good, there''s a beauty in strength."


    Upon hearing Xue Jing''s approval, Yin Muhu said happily, "Xue understands!"


    Jiang Siwei shook her head, "I really don''t understand you Martial Artists..."


    Xue Jing casually asked, "By the way, when is my match today?"


    Jiang Siwei checked the documents on the table and replied:


    "You''re player number 1, going on in the first match against player number 4, Dai Zongnian, the winner from top 32 to top 16... There''s about an hour and a half until the match starts."


    Xue Jing nodded and asked, "How is this Dai Zongnian, anything noteworthy?"


    Jiang Siwei flipped through the documents in her hand for a few more pages, pondered for a moment, and said:


    "Considering your strength, Little Jing, he''s not an opponent worth noting. If I have to mention one noteworthy point, it is only that... he''s a disciple of ''Martial Saint'' Li Taixian."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows raised, "Oh?"


    Martial Saint Li Taixian, he had seen this name in the ''Proof of Love'' records; it was a person who got tagged by the ''Proof of Love'' two generations ago.


    Just a few days ago, when he had arrived in Yuan City at the Zhige Base to test his Physical Power Level, Ning Yuantai had also mentioned this person briefly.


    It''s said that he had a physique, with all channels unobstructed from birth, akin to the Innate Taoist Body found in fantasy novels, and his talent was termed as the ultimate pinnacle among natural humans.


    Three years ago, he successfully won the ''Martial Saint'' title five times in a row and earned the title of ''Eternal Martial Saint.''


    He could be called one of the strongest Martial Artists of the present era.


    His disciple should be about on par with Zhou Yinglin, a disciple of the Eternal Warlord, right?


    Yin Muhu then spoke:


    "Although he''s said to be a disciple of the Martial Saint, it doesn''t really hold much substance."


    She thought for a while and said in a tactful tone, "The Martial Saint is a powerful Martial Artist... but it''s hard to say he''s a good teacher, yet he still likes to take disciples. Nowadays, there are at least a thousand if not eight hundred people carrying the name of Martial Saint''s disciple around."


    Jiang Siwei also spoke, "Martial Saint Li Taixian originally comes from a virtually unknown little school called ''Blue Crane School,'' which hasn''t produced any notable masters in the past, except for a founder who was a Grandmaster who leapt through the Dragon Gate."


    "However, the Martial Saint''s talent is too terrifying, he miraculously turned decay into a marvel, bringing this minor school''s Martial Arts to the stage it''s at today." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now the disciples he takes are also practicing ''Blue Crane School''... but as you can imagine, not everyone in this world possesses the Martial Saint''s talent, plus his teaching methods..."


    Pausing for a moment, Jiang Siwei said tactfully:


    "...are very experiential, based solely on his own practice method, and the results are what they are."


    "Many of Martial Saint''s disciples have publicly complained about these issues, stating that they were misled by the Martial Saint..."


    "This Dai Zongnian is actually quite outstanding among Martial Saint''s disciples, having made it to the U19 finals and even into the top sixteen, but still, he can''t compare with the likes of Zhou Yinglin, who was meticulously taught by the direct disciple of the Gun Saint."


    Yin Muhu shook her head and said:


    "Actually, the kind of disciple Martial Saint should have taken should be someone like Xue, whose talent equals his own; otherwise, it''s just misleading the students. If Dai Zongnian could have been taken under the wing of another top-level Martial Artist for meticulous grooming, he might actually have a shot at competing against Zhou Yinglin."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    ...


    "Good afternoon to our audience friends, and welcome to the U19 No-limit Elite Fighting Tournament Yuan City Finals, I am your commentator Tao Xingshou!"


    "After two days of rest, we are coming to the top sixteen of the finals, featuring eight exciting matches!"


    "This final could be said to be the highest quality one in recent years, and as you can see, the audience here is also very eagerly looking forward to it..."


    The continuous voice of the commentator echoed throughout the entire Super Arena.


    Perhaps due to certain circumstances, the popularity of this U19 had continuously risen, and the Super Arena, able to accommodate over two hundred thousand spectators, was nearly at full capacity, with seats almost fully occupied and rarely any empty ones seen.


    After a series of introductions and thanking the sponsors along with various advertising speeches, the commentator said with rising enthusiasm:


    "So without further delay, let''s get the match started, please welcome the players for the first contest to enter the arena!"


    "First up, please welcome¡ªcontestant Dai Zongnian!"


    ...


    Backstage, Xue Jing stood not far from the player''s entrance, waiting to enter.

 Chapter 239 Aura Suppresses 200,000 Spectators, Has the Match Started? No, Its Already Over (4K)_2

    At that moment, a figure slowly emerged from the corridor behind him and walked up to his side.Xue Jing slightly turned his head and saw a young man whose face was calm and composed, someone he did not recognize.


    "Xue Jing..."


    The young man spoke in a flat tone.


    "Who are you?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    The young man''s expression did not change as he calmly said, "You really don''t recognize me, huh... Well, it doesn''t matter, I am Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, suspecting it could be a side effect of the ''Proof of Love,'' he still had no memory of that name and shook his head, saying,


    "Sorry, never heard of it..." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Song Nanxing''s expression still unchanged, "No matter, now you know... Do you remember the incident at the entrance of the Super Arena a few days ago when you first came to compete?"


    A few days ago?


    Xue Jing thought for a while before recalling there had been a few people who wanted to buy his Miao Miao, and because they were impolite, he had pushed them into the ground.


    He smiled and said, "What, are you their big shot, trying to stand up for them?"


    Song Nanxing shook his head, "I have already forced the truth about that incident, it was their fault, I have no reason to stand up for them."


    Seeing his reasonable nature, Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Then why are you looking for me?"


    Song Nanxing slowly said, "I want to spar with you once... After today''s match, can we schedule a time?"


    Xue Jing did not agree but merely said, "Can''t we fight on the stage? You seem quite capable; we might have a chance to fight in the quarterfinals."


    Song Nanxing shook his head and said calmly, "Once the quarterfinals begin, it''s likely you''ll be up against Zhou Yinglin right away, and after that, you may not get the chance to fight with me anymore."


    Xue Jing smiled, said nothing more.


    Song Nanxing continued, "Let''s schedule it, it''ll be beneficial for you, I''ve fought Zhou Yinglin many times and can provide you with much-needed advice on what to look out for..."


    Xue Jing shook his head, sighed, and said, "Song..."


    He paused, forgetting this man''s name, and continued, "Little Song, I think you''ve misunderstood something."


    Little Song... Hearing this very familiar address, which reminded him of Wei Junwu who also casually called him Old Song, felt somewhat odd.


    "You guys might think Zhou Yinglin is very strong, always studying how to defeat him, treating him like a big BOSS that requires a proper strategy to overcome."


    "But, I am not like you."


    Xue Jing gave him a glance, his tone calm.


    Meanwhile, the enthusiastic voice of the commentator came from outside.


    "...Let us welcome with applause¡ªCompetitor Xue Jing!"


    As Xue Jing walked towards the competitor''s tunnel, without turning back, he said,


    "To me, he''s not someone I need to carefully study; in my eyes, he and you are the same."


    "¡ªJust weeds in my path that need to be casually pulled out."


    "..." Watching Xue Jing''s receding figure, Song Nanxing stood there, shaking his head.


    "Pretentious arrogance... or does he truly believe that?"


    "Well, let me witness it then."


    Song Nanxing turned and slowly walked away.


    ...


    "Shh¡ª!!!"


    As Xue Jing stepped out from the competitors'' tunnel, he was greeted with applause and cheers, but also a noticeably strong chorus of boos.


    This was his first time receiving such treatment, and he found it rather novel.


    Although ever since Zhou Yinglin expressed a desire to kill him in the ring, the internet had been flooded with people mocking him as unworthy, he had not expected these voices to become so prevalent offline.


    "Hick from the Outer Ring, go back to the Outer Ring!"


    "Who gave you the face to compare yourself with Zhou Yinglin?"


    As fans of Zhou Yinglin shouted insults, Xue Jing shook his head, stepped onto the ring, and his Spiritual Aura exploded without any restraint.


    "Phew¡ª!"


    A visible ring of wind spread from him at the center, sweeping across the entire Super Arena in no time, silencing all spectators, whether they were cheering or booing.


    The scene suddenly fell silent.


    Across from Xue Jing, a long-haired young man dressed in a white martial arts uniform also felt this overpowering spiritual pressure, causing his body to tremble involuntarily as he put on a serious face and instinctively took up a defensive boxing stance.


    The commentator''s voice rose in the silent venue, sounding somewhat awkward, "Uh... let''s take a look at Competitor Xue Jing''s hexagonal data chart."


    "Attack 10, Speed 10, Defense 10, Skill 10, Heart 10, Wisdom 10... After the exciting match with Yin Muhu, Competitor Xue Jing''s complete data has finally been collected."


    "Without a doubt, it''s a perfect score of 10, a perfect hexagon!"


    "This is data that, like Competitor Zhou Yinglin, surpasses that expected of his age!"


    At these words, many spectators looked displeased and opened their mouths, but faced with the imposing young man on the stage, a sense of primal fear stifled their voices.


    For a moment, no one dared to voice any objections.


    "With his own power, suppressing two hundred thousand people with his aura..."


    "Just what level has his spiritual strength reached?"


    Competitors in the spectator zone showed expressions of amazement.


    "...Well, both competitors are in position, let us now start witnessing this exciting match."


    The commentator also seemed to be affected, his voice strained and difficult.


    The referee stepped forward, unconsciously positioning himself further from Xue Jing and closer to Dai Zongnian, shaking as he waved a hand between the two competitors.


    "The match... begins..."


    After speaking, he ran off like a startled rabbit, fleeing at full speed.


    A pale blue light membrane emerged, enveloping the entire big arena, also isolating Xue Jing''s mysterious aura.


    It was then that the audience finally freed themselves from the oppressive feeling, heaving a sigh of relief.


    But even without Xue Jing''s suppression, most people, after such an ordeal, no longer dared to boo or heckle.


    In the arena, Dai Zongnian assumed the "Blue Crane School" boxing stance and looked at Xue Jing seriously,


    "Please guide me..."


    Xue Jing glanced at him and replied softly, "Hmm, please guide me."


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than Xue Jing disappeared from his place.


    Dai Zongnian''s eyes narrowed.


    It was straight ahead... good, he''s fast, but I can keep up, I can react!


    He swept his palms forward, his posture like a crane spreading its wings, with powerful force rippling the air and creating ripples.


    "Blue Crane School..."


    Before he could finish, an arm flickering with colorful flames, sharp as a blade, reached close to him.


    Dai Zongnian''s outstretched hands were like mantis limbs before the wheel of a car.


    Snap, without any obstruction, they were repelled, his fingers, wrists, and forearms twisted unnaturally, emitting a chilling sound of breaking bones.


    The blade-like elbow continued without pause, striking his collarbone area.


    "Puh¡ª!"


    As if bitten by some enormous beast, a large chunk of flesh from Dai Zongnian''s neck and chest vanished instantly, and he was hurled forward, crashing violently into the pale blue repulsion membrane, creating large, wave-like ripples.


    And he was completely knocked out.


    Before anyone could react, the match had ended instantly.


    In the silence, everyone watched the young man slowly walking back toward the competitor''s tunnel, speechless.


    Some spectators, hurrying with snacks and drinks to their seats, asked their friends sitting nearby,


    "Has it started? How''s it going?"


    Their friends paused for a moment, then hesitated, "No... it seems it''s already over."


    "Ah?"


    "The outcome has been decided!!"


    "The match had just begun, and Competitor Xue Jing, with lightning speed, instantly defeated Competitor Dai Zongnian!"


    "Without a doubt, this is... the fastest match of this U19 tournament!"


    ...

 Chapter 240 Aura Development, Conquerors Haki, Wu Youqing: Stop Taking Advantage of Me (4K)

    The commentator maintained excellent professionalism, his voice still rippling with passion.However, the intimidating spiritual pressure exerted by Xue Jing as he entered the arena, as well as the tragic state of his opponent right after the match, lent an eerie atmosphere to the entire scene.


    The audience was silent, exchanging looks, and their eyes followed the young man''s retreating figure as he walked into the player''s tunnel.


    After a while, scattered applause began to sound.


    With the emergence of applause, more and more people began to clap, the sound gradually growing louder.


    Soon, more than half of the audience was applauding.


    Although a significant portion of spectators remained motionless, the noise from over half of the two hundred thousand spectators was overwhelming, almost causing the whole Super Arena to subtly tremble.


    "He''s incredibly strong... this kind of oppressive feeling, he''s like a ''Great Demon King!''"


    "What Conqueror''s Haki... this kind of spirit that suppresses the entire arena, I doubt even Zhou Yinglin could do it?"


    "Dai Zongnian was a disciple of a Martial Saint, and it seemed in previous matches he was quite powerful, having a good chance of making it to the top eight. I didn''t expect him to be killed in an instant..."


    "Even Xue Jing didn''t bring that huge Door-plank Sword he carries, killing with bare hands instantly!"


    "He must have been holding back in his last match, probably because Yin Muhu is his friend!"


    "I have seen his past match videos on the old network, his primary weapon is definitely a longsword, and he has one particularly powerful Ultimate Skill. It means he still hasn''t used his full strength!"


    "No wonder he was so bold in the interview, how can there be someone so good-looking and powerful... I''m a fan now, maybe he really could defeat Zhou Yinglin!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Come on, though he looks powerful, he still lacks one or two levels compared to Zhou Yinglin. There''s a fundamental difference in the martial arts schools they practice, ''Impeccable'' is simply too strong..."


    The audience was abuzz with discussions, while on stage, the medical team was administering emergency care to Dai Zongnian.


    In the players'' viewing area, groups of familiar competitors gathered in twos and threes, their gazes flickering.


    "Something''s not right, very much or overwhelmingly not right!"


    "What level has his Spiritual Level reached? Why can he manifest this almost materialized oppression? Even Zhou Yinglin can''t achieve this!"


    "There must be something strange... It''s one thing to suppress ordinary people, but at that moment, even I felt dazed for a second!"


    "Is this a martial arts practice that induces some kind of mutation in spiritual power? If so... wouldn''t that be a Forbidden Skill?"


    "He passed the pre-competition health check, and his Mutation Rate must be below 1%, this suspicion is unnecessary..."


    "Then what is it?"


    "Perhaps it''s a matter of ''willpower''? I''ve heard that people who possess extremely strong beliefs in certain areas can sharpen their consciousness, unleashing greater power at the same levels..."


    "Maybe Xue Jing wasn''t just showing off during the pre-match interview; perhaps he genuinely feels invincible... This might be why his spiritual power is exceptionally strong."


    "Did you see his move, the way he moved? Those colorful residual beams are not optical reflections on a physical level but directly affect our consciousness, causing us to see illusions!"


    "Incredible, what level has he achieved in harnessing his spiritual power..."


    Compared to the audience, the competitors, who were Professional Martial Artists, discussed more technical aspects.


    Unaware of the spectators'' thoughts, Xue Jing walked back to the backstage through the player''s tunnel, heading towards his resting room unhurriedly.


    "Hmm... I may have gone a bit too hard."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    He had found the noisy audience somewhat annoying and decided not to waste time, quickly settling matters.


    Although Dai Zongnian did have some skills, Xue Jing couldn''t just casually finish it quickly, so he decisively used the ''Thunder Plough Hot Knife'', an overwhelmingly powerful attack that crushed all of the opponent''s defenses, killing him instantly.


    Although he pulled back at the last moment, he still caused severe injuries.


    However, in martial arts competitions, such degree of injury is within the normal range and is not considered excessive.


    "Compared to this..."


    Xue Jing opened his panel to check the prompt on his Experience Points gain.


    [Your Spiritual Aura intimidated the entire arena, Meditation¡¤True Experience Points +1268]


    [Meditation¡¤True advances to Lv9 (389/13000)]


    Visualization True had leveled up.


    This skill, born under the influence of ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'', had helped him immensely, and there were still many functions he had yet to uncover.


    "Visualization True has transformed my consciousness, giving a substantial quality to my originally intangible spiritual power... When I get serious and deliberately project it outward, this substantial oppression could also be a very good application..."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, pondering.


    "This is still just a targetless projection. If I can find a way to concentrate it, focusing on oppressing a few or even just one person, it should be enough to produce effects similar to the Conqueror''s Haki, directly stunning or even killing someone."


    "Worth developing..."


    Xue Jing extended his right hand, palm open, and silently channeled his Qi Force.


    Pale golden Qi Force poured out from his palm under his control, gathering together, and under the constraint of spiritual power, it slowly took shape, forming a ten-centimeter-tall pale golden figure.


    With Visualization True at Level 9, combined with True Martial, deploying his Qi-powered avatar became even more effortless.


    Xue Jing tossed the Qi-powered avatar in his hand.


    Following a parabolic path, the small figure performed several aerial flips, landing agilely on the corridor floor twenty meters away from Xue Jing''s physical body.

 Chapter 240 Development of Aura, Conquerors Haki, Wu Youqing: Stop Taking Advantage of Me (4K)_2

    Controlling the pale golden Qi-powered avatar, Xue Jing made it keep walking forward.Until it reached over thirty meters away... This was the farthest distance Xue Jing could control his Qi-powered clone.


    But with the upgraded Visualization True, his spiritual power had a stronger hold on the Qi Force, and the distance finally surpassed this limit.


    Step by step, the Qi avatar moved forward, and it was close to forty meters when Xue Jing finally felt the limit of his control.


    He had the Qi avatar stand still, posing in a Straight Punch stance on the spot.


    "Whoosh¡ª!"


    With a swing of a Straight Punch, the avatar let out a faint sharp sound, creating a tiny spiral airflow that continued forward.


    The Qi-powered clone was shaped after Xue Jing''s own body, and a normally sized clone had virtually the same attack power as Xue Jing himself.


    However, this ten-centimeter Qi avatar was a thousand times smaller in mass compared to the normal-sized clone, and thus its attack power and other qualities were also reduced by a thousandfold.


    "It can only be used for some sneaky and strange tasks..."


    As he tested the effects of the upgraded Visualization True, Xue Jing returned to the contestant''s rest area.


    "Brother Xue... I''m thankful for your mercy."


    As soon as he entered the door, Yin Muhu, who was waiting in the rest area, turned his head and bowed to Xue Jing.


    Having watched the live broadcast of the recent match, and seeing the extremely fast and powerful ''Thunder Plough Hot Knife'', Yin Muhu immediately realized that his strength paled in comparison to Xue Jing''s more than he had imagined.


    If Xue Jing had wanted, even he in his ''Vajra Unleashed¡¤True Self Form'' would most likely have been defeated in one strike.


    "Poor Dai Zongnian... He is about to turn 19, and he pushed himself to the limit to participate in the U19. Next year he won''t be able to participate due to age restrictions."


    "He finally made it to the finals, only to have the misfortune of facing Little Jing and couldn''t even make it to the top eight. He has ended up as the backdrop of the fastest match record, which is really tragic."


    Jiang Siwei adjusted her glasses and shrugged.


    "To be taken as a disciple by that Martial Saint was unfortunate enough... Maybe there really is such a thing as fate in this world," Yin Muhu said.


    Jiang Siwei patted the nonexistent dust off Xue Jing''s clothes and smiled:


    "You did very well this time too, Little Jing, you really are amazing... You don''t need to worry about those external factors. Just keep winning, and you can silence all the voices."


    She was a bit concerned that Xue Jing would be affected by the cursing and mocking voices online and in the venue.


    "I know, don''t worry, Sister Wei," Xue Jing smiled and replied.


    The second match of the top sixteen soon began.


    This was Zhou Yinglin versus someone unknown to Xue Jing. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Also resolved in a second with an Impeccable strike, it displayed an absolute gap in strength from other contestants, and the cheers from the audience were incredibly loud.


    Xue Jing also went to the special area for contestants to watch this match and once again collected some data on Impeccable, filling the gaps in the ''Zhou Yinglin'' Consciousness Simulation.


    Afterward, he left in Ning Yuantai''s car and returned to Zhige Base.


    "There are three days of rest up next."


    Xue Jing calculated and felt that there was plenty of time, just enough to handle some matters.


    Such as... the task entrusted by Youqing A Dream.


    Before he left for Yuan City, Wu Youqing had him visit Qing University Library, informed him of Zhou Yinglin''s situation, and asked him for another favor.


    The timeline shifts back a few days.


    ...


    "In addition, I have a favor to ask of you when you go to Yuan City this time," said Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Sure."


    Wu Youqing smiled and retorted, "I haven''t even said what it is yet and you''re already agreeing? What if I was asking you to go to your death? Would you still agree?"


    Xue Jing waved his hand:


    "As long as it''s something you, Boss, entrust to me, I wouldn''t hesitate to ascend a mountain of swords or descend into a sea of flames. If I so much as frown, you can give your daughter my last name!"


    Wu Youqing first nodded, quite satisfied, but then suddenly realized something was off about Xue Jing''s statement.


    Her heart skipped a beat, but her face remained unchanged; she just showed a look of annoyance and lightly tapped Xue Jing''s head with the hardcover book in her hand.


    "Stop taking advantage of me, you slick talker."


    Xue Jing chuckled and said, "So, what''s the favor?"


    Wu Youqing stretched out her hand to smooth her soft, long hair and said softly,


    "Sky Center... You know about it, right?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Even if he wasn''t very familiar with the situation in the Inner Ring, he still knew about this universally known miracle in human architectural history.


    "The Sky Center of the Fifth Urban Circle is available for public purchase, and to date, nearly seven thousand floors have been sold,"


    Wu Youqing said.


    "And among these seven thousand floors, the 1002nd to 1102nd levels have been monopolized by a super corporation... called ''Xu''s Biology''."


    "You should still remember the man you encountered on your first Divine Relic containment mission,"


    Xue Jing thought back for a moment and nodded.


    After containing the "Crown of the Wicked Woman," a man had jumped out demanding the Divine Relic, which Xue Jing ended up burning to death with Shadow Flame, marking the first person he had ever killed in his life.


    "I''ve investigated that man afterward, he was a ''C-Level Custodian'' from ''Xu''s Containment Company''..."


    "And ''Xu''s Shelter,'' just like ''Xu''s Biology,'' is one of the industries owned by the Xu Family within the Thirteen Great Families,"


    Wu Youqing said slowly, explaining everything in detail.


    "A significant portion of the Divine Relics contained by ''Xu''s Containment Company'' end up in ''Xu''s Biology''... I need you to infiltrate the Xu''s Biology-owned levels at the Sky Center and help me find a Divine Relic. Steal it, or snatch it if you must."


    Xue Jing nodded; this task didn''t seem too difficult for him, so he asked,


    "What is the Divine Relic?"


    Wu Youqing answered, "GOD-098¡¤Wind of All Beginnings."


    ...


    Recalling the Divine Relic mentioned by Wu Youqing, Xue Jing''s fingers tapped incessantly on the armrest of the sofa.


    GOD-098...


    To this day, Xue Jing had not yet seen a Divine Relic ranked within the top three hundred with his own eyes.


    Although he had come into contact with GOD-005¡¤Mirror World, that was just one of the countless facets of [Mirror World].


    Apart from the Mirror World, the most concrete information he had about a top hundred Divine Relic was GOD-035¡¤Giant God Machina... something unlikely to be fully assembled.


    This reflected the mystery and power of a top hundred ranked Divine Relic.


    And now, he had to steal one himself.


    "I need to prepare well and do some reconnaissance first,"


    he thought and took out his phone to make a call to Ning Yuantai, inviting him for dinner at his house.


    The latter readily agreed, thrilled.


    Miao Miao, upon hearing Xue Jing make a call, stirred from her sleep and looked up groggily at Xue Jing.


    But she was soon picked up by Xue Jing and, with his excellent petting technique along her fur, she comfortably fell back into a deep sleep before long.


    After taking Miao Miao up to the bedroom to sleep, Xue Jing went downstairs to prepare dinner.


    Ning Yuantai arrived soon after, wiping out all the dishes like a whirlwind, and then sat on the sofa picking his teeth contentedly.


    "Yuantai, I have a favor to ask of you,"


    Xue Jing said in a soft voice.


    Ning Yuantai was always ready to comply with Xue Jing''s requests, especially after being treated to a meal, and immediately patted his chest with a generous smile,


    "Just say the word. Command me to scale mountains and dive into seas of fire. If even a frown crosses my face..."


    Xue Jing, feeling the speech was a tad familiar, quickly stopped him and said,


    "There''s no need to scale mountains. It''s like this..."


    Obviously, he couldn''t mention the theft of the Divine Relic; Xue Jing only mentioned that he hoped to visit Xu''s Biology in the Sky Center as he had heard it contained many Divine Relics.


    Ning Yuantai knew about Xue Jing''s fondness for Divine Relics, so he did not suspect anything and simply nodded, saying,


    "I have some connections with the Xu family. I''ll try to get in touch... Don''t worry, Xue, even if it means leveraging my contacts at The Sixth Agency, I''ll make sure you get to take a tour of Xu''s Biology!"


    ...

 Chapter 241 Zhou Yinglins Only Chance to Defeat Xue Jing, Sky Center, Thirteen Great Families (4K)

    ```After settling the matter with Ning Yuantai, he said that he could probably get it done by tomorrow or the day after, and then he took his leave.


    Once he had left, Xue Jing went to the kitchen again and made a special meal just for Miao Miao.


    Otherwise, when she woke up and found out that Ning had sneaked another meal while she wasn''t paying attention, their next encounter could really turn into a Miao Miao murder case.


    After finishing the cooking, Xue Jing glanced at the panel and discovered that, over the past few days, [Cooking] was sprinting towards Lv8, just a few hundred Experience Points shy of leveling up.


    Upon waking, Miao Miao looked at the table full of dishes with a suspicious face, feeling like she had heard something in her half-dreaming, half-awake state that she didn''t want to hear.


    But with delicious food in front of her, she didn''t care too much about that, and immediately started to show off. She indulged in the long-missed feast prepared by Xue Jing, eating until she was round-bellied, resembling twenty-odd pregnant cats.


    Xue Jing, on the other hand, went up to the rooftop to start his daily training regimen.


    After finishing all the routines like the Coiling Dragon Art, Armor Shaking Skill, and Yellow Grannie Skill, several hours had passed.


    By then, the Life Force he had transferred to Yin Muhu had fully recovered.


    So he continued with Consciousness Simulation.


    This time, as soon as he constructed the Consciousness Space and formed a Super Arena platform, Xue Jing felt something different.


    "Hmm?"


    With his own body materializing, Xue Jing stood in the center of the platform and looked up at the sky.


    The clouds above... were moving.


    "Is this... dynamic weather?"


    Xue Jing was slightly taken aback.


    Previously, every time he simulated a scene, the weather condition was dictated by his own subjective setting, whether it was raining or sunny, day or night; whatever he initially set it to be, it would remain as such throughout.


    But now, without any deliberate settings, the weather seemed to be changing naturally.


    "Consciousness Simulation is becoming more and more realistic..."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing''s thoughts shifted, and Zhou Yinglin, wielding the Nine Chi Great Spear, rapidly formed across from him.


    Having watched Zhou Yinglin''s match on-site for the second time, he was able to supplement and correct his data on the man, making it closer to the real-world Zhou Yinglin.


    As soon as he materialized, ''Zhou Yinglin'' looked at Xue Jing, was slightly surprised, and immediately took a spear stance, facing Xue Jing.


    "Shua shua shua shua¡ª¡ª!!"


    A barrage of spear attacks covered Xue Jing, aiming for the lethal points all over his body, with endless variations following closely, blocking all resistance and evasion.


    Xue Jing stood still, his body relaxing as he used ''Return to Nothing'' to withstand the attack.


    "Ding ding ding ding¡ª¡ª"


    A series of clear sounds rang out, the spear tip touched Xue Jing''s body but caused no damage, only stirring ripples of airwaves.


    But after sixteen spear strikes were all defended, ''Zhou Yinglin'' seemed to realize something was wrong and immediately changed his spear technique.


    On the seventeenth strike, he did not follow any one of the more than ten variations of that spear technique, but instead broke free from the inherent pattern of Impeccable and thrust out a spear strike with deliberately disordered Energy Channeling, an improvised strike.


    It was a pure mess of a strike, vastly inferior in killing power and technique compared to Impeccable.


    However, this strike took Xue Jing by surprise.


    It was like being given an exam composed entirely of advanced math problems, and then suddenly encountering an elementary school math question that only required basic arithmetic.


    Although he could solve such a problem very quickly, the unexpected nature of it caused him to hesitate.


    This slight gap in concentration meant that Xue Jing''s ''Return to Nothing'' did not react to this strike, leaving only his instinctive Energy Channeling defense, which resulted in a bloodied shoulder wound.


    After ''Zhou Yinglin'' succeeded with this strike and capitalized on Xue Jing''s moment of vulnerability, he smoothly transitioned the next strike back into Impeccable, and the barrage of spear attacks returned.


    Xue Jing''s body reappeared in the center of the Super Arena, his eyes reflecting deep thought.


    "The ''Return to Nothing'' is still quite immature..."


    "But it''s not all bad; this method of surprise attack can only work against me once. Now that I am prepared for it, this maneuver loses its element of surprise."


    Xue Jing glanced at ''Zhou Yinglin'' beside him.


    "It''s a pity, this might have been the only chance for the real you to win against me... and now I''m onto it in advance."


    Upon hearing this, ''Zhou Yinglin''s'' expression changed, revealing a look of chagrin.


    Xue Jing watched, clicking his tongue in amazement.


    "Level 9 [Meditative Visualization True] Consciousness Simulation has become so realistic, not only does it have a dynamic weather system, but even the simulated people have their own cognitive abilities, and even saw the flaw in my ''Return to Nothing'', attempting a makeshift variation..."


    "Impressive, impressive."


    Xue Jing patted ''Zhou Yinglin''s'' shoulder, praising him.


    ...


    The next afternoon.


    Xue Jing was sitting on the living room sofa, engaged in Consciousness Simulation.


    After a full day of simulation training, his Impeccable had reached thirty-seven strikes, and ''Return to Nothing'' was proficient enough to block thirty-three strikes.


    It seemed like the progress might have slowed down a bit, but in reality, it was accelerating.


    The more strikes in the sequence of Impeccable, the more terrifying the difficulty, with each additional strike being much harder than the last.


    Therefore, Xue Jing being able to maintain a similar rate of increase in the number of strikes as the past few days was actually quite an exaggerated improvement, akin to a snowball effect.


    The doorbell suddenly rang.


    Xue Jing, who was in the midst of Consciousness Simulation, heard the sound and immediately exited, his consciousness returning to his body as he opened his eyes.


    He stood up, walked to the door, and opened it, unsurprisingly, it was Ning Yuantai.


    "Xue, I''ve taken care of that matter you entrusted to me."


    ``` S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 241 Zhou Yinglins Only Chance to Defeat Xue Jing, Sky Center, Thirteen Great Families (4K)_2

    Ning Yuantai grinned and said.Upon hearing this, Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Come in first, Yuantai."


    He stepped aside to let Ning Yuantai enter.


    Lazily lying on the sofa, Miao Miao saw Ning Yuantai and snorted disdainfully yet proudly.


    Just as she had expected, he would come over during mealtime...


    However, it was truly unfortunate that today, around ten o''clock, she had urged Xue Jing to cook early, and by almost eleven, the food was already prepared.


    Unfortunate, so unfortunate, guess what, Mr. Ning arrived just after they had finished eating!


    "Hey Xue, have you eaten yet?"


    Ning Yuantai looked at the bowls and plates on the table that had not yet been cleared and his heart skipped a beat.


    Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Just had my meal, why, haven''t you eaten yet?"


    Ning Yuantai chuckled awkwardly and quickly waved his hand, "No, no, I''ve eaten too..."


    He dared not admit that he had not yet eaten, lest Xue think he was trying to impose and hinting to have a meal prepared for him...


    Ning Yuantai would rather starve than do that; what merit did he have to have Xue cook especially for him...


    Miao Miao glanced sidelong at Ning Yuantai.


    He knew his place...


    "Xue, I''ve coordinated with them, and I happen to know a top executive at Xu''s Biology. They said we could visit today between four and five in the afternoon..."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing patted Ning Yuantai on the shoulder:


    "Thanks a lot, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai waved his hand, "It''s nothing, being able to help you is an honor for me..."


    "But we need to leave soon, Yuan City is quite far from Sky Center, and since the ''White Crow'' has reclaimed the Dragon Core Airplane, we have to take a much slower aircraft..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "No problem, let''s go..."


    He paused, then smiled, "Are you sure you don''t want to eat something?"


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, knowing that Xue Jing had seen through his plan to come over at mealtime to eat and sheepishly replied, "I''ll just buy some compressed nutrient bars on the way..."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "What is that?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai explained, "It''s a product from the Inner Ring, designed for people with high physical demands and nutritional needs who find eating a hassle. It''s pretty convenient, the only problem is the taste is not so great..."


    ...


    The exterior looked like an RV without wheels, or a massive loaf of bread, with blue flames jetting from the rear, slowly rising and heading away from Yuan City.


    Xue Jing sat in the aircraft''s seat, turning his head toward the transparent windows.


    The towering Sky Center stood above the land, its immense size giving the illusion of being right before his eyes.


    "The aircraft is faster than driving, but it still takes about four to five hours to reach Sky Center."


    Ning Yuantai, while taking out a glass bottle beverage from the fridge, said.


    "We won''t get stopped by the security company this time, will we?"


    Xue Jing laughed.


    Ning Yuantai flicked off the bottle cap with his finger and casually said:


    "That won''t happen, last time we were stopped because Yuan City''s Chief Councillor had a complete security lockdown, so any unregistered flying vehicles had to be inspected... The aircraft we are in is registered to Zhige Base, so it was reported beforehand."


    Xue Jing nodded, "That''s good then."


    He gently stroked the soft fur of Miao Miao sitting next to him.


    "By the way, Xue, there''s one more thing."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his face and said.


    Xue Jing looked at him, indicating for him to go ahead.


    "Once we get there, the executive from Xu''s Biology that I know will come to meet us... When that time comes, you don''t need to talk to him; just leave it to me."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "Oh? Why?"


    Ning Yuantai thought for a moment and then said with difficulty, "You know, although I never rely on my family''s connections, I have reached where I am today all by myself...but still, I am a member of one of the Thirteen Great Families."


    "And among the Thirteen Great Families, many people...have rather odd ideas," he said.


    Ning Yuantai used a rather euphemistic term.


    "If you are not one of the Thirteen Great Families, speaking with them might result in some disrespectful words and actions," he continued.


    "Put simply, in their eyes, those who are members of the Thirteen Great Families are different from the ''commoners'' outside the Thirteen Great Families," he said.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded and said, "I see, I understand now."


    Ning Yuantai sighed, "Although not all members of the Thirteen Great Families are like this, there are not a few who think this way, including an executive from Xu''s Biology that I know."


    "In any case, leave all the interactions to me later, I fear that person might be disrespectful to you..."


    Xue Jing said softly, "I understand, after all, one has to beg favors... I can put up with a bit."


    ...


    Several hours later.


    Three thirty in the afternoon.


    Xue Jing looked through the plane''s window, marveling at the ''Sky Center'' growing increasingly larger in view.


    From a distance, it was already awe-inspiring, but as they drew closer, its true enormity and the pressure it exerted became tangible.


    It seemed endless... Even Xue Jing, with his Level 10 ''Aiming'' ability and vision far beyond human limits, could not see how wide the diameter of Sky Center really was.


    Around Sky Center, at varying heights, floated thousands of different flying vehicles, moving in and out.


    From a quick glance, Xue Jing could see about hundreds of different floors, each with a unique exterior and different decorating styles, but together they subtly formed a harmonious aesthetic.


    Insignificant.


    Never before had Xue Jing felt so insignificant.


    It was as if facing a Giant God that reached the skies, where even his knees were unseeable, the feeling of helplessness, and even... comfort.


    Yes, comfort, strangely enough, he really felt it.


    "When a person faces a supreme being that can dictate life and death, control his fate, all struggle becomes utterly unnecessary, and one tends to find comfort in that," Ning Yuantai remarked by his side.


    "...These are the words once spoken by that commander from Cease-Blades," he added.


    "Most people spend their lives seeking ''comfort,'' so, if such beings truly existed, it might not be a bad thing... Perhaps that''s the comfort the followers of the Monotheistic Church seek," he suggested.


    Xue Jing laughed, "That''s an interesting way to put it..."


    As their aircraft neared Sky Center, it continued to ascend.


    "Xu''s Biology is located on the 1002nd floor of Sky Center, approximately six thousand meters above ground. We''ll fly directly there..." Ning Yuantai explained.


    During the ascent, Xue Jing looked through the window, observing the various flying vehicles moving in and out around Sky Center, feeling as if he had arrived in the future.


    A few minutes later, the aircraft slowly stopped, hovering midair.


    The cabin door gradually opened; Xue Jing looked up, faced with a highly technologically-themed floor, where alloy doors slowly slid open to both sides, making a ''hiss'' sound.


    When the doors opened, a tall young man in a light blue suit with a slicked-back hairdo and standing at the entrance with open arms.


    "Long time no see, Ning!" he said with a smile, stepping forward to embrace the descending Ning Yuantai.


    Ning Yuantai broke free and waved his hand, "Xu Mude, I''ve told you not to call me ''Ning.'' I am where I am today... "


    While they conversed, Xue Jing also descended from the aircraft and, following what Ning Yuantai had said, did not approach to speak but overleapt them to enter the building directly.


    What met his eyes was the highly technological interior decor, filled with devices and equipment whose functions Xue Jing could not understand.


    "Hmm? That man who just entered, that must be Xue Jing you mentioned?" Xu Mude said, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Xue Jing walk into the building,.


    "How could he bring a cat along?"


    ...

 Chapter 242 The Collision and Conflict of Thoughts, A Mouse into the Rice Jar,

    Ning Yuantai curled his lips and said,"Take a good look, that''s no ordinary cat..."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Mude carefully examined the cat sitting on Xue Jing''s shoulder, his gaze eventually resting on the platinum tail ring encircling its fluffy tail.


    "Is that... GOD-1391?"


    "So, this cat is a person, huh? I didn''t expect this thing to appear here. Hasn''t the Lion Holy Church come to trouble him yet?"


    Ning Yuantai spread his hands and said, "The Lion Holy Church is known for being as clingy as a plaster. Wherever there is GOD-1391, there they are, until they get their ''Sacred Object'' back... The fact that GOD-1391 hasn''t been retrieved by them can only prove one thing."


    He paused, adding meaningfully, "In Xue''s hands, they can''t take it back."


    Xu Mude remained non-committal, "Oh? Quite impressive for a mere commoner not born into the Great Families. Too bad he''s just a commoner. No matter how capable, it''s useless. He''ll never amount to anything."


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said, "You, you always start with that old ''Thirteen.''" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Isn''t someone who starts from scratch and makes it on their own far more admirable than some high-born incompetent, no-good drunkard? Why is it that in your mouth it''s the opposite, as if not being born into one of the Thirteen Great Families, one can never succeed?"


    Ning Yuantai was quite dissatisfied.


    Xu Mude smiled and said lightly, "Ning, you''re fundamentally wrong."


    "The more you emphasize the achievements of those who start from scratch, the more it proves the superiority of being born into one of the Thirteen Great Families."


    "It''s precisely because those ''drunkards'' you mentioned don''t need to do anything, don''t need to make an effort, don''t need to be talented, and are nothing but a pile of rotten meat, a pile of dog shit... But as long as he is born into one of the Thirteen Great Families, he will stand taller and live better than anyone who starts from scratch. That''s what I''m proud of."


    Xu Mude was clearly enjoying himself, "The more you praise this Xue Jing, the funnier I find it. No matter how hard he tries, how capable he is, completely on his own... he''s just a Martial Artist. At most, he might get a title in the end, maybe even an Eternal Title, and that''s his limit."


    "But so what? With a single command from ''Cangting,'' no matter how great his title, won''t he still have to obediently follow orders? You see, in the end, he''s still beneath us ''drunkards.'' Doesn''t this precisely prove the superiority of us Thirteen Great Families?"


    Ning Yuantai clenched his fists, frowning, "The ancestors of the Thirteen Great Families were not born noble either, they were commoners just like the ones you''ve mentioned!"


    Xu Mude waved his hand dismissively, "Ning, calm down. I know you always want to emphasize that you rely on yourself and not your family. But do you really believe that when you say it?"


    "You too enjoy the privileges of being from one of the Thirteen Great Families... Don''t curse your own mother after you put down your bowl."


    Ning Yuantai clenched his fists tightly but had no retort.


    Of course, he knew that no matter how much he insisted, even if his family truly offered no covert assistance, as long as he carried the mark of being from one of the Thirteen Great Families, many unspoken advantages would clandestinely tilt in his favor.


    Yet he still felt there was something fundamentally wrong, and Xu Mude''s ideology ought to be mistaken.


    It''s a fundamental difference in worldview, or more exaggeratedly, an ideological conflict.


    Ning Yuantai opened his mouth, unable to say anything in rebuttal. He just heaved a sigh and, feeling dejected, walked towards Xue Jing.


    Xu Mude said with a cheerful smile, "Forget it. Go about your business, just provide me with a guide. Don''t you follow along."


    "Don''t worry, I have no interest in interacting with this self-made Xue Jing either. It''s just out of respect for you, Ning... You see, this convenience you get because of your birthright, it''s the superiority of being from one of the Thirteen Great Families."


    Ning Yuantai couldn''t be bothered to reply anymore and silently walked up to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing, intrigued by his surroundings, saw Ning Yuantai approaching with a disheartened look and asked,


    "Yuantai, what''s wrong?"


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Nothing much, Xue."


    Xue Jing smiled casually and said, "Feeling frustrated because the ideas you''ve held on to for so long seem less than impeccable and can''t convince others?"


    Ning Yuantai exclaimed, "Xue, you heard all that?"


    Xue Jing stepped forward, "Your voices were so loud, I could have heard you clearly even if you were ten times further away."


    Ning Yuantai caught up to Xue Jing, trailing half a step behind, and murmured with a hint of embarrassment, "You saw me make a fool of myself..."


    After walking in silence for a while, Ning Yuantai couldn''t help asking,


    "Xue, don''t you have anything to say about it..."


    Xue Jing glanced at him, tauntingly said,


    "Are you hoping I''ll support your views and fiercely criticize Xu Mude and his noble ideology, to give your wavering thoughts a shot of adrenaline?"


    Ning Yuantai smiled sheepishly, not denying it.


    "I''m sorry, Yuantai, although I should be considered someone who ''started from scratch,'' I can''t proudly say ''you are right.''"


    Xue Jing stopped in front of a device that looked like a high-tech computer mainframe, and without turning back, said,


    "Ideas themselves have no right or wrong... Those are just conclusions drawn blindly by human''s limited standards. There''s no absolutely right ideology in the world, only ideas that more or less serve one''s own interests."


    Ning Yuantai was somewhat disappointed, "Xue..."


    Xue Jing paused, then added, "However... I think your way of thinking is very valuable."


    "As naive as a child''s reasoning might be, being able to empathize with those of lesser birth while coming from a privileged background, your considerations might not be beneficial for you, but they are valuable."

 Chapter 242 The Collision and Conflict of Thoughts, A Mouse into the Rice Jar, 2

    "Being able to set aside one''s own interests for the sake of others, to think, even if such thoughts are naive and minor, you might laugh at the naivety and ignorance of yourself now, in hindsight, once your thoughts are fully formed."Xue Jing paused, then smiled and said, "But at least in this moment, I think you are doing something commendable, much better than being content with the so-called nobility of your birth."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai''s eyes brimmed with tears, "Xue..."


    ...


    Sky Center, 1052nd floor.


    "This is one of the shelters from ''Xu''s Biology'' and ''Xu''s Shelter.''


    Along the long white corridor, intertwined with large and small transparent compartments, a mature woman dressed in an OL miniskirt, with delicately made-up features, extended her hand with a smile and introduced.


    She looked at Xue Jing, who was looking around, and couldn''t help but pause her gaze on his excessively charming face, and sighed inwardly.


    Such a fine young man, oh sister, I really could...


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to the adjacent transparent compartment where, under the illumination of lights, a white pedestal stood at the center, on which sat... a salted fish?


    About one meter in length, its dehydrated, wind-aged white fish body rigid and straight in a strange way, its dead fish eyes glaring roundly, apart from its unusually straight body, it looked just like any ordinary salted fish.


    "This is [GOD-1468¡¤Salted Fish Sword]."


    Seeing Xue Jing''s gaze, the OL woman instantly chuckled softly and introduced.


    "Don''t be fooled by its funny appearance, it''s exceptionally sharp and durable, a very powerful weapon, everyone who has used it says it''s good... but the side effect is that it makes the user smell like fish."


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted away from the Salted Fish Sword, looking around.


    There were dozens of such transparent compartments on this floor...


    He felt like a rat that had entered a rice barrel, his fingers starting to twitch uncontrollably.


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing smiled at the OL woman and said softly, "Could I touch these Divine Relics?"


    The OL woman, nearly dazzled by his smile, hesitated for a moment before she said with a troubled expression:


    "Well..."


    Ning Yuantai spoke up, "Divine Relics aren''t anything too rare; it''s just touching, what''s the problem? I will talk to Xu Mude later, I won''t make it difficult for you."


    The OL woman gave a nervous laugh, "But... many of them are fully enclosed, without even an entrance or exit, neither can you go in nor come out, unable to touch them..."


    Ning Yuantai glared at her, "Since you said ''many,'' not ''all,'' there must be some that aren''t entirely enclosed, right?"


    The OL woman broke into a sweat on her forehead, "Yes, that''s correct..."


    "Then what are we waiting for, take us there!" Ning Yuantai said impatiently.


    The OL woman, nervous, thought for a moment. This person was a friend Director Xu had said to treat well; just touching it should be no problem...


    She walked over to the transparent compartment holding the Salted Fish Sword and punched a few numbers on a digital keypad similar to a computer on the wall.


    The transparent compartment hissed open, one side turning into a transparent door, slowly sliding open to each side.


    A fishy smell spilled out, and the OL woman quickly covered her nose, her face crinkling from the stench, and intoned:


    "This is one of the non-fully enclosed Divine Relics..."


    "Damn, this smell." Ning Yuantai also covered his nose, displaying a face full of discomfort.


    Xue Jing had held his breath from the start, looked normal, while Miao Miao, being a cat, covered her nose with both paws, her eyes teared up, looking like she was about to faint.


    Xue Jing stepped inside and placed his hand on the Salted Fish Sword.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, beginning Divine Absorption...]


    He acted like a researcher deeply curious about the Divine Relic, continuously touching the Salted Fish Sword up and down, pretending he was studying it.


    Seconds later.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 4299]


    Having harvested nearly five hundred points of Divinity, Xue Jing left the transparent compartment without a change in expression.


    "Touching all the Divine Relics is my dream... let''s keep walking, and if you see any Divine Relics that are not fully enclosed, just mention it..."


    Xue Jing said to the OL lady. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that he really was just touching them, the OL lady breathed a sigh of relief and showed Xue Jing a perfect smile: "Yes."


    ...


    Xue Jing followed the OL guide, listening to the introductions of the Divine Relics while inconspicuously engaging in Meditative Visualization. He etched everything around him into his mind¡ªwhere the guards were, where the cameras were, and where the infrared detectors and other alarm devices were¡ªhe was clear on everything.


    After they had toured an entire floor and dozens of Divine Relic compartments, four of which were not fully enclosed, Xue Jing had touched them all, and, including the initial Salted Fish Sword, he had amassed a total of 2027 points of Divinity.


    [Holding Divinity: 5829]


    Seeing the panel showing over five thousand points of Divinity, Xue Jing suppressed his somewhat restless emotions and, acting masterfully, showed an expression of gratification and laughed:


    "This has indeed been worthwhile, thank you very much, dear sister... But for such a large company, do you not have any Divine Relics within the top three hundred serial numbers?"


    The OL lady, seeing Xue Jing happy, inexplicably felt joyful herself and replied with a smile while shaking her head:


    "I''m not too sure about that... However, our company does not allow anyone to enter the 1097th and 1098th floors of Sky Center. If there are extremely precious items, I guess..."


    At this point, she realized she might have said too much, and quickly shut her mouth, smiling awkwardly.


    Xue Jing didn''t show any unusual signs, just emotionally said: "Ah, I''d really love to see it if I had the chance."


    Ning Yuantai glanced at his wrist accessory and reminded in a low voice: "Xue, the time is almost up."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing smiled at the OL lady: "Thank you for your company''s hospitality today, dear sister, and for your guidance. We''ll take our leave now."


    Upon hearing this, the OL lady breathed a sigh of relief but also felt a bit reluctant: "It was a pleasure... a pleasure to introduce the Divine Relics to both of you."


    ...


    The aircraft, which looked like a big loaf of bread, hovered and slowly flew away from Sky Center, heading towards Yuan City.


    In the cabin, Ning Yuantai eagerly asked Xue Jing: "So, how was it, Xue? Although we were a bit rushed for time, you must be happy, right?"


    Xue Jing was gently patting Miao Miao on the back, who had been sneezing intermittently ever since she smelled the Salted Fish Sword.


    "Achoo¡ª¡ª!"


    Miao Miao used her front paw to wipe away the tear that had formed in the corner of her eye, looking listless.


    Xue Jing nodded and laughed: "To see so many Divine Relics at once was indeed a delight. Thank you really, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai touched his nose and laughed: "Glad I could help, hehe."


    Engaging in casual conversation, a few hours later, Xue Jing returned to the Cease-Blades Base in Yuan City.


    Upon arrival, it was already past eight in the evening. Xue Jing invited Ning Yuantai to stay and prepared a sumptuous meal for him, nearly causing Ning Yuantai to burst from overeating.


    This time, Miao Miao had no complaints since Ning Yuantai had just helped Xue Jing.


    After everything was settled, Ning Yuantai bid farewell and left. Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the living room sofa, deep in thought.


    "Xu''s Biology''s defense forces are strong... The Meditative Visualization detected at least seven presences that could pose a threat to me, along with various lethal AI automated weaponry. A direct assault would be impossible."


    "Fortunately, the location where ''Wind of All Beginnings'' might exist has been identified, either on the 1097th or 1098th floor..."


    "I need to think of a more foolproof strategy..."


    Thoughts constantly flickered through Xue Jing''s mind.


    "I''ll need an alibi, plus both infiltration and escape routes need rehearsal... It seems hard to resolve all this during the three days of rest; this operation must be postponed a bit."


    He muttered to himself.


    "Might as well do some upgrades first while I forge ahead."


    Xue Jing opened the panel.

 Chapter 244 Dont Speak Arrogantly Without Thought, It Exposes Your Weakness (4K)

    Watching the results of the draw in the live broadcast, Xue Jing nodded unimpressed."As expected, getting matched in the first round of the top eight is likely due to rigged drawing. They didn''t have us draw the first time to disguise it a bit, to not be so blatant. So, they set me up against Shady Girl and Dai Zongnian, who are obviously weaker than me to help me advance." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But in the quarterfinals, everyone''s strong, and the uncertainty is too high. They were afraid I''d be eliminated by someone else, so they had to make me face him in the first game..."


    Xue Jing smiled and turned off the live stream page.


    Miao Miao was squatting beside him, boredly swiping her paw with its fleshy pad across his phone, her fluffy tail swaying leisurely in the air.


    "Jing, it seems like the internet is starting to set the rhythm."


    She yawned, showing her cute, sharp Tiger Tooth, and said lazily.


    "[The most anticipated episode][Definitely rigged][Xue Jing in danger][Officials don''t even care about their image anymore]... Comments are moving fast, refreshing brings up hundreds of new ones, the attention on this match is so high."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Aren''t you clapping back at them?"


    Miao Mio snorted, "Pointless... After all, you''ll swell the faces of all those who talk nonsense and look down on you, no need to reply to them."


    She would never admit that her typing skills were poor and she couldn''t out-argue others, so she had to shut up glumly.


    "... But now the online public opinion seems to have become friendlier toward you, not as one-sided as before, probably because of the games a few days ago."


    Xue Jing waved his hand dismissively, "All that doesn''t matter. I don''t live off other people''s opinions; good or bad reviews are irrelevant to me, hardly a slight frost."


    He stood up, walked over to the fridge, and as he opened it and took out a bottle of Coca-Cola, he said:


    "Public opinion, such a thing is too easy to turn around... More than 90% of people have their IQ halved when swept along by the crowd, and at the same time, due to the psychological effect of sharing responsibility, they don''t think their thoughtless malice is that serious."


    "Once I crush Zhou Yinglin, most of those who bad-mouthed me will easily choose to forget their previous malice and even turn to attack Zhou Yinglin, who embarrassed them... Then they become my ''fans'' again, since comparing me to him will facilitate their attacks on Zhou Yinglin..."


    Xue Jing took a sip of his Coca-Cola and muttered softly, "Really boring."


    Miao Miao nodded as if she understood, pouting, "You say it''s boring, but why do you understand it so well, as if you''ve studied it..."


    Xue Jing leisurely said, "Read more books, dive deep into dialectical materialism, learn to see the essence through phenomena, Teacher Wan."


    "Sorry for my low education!"


    Miao Miao, who had to drop out of high school and was brought back to the Dragon Cult to become the Sect Hierarch grumbled through clenched teeth.


    ...


    The next day at noon, the day of the match.


    Xue Jing took a ride with Ning Yuantai and arrived at the Super Arena.


    "Wow, it''s kind of lively today!"


    Ning Yuantai, seated in the driver''s seat, widened his eyes as he steered and looked through the car window at the plaza in front of the Super Arena''s entrance.


    Densely packed... it really looked like a true ant nest, crowds of people packed together, barely able to move step by step, the noisy sound almost audible inside the car.


    Xue Jing also glanced outside the window but remained silent.


    "Xue, looks like your issue with Zhou Yinglin has really blown up; today''s situation, the Super Arena is definitely going to be packed, they probably can''t fit any more people!"


    Ning Yuantai said excitedly.


    As Iron-blooded Jing, one of the few who understood Xue Jing''s prowess, he had no doubts about Xue Jing''s ability to win against Zhou Yinglin and was not worried, only looking forward to the forthcoming spectacle of the match.


    "Stop looking, let''s go inside," Xue Jing reminded him.


    "Eh, alright."


    Ning Yuantai replied, turned the steering wheel, and headed for the parking lot.


    After parking, the two got out of the car and entered through the staff entrance to the backstage of the Super Arena.


    "Then Xue, I''ll go find my friend, see you later."


    Ning Yuantai greeted, and after seeing Xue Jing nod, he went off alone to the area for the event staff.


    Xue Jing walked alone at a leisurely pace along the long corridor, his shoes echoing solidly on the floor.


    Just then, a figure with somewhat frivolous behavior approached him.


    Xue Jing looked up and recognized someone who was somewhat familiar.


    Called Wei... what was his name?


    Anyway, he was the one who broke the news that day about Zhou Yinglin planning to accidentally kill him in the ring.


    Wei Junwu, from afar, raised his hand with a smile and familiarly greeted, "Old Xue!"


    Xue Jing nodded at him, and after pondering due to not remembering his name and unwilling to call him Old Wei, simply said:


    "Morning."


    Wei Junwu looked at the sun high in the sky outside and didn''t mind the greeting, but smiled, came up beside Xue Jing, and familiarly slung an arm over his shoulder, winking and saying:


    "Old Xue, how''s it going, have you been training hard with Giant Sword... Huh? Wait a second, where''s your sword, didn''t bring it?"


    Seeing Xue Jing empty-handed, he paused.


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Brought it, just not at hand right now."


    Wei Junwu breathed a sigh of relief, "That''s good."


    "Although you might find it annoying, I have to remind you again, Zhou Yinglin is no joke, don''t underestimate him. Competing with him in martial skills is purely suicidal, you have to just bulldoze through with sheer force from the get-go, even if it means sacrificing finesse for power... better than being outmaneuvered by his cleverness..."

 Chapter 244 Dont Speak Arrogantly Without Thought, It Exposes Your Weakness (4K)_2

    Xue Jing pushed away the arm draped over his shoulder and smiled noncommittally, "Oh? Is that so?"Seeing that Xue Jing didn''t seem too concerned, Wei Junwu scratched his head, unable to come up with anything else, and sighed,


    "...Moreover, he''s a prodigy with an inherently high Spiritual Level, very strong in using his spiritual power... He even wrote a martial arts paper that won an award."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Oh really... What did he write, ''My Army Master Mentor''?"


    Wei Junwu replied helplessly, "No, it was a paper on how to scientifically train the computational ability of spiritual consciousness..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Alright, no need to say more, I get what you mean."


    As Xue Jing walked forward, not looking back, he said:


    "Wei... Old Wei, it''s only because you mean well that I patiently listened to so much irrelevant nonsense about Zhou Yinglin."


    "But you have to understand one thing... I am nothing like you guys who have been shat on by Zhou Yinglin, absolutely nothing alike."


    "It''s okay if you don''t understand now, you''ll get it soon."


    Wei Junwu was taken aback, watching his retreating figure, shook his head, and sighed:


    "Ah, every genius acts like this until they meet a stronger one... I hope he''s okay."


    ...


    "Hello everyone, good afternoon, and welcome back to the live final of the U19 No-Limit Elite Fighting Competition in Yuan City, I am your commentator Tao Xingshou!"


    "Wow~ Today really is, words can''t describe the crowd, the audience is so enthusiastic, even more lively than previous finals, which shows just how much everyone is looking forward to the competitors in this tournament..."


    As the commentator rambled on, Xue Jing stood in the contestant viewing area with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the ring.


    Those who had made it into the top eight were no weaklings, and the matches were worth watching closely, so Xue Jing planned to observe them from up close throughout.


    Yin Muhu stood beside him.


    After treatments from Xue Jing and several days of rest, Yin Muhu''s muscles had begun to bulge, and his appearance had grown rugged and robust, but still retained a hint of a beautiful girl''s charm.


    Since even defeated contestants could enter the contestant viewing area, it was quite lively today. Most of the thirty-two contestants had shown up, gathering in small groups.


    Including Dai Zongnian, who had been utterly defeated by Xue Jing''s Thunder Plough Hot Knife just a few days ago, wrapped in bandages and standing at the farthest diagonal spot from Xue Jing, not daring to even glance in his direction, seemingly left with a psychological trauma.


    As the commentator finished the opening remarks and the match was about to start, most in the audience weren''t much interested in the match itself but frequently turned their gaze towards Xue Jing in the contestant section.


    "It''s too pitiful, the stakes are so high, it''s practically a public execution..."


    "Is this draw really not rigged... I''m starting to question the credibility of U19."


    "I didn''t believe the rumor at first, but since it came from Wei Junwu and the draw turned out this way... I''m beginning to think it might be true."


    "Zhou Yinglin wouldn''t really kill someone on the ring, right? Even though the contestants have signed a waiver, it''s not illegal, but he''d be disqualified on the spot."


    "You talking about anything else is fine, but talking about disqualification is a bit funny... Zhou Yinglin doesn''t need the championship of U19, neither the prestige nor the prize money matter to him, and the most important ''title match points'' he already got during the ''Small Dragon Gate Cup.'' His participation in this competition really serves no purpose..."


    "Sss... That''s really terrifying when you put it that way, he wouldn''t really come here from another city just to kill Xue Jing, would he?"


    "If that''s true, it''s such a pity. Such a young and talented genius, just managed to break out from a place like the Outer Ring, and now he might die here..."


    "Why bother with all that, as long as the match is exciting, it''s rare for someone to die in a martial arts competition, and today''s going to be thrilling!"


    "So, who are you betting on? The odds for Xue Jing winning have reached twelve to one, wanna make a big bet?"


    "Stop joking, I might gamble a little if it were someone else, but Impeccable is known for their consistent performance, hardly ever any surprises, Zhou Yinglin has definitely won, I''m not betting..."


    ...


    "... without further ado, let the match begin!"


    As the commentator''s voice fell, the referee waved his hand, and a Repulsion Membrane enveloped the ring where Wei Junwu and a youth named Huang Lu faced each other in fighting stances.


    As they began to fight, a sudden uproar of surprised exclamations erupted from the spectator stands.


    All eyes were drawn to the contestant viewing area.


    Because... a young man with an eagle-sharp gaze had appeared there, heading towards another focus of everyone''s attention!


    "Wei Junwu''s Phoenix Cry School, also a prestigious school from the Inner Ring, especially known for its Kungfu Body building. They say it evolved from an ancient martial art called the Huahuang Technique of the Old Era..."


    Yin Muhu excitedly informed Xue Jing in her juvenile girlish voice.


    But suddenly, she realized something was amiss.


    Everyone around... was looking at her and Xue Jing''s back with a look of surprise and eeriness.


    Yin Muhu suddenly turned, and her pupils shrank to pinpoints.


    At a distance of less than two meters, someone was standing... who had been there for who knows how long, having stood behind her since earlier!


    At such a close distance, and from such a sensitive position behind her, she had not detected any sign at all!


    Zhou Yinglin...


    With a wary gaze, Yin Muhu watched this sharp-eyed youth and unconsciously adopted a defensive boxing stance.


    However, Zhou Yinglin''s gaze did not linger on her at all.


    "Shady Girl, step back a bit,"


    Xue Jing spoke, his voice gentle and unfluctuating.


    Upon hearing this, Yin Muhu wiped the sweat that had appeared on her forehead at some point, nodded her head, responded with a yes, and stepped farther to the side.


    Seeing this, Zhou Yinglin moved forward, stood next to Xue Jing, and extended his well-defined right hand to rest on the railing in front of him, his gaze similarly towards the ring.


    All the contestants around who saw the two standing together felt the atmosphere sink into an eerie silence.


    On the ring, Wei Junwu and Huang Lu''s fight was fierce, but nobody paid attention to them.


    The silence continued for a while before Zhou Yinglin spoke again.


    "Xue Jing... I''ll give you a chance,"


    His voice remained as calm as ever.


    "Once you''re on stage, cripple your Kungfu Body yourself, swear never to practice martial arts again... This way, I''ll spare your life,"


    As these words came out, everyone who heard them widened their eyes in shock.


    Whether he was acting crazy or just posing, he truly admitted publicly that he planned to kill Xue Jing on the ring!


    Before people could recover from their shock, Zhou Yinglin added indifferently:


    "If it''s you, you should understand, my proposal is quite good," sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, a gust of malevolent wind spread out from him.


    A strong spiritual aura, heavy as a thousand jun, pressed down on everyone around.


    The young prodigies, who had made it to the U19 finals, trembled involuntarily, teeth clattering, unable to move.


    And most of that oppressive aura was concentrated on Xue Jing.


    "You... can''t defeat me,"


    Zhou Yinglin stated flatly.


    The commotion here was too great, not only had the spectators shifted their gaze over, but even the two on the stage temporarily stopped and looked towards the spectator area of the contestants.


    Under the gaze of everyone in the entire Super Arena, Xue Jing, without turning his head, said softly:


    "Don''t speak recklessly; it only exposes your weakness,"


    No sooner had he spoken,


    "Humming¡ª¡ª!!"


    The floor shattered, the railing twisted, the air vibrated, the lights trembled.


    Countless pitch-black lightning patterns radiated from Xue Jing''s entire body.


    Zhou Yinglin''s spiritual aura covering him was instantly dispersed.


    "I have a piece of advice for you,"


    Xue Jing slowly turned his head, his silvery-white divine pupils looked dismissively and coldly at Zhou Yinglin.


    "Don''t pretend you can handle consequences you can''t bear..."


    ...


    (The climax needs groundwork; please be patient and give some time to this slow and clumsy chef who is setting the stage for a more spectacular burst. Once we hit the climax, I''ll write it out all at once without dragging it out¡ªI promise you''ll enjoy it.)

 Chapter 246 Post-Match Interview

    Competitor Observation Area."Monster, truly a monster!"


    "The Old Martial World is probably going to change..."


    "Did you see how Xue Jing blocked Zhou Yinglin''s Impeccable move just now? If I''m not mistaken... No, it shouldn''t be possible, that''s too exaggerated, even ''Martial Saint'' Li Taixian couldn''t do it, right?"


    "He just said he practiced Impeccable for only seven days? Is that possible?"


    "That can''t be possible."


    "Ha, just because you can''t do it, you think it''s impossible? That''s the extent of your vision."


    "...you''re just showing off, aren''t you? Don''t fake it, you don''t have the knack for it, it''s just embarrassing."


    Wei Junwu stood there dumbfounded, watching Xue Jing''s retreating figure, when suddenly. Discover stories with empire


    "Pa pa pa pa pa¡ª¡ª"


    His right hand moved like it was on rapid fire, quickly slapping his own right cheek at an extremely fast pace.


    Song Nanxing, standing next to him, kept twitching at the corners of his eyes.


    Yin Muhu looked at Zhou Yinglin, who was being consulted by a bunch of medical personnel and experts, and couldn''t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.


    "Once again, thank you Brother Xue, for sparing my life..."


    ...


    Hidden Dragon Dojo, Nourish the Heart Room.


    Li Qi, Meng Boshang, Meng Qingjiao, and Chen Fuguang were gathered, watching the live broadcast on TV.


    "Woah, what the heck!"


    "Is this our little junior brother? From our Hidden Dragon Dojo?" Chen Fuguang''s eyes widened, and he unceremoniously moved forward to hug the TV, staring intently at the screen from a close distance.


    Li Qi drifted forward in his wheelchair, slapping Chen Fuguang on the head and sending him tumbling with a smack, cursing:


    "Don''t block the TV, you idiot!"


    After saying that, he moved forward to embrace the TV and started watching, laughing cheerfully.


    "..." Watching the master blocking the screen, Meng Qingjiao opened her mouth, almost experiencing a medical miracle.


    "..." At that moment, the old father Meng Boshang beside her silently took out his phone with the live broadcast, and handed it to her.


    ...


    Qingcheng, Xue Jing''s home.


    "Ahhhhhh!!"


    Xue Wan and Zong Shichan were hugging each other and jumping non-stop, screaming like ecstatic fans at a concert when their idol appears on stage, venting their excitement.


    ...


    Qingcheng, Qing University Library, seventh floor.


    In the old attic, a serene and elegant girl absentmindedly read a hardcover book titled "The Ancient Triad - The Forgotten Ones."


    On the desk in front of her, there was a phone playing the live broadcast. Next to the phone stood an upright, ignited matchstick.


    "..."


    Wu Youqing sighed and said helplessly, "If you''re going to watch, just watch quietly, don''t jump around."


    "..."


    "...He is the most special person I''ve ever seen. It''s not surprising that he can do this; it''s within my expectations."


    "..."


    "...What''s with showing off your love, really, you kids."


    ...


    Capital City, in an antique-styled study room.


    "Clang!"


    A young girl with a youthful and pure face hurriedly burst through the door and ran inside.


    As the old man wearing glasses reading a scroll shifted his gaze towards the girl, his eyes filled with tenderness.


    He was about to speak, but the girl came in front of him, slapped her palm on the desk excitedly, and said:


    "Grandpa, he did it, little junior brother did it, can I go back now?"


    The old man''s refined and amiable expression paused for a moment.


    ...


    Also in the Capital City, in a large estate, a handsome young man with a gloomy expression violently punched the wall beside him.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    The entire estate shook violently, almost like an earthquake.


    "Send someone to Sky Mirror Lake, take this recording to Old Master Wu! These bastards from the Special Duty Department, they actually gave me false information... Contact Lu Baidi for me, ask if he''s still taking jobs!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Also, make a call to Xu''s Biology, tell Xu''s Biological Company in Yuan City to arrange a Super Surgery for Brother Yinglin immediately... And the Secret Martial Society, contact them, tell them there''s been a change, and have them send ''that thing'' to Brother Yinglin..."


    ...


    Yuan City, in a large bar.


    In a VIP booth, a group of oddly-looking people, all marked with Alien Implant traces on their bodies, were gathered around, watching the holographic live broadcast projected above the center of the booth.


    The man in the center, leading them, was nearly three meters tall, his body taking up the space of four seats in width, like a giant.


    His body was extremely robust, even bloated, but his arms were disproportionately larger than the other parts of his body, with the circumference of his arms almost matching his waist and so long that he could touch the floor without bending over if he stood up.


    "Interesting. The Old Martial Arts system, which should have been swept into the dustbin of history, is producing talents in recent years, such a waste."


    The huge man''s voice was so deep it drowned out the noise of the noisy bar, making it crystal clear to everyone around.


    Not far from his seat, a woman named Qiao Ying watched the ruthless boy on the screen with flushed cheeks. Her body suddenly tensed and began to rhythmically tremble, pausing after every few shakes.


    After a dozen or so times, she relaxed as if exhaling a breath of relief.


    "Goddamn it, why is the floor wet here!"


    A woman with silver-gold streaks in her hair beside her stepped in a puddle, immediately cursing loudly.


    ...


    "Victory... The outcome is decided!!"


    The announcement echoed in the Super Arena, the announcer''s voice trembling with shock.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, with an absolutely unexpected display of sheer power, has forcefully taken this victory!"


    "It''s unbelievable, it''s unbelievable. This is not the strength of a seventeen-year-old. He even executed Zhou Yinglin''s Impeccable move and defeated his opponent in his own domain!"

 Chapter 246 Post-Match Interview_2

    "It''s like I''m dreaming..."As he walked through the competitor''s passage and arrived backstage, Xue Jing heard the commentator''s voice gradually fading away.


    He exhaled gently, feeling a sense of peace as if he had shed some burden, and there was a slight feeling of lifting his eyebrows in relief.


    Although he had never cared much about others'' opinions because he had sufficient confidence in his heart, knowing his own strength.


    Continuous provocations from Zhou Yinglin and countless voices of doubt from the outside world, though they were merely a light drizzle, had accumulated some pent-up frustration in him.


    It wasn''t until he stepped onto the platform to face Zhou Yinglin that he even realized this frustration was there.


    Xue Jing opened the panel to take a look.


    [...Weapon Strike Experience Points +3267 (Maxed)] Read new chapters at empire


    [...True Martial Experience Points +2529]


    ...


    A row of experience points notifications came in, yielding quite the harvest, especially the [Weapon Strike], which had hit the upper limit directly.


    "This fight wasn''t even that tough, the experience gained was a bit surprising," he thought.


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment and then understood.


    Zhou Yinglin''s strength was actually quite formidable, a nationally renowned prodigy among the young generation of Old Martial Arts, and he had not performed as poorly on the platform as it might have appeared.


    The reason for such a brutal outcome was solely because his opponent was Xue Jing.


    Although it wasn''t intentional, to master Impeccable, Xue Jing had fought countless life-and-death battles with Zhou Yinglin in consciousness simulations, and had thoroughly figured him out, probably understanding Zhou more than he understood himself.


    Not to mention in terms of strength, he could completely suppress Zhou Yinglin.


    With both strength and understanding maxed out, the effect was like beating up a little kid...


    Turning off the panel, Xue Jing headed toward the players'' lounge while pulling out his phone.


    As soon as he turned off the ''Do Not Disturb'' mode, the phone began to vibrate wildly.


    WeChat messages had already tipped over 99+, and new notifications were still popping up incessantly.


    Opening it to see, the list had messages from a dozen or twenty people.


    Li Ge and some other classmates from Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School, a few senior brothers and sisters from Hidden Dragon Dojo, and White Crow''s Void Blade and Mountain Demon...


    All were messages like "Lord Jing is awesome!" "President Xue is awesome!" "You got me all wet," expressing shock and admiration.


    Xue Jing replied one by one, only temporarily ignoring Xue Wan, who had already sent over twenty messages and was still sending voice messages nonstop.


    Before he reached the players'' lounge, he saw two people turning around the corner at the end of the corridor, excitedly running towards him.


    "Xue!"


    "Awesome, just awesome!"


    Ning Yuantai shouted loudly, his voice nearly breaking from excitement.


    Jiang Siwei flew at him, hanging on Xue Jing, rubbing her face against his head incessantly:


    "Little Jing, Little Jing, you''re the best, you''re the strongest, you''re really amazing!!"


    "Even Zhou Yinglin feels like a stepping stone, now your fame will truly soar! Kisses!"


    She began to kiss Xue Jing''s cheeks uncontrollably, somewhat losing her composure.


    Xue Jing stretched out his arms to hold her by the armpits, lifting her up and setting her down on the ground, smiling and saying,


    "Alright, Wei, calm down."


    Jiang Siwei came to her senses, her cheeks flushing slightly, embarrassedly scratching her cheek: "Sorry, I got too excited."


    "Hey Xue, where''s the Forgotten Greatsword?"


    Ning Yuantai suddenly noticed Xue Jing''s empty hands and asked, puzzled.


    "Huh?"


    Xue Jing was startled and then realized he had forgotten the sword.


    Damn, he had been too caught up showing off.


    He scratched his head and said, "...Yuantai, could you go get it for me? It''s still on the platform."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai''s body trembled, and he saluted Xue Jing militarily: "Consider it done!"


    With that, he happily sprinted toward the competitor''s passage.


    He wanted the whole world to know that he had carried the sword for Xue!


    Leaving aside Ning Yuantai''s journey to the platform and his proud stride around the platform with the Forgotten Greatsword on his shoulder, showing off to the audience.


    After Xue Jing returned to the lounge, he was about to replay the match in his consciousness simulation to see if Impeccable had improved.


    Just then, his phone vibrated with a ringtone, a call coming in.


    He picked it up and saw the caller ID was Youqing A Dream.


    He pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear, smiling as he said,


    "Huh?"


    A calm and pleasant voice that soothed the heart came through the receiver:


    "I watched the competition, you fought really well."


    Xue Jing''s fingers were tracing patterns on the desk in front of him as he smiled and said,


    "Of course, I can''t disgrace you, BOSS."


    After a pause, he continued, "By the way, BOSS."


    "There''s no problem with what I did to Zhou Yinglin, right?"


    Wu Youqing hummed lightly and said,


    "Although the method was a bit cruel, it''s fine as long as nobody died."


    "With me around, even if they want revenge, they can only do so within the rules, don''t worry."


    Xue Jing nodded and laughed, "That''s good."


    As long as the trouble specifically targeted him, he was essentially fearless.


    He had too many means to save his own life right now.


    As long as they didn''t play any dirty tricks like kidnapping family members for threats, Xue Jing was fearless.


    "However, you didn''t hold back this time and have completely fallen out with Zhou Yinglin. Even if our entanglements with the Zhu Family and the Secret Martial Society are over, things can''t be mended,"


    Wu Youqing spoke.


    Xue Jing just smiled and remained silent. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now that your strength has also been considerably exposed, the trouble that seeks you next won''t be just Zhou Yinglin''s level; you still need to be careful."


    "I understand," Xue Jing said softly.


    After talking with Wu Youqing for a long time, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    He stretched lazily, just about to start the simulation review.


    That''s when.


    "Bang bang¡ª"


    There was a knock outside the resting room.


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.


    Outside the door stood a woman dressed in an OL outfit, holding a microphone, sporting a precisely styled short haircut, accompanied by a man carrying a camera.


    Seeing that the door was opened by Xue Jing, the woman''s eyes lit up, and she revealed a bright smile, saying:


    "Competitor Xue Jing, I''m Ke Jiaqian, responsible for the post-competition interview. You can just call me Xiao Ke... Is it convenient now?"


    "An interview?" Xue Jing looked at the camera pointed directly at him and was about to refuse.


    But after a thought, he nodded and said, "Alright, come in."


    With that, he stepped aside and gestured for them to enter the resting room.


    Since Xue Jing had essentially declined all post-competition interviews before, Ke Jiaqian had no expectations and was merely asking out of a ''no harm in trying'' mentality.


    But unexpectedly, Xue Jing agreed!


    She was stunned for a moment, then her face flushed, and she couldn''t help but let her thoughts wander.


    Could it be he took a liking to her...


    After finishing the interview, if he did want to... would she agree, or would she agree...


    Xue Jing frowned and said, "Aren''t you coming in?"


    "Oh right, thank you!"


    Ke Jiaqian snapped out of it and hurried into the resting room, with the excited photographer following closely behind.


    After adjusting the camera position, Xue Jing settled in front of the lens.


    Ke Jiaqian sat beside him and extended the microphone towards Xue Jing, clearing her throat.


    "Let''s start then."


    "First of all, congratulations to Competitor Xue Jing for winning this match and securing a great start to the quarterfinals."


    "I''d like to ask Competitor Xue Jing, what do you think of the performance of your opponent, Zhou Yinglin?"


    This was a slightly leading question, but Xue Jing didn''t really care.


    He smiled and said, "Performance¡­ Did he perform?"


    Ke Jiaqian cleared her throat: "Hmm, I see, so the next question is, I''m very curious, Competitor Xue Jing, how did you manage to use Zhou Yinglin''s signature martial art ''Impeccable'' on the ring today?"


    Xue Jing looked at her strangely: "Didn''t I already mention it? Learned it from Zhou Yinglin himself, just a few days ago."


    ...

 Chapter 248 Extraordinary Skill—Army Master, Just a Stone, Kick It Away (4K)

    [Army Master Lv1 (Transcendent)][Upgrade Required: Experience Points 0/10000, Divinity 329/1000]


    At last... the first Sublimated Skill appeared.


    As Xue Jing had anticipated, regular skills, once sublimated, resulted in an Extraordinary Skill much like True Martial that merged with him.


    "[Army Master]... It must mean the master of weapons, a name similar to one of the seven great titles ''Army Master,'' quite the coincidence."


    Xue Jing closed the panel, eager to test the effects.


    He calmed his mind and introspected, feeling the changes occurring in his body.


    Hmm... there seemed to be no change.


    Unlike when True Martial was activated, Army Master didn''t bring about any changes to his body.


    This wasn''t surprising since the Combat Skills didn''t strengthen his body but instead bestowed upon him the ultimate talent in wielding weapons.


    "Since there is no change to the body, then the effects of the skill must lie solely in the use of weapons..."


    Xue Jing reached out and picked up the nine-foot alloy spear standing beside him.


    The moment he grasped the shaft of the spear, he experienced a completely different feeling than before.


    In his hands, the spear¡ªwith all its information including strength, toughness, hardness, length, diameter, weight, where on the shaft there were defects, weak points, minute nicks on the tip, whether it was in a state of metal fatigue¡ªall this information emerged in his mind, accurate to the slightest detail.


    With a slight swing, the spear swept through the air.


    Where his palm was best positioned, at what angle the spear would inflict the most damage, how much force it could withstand before sustaining damage... he knew it all instinctively.


    Xue Jing had never thought he could understand a weapon so thoroughly to such an extent.


    It was as if this was not a foreign spear randomly picked from the Zhige Base for practice but an old companion that had been with him for countless years, perfectly attuned to him at the maximum level.


    Stay tuned to empire


    "Any weapon, without any practice or refinement, is perfectly adapted to as soon as I touch it..."


    Xue Jing nodded, the effect quite fitting for the name [Army Master].


    But... that wasn''t all.


    Xue Jing had a strange feeling now.


    It was as if he could... control the weapon in his hand at will.


    He toyed with the spear for a while, gained an insight, and with an instinctive thought...


    The spear in his hand immediately began to transform, with the touchpoint of Xue Jing''s palm as the starting point, a layer of platinum color spread like flowing water.


    The platinum color continuously covered the spear, and soon, the entire spear was thoroughly imbued.


    At this moment, with [Army Master]''s effect of penetrating weapon information, Xue Jing immediately sensed the updated information of the spear in his hand after it was imbued with the platinum color.


    "The strength has improved several times, the defects on the shaft have been filled, and the slight nicks on the blade are sharpened again..."


    "Directly elevated the weapon''s level by several, probably not any worse than the Crouching Rabbit Sword," Xue Jing said in mild surprise.


    [Army Master] effect number two¡ªWeapon Strengthening.


    This was tantamount to having a superpower, truly worthy of an Extraordinary Skill.


    "White Emperor relates to metal, primarily commands weapons and war, so it manifests externally as platinum color?"


    With the platinum spear held horizontally, Xue Jing suddenly released his grip.


    Yet the spear didn''t fall to the ground, but instead floated in mid-air.


    Xue Jing thought, and at once...


    The spear started spinning in the air faster and faster, making a ''dadadada'' sound like a helicopter''s rotors.


    "Interesting, once enhanced by [Army Master] and imbued with the platinum color, it''s as if a magical weapon from an Immortal cultivation novel, capable of being freely controlled as if achieving an effect similar to ''weapon command''."


    Following Xue Jing''s will, the spear performed multiple techniques in the air¡ªthrust, lift, chop, parry, collapse, stab¡ªnimbly as if an invisible spear master was practicing with it.


    "Hmm? Wait a second, this effect..."


    Xue Jing suddenly thought of something, looked around, and scanned the surroundings.


    Then he jumped down from the rooftop to the courtyard below.


    He reached out and pulled a half-meter long weed from the yard.


    Then with a thought, he initiated [Army Master]''s strengthening effect.


    Platinum color instantly emerged, imbuing the soft and fragile weed in his hand with the flow, transforming it into a hard, sharp ''Sword of Grass.''


    After a few chops with the platinum grass sword in his hand, Xue Jing stroked his chin and said:


    "Anything I recognize as a weapon can be ''strengthened''..."


    "No wonder it feels so familiar; taking any weapon in hand, instantly commanding it and mastering it perfectly, and even enhancing its level..."


    Xue Jing thought of a special ability from a certain work.


    "The Knight is not left unarmed?"


    He tossed the weed aside. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If that''s the case..."


    He lifted his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and stared at his fist, murmuring:


    "How could a fist not count as a weapon?"


    No sooner had he spoken than the platinum color immediately formed, dyeing his fist into a Platinum Fist.


    "Heh, the Platinum Star turns out to be myself?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, swung the Platinum Fist, and punched down toward the floor.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A loud sound erupted, and the floor directly shattered and cracked open, the ground within a hundred meters trembling slightly as if a minor earthquake occurred, startling countless people in the Zhige Base.


    "The force is mutual... but I barely felt the burden of the reactive force from this punch."


    "Both defense and attack power have significantly increased, a great ability... After obtaining Conqueror''s Haki, Armed Color Domineering is now in my grasp, though the color is a bit off."

 Chapter 248 Extraordinary Skill - Army Master, Just a Rock, Kick it Away (4K)_2

    Xue Jing experimented with interest in the Army Master''s ability to enhance weapons.Due to True Martial, he was now able to channel energy throughout his body, even using his eyes, the least likely places, as ''weapons.''


    Therefore, in his understanding, his entire body qualified as a weapon, and Army Master''s enhancement could be applied throughout.


    This resulted in him even being able to cover his entire body in platinum color, transforming into a veritable body of steel, an indestructible body...


    However, as he tried further, he also discovered issues.


    This platinum-colored enhancement was not permanent and seemed to have a ''quantity'' limit; the larger the area covered, the thinner the distribution, and the weaker the enhancement effect.


    When used on the body, the best method was still to concentrate on the fists and feet and instantaneously focus on the area being attacked when an opponent attacked for defense.


    "This should increase in quantity and improve in enhancement effect as the level increases," he speculated.


    As the experiments progressed, Xue Jing quickly discovered a third effect.


    This was an effect he had previously speculated¡ªAll Weapons Mastery.


    In the courtyard, Xue Jing held the platinum long spear in one hand, positioned behind him, the tip of the spear touching the ground.


    Suddenly, his gaze intensified, Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood all activated at once, and Finishing Power transformed into the Might of Awakening of Insects.


    The spear in his hand, from back to front, executed a large circular swing forward, cleaving a half-moon.


    "Huh¡ª¡ª!!"


    The profound air currents roared, sounding nothing like the thin spear could produce, and with a loud bang, it smashed down with great force and weight.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    The moment the spear touched the ground, the ground instantly shattered, forming continuous depressions ahead, extending dozens of meters, making the entire Zhige Base shake.


    Amidst the rising dust, Xue Jing withdrew his spear and stood beside it.


    Using the nine-foot spear as if it were a giant sword... This method of treating the weapon in his hand as another had accidentally come out during a clash with Dragon Cult members.


    But when he later tried to recreate it, he could not until now, after advancing from Combat Skills to Army Master, that he could finally handle it with ease.


    Seeing the terrifying effect, Xue Jing exclaimed:


    "This isn''t just the technique of ''Lift Light as if Heavy''... it''s reached the ''Extraordinary Realm.''


    The moment he executed ''Awakening of Insects'' with the long spear, Xue Jing truly felt that what he held was no longer a spear but the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Though definitely not as effective as using the actual body of the Forgotten Greatsword, in that instant, the striking power of the spear''s Awakening of Insects surpassed physical laws to a degree it shouldn''t have achieved based on its weight."


    "It seems my idea that I could pluck a blade of grass by the roadside and use it as a great sword is real... Putting its versatile applicability aside, in combat, using the known power of the great sword wielder and the clever technique of the spear wielder''s delicate strikes, this sudden contrast is not something everyone can react to; it can serve as a trump card."


    After testing for a long time, Xue Jing was quite satisfied with the Extraordinary Skill of the Army Master.


    Perfect adaptation to weapon information + Knight''s Undying Body without bare hands + Armed Color Domineering + All Weapons Mastery... as well as the most fundamental talent for weapon handling also improved from Weapon Strike Lv10.


    He tried a little, even without the Army Master''s Armed Color enhancement effect, executing the Flawless Spear Technique now, was much smoother and more seamlessly natural than before.


    Overall, his strength had increased again.


    ...


    Another day passed, and the quarterfinals began again.


    Since the quarterfinals followed a double-elimination format, based on the last match''s results, the eight competitors were divided into winners and losers groups.


    The winners group included: Wei Junwu, Song Nanxing, Otogirusu Suzuka, Xue Jing.


    The losers group included: Huang Lu, Li Miao, Chen Chao, Zhou Yinglin.


    The winners were to compete against the losers; if a winner won, they immediately advanced to the semifinals, whereas if a loser won, it was considered a revival match victory, and they would advance to the semifinals by winning one more match.


    Xue Jing''s match was the fourth, but he arrived early at the Super Arena to watch the matches, triggering a wave of cheers and screams from the audience when he appeared in the competitors'' watch area. The broadcast camera, like it had a loose screw, occasionally swung to capture his close-ups, absurdly frequent.


    At the same time, amidst the cheers of the audience, Xue Jing learned some news... he finally had a new title.


    It was no longer the awkward title "My Husband," but a very domineering one.


    ¡ª Demon King Xue.


    It was said that this was because he possessed a strength that was excessively formidable for any other competitors, making him seem as unbeatable as the Great Demon King, combined with his exceedingly brutal methods against Zhou Yinglin, perfectly fitting the aura of a Demon King.


    Though this title was slightly derogatory on a moral level, Xue Jing didn''t care; he found the title to be excellent. Stay tuned with empire


    The world of Martial Artists was all about strength.


    "Strength" had nothing to do with beautiful concepts like justice, conscience, or morality; its essence was purely the power to make others submit and obey.


    The title ''Demon King'' embodied people''s fear of "strength," and that was enough; Xue Jing was quite satisfied.


    At least Xue Wan wouldn''t tease him with it.


    Soon, the first match began, featuring Wei Junwu from the winner''s group against Zhou Yinglin from the loser''s group.


    To both Xue Jing''s and most people''s surprise, Zhou Yinglin, who should have been disabled and reduced to a mere stick figure appeared.


    Moreover, he looked completely unharmed, showing no signs of the miserable state he had been in before when his limbs were disassembled.


    Xue Jing had thought that, considering Zhou''s background from the Thirteen Great Families and as a disciple of the Gun Saint, healing such injuries wouldn''t be difficult, but he hadn''t expected it to be done in just one day.


    In the midst of astonishment from the audience and a bitter expression on Wei Junwu''s face, Zhou Yinglin slowly stepped onto the arena. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the competitors'' viewing area next to Xue Jing, Otogirusu Suzuka softly spoke:


    "He must have undergone Super Surgery and used some powerful, strong drugs... Just as expected of Mr. Zhou."


    "The top surgeons capable of performing Super Surgery are no more than two hundred in the world, and each one is booked for at least ten years in advance... To find a top surgeon in such short notice and to queue-jump for immediate surgery, that''s quite a difficult feat."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "Xue, you don''t seem very concerned?"


    Yin Muhu, standing beside him, noticed Xue Jing''s unchanged expression and asked curiously.


    Xue Jing looked at her strangely, "Why should I be concerned?"


    After thinking for a moment, Yin Muhu said, "I think Zhou Yinglin hurried to heal himself and didn''t drop out of the competition because he probably wants to seek revenge against you."


    Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "When you walk down the road, do you care if the stone under your foot is the same one you kicked away before?"


    To him, Zhou Yinglin was just one of his many defeated opponents, not even one of the notable ones.


    Let alone relying on Super Surgery to recover in one day, even if Zhou Yinglin truly had an Undying Body, Xue Jing wouldn''t bother about him.


    "A stone is just a stone, nothing special. If it blocks the path, just kick it aside. Why bother if it comes back seeking revenge?"


    Yin Muhu, stunned, nodded slowly, "Is that so¡­"


    Otogirusu Suzuka, with her mouth covered by her sleeve, laughed softly, "Xue Jun''s sharp tongue is still as formidable. If Mr. Zhou heard this, he''d be furious again¡­"


    Back on the arena, Wei Junwu struggled for a short while before getting easily defeated by Zhou Yinglin.


    Only then did people vaguely remember that Zhou Yinglin was a talent of a dimension-reducing caliber in the U19 youth competition. It''s just that he seemed a bit weak facing Demon King Xue the day before yesterday.


    The commentator loudly proclaimed his victory, and the audience erupted in fervent applause.


    However, Zhou Yinglin paid no attention to any of it, instead casting a shadowy gaze toward the young man in the competitors'' viewing area, who was distanced by the others out of fear.


    Realizing that the person had never focused his sight on him, Zhou Yinglin snorted coldly, tossed his long spear to the side, impaling it into the arena floor, and turned to walk back through the competitors'' corridor.


    ...

 Chapter 249 Xue Jing Takes the Field, Slays Without Lifting a Finger, Consciousness Slash (4K)

    Wei Junwu stepped down from the arena with his arms hanging limply, sporting several new bloody holes, and approached the competitors'' viewing area with a pained expression:"Zhou Yinglin hasn''t weakened at all, huh? I thought maybe his morale was shattered by Old Xue, and perhaps I''d have a chance..."


    Yin Muhu glanced at him.


    "Shattered by Xue, it''s only a problem when facing him. As for you..."


    Wei Junwu: "Can''t you just let it go, Shady Girl!"


    With an involuntary retort, Yin Muhu said, "Who''s your sister."


    Wei Junwu''s gaze then turned to Xue Jing, saying, "Old Xue, I get the feeling Zhou Yinglin came prepared, knowing full well the gap in strength between you two, he still didn''t drop out of the competition. Moreover, he seems to be quite stable mentally, he must be relying on something..."


    "Sigh, I hardly managed to maim him for you, and to think his wounds recovered in just one day; these medical resources are truly enviable... If opponents are of the same level, the side with such medical support has an excessive advantage, it''s simply unfair..."


    As they chit-chatted, the competition continued.


    The second match was Song Nanxing versus Chen Chao, with Song Nanxing winning and Chen Chao being eliminated after two consecutive losses.


    The third match saw Otogirusu facing Li Miao, with Otogirusu winning and Li Miao eliminated after two consecutive losses.


    Seeing this result, Wei Junwu began to scratch his head.


    There was no question about the fourth match. Huang Lu, who had lost to him the day before, was going up against Xue Jing. Randomly interview any dog by the roadside, and the dog would bark twice to affirm that Xue Jing was sure to win.


    This meant that Song Nanxing, Otogirusu, and Xue Jing all had two consecutive victories, advancing directly to the semifinals.


    The last remaining spot would have to be contested between him and Zhou Yinglin, both with one win and one loss... which meant he had to face Zhou Yinglin in another round.


    "...Welcome back to the U19 Finals Top Eight, I''m your host, Tao Xingshou!"


    The commentator''s voice blared through the speakers across the venue.


    "After the previous three matches, two contenders have advanced to the semifinals, and now..." Stay connected through empire


    His words were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming cheers of the audience.


    First, there was a huge cheer, then, gradually, from soft to loud, they rhythmically started chanting a name.


    "Xue Jing! Xue Jing! Xue Jing!..."


    Initially, the voices were disordered, each shouting their own, but as spectators coordinated rhythmically, the shouts became louder and more unified.


    "Xue Jing! Xue Jing! Xue Jing!..."


    Eventually, the cheers were so loud, they could be likened to a tsunami, each one nearly overwhelming the venue.


    This unprecedented level of support, the one-sided shouting from two hundred thousand spectators, could make any less concentrated competitor''s legs wobble while making the supported contestant''s blood surge with Dynamic Qi.


    That''s why home-field advantage is so important in any public sporting event.


    However, Xue Jing simply stood in the competitors'' viewing area with an indifferent face, his hands resting on the now-repaired railings.


    Just as the support for Zhou Yinglin didn''t affect him earlier, he remained unfazed now.


    The voices from outside, be they supportive or disparaging, held no significance for him.


    He turned and walked towards the backstage to the preparatory area, getting ready for his entrance.


    The guide staff had been waiting at the entrance for quite a while, and when they saw Xue Jing coming, they immediately bowed respectfully and said:


    "Competitor Xue Jing, please follow me..." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "...We can all hear it; the enthusiasm of the audience here is truly unparalleled."


    After the chants gradually subsided, the announcer''s voice rang out, astonished.


    "It seems everyone''s expectations for the upcoming contestant are maxed out..."


    "So without further ado, let''s welcome the contestant to the stage! First, please welcome¡ªChen Chao!"


    From the competitor''s passage, a young figure slowly appeared.


    Loud applause erupted from the audience.


    However... the reason for the applause was more consoling than supportive.


    It was like commending a hero who knew he was destined to die but still went to challenge the Great Demon King.


    "Good luck, Mr. Huang!"


    "Even touching the hem of Demon King Xue''s garment is a victory!"


    "Hope the guy''s okay."


    "Looks like his hands are shaking..."


    "You''d be shaking too if you were facing Demon King Xue. Who knows which part he might rip off..."


    "Honestly, it takes a lot of courage for Huang Lu not to forfeit directly and to still stand up there; he''s probably already scared the pee out of himself..."


    Huang Lu slowly went to stand in the middle of the ring, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.


    If he could forfeit, he would have done so already...


    The problem was, in martial arts competitions, forfeiting without fighting would label one as a coward, an act worthy of being nailed to the pillar of shame.


    Especially for a competitor like him who had signed with a club, if his personal brand value were damaged, it would hurt the club''s interests, and he''d have to pay a hefty breach of contract fee.


    He had discussed with his club whether he could forfeit, given how frightening the methods of Demon King Xue were.


    But he was still pushed into it by the club.


    Now his heart was pounding, simply hoping that Demon King Xue might show a bit of mercy and leave him with an intact body, not missing any arms or legs...


    "...Huang Lu appears to be not in the best condition, didn''t he get enough rest yesterday?"


    The commentator''s voice came through, tactfully coming up with an excuse for Huang Lu.


    "This won''t be good at all, because the opponent he''s about to face is an entity that seems impossible to defeat, even if one is fully prepared..."

 Chapter 249 Xue Jing Takes the Field, Slays Without Lifting a Finger, Consciousness Slash (4K)_2

    "Let us solemnly welcome¡ªCompetitor Xue Jing!"As soon as the words had fallen, applause ten times louder than Huang Lu''s entrance erupted.


    The tall figure appearing at the exit of the competitor''s passage caused countless screams and cheers.


    "Old Xue''s popularity is really something now, it''s too exaggerated."


    Wei Junwu sighed.


    "After all, Zhou Yinglin has become his stepping stone; there''s no easier way to become famous than defeating a well-known person... Half the reason lies with you."


    Song Nanxing stood next to him, speaking in an even tone.


    "Me?" Wei Junwu raised his injured hand with effort and pointed to his nose.


    "If not for your loose talk about Zhou Yinglin intending to kill Xue Jing on the stage, which caused this incident to escalate, the hype too high leading to Xue Jing being attacked by Zhou Yinglin''s fans, the backlash now would not be so intense."


    Song Nanxing patted Wei Junwu''s shoulder, "Zhou Yinglin''s now so focused on Xue Jing, if he ever recalls this incident, he will definitely hold a grudge against you. Better watch yourself."


    Wei Junwu: "..."


    ...


    The audience''s applause and cheering continued unabated until Xue Jing stepped onto the stage and still did not stop.


    Photographers started sitting on the rafters circling Xue Jing, conducting the obligatory three hundred sixty-degree surround shoot... only this time, they did it with extraordinary care.


    The footage, shown clearly on the onsite big screen as well as the live broadcast, caused a massive wave of comments on various streaming platforms, stirring up chants of "my husband, my husband" again.


    "After yesterday''s battle that shocked the nation, Competitor Xue Jing broke all expectations, showcasing his unparalleled talent and overwhelming strength..."


    The commentator went on and on, heaping praises on Xue Jing.


    "...so, let''s take a look at Competitor Xue Jing''s brand new hexagonal data chart."


    "Attack, speed, defense, skill, spirit, intellect... uh, it seems we have come full circle, all attributes are marked with uncertain question marks!"


    "But contrary to the beginning, the question marks on Xue Jing''s data chart no longer symbolize the unknown, but have completely surpassed the limit, reaching an unknown realm that no player in U19 history has ever reached!"


    "With such credentials beyond people''s understanding, what kind of exciting match will he bring us next?"


    "Well, enough talk, the match... begins!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the words landed, the referee positioned himself between the two players on the stage, unconsciously leaning a bit more towards Huang Lu, slightly away from Xue Jing.


    He waved his hand between the two players to signify the start of the match, then immediately slipped off the stage, faster than in any previous matches.


    Xue Jing looked towards his opponent.


    With his Eye Power, he easily discerned that Huang Lu was filled with fear, devoid of any fighting spirit, and the thoughts of turning and running were almost written on his face. The Dynamic Qi essential for martial artists in combat had dropped to its lowest point.


    He shook his head slightly, somewhat disappointed.


    After all, this was someone who had made the top eight on a stage as grand as the U19 finals; yet, he was so weak.


    Uninteresting.


    Thinking about it, Xue Jing no longer had the heart to make a move.


    His gaze shifted slightly towards Huang Lu''s left shoulder.


    Huang Lu had assumed a fighting stance at the very start, becoming extremely defensive on the spot, barely daring to make a move.


    He had not planned to strike first but thought about dodging or surviving just a few moves from Xue Jing before immediately admitting defeat¡­


    But suddenly, his arm broke clean off at the shoulder, falling to the ground as thick blood spurted out, the cut incredibly smooth, as if severed by a sharp Divine Weapon.


    Huang Lu broke into a cold sweat as intense pain hit, and he immediately clutched his arm screaming.


    But then, regaining his senses, he looked at his arm...


    Unharmed, not broken?


    What''s going on? An illusion?


    The audience watching this scene was also puzzled, unable to make heads or tails of it. Read the latest on empire


    "What is Huang Lu doing? Faking it?"


    "His acting is questionable. Demon King Xue hasn''t even moved yet, why is he screaming already?"


    Only a few people, upon witnessing this scene, flashed a thoughtful look in their eyes.


    On the stage, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted slightly towards Huang Lu''s thigh.


    "Swoosh¡ª!"


    Two flashes of blade light swept past, cutting his thigh into three pieces.


    Huang Lu lay on the ground, clutching his thighs and letting out a dreadful scream.


    "Ah!!"


    But he quickly regained his composure, and his thigh was still intact.


    Only the pain lingered, so real it was hard to believe.


    Cold sweat dripping from his forehead, he looked at Xue Jing, completely baffled.


    At that moment, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to his neck.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    Huang Lu only saw a blade light so incredibly fast and fierce that he couldn''t react in time as it swept across his neck, severing his head.


    The final sensation of pain hit him, his eyes rolled back, he lay back, and lost consciousness completely.


    "Huh?"


    The audience, confused, watched Huang Lu who had fainted on the ground.


    "What''s this acting? Get up and fight, at least make Demon King Xue move a bit!"


    "Fuck this, refund!"


    "This acting is worryingly bad, at least wait for Demon King Xue to move before pretending to faint, why get scared like that?"


    In the competitors'' viewing area, Otogirusu''s eyes shimmered seductively with some excitement:


    "Xue Jun... have you reached this realm?"


    Yin Muhu hurriedly asked, "What happened?"


    Otogirusu murmured softly, "Consciousness Slash..."


    On the stage, Xue Jing turned around and slowly walked towards the competitors'' tunnel.


    The judge, though not quite understanding, saw Huang Lu lying on the ground and Xue Jing acting as though the match had ended, quickly blew the whistle and declared Xue Jing''s victory.


    The match ended while most of the audience was still in a bewildered state.


    On his way back to the competitors'' lounge, Xue Jing opened his panel to check.


    [...Aiming Experience Points +626]


    [...Warlord Experience Points +537]


    [...Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +692]


    ...


    The technique he had used just now was known as ''Consciousness Slash,'' a skill of spiritual manipulation.


    Unlike ''Tsukuyomi Slash,'' which uses spiritual power in a semi-physical form, ''Consciousness Slash'' is a pure state of mind.


    Martial Artists tirelessly forge their bodies, the strong body nurturing the spirit, gradually enhancing their spiritual willpower until it can influence ''one''s own reality.''


    When one''s mastery over a certain weapon reaches a certain level, augmenting it with their spirit, it can create such phenomena.


    Intending to strike down the opponent with a blade, having this thought, making this preparation, and having absolute confidence that one can indeed strike the opponent down¡ª


    At that moment, the spirit can instantaneously affect the opponent, making them experience the real illusion of having been struck down, including the actual sensation of pain.


    This is similar to how releasing killing intent can create the illusion of having been killed, only the difficulty is several orders higher.


    Xue Jing had reached this state only yesterday after his Combat Skills had evolved into Divine Powers.


    "Boring."


    He shook his head and returned to the lounge.


    ...


    With Xue Jing''s fight done, the quarterfinals quickly ended.


    The last match was between Wei Junwu and Zhou Yinglin, in which Wei Junwu, perhaps due to a reminder from Song Nanxing, immediately stated that he could not fight due to severe injuries and conceded straightforwardly.


    Next, there would be three days of rest, followed by the semifinals of the final four.


    But having finished the match and intending to return to the Zhige Base, Xue Jing encountered some trouble.


    Outside the parking lot, he looked at the person in a black robe in front of him, puzzled, asking:

 Chapter 251 Maid Yun Qin, Infiltrates Xus Biology, Like a Mouse Entering the Rice Bin (4K)

    "Hmm?"As An Luping began to emit meaningless laughter, his face displaying utter foolishness, Xue Jing was slightly taken aback.


    "The old man''s mental endurance is really weak."


    He shook his head, having intended to ask An Luping about the Dragon Cult, to see if he could get information about their location or the like, and then snuff them out.


    But seeing An Luping''s current state, even if cured, he would still drool, so never mind.


    Xue Jing stepped forward, reaching out with his right hand to grasp An Luping''s neck and lift him high.


    Dark Flame surged wildly from his hand, engulfing An Luping completely, blazing intensely. An''s body began to undergo the process of Annihilation at a pace visible to the naked eye, as if an invisible eraser was rubbing his flesh away.


    The Heretic God worshipped by the Dragon Cult is the "Infinity Dragon" - Ananda Tashasha. Though they call it a dragon, it actually seems more like a serpent... At least the Dragon Cult members Xue Jing had encountered so far had abilities more related to snakes.


    And when it comes to snakes, the most representative symbol is "Immortality." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In almost every myth, snakes are associated with immortality.


    The enemies that Xue Jing had encountered so far were like cockroaches that couldn''t be killed... Some even seemed to have abilities that felt more impressive than his own "Twin Lifes" and "Shadow Transform", brimming with talent.


    An Luping''s eyes didn''t look normal, clearly there was an issue, probably a result of the Dragon Cult''s gifting ceremony or some kind of human modification, so it was better to be thorough in disposing of him.


    Once Shadow Flame was released, everything would be Annihilated, leaving no trace behind.


    It wasn''t until he had completely Annihilated An Luping, not even a speck of ash remaining, that Xue Jing looked at the residence where Yun Qin was held. He chose not to immediately enter and rescue her.


    Instead, he took out his phone and dialed Ning Yuantai''s number.


    The phone barely started buzzing when it was answered at lightning speed.


    "Xue, what can I do for you?"


    Ning Yuantai''s respectful voice came from the receiver.


    He had long since set Xue Jing''s number as a special ringtone, and so far, Xue Jing''s calls to him were always picked up instantly, without exception.


    "Yuantai, you''re free right now, right? Here''s the thing..."


    ...


    Pocketing his phone, Xue Jing stood quietly on the side of the road, waiting. Enjoy new adventures from empire


    Compared to rescuing Yun Qin himself, it seemed better to let Miao Miao come to pick up her own maid.


    He had thought about going back to get Miao Miao himself, but then felt uneasy, worrying that something might happen to Yun Qin if he left. So, he made the call, asking Ning Yuantai to bring Miao Miao over while he stood guard here.


    He didn''t have to wait long.


    The rumble of an off-road vehicle gradually ceased in front of the house.


    Before the car door could open, Miao Miao leapt out of the window and flew towards Xue Jing, who was waiting at the corner.


    "Jing."


    In front of Ning Yuantai, she didn''t bother to pretend and spoke human language.


    Her delicate, almost flirtatiously charming feline face was filled with anthropomorphic emotion, her emerald pupils shining moistly.


    Xue Jing caught Miao Miao, cradling her in his arms like a baby, with one hand supporting her bottom and the other her back, and chuckled,


    "What''s the matter, Teacher Wan, looking like you''ve been successfully wooed?"


    At his words, Miao Miao snorted lightly, turned her head aside, but didn''t respond.


    Ning Yuantai got out of the car, stroked his chin thoughtfully upon seeing this scene. Could this be the one wearing the Cat Tail Ring... perhaps Xue?


    "Yuantai, I''ve troubled you again this time."


    Xue Jing patted Ning Yuantai''s shoulder, thanking him.


    "Look at what you''re saying, you''re making it sound so formal. It''s just a little favor," Ning Yuantai said, clearly delighted.


    He thought that this way, Xue would gradually get used to asking him for help.


    Wouldn''t that make him the undisputed right-hand man to Xue?


    Unaware of the various thoughts running through Ning Yuantai''s mind, Xue Jing entered the house, still holding Miao Miao in his arms.


    Inside the room, he pointed towards the carpeted and concealed entrance to the basement and smiled,


    "Yun Qin is down there."


    Miao Miao looked up at Jing''s chin, hesitated, and asked,


    "Jing, where is Priest An?"


    Upon hearing the question, Xue Jing pondered a moment before replying, "I killed him."


    Miao Miao sighed, "I see..."


    "Feeling a bit sentimental?" Xue Jing asked softly.


    After all, An had been part of the same organization; there might still be some feelings, right?


    Miao Miao shook her head, "No... just that someone I used to see often is suddenly gone, and it feels strange."


    She jumped from Xue Jing''s arms and used her claw to hook the carpet on the floor, revealing it.


    A metallic, handle-locked entrance to the basement was exposed.


    Xue Jing stepped forward and crouched down, grabbed the handle, unlocked it, and lifted it.


    "Clang¡ª"


    A dull sound echoed as the basement entrance was opened.


    "Go ahead," Xue Jing said softly.


    Miao Miao nodded and jumped down.


    Xue Jing followed closely behind.


    ...


    In the brightly lit room, a little girl lay bored on the sofa, intermittently reaching for the chips on the table while watching TV and occasionally grabbing her soda to take a swig, letting out a "ha" of satisfaction.


    When Miao Miao and Xue Jing entered, they saw this scene and were momentarily stunned.


    The little girl, who had heard the sound of the basement entrance opening, thought it was An Luping and didn''t pay it any attention, not even bothering to look back.

 Chapter 251 Maid Yun Qin, Infiltrates Xus Biology, Like a Mouse Entering the Rice Bin (4K)_2

    Ning Fengwan opened her mouth with a hint of annoyance, "Looks like I''ve come a bit too early."Upon hearing this extremely familiar voice, Yun Qin finally realized something and turned her head abruptly, instantly seeing the Sect Leader she had been pining for... and that handsome man she had met once before.


    The slightly chubby-faced little girl immediately burst into tears, scrambled up, inadvertently wiping away the crumbs of potato chips on the corner of her mouth, and lunged towards Ning Fengwan, "Sect... Sect Leader, Yun Qin has waited for you so bitterly!"


    Looking down at the little girl who was hugging her thigh, clearly chubbier in two dimensions than before, Ning Fengwan''s mouth twitched:


    "What hardship? You seem rather comfortable to me, so well fed that you''ll probably be ready for market before long."


    The little girl, upon hearing this, immediately began to mutter in a voice filled with grievance, "Yun Qin has only put on a little bit of weight..."


    Ning Fengwan said irritably, "And here I thought you might be mistreated, dead or alive, I had no idea, worrying sick over you every day, and here you are, fattening up..."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Anyway, it''s good that you''re okay... It seems An Luping still knows what he''s doing, only wanting to use someone to control you, but he didn''t go too far, he didn''t make things utterly unbearable."


    Hearing Xue Jing speak, Yun Qin curiously turned to glance at him.


    A little figure just over one and a half meters tall, her plump face, which made her look even younger, looked quite silly.


    "Yun Qin, kneel down and kowtow to him," Ning Fengwan said softly. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh." Yun Qin did not hesitate to kneel down and started kowtowing non-stop to Xue Jing, as if worshipping a deity.


    Ning Fengwan, with a firm tone, said, "His name is Xue Jing, he''s my... cough, he''s the supreme elder of our Dragon Cult. Remember, from now on, seeing him is as good as seeing me. Whatever he says, you must obey without question. If he tells you to chop your hand, don''t go chopping your foot."


    "Ah?" Yun Qin looked distressed, her small face crumpling up.


    "Can we not chop hands or feet...?" she muttered under her breath.


    "Quit your babbling," Ning Fengwan glared at her.


    Xue Jing smiled, gently patted her head, and said softly, "Good child..."


    Yun Qin was so dazzled by his unremarkable handsome face and gentle voice that she lowered her head and let out a silly chuckle.


    ...


    After successfully rescuing the little maid Miao Miao, the villa where Xue Jing stayed within the Zhige Base had an additional guest.


    Perhaps because the huge weight on her heart had finally been lifted, Miao Miao became even more lax, sleeping even more than the ten-plus hours a day she used to, and now she was almost reaching twenty hours. Even when Xue Jing cooked himself, she was often unable to get up because of the overwhelming sleepiness.


    The new member Yun Qin, at Miao Miao''s behest, donned a black and white classic maid''s outfit and became what looked like a very professional little maid.


    Xue Jing, although he also found the maid outfit great, still sighed inwardly, thinking about Miao Miao, who could only watch anime all day at home, and how corrupted her thoughts had become.


    Perhaps because she had been taking care of Ning Fengwan since childhood, Yun Qin''s domestic skills were exceptional. She was nimble at her chores, excelling at laundry, cooking, and cleaning, and did everything without complaint and without cutting corners, much to Xue Jing''s satisfaction.


    Of course, her cooking still couldn''t compare to Xue Jing''s, whose Cooking skill was nearly at Lv8, making even a bowl of instant noodles taste like it was seasoned with magic, but she was already top-notch among ordinary people.


    Two days passed this way.


    Late at night, at precisely twelve midnight.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes in bed.


    Gently picking up Miao Miao, who was sprawled on his chest sleeping like the world had ended and snoring loudly, he placed her on the soft bed. Then, Xue Jing got up, walked to the window, and cracked it open just a tad.


    Immediately after, he conjured a Dark Flame the size of a fingernail and threw it outside.


    Under his control, the Dark Flame weaved left and right without stopping, reaching a small clearing more than a hundred and sixty meters away.


    Xue Jing in the room closed the window, conjured another Dark Flame, and his body dived into it.


    The next moment, his body emerged from the Dark Flame located in the small clearing.


    This tiny area, less than two square meters, was a blind spot in the surveillance of the Zhige Base he had scouted.


    Xue Jing''s body slowly sank, immersing into the shadows beneath his feet, stealthily heading towards the exterior of the Zhige Base.


    Enjoy new chapters from empire


    After several days of practice in Consciousness Simulation, he was confident that he had the ability to evade all surveillance without leaving any trace.


    He decided to head to Xu''s Biological Company in Sky Center tonight, attempting to steal the [GOD-098¡¤Wind of All Beginnings].


    Departing from the Zhige Base, he utilized methods like "Shadow Lurk," "Shadow Leap," and "Aura Blockade" without pause. He bypassed all mechanical and biological detections, and slowly made his way to the edge of Yuan City.


    Emerging from the shadows, he looked up at the layer of pale blue light film, barely visible to the naked eye, that covered the entirety of Yuan City.


    "Just to be safe, don''t touch this thing, it might be some kind of detection-related black tech...," he murmured.


    Xue Jing flicked a black flame with his hand, controlling it as it passed through the pale blue light film, crossing into the area beyond Yuan City.


    He then performed a Shadow Leap, officially arriving in the desolate wilderness.


    This step had taken him nearly two hours.


    Wiping the slight sweat from his forehead, Xue Jing activated the Shadow Flame, and the black hole-like Entwined Armor completely enveloped him, leaving only his eyes exposed.


    In the pitch-black night, his form was practically invisible.


    Soon after, his figure flashed as he dashed toward the distant Sky Center, ablaze with countless lights.


    ...


    Two hours later, at four o''clock in the morning.


    Sky Center, 1002nd floor, at the entrance.


    A small cluster of shadows, unnoticeable to anyone, seeped through the imperceptible crevices near the entrance.


    Armed security personnel were patrolling seriously but failed to notice the tiny shadow in their blind spot.


    Maintaining his Shadow Lurk state, Xue Jing followed the path he had designed in his Consciousness Simulation, avoiding the security personnel and monitoring alarm systems.


    Although the patrol routes of the security personnel were somewhat different from his last visit, it didn''t affect Xue Jing much.


    Being in the state of Shadow Lurk already made him hard to detect, and coupled with his Aura Blockade ability, his presence was nearly nonexistent.


    Adding to that his deep martial arts cultivation, quick reflexes, and sharp intuition, he could precisely dodge all lines of sight.


    Without a hitch, he successfully reached the 1052nd floor after over half an hour.


    This was the floor he had visited before, where a large number of Divine Relics were stored.


    Xue Jing had planned not to complicate matters and, taking advantage of the dead of night, to first check if the Wind of All Beginnings was at floors 1097 and 1098.


    But upon reaching floor 1049, he hesitated for a moment, then decided, screw it, he was going all in!


    What mouse enters a rice bin without eating the rice?


    Quietly using Shadow Lurk, he neared a transparent compartment housing a pen, and after searching, found no entrance crevices.


    A fully sealed containment indeed was thoroughly sealed.


    But naturally, he had a way.


    Activating the Shadow Flame, the black currents converged, forming Dark Flame, which under Xue Jing''s control began to morph, turning into a thin black stick the size of a chopstick.


    The black stick aimed at the unidentified transparent partition and silently bored into it, slowly Annihilating the material and ''burning'' a small hole.


    He slipped through the hole in his Shadow Lurk state.


    There was a camera inside the compartment, and Xue Jing moved to the platform behind the Divine Relic, into the blind spot of the camera, and a hand emerged from the shadows, his fingers lightly resting on the pen-shaped Divine Relic.


    [Divine Substance detected, Divine Absorption in progress...]


    ''By the looks of it, this must be [GOD-1661¡¤Pen of Midas],'' Xue Jing thought to himself.


    A pen that turns to real gold whatever it writes on, but not very useful.


    With the efficiency of human writing, it takes at least two hours to fill an A4 sheet with ink, producing one sheet of Gold Paper every two hours, which is incredibly low yield.


    And this thing has to be written by a person to work; in a machine, it just becomes a normal pen without ink...


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 836]


    ''Very good,'' Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, left the compartment, and proceeded to the next target...


    ...

 Chapter 255 Xue Jing vs Zhou Yinglin Rematch, What Does Holding a Fishing Rod Mean? (4K)

    "What exactly is going on? Have you found the cause?"In Xu''s Biological Company on the 1009th floor of the Sky Center, Xu Mude frowned as he looked at the middle-aged researcher in a white lab coat in front of him.


    "It''s still unclear... I''ve checked, and the small holes on each compartment are all the same size, accurate to within a micron, and they are terrifyingly smooth, not like they were drilled by human hands..."


    The middle-aged researcher said in a low voice, sharing his findings.


    Xu Mude paused for a moment, pondering, "If it''s not man-made, could it be that some Divine Relic inside accidentally triggered some undiscovered new ability?"


    The middle-aged researcher hesitated, then said reluctantly, "...Theoretically, we can''t rule out that possibility."


    Xu Mude waved his hand, "Forget it, don''t get too fixated on it. Since nothing has been lost, arrange for more personnel to be vigilant during this period, even at night, to see if we can catch anything."


    The middle-aged researcher replied, "Yes."


    After speaking, Xu Mude turned and hurriedly entered the internal elevator, heading straight to the 1049th floor.


    "Mr. White Emperor, what a rare guest!"


    The automatic doors slid open to each side, and Xu Mude walked towards a tall, young man while smiling.


    It was a very strange young man.


    His eyes were set slightly wider than normal, and his eye sockets were deeper, resembling the facial features of someone of mixed heritage.


    Although his appearance was that of a young man, anyone who truly saw him would not associate him with the word ''youth.''


    He sat there quietly, in a very casual pose, his legs slightly parted, his right elbow resting on the arm of the chair, his hand loosely clenched into a fist supporting his chin.


    Stay tuned for updates on empire


    Despite such a casual posture, his body exuded an extremely terrifying aura, like a True Dragon perched in the clouds or a fierce tiger lying on a hill, dominating his surroundings.


    He didn''t look like a person at all; he seemed more like a ''monster,'' a mighty tiger-like demon covered in human skin.


    Xu Mude knew very well that the man in front of him was nearly fifty years old, famous for over thirty years, and was one of the current peak representatives of the Old Martial Path.


    The reason his appearance was still that of a young man was because he had leaped through the Dragon Gate and broken through the limits of human genes at a young age, achieving a sublimation of life and possessing a superhuman body.


    A Limit-Breaking Grandmaster who had leaped through the Dragon Gate would have his spirit and consciousness envelop every corner of his body, acting like a true ''emperor'' who had mastered his flesh, commanding it with a powerful spirit to forcibly optimize his own genes.


    Most Limit-Breaking Grandmasters had achieved Perfection in spirit, constantly adjusting their bodies'' state to maintain peak condition throughout their lives, unaffected by age-related decline in combat strength. They would retain the appearance they had when they made their Breakthrough.


    Thus, the younger the appearance of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, the more terrifying they generally were.


    "Mr. Lu, Brother Zhao asked you to come from Yuan City, what is it you want to do?"


    Zhou Yinglin spoke up next to him, his expression somewhat discontent.


    The man known as Lu Shenliu looked at him and said softly, "If you already understand, why bother asking me?"


    To everyone''s surprise, his voice was quite gentle and youthful, contrasting starkly with his imposing exterior.


    Zhou Yinglin''s jaw twitched a few times, and he said stiffly, "I will handle Xue Jing myself, Mr. Lu need not intervene."


    However, Xu Mude laughed and said, "Young Master Zhou is talking big again. I saw the last competition too; the gap in strength between you looked quite significant..."


    Hearing this, Zhou Yinglin''s expression remained unchanged as he scoffed, "What would a non-martial artist like you know? The reason I lost last time wasn''t due to a lack of strength, but because he used methods that do not belong to martial arts."


    The Sixth Bureau Special Duties Department deliberately concealed his information on the God-Given Secret Art, catching me off guard, but this time I''m prepared, and the outcome will be different," he added.


    Xu Mude curiously said, "Oh? But when Xue Jing defeated you, wasn''t he using your own Impeccable technique? That''s not some God-Given Secret Art, is it?"


    Zhou Yinglin replied coolly, "I told you, I was caught off guard."


    "This man is just bluffing, claiming he learned the Impeccable technique from me in just a few days. That''s simply impossible."


    "Impeccable isn''t exactly a secret in our circles; he''s involved with that woman from the Zhu Family, so he definitely got the information on Impeccable from the Zhu Family and studied it for who knows how long before he reached his current level."


    "He may have enough talent to master Impeccable, but Eighty Spears is his current limit; he can''t possibly improve further in just a few days, whereas I''m different."


    Zhou Yinglin clenched his fists, flames seeming to burn in his pupils.


    "Impeccable against Impeccable, the one with the higher realm will win. I have a way to reach the realm of Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads, and once I step onto the platform tomorrow to face him, I am sure to win," he declared.


    Lu Shenliu appeared somewhat amused but did not laugh out loud, only saying, "Don''t worry, I''ll make my move after your match with him is over, as Zhudai Shou specifically mentioned."


    Zhou Yinglin furrowed his brow.


    It seemed from Lu Shenliu''s words that he had already assumed Zhou would lose.


    But then, Lu Shenliu seemed to think of something and added, "However... I might not even get the chance to intervene."


    A peaceful and serene image of a young girl flashed through his mind. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 255 Xue Jing vs Zhou Yinglin Rematch, What Does Holding a Fishing Rod Mean? (4K)_2

    That little girl is not an easy one to deal with¡­Zhou Yinglin wasn''t sure what Lu Shenliu was thinking and mistook his words as an acknowledgment, which somewhat relaxed his expression.


    "Just wait and see... Mr. Lu, it seems you''ve come here for nothing."


    His eyes, sharp as a hawk''s, sparkled with confidence.


    ...


    The next day was the day of the semifinal competition.


    Xue Jing sat in Ning Yuantai''s car, watching him driving while nervously looking around, and couldn''t help but say,


    "Yuanti, what are you doing?"


    Ning Yuantai said seriously, "I''m on guard."


    "What if Lu Shenliu suddenly attacks... Xue, it''s very dangerous!"


    Xue Jing said speechlessly, "If he really launched a surprise attack, you wouldn''t be able to react in time, this is just pointless."


    After a pause, Xue Jing continued, "If you''re scared, let me out here, I can just take a taxi."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai immediately shook his head, "No way! I''m your dedicated driver and number one follower, Xue. If I have to die, I''ll die with you!"


    Xue Jing, annoyed, slapped him on the head, making him stagger, and said, "What the hell are you talking about? Don''t be disgusting."


    Miao Miao, sitting on the adjacent seat, yawned and lazily flicked her fluffy tail.


    While chatting, Xue Jing suddenly found a fishing rod in the gap behind the car seat.


    "Yuanti, do you like fishing?"


    Xue Jing picked up the rod, weighed it in his hand, and asked.


    "Hmm?" Ning Yuantai glanced back at the fishing rod in Xue Jing''s hands and casually said,


    "Not really, just occasionally go fishing with Old Xu."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... then let me borrow this rod for a while."


    Ning Yuantai seemed puzzled, but still said, "Ah? Oh, sure, no problem."


    Upon arriving at the Super Arena, Xue Jing quickly entered through the internal passages.


    Perhaps because it was the semifinals and the competition was getting more exciting, there were a lot of spectators, and the place was packed, almost matching the intensity of the previous quarterfinals.


    Before reaching the players'' lounge, Xue Jing bumped into an acquaintance along the way.


    Elegant in posture, stunningly beautiful, and androgynous, Otogirusu.


    "Xue Jun."


    He saw Xue Jing carrying a fishing rod on his shoulder and immediately reached out and softly greeted him.


    "Lu Sang, long time no see." Xue Jing smiled back.


    Otogirusu''s eyes softened as he spoke gently, "Xue Jun, I''m just on my way to an interview, would you like to join me?"


    From the quarterfinals onwards, there was a pre-match interview session for every match.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing shook his head, "Another interview, how many more interviews can there be? Playing a match is such a hassle, I won''t go."


    "Hehehe~" Otogirusu covered his mouth and chuckled, saying,


    "That''s too bad... your fans will be so disappointed."


    Xue Jing waved his hand and, as he walked past Otogirusu towards the lounge, he said, "I never asked them to be my fans... Expecting unilaterally and getting disappointed unilaterally is just pointless."


    Otogirusu didn''t turn around but softly spoke, "You are right, Xue Jun..."


    After waiting a while, when Xue Jing had already rounded the corner, Otogirusu continued as if talking to himself:


    "But I can''t help but have expectations for you..."


    "And you, you never let me down, do you?"


    ...


    "Good afternoon, audience friends! Welcome to the U19 unrestricted elite fighting championship finals, I''m Tao Xingshou!"


    "After a period of competition, we''ve finally reached the semifinals. Each contestant who has made it this far is a master among masters, a genius among geniuses!"


    "What exciting matches these four incredible youths will bring us today, let''s wait and see..."


    In the midst of the commentator''s endless speech, Xue Jing silently appeared in the player''s viewing area.


    This time, among the two hundred thousand spectators and more than twenty watching contestants, not a single person noticed his arrival.


    [Concealment Lv9 (291/8000)]


    After this period of intentionally and unintentionally gaining experience, the skill "Concealment" that he had activated not long ago had reached Lv9. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that time, when he used Aura Blockade to retract all his aura, his presence had become astonishingly low.


    As long as his ''Dynamic Qi'' remained absolutely calm, not generating any intent of murder, antagonism, or battle, even martial arts masters with extremely sharp senses would subconsciously overlook him standing right in front of them.


    With the announcer''s passionate voice, the match was about to begin.


    Otogirusu and Song Nanxing then entered the arena.


    Xue Jing quietly watched the two on the stage.


    Song Nanxing, of the Celestial Movement Sect, who had delved deeply into the realm of defense and counterattack, was up against the reputedly ultimate rapid attacker, Suzuka of the Suzaku Style, known for her "Instantaneous Thousand Cuts."


    This would be a thrilling match.


    As Xue Jing had predicted, and as most people in attendance had expected, the fight was intense.


    Defense and counterstance, swift moves and counters, towards the end, both fighters almost turned into lightning streaks, their punches and kicks interchanging so quickly they surpassed the limits of human dynamic vision, leaving the audience gasping and unable to keep up.


    However, only Xue Jing and some top masters could discern the state of the two fighters.


    One was relaxed and seemed to be playing, while the other was going all out, tense and focused.


    The match concluded with Otogirusu using her "Secret Technique: Divine Cutting" for the first time in this U19 contest.


    That moment when she swung her hand blade, layer upon layer, seemed as if in an instant there were hundreds of different cutting strikes, Song Nanxing had no means of resistance, for even the finest defense could not withstand an absolute offense.


    "Interesting..." Xue Jing muttered to himself, his eyes slightly brightening.


    He then turned around and left the spectator area silently, heading back to the backstage.


    From beginning to end, almost no one noticed his arrival or departure.


    Next, it was his second fight against Zhou Yinglin.


    ...


    "...Welcome back to the U19 Grand Finals top four contest, I am the host Tao Xingshou!"


    "Thank you to Song Nanxing and Otogirusu for that wonderful showdown! Next, we are in for an even more intense and thrilling match!"


    "Come on, let''s loudly cheer their names!"


    Guided by the announcement, the audience enthusiastically began cheering.


    "Xue Jing¡ªXue Jing¡ªXue Jing¡ª"


    The calls for Xue Jing echoed throughout the venue, starting disorderly but becoming rhythmic, louder and more ordered.


    "Xue''s popularity right now... is really remarkable," Yin Muhu remarked in the spectator area.


    Otogirusu, who had also arrived there after her match, laughed and said:


    "Xue Jun is indeed someone who deserves such attention."


    "I wish I could meet Xue Jun on the stage soon..."


    He looked towards the player''s tunnel where Zhou Yinglin was, whispering softly.


    "Zhou Yinglin¡ªZhou Yinglin¡ªZhou Yinglin¡ª"


    After the chants for Xue Jing ended, it was Zhou Yinglin''s turn.


    Despite suffering a crushing defeat to Xue Jing once, which greatly affected his popularity, he had many loyal fans, and his cheering was strong even now.


    But it seemed somewhat lacking in confidence, and ultimately it wasn''t as loud.


    "Let''s welcome¡ªboth competitors to the arena!"


    Seemingly determined to thrive off this popularity, this second match between Xue Jing and Zhou Yinglin was still treated like a final championship duel as both entered the arena together.


    Xue Jing, carrying a fishing rod on his shoulder, slowly walked out of the player''s tunnel.


    Compared to last time, he no longer needed the ''Conqueror''s Haki'' to silence the crowd.


    The overwhelming cheers were mostly for him.


    "Ah? A fishing rod?"


    "What''s the Demon King doing with a fishing rod? Where''s that door panel-like giant sword?"


    The audience was utterly puzzled.


    ...

 Chapter 256 Sweeping Through, Zhou Yinglin:

    "Is Demon King Xue indicating he wants to hurry up and finish the fight so he can go fishing? I didn''t expect him to be a hardcore fisherman... He''s just missing a helmet to look the part.""I see it as a weapon. Didn''t Dugu Qiubai make a sword from every plant and object? Maybe he can do it too, using a fishing rod as a spear? It looks similar enough to a spear anyway!"


    "You think this is a novel? Come on, use your brain. The impact of a weapon on one''s fighting ability is much more significant than you imagine. That fishing rod is clearly just an ordinary rod, not specially made. It would break with just a slight clash in a high-level martial arts competition. At most, it''s good for showing off against an opponent who''s far below his own level.


    If Demon King Xue really intends to play this game, he''s likely to suffer a big loss. The gap between him and Zhou Yinglin isn''t that small!"


    "Well, what else could it be? It''s not a fishing contest. The thing he brought to a martial arts competition must be a weapon. He''s clearly trying to show off."


    "Deserving of the name Demon King Xue - seeing that he''s still so arrogant puts my mind at ease."


    "Isn''t he going to crash and burn?" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hard to say, though the last bout seemed to show a big difference in strength, Zhou Yinglin wouldn''t be standing on the stage again without something to rely on. If Demon King Xue is too arrogant, it could indeed be risky..."


    "Fortune favors the bold! I had the same thought. Since Zhou Yinglin dares to step back on the stage, the outcome is still uncertain! The odds are 5 to 1, I''m going all in on his victory!"


    "...It''s you, the gambler again. Last time you went all in and won twelve times your bet on Xue Jing, and it''s still not enough, playing big again? Truly hopeless."


    ...


    In the midst of the spectators'' discussions, Xue Jing stepped onto the stage.


    He rested the fishing rod on his shoulder with one hand, and glanced at Zhou Yinglin, who had also taken his position on the opposite side.


    Ignoring the cameramen who began to circle around him for a 360-degree panoramic shot, Xue Jing spoke softly:


    "Zhou Yinglin, you idiot, how dare you stand before me again? Who gave you the guts?"


    This time, his voice didn''t carry across the venue but was only heard by Zhou Yinglin and the nearby referee.


    For the sake of publicity during the last U19 competition, the officials added a sound-amplifying device to the match between Xue Jing and Zhou Yinglin, broadcasting their conversation not just throughout the venue but also on live streams.


    However, Xue Jing''s trash talk... was a bit too much.


    Calling someone an idiot and using all kinds of variations, as the match ended spectacularly, these phrases started trending online.


    Many children also saw it and picked it up quickly, dropping their personal quality several levels, leading to numerous complaints from parents to the U19 organization. The organizers had no choice but to regretfully scrap this feature.


    Zhou Yinglin, holding the ''Embroidered Needle'', seemed to have possibly become infuriated by Xue Jing. His complexion turned somewhat red.


    His lips twitched slightly as he raised the Embroidered Needle, the spear tip pointing at Xue Jing, and said forcefully, "Xue Jing, don''t be arrogant. Martial arts are not fought with the mouth, I''ll soon shut you up."


    Since that match, he had earned the disparaging nickname ''idiot'' online, and hearing the instigator use the term again made it hard for him to contain himself.


    Xue Jing was amused, chuckled twice, and replied, "After being beaten up like that last time, you can still say such things. Indeed, you leave me speechless."


    "If the skills in your hands were half as tough as your mouth, I would be pleading for my life by now."


    As he spoke, Xue Jing swung the fishing rod in his hands a couple of times, testing the feel.


    Zhou Yinglin frowned and asked, "What''s the meaning of bringing a fishing rod?"


    Xue Jing held the rod with his right hand and tapped his left palm, smiling and saying, "No particular meaning... I just picked it up on the way here, do you think it suits you?"


    "What are you talking about?" Zhou Yinglin replied, somewhat puzzled.


    Xue Jing didn''t explain, as the commentator''s voice already filled the air.


    "...Here it comes, finally! Zhou Yinglin, the player who narrowly lost in the quarterfinals, has fought his way back up from the loser''s bracket, made it to the top four, and is once again facing Competitor Xue Jing!"


    "A stunningly talented youth, a will that never admits defeat, like an indomitable hero!"


    "Will he be able to avenge his loss to the Great Demon King who once defeated him? Let''s all witness the second battle between the hero and the Demon King!"


    "Now, let the match... begin!"


    The referee stepped forward, waved his hand between the two, and then quickly ran off the stage.


    Zhou Yinglin took a step forward, circling around Xue Jing in a slow walk.


    He twirled the Embroidered Needle with one hand, creating flowing movements, and said indifferently as he walked, "Xue Jing, this time it''s different from the last."


    "I have completely seen through your tricks... You really think just relying on a few God-Given Secret Arts makes you invincible under heaven?"


    Xue Jing smiled and asked, "Is that what you think? So, what do you plan to do?"


    Zhou Yinglin snorted and reached into his chest to pull out a... wind talisman?


    It was a pale blue sphere of air, tightly wound and visibly fluctuating and spinning.


    Xue Jing, who had originally appeared indifferent to the match, suddenly took on a serious expression, narrowing his eyes slightly at the sight of the swirling air.


    It was...


    Zhou Yinglin, seeing Xue Jing''s expression turn much more serious, felt as if confirming something; he couldn''t help but laugh out loud, his laughter filled with a sense of release.


    "You recognize this thing, right? Afraid, aren''t you!"


    "A mere Blessed One, daring to step onto the stage, defiling the glory of Old Martial Arts with your filthy means, today I will make sure you have nowhere to bury the dead!"


    Zhou Yinglin seemed to have been holding back for too long, and as he shouted this out, his voice was so excited it was hoarse and nearly hysterical.

 Chapter 261 Past Events, Sleeve Dragon, Mahayana Flying Sword

    "wan yulai is a genius."wu xuanzhu slowly began.


    he had already noticed that the members of the zhige base around him had surrounded the place, yet they did not dare to come close.


    but he did not consider it a matter, casually finding a rock of just the right height to sit on as if it were a chair, placing his palms on his knees, ready to start telling a story.


    "this old man seldom uses the word ''genius'' to describe others."


    wu xuanzhu said.


    "in any field, as long as one is not dead, the heights one can eventually reach are uncertain. martial arts are the same; it''s not about who practices faster or who breaks through earlier that determines who is stronger... before death, nothing is conclusive."


    "this old man barely broke through at nearly fifty years old, left behind by who knows how many so-called ''geniuses'', unable to even catch a glimpse of their backs.


    but in the end, this old man still stands here, atop the pinnacle, revered as the gun saint by the world, praised as the supreme peak of the realm of skill, while those ''geniuses'', most have long been cleanly forgotten by the times, now lacking even the qualifications to be compared with this old man."


    at this point, wu xuanzhu paused.


    "however, even with this living example of myself, there are still some people whose existence forces this old man to summarize with the word ''genius''."


    he pointed at xue jing.


    "another one today... including you, the number of people this old man has seen who can be called ''genius'' total seven."


    xue jing smiled and said, "that doesn''t sound too few."


    wu xuanzhu glanced at him, "this old man has lived nearly a hundred years, seen more martial artists than you can imagine, countless passing the dragon gate before the age of thirty, and not a few below twenty. the number ''seven'' is much fewer than you imagine."


    "even ''white emperor'' lu shenliu from yesterday who came to kill you, has never been considered a ''genius'' by this old man."


    "but wan yulai is."


    wu xuanzhu rolled up his sleeve, revealing a section of his strong forearm that did not at all look like that of an old man.


    "the word ''genius'' actually carries a somewhat despairing connotation. it attributes all efforts, hardships, luck, pain... everything one experiences to the talent given by the heavens."


    "that''s why this old man dislikes this word. yet wan yulai is just like you, possessing an unreasonable nature that forces this old man to describe with the word ''genius''."


    xue jing nodded his head, indicating his understanding.


    wu xuanzhu paused for a moment, then continued:


    "in his youth, li qi was known together with two others as ''the trio of jade city'', acclaimed by people as very likely to touch the seven great titles in the future."


    "indeed, that was the case. apart from li qi, who met with mishap, zhou liexiong and chen buyan from the trio of jade city are now both on the verge of claiming titles. i saw chen buyan of the asura blade two years ago at sky mirror lake. he participated in the ''army master battle'' of sky mirror lake.


    though he ultimately failed to claim the title of army master, he was still able to compete fiercely on the stage with the strong."


    "li qi, one of the trio and even seen as the informal leader, was undeniably a formidable person, but in his forties, he was challenged by a junior not half his age."


    "naturally, he wouldn''t take it to heart. such doorstep challenges were daily occurrences for him, and he always accepted all comers..."


    "then, he was defeated by this young man under the age of twenty."


    "his defeat was utterly miserable. a single punch destroyed the true dragon ambition he had nurtured for decades, broke his legs, and forced him to kneel."


    wu xuanzhu remarked:


    "nobody expected this outcome. this old man also found it hard to believe when receiving the news... at that time, li qi was close to his second breakthrough. setting aside his character for the moment, purely in terms of martial strength, the old martial circle held him in high regard.


    many were optimistic about him, thinking he had a chance to seize the ''true dragon'' title within twenty years, which was also his dream."


    "but this young man, before then, no one had heard his name."


    "after that, stepping on li qi as a foothold, everyone came to know him."


    "the former ''dragon king li'', li qi, is now merely an insignificant note in the backdrop of battles achieved by ''true dragon'' wan yulai."


    xue jing tilted his head slightly, puzzled, "why would wan yulai challenge my master? why did he strike so hard? was there some grievance?"


    wu xuanzhu shook his head, "li qi was aggressive and liked to stir up trouble, making countless enemies." s§×ar?h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "but wan yulai, who reduced him to such a state, had absolutely no connection with him."


    "after defeating li qi, wan yulai said something."


    "''the title dragon king... sounds displeasing to my ear.''


    xue jing''s expression became tranquil, without fluctuation, expressing a noncommittal ''huh''.


    wu xuanzhu continued, "li qi''s only disciple at the time... this old man remembers his surname was meng, the first name forgotten, he demanded to know why wan yulai struck so mercilessly."


    he paused for a moment, his tone becoming profound, "wan yulai said: ''if i didn''t strike hard, how would the world know of my dissatisfaction with the title ''dragon king''?


    xue jing''s eyes smiled without joy, "quite an interesting person."


    wu xuanzhu nodded, leisurely said, "indeed, quite interesting."


    "li qi, this man, is bravely fierce and violent. he has maimed and killed quite a few himself, which has made him quite unpopular. this outcome is within reason, and i don''t know how many people are applauding it."


    "but wan yulai seeking him out was not because of a personal vendetta, nor was it to act the hero; it was for a nitpicky reason that he found him disagreeable, which could be seen as a taste of his own medicine, a karmic cycle if you will."


    "today''s wan yulai, after more than a decade of dedication, two years ago at the age of thirty-three, broke the record and became the youngest holder of the ''true dragon'' title."


    "over the next two years, he fought and won continuously. on ''thousand-year island'', he secured the ''true dragon'' title twice in a row with overwhelming power, undefeated and thus acclaimed as the ''uncrowned eternal true dragon''."


    "even an old man like me would not dare claim certain victory against him."


    wu xuanzhu smiled and said to xue jing, "what do you think after hearing this?"


    xue jing did not answer the question directly but after pondering, he asked, "senior wu, what sect is the ''yanlong liu'' that wan yulai practices, and does it have any relation to my ''hidden dragon school''?"


    wu xuanzhu felt quite a favorability towards xue jing and didn''t mind his indirect answer being slightly impolite, instead replying with a smile,


    "there are countless martial arts sects featuring the word ''dragon'' in this world. it''s not uncommon to stumble upon one by chance; it''s probably just a coincidence."


    "your master, li qi derived the hidden dragon school from an ancient technique named ''sleeve dragon''. it can be considered a semi-original sect; he''s like half a founding master."


    "as for the origins of yanlong liu, they are rather mysterious. there was no word of it before wan yulai started showcasing his abilities."


    "no matter how talented wan yulai is, it''s impossible for him to have developed a complete and powerful sect on his own in his teens. to create something out of nothing without sufficient experience, that''s something only a deity could do."


    "however, he has never mentioned anything about the origins of yanlong liu. i''d guess there''s likely a hidden, formidable individual teaching him."


    xue jing nodded and said, "i understand, thank you for clearing up my confusion, senior."


    his eyes showed deep contemplation.


    ancient techniques, sleeve dragon, yanlong...


    wu xuanzhu stood up from the stone, brushed off the dust that had settled on him from the earlier fight, and said,


    stay tuned for updates on empire


    "alright, we have talked quite a bit... it''s time i spoke about the reason i came to see you today."


    xue jing looked at him attentively and nodded, "please speak, senior."


    wu xuanzhu weighed his words and said, "strictly speaking, there''s no fundamental conflict between you and that disappointing disciple of mine. he is just a weapon in the hands of others; someone else is behind the scheme to kill you, not him personally."


    "i have seen him before; he''s pretty much half-wasted, a result of his own doing, so it''s not worth mentioning."


    "i hope you can do me the favor of not holding a grudge against him... consider this a request. it doesn''t matter if you choose not to listen."


    "as compensation for his once malicious intentions towards you, i will teach you a martial arts technique that you currently should find quite beneficial."


    xue jing smiled and said, "what happened in the arena has ended. although he wanted to kill me, it''s like a lion doesn''t bother with how much malice a rabbit harbors. in light of your position, senior, as long as he doesn''t provoke me again, i will not lay hands on him."


    wu xuanzhu nodded, "should he dare again, i won''t plead on his behalf... let''s leave that matter be. little jing, you''re quite magnanimous."


    "i am an elder to youqing, and since you have ties with youqing... i ought to give you a proper welcoming gift."


    his gaze shifted to the forgotten greatsword stuck in the ground not too far away.


    "little jing, do you possess the skill to wield a flying sword? is this a god-given secret art?"


    xue jing nodded, there was no point in denying, "it''s a technique i recently grasped."


    he extended a hand towards the room bearing the forgotten greatsword, gesturing a sword with his finger, and with a slight movement,


    the forgotten greatsword immediately lifted from its spot, rising into the air, swiftly approaching xue jing. it circled around him ceaselessly, like a nimble fish gliding through water.


    wu xuanzhu''s eyes lifted slightly:


    "this agility..."


    although he had already experienced it briefly, it wasn''t until he observed the giant-sword-turned-door panel moving with such delicacy, as if weightless, that he truly appreciated its maneuverability.


    "i may not understand the principles of this god-given secret art, but since you can control it to such an extent, surely you can practice this extraordinary power," said wu xuanzhu.


    "today, i will teach you a supreme flying sword technique that is unparalleled in the world."


    "its name is ¡ª mahayana flying sword."


    ...


    (there will be another update later; i am currently writing it. i''m not sure how long it will take, so readers don''t need to wait; go to sleep first.)


    (seeking monthly tickets...)

 Chapter 263 The BUG Usage of Nonexistent Beast, Terrifying Divinity Harvest, Demons Eye (Two in One)

    this skill was activated the first time he taught his little disciple, zong shichan.the effect was to enhance the quality of his own teaching and, through "reviewing old knowledge to gain new insights," he would also gain relevant skill experience while teaching others.


    the efficiency for grinding experience was quite good, although it was a bit like wasting the disciple''s potential.


    since most of his key skills had reached lv10 and the key to leveling up had changed to divinity afterward, the "teaching" skill was neglected by him.


    "if there was anything just now that seemed related to ''teaching'' and could satisfy the conditions for sublimation... it was only senior wu xuanzhu''s ''divine will implantation''."


    xue jing thought to himself.


    it seemed that perhaps after the sublimation of teaching, he could obtain a transcendent skill related to ''empowerment''?


    directly instilling what he knew into others, without going through the specific teaching process.


    quite interesting.


    since one thousand points of divinity for sublimation was not a significant amount to him anymore, xue jing decided to grind the teaching experience when he had time, leveling it up to lv10 to see what happens after sublimation.


    xue jing cradled miao miao''s buttocks in one hand, stood up holding her, and asked:


    "teacher wan, when did you come over, did you see an old person?"


    miao miao spoke in a girlish voice:


    "when i heard the noise earlier, i thought it must be you getting into trouble again, so i wanted to come and check, but on the way, the people from zhige base stopped me, saying it was too dangerous to come close, so i waited around the perimeter for a while."


    as one of the very few who knew how strong xue jing''s survival ability was, she wasn''t particularly worried about his safety, thus she wasn''t in a hurry.


    "by the time they said i could come over, you were the only one sitting here." s§×arch* the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xue jing thought to himself, wu xuanzhu didn''t wait for the other to finish training and just left, portraying himself as a master.


    though there was actually no need for him to act, as he truly was a master.


    "wan yulai..."


    xue jing had long ago promised his master, li qi, that he would help him and his elder martial brother and meng take revenge for past grievances, and it didn''t matter if they couldn''t find the specific enemy; anyone with a suspicion was fair game to be utterly defeated.


    as for wan yulai, who had crippled li qi and directly triggered the event that left meng''s mother''s fate unknown to this day, he was naturally on the list for revenge.


    although li qi himself was somewhat problematic... he had made too many enemies due to his arrogance in day-to-day life.


    "the uncrowned eternal true dragon..."


    xue jing mused thoughtfully. experience tales at empire


    wan yulai was a ferocious character that not even the venerable gun saint wu xuanzhu dared claim easy victory over; he was one of the seven individuals described by the gun saint as ''defying common sense, only describable as a genius.''


    xue jing was one of those seven, and yet in wu xuanzhu''s eyes, wan yulai could stand equal to him.


    "what, has he also started?"


    xue jing shook his head.


    at thirty-three, he secured the title, and in the two subsequent years, he showed dominating power in the title fights, clearly reaching the ''eternal'' level.


    this data, even if xue jing was out of touch with the old martial circle, he understood its exaggeration, as being nearly as incredible as having started.


    according to wu xuanzhu, in terms of fighting power, wan yulai would not lose to him, the gun saint; at most, he was only slightly weaker, making the fight evenly matched.


    and wu xuanzhu... xue jing felt that he definitely couldn''t beat him, the gap might even be huge.


    although he had only briefly sparred with wu xuanzhu and hadn''t tested much.


    however, among martial artists, sometimes a single touch was enough to roughly gauge the other''s level.


    in xue jing''s feeling, wu xuanzhu was like an endlessly deep abyss; solely in martial arts strength, wu xuanzhu was at least a hundred times stronger than him, and it seemed limitless, with no end in sight.


    even if he used all types of divinity skills and extraordinary skills, exerting his ultimate combat power, along with the various ''first encounter strike'' situations against wu xuanzhu, xue jing still didn''t feel optimistic.


    he trusted his instincts, and since his instinctive intuition felt that he couldn''t win, it was highly probable that he couldn''t.


    if he couldn''t beat wu xuanzhu, then the outlook against wan yulai wasn''t optimistic either.


    it seemed the revenge would have to wait for the future.


    "a heavy responsibility and a long journey... my strength is still not enough."


    "it''s fired up! time for martial arts practice!"


    ...


    after returning to the villa with miao miao, it was already time for dinner.


    since rescuing the little maid yun qin, xue jing had basically not cooked himself.


    miao miao was quite dissatisfied with this, but although missing xue jing''s limitless culinary skills that made even instant noodles unlike any other, the little maid''s consistent excellent performance ranging between ninety to one hundred percent was sufficiently good, and she did not complain.


    after having dinner together, ning yuantai came to ask about the specific events that had just unfolded.


    after listening to xue jing''s story, ning yuantai remarked a few times in admiration of the senior gun saint''s grand demeanor, which was completely different from zhou yinglin''s.


    in the following two days, xue jing was mostly immersed in martial arts practice.


    besides the daily hidden dragon school weight training and yellow grannie skill, he devoted most of his energy to familiarizing himself with mahayana flying sword and mystic art¡¤inverse scales.


    in terms of the mahayana flying sword, this marvelous feat truly had substance. although xue jing, leveraging his true martial quickly entered the initial phase, even with his martial talents surpassing human limits, training proved exceptionally difficult.


    so far, he was still at the introductory stage of the first realm, the ''carrying skill''.


    this stage enabled him to remotely execute his martial arts moves on the flying sword.

 Chapter 264 The Divine Plan, the Thief Saint himself, Ning Fengwan PUAd by Xue Jing (Two in One)

    xue jing turned into a shadow, ceaselessly scanning his surroundings. his vision and other five senses, far beyond human limits, thoroughly penetrated the area, not missing any tiny detail.at the same time, his spiritual power also dispersed outward. he began meditative visualization, gradually constructing the terrain details of the nearby area in his mind.


    "good... there shouldn''t be any problem," s§×arch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    there was no one around... not even things resembling surveillance or alarm equipment.


    the construction and decoration style didn''t differ much from other floors of xu''s biology, all leaning towards that high-tech company vibe.


    however, even though nothing seemed amiss at a glance, perhaps due to the dim lighting and the overwhelming silence, xue jing felt an uncanny atmosphere on this floor.


    it was like one of those overly quiet scenes from a horror movie that makes you feel something terrifying is about to jump out at any moment.


    "feels like some mad scientist''s lair..."


    the shadow that xue jing had become moved slowly across the floor.


    although he hadn''t found any people or surveillance, he remained cautious.


    with not a single gap and being completely sealed in a way that even spiritual penetration was blocked by the material, xue jing thought he couldn''t be too careful in such a highly secretive location.


    but as xue jing explored the 1097th floor, the doubts in his mind grew heavier.


    "strange... there''s really nothing?"


    he had been walking for quite some time. although there were rooms one after another on this floor, they were all empty without a soul, with very few objects inside¡ªjust some boxes, tables, chairs, and various strange devices that were obviously too worn out to be usable.


    it was like a crumbling, abandoned company.


    "perhaps the 1097 originally was an important place, but got abandoned for some reason... it seems the wind of all beginnings shouldn''t be on this floor," xue jing thought to himself.


    such precious divine relics with serial numbers within the top three hundred wouldn''t likely be carelessly placed in such a desolate place.


    however, to prevent ''ignorance under one''s own nose,'' xue jing still meticulously combed through the entire floor.


    as a result, he indeed didn''t find anything unusual; the entire floor was deserted.


    "i''ve spent a bit too much time..."


    xue jing calculated the time in his head, it was almost 4 a.m.


    in a few hours, it would be dawn. not wanting to waste more time, he planned to immediately proceed to the 1098th floor.


    just then, he suddenly had an intuition, realizing something was off.


    "no... there''s something strange with the size of this floor."


    xue jing pondered for a moment, then calmed down and began to visualize the entire 1097th floor''s terrain that he had constructed in the imaginary space.


    then, he constructed the terrain of the 1096th floor below it.


    next, he brought the two floors close to each other, superimposing them...


    soon, the result came out.


    both floors were situated in the sky center; theoretically, their size and area should be the same.


    however, after comparing them once overlapped, xue jing noticed an almost 200 square meter diamond-shaped piece missing on the southeast edge of the 1097th floor, as compared to the 1096th.


    "the whole floor is just too big, and the positioning of this section is so tricky, i almost overlooked it..."


    xue jing''s eyes flickered.


    this missing diamond-shaped area was sealed with the same special material as the outer part of the 1097th floor, capable of blocking spiritual penetration, which is why he overlooked it during the ''meditative visualization'' scan of the map.


    if it weren''t for his increased brain function, stronger spatial awareness due to the level up of his skills and martial arts cultivation, he might well have missed it.


    without hesitation, xue jing immediately made his way to the sealed-off diamond-shaped area, coalesced a dark flame, and let the nonexistent beast swallow it.


    with such a covertly hidden area, there must be a reason behind it, and it was imperative to explore.


    his body hugging the wall, xue jing let the nonexistent beast pass through to the other side, to the maximum distance of six meters, and spit out the dark flame.


    feeling that the dark flame was in an empty space and hadn''t touched any solid matter, xue jing performed a shadow leap.


    the next moment, he emerged soundlessly from the dark flame.


    upon appearing, he scanned his surroundings, bringing everything around him into view immediately.


    the dim light couldn''t hinder xue jing''s sharp eyes.


    the shadow flame burned quietly in his pupils, meaning even in absolute darkness, nothing could stop his sight.


    with this one look, xue jing''s breath caught slightly in his throat.


    it wasn''t the place he imagined where a divine relic within the top three hundred would be hidden, but... a human experimentation lab?


    dozens of incubation pod-like machines surrounded him, filled with an orange-yellow liquid, and within each, a naked human body floated, mechanical tubes inserting into them everywhere.


    moreover, xue jing recognized all the bodies.


    they shared the same appearance.


    it was the person he had seen when ning yuantai took him to visit xu''s biology¡ªthe man named xu mude.


    ''what the hell? clones?''


    xue jing frowned.


    your next read awaits at empire


    before he could ponder further, he noticed that besides these machines housing ''clones'', two living people were present, a man and a woman.


    the man looked quite young, like an underage boy, and bore a striking resemblance to xu mude.


    and the woman...


    xue jing''s gaze sharpened, turning towards the woman''s side.


    there stood a pedestal about one and a half meters tall, topped with a semi-elliptical transparent cover. inside the cover, a pale red flow of air floated, continuously swirling.

 Chapter 264 The Divine Plan, Thief Saint Origin, Ning Fengwan PUAed by Xue Jing (Two in One)_2

    it was just a glance, but xue jing recognized it immediately. this was his purpose for coming here¡ªgod-098¡¤wind of all beginnings.this thing had nine paths, each functioned the same, but each path was a different color.


    seeing that he had finally found his target, xue jing''s heart stirred slightly, yet he was not in a hurry.


    his gaze shifted, looking at the woman''s face.


    the woman''s appearance was nothing special, just ordinarily pretty, but her eyes were very strange. her pupils were horizontal bars, like those of a goat, and the white part of her eyes had dense, radial blue lines, which were extremely eerie.


    the moment he saw those eyes, xue jing instinctively sensed a feeling of danger.


    instantly, he didn''t hesitate to have the nonexistent beast swallow him into invisibility.


    "hmm?"


    the goat-eyed woman''s gaze shifted slightly, and she looked toward the corner where xue jing had been.


    "sister kui, what''s wrong?"


    the young man beside her asked, puzzled.


    sister kui did not reply but stood up and walked toward the place where xue jing had been, continuously surveying the area, the blue lines in her eyes twinkling with a faint light.


    after a long while, having discovered nothing, she remained silent for a while, shook her head, and said,


    "it''s nothing... probably just another hallucination."


    the young man frowned, "why are the hallucinations so frequent today? could it be that the mutation rate has increased again? is this a sign of the mutative disease?"


    experience more on empire


    sister kui said indifferently, "it''s fine, just inject this, and it will be okay."


    the young man protested anxiously, "another injection!? this kind of strong inhibitor can directly erode consciousness, and an overdose means permanent damage! even changing bodies won''t bring it back!"


    sister kui''s tone was unflustered, "as long as the ''divine plan'' can succeed, this price is nothing, the one in cangting will naturally bless me..."


    the young man, showing dissatisfaction, said, "that old fool hasn''t shown his face at home for over a hundred years, who knows if he''s even still alive... suddenly dropping orders on us to start this ''divine plan''..."


    "so many families are also underway with the plan, the little wu family even started researching twenty years before us, and they haven''t made any breakthroughs, we started so late, how could we possibly make any progress? probably the higher-ups are deceiving you..."


    sister kui pondered for a moment and then said, "it''s different..."


    "xu mude somehow managed to strike a deal with the new beiyang council, obtaining part of ''adam''s'' flesh... it''s because of this that the one in cangting ordered to commence the ''divine plan''."


    "this is also why the plan has xu mude in charge and why the first batch of ''divines'' will use his genes..."


    the young man''s eyes widened in shock, "is that so!?"


    he murmured, "so that''s it... no wonder even though we already got the ''wind of all beginnings,'' they still made sister kui implant these eyes..."


    sister kui spoke indifferently, "enough, hurry up and bring me the inhibitor."


    the young man quickly complied, "yes."


    as the injection entered her body, the radial blue patterns in the whites of sister kui''s eyes gradually faded.


    her eyes showed fatigue as she spoke, "i need to rest for a while... keep watch, and if anything strange occurs, do not hesitate, and use the wind of all beginnings immediately..."


    the young man patted his chest, assuring, "don''t worry, sister kui, leave everything to me, you just rest well!"


    "mm..."


    ...


    twenty minutes later.


    in a certain area of the laboratory, a small, silent void opened quietly.


    a pair of eyes appeared from the rift, observing the outside for a while before a shadow slipped out and quickly moved to an inconspicuous corner.


    from within the shadow, xue jing''s gaze turned to the goat-eyed woman, who was currently sitting on the ground with her eyes closed, leaning against a wall corner, apparently resting.


    after confirming that she had no reaction, xue jing then looked at the young man, but after a mere glance, dismissively withdrew his gaze, and then looked toward the faint red wind of all beginnings inside the transparent cover.


    the shadow moved slowly, passing through the blind spots of the two people''s vision, gradually approaching the wind of all beginnings.


    xue jing gauged the distance, stopping six meters away from the wind of all beginnings. sea??h th§× n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    he didn''t rush to act, instead focusing on the young man who was watching a holographic image of an article on his bracelet.


    xue jing, having excellent vision, saw some of the content of the article.


    [... as a byproduct of ¡ö¡ö¡ö, the only divine relic birthed through human hands, the specialty of ''adam''...]


    [... it itself is devoid of any signs of consciousness...]


    [... the special substance we extracted from adam, we call it the ''divine factor''...]


    being positioned behind the young man, xue jing''s view was partially blocked, preventing him from seeing the entire article.


    however, he was particularly sensitive to the word ''divine,'' and seeing the term ''divine factor'' in the article immediately caught his attention, and he noted it.


    regardless of whether the ''divine factor'' truly referred to the divine discussed in the article or if it was just a coincidence in name, he decided to investigate this further once he got back.


    as for how to do the investigation... he naturally had the connections.


    a little investigation by youqing, and you''ll know.


    xue jing quietly waited for an opportunity.


    suddenly, it seemed the young man had looked for too long and instinctively changed his posture, turning his head to the other side.


    on this side, his field of vision was suddenly cut off from the wind of all beginnings.


    xue jing waited for this moment, without any hesitation, controlled the nonexistent beast, its invisible mouth opened, and instantly swallowed the pale red sphere of wind.

 Chapter 264 The Divine Plan, Thief Saint Origin, Ning Fengwan PUAed by Xue Jing (Two in One)_3

    got it!he did not hesitate. as soon as he succeeded, he fled a thousand miles away, moving quickly toward the corner of the wall. then he summoned the dark flame for the nonexistent beast to swallow, leaped over the sealed wall, and, with a shadow leap, he slipped out of the laboratory.


    inside the room, the young man did not notice that something had suddenly gone missing beside him.


    it wasn''t until ten minutes later, as he casually shifted his position, that he caught a glimpse of the pedestal that should have contained the wind of all beginnings from the corner of his eye.


    "hm?"


    he paused, stood up, rubbed his eyes, and looked again.


    "it... it''s gone!?" enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    his panicked shout echoed through the laboratory, awakening the woman with goat-like eyes.


    "what''s the matter?" she asked with a frown.


    the young man lifted the clear cover from the pedestal, scanning every inch of the place, finding not the slightest trace, and exclaimed in panic, "sister kui, the wind of all beginnings is gone!"


    "calm yourself," her slit pupils conveying sharpness.


    "so nothing happened, no abnormalities, not the slightest noise... just suddenly disappeared without a trace?"


    she questioned.


    the young man thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "yes."


    sister kui pondered briefly and then declared, "it''s not your fault... this must have triggered the ''transfer nature'' of the divine relic."


    "anyway, sound the alarm. although it''s highly likely that the divine relic moved on its own, we still have to put on a show for xu mude."


    the young man quickly nodded in response, "yes!"


    sister kui sighed, "without the wind of all beginnings, it''ll be bad if the ''divine'' goes berserk. this first batch of ''divine'' are probably going to end up in the trash..."


    ...


    "hum¡ª"


    the alarm resonated throughout the hundred floors of xu''s biological company, as countless employees, whether awake or asleep, began to act in a hurry.


    disguised as a shadow, xue jing descended, avoiding everyone''s eyesight and relentlessly moving toward the front gate of xu''s biology.


    his initial plan was to use the nonexistent beast combined with shadow leap to rapidly descend the floors and leave.


    however, his energy for shadow flame was not sufficient, and shadow leap consumed a significant amount of it¡ªnearly a hundred consecutive leaps were needed to go from the 1097th to the 1002nd floor, and his energy would not suffice.


    the walls on the edge of sky center were also frighteningly thick, much more than six meters, making it impossible to leap outside directly with the nonexistent beast.


    thus, he was forced to escape in this slow, stealthy manner.


    luckily, having visited twice already and having constructed the entire model of xu''s biological company in his mind, he was as familiar with the company as if it were his own home.


    despite the teeming crowds within the company, xue jing easily found cracks and blind spots to slip through unnoticed by anyone.


    about an hour later, he successfully reached the main entrance of xu''s biology and squeezed through a gap in the gate.


    it was now 5:30 a.m.


    the sky was already faintly brightening. xue jing did not pause but, as soon as he exited the gate, stuck to the outer wall of sky center in shadow transform mode, moving downward, avoiding the flying vehicles hovering around.


    nearly an hour later, he reached the ground.


    the morning sun had already begun to cast its rays, and daylight was upon them. however, as most of the traffic to and from sky center was through flying vehicles, the ground level was virtually ignored.


    xue jing, remaining in shadow transform mode, stealthily trekked away and entered a secluded forest.


    only then did his body slowly emerge from the shadows.


    "phew... done."


    xue jing exhaled.


    although he had successfully stolen the wind of all beginnings, the process had been quite perilous.


    after xu''s biology sounded the alarm, several individuals xue jing deemed difficult to face were searching around, and avoiding their sight had not been easy.


    but, he had succeeded.


    he snapped his fingers, and the void next to him opened a crack, spitting out a pale-red sphere of wind, which he caught in his hand.


    [detecting divine substance, absorbing divinity...]


    "the wind of all beginnings... now i have two."


    xue jing extended his other hand, allowing the nonexistent beast to also spit out the pale-blue sphere of wind.


    one hand with the blue wind, the other with red, like some superpower user.


    on a whim, he attempted to apply ''feather transformation'' to the two spheres of wind in his hands.


    then... nothing happened.


    xue jing''s eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.


    "the fact that the forgotten greatsword can undergo feather transformation proves that divine relics themselves are capable of it, but these two gusts of wind of all beginnings cannot... it must be because they don''t meet the conditions for feather transformation."


    "it has to be ''something of one''s own'' to be able to do it... hey, aren''t the things i, the thief saint, stole or snatched with my own skills considered mine?"


    xue jing pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.


    he shook his head.


    "forget it, it doesn''t matter. it was meant to be a gift for youqing a dream in the first place... i''ll head back first."


    xue jing took a step and leaped from branch to branch in the forest, hurrying towards yuan city.


    on the way, he successfully absorbed the newly acquired light red wind of all beginnings, gaining 1,326 points of divinity.


    including what he originally possessed, he now had a total of 9,024 points of divinity, a hefty harvest indeed.


    without any unforeseen incidents, xue jing quickly returned to yuan city, evading surveillance and bypassing passersby as he stealthily made his way back to the zhige base villa.


    from start to finish, no one noticed his presence, as if he had been in his room sleeping the entire time, never having left.


    a night of high-intensity mental concentration admittedly left xue jing feeling fatigued.


    however, having completed a task assigned by wu youqing, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders and was in quite a good mood.


    he opened his panel to see how to spend the nine thousand points of divinity and knew he had to plan it out.


    but xue jing didn''t want to think about these things for the moment. he walked out of the room, went downstairs, and saw the little maid yun qin sitting at the dining table, holding miao miao in her arms, feeding her with a spoon.


    upon hearing xue jing coming downstairs, miao miao turned to look at him, took another bite of the food yun qin was feeding her, and said in a muffled tone, "you''re back."


    "my sect leader, you seem to do nothing but eat and sleep lately."


    xue jing raised his eyebrows as he spoke.


    he wondered if it was because they had rescued yun qin, which relaxed miao miao''s tense spirit, and now that all the house chores could be handled by the little maid, not even having to lift a finger to eat, miao miao showed signs of being utterly spoiled.


    "hm?"


    miao miao hummed in confusion.


    "but¡­ isn''t that what pets do?"


    she spoke as if it were the most natural thing, shamelessly admitting her precise role in the household.


    xue jing''s mouth twitched slightly. "yun qin, let her eat by herself. don''t indulge her like this, or she''ll be spoiled rotten."


    yun qin''s chopsticks were suspended in mid-air with food between them, looking back and forth between xue jing and the miao miao in her arms, her round face filled with innocence.


    she murmured naively, "sect hierarch... master..."


    miao miao gave xue jing a disdainful look, stood up, stretched lazily, hopped onto the dining table, and landed with a thud, which seemed a bit heavy.


    xue jing''s eyes flashed. "hm? did you gain weight?"


    upon hearing this, miao miao''s emerald-like pupils showed a flicker of nervousness. "how... how could that be."


    xue jing rubbed his chin. "turn back into your human form, let me have a look."


    miao miao hesitated for a moment but soon shone with a platinum light and transformed into a human. her silky black hair cascaded down her back, and on her stunningly beautiful face, a pair of domineering phoenix eyes revealed a trace of nervousness.


    her naked body was slender in the right places and full where it should be. the european cup that evolved from the asian cup was particularly eye-catching, and above her firm buttocks wagged a fluffy tail.


    xue jing was accustomed to this beautiful sight, but he couldn''t help but silently praise its artistry...


    he kept his expression neutral, merely shook his head, and let out a regretful sigh.


    a woman dresses for the man who pleases her. seeing his expression, ning fengwan immediately panicked.


    she covered her important parts and pleaded resentfully, "jing... say something."


    "have i really gotten fat..."


    it would be good if you had... thought xue jing, but he calmly smiled and said, "you have gained a little weight."


    "what should i do?" ning fengwan asked anxiously.


    she grabbed her belly, which suddenly seemed less firm and much softer than before.


    "you and yun qin should practice martial arts with me. it''s very good for keeping in shape," said xue jing. sear?h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    perfect. his main goal was to get ning fengwan out of her slothful state, but it was also a good opportunity to grind the [teaching] experience.


    "well, what are we waiting for? let''s go!"


    ning fengwan''s eyes showed determination. she put on her underwear, slipped into shorts and a t-shirt suitable for working out, and tied her hair up into an efficient ponytail, adding a touch of heroism to her already strong and beautiful appearance.


    xue jing smiled. "aren''t you going to finish your meal first?"


    "i can''t eat a bite!"


    ...

 Chapter 265 Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Wan: If We Werent Siblings... (4K)

    zhige base, in the yard of a villa.xue jing was slowly practicing a somewhat peculiar set of boxing techniques.


    no, to call it boxing would not be quite accurate, it was closer to ''fitness exercises''.


    the purpose of each movement was to exercise every inch of the body as much as possible, and aside from the high difficulty, it was no different from fitness exercises.


    as he practiced, ning fengwan and the little maid yun qin were also watching his movements and followed along.


    this set of movements was based on the armor shaking skill of the hidden dragon school, which he had modified in a few minutes to be suitable for those without a martial arts foundation to limber up their muscles and bones.


    after all, with ''serpent slayer spearhead'' and ''the invincible lionheart,'' ning fengwan was alright; she had the divine power of bastet permeating her body, making her physically strong, but yun qin had no foundation at all and needed to be taught slowly.


    anyway, the main purpose was to help ning fengwan shake off her state of decay and incidentally to rack up some [teaching] experience, rather than to truly make her skilled in martial arts, so xue jing was in no hurry.


    "xue!"


    a call came from the entrance, and then ning yuantai entered the yard.


    upon entering, he paused for a moment, taking notice of ning fengwan.


    it was his first time seeing ning fengwan''s humanoid form as he had never seen her before, but he quickly understood from her cat ears and the platinum ring on her cat tail that this excessively beautiful woman was the same cat that was always on xue''s shoulder.


    knowing that this was likely xue''s ning yuantai, he immediately averted his gaze, not daring to look any longer.


    "yuantai, come over here."


    xue jing continued his movements while greeting ning yuantai.


    "practice with me, it''s good for your health." sear?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    he thought to himself that adding another person should at least give a bit of a boost to the [teaching] experience.


    ning yuantai scratched his head, wanting to say that the exercises they practiced in neo martial arts would be of no use here... but he never dared to refuse what xue jing said, so he immediately stepped forward and began practicing with them.


    as he practiced, he spoke in a low voice:


    "xue, there''s been trouble at sky center."


    xue jing performed a move similar to tai chi''s ''holding a watermelon,'' and said without changing his expression, "what happened?"


    ning yuantai followed the movements and whispered, "to be precise, something happened at xu''s biology... the alarm rang so loudly that it was heard on hundreds of floors above and below."


    "although i don''t know the specifics... i heard that xu mude has completely sealed off sky center and is not allowing anyone to enter or exit."


    "oh?" xue jing''s eyes flickered, puzzled:


    "sky center is so big; can he seal it off? and do people on the other floors have no objections? also, are the municipal governments of the inner ring just letting him mess around?"


    ning yuantai continued his exercises in sync with xue jing, feeling like an old man practicing tai chi in the park... suppressing this odd sensation, he said:


    "he''s paying a lot of money to several major security giants, deploying countless security forces around sky center, and now every hour, the cost is astronomical for ordinary people." discover hidden content at empire


    "moreover... let''s just say xu family''s face is indeed big enough that several super-company headquarters located in sky center are also letting him have his way, and the municipal governments of yuan city, star city, and jade city haven''t made a peep so far."


    xue jing casually asked, "sky center must be pretty important, right? the municipal government isn''t reacting at all?"


    ning yuantai shook his head and said, "as a symbol, it''s certainly important... but in reality, it''s not that crucial."


    "after the loss of ''eternal night,'' the original significance of sky center as the ''sun pillar'' has disappeared, and it''s basically certain that there will never be another day for it to be activated."


    "and while the sky center of the fifth urban circle isn''t as politically significant as the ''heavenly palace'' of the first urban circle, nor as functionally unique as the ''extreme martial ascension palace'' of the seventh metropolitan circle."


    "its actual function is nothing more than a taller building that sells for a high price... the municipal government will naturally consider whether it is worth the risk of a direct conflict with the xu family over this matter."


    xue jing seemed enlightened: "i see."


    he appeared unconcerned, as if he was just listening to an interesting piece of gossip.


    but inside, he was deep in thought.


    although he was aware that xu mude losing the wind of all beginnings might lead to some actions, he hadn''t expected them to be so dramatic.


    to the extent of needing to lock down sky center.


    was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a divine relic that had just made it into the top hundred in the sequence... especially when it was only one-ninth of it?


    furthermore, when he stole the wind of all beginnings, he hadn''t left a trace, and his trail had never been exposed from beginning to end.


    it looked as though the wind of all beginnings had just disappeared on its own.


    in that case, the xu family should most likely assume that the divine relic had triggered its transfer nature.


    or is it that, even knowing that it''s likely the divine relic shifted on its own, they''re still so unwilling to come to terms with it that they need to completely seal off sky center and investigate all possibilities?


    if that''s the case, then what xu mude is doing might be very significant... at least for him personally.


    ''adam... divine factor...''


    xue jing thought of the article he had seen in the hands of that boy in the laboratory full of ''xu mudes.''


    ''it must be related to this... i need to ask youqing a dream for details.''

 Chapter 265 Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Wan: If We Werent Siblings... (4K)_2

    xue jing thought to himself."jing, how much longer do we need to practice?"


    ning fengwan''s crisp girlish voice rang out.


    "does this really work? i feel like you''re tricking me."


    she looked at xue jing, doubt in her gaze.


    although initially fooled by xue jing''s "you''ve gained weight" pua statement, she was gradually coming to her senses.


    things didn''t seem quite right.


    as a person bound to the cat tail ring and gradually fusing with the cat goddess bastet''s power, she only needed to be with xue jing... to constantly get strengthened by bastet''s divine power.


    it was unclear whether bastet''s divine power could help maintain one''s figure, but a body enhanced by divine power should, probably, maybe, possibly, i guess, be hard to put on much fat just from plain eating, drinking, and sleeping in?


    however, although she wouldn''t admit it openly, she cared too much about xue jing''s opinion. as soon as she felt he might be slightly judging her weight, she panicked and let herself be led by the nose with just a few words.


    "of course there''s an effect. just look at yun qin," xue jing raised his eyebrows and gestured at the little maid. s§×arch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    at that moment, the little girl was panting heavily, sweating all over, as if she had just been drenched in rain, with vacant eyes, seemingly unconscious, her body still instinctively following xue jing''s movements in practice.


    she was also muttering to herself, "master... yun qin can''t do this... i really can''t anymore..."


    ning yuantai''s eyes flashed, pretending as if he had heard nothing.


    but he thought to himself that xue was playing quite a big game...


    xue jing coughed and said, "you see, she''s sweated out at least two pounds. if she practices like this for ten days and a half a month, i can''t even imagine how thin she''d get."


    while speaking, he patted ning yuantai''s shoulder, "right, yuantai?"


    ning yuantai was stunned for a moment, then instinctively nodded along with xue jing''s words, "yes... i guess so."


    xue jing waved his hand, "anyway, just follow my training, you can''t go wrong."


    ning fengwan was skeptical but didn''t say more.


    ...


    time flew, and another day passed.


    the u19 championship battle was to be held today.


    early in the morning, xue jing received a video call from his sister, xue wan.


    upon clicking accept, xue wan''s pretty face, quite similar to his own, popped up on the phone screen.


    she seemed to be lying on the bed, chin resting on a pillow, wearing pajamas, her hair somewhat messy, looking like she had just woken up.


    "you silly bean... why aren''t you turning on the camera?"


    before xue wan could finish her opening line, she immediately frowned and expressed her dissatisfaction with xue jing not turning on his camera.


    "do you know how many days it''s been since i''ve seen you? now you won''t even let me see you on video. are you even human?"


    she looked heartbroken as she sat up from her lying position, and the camera angle shifted from just her face to showing her entire upper body.


    the buttons on her messy pajamas were misaligned, leaving a large gap in the middle, through which a glimpse of a fair and graceful curve could be seen.


    xue jing chuckled, turned on the camera, and revealed his unremarkable charm art lv10, saying helplessly, "it''s just a setting problem with my phone... what do you want?"


    "you have a match today, and i was afraid you might be nervous, so i thought i''d come and comfort you a little."


    xue wan changed her position, lying back on the pillow, lifting her phone high, facing herself.


    her long black straight hair fanned out on the bed, adding aesthetic appeal.


    xue jing laughed and said, "do you really think i could be nervous?"


    xue wan pouted, "not necessarily... i don''t know what''s going on with the internet, but they''ve hyped up this match so much that it''s even starting to escalate to national issues."


    "many renowned accounts are saying strange things on blogs... saying that you''re now representing the face of zhuxia, and if you lose to otogirusu, you''ll be a criminal of the nation."


    unconcerned, xue jing said, "oh? is that so?"


    xue wan brought her phone closer, pouting, "why are you so composed?"


    "please be a little nervous so i can comfort you. you do everything so well, it makes me feel like i''m not achieving anything as your sister," she said, sounding unexpectedly down.


    xue jing chuckled, "get used to it early. you''ll have many more moments of feeling unaccomplished in the future."


    xue wan glared at him, puffing, "can''t you say something nice? if i can''t comfort you, you can comfort me, your sister!"


    xue jing laughed, understanding that xue wan was overthinking things a bit.


    he gently said, "there''s no need to think about unnecessary things."


    "you''re my sister... there''s nothing tighter than the bond of blood. we''ve been closely connected since birth, without the need for any cheesy methods to maintain our relationship."


    "i won''t leave you behind and walk away too far, don''t worry."


    xue wan''s eyes widened slightly.


    she then moved her phone away, with the camera pointing at the wall.


    "what are you... talking about? i don''t quite understand," xue wan''s voice had a subtle tremble.


    xue jing didn''t speak. your next journey awaits at empire


    after a while, xue wan''s face reappeared on the screen, looking normal, her expression unchanged.


    she let out a soft sigh and said:


    "blood ties, huh... jing, sometimes i think, it might be nice if we weren''t siblings."


    xue jing looked disgusted and said:


    "you wouldn''t think you''d have a chance if we weren''t siblings, would you? delusional woman."


    xue wan glared at him, "is that what i meant? you''re the delusional man! if you weren''t good-looking... your face is carved out of the same mold as this beauty, stealing my genes! otherwise, do you think you could look like this?"

 Chapter 265 Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Wan: If We Werent Siblings... (4K)_3

    xue jing said, "i recorded that, and i''m going to send it to mom to listen..." sea??h th§× n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.xue wan hurriedly pleaded for mercy, "don''t, i was wrong, master jing, officer jing, spare your servant this once, woof! woof woof woof woof!"


    ...


    "ladies and gentlemen in the audience and friends watching the live broadcast, welcome to the u19 infinite elite fighting championship finals, i''m your commentator tao xingshou!"


    "...finally, after nearly twenty days of competition, we have determined the last two exceptional contestants, who will step onto the stage for the final battle to become the champion!"


    "...this edition of the u19 has brought us many contestants who have been a surprise and delight, as well as many unexpected developments, but there''s no doubt, it has been an extraordinarily exciting competition, one that will certainly go down in history!"


    "...how will this legendary competition conclude? let''s wait and see!"


    in the midst of the commentator''s ceaseless speech, the super arena was already packed with more than two hundred thousand spectators. nearly every seat was taken, with a dense and vast sea of people.


    the mere noise of casual chatter created waves of sound, deafening to the ear.


    in the competitors'' area, with the exception of zhou yinglin, who was in unique circumstances, and the contestants xue jing and otogirusu who were set to compete, not one of the nearly thirty competitors was absent.


    moreover, in an unprecedented fashion, they all gathered together, rather than in their familiar small groups.


    "what do you think? how do you all see this match playing out?"


    in the crowd, wei junwu spoke up with a flippant tone.


    "are you asking who will win?"


    someone asked.


    another person, with a thick bandage wrapped around their neck and a hoarse voice, said:


    "it''s definitely going to be xue jing who wins... there''s no suspense in that, right?"


    his name was dai zongnian; he was the one who got brutally defeated by xue jing with a thunder plough hot knife move in the top 16 match, and was one of the few who had felt xue jing''s terror up close.


    "actually, it''s not necessarily a given. otogirusu has never used his full strength from his debut to now; nobody knows what his limit is. perhaps he''s surprisingly strong?"


    "moreover, his ''deity slaying strike'' is universally acknowledged as a top-level ultimate skill that you can''t counter even if you know it''s coming... even demon king xue might find it tough against that move."


    the others also started discussing it eagerly.


    "...before his match with zhou yinglin, everyone thought the same, that ''impeccable'' was twisted enough, right? what was the result?"


    huang lu, who had fought xue jing in the quarterfinals, spoke up indifferently.


    his words immediately silenced the previous speaker.


    "demon king xue is an existence beyond common reason... we can''t view him with our regular perspective."


    song nanxing said slowly.


    "raise your expectations as much as possible. he is the kind of person who always defies others'' predictions. every time you think you have a good understanding of him, he''ll break that understanding once again."


    yin muhu, with his muscles largely recovered, nodded in deep agreement, "indeed, that''s true."


    wei junwu spoke up with a hint of disappointment,


    "hey, you guys are so boring... is now really the time to discuss winning and losing?"


    someone asked, "then what else is there?"


    wei junwu sighed.


    "this is a match between otogirusu and old xue... don''t forget, what did otogirusu say in the pre-match interview at the start of u19?"


    everyone stiffened, as a nearly moaning phrase flashed through their minds. explore more adventures at empire


    "competitor xue jing''s fists... they feel so comfortable..."


    wei junwu waved his hands excitedly,


    "this far eastern guy definitely has something in mind for old xue; this isn''t just a regular match. it''s not about winning or losing, who knows what pleasant surprises might happen..."


    ...

 Chapter 266 Otogirusu: This Despair... Its Great, Yuhua·Divine Avoidance! (4K)

    "little jing, how are you feeling now?"in the competitors'' lounge, jiang siwei looked at xue jing, who was sitting casually with his eyes closed, and softly asked. s§×arch* the n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "feeling?" xue jing opened his eyes and said,


    "nothing special."


    jiang siwei rested her chin on her hand and said, "if you win this match, you''ll get your first championship in your life, you must be a bit nervous, right?"


    xue jing smiled and replied, "now that you mention it, wei, it does seem a bit so."


    jiang siwei nodded and said, "yes, after all, you''re still young... even if your strength is very strong and it''s almost a sure win, it''s unavoidable to feel nervous on the field..."


    while speaking, she looked sentimental, "but i am much more nervous than you."


    "since i joined the galaxy martial arts club, you are the first player i officially took responsibility for training. before this, i was just running errands under other big shots... i''m also just a total newbie."


    "i just didn''t expect that, thanks to you, i would also reach the ''peak at debut.'' having been the manager of demon king xue, my resume is about to be trimmed with gold edges."


    "as long as you take the u19 championship next, it will be perfection... although i know it''s a sure thing with your abilities, i am still very nervous."


    speaking of this, jiang siwei earnestly added,


    "but... all these things are trivial, little jing. you should feel no pressure at all, including what people online say about you carrying the nation''s honor and can''t afford to lose, those are just burdens others have unfairly placed on you. you have no obligation to respond."


    "just enjoy the game, no need to worry about winning or losing."


    upon hearing this, xue jing replied softly, "i understand, wei. don''t worry."


    he wasn''t likely to feel nervous, and he would certainly not respond to the undue expectations others placed on him. xue jing''s heart was as calm as a mirror lake without a single ripple.


    however, as his manager, jiang siwei had been by his side for so long; if not credit, she deserved recognition.


    claiming she was a bit nervous and giving a pre-match motivational pep talk could at least let her feel more involved.


    "competitor xue jing, it''s time for you to go on stage!"


    the sound of gentle knocking came from outside the door, accompanied by a cautious and respectful call.


    xue jing stood up and walked towards the door, "well then, wei, i''m heading out."


    jiang siwei nodded, clenched her hands, and said, "go on, little jing, i wish you great martial luck."


    xue jing opened the door and walked out, saying to the staff,


    "let''s go."


    the staff member gestured invitingly and said respectfully, "please follow me."


    ...


    "...one is a distinguished young noble from the far east, born into a prestigious family, apprenticed to the ''sword saint'' master tamuramaro, inheriting the most revered warrior''s power from ancient far eastern legend, sakagami tamuramaro, known as the ''general god''!"


    "the style he employs, suzaku style, is said to be the nightmare of many a hero, with ultimate attacks that have left numerous prodigies defeated by his hands. undefeated since his debut, no one has ever seen him fight with all his might, a terrifying prodigy with immeasurable strength¡ªotogirusu!"


    "...the other is from an obscure town in the outer ring, a dark horse previously unknown before this u19 championship, not expected by anyone, yet he astounded everyone pre-match. considering himself an eagle among snails, and ultimately proving his claim."


    "his talent is unmatched, his looks divine, his brutality akin to that of a demon king, from absolute obscurity to universally recognized in just four matches¡ªa meteoric rise to the highest stage, his journey is perhaps the most legendary in u19 history, unique and unparalleled miracle!"


    "embarking on a conquest under the moniker of demon king, currently writing his own legend, an ever-astonishing competitor¡ªxue jing!"


    "words cannot describe what i am feeling right now, all i can say is, dear audience, we are witnessing history!"


    the commentator''s voice, filled with immense excitement and passion, echoed throughout the super arena.


    "the unstoppable rise of the demon king¡ªwill he continue his lonely path of invincibility, or will he be stopped by another hero confronting him right now..."


    "let us invite, the two competitors to enter the ring!"


    as soon as the commentator''s voice fell, the super arena suddenly dimmed, and rousing, intense background music started to play.


    in the stands, thunderous applause and cheering resonated continuously, everyone eagerly anticipating the upcoming match.


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    "this commentator, he''s really good at hyping things up, truly a professional... but it''s so obvious, laying down the red carpet for demon king xue, almost outright saying otogirusu is just a stepping stone."


    "isn''t that obvious? aside from the fact that demon king xue is from zhuxia and definitely favored, if they didn''t, the internet would crucify them... besides on the practical side, demon king xue is now the darling of the u19 organizers."


    "due to demon king xue, the popularity of this u19 has risen several levels compared to previous years... they''re probably making a killing, with broadcasting rights prices skyrocketing, and the stock prices of ''xingtian entertainment'' going through the roof."


    "...but this is like setting him up for a fall, the higher they lift him, what if demon king xue loses, what then, it will all come boomeranging back."


    "that''s none of their business; the boomerang hits demon king xue, not them."


    "if xue jing loses this match, he''s really in for it. everyone has hyped him so high, claiming he''s unmatched among his peers, fans have even started to place bets on which title demon king xue will claim next... if he loses to a far eastern person, boy, i can''t even imagine."

 Chapter 266 Otogirusu: This Despair... Is Wonderful, Yuhua·Divine Avoidance! (4K)_2

    "how could zhou yinglin lose? before the competition, he was acknowledged as the strongest among the u19 contestants, and was predicted to be stronger than otogirusu. but what happened? xue jing crushed him completely.""it''s clear that xue jing is in a league of his own in this age group, the sort we wouldn''t normally include in discussions of young prodigies. facing him, otogirusu won''t perform much better than ying lin did, i bet 50 cents, it''ll be an instant kill!"


    "martial arts competitions aren''t calculated like that... although hard power is the biggest standard for determining victory or defeat, counter matchups and performance on the spot are also very important. it''s really not certain."


    "you guys are so boring, always talking about combat strength. we''ll find out when the match starts in a bit, why not gossip about the cp feeling between otogirusu and my husband? they look so great together, both so good-looking..."


    in the audience seats, a few acquaintances were discussing, suddenly interrupted by a young woman next to them, dressed brightly and with exquisite makeup.


    looking at the small fan with xue jing''s photo that she was holding, people fell silent for a moment, then turned their attention towards the arena below:


    "ah, they''re coming out!"


    "the match is about to start, stop talking, let''s watch the match."


    ...


    xue jing slowly walked out of the players'' tunnel.


    the spotlight shone at his feet, as cheers and applause rose up for him.


    he wore a pure black martial arts uniform, his expression calm, and step by step, he approached the ring.


    the spotlight followed him, countless cameras capturing him from every different angle, not missing any detail. s~ea??h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    the big screens above the arena displayed his various postures from different angles; each time it switched, the screams and cheers from the crowd would erupt anew.


    after the two matches with zhou yinglin, he hadn''t paid much attention to the online public opinion about him, only occasionally catching snippets from those around him that suggested his popularity must be very high.


    and now, being in the arena and feeling nearly all of the 200,000-strong crowd cheering for him, he was somewhat moved.


    he felt the real sensation of becoming a ''superstar.''


    although he wasn''t particularly chasing that kind of attention, he still felt somewhat inspired.


    his gaze shifted slightly as he looked towards his opponent, who was also walking slowly up to the ring.


    stunningly beautiful and graceful in appearance, she wore a black feather-woven garment and her waist-length hair was tied in a high ponytail. she looked so gentle it was as if she came to meet a lover rather than compete in a match.


    otogirusu.


    unlike in previous matches when he came empty-handed, this time, he carried an antiquated and beautiful long sword with oxidation signs on its timeworn, gray-brown hilt and scabbard, exuding a sense of profound historical weight.


    "it''s been a while, lu sang," said xue jing with a smile, glancing at his sword.


    "xue jun," otogirusu spoke with a gentle tone.


    his eyes, which could even be described as seductive, subtly showed a burning passion.


    like a volcano on the verge of eruption, currently suppressed by the shackles of reason, but could burst forth at any moment.


    "i''ve been waiting to stand on this stage with you for too long... i never thought that just a few short weeks would be so unbearable."


    otogirusu smiled softly.


    "xue jun, do you know what i''m feeling right now?"


    with those eyes that looked at him like a lover, xue jing''s mouth twitched and his fists clenched.


    "what feeling?"


    he responded offhandedly.


    otogirusu looked up slightly and sighed:


    "i''m afraid."


    he rolled up his sleeve and stretched out his clenched right fist.


    that hand, it was trembling.


    "stepping onto this stage, seeing you, every inch of my skin, every cell screams at me."


    he murmured.


    "can''t win, definitely can''t win, run now, escape immediately, turn around and flee..."


    "xue jun, compared to when we first met, you''ve made me feel more desperate."


    xue jing simply listened with an unchanged expression, not responding.


    at this point, otogirusu''s eyes took on a rapturous look:


    "...it''s so fantastic!"


    "the thought of xue jun growing stronger at a pace i can never catch up with, the possibility of defeating xue jun growing ever more improbable... i can''t help but feel excited."


    "to exert all my strength, use up every means, spend everything i have, and still, it''s impossible to win!"


    "ah~ ah~ it''s so despairing, it''s wonderful (ËØÇç¤é¤·¤¤¤Ç¤¹)."


    otogirusu''s cheeks flushed, incredibly beautiful, yet so attractively enchanting that it was unsettling.


    "this ever-ascending mountain¡ªif i could actually cross it, what immense happiness that would be..."


    "even though such immense happiness is almost impossible for me to touch, just knowing that i am striving towards it, i feel as though i have already obtained happiness."


    his gaze toward xue jing became increasingly tender, and at the same time, his fighting spirit burned more intensely.


    "xue jun, you are my happiness," he said.


    he reached out slowly and grasped the hilt of the long sword at his waist.


    "let''s hurry up... and fight to the death," he whispered.


    xue jing shook his head and said, "you really are funny."


    as he spoke, he walked toward the weapon rack at the edge of the arena, picked up an ordinary long sword about one meter twenty in length, and held it in his hand.


    "... contestants, take your positions, get ready."


    "next, witness fully..."


    "the match, begin!"


    the commentator''s excited voice fell, and the referee waved his hand toward the middle of the two on the stage, announcing the start of the match.


    the audience''s cheers, applause, and the noisy discussions gradually quieted down; they focused and eagerly watched the stage.


    otogirusu adopted a slightly crouched stance, his left hand on the scabbard of his sword at his waist and his right hand gently touching the hilt.


    "the essence of the suzaku style lies in the technique of iaido," he softly began.


    "xue jun... be careful."


    the next moment.


    "clang¡ª!!"


    a tremendous clashing sound of metal rang out, and on the stage, it was as if the frame rate had been cut in half; the scene suddenly shifted.


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    the two figures, who had been meters apart, disappeared from their original positions and reappeared in the center of the stage with their long swords clashing together.


    a visible circular shockwave burst from the point of impact between the two, rippling outwards and sending waves across the repulsion membrane enveloping the stage.


    "what...!?"


    "who saw clearly?"


    "what kind of speed is that!?"


    the eyes of the spectators in the contestants'' area were wide open.


    before the audience could react, the situation on the field changed again.


    "ting ting ting ting ting ting¡ª"


    a rapid succession of clashing sounds, dozens in a second, rang out continuously as two invisible shadows tumbled across the stage, with only the sparks in the air indicating their positions.


    the relentless sweep of the sword light left deep gashes in the stage floor, which quickly became shattered and strewn with debris.


    in the heat of battle, xue jing''s eyes turned to silver vertical pupils, slightly squinting.


    ''interesting.''


    whether otogirusu had burst forth or had been hiding his strength earlier, he seemed much stronger than zhou yinglin. especially his speed and fluidity of attack were above xue jing''s, but xue jing utilized the "eye-penetrating flow" to clearly see the weak spots in otogirusu''s offense, managing to fight to a draw.


    ''and that sword...''


    xue jing felt the strain on his long sword, which had been enhanced by the "army master," under the impact of their intense clash.


    the blade that never dulls truly lived up to its reputation¡ªcapable of withstanding tremendous temperatures without even a single particle of change; it was unbelievably hard.


    "xue jun, let me see that overwhelming strength of yours that fills me with despair!" otogirusu''s excited voice rang in his ears.


    xue jing''s gaze stilled, and suddenly, a powerful aura began to spread from his body, shaking the void, and a visible black lightning pattern aura erupted from all around him.


    then, all the black lightning converged and wrapped around the long sword in his hand.


    "don''t die on me, lu sang," xue jing said indifferently.


    facing the continuous onslaught from otogirusu''s sword, he pulled back his long sword with a counter move.


    and then, a flash.


    "yuhua¡¤divine avoidance!"


    black lightning surged along the blade, slicing through the void as otogirusu''s eyes widened, only managing to raise the blade that never dulls to block in time.


    "clang¡ª"


    a fearsome force transmitted from the blade that never dulls as otogirusu was sent flying, crashing into the pale blue repulsion membrane.


    and from his left waist to his right shoulder, a terrifying, bone-deep wound appeared.


    ...

 Chapter 267 Winning the U19 Championship! Otogirusus Sneak Attack on Xue Jing (4K)

    otogirusu''s palm trembled slightly, and he gently touched the wound on his chest, his fingertips stained with blood.he looked at his bloodstained fingers and smeared them across his thin lips.


    his lips turned as red as the flowers on the other shore, exuding a dangerous and enchanting allure.


    this scene was excessively beautiful, like a crystal that remained dazzling even after being shattered. the camera gave him a close-up and displayed it on the big screen above the arena, causing countless female spectators to scream.


    xue jing stood at the center of the arena, not pursuing further. he held his long sword tilted, the tip pointing to the ground, and black thunder still radiated around the blade, making it seem like the void had cracked.


    yuhua¡¤divine avoidance.


    this move was a new application of yuhua he had developed, transforming the ''conqueror''s haki'' generated by the spiritual aura attached to the shadow flame through yuhua.


    in this way, he could freely manipulate the aura, which was originally only emitted outwardly, concentrate it, and wrap it around his weapon.


    this move turned out to be unexpectedly effective, not only enhancing the attack power but mainly adding two effects.


    one was ''penetration''; just now, although otogirusu blocked xue jing''s slash with his sword, ''divine avoidance'' still leaped over the block and struck otogirusu, injuring him.


    although the strike that hit him only concentrated the spiritual aura on the blade edge, which caused much less damage than the blade directly hitting the body, it was nearly unstoppable.


    the other effect was ''intimidation''.


    though, because it was attached to the shadow flame, which caused some physical damage, its primary function was still the mental oppression and intimidation.


    after being hit by ''divine avoidance'', aside from physical damage, the victim also suffered significant mental intimidation damage.


    this was the essence of the move.


    as for whether this move counts as ''martial arts'', it indeed does.


    the use of consciousness and spirit is also a part of martial arts dueling, and many schools focus specifically on this aspect.


    naturally, as ''the chosen one'', xue jing''s spiritual power was slightly different from ordinary people, and his usage differed; this makes sense.


    some practitioners from unique martial arts schools also experience certain changes in their consciousness, gaining special abilities; this is quite normal.


    xue jing looked at otogirusu, who seemed to be severely injured, and narrowed his silver vertical pupils, feeling a bit puzzled.


    his move, yuhua¡¤divine avoidance, had already been trialed many times in consciousness simulation against many targets, like wei junwu and others. on impact, it could directly cause their spirits to collapse and faint.


    that''s still a better case; for martial artists with even lower spiritual levels, this strike could cause their consciousness to die, turning them into vegetarians.


    but for someone of zhou yinglin''s caliber, though it wouldn''t make him faint on the spot, it would cause his limbs to go weak, his mind to blur, needing a good while to recover, greatly reducing his combat effectiveness.


    but otogirusu... in his perception, his consciousness seemed to barely waver, still as fiery and vigorously burning as ever.


    "too agitated, has he fallen into some kind of ''inverse scale'' like mental outburst state, ignoring the intimidation of ''divine avoidance''?"


    xue jing murmured.


    "xue jun..."


    otogirusu spoke softly, his eyes burning with an increasingly fierce fervor.


    "this is it, this is what i want..."


    with his bloodied fingers, he caressed his ancient longsword, drawing a vivid red line of blood on the blade, then sheathed it back, assuming an iaido stance.


    "su zao style¡¤red dye."


    a streak of blood light flashed, and with a "clang", otogirusu appeared instantly in front of xue jing, clashing with his dagger.


    the longsword, now dyed crimson red, demonstrated unparalleled power under some sort of enhancement, and a segment of the blade, spinning, flew into the sky; xue jing''s longsword finally could not withstand the burden and got severed.


    the red blade cut through the weapon and, without any pause, continued toward xue jing''s chest. s§×arch* the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    then... it was caught by xue jing.


    the army master''s enhanced palm was extremely tough. xue jing grasped the red blade in his hand, was pushed back two steps by the blade''s impact, and then exclaimed to otogirusu, who looked surprised and delighted:


    "lu sang, you are really strong."


    as he spoke, he twisted his wrist sharply while holding the blade.


    under the whirlwind thunder force, spiral indentations began to appear on the surface of his arm.


    this technique, which grew stronger with practice and was touted as the hidden dragon school''s deadly move that could compress strength indefinitely as long as the body could bear it, was far superior in his hands today than ever.


    especially after the enhancement by the army master, his physical endurance had increased another notch. at this moment, running whirlwind thunder at full power, he could unleash more than five times his usual output. continue your adventure with empire


    otogirusu felt an unstoppable spiral force coming from the longsword in his hand, which made his wrist twist sharply, and the sleeves covering his arm twisted into nothing, beginning from the wrist and spreading to the shoulder.


    the spiral force quickly spread throughout otogirusu''s body, and his whole person uncontrollably lifted off the ground, harshly spinning in the air, head downward and feet upward.


    "snap¡ª"


    xue jing grabbed otogirusu''s right foot as he flipped over.


    "whoosh¡ª"


    like swinging a giant spear, xue jing turned around, holding otogirusu in his grip, and with a motion like cleaving a mountain, he swung in a large circle forward, producing a crescent strike, violently smashing onto the arena floor.


    "bang¡ª!!"


    a huge explosion sound, debris flew, and dust filled the air. the whole venue seemed to shake a few times, a massive hole appeared in the arena, and otogirusu was deeply embedded in the center of the hole.

 Chapter 267 Winning the U19 Championship! Otogirusus Surprise Attack on Xue Jing (4K)_2

    the strike was so ferocious and forceful that it wouldn''t have been surprising if otogirusu had been smashed into a pulp. many spectators gasped and covered their eyes, unable to watch any further.meanwhile, in the arena, xue jing did indeed slightly furrow his brow.


    it was that feeling again...


    previously, when he had first encountered otogirusu, they had fought once.


    back then, he had hit her with his most powerful combination technique at the time, "flame-colored rainbow¡¤thunder plough hot blade," but he felt no sensation of actually striking something solid, as if he had touched a mass of fog with no substance.


    and it was the same this time.


    he remembered that otogirusu had called the move¡ª


    "my style¡¤undying smoke."


    from within the dust, otogirusu stood up, looking towards xue jing with her narrow and seductive eyes gleaming with thrill and intoxication:


    "it hurts (that really hurts)."


    blood trailed from the left side of her head, spreading to her chin.


    "more... give me more pain."


    "only then, will the final fruit become sweeter and sweeter..."


    "come on, xue jun!!"


    otogirusu''s blood-red lips stretched into an exaggerated smile, her expression as excited as if she were high on drugs.


    the next moment, a hand grabbed her face, lifting her high like a little cat, and then smashed her down to the ground with force.


    with her head still in grasp, xue jing started to plough the ground, the hard floor cracking like soft soil, a deep ravine trailing behind them while stones shattered and burst to the sides with cracking sounds.


    "heh... hehehe hehe haha."


    otogirusu laughed maniacally, the long sword in her hand flipping, with a colorful radiance emerging.


    "my style¡¤night branch!"


    the long sword swept through the void, its tip aiming for xue jing''s torso.


    but before she could act, xue jing was a step ahead, tossing her by the head into the air.


    the sword stabbed into empty space, the colorful qi force bursting from the tip and striking the repulsion membrane. after a brief pause, it actually pierced through the membrane and flew towards the sky.


    flipping in mid-air, otogirusu sheathed her sword, looking down at xue jing below her.


    there was a huge sword wound on his chest, his clothes torn and ragged, injuries all over his body, making him appear quite a sight.


    but at this moment, for the first time since the fight began, xue jing felt a sense of crisis.


    "suzao style secret technique¡ª"


    "deity slaying strike!"


    instantaneous thousand cuts¡¤deity slaying strike!


    described by wu youqing as a "watershed" technique, one would be instantly killed if their strength was below its level, leaving no room for struggle, the ultimate absolute offense.


    xue jing''s eyes glinted.


    layer upon layer, over a hundred different slashes, as if over a hundred otogirusus were simultaneously attacking him, came slashing across.


    this was the realm of "hundred cuts."


    even a limit-breaking grandmaster would have to furrow their brows and be fully alert in the face of the deity slaying strike unleashed by otogirusu''s blade that never dulls.


    it was a strike that surpassed his current realm, a thoroughly overleveled secret technique.


    xue jing had many methods to deal with this move: he could hide within the body of the nonexistent beast, or use shadow transformation elementalization, and defensive techniques like shadowflame wrap armor combined with golden scales transformation and seal cloud tail could also forcibly withstand it.


    but at this moment, his only response was to meet it with the same caliber of martial arts!


    skin, flesh, tendons, bones, blood all in motion, the sound of a dragon''s chant resonated through the heavens.


    "roar¡ª!!"


    his silver-white pupils were indifferent and scornful, his unparalleled fist surging against the tides.


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    condensed into one point, reaching the pinnacle!


    a pale golden true dragon phantom emerged above his fist, roaring as it swept towards the blade storm above.


    as the hundred deity slaying strikes clashed with the true dragon eye-pointing fist in the void, the dragon scales shattered, and the blade lights dissipated. during the clash of the two ultimate skills, xue jing didn''t pause. with a ''buzzing'' sound, he trailed a colorful tail of flame as he swiftly turned towards otogirusu in the sky.


    his right hand formed into a blade, and after advancing to army master, thanks to the all weapons mastery effect, he was no longer merely using his hand in place of a blade, but truly "turning the hand into a blade"!


    in a flash of brilliance, the full moon rose high, and countless silver cherry blossoms followed in descent.


    amidst the beautiful and dazzling scene of sword light and dragon shadow, the full moon and silver cherry blossoms, xue jing appeared behind otogirusu.


    "chitchitchit¡ª"


    the dense sound of blades slicing flesh erupted, as countless fine cuts burst open across otogirusu''s body, matching the number of silver cherry blossoms falling from the sky.


    "hmm¡ª"


    ```


    otogirusu suzuka whimpered, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth as she fell from the sky to the ground.


    xue jing also landed, slowly walking over to where otogirusu suzuka lay on the shattered ground, looking down at her from above, and said softly,


    "suzuka, you have done your best."


    otogirusu suzuka slightly lifted her gaze towards xue jing.


    her disheveled hair cascaded down, and her beautiful face, adorned with blood, showed a hint of frailty that evoked a sorrowful beauty, prompting pity.


    yet her expression was one of intoxicated satisfaction, as if she had finally had her fill after a long hunger.


    but there was also a deep sense of regret; even though she was full, she had not gotten what she truly desired.


    "i''ve lost, xue jun."


    she extended her jade-like slender palm, gently catching a falling silver cherry blossom.


    "you really didn''t disappoint me... completely out of reach."


    as she spoke, a hint of pity appeared in otogirusu suzuka''s eyes as she looked at xue jing.


    "xue jun, in the future, you will surely become an unmatched strong fighter, won''t you?"


    "sooner or later, there will be no one''s back for you to see ahead of you."


    "but, being unmatched in strength must be a very boring thing."


    "to keep you from getting bored, i will always be chasing after you, don''t worry."


    her tone was extremely gentle, like the soft, whispering words of a lover.


    xue jing''s mouth twitched: "please don''t, i''m really scared of you now."


    the referee''s whistle sounded.


    "the battle is decided!!!"


    the commentator yelled excitedly.


    "the new hero from a foreign land, as expected, still lies defeated before the invincible demon king!"


    "competitor xue jing continues his dominant performance since the beginning of the competition, taking the final champion''s battle!"


    "this is the beginning of a legend, let us applaud and celebrate, the undoubted champion of this u19 unlimited elite fighting tournament, has been born!"


    "clap clap clap clap clap clap clap¡ª¡ª"


    an unprecedented applause that nearly overturned the entire super arena erupted, sounding like thunderous drums, continuing for a long time.


    the cheers and roars of two hundred thousand spectators combined into a thunderous wave of sound.


    gradually, all the cheers synchronized into one voice.


    "xue jing¡ª¡ªxue jing¡ª¡ªxue jing!!"


    fireworks exploded, and golden streamers sprayed out from various mechanisms, filling the entire super arena with a rain of gold, contrasting with the falling silver cherry blossoms.


    countless cameras and photographers pointed at xue jing, with flashes going non-stop, as if trying to capture this young phenom into their devices.


    competing players in the players'' observation area clapped, their eyes revealing astonishment.


    xue jing looked around, all the flowers and applause were there solely for him.


    he originally thought that winning the championship would be effortless and that he wouldn''t feel much, but when the moment came, he was still overwhelmed by emotion.


    rarely deviating from his cool demeanor of only focusing on the competition, he raised his palm and waved to the audience in every direction.


    whichever side he waved at erupted with even more enthusiastic applause and cheering.


    after waving to the audience from every direction, xue jing''s gaze turned to otogirusu suzuka who still lay powerlessly on the ground.


    he sighed softly and extended his hand toward her, smiling helplessly, "so, can you still move?"


    otogirusu suzuka replied with a smile, lifting her hand to grasp xue jing''s, and with his pull, she was helped to her feet.


    "¤¢¤ê¤¬¤È¤¦ (thank you), xue jun."


    the post-match camaraderie earned a round of applause from countless spectators.


    as otogirusu suzuka stood up, she seemed severely wounded and overly weak, suddenly staggering forward...


    she ended up collapsing into xue jing''s arms, her head buried in his neck, and her bloodied lips left a strawberry mark on his collarbone.


    "uh..."


    the audience''s applause suddenly quieted down, staring in astonishment. experience tales at empire


    xue jing froze, receiving the most severe injury since the u19 tournament began.


    he stiffly turned his head to look at otogirusu suzuka.


    her pretty, innocent face was full of innocence.


    as if to say, it really wasn''t intentional...


    ...


    (just in case there are still readers who are mistaken, a spoiler alert: the author will not go into the bl genre, otogirusu suzuka is a woman.)


    ```

 Chapter 268 The Blade That Never Dulls Obtained, The Troubled Seeker?

    "kissed... kissed?""damn, for real? could this day have been staged on purpose?"


    "this was intentional! with the level of martial artist he is, how could such a rookie mistake like falling flat happen!"


    "hilarious, demon king xue''s face turned green... as expected of otogirusu, effortlessly achieving what zhou yinglin couldn''t in his lifetime."


    "damn it, the pre-match interview already showed this guy had designs on xue jing, but he seemed normal during the fight. i overlooked it and didn''t expect him to be waiting for this moment!"


    "being good-looking is a curse, even men are after him... but with otogirusu, although i''m straight, i really think it''s acceptable."


    "this guy looks so flirty... could he really be a woman in men''s clothing?"


    "aaaaah!! a cool and abstinent receiver with a sickly teasing attacker, and both are off-the-charts handsome, can i really handle this much goodness?"


    "my god, can you really watch this for free?"


    the audience was stunned.


    in the competitors'' viewing area, yin muhu was stunned for a long while before patting wei junwu on the shoulder who was standing next to her.


    "you were really right..."


    wei junwu scratched his head.


    although before the match he indeed cheekily said that winning or losing wasn''t the key, but that something enjoyable might happen... he hadn''t expected it to really happen.


    he turned his head to look at song nanxing next to him.


    "old song, what do you think?"


    song nanxing''s eyes twitched, "...don''t ask me, i know nothing, i don''t want to say anything."


    wei junwu stroked his chin:


    "otogirusu really is terrifying, with what happened to old xue... could it be he''s been opened to a new world?"


    on the stage.


    xue jing reached up to wipe his collarbone.


    he looked down at the crimson lipstick mark on his palm, feeling like the sky was falling, his martial heart on the verge of breaking.


    the hand holding the blade trembled slightly.


    damn it... kissed by a man.


    no, there''s still a chance.


    xue jing''s lips twitched, turning to look at otogirusu standing beside him.


    for some reason, unlike his previous composed teasing demeanor, otogirusu now looked tense and a bit shy. when he saw xue jing looking, he averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing, entirely like a shy girl who had done something embarrassing.


    seeing this, xue jing''s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.


    not bros.


    you couldn''t be serious, right?


    "lu sang."


    xue jing slowly began, his voice strained.


    "tell me, you''re actually a woman who''s disguised as a man, truly a woman."


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    otogirusu, with a face full of regret, responded softly:


    "¤´¤á¤ó¤Ê¤µ¤¤ (i''m sorry), xue jun."


    hearing this apology, xue jing sighed as he covered his forehead with his hand.


    after a while, he lowered his hand, his expression returning to normal, and said:


    "alright then, that''s that, i''m off."


    having said that, xue jing turned to leave.


    but immediately, otogirusu reached out and grabbed his arm, whispering:


    "wait a minute, xue jun, you''ve won the championship, there''s still the trophy ceremony and the post-match speech, you can''t leave yet."


    xue jing unceremoniously shifted his energy, shaking off the hand otogirusu had on his arm.


    otogirusu was momentarily taken aback, a hint of loss flashing across his face, but quickly collected himself, a smile appearing:


    "no need to be so scared, i won''t do anything to you again, xue jun, it was just an accident."


    "i''ll be leaving now... all the glory that follows belongs only to you."


    after saying this, otogirusu chuckled softly, turning around and walking elegantly back towards his side''s competitors'' passageway.


    xue jing watched his retreating figure, frowning slightly, sensing that something was off.


    but before he could think further about it, a host in a suit, holding a microphone, had already made his way up to the stage, followed by several staff members who were carrying a black pedestal with a golden trophy on it.


    since the stage had been wrecked during their fight, the floor was uneven, and the host almost stumbled, barely avoiding a fall.


    he reached xue jing''s side, raised the microphone, and announced loudly with a smile:


    "i hereby declare the winner of the 37th u19 unlimited elite fighting championship¡ªxue jing!"


    "please take the trophy, competitor xue jing!"


    upon hearing this, xue jing reached out and lifted the gold trophy in front of him.


    the trophy was adorned with several elongated, finely crafted dragons chasing a dragon ball at the top, each in a distinct pose. the base was made of a black crystal material, slightly transparent, with many names engraved upon it, those of past u19 champions.


    xue jing''s name would also be eternally inscribed there.


    he lifted the trophy high, and immediately, the venue erupted in thunderous applause that went on and on.


    everyone watched the spirited young man on the stage.


    "a peak career from the very beginning... winning the u19 championship on his first competition, how far can he go from here?"


    "u19, what peak? ''true dragon'' wan yulai just started his career not long ago, isn''t he under twenty-five? he rapidly swept all the minor title matches and secured the entry tickets for the seven major title battles. demon king xue has a long way to go yet."


    "xue jing is only seventeen, he might not necessarily lose to wan yulai at the same age."


    "if you consider the age of seventeen, wan yulai might not be able to defeat demon king xue, his current display of power is just too exaggerated... however, by the age of twenty-five, it might not be sure. believe it or not, wan yulai is a damn late bloomer, the older he gets, the faster he progresses. can you believe that?"


    "the overall level of martial artists improves every year; it''s been fiercely competitive. anyone who can continuously win titles in this era and head towards ''eternity'' is terrifying. i would even believe they have some system helping them... although demon king xue is powerful, he has a long way to go to contend with these people, maybe even forever."


    "why think so much about it? after all, we now have another top genius competitor worth watching at all times, and his fights are thrilling to watch!"


    on the stage.


    the host smiled and began to speak:


    "we all know that it''s xue jing''s first time competing in a martial arts contest, yet you have directly won your first championship. how do you feel right now?"


    as he spoke, he handed the microphone to xue jing.


    xue jing set the trophy on the podium, took the microphone, thought for a moment, and slowly began to speak:


    "being able to become a martial artist and stand on this award podium, the first person i must thank, who introduced me to this world, is my master, li qi..."


    ...


    by the time xue jing had finished his speech, collected the trophy and prize money, and returned to the competitors'' resting room amidst the cheers and applause of the audience, over half an hour had passed.


    "little jing!!"


    as soon as he entered, jiang siwei immediately rushed over excitedly, hugging xue jing tightly, her legs clad in black stockings and high heels bouncing uncontrollably as she vented her excitement.


    "you were amazing, you really were, you won the championship!!"


    jiang siwei was so happy that tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.


    xue jing smiled and hugged her back, then gently patted her back, saying:


    "wei, don''t be so excited, this is just the beginning."


    jiang siwei let go of xue jing, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, and sighed with a smile: sear?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "yes, this is just a beginning..."


    all of a sudden, xue jing''s gaze shifted, noticing something in the resting room that hadn''t been there before.


    he turned his head and saw, in a corner of the room, a beautifully ancient long sword hanging on a hook on the wall.


    the grey-brown hilt and scabbard were covered with faded, oxidized stains, exuding a sense of historical weight, and it looked very familiar; it was the otogirusu''s "god-519: the blade that never dulls".


    "wei, did otogirusu come by earlier?"


    xue jing walked over to the wall and took the ancient long sword off the hook.


    it was hanging there by the wrapped cords on the scabbard.


    "[divine substance detected, absorbing divinity...]"


    "no, i''ve been here in the resting room the whole time, and no one has come in."


    jiang siwei shook her head, and upon seeing xue jing taking down the blade that never dulls, she asked in confusion:


    "huh? was this sword always in this room? i''ve never seen it before."


    xue jing did not respond, but clicked, drawing the long sword slightly out of the scabbard to reveal a bit of its shiny silver blade.


    unlike the hilt and scabbard, the blade bore no signs of age; it was as smooth as a mirror, flawless, and easily reflected xue jing''s face.


    it looked as if it had just been forged by a master craftsman, the whole blade appearing ''new''.


    "the blade that never dulls..."


    xue jing fully drew the sword, gently stroking the blade which, including the handle, was nearly one meter three in length, his eyes shining with affection.


    this sword-shaped divine relic, with an extremely simple ability, embodied the pure concept of eternal indestructibility...


    no external force could alter even a single particle of it, a purely simple ability, yet one every sword-using martial artist dreams of.


    who could refuse a weapon that would never break, always remain sharp, and never dull?


    even though xue jing possessed the title of army master and could pick up anything off the ground as a divine weapon, the blade that never dulls held significant meaning for him.


    "this thing has the feature of ''choosing a master''; when its holder acknowledges defeat to another, it transfers to the victor..."


    xue jing pondered.


    according to jiang siwei, otogirusu hadn''t visited the resting room, suggesting he acknowledged his defeat and the blade that never dulls had moved itself here, waiting for its new master, xue jing.


    "marvelous... from now on, you are my sword."


    xue jing said to himself, holding the sword horizontally above his head.


    "after so many years of wandering, it''s hard on you. rest assured, i will be your last master."


    "no one will take you away."


    as if responding to xue jing''s words, or perhaps merely the reflection of the light, a cold gleam flickered on the blade of the blade that never dulls.


    "click¡ª"


    xue jing sheathed the sword, picked up his phone.


    as soon as he turned off do not disturb mode, the phone began vibrating non-stop, messages from various chatting apps popped up, along with numerous missed call notifications.


    just as he was about to start replying, a knock came from the door.


    "wei, open the door, see who it is."


    xue jing instructed.


    jiang siwei nodded, walked to the door, and opened it.


    "who are you?"


    she asked in confusion, looking at the group standing outside, the leader a handsome young man.


    the young man smiled slightly and said:


    "is xue jing, xue here?"


    hearing the voice, xue jing turned to look, his expression unchanging, but his heart skipped a beat.


    the visitor was¡ªxu mude!


    ...

 Chapter 270 The Finally Favoured

    Xue Jing''s gaze once again fell on the Divinity column.[Divinity Held: 9670]


    The harvest from Xu''s Biology, combined with what he had just obtained from The Blade That Never Dulls, brought his Divinity to the brink of surpassing ten thousand once more.


    It was about time to spend some, otherwise he always felt an itch in his heart.


    "Then first..."


    Xue Jing opened [True Martial].


    [True Martial Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 20000/20000, Divinity 9670/1000]


    Without hesitation, he pressed the upgrade button.


    [True Martial Lv3 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 0/40000, Divinity 8670/2000]


    Before he even had the chance to feel the changes in his body, Xue Jing was stunned by the requirements to upgrade True Martial to Lv3.


    "Huh? The amount of Divinity required for the upgrade increased?"


    In the past, whether it was the initial enhancement or upgrading from Lv1 to Lv2, and from Lv2 to Lv3, each only required 1000 points of Divinity, leading him to believe that every level-up would only need a thousand...


    He hadn''t expected what awaited him here.


    "The Divinity required to go from Lv3 to Lv4 has risen by a thousand... it seems different from what I had expected before, even the Experience Points requirement has doubled."


    Xue Jing pondered, somewhat puzzled.


    "I was too optimistic before, the Divinity shortfall is much larger than I had imagined."


    Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about the shortage of Divinity. He would leave these issues to his future self.


    Xue Jing continued to browse through the panel.


    [Weapon Master Lv1 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 10000/10000, Divinity 8670/1000]


    He clicked to upgrade.


    [Weapon Master Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 0/20000, Divinity 7670/1000]


    These Extraordinary Skills were all quite useful, directly affecting his base combat strength. As long as he had an abundance of Divinity, he would upgrade whenever possible.


    After completing the upgrades, Xue Jing clenched his hands, experiencing the changes in his body.


    For [True Martial], similar to when he had upgraded from Lv1 to Lv2, the Power channeled out was clearly stronger, and his control over his body more fine-tuned and effortless.


    The overall enhancement to his combat power still needed testing.


    As for [Weapon Master]...


    Xue Jing willed it.


    A stream of platinum color gradually covered his entire body, like a metallic film had been plated over his skin, making him look like a robot crafted from metal.


    "The enhancement effect of [Weapon Master]''s armament has a ''quantity'' limit, so the larger the coverage area, the weaker the effect..."


    Xue Jing took a moment to gauge.


    "After rising to Lv2, the ''quantity'' seemed to increase by about half compared to Lv1, reaching 1.5 times the previous amount, not bad."


    He nodded in approval.


    This also meant that, when he used it to strengthen weapons in his hand, the enhancement effect on the weapons was 1.5 times that of Lv1.


    This was a significant improvement, especially for someone who possessed ''Feather Transformation'' and could remotely control weapons in battle.


    "Exact details will be tested later, next..."


    Xue Jing looked towards the Divine Skill column. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Twin Lifes Lv5]


    [Shadow Flame Lv10]


    [Plant Pact Lv6]


    [Dragon Horn Lv5]


    [Feather Transformation Lv5]


    "Currently, I have five Divine Skills... Shadow Flame is already perfectly sufficient for now, and the Divine Incarnation has been activated. Investing further in it, each level-up requires too much Divinity, and although the upgrades are significant, the cost-effectiveness isn''t that high."


    "The best approach is, as I previously thought, to focus on one skill first, take it to Lv10, and then create another Divine Incarnation."


    "Which one should I upgrade first?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    "Hmm... first off, eliminate [Plant Pact]; currently there are no more powerful plant seeds to make a pact with, Dragon Cherry is sufficient, and upgrading would only strengthen Dragon Cherry, yielding comparatively smaller returns."


    "As for [Dragon Horn]... with Feather Transformation, the skill''s use for flight is gone, leaving only the potency of Dragon Thunder and the gravity-altering effects... It''s worth upgrading by one level, after all it''s necessary for martial arts training, but it can''t be a primary point for investment."


    That left only [Twin Lifes] and [Feather Transformation]...


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    "Upgrading [Feather Transformation] is currently the highest direct gain to strength."


    "It can increase the Blue Bar, control more ''Feathered Objects'', and directly improve the flight speed and killing power of the ''Feathered Objects''..."


    For Xue Jing, who had mastered ''Mahayana Flying Sword'', upgrading Feather Transformation could bring quite noticeable improvement to his strength... at least in terms of long-range combat capabilities.


    "As for [Twin Lifes]..."


    Xue Jing''s gaze settled on this Divine Skill that was the first he had activated.


    He had a special affection for this skill that had helped him weather many difficulties early on, and even now, [Twin Lifes] still played a crucial role, greatly enhancing his combat abilities.


    However, due to the special mechanism of [Twin Lifes] upgrades, every level-up activated a physical attribute to double its capability. The best and most noticeable effects, he had already activated all of them.


    The remaining options, compared to other Divine Skills that could directly amplify his combat power, weren''t as potent, so Xue Jing had put the upgrade for [Twin Lifes] on hold for a long time without touching it.


    "However, things are different now."


    Xue Jing murmured.


    His combat strength was now considerably powerful.


    For example, if his previous strength was 10 and upgrading [Twin Lifes] could raise it by 1, while upgrading [Shadow Flame] could directly raise it by 5, he would naturally choose to upgrade Shadow Flame.


    But now, with his strength at 100, upgrading other Divine Skills for a mere increase of 3 to 4 points in strength wasn''t critical.


    On the other hand, the benefits of upgrading [Twin Lifes] became more substantial to him at this stage.


    The most important aspect was Twin Lifes'' passive ability, resurrection.


    With every level-up reducing the cooldown by 10 days, this effect became increasingly significant later on.


    The current Lv5 had a cooldown of fifty days, which didn''t seem too impressive, and Lv6 at forty days wasn''t much better.

 Chapter 270 Finally Gained Favor of

    Until the twentieth day at Lv8, everything still felt pretty ordinary.But by the tenth day at Lv9... things started to feel a bit different.


    The perfect resurrection every ten days was already rather cheat-like.


    If he went a step further, to Lv10... would it directly become infinite resurrection?


    Although Xue Jing thought it probably wouldn''t be that cheat-like, a cooldown of under ten days was extremely user-friendly for him.


    He now had many ways to save his life, and the only fear he had was being corpse-guarded.


    If the cooldown for Twin Lifes could be reduced to under ten days, then even if he were hunted and corpse-guarded incessantly, he would surely manage to survive past this cooldown period using various methods, thereby achieving a kind of endless resurrection with an Undying Body.


    Therefore, for now, focusing on leveling up Twin Lifes was the best choice for him!


    "Not only that, this is still only considering the passive aspect of Twin Lifes..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    Even without the passive resurrection effect, leveling up Twin Lifes also greatly boosted his strength.


    First was the increase in the Blue Bar after leveling up, which would extend the duration of his various [Power of Twins], [Twin Speed], [Twin Defense].


    Even without mentioning the Blue Bar, there are many physical ability options available now that can greatly increase his strength when activated.


    "After acquiring [Impeccable], ''Calculation Power'' has greatly enhanced me. When activated, it allows me to calculate more spear moves... To multi-thread control of multiple flying swords while using different Martial Arts on different swords also requires Calculation Power."


    "''Concentration'' is also a good option... and so is ''Reaction Speed''."


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    "''Perception Ability'' is much needed too. I have no limit to my control distance over ''Feathered Objects''; it only depends on how far I can perceive."


    Xue Jing thought carefully; many options in the active effects of Twin Lifes were very helpful to him.


    This was the result of the overall increase in his power to a certain level.


    "It''s a pity that the active effects of Twin Lifes can only enhance physical abilities and not anything related to mental abilities."


    Xue Jing felt somewhat regretful.


    For example, ''Wisdom'' is a kind of mental ability that pertains to a person''s Consciousness structure, determining whether a person''s thought patterns are meticulous, whether they have brilliant ideas frequently, and so on, nothing to do with the body itself.


    And while ''Calculation Power'' ''Concentration'' ''Memory'' and such brain functions are to some extent related to Wisdom, they are not Wisdom itself.


    Changes in Wisdom also involve some concepts of ''Ego'', such as empathy, willpower, mental maturity, etc., which are all parts of Wisdom, but if these were to be enhanced or changed, it would mean a change in a person''s ''Ego''.


    By then, whether ''I'' would still be ''I'' would be uncertain.


    A person''s Wisdom can naturally grow and change with their experiences... but if it suddenly doubled due to some skill, causing a person''s Consciousness to change drastically in an instant, that wouldn''t feel very good.


    Upon reflection, it might actually be a good thing that there''s no ''Wisdom'' option in the active effects of Twin Lifes.


    Shaking his head to rid his mind of these random thoughts, Xue Jing clicked to upgrade Twin Lifes.


    [Twin Birth Lv6 (Divinity required for upgrade: 6470/2000)]


    [Twin Birth Lv7 (Divinity required for upgrade: 4470/3000)]


    [Twin Birth Lv8 (Divinity required for upgrade: 1470/4500)]


    The much-neglected wife finally received Xue Jing''s favor, and with great intensity, directly upgraded three levels.


    He looked at the details of Twin Lifes at this moment.


    [Passive: Possess two lives, can freely choose the time of resurrection within seven days after death, cooldown time: twenty days (cooldown completed)]


    [Active: Each Lv1 can designate one physical ability related to oneself, and produce double the effect when used]


    [Current activations: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense, Instinctive Intuition, Flexibility]


    [Current choices available:...]


    After three consecutive level-ups, the passive''s cooldown decreased by thirty days, directly resetting the cooldown from the previous death Xue Jing had experienced, bringing his resurrection ability back once again!


    Invisibly, the big rock in Xue Jing''s heart that forced him to be cautious was removed, making him feel much lighter all over.


    Having resurrection abilities is blissful; he could be reckless again...


    Next came the choice of active effects.


    After pondering for a while, Xue Jing selected three options.


    [Concentration],[Calculation Power],[Reaction Speed].


    Among these, Reaction Speed did not need to be mentioned; it was a direct enhancement to his physical combat strength and quite useful.


    As for Calculation Power and Concentration, their uses were more varied in all aspects, but let''s set them aside for now.


    Xue Jing picked up The Blade That Never Dulls, which was on the table, caressed the scabbard lightly, and spoke softly,


    "It''s about time I gave you a name... ''The Blade That Never Dulls'' is not very convenient to call."


    With a ''click,'' he slightly drew the blade just a bit, revealing a section of the bright, mirror-like blade.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing said,


    "The blade is bright and clean, impervious to dirt; thus, let''s call you ''Zhao Ye''."


    After sheathing the Zhao Ye Blade, Xue Jing walked out of the resting room with it in hand.


    He was going for a post-competition interview... Originally, he did not want to go, but the organizers had earnestly pleaded with him for a long time, saying that it was a necessary tradition.


    Xue Jing thought about it and since there was already a pre-competition interview before the competition started, he decided to see it through and agreed.


    He was not in a hurry and walked to the broadcasting studio at a leisurely pace.


    On the way, all the staff members, contestants, and logistics personnel of the contestants who encountered Xue Jing would stop in their tracks and greet him with respect or caution.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled back at each one of them. Unlike his demeanor in the arena, his unpretentious and amiable attitude surprised many.


    Soon, Xue Jing arrived at the doorway of the broadcasting studio.


    Just as he was about to push the door open and enter, the door was opened from the inside. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside was someone Xue Jing temporarily did not want to meet.


    "Lu Sang."


    Xue Jing touched his nose, looking at the bandaged Otogirusu, who appeared to have severe injuries.


    His face looked extremely weak, his lips pale from blood loss, but his posture remained graceful, and his beauty did not diminish. Instead, his vulnerability lent him the beauty of Xi Shi, giving off an even softer and more delicate impression.


    He seemed even more like a woman.


    "Xue Jun." The voice was as gentle and cheerful as always; Otogirusu seemed to be in an excellent mood upon seeing Xue Jing, his eyes forming beautiful crescents.


    Then, his gaze fell upon the ancient long sword in Xue Jing''s hand.


    "Suzumaru has ended up in your hands, huh? No wonder I suddenly couldn''t find it in the resting room just now," said Otogirusu.


    "It seems I not only lost to Xue Jun with my hands but also willingly admitted defeat with my entire heart... You truly are the man I set my eyes on, such a thing has never happened before."


    Xue Jing said helplessly, "Its name has now been changed to ''Zhao Ye''... Lu Sang, stop deliberately saying things that can cause misunderstandings."


    Otogirusu covered his mouth and laughed softly,


    "Maybe there''s no misunderstanding at all?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, "You''re not seriously planning on winning me over like this, are you? I''d advise against it; I''m the type whose hand gets heavier when provoked."


    Otogirusu sighed, "Xue Jun, do you really care so much about the same gender repulsion? Then I might as well go for surgery, after all, it''s not difficult..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Please don''t, I care more about the difference in spirit than the physical aspect. Men are men, women are women; the body is just a form, while ideology is key. Of course, I care about the body as well..."


    With that, he quickly walked past Otogirusu and entered the broadcasting studio, not daring to talk much more with this troublesome person.


    Unseen by Xue Jing, Otogirusu stood still for a good while upon hearing those words.


    Afterward, he turned his head to look at Xue Jing''s retreating figure, his eyes tender and glistening.


    "Xue Jun..."


    In a voice only he could hear, Otogirusu murmured.


    The voice was no longer the ambiguous neutrality, but a clear and melodious girl''s tone.


    ...

 Chapter 273 Grandmaster Level Combat Power, Dangerous Xue Jing, Silent Nether Nest Eye

    "Roar¡ª!!!"The True Dragon cried out in agony, shaking the heavens and the earth, as intense sound waves rippled through the air, distorting it into concentric ripples and waves.


    From below, Xue Jing, although it would still take about twenty seconds for the sound to reach him, raised an eyebrow:


    "Stop shouting."


    With a thought, his spiritual aura, attached to the Shadow Flame, remotely transferred to the Zhao Ye Blade hovering ten thousand meters above, as if the void itself had cracked open, dark thunder emerged around the Zhao Ye Blade.


    As if held by an invisible swordsman, the tip of the Zhao Ye Blade slightly lifted, tilting upward, paused slightly, then suddenly swung!


    Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance!


    A swift horizontal slash from left to right, the spiritual aura-formed dark thunder lingered in the void, creating an appearance from afar as if the space itself was cleaved into two, opening a dark rift.


    This slash struck right in the middle of the True Dragon''s gaping mouth, as it cried out, slicing open its throat and almost severing half its head, abruptly silencing the dragon''s chant.


    The intense spiritual damage imparted by Divine Avoidance invaded its brain, causing its eyes to roll back, nearly knocking it unconscious.


    ...


    Taking advantage of the range of Yuhua and the eternal indestructibility of the Zhao Ye Blade, Xue Jing toyed with the True Dragon until it was beyond recognition and furiously incapacitated, then he waved his hand, allowing it to dissipate and be released.


    Since he had never battled this True Dragon in its prime, what was simulated was the True Dragon after it had been greatly weakened by the ''Serpent Slayer Spearhead.''


    For the current him, this level of opponent was too weak, barely serving as a practice match.


    "That''s about it."


    Xue Jing nodded his head.


    After several hours of detailed testing, he had a clear understanding and grasp of his current overall combat power.


    Both the True Martial and the Army Master having leveled up, his martial arts capabilities once again enhanced to a considerable extent.


    Specifically reflected in the Mahayana Flying Sword, previously Xue Jing could barely manage two flying swords simultaneously executing martial arts skills, but now he could easily manage three.


    If he activated Twin Lifes, employing both ''Double Computation Power'' and ''Double Concentration,'' plus ''Double Flexibility'' to generate twice the amount of Power, he could reach six.


    This was essentially equivalent to six Xue Jings attacking simultaneously...


    The only problem was, currently there were not six weapons that could fully withstand his Power... and as his strength continued to increase, the more flying swords he could wield simultaneously, the larger this gap would become.


    Thus, limited by external factors, he couldn''t fully exploit his ability in long-range combat using Yuhua.


    However, this was a minor issue, in the future it would simply require acquiring more Divine Weapons.


    If not that, then just level up the Army Master higher, casually pick up a few dozen tree branches from the ground, and enhance them with weaponry to solve the problem.


    In the aspect of Impeccable, likewise due to the leveling up of True Martial and Army Master boosting his realm, currently, without using Twin Lifes, Xue Jing could at his utmost continuously deploy one hundred seventy-nine spears!


    If he activated Twin Lifes, complemented by both Computation Power and Concentration, he could reach the realm of two hundred spears.


    Adding even one more spear to Impeccable becomes increasingly difficult, requiring a surge in Computation Power, though it appears only twenty-one more spears were added, the calculation difficulty nearly doubled.


    If Zhou Yinglin were here, even if his calculation ability and Power control were enhanced threefold, and he overclocked his brain to the point of smoking, he still wouldn''t be able to produce two hundred spears.


    Even just with this one spear technique, without utilizing any other methods, Xue Jing at this moment was likely enough to threaten a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster... probably.


    This was his own guess; up till now, his understanding of Limit-Breaking Grandmasters was limited to competition videos, and he had not yet faced a true Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, so he was not clear on the specific power distribution of Limit-Breaking Grandmasters.


    It is said that those who have leaped through the Dragon Gate and become Limit Breakers exhibit a wide disparity in strength despite being theoretically at the same level, due to differences in cultivation techniques, physical constitution, and other factors.


    Sometimes, the gap between one Limit Breaker and another can be even greater than the gap between a Limit Breaker and an ordinary person.


    Anyway, based on the performances seen in match recordings, Xue Jing felt that, relying solely on his martial arts combat skills, along with the enhancement from "Twin Lifes", handling Limit-Breaking Grandmasters with strength around the ''median'' should not be a problem.


    "I wonder to what extent I would reach if I achieved a Breakthrough¡­" he thought to himself.


    "Speaking of which, there''s also something called the ''Ultimate Breakthrough''. I don''t really know what the criteria are; I will need to ask Youqing by checking the Qingcheng Encyclopedia when I get back."


    With a thought, Xue Jing exited the simulation space, his consciousness returning to his body.


    ¡­


    Two days later.


    At the Cease-Blades Base, the airport.


    The Dragon Core Fighter descended slowly in the air, its black streamlined body exuding a high-tech feel, very much stimulating to the male visual nerve.


    Base Chief Xu Hongzhong remarked:


    "There are always new talents emerging in every generation. Xue, seeing you, I can''t help but feel strongly that the era I belong to is receding¡­ and the era that belongs to you is about to arrive."


    "Moreover, the speed of its arrival¡­ might be faster than anyone anticipates."


    Miao Miao perched on Xue Jing''s shoulder, with Yun Qin, dressed in classic black and white maid attire, following behind.


    He said with a smile, "You flatter me, Chief Xu."


    Xu Hongzhong waved his hand and joked, "Why be so modest? You throw heavy punches in front of the camera, but then are meek behind it? Where is that relentless person who boldly claimed he would take the Eternal Seven Crowns within six years?"


    Iron-blooded Jing Ning Yuantai, standing beside them, replied discontentedly, "I say, Old Xu, what do you mean by ''bold claims''? You are mistaken there."


    "My Xue has never been reckless in his life! He always states facts and fulfills them; it''s just ignorant people who misunderstand him. Don''t you spread nonsense!"


    He exclaimed loudly.


    Xu Hongzhong laughed heartily, "Indeed, Ning is right. My apologies for the slip of the tongue."


    Ning Yuantai retorted unhappily, "I''ve told you not to call me Ning; I''ve always relied on myself..."


    During their casual conversation, the plane landed.


    Xue Jing thanked Xu Hongzhong for allowing him to stay at the Zhige Base for so long and apologized for the disruption caused by his daily martial arts practice. Xu Hongzhong, naturally, patted his chest to ensure it was not a problem and welcomed him to return anytime.


    Subsequently, the group entered the cabin, the Dragon Core Fighter took off and sped towards the Outer Ring.


    As the plane passed through the pale blue barrier enveloping Yuan City,


    Thousands of kilometers away in a wilderness, a masked woman with the lower half of her face obscured by a black steel mask opened her eyes, revealing strange, goat-like, horizontal pupils.


    She reached a hand to the back of her left ear as if listening to something.


    After a while, she looked towards the person shrouded in a black robe beside her and said faintly,


    "He has left Yuan City and is flying in this direction."


    The robed figure responded slowly, "Very well."


    His voice was extremely hoarse and unpleasant, hissing like that of snakes.


    Speaking, he reached up and removed his hood, revealing his true face.


    His appearance was quite unusual; his eyes were tightly shut and had not opened, and there was not a single hair on his slick forehead. From the middle of his forehead protruded a crimson-black curved horn, resembling an alien.


    But what was most unusual was his mouth.


    He had no lips, yet his mouth was enormous, with the corners split up to his earlobes, as if opening his mouth might split his head in half.


    From the gap in his mouth, a slender snake''s tongue flicked in and out with extreme speed, as if it were an illusion.


    "I smell... a dangerous scent."


    He slightly raised his head, facing the direction of Yuan City.


    "A massive source of danger is continuously approaching this place..."


    "Most of us here will die."


    "Miss Xu, I''m starting to think that joining this operation was not a good idea."


    The goat-eyed woman frowned and said, "Do you want to withdraw?"


    The snake-like man shook his head: "For the sake of the Divine Child, sacrificing this body is trivial. We will spare no expense to retrieve the woman who might become the ''Holy Mother'' back into our sect."


    "However... the specifics of the operation still need to be discussed."


    He closed his eyes, turning his head to face the goat-eyed woman.


    "Although your Silent Netherworld Nest Eye is powerful, you are merely a mortal and do not have the constitution of us the Blessed Ones. You cannot fully adapt to such a Divine Object. Maintaining the current level of effort might not be enough to handle that dangerous person."


    The woman said lightly, "What do you mean?"


    The man shook his head and said, "Next, you cannot continue to use an inhibitor. You must accept the transformation and bring out more power from the Silent Netherworld Nest Eye, or we will only have one way left¡ªto die."


    Standing beside the woman, the young man glared at him and said, "You''re exaggerating! That person, no matter how powerful, is just an underage. They are not as dangerous as you say, Sister Kui, don''t listen to him!"


    The man completely ignored the young man, as if he didn''t exist at all, and continued:


    "That dangerous scent... can only be described by a malicious dragon. Trust me, that young man is terrifyingly strong."


    "To entangle with a malicious dragon, one must transform into a malicious dragon oneself..."


    His tone was extremely calm.


    "I will die in this battle, Miss Xu. Don''t let our respective sacrifices be in vain."


    The young man eagerly said, "Sister Kui, don''t listen to him!"


    The goat-eyed woman stretched out her hand to stop the young man from continuing.


    She sighed softly and said faintly:


    "So be it, let''s follow what the Sect Hierarch said."


    ...


    In the cabin, Xue Jing sat on the seat, his gaze fixed on the window, overlooking the land below.


    Even though he was in the high sky and obscured by clouds and mist, his vision was still unobstructed, able to see the ground clearly.


    From afar, he could see once again the hexagonal massive building he had seen upon first arriving in the Inner Ring.


    According to Ning Yuantai, it was the bio-breeding grounds of the super-giant company ''Joint Cultivation'' at the Intersecting Boundaries.


    The Flame Crab that Xue Jing had eaten in Yuan City was a product from this company.


    He thought for a moment, and casually asked Ning Yuantai sitting next to him:


    "Is there a way to visit this kind of breeding ground?"


    Ning Yuantai, who was munching on an ice cream cone, replied upon hearing the question:


    "Xue, are you interested in the breeding grounds?"


    Xue Jing said, "Somewhat."


    Such places would certainly have a lot of Intersecting Boundaries creatures... It was unknown how many of them possessed Divinity.


    His thoughts were not those of petty theft, but rather contemplating if it were possible to find species containing Divinity and buy them in large numbers with money.


    After all, he didn''t know how else to spend the billion yuan he had for now. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head: "That might be difficult... Breeding of Intersecting Boundaries creatures is extremely complex, as these things are creatures living in a different world from us."


    "For such giant breeding companies, many species are bred successfully with proprietary methods, all of which are business secrets and not open to the public."


    "If you want to visit... even if I have acquaintances inside, I''m afraid it won''t work."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I see... Just asking casually."


    The plane continued flying, and several hours passed in a blink.


    Just as the plane was about to leave the Inner Ring to reach the Outer Ring.


    In the cabin, Miao Miao, who was sleeping on Xue Jing''s legs, suddenly opened her eyes, her emerald-like vertical pupils razor-sharp.


    Her two front paws automatically extended the silver-white Serpent Slayer Spearhead, and her fur slightly bristled.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Xue Jing looked at her and asked.


    "Jing," Miao Miao spoke, her gaze serious as she looked at Xue Jing.


    "There''s a situation, ''The Invincible Lionheart''... has issued a warning."


    "It''s very dangerous, probably the most dangerous one so far."


    Xue Jing''s gaze narrowed slightly, and he immediately stood up, chanting the Word Spirit to summon the Nonexistent Beast.


    Then, with a thought, he let the Nonexistent Beast swallow the little maid sitting beside him, who was drowsily asleep, into formlessness.


    After finishing this, Xue Jing gently patted Ning Yuantai''s shoulder, who was sitting in the seat in front of him.


    "Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai shuddered, waking from his sleep, and hurriedly said, "Xue, I''m here!"


    Xue Jing softly said, "Tell the pilot to stop the plane and open the cabin door."


    "I need to go out and handle some business."


    ...

 Chapter 274 The Third Ability Benevolent Fragrance, Xue Jing and Ning Fengwans First Kiss

    Ning Yuantai immediately grew serious upon hearing this:"Xue, what''s going on?"


    As he spoke, he walked over to the corner, reached up to unhook a walkie-talkie hanging on the wall, and instructed the pilot to stop immediately.


    "There should be an ambush ahead, targeting me," Xue Jing said, looking out of the plane window.


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said, "An ambush? Could it be the sky pirates again?"


    Ning Yuantai, who trusted Xue Jing''s words completely without any doubt, immediately started thinking about who would dare to ambush a plane belonging to The Sixth Agency.


    "I don''t think so," Xue Jing said, his gaze turning towards Miao Miao beside him, whose fur was still puffed up as if it had been electrocuted.


    "...Unlike the minor skirmishes we''ve had with the sky pirates before, this time it might be very dangerous," Xue Jing said, narrowing his eyes.


    At these words, Ning Yuantai shivered, realizing the gravity of the situation if even Xue considered it dangerous...


    It was as if he could feel a monstrous beast slowly opening its eyes far ahead of the plane, its gaze fixed straight upon him. He quickly suggested, "Then shall we turn back now? Or take a detour?"


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "Since they''re after me, any attempt to avoid them now would be futile. There is only an eternal thief, not an eternal guard. I''m not used to being watched in the shadows. Let''s resolve what can be resolved now."


    "Open the cabin door."


    Seeing Xue Jing''s determination, Ning Yuantai immediately nodded with a solemn expression: "Yes!"


    The two left the small compartment and headed to the cabin. At Ning Yuantai''s command, the cabin door hissed open, and the fierce wind from high above surged into the cabin, blowing Xue Jing''s medium-length hair backward.


    Xue Jing stood at the cabin door, holding onto the frame, and turned to Ning Yuantai:


    "Let the plane keep its distance from this area, no matter what happens, do not come close, understand?"


    Ning Yuantai swallowed hard, nodding emphatically: "Understood, Xue, don''t worry!"


    Xue Jing hummed in response, took a step forward, and fell from the plane.


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai closed the cabin door, and immediately gave the order: "Turn the plane around, get away from here!"


    He then raised his right hand, pressed a few buttons on his wristband, and waited a moment.


    "Hello? Old Xu, Xue and I have run into some trouble..."


    ...


    Having applied Feather Transformation to himself, Xue Jing hovered in the air as if walking on solid ground.


    He turned to Miao Miao crouching on his shoulder and whispered softly, "Teacher Wan, take refuge in the Nonexistent Beast for a bit."


    Miao Miao nodded at his words and said: S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wait a moment."


    "My blood is boiling, just like when I came into contact with those Dragon Cult members before. Amongst those lying in ambush, there should be people from the Dragon Cult."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s heart stirred and said:


    "Do you mean to use that new ability?"


    Miao Miao nodded and said, "Correct...hand me the clothes."


    Xue Jing manipulated the Nonexistent Beast to open its invisible mouth, then reached inside to pull out a set of women''s clothing.


    In a sparkle of white-gold light, Ning Fengwan regained her human form, quickly dressed, and then nestled herself against Xue Jing, who wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her in his embrace.


    With a smile in his eyes, Xue Jing looked at Ning Fengwan, now faced with him at less than ten centimeters apart, and raised an eyebrow:


    "So...shall we begin?"


    A perfect blush bloomed on Ning Fengwan''s impeccable, stunning face, and her slender, intense phoenix eyes gave him a slight glare, her quiet voice tinged with shyness:


    "Mhm..."


    With that, she slowly closed her eyes, her lush lashes trembling, her unadorned lips slightly parted as if very tense.


    Xue Jing smiled, leaned in gently, and their lips met in a kiss.


    This was not out-of-place flirting before a big fight...probably.


    Since Ning Fengwan merged with the Cat Tail Ring, a lot of time had passed. Through the occasional stimulation of the fusion process by Xue Jing, she had finally activated a new ability after "Serpent Slayer Spearhead" and "The Invincible Lionheart."


    It was called the "Power of Loving Fragrance."


    The Cat Goddess Bastet, residing within the Cat Tail Ring, was a Heretic God with complex jurisdictions.


    She was ferociously wild, an advocate of battle with numerous victories, and had even slain "Apep, the Serpent of Chaos," becoming the bane of dragons and snakes.


    At the same time, she was also a gentle guardian deity of the home and the protector of "fragrance."


    Home signifies "sharing."


    The new ability "Power of Loving Fragrance" acquired by Ning Fengwan could share a portion of her own abilities temporarily with her family through the act of sharing "fragrance."


    And "fragrance" requires a medium.


    And the best medium is... bodily fluids.


    By concentrating the "Power of Loving Fragrance" within bodily fluids and transferring it onto family members.


    When Ning Fengwan initially activated this ability and learned that its usage required the transfer of bodily fluids, she wasn''t alarmed.


    After all, blood is also a type of bodily fluid, so in the future, when Xue Jing needed it, she could simply cut herself and give him some blood.


    ...However, that wouldn''t work.


    The ability of Loving Fragrance comes from the mutual sharing among family members; "offering blood" as a form of self-harm and exploitation is not accepted by Loving Fragrance.


    Therefore, the most convenient choice left...was saliva.


    "Sizzle...sizzle..."


    Strange noises rose in the wilderness outside the city, where two small snakes seemed to be fighting, their bodies entwined together, locked in an indecipherable battle.


    In a daze, Ning Fengwan was quickly swept away by Xue Jing, lost in the sensation, unable to extricate herself.


    ```


    There was only one faint suspicion flickering in his heart.


    Why is he so skilled...


    Strangely enough, Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan had a very close relationship, having been through many trivial matters together, but they had never experienced the most basic step...


    Therefore, up until now, this was their first kiss.


    For Ning Fengwan, it was indeed her first time, as if a young maiden were riding in a bridal sedan. For Xue Jing... barring the childhood roughhousing with his sister Xue Wan, this was also a first in his lifetime.


    Sweet... physically sweet.


    Like eating ice cream, under the blessing of the Power of Loving Fragrance, it was already sweet, and now even sweeter.


    Gradually, Xue Jing''s blood began to boil, and tiny holes appeared at the tips of his fingers.


    Silver-white sharpness flickered as razor-sharp claws slowly extended from the small holes at his fingertips.


    ...


    In the distance, a goat-eyed woman hidden behind a large boulder looked towards the sky. The radial cracks in the white of her eyes were flashing violently.


    At this moment, her skin was quite bizarre, with traces of movement all over, as if many small bugs were buried underneath, about to ''hatch'' out.


    "...The plane suddenly turned back."


    "...Xue Jing stayed behind, hovering in mid-air."


    "...There''s a black cat on his shoulder...that cat has turned into a woman."


    She spoke in a bland tone, devoid of emotion, like a robot narrating the scenes she witnessed.


    The Snake Man known as Sect Hierarch nodded, "She possesses the ''Cat Tail Ring'' and can turn into a cat. Without a doubt, it is Ning Fengwan, the Leader of Qing City Dragon Cult."


    The goat-eyed woman said expressionlessly: "Xue Jing must have noticed... but he isn''t running."


    "This man is as confident as he appears on TV..."


    The Snake Man shook his head, "If I had such terrifying power, I would be confident too."


    "Let''s go. Since we''ve been discovered, there''s no point in hiding. We should meet him and see if we can talk things through... If it''s not necessary, I really don''t want to fight with such a monster."


    He lifted his sleeve to reveal his arm.


    Just like when people get goosebumps, his arm, covered with dense black serpent scales, trembled non-stop, enough to make someone with trypophobia faint on the spot.


    "Do you really think that someone who knows there''s an enemy lying in ambush but still decides to walk into the lion''s den without any hesitation would just give up what we want after a few words?"


    The goat-eyed woman glanced at the Sect Hierarch.


    "We have to try... Let''s go."


    The Snake Man stood up, raised his hand in a wave, then levitated and flew towards the sky.


    Behind him, figures emerged from their hiding places across the wilderness, levitating and following behind him.


    Before long, a stream of hundreds had formed.


    The goat-eyed woman, pressing down a wriggling bulge on her right arm with her left hand, clenched her teeth and staggered slightly, nearly falling.


    The young man beside her, worried, said, "Sister Kui... are you okay?"


    As he spoke, he held out a syringe to Sister Kui: "You should take one shot! The symptoms of the Mutative Disease are already showing..."


    Sister Kui pushed the syringe away and shook her head, "I''m fine, don''t worry... Let''s go, we''ll catch up to them."


    ...


    Slowly separating, a transparent thread was pulled apart, and Xue Jing looked around coolly at the hundreds of figures that had surrounded them.


    In his arms, Ning Fengwan was in a daze, her face blank and a crystal droplet slipping from the corner of her mouth...


    She breathed lightly and gradually came back to her senses. The flush on her beautiful face lingered; the cat ears on her head twitched occasionally, giving her the illusion of having just returned from heaven to earth.


    How could it be so...


    "Really rude of you guys," Xue Jing said as if nothing had happened, without any embarrassment from having their intimate moment witnessed, and he coldly surveyed the crowd around him.


    Among these people, most were flying in the air with single-operator flight devices attached to their bodies.


    Moreover, all of them were floating in mid-air, presumably all using anti-gravity flight equipment made with Dragon Breed cores.


    Talk about rich resources¡ªitems related to Dragon Breed are very expensive, and yet several hundred appeared at once...


    "Seeing us in the middle of important business, it''s bad enough not to hide away, but to actually crowd around to watch, is truly too unaware."


    Xue Jing spoke calmly, fixing his gaze on the few leading people.


    The Snake Man bowed deeply with his eyes closed towards Xue Jing and spoke with sincerity: "Mr. Xue Jing, a pleasure to meet you. Please allow me to introduce myself... I am the Sect Hierarch of Yuan City Dragon Cult... and the current leader of the overall sect, from the same lineage as Sect Leader Ning next to you."


    "I come here not for anything else but at the request of our Divine Child, to ask Sect Leader Ning to visit our core sect and have an exchange with the Divine Child."


    Ning Fengwan didn''t even glance at him, but said somewhat shyly to Xue Jing:


    "Jing, be careful."


    Xue Jing gently touched her head and whispered,


    "Don''t worry."


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Nonexistent Beast opened its jaws and engulfed Ning Fengwan into the invisible.


    This sight made the goat-eyed woman''s gaze flash, feeling that something was amiss.


    "Cut the talk."


    "If you dared to appear before me, that means you are ready."


    Xue Jing slowly said, reaching into the empty space beside him and pulling out an ancient and graceful long knife, its bright blade flashing with cold light.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 275 Snake and Olden Days, Ban Shows Her Power, Xue Jing Who Lacks Martial Virtue (4K)

    Xue Jing, while drawing his sword, turned his gaze towards the woman next to him with pupils shaped like horizontal bars of a goat.This was someone he recognized... although she did not recognize him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he had stolen the Wind of All Beginnings from the secret laboratory of Xu''s Biological Company, Xue Jing had seen her.


    ''She must have been sent by Xu Mude... His craving for the Wind of All Beginnings has reached such an extent. It seems that the prestige of Youqing A Dream is still insufficient.''


    Xue Jing thought that he should embarrass Wu Youqing a bit about this matter when he returned to Qingcheng.


    "Mr. Xue, do you know me?" the woman with goat eyes suddenly asked.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged as he replied, "You, I have not seen before; the person by your side, however, does look familiar."


    He was referring to the young man beside the woman with goat eyes, who bore a striking resemblance to Xu Mude.


    Though he had to pretend it was their first meeting, a proper reaction was still necessary.


    Ignoring the striking resemblance to Xu Mude entirely would instead arouse suspicion.


    Xue Jing raised the Zhao Ye Blade, pointing its tip at the woman with goat eyes, and spoke lightly:


    "Were you sent by Xu Mude? Do you want the Wind of All Beginnings?"


    He asked this logically, according to his previous guise of ignorance, but he did not expect the woman to admit it.


    If she admitted, it would equate to Xu Mude openly provoking and forcefully seizing what Wu Youqing wanted.


    Unexpectedly, the woman with goat eyes simply nodded her head:


    "Correct, precisely."


    "My name is Xu Wenkui, the one beside me is Xu Mude''s cousin, Xu Muchun, and we came here under Xu Mude''s instructions to ask you for the ''Wind of All Beginnings.''


    "Just hand over the Wind of All Beginnings to us, and we will leave immediately, without harming you in the slightest."


    Her tone was indifferent, mechanical, without a hint of humanity.


    Suddenly, Xu Muchun''s eyes widened, "Sister Kui, you!?"


    He too did not expect that Xu Wenkui would expose their purpose so directly on the spot; what was she thinking?


    Hearing this, Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, "You are quite honest... It seems you don''t have a good relationship with Xu Mude. He made a mistake in sending you to handle this matter."


    This woman''s actions likely aimed to use his help for some other purpose.


    However, he had no interest in the complicated relations of such prominent families and didn''t intend to delve deeper.


    To him, the matter was simple.


    If these people came looking for trouble, then he would simply kill them all.


    "The Wind of All Beginnings is on me."


    "But, I will not hand over the item, and you will not be able to take any person with you."


    Xue Jing held his long blade horizontally, pointing it at the people around him, his pupils transformation from deep brown to the indifferent silver-white of Divinity.


    The Spiritual Aura spread, radiating black thunder patterns continuously emerging around him, as if the void was incessantly being torn apart.


    The air trembled and buzzed, and in just a moment, nearly a hundred people around him were instantly stunned, losing their consciousness.


    The appearance of the leader of the Dragon Sect, snake-like, changed.


    "Miss Xu, do it!"


    He shouted loudly, his already harsh and unpleasant voice becoming even more unbearable.


    Instantly, Xu Wenkui''s eyes radiated a blue light with radiating patterns, her horizontal pupils staring directly at Xue Jing.


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s entire body suddenly froze, as if he was pressed by a pause button.


    It was an absolute stillness, not even his breathing, blood flow, hair swayed by the wind, or heartbeat could move.


    Everything that made up ''Xue Jing'' as an individual, even down to a single particle, was completely immobilized, even his ability to think was stripped away.


    Silent Nether Nest Eye.


    Two years ago, a group of Intersecting Boundaries hunters nurtured by the Xu Family discovered an alien god temple in an unknown Intersecting Boundary.


    After studying the temple, the Xu Family officially confirmed that this alien god was an ''Old God.''


    What is an ''Old God''?


    The academic definition is simple: after the ''Serpent'' comes the ''True God''; before the ''Serpent,'' there were the ''Olden Days''!


    The ''Serpent'' is the origin of all order; from its emergence, everything in this world gained meaning and ceased to be a mere chaos and ignorance.


    The ''Olden Days'' represent ancient existences, symbols of chaos and ignorance, radically different from the ''True Gods''; they don''t represent any meaning, hold no office, only savagery, irrationality, strength, and terror without any rule!


    Named ''Silent Netherworld Nest'' by humans based on its characteristics, this Old God is one of them.


    After contacting the Silent Netherworld Nest, Xu''s scientists, after lengthy experiments, finally enabled a test subject to complete the bestowed ceremony, receiving a response from the Silent Netherworld Nest.


    The ''Stigmata'' obtained by the test subject after successful bestowal was these Eyes of the Silent Netherworld Nest.


    Xu''s scientists extracted these eyes, tried to combine them with other special materials, and crafted them into a special ''Holy Transplant,'' which was implanted into Xu Wenkui.


    As for this special Transplant, its capability is simple.


    It forces anything it gazes upon to enter a state of ''Silence,'' completely immobilized.


    This is a capability that interferes with the fundamental laws of the present world; no matter how strong the observed object is, it would be affected.


    In theory, she could even gaze at the planet under her feet and stop the planet from rotating and revolving.


    However, as the medium of this ability, Xu Wenkui''s physical body and spiritual consciousness are too weak compared to the Eyes of the Silent Netherworld Nest.

 Chapter 275 Snake and Olden Days, Ban Manifests, Unscrupulous Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Therefore, the greater the intensity of motion in the object she focused on, the shorter the duration of its stillness would become.If she were to use this ability on the planet beneath her feet, then Earth Star would indeed fall into stillness, stopping its rotation and revolution for a moment... for a span of time only slightly longer than Planck time, after which Xu Wenkui would collapse on the spot, her consciousness shattering from the excessive burden.


    But at this moment, the object of her gaze was not a grand celestial body, but a mere human, an underage human at that!


    She had also taken the Leader of Dragon Sect''s advice and hadn''t used an inhibitor for several hours, her physical mutation had soared, and the compatibility with her eyes had increased, allowing her to tap into a much higher limit of their potential.


    Even if this youth was powerful and exaggerated, she should be able to halt him for at least ten or twenty seconds, right?


    All that was needed next was for everyone to launch an attack together, and then she would release her ability just before the attack was about to reach the youth. He would die on the spot or, at the very least, be seriously injured and unable to move for some time¡ª


    That''s how it should have been.


    [Divinity detected, absorbing...]


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    "Hm?"


    Having regained his ability to think in less than a second of stillness, Xue Jing immediately noticed a rather abrupt change in the positions of everyone around him, with many people now very close to him.


    His thought process was incredibly fast, and having read many stories with huge ''brain holes'', he immediately realized that this could be a capability akin to ''erased time''.


    Considering only the people around him had moved and not himself, it likely meant that he was the only one who experienced ''erased time''.


    The inexplicable prompt that popped up on his panel, along with the sudden addition of 23 points of Divinity, left him somewhat confused, but a guess began to form in his mind.


    But there was no time to verify it, as he immediately circulated his Power and swung the Zhao Ye Blade in his hand with a backhand stroke.


    "Swoosh¡ª!!"


    A giant blade light of platinum color slashed forth, instantly bisecting more than a dozen people who were close to him at the waist, their blood and organs spilling into the air, turning into a rain of blood and flesh, with piercing screams unceasing to the ear.


    How powerful he was at this moment, wielding a blade, a casual swing was an attack of the magnitude of a big move, and the advantage in numbers was as laughable as ants charging at an elephant.


    Xu Wenkui''s expression changed drastically, "What is going on!?"


    Her spirit had not suffered backlash, and it didn''t feel like her stillness was forcibly broken by a powerful force; it felt more like... the sensation of a phone call being disconnected, as if her ability was abruptly interrupted, losing connection.


    "Miss Xu!?"


    The Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult revealed a puzzled look.


    Xu Wenkui ignored him and instead, her gaze sharpened as she glared at Xue Jing, continuing to activate the Eye of Silent Netherworld Nest.


    However, the result was the same as before, in less than a second, Xue Jing broke free from the stillness, reacted swiftly, and unleashed two blade lights that killed dozens.


    The stench of blood under the shine of the sun cast numerous shadows upon each other.


    Countless black streams of energy were drawn from the shadows, converging upon him, forming the Shadowflame Wrap Armor that was as black as a black hole around his body, blocking numerous bullets fired at him.


    The only part of his body visibly exposed, his silver-white pupils, shifted slightly. Seeing another 20 or so points of Divinity suddenly added to his panel, Xue Jing had a moment of realization.


    This must be a special attack that contained Divinity, which Ban had just happened to counter!


    Ban... had manifested!


    "It doesn''t work... The Eye of Silent Netherworld Nest doesn''t affect him."


    Xu Wenkui spoke quickly.


    "Change to combat mode B!"


    The Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult nodded solemnly.


    He stretched out his hands toward Xue Jing.


    Then, from the wide sleeves on both sides of him, suddenly numerous serpents of various shapes shot out.


    All the serpents grew longer and larger, almost in the blink of an eye they became as thick as water buckets and tens of meters long, with their mouths open, biting towards Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing remained unmoved, floating in place, his indifferent gaze fixed on the attacking giant snakes, simply extending the index finger of his left hand to point.


    Six meters in front of him, in the void, a rift split open, numerous thick black tendrils extended from the crack, colliding with the charging giant snakes. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Bang bang bang bang¡ª"


    Wood chips flew about, snake blood spilled everywhere, and countless snake scales scattered in all directions.


    "What is this ability!?"


    The youth named Xu Muchun widened his eyes and exclaimed in shock.


    An ancient giant sword, amidst chaos, flew out from an invisible gap.


    Xue Jing extended his hand as if forming a sword gesture, pointing at Xu Wenkui.


    The Forgotten Greatsword immediately accelerated, emitting a roar close to a sonic boom, and shot towards her at high speed.


    "Impossible!"


    Xu Muchun immediately stepped forward, opened his arms, and blocked between the Giant Sword and Xu Wenkui.


    Xue Jing looked indifferent. Just as the Forgotten Greatsword was about to hit Xu Muchun, with a flick of his sword gesture, the Forgotten Greatsword, with agility that completely betrayed its cumbersome appearance, swiftly curved around him and attacked Xu Wenkui.


    "What!?"


    The tip of the Giant Sword fiercely stabbed into Xu Wenkui''s neck. With over two thousand kilograms of mass and near-sonic speed, the terrifying kinetic energy should have crushed her like tofu.


    But when the Forgotten Greatsword hit her, it was as if it had struck an incomparably hard and heavily divine iron, being directly knocked back over a hundred meters away.


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    In that instant, he saw it clearly... just as the Forgotten Greatsword was about to hit Xu Wenkui, her entire body instantly froze in place, without a millimeter of tremor.


    After the Forgotten Greatsword hit her, it too didn''t tremble in the slightest and was directly repelled... This was physically impossible.


    Even if a mountain were compressed to human size and stood there, the Forgotten Greatsword hitting it would not leave it without even the slightest tremor.


    ''Self time freeze? Invincible state?''


    Xue Jing was thinking about going over to test what was happening when six figures in black robes attacked him simultaneously from all around.


    He didn''t take them too seriously, and with a swing of his Zhao Ye Blade, he intended to kill all six at once.


    But when the blade struck the first figure, an extremely huge reactive force came upon him, bouncing the blade off.


    And that person was unscathed, not even their clothes were torn.


    "I see... a troublesome ability."


    Xue Jing slightly frowned as he faced the simultaneous attacks from six figures. His long blade constantly parried and hacked but was repelled every time it struck an opponent, as if they had all activated invincibility.


    He understood that Xu Wenkui''s eyes possessed an ability akin to ''Time Freeze'', capable of locking all material movement of a targeted individual in a static state by mere gaze.


    Objects in a static state maintained absolute constancy, similar to The Blade That Never Dulls'' characteristic of Eternal Indestructibility, beyond external interference, essentially amounting to invincibility. Therefore, any level of attack was futile.


    The result was that, although they were merely six fodder that Xue Jing could have killed with a single slash, they were fighting him to a standstill with invincible physiques as if equals.


    "Then, how about this?"


    Xue Jing thought for a while, then snapped his fingers.


    Black streams of air converged in the air, transformed into dark Shadow Flame, and spread into a wide, black wall, cutting off Xu Wenkui''s line of sight.


    Xu Wenkui''s gaze shifted slightly.


    "Very clever... but useless."


    As the long blade was repelled again, Xue Jing realized that those eyes had a rather special field of vision, either an unstoppable x-ray vision or a ''God''s eye view'' that overlooked everything.


    Considering that she could also use her ability on herself, it was probably closer to a ''God''s eye view''.


    "Since that''s the case, don''t blame me for not fighting fair."


    Xue Jing flung his Zhao Ye Blade away, reverting to unarmed combat.


    Then, he threw a punch at one of the figures in front of him.


    Just as he was about to hit the target, his gaze flashed, seeing the figure''s body enter a state of stasis; he immediately spread his fist into an open palm and pressed it onto the figure''s shoulder.


    [Divinity detected, absorbing...]


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    Looking at the confused fodder who had exited the static state, Xue Jing smiled.


    ...


    (I intended to finish this section in one go, but I am about to faint... I really need to sleep now, sorry...)


    (It''s the middle of the month, can I ask for some monthly tickets...)

 Chapter 277 The Cthulhu Monster The Polluted, Captured, Its Harvest Time (4K)

    ```"Hiss¡ª!!!"


    Seven snake heads lifted skyward, their mouths gaping wide to expose enormous fangs as they emitted a cry of utmost agony.


    Transformed into a Naga and bereft of the majority of its cognitive abilities, it couldn''t comprehend what had happened, only that the seemingly insignificant insect that had inexplicably filled it with a sense of danger had vanished abruptly, only to reappear at its side, followed by a sensation of being torn apart.


    An excruciating pain tore through its heart, and a wave of terror it had never felt before, as if it were the prey of a natural predator, swept through its entire body.


    Its robust flesh began to weaken at a rapid pace, becoming more fragile, as if turning from stone into an egg, its once-flawless, Divinity-infused scales progressively dulled, dried up, then cracked, withering away like fallen leaves.


    In the end, the densely packed scales on its body were blown away by the wind, falling off and precipitating a rain of snake scales within hundreds of meters.


    "What!?"


    Xu Wenkui had not anticipated that the Naga Giant Snake would suffer such severe damage from Xue Jing right at the outset.


    First, an ability resembling spatial transfer that he had not shown before had caught her off guard. In her moment of inattention, not quick enough to use the Silent Nether Nest Eye to help its defense, the strike successfully hit the Naga Giant Snake.


    Moreover, for some reason, he seemed to have some power that could suppress the Naga Giant Snake. A single attack, which didn''t appear particularly intense, caused the entire body of the Naga Giant Snake to exhibit a state of withering.


    With all the abilities he had displayed before... what was going on with this man?


    Without time to ponder further, Xu Wenkui immediately focused her gaze, using the Silent Nether Nest Eye to freeze the Naga Giant Snake in place.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    Having successfully struck his blow, Xue Jing immediately circulated his Power and threw an Eye-Pointing Punch, trying to follow up with another hit, but it landed on the immobile body of the giant snake. His fist was deflected, and he was hurled dozens of meters back by the recoil, only stopping after that distance.


    Discover more stories at empire


    "Hm?"


    He looked over at Xu Wenkui on the other side, an eyebrow raised.


    This woman''s eyes are quite troublesome...


    Although he could break it with Ban''s ability to absorb Divinity, the absorption of Divinity also took time¡ªabout less than a second of continuous contact.


    This allowed her a certain range of operation. As just happened, she could apply the Silent Nether Nest Eye on the Naga Giant Snake in the instant Xue Jing''s attack connected, immediately repelling his strike.


    "But luckily, I caught her off guard with the suddenness of Shadow Leap... I''ve already seized the upper hand; now it''s just a matter of finishing things up."


    In the instant he attacked the giant snake with the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, Xue Jing poured all the power of the Serpent Slayer Spearhead that Ning Fengwan had shared with him into the giant snake''s body.


    His hands had returned to their original appearance, sans the silver-white claws.


    "I need to figure out a way to kill this woman first..."


    In the blink of an eye, Xue Jing considered his next actions.


    He inhaled deeply, drawing in a vast amount of oxygen, and then rotated his Power with an intensity that would typically overload a Martial Artist''s body and result in a catastrophic failure, but his True Martial Body easily coped with the strain. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint, golden Qi Force began to seep out from all over his body, gathering beside him and taking the form of a pale golden translucent figure resembling him.


    Qi-powered avatar.


    After that, invisible rifts opened in the space beside him, and dozens of thick tendrils emerged, coiling and refolding in the sunlight, casting numerous shadows that pulled out streams of black energy, transforming into Dark Flame that gathered and swirled around the Qi-powered avatar.


    The Dark Flame continued to burn and expand, reaching several meters, then tens of meters, and nearly a hundred meters...


    In no time, a hundred-meter-tall Shadowflame Giant clad in full ornate armor took shape, wielding a Giant Sword over ninety meters in length, fashioned after the Zhao Ye Blade.


    "..."


    Xu Wenkui and her companions stared blankly at the slowly forming, immensely oppressive giant.


    "Exactly what... are we facing?"


    One of the Xu Family members who had survived Three months in the same day swallowed hard and spoke in a somewhat numb tone.


    Everyone trembled with trepidation, unease in their hearts, yet the Shadowflame Giant did not even glance at them and simply turned, the motion generating powerful air currents as it flew towards the Naga Giant Snake, which had already broken free from its stationary state.


    "Hiss¡ª!!"


    The reddish-gold giant snake, its scales nearly all shed, looked like a seriously diseased snake with skin issues. Its presence had diminished significantly from when it first appeared, lacking the earlier luster and imposing aura.


    But it was still a behemoth stretching hundreds of meters long. At this moment, its seven heads opened their mouths wide to let out a fearsome roar, its might still considerable.


    It immediately spotted the highly conspicuous Shadowflame Giant, and its body quickly slithered towards the giant.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    The two massive creatures collided. The Shadowflame Giant grasped a snake head in one hand, restraining it, while the other hand held the long sword, battling against the remaining snake heads. Every move from both the giant and the beast caused enormous sounds and air disturbances, creating a profoundly oppressive atmosphere that left onlookers aghast.


    As the Naga Giant Snake became entwined with the Shadowflame Giant, the people of the Xu Family slowly turned their heads, their expressions stiffening as they looked towards Xue Jing, who was also looking their way.


    Not far from them, the Forgotten Greatsword and the Zhao Ye Blade kept darting back and forth, emanating an ill-intent that made one feel as though they were being cornered in an alley by thugs, preventing the girls from escaping...


    "...Uh, is it too late to surrender now?"


    ```

 Chapter 277 The Cthulhu Monster The Polluted, Captured, Its Harvest Time (4K)_2

    """Someone hesitated before asking a question.


    As soon as the words were out, a flash of blade light.


    The Zhao Ye Blade''s light was as pure as at the beginning, its bright blade unstained by even a drop of blood. The person stiffened, a smooth line of blood appearing on their neck, as their head slowly slid off, blood spraying out.


    "Sister Kui!?"


    Seeing that Xu Wenkui had not protected them with the Silent Netherworld Nest Eye, Xu Muchun quickly looked at her, only then noticing that something was amiss.


    Xu Wenkui''s skin all over her body was writhing violently at the moment, bubbling like boiling water, as she half-crouched down in extreme pain.


    "Sister Kui, the inhibitor, quick!"


    Xu Muchun immediately took out an inhibitory syringe, frantically handing it to Xu Wenkui, but she seemed to no longer hear his words, showing no reaction.


    Seeing this, Xu Muchun bit his teeth, swiftly removed the cap from the syringe and plunged it haphazardly into Xu Wenkui''s arm, injecting the contents.


    In an instant, the bubbling of Xu Wenkui''s skin appeared to ease slightly but then rebounded, becoming even more violent.


    "Ugh... Ahh!!"


    Xu Wenkui let out a hysterical scream, initially in a normal woman''s voice, but the latter half turned into a deep, bestial growl.


    In front of everyone''s stunned eyes, her skin burst open all over her body.


    Clusters of horizontal eyes with white sclera adorned with radial blue veins appeared all over her body, densely packed and exceedingly repulsive.


    On her face alone, there were no fewer than thirty eyes.


    All the eyes blinked, the pupils moving chaotically, looking around in all directions.


    At this sight, Xue Jing''s gaze slightly furrowed.


    The moment he locked eyes with one of Xu Wenkui''s, his vision blurred, and a variety of colorful images appeared from nowhere within his sight. But before he could discern what they were, his vision returned to normal.


    At the same time, the panel automatically popped up, continuously sending out prompts.


    [Divinity +1]


    [Divinity +1]


    [Divinity +1]


    [Divinity...]


    Looking back at the Xu Family group, aside from Xu Wenkui, who was covered in eyes, everyone around her had begun gesticulating wildly, shouting and calling out, with expressions ranging from stunned to euphoric to sorrowful, clearly having lost their sanity.


    Xue Jing was on guard.


    "Is this... a Mutative Disease? Has this person reached a Mutation Rate of 100%?"


    The Blessed Ones, or those who had learned New Martial Arts Forbidden Skills or had an Alien Implant installed, once unable to withstand the erosion of the Foreign Object on the body and spirit, would manifest various symptoms of Mutative Disease when reaching 50%.


    And at 100%, they would irrevocably mutate into monsters...


    Those fully mutated into monsters were known as ''The Polluted''.


    The Polluted are mad and twisted creations. Not all of them lose their consciousness and wisdom upon transformation; some of the Polluted, endowed with exceptional wisdom and even the ability to assume human form, might impersonate the original person and reintegrate into human society.


    But... all of the Polluted are most definitely not the original person.


    They are a different creature, not human, and even if they retain their memories, they lack human concepts of morality, honor, goodness, and evil.


    "It seems like some kind of creature similar to Cthulhu... Just looking at it directly can make one''s SAN plummet, causing mental disorder."


    "Even I, who possess ''Visualization True,'' can be affected."


    Xue Jing frowned.


    However, this ability to affect the mental state of others seemed to be a kind of technique containing Divinity, which the panel could absorb, hence it was ineffective against him.


    Xue Jing glanced over, observing the situation with the giant snake and the Shadowflame Giant.


    The giant snake, already weakened by the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, was clearly no match for the Lv10 Shadowflame Giant and was showing signs of defeat, with three of its seven heads slashed off by the Giant''s sword.


    The armor on the Shadowflame Giant showed slight damage, being continuously repaired by the Dark Flame.


    There was no need to worry about that side, the next step was to deal with this monster covered in eyes.


    Xue Jing controlled the Forgotten Greatsword and Zhao Ye Blade, ready to test its mettle.


    At this moment, the Xu Family members around ''Xu Wenkui'' suddenly paused in unison, taking on a posture of kneeling in the air, bowing non-stop towards Xu Wenkui.


    "¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö..."


    They began to chant unintelligibly, as if casting a spell, and as they chanted, their bodies began to dissolve like ice cream in high heat.


    Their features twisted and melted, their eyes flowing down as globs of black and white pus, and before long, all of them turned into a thick liquid composed of flesh and blood, flowing out of nowhere toward ''Xu Wenkui''.


    """


    "Whoosh¡ª!!"


    The black and white brilliance formed by the combination of Dark Flame and White Thunder flashed past, pulling a long colorful tail flame, unbelievably fast.


    Flame-Colored Rainbow¡¤Thunder Plough Hot Blade.


    It was the strongest combo Xue Jing could perform with his physical body at the moment, sweeping across.


    ''Xu Wenkui''s body was bisected at the waist, the cleaved section filled with flickering white arcs of electricity and burning Dark Flame.


    Looking inside her wound, there was no flesh or organs, just an empty void, pitch black and nothingness.


    The Forgotten Greatsword and Zhao Ye Blade each struck, piercing through the body that was split in half.


    "Thud¡ª""Thud¡ª" Discover more content at empire


    Two muffled sounds, the two halves of the body, each covered in eyes, were smashed open, hundreds of eyeballs burst flying out, exceedingly creepy.


    All the eyeballs floating in the air suddenly spun in place and turned their pupils towards Xue Jing.


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s body halted, hanging motionless in the air.


    Unlike before when even his ability to think was stopped, Xue Jing found that he could still think, and his five senses could still perceive the surroundings.


    His skin began to wriggle, bubbling incessantly like Xu Wenkui just before, as if bugs were attempting to break through underneath his skin.


    But soon, the panel started popping up notifications.


    [Divinity +11]


    [Divinity +19]


    [Divinity +32]


    [Divinity +24]


    ...


    In a matter of seconds, his skin gradually calmed and returned to its normal appearance, and nearly six hundred points of Divinity were added to the panel.


    The hundreds of eyeballs floating in the air paused slightly, as if taken aback.


    Then, whether it was because their power was exhausted or some other reason, all the eyeballs began to crumble away, like disintegrating into countless invisible granules, and disappeared.


    In their place, a naked female body floated in the air, it was Xu Wenkui.


    She had her eyes closed, seemingly unconscious, plummeting towards the ground.


    Xue Jing, somewhat puzzled, wrinkled his brow, uncertain of the current situation, but still quickly flew over, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and held her in his hand.


    He turned Xu Wenkui around once, seemingly indifferent to her attractively shaped naked body, and simply pulled open her eyelids to look.


    Still those strange eyes with horizontal pupils, but the radiating blue veins at the whites were gone.


    After touching those eyeballs, the panel continued to pop up notifications.


    [Divine Substance detected, harvesting Divinity...]


    "...This isn''t an ordinary Alien Implant; it must be something like the ''Stigmata'' of the Blessed Ones," Xue Jing thought.


    "What was that just now? She clearly had mutated into The Polluted, yet she could revert back to human form... Is it because all the power of those eyes had been sucked dry by Ban?"


    "There are still many things I don''t understand... but it should be over now, I''ll think about the rest later." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing exhaled lightly.


    This ambush took him by surprise with the strength of the enemy.


    Although Ning Feng Wan''s The Invincible Lionheart warning made him aware of the danger, relying on Twin Lifes cooldown having finished, and having a full set of life-saving methods, he went straight in.


    In the end, although he won perfectly, there was a bit of luck involved.


    The Serpent Slayer Spearhead just happened to counter that ferocious giant snake, the enemy''s main reliance, and these strange eyes were completely subdued by Ban.


    This led him to win relatively easily.


    Without those two factors, it would have likely been a tough battle where he might not necessarily lose, but certainly couldn''t guarantee a hundred percent victory.


    It seems I need to be more cautious in the future.


    "Now it''s time to harvest. Let''s see how much Divinity you can drop..."


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the giant snake with only two heads left, its body covered in huge wounds.


    ...

 Chapter 280 Xue Jing Gaining Favorability from Otogirusu, Reaching Supersonic Realm (4K)

    Sky Center, 732nd floor.Otogirusu Suzuka, dressed in a black feather garment and with long, soft hair tied in a high ponytail, had androgynous, beautiful cheeks with a gentle smile. Their movements conveyed unimpeachable aristocratic elegance.


    At their side walked a young man from the Far East named Ruo Gong Taiping, who was half a step behind, bowing his head and whispering in the Far Eastern language:


    "Young master, the main household in Tokyo is already urging you to return... Is it really alright for us to still be leisurely shopping now?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka glanced at him and chuckled lightly, "As long as you don''t tattle, it''s no problem at all."


    Ruo Gong Taiping quickly bowed his head even lower: "I wouldn''t dare!"


    "...However, Miss Chisui has been continuously complaining to the main household about your avoidance. Your public appearance in Zhuxia has also caused quite some dissatisfaction at the Dongzhao Association; there might be many issues waiting upon our return..."


    Otogirusu Suzuka said nonchalantly, "What does the Dongzhao Association''s thoughts have to do with me? That girl Chisui is just mad I didn''t bring her along for fun."


    Ruo Gong Taiping sighed, "...It''s still not good, ultimately."


    Otogirusu Suzuka laughed and shook their head, "Taiping, did you know I''m the third in line at home?"


    Ruo Gong Taiping looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka paused in front of a store selling blades, softly saying, "There are many things the third in line shouldn''t get involved in... Even if one could, it''s best not to. Otherwise, the first two won''t be pleased."


    "The annual membership fees received by the Dongzhao Association, my eldest brother accounts for one-third of it. This is his most valued power, he won''t tolerate anyone meddling, especially not his own family."


    "Chisui holds a special position within the Shenjing Family. The Snake''s Second Son, the esteemed deity worshipped by the Shenjing, has shown unusual favorability to five people in this generation: Chiyi, Chizuru, Chisa, Chitsuru are already pale witches, and it is very likely Chisui will be the next head of the Shenjing."


    "My mother is overly ambitious, always thinking of setting up a marriage between me and her, aiming to topple others with the power of the Shenjing, not realizing this is a dangerously poor move."


    Otogirusu Suzuka turned their back to Ruo Gong Taiping.


    "A triangle is the most stable shape, any corner that protrudes will be pulled back by the other two... It''s completely different from a fight to the death between two people."


    They spoke in a gentle and calm voice.


    "My mother is a woman."


    "Women have their limitations, they might not lose to men in sheer intelligence, but their inherently emotional nature will overpower their rational side, leading them to miss many truths. This is a physiological limitation. An undeniable fact at the genetic level."


    "Allowing a woman who cannot control her desires to hold a high position, what a disaster."


    Otogirusu Suzuka spoke casually, whereas Ruo Gong Taiping was trembling, pretending he heard nothing, with cold sweat continuously appearing on his forehead.


    "It''s better to be a man... I used to think and act this way."


    Otogirusu Suzuka, thinking of something, a tender smile appeared on their lovely face.


    "However, lately I have discovered that women have advantages elsewhere... places a man could never reach."


    "If it''s to reach that place, becoming one again... isn''t out of the question."


    Their voice was very soft, with some parts completely silent, making Ruo Gong Taiping unable to catch it clearly, just puzzled.


    "Speaking of which, the Heavenly Rock Door over in Zhuxia is really user-friendly."


    Otogirusu Suzuka changed the subject.


    In the Far East, the Sun Pillar at the Sky Center is termed the Heavenly Rock Door.


    It comes from a story in their mythology where Tianzhao Da Yu Shen, the Sun Goddess, once hid in a cave called ''Heavenly Rock Door,'' causing the entire world to lose its light.


    Apt for the period of the Eternal Night war, the world had plunged into eternal darkness, with only the ''Heavenly Rock Door'' holding the sun.


    "They even have shopping centers here... Our place is a bit too rigid, claiming that only the descendants of Tianzhao can reside within, what a waste."


    "The sun is a great thing that shines equally on everyone..."


    Otogirusu Suzuka spoke in a low, soft tone.


    Suddenly.


    "Buzz¡ª!!"


    A vibration came from above, the floor suddenly shook, causing many visitors on the 732nd level of the Sky Center to lose their footing and fall, screaming.


    Otogirusu Suzuka and Ruo Gong Taiping, being Martial Artists, naturally wouldn''t lose their balance so easily and remained firmly standing, but this sudden disturbance alarmed them.


    "An earthquake...? No, it''s not, the source is coming from above, could it be a ''Realm Quake''?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka wondered.


    "Young master, let me protect you and get out of here!"


    Ruo Gong Taiping quickly said.


    A section of the ceiling fragmented during the shake, a two-meter-wide boulder fell from above, heading straight for a mother and daughter who had fallen and couldn''t get up.


    Otogirusu Suzuka, seeing this, flashed and disappeared from the spot, appearing in front of the boulder, their palm gliding gently over its surface.


    The boulder turned into dust, scattering away, causing no casualties.


    "We are needed here, Taiping."


    Otogirusu Suzuka said softly.


    Ruo Gong Taiping paused, sighed, and said, "Yes..."


    ...


    "Have all the test subjects been destroyed!?"


    "Out of sixty-four bodies, sixty-one have already been successfully injected with jellyfish toxin, the remaining three... disappeared from their cultivation chambers at an unknown time, can''t be found." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Damn!!!!"


    Xu Mude roared furiously.

 Chapter 280 Xue Jings Favorability Rushed by Otogirusu, Reaching Supersonic Realm (4K)_2

    "Arrange a plane immediately; I need to leave this place!""Huh?" His subordinate was stunned.


    "Damn it, hurry up and prepare! Do you want to die!"


    Xu Mude slapped his subordinate hard, spinning him round three times on the spot.


    "I''ve done all I can... There''s nothing more I can do. Everyone who can run should run now; leave this mess for the government to sort out. They''ll have a way!"


    "Xu''s Biology pays so much tax to them every year, now it''s their turn to pay us back!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    ...


    On the Dragon Core Fighter, Xue Jing looked through the porthole towards the distant Sky Center, which was faintly trembling.


    Countless fragments of the wall continuously fell off, yet for some unknown reason, the entire Sky Center was still remarkably stable and showed no signs of collapsing.


    "So, something did happen... but we''re a bit late."


    Xue Jing sighed softly.


    Even though he had heard from Xu Wenkui that the Divine Ones were very dangerous and could go berserk at any time, Xue Jing had immediately ordered the Dragon Core Fighter to rush here at full speed, hoping to neutralize these high-risk bombs in advance.


    But he was still a bit late.


    His eyesight, far exceeding human limits, allowed him to see many details even from a great distance.


    Countless people ran around in panic, and flying vehicles floating around each floor continuously pushed into the crowds. Some overloaded vehicles started emitting black smoke and electrical arcs, slowly falling toward the ground.


    Stampede accidents occurred frequently; falling rebars and debris crushed ordinary humans'' fragile bodies, increasing the casualties.


    Xue Jing clenched his fist slightly, his demeanor somewhat distant.


    He clearly understood that the primary responsibility for this incident lay with Xu Mude, who had violated regulations to secretly carry out high-risk experiments in this location and failed to stop these experiments immediately when safety measures were no longer in place, holding on to wishful thinking, leading to the current disaster.


    But the fact that he had stolen the Wind of All Beginnings, and now seeing ordinary people being harmed because of it, he couldn''t help but question himself whether he had made a mistake this time.


    The responsibility was not his; it was impossible to anticipate these consequences when taking action. None of these excuses could convince him.


    "Jing, are you okay?"


    Ning Fengwan, standing next to him, held his arm with some concern.


    This was the first time she had seen a shaken expression on Xue Jing''s face.


    Xue Jing''s expression quickly returned to normal. He turned to look at Ning Fengwan and smiled gently, saying,


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine."


    He continued to look towards the Sky Center, then his expression suddenly changed.


    He saw a familiar figure.


    The black exquisite feather outfit was torn and stained with dirt everywhere. The originally graceful posture was now slightly hurried as it swiftly maneuvered between the floors of the Sky Center.


    Either blocking falling heavy objects or picking up the injured who could not move, the speed was fast and highly organized as if blocking all the ongoing disasters in front of it.


    Otogirusu?


    Xue Jing was slightly stunned, not expecting to see him at this time.


    He was even more surprised that this scion of wealth, born with a silver spoon, was not fleeing from the obviously dangerous situation but was personally doing his utmost to save ordinary people.


    "Lu Sang..."


    In that moment, a complicated look appeared in Xue Jing''s eyes.


    He was inevitably impressed by this somewhat noble person.


    Not because Otogirusu, being in a high position but willing to save lives, seemed to have good character.


    But because... he was helping Xue Jing do what he urgently wanted to do at the moment.


    Xue Jing was not a person prone to self-torment, but since the mistake had already been made, he naturally wanted to make amends as much as possible. Continue your adventure with empire


    At this moment, Otogirusu was helping him make a significant part of those amends.


    Ning Fengwan saw that Xue Jing''s expression seemed much better and slightly relaxed, holding his arm tighter, pressing it into the softness of her bosom.


    "Hm?"


    Xue Jing suddenly frowned.


    There was some commotion near Otogirusu.


    A man, naked and with a physique as if sculpted by gods, golden pupils in his eyes, and resembling Xu Mude, was slowly walking out from a corner towards Otogirusu.


    His face was expressionless but not indifferent; it more resembled the innocent bewilderment of a newborn child.


    "Divine..." Xue Jing furrowed his brows.


    Otogirusu also seemed to notice this unusual presence, his brow slightly knitting as he placed the child he was holding onto the ground, softly spoke some words to the child, letting the crying child run away on his own.


    Xue Jing crossed his arms, tapping his elbow with his index finger, and spoke to Ning Yuantai beside him:


    "Can this plane go any faster?"


    Ning Yuantai responded helplessly, "It''s already at its limit, Xue, this is the top speed."


    "I see," Xue Jing pondered and then said:


    "Open the cabin door, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai was stunned, "Xue, are you going down now? It''s still a hundred kilometers away."


    Xue Jing replied, "This distance... it''s about right."


    The Dragon Core Fighter''s fastest flight speed was around one thousand kilometers per hour, faster than his own Feather Transformation flight speed.


    But, that was under normal circumstances.


    For short bursts of accelerated flight, he still had many tricks up his sleeve.


    Very quickly, Ning Yuantai followed Xue Jing''s command, slowed the plane down, and opened the cabin door.


    Xue Jing didn''t delay any further; he immediately jumped out from the plane and executed Feather Transformation to suspend himself in mid-air.


    With a thought, black airflow condensed, transforming into Shadowflame Wrap Armor that enveloped him.


    Then, with a whoosh, he rapidly flew toward the direction of Sky Center.


    At this moment, his speed was roughly between 120 and 130 meters per second.


    Following that, he manipulated the Shadowflame Wrap Armor on his body, making it undergo changes.


    In front of his head, it transformed into a black cone with extremely low air resistance coefficient, also featuring various indentations compliant with aerodynamics.


    At that moment, his speed suddenly increased.


    But it still wasn''t enough.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, and for the first time in a while, he executed one of Hidden Dragon School''s five major moves, Golden Scales Transformation.


    Subsequently, he spun like a bullet being shot out, beginning a wildly high-speed rotation.


    From afar, he looked like a horizontal, pitch-black tornado, sweeping rapidly towards the distance.


    By this time, his speed had nearly reached supersonic levels, faintly emitting a strong sonic boom. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A bird leisurely flying in the sky was swept past by him, immediately flung a hundred meters away, spinning dizzily and heading toward the ground, fortunately regaining its Sense of Balance before crashing and flapping its wings to fly again, complaining in birdsong at the swiftly departing Xue Jing.


    Realizing he had nearly reached his current limit speed, Xue Jing made a move with his thoughts.


    Twin Speed!


    Ruthlessly defying all physical laws, unreasonably doubling all his Action Speed!


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    Xue Jing transformed into a pitch-black meteor, streaking across the sky at over six hundred meters per second, reaching a speed of over two thousand kilometers per hour, and fiercely speeding away!


    On the Dragon Core Fighter left quickly behind by Xue Jing, Ning Yuantai stared agape.


    "Nearly three and a half minutes..."


    Xue Jing estimated the time it would take him to reach Sky Center.


    His current Twin Lifes was Lv8, the Blue Bar had increased significantly since Lv5.


    At Lv5, using only Twin Speed, he could sustain it for about a minute.


    Now at Lv8, it was two minutes and forty seconds.


    Thus, before reaching his destination, his Twin Lifes'' Blue Bar would be depleted.


    But, he still had a trick up his sleeve.


    Upgrading Lv8 Twin Lifes would require 4500 points of Divinity, and he had 5000 Divinity on him.


    After upgrading, the Divine Skill would have a mechanic similar to games¡ªthe Blue Bar would be fully replenished.


    With that, it was more than enough.


    Not only would it last till he reached Sky Center, but he would also have a large amount of Blue Bar left to confront the ''Divine.''


    Xue Jing''s gaze was calm as he watched the approaching Sky Center, thinking:


    "Hang in there, don''t die on me, Lu Sang..."


    ...

 Chapter 281 Hero Appears, Otogirusus True Identity Exposed, Xue Jing Giggles~~ (4K)

    "Where did this lunatic come from."Otogirusu observed the nude man slowly approaching him with a cold gaze, frowning, sensing something amiss.


    Without any hostility... What does this man want?


    Based on his extremely sharp, almost supernatural, Instinctive Intuition, Otogirusu could feel the man''s strength and danger.


    That kind of danger was different from normal powerhouses; it was like a child unknowingly holding a bomb that could explode at any time. Although the man bore no hostility towards his surroundings, he could cause immense damage at any moment.


    Therefore, even though he sensed no hostility, Otogirusu''s vigilance was heightened to the extreme.


    However, what he was more concerned about at the moment was not the man''s danger, but another aspect.


    "He looks a bit like Xue Jun..."


    Otogirusu''s brow furrowed deeply.


    He vaguely felt a certain quality from this man that was similar to Xue Jing.


    Otogirusu wasn''t sure what it was, but just the point of ''resembling Xue Jing'' made him feel the urge to turn around and flee.


    He was one of the very few in the world who could comprehend how powerful Xue Jing was, and more importantly, he understood this not through direct observation but through his intuition.


    In some ways, this gave him a deeper understanding than seeing with his own eyes would have.


    That ''inhuman sensation'' which transcended humanity could not simply be summarized by the words ''powerful.''


    The nude lunatic before him elicited the same otherworldly feeling from Otogirusu¡ªas if he was a higher species that transcended humans on a fundamental level of life.


    "Interesting."


    A fighting spirit shone in Otogirusu''s eyes.


    Being an exceptional martial fanatic, a normal person would have fled immediately feeling the kind of danger he felt now, but it intrigued him instead.


    "Perfect, consider it a rehearsal before my second battle with Xue Jun..."


    Otogirusu looked around and strolled into a nearby weapon shop, selecting a long sword from those scattered all over the floor.


    By the time he left the shop, he looked up to see the naked man still approaching him step by step.


    Otogirusu drew the long sword from his hand, discarded the scabbard, weighed it in his hand, and nodded in approval.


    Although he was used to wielding divine weapons like The Blade That Never Dulls and was not completely satisfied with the long sword, it was still usable.


    It seemed that upon seeing Otogirusu arm himself, ''Xu Mude'' tilted his head and then, like committing suicide, plunged his right hand into his own stomach.


    Strangely, even though the entire palm was submerged, it was as if it had sunk into a lump of putty, showing no signs of injury.


    Afterward, he slowly withdrew his right hand, pulling a meter-long white, rigid salted fish from his stomach.


    Read chapters at empire


    Otogirusu paused momentarily, recognizing what he held in his hand. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [GOD-1468¡¤Salted Fish Sword].


    Before he could react, ''Xu Mude'', who had previously been sluggishly advancing, suddenly stomped heavily, smashing a three-meter radius section of the floor into a hole, piercing through to the floor below, and darted toward Otogirusu at an incredible speed.


    In less than half a second, he had covered a distance of nearly a hundred meters, arriving before Otogirusu, the fins of the Salted Fish Sword gleaming with a sharp edge, carrying a strong fishy odor, slicing towards Otogirusu.


    ...


    Two minutes later.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The long sword in Otogirusu''s hand couldn''t withstand the collision and broke apart.


    The Salted Fish Sword struck his torso and abdomen, riding the momentum.


    "My Style¡¤Undying Smoke¡ª"


    Otogirusu seemed like a wisp of intangible, insubstantial smoke, mysteriously slipping free from the slash and quickly retreating into a weapon shop wrecked into pieces beside him, casually picking up another long sword from the ground.


    This was the fourth sword he had picked up.


    ''Xu Mude''s'' hand-held Salted Fish Sword might look funny, but it was exceptionally formidable. Just two minutes into the battle, three of Otogirusu''s weapons had already broken.


    He glanced at his torso where his clothing had been sliced open, revealing a glimpse of his finely chiseled abs.


    "This is troublesome..."


    Otogirusu frowned.


    The disadvantage in weaponry almost left him incapable of counterattacking, and the man was excessively strong.


    Just pure strength and speed, devoid of any technique, already kept him struggling to keep up.


    Moreover... during their fight, this man seemed to be quickly learning everything about him.


    The last strike had been much faster than initially, even vaguely bearing some resemblance to the Suzaku Style.


    If this dragged on, the longer the fight went, the more remote his chances of winning would become; he needed to resolve this quickly.


    This was his expertise; Suzaku Style was fundamentally Iaido, which epitomized quick combat, ''Deity Slaying Strike'' was decisive.


    However, the Ultimate Skill ''Instantaneous Thousand Cuts'' required extremely durable blades since ordinary ones simply couldn''t withstand it and would break mid-strike, thereby creating a huge vulnerability by interrupting the move prematurely.


    Although he could also use his palm as a hand blade, the lethality would dramatically decrease, and considering this man''s physical robustness, it would be hard to even inflict significant injury.

 Chapter 281 The Hero Appears, Otogirusus True Identity Exposed, Xue Jinggiegie~~ (4K)_2

    "Clang¡ª"Another collision of blades occurred, and "Xu Mude" seemed to have an increasingly deft control over the Salted Fish Sword. In the instant that swords met, he flicked his wrist, and the razor-sharp fin on the sword swiveled and slashed, with a clank severing Otogirusu''s long sword in his hand.


    The Salted Fish Sword continued towards his head, but Otogirusu''s expression remained unchanged, intending to use the "Undying Smoke" again to neutralize this strike.


    However, this time was different. In the moment his body turned into a stream of impalpable smoke, the Salted Fish Sword also seemed to become intangible momentarily.


    "Zzt¡ª"


    Several strands of lustrous black hair and a broken black ribbon fell to the ground.


    Otogirusu''s high ponytail, which had always been tied up, naturally fell loose.


    "Wha...!?"


    His pupils shrank to pinpoints in an instant, his expression drastically changing, shaken to the core.


    It was as if it was not a ribbon that had been cut, but his own head.


    He immediately picked up the two pieces of the black ribbon from the ground at lightning speed and started to clumsily tie them back into his hair.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    An ominous wind struck from behind, and Otogirusu instinctively leaped to the side. The Salted Fish Sword struck where he had just been standing, and a huge crack appeared on the ground, extending over a hundred meters away.


    Amidst the debris and dust, Otogirusu knelt halfway on the ground, barely able to re-tie his hair into a high ponytail with the broken ribbon.


    However... Otogirusu''s expression darkened.


    His body was weakening, limbs gradually becoming slender, some things were disappearing, while others were emerging...


    The subtly masculine lines of his face were also beginning to soften...


    "This is bad..."


    Otogirusu''s gaze wandered, looking around him.


    There were no others nearby, so at least there was no worry of his identity being exposed...


    But the most critical issue at hand was not this.


    The physical disadvantages of a female body are extreme, and even under the same weight and height conditions, are vastly inferior to those of a male.


    In the realm of martial arts... or almost any field related to the body, women face an overwhelming disadvantage when compared to men.


    Even activities like ''flexibility'' and ''mental agility,'' which in the common perception seem to be the same for both genders or even where females might have an advantage, are in fact areas where males have a significant edge.


    At least until a breakthrough, this is an absolute fact.


    Without this, her strength would decline by more than half at least.


    The more troublesome issue was, she had grown accustomed to her previous state, and now returning to her original form was like a player used to playing with a maxed-out account suddenly having to play a lower-level account, needing to readjust to everything all over again.


    And there was no time left for her to adjust.


    Through the opening in the clothing around her chest and abdomen, the previously fine abdominal muscles were fading away; while not completely vanished, they were becoming less defined.


    The skin was growing increasingly smooth and fair, the waistline was gradually slimming, blossoming into a graceful curve.


    In contrast, her hips grew by a size...


    The pectoral muscles... the chest began to protrude, and from the opening in the clothing, the southern hemisphere slowly took shape.


    ''Xu Mude'' cocked his head innocently, oblivious to these changes, as the Salted Fish Sword in his hand continued to swing at the ''interesting thing'' in front of him.


    It was like a naive child playing with insects, not out of cruelty or malice, but out of pure curiosity.


    Otogirusu attempted to dodge rapidly, but her weakening body could not keep up with her consciousness, moving just a bit slower than she anticipated.


    The sharp fin left a deep wound on her thigh, visible to the bone, and incidentally cut her trousers open, exposing her pale, slender thighs.


    The Salted Fish Sword did not pause at all, quickly launching a second strike.


    This time, Otogirusu had no space to dodge.


    The blade headed straight for her neck, about to slice her in two from top to bottom.


    Just in that moment.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    A violent sonic boom cut through the air like thunder, screeching rapidly from afar.


    The solid walls of Sky Center were instantly breached, and an ancient long sword wrapped in Dark Flame surged forth, hitting ''Xu Mude'' squarely in the chest, sending him flying dozens of meters, and pinning him against a wall.


    Otogirusu''s eyes widened slightly as she recognized the long sword all too well.


    "Suzumaru!?"


    No, she just remembered, this knife no longer belonged to her, it should now be called ¡ª¡ª


    Zhao Ye.


    Since the knife was here, it meant its owner was also present.


    Otogirusu hurriedly looked around, searching for that silhouette.


    At the same time, she instinctively covered her chest with one hand, her face showing signs of panic.


    But after searching for a while, she found nothing.


    "Xue Jun?"


    She asked in confusion, her voice a very soft and girlish tone, even a bit coquettish.


    Xue Jun hadn''t arrived? Could it be that Suzumaru had sensed its former master was in danger and had come to rescue her on its own?


    As she pondered, the ancient long knife suddenly autonomously unsheathed itself from the wall, floated in front of her, and presented its hilt to her.


    And the ''Xu Mude'' that had been pinned to the wall, now lacking its ''nail,'' slowly slid down the wall, leaving behind a trail of pale golden blood.


    The fatal wound, a large hole pierced through his heart, seemed to have no effect on him; ''Xu Mude'' immediately stood up with little change in expression and walked towards Otogirusu.


    Taking a deep breath, Otogirusu reached out and grasped the hilt of the long knife in front of her.


    The familiar sensation confirmed that this was indeed her Suzumaru, Xue Jing''s Zhao Ye.


    Although she didn''t know why the knife was here and Xue Jun himself wasn''t, now was not the time to think too much about it.


    She slowly stood up, her left hand on her waist, loosely holding her palm as a sheath, re-sheathed the long knife, and assumed the posture of Iaido. Your adventure continues at empire S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Suzao Style Secret Technique ¡ª¡ª"


    "Deity Slaying Strike!"


    Layers upon layers of endless blade lights, as though hundreds of Otogirusu were unsheathing their blades at once, in an instant, the Hundred Cuts arrived.


    ''Xu Mude'' stopped in his tracks, standing still.


    Fingers, palms, wrists, toes, ankles, calves, thighs, waist, chest, neck, head...


    His body began to slowly separate and slide apart, turning into hundreds of pieces of flesh piled together.


    Pale golden blood sprayed out, slowly staining an area of several meters around.


    Otogirusu maintained her sword-drawing stance, and after a while, she flicked her sword to the side, performing blood shaking.


    She then re-sheathed her sword, lingering spirit... a full set of Far Eastern Swordsmanship ceremonial movements, exceptionally standard and graceful.


    She raised the long knife, held it before her eyes, and with her slender fingers, gently caressed the beautiful blade, murmuring:


    "Thank you, Suzumaru..."


    At that moment, with the sound of a sonic boom, a teasing voice approached from afar.


    "You should be thanking me, Lu Sang."


    The wall of the Sky Center burst open, the intense airflow making Otogirusu''s clothes flap noisily, she raised her hand to block the wind and stared intently towards the direction of the breach.


    A pitch-black figure was slowly approaching her.


    With each step he took, the pitch-black armor on his body gradually burned into Dark Flame, dissipating into the air, and by the time he reached Otogirusu, he had already revealed his true face.


    That gentle smile with a hint of jest, a face so perfect it seemed divinely crafted, with an all-too-familiar tone, was undoubtedly Xue Jing.


    "Lu Sang, so it''s like this, I hadn''t expected that you would be..."


    Xue Jing began to speak with a smile, intending to tease this woman who had tricked him many times.


    But unexpectedly, Otogirusu suddenly pressed her hands together, placed them beside her face, and with an extremely cute smile, said in a coquettish voice:


    "Oh my, you must be the Brother Jing that Brother Linglu spoke of, nice to meet you for the first time, I am Shenle, the sister of Brother Linglu."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    This sentence was half in Far Eastern language, mixed with various ''oni-sama'' and ''oni-chan,'' which gave the listener goosebumps.


    "Lu Sang, what are you pretending to be?"


    Xue Jing said speechlessly.


    "Gomen~ (Sorry~), my Zhuxia language is not so good, I don''t quite understand what you''re saying, Xue Jinggiegie~~"


    Otogirusu... Yu Ga Shenle grabbed Xue Jing''s arm and shook it, speaking coquettishly with a lilt in her voice.


    ...

 Chapter 282 The Hero Who Saves Everything Before His Eyes—Black Dragon Knight (4K)

    Xue Jing carefully examined the woman who claimed to be ''Yu Ga Shenle.''Compared to the state of Otogirusu, she was about ten centimeters shorter, around one meter sixty-five, with skin whiter and tenderer than before, an overall slender figure, yet the places where flesh should be were quite full. Even under the loose clothing, the outline of her pert buttocks and the strength of an Asian Cup champion were clearly visible.


    The most noticeable change was in her face.


    The face, which was already enchanting and beautiful in her male state, now had none of the masculine features, leaving only pure feminine softness, more enchanting than before by more than ten times, the allure beyond measure.


    Under a deliberate act of cuteness, that perfectly cultivated smile and the neat, fine, white teeth, made even Xue Jing, who was immune to beauties, somewhat dazed.


    "Lu Sang, we''re all brothers here, no need to be embarrassed. I saw everything from start to finish and witnessed you turn into a woman; there''s really no need to pretend anymore," Xue Jing spoke with a light tone.


    "Eh~ Brother Jing, what are you talking about, I don''t understand~" Yu Ga Shenle made an innocent, cute expression, her voice as soft as a little girlfriend cooing to her boyfriend.


    "Shenle-chan''s brain isn''t as good as Brother Linglu''s, I''m really bad with Chinese~"


    "Brother Jing, could you teach me more? Please~"


    Yu Ga Shenle clasped her hands together, her face full of expectation.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and thoughtfully muttered, "I see... pretending to be another person to escape the embarrassment of being discovered, and you even have the persona of being bad at Chinese. With that, your defense is pretty much invincible. When in trouble, just pretend not to understand. That''s very clever of you, Lu Sang."


    Upon hearing this, Yu Ga Shenle''s face flushed red, but then she nonchalantly said, "You''re speaking complex Chinese that I don''t understand again, Brother Jing, really."


    Xue Jing saw her pretending again and couldn''t help but laugh without saying a word.


    Well, if she wants to role play, let''s play along.


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Xue Jing said. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Huh?" Yu Ga Shenle tilted her head, not knowing what Xue Jing was going to do, but instinctively followed his command and stretched out her right hand, palm up, her slender and attractive fingers tinged with a slight pink hue.


    With a thought, Xue Jing caused an invisible rift to open by his side, and a black root wriggled out from the void, gently touching Yu Ga Shenle''s palm.


    The Dragon Sakura''s property of continuing life force activated, absorbing his life force and transferring it into the young girl in front of him.


    The deep bone-visible wound on her thigh began to writhe and heal rapidly, and Yu Ga Shenle blinked, her gaze softening.


    She could feel the dense and pure life force being infused into her, carrying the ''scent'' of Xue Jing.


    He was sharing his life force with her to heal her injuries.


    "... It''s just a superficial wound, it''ll heal on its own in two days at most, there''s no need for this," Yu Ga Shenle said, unable to hold back her advice.


    Xue Jing waved his hand and said, "It''s just a convenience, don''t mind it."


    Yu Ga Shenle gently smiled and softly said, "Thank you, Brother Jing."


    Brother Jing...


    Xue Jing paused and glanced at her.


    The nicknames were becoming more intimate; the sakura girl really takes an inch and wants a mile.


    Feeling like a few more calls from her and he might have to go defend Xiangyang.


    Yet, being called by that voice was surprisingly refreshing... even though he couldn''t stand it when she was Suzuka.


    Brother, you''re kind of charming.


    The key, of course, was what lay beneath her hips; without the Ascending Dragon Sword, the threat was much reduced, and there would be no worry about being ''super combined'' from behind anymore.


    "I should be thanking you, Shenle," Xue Jing quietly said.


    Hearing him go along with calling her ''Shenle'', Yu Ga Shenle couldn''t help but smile with a hint of glee, then she asked in confusion:


    "Thank me? Why?"


    Using Suzumaru to save her and sharing his life force to heal her¡ªit was all something she should thank Xue Jun for, wasn''t it?


    "It''s nothing much."


    Xue Jing didn''t explain much, as it would be troublesome and there were quite a few parts that couldn''t be revealed.


    He waved his hand and retracted the Dragon Sakura Root, the gap in space closed, and Yu Ga Shenle''s leg injury was completely healed without leaving any scars on her fair, slender, and slightly fleshy thigh.


    "Xue... Brother Jing, I heard from Brother Linglu that you had returned to Qingcheng, why are you here?" Yu Ga Shenle asked.


    "It''s complicated, I''ll tell you later... By the way, isn''t Mr. Taiping with you?" Xue Jing asked in return.


    "Mr. Taiping?" Yu Ga Shenle was slightly startled, then realizing who Xue Jing was referring to, she couldn''t help but laugh.


    "It''s Taiping, Ruo Gong Taiping... I told him to go to the lower levels to rescue the affected citizens, and I headed up; we split forces."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "Split forces... do you really want to stick to the ''bad at Chinese'' persona? You''re even using idioms now."


    Yu Ga Shenle''s face turned a shade redder, "That''s something Brother Linglu taught me, just a coincidence."


    Xue Jing waved his hand and said, "Alright, it''s very dangerous here, go find Mr. Taiping and leave this place as soon as you can."


    Yu Ga Shenle took hold of Xue Jing''s sleeve, shook her head, and said:


    "Let me stay with you, I''m... not in a good state to be seen by others right now."


    Seeing that she seemed troubled, Xue Jing nodded and said, "Okay then, just be careful on your own, I might not be able to look after you."

 Chapter 282 The Hero Who Saves Everything Before His Eyes—Black Dragon Knight (4K)_2

    As he spoke, he turned and walked over to the mutilated remains of ''Xu Mude'' and crouched down for a closer inspection.''Divine''... a biological weapon manufactured based on the blueprint of [GOD-023¡¤Divine Child Adam].


    According to Xu Wenkui, the mature Divines manufactured by the New Beiyang Council were extremely powerful, varying with the number of Divine Factors in their bodies, capable of matching, if not surpassing, Breakthroughers and those who had reached the fifth or sixth Breakthroughs.


    However, this Divine in front of him clearly wasn''t as formidable as those from the New Beiyang Council, since the experiment had probably just begun.


    Based on the performance Xue Jing had observed earlier, this Divine, although quick to learn during the battle with Otogirusu, did not possess Breakthrougher-level combat ability.


    Therefore, the cause of the entire Sky Center''s trembling must not be this lump of a thing...


    There must be other masters.


    Hopefully, it wasn''t that dozens of test subjects in the laboratory had all gone berserk and escaped.


    In addition...


    Xue Jing checked his panel.


    [Kill special being containing Divinity, Divinity +536]


    Earlier, Yu Ga Shenle, wielding Zhao Ye, had slain the Divine. Since Zhao Ye was in the Feather Transformation state, effectively an extension of Xue Jing''s body, it was as if Xue Jing himself had killed it.


    Just as he had expected, killing this creature did indeed yield a lot of Divinity...


    Controlling the Nonexistent Beast, Xue Jing absorbed the [Salted Fish Sword] lying nearby into the void and stood up.


    Perhaps due to like attracting like, it didn''t bode well that a Divine with only instincts and no consciousness had managed to use a Divine Relic.


    There were dozens of Divine Relics in the containment facilities of Xu''s Biology; Xue Jing had handled all of them, and several had particularly troubling abilities.


    If any Divine got ahold of one, he truly wasn''t sure he could handle it.


    However, he had already sent the message to the government of the Inner Ring Three Cities, so they would likely send powerful forces soon to quell the incident. At present, his task was to protect the distressed civilians as much as possible, not to confront unknown numbers of Divines.


    "Shenle, let''s go, we continue upward," Xue Jing said to Otogi Shenle next to him.


    Currently, he was on floor 786, while Xu''s Biology was located from floor 1002 to 1102. As they approached this area, the disaster''s effects were expected to be more severe.


    In any case, his goal was the floors where Xu''s Biology was located, going up and saving people along the way.


    From the shadows around, numerous black streams converged on him, forming into burning Dark Flames which forged a suit of Dark Enchained Armor on his body.


    The urban legend Black Dragon Knight entered the scene.


    He then pointed at Otogi Shenle and the black streams similarly wrapped around her, forming a suit of female Dark Enchained Armor that covered her entire body, leaving only her eyes visible.


    "Eh? What''s this?" Otogi Shenle curiously looked at her hands adorned with black hand armor.


    "This is one of my God-Given Secret Arts, Shadow Flame," Xue Jing said.


    "You now don''t want to be seen by others, right? Wear it."


    "Let''s go, keep up with me," Xue Jing said.


    With a step, he surged upward, brutally breaking through the ceiling to a higher level.


    Otogi Shenle smiled softly and followed him.


    ...


    Due to an unknown cause of severe tremors, the Sky Center was now in complete chaos.


    Natural disasters always bring about the dark side hidden deep within some evil-minded individuals.


    "Stop, what are you doing to me!! Help!! Help!!!"


    A well-dressed woman of fine proportions fell to the ground, looking in terror at the burly middle-aged man in front of her.


    "Shut up!"


    He delivered an extremely forceful slap, nearly knocking the woman unconscious; immediately blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she fearfully covered her mouth, not daring to speak again.


    "We''re all fucking going to die anyway, what''s wrong with letting me have some fun?" the middle-aged man, with ferocious looks and bloodshot eyes, began unbuckling his belt.


    "Shoop¡ª"


    A blurred dark shadow swept past, and the middle-aged brawny man stopped all his movements, frozen in place with a dazed expression.


    After a few seconds, a vertical line of blood slowly appeared in the middle of his body, and his body gradually slid apart to the left and right, scattering various dark and red innards all over the ground.


    "Aaaaah!!"


    The woman screamed in horror.


    Such scenes were happening in many places.


    As huge stones fell from the ceiling, the shadow swept past, turning the stones into powder.


    In a crowd where a stampede was happening, the shadow swept past, and everyone was forcibly separated by layers of thin black walls, creating a safe distance.


    People rushing to board flying vehicles and escape, but who hurriedly stepped into emptiness and fell, found themselves safely standing on the flying vehicle after the shadow swept past.


    People crying loudly from grave injuries found their wounds healed enough to regain basic mobility after the shadow swept past.


    Otogirusu followed behind Xue Jing, watching him count in seconds and swiftly handle all the disasters unfolding before him, somewhat startled.


    She could hardly lend a hand... it was too fast.


    Fast and precise judgments. Flawless actions. Every event was handled perfectly, leaving no room for criticism.


    Those who were helped and saved couldn''t even realize what had happened.


    Even on the rare occasions when he seemed to be out of clones, he actually could create more... several pale golden figures followed him, each dealing with different situations simultaneously.


    It could only be described as sweeping away fallen leaves with an autumn wind; wherever he passed, everyone was saved, and all disasters were mitigated.


    He was truly a superhero capable of saving everything before him.


    Otogirusu watched with sparkling eyes, almost shooting out little stars.


    Xue Jun... so impressive.


    "Don''t space out, keep up."


    Xue Jing quickly surveyed the area, felt there were no problems on this floor, and immediately leapt up, breaking through the ceiling to ascend higher.


    As soon as he arrived, he frowned, sensing something was amiss, and turned his head to the left.


    His Meditative Visualization operated, penetrating through several thick walls, and he ''saw'' a figure half-crouching on the ground.


    In his Meditative Visualization, the figure''s details were slowly outlined; completely naked, with an expression of child-like innocence and curiosity, resembling Xu Mude closely.


    It was undoubtedly another Divine being.


    This floor seemed to be the headquarters of some company, filled with offices. At this moment, besides the Divine, Xue Jing didn''t sense anyone else.


    After considering, he thought for a moment, his head suddenly crackled, accompanied by silver-white electric arcs, as the Lightning Dragon Horn grew from his head.


    Following that, the silver-white Lightning Dragon Horn immediately underwent a transformation, twisting into a spiraled, burning Red Gold Flame Thunder Dragon Horn.


    He extended his right hand''s index finger, aimed at the Divine through several walls, where the destructive Red Gold Flame Thunder converged, compressed, and emitted intense light.


    When Otogirusu followed him to this floor, what she saw was this scene, causing her to pause in surprise again.


    Xue Jun... just how many abilities does he have?


    With her superpower-like intuition, she immediately sensed that if the Flame Thunder Light gathered at his fingertip were aimed at her, even a mere graze would cause her to instantly vanish from the world, with no possibility of defense.


    Such killing power was truly extreme.


    Worthy of the man she swore to chase for life... just how much strength was he still hiding?


    Otogirusu''s heart surged, her blood boiling.


    The more powerful he was, the greater her motivation to chase... despite knowing she likely could never surpass or defeat this man in her lifetime or obtain the immense happiness hidden at the finish line.


    But the happiness was there... it would never disappear, waiting for her to chase it.


    Just that thought alone gave Otogirusu a comforting sense of security.


    "Xue Jun..."


    Under Otogirusu''s excited and fervent gaze, thunder roared.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    Amidst the loud noise, the Flame Thunder Light Cannon fired, instantaneously penetrating all the walls, striking the unwitting Divine.


    In just an instant, the upper half of the Divine turned to ash, disappearing from the world, leaving the lower half with a wound charred black, where the destructive Flame Thunder lingered, causing continuous damage.


    ...


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 Chapter 283 The Uses and Importance of the Divine Factor, Nonexistent Beasts Strong Control (4K)_2

    Xu''s Biology had a hundred floors, in which more than thirty were used for various reserves and experiments. Another thirty or so floors were just empty spaces bought with hefty funds. The permanent staff were around twelve thousand people.Xue Jing made his way upward. Compared to his last visit, it seemed there were about half as many people...and almost the other half were either frantically running down to escape or helplessly waiting for their deaths.


    He paid some attention to see if he could find Xu Mude, and if found, to kill him on the spot.


    This time Xue Jing came with a justified reason. Xu Mude had intended a kill-and-steal on Miss Wu Da''s men, and it was even over the goods Miss Wu Da specifically asked for... If Xu Mude were to be counterattacked and killed, the Xu family couldn''t complain about anything, they could only hold it in.


    However, he didn''t hold much hope... With such a major incident happening, the leaders would definitely have been the first to leave.


    Xu Mude must have already fled far, probably among the few hundred flying vehicles he had seen leaving Sky Center earlier.


    Those left behind to die were mostly people without power and influence.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    As Xue Jing was rescuing people on the way to the 1093rd floor, he had just arrived when he heard a huge explosion.


    A figure at a distance was retreating at a high speed, continuously smashing through more than a dozen walls and flying out of the Sky Center, falling toward the ground.


    In a fleeting glance, Xue Jing caught a detailed look at the flying figure.


    Despite being covered in blood and severely injured, missing arms and legs, he quickly recognized the person; it was one of a few that made him feel threatened during his stealth entry, a security staff member of Xu''s Biology.


    There probably weren''t many of Xu''s Biology''s security forces left inside, as most had been taken by Xu Wenkui to ambush and besiege him.


    Either killed by him or drained dry when Xu Wenkui abnormal rampaged.


    Xue Jing''s gaze followed the path of the man''s flight.


    In vibrations as intense as an earthquake, three figures were battling in midair.


    The one being attacked was naked, with facial features extremely similar to Xu Mude, identical to the two Divines he had encountered before, obviously another Divine.


    Yu Ga Shenle also followed closely behind Xue Jing, and looking in the direction of Xue Jing''s gaze, her expression instantly sharpened.


    "Brother, that Divine is problematic... completely different from the two we encountered before."


    She possessed superpower-level intuition and sensed a terrifying danger emitting from the Divine in the air.


    "Brother..." Xue Jing glanced at her, slightly speechless.


    From initially ''Brother Jing'' to ''Brother Jing'' and now directly ''Brother,'' the level of intimacy in her address had skipped three levels in a short time; this casual way of overstepping reminded him of his own little disciple.


    "What should we do, nii-nii?"


    With a slightly anxious tone, Yu Ga Shenle spoke. Since her whole body was wrapped in Shadowflame Wrap Armor, her expression was not visible, but one could vaguely see a smirk from her visible eyes.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    That was four levels skipped.


    "Alright, leave it to me, stop talking for now."


    Xue Jing waved a hand at her.


    He was genuinely afraid that next she would start calling him ''husband.''


    At this time, the Divine in the air, with an innocent expression, swung both arms left and right, like two paddles, rippling the air and producing a humming sound.


    The very next moment, the shaking of the entire floor intensified, the ground and walls cracked and shattered, and the two figures battling him in the air were hit by something, immediately spewing a great amount of blood and flying out like cannonballs.


    "Oh? A special individual?"


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly.


    This move was clearly not any physical attack but seemed more like some superpower.


    It must be one of those special individuals among the Divines with strange abilities that Xu Wenkui had mentioned.


    "It must be the main culprit causing the tremors in Sky Center, seeming like some ability to transfer kinetic energy out of thin air, difficult to guard against..."


    After a brief pondering, Xue Jing had an idea and felt confident in handling this entity.


    He turned his head toward Yu Ga Shenle and said:


    "You better find a place to hide; I won''t be able to cover for your identity any longer."


    Shadow Flame would dissipate if it strayed too far from Xue Jing''s main body, and he couldn''t ensure that he could maintain the Shadowflame Wrap Armor on Yu Ga Shenle''s body continuously.


    Yu Ga Shenle, hearing this, spoke in a gentle tone:


    "Don''t worry, Xue Jun, don''t mind me, just do what you want to do."


    Xue Jing nodded, then with a wave of his hand, caused the Shadowflame Wrap Armor on Yu Ga Shenle to scatter, revealing her charming and enchanting true face.


    "I wish you great success in battle."


    Yu Ga Shenle held her hands to her chest, speaking softly.


    Xue Jing didn''t respond, instead turning his head to look at the Divine being in the sky, who was once again extending his hands, rippling the air.


    "First of all... I must not allow it to continue damaging the Sky Center. Time to change the battlefield."


    With one step, Xue Jing vanished from the spot.


    The next moment, he appeared close to the Divine being, swung his right fist out, attempting to punch it out of the Sky Center.


    However, even though he was incredibly fast, his punch unexpectedly failed to connect.


    The Divine being swung its arm, rippling the air, and Xue Jing''s right fist stopped thirty centimeters from the Divine being, as if blocked by some invisible force.


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    With a buzz, he felt an immense, terrifying force descend upon him, striking evenly across every inch of his body. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    His entire body was immediately sent flying backward uncontrollably, crashing through all the walls in his path. The Shadowflame Wrap Armor was torn apart, his skin cracked open, leaking blood, muscles, and internal organs, and his bones all sustained not-so-light injuries in an instant.


    It had been a long time since his lips leaked such crystal-clear thick blood.


    "...Interesting."


    Xue Jing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his right hand and his eyes narrowed slightly.


    He hadn''t been injured in real combat for a long time.


    The extremely potent Life Fire ignited, and the severe injuries all over his body healed rapidly within seconds.


    "This ability is similar to Divine Conquest, hard to get close... The same would probably happen with Feathered Objects, even the quality of the Forgotten Greatsword would be directly disrupted by it."


    "In that case..."


    The Divine being in the sky tilted its head, wearing an innocent expression, like a child who had found an interesting toy. It swung its arm toward Xue Jing.


    As ripples appeared and a buzzing sound filled the air, Xue Jing instantly pulled away, trailing a rainbow tail flame, and began shifting left and right in the air.


    Where he passed, the air was pushed aside to create a vacuum, stirring up violent, typhoon-like currents chasing behind him.


    After circling for a while, Xue Jing suddenly activated Twin Speed, doubling his speed instantly, and approached the Divine being.


    This time he was much faster than before, but the Divine being still reacted, its ability required no delay. Xue Jing couldn''t get close; once he did, all the Divine being needed to do was to unfurl its ability around itself, naturally waiting for Xue Jing to walk into its trap.


    The arms swung past, creating ripples around it for several meters.


    But this time, Xue Jing didn''t charge directly towards the Divine being. Instead, he slightly tilted to one side, passing by six meters away from it.


    Just as he passed by, Xue Jing''s thought moved an invisible giant jaw opened in the void, swallowing the Divine being into nothingness.


    The Nonexistent Beast had no form or size, and in fact did not exist as an actual beast.


    It could only maneuver invisible forces around Xue Jing''s own body.


    Thus, after swallowing the Divine being into nothingness, Xue Jing, moving at high speed, pulled the Nonexistent Beast along, including the Divine being swallowed within, and instantly left the Sky Center.


    In barely a second, the Divine being broke free from the nothingness, but by then, Xue Jing had already transported it hundreds of meters away from the Sky Center in the air.


    The Divine being was puzzled by the sudden change in its surroundings just as it was swallowed by the nothingness again.


    In this manner, Xue Jing gradually pulled the Divine being dozens of miles away from the Sky Center.


    ...


    (I don''t know why, but writing this scene feels unusually awkward and difficult... I''ll try to speed up the transition.)

 Chapter 285 I Am a Peerless Genius Destined to Dominate This Era (4K)

    "You really intend to let me go?"Xu Wenkui was quite surprised.


    Although it was Xue Jing who personally proposed the deal, saying that he would use her Demon''s Eye to help suppress that Divine being before agreeing to let her leave,


    Xu Wenkui did not believe that Xue Jing would truly keep his promise. She had agreed only because she had no choice under the circumstances; if she didn''t help, she might even suffer some form of torture.


    She was not a martyr fiercely dedicated to her mission, capable of enduring torture by an enemy nation without yielding any secrets¡ªthere was no need for her to stubbornly resist. Whatever Xue Jing asked her to do, she would do, merely aiming for compliance.


    She just hadn''t expected there actually to be such good fortune...


    "I always keep my word," he said. "If I say I''ll kill your entire family, I''ll kill your entire family. If I say I''ll let you go, I''ll let you go. I won''t go back on my word."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin as he spoke.


    Xu Wenkui felt a chill from what sounded like a joking remark.


    A person''s words carry different weights depending on their identity and capabilities. Having witnessed the young man''s capabilities, his words naturally carried extraordinary weight to Xu Wenkui''s ears.


    She had to carefully consider whether each word he said might have some deeper meaning.


    Unaware of the contemplative woman before him pondering various possibilities, Xue Jing, who had merely spoken playful words, continued: Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So, our first deal has been successfully concluded¡­ Now, while the plane has yet to land, let''s discuss the second deal," he said.


    Xu Wenkui showed no change in expression, but asked in confusion, "What?"


    Xue Jing smiled:


    "Miss Xu, I personally have no grievances against you... nor do I actually have any real conflicts with the Xu Family. My issue is solely with Xu Mude."


    "And you, you don''t seem to get along with Xu Mude, right?"


    Xue Jing recalled Xu Wenkui''s actions and words up to this point; she had plainly declared who had sent her right from the start, all to annoy Xu Mude. Even after being captured, she did not hesitate to reveal everything, effectively betraying Xu Mude completely.


    He crossed his arms, a matter-of-fact look on his face, and said, "You dislike Xu Mude, and I dislike Xu Mude. So, aren''t we on the same side?" Explore more adventures at empire


    Xu Wenkui tilted her head: "You mean to suggest, collaborate with me against Xu Mude?"


    At this, Xue Jing couldn''t help but laugh. "Collaborate against him... it''s not quite necessary. Xu Mude is just a trivial matter."


    "My main purpose is actually to make friends with Miss Xu," he said.


    Xu Wenkui inquired in confusion, "Me?"


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Indeed, Miss Xu, you are a remarkable talent, and you hail from one of the Thirteen Great Families, the Xu Family. I''m willing to invest in you, help you climb to a higher position, so that in the future we can assist each other."


    Xu Wenkui looked hesitant. "This..."


    Unsure of what Xue Jing was really after, she could only ask in confusion, "How do you intend to help me?"


    Xue Jing smiled again and said, "Miss Xu, you must hold a very important position within the Xu Family''s ''Divine Plan.''"


    He looked at Xu Wenkui''s goat-like Demon''s Eye.


    This pair of eyes, capable of halting things in their tracks, combined with the Wind of All Beginnings, could easily suppress even a Divine with the most troublesome abilities. They were a dual assurance against the outbreak of a Divine, indispensable.


    Only the combination of both could ensure the safe conduct of the Divine experiments.


    Once Xu Wenkui returned to the Xu Family, as long as she still possessed these eyes, she would continue to be a core member of the Divine Plan.


    "And Xu Mude... do you think, after this incident, he will still be able to lead the Divine Plan?" Xue Jing inquired.


    Xu Wenkui pondered and said, "Although he has made a major blunder this time, the cause was an involuntary error. The Wind of All Beginnings disappeared unexpectedly due to its Transfer Nature, which wasn''t his fault. The subsequent remedial measures he took were foolish, but baring the merit of securing Adam''s flesh, it shouldn''t affect his continued dominance in the plan."


    At most, the next batch of Divine beings produced will no longer be based on his genetic blueprint."


    "This means he himself will no longer control these Divine beings but will merely be their creator, gaining credit but losing the actual power to control the Divine."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "As I thought."


    What Xu Wenkui had said roughly aligned with his predictions.


    Now things were getting interesting.


    "Miss Xu, if Xu Mude makes another mistake or several more mistakes... Do you have confidence that you could take his place and become the leader of the Divine Plan?" Xue Jing asked with a smile.


    A person''s actions reveal much... Xu Wenkui, constantly causing trouble for Xu Mude, wasn''t solely due to simple dislike.


    She had openly admitted from the beginning that she was sent by Xu Mude, likely using Xue Jing to strike at him from behind, through Wu Youqing.


    This move clearly benefited her; she was willing to obey orders and push herself to the brink of mutating into The Polluted, proving her desire to see the plan succeed.


    And telling Xue Jing she was sent by Xu Mude was a risky move that could add complications to the Divine Plan. She wouldn''t have deliberately done so without good reason.


    This benefit, likely related to the Divine Plan, could be inferred to perhaps involve Xu Mude facing removal or demotion, allowing her to take his place.


    Since there were benefits driving her, the ''deal'' Xue Jing truly wanted wouldn''t be hard to accomplish.

 Chapter 285 I Am a Peerless Genius, Destined to Dominate This Era (4K)_2

    Xu Wenkui heard Xue Jing''s words, her eyes flashed, and she said:"What do you want me to do?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing smiled and said:


    "It''s very simple... all you need to do is provide me with a little bit of information. For instance, where you''re going to create a new batch of Divines next. Once this batch of Divines is completed and roughly matured, provide me with the location..."


    Xue Jing revealed his true purpose.


    A Divine being: killing one guaranteed a minimum harvest of five hundred points of Divinity.


    He hadn''t forgotten the sight of those dozens of ''Xu Mudes'' immersed in the cultivation chambers when he infiltrated Xu''s Biology...


    If he had known that these creatures were each equivalent to a Divine Relic, Xue Jing really didn''t know if he would have been able to restrain himself from going on a killing spree on the spot.


    However, it wasn''t too late now.


    Divine beings, these biological weapons, were quite fierce. Not to mention the fact that the New Beiyang Council already had a large amount of reference material, the special individual who possessed the ability to affect spacetime shaping that Xue Jing had just encountered was telling.


    The Xu Family definitely wouldn''t give up on continuing to create Divines.


    Xue Jing''s proposal for this ''trade'' was naturally aimed at harvesting this crop of plump leeks... as long as he knew the Xu Family''s next location for their Divine experiments, he would rush over there and harvest fiercely.


    To know the location, of course, he needed an insider.


    There was no better choice than Xu Wenkui.


    Even, if played correctly, he estimated this leek could be harvested more than once.


    "This..." Xu Wenkui was somewhat tempted but hesitated.


    "Miss Xu, I can help you with many things."


    Xue Jing began speaking gently, his voice soft, yet eerily seductive like a devil''s whisper.


    "Without any false modesty, I am a peerless genius, destined to dominate this era."


    "My status in the future will be unimaginably high for you. Even now, it''s already dazzling enough."


    "Becoming my friend, or even an unspoken ''accomplice'', you will definitely not be at a loss."


    Xue Jing spoke with an unchanged expression, his words sounding supremely arrogant, as if coming from a delusional teenager.


    But Xu Wenkui, who had personally experienced his terror, did not mock him at all. Instead, she nodded in agreement.


    "I also need some friends from the Thirteen Great Families to plan for the future. I will do my best to help you raise your status within the Xu Family, so you can likewise assist me in the future."


    As Xue Jing spoke, Xu Wenkui''s expression became increasingly wavering.


    "All you need to do now is nod. In the future, on a certain day, you might make a small mistake, like... sending a text to a mysterious location to an unfamiliar number by mistake."


    "You would know nothing about it, just overused your eyes too much and ended up sleepwalking, completely unaware of such a small mistake you made."


    "It''s incredibly easy for you to get rid of the troublesome Xu Mude and gain a very helpful friend."


    Xue Jing smiled with refined ease.


    "There really is no need to think about it, is there?"


    Facing the softly spoken words of the devil-like figure, Xu Wenkui''s usually calm and composed face showed signs of intense confusion.


    Her heart pounded fiercely, and it took a while for her to take a few deep breaths and calm down.


    Xu Wenkui had made up her mind but didn''t immediately reveal it. Instead, she posed a question to Xue Jing:


    "I clearly came here to kill you, and we are sworn enemies. Aren''t you at all apprehensive about becoming ''friends'' with me?"


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "Bai Qi, who trapped and killed four hundred thousand soldiers, didn''t personally do the killing, but the blame falls on him all the same."


    "In the same way, Miss Xu, you are merely a knife that carries out orders. It''s not the knife that decides whom to kill, but the person wielding it."


    Xue Jing walked up to her, towering above her and looking down with a smile in his eyes:


    "Even if you wanted to kill me yourself, it doesn''t matter... who would be bothered by a little cat''s scratching and pawing?"


    Xu Wenkui was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Am I just a ''little cat'' then..."


    ...


    The Dragon Core Fighter landed; the hatch opened, and Xu Wenkui stepped out.


    Watching her leave, Ning Fengwan, standing beside Xue Jing with her arms crossed and propping up the trophy, her stunningly beautiful face expressing a sigh, said:


    "Jing, you are very despicable now."


    Xue Jing was speechless and said, "Watch less Blade Teeth, careful not to turn homo."


    Ning Fengwan rolled her eyes at him coquettishly and huffed,


    "You''re getting better and better at using seductive tricks and sweet talk on women. Although I don''t know what you''re up to, that woman must be spinning around in circles because of you."


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    Xue Jing felt wronged, "What seduction? What on earth are you talking about? Wasn''t that just a normal negotiation?"


    Ning Fengwan curled her lip, "Who uses that kind of tone in a negotiation? You almost had bubbles in your voice..."


    Xue Jing made an amused sound and stretched out his hand to rub the soft cat ears on her head.


    This Ning Maomao truly belittled her talent by being the Leader of the Dragon Sect; she ought to be the leader of a Vinegar Sect instead.


    The Dragon Core Fighter levitated and took off, and at Xue Jing''s command, it approached the vicinity of the 1000th floor of the Sky Center.


    "You guys wait here; I have something to handle."


    After instructing them and receiving Ning Yuantai''s respectful acknowledgment, Xue Jing left the cabin and went to the spot where he had parted ways with Yu Ga Shenle before.


    Without waiting for him to start searching, Yu Ga Shenle spotted him and walked out from a hidden corner, waving her hand to greet him,


    "Xue Jun~ Over here, over here."


    Seeing her, Xue Jing walked over and said with a smile,


    "Just wrapped things up not too long ago after talking with someone... Have you been waiting anxiously?"


    Upon hearing this, Yu Ga Shenle showed a naughty and cute smile on her charming face, then suddenly turned her head and humphed,


    "I-I wasn''t waiting for you at all."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    My little toe has slammed into the corner of a table; that''s when I yelp in pain.


    Lu Sang, who do you think you''re fooling?


    "Hehe~ How is it, cute, right?" Yu Ga Shenle said smilingly.


    Xue Jing kept his face unchanged, "Mediocre."


    This woman really does have some talent...


    "Eh~ At least give me a bit more of a reaction, Onii-chan~"


    Yu Ga Shenle stepped forward, wrapping her arm around Xue Jing''s arm and cooing in a high-pitched tone.


    Since she had returned to her true form hastily and unprepared, not wearing any armor upfront, the soft top-rated Asian Cup was only separated by a few thin layers of clothing, rubbing against Xue Jing''s arm...


    The innately wicked women of the Far East, I shall personally...


    Xue Jing''s eyelid twitched, suppressing the slight tumult in his heart, and extricated himself from her embrace, speaking calmly,


    "What are you going to do now? Do you have a way to revert to your previous state?"


    Yu Ga Shenle shook her head, her hands reaching behind to untie the ribbon in her hair, letting her silky waterfall-like waist-length hair cascade naturally down.


    She held the ribbon, now broken in two, in front of Xue Jing, speaking softly,


    "This is an unofficial Divine Relic that has not been formally cataloged. I''ve named it ''Yi Chai''er Bian''."


    Xue Jing paused upon hearing the term and searched it on his phone, learning that it meant ''to replace a gold hairpin with a ceremonial crown'' and was used to refer to a woman dressing as a man.


    "How can you come up with an obscure idiom like that, which even I, as a Zhuxia person, have seldom heard of?"


    Yu Ga Shenle looked innocent and said with a foreign accent that was quite awkward, "I don''t understand what Nini is talking about~ My Chinese isn''t that good."


    As she spoke, she couldn''t help laughing herself, then reverted to her normal accent and said softly,


    "As long as you wear this Divine Relic, you can perfectly shift from female to male. As long as you don''t remove it, from the genes to sexual characteristics, you become just like a real man."


    "However... now that it''s been cut, it has temporarily lost its effect."


    Xue Jing reached out and took ''Yi Chai''er Bian'', saying, "So what''s your plan now?"


    [Divine Substance detected, commencing absorption of Divinity...]


    "This is the first time I''ve faced this situation... For now, let''s try fixing it first."


    "Before its effects are restored, let me follow you around, Brother Jing~"


    Yu Ga Shenle revealed a perfect, adorable smile, and her pristine, neatly aligned teeth glistened like porcelain.


    ...

 Chapter 286 Im Here to Join This Family, Not to Break It Apart (4K)

    "Huh?"Ning Fengwan sat in her seat, arms crossed, with one leg cocked in a queen-like posture, the corners of her eyes twitching slightly.


    Her gaze fell on the girl peeking out from behind Xue Jing, who wore a timid expression, her tail swishing to and fro, betraying her owner''s restless mood.


    "Is this the matter you had to attend to? Hm?"


    Ning Fengwan''s stunning face was expressionless, her already dominant eyes sharp as razors at that moment.


    Ning Yuantai, little maid Yun Qin, as well as all members of The Sixth Agency sat obediently in their seats, as still as statues, afraid to make a sound lest they be dragged into the chaotic scene unfolding.


    The air was almost solid with tension.


    Xue Jing, as if oblivious to everything, smiled as usual and said:


    "This is a long story... your next line is, ''Then make it short.''


    "Then make it short."


    Although Ning Fengwan was annoyed, she grudgingly played along with Xue Jing''s joke.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and then jerked his thumb backward toward the girl hiding behind him, the Otogi Shenle: "Well... this girl will be following us for a while."


    Ning Fengwan''s lips twitched: "I didn''t say to make it that short. What about the causes and consequences?"


    "She is Otogirusu''s sister, Otogi Shenle, who was in Sky Center when the incident happened; I saved her."


    Ning Fengwan''s face showed confusion: "Then shouldn''t Otogirusu come to pick her up? Why should she follow us?"


    Xue Jing sighed: "This is where it gets complicated..."


    Ning Fengwan: "Explain clearly within thirty words, logically."


    Xue Jing pondered for a second, then said: "Young lady from a wealthy family escapes forced marriage, flees abroad, good brother Otogirusu asked me to look after his sister."


    Ning Yuantai counted the words, admiration all over his face.


    True to form for Xue, twenty-nine words, right on the brink.


    Ning Fengwan huffed noncommittally and coolly said: "And where is Otogirusu?"


    Xue Jing spread his hands: "He just went back to the Far East two days ago, missing his sister... he said he would come for her after some time."


    Ning Fengwan sighed: "I see... then there''s no helping it."


    Xue Jing smiled: "You agree then?"


    Ning Fengwan rolled her eyes at him: "Why do you need my agreement? I''m just a small cat without family status, why should an elderly person like you seek my opinion."


    Xue Jing found the woman''s sarcastic manner somewhat amusing but held back his laughter to avoid angering her further.


    He coughed, reached out and like picking up a cat, brought Otogi Shenle, who pretended to be scared behind him, in front of Ning Fengwan and said:


    "Shenle, aren''t you going to thank your Sister Ning?"


    Otogi Shenle immediately knelt down, holding onto one of Ning Fengwan''s hands as if a junior wife paying respects to the senior wife, and with an endearingly sweet smile typical of a charming younger sister, said sweetly:


    "Thank you, Sister Ning~"


    With her attractive appearance, expertise in managing expressions, and sufficiently sweet voice, her charm was irresistible to men and women, old and young alike, and even Ning Maomao was dazzled, instinctively reaching out to pat Otogi Shenle''s head. Her tone slowed considerably:


    "...There''s no need for such formality."


    Otogi Shenle''s eyes twinkled as she said: "Sister Ning is so beautiful. Can you call me ''Kagura-chan''? I really want a beauty like you to call me that~"


    "Eh?" Ning Fengwan turned her head toward Xue Jing, her eyes pleading for help.


    This sakura girl is too much, I can''t handle it¡ªXue Jing understood her plea.


    "Yun Qin, it''s time for a nap. Take the Sect Hierarch to rest."


    Xue Jing spoke to the little maid who pretended she didn''t exist.


    "Yes, mast... young master."


    Yun Qin immediately stood up and nodded. Ning Fengwan, who had developed a bit of social anxiety after months of home life, visibly relaxed. Her coat shimmered with a platinum glow, and she transformed back into a cat to leap into Yun Qin''s arms, who carried her to the small compartment.


    Having seen Miao Miao before, Otogi Shenle instantly knew she was the person who had been wearing the Cat Tail Ring, and noticing Ning Fengwan in her human form, she immediately recognized her as that cat.


    Therefore, she wasn''t surprised but instead, her eyes lit up, thinking the cat was adorable and was tempted to pet it.


    However, before she could act, Xue Jing pressed a hand to her head and pushed her down into a seat.


    "Behave yourself." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing said flatly. Read new chapters at empire


    "I only agreed to let you follow me based on the notion of friend helping friend, so skedaddle once your things are fixed... In the meantime, better to stay well-behaved and not stir up any trouble."


    Otogi Shenle blinked, innocently replied: "I''m here to join this household, not to break it apart, don''t worry, Onii-chan~"


    Xue Jing sighed slightly: "...This is the first time ''don''t worry'' has sounded so unsettling to me."


    ...


    Time passed, and the Inner Ring Three City Government sent many people to Sky Center to investigate the sudden disaster and provide relief and arrangements for the affected refugees.


    During the investigation, many refugees mentioned that they had been rescued by a knight in dark enchained armor.


    "A knight in dark enchained armor?"


    A government official named Ji Kanghua furrowed his brow in thought.


    "Captain Ji, there''s a phone call, it''s from that Ning."


    A subordinate approached and whispered.


    Ji Kanghua nodded: "Patch it through to me."

 Chapter 286 Im Here to Join This Family, Not Tear It Apart (4K)_2

    ```As he spoke, he raised the silver bracelet in his hand and pressed it twice.


    "Hello? Ning, where are you now? What exactly happened here..."


    "..."


    "Oh right, I forgot for a moment, you always rely on your own..."


    "..."


    "I see, so that''s how it is, I understand."


    ...


    Aboard the Dragon Core Fighter, speeding towards the Outer Ring.


    Sitting in her seat, Yu Ga Shenle glanced at Ning Yuantai, who was on the phone not far away, then turned to Xue Jing with a smile:


    "Isn''t it a shame? Xue Jun, this time you''ve saved countless people; you''re a great hero who should be held in high esteem..."


    Xue Jing looked at her, shook his head, and said:


    "The label of hero sounds great, but in reality, it''s an intangible shackle. People tend to project all sorts of wonderful fantasies onto heroes, coating them with a layer of gold."


    "Once every part of you is shining brightly, any blemish, no matter how small, becomes particularly conspicuous."


    "I have no psychological need for this; the title is only counterproductive for me. I''m better off without it."


    Yu Ga Shenle''s eyes revealed her surprise: "Xue Jun, you are very clear-headed."


    "Many things aren''t so easily discarded, even if one is clear about them in mind. Nearly everyone seeks ''fame and fortune,'' with fame even ahead of fortune. To cast aside ''fame'' so effortlessly is not an easy feat."


    Xue Jing casually said: "If one can''t let go, it means they are not clear inside. Isn''t Heart Study popular in your Far East?


    The essence of Heart Study, as taught by Wang Yangming, is the unity of knowledge and action, suggesting ''if one truly knows to do what is right, then one will naturally do it.'' If it''s just a so-called ''clarity in the heart,'' but actions don''t follow, then the person is still not clear, only pretending to be."


    When the name Wang Yangming came up, Yu Ga Shenle''s expression changed, and she even sat up straighter.


    He was a figure of special significance in the hearts of the Far Eastern People, with an extraordinary influence over the Far East. As someone like Yu Ga Shenle from high society, she would have been educated in Heart Study from a young age.


    "Do you also study Heart Study, Xue Jun?"


    Yu Ga Shenle asked eagerly.


    Xue Jing rubbed his chin, his gaze wandering: "Uh... I know a little bit, I guess."


    "Then we must have a proper discussion about it. As a Zhuxia person, you probably have a different perspective on the Yangming Saint than I do... So, where shall we start?"


    Yu Ga Shenle sat upright, her legs together in anticipation, as if ready for a classroom discussion.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat: "It''s a never-ending topic..."


    He indeed had some understanding of Heart Study but was far from deeply versed in it.


    Yu Ga Shenle''s interested and insightful demeanor made Xue Jing feel a bit insecure... As a Zhuxia person, he did not want to show weakness in his own culture to the Far Eastern People. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Hm-hm."


    Yu Ga Shenle chuckled softly with a knowing smile and changed the subject:


    "Speaking of which, Xue Jun is skilled in the Flawless Spear Technique."


    She reached behind her head, unfastened the ''Yi Chai''er Bian,'' and held the two separated pieces of ribbon, saying:


    "Then you must also be good at mending clothes... Can you help me with this?"


    Xue Jing crossed his arms: "Who told you being good at the Flawless Spear Technique means being good at sewing clothes?"


    Yu Ga Shenle blinked: "Shall we continue discussing Heart Study?"


    Xue Jing extended his hand: "Let me have a look, I''m actually quite interested in sewing things..."


    Yu Ga Shenle couldn''t help but cover her mouth and giggle.


    ...


    After several hours of high-speed flight, the Dragon Core Fighter gradually approached Qing City.


    It had been nearly a month since his long journey began, and now that he was about to return, Xue Jing felt a touch of homesickness.


    He opened the panel and took a glance.


    ```


    [Divinity: 4468] Your next chapter is on empire


    [Twin Lifes Lv9 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 4468/6000)]


    [Passive: Possess two lives; can freely choose the time to resurrect within seven days after death, cooldown time: ten days]


    [Active: For every Lv1, can specify one physical-related ability to produce double effects during use]


    [Currently activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense, Instinctive Intuition, Flexibility, Concentration, Calculation Power, Reaction Speed]


    [Currently available: ...]


    On his way to the Sky Center, due to the divinity consumed by traveling, he had spent 4500 Divinity, leveling up Twin Lifes to Lv9.


    The passive aspect still reduced the resurrection cooldown by ten days; now the base cooldown time had been reduced to just ten days... If the cooldown reduction continued at this upgrade rate, at the next level, Lv10, he would acquire a truly unlimited resurrection ability...


    However, this was probably unlikely. Xue Jing had quite a bit of confidence in Ban''s power, but he didn''t think it would really give him such a bug-level invincible thing.


    Xue Jing didn''t hold much hope for this; what he was most looking forward to was unlocking another Divine Incarnation after leveling up to Lv10.


    As for the newly added Twin Lifes active effect...


    Xue Jing''s gaze swept over all the options, thought for a moment, and selected [Perception Ability].


    The panel''s definition of [Perception Ability] was rather special. It sounded like just one ability, but it actually comprised multiple abilities.


    First were the human five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch; naturally, all were included.


    Beyond the five senses, there were also a sense of direction, spatial awareness, empathy for detecting others'' emotions... many such abstract perception abilities would also be enhanced simultaneously.


    With this double [Perception Ability], Xue Jing''s hard power might not increase much, but his soft power greatly improved.


    "4468... It takes six thousand Divinity to level up to Lv10, plus two thousand for the Divine Incarnation, which leaves me about three and a half thousand Divinity short of activating the Twin Life Incarnation."


    Xue Jing pondered as he looked at the panel.


    "The Qingcheng Government still owes me a share of ten Divine Relics; I wonder how many they have managed to obtain."


    "After returning, I can also draw a bit from my sister''s Stigmata, but that''s just scraps--hardly sufficient."


    "In Qingcheng, aside from those two, there aren''t any other sources of Divinity."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "It might not seem like much, but if the Qingcheng Government doesn''t pull through, I fear I might indeed be stuck for a while."


    He closed the panel and looked at the ribbon in his hands, now perfectly mended together. At the site of the original tear, aside from a slight discoloration of the stitches, it was nearly impossible to tell it had ever been damaged.


    He had sewn it himself.


    Speaking of which, it was almost magical... It seemed ''Flawless'' was indeed a tailoring skill. Although it was Xue Jing''s first time using a needle and thread, he sewed the ''Yi Chai''er Bian'' back together exceedingly well, as if he were a master tailor with decades of experience, swiftly calculating the next perfect stitch.


    The process was almost identical to when he used the Flawless Spear Technique, his hands instinctively calculating the perfect stitching path as soon as he started.


    Unfortunately, although it appeared to have been repaired on the surface, when Shenle tried it on, she didn''t grow the Ascending Dragon Sword or transform into Otogirusu.


    It seems that it was merely a superficial mending and not a true repair.


    Divine Relics cannot be absolutely destroyed; even when reduced to particle-level ash, they would reappear in the world.


    Based on this principle, all Divine Relics actually have a certain level of self-repair capability... but the extent varies.


    A ''wound'' like being severed in two, some Divine Relics might recover in a second, others might take days, or even months.


    So now, they could only wait for the ''Yi Chai''er Bian'' to self-repair.


    "By the way, what effect would this thing have if a man wore it?"


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at Yu Ga Shenle, who was standing beside him looking out of the porthole.


    "Eh?"


    Yu Ga Shenle blinked, touched her pristine chin with a finger, thought for a bit, then shook her head:


    "Not sure, I haven''t tried it... Maybe he''d become a man among men?"


    She guessed.


    ...

 Chapter 287 New Dojo, Lucky Pervert Incident, Mengs Shyness (4K)

    Dragon Core Fighters landed at the temporary base of White Crow in Qingcheng.After several months of construction, what was once a mere skeleton of a base now looked decent, and the word ''temporary'' could almost be removed.


    This base was prepared in anticipation of the ''Interdimensional Overlap Phenomenon'' that could occur at any time in the unfinished building area of South Qingcheng.


    Initially, it was meant to be makeshift, enough to house people and store items, but for some reason, the person in charge of the base suddenly received orders from above, stating that the base should be built to the standards of a formal base. It seemed that there was an intention for a group of White Crow members to be stationed here permanently.


    The Qingcheng Government was particularly pleased by this and provided a special fund to assist with the construction.


    After the plane landed completely, the hatch opened.


    Xue Jing was the first to step out.


    Miao Miao crouched on his shoulder, and Yu Ga Shenle followed by his side in a dress of Ning Fengwan, hands stacked in front of her, exuding an elegant and composed demeanor characteristic of a young lady, making the not-so-expensive clothes she wore appear like some high-end luxury.


    Half a step behind Xue Jing was Yun Qin, dressed in a classic maid''s outfit, and the entire group looked like some noble son returning from a trip with his pet and wife.


    "You''ve really made a splash this time, Lord Jing," said a member of the Xuren Squad who came to meet them, Mountain Demon, with a smile as he approached.


    "The strongest, toughest champion in the history of U19. Now, the online discussions about you are very heated; the hype hasn''t died down for several days."


    Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Empty fame... Where''s Captain Void Blade?"


    "The Captain went to the area where the boundary shocks are frequent to investigate the situation. He goes there every day... Ning, what are you still doing here? Is your work at Cease-Blades that relaxed?" Mountain Demon asked, turning his gaze to Ning Yuantai who had also walked out of the hatch, looking surprised.


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    "You White Crows really have no manners; I''ve already told you, stop calling me ''Ning.''


    Ning Yuantai retorted with dissatisfaction and then continued:


    "Right now, running errands for Xue is my job. Is there a problem?"


    He crossed his arms over his chest, somehow looking quite smug as he talked about running errands for Xue Jing.


    Mountain Demon raised an eyebrow: "Lord Jing is our special consultant in White Crow. What, are you planning to switch sides and join us in White Crow, going from darkness to light?"


    Ning Yuantai chuckled, "Don''t flatter yourself. That''s a position you guys arbitrarily assigned to Xue. By your logic, Xue is also a member of my Cease-Blades."


    The two bantered noisily, yet their tone was not intense; it sounded more like casual chat and there was no anger to be heard.


    Xue Jing wasn''t bothered and interjected:


    "Nothing major has happened in Qingcheng lately, right?"


    He stayed in the Inner Ring, and though he used the internet there, he mainly accessed the ''Super Network,'' which was much better than the outdated network of the Outer Ring. He had gotten unaccustomed to the sluggish internet speed of the past.


    As a result, he had not paid attention to what had been happening in the Outer Ring for a long time.


    It seems that separation between the inner and outer areas is quite normal now... The internet was meant to bridge the gap between the ''city'' and the ''countryside,'' but now both geography and the internet itself are sequestered, making it a case of everyone doing their own thing.


    "No big deal... It''s just that the unfinished building area where the boundary shocks occur frequently is a bit strange," Mountain Demon said casually.


    "It was assessed months ago that it might experience an overlap phenomenon at any time, but it still hasn''t happened... Which isn''t a good sign."


    "The area was originally determined as potentially experiencing a weak dimensional overlap, which occurs when worlds graze against each other, and it''s the reason for the frequent boundary shocks. When both worlds finally break open some fissures and overlap, that''s when a weak overlap occurs."


    "But worlds themselves are like vehicles: they never stop moving forward. If the worlds keep grazing against each other without breaking open, the pressure from their continued forward motion will accumulate and strengthen... Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Eventually, from ''grazing'' it might turn into ''colliding'' with the force of an impact, evolving into a strong overlap phenomenon with a pollution rate of over 60%.">


    Xue Jing remembered Captain Void Blade saying that a weak overlap could be handled, but a strong overlap was difficult to manage and would irreversibly turn an area into Intersecting Boundaries.


    "Is there any way to combat this?"


    Mountain Demon shook his head and replied, "Collisions between worlds happen beyond the boundary... That''s a realm unreachable by mankind. All we can do is to roughly estimate the pollution level in advance and take corresponding measures."


    "I see... If there''s anything I can do, just let me know," Xue Jing nodded.


    After all, Qingcheng was his hometown, and if a significant disaster like a strong overlap were to occur, he couldn''t just ignore it.


    Fortunately, his own strength was now considerable, and he wouldn''t be powerless in the face of an unfolding calamity.


    "I was waiting for you to say that, Lord Jing!" Mountain Demon laughed heartily.


    ...


    "Eh... So this is Xue Jun''s hometown?"


    Ning Yuantai drove ahead while Xue Jing and the others sat in the backseat, and Yu Ga Shenle curiously looked out the window.


    "A city that can cultivate a person like Xue Jun..."


    Xue Jing chuckled and said, "There''s nothing special about it, just a small city... You''ve probably never been to a place this small before, have you?"


    Yu Ga Shenle shook her head.


    "Besides training under my master at Dayu Mountain, I''ve mostly stayed in Tokyo... but I often go to various places to compete, and I''ve been to many cities."


    The two chatted for a while, and then Xue Jing suddenly said:


    "By the way, Yuantai, book a hotel room near my home later."

 Chapter 287 New Dojo, Lucky Pervert Incident, Mengs Shyness (4K)_2

    Ning Yuantai was driving and, without turning around, stuck out one hand to make an OK sign: "No problem, Xue."Yu Ga Shenle tilted her head: "Xue Jun, why book a hotel room?"


    Xue Jing gave her an odd look: "For you to stay in."


    Yu Ga Shenle was taken aback: "Eh?"


    "What, you don''t want to stay at my place, do you?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    "Can''t I?" Yu Ga Shenle pouted.


    "No, you can''t," Xue Jing shook his head.


    "There are too many people living at my place already, no rooms left."


    The house wasn''t that big, just four rooms: one for the parents, one for Xue Wan, one for Xue Jing, and now that the little maid Yun Qin had moved in, even the last room was taken.


    Although Xue Jing was quite wealthy now and could change houses, he wasn''t fussy about his living space and didn''t plan to swap out the current home where he felt comfortable and cozy.


    "I can just share a room with Xue Jun," Yu Ga Shenle said dolefully.


    "Hmm?" Miao Miao, who had been lazily draped over Xue Jing''s shoulder, sat up.


    Xue Jing pressed her back down with his hand, calmly saying, "We''re not that close yet. A man and a woman barely knowing each other for less than a day and then sleeping in the same room would have an immeasurable bad influence on teenagers."


    "Please~ (I''m begging), I can do anything, don''t leave me behind, Brother Jing..."


    Yu Ga Shenle clutched Xue Jing''s arm and coaxed pitifully.


    "Your Chinese is too bad, I don''t understand what you''re saying," Xue Jing remained uninterested.


    Brother, your hand may be soft, but my heart is hard.


    Seeing that Xue Jing was truly difficult to sway, Yu Ga Shenle immediately dropped the pitiful act and huffed:


    "Hmph, heartless man."


    Then she laughed again, "But that''s exactly why it''s good..."


    The car quickly arrived at Xue Jing''s home.


    After getting out of the car, Ning Yuantai said he was at their disposal anytime, then drove off.


    Yu Ga Shenle expressed a desire to explore the city and wanted Xue Jing to accompany her, but he declined, citing other matters to attend to. She didn''t seem to mind and walked off with light steps on her own.


    Entering the apartment complex, they took the elevator to their floor, Xue Jing took out his keys to unlock the door, pushed it open, and returned to his home.


    As soon as he arrived, he smelled the familiar scent that belonged only to his home, which gave him the real feeling of being home.


    Since Xue Wan had been the only one at home recently, and she, although tidy, wasn''t very diligent about cleaning, the place was somewhat messy.


    The moment the little maid entered, she immediately got to work, thoroughly cleaning the whole house. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Miao Miao was fully sleepy; as soon as Xue Jing placed her on the sofa, she instantly drifted off.


    Xue Jing picked up his phone and sent a message to Xue Wan that he had arrived home.


    Less than three seconds later, Xue Wan replied.


    [Huh!??]


    [Why didn''t you say you were coming back sooner!?]


    [I''m heading home now, just stay where you are and don''t move.]


    Xue Jing replied:


    [Can''t stay, I''ve got things to do outside.]


    After sending the message, he put his phone back in his pocket.


    "Hmm... I should stop by the dojo first."


    Returning to Qingcheng after nearly a month, he had quite a few things to do.


    A few days ago, Xue Jing had already been contacted by his senior, Chen Fuguang, who mentioned that the new dojo had been renovated and was just waiting for his return to hold a housewarming party.


    Although the dojo wasn''t officially open yet, it was already in use.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment then stepped out the door, cast Aura Blockade to lower his presence, then leaped up to the rooftop of the building, and dashed towards the direction of the new dojo with his light-body skill.


    ...


    The new Hidden Dragon Dojo was located in a not-so-busy area of the East City District.


    It was originally a venue of the Tiger Soul Dojo but was transferred to Hidden Dragon after Xue Jing took in the young disciple Zong Shichan.


    This dojo covered an area of over 6,000 square meters, nearly the size of a soccer field, five floors in total, with usable space more than tenfold that of the original Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Although in terms of location it lagged behind the bustling central location of the original dojo, it was still situated in the ''East Rich'' East City District. Buying such a large standalone venue in such an area, even at a friendly price, Li Qi''s savings must be considerably solid.


    Especially since the venue was originally built for martial artists, the materials used were far superior to ordinary construction, and accordingly, outrageously expensive.


    Xue Jing arrived and stood at the entrance, looking up to see "Hidden Dragon Dojo" four golden characters emblazoned on billboards atop the rooftop.


    Below it, a huge LED screen was embedded in the wall, displaying a slideshow¡ªall various highlight photos of him from the U19 competition.


    The debut of his stunning strike, Cherry Full Moon turning back to look amidst the crowd, impeccably finishing off Zhou Yinglin, the moment of holding up the trophy after winning the championship...


    "Uh..." Xue Jing touched his nose.


    He stepped through the gate, and since the official business hours had not yet started, there was no one at the front desk.


    Xue Jing went straight into the elevator and arrived on the fifth floor.


    All the Direct Disciples'' cultivation rooms as well as Li Qi''s residence and office were located on this level.


    Xue Jing was quite curious and wandered around this floor, familiarizing himself with the new environment.


    After browsing around various places for a while, Xue Jing came to a set of black double doors he did not know the purpose of, simply pressed the door handle, and pushed the door to enter.


    Since there were no labels on the door, he was unclear about what this room was.


    Then, trouble ensued.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao, who was half undressed, met Xue Jing''s gaze with her cool eyes.


    Her curvaceous and slender waist shone like white jade, with her delicate and upright belly button adorning it like a jewel.


    Then... big, big, big.


    An unbelievably large World Cup displayed its unparalleled presence, so magnificent it made one worry whether the material covering it could withstand such a terrifying mass.


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao was not panicking but silently pulled her clothes down, her cool eyes gazing at Xue Jing.


    "...So this is Meng''s training room, no wonder the soundproofing is so good, there''s not a sound from inside," Xue Jing murmured and hooked up a faint, forced smile.


    Meng Qingjiao, as always silent, had a hint of blush on her pretty face, stepping towards Xue Jing.


    Then she extended her jade-like hands, pinched Xue Jing''s cheeks on both sides, and pulled them apart, stretching his face into a rather comical flat shape.


    "..."


    Seeing a subtle smile on Meng Qingjiao''s lips, Xue Jing breathed a sigh of relief.


    This must mean she would forgive him after a little punishment.


    "Meng, I''m back," he said softly.


    "..." Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao''s cool eyes softened, she nodded, and placed her hand on Xue Jing''s head to pat it.


    As if to say, welcome back.


    After patting his head, she seemed to feel that a pat wasn''t quite enough and thought for a moment, then stretched out her hands and embraced Xue Jing.


    "Hm?" Xue Jing''s eyes widened, feeling something incredibly soft against his chest and belly...


    The fragrance of orchids and musk lingered at his nose. Xue Jing''s hands froze, and he was held in place, unsure of what to do.


    The Eye of the Silent Nether Nest had nothing on Meng.


    Seeming puzzled by Xue Jing''s reaction, Meng Qingjiao looked up at him, then grabbed his hands and placed them on her waist, signaling him to embrace her as well.


    Xue Jing, as if he were a fledgling who had never touched a girl''s hand, let Meng Qingjiao do as she wished, staying completely still like a puppet.


    After hugging for a while, Meng Qingjiao finally let go of Xue Jing.


    As the astonishing softness departed, the hard control was lifted, and Xue Jing regained the ability to move, his expression somewhat dazedly watching Meng Qingjiao.


    "Meng, you..." he began hesitantly.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao tilted her head in confusion, her gaze meeting his, as cool as ever.


    Xue Jing sighed lightly and said, "No, it''s nothing... Meng, is Master here?"


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, took Xue Jing by the hand, and walked out of the cultivation room, leading him to see Master Li Qi.


    Xue Jing was silently led away, shaking his head with a chuckle. Experience tales at empire


    He felt that Meng probably treated him like a child.


    What he didn''t notice was the delicate, shy blush on Meng Qingjiao''s face as she walked ahead, like a peach blossom just beginning to bloom.


    ...

 Chapter 288 Wu Youqings Kiss (4K)

    Meng pulled Xue Jing left and right, and they soon arrived in front of a room.Looking at the sign above the door that read "Heart-Nourishing Room", Xue Jing''s mouth twitched. He stepped forward, reached for the doorknob, and opened the door.


    In the room, which was laid out similarly to the old dojo''s Heart-Nourishing Room, Li Qi sat in a wheelchair with a rosewood desk in front of him, shaking his head as he read a scroll.


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    Having not seen him for nearly a month, Xue Jing noticed that Li Qi''s previously bald head seemed to have sprouted many sparse hairs, and his withered appearance seemed more vibrant. Now wearing reading glasses, he looked five or six years younger than before.


    "... Master, why is there a sign only on the Heart-Nourishing Room?"


    Xue Jing asked as he walked toward Li Qi.


    If there had been a sign at the door earlier indicating that it was Meng''s cultivation room, he wouldn''t have rashly opened the door...


    Triggering such a classic lucky pervert incident seemed lucky but was actually quite troublesome. Fortunately, Meng treated him like a child and didn''t mind much.


    "Hmm? Little Jing, you''re back."


    Upon hearing the voice, Li Qi looked up at Xue Jing, chuckled, and wheeled himself over to Xue Jing.


    "The signs for your direct disciples'' cultivation rooms are still being made... What''s up, anything happened?"


    Li Qi took off his reading glasses, his aged, cloudy eyes shifting back and forth between Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing remained composed, "Nothing much, just asking... By the way, master, when will the housewarming banquet be held?"


    Li Qi didn''t notice anything amiss with Xue Jing, but he caught Meng Qingjiao''s cold eyes involuntarily dodging his gaze.


    Although it was a subtle shift of her eyes, Li Qi, being extremely cunning, immediately sensed something.


    His eyes flashed with understanding, and he chuckled knowingly, "Since you''re back, let''s find an auspicious day soon¡­ Little Jing, you''ve really made your master proud this time."


    Xue Jing smiled, "It''s all thanks to your good training¡­ Master, you look much younger, have you made some recent gains?"


    Li Qi proudly brushed a few tufts of sparse hair on his head, "You noticed? I''ve been studying the Yellow Grannie Skill daily, and it''s starting to bear fruit, like dead wood meeting spring... If there''s anything you don''t understand about the technique, just ask me."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "Now that you mention it, I do have a question. After reaching the Xiao Man stage, I''ve felt my progress slowing down. Master, do you have any tips?"


    Li Qi was startled. Xiao Man?


    He had just started learning it a few days ago, still far from "Xiao Man". How could he teach that?


    He had thought that with his long study of Taoist learning and deep understanding of the Yellow Grannie Skill, he could handle even this monstrous disciple¡­


    Li Qi coughed dryly, "In the martial arts of the Taoist Sect, it is essential to progress step by step, naturally. You must have the right mindset, avoid being impatient, and practice gradually."


    Xue Jing smiled, "You''re absolutely right, master."


    Li Qi hummed a note, examining Xue Jing from head to toe, and nodded his head, extremely pleased.


    His disciple was perfect in every way, almost unreal, with impeccable talent and temperament, always respectful to his teacher.


    After winning the championship in a major U19 competition, his first words were to thank his master...


    Li Qi felt that even if he were to lie down in a coffin right now, he would burst out laughing in the middle of the night.


    As he mused, his gaze drifted to Meng Qingjiao, causing her to tilt her head slightly, somewhat puzzled.


    Such a good disciple shouldn''t be a catch for another family...


    Li Qi looked contemplative.


    Meng Qingjiao was almost raised by him from a young age, formally a mentor-student relationship, but in reality, she was like his own granddaughter.


    Because of past events, Li Qi always felt remorseful toward her, lavishing affection on her like she was the apple of his eye, a treatment not afforded to other disciples¡­ of course, now including Xue Jing.


    The most cherished disciple and the favorite disciple; if these two joys could merge, wouldn''t that bring even more happiness?


    Thinking this, Li Qi began to fantasize about the idyllic family times he''d have in the future with the young couple honoring him...


    ''Seems promising...'' Li Qi''s eyes gleamed.


    It wasn''t very clear about Little Jing, but Qingjiao probably... As long as she was willing, there would be no man beyond her reach.


    Li Qi was quite confident in his granddaughter''s charm.


    ''Just feel a bit sorry for Girl Ning...''


    Li Qi thought to himself.


    However, he felt that for such a capable disciple, having a dozen or so women wasn''t a big deal; he had been quite the playboy in his youth.


    Li Qi was not a chauvinist, but he believed in the respect for the strong, thinking it natural for a capable person to own more resources.


    If Xue Jing was a woman, he''d feel it was completely fine for his disciple to have a dozen men similarly.


    "Little Jing."


    Li Qi spoke to Xue Jing kindly.


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing was puzzled.


    "I''ve been thinking of having your fellow disciples start practicing the Yellow Grannie Skill to address the deficiency in our Hidden Dragon School''s cultivation, but since the skill came from you, I still need to ask... What do you think?"


    Li Qi asked.


    "Of course there''s no problem," Xue Jing replied, nodding, seeing no hesitation; it wasn''t just about the Yellow Grannie Skill, he felt there was no need to keep any martial arts a secret from his peers.

 Chapter 288 Wu Youqings Kiss (4K)_2

    Don''t worry about whether it''s his fellow disciples, or even if enemies learned it, he didn''t care.If you''re capable, just practice it, and if you can beat me then I''ll consider it a loss.


    Initially, Wu Xuanzhu also didn''t care when ''Impeccable'' was learned by Xue Jing, characters of this level have exceptional mindsets and ordinary people wouldn''t consider the notion that ''teaching a disciple starves the master.'' After all, no one could outperform him no matter how they practiced.


    "Since you agreed, there''s a small issue now."


    Li Qi said leisurely.


    "Yellow Grannie Skill is an internal Health Cultivation method within the Taoist Sect involving many sensitive areas and acupoints within the body... It''s inconvenient for me to teach Qingjiao."


    "Since you are profoundly skilled in Yellow Grannie Skill... the task of teaching Qingjiao the Yellow Grannie Skill will be handed over to you."


    Xue Jing was stunned upon hearing this, sensing something amiss.


    Wait, if it''s inconvenient for you, does that mean it''s convenient for me?


    "Master, this..." he hesitated and began.


    He had barely started speaking when Li Qi, seemingly interrupting him on purpose, asked Meng Qingjiao, "Qingjiao, what do you think?"


    Under Xue Jing''s silent gaze, Meng Qingjiao nodded with a cold expression.


    "Alright, that''s settled then, when you''re free, find a room and get started," Li Qi clapped his hands, grinning on his wrinkled face, blooming like a chrysanthemum.


    There was something odd about the way he phrased that... Xue Jing was somewhat speechless.


    ...


    He didn''t start anything with Sister Meng as Li Qi had said. After staying at the new Hidden Dragon Dojo for a while, Xue Jing took his leave.


    He was somewhat aware of his master''s intentions but didn''t pay much attention to them.


    Just as couples who are matched through matchmaking don''t often anticipate a blissful marriage, such things cannot be forced.


    Letting things progress naturally was the right approach; he was less inclined to push when the cow didn''t want to drink.


    After leaving the dojo, Xue Jing immediately leapt onto the rooftops, using the Light-body Skill towards the direction of Qingcheng University.


    Even without going at full speed, his current pace was outrageous, rivaling a high-speed train, and that too was a straight-line high-speed train.


    In less than five minutes, he arrived at the entrance of Qingcheng University.


    Like the wind, he entered unseen, stirring up many female students'' skirts and eliciting quite a few embarrassed screams.


    He headed straight to the Qingcheng University Library, quickly making his way to the seventh floor.


    In the quaint and historic attic, Xue Jing stepped inside and a familiar faint and elegant scent tantalizingly entered his nose.


    Smelling this scent, his mind involuntarily calmed down, just like the aura of the scent''s owner.


    Looking around, it was still that spot, the lone girl who seemed to always be sitting there waiting for him, never having left for even a moment.


    Her waist-length high ponytail cascaded down, her elegant and delicate features did not create any sense of distance, approachable like the girl next door, only her overly tranquil pale lavender eyes added a hint of a mysterious and serene atmosphere.


    Xue Jing glanced at the cover of the book in her hand.


    "The Mercury that Will Eventually Devour the Gold." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Pop¡ª"


    The book was closed, the serene girl turned her head towards him, her pale lavender eyes showing a trace of a smile.


    "You''re back."


    At that moment, Xue Jing felt an inexplicable sense of healing.


    It was like a husband who had worked hard all day coming home to a smiling, beautiful young wife... it made him feel like his efforts were worthwhile.


    Shaking his head to dispel the strange thought, Xue Jing softly chuckled:


    "Mission accomplished, BOSS."


    He stepped forward, reaching out his hand, and called the Nonexistent Beast. An invisible rift opened in his hand, releasing a light green and a light red pair of swirling air flows.


    Wu Youqing first fixed her gaze on the invisible rift emitting the air flows for a while, then shifted it to the flows.


    She reached out and took the two air flows from Xue Jing''s hand and softly said:


    "There are nine streams of the Wind of All Beginnings; one is with the Xu Family, another with the ''Reverse Cross Church'' in the New Cross Church State, three with the Secret Martial Society, two with me, and the last two''s whereabouts are currently unknown."


    "In over two hundred years, the nine streams of Wind of All Beginnings have never merged together. No one knows what full capabilities it possesses."


    Wu Youqing looked at Xue Jing with a tender gaze, "It''s one of my few hopes, and you''ve successfully brought that hope to me... Jing, what reward would you like?"


    Xue Jing cocked his head, "A reward?"


    Wu Youqing spoke softly, "You''ve exceeded the task this time... even if you want a somewhat excessive reward, I''ll do my best to fulfill it."


    Xue Jing thought about it. He didn''t have anything he particularly wanted, if he had to say, maybe just a Divine Relic...


    However, compared to the Divine Relic, he felt that he had received too much help from Wu Youqing, so much so that it was a bit overwhelming.


    He wanted to say that he didn''t need a reward, but that seemed a bit insensitive, as if he were eager to repay Wu Youqing''s debt. Read latest chapters on empire


    After hesitating for a while, perhaps because of the world-class stunning hug from Meng earlier, or perhaps attracted by the comforting presence of Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing suddenly had a wild thought and hesitated,


    "Um... how about you kiss me?"


    Wu Youqing was stunned.


    Xue Jing''s face also immediately changed, full of regret.


    What was he saying, damn, that was awkward.


    He moved his lips slightly and waved his hand, "Forget I said anything."


    At that moment, Wu Youqing hesitated for a second but then stood up, silently walked over to Xue Jing.


    "BOSS, you..." Xue Jing said in surprise, seeing this.


    No way, Youqing, are you serious?


    Wu Youqing looked at him with a complex expression, a slight blush appearing on her refined face, breathtakingly beautiful.


    She whispered softly,


    "I said it, even if it''s a somewhat excessive reward..."


    Xue Jing broke out in a cold sweat, "Can I take it back?"


    Wu Youqing glared at him, "What are you saying to a girl who finally mustered the courage?"


    A girl... right, Youqing Buddha is only in her teens.


    Usually, she is so mature and reliable that Xue Jing had unconsciously overlooked her age.


    "Then... do you need to prepare a bit?"


    After thinking, Xue Jing asked.


    Wu Youqing shook her head, only murmuring, "...close your eyes."


    Xue Jing felt like a fledgling again, nervous about something as simple as a kiss.


    He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, feeling conflicted.


    He wasn''t someone easily swayed by women and beauty, even as enchanting as Yu Ga Shenle, he was almost unmoved.


    But undeniably, at this moment, he was indeed looking forward to it.


    Because... this is Youqing A Dream after all.


    That woman who seemed to know everything, could solve anything, almost like a genie at your service.


    Xue Jing couldn''t deny he had a strong favor for her... otherwise, he wouldn''t have blurted out such a thing impulsively.


    Because his eyes were closed, his already sharp hearing, smell, and touch became even more sensitive, distinctly feeling the girl drawing nearer.


    The subtle fragrance grew stronger, her slightly uneasy breathing gently touched his face, and his skin sensed the warmth radiating from her body.


    Suddenly, an extremely soft and wonderful sensation touched the corner of his mouth, tinged with a bit of warm moisture.


    That instant, a tingling sensation spread from Xue Jing''s mouth to his cheeks, scalp, neck, chest, and abdomen... gradually reaching his entire body.


    He gently opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of Wu Youqing who after kissing him, had run back to her seat, twirling her hair at her seat.


    The latter turned her face away, avoiding Xue Jing''s gaze, and spoke in her usual calm tone, "There, you got what you asked for, don''t expect it to happen again..."


    Xue Jing looked contemplative.


    It was as if entering a sage mode after the fact, his rationality began to return.


    Wait, why did he feel like he was at a loss?


    ...

 Chapter 289 Saint Youqing, Unraveling the Mystery of Divinity, Ultimate Breakthrough (4K)

    ```"...I also know you''re at an age where you might think about such things."


    Wu Youqing turned her head away, not making eye contact with Xue Jing, opened the book in her hands, and used it to cover the lower half of her face; she spoke in a gently persuasive tone.


    Explore more at empire


    Xue Jing looked up and caught a glimpse of the beautiful, fair nape of her neck, just below her neatly tied high ponytail.


    "You having thoughts about me... I wouldn''t be unhappy about it, but I''d rather you focus on yourself right now, instead of scattering your precious attention on other things."


    "You''re at a critical period for self-improvement, any thoughts that could affect your concentration are a waste, especially love, a monster that can twist people''s hearts and consume most of their attention."


    Wu Youqing lectured like a teacher to a high school senior.


    Xue Jing touched his chin and chuckled, "BOSS, does this mean I''ve been dumped by you?"


    Caught off-guard, Wu Youqing turned to glare at him, still using the book to hide the lower half of her face, but a hint of a blush was still faintly visible.


    "...Not at all!"


    She said, slightly annoyed.


    "I mean, stop thinking about all these hypotheticals for now!"


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, "So, that means I can think about them later?"


    Wu Youqing was at a loss for words, she glared at Xue Jing for quite a while before begrudgingly admitting, "...Yes, are you happy now? You had to make me spell it out so clearly, showing no consideration at all."


    She''s so cute... Xue Jing smiled without saying a word.


    To hide feelings of shyness, one instinctively becomes angry, and right now the sight of Xue Jing made Wu Youqing a bit irritated, but being more than a normal person, her emotional control was extremely strong; she quickly forced herself to calm down and said:


    "Alright, now let''s talk about serious matters."


    "You must have encountered something on your way back, what exactly happened?"


    Seeing that Wu Youqing was getting down to business, Xue Jing also put aside his teasing mood, thought for a moment, and then said:


    "It was Xu Mude, the manager of Xu''s Biology, he went after the Wind of All Beginnings..."


    Xue Jing laid out the entire situation neatly and clearly for Wu Youqing to hear.


    From how he stealthily took the Wind of All Beginnings from the Xu Family, to unexpectedly obtaining another one from Zhou Yinglin in the arena. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Mude, unable to purchase the wind from Zhou Yinglin through him, intercepted and forcibly attempted to take it from him on his way back to Qingcheng; the reason for his desperate need of the Wind of All Beginnings, even at the risk of offending Wu Youqing, was to ensure the smooth progression of the ''Divine'' project.


    Then, there was his return to the Inner Ring at the Sky Center, dealing with the Divine rampage, and finally making his way back to Qingcheng.


    After listening to Xue Jing''s account and understanding the causes and consequences, Wu Youqing''s eyes showed deep thought, "I see."


    After pondering for a moment, she suddenly said to Xue Jing, "Jing."


    "Hmm? What is it?" Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    Wu Youqing said earnestly, "You are not responsible at all for the civilian casualties caused by the Divine rampage at the Sky Center."


    "It was I who sent you to seize the Wind of All Beginnings, that''s certainly not your fault, and you should feel no guilt whatsoever."


    "On the contrary, you truly returned to the Sky Center of your own will and resolved the rogue Divine that would have caused a much greater disaster. To the victims, you are without a doubt their hero."


    Xue Jing was stunned.


    He hadn''t anticipated that Wu Youqing''s first thought after hearing the whole story would be about the guilt he might feel about his actions, and she began earnestly trying to resolve that guilt.


    Although Xue Jing had already sorted through his emotions, he did indeed feel some guilt when the incident occurred, but his ability to regulate his emotions was extremely strong, and he had already resolved these feelings for himself.


    Still, he was touched by Wu Youqing''s immediate concern.


    He clasped his hands together, posed in a praying stance, closed his eyes, and devoutly said:


    "Qing Sect."


    Wu Youqing: "?"


    "Saint Youqing, you are one, and also the many, I will surely let your way be walked upon the earth, as it is in your realm."


    Wu Youqing: "??"


    "Especially her, above all else is she, my deity, Saint Youqing."


    Wu Youqing: "???"


    Question marks sprouted over her head, and she sighed softly, "It seems I''ve been overthinking this, if you can still be this cheeky, you''re likely not too hung up on it."


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "Don''t worry, my own moral restraints aren''t set that high."


    Changing the subject, he said,


    "By the way, BOSS, this ''Divine Factor''... what exactly is it?"


    Divine Beings possess the Divine Factor, which is why they exhibit numerous miraculous traits.


    Xue Jing had inferred that the ''Divine Factor'' referred to Divinity as mentioned in his panel, from the fact that killing a Divine Being granted him Divinity, but he was still confused about the power itself.


    Even with his many Divine Skills, he still only knew how to use the fridge, not understanding its operation or principles.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment and said:


    "The form of existence of the Divine Factor is very peculiar; it is not material, nor is it energy, but rather a third form of existence that is independent of the two¡ªa fundamental element."


    "My understanding may not be correct, but if I had to say, the ''Divine Factor'' would be the ''essence of a deity''."


    "Or, perhaps, a heavily diluted essence of a deity."


    Xue Jing looked puzzled, "The essence of a deity?"


    "Yes." Wu Youqing sat in a wooden chair, her long legs crossed, pressing against each other, making the light-colored tight jeans she wore taut and exuding a subtle allure.


    "A deity, transcends the binds of ''Cosmic String,'' unbound by common reasoning, a Superstring Entity who''s great essence leaks out, is what we call ''Divinity''."


    ```

 Chapter 289 Saint Youqing, Unraveling the Mystery of Divinity, Ultimate Breakthrough (4K)_2

    ```"''Divinity'' itself is not a concrete power, yet those who possess it, having touched the essence of godliness, obtain the power to ''influence the ordinary.''"


    Wu Youqing gave Xue Jing a meaningful glance and said, "In fact, it is very likely that Divine Relics, Blessed Ones, and even some Intersecting Boundaries creatures with special powers possess their various miraculous abilities that defy physical laws because they have ''Divinity'' within them, allowing them to escape, to a certain extent, from the constraints of the ''Cosmic Strings.''"


    Xue Jing''s gaze narrowed slightly.


    So that was it... He probably understood why Divine Relics and Xue Wan didn''t lose their abilities after he had extracted Divinity from them.


    Because ''Divinity'' itself is not ''power.''


    It is an outflow of the divine essence, an extraordinary existence beyond conventional understanding.


    If an analogy were to be made, it could be compared to a ''craftsman.''


    Divinity entering an object or living being is much like a craftsman reconstructing their essence, endowing them with abilities that transcend common logic.


    What Xue Jing had done was like taking the craftsman inside them away... Even after the craftsman is gone, the results of his work remain unchanged.


    In simpler terms, once the inside has taken on the shape of Divinity, even if Divinity leaves, the shape won''t revert to its previous form.


    Once the puzzle was solved, many things became clear.


    "And just as you''ve seen, Divine Factors are not absolutely good things,"


    Wu Youqing continued.


    "Blessed Ones receive the gift of Divinity from the gods, but the mortal body struggles to bear the infusion of the divine essence, leading to a transformation of both spirit and body."


    "Only a select few can wholly adapt to the immersion in Divinity... There are less than twenty Natural Gifted Ones, Divine Chosen, in the entire world."


    Wu Youqing glanced at Xue Jing and added, "Of course... there''s also you."


    Xue Jing coughed awkwardly.


    "The Divine Chosen are such because they are born with an essence ''akin to a certain god,'' enabling them to adapt to that god''s Divinity. But you are different, you are more special."


    Wu Youqing looked at Xue Jing as if observing a rare animal.


    "You are not compatible because your essence is close to that of a certain god... It''s more like you are naturally adaptable to ''Divinity'' as a concept... or perhaps even beyond it."


    "Why is that? I''m very curious," Wu Youqing said, her pretty eyes sparkling with amusement.


    Xue Jing felt a slight tingling on his scalp, feeling as if his innermost secrets were about to be exposed, and quickly changed the subject:


    "Um... I don''t quite understand it myself, we can talk about it later, BOSS, I have another question."


    Wu Youqing propped her chin with one hand, smiling at Xue Jing:


    "Ask away."


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, then asked, "What is the standard for the ''Ultimate Breakthrough'' in martial arts?"


    Wu Youqing nodded upon hearing this and said, "You''ve already come across it... then I''ll tell you."


    "Actually, it''s coincidental, the concept of Ultimate Breakthrough is also related to ''Divine Factors.''


    "Oh? How so?" Xue Jing asked, curious.


    Wu Youqing explained, "After the Extreme Martial King took over Cangting, he revealed a miraculous technique."


    "Through some special method, by absorbing the ''Divine Factors'' diluted from ''Divine Adam,'' one can use Divinity to transform their essence, granting physical strength and potential far exceeding human limits."


    "If the human body''s limit is 1, then this technique could elevate it to 2, 3... or even more."


    "This was likely the secret of the Extreme Martial King''s strength... At that time, those who were privileged enough to know of this technique all thought this way, and thus fervently sought Adam''s Divine Factors to transform their own essence."


    Wu Youqing said, shaking her head.


    "But of course, seeking God''s Power with a mortal body comes at a price."


    ```


    "First of all, there is the issue of Divinity causing mutations to the flesh... Although it might be due to the particularly unique Divine Factor within Adam, the mutations aren''t as severe as those from Heretic Gods in other realms, but it is still a problem not to be overlooked,"


    "And for a portion of people with an extremely strong adaptability to the Divine Factor who successfully withstand it, they are then faced with a second issue¡ª the difficulty of Breakthroughs."


    "Breakthroughs were never easy, and for original humans to achieve a ''Breakthrough'' was already very difficult. But for bodies enhanced by Divine Factors, the difficulty of Breakthroughs increased exponentially."


    "Originally at 1, after a Breakthrough they could reach 10, 20. But if the Divine Factor improved the body to a 9, and the Breakthrough was not successful, then it was all meaningless."


    "As a result, this technology soon deterred most people."


    "However, humanity''s pursuit of power is never-ending, and so this powerful technology naturally continued to be researched by some."


    Wu Youqing tapped her fingers on the wooden table.


    "And eventually, this group of people, after long periods of experimentation, obtained a theoretical value."


    "For a regular Breakthrough as 1, the maximum limit value for Divine strengthening before a successful Breakthrough is estimated to be around 6-7."


    "Enhancing the body to this value range with Divinity, and then successfully performing a Breakthrough, is known as¡ªUltimate Breakthrough."


    Xue Jing had an epiphany upon hearing this.


    So that was it, this was the concept of Ultimate Breakthrough.


    With the flesh enhanced by Divine Factors, to reach six to seven times the strength of the regular limit and then successfully perform a self-Breakthrough at this intensity.


    "However, even though this limit value has been tested, very few people choose this path,"


    Wu Youqing continued.


    "While those who achieve the Ultimate Breakthrough are very strong, many times stronger than those who perform a regular Breakthrough, the talent, resources, effort, luck ... that are needed are tens of thousands of times greater than a regular Breakthrough."


    "The disparity between what you give and what you gain is too great... There''s a high chance of putting in a lot but in the end, never breaking through and remaining mediocre for life. Only a very few would bet on that elusive possibility."


    Xue Jing thought for a bit, then asked, "So then, did the Extreme Martial King obtain his far superior power over all Martial Artists because he managed the Ultimate Breakthrough?"


    Wu Youqing fell silent at this question, then shook her head.


    "No... no, the Extreme Martial King is probably even more special."


    Xue Jing was puzzled, "Oh?"


    "It''s true that the Ultimate Breakthrough technique was provided by the Extreme Martial King, and up to now, many have achieved it. To my knowledge, there''s even one unparalleled genius who managed six Ultimate Breakthroughs."


    "But even he is still far from matching the Extreme Martial King..."


    Wu Youqing added, under Xue Jing''s somewhat surprised gaze, "It''s like the difference between humans and gods."


    "According to calculations predicated on the previously mentioned six Ultimate Breakthroughs, even if he were to break through two more times, achieving eight Ultimate Breakthroughs, he still wouldn''t be able to compete with the Extreme Martial King." Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    "Many speculate that the Extreme Martial King probably has hidden some deeper technologies and hasn''t disclosed them, but there are also many who feel that he has hidden nothing at all; it''s just because he is a special existence, an entity that others simply cannot replicate."


    "To date, on the Old Martial Path, only the Extreme Martial King remains with a precipitous lead, an individual combat power capable of contending with Super Organisms of an apocalyptic level, one of the current six pinnacle individual combat forces of mankind."


    "But compared to other systems, the Extreme Martial King really does not offer the possibility for anyone to follow in his footsteps... It''s like a high mountain; everyone''s path up the mountain is broken, blocked at mid-mountain, with only him standing at the peak."


    "Old Martial is also one of the paths you take... You must also be prepared for the possibility of despairingly being stopped at mid-mountain,"


    Wu Youqing softly said.


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected his contemplation, "I see..."


    Ultimate Breakthroughs... are not so ultimate.


    Now it seems, even with his bolstered stats, True Martial, Army Master, and various Extraordinary Skills at his disposal, he might not be able to match the level of the Extreme Martial King within the same realm. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This individual at the end of the martial arts path, what kind of existence could he be... Could it be that he, too, had ''opened up''?


    ...

 Chapter 290 You Dont Practice Martial Arts, Seeing Him as a Frog in a Well Watching the Moon (4K)

    ```"Let''s talk about something else."


    "The martial arts exams are starting soon."


    Wu Youqing got up and went to the wall, pulled out a hidden cabinet, and took out tea sets and tea leaves¡­ as well as a can of cola.


    "You''ve accepted the invitation to serve as an examiner for the martial arts exams. According to tradition, young geniuses like you are usually assigned to exam sites in their own urban circles."


    "However, your case is a bit special, so it''s unlikely you''ll be assigned to an exam site in the Fifth Urban Circle."


    As she spoke, she popped open the ring pull of the cola and poured it into the blue-patterned, gold-trimmed, carved porcelain cup on the tea tray. Then, she pushed it towards Xue Jing with the usual refinement.


    Xue Jing picked up the cup and chugged the ''happy water'', enjoying the carbonated sensation as it traveled down his throat, before asking, "Is there any difference?"


    Wu Youqing also brewed herself a cup of tea, elegantly holding the cup in both hands, and took a sip before responding:


    "Of course, there is."


    "The martial arts exams are different from regular college entrance exams. Apart from the written test that assesses foundational skills, there''s also a ''special practical exam'' to test the students'' abilities in the heat of the moment, with each exam site having its specifics."


    "Some sites are straightforward, just simple combat between students. Some even arrange for students to enter a thoroughly controlled Intersecting Boundaries to engage in practical exams according to the rules set by the examiners."


    "Normally, you would have been assigned an exam site in the Fifth Urban Circle where martial arts aren''t so well-developed, and you''d likely complete your task with ease."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "So you''re saying there''s going to be an accident?"


    Wu Youqing nodded, "Many of the leaders at the Education Bureau responsible for the martial arts exams are members of the Secret Martial Society."


    "If they let you successfully fulfill the role of martial arts examiner and do what the Extreme Martial King once did, due to respect for the revered, it would be difficult for the Secret Martial Society to make a move against you in the open. So, this is the last chance for those within the society who hold extreme views and are displeased with you."


    "They''ll likely send you to the difficult Seventh Metropolitan Circle exam site and find a way to deal with you¡­ It''s an official transfer that I''m hard-pressed to stop."


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle, the Extreme Martial King''s homeland, the urban circle where martial arts are most developed.


    "...However, it''s also an opportunity."


    Wu Youqing said.


    "Your recent visit to the Inner Ring of Yuan City showcased your extraordinary ''God-Given Secret Art''... The Secret Martial Society might bring the Wind of All Beginnings with them to counter you."


    "If it''s as I suspect, I hope you can take it for yourself."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing nodded and said, "No problem."


    Wu Youqing smiled and added, "Besides that, going to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle gives you the perfect chance to visit the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, widen your horizons, and prepare for the title competition in a few months."


    "Since you''ve boasted you''ll claim the Eternal Seven Crowns within six years, you can''t afford to become a laughing stock."


    ...


    Xue Jing and Wu Youqing talked for almost two hours. He finished the can of cola quickly and when he asked for another, Wu Youqing informed him that she only ever keeps one in stock, so afterwards, he could only drink the strangely flavored tea from the Sweet Water Jug.


    Having not tasted it for a long time, Xue Jing found it somewhat nostalgic, and after getting used to it, it didn''t seem that bad to drink.


    Beyond the initial serious conversation, the rest of their time was spent in light-hearted and humorous banter. when Xue Jing felt it was getting late and said his goodbyes, for the first time, he noticed a look of reluctant farewell on Wu Youqing''s face.


    Although it was only a moment, it made him wonder if it was just his imagination. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    By the time Xue Jing got home, it was already 7 o''clock in the evening.


    When he used his key to open the door and walked in, he saw Xue Wan with her arms crossed, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, looking upset.


    "Ah~~~ Jing."


    Upon seeing Xue Jing enter, she immediately called out his name in a long, displeased tone.


    Xue Jing, unconcerned, stretched out his hand to pet Miao Miao, who was napping on the sofa, and teased, "What''s up with that? You look like a little kid who''s been stood up by their parents."


    Xue Wan replied with heartfelt distress, "Jing, you''ve changed."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan let out a sigh:


    "The first thing you do when you come back isn''t to find your dearest sister and give her a big hug to replenish your missing sister-complex elements, but to go out and meet someone else... hmm? Have you got a girlfriend? Don''t tell me you went to see that little bastard Li Ge."


    Xue Jing gave her a look and said, "Who are you calling a sister-complex? Stop slandering people¡­ And you should graduate from this already. You''re too old to be clinging to your brother all day; it''s becoming a bit creepy."


    Xue Wan: "Hah!?"


    She stood up in annoyance, approached Xue Jing, pinched his face, and glared at him, "You were born a mischievous little devil surnamed Xue, who are you calling creepy!?"


    Xue Jing replied indifferently, "You."


    "Tch, you got that right."


    Xue Wan immediately hugged Xue Jing tightly, sniffing him contentedly and said, "Ah, the sister-complex battery is charging~"


    Xue Jing leaned back to avoid her sniffing with a look of distaste, "You really are creepy."


    "Hee hee, does it matter~" Xue Wan held on to him and cooed playfully.


    After she had her fun for a while and declared that the sister-complex battery was fully charged, she let go of him and pointed towards the little maid Yun Qin, who was busily moving around in the kitchen, and asked:


    ```

 Chapter 291 GOD-2154: Attribute Table, Xue Jings Five-dimensional Attribute, Twin Lifes Lv10

    Xue Jing didn''t have to wait too long. After hanging up the phone, it took just over half an hour before Pei Xiao''en had someone deliver the four Divine Relics that the Qing City Government had collected to Xue Jing''s home.After respectfully sending off the civil servant who had brought the items, Xue Jing took a box and sat on the sofa in the living room.


    He reached out to unlock and open the box, inside were four items resting on soft pads.


    They were a ring,


    a watch,


    a white strand of hair about five centimeters long,


    and a transparent glass bottle, containing a quietly burning red flame.


    Xue Jing curiously inspected these items for a moment and soon recognized their identities based on the Divine Relic information he had seen before.


    First, he reached out and picked up the brass-colored ring topped with a dazzling ruby.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]


    "[GOD-1654¡¤Invincible Frame Ring]..."


    He quietly stated the serial number and name of the ring.


    Its effect was simple, the person wearing it would have a moment of invincibility when performing the ''roll'' action.


    During that time, any external attack absolutely could not interfere with or touch the wearer, a truly invincible state. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for how long this ''moment'' was... through experimental tests, depending on the wearer, the invincibility duration varied from one twenty-fourth of a second to one sixtieth of a second.


    Xue Jing wore it on the ring finger of his left hand, and his already slender and attractive palm seemed strangely more enchanting with the ruby ring.


    "This ring''s ability is not very significant to me... ducking and dodging into that moment of invincibility isn''t hard for me, but if I can perform a roll, it means I can react to the attack, then I''d rather just hide inside the Nonexistent Beast or ''Shadow Transform.''"


    This kind of non-''passive'' invincibility ability, Xue Jing already had several types, and acquiring another Invincible Frame Ring... couldn''t be said to be completely useless, but it was also of little significance.


    Moreover, this thing also had a bit of a drawback, wearing it greatly increased the physical strength consumed by the ''roll'' action.


    Xue Jing looked towards the watch.


    It was a simple, unremarkable black watch that appeared plain, but the display on its face was not time, but a pentagonal radar chart.


    "[GOD-2154¡¤Attribute Table]..."


    This item was much more useful.


    Xue Jing put the watch on his right wrist and then pressed a button on the left side of its face.


    The watch emitted a ''beep'' sound, the screen lit up, and the pentagonal radar chart began to fluctuate continuously until a word emerged at each of the five corners.


    They were: Physical, Consciousness, Calamity, Divinity, Influence.


    Miao Miao, who was lazily lying on the nearby sofa, stood up, arched her back in a stretch, and walked over to Xue Jing with graceful cat steps, placing her front paws on his thighs and looking curiously at the black watch on his wrist.


    "What''s this?"


    She asked curiously.


    "A Divine Relic, GOD-2154¡¤Attribute Table," Xue Jing explained as he stroked her fuzzy cat head.


    "It can reflect the wearer''s five attributes on its face... just like a character''s attribute panel in a game."


    "The five attributes appear in the text most familiar to the wearer."


    Xue Jing tapped the watch face, recalling the introduction to the Attribute Table from the Divine Relic Database. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "[Physical] refers to the composite value of the physique, including burst power, physical strength, strength, flexibility, and so on... all factors related to the physique are included, and through a complex formula, a specific value is obtained."


    "[Consciousness] is the composite value of mental-related abilities such as consciousness intensity, willpower, and spiritual power."


    "In experimental data, the [Physical] and [Consciousness] values for ordinary people are roughly around 1 to 5."


    Miao Miao glanced at the numbers displayed on the watch face.


    Physical: 962


    Consciousness: 988


    She raised an eyebrow: "Isn''t that wrong, ordinary people have 5, but you''re not even at a thousand?"


    Given her understanding of Xue Jing''s fighting ability, such superhuman performance could reflect ten thousand times that of ordinary people, and she wouldn''t find it strange.


    Close to a thousand, that''s just two to three hundred times that of an ordinary person... it doesn''t match his performance.


    Xue Jing laughed: "This is just the pure calculation of the physical comprehensive value, various Martial Arts Skills and the ability to utilize the physique are not included. Just in terms of physique, this value is indeed accurate."


    Miao Miao nodded: "I see... then what are these last three?"


    She looked towards the [Calamity, Divinity, Influence] characters, each more incomprehensible than the last.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "Hmm... these three are more complex."


    He picked up his phone, accessed the Divine Relic Database website, and took out a B-level Divine Relic containment certificate from inside the Nonexistent Beast to log into the website using a dynamic password.


    He searched and opened the information on GOD-2154.


    While reading, he said:


    "[Calamity], means calamity, specifically referring to the ''chance of encountering events''."


    Miao Miao tilted her head: "Does it mean ''luck''?"


    Xue Jing shook his head: "No, ''luck'' doesn''t have a concrete standard, whether the events encountered are good or bad is subjective. For example, some people might think having flirtatious incidents with women is good luck, while others would think it''s terrible and troublesome, it''s hard to define good or bad luck."


    "[Calamity] just simply reflects how likely a person is to encounter various events."


    Miao Miao looked at Xue Jing''s [Calamity] index: 10026


    Five digits... Miao Miao''s expression carried an anthropomorphic quirkiness, and it seemed she wanted to laugh:

 Chapter 291 GOD-2154·Attribute Table, Xue Jings Five-dimensional Attributes, Twin Birth Lv10_2

    "So is this number of yours high or low?"Xue Jing''s lips twitched, resignedly he said, "The values of ''Calamity'' differ greatly among individuals; there''s no average range for normal people... However, according to experimental records, even for those who frequently face life and death, the ''Calamity'' index generally does not exceed two thousand."


    Miao Miao''s eyes sparkled with mirth, "So, has it finally been concluded that you are an ''Innate Annoying Sacred Body''?"


    Xue Jing did not answer but casually changed the subject:


    "Then there''s ''Holy''... This is a somewhat strange attribute. When native English speakers wear the attribute table, ''Holy'' is displayed, generally referring to ''sanctity''.


    "Although the data bank is somewhat vague with many details blacked out and obscured, it can be inferred that it specifically refers to ''the tier of life''s rank''."


    Xue Jing scrolled through his phone screen a few times and said, "According to the experimental data, the average ''Holy'' index for normal humans is between 10 and 30, while ordinary animals are basically below 10, and insects are mostly at 1."


    Miao Miao nodded, "I somewhat understand... But what''s the use of this attribute?"


    Xue Jing replied, "Not sure, the people from the Heretical God Cult probably understand this aspect better."


    He looked at his own ''Holy'' index: 5164


    An exceedingly exaggerated figure... Considering the average person''s score is around 20, his ''sanctity'' is nearly three hundred times that of a normal person.


    ''It must be related to all the Divine Skills and Extraordinary Skills I possess,'' Xue Jing speculated.


    "What about the last attribute, ''Momentum''?" Miao Miao sat squatting in Xue Jing''s lap and asked curiously.


    Xue Jing looked up some data and then shook his head,


    "This is the most difficult attribute to understand. There isn''t much introduction in the data, but it''s understood to refer to ''an individual''s external intangible support.''


    "It encompasses heritage, connections, reputation, status... Many external factors heavily influence this attribute."


    "Moreover, it''s not all positive effects; for instance, some people might have an excellent family background, but if they disagree with their family''s ideology and have strained relationships, the [Momentum] might actually decrease and increase after separating from the family."


    Xue Jing glanced at his own ''Momentum'' index.


    There was no specific number but it fluctuated continuously at a rapid rate, with lows at negative numbers and highs reaching nine positive figures.


    "What does this mean?" Xue Jing frowned.


    He looked down at Miao Miao in his lap and pressed a button on the right side of the attribute table.


    This was the second functionality of the attribute table, capable of measuring the five-dimensional attributes of the creature being observed.


    However, this feature had limitations, if the observed''s certain attribute was over 100% higher than the wearer''s, it would not be measured but display a question mark instead.


    On the screen of the watch, the five-sided radar chart fluctuated and soon displayed Miao Miao''s attributes.


    Body: 326


    Mind: 338


    Calamity: 1267


    Holy: 1066


    Momentum: ?


    Miao Miao''s [Body] and [Mind], enhanced by the Cat Tail Ring, weren''t low; as for [Calamity], being inherently the Leader of the Dragon Sect and constantly facing many disasters, especially being around Xue Jing, it was understandable why her value was high.


    As the fused being of the Cat Goddess Bastet, her [Holy] attribute was also high.


    "Can''t see [Momentum]..."


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted, he took off the watch and placed it on Miao Miao''s right forepaw, assisting her to press the left button.


    This time, among the displayed five-dimensional attributes, the first four remained unchanged, while the [Momentum] changed from a question mark to 1367.


    "1367... This figure is high for a normal person but certainly not for me; at least it can''t be twice my level, yet I am unable to see Teacher Wan''s [Momentum]..."


    Xue Jing reflected thoughtfully.


    Although his own family background was ordinary, having Wu Youqing covering his back alone made the [Momentum] attribute significant.


    "It appears there is some strange factor affecting my [Momentum] property, causing its value to be indeterminate and unmeasurable."


    "What could it be? Even the Divine Relic is affected..."


    Xue Jing pondered, initially thinking of the panel... but the panel should not be detectable by the attribute table; otherwise, his [Holy] attribute should exceed its current level. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since the panel isn''t accounted for, it remains perplexing.


    "Never mind, if I can''t figure it out, then I won''t think about it."


    Xue Jing shook his head, his gaze turning towards the remaining two Divine Relics.


    He reached out and touched the white fur, which was [GOD-521¡¤White Brow].


    [Detection of Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    This object randomly transfers and resides in anyone''s eyebrows. If plucked, it causes the host to randomly age between 1 to 58 years, making it one of the most annoying Divine Relics. To date, the academic community has still not managed to discover its positive effects...


    The last Divine Relic was [GOD-1883¡¤Flame in a Bottle].


    Its effect was quite peculiar; it could ''burn the unburnable.'' Materials like wood or paper, anything flammable, would not be harmed by the Flame in the Bottle.


    But for non-flammable materials like water, metal, and glass, the Flame in a Bottle could easily ignite them, burning them rapidly to nothingness¡­ This Divine Relic was occasionally used to deal with monsters that were highly resistant to fire, and it was very effective.


    After all the Divinity from the four Divine Relics had been fully absorbed, Xue Jing glanced at his panel.


    [Holding Divinity: 6534]


    Seeing that he had enough, he didn''t hesitate and immediately clicked to upgrade Twin Lifes.


    [Twin Birth Lv9 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 6534/6000)]


    [Twin Birth Lv10 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 534/8000)]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock condition: reach Lv10, Divinity 534/2000)]


    Just another fifteen hundred and he could activate the Divine Incarnation of Twin Lifes.


    There was no rush for that, Xue Jing shifted his gaze to the passive effect of Twin Birth at Lv10.


    [Passive: Possesses two lives, able to freely select the time of resurrection within seven days after death, cooldown: one day]


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised, "A day?"


    He had held no great expectations that Twin Birth reaching Lv10 would lead to infinite resurrections with no cooldown, so he wasn''t disappointed.


    On the contrary, he even felt surprised by the one-day cooldown.


    The passive skill of [Twin Lifes], seemingly reducing the cooldown by ten days at each level, may appear consistent, but it actually isn''t.


    Reducing from ninety days to eighty, as opposed to reducing from twenty days to ten, are completely different concepts.


    One only reduces by one ninth, almost ineffective, while the other halves it.


    Thus, the higher the level of Twin Lifes, the greater the cooldown reduction from upgrading the passive.


    Now, compared to the benefit of halving from twenty to ten days when upgrading from Lv8 to Lv9, Lv10 goes from ten days to one, a reduction of nine times!


    The payoff was explosive... Xue Jing had thought that upon reaching Lv10, Ban might play some trick, reducing a day per level.


    Unexpectedly, Ban was quite honest... Although it didn''t become a no cooldown passive in one step, Xue Jing was already satisfied enough.


    "Now I can really go wild."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin.


    The resurrection of Twin Lifes was a full-state resurrection, even fully replenishing all the blue bars of his Divine Skills.


    Now, with his substantial ability to protect himself, even if pursued by some formidable adversary, as long as the power disparity wasn''t so great that he couldn''t perceive the opponent''s presence before being instantly killed, he was fairly confident he could last a whole day.


    Once a day passed, the cooldown of Twin Lifes would reset, and he could rise again.


    "Basically invincible, isn''t this."


    ...


    Around noon, Xue Jing, wearing his attribute table, arrived at the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    He took the elevator to the fifth floor, heading for Meng''s Cultivation Room as instructed by Li Qi, to teach her Yellow Grannie Skill.


    Upon reaching the door of Meng''s Cultivation Room... at that moment, a sign with ''Meng Qingjiao'' written on it hung on the door.


    Recalling yesterday''s beautiful moments, Xue Jing felt a ripple in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it and knocked on the door.


    Soon, the door opened.


    Xue Jing looked up and realized that the person opening the door was not Meng Qingjiao but a middle-aged man, as robust as a tiger, with long hair flowing to his waist and a clear, handsome face.


    It was Meng Qingjiao''s father, the elder disciple brother Meng Boshang.


    Xue Jing was slightly startled but greeted with a smile:


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Elder disciple brother."


    ...

 Chapter 292 The day Meng was enchanted by Xue Jing and got close to the beautiful girl (4K)

    Meng Qingjiao looked at Xue Jing with a cold gaze, inherited from Uncle Meng. Her emotionless eyes and the corners of Meng Boshang''s mouth hooked in what might or might not have been a smile. He nodded at Xue Jing, a form of greeting.He opened the door wide and his robust body moved aside, gesturing for Xue Jing to enter.


    Xue Jing stepped into the Cultivation Room and took the opportunity to measure his eldest martial brother''s attributes with the attribute table.


    The pentagon radar chart on the panel kept changing and quickly measured Meng Boshang''s five dimensions.


    Body: 1287


    Consciousness: 1166


    Robbery: 1517


    Saint: 285


    Power: ?


    ''A [Body] value of 1287...''


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted.


    Just over a month ago, he had been significantly behind his eldest martial brother in terms of physical strength. Yet now, he was nearly catching up, with only about a quarter difference in their values.


    His growth rate was becoming more and more exaggerated. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing thought that if they were to engage in a real fight now, the one-fourth difference in body values would not constitute an overwhelming advantage in a martial arts fight, and he could still stand a chance of winning.


    While his eldest martial brother had been immersed in martial arts for decades, which undoubtedly placed his martial arts above Xue Jing''s, he could compensate for this disadvantage with the edge provided by [True Martial] in Channeling Energy.


    Overall, Xue Jing felt that even without using Twin Lifes as a cheat, he was now capable of contending with his eldest martial brother in martial arts.


    ''My eldest martial brother has reached Great Perfection in Inner Refining long ago, and is just one step away from Leaping Through the Dragon Gate. His current values are probably at their limit; it would be difficult for him to make further progress.''


    ''Given that, could 1287 be considered the ''limit for a mortal''?''


    Xue Jing wondered.


    ''No... it can''t be calculated like that. Everyone''s physique is different, and so are their limits. My eldest martial brother has excellent Physical Talent, so his upper limit is higher than that of the average person. The limit for ordinary people probably doesn''t exceed a thousand.''


    ''...Although he has trained close to the level of Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, his talent would certainly not just be considered ''ordinary''.''


    As soon as he entered the Cultivation Room, Xue Jing saw Meng Qingjiao kneeling in the center of the room, dressed in a Training Garment.


    Under her neat short hair was a pretty face with a pair of cold, clear eyes. She should have been a cool, abstemious girl.


    However, her overly enchanting figure made even the loose Training Garment outline a heart-stopping curve, which had nothing to do with ''abstinence.''


    Those cold, clear eyes looked towards Xue Jing, as inscrutable as ever.


    "Click¡ª"


    The sound of the door closing came from behind. When Xue Jing looked back, he saw that his eldest martial brother, Meng Boshang, had not stayed in the room but had already left.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.


    But since things had come to this, he turned to Meng Qingjiao and greeted her with a smile, "Sister Meng."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded at him and then moved her body slightly forward, patting the ground in front of her.


    It seemed she was indicating for Xue Jing to sit there.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing walked in front of Meng Qingjiao and seated himself cross-legged less than twenty centimeters away from her, facing her.


    At such a close distance, his keen sense of smell constantly caught Sister Meng''s faint fragrance, and if he lowered his gaze even slightly, the world cup with a conspicuously strong presence would dominate his field of vision.


    However, Xue Jing''s ability to control his consciousness was extremely strong, and being prepared, he wouldn''t be affected. With an unruffled smile, he said:


    "Sister Meng, I''ll begin teaching you the Yellow Grannie Skill next... There might be some impropriety, please forgive me."


    Meng Qingjiao reached out and gently touched his head with a soft expression and nodded.


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment and said, "The Yellow Grannie Skill is a secret skill of the Taoist Sect, part of Ancient Martial arts, and places great emphasis on the cultivation of one''s heart. To master it requires a high level of Taoist Learning, understanding the esoteric aspects through studying Taoist Scriptures, which cannot be easily conveyed in words."


    "In this aspect, I cannot offer much help to Sister Meng. You will have to rely on yourself...


    However, Sister Meng is an unparalleled genius in Soft Power; the precision in Qi Flow and Channeling Energy is unmatched by ordinary people, so even if your Taoist Learning is not yet sufficient, you should be able to forcibly mimic the subtle changes in Channeling Energy of someone deeply versed in Taoist Learning..." Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Although I can''t teach you the profound aspects of this Cultivation Technique by this method, I can help you get started. You can then study Taoist doctrines on your own to fill in the gaps and refine your knowledge."


    As Xue Jing spoke, he placed his hand on Meng Qingjiao''s wrist.


    A delicate touch came through the, a slim and soft wrist not at all resembling that of someone who practices martial arts.


    Xue Jing, in serious teaching mode, paid no attention to these details. He activated his Power into Qi Force and sent it surging into Meng Qingjiao''s body, coursing through her system.


    Gifted with [True Martial], he possessed absolute Control Power over Qi Force, guiding the Qi Force outside of his body to follow the breathing pathways of the Yellow Grannie Skill intricately as if it was within his own body.


    The Qi Flow pathways of the Yellow Grannie Skill, being a nourishing life skill, unavoidably involved the principles of yin and yang, which meant the Qi Force had to pass through several sensitive areas.


    Qu Chi, Qi Sea, Zhongji, Yin Lian...


    Meng Qingjiao''s complexion turned slightly rosy, and her calm was subtly perturbed. However, seeing Xue Jing''s earnest teaching expression, she suppressed her restlessness, focusing on the rhythm of the Qi Force.


    As she concentrated, the sensations grew more pronounced...


    Suddenly, Meng Qingjiao''s body trembled slightly, and her toes curled a little.


    "Sister Meng, don''t move," Xue Jing reminded.


    ...


    After the teaching was finished, Meng Qingjiao was covered in a layer of fine sweat.


    "Sister Meng, are you alright?"


    Xue Jing asked with concern.

 Chapter 292 Meng, Charmed by Xue Jing, Spends a Day Close with a Beautiful Girl (4K)_2

    Because he was innately aligned with True Martial, practicing the Yellow Grannie Skill was not much of a challenge for him, but it might be quite burdensome for Meng.Meng Qingjiao breathed slightly, glanced at Xue Jing, and suddenly leaned forward, resting against Xue Jing''s chest.


    Xue Jing gently supported Meng Qingjiao''s shoulders with his hands, making no other move, waiting for Meng Qingjiao to recover.


    Xue Jing''s current martial realm was extremely high, his body clear and almost free of any impurities, and coupled with a Level 10 Charm Art, he naturally carried a wonderful body scent all year round.


    Although Xue Jing used Aura Blockade to contain his scent to a few centimeters away from his body, Meng Qingjiao was now too close to him, having breathed in once, her nostrils were filled with Xue Jing''s scent.


    Then... she found it intoxicating, and took several more breaths.


    Xue Jing was originally waiting for her to gather enough breath to stand up, but after a while, he realized something was amiss... why was Meng''s breathing getting heavier? Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    Could it be that there was some problem with the Yellow Grannie Skill just now?


    Xue Jing''s expression turned serious. This technique was practiced by him alone, and he was the only reference... and he was precisely not a reference one could rely on.


    If Meng really had a problem with her practice, that would be bad.


    "Sister, are you alright?"


    He hurriedly pushed Meng Qingjiao''s shoulders, moving her away from his chest, and looked at her complexion.


    Her complexion was still good, quite rosy, but for some reason, her normally cold gaze seemed quite hazy... as if somewhat unsatisfied.


    Xue Jing hesitated, "Sister?"


    Hearing this, Meng Qingjiao snapped out of it, steadied herself by holding onto Xue Jing''s arm, sat upright, and shook her head to indicate she was fine.


    She took out her cell phone from her clothing pocket, covered her lower face with it, and gazed somberly at Xue Jing.


    Just as Xue Jing was confused, she tapped a few times on her phone and handed the screen to Xue Jing to see.


    On it was a notebook page, written with three characters.


    [Continue then.]


    Xue Jing asked with concern, "Can you hold on?"


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, indicating no problem.


    A while later...


    "Plop¡ª"


    Meng Qingjiao collapsed onto Xue Jing again, beginning to breathe heavily.


    For some reason, the way Meng collapsed this time was a bit different... it seemed like she was clinging even closer to him.


    The entire world seemed to press against him.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak, just supported Meng Qingjiao''s shoulders, lost in thought, wondering what he might be thinking about.


    After a long while, when Meng Qingjiao showed no intention of getting up, Xue Jing was just about to remind her when suddenly a loud noise came from the door.


    The door was forcefully pushed open, and a pretty little girl a bit over 1.4 meters tall entered.


    Xue Jing turned his head to look, it was his long-unseen little apprentice, Zong Shichan.


    "Master!"


    Zong Shichan, thrilled to see Xue Jing, instantly stiffened upon glimpsing the scene inside the room, seeing Meng Qingjiao nestled in Xue Jing''s arms, the two apparently holding each other.


    The little girl''s happy expression turned discontent, she whined, "Eh~ how come, Master Meng is so sly!"


    "I want to hug Master too!"


    Saying so, she lunged forward and hugged Xue Jing, clinging to him like a koala.


    "Hehe, Master, Chan''er missed you so much."


    Zong Shichan said with a giggle.


    Xue Jing looked at her with a puzzled expression, "You are?"


    The little girl''s eyes widened, "Master, have you forgotten me?"


    "I am your well-behaved little apprentice Zong Shichan whom you said you''d dote on for life!"


    Xue Jing stated blandly, "I never said that."


    Zong Shichan retorted, "See, you remember!"


    Seeing Zong Shichan arrive, Meng Qingjiao stood up from Xue Jing''s chest, her expression returning to her usual cool and detached demeanor.


    "Sister, let''s end here for today,"


    Xue Jing said.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded, reaching out to tidy up his slightly disheveled clothing at the front.


    Xue Jing stood up, picked up Zong Shichan still hanging onto him with one hand, and set her down on the ground:


    "Don''t stick to me, it''s very hot."


    On hearing this, Zong Shichan pouted and mumbled, "Then why can Master Meng... Master, you''re so biased."


    Xue Jing laughed and ruffled her hair, "Your Master Meng was tired from martial arts practice, resting against me to take a breather."


    Zong Shichan''s eyes lit up, "Master, you haven''t taught me martial arts for a long time. Today you must train me hard!"


    Xue Jing touched his chin, "Ch-ch."


    ...


    Two hours later, inside Xue Jing''s cultivation room.


    Zong Shichan lay on the ground, drenched in sweat, with her buttocks up, barely able to move even a finger, gasping for breath. She looked incredulously at Xue Jing, who was two meters away from her.


    "Master, why are you standing so far away?" she asked.


    "Shouldn''t you come over and hug me now?"


    Xue Jing, who was looking at the notice that his "Teaching" had upgraded to Lv7, glanced at Zong Shichan, who was sprawled on the floor, and tilted his head, "Hmm? No, you are all sweaty."


    Zong Shichan retorted angrily, "How can the sweet sweat of a beautiful girl be considered sweat! You never despised Master Meng''s!"


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement, "Claiming to be a beautiful girl... haha."


    Zong Shichan became instantly flustered, "In school, I am called Princess! Calling myself a beautiful girl is just being modest!"


    With that, she murmured somewhat disheartened:


    "Master, I really tried hard... reward me a little, will you?"


    Xue Jing smiled, not continuing to tease the young girl any further. He walked up to her, crouched down, and gently touched her head, softly saying:


    "You''ve worked hard."


    The moment his words fell, the seemingly immobile young girl suddenly pounced forward and hugged Xue Jing, burying her head in his chest, giggling, "You fell for it, Master, this is my act of coquetry!"


    Xue Jing, not surprised at all, continued to pat her head, laughing, "Yes, only you are clever, I fell for it."


    Zong Shichan, tremendously satisfied, hugged Xue Jing, feeling as though her spirit had been purified.


    She loved her master the most. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Xue Jing stayed at the Hidden Dragon Dojo for half a day, and by the time he returned home, the sky was already cloaked in night.


    In the living room, Xue Wan was lying on the couch, holding Miao Miao, and watching a sketch show on TV, occasionally laughing and vigorously rubbing Miao Miao.


    When she saw Xue Jing come back, Xue Wan sat up and patted the spot next to her.


    "Jing, come over here, come over here."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing walked over and sat next to Xue Wan, taking Miao Miao out of her arms.


    "What''s up?" he asked.


    Xue Wan said discontentedly, "Did you forget something?"


    As she spoke, she pinched the hem of her clothes and began to lift her top up.


    Her slender and sexy waist was instantly revealed, adorned with a ruby-like belly button ring.


    "Hurry up, give me a quick draw."


    Xue Wan urged.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, "You''re doing this on purpose, can''t you phrase it differently?"


    He slightly reluctantly touched Xue Wan''s ''Stigmata'' with his hand.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, initiating Divine Absorption...]


    Xue Wan, as if entering a hot spring on a cold winter day, exhaled comfortably.


    "In just one month, my mutation rate has almost reached 30%, you need to handle it or I''m going to contract the Mutative Disease," she said.


    Xue Jing frowned and commented, "You''re too lax. Just because there''s a solution doesn''t mean you can relax like that. If you keep this up, the mutation rate will accelerate, and what if I can''t reach you for a few months or a year?"


    Xue Wan waved her hand dismissively, "I understand."


    It wasn''t long before the panel notified him.


    [Divine Absorption Complete]


    Xue Jing looked at the Divinity section.


    [Divinity Held: 1365]


    This time, he had drawn over eight hundred points of divinity from Xue Wan, which was a record high, even more than the first time.


    Although the harvest was significant, Xue Jing wasn''t overly concerned. Instead, he spread his palm and grabbed Xue Wan''s head firmly.


    "Ow, ow, ow, ow, it hurts!"


    Xue Wan immediately cried out in pain.


    "Remember, when I''m not around, you need to keep a tight spirit, curb the momentum of mutation, and not be nonchalant about it," Xue Jing said calmly.


    "I know, I know already! Ouch, let go, Big Master Jing!"


    Xue Wan quickly patted Xue Jing''s hand, which was as firm as a vise, making thudding sounds.


    ...

 Chapter 293 Artistic Conception Integration, Reverse Scale·Skys Wrath, Combat Power Surges (4K)

    Three days later, in the Cultivation Room of Hidden Dragon Dojo, Xue Jing was practicing.Positioned at the very center, he was cultivating the Armor Shaking Skill with an extremely slow speed and exceptional steadiness, without a tremor in his entire body.


    Contrary to his stable motions, every slight movement and every light touch of his soles against the ground would cause the spacious room to tremble slightly.


    At the moment, Xue Jing had Lightning Dragon Horns on his head and his body shimmered with silver-white electric arcs. With twenty times the normal gravitational force pressing down on him, his weight of nearly two hundred kilograms was close to four tons.


    Yet, the flooring beneath his feet bore this terrifying weight with ease. Even when Xue Jing occasionally jumped and landed, the floor, which appeared to be solid wood, showed no signs of cracking or splintering.


    After the renovation of the new Hidden Dragon Dojo, all materials used were of extremely high strength, especially in the Cultivation Rooms exclusively for Direct Disciples, which utilized high-tech luxury goods procured from the Inner Ring.


    After completing a whole set of the Armor Shaking Skill, Xue Jing exhaled deeply; with a twist and shake of his Power, he shook the sweat from his body into a mist.


    He then sat cross-legged and started to practice the Yellow Grannie Skill. His organs moved slowly like that of a fetus, seeming alive, as they absorbed nutrients from within his body to strengthen themselves.


    At the same time, silver-white Dragon Thunder flickered, penetrating his organs, and slowly administering ''electrotherapy,'' assisting the Yellow Grannie Skill to operate more efficiently.


    While cultivating, Xue Jing multitasked, influencing his Liver Qi with the Yellow Grannie Skill to stimulate his emotions, gradually making himself more irritable and enraged.


    Mystic Art¡¤Inverse Scales.


    Ignite one''s spirit, fill the whole body with pure rage, push the Dynamic Qi to its limits, remove self-imposed restraints, and unleash an ultimate skill that temporarily boosts strength several times over.


    This was an ultimate skill with significant additive effects on combat power, but to use it adeptly, two key issues needed to be resolved.


    One was the source of the rage, how to quickly ignite one''s spirit and enter a state of Extreme Fury instantaneously, rather than slowly accumulate rage.


    The other was how to control this fury... In the blink-of-an-eye duels between Martial Artists, a calm mind is required at all times to notice changes in the situation. Therefore, an uncontrollable, foolhardy fighting style while in a state of Extreme Fury is unacceptable.


    Xue Jing already had some strategies to address these issues.


    Over these three days, Xue Jing had been teaching the Yellow Grannie Skill to Meng Qingjiao and Zong Shichan. Possessing the [Teaching] skill, his teaching effectiveness was exceptional, and both Meng Qingjiao and Zong Shichan progressed very quickly.


    As the effectiveness increased, the experience gained by [Teaching] was more substantial, not only enabling the skill to advance to Lv8, but the feedback from "Reviewing Old Knowledge to Gain New Insights" also led him to a deeper comprehension of the Yellow Grannie Skill.


    Not only did his Inner Refining realm improve, but the efficiency of stimulating rage with the Yellow Grannie Skill also increased.


    Previously, entering a state of Extreme Fury required two minutes to build up rage, but now it takes only about one minute.


    However, one minute is not much different from two, it''s still a major issue; very few opponents would give you the chance to calmly close your eyes and slowly accumulate a minute of rage in actual combat.


    Therefore, before making more significant progress with the Yellow Grannie Skill, Xue Jing needed another method to help him quickly accumulate rage.


    And he had such a method - [Acting].


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    This skill, which he had inadvertently leveled to Lv9, gave him a strong emotional control ability, which was extremely efficient when used in conjunction with the Yellow Grannie Skill to accumulate rage quickly.


    The only problem was... the effect of [Acting] was too potent, excessively so.


    Once [Acting] was employed, he would instantly become immersed in his role, unable to detach himself.


    In simple terms, he could unleash it but not retract it. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Dynamic Qi of Extreme Fury would overflow uncontrollably, putting him into a completely irrational state.


    This was also why, as the level of [Acting] increased, Xue Jing became more reluctant to use it.


    Only when his Martial Realm was deeper in the future, and levels of Visualization True and consciousness intensity were high enough to cover the side effects of [Acting], would he consider using [Acting] again.


    That was his former thought, and now the situation had changed.


    He had found another way to maintain his rationality while in a state of Extreme Fury.


    ¡ª¡ªHeavenly Blade Mindset.


    This mindset, transformed from the Shura Blade Intent Realm, allowed Xue Jing''s mentality to shift as if he were the God of the Azure Sky, with a presence that could dictate life and death, a being that disdained all, indifferent to the masses, feeling above all beings, and from this mindset, he would execute a ''Heaven''s Will Cannot Be Defied'' earth-shattering slash.


    This was once a concern for Xue Jing, afraid that it would subtly affect his mind, turning him into an apathetic person who felt disdain for everything.


    Fortunately, Visualization True was strong enough; his consciousness intensity always remained strong enough to suppress the Heavenly Blade Mindset without being overly affected.


    Theoretically speaking, Heavenly Blade Mindset and Inverse Scales, one being arrogance and the other rage, although both relate to ''Dynamic Qi,'' are somewhat conflicting. The arrogance and indifference of the Heavenly Blade Mindset can suppress the emotions of extreme rage to some extent.


    He would use the Yellow Grannie Skill to influence Liver Qi and [Acting] to instantly fill himself with rage, entering a state of Extreme Fury, then employ the Heavenly Blade Mindset to suppress the rage and regain reason, ultimately achieving the perfect ''Mystic Art¡¤Inverse Scales.''


    This was Xue Jing''s current strategy.


    With a thought, he manipulated his Liver Qi, anger surged, and with [Acting], he imagined himself as a character plunged into a silent rage. Xue Jing''s body trembled and buzzed faintly, as if invisible flames were burning around him, the air appearing twisted by the flickers of light.

 Chapter 293 Artistic Conception Integration, Reverse Scale·Skys Wrath, Combat Power Surges (4K)_2

    He slowly opened his eyes, and within the dark gold vertical pupils, two flames of rage were intensely burning and dancing, driving him to destroy, to vent, to pour the unbearable fury on everything before him.Xue Jing, struggling with his anger, at the moment he was about to lose his sanity, forced himself to enter the Heavenly Blade Mindset, as the indifferent silver-white began to dye his pupils, overlaying the flames of rage in his eyes.


    The flickering flames in his vertical pupils slowly calmed and dissipated...


    Xue Jing calmed down and observed the changes in his emotions in a manner akin to a god-like perspective.


    Arrogance and indifference, like water and fire, immediately dissolved each other upon contact, the brimming rage quickly dissipated, soon reaching a level Xue Jing could well control. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing immediately exited the Heavenly Blade Mindset, the silver-white receded from his pupils, and the now-diminished flames of rage began to dance again, reanimated.


    After experiencing it for a moment, Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Not quite right... After being weakened by the Heavenly Blade Mindset to this extent, although I can regain complete sanity, it doesn''t qualify as Extreme Fury and can''t enter the Reverse Scale mode."


    "The ideal situation is ''to suppress without weakening'', maintaining full rationality while in full rage, but it seems quite difficult to achieve at the moment, as the Heavenly Blade Mindset and the emotion of anger clash too much."


    Xue Jing pondered, thought for a good while, and suddenly a glint of insight flashed in his eyes.


    "No, the approach is wrong!"


    He stood up and paced back and forth in the spacious Cultivation Room, over a hundred square meters in size.


    "I shouldn''t be thinking about how to suppress or weaken these two moves against each other, but rather how to perfectly fuse them together, integrate them organically."


    "Arrogance and anger... are not mutually exclusive."


    "The God of the Azure Sky may scorn all beings and things, but he is not necessarily incapable of anger."


    Xue Jing sat back down cross-legged, brimming with excitement, ready to test his new idea.


    But then he realized it was a bit unsafe to try here... mainly unsafe for the people around him.


    He closed his eyes, delved into the Consciousness Space, and began Consciousness Simulation.


    Countless pixels spun and modeled the scene¡ªthis was a city with neon flashing, and buildings clustered in a modern city, where Xue Jing himself slowly emerged on the roof of a high-rise building.


    After testing that his data was correct, Xue Jing, with a thought, let his eyes be dyed silver-white, entering the Heavenly Blade Mindset.


    He changed the order.


    Then, while circulating the Yellow Grannie Skill to generate rage, he began to fantasize with acting skills, imagining himself in the role.


    He was the god, the God of the Azure Sky who governs the will of heaven.


    All beings and things were like ants in his eyes; none could defy the will of heaven... But one day, the ant-like masses dared to gather together, arrogantly pointing their blades straight at the Azure Sky.


    Xue Jing, was angered!


    Merely ants, yet daring to show their pitiful fangs to the mighty Azure Sky, who gave you the audacity!


    In the city, countless figures began to emerge, all of whom were enemies Xue Jing had encountered in the past, including men, beasts, and insects...


    Although he had forgotten the names of most due to the side effects of the Divine Relics, there were still many he remembered.


    All the figures focused their gaze on Xue Jing, filled with hostility.


    In Xue Jing''s silver-white eyes, golden flames ignited; his face expressionless, he slowly scanned his surroundings; not a single figure could stay in his sight.


    He opened his mouth slowly, his voice lofty, as if coming from the heavens.


    "The world has become sullied once more."


    No sooner had he spoken than a violent shockwave, with Xue Jing at its center, exploded outward!


    The air around quivered and distorted as if scorched by invisible flames, and the temperature seemed to rise.


    Among the countless figures around, the vast majority involuntarily bent their knees at that instant, kneeling to the ground and cracking the asphalt and concrete underfoot, their knees bursting and screaming in pain.


    "A nest of insects, how dare you bear the Anger of the Heavens?"


    With a clench of his hand, the Zhao Ye Blade appeared, and Xue Jing casually swung the sword, sending a hundred-meter saber light horizontally out, cutting buildings in its path in two, within the roar of collapsing architecture, the enemies covered by the blade light were like swept dust, shattered to pieces.


    "Ants, you have tried your best."


    In a reckless display, hundreds of enemies kept being obliterated, like rotting wood being pulled down.


    After who knows how long, the entire city was in ruins, all around were various broken bodies and stones, no intact buildings to be found for kilometers around, all reduced to rubble and broken walls.


    Xue Jing stood on a small hill made of debris, looked down from on high with an expressionless face, the golden rage in his silver-white eyes slowly faded away.


    Not until it completely disappeared, and the silver-white also receded from his pupils, did he suddenly start to gasp for breath incessantly.


    ```


    "Huff¡ªHuff¡ª"


    "Damn, that was exhilarating."


    He clutched his wildly pounding chest, experiencing the fatigue emanating from his body.


    Imagining the utmost Anger of the Heavens provoked by the dissent of all beings, within the artistic conception that looked down on everything as beneath the Heavenly Blade... the effect was unexpectedly good.


    His physical exertion limit at least surged by more than five times, nearly half more than the threefold exertion of the Reverse Scale mode.


    That was just the raw power output, not accounting for the terrifying presence and suppressing effect that state had on an enemy.


    "However... the problem still isn''t solved."


    Xue Jing scratched his head.


    The move ''Reverse Scale¡¤Sky''s Wrath'' was even harder to control than the simple Reverse Scale... Once executed, Xue Jing found it difficult to control his own actions and words.


    He would begin to involuntarily spew out very arrogant and embarrassingly clich¨¦ phrases and would look down on all beings in front of him, truly seeing them as nothing more than ants.


    But, unlike the state of Extreme Fury where rationality was completely lost, he could still think here; however, his thought process was from the perspective of disdain for all.


    For instance, facing an enemy''s attack, he would think it was just the futile gesture of ants, unworthy of being dodged.


    If provoked, his attention would easily be drawn, and he would feel compelled to obliterate the provoking ant before anything else.


    It was hard to say it was rational behavior.


    "Not a small gain... This move can serve as one of my trump cards, but until I can basically control it, I must try to avoid using it unless absolutely necessary."


    Xue Jing nodded, exited the Consciousness Space, and opened his eyes in the outside world.


    He lifted his right hand and pressed on the left side of the attribute table on his wrist, checking his current five-dimensional attributes.


    Body: 993


    Mind: 1072


    Robbery: 10538


    Saint: 6167


    Force: &£¤#%£¤%


    "These days of cultivation have brought good progress to [Body] and [Mind], [Robbery] has been rising inexplicably... Hm? [Saint] hadn''t changed when I measured it yesterday, why has it suddenly increased by four hundred?"


    Xue Jing was puzzled.


    When he first used the attribute table to test, the [Saint] attribute was at 5164; it rose to 5757 after the Twin Lifes upgraded to Lv10.


    This confirmed the speculation that Divine Skills and Extraordinary Skills would increase the [Saint] attribute, and these days he hadn''t upgraded any Divine Skills or Extraordinary Skills, so [Saint] had remained unchanged.


    But now it had suddenly increased by more than four hundred...


    Xue Jing thought that maybe the recent mastery of ''Reverse Scale¡¤Sky''s Wrath'' had caused some change.


    He didn''t pay it much attention, intending to practice his martial arts a bit more.


    Then, a soft knock came from the door.


    Xue Jing stood up, walked to the door, and opened it. A dojo male disciple dressed in a training garment stood stiffly at the door. Upon seeing Xue Jing, his face showed excitement, which he forcibly suppressed, and he said respectfully,


    "Junior Brother Xue, the Arena Master asks for you to come over."


    ...


    Leisurely arriving at the Heart-Nourishing Room, Xue Jing knocked and then pushed the door open.


    Li Qi, who was shaking his head as he read a booklet, saw Xue Jing enter and immediately smiled,


    "Little Jing ah."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Master, did you want to see me?"


    "Yes." Li Qi placed the booklet on a wooden table, then wheeled himself over to Xue Jing''s side and said warmly,


    "The housewarming feast date has been set, four days from now, on an auspicious day."


    "It will be very lively. We from the Hidden Dragon School are new to this area, and according to the Wuxing tradition, a school wanting to establish itself locally needs to hold a challenge to prove its capability... Little Jing, how would you like to be the Arena Master for this event?"


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 295 Twin Lifes Avatar Activation - Two-faced God Child, Infinite Spiral, Ultimate Power (4K)

    After chatting with the Void Blade for a while and discussing some specific details on how to deal with the overlapping phenomena, and staying for another hour to ensure that the contamination rate in the unfinished building area had not risen and it was temporarily safe, Xue Jing went home.By then, it was already ten at night.


    In the living room, Xue Wan lay on the couch in her shorts and t-shirt playing with her phone. Hearing the sound of the door, she turned her head towards Xue Jing and asked, puzzled,


    "Jing, why are you so late? What were you doing?"


    "Saving the world," Xue Jing replied.


    Xue Wan smirked, "That''s a brush-off. I bet you went to see your girlfriend."


    The little maid was busy heating up the food. Xue Jing patted her on the head while saying to Xue Wan:


    "Why do you care whether I have a girlfriend or not?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan sighed, "I''m really worried, big sister."


    Xue Jing asked, curious, "Worried about what?"


    Xue Wan crossed her arms, puffed out her chest, and with a face full of serious concern, said, "Having a gorgeous sister like me around every day might set your beauty threshold too high, making you uninterested in other women and ending up alone for life. Just thinking about it makes me worried."


    Xue Jing: "...Heh."


    ...


    On the balcony of the room, Xue Jing stood by the railing enjoying the cool breeze, opening the panel.


    [Divinity held: 2468]


    The two Divine Relics from White Crow had provided Xue Jing with over a thousand Divinity, finally exceeding the two thousand points needed to activate a Divine Incarnation.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, his gaze turning to the Divine Skill Bar''s [Twin Lifes].


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    [Twin God Child Incarnation unlock conditions met. Unlock now?]


    [Yes/No]


    He clicked ''Yes''.


    [Unlock successful]


    [Divine Incarnation obtained: Two-faced God Child]


    [Description: The most esteemed child, born with two faces, spirals unto infinity as each other''s counterpart]


    [Summoning Word Spirit: Ano Ano Shuatum (I and I, never to part)]


    "Two-faced God Child..." Xue Jing blinked.


    As usual, a description that was confusing and completely void of any information about its capabilities.


    However, it sounded like it had a high cool factor.


    Xue Jing was slightly excited, looking forward to what this new Divine Incarnation could do.


    He exhaled, calming down, and began to try chanting the summoning Word Spirit according to the pronunciation on the panel.


    "Ano, Ano... Su Wuatum..."


    The first time, nothing happened, due to incorrect pronunciation and intonation, but he didn''t mind and continued to try.


    "Ano..."


    Again and again, relying on his almost freakish learning ability, with each attempt Xue Jing made significant progress, and with a vague feeling, he got closer to the correct pronunciation and tone.


    Minutes later.


    "Ano Ano Shuatnm."


    This time, the uttered Word Spirit carried a heavy and solemn reverberating echo, similar to the phenomenon when he had successfully summoned the Nonexistent Beast.


    Xue Jing immediately felt something different. He turned his head, looking beside himself.


    Numerous red and gold specks appeared out of nowhere, beginning to converge from bottom to top, slowly forming an entity.


    It was a bizarre yet magnificent incarnation.


    It was about three meters tall and looked like two very tall people merged back-to-back, forming ''one person'' with two faces and four arms in the front and back but only two legs.


    The two faces were identical and resembled Xue Jing''s own face, but each wore a different expression: one filled with the indifference of Divinity, and the other slightly furrowed in a compassionate, almost Buddha-like manner.


    Its upper body had no back; both sides appeared to be the front, with muscles sculpted like ancient Greek statues, beautifully robust, adorned everywhere with gold and red patterns similar to tattoos.


    The upper body was bare, with two strings of ancient-looking ruby pendants hanging in front of each chest. The lower body was dressed in black cloth pants paired with a gold skirt armor, decorated with a few red ribbons fluttering in the wind.


    The incarnation named ''Two-faced God Child'' floated in the air, each pair of hands in different poses, one set crossed over the chest, another in a prayer position, emitting a soft light, looking solemn and mysterious with a strong sense of divine holiness.


    "Wow, now I really have become a Stand-in Messenger."


    Xue Jing exclaimed.


    The mechanism of the previously activated Nonexistent Beast was way too special, invisible, and couldn''t even be considered as physically existing, more like a mere special ability without a sense of ''incarnation''.


    But this time was different.


    The Two-faced God Child, this appearance, this presence, was too dazzling.


    Xue Jing felt like a kid who had just gotten a cool toy, joyously circling around the Two-faced God Child and inspecting it non-stop.


    With a thought, the initially solemn and majestic Two-faced God Child suddenly began to strike various bizarre poses, first like in a bodybuilding competition, showing off biceps and back muscles, then chest muscles...


    Following that were poses like Sailor Moon''s ''In the name of the moon, I will punish you'' and JoJo''s bizarre stances...


    He felt that if the Two-faced God Child had consciousness, it might scold him, but obviously, it didn''t. The two faces maintained their indifferent and compassionate expressions without any change.


    After having his fun, Xue Jing relaxed his control over the Two-faced God Child. Like a spring, it automatically returned to its original posture, one set of hands crossed over the chest, another set in a prayer position, head held high, chest out, solemn and sacred.

 Chapter 297 Starting the Arena, Old Grudges Come Knocking, Celestial Thunder Golden Wind (4K)

    "You and my master... undetermined victory?"Zong Shichan looked at Li Zhaoquan, scratching his head, a bit puzzled.


    This matter felt as absurd to her as if Cillin claimed to be evenly matched with Frieza.


    No, really, how much did you drink?


    Xue Jing took several looks at this tall and robust man before he suddenly realized:


    "Ah, it''s you."


    A few months ago, he had taken an assignment at Rui Zhu Hotel to be part of a security team for a group of second-generation bodyguards, and that was where he encountered his first Roach Man... Many other dojo disciples had taken on the assignment too, and the man before him was one of them.


    He remembered that this man had sought him out for a talk, and then they had teamed up.


    "Eh? Master, you know him?"


    Zong Shichan was even more surprised now.


    To her, this disciple from Amber Dojo, Li Zhaoquan, seemed far too inferior to be in the same league as her own master, rather like Great Sage Equalling Heaven pointing at one of the ten thousand Heavenly Soldiers and saying he remembers him...


    It''s one thing for Heavenly Soldiers to claim being on par with Great Sage Equalling Heaven as a joke, but quite another for the Great Sage himself to acknowledge one personally; the significance was completely different.


    Zong Shichan started looking at Li Zhaoquan with a newfound respect.


    Unaware of how heavily his granddaughter from the old dojo master degraded him inwardly, Li Zhaoquan brightened up with surprise when he heard Xue Jing remembered him, but quickly his expression turned to embarrassment.


    "Xue¡­ uh, Brother Xue, long time no see."


    He scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.


    Xue Jing smiled and said to Zong Shichan, "I''ve worked with this Mr. Li before, handled an assignment together. We had met on that occasion and teamed up, it was a draw."


    Zong Shichan''s eyes widened, incredulous: "Ah? He said he was evenly matched with Master and it''s actually true?"


    The little girl sized up Li Zhaoquan as if seeing him for the first time, continually examining him.


    Li Zhaoquan hadn''t expected Xue Jing to give him so much face, he was deeply moved.


    Even though he was merely being used as bragging material and was undisturbed by past slights, even helping to smooth things over... such breadth of mind, such a great character!


    Brother Xue, you''re so kind!


    Although Xue Jing was willing to praise him, Li Zhaoquan didn''t dare claim such glory, and quickly added:


    "Back then, Brother Xue had just started martial arts not long ago and wasn''t as formidable as now, and actually, I was the one who lost. My bones were fractured, I just gritted my teeth and didn''t say anything!"


    Zong Shichan realized, "Oh~ so that''s how it was."


    It made sense if it was during the time of the Great Sage still being a little monkey.


    Next to them, Yin Muhu said, "Brother Xue, I heard that the Hidden Dragon School is setting up a challenge later, and you''re going to be the arena master?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "A master''s command is hard to disobey."


    Yin Muhu''s expression turned odd, "This senior, the Dragon King... truly is a good friend of my master."


    She spoke diplomatically, meaning that Li Qi was somewhat notorious.


    "With Brother Xue as an opponent, I''m afraid many people will be left with indelible traumas."


    Yin Muhu sighed.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "Shady Girl, you exaggerate too much. I''m not a devil, I don''t strike hard without reason or enmity."


    Yin Muhu did not respond, but thought to herself that it wasn''t about whether or not heavy blows were dealt... S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Experiencing the terrifying gap between themselves and a genius like Brother Xue who defied logical understanding could easily make one feel that practicing martial arts was utterly meaningless.


    Even someone as naturally talented as herself, who had trained the Vajra Wishful Hand to its current level, and considered herself very resilient, had felt down for a long time after fighting with Xue Jing herself.


    "By the way, Brother Xue, I just saw some people that you might need to be aware of," whispered Yin Muhu.


    "What''s the matter?" Xue Jing asked, concerned by her serious tone.


    "I once heard from grandmaster about many enemies the Trio of Jade City had made when they were young."


    Yin Muhu said, looking around as if searching for someone.


    After looking around for a while, apparently not finding them, she shook her head and continued, "Just now I saw several people who have been famous for a long time, and their schools are all from those mentioned by the grandmaster as enemies, and this banquet is hosted by Senior Li Qi, so theoretically they shouldn''t be here to celebrate." Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Oh? Who are they?"


    Yin Muhu recalled for a moment, and said:


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries, Zheng Jixiang."


    "Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, Xie Yue."


    "Yulei Sect, Qin Fengcong."


    "These three are longtime famous young masters, all just one step away from leaping over the Dragon Gate, very reputable, and there are a few others I don''t recognize, but standing together, they must be accomplices."


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries, Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, and Yulei Sect all had conflicts with grandmaster¡­ based on what he said, the main disputes revolved around Senior Li Qi."


    "Their presence here... seems dubious."


    "Now I can''t even find them, I don''t know where they have gone." Yin Muhu looked around the banquet hall and frowned.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, his eyes reflecting his thoughts, "I see..."


    He nodded to Yin Muhu and said, "Thank you for the heads-up, Shady Girl."


    "What do you plan to do, Brother Xue?" Yin Muhu inquired.


    Xue Jing smiled faintly, "During the feast, visitors are considered as guests, and there''s no reason to turn anyone away... Perhaps they come to make peace?"


    "If they dare to have other intentions, I am indeed capable of handling it."


    His tone remained even and casual, akin to idle household talk, yet exuding an unwavering confidence that no matter how others might stir trouble, he could handle everything with ease, much like an adult unconcerned about what mischief a few children might be planning.

 Chapter 297 Starting the Arena, Old Grudges Come Knocking, Celestial Thunder Golden Wind (4K)_2

    "Master..." Zong Shichan looked at him adoringly, his eyes sparkling, almost shooting out stars....


    In a concealed corner of the banquet hall, several extraordinary figures gathered at a table.


    One of the men, appearing to be in his mid-twenties, possessed an unremarkable demeanor with nothing out of the ordinary about him. He should have been an inconspicuous passerby like a stone, yet he mysteriously gave off the impression of drifting clouds, as if he could turn into the wind and disappear, not of this world.


    His tone was indifferent as he spoke, his voice ethereal and strange, clearly in front of them yet sounding as if it came from afar:


    "Have you all made your decisions? Are just a few of us... enough?"


    A man with eyebrows as sharp as lightning and hair sticking up like a Super Saiyan frowned and said:


    "How could it not be enough? At present, Hidden Dragon School only has Uncle Meng Boshang worth mentioning. Li Qi, that old man, is already a cripple. That kid, Xue Jing, however talented, is still just a minor. You aren''t worrying about him, are you?"


    A person beside him scoffed: "Making a fuss with a U19 championship, touted as unmatched under heaven, and yet he''s just a junior competitor after all, somewhat talented, but that''s all."


    "Li Qi, that old geezer, had tucked his tail and left the Inner Ring decades ago allowing us to barely spare him... Unbelievably, that sly old fox not only took on an incredible disciple but also made an appearance here in the Inner Ring."


    "A homeless dog should look like a homeless dog, yet he dares harbor ambitions to make a comeback."


    "My sect leader wanted to come personally, but considering ''Asura Chen'' and ''Vajra Zhou'' might intervene due to old loyalties, he decided against it. We, as the younger generation, however, can eradicate Hidden Dragon School on the arena stage legitimately through ''rules within'' methods..."


    "Heh, a person like Li Qi can never shed the arrogance ingrained in his bones. He''s been crippled by that person, and even at his age, he couldn''t contain his heart. After being down on his luck for over a decade, just getting a good disciple showing promise, he couldn''t resist showing off, even setting up an arena...


    Heh, you all say, wouldn''t it have been better if he endured another decade until this young talent fully matured? Now he''s just attracted the predators, ready to be eliminated in his crib."


    "Who''s going first?"


    "Brother Xie should go, shouldn''t you take revenge for Jiao Hongyuan from Golden Wind Dojo that was wiped out by Hidden Dragon School over in Qingcheng?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword gets countered by Hidden Dragon School''s Golden Scales Transformation... The kid, although young, has some skills; Brother Xie might not be able to handle him."


    "I''ll do it," said the man whose hair was standing up as if he''d been electrocuted, speaking assertively.


    Seeing him speak, everyone stopped discussing and nodded in agreement.


    "Feng Cong''s Thunder Control Technique is unparalleled in crushing the weak; with you taking action, we''re the most secure... and then what about Meng Boshang?"


    "If that kid gets killed, Li Qi, that old man, will definitely be furious enough to let Meng Boshang take direct action. He''ll break the rules and won''t fight on the arena, so we won''t need to speak of martial virtues, just overwhelm them together."


    Seeing that they had arranged everything so clearly, the man with the drifting cloud-like demeanor sighed and said:


    "Impermanence prevails, things might not unfold as we expected."


    "I have a bad feeling; there might be surprises."


    Feng Cong raised his lightning-sharp eyebrows: "No surprises, I will end it all in an instant."


    They did not realize that just a short distance away at another table, a beautiful and enchanting young girl moved her ears, her eyes gleaming with mischief:


    "It seems something interesting is about to happen, Xue Jun."


    Yu Ga Shenle casually picked up her chopsticks, savoring the delicious dishes laid out on the table.


    ...


    "Friends of the dojos in Qingcheng, and those who''ve come from afar, I, Li Qi, thank you for the honor of your presence at the relocation banquet of Hidden Dragon Dojo," he said.


    "Throughout my confused life, squandering over sixty years and achieving nearly nothing, in my youth..."


    On the main stage of the banquet hall, Li Qi sat in a wheelchair, his voice steady as he spoke into the microphone.


    Sitting below the stage, Xue Jing''s gaze swept over the entire banquet hall; with nearly two thousand guests, all martial artists with keen instincts. Everyone his gaze touched tensed involuntarily, as if targeted by some terrifying beast, their hairs standing on end.


    Not many were focused on Li Qi''s speech; most surveyed the directly transmitted disciples of Hidden Dragon School seated downstage, especially Xue Jing, who attracted the attention of more than 90% of the guests.


    &"That one is Demon King Xue Jing... even a genius like Zhou Yinglin was tormented by him beyond recognition."


    &"The champion of the U19... It''s incredible that such a person has appeared in Qingcheng."


    &"It''s not just about being a champion, he''s the strongest champion in history. Many grandmasters in the Inner Ring have asserted that he will definitely obtain the title."


    &"Really? Is this really someone taught by the Hidden Dragon Dojo? Even the Dragon King at his peak wasn''t described in such terms, right?"


    &"Such a genius can''t be considered by ordinary standards, his being born in Qingcheng is just an accident... it''s like a swan''s egg landing in a duck''s nest, once the ugly duckling grows up, it immediately becomes a swan soaring into the sky."


    Many people at the banquet discussed heatedly in low voices.


    &"... So, gentlemen, according to the rules, as the Hidden Dragon School wants to establish its roots here, we naturally need the approval of our peers. I have an underachieving disciple who is willing to set up an arena here and serve as the arena master, inviting everyone here to give him some pointers."


    Li Qi spoke with a smug expression, and when he mentioned ''underachieving disciple,'' he even winked toward a few old friends below the stage, angering several of them to the point of gnashing their teeth.


    &"This damn thing, haven''t seen him in over a decade and he''s still the same old scoundrel, a beast!"


    &"I''m going to dismantle his wheelchair later!"


    &"Shameless scoundrel!"


    Several elders laughed and cursed.


    &"Gentlemen, please move to the outer area."


    Li Qi gestured towards the door invitingly, and the crowd got up, bowed to him, and walked towards the door.


    Outside the venue, a large clearing had already been made in the plaza, where a square stone arena, tens of meters on each side, was placed in the center.


    Xue Jing''s gaze fixed on a group of people among the guests, one of whom, a tall and long-limbed man without shoes, noticed his stare and gave him a malicious grin.


    &"Interesting." Xue Jing smiled, stepped out the door, leaped over tens of meters, and lightly landed on the arena, silent and without stirring up even a speck of dust.


    This move immediately caught the eye of those who knew their stuff, internally praising his excellent qinggong!


    Xue Jing saluted the thousands of on-looking guests around him and said:


    &"Hidden Dragon School''s Xue Jing, please don''t hesitate to instruct me."


    No sooner had he spoken than a thunderclap sounded seemingly out of nowhere.


    The crowd felt as if their ears might burst; those with weaker cultivation even had blood trickling from their ears. By the time they regained their senses, an additional figure had appeared on the arena.


    He was quite tall, at least 1.9 meters, with a muscular build and the appearance of a martial artist, though his clothes seemed too small, stretching tightly across his body and slightly revealing his chest. His shoulder-length hair stood up straight, each strand rigid, and his eyes, shaped like lightning, were sharp and piercing to the extreme.


    &"Hmm? I think I recognize this man!"


    Someone in the crowd exclaimed.


    &"It''s Qin Fengcong from the Yulei Sect! Why is he here too?"


    &"He''s a well-known young master from the Inner Ring who won the championship at the Young Qilin Summit a few years ago!"


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    &"Did anyone see how he got up here just now?"


    &"I think I saw a flash of lightning..."


    On the arena, Qin Fengcong took steps towards Xue Jing, his lightning-sharp eyes unflinching, and slowly said:


    &"Yulei Sect''s Qin Fengcong, please instruct me..."


    ...

 Chapter 298 Ants, Who Allowed You to Raise Your Head and Speak? (4K)

    Below the arena, on the few available seats, sat several old men, among them was Li Qi."Yulei Sect..."


    One of the elders frowned and said to Li Qi:


    "Old Li, isn''t this your nemesis?"


    Li Qi''s expression didn''t change much. He reached out to take a cup of tea that Meng Qingjiao handed to him, took a light sip, and calmly said:


    "There is indeed some old grudge, that idiot Chen Buyan and I went to visit the brothel..." Li Qi glanced at Zong Shichan who was looking at him curiously and Meng Qingjiao with an expressionless face, then corrected himself:


    "...had dinner together at the inn, and Chen Buyan finished eating first. He ate so much faster than me... and went to the restroom, which, at that time, was overcrowded. There he bumped into Yulei Sect''s Direct Disciple Qiu Hanyu, who was also there to relieve himself, and they fought over a urinal."


    "I heard the commotion, left my meal unfinished, and clothes... chopsticks still in hand, rushed over to help, joining forces with Chen Buyan to give Qiu Hanyu a beating."


    An old man sitting beside him interjected, "It''s only natural for martial artists with vigorous blood and fiery tempers to clash; fighting and killing so long as it doesn''t result in death. In fact, after fighting, it''s possible to even become friends. This grudge shouldn''t have lasted until now."


    Li Qi waved his hand, "It shouldn''t have, but after the fight, that bastard Zhou Liexiong arrived late and came up with a bad idea. He suggested stripping the unconscious Qiu Hanyu naked and tying him to a pillar in the main hall for a ''bird show''. I was young and thoughtless, and thinking it sounded fun, I went ahead with it."


    The old man beside him stroked his chin, "You three really deserved death."


    "Now, Qiu Hanyu is the Sect Leader of the Yulei Sect. With the grudge between you unresolved, him sending his own disciple this time clearly shows he''s here for revenge... Nephew Xue is okay, right?"


    Another old man asked anxiously.


    "The Yulei Sect follows a path of ''Ancient Martial Neo Arts''. Our ancestor once studied the ''Five Thunder Skill'' at the Taoist Shenxiao Sect, then established his own sect and, with the concept of neo martial arts, created the ''Thunder Control Technique'' which is close to forbidden skills.


    It does not rely on foreign objects, but purely on one''s own spirit to attempt an unnatural transformation of the body, inducing man-made ''Human''s Thunder''."


    "Although this thunder is overbearingly aggressive and difficult to control, not as balanced and harmonious as the Shenxiao Sect''s Five Thunder Skill, its destructive power is not inferior. It''s highly effective in combat, often determining victory or death in a flash of thunder.


    This young man has a reputation, and is just one step away from Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, which is deemed the ''Mortal Limit''. Even if we were to enter the ring, we may not fare well against him. Nephew Xue, although formidable, is still young and might be caught unprepared."


    Upon hearing this, Li Qi merely smiled and did not speak.


    ...


    Above the arena, Xue Jing watched as Qin Fengcong approached and pressed something on the attribute table on his wrist.


    The pentagonal radar chart on the display kept changing, soon revealing the opponent''s data.


    Body: 934


    Spirit: 1291


    Robbery: 855


    Saint: 294


    Momentum: ?


    Using Uncle Meng Boshang as a reference, this person''s [Body] value is significantly lower, but his [Spirit] is even higher than Uncle Meng''s. It seems he has practiced some martial arts that heavily focus on consciousness and spirit.


    He''s just one step away from passing the test of ''Mortal Limit''...


    "I''m truly sorry, really sorry."


    Qin Fengcong approached Xue Jing and spoke in a deep voice.


    His body began to emit flickering arcs of electricity, and his vertical hair grew even more rigid and straight.


    "Such a promising talent as yourself ending up in the Hidden Dragon School, your potential utterly wasted... and now, you must die here. It''s truly regrettable."


    "Don''t worry, it will be over in an instant. I won''t let you feel any pain. Just like a child covers their ears and closes their eyes during a thunderstorm, before you even have a chance to be scared, it will all be over."


    His voice carried clearly throughout the entire plaza for everyone to hear, immediately causing a stir.


    "What does he mean, he''s going to kill someone?"


    "Why? Isn''t this event just meant to liven things up?"


    Below the stage, Zheng Jixiang, Xie Yue, and others who came with Qin Fengcong immediately fixed their gaze on Li Qi and Meng Boshang standing beside him, ready to rush to their aid at a moment''s notice.


    But to their surprise, Li Qi and Meng Boshang acted as if they hadn''t heard anything at all, looking unfazed at the arena and even exchanging a few jokes with the old men sitting next to them.


    Seeing no reaction from the crowd, Qin Fengcong''s features sharpened like a lightning bolt, "Then... it is time to end this!"


    No sooner had he spoken than thunder roared.


    Above the arena, Qin Fengcong transformed into tangible lightning and disappeared from his original spot. A streak of electricity shot toward Xue Jing, leaving behind an afterimage in the air. The next moment, he appeared behind Xue Jing.


    Around his right hand wrapped visible arcs of electricity, which he flung off with a flick resembling the vigorous action of a Sword Dao technique, dispelling the electric charge thoroughly.


    Then, without looking back, he began walking off the arena with the air of someone who had just finished his job, exuding coolness.


    The entire scene went silent; everyone was staring dumbfounded at the arena.


    Qin Fengcong, accustomed to the awe of the audience, thought nothing of it, but after a few steps, something felt amiss.


    "Drip-drip¡ªdrip-drip¡ª"


    In the dead silence, the sound of blood dripping resounded clearly in his ears.


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    Whose... Xue Jing''s?


    When the Thunder Control Technique is used, the wound is typically charred black, not bleeding.


    ...Then whose is it?


    Qin Fengcong stiffly looked down at his own chest.


    There, right over his heart, the fabric of his clothing had a hole the size of a fist.

 Chapter 298 Ants, Who Allowed You to Raise Your Head and Speak? (4K)_2

    Not only his clothes, but even his chest, was pierced through, leaving no trace of his heart, as thick, sticky blood flowed out slowly but resolutely, each drop sliding over his abdomen, striding, and falling to the ground.The blood flowed more and more abundantly, unstoppable, as belated pain radiated from his chest, spreading to his brain.


    Uh... what happened?


    He placed his hand over his chest, turned his head stiffly, and looked toward the young man named Xue Jing.


    There wasn''t the gruesome scene of his head being blown apart that he had imagined; the youth, godlike and beautiful, stood unharmed, his back to him.


    Qin Fengcong''s gaze shifted to the youth''s right hand.


    A heart, dripping with blood, was held in his hand, still throbbing strongly, with life force incredibly resilient, blood spurting steadily from each vein and artery as if unaware it had been separated from the body.


    That was... his own heart.


    Though he had never seen it, Qin Fengcong recognized it at a glance.


    So it was... The audience''s gasps weren''t for him but for Xue Jing.


    But what... exactly happened?


    "Thud¡ª"


    Until his body collapsed to the ground and his pupils gradually lost focus, he still didn''t understand.


    "Fengcong!!"


    Qin Fengcong''s comrades below the stage widened their eyes in disbelief, looking at Qin Fengcong lying on the ground, slowly dying.


    "Who saw clearly, what exactly happened!?"


    Xie Yue said through gritted teeth.


    Regret flashed through Zheng Jixiang''s ethereal eyes as he sighed,


    "The impermanence of life indeed goes thus."


    After a moment of silence, the room erupted in commotion.


    "What the hell, that guy looked like he was putting on an air of an unbeatable master, how come he was killed in less than three seconds?"


    "Uh... indeed he did not lie, it indeed ended in an instant, and Xue Jing didn''t feel any pain."


    "Was this guy here to crack jokes? His professional ethics are too good, offering up his life for a final clown performance?"


    "No, did you see how fierce he was? With that speed, you can''t even react, let alone see it clearly; it''s just that he never fought the Demon King Xue!"


    "So what exactly happened just now, can someone with exceptional vision explain?"


    Li Qi laughed heartily with a smug expression as a golden gleam momentarily flashed in his murky eyes.


    A few of his old friends, standing beside him, stared wide-eyed, envying, and hating Li Qi upon hearing the laughter.


    "Damn, a disaster that lingers for a thousand years, how on earth did you pick up such a big leak, Old Man Li, you should die!"


    "Hey, Old Man Li, you''ve met my granddaughter before, remember? She has grown up now, tall and beautiful; I will bring her over to visit your dojo in a few days to interact with your disciples..."


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    Zong Shichan covered her mouth with her hand, while hearts continuously popped in her eyes as she gazed at the figure on stage who was as untroubled as clouds and a gentle breeze.


    "Master... suki (likes)..."


    The little girl, who often watched anime with Xue Wan, accidentally let slip a phrase in her native language.


    Yu Ga Shenle looked at Xue Jing with eyes full of admiration,


    "¤µ¤¹¤¬£¨Indeed, as expected of£©Xue Jun."


    She was one of the few in the arena who clearly saw what happened, and thus understood the true value of Xue Jing even more.


    On stage, Xue Jing, with his heart still throbbing in his hand, tossed it aside, channeling energy to shake off all the blood staining his palm, returning it to its pristine state.


    "...Somewhat unlucky."


    He shook his head, looking oddly at Qin Fengcong, now a corpse on the ground.


    The event that had just happened was actually quite simple.


    He took the opponent''s attack head-on, and then, using the "Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point," he plucked out the opponent''s heart, that was all.


    The incident ended quickly, not because Qin Fengcong was particularly weak... but because he was simply a bad match for him.


    Why would someone practice such martial arts, especially those involving the Thunder Attribute?


    Although it was Xue Jing''s first encounter with Qin Fengcong''s Thunder Control Technique, he could instantly discern the intricacies of this martial art.


    The electrical arcs flickering over the body emerged from ''spirit distorting self-reality,'' neither truly existent nor illusory thunder, but a force capable of causing potent thunderstrike effects.


    The majority of the strike aimed at Xue Jing was comprised of thunder attacks, and although there were some physical hits, they were minimal.


    For Xue Jing, thunder-attribute attacks couldn''t be said to be completely ineffective, but they were little more than child''s play at best.


    If it had been before he killed a True Dragon youngster and activated [Dragon Horn], there might have been something to discuss. After obtaining the Dragon Horn, and practicing daily with Dragon Thunder wrapping his body, his skin, flesh, sinews, and bones had long become unlike those of an ordinary person, with maximum resistance to thunder.


    Qin Fengcong using the Thunder Control Technique against him was barely more troublesome than a mosquito bite.


    And without any need for evasion or defense, Xue Jing adopted a ''do-or-die'' fighting approach and landed a punch on his opponent while being hit himself.


    It ended in an instant.


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted toward the companions of Qin Fengcong, speaking calmly,


    "Today is supposed to be a joyous occasion for relocation. Xue Jing does not wish to be smeared with violence, but since you all have grievances with us at Hidden Dragon, it''s better to resolve rather than to complicate issues. Why not continue this discussion on stage?"


    Two Hidden Dragon Dojo disciples ascended the arena and slowly dragged away the body of Qin Fengcong, leaving behind a trail of blood.


    All the spectators turned their heads in unison toward the companions of Qin Fengcong, their gazes peculiar.


    "..." The group stiffened in expression.


    Zheng Jixiang sighed, about to speak, only to hear Xue Jing continue,


    "If you are afraid, then come up together."


    "Or do you mean to say... you came for revenge but lack even the courage to face the odds?"


    Xie Yue was immediately incensed, "Presumptuous brat!"


    The rest roared with fury, "Courting death!"


    However, they were not ordinary people; despite being momentarily daunted by Xue Jing''s display, they were individuals nearing the Dragon Gate, possessing extraordinary resolve and courage.


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡ª"


    In the blink of an eye, four to five figures appeared on the arena, enclosing Xue Jing in the middle.


    "Ah, Master, what do we do?"


    Zong Shichan''s face showed urgency as she quickly reached out to shake Li Qi''s arm.


    These people looked tough to handle; what if the master gets hurt by accident?


    As a die-hard fan, she had no doubts about Xue Jing''s ability to win.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao also silently reached out to tug at Meng Boshang''s clothes, her cool gaze raising to look at her father, as if asking him to help.


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    Li Qi laughed, "You child, be patient. Little Jing is very steady by nature, never biting off more than he can chew. Since he asked these people to come up together, he surely has the confidence to handle them."


    Seeing no movement from Hidden Dragon disciples¡ªparticularly Meng Boshang, the group refocused their attention on the young man before them.


    "Boy, you are far too arrogant," Xie Yue said, his eyes slightly narrowed, his tone laced with threat.


    Out of everyone present, he was the least confident in facing Xue Jing one-on-one since the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword was at a disadvantage against Hidden Dragon Style. However, with the odds in their favor, he was fully confident in their group.


    "Even facing a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, we wouldn''t dare to claim an easy victory; don''t assume you''re invincible just because you beat Fengcong," he said.


    Xue Jing tilted his head, "I never said I was invincible."


    "But, to beat you guys, a bunch of rotten potatoes and tomatoes... doesn''t seem like it requires being invincible, does it?"


    Xie Yue mocked, "Just as sharp-tongued as in the videos. Let''s hope when your limbs are severed, your mouth remains as tough as now."


    Xue Jing stretched out his right hand to the side, and suddenly, a beautiful, ancient long saber flew to him from nowhere, catching it in his hand.


    He swung it lightly at the floor, and with a ''whoosh'' sound, saber Qi cut through the air, sending debris flying as the floor was slashed open, creating a deep, ten-meter-long trench.


    His eyes tinged with the white of Divinity, golden flames burned quietly.


    In the stunned gazes of the crowd, Xue Jing''s lips curled into a wild smile:


    "Ants... who allowed you to speak?"


    ...

 Chapter 299 Overwhelmingly Crush, Insects and Beetles (4K)

    A fierce surge of air exploded from Xue Jing as the center!The surrounding air trembled and warped as if burnt by invisible flames, and it seemed that even the temperature had risen sharply.


    "Ant, who allowed you to raise your head and speak?"


    These arrogant and overbearing words entered the ears, causing many of the thousands of martial artists watching to involuntarily feel a surge of panic, with their knees softening, nearly collapsing to the ground.


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    As the direct recipient of this fierce aura, Xie Yue''s whole body stiffened for a moment, his expression involuntarily showing a trace of fear.


    However, being a great master close to the limit-breaking level, with a robust and enduring spirit, he soon gathered his mental focus, forcibly suppressing the fear inside him as if he was facing divine punishment from the heavens; despite still not being able to completely shake off this feeling, he was able to speak.


    He gritted his teeth and said:


    "You brat, quite the..."


    Before he could finish, a figure appeared in front of him with unimaginable speed.


    There was no time to react, as if a segment of a film had been cut out, violently shifting from one frame to another, extremely abrupt.


    A flawless, slender palm, prettier than a woman''s, pressed on his head, and in a daze, Xie Yue felt as if a mountain had descended upon him.


    With no chance to struggle, a chilling crackle of breaking bones came from his legs, dozens of fractured bone spurs piercing the skin, Xie Yue''s height shrank, and half his head was pressed into his chest cavity, turning him from a tall man into a ''child'' less than one meter tall in the blink of an eye.


    "Insects should look like insects, crawl on the ground honestly, do not think to bark at the sky."


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed a chill, his voice lofty and distant, seemingly not coming from his mouth, as if heralding from the heavens.


    "Brother Xie!" His companions saw how Xie Yue was instantly crushed into a stick-like figure by Xue Jing, and they were immediately shocked.


    All of them moved, quickly rushing towards Xue Jing.


    "Your only fate is to die in disdain."


    The Zhao Ye Blade gleamed coldly, a hundred-meter-long blade light horizontally thrusting out, with severely injured and immobile Xie Yue watching helplessly as he was split in half from the middle; the terrible blade light did not stop there, stretching hundreds of meters, leaving behind a conspicuous colossal slash through the buildings along its path.


    "This...?"


    Everyone was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.


    Although they kept shouting ''Demon King Xue'', since his appearance, Xue Jing had always been quite polite, his speech and demeanor not losing the grace of a noble family, but how suddenly he had turned into the villainous Great Demon King, arrogantly calling others ants and insects.


    And... he indeed was as strong as a Great Demon King!


    Many recognized him; that was Xie Yue of the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, a renowned young master just one step away from leaping through the Dragon Gate.


    And just like that, simply crushed and chopped, he died cleanly and neatly, as if he was merely an extra who merely bulked up the numbers...


    "Master!!" Zong Shichan''s mouth was nearly drooling, his entire being like he was on drugs, his beautiful face flushed with excitement.


    Already having a huge filter towards Xue Jing, she was now truly struck right in the sweet spot.


    "Is this... Inverse Scale?"


    Li Qi murmured in surprise, his face full of incredulity.


    "How long has it been, and he has already mastered the ''Inverse Scale''?"


    "No, not quite."


    Li Qi furrowed his brows.


    "It''s slightly different from the Inverse Scale, seems like another version of Dynamic Qi eruption ultimate skills based on Inverse Scale... and it doesn''t look fully mastered yet."


    "This kid..."


    Several figures approached Xue Jing on the stage, each unleashing their killer moves.


    Caught in the ''Anger of the Heavens'' mode, Xue Jing didn''t even look at this group of ''ants'' attacking, his face filled with indignance as he stood still, unmoving.


    "How dare you!"


    Under the ''Anger of the Heavens'', the activity of his spiritual aura surged multiple times, Shadow Flame clinging to it, with countless black lightning patterns radiating out, as if the void was cracking; the hard floor burst into several huge chasms.


    "Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance!"


    All the black lightning aura, under the control of Yuhua, concentrated and suppressed the attackers coming from various directions.


    "Ugh ah!"


    The several people who had rushed toward Xue Jing from different directions suddenly stiffened, as if they had sustained extremely severe injuries, with two of them immediately rolling their eyes back and fainting.


    The rest, with blood spilling from their mouths, struggled with indescribable mental trauma, their fists and feet bombarding Xue Jing!


    "Seeking death!" Xue Jing, furious, didn''t dodge or avoid, his Zhao Ye Blade sweeping out.


    The huge arc of the blade light spread out, and seeing this from below, Li Qi''s face changed, and he quickly called out, "Uncle Meng!"


    Meng Boshang reacted instantly, flashing to the direction of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, his face very serious; facing the spreading arc of the blade light, skin all over his body began to show layers of dragon scales, shimmering with golden light.


    Hidden Dragon School killer move¡¤Golden Scales Transformation!


    His majestic body spun at high speed, turning into a top, colliding mid-air with the blade light.


    "Zzz¡ª"


    A prolonging grating metallic friction noise continued nonstop, making the onlookers unconsciously cover their ears, pained.


    Meng Boshang and the arc of the blade light struggled for a good while, suddenly let out a piercing scream, the blade light dissipated into specks of light, and Meng Boshang, like a cannonball, was sent flying backward, smashing through the dojo wall, leaving behind a human-shaped hole. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 299 Overwhelmingly Crushing, Ants and Insects (4K)_2

    Li Qi, with both hands on the armrests of his wheelchair, nearly had a medical miracle as he almost stood up. It was only after the saber light was successfully blocked and dissipated that he sat back down with a look of lingering fear and touched his chest."This guy, showing off his strength without care, not paying attention at all, if it hadn''t been blocked, the new dojo would have been cut in half!"


    Li Qi complained, but his eyes revealed complete satisfaction and pleasure.


    Meng Boshang, who had braced himself for a full-force response, was struggling to hold on. The several people attacking Xue Jing on the stage obviously met a bad end.


    Everyone touched by the spreading saber Qi was cut, either dead or disabled, left without the ability to resist.


    At this point, of the group that had come seeking revenge, only one remained unharmed.


    Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries¡ªZheng Jixiang.


    "Is it¡­ over?"


    The audience at the scene, still in a state of shock, watched the stage.


    "Terrifying, absolutely terrifying... Xue Jing of the Hidden Dragon School, has he already made a breakthrough, stepping into the realm of a grandmaster?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Faced with several Great Perfection experts, he still defeated them with ease, more terrifying than his display at the U19 finals!"


    "Simply a villain with stats designed to never lose in a fair fight, a Great Demon King..."


    "So, did he actually leap through the Dragon Gate or not?"


    "Definitely leaped through. If he hasn''t with this kind of strength, I''ll eat three pounds of shit on the spot!"


    "Wait a second, it seems like it''s not over, there''s still someone standing!"


    On the stage, a man with an ethereal aura like drifting clouds sighed and spoke to Xue Jing, who had already turned his gaze toward him:


    "Can we reconcile?"


    Xue Jing''s expression was calm, with golden flames burning in his silver-white pupils. He didn''t speak but inverted his long saber and slowly walked toward him.


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    Zheng Jixiang scratched his head, "This is really troublesome."


    The man who had remained motionless from the beginning of the fight seemed different from the others, harboring no animosity towards Xue Jing.


    Speaking to himself, he said, "I cannot defy my master''s orders. I came here purely for the excitement and do not wish to be enemies with your Hidden Dragon School."


    "Under the current circumstances, it''s clear I can''t beat you. This way, I have an excuse to shirk the responsibility when I go back. I should actually thank you for that."


    Xue Jing remained silent, and Zheng Jixiang didn''t seem to care, continuing:


    "My Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries School draws from the colors and sceneries of the heavens, comprising eight ultimate skills with wide applications and versatility."


    "Therefore, please forgive me for not accompanying you further."


    As the saber Qi lashed through the air, Zheng Jixiang flung his garments, creating the sound of billowing sleeves.


    "Rainbow Sky."


    In the night, a stroke of rainbow suddenly twinkled in everyone''s eyes, forming a rainbow bridge stretching far into the distance.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing frowned and activated Flames Connecting Colors, pulling out similar rainbow tail flames, chasing the other end of the rainbow bridge.


    As he rapidly closed in, Zheng Jixiang''s faint voice reached his ears:


    "Eternal Night."


    Xue Jing was suddenly plunged into darkness, an intense blackness shrouding everything. Even the stars in the sky became invisible, as if the legendary eternal night had descended.


    "Playing at being a god or a demon."


    He snorted coldly, instinctively slashing with his saber, feeling a slight resistance as if he had cut through something.


    Releasing and contracting his Spiritual Aura with violent force, his vision abruptly became clear again.


    Looking around, Xue Jing could not find Zheng Jixiang''s figure, only a severed arm lying not far ahead on the ground, oozing out thick, crystal-clear blood.


    The golden flames in his eyes slowly dissipated, the silver-white receding from his pupils. Xue Jing wearily rubbed his temples.


    "I could chase... but forget it."


    Although Zheng Jixiang had fled quickly, Xue Jing had a method of Meditative Visualization that would allow him to envisage and deduce the other''s escape route in his mind and pursue him all the way to find him.


    But now, having just used ''Reverse Scale¡¤Sky''s Wrath'' to burst forth his maximum power, he had crushed his enemies rapidly but at great expense to his energy, leaving him extremely tired.


    And this Zheng Jixiang..., he didn''t seem to really agree with troubling the Hidden Dragon School from the start, so he wasn''t much of an enemy. Not chasing might be for the best.


    Glancing at the dismembered arm on the ground, Xue Jing turned and leaped away, heading back toward the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    ...


    "I thought I was just coming to join in the fun, but I didn''t expect it to be such a huge commotion. Quite the enlightenment!"


    "To have personally witnessed Demon King Xue single-handedly overwhelm numerous experts, I''ve got bragging material for the next month''s dinner table talks!"


    "Did anyone record that just now? Can you send me a copy, please? I was so engrossed, I forgot to record!"


    "I wonder if that expert from the Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries could escape..."


    "Definitely not..."


    In the midst of the noisy chatter, a figure swiftly approached from afar, descending from the sky and landing on the platform.


    After Xue Jing landed gracefully, his handsome face was no longer indifferent and haughty; he looked around amiably and greeted everyone with a cupped fist smile:


    "There was a small hiccup, and I apologize if it has caused amusement."


    No sooner had he spoken than the crowd hastily replied with ''it''s nothing,'' all while wearing somewhat strange expressions.


    To think that the trouble caused by several Great Perfection masters turning up was just a ''small hiccup''...


    "Alright, let''s continue then." Xue Jing said with a smile, his voice carrying across the entire venue.


    "Are there still any experts willing to come up and give guidance?"


    The people present exchanged glances.


    This...


    Looking at the platform, which was still not cleaned from the corpses and severed limbs of the experts, not to mention the greatly cracked floor, who would dare to take the stage...


    Xue Jing looked around, waited a while, and seeing no one making a move, he spoke up:


    "If no one comes forward, it means there are no objections. Therefore, starting today, my Hidden Dragon Dojo will officially open here!"


    ...


    Xue Jing stepped down from the platform and walked towards where Li Qi was. As he approached, he heard the crisp, excited voice of a little girl.


    "Master!"


    A headbutt like a rocket, Zong Shichan directly collided into Xue Jing''s embrace, clinging onto him without letting go, burying her head in his chest and joyfully said:


    "Master, you are sooo sooo sooo... incredibly cool!"


    Xue Jing patted her head: "It''s alright... don''t touch randomly."


    He said with slight annoyance, brushing away Zong Shichan''s little hand wandering on his waist.


    "Heehee, I want to bask in Master''s immortal energy~"


    Zong Shichan kept rubbing her face against Xue Jing''s chest.


    Li Qi waved towards Xue Jing with a kind smile: "Good child, come here."


    Xue Jing plucked Zong Shichan off him like picking up a cat and then walked over to Li Qi, respectfully saying:


    "Master."


    Li Qi looked at Xue Jing with a hearty laugh, a wave of delight rushing to the crown of his head, making even the sparse hairs on his Mediterranean gleam.


    How many good deeds had he done in this life to have such a disciple?


    "Here, let me introduce you, these are a few old friends of mine..."


    Li Qi gestured towards a few old men nearby, but suddenly noticed that they all had a smile that seemed a bit too eager, giving him an unsettling feeling.


    He quickly added: "You don''t need to know who they are, just knowing they are your master''s friends is enough."


    Immediately, an elder burst out in rage: "You lame deadbeat, doing nothing but mischief, aren''t you afraid of falling out of your wheelchair when you go out!"


    "A wretch without the soul of martial arts!"


    "Nephew Xue, I am your Uncle Zhao. Nephew, they say it''s always good to have more skills. Are you interested in learning some more arts..."


    "Eh, Nephew, are you seeing anyone? Even if you are, listen, I have a granddaughter..."


    Several elders eagerly surrounded Xue Jing and began warmly taking care of him and trying to set him up.


    Xue Jing wore a smile that was awkward yet courteous, dealing with the old men''s advances as if he were a child being interrogated by relatives during New Year''s.


    "Scram, scram, scram, scram!!"


    Li Qi executed a wheelchair drift, circling around Xue Jing, and fended off all the elders, berating them:


    "A bunch of old geezers with one foot in the coffin, still thinking of stealing my disciple, keep dreaming! Watch out, or I''ll dispatch you down there with my walking stick!"


    ...

 Chapter 305 Slash!

    Up to today, although Xue Jing hadn''t devoted his main efforts to the cultivation of Impeccable in recent times.But as his overall martial arts strength continuously soared, the Impeccable technique improved significantly along with it, making no small progress.


    One hundred and ninety-seven spears.


    That was the number of spears he had just thrust out.


    This was not his limit. Xue Jing still had some calculation margin left, without brain overload, and if necessary, he could even double his calculation power with the [Twin Lifes] buff, adding at least another thirty spears.


    But he noticed something was not quite right... The spherical creature appeared to be seriously injured, but it was merely howling without any other reactions.


    "Not showing the slightest sign of weakness..."


    Xue Jing floated in the air, looking down at the creature that seemed to be rolling around in pain, its excessive weight causing an effect similar to an earthquake.


    He slightly frowned.


    In the past, facing such colossal creatures, even those Life System Dragon Breeds he encountered in the Intersecting Boundaries, as long as they were injured, he could sense the decrease in the opponent''s life force, more or less.


    However, this creature in front of him... Although it seemed badly wounded, to Xue Jing, it felt as though he had only injured something as inconsequential as the creature''s ''hair'' or ''nails,'' which couldn''t really be considered an injury.


    "Did I strike the wrong spot... Or does this thing lack the concept of life?"


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    "No, it should be that I haven''t found the right spot."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    Having joined The Sixth Agency as an external personnel, he had seen many secret documents unseen by ordinary people, and with the information gained from his chats with Wu Youqing, he also understood some knowledge related to Otherworldly Creatures.


    According to Wu Youqing, from the moment ''Order'' emerged, ''meaningless and illogical chaos'' was banished. Anything that enters the ''meaningful world of Order'' must comply with ''Order''.


    Within the rules of Order, if something is a creature, it must have the concept of life.


    And within the concept of life, the most important aspect is ''death.''


    Even ''Gods'' will die; it''s just that death, for them, is not an irreversible end.


    "It possesses the concept of life, and it isn''t unkillable, so there must be a vital spot... Where is it?"


    Xue Jing''s gaze sifted, surveying the monster''s massive body. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Above the sky, the Shadow Flame army and the steel army were still colliding ceaselessly, with Dark Flame and metal fragments falling like torrential rain.


    Xue Jing suddenly scratched his head, the golden fury in his silver-white pupils slowly extinguishing.


    "I''m being a bit silly. Why think so much when it isn''t a situation where I''m a beast trapped unable to contact the outside world? Just asking someone who knows should do the trick."


    He took out his phone from his pocket, opened the chat app, and made a video call to Wu Youqing.


    He then performed the Feather Transformation on his phone, allowing it to float in the air, the camera pointed at the spherical creature rolling on the ground.


    Wu Youqing didn''t keep Xue Jing waiting for long, and the video call was quickly connected.


    On the screen appeared Wu Youqing¡ªshe was sitting elegantly in a wooden chair in the loft resting area, her hands holding a tea cup and gently sipping, her smooth ponytail swaying slightly in the air, her pretty and endearing face serene as always.


    "What''s up?"


    Placing the steaming teacup on the wooden table, Wu Youqing spoke softly.


    She didn''t show any shock at the sight of the horrific creature rolling around on the ground captured by Xue Jing''s camera; it seemed like just another ordinary scene to her.


    "Omniscient Saint Youqing, please respond to your lamb and tell me what this damn thing is and how to deal with it," Xue Jing sincerely prayed to Wu Youqing on the video.


    "..." Wu Youqing was momentarily speechless.


    "I''m not some Saint Youqing, and I don''t know everything," she said, glancing once more at the creature in the video and offhandedly stated:


    "Candle on the head, the flame yet to extinguish; this is a follower of the Black Candle God, the main body is on that black candle above, and by its shape, it appears to be a ''Parasitic Candle,'' the gigantic body down there is merely its host."


    Hearing her immediately identify the creature''s origin, Xue Jing retorted:


    "So you do know everything, don''t you?"


    Wu Youqing neither confirmed nor denied: "Not everything, just happen to know this one."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "Then how do we deal with it? Preferably, tell me a way to capture it alive..."


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment before saying, "As a follower of the Black Candle God, the Parasitic Candle possesses some of the Black Candle God''s authority and has the power to mutate materials and vitalize them."


    Xue Jing cocked his head: "What do you mean?"


    "Simply put, it can make a table grow teeth and chase people to bite, it can make bombs grow wings like insects, it can make its own limbs sprout a hard shell... achieving this strange ability to bring life-like changes to inanimate objects," Wu Youqing explained.


    Xue Jing suddenly realized: "I see."


    No wonder the Parasitic Candle could, with a glare, cause those changes in the unfinished building area''s rebar, growing tentacles and mouths.


    "Such an ability, if possessed by someone who knows how to use it, is very troublesome. Fortunately, these ''Olden Days'' creatures lack the Wisdom to utilize their abilities properly and just act blindly."


    "You should aim for its main body on the head, as for capturing it alive... it''s very difficult. Once the Parasitic Candle leaves its host, it''s hard for it to survive."


    "Even if captured alive, it probably won''t be of any use... Creatures of the Olden Days are basically impossible to communicate with."

 Chapter 305 Slash!_2

    Wu Youqing twirled a strand of hair in front of her with her finger, speaking softly.Xue Jing nodded slightly, as if lost in thought, and said, "I understand, BOSS."


    After hanging up the phone, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted downward to the main body on the back of the monster.


    A five-meter tall black candle burned with a green flame.


    "Hard to capture alive, unable to communicate."


    "It seems that the only option is to kill it."


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    Swirling his palm, he twirled the long spear in his hand into a spear glow. In an instant, Xue Jing transformed into a rainbow meteor and lunged towards the main body of the Parasitic Candle.


    As if sensing what Xue Jing intended to do, the black candle suddenly burst into a frenzy of flames, frenetically burning.


    The skin on its back began to change, protruding repeatedly and forming multiple wrinkled layers, similar to bark, that enveloped the black candle in a protective shell.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged; Red Gold Flame Thunder wrapped around the tip of the Night Ice spear, while Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, and Blood all operated in unison.


    Crafted for lethal impact, the Hidden Dragon Style Secret Technique¡¤Eye-Pointing, now executed with the most suitable weapon, the long spear, was potent enough to pierce through fifty Zhou Yinglins.


    With a dragon''s roar, the Night Ice, carrying the Destruction Flame Thunder, transformed into a dark blue dragon-shaped spear glow wrapped in a reddish-gold brilliance, and stabbed toward the shell-protected main body of the black candle.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The first layer, pierced effortlessly as if a hot knife through butter.


    Then came the second layer, the third layer... nearly unobstructed, the dragon-head-shaped sharp spear glow was about to annihilate the monster from the Otherworld.


    At that moment, suddenly, a piercing scream sounded.


    "Omo¡ª!!!"


    In the midst of the scream, Xue Jing''s expression changed. Instinctively, he sidestepped and quickly dodged.


    The next moment, the sharp dark blue spear tip passed swiftly through the spot he had just vacated.


    It turned out that the Night Ice in his hand had suddenly "betrayed" him, reversing the direction of the spearhead in a large U-turn and stabbing toward its master.


    Xue Jing quickly retreated, furrowing his brows and extending his left hand to grasp the spearhead of the Night Ice. At that moment, it wriggled and struggled like a living snake, attempting to attack Xue Jing, who then firmly pinned it down with both hands.


    "Omo¡ª!!!"


    Another shriek, and a ''Sss sss sss'' sound immediately emanated from Xue Jing''s body.


    That was the continuous sound of sharp tools piercing flesh.


    Thick, translucent blood oozed slowly from all over his body, dyeing his clothes blood-red.


    At that moment, Xue Jing resembled someone who had inadvertently put on a porcupine shell inside out, with sharp spikes growing from the inside of his clothes, piercing into his flesh. More barbs continuously sprouted from the spikes, spreading within Xue Jing''s body.


    The extreme pain was unbearable for ordinary people, likely causing them to black out within seconds. However, for Xue Jing, who usually trained amidst such pain, it was nothing extraordinary.


    His expression barely changed, only slightly frowning. He straightened the struggling Night Ice in his hands and, like throwing a javelin, forcefully threw it into the ground, burying it deep underground.


    Next, with a fierce expression, he tugged at his clothes with his right hand, channeling his power, and gave a strong pull!


    "Crack¡ª!!"


    Amid the horrific sound of flesh being torn, the flesh hooked by the barbs on Xue Jing''s clothes was ripped off along with it, his body gruesomely mottled and bloody, with internal organs and bones visibly exposed at his chest.


    The ripped clothes, with numerous sparkling chunks of flesh hung on densely packed, twisted barbs, still twitched, showing a strong vitality.


    The Life Fire ignited, and the large amount of missing flesh on his body began to visibly wriggle and regenerate at a visible rate. Soon, Xue Jing, now completely bare, was restored to an unblemished state.


    His body, sculpted as if by a divine hand, was exposed to the air. Xue Jing, expressionless, condensed a black airflow that transformed into a pitch-black flame, incinerating the mutated clothes in his hand to ashes.


    He then flicked his wrist, and the Shadow Flame came to life as a Black Flame Coat, which he draped over his body.


    His gaze moved downward to the Parasitic Candle, looking directly into the five eyes on the face of its host.


    At that moment, those five eyes bore a look starkly different from the previous murky confusion. They seemed much more focused, conveying a sense of wisdom as if deep in thought.


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    Xue Jing furrowed his brows slightly.


    "Has someone else taken over the account?"


    This clever use of ability, directly applied on the enemy''s items to cause material mutations, was unlike anything described by Wu Youqing as intelligence-less creatures from the Olden Days.


    If Xue Jing had been just a martial artist with limited methods, he would have suffered a significant setback decisive enough to determine the outcome.


    Could it be that some being with advanced thinking capability had possessed this Parasitic Candle?


    "Hey, you can communicate now, right?"


    Xue Jing spoke in an even tone. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..." The Parasitic Candle just stared at Xue Jing and didn''t respond.


    "Playing dead..."


    Xue Jing slightly narrowed his eyes, his thoughts shifted, and numerous black streams converged, covering his body.


    Before long, the Shadowflame Giant, clad in an elaborate full-cover armor, made a long-awaited return.


    Taller than the host of the Parasitic Candle, the Shadowflame Giant raised its black long knife and ferociously chopped down, its immense size making the air tremble and roar.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    In the earth-shaking tumult, the Parasitic Candle was smashed into the ground by the powerful strike, sending soil plates rippling outward like waves.


    "Don''t want to talk, then die."


    Xue Jing crossed his arms and stood in the "cockpit" on the chest of the Shadowflame Giant, speaking indifferently from his elevated position.


    His mind shifted again, and the giant began to simulate internal human-like changes.


    Bones, blood, organs, muscles... While far from the intricacy of a real human body, it roughly mimicked the crude operation of Power.


    Gugong gugong... Amid the loud sounds reminiscent of a large machine operating, the Hidden Dragon Flow Whirlwind Thunder was unleashed by the Shadowflame Giant, the black giant blade stirring up a huge spiral tornado and slicing horizontally towards the Parasitic Candle.


    "Shiii¡ª!!!"


    Wild and fierce, the hundred-meter-long giant blade swung out far, directly slicing off the top of a small mountain thousands of meters away in the outskirts of South City.


    The massive body of the Parasitic Candle was split in two, its upper half shooting into the sky.


    Without hesitation, Xue Jing aimed at the Parasitic Candle''s half-body in the air, the black long knife in the Shadowflame Giant''s hands swiping down vertically.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    The protective shell guarding the core was immediately shattered by this unbelievably heavy strike, crushing the core inside and creating a thunderous noise.


    "Successful elimination..."


    "¡ªas if!"


    Xue Jing immediately switched his sharp gaze to the other half of the Parasitic Candle''s body on the ground.


    "You bastard, trying to trick me?"


    Amid crackling electricity, the Destruction Red Gold Flame Thunder wrapped around the giant''s black long knife, enchanting it and greatly enhancing its lethality.


    "Eat this, Ascending Dragon Sword!"


    The Shadowflame Giant swung backhand in a rising diagonal slice, chopping toward the half of the host body on the ground.


    "Chiii¡ª"


    Smoothly bisected, a stark black candle clearly visible within the cut surface of its body¡ªit was the core of the Parasitic Candle.


    Xue Jing sneered.


    "Ban didn''t tell me you''re definitely not dead until you were actually dead, playing a switcheroo with me?"


    Another two slashes were delivered, forming a cross-chop that minced the black candle hidden within the lower half of the body.


    Xue Jing himself leapt out from the cockpit, extending his hand toward the shredded core of the black candle.

 Chapter 306 Night Ice, who ate the Rubber Fruit, event concluded, Xue Jings status in Qingcheng (4K)

    [Killing a special creature with Divinity, Divinity +4027]Four thousand Divinity!?


    The unexpected huge reward slightly widened Xue Jing''s eyes.


    He had killed many creatures containing Divinity, and according to his memory, the more powerful the creature, the more Divinity he would gain after killing it.


    In his estimation, although the abilities of this Parasitic Candle were troublesome, it didn''t seem very strong itself; based on his experiences with past kills of Divine creatures, he might have expected to gain at most around 2000.


    In comparison, the True Dragon cub he had killed in the Roaring Waterfall Intersecting Boundaries gave him only about 2500 points of Divinity.


    If that True Dragon cub hadn''t been weakened by the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, Xue Jing, even at full strength and with numerous techniques, could have defeated it, but he estimated the process wouldn''t have been easy.


    And this Parasitic Candle... it definitely didn''t feel as formidable as the True Dragon cub, yet it yielded almost half as much extra Divinity.


    "It seems the formula ''the stronger the creature, the more Divinity it drops'' isn''t quite accurate; it also depends on the specific circumstances."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, feeling quite pleased.


    He was in dire need of Divinity, and this unexpected gain of four thousand just solved his urgent trouble; he already had plans for it.


    At the moment, he possessed 4568 points of Divinity; two thousand of those were to be used to level up [True Martial] to Lv4, a skill that not only directly boosted his strength but also accelerated his martial arts growth¡ªthe sooner he upgraded it, the better.


    Another thousand was to be used to evolve [Teaching].


    The remaining fifteen hundred... would be set aside for now.


    Xue Jing opened his panel to glance at the Divine Skill Bar.


    "Killing such a special monster, and I didn''t activate a New Divine Skill?..."


    He was somewhat hopeful; he had thought he might gain a Cthulhu-style New Divine Skill similar to the ability of the Parasitic Candle, which could cause material mutation and activation.


    "Well, as disappointing as it is not to have a new skill, I already have so many Divine Skills that I can''t keep up, and if there were more, the gap in Divinity would only grow larger. Currently, I have plenty of techniques at my disposal, so it''s better to focus on leveling up the existing skills."


    Closing the panel, Xue Jing raised his head to look at the sky.


    After he eliminated the main body of the Parasitic Candle, the giant spherical host body was gradually crumbling into ashes.


    From the crumbling body, Xue Jing could feel an out-of-place rejection as if the world itself was expelling it.


    However, above the sky, those steel bars mutated by the Parasitic Candle didn''t seem to be affected by its death; they remained active and were incessantly battling with the Shadow Flame army.


    "Is the effect caused by this ability permanent mutation?"


    Xue Jing frowned.


    The ability''s effect hadn''t disappeared even with the death of the user... could it be that the principle behind this mutation was by changing the essential structure of the mutated material itself?


    He began to understand why the Parasitic Candle had yielded so much Divinity. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing quickly descended from the air to land on the ground.


    He had just plunged the ''Night Ice'' that had been mutated by the Parasitic Candle into the ground.


    He looked around briefly; although the entire unfinished building area was a mess from the battle between him and the Parasitic Candle, with his excellent vision he quickly found the small hole created by Night Ice.


    Black currents converged as Shadow Flame formed a spiraling black drill on Xue Jing''s right hand, which then began to rotate at high speed.


    Xue Jing aimed the drill at the hole, and in an instant, dirt flew everywhere, and the ground was quickly dug up; he burrowed down like a mole, going deeper underground.


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    In just over ten seconds, he was already dozens of meters down, yet he still hadn''t found Night Ice.


    "Damn, how hard did I throw it, where could it have gone?"


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    Previously, his clothes and Night Ice had ''defected'' simultaneously, and the situation was too urgent for him to hold back.


    Now, with his immense strength coupled with the sharpness of the Night Ice''s spear tip, cutting through earth and rock was child''s play; he had no idea how deep it could have gone.


    In addition, Xue Jing was slightly worried... after mutating, Night Ice seemed alive, and it might not be continuously burrowing away..


    He wasn''t sure of the true value of the spear, but from a personal standpoint, he was very fond of it and losing it would be a huge pity.


    Fortunately, things did not seem as bad as he had feared.


    After burrowing seventy to eighty meters underground, the originally straight tunnel made by Night Ice started to twist and turn, precisely confirming Xue Jing''s fear that Night Ice was wandering off on its own.


    But Night Ice hadn''t gone far; it seemed to have lost its way below, winding in the same area and carving a complex three-dimensional tunnel like that of a city sewer system. Xue Jing followed the winding path and after about twenty minutes, he finally found it.


    With Shadow Flame burning in his pupils, he captured the silhouette of the spear''s tail in the lightless underground environment and immediately reached out to grab it.


    Night Ice struggled, but Xue Jing''s gaze turned firm as he applied ''Feather Transformation'' to it.


    In a flash, he assimilated it!


    As Night Ice was, in concept, Xue Jing''s ''item,'' Feather Transformation naturally took effect.


    However, unlike usual instances of using Feather Transformation, Night Ice weighed only under a hundred kilograms and theoretically should have been easy to handle.


    But in the panel, the Blue Bar for Feather Transformation was rapidly depleting, and in a short time, it had consumed most of it, its color dull and dim.

 Chapter 307 Declaration of the Sisterhood, Wu Youqing Suspected of Jealousy (4K)

    Qing University Library, seventh floor.What should have been a quiet attic occupied only by a solitary girl was unexpectedly visited by an unanticipated guest.


    Wu Youqing closed the hardcover book titled "Omniscience Paradox" in her hands and looked towards the elegant figure who had, at some point, taken a seat opposite her.


    Her expression unchanged as if she had anticipated the other''s arrival, Youqing gently placed the book on the wooden table, stood up, and walked over to a cupboard to retrieve some tea-making equipment.


    "Is black tea the only option?"


    With her back to Otogirusu, Youqing asked with a tranquil voice.


    Otogirusu''s excessively gorgeous face revealed a hint of a smile as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand on the table, and asked with curiosity:


    "Didn''t I see a bottle of cola? "


    Youqing paused, her tone unchanged: "That was prepared for someone else."


    "Eh... is that so." Otogirusu''s smile deepened.


    "May I ask for whom it was prepared, Alliance Hierarch?"


    As she placed the tea set on the table and started making the tea, Youqing spoke faintly:


    "I don''t recall ever being an Alliance Hierarch."


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    Otogirusu''s delicate and beautiful palm lightly caressed the book on the table and said:


    "The Chosen Blessed Ones of the ''Mercury Tree'' would cry at those words... you are their only hope for redemption."


    Youqing pushed the freshly brewed black tea towards Otogirusu and took a sip from her own cup, sighing:


    "... If they really pin all their hopes on one individual, then they are doomed not to be redeemed."


    Otogirusu seemed to agree and nodded: "That''s true."


    She picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and her beautiful eyebrows rose slightly:


    "Eh, this tea..."


    Such a strange taste.


    Could it be some kind of Youqing Tea?


    Unaware that the woman with odd tastes before her had the same strange impression upon her first experience with the tea as Xue Jing did, Youqing said:


    "If you have anything to discuss, speak now while you have the chance."


    Otogirusu... or rather, Suzuka.


    It was Youqing''s first encounter with this woman; all she knew about her came from what Xue Jing had told her, and... S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I have been ordered to invite you to join us ''Troublemakers''."


    Otogirusu started quietly.


    Youqing did not speak.


    Otogirusu continued: "That gentleman said, if you join, he has a way to resolve your problem."


    Youqing''s expression was unchanging, as she simply inquired:


    "Does that man understand what exactly is with me?"


    Otogirusu tilted her head: "One of the oldest three pillars from the Olden Days... the Crimson Mist, isn''t it?"


    Youqing nodded and said: "I see, I refuse, please leave."


    Otogirusu was slightly startled and laughed: "That gentleman actually made a mistake... which is rare to see, aside from that one instance rumored decades ago, this is my first."


    Youqing shook her head: "He didn''t make a mistake, it''s just a simple lack of information."


    "Sending you was not truly with the expectation of success, but a mere probe."


    "Now, he has obtained the information he wanted from this probe."


    Otogirusu brushed the long hair in front of her with her fingers, annoyed: "These exchanges between you big figures are so hard to understand, what a hassle."


    "...Well, now that the official matter is done, let''s discuss some interesting personal affairs~"


    "Youqing, how far have you and Xue Jun progressed?"


    Otogirusu asked with a face full of curiosity.


    Youqing hesitated for a moment, holding her tea cup.


    "First base? Second base? Third base? Or... home run?"


    Otogirusu stood up, leaning over the table with her palms, her beautiful face moving closer to Youqing with an inexplicable excitement.


    "I don''t understand what you''re saying." Youqing turned her head away.


    "Eh~ It''s quite simple, first base is holding hands, second base is kissing, third base is caressing, and home run is... you know, going as far as you can go." Otogirusu explained enthusiastically, counting on her fingers from one to four as she spoke.


    Youqing, holding her forehead, sighed: "It''s not that I don''t understand this... sometimes I really can''t grasp the thoughts of you young people."


    "As a country that emerged from the conservative Confucian cultural sphere of the Far East, can''t you be more reserved?"


    "So, how far have you two gone?" Otogirusu slammed the table, pushing even closer.


    "Why on earth would I tell you." Youqing spoke irritably.


    She couldn''t understand why this person, whom she was meeting for the first time, was asking such deeply private questions.


    Otogirusu''s face showed realization: "Oh~ If it''s to an extent that can''t be said, then you definitely must have done something."


    Youqing: "..."


    "Beyond first base... it seems there''s more."


    Youqing blandly said: "If there''s nothing else, please leave quickly."


    Otogirusu sat back down, resting her chin on her hands on the table, and said leisurely:


    "I envy you, Youqing... with your lofty, fearless demeanor, you probably don''t have to do anything and that person would take the initiative to come to you."


    "However, no matter, I don''t plan to compete with you for that."


    Youqing frowned slightly: "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    Otogirusu''s eyes gleamed as she said: "The best things are hardest to obtain, isn''t that interesting... I''ve decided."


    "Youqing, I want to become sisters with you."


    A question mark appeared on Youqing''s forehead.


    "If we can''t be real sisters, then we''ll be ''sworn sisters''."


    With that, Otogirusu stood up and walked out of the attic.


    With a puzzled expression, Youqing watched Otogirusu leave:

 Chapter 307 The Sisterhoods Declaration, Wu Youqing Suspected of Being Jealous (4K)_2

    "What is she talking about?"Sisters, sworn sisters...


    Wait a second, which ''gan'' is it?


    Sworn sisters or pole sisters?


    The knowledgeable Wu Youqing quickly grasped the meaning of Yu Ga Shenle''s words and her expression changed slightly.


    She then sighed helplessly and said:


    "This Jing, really is..."


    ...(Pole sisters, referring to women who have used the same ''pole'', and by ''pole''... it''s exactly what you''re thinking)


    Xue Jing walked to the library entrance, just about to go up, but spotted a familiar figure walking out slowly with graceful steps.


    "Huh? Lu Sang, what are you doing here?"


    He asked, puzzled.


    Since Yu Ga Shenle followed him back to Qingcheng, although he had refused to let her stay at his house, she still came over now and then to mooch meals and would also visit Hidden Dragon Dojo to spar with him.


    They were in a state where they could meet from time to time.


    Yu Ga Shenle also saw Xue Jing and was a bit surprised, but after hearing what he said, she pouted and said, "Oh Jing, you recognized the wrong person again. I''m Shenle, not Sir Otogirusu."


    "Haven''t you played enough with this persona? Enough already," Xue Jing said.


    "I don''t understand Chinese well, didn''t get it," Yu Ga Shenle turned her head and said.


    "You''re here to read books? Qing University Library is not open to outsiders, how did you get in?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Yu Ga Shenle blinked: "Is that so? I just asked a student, and he brought me in."


    She didn''t climb over the fence with martial arts, but entered through normal means? Xue Jing was somewhat surprised. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But then again, though he personally wasn''t very excited, Yu Ga Shenle being a top beauty, ordinary people couldn''t resist her; just a word from her and they would fall under her charm. Convincing someone to kill might not work, but getting an outsider into the library, a minor but illegal thing, was definitely more than feasible. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Alright, I''ve got some things to handle, you go have fun by yourself."


    Xue Jing said and was about to jump over the turnstile... he didn''t bring his student card.


    "By the way, Xue Jun, I should be going back in a couple of days," Yu Ga Shenle said softly.


    Xue Jing nodded at her: "Is that so, have a safe trip... By the way, what about your appearance?"


    Yu Ga Shenle pulled out a ribbon from her bosom.


    It was the ''Yi Chai''er Bian'' stitched by Xue Jing with the Flawless Spear Technique.


    The sewing marks originally on it had now disappeared, and it appeared to have been fully restored.


    "Yi Chai''er Bian was repaired yesterday. I''ve already contacted the Far East via phone, Xue Jun need not worry," she said.


    Xue Jing nodded: "That''s good then."


    "Xue Jun, if you had to choose, whom would you like more, Sir Otogirusu or me?"


    Yu Ga Shenle suddenly asked.


    "What kind of question is that, aren''t both you?" Xue Jing said with a grimace.


    "Nope, so which one would you choose?" Yu Ga Shenle smiled and asked.


    Xue Jing felt they were both similar, but the Yu Ga Suzuka form had the Ascending Dragon Sword, which was extremely appealing, so Xue Jing said:


    "I''d choose you."


    Yu Ga Shenle''s expression didn''t change, she murmured softly: "Oh~ I see."


    "However," Xue Jing suddenly said.


    "Although I don''t know what you''re thinking, but..."


    "The multiple-choice questions of this world don''t always force you to choose just one option."


    "if you''re wondering whether you should maintain a male or female body or something weird like that, my advice is to take them all."


    Saying this, Xue Jing added:


    "Ah, I''m not saying you should become a futa (a person with a female appearance but with ''pole''), just that you should freely switch forms according to your own will."


    Yu Ga Shenle tilted her head: "Ah? You don''t mind?"


    Xue Jing rolled his eyes: "Why should I mind."


    Yu Ga Shenle chuckled meaninglessly twice and said, "Fine, I''ll ask you this question again at some moment in the future."


    "Goodbye, Xue Jun~"


    Yu Ga Shenle waved her hand and walked toward the gate of Qing University.


    Xue Jing watched her graceful retreating figure for a while, then turned around, crossed the turnstile, entered the library, and headed for the seventh floor.


    ...


    Upon reaching the seventh floor, Xue Jing saw that figure sitting quietly on a wooden chair, and a sense of peaceful tranquility spread in his heart.


    Today, Saint Youqing seemed odd, as she wasn''t reading but was sliding something on her phone screen instead.


    "BOSS."


    Xue Jing walked up to her and greeted curiously,


    "What are you looking at?"


    Wu Youqing shifted her gaze from the phone, giving him a mysterious look,


    "Reading news comments."


    Xue Jing peeked and found it was a discussion page about him.


    As the most recent, wildly popular U19 champion, his popularity was soaring, with numerous discussions about him online.


    Wu Youqing''s finger was paused on a comment from someone.


    [Close to cinnabar, Jing and deer are sweet].


    ...it was about shipping him and Otogirusu.


    Xue Jing made a strange face and coughed, "Why bother with such things, they''re pointless, people online just say whatever."


    Wu Youqing neither agreed nor disagreed, she pocketed her phone and said indifferently, "What do you want?"


    Her tone was as usual, but for some reason, Xue Jing felt it was a bit colder than usual.


    He scratched his head, his voice involuntarily softening a bit as he said, "You know, I just slaughtered a Parasitic Candle, and there are many things about it I don''t understand, so I wanted to discuss it with you."


    ''You'' came out.


    Wu Youqing scoffed sarcastically, "It seems you only come to me at times like these."


    Xue Jing: "Huh?"


    This baby Buddha was acting like he had swallowed gunpowder, not very Buddha-like at all.


    "Not at all, I''d stay here every day if I didn''t fear bothering you," Xue Jing asserted righteously.


    "Don''t promise things you can''t deliver; that flattery only works on ordinary women," Wu Youqing said flatly.


    "Private Marseilles," Xue Jing bowed his head.


    "Why are you speaking Japanese, planning to marry into the Far East or something!?" Wu Youqing glared at him.


    Xue Jing looked innocently rebuked.


    It was just... a playful joke.


    "No, seriously, that''s unjust... If I were to marry anyone, it''d be you," he quickly protested.


    Wu Youqing''s expression slightly paused, non-committally grunting, "Hmph, better be."


    Hmm? Her mood seemed a bit better... Xue Jing keenly sensed a slight softening in Wu Youqing''s unconscious tone.


    "All right, hurry up, what do you want to ask?"


    Youqing turned her head away, not looking at Xue Jing as she spoke.


    Seeing her change the subject, Xue Jing smiled and went along, beginning to share his speculations.


    He talked about why the strange creature, Parasitic Candle, would appear in this world and seemed to specifically target him, mentioning that his birthday coincidentally matched the day the Boundary Shock that brought the Parasitic Candle appeared.


    "...BOSS, do you think, could there be an entity in the Otherworld coveting the power within me, preparing for over a decade, just to have the Parasitic Candle cross realms and target me today?"


    Wu Youqing listened intently and slowly said,


    "Your guess is very likely correct."


    Xue Jing pondered, "Is that so."


    "It''s also time to enlighten you about some things."

 Chapter 311

    Xue Jing was ecstatic.It really worked!


    Knowledge was absorbed from Zong Shichan''s head, and Xue Jing felt something enter his palm, flowing through the channel into his brain before moving into the consciousness residing in the deepest layer of his brain.


    Coiling Dragon Art, Armor Shaking Skill, Tiger Essence Boxing... makeup knowledge, elementary Chinese, math, history, twenty beautiful braided hairstyles, methods for a princess to deal with sycophantic kids her age...


    A stream of various fragmented and incomplete pieces of knowledge kept flowing in, causing Xue Jing to furrow his brows.


    What a mess this is.


    As the knowledge was absorbed, Xue Jing felt his spirit burdened like a person holding up their hands, getting heavy objects piled on incessantly, making the spiritual load heavier and heavier.


    "Is this the feeling others have when they receive ''Empowerment,'' rapidly taking in knowledge that''s not their own?"


    Xue Jing pondered.


    He carefully controlled the speed of the knowledge intake, constantly observing Zong Shichan''s condition and ready to stop if anything seemed amiss with her.


    Unlike those who received ''Empowerment,'' the little girl didn''t seem to feel any burden. Instead, she blinked her eyes and watched her master, appearing to have little reaction.


    "The knowledge absorbed is so vast and scattered, messy... In this case, this technique probably isn''t as useful as I had imagined."


    "Taking in such alien knowledge so quickly is a significant burden on the spirit. A person''s mind can hold so much varied knowledge, and if I can''t accurately absorb the knowledge I want, even the thoughts of a teenager could overwhelm my capacity to endure."


    "It seems that my idea of capturing people to absorb martial arts and amassing the strengths of thousands to expedite the mastery of the ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'' Near-God Move is a bit unrealistic..."


    Xue Jing shook his head slightly.


    Just then, a burst of golden light suddenly began to emanate from the depths of his consciousness.


    The golden light grew brighter and diffused around, settling on the periphery of his consciousness.


    The complex fragments of knowledge being transferred from the little girl disintegrated upon contact with the golden light, vanishing like snow under the blazing sun.


    The unexpected scene momentarily surprised Xue Jing, who was introspecting.


    The knowledge fragments that were not dissolved by the golden light smoothly reached Xue Jing''s consciousness.


    All of them... were related to Tiger Essence Boxing.


    This was the martial art Zong Shichan practiced before she became Xue Jing''s disciple and switched to the Hidden Dragon School, unique in its cultivation and application of qi force. However, it wasn''t quite suitable for women with innately frail bodies.


    Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    This was also the only thing Xue Jing subconsciously felt to be useful among the girl''s knowledge.


    "Golden light... Could it be the ''Thirty-Two Buddha Forms - Radiating Light''?"


    One of the Thirty-two Buddha Forms¡ªa Buddha''s bodily light can shine beyond the body, stretching to all sides, each side extending one zhang. It''s said that this light can ''remove confusion and break barriers.''


    This form had manifested on Xue Jing before when he practiced the Nirvana Technique during sleep, and a faint golden light would appear on his body.


    I never thought it could be applied here.


    "Remove confusion and break barriers... It''s like a filter, blocking and dissipating everything I don''t want outside, only allowing the ''knowledge'' I wish for to pass through."


    Xue Jing was ecstatic.


    Under the illumination of the golden light, only the knowledge fragments related to Tiger Essence Boxing managed to reach his consciousness.


    With this, the mental burden Xue Jing was bearing dramatically diminished. To him, this level of knowledge was nothing more than a gentle breeze and light rain. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Time slowly passed, twenty minutes later.


    Not a single fragment of knowledge from the little girl could get past the golden filter anymore, so Xue Jing slowly withdrew his hand.


    "Master, are you okay now?"


    Zong Shichan asked, concerned, upon noticing.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I''m fine. How do you feel?"


    No sooner had he spoken than Xue Jing''s expression froze... something felt a bit odd about this conversation.


    Zong Shichan looked confused: "Nothing, Master. Did you do something to me?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing''s eyes showed understanding, almost grasping the principle of ''Empowerment.''


    This Extraordinary Skill of receiving knowledge and experiences put an immense strain on the receiver''s spirit, a price to pay for rapidly taking in knowledge that''s not their own.


    As for the giver, they only need to expend a bit of their spiritual power to ''imprint'' what''s theirs and pass it on to the other party.


    Simply put, the existing knowledge of the one giving Empowerment is like the ''type'' of a letterpress, and giving Empowerment is akin to inking the type and pressing it onto the receiver.


    The recipient, on the other hand, must quickly carve their own ''type'' based on the ''ink'' impressions.


    Fearing that ''Absorption'' might harm Zong Shichan, Xue Jing activated it very carefully, inking her ''type'' bit by bit before printing.


    Since this was already a low strain on the spirit, further moderated by Xue Jing''s careful and slow operation, of course, the little girl felt nothing.


    ...But why did Xue Jing feel a bit peeved hearing the girl''s remark?


    "Come on, stretch your head over here again, I''ll add a BUFF to you."


    Xue Jing smiled and waved to Zong Shichan.


    "Okay!"


    Zong Shichan grinned and bowed her head, leaning forward like a monk taking vows.


    The master''s hands were warm and comforting¡­ "Ahhh!!"

 Chapter 312 Xue Jing, Specially Treated, Dragon Tide and the Four True Dragons, Divine Factor! (4K)

    Xue Jing left the house and sped towards White Crow Base.The airplane sent by Cease-Blade to pick him up had landed there.


    Arriving at White Crow Base, from a distance, Xue Jing saw a technologically advanced silver-gray airplane parked on the ground.


    Different from the White Crow airplane that had carried him before, this airplane from Cease-Blade was overall a size larger and had more dangerous-looking weapons mounted on its surface, resembling a dangerous beast lying in wait.


    It was said that these Dragon Core Airplanes must be strictly designed according to the level of the Dragon Breed core organs they carried. Judging by this, the plane sent by Cease-Blade seemed to be of a higher grade than White Crow''s.


    Ning Yuantai was talking with the Xuren Squad next to the airplane''s cabin door. Seeing Xue Jing approach, Ning''s eyes lit up, and he waved and called out,


    "Xue!"


    Xue Jing nodded at him, then looked towards Captain Void Blade and asked,


    "Captain Void Blade, what''s the current situation in the unfinished building area?"


    Void Blade replied, "Don''t worry, it''s been checked many times over, the pollution rate has always been 0%. It should be completely resolved... quite incredible." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This has never happened before; an area that underwent mutation and pollution, even if suppressed, should maintain at least a 1% pollution rate. There has never been a complete return to 0%..."


    "This situation is very much worth investigating. White Crow Headquarters has already sent experts to study it, and even the ''Black Nest,'' those who think too highly of themselves and can''t function without money, have said they would send people over."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled, "Then your mission here in Qingcheng is completely finished, right? Are you planning to leave?"


    The Xuren Squad had come to Qingcheng following a smuggling gang from the Intersecting Boundaries carrying the ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother'' and stayed until now because they detected a potential overlap of dimensions in the South City unfinished building area.


    Now that the mutation and pollution in the unfinished building area were resolved, it was about time for them to part ways. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    "We haven''t received the orders from above yet," the Mountain Demon interjected.


    "There are countless incidents related to the Intersecting Boundaries happening all the time, and White Crow''s casualty rate is very high. We''re always understaffed. Usually, once a mission is complete, we''re immediately assigned the next one with no time to rest."


    "...But it''s strange, after the captain reported the completion of our mission, we only received instructions to stand by in Qingcheng."


    Mountain Demon stroked his chin, "Maybe the captain is getting a promotion. The newly established base here doesn''t have a base chief yet."


    Void Blade gave Xue Jing an inscrutable glance and said, "Who knows."


    "Alright, alright, almost time to depart," Ning Yuantai said.


    "The Martial Arts Examination is in three days, Xue, Cease-Blade has specially planned a secret and safe flight route for us. If we leave now, it will take us about two days to reach there. Let''s go!"


    Xue Jing, curious, asked, "Oh? A secret route?"


    Ning Yuantai gave a thumbs up, "Right, absolutely covert and safe, known to no one."


    Traveling far across city regions in this era was not an easy task, affected by ''Eternal Night'' and various creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries. Beyond the defensive lines of the cities at the edge of the metropolitan areas lay an extremely dangerous ''Evil Land.''


    Not only was the environment extremely harsh and unsuitable for human living, but myriad creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries that had arrived in this world had also established a unique food chain within the Evil Land, with countless powerful species everywhere, quite terrifying.


    Ordinary people could go their whole lives without ever leaving their city region, lacking the resources to do so.


    Generally speaking, there were a few methods to cross city regions.


    One was to be an overwhelmingly powerful individual, crossing the Evil Land on their own.


    Another was to travel in groups along well-planned routes that were relatively safe, avoiding the extremely dangerous areas of the Evil Land as much as possible.


    The safest, yet most demanding, was to take a Dragon Core Airplane.


    Dragon Core Airplanes could avoid the threats posed by most Dragon Breeds in the sky. However, flight routes still needed planning to skirt the territories of top-level dangerous creatures and some unique Intersecting Boundaries.


    Those who had Dragon Core Airplanes were basically top-tier powers, each planning their private secret routes that varied from one to another.


    Although it was the safest way to move across city regions, Xue Jing still bore a strange expression hearing Ning Yuantai''s assertion that it was "absolutely covert and safe":


    "Are you sure?"


    So far, he hadn''t been on a single flight without incident¡­


    Sometimes, he even wondered if his last name was ''Joe''.


    The glaringly obvious 10,000+ "robbery" on the attribute table gave him a bad feeling whenever Ning Yuantai set such a flag.


    "Just trust me, nothing will go wrong!"


    Ning Yuantai insisted, grinning with a flash of his bright white teeth.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly and he said, "Alright then."


    "I''ll be going first, see you later."


    He waved to the Xuren Squad.


    With that, he stepped toward the cabin door and boarded the airplane.


    The massive Dragon Core Airplane slowly took off, hovering upwards, while Void Blade, arms crossed, looked up after it and said softly,


    "This is definitely going to be a problem; there''s something off about Xue Jing''s constitution."


    Mountain Demon laughed, "Haha, I think so too."


    ...


    The ground grew increasingly distant in the line of sight as the Dragon Core Fighter reached high above the ten thousand meters in altitude.


    Xue Jing''s gaze moved away from the porthole and walked around the cabin.


    This airplane was much larger than the one from White Crow, with a completely different interior layout ¨C more spacious and even luxurious.

 Chapter 313 Six Thousand Divinities, A Sky Full of Dragons, Bring the Plane Over! (4K)

    Divine Factor, extracted from the body of "Divine Son Adam" isn''t a material nor energy but a special element obtained after dilution.It has numerous effects... but for Xue Jing, its function was simple.


    This thing was recognized by the Skill Panel as "Divinity" itself.


    As he slightly moved his palm away from the glass bottle containing the Divine Factor, the continuously increasing Divinity on the panel suddenly stopped.


    Xue Jing did not lose his mind and drain this thing dry, as he still hadn''t quite figured out the situation.


    After all, stored in the glass bottle, it wouldn''t suddenly grow legs and run away, so he decided to wait and see.


    Especially since this bottle of Divine Factor was so cleverly hidden within the wall¡ª if it was important to that commander, and then he stole it, it could lead to serious trouble.


    Xue Jing reached into the drawer and pulled out the curled document.


    The cover was blank, with no title written.


    Xue Jing flipped open the cover and began to seriously read through the document.


    The content was mostly in Chinese, with only a part using English for words that couldn''t be accurately translated.


    Soon, he recognized from the contents what this document was.


    ¡ª"Human Ultimate Limit Breaking Method."


    From research documents on the effect of Divinity, discussions on human body limits, how to test adaptability to the Divine Factor... to methods of injecting Divine Factor, and how to most efficiently train and absorb afterwards...


    This document extensively detailed how humans could utilize Divinity for "Ultimate Breakthrough," with meticulous attention to every detail.


    After briefly skimming through it once, Xue Jing closed the file, eyes reflecting thought.


    "... What does this mean?"


    This document, along with a bottle of Divine Factor... what is the Cease-Blades commander trying to do?


    According to Ning Yuantai, this commander had already completed three Ultimate Breakthroughs and must have mastered the Ultimate Limit Breaking Method thoroughly, having no need to leave behind this paper document.


    Moreover, this bottle of Divine Factor... Such a small bottle, the size of a drinkable liquid, could easily be carried around and didn''t need to be hidden away.


    Additionally, it was stored on the plane that transported him, placed inside the master bedroom that ''only he could enter.''


    There was a vague feeling that it was specifically prepared for him.


    "But why hide it in this concealed compartment?"


    "Because the information is highly classified, and the Divine Factor is very precious, afraid that subordinates might see it and covet it?"


    Xue Jing frowned slightly, feeling that it wasn''t as simple as that.


    If it really was prepared for him, hiding it in a secret compartment seemed somewhat superfluous.


    There was already a ''no one but Xue Jing allowed'' rule in place, and as the commander of Cease-Blades, absolutely no one would dare cross her, and even if there were subordinates bold enough to do so, they wouldn''t be arranged to be on the plane.


    Although the design of the hidden compartment was simple, its secrecy was extreme. With gaps smaller than microns, Xue Jing wouldn''t have discovered this place had something hidden if not for possessing superhuman vision from a Lv10 [Aiming] skill.


    Weren''t they afraid that he would never find it from beginning to end?


    Or perhaps, this was a test for him, and only if he found it would it be considered giving it to him?


    It couldn''t be meant to frame him for theft by deliberately hiding it here.


    Xue Jing contemplated many possibilities but, due to not knowing the true attitude of that commander towards him and lacking sufficient information, he couldn''t find the correct answer.


    "Forget it, never mind."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


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    No matter what the Cease-Blades commander intended to do, his approach had always been the same.


    Anything directed at him, be it coated in sugar or a cannonball, what he needed to do was to eat the sugar coating and ignore the cannonball.


    The Divine Factor, he would take, but this "Ultimate Limit Breaking Method"...


    Xue Jing looked through it again, memorized the contents, and then tossed it back into the hidden cabinet.


    He wouldn''t practice it.


    The Skill Panel was his pathway to the heavens. Divinity would only be used on the panel and not wasted on the uncertain and potentially risky "Ultimate Breakthrough."


    He just memorized the content because it might be useful in the future.


    Then he reached for the bottle of Divine Factor. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Detecting Divinity, absorbing...]


    On the panel, Divinity began to rise continuously, but the speed was very slow, fluctuating between two or three points per second to one point every four or five seconds.


    After a thought, Xue Jing flicked his finger, popping the cap of the glass bottle off.


    Immediately, the fluid-like golden powder in the bottle, defying gravity, floated out from the bottle''s mouth.


    There were no air currents fluctuating in the room, but the sparkling golden powder moved on its own as if alive, floating around in inexplicably beautiful motions.


    Xue Jing extended his hand, and all the golden powder, when it came within about five centimeters of his hand, was attracted like a magnet, sticking to his hand.


    Upon contact with his skin, the Divine Factor began to melt and fuse into it as if absorbed.


    At the same time, the Divinity value on the Skill Panel rapidly skyrocketed.


    428...


    499...


    567...


    With a speed of dozens of points per second, seeing this, Xue Jing lifted the glass bottle directly above his head, and then continuously shook it vigorously.


    All the Divine Factor in the bottle shook out of the mouth and showered down on Xue Jing''s head.


    The Divinity index on the panel exploded instantly.

 Chapter 313 Six Thousand Divinities, A Sky Full of Dragon Groups, Move the Plane Over! (4K)_2

    2067...3051...


    4399...


    Until all the Divine Factors had been absorbed by Xue Jing, a notification popped up on the panel: [Divine Absorption Complete].


    At this point, the quantity of Divinity had reached [6277].


    "...Damn!"


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but throw the glass bottle to the floor, blurting out.


    Just this little bottle... nearly six thousand points of Divinity!?


    Then why did he even ask The Sixth Agency for a Divine Relic as a reward?


    Why not just give him the Divine Factors directly?


    Xue Jing rubbed his forehead, pressing down on his somewhat racing heart.


    "As for the importance of intelligence..."


    If he had known about this stuff earlier, he might have instantly agreed when Void Blade recruited him to the White Crow.


    "...However, Divine Factors are extremely precious, and even for an organization like The Sixth Agency, they must be quite scarce. The merits I set up in exchange for Divine Factors probably wouldn''t have yielded much more than the absorption from the Divine Relics."


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered.


    From now on, he''d need to increase his enthusiasm for tasks entrusted to him by White Crow and Cease-Blades.


    "Six thousand, huh."


    Although he still had doubts about what the commander of Cease-Blades was up to, looking at the quantity of Divinity on the panel, Xue Jing felt quite pleased.


    Just starting the journey and already such an unexpected gain, life was getting better and better!


    Xue Jing bounced up, lying down on the soft large bed, beginning to spend while humming a tune.


    First, naturally, he had to upgrade [Weapon Master] which was already full of experience points.


    [Weapon Master Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    Click upgrade.


    [Weapon Master Lv3 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Required: Experience Points 0/40000, Divinity 5277/2000]


    "Next is [Dragon Horn]..."


    As the main skill he had decided to upgrade his Divinity into, Xue Jing did not hesitate to click upgrade.


    Lv6 turned into [Dragon Horn Lv7 (Upgrade Required Divinity: 3077/3000)]


    He still had exactly three thousand points, enough to upgrade it to Lv8.


    But just as Xue Jing was about to click upgrade, he hesitated for a moment and stopped.


    "Let''s just wait for now, keep it on hold, in case any skill suddenly becomes sublimated. The current level is completely sufficient for practice anyway, and if I really need it, upgrading is just a momentary affair."


    He thought to himself.


    Since he was on a plane, it was not convenient to test the effects of the two skill upgrades right now. Xue Jing lay on the bed, took out his mobile phone, and had a chat with Xue Wan and some classmates who had messaged him, then began practicing the Nirvana Technique and deeply fell asleep.


    ...


    "£¤&£¤#$*&%¡ª¡ª"


    A noisy sound faintly transmitted from outside the door. In the dim room, Xue Jing, whose body was emitting layers of golden light, slowly opened his eyes, his dark red eyes gradually retracting their compassionate expression.


    His precise biological clock told him it was two thirty-six and fifty-two seconds in the middle of the night.


    Xue Jing sat up, got off the bed, didn''t bother changing out of his white bathrobe, and walked out of the room.


    At this time, most people on the plane were in deep sleep, and the corridor was very quiet. Xue Jing followed the noisy sound all the way to the cockpit.


    After opening the door, he saw Ning Yuantai standing next to the pilot''s seat, staring at the screen and talking with the captain.


    "What happened?"


    Xue Jing asked as he walked over.


    Ning Yuantai turned around: "Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Lord Jing!"


    The other people in the cabin also respectfully greeted him.


    "Xue, you came just in time!"


    Ning Yuantai quickly said.


    He pointed at the window ahead, motioning for Xue Jing to look.


    Xue Jing looked up and immediately saw¡ª


    Dragon Breed.


    Thousands upon thousands, filling the sky, countless Dragon Breeds as far as the eye could see.


    Despite their differing forms, looks, and sizes, without exception, they all shared the traits of Dragon Breeds¡ªhorns, vertical pupils, bodies covered in scales, flying on their own.


    All the Dragon Breeds had extremely aggressive expressions, continuously opening their mouths to emit angry roars, attacking and fighting each other desperately, dragon blood raining from the sky, bodies falling like dense raindrops.


    "...What are they doing?"


    Xue Jing asked, frowning slightly.


    Ning Yuantai shook his head, "Not sure yet... Right after the plane arrived here, we suddenly saw it packed with Dragon Breeds ahead, and the pilot immediately had to stop, not knowing what to do." Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing spoke, "Can''t we go around?"


    "We''ve already tried... Whether going up, down, left, or right, either we get blocked by the Dragon Breeds, with them attacking as soon as we approach, or we deviate from the flight path and enter the dangerous Evil Land area." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said,


    "...This seems like a situation that occurs only during a ''Dragon Tide''."


    Xue Jing glanced at him, "Dragon Tide?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded, "Yes... That Super Organism ''Dragon Mother'' that orbits Earth Star goes into a ''frenzy period'' every once in a while."


    "At that time, its reproduction rate will explode, rapidly... In a very short time, it will give birth to a large number of dragon offspring, and almost all the Dragon Breeds will enter a frenzied state."


    "Their aggression increases greatly, even the same species that usually don''t attack each other are considered targets, not to mention other creatures."


    "This phenomenon, we call a ''Dragon Tide''... Dragon Breeds will viciously attack everything they see, even the ground territories of major nations that they usually dare not approach."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "But a ''Dragon Tide'' usually happens only once every five to six years, and I remember the last one was about three years ago, so I''m not sure if it''s really that."


    Xue Jing listened, his expression somewhat speechless.


    A Dragon Tide that normally happens only once every five or six years...


    Yet it had to occur just as he was on a plane heading to another metropolitan circle.


    It was hard for him not to suspect it was related to him.


    To think he had just set off and there was a big discovery waiting for him here.


    "It''s still uncertain now; it might be something else, like maybe a few ''Emperor Dragons'' fighting for territory?"


    Ning Yuantai speculated.


    Emperor Dragon, Xue Jing had read about this special Dragon Breed.


    It is a peculiar existence that has the ability to command other Dragon Breeds, always accompanied by several others, but besides this has no special ability, and its own combat power is rather weak, thus it is also jokingly called ''Kid Dragon'' by some.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "Don''t be hopeful... This scale of an onslaught, no way it''s Emperor Dragons fighting over territory."


    He knew his own unlucky fortune all too well, and it wasn''t surprising for him to run into a major event like the ''Dragon Tide''.


    "What do we do now?"


    Ning Yuantai hesitated, "...For now, the best thing would be to turn around and go back, plan a new safe route."


    "But the problem is... we can''t guarantee the new route won''t encounter this situation either."


    "Plus, planning a new route takes time, the journey would also be longer, may not necessarily make it to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle before the Martial Arts Examination starts."


    Xue Jing nodded,


    "I understand."


    So it ended up like this again...


    He sighed quietly, moved his wrist slightly, and spoke faintly,


    "Bring the plane closer."


    Ning Yuantai & Pilot: "What?"


    "But..."


    Xue Jing spoke decisively, "Open the cabin door, let me out."


    "Then, just fly forward, don''t worry about anything else."


    His tone didn''t contain much force, just emotionless and casual.


    But Ning Yuantai was shivering all over, his face showing excitement and admiration,


    "Alright, bring the ship¡­ no, the plane closer!"


    The pilot looked panicked, hesitating, "Uh? But..."


    Ning Yuantai slapped his hand on his head, threatening, "No buts!"


    "Do you think I''m just anyone!"


    The pilot swallowed his saliva, not speaking.


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai stretched his hand towards the control panel, "You won''t do it, huh? What does this button do."


    He pretended to press it, and the pilot hurriedly said, "Okay okay, I''ll fly, I''ll fly, just slow down a bit, Ning!"


    ...

 Chapter 315 Super Organism Burning Tumor Sky Ice, Extreme Martial Ascension Palace! (4K)

    Woken up in the middle of the night by a dragon blockade, Xue Jing didn''t return to his room to sleep, but chatted idly with Ning Yuantai, keeping an eye on the activities outside.Although Ning Yuantai repeatedly assured him that the flight route was secretive and safe, and the dragon''s blockade was just a freak accident, Xue Jing felt that with his current situation, it was better to believe in mysticism than in science.


    It was better to be careful; you wouldn''t want the plane to suddenly explode, as he, alone, couldn''t reach the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Anyway, given his high levels of energy, not sleeping for ten days or even half a month wouldn''t be a big deal.


    Fortunately, no other incidents occurred afterward, and the plane flew steadily on the arranged route for the entire day.


    "Xue, look over there!"


    Ning Yuantai suddenly pointed towards a far-off scene outside the right porthole.


    Following his direction, Xue Jing saw a gigantic pillar of fire soaring into the sky from the distant land. He roughly estimated it to be at least ten thousand meters high, continuously ejecting countless sparks and molten lava.


    Such a spectacle was quite shocking to Xue Jing, similar to the feeling he had when he first saw the Sky Center.


    "What''s that?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    "That''s a special Intersecting Boundaries, serial number F457, called ''Burning Garden''," Ning Yuantai explained, "it''s a rare A+ level mega Intersecting Boundaries."


    "Most of the Flame Habitat Species, including the ''Furnace Noble Species'' you encountered before, come from this Intersecting Boundaries." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Most of the world''s Intersecting Boundaries are ''regional,'' but the Burning Garden is different; it''s a ''Connected Boundary.''"


    "That fire pillar is similar to a portal; we step into it and will be transported to the Burning Garden. There are many such portals all over the world, all leading to the same ''Burning Garden.''"


    Ning Yuantai introduced with great enthusiasm.


    "In fact, places like ''Burning Garden'' feel more like another world, and not Intersecting Boundaries dependent on this world... but as we have yet to find evidence that it is an Otherworld, we have to temporarily consider it as an Intersecting Boundaries."


    "The environment inside is said to be quite interesting; it''s a world engulfed in flames, where the lowest temperature is above three hundred degrees."


    "But can you believe it rains there? Although it''s a rain of liquid iron, one drop could penetrate a person''s skull..."


    "To stay in the Burning Garden for long, even the top-notch masters must wear protective suits made from the skin of the Heavenly Jellyfish¡­"


    Xue Jing watched the pillar of fire and nodded, "Interesting, I''d like to experience it myself if I get the chance in the future."


    "What''s even more interesting is the origin of Burning Garden which is related to a Super Organism," Ning Yuantai said with a smile.


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    "Oh? How so?" Xue Jing asked curiously.


    Super Organisms with a danger level above ten, capable of destroying the world.


    No one would be uninterested in the tales of such beings.


    Ning Yuantai chose his words carefully and slowly said, "That was an event from more than fifty years ago."


    "At that time, Zhuxia had just gone through a ''major event'' and, though severely weakened, was on the road to recovery and prospering."


    "Then suddenly, a major disaster struck."


    "It was a disaster that not only threatened Zhuxia but also countries in the vicinity of the Northwest Pacific region and even had the potential to put the entire globe at risk."


    Ning Yuantai drew a huge circle in the air with his hands.


    "It was a massive sphere, over two thousand kilometers in diameter, that looked like an ugly tumor on fire."


    "Our official code name for it is ''Burning Tumor.''"


    "Undoubtedly, it was a Super Organism with a danger level above ten."


    "It appeared out of nowhere, descending on the sea surface of the Northwest Pacific, instantly evaporating an enormous amount of sea water, with the rising steam causing torrential rains around the globe."


    Ning Yuantai raised a hand and held up three fingers, speaking solemnly,


    "Three days, the ''Burning Tumor'' existed in this world for only three days."


    "Yet, in just those short three days, the global sea level rose by 2.47 meters, and the global average temperature permanently increased by 1.06 degrees."


    "Experts later speculated that if the Burning Tumor continued to exist on this planet, even without doing anything, it would take only three months to exterminate most of humanity."


    "It would recreate the Great Flood from the Genesis legend, submerging the vast majority of land."


    Global temperature rise, melting of polar ice caps, rapid sea level rise inundating land, massive vapor causing continuous terror rains...


    Such was the terrifying threat of the Super Organism to humanity.


    "So it only survived for three days? How was it dealt with?" Xue Jing inquired, curious.


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "That''s top-secret information, beyond what I would know."


    "All I know is that it involved a joint effort led by Zhuxia, collaborating with several strong nations from the East Asia region and the Arctic Second Federation, paying a great price to defeat it."


    "However, I''ve heard some rumors¡ªthe crucial intervention in the successful defeat was by the ''Extreme Martial King.''"


    "I''m not clear if the information is accurate, but after the victory, the allocation of spoils did favor Zhuxia, we gained the Core Organ of the ''Burning Tumor.'' From this point of view, the rumors are likely true."

 Chapter 315 Super Organism Burning Tumor Sky Ice, Extreme Martial Ascension Palace! (4K)_2

    Xue Jing, upon hearing this, nodded with a sigh, "If it''s true, that he could play a key role in the operation to subdue Super Organisms all by himself, the strength of the Extreme Martial King is indeed beyond imagination."Ning Yuantai said, "Indeed."


    He pointed towards the port window outside where one could still see the towering pillar of fire that reached ten thousand meters high.


    "The power of the Burning Tumor is evident from that. Just a few sparks thrown out have burnt numerous holes in the present world. That there is one of those ''sparks.''"


    "Now, many in the academic community believe that the Burning Garden is not an Intersecting Boundaries but an Otherworld where the ''Burning Tumor'' originated."


    "However, such ''Connected Boundary'' is not unique to the Burning Garden, therefore there''s no conclusive evidence to prove it is an Otherworld. With an attitude of strictness, the academic community can only classify it as an ''ultra-large Intersecting Boundaries.''"


    As they chatted casually, time slowly passed by.


    Xue Jing''s worries did not come true, and it felt as if the heavens were playing with him. When he was fully on guard, the journey was extremely calm, indeed secret and safe throughout.


    One day later.


    "Xue, we''re about to arrive at the Seventh Metropolitan Circle."


    Xue Jing, who was resting with his eyes closed in his seat, opened his eyes upon hearing Ning Yuantai''s voice.


    "We can already see the Border City Defense Line, and there''s still plenty of time before the Martial Arts Examination begins. Shall we take a stroll around?"


    Ning Yuantai suggested.


    "The Seventh Metropolitan Circle has a strong martial arts atmosphere, and many of the hunters from the Intersecting Boundaries in Border City are strong Martial Artists. The city has developed many interesting things to cater to the interests of this group..."


    Xue Jing remained indifferent and shook his head, "No, let''s go straight to Silver City."


    He was certain that these chaotic places would definitely stir up trouble for him the moment he set foot there.


    Better not to delay; he didn''t want to be that person who always just made a grand entrance at the last minute...


    Although he had put on quite a show before, it was all out of necessity, not his intention.


    "Alrighty."


    Ning Yuantai naturally had no objections to Xue Jing''s wishes.


    Soon, the airplane thundered across the sky, crossing over the Border City Defense Line and into the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    What Xue Jing and the others didn''t know was that on a dilapidated smelly gutter street in the 461st Border City of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle on the ground, someone was looking up, watching the fast-disappearing airplane.


    It was a bald man wearing only a denim jacket on his upper body, revealing his muscular arms and chest. His fearsome tattoos told tales of the countless brutal battles he had experienced, his battle-hardened aura radiating in all directions, intimidating to behold.


    The man pulled out an almost antique flip phone from his chest pocket, clumsily pressed several numbers, then made a call.


    "Hello... Laozi saw it, I recognize the plane; it''s His Excellency the Commander''s."


    "..."


    "It didn''t stop; he went straight in."


    "..."


    "No rush, this time he''s in for it... Have those young Troublemakers arrived yet?" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    "I''ll catch up immediately... But you should also understand, I''m the last resort. If it comes to me taking action, then it most likely means most of the plan has failed."


    "..."


    After chatting on the phone for a while, the bald man slowly closed the flip phone and then placed it in his palm, grasping it with his large hand and giving it a light squeeze.


    When he opened his hand again, the flip phone had been crushed into a round black ball the size of a lollipop, smoothed as though it had been polished by countless machines, reflecting a gleam of black light.


    Tossing the small black ball to the side, the bald man strode forward. Just in front of him, there was a muscular man walking towards him, who inadvertently met his gaze.


    "Huh?" The bald man removed his sunglasses with one hand, revealing a pair of fierce, lion-like eyes.


    "What the fuck are you looking at?" he snapped.


    The muscular man also immediately stopped in his tracks, "Huh? Just looking at you, what about it? Can''t I look?"


    A slap descended from the air, pressing down on the crown of the muscular man''s head and then steadily crushing down.


    Muscles, bones, organs... a series of shattering sounds from inside the body continued nonstop. The towering figure of the muscle man was flattened to less than five centimeters in a single second, barely even having time to scream before turning into a pancake.


    It was like a bag filled with blood had burst. Dark blood was squeezed out, spraying as far as seven or eight meters around.


    Passersby who witnessed the scene paused slightly but simply glanced in that direction before moving on as usual, as if such a brutal public slaying was nothing but a triviality.


    "Fucking filth, dirtying my hands."


    The man, with a look of disgust, shook the bits of flesh from his hand and sauntered away nonchalantly.


    ...


    Five hours later.


    The speeding airplane crossed over the Outer Ring of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle and entered the Inner Ring.


    Xue Jing looked out of the airplane window and saw snowflakes falling continuously through the layer of clouds below.


    "...It''s snowing."


    Xue Jing watched intently for a while.


    He was born in the Fifth Urban Circle in the south and had never seen snow in his life.


    "The Seventh Metropolitan Circle here is close to the Arctic, so the climate is quite bizarre. Sometimes it can suddenly snow even in the heat of July or August."


    Ning Yuantai spoke.


    Xue Jing, upon hearing this, nodded, "I see... It must be because of ''Sky Ice''."


    Back when he was in Yuan City, he had encountered Otogirusu and a female aristocrat from the Arctic Federation who was also a member of the Troublemakers.


    Curious as to why that female aristocrat wanted to capture a member of the Furnace Noble Species, he had taken some time to learn about the situation in the Arctic Federation.


    He discovered that the Arctic Federation was leading a particularly harsh life... all because there was a Super Organism known as ''Sky Ice'' lurking deep within the Arctic Continent.


    ''Sky Ice'' possessed a bizarre ability to erode boundaries, continuously and relentlessly expanding its territory.


    This caused the already severe climate of the Siberian region to grow even colder, squeezing the living space of the Arctic Federation and leading to the deaths of scores of its citizens each year from freezing.


    And ''Furnace Noble Species'' were among the very few beings capable of resisting such erosion, hence their great demand in the Arctic Federation.


    Yuantai nodded and sighed, "Since its appearance, Sky Ice has been expanding nonstop; sooner or later, it''s a problem we must solve... But the one most capable and most likely to contain Sky Ice has some entanglements with the Arctic Federation. Even though the Federation Government has stooped to ask for their help, they''ve yet to receive a response."


    "If this continues, our Zhuxia will also be significantly affected..."


    The airplane continued its journey forward, shrouded in clouds and mist, and it wasn''t until much later that it finally emerged from the clouds to reveal a clear view ahead.


    Xue Jing looked up¡ª


    Suddenly, in the far, far distance, a white column that stretched from earth to sky¡ªreminiscent of the mythical ''Divine Tree''¡ªabruptly came into view.


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed surprise as he asked curiously, "Is that the Sky Center of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle?"


    Ning Yuantai also looked over and said with a smile, "Xue, this one in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle is different¡ªit should be called the ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace''!"


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    Saying so, Ning Yuantai''s eyes showed reverence:


    "That is the Holy Land in the hearts of Martial Artists all over the world, as well as the largest, finest, and strongest Martial Artists exchange place in the world!"


    "Forty-six thousand nine hundred and seventy-two floors! That''s the exact number of levels it has. Starting from the first floor, countless Martial Artists compete and struggle against each other; the higher you go, the fiercer the competition becomes."


    "Any Martial Artist with great ambition must come here and attempt to ascend the ''Heavenly Palace''!"


    ...

 Chapter 316 Test the Level? Xue Jing: Youre Not Qualified to Test It (4K)

    "Why is it called ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace''?"Xue Jing opened his mouth with a slight confusion.


    This name feels a bit too familiar.


    "Could it be..."


    Ning Yuantai laughed, "You guessed right, the term ''Extreme Martial'' in ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace'' indeed comes from that Extreme Martial King."


    "Over a hundred years ago, shortly after the Eternal Night war had ended, the Extreme Martial King alone took control of the ''Sun Pillar'' in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, marking it as his own territory."


    "Since then, a lot of things happened... The Sun Pillar of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle gradually became the place of exchange for martial artists worldwide. The Extreme Martial King then took permanent residence in the highest ''Heavenly Palace''. The process for martial artists to climb up to him floor by floor and challenge him was referred to as ''Ascending to Heaven''."


    The name ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace'' thus originated."


    "Of course, due to political considerations, it''s a secret not publicly disclosed. The official explanation for the name meant ''reaching the pinnacle of martial arts''." Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "After all, his deeds before taking over Cangting..."


    Ning Yuantai hesitated then said tactfully, "were not very positive for societal influences."


    "Although there has been decades of information suppression, making most of the information related to the Extreme Martial King nearly impossible to find, his existence remains circulated among a select few. However, since Cangting set the tone and issued documents back in the day, they probably don''t see a need to change it now..."


    Xue Jing asked, "What about now? Does the Extreme Martial King still reside in the highest ''Heavenly Palace''?"


    Ning Yuantai shook his head, "After taking over Cangting, the Extreme Martial King never returned to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle. Now, the ''Heavenly Palace'' has been vacant. Those new generations, unaware of the Extreme Martial King''s existence, think reaching the top means ''Ascending to Heaven.'' Little do they know that even by reaching it, they merely gain the right to challenge the Extreme Martial King..."


    "No one has ascended to the Heavenly Palace since the Extreme Martial King left, decades ago."


    Xue Jing curiously remarked, "Oh? Is it that difficult?"


    The Extreme Martial King was a supreme entity in the martial arts, surpassing other martial artists by countless levels.


    It was understandable for Xue Jing that earning the right to challenge him was difficult, but for no one to have done so in decades seemed rather exaggerated.


    Given the vast number of talented individuals likely emerging over the decades, was it truly impossible for anyone to earn just the right to challenge?


    Ning Yuantai explained, "Xue, you may not know, but the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace has 46,972 floors. The final seventy-two floors, due to their immense height, are not referred to by their floor numbers but as ''Heavens'' instead."


    "Each Heaven is controlled by a ''Heavenly Lord.'' Seventy-two Heavenly Lords, most of whom have once held titles, with half of them being holders of Eternal Titles!"


    "For those intending to ''Ascend to Heaven,'' there are ways to skip levels in the first forty thousand floors, but for the last seventy-two floors, one must fight up each floor."


    "Only the highest Heavenly Lord can enter the Heavenly Palace... and unless he does, others must defeat him to become the new supreme Heavenly Lord in order to enter."


    "In these past decades, the position of ''Supreme Heavenly Lord'' indeed changed hands several times... but having practiced to such an extent, they understand the terror of the Extreme Martial King far more deeply than ordinary martial artists."


    "From a frog in a well watching the moon to a mayfly looking at the sky... all the Supreme Heavenly Lords just stood at the doorway of the Heavenly Palace, shook their heads, and then turned back."


    Xue Jing nodded, suddenly realizing, "I see."


    The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, seventy-two Heavenly Lords, half of them being holders of Eternal Titles... such an exaggerated assembly.


    Could it be that all the existing Eternal Titles are gathered there?


    From an average perspective, even theoretically, it would take five years to produce seven holders of Eternal Titles, and adding the three major titles from the Far East, there are only ten.


    There are at least thirty in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace... Even if it doesn''t cover all existing Eternals, it''s probably not far off.


    "Besides the seventy-two Heavens, the next nine hundred floors, each with a Level Master, is the current goal for most people climbing the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace... Just by becoming one of these nine hundred Level Masters, one can earn a substantial monthly income as well as martial arts resources, and it also carries great prestige."


    "Xue, shall we first go to see the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace?"


    Ning Yuantai suggested.


    "Even though ascending the seventy-two Heavens is still quite early for you, earning the title of one of the nine hundred individual floors should pose no problem!"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing shook his head, "No, let''s head to Silver City first."


    He did indeed intend to visit the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, but not now.


    Xue Jing was highly cautious about his odds of running into trouble. Should he visit the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace first, he figured he might accidentally provoke someone, which could stall his progress on more urgent matters.


    His agenda was clear: to accomplish the principal task first. After that, whatever came knocking, he was ready for it, fearless.


    Danger and opportunity were two sides of the same coin for him. Encountering trouble meant prospects for gain, and at the very worst, it could still churn up some skill experience, which he didn''t mind¡ªas long as it didn''t interfere with the main issues. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Seventh Metropolitan Circle, Inner Ring, Silver City.


    An airplane tore through the sky, leaving a trail of clouds behind, arriving above this city.

 Chapter 316 Test Your Level? Xue Jing: You Cant Test It Out (4K)_2

    Xue Jing looked down through the porthole.This was a city of immense size, even larger than Yuan City within the Inner Ring that Xue Jing had visited before. However, its overall development was not advanced¡ªat least it was somewhat inferior to Yuan City, lacking the modern and futuristic towering skyscrapers.


    The aircraft slowly approached the ground.


    Snowflakes danced in the streets below, and many local pedestrians looked up.


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing slightly raised his eyebrows, looking thoughtfully at the goosebumps on his arm.


    A faint sense of crisis flashed through his mind and quickly disappeared.


    Ning Yuantai, oblivious to anything, said to Xue Jing, "Xue, we''ll first land the plane at the Zhi Ge Sub Base in Silver City, then head to No. 9 Examination Hall."


    Xue Jing, leaning his elbow on the armrest and propping his chin, glanced out the window and hummed in agreement, "Let''s do that."


    Ning Yuantai, observing his mysteriously calm demeanor, silently marveled at his coolness and said with a smile, "Alright then."


    A dozen minutes later.


    In the northern part of Silver City, within a massive square base surrounded by steel walls,


    two young men in tight tactical suits, their impressive physiques outlined, were looking up at the descending aircraft.


    One of them with a thick northern accent said,


    "The kid from the South must be inside."


    "I recognize this plane; it''s the commander''s, wow, what an honor."


    The other glanced at him and asked,


    "What are you thinking?"


    "He''s here as an examiner, shouldn''t I test just how good he is? What if he''s not capable enough and holds the kids back?"


    "The guy is top-notch from outside our circle; why worry?"


    The first crossed his arms and said,


    "You know the situation outside too. Even the best talents get wasted there. Who from our side ever made it big after leaving? External areas just can''t nurture talents well."


    "It''s all talk until we see for ourselves."


    The other man took out a cigarette and flicked his fingers near the tip, producing smoke from his fingertip to light it. After taking a couple of drags, which rapidly consumed the cigarette, he exhaled a massive cloud of smoke and said faintly,


    "Go easy, he''s underage."


    The excited man said, "You agree then? What if the base commander asks later..."


    "It''s none of my business; I know nothing."


    "Why are you always so annoying?"


    During their conversation, the plane had successfully landed.


    With a hiss, the cabin door opened.


    Xue Jing stepped out, looking towards the two men in tactical suits not far ahead.


    Ning Yuantai, a step behind, also came out and noticed the two, immediately raising his eyebrows,


    "Captain Yang Yingyu... and Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu?"


    Xue Jing casually asked, "You know them?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded and said, "These two are the squadron leader and the vice squadron leader of our Zhi Ge Six-Five Squadron, well-known within our ranks."


    Inside The Sixth Agency, organizations like White Crow and Zhi Ge were divided into battalions, squadrons, and small squads.


    Battalions were identified by individual numbers, like the First Battalion, Second Battalion.


    Squadrons had two digits. The first digit indicated to which battalion they belonged, with Six Five Squadron being part of the Sixth Battalion.


    Small squads were three-digit numbers; for instance, squad 838 where Void Blade belonged was the eighth small squad under the eighth middle squad of the eighth battalion of White Crow.


    "Vice Squadron Leader Yang Yingyu is a widely known Old Martial Break Limit Master, and Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu..."


    "Kid, what are you mumbling about?"


    The man named Zhuang Qiu called out as he approached, interrupting Ning Yuantai.


    Unused to not being called Ning, Ning Yuantai scratched his head, feeling quite awkward and unaccustomed.


    "I''m Xue Jing... Captain Yang, Vice Captain Zhuang, hello." Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing walked up to the two, stopped in front of them, and nodded in greeting.


    Though it was customary to refer to positions with due respect to hierarchy, when the senior is present, it was still necessary to add ''vice'' before addressing the junior.


    "Hello."


    Yang Yingyu nodded in response, first shook hands with Xue Jing, and quickly let go.


    Then it was Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu. Xue Jing shook hands with him as well, and was about to withdraw his hand when the other party grabbed it tightly.


    "...Vice Captain Zhuang, is there something you would like to instruct?"


    Xue Jing slightly tilted his head and asked.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu''s lips parted, revealing a set of big white teeth:


    "Instruction... I wouldn''t call it that."


    "I heard, kid, that you are here to be a judge in our martial arts examination, is that right?"


    Xue Jing looked at him and said nothing.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu didn''t seem to expect a response, as he gradually began to tighten his grip on Xue Jing''s hand:


    "I respect the elderly and love the young and don''t want to see the kids in the circle held back. Although you have gained some fame, I doubt whether outsiders might have praised you too highly. Therefore, I want to test your levels."


    "If I am not satisfied, I will directly report to the higher-ups and advise them to withdraw you from your job... You don''t mind, do you?"


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu''s words were very direct and straightforward.


    Ning Yuantai who was nearby heard this and showed his displeasure. Just as he was about to speak, Xue Jing smiled and spoke first:


    "Vice Captain Zhuang."


    His expression remained the same, his tone normal, as serene as gentle clouds and breeze, lacking any intimidation power; yet the words that came out were sharp and pointed:


    "With just you, you won''t be able to test it out."


    This statement, completely contrary to his refined appearance and tone, surprised everyone present.


    Yang Yingyu''s eyes gleamed with amusement; his previously lukewarm gaze towards Xue Jing warmed slightly.


    Ning Yuantai rubbed under his nose with his finger, chuckled a few times, and his face showed triumph.


    This was our Xue, skillful in martial arts and fierce in speech, never at a disadvantage, following him was like chasing a thrilling novel, extremely comforting.


    "...You really know how to act, kid."


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu twitched his mouth corner and suddenly tightened his grip on Xue Jing''s hand!


    "Pfft¡ª"


    The air between their palms was squeezed out by a tremendous force, emitting a crisp sound, and visibly forming a circular wave of air that spread out, causing the clothes and hair of people around to flutter backward.


    This was a very sudden strike, nearly giving no time to prepare.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu felt that with his strength, enough to compress a wrist-thick steel into a needle, he could teach this young man a sufficient lesson and make him understand that one shouldn''t speak lightly.


    However¡ª


    "Click, click, click¡ª"


    A strange sound of bones rattling came, and Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu uttered a light ''eh'', somewhat incredulous.


    ...Not budging at all. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As if, what he was holding in his hand was not a human palm but a mountain compressed to the size of a palm, no matter how hard he tried, he could not move this mountain at all.


    "Vice Captain Zhuang, you can exert more force."


    Xue Jing spoke indifferently.


    "With just this level of strength, what can you test out?"


    Hearing these words, Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu clenched his teeth and his face turned red with strain; his whole arm''s veins bulged as it began to tremble slightly.


    From where the two stood, the concrete floor cracked open, the fissures spreading outward as the floor subtly vibrated.


    As Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu exerted force, his body gradually curled up from his normal standing posture, his initially tall stature shrinking a head shorter than Xue Jing.


    Looking down at him from above for a while, Xue Jing spoke without a fluctuation in his tone, "Vice Captain Zhuang, you have exerted your full effort."


    Saying so, Xue Jing suddenly twisted his wrist.


    Today, his body''s endurance was not like before; deploying the Hidden Dragon School''s Whirlwind Thunder, a technique theoretically capable of infinitely compressing strength, he could unleash more than six times his usual burst strength.


    Along with the Twin Lifes'' double force and the support of the Nirvana Technique''s Lion King''s Great Strength... Even though he still had several techniques to enhance his strength that he hadn''t used, he was already terrifyingly powerful.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu, with his palm being twisted by Xue Jing as the starting point, showed a twisted spiral pattern on his skin, wrist, forearm, upper arm, shoulder, body... all the way up, the sturdy tactical suit was directly shredded, and in the end, only a pair of underpants remained on his body as he spun wildly in the air like a fan.


    A massive horizontal tornado spontaneously formed, sweeping up all small objects like dust, fallen leaves, and gravel around it.


    "Smack¡ª!"


    Only after spinning in the air for over twenty seconds did Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu fall to the ground, face down with a smack, motionless.


    ...


    (Readers who still have a monthly ticket, please cast it soon, the deadline is tonight at twelve o''clock, I will be streaming the lottery draw in our group soon)

 Chapter 317 The Cruel Competition Format, Steel Tree Sea, The Students Plans (4K)

    Zhuang Qiu lay nearly naked on the ground, starting from the palm of his hand that had just shaken hands with Xue Jing, his skin displaying a kind of spiral pattern that made one''s scalp tingle.The people on the scene, including the members of Zhige Base who were spectating from the side, all wore peculiar expressions on their faces.


    There was a bit of amusement, a bit of second-hand embarrassment for the Vice Captain, and also admiration for the youth before them.


    The result of this Qi Force showdown was an undoubted overpowering.


    There were no signs of an evenly matched contest; this was the kind of outcome that only occurs when there''s an absolute gap in strength.


    Although it was merely a competition of Qi Force¡­ Qi Force itself is a very important part of martial arts strength.


    With such a huge gap in the most fundamental ''hard strength,'' no one would believe Zhuang Qiu stood a chance in a real fight against Xue Jing.


    Not to mention, everyone present was a profound expert in martial arts with exceptional Eye Power, and the exquisite control of Compressed Strength that Xue Jing showed when he twisted his wrist instantly turned Zhuang Qiu around like a spinning top, clearly indicating he was skilled not only in strength but in other aspects too.


    "...Impressive." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yang Yingyu watched Xue Jing, his eyes narrowing uncontrollably.


    As a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, he was the only person among those present who could almost see through the intricacies of Xue Jing''s move.


    Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    In terms of pure foundational Qi Force, Zhuang Qiu, who had practiced New Martial Arts Forbidden Skills and mutated his body, should have been above this youth.


    However, on the level of Channeling Energy, the youth displayed an irrationality that he couldn''t understand.


    Amplifying force by compressing strength was not an unusual technique; any high-level expert with an understanding of Channeling Energy could manage it to varying degrees of proficiency.


    But no matter how well-versed they were, they still had to follow the basic principles.


    The human body has its limits, and even when extremely skilled at Channeling Energy, risky operations like compressing strength also have to consider the physical body''s capacity to endure.


    But this youth... was strange.


    For an average person with his physical strength, if the theoretical maximum level of strength compression is 1, this youth could achieve at least 3...


    Far exceeding the theoretical limits of a normal human body.


    If it weren''t for the records glaringly indicating he practiced Old Martial Arts and had a Physical Mutation Rate below 1%, Yang Yingyu would have thought he was practicing some kind of aberrant New Martial Arts Forbidden Skills.


    ''However, I heard he is also a Divine Chosen... There must be reasons for that.''


    After pondering for a while and roughly finding a rational explanation from the irrational, Yang Yingyu shook his head and kicked Zhuang Qiu, who still lay on the ground motionless.


    "What are you pretending for? Get up."


    Yang Yingyu spoke indifferently.


    At his words, everyone''s gaze converged on Zhuang Qiu.


    "..."


    After several seconds, Zhuang Qiu''s fingers twitched slightly, and then he groaned, slowly pushing himself up to sit with a posture as if he had just regained consciousness, covering his head with his palm.


    "Ah... my head is spinning."


    "Slap¡ª"


    Yang Yingyu slapped him on the head, making Zhuang Qiu stumble:


    "Stop faking it. Losing is losing, shame is shame, none of these matter; what''s important is facing your own humiliation when you are shamed. That''s how a man from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle should be."


    Zhuang Qiu''s mouth twitched: "I just needed a moment."


    Saying so, he stood up and hobbled over to Xue Jing, hissing with every step from the pain: "Ssss... it really hurts."


    His skin all over burned and tightened as if countless pincers were biting and twisting forcefully...


    Zhuang Qiu raised a trembling thumb up to Xue Jing.


    "This level... is more than enough; I acknowledge you!"


    Xue Jing looked at him: "I don''t really need your acknowledgment... Vice Captain Zhuang, is there anything else you wish to instruct?"


    Zhuang Qiu, who was also quite laid-back, seemed to have brushed off the shame once he spoke out, standing there bare-bodied, with his hands on his hips, nonchalantly saying:


    "What advice? Here in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, we respect the strong and have no other useless rules. You''re stronger than Laozi... stronger than me, so now it''s my turn to ask for your guidance."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled: "That''s nice; I like this too... I feel like I''ll fit in well here."


    ¡­


    Afterward, Xue Jing interacted with the members of the Zhige Base for a good while and found that the people from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle were the sort with straightforward minds.


    What they thought in their hearts, they spoke with their mouths without any pretense, not out of foolishness, but due to a mindset shaped by the overall atmosphere.


    This way of thinking led them to be generally exclusive, holding in contempt those outsiders who always like to speak and act in roundabout ways with many rules¡­ Of course, the main reason was the overwhelming superiority in Combat Power.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle was an extremely insular and heavily inscribed environment, almost having no interaction with the external martial arts world, lofty above all.


    Honor acquired from outside meant little here, even if it was the great title of U19 history''s strongest champion like Xue Jing''s; when the people of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle heard of it, there was an instinctive disdain.


    It was nothing more than being the king of the mountain in a place with no tigers, hardly worth noting.


    It was for this reason that Zhuang Qiu provoked Xue Jing¡ªa minor from outside the circle who dared to come to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle to serve as an examiner for the Martial Arts Examination; who could tolerate it.


    However, the stereotypical image the people of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle had of outsiders was built upon the overpowering Combat Power.

 Chapter 317 The Cruel Competition Format, Steel Tree Sea, The Students Plans (4K)_2

    A beating cured it.Zhuang Qiu had indeed helped Xue Jing this time, inadvertently establishing his authority, gaining recognition from all the personnel at the Silver City Cease-Blades base and invisibly avoiding many subsequent troubles.


    After checking into the Cease-Blades base and being allocated a detached villa, Xue Jing went with Ning Yuantai to the ''No. 9 Examination Hall''.


    This time, Ning Yuantai drove a black SUV with a special military license plate; the brand was unknown, but it looked very upscale.


    On the road, Ning Yuantai casually asked while driving,


    "Xue, the specifics of the exam should have been sent to you, right? What''s the situation?"


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Xue Jing nodded as he scrolled through his phone and replied,


    "It''s been sent... just like you guessed, it''s a ''Joint Examination''."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head: "Figures... I just knew your transfer to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle wasn''t good news."


    A Joint Examination puts students from multiple examination halls together in a controlled Intersecting Boundaries for an activity resembling a battle royale.


    Although each Joint Examination has different rules, without exception, they are all tests of high casualty rates and extreme danger.


    "This time for the Martial Arts Examination, there are a total of seventy-nine examination halls in Silver City. Among them, Number Nine, Number Twenty-Nine, Number Thirty-Six, Number Forty-One, Number Fifty-Two will join other city examination halls in the Inner Ring for the inter-city Joint Examination."


    "The location is... at G651 Intersecting Boundaries¡ª''Steel Tree Sea''."


    Xue Jing read from the data sent to his phone.


    "What? That place?" exclaimed Ning Yuantai in surprise.


    "No way... the government of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle is really playing hardball this time."


    Not having flipped to the information about the ''Steel Tree Sea,'' Xue Jing looked at Ning Yuantai and asked,


    "What, is this place special?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded and explained, "To be precise, every Intersecting Boundaries is quite unique... but the Steel Tree Sea has an especially harsh environment."


    Xue Jing rested his hand on the car window and tapped with his index finger, "Tell me about it."


    "That place... although the environment isn''t as extreme as the ''Burning Garden'' with constant temperatures over three hundred degrees and even the climate is quite suitable for human survival."


    "But the key is, there''s nothing edible there for humans," sighed Ning Yuantai.


    "The Steel Tree Sea is a world covered in ''iron''... the ground is an aggregation of metal minerals, and the wildlife there is made of iron-based life forms which people find hard to comprehend; everywhere is filled with Transformers-like creatures..."


    "Even the plants are all ''Iron-based Plants,'' you can easily see the miracle of iron trees blossoming there, which is the origin of the ''Steel Tree Sea'' name."


    With an odd expression, Xue Jing said, "If they''re ''iron-based,'' can they still be called ''plants''?"


    Ning Yuantai explained, "After all, their external manifestation resembles the plants on Earth Star... Currently, there is no other suitable name for them."


    "In short... that place is not suitable for humans to stay."


    "Or rather, any carbon-based life form needing metabolic cycles wouldn''t suit the Steel Tree Sea, as there''s nothing there they can eat or digest." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing pondered thoughtfully, "I see."


    He vaguely understood what the designer of this exam was aiming for.


    "Since the Steel Tree Sea has been chosen as the examination site, there must be a rule against bringing too much food in."


    Ning Yuantai asserted.


    "I bet it''s going to be a situation where each person can only bring one portion of food, which will be quickly consumed, and then they must fight for others'' food."


    "This is forcing the students to fight each other... The Martial Arts Examinations of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle really hasn''t changed its flavor."


    Xue Jing scrolled a few more pages in the information, and sure enough, he saw the rule stating ''each examinee and invigilator is only allowed to carry one portion of food distributed by the officials, no concealing any edible substance allowed, a thorough search will be conducted before entry.''


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, his gaze flickering as he thought of something...


    But for the time being, he didn''t dwell on it and said,


    "This arrangement is quite interesting."


    "The situation with nowhere near enough food will exacerbate many difficulties."


    "It''s not just about how to get enough to eat but also about various decisions that test one''s character and wisdom, very good for training people. Indeed, the Martial Arts Examination of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle has got something.


    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Martial Artists have quite an exaggerated appetite.


    Energy, as a concept, doesn''t just disappear or appear out of nowhere. The power of a Martial Artist, formidable enough to rival a superhero''s performance, requires an immense supply of energy.


    Some highly skilled Martial Artists can survive without eating, drinking, or sleeping for days, weeks, or even months, but they can do so only on one condition¡ªnot expending energy.


    Meaning, they must not engage in combat.


    Once they engage in battle, the energy within a Martial Artist''s body depletes rapidly. No matter how strong a Martial Artist is, if you make them fight with all their might and then attempt such ascetic practices, they''ll starve before long.


    Under normal circumstances, one could make do with some high-energy, nutrient-rich special pills or potions, but the exam rules forbid students and examiners from carrying any edible substances.


    Thus, the candidates in the Steel Tree Sea are faced with a choice.


    Facing other candidates, one has to consider whether the food obtained from attacking is worth the energy spent in battle.


    And if you choose not to fight, what are the others thinking?


    Food, energy consumption, scoring, suspicion... various complicated situations ensure that even the most straightforward students from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle start scratching their heads in thought.


    "However... my situation is a bit different."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    "We''ll see when the time comes... Let''s meet this group of students first."


    The car smoothly made its way toward No. 9 Examination Hall.


    Based on the information Xue Jing had seen, the joint exam would begin tomorrow.


    After the start, examiners will have three days to train the students, building a rapport and discussing and making plans, among other arrangements.


    After three days, it will be time to officially enter Intersecting Boundaries'' Steel Tree Sea, where a seven-day-long examination will take place.


    At this point in time, the students who take the Martial Arts Examination seriously should have already arrived at the examination hall.


    ...


    Silver City, Martial Arts Examination No. 9 Examination Hall, Xuanwu Mansion.


    This is an official residence built by Silver City, specifically for the Martial Arts Examination candidates to live in. At the entrance, a three-meter-tall Xuanwu Stone Statue, entwining turtle and snake, imbued with Artistic Conception and seemingly crafted by a master, stands.


    At this moment, in Xuanwu Mansion''s training ground, a group of young boys and girls had gathered.


    "How about my plan?" asked a round-faced boy, looking around at everyone.


    "Are you sure it will work? That one outside is known as ''the strongest in history''. Isn''t that going to be tough to deal with?" a girl with thick eyebrows said worriedly.


    "Hmph, it''s just a title of ''the strongest'' in a competition. No one in our Seventh Metropolitan Circle would even spare it a glance. It''s not worth mentioning."


    "This exam is crucial for us, yet they suddenly arranged an outsider to be our examiner, and a minor at that... It''s insane. I thought at least it would be Wu Yinglong or Gongsun Cheng... or even Ye Tianling if worse came to worst!" The round-faced boy complained discontentedly.


    "Without a good examiner, we definitely won''t get good scores and won''t make it to those top universities... This is practically a joke at the expense of our futures!"


    "We have to prove that this Xue Jing lacks the ability to lead us, forcing those above to change our examiner, otherwise our entire lives will be delayed!"


    His gaze shifted toward another boy, who looked a bit shifty, and he asked sternly, "He Han, what do you think?"


    The boy named He Han appeared innocent: "Can I, like, not participate?"


    After a pause, he explained, "It''s not that I''m scared, it''s just that ''Bode 3'' just started a new cycle, and it''s really pressing. Can we do this tomorrow instead?"


    The round-faced boy narrowed his eyes and said, "What nonsense are you spouting... Forget it, I never counted on you anyway. If you don''t want to do it, just leave."


    Upon hearing this, He Han didn''t hesitate to stand up and head for the exit: "Then I''ll be off, brothers~"


    "Hold on."


    The round-faced boy watched his retreating back and narrowed his eyes:


    "You''re not going to snitch, are you?"


    He Han turned around, his face full of righteous indignation: "What are you saying? My mouth is very tight, tighter than Zhou Gongjin''s, and I have a sterling reputation in the Rivers and Lakes. How could I do such a thing!"


    The round-faced boy nodded: "That''s good."


    ...

 Chapter 318 The Gardener and the Plants, Students Planted by Xue Jing into the Ground (4K)

    The black off-road vehicle bearing a military license plate slowly approached the entrance of Xuanwu Mansion.A middle-aged man dressed in security attire quickly stepped out from the guardhouse at the gate.


    As the window rolled down, the security guard looked into the driver''s cabin with a puzzled expression and inquired, "What can I do for you two?"


    Just as Ning Yuantai was about to speak and reveal Xue Jing''s identity as an examiner from No. 9 Examination Hall, a shout came from inside the gates of Xuanwu Mansion, "Uncle Zhang!"


    A short-haired young man, handsome but with a somewhat sly expression that made him appear a bit shady, quickly ran over. With a suave leap over the gate, he approached the off-road vehicle.


    The young man peered inside the vehicle, his gaze passing directly over the driver, Ning Yuantai, and resting on Xue Jing seated beside him.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing, his eyes lit up, and he promptly turned to explain to the middle-aged security guard, "Uncle, this is our examination hall''s examiner; please open the gate."


    The security guard hesitated momentarily before responding, "Oh, okay."


    He turned back to the guardhouse, and soon after, the barrier at the mansion gate slowly opened.


    Xue Jing looked at the young man standing outside the car window and smilingly asked, "Are you a student?" Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    The young man grinned back, "Hello, Mr. Xue! My name is He Han."


    Xue Jing''s expression paused slightly as he suddenly noticed the shirt worn by the young man named He Han.


    It was a white T-shirt with a ''pain shirt''...simply put, a shirt printed with a fictional character he liked.


    Xue Jing also had experience with ACG works but could not recognize the white-haired character printed on the shirt.


    Noticing Xue Jing''s gaze, He Han tugged at his shirt and explained, "This is my wife, Sakurakoji Luna."


    The unabashed and matter-of-fact attitude made Xue Jing''s lips twitch slightly, "...Classmate, get in the car, let''s talk."


    He Han cheerfully agreed, "Okay!"


    He then opened the rear passenger door, got into the vehicle, and curiously touched the high-quality seat material.


    The vehicle slowly moved forward, driving into the mansion.


    "Classmate, where are you from?" Xue Jing casually asked.


    Seated in the back, He Han replied, "I''m a local from Silver City, Mr. Xue, but let''s not talk about that right now, I have something important to tell you..."


    He leaned between the two front seats, making cheeky gestures at Xue Jing, "Did you know, inside this mansion, there are a few students who really resent having you as our examiner and are planning to embarrass you badly to force a change!"


    "You need to be careful!"


    Ning Yuantai listened, his expression oddly amused as he shook his head disdainfully.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged, bearing a smirk as he watched He Han, "Tattling?"


    With determination in his eyes as if he was affirming his faith, He Han declared, "This is but speaking for justice!"


    Xue Jing shook his head and responded, "I''ll pretend I didn''t hear that, and you should pretend you never said anything, understand?"


    He Han''s eyes shifted slightly, then he grinned, "Okay, teacher."


    Xue Jing hummed in acknowledgment and asked, "How many students have arrived at the mansion so far?"


    According to the information given to him, the No. 9 Examination Hall that Xue Jing was responsible for comprised thirty-one students.


    But the data only included their names, genders, photos, and candidate numbers, nothing else, so Xue Jing had almost no understanding of this group of students.


    He would lead the team and needed to gather more intelligence on his students. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Han thought for a moment and said, "From those I''ve seen, probably about twenty-five, including me, that makes twenty-six."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Huh¡­ training officially starts tomorrow, and there are still quite a few who haven''t arrived yet?"


    He took out his phone, swiped a few times on the screen, opened the student information page, and handed it to He Han, "Take a look, see who hasn''t arrived yet."


    He Han reached out excitedly, perhaps thrilled by the chance to see ''secret information'' he shouldn''t have, and as he flipped through the phone, he remarked, "This one, Zhong Wei, I haven''t seen her."


    "Yuan Baijing¡­"


    "Zhao Longtu... yi, how is this person here!?"


    Suddenly, He Han exclaimed in shock upon seeing an unexpected name in the data.


    Xue Jing glanced sideways at him, "What''s the issue with him?"


    He Han scratched his head, "It''s a big problem, Mr. Xue."


    He handed the phone back to Xue Jing and pointed at a student''s photo in the information.


    It was a fiercely-looking male student; unlike others who had smiling faces, his expression was not only devoid of any smile but also carried a voracious ferocity.


    To the left of his eye was a prominent scar, which appeared to have been caused by being struck by some blunt object.


    If it wasn''t included in the student data, one might mistake it for a prison inmate''s photo.


    "Zhao Longtu, he was at the same school as me in middle school¡­"


    "Although that incident happened many years ago and not many remember it now, I remember it every time I see him."


    He Han spoke quietly, "He killed his class teacher."


    "Hm?" Curious about such significant gossip, even Ning Yuantai turned around to look at He Han attentively.


    "What happened exactly?"


    Xue Jing did not speak but also looked towards He Han.


    He Han shook his head, "The specifics are quite varied; the whole school was in turmoil back then. There were at least a hundred different versions of Zhao Longtu''s motive for killing the teacher, all very chaotic."


    "Some say the teacher frequently abused and punished him, some say Zhao Longtu is a born psychopath with Superiority Complex, and others say the teacher forced Zhao Longtu into underage underground boxing to make money."

 Chapter 318 The Gardener and the Plants, Students Planted by Xue Jing in the Ground (4K)_2

    ```"There were a few that sounded plausible at first, but later they were all overturned."


    "And the school has been silent, not announcing any specifics. All I know is that afterward, Zhao Longtu went to prison... He probably won''t be able to participate in the martial arts examination."


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation, "A juvenile offender? Have you had any contact with him? What kind of person is he?"


    He Han shook his head, "I only had a little contact with him during martial arts classes... The guy is a genius, extremely powerful. In the first year when he just started, he was able to beat the senior students in practical combat classes."


    "He was the apple of the teachers'' eyes. The homeroom teacher of his class always valued him highly, often giving him special coaching and always taking him out to eat... Anyone who saw them together said they were just like father and son."


    After listening to He Han''s explanation, Xue Jing turned to look at Ning Yuantai.


    "Yuantai, I''ll have to trouble you."


    He spoke softly.


    Ning Yuantai patted his chest, "Don''t worry, Xue. By tomorrow, I''ll have investigated everything clearly!" Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    ...


    He Han ran to the training field where a group of students was gathered, all of them looking in his direction.


    The round-faced boy leading them frowned and asked,


    "He Han, weren''t you going to play Borderlands 3?"


    He Han, with an innocent face, said, "I was just about to head back to my room when I passed by the main gate and saw a car coming in, so I took a closer look. It seems like our examiner for this time is inside, so I rushed over to report!"


    "How about that? Isn''t this critical information, huh?"


    Instead of acknowledging his attempt to impress, the round-faced boy became slightly nervous, "He''s here? That Xue Jing?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A person''s reputation is like a shadow. Despite not having much respect for outsiders, there was no doubt Xue Jing was a genius with a significant reputation.


    It''s like when mentioning celebrities or public figures; because of a lack of real interaction, one can discuss them frivolously, with disdain or even contempt. But when it comes time to meet the person in real life, the sense of reality immediately presses down.


    And now, they were about to go against a famed genius...


    Could they win?


    They had to win!


    The round-faced boy steadied himself and looked at his similarly nervous friends.


    "Don''t be nervous, stick to the plan!"


    "He''s just our age, nothing to be scared of!"


    The round-faced boy''s gaze shifted back to He Han with a hint of suspicion,


    "You didn''t snitch, did you?"


    He Han protested, "No way! My lips are sealed tighter than a Tightening Spell!"


    Still doubtful, the round-faced boy nonetheless nodded and said,


    "Well, since he''s already here, just stick with us. You can play Borderlands 3 later."


    "Eh?" He Han blinked.


    "I just got a text. The local products my mom sent arrived. I need to go pick them up. It''s not that I''m scared; it''s just that they''ll go bad if I leave them till later this afternoon..."


    The round-faced boy grabbed the collar of his shirt, speaking flatly, "Aren''t you a local of Silver City?"


    He Han sighed, "It seems I have to reveal my background. Actually... I''m half Japanese."


    "I haven''t mentioned it for fear you''d look down on me. My mother is a Far Eastern person, named Sakurai Momoka..."


    The round-faced boy glared at him, "Cut the crap. Do you think I haven''t seen ''THE IDOLM@STER''?"


    He Han was immediately struck with disbelief.


    Eh? You''re all serious and stuff, but you''re an otaku too?


    The round-faced boy, realizing that he might have given something away, twitched the corner of his eye, somewhat embarrassed but still forcefully said,


    "Keep your cool. We''ll act together later, and don''t forget, this concerns your future too!"


    He Han said,"..."


    ...


    The black SUV slowly drove into the training field and found a place to park.


    On the training field, the students who were practicing martial arts all stopped and looked at the car.


    "Yuantai, you can go back first. I''ll take it from here."


    Xue Jing was unbuckling his seatbelt as he spoke.


    Ning Yuantai nodded upon hearing this, "Then I''ll leave first. Call me when you''re done, Xue."


    Xue Jing opened the car door and stepped out.


    From afar on the training field, the round-faced boy was surrounded by many students. As soon as they saw Xue Jing getting out of the car, several of the girls couldn''t help but let out soft exclamations.


    "Wow..."


    "What a magnificent face..."


    ```


    "So that''s Mr. Xue, huh? I''ve seen his videos, and I originally thought they were overly exaggerated, maybe with beauty filters, but seeing him in person is even more outrageous..."


    "What do we do, Mr. Xue must have his difficulties, is it really okay for us to treat him like this?"


    "He must have been the victim of jealousy and suppression by those higher up, which is why he was sent to our Seventh Metropolitan Circle to be an examiner. He''s already had it rough, how can we add to his troubles?"


    Listening to the whispers of defection starting to spread around him, the round-faced boy''s mouth twitched.


    "Don''t be fooled! The good-looking but useless types, with him around, we won''t get good grades, won''t get into a good university, and our whole lives would be delayed!"


    After speaking, a pretty girl standing beside him held her cheek with one hand, looking at Xue Jing with affection,


    "I really want Mr. Xue to delay me..."


    Round-faced boy: "..."


    "Anyway, let''s go, an unexpected first wave!"


    "Follow me!"


    The round-faced boy stepped forward, starting to run towards Xue Jing.


    After a moment of looking at each other, the others started moving as well, following him, including the girls.


    Xue Jing was strolling leisurely towards the training ground when he saw a group of teenagers running towards him.


    He wore a smile, not showing the slightest hint of defense, as he continued walking forward.


    The students quickly approached him.


    The round-faced boy leading them shouted out loud,


    "Hello, teacher!"


    And with that, he threw a punch that headed straight for Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    The fist sliced through the air, creating twelve petal-like visible rotating air currents that revealed its deadly force at a glance.


    "Snap¡ª!!"


    With a bursting sound, the punch was caught by a hand as clear and lustrous as jade. The Punch Force erupted, and the currents formed a lotus flower blooming above the hand.


    However, the hand was like it had been brushed by a mild breeze, unharmed.


    "Wha¡ª?"


    The round-faced boy was slightly startled, trying to withdraw his fist, but it was firmly grasped by the hand.


    Xue Jing laughed gently, "Hello, students."


    As he spoke, he lifted the round-faced boy by the fist, swung him in a half circle overhead, and slammed him hard into the ground.


    "Thump¡ª!!"


    The round-faced boy''s entire body sank into the grass of the training ground, dumbfoundedly staring at the sky.


    Before he could recover, his body was uncontrollably lifted off the ground.


    A dreadfully overwhelming forces, utterly irresistible, poured forcefully into his body, making him stiffen and involuntarily form a ''stand at attention'' posture in mid-air.


    Xue Jing, holding the ''sword man'' in an upright position like a human-shaped Giant Sword, tilted it to rest on the ground.


    "Xingyan!"


    Seeing the round-faced boy instantly taken down, the other students shouted and rushed forward with increased speed.


    ''No sign of fear, is this what Seventh Metropolitan Circle''s students are like...''


    Xue Jing chuckled and lifted the ''Sword Man'' in his hand.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    "Ah!"


    "Pfft¡ªpfft-pfft¡ª"


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!!"


    "Pfft¡ªpfft¡ª"


    "Ah!!!"


    A series of continuous head-colliding sounds rang out, as all the students getting close to him were hit by the stiff ''Sword Man'' on their heads, hammering them into the ground like nails, leaving only their heads sticking out.


    He Han and the rest, all dizzy, looked up at the handsome youth who rested the ''sword'' on his shoulder.


    "The teacher is the diligent gardener,"


    "And you all are the flowers and plants that I''ve planted and must care for."


    "Let''s get along well."


    Xue Jing gently began, his expression tender.


    Everyone sunk into the ground: "..."


    The gardener and the plants aren''t meant to be taken literally!!!!


    ......

 Chapter 319 Succubus Xue Jing, a Minor Not Counted as Open (4K)

    Xuanwu Mansion, in the cafeteria.Xue Jing came here to experience the students'' meals and, after ordering many dishes, casually found a spot to sit down.


    He had just taken his seat when a girl wearing a white martial arts uniform with shoulder-length short hair and a delicate face approached, holding a tray.


    "Mr. Xue... can I eat with you?"


    She asked cautiously.


    Xue Jing glanced at her, nodded, and smiled warmly, "Sure, take a seat."


    Perhaps it was the magic of the ''teacher'' identity; although he was the same age as these students, there was always a sense of parental affection when facing them after gaining this title.


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    It was like dealing with children; he found himself having an extra measure of tolerance that he didn''t usually show.


    Maybe it also had to do with his being a person of two lifetimes; with this identity, could he exhibit the side that reflected his true psychological age?


    While Xue Jing was analyzing his own mentality, the girl student was dazzled by his gentle smile, unintentionally clutching the clothes over her heart, her heartbeat racing, biting her lower lip.


    That smile... it''s so unfair!!


    Fu Jialin''s cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly placed her tray on the table, sat down next to Xue Jing, thought for a moment, and then subtly moved closer to him, almost touching him.


    Although she had just been ''planted'' into the ground by Xue Jing''s Power, which was quite a shock, she later realized that no one was hurt, not even a minor scrape.


    Clearly, this was a strong and gentle good teacher, reluctant to hurt even those students who harbored ill will and were obviously trying to harm him!


    Fu Jialin covertly admired Xue Jing''s flawless profile from up close, watching him pick up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, put it into his mouth, and chew a couple of times before frowning slightly.


    Why does even the look of finding something distasteful while eating appear so enticing...


    Fu Jialin covered her face with her hands.


    "Student, aren''t you going to eat?"


    Xue Jing glanced at the girl next to him who seemed to be up to something.


    Hearing this, Fu Jialin quickly lowered her hands and began, "Mr. Xue, I..."


    Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a chirping noise.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue, let''s eat together!"


    "Eh, Mr. Xue, do you like Eggplant with Potatoes and Green Peppers? I can cook this dish. I''ll make it for you next time!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Four or five girls with trays approached Xue Jing excitedly.


    Looking at the group of vibrant and energetic girls in front of him, Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "Everyone, take a seat."


    Soon, the seats around him were all filled, and the spacious dining table suddenly became crowded.


    "Teacher, your hair is so nice, how do you take care of it? Can you share?"


    "Teacher, I know how to read palms. Let me... let me see your palm!"


    "Teacher..."


    Not far away, the round-faced boy Chen Xingyan was gathered with a few companions, including He Han, pushing food around on their plates and watching Xue Jing being surrounded by girls.


    "I''ve been careless; I didn''t expect this guy to be quite something. The first wave of the plan has failed."


    Chen Xingyan frowned.


    Beside him, He Han scoffed, "You call that a plan?"


    Ignoring He Han''s jibe, Chen Xingyan glanced at him, suspiciously asking,


    "He Han, you didn''t snitch, did you? How come it feels like Mr. Xue... Mr. Xue knew we were going to attack him suddenly, as if it was all expected?"


    With an innocent face, He Han protested, "I''ve been wronged, Stand Straight Bro! My mouth is famously tight, tighter than Jin Machao. How could I do such a thing?"


    Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched, "Don''t call me Stand Straight Bro."


    After being filled with Xue Jing''s Power and forced into a standing-at-attention pose to be used as a weapon, He Han had given him this nickname.


    "Don''t worry, although the surprise first strike failed, we still have plenty of opportunities. Now I''ve sent the girls to gather information about him. Men are less guarded against women, so I estimate we''ll soon find his vulnerability..."


    Chen Xingyan looked at Xue Jing from a distance, with a determined gleam in his youthful and chubby face.


    The girl with thick eyebrows sitting beside him hesitated, "Gathering information... but it seems like they''re just genuinely interested in Mr. Xue. The questions they''re asking don''t seem related to vulnerabilities at all..."


    Chen Xingyan glanced at her, "You don''t understand; it''s a progressive approach. Once Mr. Xue lowers his guard, they will start to ask the key questions."


    "Mr. Xue... do you have a girlfriend?"


    A pretty girl with a gentle demeanor, fair complexion, and petite figure shyly asked, her voice tentative.


    He Han scratched his head and looked towards Chen Xingyan whose expression darkened, "That question... it does seem quite crucial..."


    Chen Xingyan frowned, "It''s not that, Jingqiu is using this conversational tactic to break down his defenses..."


    Not too far away, Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Yes, I do."


    At that response, the girl called Ye Jingqiu suddenly showed a thunderstruck expression, as if she had just heard about a tragedy befalling her family, and forced a sad smile, "Ah... really? There''s someone?"


    The blatant look of heartbreak made the girl with thick eyebrows give Chen Xingyan a puzzled glance.


    She knew well enough; there were some budding ambiguities between Ye Jingqiu and Chen Xingyan during their time in the mansion...


    Chen Xingyan''s eyelid twitched, "...It''s just Acting."


    Beside him, He Han patted his shoulder, consoling, "Stand Straight Bro, you can deceive us, but don''t deceive yourself. Women in reality are like this; don''t take it too hard."

 Chapter 319 Succubus Xue Jing, a Minor Not Counted as Open (4K)_2

    Chen Xingyan violently swatted his hand away, glared at him, and said, "Shut up!""Jingqiu is not that kind of person, you have no right to insult her efforts!"


    He Han didn''t speak any more, just patted him on the shoulder again and let out a sympathetic sigh.


    "Having said that, Mr. Xue is really handsome."


    He Han sighed.


    "Even I, as a guy, if I look at him too long, I start to drool..." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Chen Xingyan and a few male students around him silently shifted their seats, moving a bit away from him. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So what''s our next move?"


    He Han continued to ask.


    Upon hearing this, Chen Xingyan took a bite of his rice and shook his head:


    "We don''t stand a chance today, we''ll have to wait until tomorrow. Once the training officially begins and those few arrive, we can proceed with the next step of the plan."


    Saying this, he narrowed his eyes at He Han.


    "You''re not going to snitch, are you?"


    He Han slammed the table and stood up, revealing Sakurakoji Luna on his chest, and declared indignantly, "Chen Lizheng, you scoundrel! What''s your agenda for framing me time and time again!? I, He Han, am righteous and my mouth is as sealed as a steel door, impregnable even by the most extreme imperial weapons, how dare you humiliate me like this!"


    The girl with thick eyebrows tugged at Chen Xingyan''s sleeve and whispered, "Lizheng, I don''t think He Han would do such a thing..."


    Chen Lizheng''s mouth twitched, "Don''t call me Lizheng... fine, sit down."


    Although he always felt there was something off about He Han, seeing him look like he was suffering great injustice, he temporarily let down his guard.


    "Let''s do this tomorrow..."


    ...


    "Goodbye, teacher!"


    "See you tomorrow, Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue..."


    Xue Jing opened the passenger door of the black SUV, turned back to a few lovelorn female students standing at the mansion''s gate, and waved with a smile.


    "Go back, see you tomorrow."


    After that, he turned and entered the car, closing the door and reaching for the seatbelt.


    Ning Yuantai turned his head to look at the lively and beautiful female students through the rear window, and couldn''t help but tease,


    "You really have a way with them, Xue. It''s been just a few hours, more over-the-top than casting spells."


    Xue Jing buckled his seatbelt and said dismissively, "They''re just kids."


    Ning Yuantai coughed, wanting to mention that these students were actually about our age...


    "Xue, how do you feel, are they going to be of great use?"


    He started the car and began driving, asking as he did so.


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, saying, "They''re all quite energetic, but clearly lacking in strength."


    "That''s not a big deal, I''ll take care of it later... and the key individuals haven''t even arrived yet."


    Xue Jing took out his phone, browsing through the student profiles, pausing on the pages of a few students he had yet to meet.


    "Three days of training should be enough to shape a relatively qualified team."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    In such a short time, others might not accomplish much, but he was different.


    Xue Jing flipped to the ''Rules Introduction'' page, carefully reading through the entries, and after a long time, nodded his head.


    "The rules are in my favor... no, most of the time, I''m on the advantageous side."


    His current Divine Skill and Divine Incarnation were just too convenient, offering too many loopholes to exploit.


    Even though the Secret Martial Society had clearly targeted him in this joint exam, and the involvement of forces like the Zhu Family, Zhou Clan, and Xu Family could not be ruled out, Xue Jing felt his advantages were still overwhelmingly large.


    "The food in this mansion''s cafeteria is really bad, doesn''t taste good, and lacks nutrition,"


    Xue Jing remarked.


    "Let''s go, we need to buy some groceries."


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes lit up, "Hey, Xue, are you planning to...?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "They''re going to have a tough three days, nutrition is a must."


    ```


    "I''ll do the cooking myself," Xue Jing declared.


    Ning Yuantai exclaimed with delight, "That''s great, Xue! These kids don''t know how many lifetimes of fortune they''ve amassed to be your students, and to eat meals prepared by your own hands..."


    After a pause, he added, "By the way, Xue, I''ve felt that my martial arts have regressed a lot recently. I might as well join in on this training..."


    Xue Jing laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "What''s our relationship? If you want to eat, just come over. Could we possibly run out of chopsticks for you?"


    Hearing this, Ning Yuantai''s tough demeanor cracked as he shed tears of joy. "Xue..."


    ...


    Emerging from the supermarket, Ning Yuantai carried a huge black bag over two meters tall and three meters wide, filled to the brim, and couldn''t help but exclaim,


    "Isn''t this a bit too much, Xue? Can we finish it all?"


    As soon as the two of them entered the supermarket earlier, Xue Jing pushed several shopping carts straight to the ingredients section, sweeping all the remaining groceries clean.


    Back at the parked SUV, Ning Yuantai set the massive bag down on the ground. Xue Jing looked around, and seeing that no one was in sight, waved his hand and with a "Nonexistent Beast" swallowed the large bag of groceries into an invisible void.


    "We''re preparing for more than just the three-day training," Xue Jing said.


    "More?" Ning Yuantai scratched his head in confusion, then seemed to realize something, enlighteningly saying, "Ah, I see now."


    "Xue, are you planning to take a large amount of food into the ''Steel Tree Sea''?"


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes widened. "Cheating? Hacking?"


    Xue Jing waved his hand dismissively. "Cheating that isn''t discovered isn''t cheating. A little hack is not really a hack."


    Ning Yuantai questioned, "Is that going to work? Could we be disqualified for breaking the rules?"


    "Relax... Before entering the Steel Tree Sea, officials will thoroughly search everyone. Since they''ve included this process, as long as they can''t find anything, it''s their own lack of ability," Xue Jing confidently explained.


    "I won''t admit that I brought these things in... It''s entirely plausible that a ''treasure'' buried in the Steel Tree Sea''s metallic ground was just dug up by me. I have as many reasons as needed. Let''s continue shopping."


    ...


    For the entire afternoon, Ning Yuantai drove Xue Jing around, visiting nearby markets and supermarkets, stocking up an enormous amount of ingredients.


    The "Nonexistent Beast" could store approximately 904 cubic meters of material. It had been quite empty but was now nearly full.


    With such an enormous quantity of ingredients, not only could they last seven days, but even seven months wouldn''t pose a problem.


    Since the "Nonexistent Beast''s" belly belonged to ''nonexistence,'' once the ingredients entered this ''state of nonexistence,'' they would not undergo any change, so there was no concern over expiration dates. Whatever was swallowed would come out exactly as it went in.


    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next day.


    Early in the morning, at Xuanwu Mansion''s entrance, car after car arrived, each unloading a few young men and women.


    "Yuan Baijing... Zhong Wei... Cao Sini..."


    From a building inside the mansion, Chen Xingyan slowly recited the names of the distinguished students walking in through the gate.


    "Hey, wait a minute... Cao Sini?"


    Beside him, He Han wore a peculiar expression. "What an unusual name."


    Chen Xingyan gave him a look, warning, "You''d better not call her by her full name in her presence, or it could be deadly."


    He Han nodded and commented, "Understandably so."


    If he had been named something offensive, he''d surely react badly to being called by it.


    Empathy was key; after all, he was a man of integrity and would never mock someone for their name.


    "Lizheng, you seem pretty familiar with Miss Cao?"


    Chen Xingyan frowned slightly, feeling there was something odd about the way He Han pronounced ''Cao.''


    "Just try calling me by that nickname again, and I''ll beat you so bad you won''t be able to stand up straight..."


    With a sigh, he explained,


    "I once went to a youth competition in Extreme City, and Miss Cao also participated."


    "When I was watching, her opponent made fun of her name..."


    "Then the person disappeared."


    Chen Xingyan said flatly.


    "He was killed by Miss Cao right there in the ring... It was brutal. Because the taunting involved some obscene gestures, even his ''bullocks'' were removed."


    Upon hearing this, He Han covered his groin and gasped,


    "Sister Cao is so fierce."


    ```

 Chapter 320 Teacher, I Am a True Gender Equality Advocate (4K)

    In the spacious classroom, thirty teenagers gathered together just like classmates at the beginning of school, chatting in groups of threes and twos."What a pity, you all weren''t here yesterday and didn''t see Mr. Xue..."


    "Mr. Xue? Xue Jing?"


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    "For real? Damn it, I can''t believe I missed it..."


    "Mr. Xue is really super handsome, strong and gentle, and he smells so good..."


    "Sigh, I really want to lick Mr. Xue all over."


    "...Sis, your taste is kinda heavy."


    "If you''d really seen Mr. Xue in person, you''d know, even his hair is crazily charismatic..."


    Listening to the noisy chatter in the classroom, Chen Xingyan''s group gathered together, counting the number of people attending.


    "Twenty-nine... thirty."


    "One person is still missing."


    Chen Xingyan''s gaze moved away from a girl named Cao Sini.


    "At this point, she probably won''t come."


    He Han said casually.


    He pointed to the large lectern in front of the classroom, three meters wide, and said, "Speaking of which, I''ve always been curious, how did they get such a big desk in here?"


    A boy sitting nearby rolled his eyes and said, "Do you even need to ask? Obviously, they brought it in when it was still small."


    He Han was shocked, "This thing grows? Really?"


    Boy: "Of course not, idiot."


    "Nani!"


    He Han angrily stood up, displaying the anime character on his shirt.


    The boy glanced at the character with white fur and disdainfully said, "What is that?"


    He Han glared and said, "This is my sister Xin Haitian; what, you got a problem?"


    The boy sneered, "Hardly."


    He Han growled, "Can''t stand this, I''m gonna explode!"


    He got up from his seat and was about to approach the boy, but Chen Xingyan quickly reached out to stop him.


    "Calm down, we have a common goal now. We need to get along, don''t make trouble."


    The boy turned his head to give Chen Xingyan a look and sneered, "Gay."


    "What!?" Chen Xingyan was furious and pushed the table, about to jump out, but he was immediately restrained by He Han grabbing him from behind.


    "Cool it, Brother Li Zheng; don''t stoop to his level!"


    Cao Sini, with her long, sleek black hair, pretty face, shapely figure, and narrow, sharp eyes like knife blades, looked around at the students making a show and snorted:


    "Boring."


    Outside the door, holding a stack of papers and just arriving at the doorway was Xue Jing. Hearing the noisy uproar in the classroom, he smiled and said, Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "They are really full of energy, nice."


    He opened the classroom door and stepped inside.


    The noise had not stopped, and Xue Jing''s overly youthful appearance made many for a moment fail to realize and subconsciously thought him to be another student.


    It wasn''t until he walked up to the lectern that everyone saw him clearly, and the noise gradually quieted down.


    "Mr. Xue..."


    "Finally seeing you again."


    "No matter how many times I see him, he is really handsome..."


    The female students who had seen Xue Jing yesterday had their eyes bright and sparkling.


    The rest of the students also looked towards Xue Jing with various emotions in their eyes.


    "Demon King..."


    Cao Sini crossed her arms, pushed out her sizable chest, narrowed her sharp eyes slightly, staring at Xue Jing, wondering something.


    "Everyone, please return to your seats and sit down."


    Xue Jing glanced at Chen Xingyan and He Han, who were still entangled with each other; while their faces showed anger, it might not seem right, but it did feel a bit ambiguous.


    Upon hearing this, He Han obediently let go and sat back in his seat, pressing his hands and feet together, his posture obediently listening to the teacher.


    Chen Xingyan turned his head to see the abrasive boy giving him a mocking smile, one hand under the table, showing Chen Xingyan a middle finger where Xue Jing couldn''t see.


    Chen Xingyan''s face filled with rage, about to say something.


    But at that moment, Xue Jing slightly tilted his head, puzzled he said,


    "Umm? I thought I spoke very clearly."


    His voice gentle, he continued, "Are your ears not that good, do you need me to repeat that?"


    Just as his words ended¡ª


    Buzz¡ª¡ª!!


    The air vibrated, the light distorted, and a terrifying Spiritual Aura radiated from Xue Jing''s entire body, shaking the entire classroom.


    Tables and chairs uttered crackling sounds under the strain, walls and floor cracked, and the window glasses trembled repeatedly, making fast tapping sounds against the window frames.


    All the students instantly felt an extreme and terrifying pressure, as if thousands of pounds suddenly evenly covered their whole bodies, forcing them to stay put, unable to move.


    They clenched their teeth and trembled trying to withstand this unimaginable pressure, shockingly looking towards the good-looking, gentle young man on the lectern.


    Chen Xingyan, initially standing, wanted to persevere and keep standing a while longer by clenching his teeth, but due to his body being too tense, he inadvertently struck a standing position...


    But in just two or three seconds, he was overwhelmed by the unbearable pressure, sweating profusely, panting heavily, and was forced to bend over and sit back down.


    Xue Jing did not immediately stop the output of his Spiritual Aura, but continued it for a while, observing the behavior of all the students.


    His gaze lingered on a few students who still dared to meet his gaze; before any student actually fainted, Xue Jing slowly withdrew his Spiritual Aura.


    The trembling in the air stopped, the classroom fell utterly silent, everyone neatly sitting in their seats, backs ramrod straight, not daring to breathe heavily, shockingly watching Xue Jing.

 Chapter 320 Teacher, I Truly Believe in Gender Equality (4K)_2

    ```This person... so strong!


    Too strong, it''s outrageous, even though we''re just peers...


    "Very good," Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    He had no experience as a teacher, but he understood the laws of human nature.


    In this world, there are numerous ways to bend hearts and minds to your will, but when you boil it down, it''s nothing more than a mix of kindness and severity, carrots, and sticks.


    Unfortunately for them, he had plenty of carrots.


    And even more sticks.


    "Xu Zixuan, could you stand up for a moment?"


    Xue Jing tapped his finger on the podium and looked towards a boy sitting not far from Chen Xingyan and He Han.


    The smile on Xu Zixuan''s playful face stiffened, and he hesitated for a moment, but seeing the increasingly gentle smile on Xue Jing''s face, he slowly stood up.


    "You just now, seemed to be doing some actions under the table that you thought I couldn''t see," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    Chen Xingyan, originally full of resentment, felt a sudden relief in his mood after witnessing this scene, taking malicious glee in Xu Zixuan''s plight.


    "Uh... Mr. Xue, I..."


    Xu Zixuan showed hesitation, but Xue Jing gestured for him to come over.


    "Come here and repeat the actions you were doing to your classmates, but do them to me."


    Xu Zixuan promptly admitted defeat, bowing his head and saying, "Teacher, I was wrong."


    He really didn''t dare make that kind of gesture to Xue Jing... fearing that being stubborn would only make him lose more face, it was better to admit fault sooner and lose less.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Your attitude is okay... but if apologies were useful, then what would be the point of practicing martial arts?"


    Xu Zixuan: "Eh?"


    Xue Jing extended his right hand toward Xu Zixuan, put his thumb under his index finger, and flicked.


    An invisible Qi Force shot out, surging to Xu Zixuan''s chin and then suddenly turning to strike upwards, hitting him right on the chin.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    Xu Zixuan spiraled upwards on the spot, spinning as his head smashed through the ceiling, completely buried within it, leaving only his body hanging outside, dangling from the ceiling like a sunny doll on a noose.


    All the students, having witnessed this scene, were wide-eyed and silent as cicadas in winter.


    Chen Xingyan, upon seeing this, had not a single complaint left, only a deep sense of relief.


    Xue Jing looked around at the students'' expressions and nodded with a smile:


    "Then let''s officially begin."


    "Hello students, I am your Mr. Xue, and I will be the examiner for this martial arts examination, responsible for training you, and leading you through the exam."


    "This will be a brief but memorable time, let''s... get along well, shall we?"


    Seeing the youth''s gentle and even somewhat captivating smile, no student dared to underestimate him anymore, quickly responding in unison:


    "Hello, Mr. Xue!!!"


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the podium and suddenly said:


    "You are the worst batch I have ever taught."


    "Ah?" the students were bewildered.


    After saying the phrase ''that he had always wanted say as a teacher'', Xue Jing chuckled and said:


    "Of course, you''re also the best batch... since I have only taught you after all."


    The students showed awkward smiles, somewhat embarrassed.


    "To secure a place in the Martial Arts Examination of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, you must be considered quite competent among ordinary people."


    "But in my eyes, all of you are mediocre." Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing continued without changing his tone.


    "Individuals with no gifts, who have to fight with their peers for resources and struggle desperately to climb upwards."


    "Whether you accept it or not, like it or not, this is the truth."


    Many students showed dissatisfaction, but intimidated by Xue Jing''s authority, they didn''t dare to speak out.


    Only a few students remained indifferent, with some even showing agreement.


    "But... no one has ever decreed that mediocrities cannot reach the top."


    Xue Jing''s tone shifted.


    ```


    ```


    "Only two animals can reach the top of the pyramid, one is the eagle, the other a snail."


    "It doesn''t matter if you can''t flap your wings like an eagle, slowly but surely climbing upwards, you can always make progress, and perhaps one day you really will have climbed up there."


    "And now, what I need to do, is to carry you part of the way... Although I can''t bring you directly to the end, at least I can get you closer to your own goals."


    "The only thing you need to do is believe in me."


    The students stood dumbfounded in silence, unsure if Xue Jing was trying to suppress them or encourage them.


    Xue Jing didn''t care, he picked up the document on the lectern, flipped through a page, and smiled:


    "Let''s begin the roll call..."


    ...


    On the training ground, all thirty-one classmates were present except one, scattered around the perimeter of the field.


    Xue Jing stood at the center and said:


    "We only have three days to train you, generally speaking, such a short time is not enough to teach you much, it''s best to use all three days to get to know each other, build rapport, and come up with some tactics for inside the Intersecting Boundaries."


    "But it''s a bit different with me."


    "Now, in the order of student numbers, come forward one by one for some combat training with me... I need to understand each of your situations."


    The students exchanged worried glances: "Combat training with Mr. Xue? This..."


    After the scene they had just witnessed, essentially all the students understood just how terrifyingly strong their peer-aged teacher was... even his temper seemed a bit frightening.


    Xu Zixuan was still hanging on the ceiling... huh?


    Seeing Xu Zixuan silently walk out of the crowd and approach Xue Jing, everyone was stunned.


    He seems completely unharmed?


    "I knew it, Mr. Xue was using Soft Power, he didn''t hurt him at all!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A female student said happily.


    "Just yesterday, when we were attacking Mr. Xue together, he also used Soft Power to beat us, he never hurt us... Mr. Xue, you''re so kind."


    Beside her, the beautiful girl named Ye Jingqiu clasped her hands to her heart, moved.


    "The things he said just now must also be to encourage us, our teacher seems to be a bit of a ''sharp-tongued softie'', even when he needs to establish authority, he''s still soft-hearted, he''s such a good person..."


    "Then... does that mean the teacher is going to gently check each of our bodies next, to teach us both through words and actions..."


    Another female student blushed and swallowed, squeezing her thighs together a bit.


    As soon as she spoke, the nearby female students all widened their eyes, visibly excited, and even those who were more reserved had their hearts racing.


    Even some male students showed excitement in their eyes.


    "Ah, these girls are really something else."


    He Han shook his head speechlessly as he listened to the excited whispers of the girls.


    He looked towards Cao Sini, who was standing beside him, with a posture as tall and straight as a model:


    "Right, Cao?"


    Cao Sini glanced at him expressionlessly, without a word.


    "Let''s pretend we''re gymnasts during our turn with Mr. Xue..."


    A female student was happily making a suggestion when suddenly.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    On the wall some meters away, Xu Zixuan, the first to go up for combat training with Xue Jing, had his entire body embedded into the wall, with dust filling the air, his bloodied and unconscious figure entered everyone''s field of vision.


    In the silence, Xue Jing''s voice came from the center of the field.


    "Next."


    "..."


    What happened to being gentle and not wanting to hurt students?


    Surely we''re not all going to arrive at the Martial Arts Examination covered in bruises three days from now?


    The student with the second number was a beautiful long-haired female student, she walked tremblingly to the center, stuttering to Xue Jing:


    "Te...Teacher, I''m a girl, could you please go a bit easier?"


    Xue Jing looked at her and said gently:


    "As a teacher, I am a true believer in gender equality."


    The female student: "..."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 321 Courageous Decision, The Moved Students (4K)

    Ten minutes later.The training field was strewn with students, both male and female, lying in various positions and moaning softly, treated equally in their agony.


    During the test, each person had received injuries nearly of the same severity from Xue Jing.


    Of course, while it was equal treatment for both genders, everyone''s physical condition varied, and their ability to endure their overall injuries differed as well; thus, Xue Jing had actually been slightly more lenient with the physically weaker female students.


    If he had used the same force on those who were physically weaker as on those who were stronger, that would have been another form of inequality.


    "Mr. Xue..."


    The last student stepped forward, a youth with a tender look yet notably handsome. He carried a solemn expression and a lean figure, holding a spear taller than himself as he walked slowly to face Xue Jing in the center of the field.


    "Teacher, my martial arts require a weapon... you don''t mind, do you?"


    The male student slightly flourished the spear in his hand, aiming its tip at Xue Jing and spoke.


    Xue Jing looked at him curiously and nodded,


    "Of course, use all your strength, Bai Jing."


    This student named Yuan Baijing was one Xue Jing had noted for his exemplary performance under the pressure of the spiritual aura during a classroom session, a student he paid special attention to.


    Although the side effects of the ''Proof of Love'' made it hard for Xue Jing to remember names, for the purpose of instruction, he still managed to memorize these students'' names by repeatedly muttering to himself.


    This was no difficult task for him, just somewhat cumbersome and annoying, hence he would not bother remembering the names of unimportant people he met casually.


    "If you think you can, you can even strike with the intent to kill me."


    Xue Jing chuckled,


    "Don''t worry, I actually have an undying body, dying is quite hard for me."


    The surrounding students all wore awkward smiles and chuckled along.


    "Eh... an undying body, that''s amazing, Teacher."


    "Mr. Xue is really humorous, hehe."


    The students cooperated, displaying strange expressions.


    This Mr. Xue was quite something, except his sense of humor was a bit cringy, always pretending to be silly in ways that weren''t funny at all, even talking about having an undying body...


    "Mr. Xue, watch out."


    Yuan Baijing''s gaze became firm, he readied his spear stance, and with a shake of his spear, it quivered sharply, suddenly causing the earth around him to burst in a circle as if it were the center.


    That seemed a bit interesting... Xue Jing''s eyes barely lit up.


    He had defeated countless peers called super-geniuses, hence his expectations were exceedingly high, having little expectation for these peers.


    But this Yuan Baijing... after positioning the spear, suddenly erupted a rather imposing aura.


    It was a resolve of no return, a recklessness, a readiness to never look back once decided.


    "Wow, is Yuan Baijing actually serious?"


    He Han, who was sitting on the ground and massaging his waist, exclaimed in surprise.


    He had just been beaten up by Xue Jing... and didn''t know if Mr. Xue targeted him specifically, incredibly striking him right in the kidney area. It was brutal.


    As a local, he knew Yuan Baijing.


    This was a talented youth widely known in Silver City, reputedly picked as a Direct Disciple by the Arena Master of Wuwei Dojo during his elementary school years, who had already achieved good results in several youth competitions.


    His fighting style was extremely distinctive and had much character, he even had his own title.


    Known as¡ªYuan Sanqiang.


    "If Mr. Xue is not careful, he might suffer a setback."


    Many students who knew Yuan Baijing''s background were snickering, waiting to enjoy a good show.


    They certainly didn''t think Yuan Baijing had a chance to defeat Xue Jing... but maybe he could break the flawless master image Xue Jing has maintained from the beginning, making him fall from his high pedestal.


    This has always been a sight the public enjoys.


    "Ha¡ª!!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the arena, Yuan Baijing shouted loudly, the mud beneath his feet shattered, and he turned into a flash of lightning, rushing toward Xue Jing with glittering sharpness on his spear, piercing fiercely towards Xue Jing''s chest.


    It was a forward assault that cast aside all else, not considering what comes after, a surge of bravery filling his heart, willing to risk everything, courage enough to even pull down an emperor.


    As the saying goes, the brutal fear the reckless, the reckless fear the fearless, and this spear thrust was one of fearlessness, a spear of courage!


    Its name¡ªCourageous Decision.


    "Bai Jing, you''ve given your teacher quite a surprise."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded, extending a finger, accurately aiming for the tip of the spear thrusting towards him.


    Tiny, dense scales of gold manifested at his fingertip, his bones trembling slightly, both the Golden Scales Transformation and Seal Cloud Tail, the two great defensive techniques of the Hidden Dragon School, were executed.


    Then, calculating with the precision of Impeccable Strategy, he instantaneously found the weakest point on the spear thrust, and lightly touched it with his fingertip.


    Spear tip against finger tip, a visible circular shockwave violently erupted at the point of contact.


    "Clang¡ª!!"


    A sound of metal clashing rang out, and the robes of the two people in the arena fluttered intensely, while all the surrounding students either involuntarily stepped back several steps or were directly blown away, quickly clearing a circle nearly fifty meters square in the center.


    "To think, with just a finger..."


    Some students who managed to barely keep their eyes open in the wind pressure, looking at Xue Jing''s response, were truly shaken.


    In the center of the arena, when Yuan Baijing''s spear was stopped by Xue Jing, he suddenly yelled and turned around, plunging in mid-air with another spear thrust!


    "Clang¡ª!!"


    The second spear was again blocked by Xue Jing, his eyes flickering slightly, as if enlightened.

 Chapter 321 Courageous Decision, The Moved Students (4K)_2

    Yuan Baijing turned back once again and thrust out his third spear!Xue Jing shook his head and faced the approaching spear tip with an outstretched palm, flicking it with his finger, striking the spear point.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The long spear slipped from Yuan Baijing''s grasp, spinning towards the sky at a high speed, reaching hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye before spinning back down and plunging into the ground of the training area with a thud¡ªright between He Han''s spread legs.


    "Shit!"


    He Han, sitting on the ground with his legs apart, broke into a cold sweat as he looked at the spear shaft inches away from him.


    Meanwhile, Yuan Baijing was lying on the ground, panting heavily with pale lips, looking completely drained as if he had been hollowed out, clearly devoid of any energy to continue the fight.


    "That''s quite interesting, what spear skills are these?"


    Xue Jing stood unscathed, still exuding the aura of a master, only glancing at the small white spot that barely stood out on his fingertip, curiously looking at Yuan Baijing.


    "That''s the Courageous Decision, Mr. Xue."


    He Han, with legs weak, walked over to Xue Jing and answered for the nearly speechless Yuan Baijing.


    "A very famous killer move from Wuwei Dojo... It embodies the true essence of ''courage'', with one effort, then diminishing, and exhausted at the third, all the essence lies within the first three strikes; after the three, ''courage'' is depleted."


    "While there are only three strikes, the power of these three far exceeds ordinary spear skills... Yuan Baijing has been refining this for many years, and it''s quite formidable. In competitions, even when everyone knows his trick, there''s almost no way to counter those three strikes."


    "I never imagined that against you, teacher, it would be a matter of a few flicks..."


    He Han said with a shake of his head and a sigh.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, the Courageous Decision..."


    He looked admiringly at Yuan Baijing, walked over to him, squatted down, and reached out to touch his head.


    "Bai Jing, don''t move."


    Yuan Baijing, gasping for air, managed to say:


    "Mr. Xue."


    As Xue Jing''s palm made contact with his head, he allowed the Nonexistent Beast to open an invisible slit in the palm, using the Plant Pact to allow the Dragon Cherry Seed to grow a black root, extending ever so slightly through the gap to touch Yuan Baijing''s body.


    The Dragon Sakura Root began to absorb Xue Jing''s vast and ocean-like life force, passing it on to Yuan Baijing.


    Exhausted and unable to move, Yuan Baijing suddenly felt a strong, pure, warm force seep into his body from Xue Jing''s palm, nourishing everything within him.


    His depleted energy quickly returned, and the internal injury caused by overexerting the Courageous Decision healed at an astonishing rate. He stared at Xue Jing, dumbfounded:


    "Teacher, you..."


    This force that was healing him carried a deep trace of Xue Jing''s ''scent'', and Yuan Baijing instinctively realized that Xue Jing was sharing his own life energy with him.


    Yuan Baijing was deeply moved.


    Here he was, having hurt himself trying to take down his teacher with the Courageous Decision, and yet his teacher was willing to use his life force to heal him...


    Once the injuries within his body were nearly healed and his condition was largely restored, Yuan Baijing was just about to speak.


    Suddenly, the sensation of life energy warmth from Xue Jing''s palm ceased, replaced by a cool and soothing power seeping into his brain.


    Although he did not know what it was, it too had a clear ''scent'' of Xue Jing.


    With the trust gained from Xue Jing''s willingness to share his life energy for healing, Yuan Baijing did not resist and let whatever force from Xue Jing seep into his brain, gradually reaching deep within his spirit and consciousness.


    ...Without Yuan Baijing noticing, Xue Jing used the power of Reverse Training Empowerment to copy knowledge, experiences, insights... and slowly pulled them back to his own consciousness.


    On the outskirts of his consciousness, golden light radiated, mostly dissolving the vast chunks of fragmented knowledge being transferred, filtering through and discarding what Xue Jing did not want, retaining only the parts related to martial arts to be absorbed deeper.


    After a while, Xue Jing withdrew his hand.


    Yuan Baijing immediately stood up lively and gratefully bowed to Xue Jing:


    "Mr. Xue, thank you!"


    "...Are you alright after doing this?"


    After expressing his gratitude, he immediately asked with concern.


    Xue Jing smiled and patted his head, saying:


    "I told you, I have an Undying Body, don''t worry."


    Yuan Baijing was stunned and took it as Xue Jing''s way of comforting him, feeling even more moved.


    He hadn''t placed much importance on this Martial Arts Examination¡ªit was only because his own master thought the test was a good experience that he had come. So to him, it was merely a formality, and the outcome of the examination wasn''t something he took seriously.


    But now, even if just for Mr. Xue''s sake, he felt he should put in a bit more effort.


    The surrounding students, those who knew the details of Yuan Baijing''s "Courageous Decision" spear technique, were puzzled at how quickly he had managed to recover.


    At that moment, Xue Jing clapped his hands and smiled, saying,


    "Alright, the test is over, and I have a general understanding of all of you... Let''s gather together."


    Hearing Xue Jing''s words, the students, one by one moving their injured bodies, assembled in front of Xue Jing, forming a line. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, Xue Jing began treating their injuries in order of severity, from most to least severe, by placing his hand on them and using the Dragon Cherry Seed to transfer his own life force to them for healing.


    These students'' physical conditions were so far below his own that the cost of treating them wasn''t much, but the sheer number of them did present a bit of a burden.


    Had it been before his practice of the Nirvana Technique, Xue Jing would not have done this... But with the Nirvana Technique and "sleep," this level of life force loss was insignificant to him, nothing more than the matter of a good night''s rest.


    This deeply moved everyone.


    Even those who had no clear concept of it beforehand could distinctly feel the warmth of the shared life energy, realizing that Xue Jing was sacrificing his own wellbeing for theirs.


    The students who experienced it immediately cleared away any grudges or dissatisfaction they held from being injured by Xue Jing, leaving only gratitude for a good teacher.


    He was a responsible, caring teacher... He seemed to truly take them seriously, having a plan to teach them something.


    As he took his palm off a girl with the slightly strange name Cao Sini, he ignored her scrutinizing, sharp gaze, looked up at the bright sun, and said,


    "Hmm... It''s about time, we''ll stop here for now."


    "Let''s go, everyone, it''s time to head to the cafeteria for lunch."


    As soon as Xue Jing finished speaking, the students erupted in cheers.


    Martial arts battles are very draining on the body, and after being forced to spar with Xue Jing, most students were already ravenous.


    After the group arrived at the cafeteria in high spirits, the female students like Ye Jingqiu and Fu Jialin looked around in confusion and wondered,


    "Hey, where did Mr. Xue go?"


    "He was just chatting with us a moment ago; how did he disappear so suddenly?"


    Ye Jingqiu approached Chen Xingyan and inquired, "Li... Xingyan, have you seen Mr. Xue?"


    Hearing her almost let slip ''stand up,'' Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched slightly, as if he heard nothing, and simply shook his head,


    "No, I wasn''t paying attention."


    He Han was about to speak when someone inside the cafeteria waved at him, calling out,


    "Hey kid He Han! Come over here!"


    Chen Xingyan followed the voice and saw an unfamiliar face; he turned to He Han and asked,


    "Who is that?"


    He Han recognized him and instinctively replied, "That must be Mr. Xue''s driver; he was the one who drove Mr. Xue over yesterday."


    Chen Xingyan first nodded in understanding and then realized something was amiss.


    "Wait a second, how does he know you?"


    He Han''s heart skipped a beat.


    Bad news.


    Scratching his head, he had no choice but to confess, "Yesterday, to gather intelligence, I got on the car and chatted with Mr. Xue and the driver..."


    "But Brother Li Zheng, you can rest easy, my lips are sealed tighter than Yuan Baijing''s, I didn''t spill anything about our affair, honestly!"


    Chen Xingyan stiffened, his fists clenching.


    "You... animal..."


    He Han, startled, hastily glanced around, and then with delight pointed in a direction,


    "Hey, look there''s the teacher, Mr. Xue over there!"


    At this, everyone instantly looked in the direction he indicated.


    There they saw Xue Jing, resembling a household chef, wrapped in a white apron and wielding an unusual kitchen knife, ceaselessly chopping away.

 Chapter 322 Drugged Glowing Cuisine, Ning Yuantais Praise (4K)

    Ye Jingqiu leaned on the window sill, her well-developed curves pressed against it, forming arcs that accelerated the heartbeats of the boys around her. Her body leaned into the kitchen as she exclaimed in surprise:"Mr. Xue, you can cook?"


    Xue Jing was cutting the ingredients in an unbelievable manner, each movement so fast it nearly left afterimages, as he replied with ease:


    "Not bad, I know a little."


    Everyone watched as each of his cuts produced perfectly equal-sided ingredients, which didn''t seem like just ''a little'' knowledge.


    But this could also just be because Xue Jing''s sword skills were exceptional.


    "Hey, you guys look, doesn''t it seem like the things Mr. Xue has cut... are glowing?"


    Someone pointed at the neatly sorted piles of ingredients that Xue Jing had cut and exclaimed.


    Whether vegetables, meat, grains, or fruits... they all had a shimmering glow, looking fresh and delicious like top-notch ingredients with effects added in animations. Just by looking, everyone felt their mouths watering, almost wishing they could swallow them raw.


    "Could Mr. Xue''s real name be Xue Maoxing?"


    "Wow, glowing cuisine!"


    ...


    The commotion continued around the window sill, and at a certain dining table inside the cafeteria, He Han and Chen Xingyan, along with their small group, approached Ning Yuantai and sat down. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This kind brother..."


    He Han clasped his hands together, but Ning Yuantai immediately waved his hand:


    "My name is Ning Yuantai, just call me Brother Ning."


    Hearing this, He Han blinked.


    Such an attitude, and he even called himself ''master.'' Could his real identity be not a driver but a wealthy friend of Mr. Xue?


    He Han realized, and immediately became more humble, "Okay, Mr. Ning."


    Ning Yuantai glared at him and slammed the table: "Can''t you understand human speech? I already said call me Brother Ning. I, the young master, have reached where I am today all on my own, with no relation to my family at all!"


    Chen Xingyan and the others were stunned.


    "Okay, sit down quickly. You little rascals are really lucky, being able to be students under Xue and even getting to eat food personally cooked by him..."


    Ning Yuantai rambled on.


    He Han sat down and stroked his chin, saying:


    "Brother Ning, hearing you say that, is Mr. Xue a really incredible person?"


    All they knew was that Xue Jing was a famous martial arts genius outside the Fifth Urban Circle, having won a U19 championship... But beyond that, they knew nothing about Xue Jing himself.


    A teenage martial arts championship winner, although called the strongest in history, was still just that. If they really wanted, they could participate and compete on the same stage as Xue Jing... To win or not was another matter, but they definitely could measure up.


    Thus, the students never felt Xue Jing was a person far removed and extremely incredible; instead, they felt a sense of kinship.


    Ning Yuantai chuckled, "You really know nothing..."


    He paused, and with a look of regret, Ning Yuantai said:


    "I''d really like to brag a bit, but the things Xue does are basically not something we can explain to ordinary people."


    A girl with thick eyebrows asked curiously: "Brother Ning, are you not an ordinary person?"


    Ning Yuantai crossed his arms and said condescendingly: "Of course not, how could an ordinary person become Xue''s personal lackey?"


    "Let me introduce myself. I am a member of the 681st team in Ceasefire Combat Unit under the Special Duty Department of the Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters, a disciple of the New Martial Red Lotus Volcano Flow, the number one lackey under Xue, the sword-bearing disciple Ning Yuantai!"


    Everyone listened, stunned:


    What agency, what team...


    "Whoa, that sounds fierce. Is it like the ''Dragon Team'' in web novels, a special secret national organization?"


    He Han asked excitedly.


    Ning Yuantai snorted disdainfully: "Much fiercer than the Dragon Team."


    "If you perform exceptionally well in the Martial Arts Examination, get into a good university, graduate with good grades, and earn a recommendation spot from a professor, maybe then you could compete with a hundred others during the special recruitment period and become a probationary member."


    A male student in the small group said in surprise: "Sounds harder than getting into civil service."


    Ning Yuantai shook his head: "It''s much harder, although it''s technically still civil service, it''s the top-level kind, almost impossible to get into."


    Chen Xingyan frowned and asked:


    "What position does Mr. Xue hold in the ''Dragon Team''?"


    Ning Yuantai gave him a look and spoke impatiently: "What ''Dragon Team'', isn''t that low? If you must shorten it, call it ''The Sixth Agency!''"


    He paused and, rubbing his chin, Ning Yuantai said:


    "Xue hasn''t formally joined our Sixth Agency."


    He Han casually remarked: "Why not? Because he doesn''t have the background to join?"


    He had read online that Xue Jing was from an ordinary family outside the Outer Ring of the Fifth Urban Circle.


    "Are you brainless? That''s impossible."


    Ning Yuantai said coolly.


    "In this world, there is no armed group that Xue wants to join but can''t, only those he doesn''t wish to."


    "He just doesn''t want to be bound by rules... Inside our Sixth Agency, all the special forces under the Special Duty Department are desperate for him."


    "In my ''Cease-Blades'', the commander-in-chief almost resorted to seduction to win him over... pretend I said nothing."

 Chapter 322 Drugged Glowing Cuisine, Ning Yuantais Praise (4K)_2

    Ning Yuantai cleared his throat."Xue is a peerless individual, whose abilities and talents are enough to astonish the world. If his deeds were made public, all of your families would be holding ancestor worship ceremonies in gratitude by now. You should appreciate your good fortune and not be unaware of the blessings you''re living in..."


    The small group listened to Ning Yuantai''s words with odd expressions, "Uh... Oh."


    Hearing him talk like that made it seem as though Mr. Xue was a wildly fierce and cool person... but somehow, it didn''t feel real.


    "Yuantai, stop blabbering and come help."


    Xue Jing''s calm voice wasn''t loud, but it clearly traveled through the noisy cafeteria to where they were.


    Hearing this, Ning Yuantai immediately responded and scurried to the kitchen.


    Leaving Chen Xingyan, He Han, and others exchanging glances.


    ... S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    About half an hour later.


    Dozens to hundreds of dishes on large plates were ceaselessly carried out from the kitchen by Ning Yuantai and other helping students, placed on the cafeteria''s dining tables.


    Soon, the cafeteria looked like a Hogwarts start-of-term feast, with rows of long tables filled with people and a lavish banquet.


    The whole cafeteria sparkled in an instant.


    All the light came from¡ª the dishes.


    Inside the kitchen, Xue Jing held a clean cloth, gently wiping a kitchen knife in his hand.


    [GOD-1461¡¤Star-pointing Knife].


    The beautiful blade, twinkling with tiny lights, was extremely sharp¡ªable to chop through bone without a hitch.


    As one of the legendary ten culinary tools, it endowed cut food with a glowing effect that significantly increased one''s appetite.


    Color, fragrance, and taste were the three major aspects of judging a dish.


    Color refers to whether the appearance is appealing enough to induce appetite.


    When someone is hungry and has an appetite, it greatly enhances the deliciousness of the food consumed. The Star-pointing Knife was a tool that could maximize this appetite stimulation.


    Coupled with the Level 8 Cooking skills Xue Jing had achieved a few days ago...


    Clang, bang, clatter¡ª


    Suddenly, the cafeteria erupted with chaotic sounds, similar to a battlefield.


    The students, already ravenous from the practical tests with Xue Jing, had been teetering on the edge of losing their sanity due to the enticing aromas during the cooking process.


    And when dish after dish, complete with enticing appearance, aroma, and twinkling lights, was served...


    Unsurprisingly, everyone went berserk.


    "MMM¡ª (sounds of crazily stuffing food)"


    "That damn chicken leg is mine!"


    "Stop fighting, for fuck''s sake, stop fighting, Mr. Xue hasn''t eaten yet!"


    "... (tears) I now completely understand, I was born in this world just to eat this bite."


    Xue Jing, wiping his washed hands, walked out from the kitchen backstage to the cafeteria and looked at the chaotic scene before him.


    It was as if the concept of ''hunger'' materialized into a monster, with all the students desperately cramming everything in front of them into their mouths, the desire in their eyes almost materializing into visible red light.


    He Han, in the midst of eating, roared and grabbed his shirt, ripping it apart, revealing his muscular physique.


    "Ah!!"


    "What are you doing?"


    "Eating the Supreme Dragon Chef''s glowing cuisine, bursting clothes is the basic etiquette!"


    "... Your sister is gone."


    He Han then came to his senses, stared at the torn shirt scattered around, and screamed while covering his head, "Ah! My clothes!!"


    Cao Sini, with one hand on each side, blocked students from reaching the dishes in front of her, her beautiful face and sharp, narrow eyes filled with ferocity, fiercely guarding her meals.


    Chen Xingyan grabbed a few plates from beside him, keeping two for himself and placing three in front of Ye Jingqiu.


    "Jingqiu, eat quickly."


    "Thank you, Xingyan," Ye Jingqiu said with a sweet smile.


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    Watching the students display their ugly side in their desire to possess more food, Xue Jing chuckled:


    "They really are malnourished."


    Ning Yuantai, holding a large plate of sweet and sour pork, walked to Xue Jing''s side while eating, his voice muffled by the meat,


    "I don''t think it''s about nutrition, Xue..."


    Jingqiu just then noticed Xue Jing and her eyes instantly lit up as she stood up and waved, shouting:


    "Teacher, Mr. Xue, over here, over here!"


    Seeing this, Xue Jing dodged the incoming flying weapons along the way and slowly made his way to Jingqiu, smiling as he said:


    "So, how is the taste?"


    With admiration all over her face, Jingqiu replied: "It''s so delicious, Mr. Xue, how can you be so incredible!"


    "I''ve never eaten anything this delicious before, just thinking that I might not be able to eat it again makes me want to cry."


    Xue Jing chuckled, "You''re exaggerating too much."


    Jingqiu pouted playfully, "I''m telling the truth!"


    "Mr. Xue, you haven''t eaten yet, right? I saved some dishes for you, come sit down and eat..."


    She patted the seat beside her, a hopeful look on her face.


    Beside her, Chen Xingyan: "..."


    Xue Jing reached out and gently touched the head of this dutiful student, speaking softly:


    "No need, you eat, if teacher wants to eat, he can make it himself."


    Feeling the warmth from the palm above her head, Jingqiu''s face flushed with a racing heartbeat, and she quickly lowered her head, shyly saying:


    "Okay... okay."


    He Han picked a large bunch of green vegetables with his chopsticks and put them into Chen Xingyan''s bowl, sympathetically adding:


    "Here, Brother Li Zheng, eat more vegetables, it''s good for your health."


    Chen Xingyan glared at him irritably.


    "What are you misunderstanding? This was all planned, Jingqiu told me yesterday she needed to build a good relationship with Mr. Xue, so it would be easier to find his weaknesses and flaws¡­"


    He Han continued to serve him vegetables, nonchalantly replying:


    "Yeah, yeah, I understand, have some more."


    Chen Xingyan: "..."


    ...


    After a whirlwind of eating, within just about ten minutes, the dozens of dishes laid out on several long tables were wiped clean.


    Completely clean, without even a drop of sauce left.


    Those who knew understood it was the work of dozens of students, those who didn''t might think it was done by dozens of dishwashers.


    All the students appeared to be stuffed, bellies visibly bloated, but their expressions were unanimously craving more, seemingly endless relish.


    Xue Jing stood by the serving window, clapped his hands to draw all the students'' attention, then announced:


    "Everyone gets a one-hour break, remember to wash and tidy up your bowls, cutlery, and the tables in front of you, and sweep the floor, got it?"


    Everyone instantly sat up straight, unanimously responding loudly: "Yes, teacher!"


    Xue Jing nodded with a smile: "Very good."


    He turned and left the cafeteria while the students started to clean up, chatting among themselves.


    "Man, Mr. Xue is too awesome, not only does he look good and have high combat power, but how can he also cook so deliciously?"


    "This is the first time I''ve seen glowing food in real life, so exaggerated..."


    "In the end, which damn lucky person will get to marry Mr. Xue, I''m so jealous!"


    "Mr. Xue couldn''t have drugged the food, could he? I feel addicted! I absolutely can''t eat anymore, but just thinking about the taste makes me drool..."


    "My stomach has practically turned into Mr. Xue''s shape, what should I do..."


    "If I can''t taste this ever again, what''s the point of living, I might as well restart."


    "I could endure darkness, if I had never seen sunlight, sigh."


    As they chatted, some of the students began to sigh in dismay.


    He Han retorted, "The training isn''t over yet, it still has three days, just beg Mr. Xue to cook for us every day, then you can ''rest in peace'' after three days, okay?"


    A hint of blush appeared on Jingqiu''s beautiful face as she pondered dreamily, "Three days later, we can still spend seven days with Mr. Xue at Intersecting Boundaries¡­"


    Chen Xingyan asked curiously, "But we can''t eat Mr. Xue''s cooking at Intersecting Boundaries, right?"


    He Han patted his shoulder, not saying a word.


    ...

 Chapter 323 Original Killing Move - Serious Punch (4K)

    Xuanwu Mansion, in a certain office.Xue Jing looked at the student profile documents spread out on the desk in front of him, his gaze ponderous.


    He reached out, flipped through the files, and selected seven profiles.


    Cao Sini, Yuan Baijing, Chen Xingyan, He Han, Zhao Longtu, Ye Jingqiu, and Xu Zixuan.


    These seven students were the ones that Xue Jing, after the morning''s practical tests and assessments in various aspects, deemed particularly noteworthy.


    In this joint examination, as an examiner, he would face numerous restrictions in the Intersecting Boundaries and could not act on his own to defeat everyone; hence, obtaining good results hinged upon the students themselves.


    Although he had ways to take care of more than thirty students, he still needed to choose the most outstanding ones and invest more effort in them to increase the chance of achieving good results.


    Among these seven students, Cao Sini and Yuan Baijing possessed exceptionally high Combat Power. Yuan Baijing''s execution of the three strikes from the Courageous Decision left a deep impression on Xue Jing; he belonged to the sort that could make it to the top 16 in the U19 finals as long as they didn''t draw a monster opponent.


    Even with a bit of luck, encountering a player who couldn''t handle a burst of aggression and deciding the match in three strikes to advance to the top 8 wasn''t impossible.


    As for Cao Sini... this student with the odd name, although she seemed to have character issues, overall had the highest Combat Power among all the students and was the only one who exchanged more than ten moves with Xue Jing in the practical test.


    Her level could almost be compared to Phoenix Cry School Wei Junwu who Xue Jing had met at the U19 finals, belonging to a strong contender for the stable top 8 in the U19.


    This was because the U19 batch that Xue Jing participated in was quite special, with the quality of contestants improving by more than a notch compared to past years.


    In any other batch, Wei Junwu''s level would have been considered a strong favorite for the champion.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle really was a bit exaggerated; just a Martial Arts Examination could bring forth this kind of genius student capable of seizing the U19 championship on the outside...


    These two students were both very strong, but were both ''fighters'' with no other special abilities.


    As for Chen Xingyan and He Han, with their own decent Combat Power, one possessed a rare leadership ability, and the other had the capacity for mischief and entertainment.


    The value of leadership ability goes without saying, while being a mischief-maker, though abstract in description, is an indispensable mood regulator in a team.


    And Ye Jingqiu... she was beautiful and had a great figure.


    A charming woman of grace could influence many students, especially male students'' thoughts.


    Cao Sini was also beautiful, but her face and expressions were too fierce, which generally instilled fear rather than appeal in others; it was clear she wasn''t the type to capitalize on her charm, and her name was just too laughable.


    As for Xu Zixuan and Zhao Longtu...


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted back and forth between these two''s profiles.


    These two belonged to the ''problem students''.


    The issue with Xu Zixuan was not his unfriendly attitude of mockery and provocation towards his classmates, but that he was hiding something.


    Xue Jing didn''t know what he intended to do, but in the practical test, Xu Zixuan acted as though he had cunningly concealed most of his strength, pretending to be a student of mediocre ability.


    Although his concealment was skillful, Xue Jing''s Insight was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine; he had already seen through the ruse.


    Zhao Longtu was even more problematic.


    He simply skipped the pre-examination training and didn''t show up at all.


    This troubled youth''s very presence at the Martial Arts Examination was odd enough, and his arrogant non-attendance of the training clearly indicated significant issues.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and murmured,


    "Let''s address the overall strength issue first."


    The thirty or so students he was leading, although a few had decent abilities, were generally very poor in his view, exceedingly poor.


    Although he didn''t know the situation with students in other examination centers, he felt that his students, with their current abilities, certainly couldn''t achieve any commendable results, and even cheating would be difficult for him.


    There were only three days for training, an extremely short time for martial arts cultivation, making it virtually impossible for any substantial progress to occur during this period.


    But Xue Jing was different from others.


    With the Empowerment capability, he could become a ''mass-producer of experts'' should he wish to.


    There were no issues with teaching and learning; he would simply open up your head and pour in the knowledge.


    The remaining question was... what to instill in the students¡­


    After briefly contemplating his current martial arts knowledge, Xue Jing had an idea; his focus landed on the most recent ''Courageous Decision'' he had acquired stealthily.


    Among the martial arts he was proficient in that could directly enhance combat abilities, Hidden Dragon School was the most suitable for teaching. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    As for the Heavenly Blade Mindset with its various lethal moves and Ultimate Skills... while powerful, the prerequisite for executing these martial arts was entering the Heavenly Blade Mindset. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without Xue Jing''s robust Spirit and willpower, ordinary practitioners would certainly be corrupted by the Divinity and indifference of the mindset, altering their personalities, so teaching it would be harmful.


    As for Impeccable, the difficulty was too high; this Spear Skill only became powerful after a high sequence of moves, and most people, even if taught, lacked the mental capacity for calculation and wouldn''t be able to use more than a dozen or twenty moves at most in real combat.


    Originally, Xue Jing had planned to teach each student a Hidden Dragon School move that suited them before considering anything else.


    But now, there was a better option.


    "The Courageous Decision is simple in terms of energy channeling and its principles are not complex either. The focus is on cultivating the boldness of ''forging ahead without retreat.''"

 Chapter 323 Original Killing Move - Serious Punch (4K)_2

    "Most people find it hard to cultivate this sort of courage," Xue Jing thought, "but with ''Empowerment,'' I can directly pass on this realization to them; there''s no problem.""Now what needs to be done is to modify it, from ''Spear Skills'' to other more widely adaptable moves... Not everyone knows how to use a spear."


    Thinking it over, Xue Jing simply closed his eyes and entered Consciousness Simulation, immediately starting to modify ''Courageous Decision.''


    His martial arts knowledge was indeed vast, being a master in this field himself; he understood deeply about Channeling Energy and the use of Spirit in martial arts.


    Additionally, he had directly stolen the realization from Yuan Baijing''s mind, who had been cultivating Courageous Decision for many years, deepening his understanding of this martial art.


    At this moment, within Consciousness Simulation, he wouldn''t suffer any real harm, so switching the route of Channeling Energy and other operations that normally required caution could be done recklessly.


    Any side effects from the modified Channeling Energy route didn''t matter; whether it caused his body to explode or concealed injuries, with a mere thought, his body would repair itself.


    Whether the new route matched the relentless spirit...


    Considering various problems in modifying martial arts, everything seemed trivial in the face of infinite error tolerance.


    In less than an hour, Xue Jing opened his eyes, which glowed with a dark blue brilliance emanating in all directions.


    Using ''Courageous Decision'' as the base, he succeeded in creating a highly adaptable lethal technique.


    Not only was the adaptability problem resolved, there was no need to use a spear to perform it; in the process, his flashes of inspiration kept adding much more to it, making this move stronger and more useful than the original Courageous Decision!


    Initially meant to be a technique created for his students, he now found it quite useful himself and estimated that it would become one of the techniques he frequently used in the future.


    However, the difficulty of practicing it far exceeded Xue Jing''s expectations, much more difficult than the original Courageous Decision... but this didn''t matter, he could simply ''Empower'' instead.


    He stood up, left the office, went upstairs, entered the broadcasting studio, picked up the microphone, turned it on, and said: sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All students, gather at the training field."


    Repeating it once more.


    Chen Xingyan''s group, who were idly chatting in the classroom, and Cao Sini, who was watering plants in the mansion''s flower pots... upon hearing the broadcast, all the students immediately put down their tasks and headed to the training field.


    After initially experiencing Xue Jing''s imposing demonstration, real combat tests, and personally cooking for them¡ªa combination of a stick and carrot¡ªall the students deeply acknowledged Mr. Xue''s status and authority as a teacher and were obedient, no longer resistant.


    The students arrived at the training field and saw Xue Jing, dressed in a black martial arts uniform, standing there with his hands behind his back, majestic and solid as a mountain.


    His tall stature, perfect proportions, and flawless standing posture... although they were well aware of Mr. Xue''s exceptional demeanor and presence, it never ceased to impress them every time they saw him.


    "Mr. Xue really looks too good... Standing there, he is like a painting."


    "The term ''Young Grandmaster'' seems to have been invented for him; he truly has the demeanor of a grandmaster."


    "It''s unbelievable that such a person was just cooking for us... Mr. Xue is really a wonderful person!"


    Unconcerned with the students'' murmurs, Xue Jing nodded and asked:


    "Is everyone here?"


    Chen Xingyan, who had been counting people, immediately replied:


    "Everyone is here, Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue!" He Han called out, raising his hand.


    He wore a new painful shirt with another white-haired character on it.


    With some anticipation, He Han asked, "Will you be cooking dinner tonight too? And tomorrow?"


    At this, all the students looked eagerly at Xue Jing, even the usually indifferent Cao Sini couldn''t help but turn her gaze.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Of course, I will be responsible for all your meals during this exam period... We must nail the nutrition."


    At this, the students immediately cheered.


    "Awesome!"


    "Long live Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue rules! If you ever run out of toilet paper while having diarrhea in the restroom, there will surely be a hand basin nearby!" He Han shouted.


    "Ew, is the blessing of the underworld clich¨¦ making a comeback?"


    Xue Jing looked at He Han''s shirt and felt it looked familiar. "What character is this now?"


    Tugging at the white-haired woman character on the front of his shirt, He Han explained:


    "Oh, this is my ''O-jug,'' Gou Zhizhi."


    The surrounding students, especially the female ones, immediately grimaced and distanced themselves from him.


    Underworld Dimension.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat.


    He had played this game before.


    "All right, quiet down, class is starting," Xue Jing said.


    The students immediately stopped their chatter and looked at Xue Jing.


    "In three days, we''re going to Intersecting Boundaries for a joint exam with students from other test locations."


    "Though I am invincible there as your teacher, there are many restrictions preventing me from intervening at will, so for the most part, it''s up to you."


    Xue Jing spoke in a calm and indifferent tone.


    Seeing him refer to himself as ''invincible'' as if it were natural, the students smiled wryly, finding it amusing.


    Mr. Xue''s jokes might be awkward, but his matter-of-fact expression was quite entertaining... everyone picked up on a different kind of humor.


    "So, to enhance your combat abilities, I am going to teach you a new move today."


    Hearing this, the students'' eyes lit up.


    "Stand up, student, pick a few people and pile those sandbags in the middle."


    Xue Jing pointed towards the dozens of sandbags stacked at the edge of the training ground and spoke to Chen Xingyan.


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    "...Teacher, please call me Xingyan."


    Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched.


    Xue Jing was slightly startled; he had heard He Han always calling him by this name and thought that it was his commonly accepted nickname.


    Ignoring the classmates around him who were trying to suppress their laughter, Chen Xingyan glared at He Han, feeling sorrowfully resigned that this embarrassing nickname was now cemented on him.


    He sighed, chose a few male classmates, and as per Xue Jing''s instructions, moved all the sandbags from afar to the center of the training field.


    For them, who practiced martial arts, this was not a difficult task¡ªit was like a regular person moving a few books.


    "Everyone, step back."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, gesturing for the students to move back.


    "Back up."


    "Back up."


    After repeating it twice more, the students ended up about fifty meters away from him before Xue Jing nodded.


    "Watch closely."


    Xue Jing raised his right fist, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed his impressively muscled arms, which caught the gleeful eyes of some female and male students alike.


    With Inner Strength circulating within his body, Xue Jing''s gaze intensified, and a terrifyingly powerful aura suddenly erupted from him.


    Centered on him, a visibly expanding pressure wave spread out, blowing the distant students'' clothes and nearly lifting them off the ground.


    Yuan Baijing, seeing this, blinked in recognition.


    This aura... It was quite like his Courageous Decision, carrying an unstoppable, reckless drive and ruthlessness.


    But there seemed to be something different.


    Under everyone''s gaze, Xue Jing, in an apparently ordinary stance, threw a very standard Straight Punch.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    Like a thunderclap booming suddenly in the skies, the space trembled and burst from the tip of Xue Jing''s fist, emitting a wailing screech as a visible fan-shaped shockwave split to either side of the fist, moving outward in a delicate fan shape.


    The sandbags in front of Xue Jing, upon contact with this shockwave, exploded instantly into dust, scattering into the air. The shockwave continued unabated, extending hundreds of meters, heavily damaging the mansion''s surrounding wall and spreading further.


    In the endless dust, the vacuum created by the punch caused the air to flow back violently, generating violent winds that swept the students off their feet, tossing them around and eliciting cries of shock.


    As the dust settled, Cao Sini, who had been rather quiet, stared at the scene in front of her and asked Xue Jing for the first time,


    "...Teacher, what is that move?"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then said,


    "Let''s call it¡ª''Serious Punch.''"


    ...

 Chapter 324 Empowering All Students, Ye Jingqius Little Thoughts Towards Xue Jing (4K)

    At this moment, if someone looked down from the sky, they would see that the direction of Xue Jing''s punch spread out in two slender fan shapes, turning everything within its range into flat ground.


    The destruction caused by the Serious Punch was simply too great; the intended sandbag couldn''t stop it at all, and it even broke through the specially made shock-resistant walls of Xuanwu Mansion, extending beyond the mansion''s boundaries.


    Fortunately, this area was already part of a semi-suburban zone, with no other buildings around, just an evenly elevated grassland.


    This punch had impacted nearly three hundred meters away, where the lush green grass was all turned over into a stretch of brownish mud.


    At the very end of this punch, the fan-shaped shock waves had expanded to nearly a hundred meters in width.


    After everything had settled, the students stared, dumbfounded, at the extreme scene before them.


    "Is this...the result of a single punch?"


    "It''s like a directed super typhoon..."


    "Can the human body...actually achieve such an exaggerated feat?"


    "Mr. Xue..."


    All the students gradually turned their heads to look at Xue Jing, their eyes filled with an unconscious reverence.


    Even the students who had harbored other minor thoughts about him had shelved these ideas at this moment.


    It was not until now, in front of this overtly displayed mighty power, that the students realized how terrifying the figure known as Xue Jing, labeled both ''Demon King'' and ''strongest champion in history,'' truly was, and how vast the gap between him and them was.


    This was almost...not the same species.


    While most of them had seen various powerful Martial Artists fight in videos and even at live events,


    since the scope of competitions was basically limited to the ring and there were various strong protective measures, scenes of large-scale attacks like this ''map cannon'' type were rare.


    And now, witnessing firsthand a person unleashing destruction comparable to natural disasters using the human form...the shock was extraordinary.


    "How about that, quite impressive, isn''t it?"


    Xue Jing stretched out his fist and clenched it, chuckling softly.


    Serious Punch was a concept derived from Courageous Decision, which gathered all one''s spirit in one explosive outburst, with the addition of many of Xue Jing''s understandings of Martial Arts.


    There was not only the meticulous refinement in channeling energy as in Impeccable, but also the application of how to exert the ultimate physical power from the Hidden Dragon School''s Mystique Penetrating Gaze.


    Xue Jing, with his exceptionally strong spiritual cultivation, through ''Visualization True'' and ''Acting,'' two skills that could affect emotions and thoughts, adjusted the indomitable spirit of Courageous Decision to some extent, turning a ''reckless charge'' into a ''thoughtful yet bold leap forward, risking everything.''


    He named it ''Serious Punch,'' which, although somewhat playful, was indeed a very fitting name for this move.


    Xue Jing was quite satisfied with his creation.


    This move, ''Serious Punch,'' could be said to be an ''Essence of Mystery that was not a Mystic Art Level move.''


    The move itself didn''t have a special domain that Mystic Art Level techniques would typically manifest, affecting surrounding phenomena, but rather it was a punch thrown with all-out resolution, squeezing out the physical body''s ultimate strength.


    There were no other sophisticated Martial Arts effects, just a simple kinetic force impact, pure destruction.


    Because it was pure, it was powerful.


    In terms of power, it was even stronger than his current strongest single move, ''Penetrating Gaze.''


    The only problem was...the consumption of this move was outrageously high.


    Even Xue Jing''s True Martial Body, which could usually execute Penetrating Gaze with ease, felt a bit of strain after executing Serious Punch.


    Moreover, since this move originated from the third strike of Courageous Decision, there was actually a follow-up.


    In Xue Jing''s conception, its complete form was ''Continuous Serious Punch.''


    However, as it stands, only he could execute it in his ultimate bursts, as for the students...it was difficult.


    "Mr. Xue, this move is extremely powerful, but..."


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    "How are we supposed to learn this!!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A student complained loudly.


    "This obviously isn''t a technique for our level to learn, it''s too advanced!"


    "Who tries advanced calculus when they''ve just learned basic arithmetic!"


    "Can''t you teach something simpler!"


    Xue Jing smiled and was about to speak, but Cao Sini, who had been standing next to him, grabbed his sleeve and whispered softly:


    "...Teacher, I want to learn."


    Xue Jing was slightly taken aback, then reached out and gently patted her head, softly saying:


    "Alright, I will teach you."


    After saying that, he activated Empowerment, gradually infusing all the knowledge and insights related to Serious Punch into Cao Sini''s mind, reaching deep into her consciousness.


    Cao Sini closed her eyes, her expression turning pale, and a thin layer of sweat began to emerge all over her body, occasionally trembling slightly while biting her lower lip, as if enduring something unbearable.


    The students looked at each other.


    "What''s going on?"


    He Han, stroking his chin, guessed, "Could it be that Mr. Xue is some immortal who rejuvenates by absorbing the essence of young boys and girls, and is now using the Absorption Technique on Cao Sini?"


    Ye Jingqiu glared at him, "Don''t slander Mr. Xue!"


    Seeing hostile glances from the female students around, He Han raised his hands and quickly said, "I was just joking."

 Chapter 324 Empowerment of All Students, Ye Jingqius Little Thoughts Towards Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Chen Xingyan looked on for a while before he said, "I think it''s more like passing on skills rather than absorbing them."


    Upon hearing this, Yuan Baijing thoughtfully said, "I''ve heard our Arena Master talk about high-level martial artists who can use a method called ''Divine Will Implantation'' to directly transmit martial arts to another person..."


    "However, this move," he said, "is said to come at the cost of the implanter''s own memories and insights. Once someone imparts a martial art''s divine will to another, the implanter himself will lose the memory related to that martial art..."


    The crowd exclaimed in surprise, "No way, does that mean Mr. Xue is going to lose ''Serious Punch''?"


    Suddenly, He Han said, "Wait a minute, is Mr. Xue''s goal to choose one of us to inherit his ''Serious Punch''?"


    Upon hearing this, the others changed their expressions and got a bit frantic:


    "Ah, so Cao Sini got ahead of us!"


    "Damn, that woman always seems cold as wood, but she becomes so sharp at times like this. I misjudged her!"


    In the midst of the noisy discussion, Xue Jing''s empowerment of Cao Sini ended.


    Xue Jing withdrew his palm, and Cao Sini''s body immediately began to sway as she became weak, nearly collapsing before Xue Jing caught her by the shoulders to steady her.


    "How do you feel, Sini?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Cao Sini opened her eyes¡ªher previously narrow and fierce gaze had softened significantly. Gathering her thoughts, she said,


    "I''m fine, Mr. Xue... I feel like I''ve learned it."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Then, give it a try."


    He tapped his own chest with his hand:


    "Let your teacher be your punching bag."


    Cao Sini hesitated briefly and said, "This..."


    But seeing the calm smile on Xue Jing''s face and the strength he had always shown, Cao Sini grit her teeth:


    "Mr. Xue, be careful."


    Her gaze sharpened, and an imposing aura burst forth from her, stirring up a ring of air currents.


    The spirit she displayed was exactly like that of Xue Jing when he used ''Serious Punch.''


    Except on a "scale," it was smaller by more than a dozen times.


    Cao Sini did not assume the same Straight Punch stance as Xue Jing; instead, she extended her palm flat and straightened it out in a Piercing Hand.


    ''Serious Punch'' could more accurately be described as ''Serious Strike,'' where the key is the spirit of the execution, whether it is with a fist, palm, knife, or sword¡ªdetails are irrelevant.


    She preferred using a ''Piercing Hand'' to attack others.


    Before the surprised eyes of everyone, Cao Sini''s Piercing Hand thrust forward with an unstoppable resolution towards the center of Xue Jing''s chest.


    The air parted, emitting a high-pitched whistle... everything was just like Xue Jing''s punch, only much smaller in scale. Even if Xue Jing himself reduced his physical level to that of Cao Sini, this would be the outcome of his strike.


    It was a perfect replica.


    "Boom¡ª!"


    A muffled sound, Xue Jing, simultaneously employing Golden Scales Transformation and Seal Cloud Tail, vibrated his bones, completely absorbing this formidable impact with his skeleton.


    Following that, a dragon''s roar rang out; Xue Jing swung a punch to the side with his right hand. All the kinetic energy was released through Seal Cloud Tail, turning into a visible pale golden Dragon-Shaped Energy, roaring as it broke through the walls of Xuanwu Mansion and streaked off into the unknown.


    "Not bad."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled.


    Seeing that Xue Jing was unharmed, Cao Sini immediately let out a sigh of relief, her body relaxing, and the extreme mental and physical strain made her faint, slumping onto Xue Jing''s shoulder, her head resting on his collarbone.


    The female classmates saw this, their eyes widened with envy, nearly biting their handkerchiefs.


    "There''s even this move!?"


    A few quick-witted female students quietly realized and learned.


    After laying Cao Sini down on the ground, Xue Jing looked at the crowd, noting their sighing and listless expressions, which puzzled him:


    "What''s wrong with you all?"


    A girl with thick eyebrows sighed, "Mr. Xue, you''ve already passed ''Serious Punch'' to Cao Sini; doesn''t that mean we can''t learn it now?"


    Xue Jing was surprised, "Why can''t you learn it?"


    "The teacher doesn''t have to comfort us," one girl said a bit resentfully. "Cao Sini just learned it instantly, you must have ''Divinely Implanted'' it into her. You surely don''t remember ''Serious Punch'' now."


    Understanding the reason, Xue Jing burst into laughter:


    "So that''s it... I thought you didn''t want to learn."


    "Rest assured, I always treat everyone equally and wouldn''t show partiality. I said I would teach you all, and I will¡ªeveryone will learn it. It''s just that since Sini spoke up first, I started with her."


    "Divine Will Implantation indeed has that side effect... but I''m a very special person."


    He paused, and Xue Jing continued, "...it''s even more special than you all imagine."


    "I will teach martial arts to each of you in the form of ''Empowerment.'' Others can''t do it, but I can."


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    "Come on, one by one in the order of your student numbers."


    Everyone looked at each other with skepticism after hearing this.


    But tempted by the chance to learn the ''Serious Punch,'' the students stepped forward and approached Xue Jing.


    The first in the lineup was Xu Zixuan.


    Looking at the somewhat stiff young man before him, Xue Jing smiled meaningfully.


    "Relax."


    "...Yes, Mr. Xue."


    Xue Jing placed his hand on the crown of Xu Zixuan''s head and imparted the Serious Punch through Empowerment.


    After finishing, he didn''t remove his hand but instead attempted to absorb the knowledge from Xu Zixuan by reversing the empowerment process.


    ...However, he couldn''t absorb anything.


    Xu Zixuan''s spiritual defenses were highly robust, and as soon as his consciousness sensed Xue Jing''s intrusion, he immediately locked down, preventing Xue Jing from accessing anything within his spirit. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Returning without success, he was unable to absorb the knowledge or probe the situation, but Xue Jing didn''t mind.


    Often, the act of ''unwilling to expose information'' itself reveals a lot of information.


    Xu Zixuan''s deep caution towards him was enough for Xue Jing to notice.


    "Old Xu, how do you feel? Did you learn it?"


    He Han asked Xu Zixuan as he returned.


    Xu looked somewhat pale and weak, and snapped at He Han''s question:


    "Why should I tell you?"


    Glancing at the white-haired woman character on He Han''s clothing, he scoffed:


    "Stupid second-dimension geek."


    "Damn it, I''m gonna explode!" He Han yelled frenziedly.


    "Calm down, second-dimension, don''t stoop to his level in front of Mr. Xue," Chen Xingyan said as he held He Han back, giving Xu Zixuan a deep look.


    This guy... really doesn''t fit in with the group.


    Soon, one student after another was successfully empowered by Xue Jing.


    "Holy crap, I really learned it!"


    "It feels like I''ve known how to do it since I was little, it''s so magical!"


    "Is this Divine Will Implantation? Mr. Xue is awesome!"


    "I''m so tired, I want to sleep, but I want to throw a punch...who will let me hit them?"


    "Did everyone eat yet? If not, eat my punch!"


    "Now I feel like my fighting power has skyrocketed, who in this class can stop me!"


    "Wake up, everyone knows this move now, it''s not just you who has enhanced their power."


    Despite being extremely exhausted after the empowerment, the students were still excitedly discussing it.


    "Mr. Xue..."


    Ye Jingqiu''s face flushed with a hint of guilt as she looked at Xue Jing.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not like getting a shot, it won''t hurt," Xue Jing said, mistaking her for being a bit scared, and he comforted her.


    "...Okay." Ye Jingqiu grew even more sheepish.


    Xue Jing gently placed his hand on Ye Jingqiu''s head, and soon, she too was empowered.


    "...Ah, teacher, I feel so dizzy."


    Ye Jingqiu moaned in slight pain, her figure swayed, and she involuntarily leaned toward Xue Jing.


    Then... Xue Jing pressed a finger against her forehead to support her.


    "Sit down and rest well if you feel dizzy."


    Xue Jing''s face retained its consistently gentle expression as he spoke softly.


    Tears welled up in the corners of Ye Jingqiu''s eyes, and she said grievously, "Yes, teacher..."


    Why can Cao Sini do it, but not her...

 Chapter 325 Capturing the Bad Boy Skipping Class, Extreme Martial Ascension Palace Opening Test (4K)

    "Hey! You monster, don''t run, my Heroic Intent is full, take my Intentional Bombing Fist!"


    Inside the office, Xue Jing looked through the window at the training ground below where students, having learned new moves, were passionately sparring. He reached out to take a document that Ning Yuantai handed over.


    "Xue, all the information on Zhao Longtu is right here."


    Ning Yuantai said.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Thanks for the hard work, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai waved his hand dismissively, sighing, "Working for you, there''s no such thing as hard work or not. It''s all part of the job!"


    Xue Jing opened the file, the first page was a particularly fierce ID photo of Zhao Longtu, looking like a mugshot, next to it were basic details like gender, ethnicity, and educational background. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Skipping to the second page, Xue Jing started reading quickly, scanning a whole page worth of dense information in just two or three seconds, continuously flipping through, and finished reviewing Zhao Longtu''s data in half a minute.


    "So that''s how it is..."


    Xue Jing nodded, roughly understanding what had happened to Zhao Longtu.


    "He''s a valuable fighting force¡­ Can you find out where he is now?"


    Xue Jing looked at Ning Yuantai.


    Ning Yuantai raised his eyebrows proudly, saying, "I thought you''d ask that, so I had already asked the Silver City Zhi Ge Base to check for us, and they found him."


    "At the... Extreme Martial Ascension Palace."


    Xue Jing asked, "What''s he doing there?"


    Ning Yuantai explained, "Any Martial Artist still passionate about martial arts surely gets drawn to that place¡­ Zhao Longtu has only one reason for going ¡ª because the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace is there!"


    Xue Jing rubbed his chin, "So which level is he on now, and how can we find him?"


    "The news was received this morning; at that time, Zhao Longtu was at the 8233rd level."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "That high? What kind of strength level is needed to reach that?"


    Ning Yuantai pondered before saying, "For floors below ten thousand, it''s hard to define specific strength levels. You just need to defeat three opponents on that floor to move up, and this floor count might not even be Zhao Longtu''s limit yet."


    "However, another piece of data gives us a rough estimate¡­ Xue, do you remember Zhou Yinglin?"


    Xue Jing nodded. Though he was an insignificant opponent, he had to admit, he learned a lot from him, including Impeccable, making a lasting impression on Xue Jing.


    "Remember, what about him?"


    Ning Yuantai smiled, "Zhou Yinglin came to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle a while ago... and also went to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, causing quite a discussion."


    "He took three days to climb through the first ten thousand floors and entered the ''expert zone''... He is currently around the 17000th floor."


    Xue Jing furrowed his brows, "Such a big time difference, there must be another way to skip levels, right?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded, "Of course... It''s all about the initial ''data testing''."


    "The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace is entirely controlled by a super AI named ''Xuanling'', with no official personnel inside, only the Level Master and Heavenly Lord of the top 972 floors have some management authority."


    "Any person entering the first floor of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace will undergo a physical data test by ''Xuanling'' to roughly estimate the entrant''s strength and then assign them a ''starting floor.''"


    "Therefore, the strong don''t waste time on lower floors... Zhou Yinglin performed well in the data test, started at a high floor level, and therefore moved through ten thousand floors quicker."


    Xue Jing suddenly realized, "I see." Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Ning Yuantai shrugged, "But as you know, the strength of a Martial Artist isn''t determined by merely comparing ''stats''; hence, the floors assigned after data testing are quite conservative. For example, even if an entrant''s physical data could match the average level of a twenty thousand floor expert, Xuanling, after testing, would only assign them to start around the three or four thousand floors."


    Xue Jing nodded, "That makes sense."


    He stood up, "Let''s go, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai looked confused, "Where to, Xue?"


    "Of course, to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    "With the little time left, I only have two more days to mentor the students... better catch that truant."


    Ning Yuantai was stunned, "Uh, this..."


    He instinctively thought it difficult, not enough time... To reach higher floors in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, one must fight their way up, there is no tourist passage...


    To meet Zhao Longtu, who is on the 8000 plus floors, one must fight up to 8000 plus floors themselves... it seemed tough to achieve in such short time.


    But just as he was about to speak, Ning Yuantai''s Iron-blooded Jing bloodline fiercely activated.


    Memories of the incredible feats Xue Jing had achieved flashed through his mind, and he immediately chose to believe in Xue.


    If Xue says he can do it, then he definitely can!


    "Alright, I''ll go arrange the aircraft!"


    Ning Yuantai saluted, excitedly.


    He tapped on his wristband a couple of times, starting to call the Zhi Ge Base to arrange transport, and opened the office door to step out without disturbing Xue Jing.


    But as the door opened, he found someone standing at the doorway, hand raised in a hesitant greeting, about to knock.

 Chapter 327

    The boiling blood gradually subsided, and his body was self-regulating at an extremely fast pace, dissipating the intense heat generated by the high-intensity exercise.


    Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    His brain was overheating, with a sticky sensation as if it were melting. Xue Jing suppressed this discomfort, steadied his spirit, and clenched his fists.


    "Continuous Serious Punch," the rapid-fire version of the "Serious Punch," was his strongest pure physical attack to date.


    He could quickly exhaust his physical strength, energy, spirit, and momentum, consuming the blue and yellow bars in an extremely short time.


    Actually, he could keep going, but doing so would start to consume his blood bar... which meant his life force.


    This was an extremely dangerous move, even for someone with monstrous vitality like him. If he kept punching without stopping, it wouldn''t take long to kill himself.


    The core of the technique was a spirit of moving forward regardless of all else, forsaking everything, including, naturally, one''s life within the scope of this "forsaking."


    If he had to define this move, Xue Jing would call it¡ªSacrifice Skill.


    "If it weren''t for ''Health Cultivation'' and ''True Martial'' sustaining me, along with practicing Yellow Grannie Skill and Nirvana Technique, I reckon I''d be dried up by now," Xue Jing muttered to himself, feeling how the emptiness of energy and strength inside was rapidly self-recovering.


    This technique was probably something that only someone as unique as him could use as a regular trump card. For anyone else, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime move.


    The terrifying cost it incurred naturally resulted in equally terrifying destructive power. Xue Jing wasn''t sure what the A+ rating that Xuanling had given him represented, but seeing "No further testing required, choose any starting point within the first ten thousand floors" was enough.


    That was the purpose of his visit to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace: to quickly ascend to the higher floors and capture the student who had skipped class.


    "How did you manage to use such a technique and still seem virtually unharmed afterward?" A female voice tinged with curiosity came from beside him, and Xue Jing was slightly startled.


    This was the voice of the super AI, Xuanling, from the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    "How did you suddenly become so humanlike?" Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    "What do you mean suddenly become humanlike? Don''t you know how to speak?" Xuanling said, somewhat discontented.


    "I am just surprised at your performance. I''ve allocated more computing power to your area; it''s normal for my speaking manner to become more fluid," Xuanling explained.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    Initially, the AI-like questionnaire speaking mode of Xuanling was due to only the most basic computing power allocated to him, not enough to form a specific "personality."


    After all, the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace hosted an unknown number of Sky Climbers, and Xuanling had to attend to them all.


    Although it was a super AI constructed based on the "Super Network," theoretically capable of infinite computing power, in order to manifest in reality, it was inevitably limited by the configuration of the machines in the real world. Thus, in practice, its computing power, though immense, wasn''t infinite, and it could only provide a basic Q&A module to most Sky Climbers.


    "You still haven''t answered my question," Xuanling said.


    "Why are you seemingly unharmed after using such a technique?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin and replied, "I was born with Divine Power."


    "Hmph, if you don''t want to say, that''s fine. It''s not like I''m particularly curious," muttered Xuanling.


    This thing is actually quite cute... Xue Jing smiled to himself.


    "Xue, that was awesome!" Ning Yuantai approached, expressing admiration with an excited face.


    "Though I had anticipated you might directly achieve an A rating, earning the privilege to choose any starting floor levels, it''s still unexpected that you pulled off... an A+!"


    "This must be a record unmatched by predecessors, and likely unequaled by future contenders to receive an A+ rating in Project One without having achieved Breakthrough," Ning Yuantai exclaimed.


    Xue Jing rotated his still somewhat sore wrist and casually said,


    "Is that score impressive?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded vigorously, "Impressive, extremely impressive."


    "Xuanling''s Test Project One measures a Martial Artist''s attack output capability. Even though personal physiques and Martial Arts training differ among individuals, and even those at the same level have diverse attack power, there are still general ranges."


    "Those who receive a B rating are usually Great Perfection masters on the verge of a Breakthrough. Those with an A rating are Grandmaster Level individuals who have already had a Breakthrough. This result has already reached an ''outside the standard'' level for the entrance test, allowing one to forgo further testing and directly obtain the highest starting floor privilege. An A+ rating is commonly assigned to those on the verge of a second Breakthrough, or who have already achieved it!"


    "Proceeding to an S rating is the territory of Titled Strongmen..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Understood."


    So it seemed that in the realm of pure martial arts, his maximum output capability was barely scraping the second Breakthrough territory...


    But in the end, it was just output... If he actually faced an opponent of this level, even if his output matched up, he would still be crushed in other aspects by the adversary.


    And such high-caliber fighters undoubtedly possessed unique explosive offensive moves. If they unleashed moves like Serious Punch, they could burst out even stronger and more ferocious power. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Defeating a second Breakthrough level fighter in the pure martial arts domain by leapfrogging two major realms was still impossible for now.


    "Now it''s time to find Zhao Longtu..."


    "Which floor was he on again?"


    Xue Jing was about to ask Ning Yuantai, but Xuanling''s voice suddenly came from beside him:


    "Are you looking for someone? Why not just ask me?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Can you do that?"


    "Of course, why else would I allocate so much computing power to you?"

 Chapter 327_2

    Xuanling said as a matter of course.


    "You being able to obtain such a rating and become a ''Level Master'' was only a matter of time, so offering you some privileges in advance is quite normal, isn''t it? Special people should receive special treatment."


    Xue Jing was slightly taken aback.


    "That''s quite humanizing."


    An AI had actually deviated from the system''s set regulations, autonomously making ''worldly-wise'' considerations just like a human.


    Quite frightening, almost triggering the Joy Valley effect.


    But perhaps not necessarily, perhaps it was allowed to make such cognitive actions, and these might have been pre-set by humans.


    "Then could you please help me check which level a person named Zhao Longtu is currently on?" Xue Jing asked.


    "Huh? Your question is too broad."


    "There are three hundred eighty-two people called Zhao Longtu currently in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, and if you include those who have died or who have been here before, there are a total of one thousand two hundred forty-nine."


    "Narrow down the conditions!" said Xuanling.


    Xue Jing: "Mine."


    He thought for a moment and said, "He probably came in nine days ago, was around level eight thousand two hundred in the morning, and is about seventeen years old..."


    Before Xue Jing could finish speaking, Xuanling interrupted, "Got it."


    "Sky Climber number 656321587, Zhao Longtu, is currently at level 8493, undergoing a level challenge."


    Xue Jing laughed lightly, "That was really efficient... Thank you, Xuanling."


    "It''s my rightful duty, no thanks necessary."


    "If you really want to thank me, tell me the secret of your body, why it can withstand that kind of move..."


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    Xue Jing waved his hand: "I was born with the Dragon Elephant Holy Body, which others can''t learn, so it''s useless to tell you... How do I get to level 8493?"


    Xuanling seemed to sigh, "Stand still, I''ll teleport you there."


    "... What is that?"


    Xue Jing was startled.


    Before he could prepare himself, countless visible data converged under his feet, forming an orange glow beneath him, identical to the SC force field he had tested before.


    The orange glow slowly expanded until it could envelop him completely and then began to float up slowly.


    As the glow rose, Xue Jing began to disappear from his feet upwards, as if being swallowed by the glow, quite a peculiar sight.


    Once the glow had ''swallowed'' him completely, Xue Jing disappeared from the spot.


    Taking a step forward subconsciously, Xue Jing came to his senses only to find his surroundings had completely changed.


    Ning Yuantai and Cao Sini were gone, and the crowd around him had obviously changed, but most noticeably... the air pressure was lower, and there was less oxygen each breath.


    "Is this... level 8493? I got here in an instant?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing knitted his brows.


    Teleportation, spatial movement? Had human technology really reached this level?


    "What''s the matter, is this your first time experiencing ''four-dimensional movement''?" asked Xuanling curiously.


    "Four-dimensional movement?" Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    He had heard of something similar... previously in Qingcheng, while investigating the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother, he met a mysterious man in the home of the former Chief Councillor of Qingcheng.


    That man possessed a special ability known as ''Four-Dimensional Senses'' and claimed he could follow the ''Tracks of Time'' in four dimensions to perform some miraculous operations that bordered on absurdity, to the extent that during the battle with Xue Jing, he achieved an effect similar to ''Time Reversal''.


    "How was this achieved?" Xue Jing inquired.


    Xuanling seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking, "It''s difficult to explain in terms a human would understand."


    "...You should know, ants have extremely poor eyesight. In their perspective, the world is ''two-dimensional,'' flat. They can''t distinguish spherical or curved shapes,"


    "In a four-dimensional space, humans are akin to ants. Our senses can only observe a three-dimensional world and are incapable of perceiving the four-dimensional aspect."


    "Four-dimensional movement is akin to transferring an ant crawling on one sheet of paper to another... From the ant''s point of view, it can neither feel it nor understand that it has moved to a different sheet."


    "Just as you now can''t understand why you were able to come to level 8493... This isn''t some kind of spatial teleportation skill. Rather, I executed a four-dimensional movement on you through the ''unity'' of the SC force field. It''s normal that you can''t feel it or understand it."


    "If you ever get the chance to possess four-dimensional senses, it''ll be like an ant gaining a human brain. Then, naturally, you will understand."


    Xue Jing: "...This world is truly marvelous."


    Since he couldn''t understand it for the moment, he didn''t dwell on it but instead looked around and asked, "Where is Zhao Longtu?"


    Unlike the preparatory hall on the first level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, level 8493, as Xue Jing looked up, was filled with arenas wrapped in orange SC force field membranes. At a cursory glance, there were at least a hundred.


    On most of the platforms, two Martial Artists were engaged in intense combat, surrounded by spectators. The more intense the fight and the stronger the Martial Artists, the more there were in the audience.


    "He''s at platform number 064."


    Xuanling said.


    Xue Jing took a look and noted that each platform was edged with an Arabic numeral. He moved left and right, following the sequence to find platform number 064 quickly.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A loud sound came as a robust Martial Artist''s chest caved in, blood pouring from his mouth, as he was sent flying off the arena, the surrounding crowd stepping aside.


    "Ji Yang really couldn''t last a few moves against him; Zhao Longtu is really fierce, and he''s still underage."


    "He''s one of those geniuses who climbs rapidly; he doesn''t belong at the eight-thousandth level. This is just a transition... Hurry and cast a ''praise vote'' to send him up to the experts'' area, stop him from harming those lower levels."


    "It''s already two wins, one more and he can go up... Who''s next?"


    Listening to the discussions of the onlookers, Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the figure atop the platform.


    A young boy, wearing an old black Martial Arts Uniform, with an extremely fierce demeanor and emanating a certain hostility, stood there, maintaining a punching stance.


    At the corner of his left eye was a conspicuously indented scar, likely caused by a blunt weapon''s heavy strike breaking the skin.


    "What vote do you want to cast?"


    Xuanling began speaking into Xue Jing''s ear.


    "Spectators can vote for the winner after a match. There are three types: ''praise,'' ''average,'' and ''poor.''... If you get more than 80% praise votes in the battles on this level, you can jump levels..."


    A holographic image formed in front of Xue Jing, revealing three options.


    He casually pressed ''average'' and then stepped forward, slowly walking up the entrance staircase to the arena.


    The appearance of a new challenger shifted everyone''s attention to Xue Jing.


    "To see what just happened and still dare to go up... Hm? So young, another minor?"


    "Wait a second, such a great face... Have I seen him somewhere?"


    On the platform, Zhao Longtu''s gaze also landed on Xue Jing.


    His ferocious look was almost brimming with malice, resembling a demon from hell, enough to make any child cry at a glance.


    Above the platform, the orange force field flickered, and a holographic image appeared.


    [Challenger: Xue Jing]


    Zhao Longtu''s expression remained unchanged as he looked at Xue Jing and said in a hoarse voice:


    "Xue Jing... Are you ready?"


    He seemed not to recognize that the person before him was his examiner for this Martial Arts Examination.


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed a smile:


    "Of course... I''ve been ready for a long time."


    ...

 Chapter 328 Even When Ill, a Lion Doesnt Need to Choose a Day to Handle a Kitten (4K)

    Hearing Xue Jing''s words, Zhao Longtu didn''t immediately strike; instead, he furrowed his brow and said,


    "You''re in bad shape?"


    The tone of his speech sounded odd, as if it were quite normal, but when spoken, it felt like it was tinged with anger, as if irritated, enough to make anyone talking to him frown.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing asked curiously, "Why would you think that?"


    Although he was indeed in a worse state than normal because he had just performed the Continuous Serious Punch test, his level of Aura Blockade should have concealed it.


    Zhao Longtu said indifferently, "No basis, just a pure feeling."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, you''re the type with strong intuition."


    In this world, there really were some people who could sense things mysteriously without any apparent information... Xue Jing had met many of these types, typical of which was Otogirusu.


    Lu Sang''s intuition almost reached the level of a superpower... perhaps it should be called ''Super Intuition'' or ''Hyper Perception.''


    "Since I guessed right, let''s not fight this time, I don''t want an undeserved victory,"


    Zhao Longtu retracted his fighting stance and shook his head.


    "If you''re in such bad shape, why force yourself to say you''re ready? Step down, and if you wish to fight me, come find me at a higher floor when you''re in good shape."


    Xue Jing was somewhat surprised.


    This man looked utterly irritable, but unexpectedly still seemed to have a sense of martial virtue.


    He smiled and shook his head, "Zhao, your intuition is strong, but not strong enough."


    Zhao Longtu narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"


    Xue Jing flexed his wrist.


    "Your intuition is accurate, I am indeed in poor condition, perhaps unable to muster even one-tenth of my strength at my peak."


    "However, when I said ''I''m ready,'' it was no bluff."


    "Even a sick lion doesn''t need to wait until it recovers to squish a little cat."


    Xue Jing quietly said:


    "Unfortunately, your intuition isn''t strong enough to perceive the extent of the gap between you and me."


    The sheer absurdity of his words stunned both Zhao Longtu and the surrounding martial artists watching.


    "Damn, who is this guy, acting all high and mighty... But I have to admit, there''s something to his words."


    "When he speaks, it seems so natural... it feels like he''s really thinking this way and not just trying to impress us... could he actually be a tough one?"


    "Hard to say, he looks about the same age as Zhao Longtu, how can he beat Zhao with only a tenth of his strength?"


    "Do you really believe that? My buddy still says he used only three-thousandths of his strength when he fought you the other day."


    "That''s Xue Jing! Don''t you recognize him? He''s an outsider, I''ve seen his videos, he''s fierce!"


    On the stage, Zhao Longtu''s eyes showed anger:


    "...Forget it, no use talking more, I''ve given my warning, if you insist on pushing yourself, then fight, and take responsibility for the consequences!"


    His movements changed as he assumed a strange fighting stance.


    One arm raised high above his head, fist pointed forward like a lone horn, body leaning forward and crouched, like a bull ready to charge, exuding a wildly impressive aura.


    "Oh! Here it comes, this is the ''Asura Rhino Formation'' derived from the True Form lineage!"


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    "Going for the kill move straight away, it seems Zhao Longtu has taken those words to heart and is taking his opponent seriously!" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is going to be good, the ''Asura Rhino Formation'' when initiated is unbeatable head-on, it can''t be stopped, and this guy is in bad shape so he surely can''t block it head-on, but if he''s thinking of dodging... those who thought that are now lying in the infirmary."


    Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Zhao Longtu made his move.


    In an instant, the air exploded with a boom, a ring of airwaves violently spread from Zhao Longtu''s position, and he disappeared from spot, reappearing in front of Xue Jing almost imperceptibly fast to everyone else.


    His speed was inconceivable, with virtually no start-up motion, looking like a bullet fired from a gun, instantly switching from utter stillness to extreme motion, utterly abrupt, and hard to defend against.


    If a high-speed camera had captured it and played back in slow motion, one would see a giant, transparent rhinoceros formed from the air currents swirling around Zhao Longtu, his fist over his head corresponding with the rhino horn.


    As the horn-like fist thrust forward, in Xue Jing''s eyes, dark-golden vertical pupils twinkled faintly.


    ¡ª¡ªEye-Penetrating Flow.


    In his vision, it was as if time slowed, Zhao Longtu ''slowly'' approached his face, and lines and dots representing points of vulnerability constantly surfaced and disappeared all over his body.


    Xue Jing hadn''t used the Vulnerability Insight Effect of Eye-Penetrating Flow for a long time.


    Since his power began to soar, battles were usually decided by sheer force, making Eye-Penetrating Flow unnecessary... and for much stronger opponents, Eye-Penetrating Flow couldn''t reveal their vulnerabilities.


    Now, just after using Continuous Serious Punch at full strength, he found himself in a rare weakened state, not well suited to crushing Zhao Longtu''s offense with brute force.


    Or to put it another way, even if he could, it wouldn''t look very impressive... it would likely turn into a brief struggle of evenly matched forces.

 Chapter 328 Even When Ill, a Lion Doesnt Need to Choose a Day to Handle a Kitten (4K)_2

    Even if he could emerge victorious in the end, even if he was in a weakened state at the moment, it was something Xue Jing could not accept.


    It ran counter to his wish to establish the majesty of a teacher.


    As such, it was a good opportunity to use the Eye-Penetrating Flow, which he had not utilized for a long time.


    As his martial arts cultivation grew more profound by the day, coupled with the practice of the Yellow Grannie Skill which refined the five internal organs, the strength of Xue Jing''s liver had long surpassed what it had been in the past.


    A strong liver leads to sharp eyes. Now that he was using the Eye-Penetrating Flow, the effect was naturally extraordinary.


    Originally blessed with Extraordinary Vision due to his impeccable aiming, with the addition of the Eye-Penetrating Flow, his field of vision slowed down to the extreme in an instant, as if he had truly acquired a "bullet time" superpower.


    Countless dots and lines, representing weak points and flaws, flickered in and out of existence. In the moment just before Zhao Longtu''s Rhino Horn was about to make contact with Xue Jing, he finally moved.


    His right hand reached out, seemingly slow but actually swift, and grasped Zhao Longtu''s wrist as if he had predicted the move. In the instant Xue Jing caught his wrist, a barely discernible "dot" suddenly emerged there.


    ¡ª¡ªImpeccable!


    Supreme Ingenuity was the first in martial arts, exploiting the utmost limit of human calculation ability, allowing Xue Jing, after a series of complex calculations, to anticipate a flaw in the channeling of energy that would appear on Zhao Longtu''s wrist.


    "Snap¡ª¡ª!"


    The palm grasped the wrist, and with a refined manipulation of power, a flick and a shake sent Zhao Longtu''s eyes wide with shock, to an indescribable extent.


    Originally seamless, his force flowed throughout his body like a solid fortress, like a castle that appeared perfect and strong, from which an apparently insignificant brick had been removed.


    Then¡ª¡ª it collapsed with a thunderous fall.


    A minor flaw, so subtle that even he had not noticed, was punctured by Xue Jing''s channeling of energy. Following that, like dominos falling in succession, the small flaw led to a misstep in the flow of force. More missteps led to even more errors...


    A dyke thousands of miles long collapses because of an ant hole.


    Amid the crackling sounds, Zhao Longtu''s killing move fell apart, the fully formed transparent Shura Rhino seemed to emit a silent lament before dissipating into the air.


    Xue Jing, gripping Zhao Longtu''s wrist of now chaotic energy flow, casually twisted and turned, sending him spinning high off the ground like a top.


    Then, as if holding a piece of torn clothing, he grabbed him and viciously slammed him toward the ground.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    A loud noise resounded, the SC force field-protected ring remained undamaged, while Zhao Longtu, landing face-first, twisted his neck and, of course, fell unconscious.


    The venue fell deathly silent.


    The event began abruptly and ended too quickly, the crowd was still trying to process what had happened.


    Several seconds later.


    "Eh...? What just happened?"


    "Is it... over?"


    The watching martial artists were staring blankly at the good-looking young man standing in the ring, who didn''t even appear to have ruffled clothing, and at Zhao Longtu lying motionless on the ground, looking as if he were sleeping the sleep of the just.


    Xue Jing scratched his head:


    "Seems like I went a little too hard... oh well."


    He reached down and grabbed one of Zhao Longtu''s legs, dragging him off the platform like one would dispose of a body after a murder, leaving no trace behind.


    Instinctively, the watching martial artists stepped aside to clear a path for Xue Jing leaving the ring.


    Due to the force of the impact, Zhao Longtu''s nosebleed wouldn''t stop, and with his face toward the ground, a trail of blood was dragged from his face as he was pulled along, making him look even more like a corpse.


    Everyone watching the scene wanted to say something but found themselves at a loss for words.


    "Xuanling, could you send me back to the first floor, please?"


    Xue Jing said.


    "Okay~" A lazy yet pleasant female voice came from Xuanling''s ear; the next moment, an orange light film emerged from under Xue Jing''s feet.


    As the light film completely enveloped Xue Jing, the watching martial artists finally burst into lively discussion.


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing had already returned to the preparation hall on the first floor of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    His round trip took but a few minutes; Ning Yuantai and Cao Sini were still discussing whether or not to call Xue Jing when they saw him return.


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes lit up, ready to ask about the situation, when he noticed the thing Xue Jing was dragging.


    "Wow, as expected of Xue, you''ve managed to kill someone else in such a short time. Where are you planning to bury him?"


    Cao Sini gave him an expressionless look.


    You don''t have to flatter if it''s not your strong suit... what do you mean by ''as expected, you killed someone again.''


    She glanced at the blood-seeping ''corpse'' at the head and hesitantly said uncertainly:


    "Mr. Xue, is this... Zhao Longtu?"


    Xue Jing nodded with a smile: "Yeah, it''s him... Let''s go, the task is complete, we''re heading back."


    Saying this, he calmly dragged Zhao Longtu toward the exit...


    Passersby around paused and murmured:


    "What''s this? A creative suitcase?"


    ...


    In the medical room of Xuanwu Mansion.


    Zhao Longtu lay on the pure white bed, slowly opening his eyes.


    "Hisss¡ª"


    He reached up to cover his face, inhaling sharply.


    For some reason, his entire face throbbed with a fiery pain, as though his skin had just been ground on a millstone.


    Zhao Longtu patted his somewhat dizzy head.


    His memory was still fixed on the gradually approaching orange light film on the ground, and the tremors of pain at his chin.


    "You awake? The surgery went very well."


    A voice came from the side. Zhao Longtu turned to look.


    A young man in a white lab coat, who looked handsome but somehow gave off a sly vibe, sat at his bedside, peeling an apple with a fruit knife.


    "Who are you... What happened?"


    Zhao Longtu asked, frowning.


    He Han nodded slightly, speaking indifferently, "Good question." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    "We''re in the year 290 New Calendar. It''s been over twenty years since you fell asleep. During the time you''ve been out, humanity has come to an end. This is Ark Shelter Number 3306, and I am the shelter''s physical AI robot. You can call me¡ª''Lanran Huoyoushu''!"


    Zhao Longtu''s gaze sharpened. "A name from the Far East? Does that mean this shelter is located in the Far East?"


    There was a fleeting subtlety in He Han''s eyes. "Ah, yes... It is."


    "How did humanity come to an end," Zhao Longtu asked, taking a deep breath.


    Such clear foolishness... A playful smile crossed He Han''s face. "We were wiped out by an entity known as ''Demon King Xue'', a tyrant who subjugated all of humanity''s taste buds with his cooking skills, forcing everyone to submit to his frying pan..."


    Zhao Longtu exclaimed in shock, "Dominated all of humanity with cooking?!"


    "Bang¡ª"


    The door to the medical room was forcefully opened. Cao Sini walked in expressionlessly and gave He Han a smack on the back of his head, pushing his face into the fruit plate he held.


    Zhao Longtu was stunned. "I thought humanity was extinct? Then who are you?"


    He Han shakily raised his hand. "She is one of the five members under Demon King Xue, the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings, with the nickname..."


    Bang¡ª


    He Han collapsed to the floor, unconscious.


    Seeing this, Zhao Longtu sat up, poised defensively in a boxing stance:


    "...Why are there five people in the Four Heavenly Kings?"


    Cao Sini gave him a silent look.


    "Can you not believe everything people tell you."


    "Come on, now that you''re awake, follow me to see the teacher..."


    At the word ''teacher'', Zhao Longtu''s expression turned violently irate, snapping: S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What teacher, where the hell am I?!"


    Cao Sini was not frightened by his outburst, her voice remained calm:


    "Xuanwu Mansion... the place where you''re taking the Martial Arts Examination."


    Zhao Longtu pressed anxiously, "Who is this teacher you speak of!?"


    Cao Sini glanced at him, replying coolly, "You''ve already met him."


    "The examiner responsible for leading our test, Xue Jing, Mr. Xue."


    "Xue Jing..." Zhao Longtu paused, aghast.


    Fresh memories started to assail him.


    "He''s... the teacher?"


    Zhao, your intuition is strong, but not strong enough.


    The words echoed in his mind. Zhao Longtu ground his teeth:


    "So that''s it...!"


    ...

 Chapter 329 The Bankrupt Reputation of He Han, The Battle of the Strongest Students (4K)

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    Teacher.


    This was a term that cast a profound shadow over Zhao Longtu.


    Zhao Longtu harbored no resentment over being instantly defeated by Xue Jing; in fact, he might even admire the other''s strength and ability, marveling at his possession of such high martial prowess at a similar age to himself.


    But as soon as he learned that the other party bore the title ''Teacher,'' the image of ''Xue Jing'' in Zhao Longtu''s mind began to ooze black sludge, and that face, which had previously been sketched lightly with an air of an expert, became a sinister and eerie sneer.


    "I''m not going."


    Zhao Longtu jumped off the bed and walked to the window of the infirmary, reaching out to flip it open.


    "Teachers are all just pretending to be virtuous, but in their hearts, they''re constantly scheming how to manipulate their students... I''ve had enough, I won''t be deceived again."


    He put his foot on the windowsill and turned to glance at Cao Sini.


    "Just pretend I don''t exist. When it''s time for the Martial Arts Examination, I''ll come. After entering the arena, I''ll act alone and won''t cause any trouble for you, and you better not interfere with me."


    Having said that, he planned to jump out of the window.


    Cao Sini''s expression was indifferent, leaning against the wall, her arms folded across her proud chest, her narrow and sharp eyes watching Zhao Longtu as she said:


    "I don''t know what you''ve been through, but if you''ve been persecuted by someone, or some people, then you should hate those specific individuals, not a label that could be affixed to anyone."


    Zhao Longtu stopped his movements.


    "Teacher is just a profession. Mr. Xue isn''t a professional teacher; he''s just temporarily accepted the command from some higher-ups to come lead us in the Martial Arts Examination. We call him ''Teacher'' out of respect."


    Cao Sini spoke calmly, her words clear and logical, prompting Zhao Longtu to show a contemplating look. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...I think you make sense."


    He nodded.


    "But I still feel that teachers aren''t anything good."


    Cao Sini shook her head:


    "What a boring stick-in-the-mud. Think what you want; I''ve said all I needed to say."


    "But since Mr. Xue entrusted me to bring you, I must bring you along. If you''re willing to follow me, then come. If not, I''ll just have to take you by force."


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Longtu paused his foot on the windowsill and then, with a push, darted out, moving at a rapidly fast pace.


    Almost simultaneously, Cao Sini''s figure flashed, quickly leaping out of the window to chase after him.


    Zhao Longtu, soaring through the air, heard the intense sound of wind behind him and turned to look, only to be astounded to find that this woman was closing in on him even faster.


    Although he hadn''t been using his full speed or strength, the fact that a peer, and a physically disadvantaged female at that, could catch up to him, was a great surprise.


    With no way to borrow strength in mid-air, he could only watch, wide-eyed, as Cao Sini approached and swung a leg toward his head.


    Zhao Longtu''s reaction was lightning fast as he stretched out his arm to block it.


    "Smack¡ª!!"


    A deafening sound rang out, Zhao Longtu''s arm went numb from the powerful blow, and he plunged toward the ground like a shooting star, crashing down and digging into the soil, kicking up a fierce cloud of dust.


    Right outside the infirmary''s window was the training field, where many students were currently active. Startled by the sudden event, they watched in amazement.


    "What''s going on here?"


    Cao Sini also quickly landed, her strong and slender legs solidly hitting the ground. With an emotionless push-off, she shot towards Zhao Longtu once more.


    In the dust, Zhao Longtu had already climbed up; such an attack was no trouble for him.


    Realizing this woman was an opponent worth taking seriously, and that he couldn''t leave without dealing with her, he immediately assumed a fighting stance to meet her attack.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    The two students were fiercely engaged in combat within the blink of an eye, each move exquisitely precise, with rapid speed and immense power, demonstrating strength beyond their years.


    The students around, upon witnessing this, gathered around to watch, marveling at the intense fight.


    "What''s going on? Who is Miss Cao fighting with?"


    "I don''t know... Woah, they''re really going at it hard; I can''t even keep up with my eyes."


    "Who is that guy? Why is his face all mangled, as if it''s been scraped with a wire brush, even his nose is almost gone..."


    With a swollen lump on his head, He Han, who was scratching it, also arrived at the training field, speaking morosely:


    "That''s Zhao Longtu, the only one absent from our class."


    The others suddenly realized: "Oh, it''s him."


    "The one who took down his homeroom teacher?"


    "How did his face get like that, scratched by Miss Cao?"


    He Han touched the lump on his head, winced with pain, and said:


    "No, he was like this when Mr. Xue dragged him back. It seems he got that from being dragged on the ground."


    Ye Jingqiu angrily slapped the lump on his head:


    "How could Mr. Xue be so gentle to do such a thing, don''t talk nonsense!"


    He Han immediately squatted down in pain, tears almost squeezing out, exclaiming:


    "I''m telling the truth! I saw it with my own eyes!"


    Chen Xingyan glanced at him indifferently: "Your two-dimensional tales are always exaggerated, we can''t believe you, definitely spicing up the story."


    The other students also echoed: "Right, Mr. Xue wouldn''t do that. It''s just He Han talking nonsense again."


    "Even if Mr. Xue did that, there must be a reason or a deeper meaning behind it! He Han, stop spouting nonsense!"

 Chapter 329 The Bankrupt Reputation of He Han, The Battle of the Strongest Students (4K)_2

    He Han felt like he was the wolf in "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," the snake in "The Farmer and the Viper," the beacon fires in "The Beacon Fire Plays with Lords,"¡ªutterly wronged.


    "I''m freaking wronged!!!"


    ...


    In the office, Xue Jing flipped through the documents about the rules of the current Martial Arts Examination, his ears twitched slightly as he picked up the noise from the training ground, and said,


    "It seems a bit noisy outside."


    Ning Yuantai, who was eating an orange beside him, stood up and walked over to the window on the left side of the room, opened the window, and checked the situation outside.


    "Xue, two kids are fighting; it''s the girl from the Cao Family and the one you dragged back."


    Ning Yuantai said.


    While eating his orange and looking quite animated, he joked, "I always say you can''t rely on women, they make you feel uneasy even for calling someone over, I''m definitely more useful to Xue!"


    Ning Yuantai took the opportunity to lash out at his rival in the small brotherly competition, more so because Cao Sini was currently running errands for Xue Jing.


    "There are some issues with Zhao Longtu that need to be resolved; it''s normal for something like this to happen."


    Xue Jing said with a smile, unconcerned.


    "He and Cao Sini were originally evenly matched... but now she''s likely no longer his opponent."


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing put down the documents and stood up.


    "However, there might be a situation where they can''t hold back. I''ll go have a look."


    ...


    "If you don''t surrender... and come with me to see Mr. Xue, I''ll have to... use some special moves."


    During the fierce fight, Cao Sini spoke in a discontinuous manner.


    Although her tone was calm, her speech was a bit broken due to the need to coordinate her breathing while channeling energy.


    "...you might die."


    She said calmly, her demeanor not at all indicative of making a death threat.


    Immersed in the exhilarating fight, Zhao Longtu shook his head, eager and expectant,


    "I won''t go with you, use whatever moves you have quickly."


    Cao Sini''s gaze intensified: "If that''s the case..."


    She shook her arms as she channeled energy, in a move similar to a fighter in a fighting game releasing energy, briefly pushing back Zhao Longtu engaged with her, then suddenly underwent a change in her aura.


    A sense of grandeur, as if advancing regardless of everything else, erupted from her body, spreading visible waves of energy.


    Zhao Longtu''s pupils shrank upon seeing this.


    His keen intuition immediately warned him that what was to come was a threat of death.


    The ultimate sense of crisis crept up from his feet, overwhelming his body, causing his skin to bristle and giving him a tingling scalp, urging him to turn and run but Zhao Longtu did not flee; instead, he took up a defensive position, and shouted,


    "Come on!"


    When Xue Jing arrived at the training field, this was the scene that unfolded before him.


    "Ah, Mr. Xue!" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Xue, you''re here!"


    The students greeted him one after another.


    Seeing Xue Jing, Ye Jingqiu''s eyes lit up, and she quickly approached him, her clean white and beautiful hands grasping Xue Jing''s arm, her face full of concern,


    "Mr. Xue, Sini and that Zhao Longtu seem to be going a bit too far, what should we do?"


    As she spoke, her hands tried to delve deeper, hugging Xue Jing''s arm.


    Xue Jing smiled, withdrew his arm from Ye Jingqiu''s hands, and placed his hand on her head, gently saying,


    "Don''t worry, I''ll handle it."


    Ye Jingqiu''s face blushed slightly, her heartbeat quickened, she carefully felt the warmth of the hand on her head, and gazed fondly at Xue Jing''s face.


    Next to her, He Han coughed and patted Chen Xingyan on the shoulder,


    "Brother Li, let''s go out for a walk this afternoon, it''s getting cold; let''s buy some hats to wear."


    Chen Xingyan glanced at him and said indifferently, "If you want to buy it, go buy it yourself; what do you need me for? It''s not like we''re women who need to go to the bathroom in pairs when shopping."


    On the nearby battlefield, Cao Sini, who had already adopted the starting stance for a ''Serious Punch,'' hadn''t noticed Xue Jing''s arrival.


    After gathering her momentum, she immediately threw out a straight punch with her right hand in the posture of a Piercing Hand.


    He had not used his more familiar and more lethal Piercing Hand, instead delivering a Straight Punch, which theoretically gave a better chance of survival.


    Boom¡ª¡ª!!


    Like thunder from a clear sky, the sound bellowed. Where the fist passed, all air was pushed aside into a vacuum, with two straight lines of airflow diverging forward in a delicate fan shape.


    It was just like the scene when Xue Jing displayed his "Serious Punch," only on a much smaller scale.


    Facing a strike that could only be described as earth-shattering, Zhao Longtu''s expression turned solemn, preparing for the worst.


    Although he had anticipated it, the terror induced by this attack still far exceeded his imagination.


    How was it possible for someone of their level to master such a terrifying move?


    It completely defied his understanding, like a beginner in a video game suddenly executing a finishing move reserved for high-level characters.


    It was filled with a sense of absurdity as if someone was cheating at the game.


    Zhao Longtu stood his ground, taking the "Asura Rhino Formation" stance, and with a loud shout, squeezed out every ounce of his potential under the threat of death, unleashing the most powerful technique he had ever performed since he began practicing martial arts and charged at Cao Sini.


    Just then, a towering figure appeared beside him with a speed that completely caught him off guard.


    A gentle sigh echoed by his ear.


    "What a blockhead who can''t adapt... There''s no rule in a fight saying you have to meet force with force; didn''t you ever think to dodge? People can die, you know."


    Before he could finish speaking, a slap to his head sent him flying, out of the "Serious Punch''s" area of effect.


    Meanwhile, the figure was engulfed by it.


    "Mr. Xue!!"


    The surrounding students panicked a bit upon seeing this.


    Even though they knew Xue Jing was very strong and formidable... this was a "Serious Punch"!


    Delivered by Cao Sini, the strongest student, whose punch seemed to shake the very heavens and the earth, it was something you couldn''t help but worry about.


    An enormous amount of dust was kicked up, obscuring the center of the field from view.


    "..." Cao Sini watched as Xue Jing was hit by her uncontrollable "Serious Punch." The composure on her face instantly changed to a look of sheer panic.


    She quickly thought to check on the situation, but her body lacked any strength, leaving her lying powerlessly on the ground: "... Mr. Xue."


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long; a figure soon emerged from the dust. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing''s entire body, even his clothes, didn''t have a single wrinkle, and his hair wasn''t out of place.


    He stretched out his hand to dust off his chest where some dirt had stuck, looked at Cao Sini with a gentle smile, and said:


    "Not a bad punch, Student Sini."


    Only then did Cao Sini feel at ease, letting out a sigh of relief. Her slender and sharp eyebrows softened as she said quietly, "... It''s all thanks to your teaching."


    But as she calmed down, doubts began to rise in her mind.


    Something seemed off.


    It felt like... she hadn''t actually hit a human body.


    And Mr. Xue didn''t seem like he had been hit by a "Serious Punch" and dispelled it with his strength.


    Well, never mind, it didn''t matter. The important thing was that the teacher was okay.


    Unaware of her doubts and having dodged the punch using the Nonexistent Beast, Xue Jing extended a finger toward Cao Sini''s forehead. A barely visible rift opened at the tip of his finger, Dragon Cherry extended a slender root to touch her forehead, transferring some Life Force to her.


    Only then did the utterly drained Cao Sini begin to regain some strength.


    She propped herself up on her knees to stand and lower her head, saying, "... I''m sorry I couldn''t carry out your instructions."


    Xue Jing patted her head and said with a smile, "This was an unforeseen situation that went beyond the scope of your responsibility. Don''t blame yourself."


    "Go rest for a while, Student Sini."


    "Yes, Teacher..."


    Xue Jing turned and walked toward Zhao Longtu, who had been slapped into the mansion''s surrounding wall.


    A group of workers who were repairing the wall took off their hard hats and said with a tinge of helplessness:


    "Mr. Xue, doing this is going to cost extra."


    These workers had been sent by the manager of Xuanwu Mansion around noon to repair the wall that had been broken by Xue Jing''s "Serious Punch."


    Xue Jing apologized somewhat embarrassingly:


    "Sorry about this, craftsmen. It was an accident. I''ll be more careful next time."


    ...

 Chapter 330 The Weight Xue Jing Casually Takes Out, and the Students Little Game (4K)

    In the office, Zhao Longtu sat on the sofa, completely silent.


    He gazed at Xue Jing who was flipping through documents in the office chair, and Cao Sini and Ning Yuantai who stood at his sides like guardians of the door, particularly casting extra glances at Cao Sini.


    Even now, he was baffled. How could this person have possibly learned such an outrageously preposterous killing move.


    It made absolutely no sense... it shattered his understanding of Martial Arts totally.


    Zhao Longtu did not attempt to escape again. He knew in his heart that before the terrifying strength of this man named Xue Jing, if the other wanted him to stay, any struggle would be futile.


    The gap in their martial prowess was absolute, far surpassing the chance of ''luckily outperforming due to various coincidences that may allow for a counter-kill'' to the stage of ''definitely cannot win under any circumstance.''


    Thus, Zhao Longtu could only grimly stiffen his face, putting on an expression of preferring death over submission, firmly deciding to resist cooperating with whatever Xue Jing wanted him to do.


    "Zhao."


    Xue Jing put down the document he was holding, looked at Zhao Longtu, and started speaking.


    Zhao Longtu closed his eyes, turned his head aside, putting on an appearance of refusing to listen to anything.


    Xue Jing did not mind, but continued:


    "I am neither an education expert nor a psychologist, so I am incapable and do not plan to resolve your psychological issues. In such short time, I suppose I wouldn''t be able to resolve them even if I wanted to."


    "So, I will not try to emotionally manipulate you with sentiments such as those between a teacher and student... Let us, like filthy adults, engage in some purely interest-based transactions, shall we?" Xue Jing said, chuckling.


    He had already thoroughly reviewed Zhao Longtu''s file.


    Compared to He Han, who was unclear about the incidents despite attending junior high with him, Cease-Blades directly gave a clear and ordered file of the entire situation from beginning to end to Xue Jing for his perusal.


    About six years ago, eleven-year-old Zhao Longtu advanced from primary to a fairly prestigious school renowned in Silver City, Yan Gang Middle School.


    As an orphan, Zhao Longtu, while never systematically studying martial arts since childhood, still picked up a bit of it naturally thanks to living in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, his ultimate Martial Arts talent was immediately noticed by his homeroom teacher, Yao Yushan, after he entered junior high.


    Yao Yushan, seemingly out of appreciation for talent, took great care of him. Not only did he have him stay at his own home, living together, he also arranged for him to practice martial arts at the reputable True Form Dojo and cultivated him carefully.


    Their relationship gradually became like father and son; the orphan Zhao Longtu revered and loved Yao Yushan as his own father.


    ...However, the reality was not what Zhao Longtu had imagined at the time.


    Xue Jing''s fingers slid over the document in front of him, where there was a photograph of Zhao Longtu printed on the paper during his junior high years.


    With fine and gentle features, and even somewhat handsome¡ªfitting the description of fair-skinned and beautiful¡ªif it were a certain type of older woman with a fetish, they would shout out loud in admiration of his good looks.


    Completely different from his current fierce appearance, resembling a hardened criminal fresh out of prison.


    Slowly noticing something was off from various life details, Zhao Longtu eventually discovered Yao Yushan''s true intentions, which disgusted him so much he vomited on the spot.


    Having no parents, Zhao Longtu could only seek help from other teachers in the school, but either they believed that the harmonious, happily married Yao Yushan could not harbor ill intentions toward him, telling him he was overthinking, or they themselves were in cahoots with Yao Yushan, even if they knew his preferences, they would only dismissively handle it.


    Occasionally, a few serious and responsible teachers who took these matters seriously observed for a while and found no clues, concluding that Zhao Longtu was just overthinking.


    The subsequent developments, as you can imagine, Zhao Longtu, being increasingly pushed to his limits by the encroaching Yao Yushan, during a moment of resistance, was struck on the head with a blunt object, leaving a deep indentation at the brow bone.


    Eventually, he could only use his modest martial prowess to harshly deal with the man he once viewed as his father. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once officials intervened and clarified the investigation, the school then learned of such a horrific event.


    Naturally, the school wanted to heavily suppress the issue, not allowing it to be publicized, as it would be a catastrophic blow to Yan Gang Middle School''s reputation.


    Teachers, school officials, the principal... many people approached Zhao Longtu for discussions.


    Their words repeatedly emotionally manipulated him via ''after all, as teacher and student'' and this continuous type of moral coercion led Zhao Longtu to become utterly disillusioned with the teaching profession.


    ...


    "Filthy adult transactions?" Zhao Longtu took a glance at Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled: "Exactly... pure transaction of interests, not involving any other issues."


    Zhao Longtu pondered for a moment, feeling he might accept this, and then nodded, "What kind of transaction?"


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    Xue Jing put his elbows on the table, his hands folded under his chin in the pose of Commander Aida:


    "You''ve already experienced it just now, my student Sini''s ''Serious Punch,'' was it not impressive?"


    Standing by the side, Cao Sini heard the words ''my student Sini'' and felt a jolt, her whole body going slightly limp.


    She sweated lightly on her forehead, thinking to herself: "Mr. Xue... really doesn''t understand the weight of his words."

 Chapter 330 The Weight Xue Jing Casually Took Out, and the Students Little Game (4K)_2

    If it were Ye Jingqiu, or any other female classmate, who heard these words, they really wouldn''t know what sort of unnecessary associations they might form.


    Fortunately, she could handle it.


    "Extremely impressive, incredibly impressive, I am no match at all," Zhao Longtu solemnly nodded.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "This move, I taught her today at noon."


    "From when she was first exposed to it to when she mastered it, less than a few minutes had passed."


    Zhao Longtu immediately frowned, "How is that possible?"


    Martial arts of this level, to say nothing of a few minutes, even if all the principles and training methods were laid out before him in extreme detail, Zhao Longtu had no confidence that he could perfect them in a few years.


    It was not a matter of time, but rather a matter of insufficient level of attainment.


    Just like someone who didn''t know basic arithmetic, how could they possibly understand advanced calculus? No matter how meticulously it was explained, it would be in vain.


    "It''s true," Cao Sini spoke indifferently.


    "Don''t label as impossible the things you believe you can''t do. The world isn''t built on your imagination; there are plenty of things beyond your understanding. Mr. Xue is a person who transcends your narrow understanding."


    Zhao Longtu looked deep in thought, "So, it''s my own issue?"


    Then, he quickly nodded, "I understand now, I believe you could do it." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cao Sini was somewhat surprised.


    This man''s bearing... Is it much more considerable than I imagined?


    Cao Sini shook her head.


    No, that''s not it; he''s just foolishly clear.


    Thinking back to how, just a moment ago, He Han said anything and this man believed everything, Cao Sini''s lips twitched.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Since you understand, let''s move on to discuss the terms of the deal."


    "During the Martial Arts Examination, including the three days of training time and seven days of examination time, I will teach you many martial arts, greatly enhancing your strength, just like I taught the other students the ''Serious Punch.''"


    "In return, you must give it your all in this examination, actively cooperate with me and the other students to achieve good results in the end."


    "...So, what do you think? It''s a great deal, isn''t it?"


    After listening, He Han showed a puzzled expression on his face:


    "Is that really enough?"


    He found it a bit difficult to comprehend.


    The quality of teaching that allows someone to master the ''Serious Punch'' in just a few minutes, not to mention anything else, just mastering that move alone would be enough to make countless people go to great lengths and pay a significant price to learn it from Xue Jing.


    Not to mention there would be ten more days of time to learn who knows how many things.


    Such a great advantage, one could even call it a significant opportunity, that countless people couldn''t receive even if they cultivated for several lifetimes, and all for just cooperating in the Martial Arts Examination?


    The scales of this deal appeared too unbalanced.


    "From your perspective, perhaps this is something hard to understand,"


    Xue Jing smiled.


    "Rest assured, the deal between you and me is equal, fair, and doesn''t involve you taking advantage at all, there''s no need to feel emotionally burdened."


    Zhao Longtu shook his head, "I don''t understand."


    Xue Jing tapped the table with his index finger:


    "The reasoning is quite simple."


    "In this world, the value of all external things is assigned by humans based on their own perspective."


    "For instance, if not everyone agreed on the value of ''money,'' then ''money'' itself would be worthless."


    "In your eyes, my teaching you martial arts, helping you improve your strength, appears to be a great benefit to you. You think I''m giving too much, but in reality, it''s not the case."


    Xue Jing spoke calmly, "¡ª¡ªThe act of helping you improve your strength, for me, is nothing but a simple gesture, as easy as waving my hand."


    "Like a billionaire who took a fancy to a stone picked up by a beggar, willing to pay ten thousand for the stone that pleases him. For the billionaire, that amount isn''t even worth a mention, the ten thousand in his eyes is just worth the stone."


    "Now, you have picked up this stone."


    "There''s no need to worry or feel uneasy about a pie falling from the sky; our deal is one of equivalent value, without anyone owing the other." Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Zhao Longtu had an epiphany:


    "I see, I understand completely now."


    Beside him, Ning Yuantai and Cao Sini''s lips twitched, thinking to themselves, ''No, you haven''t understood at all...''


    Although Xue Jing might truly believe that, thinking he had just carelessly let something slip between his fingers.


    But as observers, the two were quite clear that this was a huge heavenly gift for Zhao Longtu, a massive stroke of fortune that could even be considered life-changing.


    Especially for Ning Yuantai, who knew the most critical aspect wasn''t what martial arts Xue Jing taught Zhao Longtu or how much he had enhanced his strength...


    The key point was that from now on, this man in front of them had a ''real student-teacher'' relationship with Xue!


    No one would be more firmly convinced than him that this man would become a great figure in the future.


    The fact that he had had a student-teacher relationship with Xue Jing represented such a huge and terrifying advantage that even he, who thought he was securely Xue Jing''s number one little brother, felt envious and even jealous.


    ''Is it true that fools have foolish luck...''


    Cao Sini and Ning Yuantai thought the same thing at the same time.


    "So, do you agree to this trade?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Zhao Longtu stood up, nodded, and said, "I agree..."


    A look of hesitation briefly showed on his fierce face, but he still spoke softly, "Mr. Xue."


    Once he uttered those two words ''teacher,'' it seemed as if he let go of something, and his expression softened a bit.


    "Good," Xue Jing smiled.


    "Let''s go then; the afternoon class is about to begin, you should get back to your team."


    ...


    On the training field, the students were surprised to see the bandaged-faced, strange-looking boy standing among them.


    "Dude, have you seen the light?" He Han approached Zhao Longtu, wrapped an arm around his neck, and teased.


    Zhao Longtu turned to glance at him and frowned, saying, "It''s you, Lanran Huoyoushu!"


    "Uh..." He Han was taken aback for a moment.


    "No, why are you still clueless? I was just kidding earlier; my real name is actually Edogawa Washing Machine, I''m half Chinese and half Japanese, with a Far Eastern mother named Yidizhi Hongxia..."


    Edogawa Washing Machine said, shaking his head.


    "So that''s how it is... Then why did you lie to me earlier, Washing Machine?" Zhao Longtu asked, puzzled.


    The surrounding classmates all laughed.


    "Zhao, how adorable can you be?"


    "You''re just too amusing."


    Chen Xingyan slapped He Han on the back of his head, which still had a swelling, and said:


    "You''ve been tricked again... Don''t talk to this crazy fellow. His name is He Han, and there''s something a bit off with his brain."


    He Han let out a pained yell as he squatted down, clutching his head, while Ye Jingqiu, next to him, pinched the tips of her hair in front of her, smiling and saying:


    "You can only believe one in every ten things this guy says, you need to distinguish carefully!"


    Seeing Zhao Longtu integrating into the group in his own special way, Xue Jing smiled and clapped his hands, making a sound to draw the students'' attention, then announced:


    "Alright, for this class, let''s play a little game."


    At the mention of a game, many students'' eyes lit up.


    "Teacher, what kind of game is it?"


    "I''m unbeatable at Truth or Dare."


    "Can we play the King''s Game, the no-taboo kind... whoosh, I mean no disrespect to Mr. Xue; I just really enjoy playing."


    With the students looking on eagerly, Xue Jing mysteriously produced¡ªa bell.


    "Ah!!"


    He Han stood up, pointing at Xue Jing in disbelief:


    "Mr. Xue, are you trying to copy Kakashi-sensei?"


    "Don''t underestimate the prestige of the Copy Ninja, ok!"


    Xue Jing glanced at him: "Calm down, you Naruto fan."


    "The bell test has been in the memories since the Third, it''s not something Kakashi-sensei came up with."


    He Han paused, then broke into an elated expression: "Teacher, so you''re into it too..."

 Chapter 331

    Xue Jing held the bell in his hand and said to the students:


    "This time''s joint exam has two types of scores."


    "One is the ''individual score,'' and the other is the ''team score.''"


    "Everyone''s final individual score is the sum of your individual score and team score, with the individual score being harder to control, so the team score is essentially your guarantee for a good result."


    "Indeed, powerful lone wolves might be able to rely on their strong individual abilities to achieve high personal scores and meet the admission criteria of prestigious schools, but as your teacher, I hope every one of you can have a bright future."


    "Therefore, as the examiner leading you, I hereby set the tone: in this joint exam, we will focus on obtaining a high team score."


    "If that''s the case, teamwork and understanding become extremely important."


    While saying this, Xue Jing shook the bell in his hand.


    Ding-ding-ding¡ª¡ª


    The bell rang out pleasantly, and Xue Jing continued:


    "Next, I will tie this bell to my body..."


    Before he could finish, He Han''s eyes lit up, and he raised his hand to speak:


    "Teacher, is it that we have to work together to snatch your bell? And the one who gets it has the privilege to eat the dinner you make, while all the other students can only watch, then the one who snatched it will share the food with everyone, eventually enhancing the team spirit..."


    Standing by and waiting for Xue Jing to finish starting the meal, and incidentally observing the teaching session, Ning Yuantai chuckled upon hearing this.


    "You''re thinking too much."


    "If that were the condition, you wouldn''t be able to snatch Xue''s bell even in ten years."


    The students exchanged glances: "Then what should we do?"


    Xue Jing smiled gently, "It''s easier than you think."


    He tied the bell around his waist.


    "Next, you need to cooperate with each other and use all means necessary, whether it''s by force or by trickery, as long as you can make the bell on the teacher''s body ring..."


    He flicked the bell on his waist, making it jingle again.


    "¡ªthen you will have succeeded."


    "Ah?" The students were somewhat stunned.


    "That''s too easy, Mr. Xue."


    A student wondered.


    "It''s just about making the bell ring... we just need to make Mr. Xue move, right?"


    "There''s no difficulty at all, Mr. Xue." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu had no objections and remained silent.


    "Easy, huh," Xue Jing smiled.


    "I think it''s not that easy... But since you all think so, let''s add another condition."


    "¡ªIf you don''t accomplish it within half an hour, there will be no dinner tonight."


    "What!?" Now the crowd was a bit anxious.


    Skipping a meal is no big deal; who hasn''t been hungry before.


    But missing a meal made by Xue Jing is genuinely missing a meal.


    "If I miss a meal made by Mr. Xue... some of my attributes, like my appearance, my figure, my social etiquette, and my beautiful character¡ªeven my soul would be ruined!"


    "What is this ancient joke from the Jurassic period... But this really won''t do! Losing a meal made by Mr. Xue would be a lifetime regret!"


    "Absolutely not!"


    "I''m fired up! Mr. Xue, I''m determined to shake your bell!"


    "That sounds a bit weird..."


    Seeing that everyone was motivated, Xue Jing nodded and said:


    "Then... let the game begin."


    After saying that, he stood in his original position, with a casual posture, hands behind his back, and a seemingly unguarded, relaxed demeanor.


    "It should be... quite easy, right?"


    A female student with thick eyebrows looked at Xue Jing and hesitated to speak.


    "We don''t have to defeat Mr. Xue, just make the bell on him ring... how could we not do it, let''s go, charge!"


    Some were shouting, but no one stepped forward.


    Although it seemed easy to say, their knowledge and logic told them it should be easy to do...


    But looking at the good-looking young man in the distance, everyone started to feel inexplicably nervous for some reason.


    Although they had been in contact with Mr. Xue for less than half a day... nearly all the students had realized that he was someone beyond normal understanding.


    Even if their cognition told them that making the bell ring was straightforward, seeing Xue Jing''s carefree demeanor made them instinctively sense trouble.


    The students did not realize it was the authority of Xue Jing and the weight of his words gradually surpassing their common sense.


    Like when a deeply respected mathematician confidently declares that 1+1=3, what would normally be dismissed as absurd, coming from him, would not immediately be seen as nonsense, but instead, people would seriously ponder why he said that. Could 1+1 really be equal to 3?


    "I''ll do it!"


    He Han stepped out of the crowd with a determined expression and pointed at Xue Jing:


    "Heh heh heh, Old Demon Xue, I''ll make you regret teaching me this move!"


    He bent his knees slightly and posed in the "Serious Punch" Straight Punch position, his spirit bursting forth, and his previously sly expression became heroic and fearless.


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    However, his mouth was still brazen.


    "Damn it, a million horsepower of magnetic force rotation! Xue''s Explosive Fist, yaah!!!"


    He Han shouted and threw a Straight Punch.


    A fan-shaped vacuum shockwave instantly swept toward Xue Jing, the violent airflow strong enough to make the bell on Xue Jing''s waist collide violently.

 Chapter 331_2

    However... there was no sound.


    The bell, which should have been frantically swaying and making noise in the violent airstream, was indeed being blown and swaying nonstop.


    But¡ªthere was no sound at all!


    "What the!?" He Han, who had flopped to the ground after throwing a punch, lifted his head and widened his eyes.


    The students were also surprised, "Why is there no sound!?"


    "Is Mr. Xue cheating? Did he turn on a sound-muting cheat?"


    "Does this bell have some weird silent mechanism?"


    Only a few students seemed to have realized something and showed a look of amazement.


    Zhao Longtu spoke, "The bell has no issues; it''s just an ordinary bell..."


    Chen Xingyan nodded solemnly and said, "The bell is composed of the external ''Bell Cover'' and the internal ''Bell Tongue.'' When the bell sways, the bell tongue collides with the bell cover, hence making a sound."


    "If they don''t touch each other... naturally there will be no sound."


    "Mr. Xue is using his Power to control the violently shaking bell inside, preventing the bell tongue from touching the bell cover the instant they''re about to collide... Now, although the bell appears to be continuously swaying, in reality, the inside bell tongue hasn''t touched the bell cover at all."


    Ye Jingqiu was astounded, "Is such a thing... even possible?"


    Cao Sini spoke indifferently, "This requires precision in Power control that''s hard to imagine, and a super computational ability to instantly calculate all trajectories of the bell''s violent movements."


    "So, we definitely can''t be like this idiot here, thinking it''s something we can easily accomplish, otherwise... we''ll end up going hungry."


    Chen Xingyan pointed at He Han, who was slumped on the ground.


    Hearing this, all the students became serious.


    The consequences were too severe to not take seriously.


    "What should we do, Brother Li!"


    "Yeah, you take command, Brother Li, we can''t miss Mr. Xue''s dinner!"


    "Please, Brother Li, what should we do?"


    Seeing his classmates repeatedly calling him ''Brother Li,'' Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched, and he couldn''t help but harshly kick He Han who was on the ground.


    He sighed and said:


    "Let''s do it this way..."


    ...


    Xue Jing watched the students scatter one by one and run towards various parts of Xuanwu Mansion, smiled and said:


    "Seems like you''ve figured out some strategy?"


    He leisurely walked up to He Han, who was left alone in the training field.


    "Mr. Xue, help, lend a hand."


    He Han, lying prone on the ground, reached out shakily to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing was unmoved, watched him for a while, then suddenly smiled,


    "So it appears you''re the key part of their plan."


    He Han''s heart skipped a beat, blinking his eyes:


    "What are you rambling about, Mr. Xue, I don''t understand what you''re saying."


    Xue Jing said softly,


    "You must have trained in a special Martial Arts, retaining some Physical Strength even after throwing a ''Serious Punch''... They deliberately left you here as if they had abandoned you, pretending they didn''t intend to involve you in the combat strategy, as a ploy to confuse me, when in fact, you''re meant to be a trump card, waiting for an opportunity to disrupt and deliver a surprise attack."


    "Although it''s a simple plan based on an information gap, it''s quite practical. For high school students, it''s quite impressive."


    He Han''s forehead broke into sweat.


    Isn''t everything known now? Where''s the information gap?


    Mr. Xue, this monster...


    "Well, that''s good too. Since this is the case, let''s go along with your wishes."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then smiled and said.


    He stood still beside He Han.


    The next moment, a student on the fifth floor of the mansion''s building kicked back and rushed toward the training field, launching an attack on Xue Jing''s back.


    His right hand clenched into a fist, and atop the tip of the fist, a phantom-like transparent lotus almost seemed to bloom as he launched a punch toward Xue Jing''s back.


    It was Chen Xingyan.


    At the same time, students from all directions converged on Xue Jing.


    The students'' plan was simple.


    They wished to catch Mr. Xue off-guard with the Bell during intense movement, but that was likely a tall order.


    They had already studied Xue Jing''s match videos from the U19 competition and knew he had mastered one of the most difficult Martial Arts, ''Impeccable,'' to an extremely high level, making his computational ability almost superhuman.


    However, there was a method that could still make the Bell sound.


    That was¡ªstriking the Bell directly and shattering it.


    No matter how exquisitely Xue Jing controlled his Power, no matter how strong his computational power was, the material of the Bell itself had its limits.


    Should an attack hit the Bell directly, even if Xue Jing shielded it with his Power, the Bell itself would still shatter from not withstanding too much Power being pumped into it.


    Upon shattering, the sound would naturally emanate.


    "Ha!"


    In the midst of several loud shouts, attacks closed in.


    Xue Jing muttered softly, "Not a bad formation."


    "But¡ª"


    He grabbed the incoming fist of a male student on his right and, amid the student''s screams, swung him around, crashing him into another student attacking from the left.


    "Poor synergy, the intervals between your attacks are too large." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Amid the flurry of fists and feet, Xue Jing deflected the offensive efforts of five or six students with various maneuvers. To an onlooker, it seemed as though several people who came close to Xue Jing were instantly flung back.


    "Ugh!"


    "To achieve the effect of a siege on a master, you must ensure all the attacks arrive at the same time. The slightest delay turns it from many against one to a series of one-on-ones, no different from a gourd baby saving his grandpa by taking turns in battle."


    Xue Jing casually dispensed teaching advice as he spoke.


    "Oh my, this is insane, Mr. Xue!"


    Students hiding in the shadows were agape in amazement.


    "How can we fight this? We can''t touch him at all."


    "What do we do now?"


    Everyone''s gaze shifted toward two specific individuals.


    "Let''s see how Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu fare..."


    "We''ll wait for the final moment..."


    Soon, a male and a female figure, almost imperceptible due to their speed, launched a fast attack on Xue Jing from different directions.


    Their Action Speed was clearly much faster than the previous group of students, and they almost simultaneously reached in front of Xue Jing, one with a punch, the other with a Piercing Hand, both aiming at Xue Jing''s front and back.


    "Not bad."


    Xue Jing nodded and, with a hand on each side, seized the wrists of the two approaching individuals.


    Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu had a tacit understanding due to their previous confrontations and were somewhat aware of each other''s abilities, which allowed them to fulfill Xue Jing''s requirement of a ''simultaneous attack'' to a certain extent.


    "Just too few people... what?"


    While speaking, Xue Jing noticed He Han, who had been prone on the ground, suddenly rise and reach for the Bell at his waist.


    With a kick that pushed away Han''s palm, Xue Jing now used three of his limbs.


    "Now, while he''s distracted, charge!"


    Over twenty students immediately emerged from their hiding places and rushed toward Xue Jing.


    As they advanced, they each erupted with a fierce and unstoppable aura, transforming from what seemed like meek sheep to ferocious tigers.


    Xue Jing had a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    It was as if he was witnessing a group of suicide bombers, stripped of equipment except for high-capacity explosives in their arms, launching relentless kamikaze attacks against him...


    "Naive."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing tossed both Zhao Longtu and Cao Sini aside and then intricate dragon scale patterns emerged on his skin, subtly glistening with a golden sheen, turning into a coat of golden scales.


    Countless Serious Punches rained down on him; Xue Jing instantly became a golden top spinning at high velocity. Every external assault, every impact, was either repelled or neutralized the moment it came in contact with his rotating body.

 Chapter 332

    For the next half hour, Chen Xingyan, along with Cao Sini, Zhao Longtu, and a few other students with stronger abilities, launched several more offensive attacks.


    They were all easily repelled by Xue Jing.


    Lacking in strength, coordination, and the ability to react on the fly¡­


    The students, still far from being capable, did not manage to make Xue Jing''s bell ring within half an hour.


    As a result, Xue Jing, as previously stated, actually didn''t allow the students to eat dinner that evening.


    "Damn it!!!"


    "I am starving... I''ve never been this hungry in my life."


    "Mr. Xue is too cruel¡­ Can we eat the table? Sniff, sniff, I think I can smell the food Mr. Xue cooked at noon."


    The group sighed and gathered in the cafeteria, lying on the tables, turning their faces toward the empty food counter, their hungry eyes seeing stars, almost hallucinating.


    Practicing with Xue Jing already required huge energy, and most had used the Serious Punch technique, which drained physical strength and energy, and now they were absolutely famished.


    "Who was it that just now said it was too easy, that there was no difficulty?"


    Someone said through gritted teeth.


    Initially, Xue Jing had only proposed that everyone find a way to make the bell on his body ring, without setting the condition that they wouldn''t eat if they failed in half an hour.


    It was only added after someone commented that it was too easy and there was no difficulty.


    Upon hearing this, although they couldn''t remember who had spoken, everyone''s gaze shifted to He Han.


    Looking fairly energetic, He Han suddenly got flustered, "No, no, don''t wrong a good person, am I the type to talk too much?"


    "Now, blaming someone else is meaningless," Chen Xingyan said, waving his hand.


    "Most of us probably thought it was too simple, we just didn''t say it aloud¡­


    He stood up and said, "It''s still because we are too weak, we didn''t meet Mr. Xue''s requirements¡­ Let''s go, let''s all go out and eat something."


    "Eh, is that okay? Didn''t Mr. Xue say we can''t eat tonight?" someone hesitated.


    "It''s not like military training¡­ and even in military training you get to eat. Mr. Xue didn''t enforce any measures before leaving, he definitely wasn''t planning on actually making us go all night without eating. Didn''t he say before that we must handle our nutrition well?"


    "Maybe if we really followed his word and foolishly didn''t eat anything, he would actually be disappointed."


    "¡­sigh, but the food Mr. Xue cooks is really once less each time we eat, I really can''t bear to miss a meal."


    Everyone sighed upon hearing this.


    Zhao Longtu asked curiously, "Is it really that delicious? You all act like you''re addicted."


    Hearing this, everyone gave him a look, "You''re so lucky, Zhao. You don''t have to go through the pain and discomfort we''re feeling right now."


    "I don''t know whether to say you''re lucky or unlucky... You''ve never tasted such soul-destroyingly good flavor."


    "Cherish life, stay away from Xue Family''s meals."


    Everyone shook their heads at Zhao Longtu with a knowing look, although it seemed like they were suggesting he was fortunate, there was also a strange sense of superiority.


    Zhao Longtu was unconvinced.


    It was just food, after all. As long as it wasn''t laced with anything strange, how impressive could it be?


    These people just hadn''t experienced hard times; for someone like him who had, food was merely a necessary sustenance, and the taste didn''t really matter, just like a diabetic needs insulin but doesn''t enjoy the injections.


    If needed, he could completely skip the process of eating and live on nutritional supplements.


    These people were simply too well-fed to crave such trivial pleasures.


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    "Something''s not right."


    "Something''s very not right."


    Zhao Longtu, uncontrollably holding a big steel basin, kept stuffing food into his mouth.


    The indescribably delicious taste brought a terrifying pleasure that filled his taste buds.


    It was just rice and water put into a device and cooked at the press of a button, something even a three-year-old could do... why was it so delicious? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Longtu''s mind uncontrollably recalled what Lanran... no, He Han had said.


    ''He''s a tyrant who, with his culinary skills, has captivated the taste buds of all humanity, making everyone submit under his frying pan...''


    Zhao Longtu had an epiphany.


    So this was why Mr. Xue was called the ''Demon King.''


    Indeed he lived up to the name...


    "Bang¡ª"


    Cao Sini punched Zhao Longtu on the head.


    "I always feel you''re thinking about some weird, stupid stuff¡­ and stop lifting the food basin to your mouth, others need to eat too."


    She said indifferently.


    The noisy breakfast time ended quickly, from when Xue Jing finished cooking and placed the food on the table to when it was completely devoured, it took less than ten minutes.


    Since Xue Jing hadn''t cooked the previous night and thought the students might be very hungry, he made extra¡­ but it was eaten even faster than the meal the day before.


    After the students had finished eating and resting, Xue Jing gathered everyone at the training ground to teach them some new things.


    The three days of training passed in a flash.


    ¡­


    March 1, the day the Seventh Metropolitan Circle intercity joint examination officially began.


    In the early morning, a large flying vehicle, looking like a long strip of bread and about the size of a bus, with flames jetting from the back, landed on the spacious training ground of Xuanwu Mansion.

 Chapter 333 Secret Martial Reformist, Special Divine Skill — True Red! (4K)

    "Ji Huaiyu, what is your opinion?" Several examiners turned their attention to a handsome young man with an indifferent expression.


    "You''ve also had contact with Xue Jing¡­ Any thoughts?"


    Zhou Yinglin turned his gaze toward him as well. Find your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Ji Huaiyu originated from the Four Elements Dojo in the Outer Ring of the Fifth Urban Circle.


    A talented genius who had only recently been recruited into the Secret Martial Society.


    Because he had contact with the yet-to-debut Xue Jing during the U19 Maple City elimination rounds, he, along with Zhou Yinglin, had been assigned here to provide insights to counter Xue Jing.


    Originally, someone hailing from an obscure corner of the Outer Ring like Ji Huaiyu would be considered beneath Zhou Yinglin to even glance at.


    But after being defeated by Xue Jing twice...he had been cured of a good amount of that arrogance.


    Although he still didn''t think Ji Huaiyu would be much help, listening to his opinions was still acceptable.


    After a moment of thought, Ji Huaiyu spoke in a tone completely devoid of fluctuation, "...He''s a good person."


    The crowd was taken aback.


    "He did what I couldn''t do for me, and offered me a good method..."


    Ji Huaiyu reflected on his contact with Xue Jing.


    Previously, when the Four Elements Dojo''s disciples were being overbearing, he was ordered by his master not to harm his fellow disciples and couldn''t intervene, so it was Xue Jing who stepped in to help him and suggested the method of ''inspecting injuries'' as a way of reprimanding his peers with feigned concern.


    Ji Huaiyu had a good impression of him.


    "...That''s not what we''re asking you."


    Someone sighed.


    "We are asking if Xue Jing has any weaknesses or disadvantages that can be exploited."


    Ji Huaiyu, with his indifferent expression¡ªor rather a vacant expression devoid of any emotion¡ªlooked at the person speaking and shook his head:


    "He''s very strong...stronger than everyone else, there''s no way."


    Zhou Yinglin said flatly, "I really don''t know what the upper echelons were thinking sending you here; you''re utterly useless."


    Ji Huaiyu wasn''t angered but merely cocked his head, puzzled, "I don''t understand either...considering how badly you were beaten by Xue Jing, sending you to take him on should be equally futile."


    Zhou Yinglin''s piercing eyes sharpened like a hawk''s. "You little wretch, looking for trouble?" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But then his cheeks twitched as he averted his gaze.


    Ji Huaiyu had no provocative intentions with his words, just genuine puzzlement, and Zhou Yinglin could see that.


    Getting angry with someone like this felt as pointless as getting angry at a stone.


    "Alright, since we can''t come up with anything, let''s wait for our trump card to arrive."


    An examiner tried to smooth things over.


    "Although it''s a bit annoying to rely on a young kid...with that person''s strength, we can almost guarantee a flawless plan."


    Another young examiner interjected, "It''s not necessarily flawless...let''s not forget, not just us, but the Reformists seem to have shown up this time as well."


    ...


    Xue Jing was observing the strange distortions of the Intersecting Boundaries before him when, all of a sudden, a figure slowly walked up to his side.


    That person had an unusual appearance, wearing military pants and boots below, yet only a black strap across his torso, nearly bare, exposing beautifully curved muscle lines.


    He was extremely tall, towering a full head above the nearly 1.9-meter-tall Xue Jing, likely around 2.2 meters tall, his height making his frame seem somewhat slender, yet still possessing an oppressive presence.


    But these were not the main points.


    The most striking feature was the faint scent of blood emanating from all over his body, diffusing on the surface of his skin.


    It was as if every single pore on his body was emitting blood mist, visible to the naked eye which made him appear as though he had activated some Burst Seed martial arts skill, a sight that was both alarming and awe-inspiring.


    His blood-tinted dark red hair flowed freely, as if moved by an invisible wind, whipping around wildly.


    With his approach, all of the students instinctively showed guarded and tense expressions.


    Like rabbits in the grassland beholding a lion...even if the lion had no intention to hunt, the sheer pressure of absolute power created a suffocating feeling.


    "My name is...Wei Yuzhao."


    The towering man slightly lowered his head, looking towards Xue Jing and extended his right hand with a deep voice in greeting.


    Xue Jing slowly turned to look at him.


    The blood aura diffusing from the man''s body came into contact with Xue Jing''s, bringing a scorching heat, akin to a burn.


    This person was strong.


    Xue Jing felt a pure disparity emanating from him.


    In terms of physical strength alone, this man had an overwhelming advantage over him.


    Yet, there was a faint sense of something abnormal.


    After a moment''s thought, Xue Jing reached out and shook his hand.


    "I''m Xue Jing," he said softly.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered.


    Was this man a Blessed One?


    After seeing the prompt, Xue Jing instinctively checked his panel and felt a shock inside.


    At the bottom of the Divine Skill Bar, fine red specks were gathering in a new slot...


    This was¡ªthe sign of a new Divine Skill being activated!


    But why were the specks red, not golden?


    The phenomenon, different from previously activated Divine Skills, left Xue Jing puzzled.


    The man named Wei Yuzhao nodded and then tried to retract his hand...but Xue Jing suddenly gripped it firmly, preventing him from pulling away.


    Wei Yuzhao was momentarily stunned.


    With an unchanged expression, Xue Jing held Wei Yuzhao''s hand and said with a smile, "Brother Wei seems very strong...may I ask where you practice?"

 Chapter 333 The Secret Martial Reformist, Special Divine Skill—True Red! (4K)_2

    Wei Yuzhao shook his head: "Xue Jing, I am not your enemy."


    Xue Jing still didn''t let go, only saying: "Please elaborate."


    Wei Yuzhao didn''t understand why Xue Jing was grasping his hand, but to show that he had no hostile intentions, he didn''t resist and continued:


    "I am a member of the Secret Martial Society... but unlike those Conservatives who want to trouble you, I am a member of the Reformist Faction."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion: "Reformist Faction?"


    Wei Yuzhao said gravely: "We do not agree with the old concepts of the Secret Martial Society, nor do we acknowledge that only the Old Martial Arts are the powers humans should wield. Rather, we believe that anything that can enhance martial arts should be used¡ªthis is the innovative thought." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "After all, even the one who founded the Secret Martial Society... didn''t he also use it?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed realization: "I see."


    The Secret Martial Society was originally a pure Old Martial Arts organization founded by the Extreme Martial King. While he was the leader, naturally there was no room for any other heretical ideas to exist.


    But ever since he ''surrendered'' and joined the officials to rule over Cangting, it was only natural that the organization, which existed because of him alone, would change its ideas and actions due to his changed thought and conduct, causing the organization to evolve as well.


    The emergence of this Reformist Faction must have been a new faction that appeared after the Extreme Martial King left the Secret Martial Society.


    "...You can probably tell that I am a Blessed One," Wei Yuzhao continued.


    "The Heretic God I have been granted is known as ''True Red Lord'' and ''Source of Flesh.''"


    "This is a Heretic God whose granted rituals have only been perfected in the last few decades. It is the origin of all ''flesh'' in the world, one of the True Gods symbolizing the concept of the material foundation."


    "It possesses blessings that are extremely wonderful for Martial Artists... and all of its granted rituals are in the hands of our Reformist Faction."


    Wei Yuzhao was surprisingly laying all his cards on the table.


    He looked directly at Xue Jing: "You should be able to feel how powerful I am... even stronger than you, a rare genius in this world by a large margin."


    "All because of the power of the Reformists."


    "Xue Jing, you too are a Blessed One and are surely completely different from those with rigid minds. You can accept our completely new martial arts ideology."


    "Join us, become a member of the Secret Martial Society''s Reformist Faction, and you will receive unprecedented support, to rise with shocking speed, to become stronger. With your talent, given time, becoming the leader who guides our Reformists, and even ultimately becoming the great person who elevates the entire world''s martial arts system, is not impossible."


    Wei Yuzhao scanned the surroundings and said:


    "And as long as you join, I will help you crush any actions the Conservative Faction takes against you and ensure your safety."


    Xue Jing held Wei Yuzhao''s hand, was silent for a while, and then said with a smile:


    "The conditions sound very tempting."


    [Divine Absorption Complete]


    The prompt popped up, and he opened his panel, glancing at his current Divinity.


    [Divinity Held: 6620]


    Previously, he had obtained a large amount of Divinity in the Dragon Core Airplane''s Cease-Blades commander''s bedroom and had cleared out the gathering of dragons on the map with one punch, which had brought him some more, having around 4400 Divinity to begin with.


    Now it had become six thousand six... getting nearly twenty-two hundred Divinity from Wei Yuzhao.


    It was a significant gain, but the Divinity wasn''t the point.


    His gaze turned to the Divine Skill Bar on the panel.


    At the very bottom, a new skill that was starkly different from the other Divine Skills had appeared.


    Its name didn''t shimmer with pale golden light but instead glowed with bloody red, as though it was written in fresh blood.


    [True Red (Inactive): Special Divine Skill, Activation requires Divinity 6620/5000]


    A Special Divine Skill!?


    Xue Jing''s heart rate quickened slightly... This unprecedented description and the terrifying amount of Divinity needed for activation silently spoke of the extraordinariness of this new skill. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    It was ten times the amount required to activate the other Divine Skills!


    His current Divine Skills were already numerous, and while their strengths and usefulness varied, without exception, they all required the same five hundred points to activate.


    And now, this skill called ''True Red'' required a full five thousand points... what kind of monster skill could this be!?


    Suppressing the urge to activate it immediately, Xue Jing naturally released Wei Yuzhao''s hand and said with a serene expression:


    "Although the conditions sound good... I refuse."


    Wei Yuzhao tilted his head: "Why?"


    Xue Jing gave him an odd look: "Does refusal need a reason? Joining does, doesn''t it?"


    The path he would walk was different from everyone else''s... The Reformist Faction might sound like a special system focusing on martial arts with other systems as secondary, quite similar to his own path.


    But that was merely a surface similarity, for his foundation was still the panel.


    Paths diverge and plans differ... and for some reason, Xue Jing always felt this Reformist posed a certain danger.


    Wei Yuzhao was silent for a moment, "No matter, give it some more thought, there''s no rush."


    With that, he turned and left without hesitation.


    He thought to himself that when you are in dire straits, you will naturally need my help. By then...


    Huh? Why does it seem like the Mutation Rate has suddenly dropped a lot... An illusion?


    "Wow, Mr. Xue, who was that guy just now, such strong Spiritual Pressure!"


    He Han patted his still racing chest, asking Xue Jing with a lingering fear in his heart.


    As Martial Artists, their instincts allowed them to vaguely feel that kind of absolute domination on a physical level, like cotton standing before steel, this disparity was truly frightening.


    "It''s like he activated King''s Fist, his whole body bursting with energy, too exaggerated."


    "Are all the examiners monsters?"


    Xue Jing ignored the clamor of the students. He slowly closed his eyes and opened the panel.


    [True Red (Inactive): Special Divine Skill, Divinity required for activation 6620/5000]


    [Conditions met, activate?]


    [Yes/No]


    Without hesitation, he clicked [Yes].


    [Activation Successful]


    [True Red LvMax (Special Divine Skill, cannot be upgraded)]


    [Effect: Temporarily sacrifice all special abilities except for flesh to the True Red Lord in exchange for an increase in the strength of one''s flesh, entering ''True Red Mode'']


    Hmm?


    Xue Jing''s gaze slight moved.


    This skill... turns out to be unupgradable.


    No wonder it requires a full five thousand Divinity points to activate... This is a one-time purchase skill, no need to continue investing.


    Thank goodness... he had thought he would have a new super giant beast baby with an enormous appetite to feed, the kind that starts at tens of thousands of Divinity points for an upgrade.


    And the effect of the skill...


    Xue Jing felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    It seemed like... the Forbidden Word Technique.


    By sealing all one''s special skills, one could switch to a plain attack mode in exchange for an enhancement in physical combat strength.


    He didn''t know exactly how much enhancement it provided.


    Xue Jing was a bit eager to test it out but now really wasn''t a good time...


    Just then, students from surrounding examination halls suddenly burst into noise, as if they saw something.


    Xue Jing also opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.


    A large flying vessel was slowly approaching from the sky, with a big ''1'' marked on the side of the craft.


    "That''s... the aircraft from Extreme City No.1 Examination Hall."


    Chen Xingyan spoke up, eyes showing solemnity.


    "In every Inner Ring City''s number one examination hall, there are all students with extremely high potential evaluations... but that''s not the key."


    "The key is the examiner for this time''s Extreme City No.1 Examination Hall."


    "¡ª¡ªStrongest Elementary School Student on Earth, an unprecedented Martial Arts prodigy... Li Suisui!"


    "No, it should be Strongest Junior High School Student now."


    The students were all very serious.


    "He''s not even thirteen, right... I heard before that he''s almost at his second Breakthrough."


    "This is simply monstrous, who breaks through while the human skeleton isn''t even fully developed."


    Xue Jing''s eyes brightened as he watched the aircraft that was slowly landing amidst the attention of thousands.


    The Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth... I have long heard of him, and I''m quite looking forward to it.


    ...

 Chapter 334

    The large aircraft slowly landed, and the hatch opened.


    Amidst the gaze of the crowd, a short figure slowly walked out.


    He was under 1.6 meters tall, wore a dark cyan martial arts uniform, and had hair no longer than half a finger. Beneath that, he had an extremely young and tender face, just like a child''s.


    No... to be exact, he was indeed just a child.


    Li Suisui.


    An unprecedented martial arts prodigy, the strongest elementary school student on earth, with achievements no one of his age had ever attained before. He had surpassed the human limits of understanding of the body and was deeply beloved by martial arts as the chosen one.


    At barely thirteen years old, having started practicing martial arts since the age of eight, in under five years, he had already¡ªleapt through Dragon Gate twice, undergone the Heavenly Human Second Transition, and broken through the second limit of his spirit and body!


    Indeed... only a few knew that just a few days ago, in the First Layer Heaven of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, he had successfully undergone a second Breakthrough while challenging Heavenly Lord Yu Ruoying, reaching an entirely new realm.


    This was yet another world record that far exceeded the past records.


    "...Such a hassle, having a child come do this, this country is beyond saving¡ªchild labor laws are but a joke."


    Li Suisui stepped out of the hatch, ignoring the attention he had grown accustomed to, and sighed.


    Dozens of students with quite extraordinary appearances followed him out. Each of them was older than Li Suisui, but they had never received such universal attention, and they seemed a bit nervous under the gaze of the crowd.


    From among the people of the Secret Martial Society, including Zhou Yinglin, one of them waved and called out to Li Suisui from afar:


    "Hey~ Li kid, come over here."


    Li Suisui frowned as if annoyed, but still turned around, waved at the students to stand by, and walked over.


    "Hey, haven''t seen you in a few months, how come you seem to have gotten stronger again? You''re a freak."


    One of them laughed and spoke as he reached out to touch the short Li Suisui''s head.


    Slap¡ª


    Brushing the unclean hand away, Li Suisui spoke indifferently:


    "I now deeply understand what my teacher said. Half of life is trouble, and the other half is about resolving trouble."


    "Ay ya hey, you little one, you sure are profound," the crowd said, struggling to contain their laughter at his childlike appearance delivering such words.


    Li Suisui glanced at them and responded, neither confirming nor denying:


    "Living long and being old isn''t any kind of capital. I suggest you don''t laugh so freely, or your faces might end up swollen later."


    "They''ve already said it above, this operation will be led by me, following my command... do you understand what that means?"


    The several examiners looked at each other and after a few glances said, "Isn''t it just the literal meaning?"


    Li Suisui said coolly, "Are you all kids who can''t even understand simple words?"


    Being called kids by such a child was quite hard to bear, and everyone felt a bit awkward.


    "The higher-ups have made it clear that they trust me, who is much younger, more than they trust you who have lived for many more years."


    "You should feel ashamed of that, instead of mocking my young age... I don''t want a next time."


    Those meeting Li Suisui for the first time looked somewhat displeased, not expecting the kid to speak so fiercely. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those who already knew Li Suisui just touched their noses and chuckled bitterly, "Still so eloquent."


    Seeing that no one was looking down on him anymore, Li Suisui continued:


    "You all know our mission this time, right?"


    Saying this, he looked around, and his keen gaze quickly found a direction.


    There, a youth with an unbelievably handsome face was looking in his direction, their gazes meeting.


    The youth''s eyes were smiling, nodding to him as if saying hello.


    Although there was a difference between his real appearance and the one in the images, there was no doubt, that was Xue Jing.


    "Aren''t we supposed to take out Xue Jing?" Zhou Yinglin hesitated to speak.


    Li Suisui gave him a look: "Naive!"


    "Always so eager to fight and kill, you''re clearly a Mr. Jing from the First Urban Circle, but you think like a Martial Artist''s Brain from our Seventh Metropolitan Circle, no wonder you''re being used and aren''t even aware of it."


    Zhou Yinglin''s mouth twitched, but he did not retort.


    "We are just members of the Secret Martial Society, not the society itself. If you really want to be loyal to the society, you should at least wait until you''re in a high position with strongly related interests to discuss it. Where are we at now?"


    "The old men of the Conservative Faction want Xue Jing dead to prevent his obvious leaning towards the Reformist Faction from being absorbed by them. Everything else is just a superficial reason."


    "Others who want him dead have their various interest-related reasons... but what about you?"


    "Somebody just asked you, and off you ran into the arena, eager to put him to death... Have you ever thought about the consequences, what the person standing behind Xue Jing might think?"


    "Used by others as a pawn and taking the blame without being aware, it''s truly naive and pitiful."


    Li Suisui shook his head.


    Zhou Yinglin clenched his fists.


    But then he thought, even if he tensed up, he wouldn''t be as tough as this kid, and his fists relaxed.


    "...Then what do you suggest we do?"


    "Our goal is to target Xue Jing, but not to kill him directly; we have to read the situation," Li Suisui said calmly.


    "We need to satisfy the old men from the Conservative Faction, but also not completely turn against the person behind him." Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Everyone, no longer underestimating this youthful-looking but clearly more mature person, eagerly asked, "What should we do?"

 Chapter 334_2

    Li Suisui gave them a strange look, "Do you even need to ask? Capture him alive, hand him over to the higher-ups, and while you''re at it, make a suggestion for them to use Xue Jing and that person in a trade, to see if we can exchange him for the Wind of All Beginnings... Anyway, what happens after that has little to do with us. Whether Xue Jing lives or dies is the result of their own games."


    Someone hesitated, "Capturing him alive... isn''t that a bit against the rules?"


    Originally, their plan to kill Xue Jing in the form of participating in the Martial Arts Examination was because it was within the ''rules,'' a justified ''legitimate way to kill,'' not just showing up outside arbitrarily without reason, which would be breaking the rules.


    And here was an odd question: killing Xue Jing was permitted within the rules, but capturing him alive seemed to be a step outside of the rules.


    Once the Martial Arts Examination ended and Xue Jing was still alive, there would be no reason for them to continue to deal with him. If they still bound and captured Xue Jing to hand him over to their superiors at that point... that would be a move outside the rules. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Half and half, not completely by the rules but also not completely outside of them, more like a gray area¡­ Would you rather kill Xue Jing and offend that person or break these minor rules and distance yourselves from the issue? Surely you don''t need a kid like me to teach you what to choose," said Li Suisui.


    Zhou Yinglin muttered reluctantly, "... Xue Jing is not easy to deal with."


    "I know, he''s a Blessed One... this time the higher-ups have given me a Wind of All Beginnings to deal with him. On the battlefield, when he is only able to use his physical martial arts, he''s not a concern," said Li Suisui.


    "What we need to pay attention to are the Reformists..."


    He glanced in the direction of Wei Yuzhao, seeing the tall man radiating an aura of blood.


    "The True Red Lineage has indeed shown up... This group can use their overflowing blood aura to intercept the Wind of All Beginnings, reducing the influence of the Power of Return to the minimum, making them the ones least restrained by the Wind of All Beginnings."


    "Our focus in this operation should instead be on how to deal with him."


    "Therefore, we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario," Li Suisui continued.


    "If our plan against Xue Jing fails, we need to have a safety measure in place."


    "If he succeeds in leading students to good results in the Martial Arts Examination, he would be replicating that person''s path. Under the veneration of the Venerables, the old men of the Conservative Faction will not be able to openly target him anymore."


    "Therefore... we must first sabotage his students'' scores."


    ...


    Xue Jing didn''t pay attention to the group obviously plotting against him. Instead, he just curiously glanced at the kid named Li Suisui and then withdrew his gaze.


    Calculating the time with his precise biological clock, he murmured to himself,


    "It''s about time..."


    As soon as the words left his mouth, an official person at the entrance of Steel Tree Sea immediately stood up, grabbed a megaphone, and yelled to the whole venue,


    "All examinees, come here to collect your examination materials!"


    Dozens of officials began distributing piles of materials to all the examinees who approached.


    As an examiner, Xue Jing didn''t crowd forward but glanced at the things each student received.


    A green backpack containing food and water looked to be of modest quantity, barely enough for one to eat for two days... that is, if they didn''t expend too much energy.


    A black wristband, a tight-fitting Tactical Suit... The material seemed very similar to what the White Crow and Cease-Blades personnel wore.


    After Cao Sini received her examination materials, she changed into her clothes in the provided booth, walked up to Xue Jing, and pushed a button on her black wristband.


    A holographic image appeared above the wristband, displaying some information.


    [Examinee Name: Cao Sini]


    [Members of the same team: Undefined]


    [Current Mission: Undefined] Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Current Score: 0]


    ```


    "...Teacher, I''m ready."


    Cao Sini looked at Xue Jing, her elongated and sharp eyebrows and eyes softened, and she spoke in a low voice.


    Her tight black Tactical Suit showcased her fine figure to its fullest, causing some classmates who usually steered clear of her fierce expression to take a few extra glances.


    Xue Jing glanced at her and smiled, "This time, you''re going to have a tough job, Student Sini."


    Cao Sini nodded, "...I won''t let you down, Teacher."


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at the students who had mostly finished changing into their clothes, had put on their bracelets, and had taken up their small backpacks: "Is everyone ready?"


    "Ready!"


    The crowd responded.


    Xue Jing nodded, waved his hand, and then led the students towards the entrance to the Steel Tree Sea.


    There were nearly twenty examination halls participating in the large-scale joint examination this time, each entering different portals, dispersing the people to prevent a situation where they ended up in intense battle at the very beginning.


    At the entrance, official personnel were checking with devices, and apart from the issued supplies, no personal belongings were allowed to be brought in.


    One after another, the students were inspected and entered the Intersecting Boundaries through the twisted gateway of light.


    Xue Jing walked at the end... He took a white bracelet from an official''s hand, put it on his wrist, and under supervision, changed into a set of official clothes provided. After a thorough full-body check, he was allowed through and slowly stepped into the Intersecting Boundaries.


    This wasn''t his first time entering the Intersecting Boundaries... His vision blurred for a moment, and the world drastically changed.


    What emerged before his eyes was¡ªSteel Land.


    The color of metal covered the whole world; in the leaden sky above, black clouds that gave a sense of heaviness floated... These were metal clouds formed from iron mist.


    The taste of rust, akin to blood, filled his nostrils; the land was of steel, as were the trees, flowers, and even¡ªthe creatures made of steel.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    A hoarse, metallic clangor of an odd call came through as a large bird, made entirely of steel feathers, skimmed past the sky. The sharp and resilient feathers produced a crackling sound, puzzling over how this seemingly heavy creature could possibly fly.


    "Wow, this place is freaking awesome."


    He Han exclaimed in amazement, taking a step forward, his foot making a ''puff'' sound as it landed on the metal ground.


    "...My feet feel so heavy!"


    He shouted, startled, and began to walk with some effort on this land of steel.


    "The gravity is really completely different from the real world... It''s amazing!"


    "Walking for a while makes the soles of my feet hurt... This ground is too hard!"


    "I''m getting a bit short of breath... It feels like there''s a big rock pressing on my organs."


    "Hahqiang¡ª!! I think... Hahqiang!! I might be a bit allergic to metal!"


    "Come on, what''s going on with you guys, feeling like you''re about to keel over just after we got here..."


    The students marveled and laughed as they experienced a world they had never seen before.


    Ye Jingqiu had been watching at the entrance the whole time, and as soon as she saw Xue Jing''s figure appearing, she immediately pretended to be unable to adapt to the gravity, took a stumble, and her body toppled toward Xue Jing as she exclaimed,


    "Ah, Mr. Xue!"


    Xue Jing glanced at her and reached out to support her shoulder.


    But he hadn''t expected that she seemed prepared this time... Her body twirled around in a mess.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 335

    Watching Ye Jingqiu already beaming as if she had succeeded in ascending to heaven, Xue Jing was slightly stunned.


    He didn''t harbor much wariness towards these students... It wasn''t that he felt particularly close or trusted them, but rather that humans don''t pay much mind to what an ant beside them might try to do.


    Thus, when he saw Ye Jingqiu turn towards him, he simply wanted to lend a hand to help her, unexpectedly, she changed her approach in order to get close to him.


    This was a bit tricky now.


    Xue Jing supported the slightly woozy Ye Jingqiu by the shoulders, preventing her from collapsing to the ground, his expression somewhat helpless.


    Ever since his Charm Art had reached Lv10, his constitution had become a bit special, and the scent from his body carried a bit of ''poison''.


    Moreover, having practiced Martial Arts for years, continuously elevating his level of life, and having cultivated the Nirvana Technique¡ªa Special Technique, the scent of his body had reached a mystical level of effectiveness.


    That bodily fragrance could produce a certain pleasure, a sense of happiness for those who smelled it... Those accustomed to it were fine, but it was somewhat overwhelming for those who experienced it for the first time.


    Usually, Xue Jing used Aura Blockade to keep his aura from spreading outside his body.


    The effect of Ye Jingqiu suddenly taking in a deep breath at close range... was probably about the same as taking a real hit.


    "Jingqiu? What''s happened, are you allergic to metal?"


    Since both her appearance and physique were quite outstanding, Ye Jingqiu had always been the center of attention, and noticing her unusual behavior, her classmates were very concerned.


    Xue Jing helped her sit under a light-reflecting, pale brown metallic tree, then turned to a female student beside him and said,


    "Jiali, please take care of her."


    Fu Jialin nodded, responding affirmatively, curiosity flickering in her eyes.


    She was one of the few students who had seen the whole process... Having witnessed Ye Jingqiu change like this only after taking a breath in Mr. Xue''s embrace.


    Watching Ye Jingqiu now drooling like a person high on drugs in an anti-drug movie, Fu Jialin felt a bit excited, a bit scared, but also a bit eager to try...


    What exactly had she smelled on Mr. Xue?


    Cao Sini approached Xue Jing and whispered, "Teacher, it''s about to start."


    She showed him the information on her wristband.


    [Examinee Name: Cao Sini]


    [Assigned Team Members: Not determined]


    [Current Task: Not determined]


    [Current Score: 0]


    [Leaderboard Information: Temporary none]


    [Countdown: 0:28:19]


    Xue Jing nodded, "Proceed as planned."


    He shouted to the students, "Everyone, begin registering your team information!"


    The students immediately responded, "Yes, Teacher!"


    As they spoke, they began to enter information on their wristbands.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing nodded.


    This joint Martial Arts Examination, due to the large number of participants, had slightly cumbersome rules.


    Students would accumulate scores in two aspects throughout the examination, which would determine their final Martial Arts Examination scores.


    The two scores were ''individual score'' and ''team score''.


    All examinees must allocate their respective teams within the first half-hour after entering the Steel Tree Sea area. If they had not joined any team by the end of this period, they would be considered to have formed a team by themselves with only one member.


    There was no upper limit to the number of members in a team. If desired, even the entire class could join the same team, although this situation had its pros and cons, which would be discussed later.


    When a student knocked down any non-team member (including classmates), they would receive 100 personal points and 100 team points divided among all team members.


    For example, if it was a five-person team, one member knocking down a non-team member would receive 100 individual points and 20 team points, while the remaining 80 would be divided among the other four members.


    The criterion for being knocked down included: the fallen losing any ability to act, death, intervention by an examination official, or determination by an examination official that they had been knocked down.


    Beyond scoring for knocking down, there were several other methods to acquire points.


    One was forced migration tasks. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Steel Tree Sea was divided into thirty-six regions, from A1 to A9, B1 to B9, C1 to C9, D1 to D9. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every eight hours, all teams would receive a random forced migration task, like moving all team members from current A1 region to B9 region within eight hours, failure to do so would result in a deduction of substantial individual and team points.


    Success, however, would result in additional individual and team points.


    Each task varied in distance and difficulty, thus the deducted and added points differed.


    Therefore, students had to keep moving continuously throughout the entire examination, unable to remain hidden in fixed regions.


    Second, optional random beast-subjugation tasks.


    The officials would intermittently release monster subjugation missions within the Steel Tree Sea. Student teams could accept these tasks, and upon successful subjugation¡ªdepending on difficulty¡ªwould receive certain individual and team points.


    Third, the leaderboard.


    There was only one leaderboard, evenly listing the top ten teams. After the examination ended based on the final ranking, the top ten teams would receive substantial scoring.


    Fourth, knockdown King.


    Among all students, the one who knocked down the most others would become the ''Knockdown King'' and would receive substantial points at the final calculation after the exam ended.


    By these rules, at the end of the examination, all students'' final scores would be their individual scores plus their team scores.


    If either was negative, it would be deducted from their final score.


    After all students had their final scores calculated, they would be ranked according to these scores, and based on these final rankings, the actual Martial Arts Examination scores would be awarded.

 Chapter 336

    Xue Jing returned to find that the half-hour preparation countdown before the event had almost come to an end.


    "Mr. Xue, Jingqiu still seems to be out of it. What should we do?"


    Fu Jialin reported to Xue Jing, gesturing towards Ye Jingqiu who was half-lying against a metal tree.


    Looking completely dazed and intoxicated.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing said, "Please help her walk with Zhong Wei. The compulsory movement task will be issued soon, and it''s not clear yet how long the move will take. We can''t afford to delay."


    Hearing this, Fu Jialin nodded in agreement with another female student named Zhong Wei, "Yes, Teacher."


    A while later, Cao Sini approached Xue Jing and whispered,


    "Mr. Xue, it''s started."


    She stretched out her hand to show Xue Jing her wristband that was vibrating non-stop.


    [Current Task:


    Forced Movement Task: Please move to Zone B2 with all squad members, remaining time 7:59:42]


    Seeing this, Xue Jing opened his white examiner wristband, operated it for a bit, and located the map.


    The map on the examiner''s wristband showed the position of himself and all his students underneath; currently, they were all in Zone C3.


    The distance to the Zone B2 required by the forced movement task wasn''t too far; at least on the map, it seemed to be only three zones away.


    "Do we need to move immediately, Mr. Xue?"


    Chen Xingyan, standing aside, asked.


    Xue Jing hummed in affirmation, "Let''s head straight there, and we''ll talk upon arrival. Estimate roughly the distance... Everyone, move towards the target zone in the formation we set up earlier, and if we encounter danger..."


    After giving many instructions, Xue Jing nodded to Chen Xingyan, who then began to command, and all the students started moving towards Zone B2.


    Ten minutes later.


    "... this gravity, it''s fine when I''m still, but once I start moving, it''s much more tiring than I thought."


    He Han spoke as he caught his breath slightly.


    Most of the students felt similarly exhausted.


    "If we start fighting with other squads, it''s hard to imagine how tiring that would be."


    "Stop complaining, Mr. Xue said that this is just because our bodies haven''t adapted to the environment yet. It will feel much better once we''ve adapted."


    "It feels like Mr. Xue has a lot of experience... He wouldn''t be like some shonen manga protagonist who went through some kind of brutal training under several dozen times gravity, would he, ha ha."


    Following behind all the students, Xue Jing moved along the tall metallic plants, keeping a distance that allowed him to take in everyone''s condition at a glance.


    Unlike the students who were struggling to adapt to the gravity, all his movements were effortless, as if he were on Earth Star without any difference; the nearly triple supergravity of the Steel Tree Sea seemed like nothing to him.


    This wasn''t just due to his physical strength but also because he persistently undertook weight training with Dragon Horn every day.


    Now at Lv7, Dragon Horn allowed him to endure gravity over thirty times normal every day. His body had long since adapted to these harsh conditions. The Steel Tree Sea''s less than triple gravity felt almost nonexistent to him.


    "Most people are currently in the stage of adapting to the environment of the Intersecting Boundaries. At this moment, even if candidates encounter each other, they''re more likely to avoid confrontation."


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed contemplation.


    "But for us examiners, it''s a different story..."


    The Extreme Martial King''s actions had established a tradition of talented young people serving as examiners in the Martial Arts Examination, therefore, although young, the examiners in this joint examination had strength on a different level from most students.


    Even if they had not previously experienced supergravity environments, their inherent abilities allowed them to quickly adapt to this level of gravity.


    And the relationship between the examiners... was not one of peaceful coexistence.


    As long as their students achieved a good overall result, the young examiner would be considered to have successfully emulated the Extreme Martial King and would receive a considerable addition to their r¨¦sum¨¦ and honors that would make their future path much smoother, with many conveniences and doors opened to them.


    Thus, although it was not explicit on paper, the Martial Arts Examination was not only a test for the candidates but also for the young examiners.


    In other types of Martial Arts Examinations, relations might be more amicable, but this joint examination, akin to a battle royale, was completely adversarial both among the candidates and among the examiners.


    Because all the joint examination grading methods were based on ''final score rankings''.


    What does that mean?


    It means that the ranking is critical, the score itself is not the most important thing!


    Even if you have very few points, as long as you make others'' points fewer than yours, you achieve a good result!


    With zero points granted upon leaving the examination, the simplest and most direct method is naturally to knock down or even kill others, reducing the number of people who survive to the end as much as possible.


    One more point means defeating a thousand people? Defeat everyone and you won''t need to score at all!


    And this involves some game theory too, such as examiners being able to attack each other.


    If this were to happen, the students who relied on the examiner would naturally panic and become desperate. Without protection in times of crisis, their life security would lose some guarantee, and the death of this mental support in an unfamiliar environment would bring great emotional impact. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With such a significant reduction in overall strength, they could easily become the target of scoring by other classes. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Therefore, in this kind of joint examination, a strong examiner was extremely important to the students... This was why Chen Xingyan and the others initially resisted Xue Jing because they did not understand him and were afraid his outsider abilities were insufficient.

 Chapter 336_2

    Between the already tense relationships among the examiners, it was clear that a bunch of people came specifically targeting Xue Jing himself... which forced Xue Jing to be on guard.


    The others were not much to speak of; to Xue Jing, they were just a bunch of nobodies trying to make a name for themselves. But Li Suisui, proclaimed to be ''the strongest primary school student in history,'' was an opponent Xue Jing had to take seriously.


    Bordering on a second Breakthrough... and possibly even having achieved it.


    Such a realm, by Xue Jing''s estimates, in terms of raw physical prowess alone, was probably at least ten times greater than his own.


    "I wonder when he''ll come after me..."


    Xue Jing looked around, observing his environment, feeling a bit of anticipation in his heart.


    He opened the panel and glanced at True Red, which he had just activated not long ago, a smile appearing in his eyes.


    ...


    Half an hour later.


    Xue Jing looked at the map on his wristband and discovered that his group had already covered close to half the distance, nearing Zone B2. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm... the map isn''t too big, then."


    He nodded his head.


    Based on their current pace and the map''s scale, he had calculated the size of the examination area.


    Even the longest straight line from Zone A9 to D1 could be reached in just over six hours at this pace.


    Of course, that was assuming there were no delays or obstacles along the way.


    "Ah, teacher!"


    A student suddenly pointed toward the sky and shouted in alarm.


    Everyone followed the voice and saw a strange object floating above in the distant leaden sky.


    It was a gigantic grey metallic cone.


    At a glance, it looked like an upside-down traffic cone, its tip extremely sharp and fine, casting a cold light that seemed to prickle one''s skin just by looking at it.


    Xue Jing had already noticed it and, familiar with the Steel Tree Sea documents, quickly recognized what it was.


    "Sky Cone."


    A peculiar native creature of the Steel Tree Sea... or perhaps, a strange natural phenomenon?


    To this day, the academic community has not come to a consensus on whether it''s a creature or some type of phenomenon.


    "Mr. Xue... I, I can''t move."


    Fu Jialin, who was supporting Ye Jingqiu, cried out in panic.


    Her whole body suddenly began to levitate, her feet about ten centimeters off the ground, immobile, with her limbs hanging naturally down, the only thing moving on her body was the expression on her face.


    Students near her were abruptly pushed away by an invisible force, unable to approach her.


    The giant metallic cone in the sky was positioned directly above her head, its pointed end aimed at the top of her head, slowly descending.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Is that... a Sky Cone?"


    "Damm, why does it have to be that deathly thing! This is just too unlucky!"


    "What do we do, if that thing targets you, aren''t you as good as dead?"


    The students recognized the object above and immediately began to panic.


    Xue Jing flashed to Fu Jialin''s side and extended his hand toward her shoulder. An invisible repelling force grew stronger as he drew closer, until his hand stopped about ten centimeters from her body.


    It wasn''t that he ran out of strength and couldn''t get any closer... but Xue Jing instinctively felt that forcibly touching Fu Jialin now might have some unpleasant consequences.


    "Teacher... what, what do we do..."


    Tears were rolling in Fu Jialin''s eyes as she looked at Xue Jing, pleading for help in fear.


    The Sky Cone, whether to be considered a phenomenon or a living entity, once appeared, would lock on to a random target present without any pattern.


    The target would be bound by an invisible magnetic field, completely immobilized. Afterward, the Sky Cone would descend at a fixed speed and trajectory, continually lowering until its sharp tip pierced the target''s head, slowly boring through until it touched the ground, at which point the Sky Cone would vanish.


    During this time, the rate of descent and trajectory of the Sky Cone seemed like some immutable natural law, entirely unaffected by physical influences; no matter how much kinetic energy was applied, it could not alter its course or speed in the slightest.


    The person locked onto by the Sky Cone would experience the immense terror of death slowly, unavoidably approaching, as well as the pain of the Sky Cone gradually piercing into their head, slowly crushing it.


    "Don''t be afraid."


    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing withdrew his palm, his expression unchanged as he softly spoke to Fu Jialin.


    "I said I wouldn''t let any of you die, don''t worry, leave it to me."


    Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Fu Jialin also took a few deep breaths and regained her composure.


    "Mr. Xue, what should I do?"


    The other students also looked to Xue Jing with trusting eyes.


    Xue Jing looked up at the Sky Cone in the sky, made an estimate, and said,


    "The Sky Cone cannot be stopped, but it can be physically destroyed."


    "The larger the Sky Cone is, the stronger it is, the more difficult to destroy. This one is about two meters and thirty centimeters in length¡ªnot considered huge, but according to the data, its strength is at least more than twice that of tungsten steel."


    Tungsten steel, one of the hardest metals native to Earth Star, a metal difficult to penetrate even with armor-piercing bullets, to break it, you would need to use an armor-piercing incendiary bomb made of tungsten.


    "Judging from its current trajectory and speed, it will take over forty minutes to approach Jiali''s head."


    Xue Jing pondered briefly, then said,


    "Everyone, continue heading toward Sector B2, get away from here... I''ll catch up with Jiali later."


    Upon hearing this, the students nodded immediately.


    "Understood, Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue, you must save Jiali!"


    Soon, under Chen Xingyan''s command, the students kept formation and continued towards Sector B2.


    Only Xue Jing and Fu Jialin were left in the original spot.


    "Mr. Xue..." Fu Jialin muttered.


    Xue Jing glanced at her and said softly,


    "Jiali, close your eyes."


    Fu Jialin obeyed, closing her eyes as told.


    In a flash, Xue Jing reappeared atop a towering metallic tree, looking up at the Sky Cone in the sky.


    "Didn''t expect the first thing I''d taste would be this thing."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing closed his eyes.


    "True Red," activate!


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s heart emitted an extremely loud thump.


    On the panel, within the Divine Skill Bar, "Twin Lifes," "Shadow Flame," "Plant Pact," "Dragon Horn," "Feather Transformation"...


    One after another, divine skills glowing with a faint golden light all plunged into dim darkness.


    Then, a hint of blood color slowly emerged, dyeing the names of all the divine skills in vermilion.


    At the very bottom, the special Divine Skill "True Red" began to glow brightly.


    Intense heat, unimaginably intense heat swept over his entire body.


    His blood was boiling, even burning, the pale red visible blood qi began to overflow from Xue Jing''s entire body, his hair dyed from ink-black to vivid vermilion, dancing without wind.


    His dark blue eyes also took on a red hue, an indescribable power surged incessantly from his own flesh and blood.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª"


    The sound of rapidly flowing blood roared like turbulent rivers, echoing in the outside world.


    In the midst of this, in the darkness of the void, it seemed as if a Heretic God made of blood and flesh opened its eyes, making eye contact with Xue Jing.


    In just an instant, Xue Jing recognized it as a Superstring Entity, the Heretic God True Red Lord, Source of Flesh, existing beyond the present world!


    ...


    His dark blue eyes also took on a red hue. An indescribable power unabatedly surged from his flesh and blood.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª"


    The sound of rapidly flowing blood roared like turbulent rivers, echoing in the outside world.


    In the midst of this, in the darkness of the void, it seemed as if a Heretic God made of blood and flesh opened its eyes, making eye contact with Xue Jing.


    In just an instant, Xue Jing recognized it as a Superstring Entity, the Heretic God True Red Lord, Source of Flesh, existing beyond the present world!

 Chapter 337

    In the dark, lightless void, a great entity composed of blood and flesh opened its indescribable, crimson eyes and quietly gazed at Xue Jing.


    In that instant, Xue Jing stopped thinking.


    In the Superstring dimension, where the concept of time does not exist, Xue Jing was not aware of how long he had been there or what had happened.


    He only knew that in the next moment he felt, a notification sounded in his consciousness.


    "[&#...%... Divine Absorption complete]"


    Coming to, Xue Jing found himself back from the dark, lightless void, still in a world made of steel and metal, under a lead-colored sky where the Sky Cone was slowly but firmly descending toward his student.


    In his mind, the impression of the great entity he had just seen was extremely vague, with only the image of the crimson eye relatively clear.


    "..." Shaking his head, Xue Jing steadied himself.


    "Was that... was that a necessary step during the activation of ''True Red,'' or was it an accident?"


    He looked thoughtful.


    The skill description of True Red stated it involved sacrificing all special abilities, except for flesh and blood, to the True Red Lord in exchange for corresponding strength in flesh.


    Such a skill, clearly related to a Heretic God, might not make it surprising to see the Heretic God itself during activation, but...


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to his attribute table.


    [Divinity: 6395]


    His Divinity had suddenly increased substantially.


    After spending five thousand Divinity to activate True Red, he was left with sixteen hundred Divinity... but now it had increased by nearly five thousand.


    That doesn''t seem like a gain one would normally receive after using a skill...


    Wouldn''t he soon become invincible if he kept activating True Red non-stop?


    Xue Jing glanced at the alert that had just popped up on his panel and immediately dismissed the idea.


    "[&#...%... Divine Absorption complete]"


    "It''s actually a garbled message..."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    This was the first time the panel had shown such an anomaly since it had appeared on him.


    In the past, no matter the circumstance, the panel always seemed to be in a ''superior'' state, as if its very essence was by nature higher than everything else, even when facing Divine Relics or powers related to the Heretic God.


    Therefore, Xue Jing had always had great confidence in the nobility of the panel, even when he heard Wu Youqing describe how exaggerated the Heretic God, a Superstring Entity, was. He believed that his incredible panel might be on par with, or even superior to, a Heretic God.


    And now, it seemed he finally had an answer.


    During the process of activating ''True Red,'' he had triggered some unknown incident... or perhaps it was not an incident, but a necessary process? In any case, his consciousness had faced a great entity of a Superstring existence.


    And the end result was, he had come back unscathed.


    From this notification, it seemed that Ban had brought him back through Divine Absorption...


    "Capable of helping me escape from the Heretic God and even absorbing its Divinity? Ban, are you truly a being that transcends the Heretic God?"


    "No... It''s hard to say, it looks like this absorption of Divinity was quite difficult; even the notification was garbled."


    "It might even be because the ''True Red Lord'' wasn''t on guard, didn''t care. There''s too little information to understand."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath.


    "But regardless... Ban indeed possesses the power to affect the Heretic God itself. Although its limit is unclear, it at least reaches the level of ''not being helpless.''"


    "That''s good news."


    Xue Jing slowly stood up.


    His body felt as though it was burning, and an aura like a Saiyan who had activated King''s Fist Burst Seed emanated from him.


    Clenching his fist, he felt an incredible power coursing through him.


    Strong, immensely strong.


    He had never directly felt such raw power.


    The pure, visceral sense of strength from his flesh and blood brought such a feeling of fullness that he felt the urge to roar skywards in excitement.


    "Is this the effect of ''True Red''? Worthy of the special skill I activated with five thousand Divinity."


    With a squeeze of his palm, his immense strength immediately squeezed the air out, forming a ring-shaped shockwave, creating a brief vacuum around his hand.


    Looking up, the Sky Cone, which had previously seemed indestructible, now felt to Xue Jing like it could be easily shattered.


    He knew this was not an illusion.


    Pressing on the attribute table on his wrist, Xue Jing checked his current five-dimensional attributes:


    Body: 11203 Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Mind: 1922


    Calamity: 15629


    Saint: 8257


    Potential: &£¤#%£¤%


    A body value over ten thousand!


    Before using ''True Red,'' his body value was around seventeen hundred.


    Now, with the augmentation from True Red, it had surged by nearly ten thousand, almost seven times, reaching 11203. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From a numerical perspective, this value was about what a Martial Artist with ordinary physical talent might have at the brink of a second Breakthrough.


    And¡ª this value was for Xue Jing to use!


    With ''True Martial,'' he could exert significantly more power than a regular Martial Artist with the same value.


    And this basic value increase represented an overall enhancement, which couldn''t be simply calculated as seven times stronger than his normal state.

 Chapter 338

    "An excellent skill that makes my fingers spin."


    Looking at the effect of "Spiral Vermilion Bullet," Xue Jing nodded with satisfaction.


    Blood is the source of human dynamism and a key component in martial arts channeling energy, responsible for mobilizing parts of the body not covered by the nervous network.


    It is also inherently a part of the powerful.


    Skilled martial artists continually strengthen their blood through various Blood Cleansing Secret Techniques, even managing to create a surge like a river from an amount less than a basin when it flows inside the body.


    Upon entering the "True Red" state, Xue Jing had gained the ability to freely control his own blood without any medium.


    And at this moment, his blood, after being enhanced by numerous Divine Skills, was incredibly powerful.


    He didn''t need to use breathing skills to oxygenate his blood, just as one wouldn''t need a keyboard and mouse but could control their game character directly with their mind¡ªlessening a layer of ambiguity and greatly increasing his scope and potential.


    Thus, his blood could fully unleash its true potential, possessing a terrifying power to pierce gold and shatter iron with mere self-propelling spiral bursts.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and took a deep breath.


    The next moment, the burning blood energy that was surging throughout his body gradually converged, restrained, and returned within him.


    Except for his hair still red and his pupils tinged with blood, he appeared normal.


    At this moment, others who approached him wouldn''t feel anything unusual, but if they touched his skin, they would immediately suffer thermal burns.


    Xue Jing completely confined his extremely hot blood within his body, and no one could feel the heat unless they touched him directly.


    "The duration of ''True Red''... seems to have no limits."


    Xue Jing carefully felt it.


    He sensed that he could maintain this state indefinitely if he desired.


    This skill had no physical toll on him because it wasn''t a Burst Seed Skill that forced a physical potential eruption; instead, it was an augmentation using the power of the True Red Lord, exchanged for the sacrifice of numerous Divine Skills.


    Essentially, it was as if he wore a particularly unique piece of equipment that he could wear or remove anytime without restrictions.


    "Really convenient... Truly a product of Ban."


    Xue Jing nodded with satisfaction.


    He extended his finger towards the metallic ground, and his blood surged out, forming sharp line blades that rapidly cut through the ground like cutting tofu, creating a rectangular chair. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Using his blood, he lifted the metal chair onto the ground and sat down, his gaze leisurely directed in one direction as if waiting for something.


    Soon, a sound of piercing through the air came from afar.


    A shadow was leaping continuously across the ground, approaching Xue Jing until at a certain distance, the shadow seemed to notice something and instantly disappeared from its spot.


    Xue Jing sat on his chair, hands crossed over his thighs, and slowly looked up in front of him.


    In an instant, as if the frame was pulled from a scene, a figure abruptly appeared there.


    It wasn''t until about half a second later that a sharp whistling sound reached Xue Jing''s ears.


    It was a rather small figure, less than 1.6 meters tall, almost the same height as the seated Xue Jing, allowing their eyes to meet perfectly.


    Li Suisui didn''t rush to look at Xue Jing but observed the surroundings.


    He saw a mess of a ground full of holes, a long trench not far away sliced by some sharp object, and a metallic tree with a spiral-shaped hole...


    In his vision, a faceless transparent figure struck at various angles to match how these marks were made.


    In just a few seconds, he had roughly deduced the entire process. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    If Xue Jing could see the process Li Suisui deduced, he would be slightly amazed at its accuracy, except that the marks made by Xue Jing''s Blood Control were imagined by Li Suisui to have been achieved by other means, even including the scene where Xue Jing shattered the Sky Cone with a punch.


    "Xue Jing... Although I''ve been reminding myself to be careful, to estimate your strength as higher as possible, I never thought I''d still completely underestimate you."


    Li Suisui''s gaze met the blood-tinted, somewhat eerie pupils across from him.


    "You have already become so powerful, and what I''ve seen from your records is completely different... If I had approached you without knowledge, we would have definitely suffered a great defeat."


    "The records I saw weren''t falsified, and your powers shown in video archives weren''t remotely this strong, I don''t think you could hide your skills to this extent, the only explanation is that in this very short period, you''ve achieved enormous growth."


    "Now I believe it, the journey you took from an ordinary person to this stage probably really took less than five months."


    Li Suisui spoke calmly.


    Xue Jing, somewhat surprised, looked at him and chuckled,


    "You are quite different from anyone I''ve met so far."


    Li Suisui nodded,


    "Because I understand you."

 Chapter 338_2

    "We are what the world calls geniuses," some things we take for granted, the mediocre people would consider ''impossible'' based on their so-called ''common sense,'' thinking such tasks absolutely beyond their reach.


    "But I understand you... I too have come this far amid the many voices that cried ''impossible.'' We are the same kind."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "So, what do you want from me?"


    Li Suisui said, "You should be aware... but let''s not rush things; we can chat first."


    He pointed a finger to the ground, without any preparatory action; suddenly, an invisible Qi Force sprang from his fingertip, severing back and forth upon the metallic earth.


    A rectangular metal chair similar to Xue Jing''s was carved out.


    Li Suisui sat down on it.


    Perhaps due to some childish whims, his metal chair was much higher than Xue Jing''s, so when he sat down, he was level with Xue Jing''s gaze... the downside being that his feet couldn''t touch the ground.


    Despite his mature words and demeanor, some childishness was inevitably revealed, which made Xue Jing crack a slight smile.


    "The base style of martial arts that you cultivate should be derived from the ''True Form lineage'' of Ancient Martial, called the Hidden Dragon School, right?" Li Suisui opened the conversation as though lecturing while sitting.


    "Hmm? What is this True Form lineage?" asked Xue Jing, puzzled.


    It seemed he had heard this term before... when he went to capture Zhao Longtu, he had overheard a passerby mention it in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    "..." Li Suisui was somewhat surprised.


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "It seems you really don''t know anything. Not bad for someone from the Outer Ring; to think you could have come this far in such a short time."


    Li Suisui scratched his own youthful, smooth cheek.


    "The so-called ''True Form'' is one of the oldest martial arts, also known as ''Martial Vein.''


    "Almost all existing Martial Arts are derived from these ''oldest Martial Veins,'' just like your Hidden Dragon School, which originated from the ''True Form lineage.''


    "It''s the foundation of all martial arts that strengthen the body by imitating things beyond humanity, the ancestor of all Shape Imitation techniques."


    "It sounds rather impressive. Is the ''True Form'' technique considered to be of a high rank?" Xue Jing asked curiously.


    Li Suisui gave him an odd glance, "Do you think this is a fantasy novel? How could there be such a thing as ''the older, the stronger''?"


    "True Form is the most ancient Martial Vein, the most primitive martial arts, so crude that even dogs would shake their heads at it. It''s vastly different from any modern martial arts; its only redeeming quality is its lofty aspiration to achieve the essence of all things in the world with the human form."


    "I see," said Xue Jing, somewhat disappointed.


    "Martial Artists who practice the True Form lineage are not very popular these days. Humans, being the most intelligent creatures, should not neglect their own capabilities in favor of external things. This very concept is looked down upon and thus not acknowledged by true Martial Arts masters."


    "However... there is one exception, and that is the current ''True Dragon,'' Wan Yulai of the Yanlong Liu."


    Li Suisui mentioned a name that piqued Xue Jing''s interest.


    "This person is formidable... The True Form lineage has reached a new pinnacle under his hands. He is someone who has truly penetrated the mysteries of ''True Form,'' almost becoming a dragon in human form."


    "If you could receive his guidance, with your talent, your progression would likely be unimaginable... though that''s probably improbable."


    Having reviewed Xue Jing''s profile, he knew of the enmity between the Hidden Dragon School and Wan Yulai.


    Xue Jing just smiled, saying nothing.


    Afterwards, Li Suisui continued to discuss things related to martial arts with Xue Jing, imparting lots of knowledge that Xue Jing had never known, which opened his eyes to many things.


    Twenty or so minutes later, Li Suisui stopped talking and sighed, looking at Xue Jing who still seemed quite at ease, seemingly ready to have a long chat.


    "...You seem pretty relaxed, as if you really have no time constraints."


    Li Suisui had deduced all the events that had just occurred when he arrived here. He noticed the abnormality in Xue Jing''s hair and pupils and faintly heard the sound of blood boiling and burning within Xue Jing''s body.


    He immediately deduced that Xue Jing must be using some kind of burst-type martial arts or a God-Given Secret Art to possess such terrifying strength.


    Such martial techniques or secret arts typically have time constraints or would place an enormous burden on the body. If he could just drag out the time, it would obviously be to his advantage.


    Thus, Li Suisui began to use the chat tactic...but unexpectedly, Xue Jing took to it with relish, engaging in the conversation with him.


    Even now, in his perception, there was almost no change in the sound of Xue Jing''s blood pumping. His appearance showed no signs of being unable to bear the burden or weakness. Even his emotional Consciousness fluctuations did not reveal the slightest hint of anxiety¡ªit was clear he was confident and unafraid.


    Li Suisui also realized that either Xue Jing could maintain this state of increased power for a considerably long time or even without this state, he still had other things to rely on.


    Continuing to drag this out was meaningless.


    "How come you''re not talking anymore? Little Sui," Xue Jing said with a smile. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Suisui''s mouth twitched, "Don''t use such familiar terms, we''re not that close."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, giving a sigh, "We were having such a good chat, just short of sitting down for a meal together, what''s the difference... that''s right, later I''ll be cooking for the students. You should come too, consider it compensation for all the things you''ve told me."


    He was actually inviting him for a meal... Li Suisui almost couldn''t keep his composure.


    He stood up, taking a deep breath, "Enough with the pretense, I came to take you down, let''s get started."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he slowly stood up.


    "You''re quite an interesting guy... and about the meal, I meant it. If you''re still alive later, come find me in B2 Area, I''ll fix you something good."


    Li Suisui frowned slightly, "Did you somehow bring food in here privately? How did you manage that?"


    The exam regulations stated that each person was only allowed to bring in one portion of officially provided supplies which were extremely strictly searched. Resources could be said to be severely scarce, not to mention managing to ration out what little they had, yet he was planning to invite him for a meal...


    Xue Jing wouldn''t let anyone have the last word, just smiling, "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ve always been lucky, maybe if I walk around later I''ll find plenty of food."


    Li Suisui gave him a deep look,


    "I don''t know if you''re just broad-minded or purely looking down on me..."


    "If it''s the latter, you''ll regret it."


    The moment the words fell, Li Suisui disappeared from his original spot.


    There was no gap to speak of, from complete stillness to explosive motion, Li Suisui''s slender, somewhat youthful fist was already pressed against Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    This kind of movement from zero to one hundred was one of the hallmarks of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!


    ...


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he slowly stood up.


    "You''re quite an interesting guy... and about the meal, I meant it. If you''re still alive later, come find me in B2 Area, I''ll fix you something good."


    Li Suisui frowned slightly, "Did you somehow bring food in here privately? How did you manage that?"


    The exam regulations stated that each person was only allowed to bring in one portion of officially provided supplies which were extremely strictly searched. Resources could be said to be severely scarce, not to mention managing to ration out what little they had, yet he was planning to invite him for a meal...


    Xue Jing wouldn''t let anyone have the last word, just smiling, "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ve always been lucky, maybe if I walk around later I''ll find plenty of food."


    Li Suisui gave him a deep look,


    "I don''t know if you''re just broad-minded or purely looking down on me..."


    "If it''s the latter, you''ll regret it."


    The moment the words fell, Li Suisui disappeared from his original spot.


    There was no gap to speak of, from complete stillness to explosive motion, Li Suisui''s slender, somewhat youthful fist was already pressed against Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    This kind of movement from zero to one hundred was one of the hallmarks of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!


    ...

 Chapter 339

    On the other side,


    Under Xue Jing''s command, the students moving toward the target area also encountered an unexpected situation.


    As the group advanced, they happened to collide with another group of examinees who were also on a moving task.


    Both groups stopped, eyed each other warily across the short distance.


    "...Brother Li, what should we do?" He Han whispered beside Chen Xingyan.


    "Mr. Xue once said that it''s unwise to engage in battle with others before adapting to the gravity environment, as too many unexpected things can happen."


    Chen Xingyan stood on a branch of a metallic tree, opening his mouth from a high position.


    "The other party must be thinking the same, but..."


    He directed his gaze toward a figure at the back of the opposite group.


    That was the invigilator responsible for the other class.


    "With Mr. Xue not around, we can''t be sure what the others might be thinking."


    Chen Xingyan frowned.


    When examinees encounter each other and conflict arises, the side with an invigilator nearby has a significant psychological advantage over the side without one.


    Although invigilators cannot attack any examinee, their overwhelming strength alone exerts an immense, intangible pressure on ordinary examinees, and they can intervene at crucial moments to save the lives of their examinees.


    The side without an invigilator faces a lack of life security, facing the real possibility of being killed. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One side remains calm, while the other faces life-threatening pressure, a significant advantage. It''s hard to guarantee the other side won''t have any ideas... Especially now that it''s just the beginning, and everyone''s supplies are intact.


    Thinking from the perspective of the other side, if they could knock down so many people at the start, not only would they secure a major score advantage, but they could also seize a lot of supplies, which would be extremely beneficial for the later stages of the game... He thought this was a highly tempting option.


    However... If the other side really thought that way, then they were gravely mistaken.


    Chen Xingyan narrowed his eyes.


    He covertly signaled with his hands, and the classmates around him who were watching him nodded secretly, also starting to signal to the further outskirts.


    Soon, the coded message silently spread throughout the entire class, and everyone was prepared.


    The opposing class also seemed to have held a covert discussion, and the invigilator at the back suddenly spoke out:


    "Move..."


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    And just at that moment.


    "Boom¡ª!!!!"


    Suddenly, a terrifying crashing sound came from a distance, a deep sound of metal being struck.


    Accompanied by the loud noise, a visible ring of swiftly spreading air surged like a tsunami, inundating their side.


    "What!?"


    Everyone''s expressions changed, not having the time to think, merely instinctively making various last-minute protective actions. The rush of air already engulfed them.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª"


    Just like clothes tumbling in a washing machine, powerless, everyone was swept up by the airwave, swinging chaotically in the air.


    "What the hell, was there a nuclear bomb?"


    He Han cried out urgently in midair.


    "Steel Tree Sea''s environment is too harsh, with Sky Cones and explosions now!"


    Zhao Longtu, flying right next to him, began to speak but was immediately gagged by the wind pressure, covering with his hands, then shouted loudly, "...It seems to have come from Mr. Xue''s direction."


    The circular airwave arrived quickly and departed swiftly; soon everyone crashed down from the air, scattered all around. Since all were martially trained, most landed safely on the ground, save for a few unlucky ones who accidentally hit their heads during the fall and passed out.


    After this ordeal, the positions of both classes were disrupted, and the previous thoughts of conflict disappeared as they looked toward the direction from which the airwave had swept in terror, unsure of what had happened.


    "What happened? Is it one of Steel Tree Sea''s strange natural phenomena?"


    "That can''t be, this test is already hard, do we really have to face such disasters anytime!? This exam is too difficult!"


    "I have seen the complete information on Steel Tree Sea before; I didn''t see any mention of this phenomenon."


    "Teacher Xu, do you know what happened?"


    The students turned to the invigilator.


    But he just stared blankly in one direction, as if seeing something utterly unbelievable, a look of shock rendering him speechless.


    Before the crowd could continue with their questions, high above in the sky, two entangled figures caught everyone''s attention.


    One red, one pitch-black, the two figures dashed past like shooting stars, lightning-fast, and the crowd made out the appearances of the two.


    The black figure, with a youthful face and small stature, emanated an undeniable aura of authority that demanded respect. Everyone present knew him; he was the unprecedented genius, the Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth, Li Suisui!


    As for the other red figure, although his hair and eyes had changed, dyed in a burning red, that unforgettable, grand face was unmistakable.


    "Mr. Xue!?"


    Ye Jingqiu exclaimed in surprise.


    As she spoke, Xue Jing in the sky, after a few swift exchanges of moves, grabbed Li Suisui''s right leg and, like cracking a whip, flung him in a direction.


    There, coincidentally, a massive bird-like metal creature happened to be flying by, and Li Suisui, whistled through the air trailing a sonic boom cloud, smashed violently into it.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    Without time for a scream, the metal bird was smashed into countless fragments.

 Chapter 339_2

    The familiar dull clang of metal striking metal and the familiar massive waves of airflow spread out, sweeping everyone off their feet and into the air once more.


    "F*ck me, it''s like a goddamn nuclear explosion! It''s not a natural disaster, it''s Mr. Xue brawling with someone!"


    "We need to get the hell out of here. Staying might affect Mr. Xue''s performance, worrying about us!"


    "But... where the hell can we run to?"


    Everyone was extremely shocked at the sight of the two monstrous figures battling in the distance.


    Each move was earth-shattering and terrifying, hitting their mark cleanly. Both their control over Power was exquisite, with every punch efficiently targeting their opponent, not causing much disturbance. However, if there was any other object nearby, like trees, the ground, or any unlucky creature that happened to pass by and get hit, the leakage of their Power could result in a minor natural disaster.


    In the midst of the fight, the two would randomly change positions at frightening speeds, leaving onlookers clueless about which direction to flee to stay away from them.


    The tumultuous noise attracted more and more people''s attention. From area A1 to D9 within the Steel Tree Sea, thirty-six exam areas, many examiners from not too distant areas approached curiously due to the commotion. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Wei Yuzhao, his body ablaze with blood energy, appeared silently on a huge golden vine, observing the fierce battle between the two not far away.


    "Huh?"


    He furrowed his brows, sensing a familiar energy emanating from Xue Jing, and his gaze hardened as he examined Xue Jing''s hair and eyes for a long while.


    "Is this... the power of True Red? What''s going on, how could he..."


    Zhou Yinglin arrived at the scene and, together with a few examiners, watched Xue Jing fiercely battling Li Suisui, their eagle-like sharp eyes twitching in disbelief.


    No, how much time has passed, what is this situation?


    That''s Li Suisui... a super monster of historic proportions, someone he didn''t even dare fantasize about comparing himself to.


    Martial Artists deem Breakthroughs as major milestones, each representing a huge disparity, as if one were heaven and the other earth. A common person who has never had a Breakthrough is as different from someone who has as a superhero is from an ordinary person. The same applies to the difference between someone who has had a Second Breakthrough and someone who has had just one.


    But why... Xue Jing, who had not yet had a Breakthrough during their fight at U19, could now exchange blows and even seem to be dominating Li Suisui, who had achieved a Second Breakthrough?


    Even... it seemed that he was subtly suppressing Li Suisui.


    "This can''t be."


    His lips trembled slightly as he murmured, a sense of despair rising in his heart.


    The shadow that loomed over his heart grew even more immense.


    "...This is nothing like the intel you gave us, Zhou."


    A fellow examiner looked at Zhou Yinglin with narrowed eyes, a hint of danger in his gaze.


    Judging by Xue Jing''s displayed combat power, only Li Suisui could stand a chance against him. Anyone else going up against him would just be delivering themselves to their doom.


    If they didn''t have this foreknowledge and carelessly sought him out, it would probably spell an outright annihilation.


    Zhou Yinglin remained silent.


    "...Forget it, facing that kind of monster, it''s normal for someone of your level not to see his true depth. It looks like the Conservative Faction''s old guys have completely miscalculated this time. They thought that bringing Li Suisui in was a major safeguard, but they didn''t expect..."


    "Now it''s up to Li Suisui, there''s nothing else we can do to help. Going there would probably just cause more chaos. Let''s hope he can win. If he can''t, then we''ll have to settle for plan B, ruin his Martial Arts Examination score this time so he doesn''t obtain the ''golden body'' and make it harder for us to deal with him in the future..."


    "Fortunately, the higher-ups prepared a fail-safe card, just in case..."


    ...


    Xue Jing felt exhilarated.


    Being able to fight evenly matched, fist to flesh, full force, with nothing but his own martial arts and physical power was an experience he seldom had.


    Finding someone with comparable strength was extremely difficult.


    His past opponents were either too strong in the wrong way, had bizarre abilities that weren''t satisfying enough to fight against, or were easily crushed and instantly killed by him.


    It was truly rare to have an opponent who could go toe-to-toe with fists meeting flesh in martial arts combat.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    Another punch exploded, as Xue Jing relentlessly overpowered the child who was four or five years younger than himself, still of elementary middle school age, continually bombarding the opponent''s face with a spiral punch brimming with blood energy.


    Li Suisui showed no signs of weakness, her hands dancing as she blocked and dissipated the force while seeking opportunities to counterattack.


    The speed of their movements was unbelievably fast. Between each punch and kick, any action could tear through the air with sonic booms, and the surrounding winds whirled wildly, as mere residual waves were enough to produce effects akin to natural disasters.


    "You kid, you really make me happy."


    Xue Jing vibrated his body, raising a hand to lift Li Suisui into the air.


    The blood autonomously circulated, with no need for any breathing skills to channel energy beforehand. An Eye-Dotting move swept out with the sound of a dragon''s chant shaking the void, targeting his abdomen with a sharpness burning with blood energy.


    At this moment, due to his blood control abilities, his control over his body had almost reached the level of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster. His ultimate moves came as easily as picking something up, no longer reserved for determining victory but rather used as a common technique even during regular sparring.


    As a legitimate Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, Li Suisui was the same. Her consciousness enveloped her physical form, and her bodily control surpassed that of Xue Jing. Performing a roll in midair, her hands turned into a grabbing stance, twisting at the tips of Xue Jing''s fingers.


    The extremely condensed, sharp red Qi Force was peeled away layer by layer in this twist, as if it were being fed through a meat grinder, grinding it down to nothing. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cutting, dissipating force, colliding, softening... Xue Jing felt the effects of hundreds of different powers at work, which, in perfect cooperation with each other, completely dismantled the Eye-Dotting move with extreme finesse.


    In the end, a single touch remained with hardly any lethal force left.


    "What kind of move is this?"


    Xue Jing asked, extremely intrigued.


    Li Suisui''s expression was indifferent, "Just the basic application of the All Things Myriad Phases Flow."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "I''m very interested... how about you teach me one technique, and I''ll exchange another martial art with you."


    He could feel that the All Things Myriad Phases Flow practiced by Li Suisui would greatly aid him.


    The Near-God Move ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'' that he himself was conceiving had some similarities to the technique Li Suisui had just used.


    The All Things Myriad Phases Flow might well become a solid foundation for creating ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'', so it would no longer be a rootless idea floating only in his imagination!


    ...


    At this moment, due to his blood control abilities, his control over his body had almost reached the level of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster. His ultimate moves came as easily as picking something up, no longer reserved for determining victory but rather used as a common technique even during regular sparring.


    As a legitimate Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, Li Suisui was the same. Her consciousness enveloped her physical form, and her bodily control surpassed that of Xue Jing. Performing a roll in midair, her hands turned into a grabbing stance, twisting at the tips of Xue Jing''s fingers.


    The extremely condensed, sharp red Qi Force was peeled away layer by layer in this twist, as if it were being fed through a meat grinder, grinding it down to nothing.


    Cutting, dissipating force, colliding, softening... Xue Jing felt the effects of hundreds of different powers at work, which, in perfect cooperation with each other, completely dismantled the Eye-Dotting move with extreme finesse.


    In the end, a single touch remained with hardly any lethal force left.


    "What kind of move is this?"


    Xue Jing asked, extremely intrigued.


    Li Suisui''s expression was indifferent, "Just the basic application of the All Things Myriad Phases Flow."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "I''m very interested... how about you teach me one technique, and I''ll exchange another martial art with you."


    He could feel that the All Things Myriad Phases Flow practiced by Li Suisui would greatly aid him.


    The Near-God Move ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'' that he himself was conceiving had some similarities to the technique Li Suisui had just used.


    The All Things Myriad Phases Flow might well become a solid foundation for creating ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'', so it would no longer be a rootless idea floating only in his imagination!


    ...

 Chapter 340

    As soon as the voice fell, Li Suisui saw Xue Jing raise his right hand towards him, as if swinging something to smash at him.


    In the blink of an eye, a large volume of blood spurted from Xue Jing''s hand at an unbelievable speed, rapidly congealing into shape, turning into a blood-colored giant hammer tens of meters long, hurtling toward Li Suisui.


    "What...!?"


    As the blood-colored giant hammer approached, Li Suisui''s eyes widened slightly, but before he could react, he was struck as if swatted by a mosquito.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!!"


    The metal ground caved in with a giant circular depression, steel rolling and spreading like waves, metal debris rising in a small mushroom cloud, and the explosive vacuum shockwaves forced all the spectators surrounding them to continuously retreat.


    "What is that!?"


    Many people widened their eyes in surprise, especially Wei Yuzhao.


    From within the human-shaped crater, Li Suisui slowly got to his feet, blood trickling from his forehead into the corner of his eye, but it soon stopped. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He looked toward Xue Jing, who was holding the blood-colored giant hammer, and squinted, saying, "The ability to control and transform blood flesh... are you the Blessed One of the True Red Lord?"


    Xue Jing smiled faintly without uttering a word. Instead, he waved his hand, and the blood-colored giant hammer softened and transformed into a whip-like thread knife, flexible like a whip yet glinting with a sharp cold light.


    The True Red Blood Control ability manipulated a part of his body, even more flexible in use than the Shadow Flame, and its strength was based on the strength of his own body, far surpassing that of Shadow Flame.


    This was the strength brought by sacrificing all Divinity, including Shadow Flame; naturally, there was no comparison.


    The thread knife whirled and sliced toward Li Suisui, its speed and dexterity unimaginably quick; Li Suisui also immediately reacted, dodging and blocking, moving as quickly as if dancing.


    Then, the whip-like thread knife transformed again into a straight blood long knife, a blade over ten meters long held in Xue Jing''s hand, its proportions extremely exaggerated.


    A touch of indifferent silver-white shone in his blood-tinted pupils as he swung the knife with both hands, and the blood long knife flashed through the air.


    Above in the lead-colored sky, a huge red Full Moon vision appeared, with red cherry petals seeming blood-soaked, drifting down.


    "Red Full Moon."


    Li Suisui intended to use the All Things Myriad Phases Flow to dispel the knife strike, but by the time the long knife passed, he realized he had been hit, unable to dispel it.


    Numerous small wounds all over his body kept splitting open, Li Suisui frowning deeply.


    Without any trace of Channeling Energy, it seemed to be a blade driven purely by the Artistic Conception of Spirit...


    He didn''t have time to think further as dozens of high-speed spinning blood bullets trailed blood-colored tails and hurtled toward him.


    The relentless barrage left Li Suisui somewhat exhausted in defense, without a moment''s breath.


    Li Suisui waved his hands rapidly, blocking all the Spiral Vermilion Bullets; with each blocked bullet, his palms made a snapping sound, the blood exploding in a spiral pattern, and spiral indentations appearing on the skin of his palms, while his body was continuously forced backward.


    While fending off the attacks, he opened his mouth and spat out a pale yellow spherical airflow.


    The moment the pale yellow airflow left his mouth, it immediately began rotating and dissipating into the surrounding area.


    Upon seeing this, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted.


    "... Wind of All Beginnings?"


    Although the color was different, Xue Jing, having seen it twice before, quickly recognized what it was.


    The pale yellow airflow brushed against him, bringing a slight coolness.


    Xue Jing frowned slightly, thinking that this wind had been sneaked inside by Li Suisui swallowing it, and felt rather disgusted.


    Therefore, he released the blood energy originally contained within his body once again to keep the pale yellow wind at bay.


    ''Being wary of the Wind of All Beginnings and using blood energy to isolate it... he really is the Blessed One of the True Red Lord.''


    After confirming his guess, Li Suisui looked dubiously at the intact blood long knife in Xue Jing''s hand.


    "...Why is that?"


    The exuding blood energy could ward off the Wind of All Beginnings, essentially a method of sacrificing a pawn to save a castle, throwing out parts of his own body continuously to protect the majority from contact with the wind, not because the blood energy truly had the power to nullify the Wind of All Beginnings.


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    And such blood weapons transformed by the ability, without protection from the exuding blood energy, should have disintegrated upon contact with the Wind of All Beginnings.


    Before he could contemplate further, Xue Jing swung his hand again, transforming the blood long knife into a huge blood arm with sharp nails, clenched into a fist, and swung at Li Suisui.


    The pressure of the fist, akin to that of an Ancient God, was immense, but Li Suisui snorted coldly, "Don''t underestimate me."


    He threw a Straight Punch, colliding with the gigantic blood fist; the comparison in size resembled a bee stinging at a human palm, vastly different.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow¡¤Thousand Mystic."


    As the two fists met, they came to a standstill in an instant.


    Then, starting from where Li Suisui''s fist connected with it, a series of ripples spread across the surface of the blood giant fist. Soon, the entire fist dispersed, staining the ground blood-red.


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows twitched.


    The mass of blood he controlled had ''died'' under Li Suisui''s strike.


    All its cellular vitality had been wiped out cleanly, becoming a pool of dead matter, no longer controllable.


    "Interesting."


    Xue Jing smiled, closing the distance rapidly toward Li Suisui.

 Chapter 340_2

    "Come on, take another punch from me, if you win, then I lose."


    Li Suisui''s lips twitched.


    What the fuck is this nonsense.


    He didn''t pay much attention, the two had been fighting up to now, countering each other''s moves back and forth, and now it could almost only be considered the start of the second round.


    Having already gotten a rough idea of Xue Jing''s strength, he didn''t pay too much attention to the upcoming punch, thinking it was just one of the countless ordinary attacks he would face in the ongoing fierce battle.


    But soon, he realized something was wrong.


    Xue Jing, who had dashed close by, burst forth with an aura that shot up into the sky like a pillar of blood, piercing through the lead-grey sky and tearing a huge hole in the metallic iron mist clouds above.


    His entire being surged with momentum, emanating a sense of irreversible courage and imposing spirit.


    In an instant, Li Suisui instinctively got goosebumps all over, his scalp tingled, and his hair stood on end.


    With All Things Myriad Phases Flow operating at full power, Li Suisui shouted loudly and brought his hands together to meet Xue Jing''s fist.


    Then¡ª


    "Thump¡ª!"


    A dull sound.


    Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds, and all the onlookers felt as if the sky had suddenly darkened.


    Immediately following¡ª"Boom¡ª!!!!"


    An explosion far greater than any previous shockwave caused by the two fighters suddenly erupted, as if an actual nuclear bomb had detonated.


    The metallic surface cracked layer by layer, as if invisible blades that could shave iron as if it were mud scraped across incessantly, a terrifying vacuum impact spread with unimaginable speed, everything within a five hundred meter radius, whether metallic plants, living beings, or onlookers, were all forcibly uprooted and thrown farther away.


    Screams erupted everywhere. Directly in front of where Xue Jing had thrown his punch, which was behind Li Suisui, two fan-shaped lines spread, extending a kilometer away, and within this vast fan-shaped area, everything was completely obliterated, leaving a wide-open space, as if a parting had been combed into the earth.


    Several examiners who were too late to escape, within the range, didn''t even manage to cry out before they were reduced to nothingness, not even leaving a piece of bone behind.


    ...


    Somewhere in the steel jungle, far from the battlefield.


    The students from Mr. Xue''s class gathered, looking somewhat disheveled due to the blast from the battle between Xue Jing and Li Suisui.


    "Hey, do you guys think Mr. Xue can win?"


    A student asked with some concern.


    "Although Mr. Xue is strong, his opponent is that Li Suisui... Could he lose?"


    He Han opened his supplies bag, took out a compressed biscuit to chew, and upon hearing the remarks, curled his lip and said:


    "Mr. Xue might indeed lose, but it''s unlikely that he will."


    "What the heck are you talking about, He Han."


    "Why is your head so pointy."


    Ye Jingqiu said with certainty, "Mr. Xue won''t lose."


    "That being said, although we''ve known for a while that Mr. Xue is a monster, I really didn''t expect him to be able to fight with that Li Suisui to this extent..."


    "I thought Mr. Xue was joking when he said he was invincible, but it turns out he was seriously not kidding..."


    "What should we do next? Should we wait for Mr. Xue, or continue to area B2? But ahead is where Mr. Xue and Li Suisui are fighting, it''s too dangerous for us to go straight through, we need to take a big detour..."


    The students chattered away, and Chen Xingyan, seeing this, said:


    "Fighters like them, with almost endless strength, who knows how long they''ll fight; we..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when the ground suddenly began to shake violently, making it hard to even stand.


    Soon after, a continuous booming sound came from nearby, a whole fan-shaped area''s impact kept sweeping forward, obliterating everything in its path.


    "Wow!?"


    "What''s happening?"


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    The students struggled to resist the fierce current of the riot, barely managing to open their eyes to glimpse the shocking scene where the earth had been parted down the middle, and they immediately widened their eyes.


    "Is this... Mr. Xue''s Serious Punch?"


    ...


    In the battlefield, the dust settled.


    Metal debris turned into an iron fog, the intense kinetic friction heating the entire Steel Land, the ground faintly glowing red, with white mist steaming all around.


    All the spectators hurried back to check the outcome.


    And so, they saw.


    At the starting point of the massive fan-shaped divided area, the only figure still standing was a godlike figure of great stature.


    His upper body clothing had all but vanished under the intense backlash, revealing exquisitely chiseled and attractive muscles, his red hair dancing without the wind, just like a Demon God.


    In front of him, the broken and battered Li Suisui lay on the chaotic ground, lifeless.


    At this moment, Li Suisui had both arms gone without a trace, two-thirds of his chest missing, the heart vanished, his abdomen nearly reduced to a single layer of skin connecting to his lower body, his neck missing a chunk, and his head missing the left half of his face, exposing the cross-section of his mouth and nasal cavity.


    He looked as if he had been savagely bitten by a Nonexistent Beast.


    Without doubt, the winner was clear.


    Everyone stared silently at this scene, speechless.


    In the silence, Xue Jing took a step forward with a stride.


    Like waking from a dream, everyone, startled as birds by a bowstring, scattered and fled in terror.


    "Go, get out of here!"


    "Absolutely cannot approach the area where Xue Jing is!"


    "Damn it, why isn''t there a rule that the examiners can''t fight back, letting such a monster in means there''s no chance to compete!"


    "Even Li Suisui was no match for him, no one can control him in this joint examination. If he wants... we''re all finished!"


    "We can only try to run, must not get caught by him!"


    Xue Jing paid no attention to the commotion around him, just as people aside from boredom, don''t intentionally notice what ants are doing.


    He walked over to the battered Li Suisui and checked his condition.


    "Still alive, huh... the life force of a Limit Breaker is indeed different."


    Xue Jing nodded. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had previously faced Jiao Hongyuan, who was an incomplete Limit Breaker who had achieved his status through special methods but already possessed the formidable life force able to move even with his head severed.


    Li Suisui, being a genuine breakthrough person, naturally was much stronger than Jiao Hongyuan, missing a few hearts and other organs, and having half of his brain smashed was not a fatal injury¡ªit was merely knocked out.


    "Being hit by my Serious Punch while in ''True Red'' state and merely getting knocked out is impressive, not disappointing me."


    Xue Jing acknowledged the kid''s strength.


    Even under normal circumstances, his punch still maintained a terrifying lethality close to a Second Breakthrough Level, and with True Red enhancement, it was outrageously powerful.


    Although not entirely clear on the specific values, at the very least the power was also more than ten times the normal state¡ªLi Suisui still being alive was a testament to his exceptional strength.


    "Next..."


    Xue Jing looked around, then his figure flashed, arriving in front of the pale yellow currents that had been blown far away, summoning the Nonexistent Beast, and along the way, he collected all the pale yellow currents, taking roughly ten minutes.


    "Done, another Wind of All Beginnings."


    Holding the pale yellow orb in his hand and seeing the ''Divinity being absorbed'' prompt on the panel, Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    An unexpected gain... if I offer this to Youqing A Dream, asking her for another kiss wouldn''t be too much, would it?


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, thinking somewhat indecently.


    ...

 Chapter 341

    Before long, Xue Jing had located where the students were.


    They were positioned right beside the sector-shaped area where Xue Jing had just struck with a "Serious Punch," awestruck by that god-like terrifying power.


    "Ah, it''s Mr. Xue!"


    Fu Jialin''s eyes lit up.


    She had been watching her surroundings closely, and she was the first to spot Xue Jing flying in from the horizon... Speaking of which, why was Mr. Xue flying?


    It was clearly not by jumping, as there was no parabola, more like pure free flight in the sky.


    However, she soon lost interest in whether Xue Jing was flying.


    Warm blood suddenly gushed from her nose.


    She hurriedly covered it with her hand, but it didn''t stop the blood from continuously spilling out between her fingers.


    "Jiali, what''s wrong with you!?"


    "Were you injured by the shockwave!?"


    Seeing her nosebleed, the surrounding classmates immediately showed concern.


    Fu Jialin didn''t speak, but trembled and pointed in the direction from which Xue Jing had come.


    The people around followed where her finger was pointing.


    The next moment, out of the ten female students in the class, nine covered their noses.


    The warm blood could not stop flowing... The Steel Tree Sea basically had no water, the environment was very dry, and the capillaries in the nasal mucosa were extremely fragile due to lack of water. When emotions were highly agitated and blood flow increased suddenly, they would easily burst.


    "Mr... Mr. Xue..."


    "Mr. Xue is not wearing any clothes!!!"


    Cao Sini, who originally did not care much about the situation, heard this and instinctively looked in that direction.


    Just then, she saw Xue Jing holding half of a ''corpse'', slowly descending from the sky.


    At that moment, he was still wearing his tight tactical suit pants on his lower half, but his upper body was bare above the waist, with jagged, irregular tears at the dividing line, clearly torn in battle.


    That body, sculpted like that of a Heavenly God, was starkly displayed in front of everyone.


    It was neither muscular nor skinny, but perfectly balanced to the absolute epitome of human aesthetics, every line of muscle reaching the extreme of human aesthetic appreciation.


    Just one look, and Cao Sini''s eyes twitched, she quickly turned away, not daring to look any further, for fear she might follow the other female students and expose her indecency in front of Mr. Xue. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is what paradise torture must be..."


    Fu Jialin leaned against a tree trunk, her head tilting to one side, still bleeding from her nose but with a serene expression on her face, turned into a pale gray.


    "Ah! Jiali has died on the spot!"


    Ye Jingqiu, holding her nose, raised a clenched fist above her head, showing a determined look.


    He Han beside her dubbed, "My life, a path without regrets!"


    "Wait, why are you all so smooth with such an ancient meme, and yet you usually mock me for being an anime fan?"


    "Mr. Xue, please finish using your Divine Skills! The female students are about to be wiped out just after the exam started!"


    A few male students hurriedly stepped forward to block Xue Jing.


    ...


    After some chaos, Xue Jing also realized his own mistake, and like magic, took out a shirt from thin air and put it on right before everyone''s eyes.


    This avoided a unanimous decision to tear off He Han''s clothing to dress Xue Jing.


    Ye Jingqiu, with her nose stuffed with tissues, was still slightly shell-shocked, shyly stood next to Xue Jing.


    "Mr. Xue, is this... Li Suisui?"


    She recognized after a moment, finally making out that it was the ''Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth'', Li Suisui from the half-face ''corpse''.


    "Mr. Xue is too ruthless, he actually managed to defeat Li Suisui..."


    "I always knew Mr. Xue would win, I never doubted it, my Mr. Xue is invincible!"


    "How tragic, he''s already dead, isn''t he?"


    Everyone looked at Xue Jing with eager eyes, their admiration almost tangible, fervent to the point of near-worship.


    The fact that Xue Jing had defeated Li Suisui on his own was both a very real and surreal thing for those who had grown up in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    It was real because Li Suisui was an actual person; it felt unreal because he had previously been like a distant legend.


    He was an existence that had surpassed the ''somebody else''s child'' level; parents didn''t use Li Suisui to motivate their children but regarded him as a lofty figure, distant and impractical.


    And yet, such a figure had now been defeated by their own teacher, tossed aside like a half-dead dog on the roadside.


    Cao Sini sat next to Xue Jing and asked, "Teacher, what do you plan to do with him after capturing him?"


    She was the only female student not enchanted by Xue Jing just now, her expression as calm as ever.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "There''s a shortage of food, so I brought him back for reserves, meat of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster should be quite chewy."


    He made such a madman''s diary statement, more like a tasteless joke, but to his surprise, upon hearing this, students around started to seriously contemplate.


    "I see... cannibalism is also allowed within the rules."


    "I''ve also heard that during previous joint exams in the Steel Tree Sea, some students survived to the end by resorting to cannibalism... though it''s just a legend, not confirmed by official announcements."


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    "If Mr. Xue asks me to eat..."


    Although the students all showed clear resistance, they still reluctantly made up their minds, none opposed to Mr. Xue''s decision to resort to cannibalism.

 Chapter 342

    He slowly retracted his hand from atop Li Suisui''s crown and closed his eyes, immersing himself for a moment. Upon opening his eyes, a look of realization spread across his face.


    "You have drawn a large amount of knowledge through the method of Empowerment, True Martial Experience Points +12601"


    "You have drawn a large amount of knowledge through the method of Empowerment, Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +6218"


    "You have drawn a large amount of knowledge through the method of Empowerment, Warlord Experience Points +7126"


    "...Empowerment Experience Points +1507 (Maxed)"


    "Contemplation¡¤True raised to Lv12 (2125/24000)"


    This time, by inversing the flow during Empowerment to absorb Li Suisui''s understanding and knowledge, the gain in experience points on his panel was ridiculously exaggerated, with the True Martial category alone hitting the five-digit range¡ªa testament to the prowess of the "Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth."


    He had previously used Empowerment to absorb knowledge from his little disciple, Zong Shichan, and his student, Yuan Baijing, but the experience gained had only been a few hundred, not even reaching a thousand.


    "So this is the ''All Things Myriad Phases Flow''..."


    An enlightenment surfaced in Xue Jing''s mind; a vast and chaotic mix of martial arts knowledge tumbled through his consciousness, swiftly being assimilated in its entirety.


    All Things Myriad Phases was a rather peculiar school, created by a peerless powerhouse known as Yan Dixiu¡ªan identity Xue Jing had gleaned from Li Suisui''s "knowledge," previously unheard of by Xue Jing himself.


    Just as the name implied, All Things Myriad Phases encompassed everything. Its theory posited that all of the world''s cultivation techniques were but aspects of the "myriad," none outside its capacity to practice, none excluded from acceptance.


    Under the comprehensive guidance of the All Things Myriad Phases, one could integrate the world''s martial arts into oneself, fusing them within the "myriad"; the more martial arts assimilated, the stronger All Things Myriad Phases became.


    "Amalgamating the world''s martial arts for personal use... What kind of web novel protagonist''s cultivation technique is this?" Xue Jing couldn''t help but mock.


    The ambition behind this school had no bounds, boldly encompassing all of martial arts in one fell swoop.


    In Li Suisui''s memory, that invincible figure, Yan Dixiu, was said to carry thousands of martial arts within him, able to unleash tens of thousands of different types of Power with one palm strike¡ªirresistible and unavoidable, with no method of countering or evading, truly godlike in might.


    In reverse, it was equally possible to combine tens of thousands of different types of Power to neutralize any attack approaching oneself.


    The more Xue Jing reviewed it, the more astounded and delighted he became.


    It was astonishingly in line with the Near-God Move he had envisioned, "Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity."


    It had never occurred to him that, besides a person like himself with a True Martial Body who dared to contemplate what others wouldn''t, there had already been a predecessor who tried such a wildly inconceivable concept and had nearly succeeded in practice.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow is indeed close to what I have in mind, but due to the limitations in the creator''s own understanding, it still falls slightly short in its vision," thought Xue Jing.


    His envisioned Near-God Move was directly based on comprehending the essence of all martial arts in the world, achieving such a realm where the ultimate offense and defense would come naturally.


    This realm was the key; the application of moves was secondary.


    All Things Myriad Phases Flow did not preach about realms but was purely about how much martial arts one could accommodate in this world, striving to exhaustively practice all martial arts techniques; with no need for the realm of comprehending essence, as long as one knew all martial arts, it was akin to having penetrated the essence of martial arts.


    In terms of vision, All Things Myriad Phases Flow fell short compared to what Xue Jing had envisioned, but it was still a practical path already trodden by some, while Xue Jing''s idea was like rootless duckweed, always in the realm of fantasy, lacking any foundation for practical application.


    Originally, Xue Jing thought he might have to wait a long time to attempt the Near-God Move, until his understanding of martial arts reached a profoundly advanced level.


    But now, a nearly perfect foundation, a grand avenue laid out by predecessors, was laid straight before his feet.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow is the optimal sustenance for ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity,'' an indispensable base for my ascent to the pinnacle of supreme martial arts." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''ve done well, very well, Sui!"


    Xue Jing looked down with satisfaction at the Wealth-bringing Child whose body was now half-present.


    To be greeted with such a grand gift upon meeting¡ªhow could one not feel bashful?


    After some thought, Xue Jing snapped his fingers, an invisible rift opened in the void, and a black tendril extended from it, making contact with Li Suisui''s head.


    Under the infusion of Life Force, Li Suisui''s broken body began to squirm and heal...


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    ...


    Groggily, Li Suisui slowly opened his eyes.


    His memory remained fixed at the moment just after Xue Jing leaned towards him, throwing a punch that was almost heaven-shattering and earth-splitting...


    At that time, all he could do was muster all his strength to divert the punch as much as possible, after which he felt nothing at all.


    He moved his body around and found that he was largely intact, but the Tactical Suit he wore was mostly missing; fortunately, the essential areas of the clothing remained intact, sparing him any indecent exposure.


    Shaking his head, he was about to observe his surroundings when his gaze suddenly sharpened, spotting a figure that made his heart skip a beat, standing not far away, back facing him.


    "Xue Jing..."


    Li Suisui, full of wariness, thought of quickly getting up, his guard instantly raised to the maximum.


    But then he paused in surprise.


    The Xue Jing he saw was not the terrifying Demon God with red hair as before, but someone completely devoid of aggression, leisurely to the extreme, relaxed.


    He was wearing an apron, tasting soup from a spoon as if he was a chef checking the flavor...

 Chapter 342_2

    Li Suisui shifted his gaze forward and immediately his eyes widened.


    Several tables had been put together, covered with a variety of kitchen utensils; a gas stove, a wok, cutting boards, kitchen knives... everything one might need in a kitchen.


    Beside that was a huge pile of ingredients, both meat and vegetables, exuding a fresh glistening moisture.


    It looked as if a homely man out for a picnic was preparing a meal.


    Li Suisui was speechless, first doubting if he had been unconscious for a whole week and the joint examination was already over, now finding himself back in the real world?


    But as he looked around, the leaden sky and the metallic colors of the Steel Land were undoubtedly still enclosed within the Steel Tree Sea.


    "You''re awake, little Sui, good morning."


    Xue Jing also noticed Li Suisui''s awakening and walked up to him, patting his shoulder affectionately.


    "The food will be ready in just a moment, hang on."


    "...?" Li Suisui was full of question marks.


    We''re not friends, are we that close?


    "You need not say a word," Xue Jing solemnly patted Li Suisui''s shoulder again.


    "From now on, you are my half-brother from a different father and mother. The kind where your kids could take my surname. If I have a bite to eat, you''ll have a bowl to wash!"


    Li Suisui''s mouth twitched.


    "What the heck is going on?"


    Seeing Xue Jing going back to continue cooking, Li Suisui shook his head, murmured ''nonsensical, unreasonable,'' and was about to walk away.


    But just then,


    an incredible aroma, like an invisible hand, savagely grabbed his nose, forcing him to halt his steps abruptly without moving.


    "Gurgle gurgle¡ª"


    A craving call from his stomach, which had suffered severe injuries after a fierce fight with Xue Jing, and was severely depleted of energy, he was so hungry he could eat an entire elephant.


    The exquisite fragrance floating from the direction of Xue Jing''s cooking was something he had never smelled in his lifetime. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It must be so delicious...


    Li Suisui couldn''t help but swallow saliva.


    Thinking it over, he crossed his arms and sat down on the spot, eyes fixed on Xue Jing cooking.


    It seemed he couldn''t defeat him anyway; it appeared that he had been captured here. His body was intact, likely healed by the other party.


    Though he had no idea what Xue Jing intended, clearly, he had no means to resist him.


    Things had come to this pass; might as well eat first.


    ¡­


    After a while, when the two-hour free period had ended, students gradually returned.


    "Ah, Mr. Xue is cooking!"


    "What''s going on?"


    "Mr. Xue is cooking for us in the Steel Tree Sea, why am I having this dream?"


    "Wait, it looks real, I recognize that bowl, He Han accidentally dropped it earlier, and it got a dent shaped like his tooth!"


    The students were full of surprise but more than that, they were excited and happy.


    They had thought they would have to bid farewell to Mr. Xue''s top-tier meals after the exams had started, but like in a dream, Xue Jing had fired up a stove right inside the Steel Tree Sea!


    Jingqiu came beside Xue Jing, curiously asking:


    "Teacher, what''s going on? Where did all these things come from?"


    Xue Jing, while chopping vegetables with the Star-pointing Knife, replied with a smile:


    "Teacher got lucky, found them while wandering around."


    "Eh~" Jingqiu pouted, not quite satisfied with the answer, feeling that Mr. Xue was brushing her off.


    "I can''t believe it, Li Suisui!"


    With a slightly bruised face, He Han pointed in surprise toward Li Suisui who was sitting not far away.


    He had been successfully ambushed earlier but had been beaten up by the annoyed girl from the opposing team.


    "He''s alive after all, I thought he was dead!"


    "Is this what a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster is, to survive that?"


    "Eh, he looks kind of cute, such a small kid."


    The whispers from the students caused Li Suisui to frown slightly.


    After making his name, wherever he went he was met mostly with reverent looks, and few dared to underestimate him.


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    These students actually dared to tease him, showing no fear in their eyes...


    Li Suisui glanced at Xue Jing.


    So that''s why, because he was by their side...


    Li Suisui immediately realized how much these students trusted and depended on Xue Jing.


    After a while.


    "Alright, we can start eating now."


    Xue Jing clapped his hands, and all the students'' eyes lit up immediately.


    "Longtu, you''re in charge of serving the food."


    Xue Jing spoke to Zhao Longtu who was beside him.


    "Yes, Mr. Xue." Zhao Longtu nodded, his fierce face showing a trace of respect.


    "Hey, Tutu, give me an extra serving of that shiny braised pork."


    He Han, holding a large iron basin, stood in front of Zhao Longtu and swallowed before speaking.


    "Don''t call me Tutu." Zhao Longtu said discontentedly, but still dished up a heaping spoonful of meat for He Han.


    He Han couldn''t wait to grab a piece of the glistening braised pork and stuff it into his mouth.


    Instantly, his shifty face wore an expression of blissful enjoyment.


    "Damn, it''s so delicious, this meat tastes so fresh, the pig must have been alive before!"


    "What nonsense are you talking about now, move aside!" Fu Jialin pushed him away discontentedly.


    ...


    Li Suisui, holding a large basin, continually shoveled in food, practically ''drinking'' it into his body.


    He had never thought that eating could be so enjoyable; food could really be this delicious.


    This Xue Jing... truly was extraordinary in every aspect.


    The students around him watched his ravenous eating and chuckled, feeling a sense of superiority like experienced veterans.


    See, even the Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth turns into a country bumpkin under Mr. Xue''s skillet.


    Half an hour later, mealtime ended.


    All the dishes and main courses, not even a bit of sauce or a grain of rice left, almost no need to wash the bowls, as everyone licked them clean.


    Especially Li Suisui, who alone had eaten nearly half of everything, which greatly displeassed the other students. But seeing that Xue Jing didn''t say anything, they could only watch bitterly without daring to speak out.


    After the meal, students had free time, and Xue Jing and Li Suisui sat on a fallen metal tree trunk.


    "...Anyway, thank you."


    Li Suisui spoke in a low voice.


    After defeating him, Xue Jing had not killed him, even treated his injuries, and even cooked for him.


    Although unclear why Xue Jing did these, such kindness could not be ignored by Li Suisui.


    "Don''t be formal with me, Brother Sui."


    Xue Jing put his arm around Li Suisui''s small shoulders, smiling.


    "¡­"


    Li Suisui''s mouth twitched.


    He didn''t bother to correct Xue Jing''s way of addressing him, just sighed and said,


    "Don''t you want to learn the All Things Myriad Phases Flow? I''ll teach you."


    After much consideration, he felt he must repay Xue Jing''s kindness.


    Although All Things Myriad Phases Flow is an ultra-secret technique demanding strict criteria for its transmission, after all, it''s just a form of Martial Arts.


    There is no truly skilled Martial Artist in the world who is stingy with such knowledge, they just prevent their arts from being desecrated by the unworthy.


    Certainly, Xue Jing could not be counted as ''unworthy.'' Even that Lord Yan Dixiu would not oppose him teaching All Things Myriad Phases to such a person.


    Moreover, the difficulty level of practicing All Things Myriad Phases Flow is immensely exaggerated, being the hardest Martial Arts to enter among all, his kind of talent also officially entered only due to coincidental opportunities.


    "Ah, no need. I''ve already learned it."


    ...


    In the world, there is no truly skilled Martial Artist who is stingy with such knowledge, they just prevent their arts from being desecrated by the unworthy.


    Certainly, Xue Jing could not be counted as ''unworthy.'' Even that Lord Yan Dixiu would not oppose him teaching All Things Myriad Phases to such a person.


    Moreover, the difficulty level of practicing All Things Myriad Phases Flow is immensely exaggerated, being the hardest Martial Arts to enter among all, his kind of talent also officially entered only due to coincidental opportunities.


    "Ah, no need. I''ve already learned it."


    ...

 Chapter 344 Mediocre Mortals, the Foil of the Era, Do Not Show Off in Front of the Mighty (4K)

    "Is this really Mr. Xue?"


    "Wow... isn''t he just too adorable!!"


    "If I could have a child like this, I''d be laughing in my coffin after I died!"


    "I used to think I really disliked kids, found them annoying upon sight, but now I realize it has nothing to do with whether they are kids or not..."


    "Isn''t it about time for me to hold him, Miss Cao..."


    One after another, the returning female students surrounded the transformed-into-a-boy Xue Jing, buzzing with excitement.


    Since he had turned into a child, the imposing aura he usually carried was greatly softened by the appearance of a child, hence the girls were much bolder in approaching Xue Jing, frequently attempting physical contact.


    However, Cao Sini had been protectively holding Xue Jing all this time, preventing any successful attempts.


    The male students didn''t join in, merely observing from the side.


    He Han sighed with an envious expression, "These girls are really shameless, and Miss Cao too, acting all cold normally, but now she''s finally showing her true colors, obviously she wants to force Mr. Xue to go back with her to be diligent in ''study''!"


    Zhao Longtu glanced at him and asked curiously,


    "Why has Mr. Xue become smaller?"


    Chen Xingyan explained, "He mastered a rather special martial art that can change his body structure, causing physical transformations and such. It''s not just about getting smaller; apparently he can even transform into an animal..."


    Zhao Longtu scratched his head, "Is that really something martial arts practice can achieve?"


    Becoming smaller was somewhat understandable; although he had not seen it in real life, he had read novels about it, with examples like the Maidens of Heavenly Mountain, so it didn''t seem strange that there could be such martial arts.


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    But turning into an animal seemed a bit more like fantasy... it would need some connection to the Monkey King.


    However, they had become somewhat accustomed to the many strange things about Xue Jing, and it was easier to accept him turning into a child or an animal than suddenly producing cookware and food in the Steel Tree Sea. So they were not overly surprised.


    Xue Jing, situated in the midst of the female students, was being held gently by Cao Sini like a tigress protecting her cub.


    He had his arms crossed and his head leaning against the soft roundness of Cao Sini, enveloped by the faint scent of a young girl. Yet, he showed no expression, like an old soul in a stoic child''s body.


    "Do not be disrespectful to Mr. Xue," said Cao Sini coolly.


    "You''re the most disrespectful one here!" the girls retorted.


    Cao Sini paused slightly, pretending she hadn''t heard, and looked away.


    "Feeling guilty, aren''t you!"


    "Let go of Mr. Xue already!"


    Xue Jing pursed his lips, "Enough, stop arguing."


    He broke free from Cao Sini''s embrace and said in a childish voice,


    "We have another movement task soon, so everyone better rest up now. It might not seem like much, but later on, when we have to trek every eight hours, the fatigue will accumulate, and it won''t be easy to recover."


    Although he appeared as a child, once he spoke, the accumulated authority from the past immediately pressed down, and the female students obediently complied with regret.


    "Sini, this includes you."


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to Cao Sini.


    "The expectations I have of you are high. Women face innate genetic limits that often make them unsuitable for combat, but you possess the calm temperament of a strong contender."


    "However, it seems you are still not calm enough."


    Cao Sini lowered her head,


    "I understand my mistake, Mr. Xue."


    Xue Jing hummed in acknowledgment, walked over to her, and extended his right hand.


    Seeing this, Cao Sini obediently crouched down to make herself shorter than little Xue Jing.


    His small palm touched her head, gently patting.


    "Go rest... you''re going to have a hard time ahead."


    Xue Jing said gently.


    ... Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Night had fallen.


    The Steel Tree Sea, though devoid of the sun, unexpectedly had a distinction between day and night similar to the real world.


    According to the information Xue Jing had seen, this was because the Intersecting Boundaries themselves were a blend of the real world and the Otherworld; any Intersecting Boundaries, no matter how chaotic, would always carry traces of the real world.


    The Steel Tree Sea was the same - without a sun or moon, yet it experienced the changes of day to night, due to the laws of the real world being reflected here.


    At this moment, the second compulsory movement task had been released.


    Anyone with even a bit of wilderness survival knowledge knew that such a pitch-dark night was extremely unsuited for movement. Humans rely on vision for most of their sensory perception, and in situations where vision is impaired, the ability to deal with dangers is greatly reduced.


    However, the time limit for the compulsory movement tasks was eight hours, while the duration of the night exceeded eight hours.


    Everyone was obliged to grope their way to the designated area in the dark or else face heavy point deductions.


    Students from Xue Jing''s class were silently making their way through the dark steel jungle.


    Compared to the wide spacing used during daytime movement, the students now clustered closer together, with very short distances between one another.


    No one spoke; the silence of the night exerted an intangible pressure, and the unseen dark spaces always seemed to hide dangers, rendering people speechless.


    The officials had provided flashlights in the materials given to the students, yet no one was using them at this time.


    Here, this wasn''t truly the wilderness; the bright light from a flashlight could illuminate the path ahead, but it would also be too conspicuous in the night, attracting the attention of other classes'' students.


    A black cat, considerably larger than its peers, was nimbly weaving through the steel tree thickets.


    Its paw pads made no sound as it trod, and its dark fur camouflaged it in the night, almost imperceptible, like a ghost.

 Chapter 344 Mediocre Mortals, the Foil of an Era, Dont Show Off in Front of the Mighty (4K)_2

    Only a pair of majestic purplish-blue vertical pupils exuded any sense of demeanor.


    Black Shadow Flame silently burned in the depths of the pupils, and the lightless night couldn''t stop Cat Xue''s vision; in his eyes, the world had simply turned into black and white but was still distinctly clear.


    His purplish-blue gaze swept over each student¡ªsome calm, some fearful, some cautious... He noted everyone''s reactions.


    Finally, his gaze rested on a student named Xu Zixuan. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Perhaps because he thought no one could see his face, his expression was rather relaxed, displaying a carefree demeanor.


    He seemed unaffected by the pressure that other students were feeling in the darkness.


    "You know or not?"


    Xu Zixuan suddenly spoke.


    His spontaneous remark after such a prolonged silence startled the surrounding classmates, who turned their heads towards him¡ªalthough it was too dark to see clearly, they just looked in the direction of the voice.


    "What are you doing, Old Xu. You really gave us a fright."


    He Han complained in a low voice.


    Xu Zixuan chuckled and said, "I heard that out of every twenty men, at least one is gay."


    Although it seemed inappropriate to strike up a casual conversation at such a time, this statement sparked curiosity among some students:


    "So that means, there''s definitely one gay in our class, right?"


    Mr. Xue''s class had thirty-one students in total, with ten females and twenty-one males, and there were no armed helicopters or Walmart shopping bags.


    He Han spoke bluntly, "I bet it''s Bai Jing. He''s cute, and plus, his butt is super sexy."


    Yuan Baijing, who was on alert, looked terrified when he heard this and subconsciously tightened his buttocks, his upright posture becoming somewhat stooped.


    The other students, especially the males, quickly distanced themselves from He Han.


    "He Han, although I''ve always known you''re a perv, this is..."


    Fu Jialin stopped mid-sentence, unable to continue.


    Ye Jingqiu said solemnly, "From now on, you are not allowed within ten meters of Mr. Xue, or else..."


    He Han''s eyes widened, "No, it''s just a spine-chilling topic. I was just joining in the conversation and joking!"


    "Everyone''s misunderstanding of me is a bit too much..."


    Chen Xingyan said, "There''s nothing about you that could be misunderstood, it feels like you''re just an outright pervert, every word you say just exposes your degree of perversion more and more..."


    In the chaos sparked by He Han''s remarks, almost no one noticed that Xu Zixuan, who had initiated the topic, had not spoken since.


    Located above everyone, perched on a metal branch, Cat Xue silently watched Xu Zixuan as he silently moved away from the crowd.


    He retrieved his bracelet from the invisible gap, caught it with his cat''s claw, and glanced at the map on it.


    All the light spots representing students were still gathered together, none had strayed.


    The official bracelet handed out to the participants all had tracking, and people in the same team as well as their examiners could see each other''s locations on the bracelet''s map.


    If a person had moved but the tracking hadn''t, it meant the bracelet wasn''t on them.


    Cat Xue''s sharp gaze swept over all the students once more, his almost transcendent vision quickly spotting the anomaly.


    In one male student''s backpack, in a small pocket on the left, a black bracelet was hooked on it.


    ''To hang the bracelet on someone else so no one would notice his departure when he starts moving... Is that what he was thinking?''


    Cat Xue shook his head, his figure flashed, and disappeared from the branch.


    ...


    In a hidden location within the steel forest.


    In the pitch-dark environment, several figures were gathered.


    "Li Suisui, you''re still alive? The Great Demon King didn''t finish you off?"


    Seeing the considerably smaller figure among them, several were quite surprised.


    They had seen with their own eyes how Li Suisui was reduced to half his body by a punch from the man-like Demon God. Though they didn''t think a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster''s life force would succumb to such injuries, they imagined Xue Jing would have made sure of him, and never thought Li Suisui would still be alive.


    So, the Great Demon King is quite principled, not killing kids?


    ...But this is no ordinary kid, but the strongest kid on the surface of this planet.


    Such a threat, no matter how small, had to be completely eradicated, right?


    Li Suisui spoke indifferently, "Why, are you disappointed?"


    The others instinctively shook their heads, "No, why would we be?"


    Someone joyfully said, "That''s great, if you had died, then we would have had no way to deal with that Great Demon King. With this..." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Suisui shook his head, cutting him off, "You''re wrong."


    "It''s not, ''if I had died, we wouldn''t have a way to deal with Xue Jing''. It''s, ''even with me alive, we still have no way to deal with Xue Jing''."


    "Ah?" Zhou Yinglin voiced his confusion:


    "Not even with all of us combined?"


    Li Suisui looked at him strangely.


    "When did you get the illusion that you qualify to intervene in my battle with Xue Jing?"


    Zhou Yinglin''s eyelid twitched, suppressing the fire of humiliation in his voice as he hoarsely said, "What do we do now?"


    Li Suisui said flatly, "The primary goal of this operation has already completely failed."


    "Our preliminary assessment of Xue Jing''s strength was extremely inaccurate, capturing or killing him is utterly impossible."


    "Now, all actions must shift to the second objective¡ªpreventing Xue Jing from achieving a sufficient result in this Martial Arts Examination, forming his ''golden body''."

 Chapter 344 Mediocre Mortals, the Foil of an Era, Dont Show Off in Front of the Mighty (4K)_3

    Li Suisui paused in the lightless environment, no one noticing the hesitation on his face.


    "Regarding the examinees he is leading, have them all leave the venue."


    "...But instruct your own examinees, to avoid using lethal force as much as possible."


    Someone puzzledly asked, "Ah? Why? Holding back could lead to many unexpected incidents."


    Li Suisui calmly said, "The same old saying, think of yourself before you do anything for the Secret Martial Society."


    "Consider the consequences of seriously offending Xue Jing, and whether you can bear them."


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    "Uh..." Recalling that punch that could almost be described as earth-shattering, their hearts wavered.


    Zhou Yinglin suddenly asked, somewhat suspiciously, "You were severely injured after fighting with Xue Jing... How come you''re healed now?"


    Li Suisui''s expression remained unchanged, as he calmly said,


    "The life force of a Second Breakthrough is just like that, you wouldn''t understand without experiencing a Breakthrough."


    Zhou Yinglin frowned.


    I haven''t eaten pork but haven''t I seen pigs run?


    He was about to speak when Li Suisui, apparently reading his thoughts, coldly continued,


    "Do not try to flaunt your shallow understanding in front of someone you can never hope to match, it only exposes your incompetence."


    "The last person you treated like this was named Xue Jing."


    "Mere mortals, decorations of the era, just shut your mouth; do you actually think you''re a genius?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinglin thought he would be extremely angry.


    But before anger, a cold emotion spread throughout his body.


    On the U19 final stage, the Heavenly Feather Garment woven onto his body, the earth-shattering punch from the shocking duel several hours ago...


    A sense of despair with no room for rebuttal arose in his heart.


    Compared to true geniuses like Xue Jing and Li Suisui, he was just a mediocre mortal, a decoration of the era...


    The cold, merciless truth was relentlessly revealed before him.


    His lips trembled, and Zhou Yinglin fell silent without speaking further.


    At that moment, the sound of footsteps on metal came from nearby.


    "Who!?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone immediately grabbed a flashlight and shone it in that direction.


    "It''s me."


    In the light, Xu Zixuan casually raised his hands and smiled as he spoke.


    Li Suisui frowned, "Xue Jing grouped all his subordinate examinees into one team, and now the whole team should be moving together... How did you get here?"


    Xu Zixuan waved his hand, "Don''t worry, no one noticed me leaving."


    "Wasn''t Xue Jing with you?" Li Suisui had a bad feeling.


    Xu Zixuan said, "He was, but don''t worry, he didn''t notice me. Cao Sini has been sticking by my side all day, never giving me a chance, so only now could I..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Li Suisui sighed, "Foolish thing... I don''t know if you''re doing it on purpose or are really that stupid."


    "Do you folks really think the teacher, who sees everything clearly from the podium, wouldn''t notice the little tricks you pull off in class?"


    "¡ªWhy do you always like to flaunt your insignificant tricks in front of the strong?"


    Li Suisui''s gaze moved upward.


    Their eyes met, a pair of deep blue eyes particularly striking in the pitch-darkness.


    ...


    (No more silent breaks, directly rumored to have died in a car accident...)


    (The recent plot has been a bit stuck; leave application refreshed at the beginning of the month, no urgency, thought of dragging it out...)


    (Secret Marseille, if I can''t write anymore, I''ll take a leave!)

 Chapter 345

    "Indeed you followed, Xue Jing."


    Li Suisui sighed.


    "It''s not polite to call your own brother by his name, Brother Sui."


    Seated on a giant metallic plant leaf shaped like a lotus leaf, Xue Jing spoke with a teasing tone.


    In the pitch-dark environment, not until he spoke did the others suddenly look towards him.


    "Xue Jing!?"


    "When did you arrive!?"


    "You idiot, why choose to come at this time!" someone stared angrily at Xu Zixuan.


    Everyone looked solemn, even fearful.


    Having witnessed the shocking battle during the day, everyone had a clear understanding of Xue Jing''s strength.


    To put it bluntly, among those present, apart from Li Suisui, no one was his match.


    The disparity in strength was not just at the level of the heroes at Hulao Pass facing Lv Bu, but rather like others watching Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara fight during the era of the Warring States in "Naruto".


    From a distance it was fine, but now facing him directly, the terrifying pressure immediately bore down on them, almost feeling a sharp invisible blade moving back and forth across their necks, as if it could take their lives at any moment, leaving them with no sense of security whatsoever.


    Under the terrifying pressure of facing the Great Demon King, everyone involuntarily drew closer to the only ''Hero'' who could oppose him, Li Suisui, standing behind him.


    "Everyone''s sneaking around late at night for a gathering, could it be you''re hosting a super cool party that all the influential figures would attend?"


    "Hmm? Was I the only one not invited?"


    Watching this group of people extremely wary of him, Xue Jing lightly spoke with a smile.


    "This isn''t very nice of you all, ganging up against me like this. Is this what you call bullying? It really chills my heart."


    Unable to hold back, someone shouted loudly, "What exactly do you want!"


    His voice was loud but carried a distinctly weak and fearful tone.


    "Hmm? Seems like I should be the one asking that."


    Contrary to the other, Xue Jing''s voice was quiet, casual like making small talk, yet carried a weight that compelled one to listen attentively.


    "To deal with me and my students, you all sneak around plotting shameful schemes, even employing spies. Whatever shall I do with you all?"


    Xue Jing sighed.


    "Classmate Xu, what do you think?"


    He looked towards Xu Zixuan.


    "Mr. Xue."


    Xu Zixuan unexpectedly flashed a cryptic smile.


    "You are on the verge of death."


    Hearing this, the others incredulously turned their heads towards him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What the hell is he talking about?


    What''s the point of provoking the Great Demon King at a time like this, what is he trying to do?


    "So, you did it on purpose."


    Xue Jing, upon hearing Xu Zixuan''s rather arrogant remark, was not surprised.


    From the beginning, this person''s actions had been strange, suddenly straying from the group and slipping away under his watch.


    Knowing full well his immense strength and the high risk of being discovered, Xu Zixuan still took such an action to come here and discuss how to deal with him, the risk and reward completely disproportionate.


    The joint examination was scheduled for seven days, and it was only the first day. There was no rush to deal with him, and it wasn''t as if the exam would end immediately if they did not act.


    Xue Jing immediately considered whether this person had intentionally lured him here.


    Though he had contemplated this possibility, driven by the pride of a skilled individual, Xue Jing still followed.


    At his level of power, especially within the Intersecting Boundaries, he no longer needed to consider whether the opponent had any traps or conspiracies.


    No need for any strategic confrontation, all matters could be resolved simply with a clenched fist and a swung punch.


    The more intricate the calculation, the more likely the failure, straightforward things should not be complicated¡ªa fist can solve what brains cannot; that is the way of a Martial Artist.


    "So... is there something you''re relying on?"


    Xue Jing curiously spoke.


    Saying this, he glanced inadvertently at Li Suisui, abandoning the idea of directly ambushing and killing Xu Zixuan, preventing him from using whatever he was relying on. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Zixuan inexplicably felt a chill down his spine, but he merely shook his head, confidently rolling down his right sleeve to reveal something worn on his wrist.


    It was a faded tan knot woven from an unknown material, extremely old and greased over by human handling.


    Seeing this knot, Xue Jing''s gaze slightly narrowed:


    "I see..."


    He recognized what it was.


    "Mr. Xue, this is your favorite Divine Relic."


    Xu Zixuan said confidently.


    "Dying by its hands must surely be an honorable death for you."


    Someone picked up a flashlight, turned it on, and shone it at Xu Zixuan''s wrist, curiously inquiring,


    "What is this?"


    Li Suisui also looked over and his expression shifted:


    "[GOD-287]... for the Xu Family to go to such lengths to deal with you, they even gave this to you?"


    "Now I''m curious, what kind of deep grudge you all have..."


    Xu Zixuan shook his head, "It''s not our Xu Family, but another family that paid a sufficient price... to ensure nothing goes wrong by bringing this here."


    "Mr. Xue, you love Divine Relics, you should recognize this, how do you feel now?"


    He looked at Xue Jing and loudly declared.


    Xue Jing stared at the knot and said, "GOD-287..."


    "¡ª[His Cultivation is not Inferior to Mine]."


    A curse-type Divine Relic ranked in the top three hundred, [His Cultivation is not Inferior to Mine].

 Chapter 346

    As if a Divine being, the mysterious and majestic Two-faced God Child stood right before Xue Jing. With two bodies facing opposite directions, one indifferent with arms crossed, the other compassionate with hands clasped in prayer, they radiated a holy religious aura. Emitting a faint red-golden glow from their body, they were extremely conspicuous in the darkness.


    With a face akin to that of Xue Jing''s own indifferent expression, they looked down emotionlessly from their high vantage upon the crowd below.


    Everyone was left dumbstruck.


    They were utterly confused as to why a powerful and bizarre humanoid creature had suddenly appeared and punched Zhou Yinglin flying.


    Considering its appearance, it clearly had something to do with Xue Jing and was not a native creature of the Steel Tree Sea.


    Piecing together Xue Jing''s words, it was highly likely that he had summoned it.


    What exactly was this creature, and why did it have such a strange summoning ability?


    Hadn''t it been said that its strength had been reduced to the same level as Xu Zixuan''s?


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    [GOD-287] indeed had an effect on him; his overall strength was indeed brought down to the same weak level as Xu Zixuan.


    However, the strength of the Two-faced God Child, this Divine Incarnation, was never linked to his physical stats from the beginning.


    Through trials and various tests over time, Xue Jing had come to understand what influenced the strength of the Two-faced God Child.


    That was his "Holy" index!


    The attribute table showcased five dimensions: body, consciousness, robbery, holy, power. Here, the "Holy" signified holiness, the level of life''s rank.


    The increase in the Holy Attribute was complex, such as the growth of Xue Jing''s martial arts ability could enhance a minor portion of the Holy Attribute, but this part was negligible.


    Most of the increase in Holy Attribute relied on upgrading Extraordinary Skills and Divine Skills.


    At this moment, his "Holy" value was a high of over 8500 points.


    Compared to the "Body" at about seventeen hundred, it was five times higher.


    While it cannot be simply converted by numbers, in terms of pure physical strength alone, the Two-faced God Child far surpassed his own physical body!


    Although it couldn''t use martial arts, its numerical dominance allowed the Two-faced God Child to have a combat power almost equal to his own.


    And this strength tied to the Holy Attribute was completely unaffected by GOD-287.


    It only reduced Xue Jing''s "Body" and "Consciousness"!


    "Today, let you witness what a Stand-in Messenger is..."


    Xue Jing pointed at the crowd.


    "Go, my invincible Platinum Star!"


    The Two-faced God Child moved at his command and swiftly dove towards the people below.


    "Block him! I can''t afford any hassle now. If I die, Xue Jing will regain his full strength and then everyone here will die!"


    Xu Zixuan shouted frantically.


    Hearing this, everyone''s lips twitched, and their initially retreating steps came to an abrupt halt.


    Weighing the lesser of two evils, it was much preferable to fight against a four-armed humanoid monster than to face Xue Jing, the fully-powered Great Demon King.


    Despite the tough hit he received, Zhou Yinglin, who had just been driven into the ground, seemed unharmed on the surface.


    The creature clearly did not use martial arts but simply relied on immense physical strength¡ªeveryone noticed this.


    Otherwise, after such a powerful blow, Zhou Yinglin should have exploded on the spot, not just been smashed into the ground.


    Therefore, he could use Soft Power to transfer most of the force to the ground, incurring minor injuries to himself.


    Of course, that was a relative "few injuries". Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if they could offload 90% of 100% force, the damage was still significant.


    Offloading 90% of 100 damage leaves only ten, but unloading 90% of a million damage still leaves a hundred thousand!


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A muscular male examiner stepped forward, his right arm muscles bulging, veins standing out as he fiercely swung a punch, colliding midair with Two-faced God Child who also launched a punch.


    A powerful circular airflow burst from between their colliding fists. In less than half a second, the male examiner screamed as his right arm cracked and twisted grotesquely, his skin pierced outward by countless splinters of broken bone.


    In contrast, the Two-faced God Child''s fist remained intact, tough as steel, and the indifferent Divine expression on its face unchanged.


    "Swoosh¡ª!"


    Three figures moved simultaneously from left, right, and above, attacking the Two-faced God Child from three different directions.


    Meanwhile, two others took this opportunity to rush towards Xue Jing''s original body.


    Everyone knew that the critical aspect was to take down Xue Jing himself.


    Otherwise, once time was up and the Great Demon King''s seal was released, it would all be over.


    "Futile effort."


    "Why not use your brains and think about why I dare let the Two-faced God Child stray away."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "...But then again, you have no other options."


    "Unfortunately, from the very beginning, your defeat was already sealed."


    While he spoke, Xue Jing sat unmoved on a metallic plant leaf, and as the two figures closed in on him, a punch and a kick landed hard on his body.


    He shattered into pieces instantly.


    "Huh!? Did we succeed?"


    Everyone was momentarily shaken by this scene, utterly incredulous.


    Could it be... that simple?


    The performances Xue Jing had shown thus far had deeply intimidated everyone. Even though his strength had been reduced to Xu Zixuan''s level, everyone still subconsciously felt that killing him was an incredibly difficult task.


    But to achieve it just like that?


    The three attackers on the Two-faced God Child were also distracted by the sight of Xue Jing''s death, momentarily losing focus. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 346_2

    Two-faced God Child turned direction, each side of its body facing the two people to its left and right. Its four arms grabbed one hand and one foot of each person, overpowering them completely and flinging them upwards.


    "Thud¡ª"


    With a muffled sound, the two bodies thrown upward clamped onto a third person attacking from above. The three bodies collided, the immense force turning them into three blood-filled sacks that burst open in the air.


    Blood splattered like torrential rain, and the three mangled bodies instantly lost their life force.


    Two-faced God Child''s body radiated a faint golden glow, and all the blood splashes were blocked by an invisible barrier before they could stain its body.


    It remained immaculate, as if it possessed an inherent holiness that could not be tainted.


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing, whose body was crushed, did not spill a single drop of blood.


    At every torn opening, there was no sign of bright red but rather dark flames burning like black holes.


    All the burning ''corpse pieces'' paused in mid-air and then rapidly converged towards the center. Shortly after, Xue Jing reappeared in the arena, unscathed and even his hairstyle undisturbed.


    He still maintained his relaxed posture, sitting on a metallic foliage, the calm poise making it seem as if nothing had happened, adorned with blooming Dark Flames, his eerie and mysterious aura was unmistakably evident.


    This sight instantly plunged everyone into despair.


    "How is this possible..."


    "How can we fight this, what kind of person is he!!"


    "This is simply cheating..."


    Two-faced God Child didn''t care about their feelings. It stepped forward and, with two thuds, crushed the heads of two examiners who were still frozen in place.


    Everyone snapped back to reality.


    "Run!!"


    Including Xu Zixuan, everyone scattered instantly, sprinting in directions away from Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing shook his head:


    "Where can you run to?"


    He stood up, his eyes burning with Shadow Flame, picked a direction of one escaping person, then leaped onto Two-faced God Child''s shoulders, firmly held by one of its arms.


    His current power had been reduced, slowing his movement speed.


    But his slowness didn''t mean Two-faced God Child was slow.


    Since Two-faced God Child couldn''t stray too far from his main body, it would just have to carry him while running.


    With the enhancement of Twin Speed, Two-faced God Child''s movement was still far faster than the examiners.


    Not to mention in the dark of night, his complete visibility was a significant advantage.


    The hunt had begun.


    ... Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    Just two minutes later, the fourth escaping examiner was cornered by Xue Jing. Two-faced God Child, swinging fists larger than a pot, smashed him into the trunk of a metallic tree.


    His chest and abdomen caved in, his organs completely destroyed, and despite the martial artist''s life force preventing immediate death, his injuries were beyond conventional treatment and he would die within minutes.


    "Next..."


    Xue Jing discerned the direction and chased after the next target.


    On a steel-shadowed path, a short figure leaned against a large tree, lighting a cigarette and puffing clouds of smoke with a blank expression.


    A hurried figure arrived, instantly overjoyed:


    "Li Suisui, Brother Li!"


    "You''re here, why didn''t you make a move just now? That Xue Jing is inhuman, we can''t beat him at all, we need you to act quickly, there isn''t much time..."


    Li Suisui took a drag of his cigarette, expertly inhaled, and exhaled, only giving him a glance and not responding.


    Soon, there was a disturbance nearby.


    Steel bushes were forcibly parted, emitting creaking and twisting metal noises, as a towering three-meter-tall figure stepped forward.


    Two-faced God Child with Xue Jing seated on its shoulders, arrived at the scene and glanced at the examiner.


    "Xue... Xue Jing!"


    The person showed a look of fear.


    Without speaking, Xue Jing directly controlled Two-faced God Child, took quick steps forward, stretched out a hand, and grasped him.


    The giant hand directly grabbed the opponent''s entire waist and lifted him off the ground as if a child had picked up a doll.


    The Two-faced God Child''s palm started to exert force, and the opponent''s body immediately emitted the cracking sounds of breaking bones.


    "Ah, ah, ah!!!"


    The person screamed, vomiting blood, turning his head to look at Li Suisui.


    The latter was still calmly smoking, seemingly unconcerned by the scene unfolding before him.


    "Li Suisui, why are you just watching!"


    The man incredulously questioned aloud.


    He struggled, trying to activate his Power, his hands pounding on the Two-faced God Child''s palm, but the hand was like an iron clamp, unshakable no matter how much he struggled.


    "Crack¡ª!"


    The Two-faced God Child clenched his palm, reducing the man to the thickness of a bamboo pole, then casually tossed him aside. Xue Jing''s gaze turned towards Li Suisui, focusing on the cigarette in his hand, shook his head, and said,


    "Brother Sui, it''s really not good for a child to smoke."


    Li Suisui calmly took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled, saying,


    "Even children need to relieve stress¡­ Although smoking has no stimulating effect on me and doesn''t harm my body, I think it makes me look cool." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just don''t tell my mom."


    Xue Jing laughed, "You really are still a child, what an interesting thought."


    He leaped down from the Two-faced God Child''s shoulder to the ground.


    "Brother Sui, why didn''t you attack me? Is there something holding you back?"


    Li Suisui, upon hearing this, shook his head.


    "No... I just purely think that even if I truly won against you like this, it would be a boring affair. It''s like winning a competitive game because the opponent had poor internet and equipment¡ªno fun at all."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Oh? Is that so?"


    "You indeed are unlike anyone else I have encountered, very interesting."


    Li Suisui continued, "More importantly, even in such circumstances, I don''t think I can really do much to you."


    Curious, Xue Jing asked, "Why?"


    Li Suisui glanced at him.


    "You''ve been fearless since you appeared, even when Xu Zixuan took out GOD-287, you didn''t show any signs of fear¡­ even though I was also there opposing you."


    "You shouldn''t be the kind of foolhardy young man; logically speaking, you should have turned around and run the moment you recognized GOD-287, but you didn''t, showing you have some other reliance."


    "Even if your strength was weakened to the level of Xu Zixuan, still enough to survive in my hands."


    "In that case, even if I made my move, I probably couldn''t do much to you, and I''d only end up looking like a villain who takes advantage of others'' weaknesses... I don''t like that, no gain and just causing trouble."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing burst into laughter.


    "You really are a smart kid."


    After laughing, Xue Jing continued,


    "It''s about time now, Brother Sui, step aside."


    At this, Li Suisui nodded, tossed the nearly spent cigarette butt aside, and stepped away.


    On the other side of the tree trunk behind Li Suisui, where Xu Zixuan was silently covering his mouth, daring not to make a sound, his heartbeat began to uncontrollably race.


    Fear crawled from the top of his scalp down, gradually engulfing his entire body, chilling to the extreme.


    The footsteps on the metallic ground progressed, step by step, as if trampling on his heart, drawing closer.


    Step, step, step¡­


    Until at a certain moment, the footsteps that seemed to be right beside him came to a halt, no longer resounding.


    Xu Zixuan''s head stiffly turned to look beside him.


    A figure that looked like a ghoul in his eyes entered his sight.


    "It really is a pity, Classmate Xu."


    Xue Jing softly spoke.


    "You are no longer my student."

 Chapter 347 Compared to becoming Mr. Xues student, Martial Arts Examination results are trivial (4K)

    "Mr. Xue..." Xu Zixuan''s eyes widened, showing extreme fear.


    "From the very beginning, I knew there was something off about you," Xue Jing said softly.


    "Even so, I didn''t treat you any differently. Everything the other students had, you had too. Do you know why?"


    Xu Zixuan, trembling, shook his head.


    "It wasn''t to catch you off guard or to try to reform you... none of that."


    Xue Jing''s tone was calm.


    "I was simply giving you a choice... regardless of who sent you here or what their purpose was, once you were under my charge, it was a teacher-student relationship."


    "You could truly have become my student, but since you chose another path, you must face the consequences."


    "I''ve told you before, everyone must take responsibility for their choices."


    Trembling, Xu Zixuan said, "Teacher, I know I was wrong..."


    Xue Jing smiled, "You just know you''re about to die."


    Li Suisui, who was watching the drama unfold, said, "He is from the Xu Family of the Thirteen Great Families. Though not of the main line, killing him could still bring you serious trouble."


    Xue Jing didn''t even let him finish. The Two-faced God Child already reached out a large hand and grasped Xu Zixuan''s head.


    Xu Zixuan seemed to think of something, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. He tried to speak, but with his entire face clasped by the Two-faced God Child, all he could make was a muffled, unclear sound.


    "Crack¡ª"


    With a squeeze of the palm, Xu Zixuan''s head exploded like a watermelon.


    "I''ve already offended many of the Thirteen Great Families. More fleas don''t itch."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, causing the Two-faced God Child to dissolve into a scatter of crimson gold light spots.


    With the demise of the [GOD-287] user, invisible shackles were suddenly released from his body, and overwhelming strength returned to him.


    Li Suisui said, "The hostility of the Thirteen Great Families isn''t something minor like ''fleas''... never mind."


    "He was clearly about to say something else. Why didn''t you let him finish?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Right, I forgot to ask him who paid a great price for the Xu Family to go to the lengths of employing [GOD-287] to deal with me."


    "Never mind, it doesn''t matter. It''s probably someone from the Zhu Family, let''s just charge it to their account."


    The Zhu Family orchestrated actions against him, blocked the rewards from The Sixth Agency, sent Zhou Yinglin to try to kill him on the platform... Xue Jing had held these grudges for a long time.


    Adding one more to their account wouldn''t make much difference.


    "Both the Secret Martial Society and the Thirteen Great Families, powers that a typical Martial Artist wouldn''t cross paths with in a lifetime, and you''ve already angered a few despite how briefly you''ve started out?"


    Li Suisui was somewhat speechless.


    "It feels like you''re the protagonist from a web novel who picks up a stone by the roadside and ends up being chased by ten thousand people."


    Xue Jing smiled but didn''t respond. Instead, he said:


    "Now that this issue is resolved and my strength is restored, Brother Sui, care for another round?"


    Li Suisui twitched the corner of his mouth.


    "Let''s not."


    Before, he was already no match for Xue Jing; although their fundamental powers were about the same, Xue Jing''s ''Serious Punch'' was monstrously overwhelming. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although he also possessed a Mystic Killing Move that could turn the tide, it still fell short of Serious Punch, the best outcome being both parties getting hurt.


    Not to mention that now, through some unknown method, Xue Jing had learned the ''All Things Myriad Phases'' from him, further advancing his power.


    Another match would likely still result in his loss.


    "Then I''ll be leaving first."


    Xue Jing reached out and patted Li Suisui''s shoulder, smiling:


    "Come by for breakfast if you''re free tomorrow morning. You''re still young, don''t starve yourself."


    With that, Xue Jing vanished in a flash.


    Li Suisui crossed his arms, tapping his elbow with his fingers, a thoughtful look in his eyes.


    After a while, he shook his head and silently disappeared, leaving the area.


    ...


    [Xu Zixuan has fallen and is eliminated from the examination]


    [Team Points -7]


    Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    All of Mr. Xue''s students received the information on their wristbands at the same time.


    According to the rules, the departure of a team member would deduct from the average team points of the remaining members to maintain an unchanged average.


    No one cared about the deduction; they were all shocked by Xu Zixuan''s sudden departure.


    "Old Xu, what happened!?"


    "Wait, where is Old Xu!?"


    "Wasn''t he just right beside us?"


    Unable to worry about revealing their locations, many students turned on their flashlights and shone them around.


    "How can he just disappear?"


    "Mr. Xue is gone too!"


    Among the students present, only Cao Sini remained unchanged, motionless with a cold, even indifferent expression.


    She didn''t speak.


    Before long, the students saw a blur before their eyes as a figure suddenly appeared in the area.


    Mr. Xue had returned.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    Seeing Xue Jing, the students'' previously somewhat unsettled minds immediately stabilized, and they crowded around him.


    "Mr. Xue, where did you go? Xu Zixuan suddenly showed as having fallen, and he''s been eliminated from the examination!"


    "What actually happened?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then said, "It was I who made a move."


    "How could it be!?" The crowd immediately exclaimed, shocked.


    Cao Sini was just about to speak, but after hearing the conversation that followed, she forcibly held back.


    "Xu Zixuan turned out to be a traitor!?"


    He Han sighed, "There''s something rotten in the team."


    Ye Jingqiu affirmed, "No wonder I always felt he was a bit off, barely interacting with everyone, and his words were so sharp, he indeed had issues!"

 Chapter 348 A Mans Dream, Cat Xues Terrifying Charm, Lion Eye Shen Tuguang (4K)

    In the tranquil steel forest, a group of people were leisurely strolling through it. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    "There''s one word that''s every man''s dream all over the world. Do you know what it is?"


    Zhao Longtu''s fierce face showed a hint of melancholy as he spoke.


    Reacting instinctively, He Han said, "36D?"


    Zhao Longtu glanced at him expressionlessly, "No, it''s ''strongest''."


    "Although reality will gradually dawn on us over time, making us give up this dream, every man has definitely fantasized about being the ''strongest in the world."


    He Han casually said, "Oh, you mean that. I thought you were talking about the other thing."


    Chen Xingyan casually asked, "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"


    Zhao Longtu sighed, somewhat conflicted, "Although I''m not the ''strongest in the world,'' I should be the strongest in our class. I can do whatever Cao Sini can do. So why didn''t Mr. Xue choose me?"


    Hearing this, He Han and Chen Xingyan exchanged glances.


    "Longtu, things might not be as you think."


    He Han put his arm around Zhao Longtu''s shoulders, carefully choosing his words before speaking.


    "Could it be possible that it''s not about who''s stronger between you and Cao Sini, but other reasons..."


    Zhao Longtu asked confusedly, "What reason?"


    "Becoming the King of Knockout is all about strength, isn''t it?"


    He Han shook his head. "You really don''t get it, do you? It''s not a matter of who is stronger, but you and Miss Cao have a fundamental difference."


    He glanced sharply and said deeply:


    "36D."


    Zhao Longtu: "?"


    "If you are a man, you will definitely be attracted by this bewitching combination of numbers and letters. That''s what she has and you don''t, after all, Mr. Xue is also a man..."


    Zhao Longtu suddenly realized, "So that''s how it is."


    "Slap¡ª"


    Chen Xingyan, visibly annoyed, slapped the back of He Han''s head.


    "Don''t spout nonsense and slander Mr. Xue''s reputation, you bottom-feeder with bottom-tier abilities."


    He Han: "Ah, Brother Li, aren''t you being a bit harsh!"


    Ignoring He Han''s rebuttal, Chen Xingyan turned to Zhao Longtu.


    "Can you not believe everything He Han says? How could Mr. Xue be that kind of person?"


    "His wisdom is as deep as the ocean. Surely he has his reasons. Since he chose Miss Cao instead of you, there must be factors that we can''t understand right now. Don''t jump to conclusions; it would only make us look childish and silly."


    Zhao Longtu nodded, understanding, "I get it now."


    Chen Xingyan nodded, glanced at the small map on his wristband, and said, "Alright, the temporary base is up ahead. Most members of the other small squads have already arrived... Hm? Mr. Xue''s location is approaching rapidly."


    He looked at the two swiftly moving dots on the small map and looked back.


    He Han and Zhao Longtu also followed his gaze.


    Immediately, they saw a slender figure leaping between the bushes, speeding toward them.


    "It''s Miss Cao."


    He Han''s eyes brightened as he recognized her and raised his hand to wave:


    "Hey~ Miss Cao..."


    "Huh!?"


    All three were stunned at the same time, fixing their gaze on Cao Sini''s chest... more precisely, on something on her chest.


    A palm-sized black cat was stuffed into Cao Sini''s 36D, with only a fuzzy head visible and two white-gloved paws clinging to the collar.


    The small black cat wore an expression of anthropomorphic laziness, narrowing its eyes in a drowsy manner.


    Even though it had transformed into a feline animal, the facial features were unmistakably their own Mr. Xue.


    The three had witnessed Mr. Xue''s magical ''martial arts'' ability to turn into a cat, and although the cat seemed much smaller than any they had seen before, they recognized it instantly.


    Zhao Longtu hesitated and looked at Chen Xingyan, then at He Han.


    The other two did the same, exchanging glances in bewilderment.


    Cao Sini also noticed them and swiftly moved in front of them, her sharp eyes like knife blades looking at them with a cold tone:


    "What are you guys doing here."


    Zhao Longtu sighed, "So that''s how it is. This is truly something I can''t do. I''ve lost."


    Cao Sini: "?"


    He Han sighed, "If there''s an afterlife, I''d like to be a melancholic little kitty."


    Cao Sini''s eyes twitched.


    Chen Xingyan sighed, "Mr. Xue, if you''ve been kidnapped, just blink."


    Cao Sini''s forehead bulged with veins: "Are you asking for a beating?"


    Her fists tensed.


    Cat Xue, drowsy and raising his head, opened his eyes which squeezed out a yawn. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He shifted in the soft 36D, finding a more comfortable position, and began to shake. Then, lifting his eyes to look at the group, he spoke lazily:


    "What are you all just standing there for?"


    He had transformed into a combination of a child and a cat, which is why he now had the appearance of a kitty cub, and why his voice was that of a young child.


    He Han pinched his chin and said, "Mr. Xue, may I interview you?"


    Cat Xue: "Hmm?"


    "Given the choice, which of the following cockpits would you choose to enter?"


    "1, Assault Freedom, 2, Unit-01, 3, Dragon God, 4, Light Bringer, 5, Soft Bosom."


    Cat Xue, with a facial expression of serious contemplation:


    "That''s truly a difficult ultimate choice question."


    Cao Sini, expressionless, took a step forward towards He Han.

 Chapter 348 A Mans Dream, Cat Xues Terrifying Charm,

    "Is that all there is to your will?"


    He Han: "Wait...! Ah!"


    ...


    "In simple terms, I''m now a power bank."


    His tiny body was squeezed into something soft as Cat Xue poked his head out and began to explain to the students, his voice young and pleasant.


    "Sini has important tasks and uses up a lot of Life Force, and she needs to replenish it all the time. It''s too much trouble to come to me each time, so upon her suggestion, I''ve become like this."


    "By staying on her, with bodily contact, I can replenish it anytime..."


    The students had varied expressions after hearing this.


    "Hmm... such a legitimate reason, hard to argue with."


    "For a moment, I''m not sure whom to envy..." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jialin, green with envy, said, "Mr. Xue, can I also... (glances at her 36D), never mind, forget I said anything..."


    Ye Jingqiu looked at Cat Xue''s youthful yet authoritarian presence, utterly adorable, and her heart nearly melted.


    She knelt on the ground, grabbed Cao Sini''s hands, almost pleading, "Sini, let me hug Mr. Xue, please, I''ll do anything!"


    Bandaged and bruised, He Han''s eyes sparkled as he witnessed the scene, and he hobbled over, his voice grave:


    "What sort of resolve are you harboring to say such a thing?"


    Ye Jingqiu: "Eh?"


    "Do you, a mere student, have the power to shoulder someone else''s life?"


    Ye Jingqiu glanced at him disapprovingly: "What kind of weird stuff are you talking about now?"


    Undeterred, He Han continued gravely, "To say ''I''ll do anything'' is a heavy statement."


    "Don''t casually say things you can''t do."


    He looked down condescendingly at Ye Jingqiu, "You, you''re always just thinking about yourself."


    After saying this, he turned to Cao Sini, excited, "Exactly, Miss Cao, could you repeat what I just said please, I beg you, I''ll V you 50 after the exam!"


    Ye Jingqiu''s mouth twitched: "Don''t think I won''t hit you just because you''re already battered and bruised."


    Although she couldn''t comprehend He Han''s words, she knew this annoying, second-dimensional fool must be spouting something from an anime again, and she had a feeling that she was cast in a very strange role in it.


    He Han immediately threw himself to his knees: "Secret Marseilles."


    Cao Sini looked at the farce before her, unimpressed, "Boring."


    She lowered her head, her gaze softening as she looked at the fuzzy head on her chest, gently placing her palm over Cat Xue''s head.


    Cat Xue let out a sleepy yawn, instantly winning over the girls'' hearts with hearts in their eyes.


    It wasn''t clear if it was the comfort of the cockpit that was making him so drowsy.


    Shaking his head, Jing managed a Water Splash Jump and left the cockpit, deftly landing on Chen Xingyan''s shoulder, and at the same time grew back to the size of an adult cat.


    "Ah," Cao Sini couldn''t help feeling a bit empty, as if there was a missing piece in her 36D.


    Cat Xue stretched languidly, sitting down with his tail swishing, looking at Chen Xingyan, and inquired:


    "What''s the status of the scores now?"


    Tears filled Ye Jingqiu''s eyes as she looked at Chen Xingyan: "Please¡­ Xingyan..."


    Chen Xingyan cleared his throat, offering Ye Jingqiu an apologetic look, then respectfully whispered to the Cat Xue on his shoulder:


    "Not so good, most people''s total scores aren''t high."


    "Also, since yesterday, the ''prey'' we''re able to encounter has been dwindling, as if other classes'' students are intentionally avoiding us, even if it delays their required movement tasks."


    "If it continues like this, aside from Miss Cao and a few of us, the rest won''t get good scores."


    Cat Xue nodded, "It''s about time. With Sini''s number of knockdowns, getting the King of Knockout is a done deal. After the exam ends, we can directly get a team average score of a thousand, which should put us in the top three on the leaderboard."


    "The rest is making sure everyone gets enough individual points to make up the final scores."


    He extended a cat paw, and an invisible rift opened in the air, with a white bracelet landing onto it.


    After a few swipes of his pink paw pad, the bracelet revealed a holographic interface.


    ```


    [Current Hunt Quest Options]


    [Hunt Target: Big Chainsaw Ape, Danger Level Assessment: 4.8, Location:...]


    [Hunt Target: Desiccant Scythe Bird Swarm, Danger Level Assessment: 5.1, Location:...]


    ...


    A long list of over sixty available hunt quests lined the interface.


    Chen Xingyan hesitated and said, "Completing hunt quests can indeed earn a lot of points, but..."


    He looked at the various hunt targets displayed on the screen with their danger levels and felt his heart pound.


    These optional hunt quests in the joint exam were not intended for ordinary students.


    Rather, they were for those prodigies who unexpectedly find themselves among the common herd to rapidly rack up points.


    After defeating and killing these targets, the slayer could obtain a large amount of individual points as well as some team points.


    Within these, because the team points would be evenly split among the entire group, for Xue Jing''s class where the entire class was in one group, it amounted to a drop in the bucket; the key lay in individual points.


    However, monsters with such high danger levels would likely give even Cao Sini a hard time and only might she manage to beat one with difficulty.


    Other students would hardly be of any help, as the iron-based creatures in the Steel Tree Sea are tough-skinned, and if the attack power isn''t up to a certain level, it''s virtually like scratching an itch for them.


    And yet, Cao Sini is the last person who needs points... Her score is already virtually guaranteed to rank first in the final results.


    To let other students earn individual points from hunt quests, it would require Cao Sini or Zhao Longtu to fight fiercely to bring a hunt target down to its last breath, then let the other students deliver the final blow...


    Putting aside the feasibility of this, would those two be willing to work selflessly for the sake of others?


    Just consider that with over twenty students in the class, each needing to kill at least one hunt target, even if Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu were willing to help, they wouldn''t be able to withstand such a grind.


    And even though Mr. Xue possesses boundless magical power, as an examiner, if he were to assist, the hunt quests would automatically be deemed a failure, and no points would be awarded.


    Unless he could find a way to lend a hand undetected by the officials...


    Cat Xue smiled faintly and simply said:


    "Next, it''s time for the one-on-one personal coaching session that everyone gets."


    With a flash, he perched himself on Ye Jingqiu''s shoulder.


    "Jingqiu student, would you be interested in going on a private date just with me?" Cat Xue revealed an anthropomorphized, smiling expression and touched her face with his soft cat paw.


    With his fluffy body suddenly sitting on her shoulder and the soft paw touching her cheek, the girl was so surprised she nearly fainted on the spot; how could she possibly have any capacity to think?


    Overwhelmed with happiness, she eagerly and vigorously nodded, saying:


    "Yes, I must go, even if it kills me!"


    As she spoke, she carefully picked up Cat Xue, feeling the weight and softness in her palm, and suddenly squatted down on the ground in a duck-sitting position.


    "Ah..."


    Ye Jingqiu closed her eyes, a natural, serene smile played upon her lips, her lovely face radiating a serene happiness as if she had no regrets in death, and she remained still. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Crap, Jingqiu has died on the spot!"


    "Directly interacting with Mr. Xue in his cat form was still too soon for her!"


    "I''m not sure if it''s just my imagination, but I think I saw something transparent rising above her head, like her soul ascending..."


    ...


    On the other side.


    Present day, Silver City, Zhige Base.


    Ning Yuantai stopped in his tracks on the wide square, looking at the sturdy, bald man descending from an aircraft.


    The man exchanged greetings with the head of the Zhige Base who had come to welcome him, removed his sunglasses, and revealed a pair of lion-like, peculiar, and fierce eyes.


    Ning Yuantai frowned slightly and murmured:


    "''Lion Eye'' Shen Tuguang... What''s he doing here?"


    A sense of foreboding washed over Ning Yuantai''s heart.


    "Could it be..."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 349

    Due to Ye Jingqiu''s low resistance to Cat Xue, continuing their contact recklessly could really lead to her death. Despite strong personal opposition, everyone unanimously voted to temporarily ban her from contacting Mr. Xue.


    After that, since Ye Jingqiu was temporarily unavailable, Xue Jing casually assigned He Han as the first "individual tutoring subject."


    Although it was unclear what this "individual tutoring" entailed, as Xue Jing''s first choice, He Han was quite proud.


    "Indeed, I am Mr. Xue''s number one student in his heart..."


    He Han, pretending to be elegant, sat in the chair, holding a cup in one hand and brushing his hair back with the other:


    "Now, I am a great official, akin to being appointed as Marquis, given nine ritual implements, ascending to the palace without hastening, entering the court without bowing, not being named during praises, and holding a court position equal to the Three Ducal Ministers..."


    "From now on, if you want to talk to Mr. Xue, you need my permission first. Get it?"


    Chen Xingyan retorted, "Are you like a primary school kid who just got picked as class representative and starts showing off in front of classmates?"


    "And according to you, people generally won''t last long after that."


    He Han glanced at him, shook the cup in his hand, and pouted towards the kettle placed on the nearby table:


    "Hey, sizhu, do you think the water will jump into my cup on its own?"


    Fu Jialin crossed her arms angrily, her chest slightly pushed out in aggravation, and said angrily:


    "He Han, don''t be too He Han!"


    The others also chimed in angrily, "Jiali is right; you''re being too much like He Han!"


    "Hm?"


    He Han was stunned, "Wait, why does using my name sound like cursing?"


    "You were only chosen by Mr. Xue because of luck! Like a tissue that just happened to be pulled out. It''s not because you''re special, but because you were just there at the right moment! What''s there to boast about!"


    "Evil counsellor, traitor, Zhao Gao!"


    He Han spread his arms, enjoying the moment, "The whining of losers isn''t too unpleasant to hear."


    Chen Xingyan calmly reminded him, "It''s okay to act foolish, but you''ll have to bear the consequences yourself. I won''t help you."


    He Han laughed heartily and carelessly responded, "How so? Just a few jokes. My relationship with everyone is as deep as the ocean, solid as a rock, no one will take it seriously, right?"


    Saying that, he turned his head to look at everyone.


    All of them looked at him expressionlessly, a faint illusion-like black aura emanating from behind them.


    Especially the female classmates, all clenching their fists crackingly, veins popping on their hands, their faces filled with an almost uncontrollable urge to beat him.


    "Hm? Everyone''s eyes seem a bit red. Didn''t you rest well?"


    He Han''s forehead broke out in a cold sweat.


    At that moment, a small figure appeared almost instantly before everyone.


    In an instant, everyone''s face turned respectful and happy, as if the previous murderous intent was merely an illusion.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Hmm." Cat Xue nodded in response to the greeting, then turned to look at He Han.


    "He Han, go around and gather some ''Iron-Based Fruit.'' We''ll need them later for the ''tutoring.''"


    Steel Tree Sea was composed almost entirely of metallic substances, but likely due to an amalgamation with the laws of this world, not only were there ''Iron-Based Plants,'' but these plants even bore fruit.


    Of course, these fruits were also metallic.


    Upon hearing Xue Jing''s instruction, He Han sighed in relief, quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, and dutifully went to carry out the task.


    Half an hour later. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Cat Xue hooked his sharp claws onto a large metallic tree, swinging his body back and forth.


    He Han, holding a bulging backpack, walked up to him and performed a deep bow, saying:


    "May Mr. Xue be fortunate."


    Cat Xue swung himself into the air, nimbly leaping onto He Han''s shoulder, and asked:


    "Did you bring the items?"


    "I did. The goods are pure." He Han patted the backpack in his hand.


    Xue Jing hummed in acknowledgement: "Alright, let''s go."


    He Han curiously asked, "Mr. Xue, where are we going?"


    "D7 area¡­ Why ask so many questions? Just go when I tell you to," Xue Jing glanced at him.


    He Han thought for a moment then tentatively asked, "I remember that place being quite dangerous, part of the ''Expert Area'' in the Intersecting Boundaries, with many high-risk Transformers..."


    Cat Xue calmly said, "What are you afraid of, am I going to harm you? It''s embarrassing for a man from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle to act so cowardly."


    He Han glared, "I''m not afraid to go, just asking simply..."


    He thought for a moment, then added, "Also, although I''m not cowardly, I must clarify that I''m from the south, so losing face wouldn''t reflect badly on the northerners."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Oh? Didn''t you say before that you''re a local from Silver City? Or are your ancestors from the south? That doesn''t count. If you grew up in the north, then you are a northerner."


    He Han waved his hand, "My family for eighteen generations are from Silver City, true-blooded people of Jiangnan."


    "South of Heilongjiang."


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    ¡­


    Steel Tree Sea, D7 area.


    Li Suisui and three boys along with a girl walked on a steel-shaded path.


    He fiddled with his wristband. The holographic information of the map on his wristband continually changed, while the four students around him vigilantly surveyed their surroundings.


    "Teacher Li¡­ do we really need to undertake this subjugation task?"


    Among the four students, a boy asked with a worried expression.


    "Our individual scores are fully sufficient, aren''t they? By the end of the exams, when the scores are divided across the team, we''ll be ranked first and receive a wealth of points. Aside from that female fiend from the Demon King Class, we''re securely in the top four¡­ Is it worth the risk?"


    The other three didn''t speak, but they all looked toward Li Suisui, clearly sharing the same confusion.


    "Normally, that would indeed be the case."


    Li Suisui continued to study the map, fiddling with her wristband as she spoke indifferently.


    "But in this exam, there is someone whose actions cannot be judged by ordinary standards."


    "This person chose the unwise strategy of having the whole class form a squad... Usually, it''s a very unwise decision."


    "In any group, once the numbers increase, most of the people inevitably become a burden. The attempt to get good results for everyone usually ensures that no one gets good results."


    "But as I said, that person should not be measured by ordinary standards."


    "For that kind of person, no matter how unfavorable his decisions seem for the exam rules, you must assume he has methods beyond ordinary to ensure everyone achieves good results."


    Li Suisui said this and then glanced quietly at the others.


    "If you''re content with your current scores, you may later face the consequence of suddenly having thirty more people above you in the rankings... Although being in the top fifty already qualifies you for admission into every university in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, the martial arts resources of each school are limited."


    "The better your scores, the higher your ranking, and without a doubt, the more resources you will get. Is it your intention to be content with the top fifty, or will you strive with all your might to remain in the top ten?"


    The four of them exchanged looks, then responded, "We will follow your advice, Teacher."


    Li Suisui nodded, "Hmm, you four have coordinated well over the past few days. Dealing with creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries below level 5 shouldn''t be a problem. With Xuanyi''s All-Killing Mystery, even the Iron-Based Creatures with strong defenses can be defeated. The task of eradication is achievable; there is no need to be afraid."


    "Roar¡ª!!!"


    Suddenly, a roar laced with the sound of metal friction came from not far away.


    It wasn''t particularly loud but was painfully sharp, piercing the eardrums and seemingly carrying a hint of desperation.


    Li Suisui furrowed her brows.


    "It''s the ''Big Chainsaw Ape''."


    "What''s going on, that sound... has it been preyed on by another creature?"


    Li Suisui''s figure flashed as she hurried toward the source of the sound.


    "Follow me!"


    The four students looked at each other quickly and hurriedly followed.


    ...


    "What the heck, a territory dispute?"


    He Han stared wide-eyed at the scene before him.


    A huge steel-colored giant ape, nearly ten meters tall with its tail ending in a chainsaw-shaped appendage, was bound around its lower body by several thick silver metal roots, causing it to roar anxiously as it continually pounded its chest.


    He Han covered his ears, grimacing, "Mr. Xue, have you heard that quiet animal joke..."


    "It''s about a gorilla because it can knock on ''mimi''¡­"


    Cat Xue, sitting on He Han''s shoulder, ignored him, flicking her tail and controlling the distant Steel Seed with the Plant Pact to continuously produce thick metal roots attacking their target, the ''Big Chainsaw Ape''.


    The ape, muscular and obviously very strong, was frantically restrained by the growing roots. Its chainsaw-tipped tail swung wildly, creating sparks as it sawed through the roots, each cut followed by even more roots wrapping around.


    Before long, a dense mass of roots had bound it up tightly like a rice dumpling, rendering even its tail immobile. The Big Chainsaw Ape could only howl in furious impotence towards the sky.


    Cat Xue glanced at He Han.


    "You''re really lucky to have stumbled upon an unknown Iron-based Plant preying on the Big Chainsaw Ape... Go, its Core Organ is in its head, use a Serious Punch to smash its head, and the eradication task will be complete, free points."


    He Han looked quirky.


    Initially, when they first reached Area D7 and heard from Xue Jing that it was for an eradication task, he had refused.


    But between the choices of a paw to the throat from Cat Xue and being torn apart by a gorilla, he had to venture over under Xue Jing''s insinuated guidance...


    And just as they arrived, after attracting the Big Chainsaw Ape with various fruits from his backpack, a strange Iron-based Plant suddenly emerged and started thrashing the ape, soon binding it up, conveniently exposing its head for easy targeting. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was luck...


    Not possible.


    He Han opened his mouth and suppressed the impulse to ask if it was Mr. Xue''s doing.


    No need to ask, it certainly was.


    If he had stumbled upon this situation by himself, it might have been a fortunate coincidence.


    But he was brought here by Mr. Xue.


    It was clearly Mr. Xue''s maneuver, specially arranging it to boost his score.


    He Han coughed.


    No, he couldn''t start laughing yet, or else he would spoil Mr. Xue''s hard work.


    He displayed a resolute expression, calmly saying, "Just so you know, I''ve been called a ''lucky kid'' since I was little. Buying ten popsicles, I''d win at least one ''try again'', and every time the aunt next door saw me, she''d exclaim: ''That kid will surely be a Superman one day.''"


    "Encountering this can be said to be logical, quite normal, and utterly expected..."


    Xue Jing twitched his mouth, fanned his head with a cat paw, "Less chatter."


    He Han rubbed his head, cautiously approached the still roaring and struggling Big Chainsaw Ape, swallowed, and hesitated,


    "Uh... are you sure it can''t move?"


    Cat Xue indifferently responded, "In three seconds, it should break free."


    "One¡­"


    He had just counted to one when the roots restraining the Big Chainsaw Ape immediately started to loosen.


    In a rush, He Han, disregarding his fears, activated Serious Punch and violently smashed towards the Big Chainsaw Ape''s head.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    The metallic skull shattered, and the Big Chainsaw Ape, like a machine that had been shut off, ceased its furious struggle in an instant.


    He Han touched the cold sweat on his forehead and collapsed to the ground.


    "No, Mr. Xue, you said three seconds, but as soon as I counted to one, it felt like it was breaking free..."


    He gasped for air as he looked toward Cat Xue.

 Chapter 350

    "How many points did you get?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    He Han took a couple of breaths and looked at the information on his wristband.


    "3000 individual points and 3000 team points..."


    He said, his eyebrows dancing with excitement.


    "We''ve hit the jackpot, Mr. Xue."


    "Even if I don''t earn a single point from now on, I bet my final score could still land me in the top fifty!"


    A top fifty score in such a large-scale joint exam had already reached the admission baseline of any university within the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Due to the stringent isolation between the major metropolitan circles, normally, no matter how exceptional a student''s performance was, it was very difficult to attend a university in another metropolitan circle, so at that moment, He Han was, in essence, within reach of the highest educational institution he could aspire to.


    It felt similar to when Xue Jing, in his previous life, heard that he could get into Tsinghua University and Peking University, naturally, he was quite excited.


    Xue Jing nodded his head and hummed a response.


    Before the exam started, he had specifically looked into the various judging mechanisms of this joint exam.


    He then discovered that the whole process was monitored and managed by AI, and whether an examiner had intervened in a student''s execution of a hunting task was determined by a set of pre-written rules rather than active judgment based on human observation.


    In such a case, Xue Jing''s control of ''Steel Seed'', a native plant of the Steel Tree Sea, to attack the Big Chainsaw Ape would just seem like a coincidence to the AI strictly monitoring according to the rules, merely a part of the natural evolution within the Steel Tree Sea.


    As long as it wasn''t an examiner lending a hand, no matter the process, as soon as a student landed the killing blow on the target and took the head, the rules would acknowledge the completion of the hunting task.


    This idea had proven to be feasible; the AI lacked the ability to oversee Xue Jing''s Divine Skill, and would not consider the ''Plant Pact''s control of the Steel Seed as Xue Jing taking action.


    Unless it could gather sufficient evidence from conversations or other exchanges between Xue Jing and the students.


    "Let''s go, hunt the next one... Huh?"


    Cat Xue turned his head to look to the side.


    In the steel forest not far away, several figures were rapidly approaching, the leader of whom was small in stature ¨C it was Li Suisui.


    "Brother Sui..."


    Xue Jing''s cat eyes narrowed.


    Li Suisui and his four men arrived, and upon seeing the Big Chainsaw Ape with its head already blasted open, they too were momentarily stunned.


    "Incredible... Huh?"


    Although he had not seen Xue Jing''s ability to turn into a cat before, Li Suisui instantly fixated on Cat Xue, who was sitting on He Han''s shoulder.


    With the overly conspicuous handsome features and temperament, Li Suisui immediately frowned and said:


    "Xue Jing?"


    As soon as these words came out, the four students beside him were shocked.


    Following the earth-shattering battle between Xue Jing and Li Suisui that day, and with the activities of Xue Jing''s class over the past few days and the gradual spread of news about the deaths of various examiners, almost all students became aware of an extraordinary figure entering this exam site.


    He was so formidable that even Li Suisui, known as the Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth, was no match for him.


    Now, hearing Li Suisui utter this name, the four students immediately became nervous, following the direction of Li Suisui''s gaze.


    "A cat...?"


    "In the Steel Tree Sea, how could there be a cat?"


    "How did they bring it in... and isn''t this cat just too good-looking?"


    The four were full of curiosity.


    Paying no mind to the curiosity of the four students, Li Suisui asked directly, "Xue Jing, what are you doing here... is this Big Chainsaw Ape your doing?"


    Cat Xue shook his head and opened his mouth to say, "I''ve told you to call me ''bro''... This was taken care of by my student."


    "Him?"


    Li Suisui raised an eyebrow, glancing at He Han, who had a somewhat sly look.


    Facing his scrutiny, He Han revealed a simple and honest smile, looking like a simpleton.


    He hardly seemed like someone who could solo kill a dangerous creature such as the Big Chainsaw Ape.


    "Never mind, although the Big Chainsaw Ape is gone, there''s still an unexpected find."


    Li Suisui shook his head, turned to the four students under his command, and stretched his hand towards He Han, "Go and kill him."


    Having already concluded he couldn''t beat Xue Jing himself, Li Suisui still had secondary objectives to accomplish: to hinder Xue Jing from achieving good results and to get his student out of the exam as much as possible.


    "Eh?" The four were still stunned by the sight of Cat Xue speaking and momentarily dazed.


    "Damn it, Mr. Xue, what do we do now!?"


    He Han''s eyes widened in a bit of panic.


    Each of these four students was stronger than him. Maybe he could''ve thought of a way to try and flip the situation with a surprise Serious Punch, but against all four attacking together, he was definitely doomed.


    Not to mention he had just used Serious Punch, and his whole body was still sore and weakened. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mr. Xue, being an examiner, couldn''t help him either; intervening to protect him would mean his exit from the exam.


    "What''s the rush," Xue Jing glanced at him.


    An invisible gap opened, the Dragon Sakura Root reached He Han''s body, and pumped in Life Force, replenishing his state to full. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Just fight... You can beat them."


    He Han pointed at himself, "Me?"


    But then he thought about it; it seemed Mr. Xue had never been one to act without basis, even the ''I am invincible'' type of jokes he made at the beginning turned out to be true... In these Intersecting Boundaries, he truly was unbeatable.


    Thinking of this, He Han''s confidence surged.


    Not in himself, but in Xue Jing.


    If Mr. Xue said he could win, then he could win!


    He placed his left palm on his right arm, revealed a cocky expression towards the four not far away, and with his right hand, he kept wagging his index finger, taunting them:


    "Come at me, you guys!"


    Seeing this, the four exchanged glances.

 Chapter 352

    Li Suisui took a step out of the Steel Tree Sea, walking from the film of light into the real world.


    Instantly, the sky changed, transforming from a leaden color with a scene full of metal to a normal wilderness. The smell in his nose was no longer that of blood-like rust, but fresh, natural air.


    Before he could adapt to the real-world environment that he hadn''t seen in seven days, Li Suisui''s steps halted, and his gaze shifted to a robust figure standing not far to his left.


    The moment he saw those lion-like, bizarre eyes, Li Suisui felt a ferociously savage aura emanating like a tidal wave from that figure, spreading violently with one wave after another, nearly stirring up visible air fluctuations.


    Vaguely, it even made Li Suisui''s scalp tingle.


    "So pure and intense ''Fighting Qi''..."


    Li Suisui narrowed his eyes.


    People who practiced martial arts emitted their spirit and will as an "aura" or "fighting spirit" among other emotional forces, collectively termed as ''Dynamic Qi.''


    Emotions such as killer intent, pride, anger, and greed all possessed the power to influence actual combat ability.


    The person before him had ''Dynamic Qi'' that was exceptionally pure and fiery, as if refining all emotions, ultimately forming a highly pure ''Fighting Qi'' that existed solely for combat.


    Such a level of ''Dynamic Qi'' was something even Li Suisui, experienced and knowledgeable as he was, had seldom seen.


    Unless born a combat fanatic of the highest degree, one couldn''t possess such pure Dynamic Qi.


    By fashionable modern terms... this man would be considered a ''super-hero among super-heroes.''


    After just a second of meeting his gaze, Li Suisui naturally diverted his attention.


    "Who exactly is this man?"


    However, soon after realizing the unusual shape of that man''s eyes, Li Suisui had some answers.


    As a genius of the Old Martial Path and a member of the Secret Martial Society''s Conservative Faction, he had been exposed to Old Martial Arts practitioners from birth. He basically knew all the formidable figures in the Old Martial Circle.


    He should have remembered a strong man of this stature.


    This man must be a martial artist on a unique path, possibly practicing Neo Martial Arts or, like Xue Jing, dual cultivating both styles, or maybe...


    Having guessed the reason this man appeared here, Li Suisui thought to quickly get away.


    He turned around and began directing the students who had followed him out of the Steel Tree Sea.


    From nearly forty students at the start, only less than twenty remained... most were eliminated by the students from the Demon King Class.


    The remaining ones looked listless, their faces pale, and even somewhat thin and sickly, hardly looking like the top picks of the Elite Class.


    Having stayed in the Steel Tree Sea for seven days, with extremely scarce resources, not having eaten well nor slept well, and having to fight continuously, their bodies naturally couldn''t cope.


    And not just their bodies were a problem.


    Most importantly, spiritually, they had been severely impacted by that ''Demon King Class''... The pride of being outstanding candidates, the pride and joy of leading examiner Li Suisui, and the relief, all vanished.


    Amidst the sighs of dejection, the students followed Li Suisui toward the large flying craft that had come to pick them up.


    Then, at that moment.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    The bread-shaped flying craft, about the size of a large bus, suddenly exploded into two halves from the middle, each half blown hundreds of meters apart.


    Li Suisui instantly positioned himself in front of the students, spreading his arms with invisible Qi Force emanating from his body, blocking the aftermath of the explosion.


    "Ah ah!!"


    "What happened?"


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    Accompanied by screams, the students felt somewhat at a loss.


    Li Suisui did not speak; he slowly turned his head, expressionless, and looked towards the robust figure approaching him.


    "You, run behind me, as far as you can." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Suisui spoke without turning his head, his back towards the students, as he watched the bald, lion-eyed man.


    The students swallowed nervously. Despite being tired and hungry, they immediately obeyed Li Suisui''s command, running as far as they could away from the place.


    Only Li Suisui and the bald, lion-eyed man were left at the open site.


    The two looked at each other, the man walked up to Li Suisui, looking down at him from above.


    "I recognize you, you''re that shortest student..."


    The man''s voice was rough as he spoke.


    "It''s strongest... and not a primary student, but a middle school student."


    Li Suisui said unemotionally.


    The lion-eyed man neither agreed nor disagreed, only oddly asking, "Weren''t you sent to fight Xue Jing? According to the results, your mission failed, why are you still alive?"


    "Should a failed mission mean certain death?" Li Suisui retorted.


    The man scoffed, "So it is. A person with no such awareness, afraid of death, no wonder the mission failed. Truly just a bunch of waste."


    "If you can''t even handle this, what''s the use of keeping your life? Just die!"


    Before his words were finished, the man didn''t hesitate to stretch out his hand, larger than Li Suisui''s head, reaching for the top of his head.


    Although the conversation had hardly begun before suddenly breaking down into action, unexpectedly abrupt and aggressive, Li Suisui was mentally prepared and managed to land a palm strike on the man''s chest first.


    "Puh¡ª¡ª"


    A ring of Qi Force shook outwards, spreading rapidly to hundreds of meters, grass and gravel flying about. This palm strike, powerful enough to blow away a tank, didn''t make the man retreat even slightly.


    Li Suisui felt as if he had struck a mountain... no, even a mountain, when struck with such a force, should have shaken quite a bit, not remaining utterly unmoved.

 Chapter 352_2

    ``` sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This caught Li Suisui by surprise. He had expected his strike to make the opponent stagger at least, but it was firmly withstood. Unable to follow up with his next move, and with the opponent''s palm nearing his body, Li Suisui reluctantly contracted his body and quickly retreated to dodge the hand.


    A sneer crossed the man''s face, his palm suddenly quickened several times over, pinching the collar of Li Suisui.


    "Flesh and blood, overestimating your capabilities."


    Li Suisui''s expression remained unchanged as he raised his palm, lifting it in a sky-holding gesture, striking directly at the man''s wrist.


    "All Things Myriad Phases¡¤Thousand Mystic."


    Rings of Qi Force exploded and spread, the man''s hand flew uncontrollably upwards, tearing the Tactical Suit that Li Suisui was holding, freeing himself from it.


    "Hm? This Martial Arts technique... is somewhat interesting."


    The bald man''s mouth twisted into an exaggerated grin, revealing a set of eerily neat and sharp teeth.


    Soon after, his lion-like eyes widened, and with an intense glare, an already fierce appearance became even more terrifying.


    "Buzz¡ª¡ª"


    The surrounding air trembled and warped violently, the ground cracked, and the plants bent. Li Suisui''s body stiffened, realizing this was bad.


    The next moment, two large hands, like iron clamps, grabbed Li Suisui''s underarms and hoisted him high into the air.


    With a fierce look, the man clenched his fingers tightly, instantly puncturing Li Suisui''s body with ten bloody holes, his fingers penetrating through, about to pinch him to death and tear him in two.


    Li Suisui coldly sneered, his Spirit Consciousness controlling his Breakthrough body, Qi Force rapidly circulating within, forming an invisible blade that unexpectedly sliced inside his own body, severing the flesh and bones grabbed by the man, then swiftly kicked off against the man''s abdomen. His figure flashed, reappearing dozens of meters away.


    On the man''s hands remained only two pieces of translucent flesh.


    Two bloody cavities now gaped in Li Suisui''s underarms, his cells moving quickly to stem the bleeding.


    "...Huh, you little brat."


    The man grimaced with a smile, opened his mouth, and placed the flesh from his right hand into his mouth, biting down hard, and thick blood burst forth, running down his chin.


    "What the hell, what''s happening?" Ning Yuantai was monitoring from a distance, frantically sending messages on his wristband while watching the sudden fight between Shen Tuguang and the kid, his eyes wide with shock.


    ...


    Xue Jing leisurely walked toward the twisted light membrane leading to the real world with his students, as if on a field trip.


    As soon as he neared the light membrane, his wristband began to vibrate non-stop.


    "Hm?"


    He opened the chat app on his wristband, with many unread messages displayed, and the number was still rising, most of which were from Ning Yuantai.


    After reading all massages, Xue Jing thoughtfully closed the holographic interface on his wristband.


    "Mr. Xue, what''s wrong?"


    The students were somewhat puzzled.


    "Stay here, do not move from this spot, and wait for my message."


    Having said that, Xue Jing walked into the twisted light membrane without looking back, heading to the real world, leaving the students looking at each other in confusion.


    In a blink, the world changed as if a film had suddenly switched scenes awkwardly.


    The leaden sky turned to azure blue, but Xue Jing paid no mind to these changes and instead immediately turned his head to look not far away.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    Amidst the dust and debris, a large and small figure collided. After a short standoff, the larger one remained in place, while the smaller one was violently flung back dozens of meters, his feet scraping two deep furrows into the ground.


    Xue Jing''s arrival caused both fighters to pause, their gazes shifting toward him.


    "Xue!"


    Ning Yuantai''s expression changed, frantic.


    Indeed, cross-dimensional information transmission, even the ''Super Network'' can''t achieve it, can it? Xue didn''t see his warning...


    This is bad.


    Biting his lip, Ning Yuantai ran out of the aircraft cabin toward Xue Jing, shouting as he ran, "Xue, that man is..."


    Before he could finish, Shen Tuguang gave him a casual glance.


    Ning Yuantai''s body suddenly stiffened, and he fell headfirst to the ground, unable to move.


    "...Quite the commotion, what kind of play are you guys performing?"


    Xue Jing looked around at the few people present, smiling as he spoke.


    While talking, he took out the [attribute table] and put it on, pressing it toward the man Ning Yuantai called ''Lion Eye'' Shen Tuguang.


    Body: ?


    Spirit: ?


    Robbery: 9842


    Saint: 7421


    Momentum: ?


    ```


    The five dimensions that were measured made Xue Jing''s eyebrows inadvertently twitch.


    Their ''Robbery'' was approaching ten thousand... almost catching up to him.


    Even the ''Saint'' was only about a thousand less than him.


    He had reached over eight thousand in ''Saint'' attributes with a body full of Extraordinary Skills and Divine Skills...


    What was the deal with this person, to have such exaggerated stats?


    After a moment of thought, combining the information sent by Ning Yuantai, an answer faintly emerged in Xue Jing''s mind.


    "Xue Jing, this person is probably the bottom-line contender I mentioned before, the one to be used against you," Li Suisui said, covering the wound under her arm with a frown.


    Xue Jing looked at her, pondered for a moment, and said,


    "Although I want to ask why you ended up fighting with him... let''s forget it, time is tight. Shall we team up?"


    Li Suisui bit her teeth with determination: "That''s exactly what I was thinking."


    Shen Tuguang glanced at the two of them, then flashed a ferocious smile with lips smeared in blood:


    "Two little brats..."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing''s silhouette vanished in place, and when he reappeared, he had triggered ''True Red,'' turning into a figure with flaming red hair and glowing eyes.


    "True Red Nova."


    The blood circulated, spiraling to its limits, tightly compressing and gathering at the edge of his fist, branding Shen Tuguang right in the chest and abdomen, then exploding violently with a thunderous roar.


    A ring of spiraling Qi waves swept up the sky full of dust, turning into a horizontal tornado, wrapping Shen Tuguang within it.


    The latter staggered back several steps from the impact, leaving deep footprints on the ground, his lion-like eyes revealing a trace of surprise.


    "So that''s how it is, no wonder..."


    He brushed over his torso, where the clothes had been ripped apart, revealing his robust pectoral muscles with a fist-sized, slightly reddish spiral mark.


    "But that''s all there is to it,"


    "It''s ultimately still just flesh and blood."


    Shen Tuguang scoffed with disdain, straightened his neck, and then tilted his head to the side.


    The next moment, Li Suisui''s figure appeared, her counter-punch viciously smashing into his deliberately exposed neck with a crisp snap, producing dense white steam from the neck due to the tremendous kinetic impact.


    When the steam had dispersed, only a faint mark remained, which then, in less than half a second, completely reverted to an uninjured state.


    "..."


    Xue Jing and Li Suisui exchanged glances.


    "Ultimate Breaker..."


    ...


    "Two little brats..."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing''s silhouette vanished in place, and when he reappeared, he had triggered ''True Red,'' turning into a figure with flaming red hair and glowing eyes.


    "True Red Nova."


    The blood circulated, spiraling to its limits, tightly compressing and gathering at the edge of his fist, branding Shen Tuguang right in the chest and abdomen, then exploding violently with a thunderous roar.


    A ring of spiraling Qi waves swept up the sky full of dust, turning into a horizontal tornado, wrapping Shen Tuguang within it.


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    The latter staggered back several steps from the impact, leaving deep footprints on the ground, his lion-like eyes revealing a trace of surprise.


    "So that''s how it is, no wonder..."


    He brushed over his torso, where the clothes had been ripped apart, revealing his robust pectoral muscles with a fist-sized, slightly reddish spiral mark.


    "But that''s all there is to it,"


    "It''s ultimately still just flesh and blood."


    Shen Tuguang scoffed with disdain, straightened his neck, and then tilted his head to the side.


    The next moment, Li Suisui''s figure appeared, her counter-punch viciously smashing into his deliberately exposed neck with a crisp snap, producing dense white steam from the neck due to the tremendous kinetic impact.


    When the steam had dispersed, only a faint mark remained, which then, in less than half a second, completely reverted to an uninjured state.


    "..."


    Xue Jing and Li Suisui exchanged glances.


    "Ultimate Breaker..."


    ...

 Chapter 353 Divinity Organ, My Divinity is Above Yours!

    "The so-called Ultimate Breakthrough," refers to a technique made publicly available to a select few by the Extreme Martial King after taking charge of Cangting.


    It utilizes a special method that allows the human body to absorb the ''Divine Factor'' to enhance itself, remodel its physique, and achieve strength and potential beyond human limits.


    Ordinary humans, upon reaching their potential limit, must undergo a ''Breakthrough''; the Divine Factor can increase the body''s limit to many times its original. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because the greater the physical strength, the more difficult it is to Breakthrough, there is a theoretical human limit value for Divine Factor enhancement.


    If the physical limit strength of an ordinary person is 1, this limit value generally ranges around 6~7 depending on the individual.


    Upon reaching this limit value and then performing a Breakthrough, one achieves the Ultimate Breakthrough.


    Once the human body leaps over the Dragon Gate, in terms of physical strength alone, with continued training, it can generally become more than five times stronger than before the Breakthrough.


    Applying this formula to an Ultimate Breaker... it equates 1x5 becoming either 6x5 or 7x5...


    According to the attribute table, a normal person''s body limit is 1000 points, and with Divine enhancement, it reaches at least 6000 points.


    After the Ultimate Breakthrough, with continued training, an Ultimate Breaker can achieve over 30,000 in physical "Strength"...


    As of now, after Xue Jing uses True Red, his value is just under 12,000, a full three times less.


    This value is already the peak achievable after a conventional Second Breakthrough. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    As for Shen Tuguang in front of him, Xue Jing didn''t feel the overwhelming sense of 30,000 in "Strength," but estimated it was at least over 20,000.


    Li Suisui, the little brother, although he had just experienced his Second Breakthrough a few days ago, it was still too soon; he hadn''t grown to the limit of this realm, and his value was about the same as Xue Jing''s, even slightly less.


    Both of them now realized the situation was not good.


    Because... since Shen Tuguang was an Ultimate Breaker, apart from the advantage of physical strength, he surely possessed even more formidable abilities.


    Xue Jing glanced at his lion-like, bizarre eyes, his expression slightly hardened.


    He had seen data on Ultimate Breakthroughs on the plane coming to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Invariably for Ultimate Breakers, their bodies undergo mutations due to the Divine Factor, always resulting in some parts becoming unlike those of ordinary people.


    As if the body itself was bragging about something, to distinguish itself from ordinary flesh and blood.


    Insiders refer to these mutated parts on an Ultimate Breaker''s body as ''Divinity Organs.''


    Any Divinity Organ possesses special Transcendent abilities.


    "Hey!" Seeing Xue Jing looking his way, Shen Tuguang suddenly sneered, his lion eyes glaring at him.


    Then...


    Nothing happened.


    "Hmm? What''s going on?"


    Shen Tuguang furrowed his brow.


    A massive blood sword, forty meters long, formed instantaneously from Xue Jing''s hand, and with a swift swing, it sliced quickly through the air and slashed diagonally across Shen Tuguang.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The sturdy and sharp True Red Sword intersected with Shen Tuguang''s neck, emitting an eerie sound grating to the ears, leaving behind an almost bloody red mark and sending Shen Tuguang flying a hundred meters away.


    "Did you not feel anything just now?"


    Li Suisui raised an eyebrow and asked from nearby.


    Xue Jing retracted the True Red Sword in his hand, and a large amount of fresh blood coiled around his hand, forming into a sharp Spiral Spear, beginning to rotate and compress at high speed.


    "I felt a strange force close by... but it dispersed the moment it touched my body."


    While answering, Xue Jing snapped his fingers. The Spiral Blood Spear that was spinning rapidly in mid-air burst forth, tearing through the air with a sonic shriek and spiraling currents, lodging itself in Shen Tuguang''s chest and abdomen.


    The Spiral Blood Spear spun incessantly like a drill, trying to burrow into and pierce through Shen Tuguang''s flesh. The latter, expressionless, grabbed the blood spear at his chest and yanked it apart, creating a blood rain around him.


    "How strange¡­ when he looks at me, there''s an oppressive force out of nowhere that immobilizes me."


    Li Suisui thought, "If it''s useless against you¡­ although I don''t know why, that''s good news."


    Xue Jing said, "I''m carrying the ''Wind of All Beginnings'' that I got from you."


    Li Suisui shook her head, "People in the Secret Martial Society have tried it before, it''s ineffective against Ultimate Breakers, not sure if it''s due to the ''Sequence Suppression'' or some other reason¡­"


    Suddenly, Shen Tuguang vanished from his spot as if the scene was cut, reappearing in front of Xue Jing at an unimaginable speed.


    "Brat."


    He looked down at Xue Jing, his voice grave,


    "Have you already¡­ used the Ultimate Limit Breaking Method?"


    "The Divinity Organ only fails in front of a higher Divinity¡­ just how much ''Divine Factor'' did the commander give you?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes shifted.


    "So that''s how it is¡­ you''re from Cease-Blades."


    "Answer my question, brat!" Shen Tuguang''s face showed anger as he kicked towards Xue Jing''s stomach.


    The kick was incredibly fierce, with unimaginable force, pushing the air aside to create a fleeting vacuum, stirring up intense atmospheric turbulence.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing lowered his palms to block, channeling the All Things Myriad Phases Flow, using thousands of different Powers to dissipate the kinetic energy of the kick¡­


    From the side, it appeared that he simply blocked the kick with his hands, then was kicked into the air, gracefully landing dozens of meters away.


    Xue Jing chuckled softly, "What, are you angry now?"


    "Although I did find a bottle of Divine Factor in her room, I don''t know exactly how much it was."


    Shen Tuguang''s face stiffened, his tone growing colder.


    "¡­You went into her room?"


    Xue Jing, seemingly oblivious to the increasing danger in his tone, just smiled,


    "Can''t help it, the commander ordered me to sleep in her room¡­ by the way, do you know her bed smells really nice?"


    This was a lie.


    That bed had no scent at all, clean as if it had just come off the production line, never touched by anyone.


    "¡­ and slept¡­ in¡­ her¡­ bed."


    Shen Tuguang spoke deliberately, his tone turning eerily calm, almost unfluctuating.


    "Hmm? You seem quite angry?"


    Xue Jing looked apologetic:


    "You wouldn''t happen to like her, right? I''m really sorry then, I shouldn''t have mentioned it."


    "Shut up!!!" Shen Tuguang roared furiously.


    The ground began to tremble, the air quivered lightly, as if the entire space-time was trembling in fear due to this man''s rage.


    "No one is allowed to love her, no one is allowed to desecrate her, not me¡­ and neither can you!!!"


    ¡­

 Chapter 354 Xue Jings Tactics, Playing Some Tricks

    Shen Tuguang''s fury could almost be described as earth-shattering, trembling the very void, making Xue Jing feel a tingling in his skin all over.


    That was the pure "Dynamic Qi," interfering with the physical world in its invisible form, an emotional fluctuation so potent that it had reached its extreme.


    Even if Shen Tuguang were just an ordinary person with no martial arts training, just with this "Dynamic Qi," he would be able to punch a car and blow it up.


    Moreover, the man was a "Superman" whom Xue Jing estimated to have a physical strength value of over twenty thousand, and under the drive of this Dynamic Qi, who knew how astonishing the power he could unleash would be.


    Xue Jing faintly understood why this guy, who seemed a bit like a cookie-cutter, low-IQ villain from a web novel, could achieve something as difficult as the "Ultimate Breakthrough."


    Whether it was a regular Breakthrough or an Ultimate Breakthrough, both required a robust spirit and will, almost like a ''compulsory command'' to force one''s own body to change its genes.


    A body remodeled by Divinity was far superior to that of an ordinary person, naturally requiring a more intense and pure spiritual will.


    Shen Tuguang was unusually quick-tempered; just a couple of simple taunts could get him this angry... and he had unexpectedly started fighting with Li Suisui earlier.


    Although Xue Jing was unclear about the reason for their fight, he felt that Li Suisui didn''t seem like the type to provoke trouble, and the exam had just ended; it had probably been less than fifteen minutes since she had come out before him.


    To have, in such a short time, convinced the hotheaded brother to join forces with him for a two-on-one bout of justice, the reason must be rather far-fetched.


    "Going toe-to-toe is not a good strategy."


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing instantly made up his mind and exited the "True Red" state.


    Red hair returned to black; blazing eyes transformed to deep blue.


    The only advantage of his True Red state was his powerful body, but when facing an enemy against whom he absolutely could not gain the upper hand physically, he had to revert to his original self and play some fancy tricks.


    Xue Jing stretched out his hand towards Shen Tuguang and curled his finger, audibly stating,


    "Come, kill me."


    Shen Tuguang laughed in anger, "Ignorant little brat who doesn''t know how high the sky is." Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    The next moment.


    Xue Jing''s body burst open, disintegrating into countless fragments no bigger than the tip of a finger, swirling in the air, spreading with the furious airflow.


    In front of him, Shen Tuguang maintained his punching posture, towering and unmovable.


    Myriad tiny fragments, burning with the blackness of the Shadow Flame, slowly gathered to the side, attempting to reassemble.


    Shen Tuguang snorted with disdain,


    "Laozi has seen your files, a ''Blessed One'' of ''The Lord of No Face and Thousand Faces,'' possessing numerous God-Given Secret Arts... Nonsense!"


    "Before absolute power, all the flashy abilities are mere child''s play!"


    Saying this, he turned around and threw a backhand punch with such speed that it seemed as if the frames had been skipped; there was no prelude or process, from stillness to motion, his fist was already swung in the next frame.


    "Whoosh¡ª!!"


    Li Suisui, in a defensive posture with both arms in front, flew backward hundreds of meters, crashing into a small mountain, embedding in it, making the entire nearby ground tremble slightly.


    "Thinking you have the upper hand in a two-on-one? In front of a mighty lion, your number of weaklings counts for nothing!"


    Shen Tuguang snorted coldly, reaching out for Xue Jing.


    At this moment, Xue Jing''s body had roughly taken shape; he extended a finger, and atop his head with crackling sounds, two curved horns ignited with Flame Thunder, resplendent with crimson-gold, grew out.


    The intense light of Flame Thunder gathered at the fingertip, compressing, and with a boom, a Flame Thunder Light Cannon burst out, over a meter in diameter.


    Shen Tuguang simply tilted his head, neither dodging nor evading, allowing the Light Cannon aimed at his whole upper body to hit him at close range.


    "Buzz¡ª"


    The Red Gold Light Cannon passed through his body and dissipated in the air hundreds of meters away, leaving behind crackling traces of small Flame Thunders everywhere.


    Shen Tuguang''s entire upper body, with his clothes completely gone, showed a ludicrously exaggerated musculature and countless various scars, silently recounting the many battles he had been through.


    At this moment, his body was almost unharmed, save for his hair and eyebrows being singed and curled black, with remnants of Flame Thunder still clinging to his hair.


    "Not even qualified to light a cigarette for Laozi!"


    In the midst of his clamor, he paused slightly.


    An invisible rift suddenly opened beside him, and dozens of black roots stretched forth from it, quickly enlarging to form a massive cluster that nearly blotted out the sky, twisting and reaching towards Shen Tuguang.


    "Futile effort!"


    With disdain in his words, he casually swiped away the roots extending towards him, reducing them to splinters in a shower of wood chips, as if the steadfast Dragon Cherry Wood was as brittle as a crispy snack under his touch.


    Afterward, Shen Tuguang extended his palm and grasped Xue Jing''s neck, squeezing hard.


    Without any sensation of grabbing something, Xue Jing had already vanished from the spot.


    A hundred meters away, within a small cluster of Dark Flame, Xue Jing materialized out of thin air, crouching on the ground and looking towards Shen Tuguang.


    Xue Jing nodded after his sight, surpassing human limits, had canvassed Shen Tuguang from head to toe. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Success... now to see how effective it will be.''


    ''Next is to draw his attention and stall as much as possible...''


    An invisible rift opened beside him, and Xue Jing reached in, slowly pulling an ancient and beautiful long knife from the void.


    GOD-519¡¤The Blade That Never Dulls.


    "Feather Transformation¡¤Divine Avoidance."


    Releasing his Spiritual Aura, it permeated the Shadow Flame, then used "Yuhua" to control and condense the clever move.


    Black lightning blossomed on the long knife, slicing through the void, slashing towards Shen Tuguang, who was before him.


    The extremely sharp tip of the knife was caught between two fingers, instantly freezing in place, and the crackling black lightning patterns passed over the fingers, sweeping unstoppably across Shen Tuguang''s body.


    Just like a breeze brushing the face, Shen Tuguang merely had his hair blown backward, his expression unaltered.


    The Feather Transformation¡¤Divine Avoidance, specifically targeting spiritual will, was entirely ineffective against someone with a strong Dynamic Qi like him.


    He was about to snap the long knife with a casual bend, but then his expression shifted.


    "Huh? The Blade That Never Dulls?"


    Recognizing the true form of the long knife in Xue Jing''s hand, Shen Tuguang''s eyes lit up.


    "An unexpected gain; this knife is now Laozi''s!"


    Xue Jing smiled, unconcerned, as he released the knife''s hilt and leaped back several dozen meters, leaving The Blade That Never Dulls in Shen Tuguang''s hands.


    The invisible rift beside him opened once more, and Xue Jing continued to reach in, drawing forth a giant sword even larger than himself from the void.


    Twirling the giant sword in his hand, he flung a flourish, the massive blade tearing through the air with a heavy sound.


    "The Forgotten Greatsword... you little devil, you''re too lucky."


    Shen Tuguang showed an interested expression.


    Compared to The Blade That Never Dulls, the Forgotten Greatsword was more to his liking.


    "But now... they''re both mine."


    Shen Tuguang, continually distracted by Xue Jing, had not noticed.


    Scattered all over his skin were countless, invisibly tiny silver-red mystical seeds.


    These seeds had burrowed into the small crevices of his skin, taking root and gradually sprouting numerous tiny blossoms...


    ...

 Chapter 355

    While launching an attack with the Dragon Sakura Root, Xue Jing simultaneously controlled the newly contracted "Cannibal Flower" seeds, they instantly propagated and grew, generating countless miniature flower seeds that adhered to the surface of the Dragon Sakura Root.


    As all roots were shattered by Shen Tuguang, the seeds attached to them simultaneously spread out, covering Shen Tuguang''s bare upper body''s skin.


    These were special iron-based plants from the Steel Tree Sea, not at all the same concept as the carbon-based plants of the present world.


    The Cannibal Flower, ranking first in danger level in the Steel Tree Sea test area, had miniature seeds that could even absorb "nutrition" from inorganic substances such as steel and metal.


    Anything the miniature seeds attached to would gradually shrivel, become brittle, wither... until eventually it would "bloom all over," desiccating and perishing.


    If it weren''t for the detailed intelligence on the Cannibal Flower written in the bracelet''s subjugation task, even Xue Jing would have faced difficulties against this ability.


    Of course, even though he successfully scattered the seeds on Shen Tuguang''s body, Xue Jing himself did not believe this alone would defeat him.


    The man was an Ultimate Breaker, his body''s strength, life force, and various indicators had reached an unbelievable level.


    Although he was caught off guard by this move now, as the seeds gradually bloomed and grew, he would naturally notice the abnormalities on his body.


    The effect of the seeds would at most reduce a portion of his life force and temporarily afflict his body with a debuff of shriveling, brittleness, and wilting.


    And this was precisely what Xue Jing wanted.


    "Clack¡ªclack clack¡ª"


    Zhao Ye''s blade, held in Shen Tuguang''s hand, trembled continuously as it struggled autonomously, trying to break free from Shen Tuguang''s grip.


    The Blade That Never Dulls, possessing a recognition trait, would not submit to another before its master sincerely acknowledged defeat.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing controlled his body using the Feather Transformation to make it settle down.


    Then he gripped the Forgotten Greatsword with both hands, took a deep breath, and used his breathing skills to mobilize the skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood simultaneously.


    This action caused Shen Tuguang to pause slightly in surprise.


    "This kid, he hasn''t broken through yet."


    For a Breakthrougher whose body had crossed Dragon Gate and whose spirit had reversed the limits of a Celestial Being, the most iconic characteristic was not a strong body but the ability to cover the whole body with consciousness, controlling the operations within the body directly without a medium.


    Once a breakthrough was successful, even non-martial artists who had never practiced any martial arts could easily control their bodies through consciousness, twist them into a single strand, and deliver attacks that maximized their body''s potential.


    Yet Xue Jing still needed to use the inefficient method of breathing skills to mobilize his body, clearly not having achieved a breakthrough yet.


    "This and his combat prowess do not match... Although Shen Tuguang doesn''t think this level of prowess is anything notable, if coupled with not having achieved a breakthrough, it indeed surprises him."


    "No wonder Commander Highness treats you, this little kid, differently."


    Shen Tuguang squinted his large, monstrous lion-like eyes.


    The next moment, Xue Jing flashed and appeared in front of him, the giant Forgotten Greatsword slashing down diagonally, the void trembled as if cleaving mountains and parting seas.


    At the same time, Li Suisui swiftly approached from Shen Tuguang''s rear flank.


    At this point, Li Suisui was no longer empty-handed, but each hand grasped a peculiar weapon.


    Those weapons were crescent-shaped blades, looking similar to Illidan''s egg knives.


    The difference was that their handles and blades were separate, connected in the middle with a ball bearing structure, allowing the blades to slide up and down freely, quite unique.


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    Such weaponry, let alone used for attacking others, even casually swinging it around risked injuring oneself, clearly indicating the great difficulty in using it.


    The two attacked Shen Tuguang almost simultaneously, within a timeframe that wouldn''t exceed one-hundredth of a second.


    "Awakening of Insects¡¤Chenyuan."


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow¡¤Kuxuan..."


    The fierce strike of the greatsword was blocked by Shen Tuguang with The Blade That Never Dulls held in his hand, the two collided. Amidst the collision, Shen Tuguang remained unmoved, only the ground beneath his feet violently sunk, creating a crater centered around him, ten meters in diameter and more than half a meter deep. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The exploding airflow dispersed the dust into a circular blast, creating a brief sandstorm within the small area.


    Li Suisui''s dual blades slashed across Shen Tuguang with unthinkably strange angles and speeds. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Shen Tuguang, with the dual blades crossed together.


    Shen Tuguang''s back, both arms, thighs, chest, and neck... countless teeth-gritting slicing sounds echoed in an instant.


    Yet afterward, his body remained almost uninjured, only numerous superficial or deep red scratches appeared.


    "Insect-like bites."


    Shen Tuguang scoffed disdainfully.


    ...


    As time passed, the battle continued relentlessly.


    After witnessing Xue Jing''s numerous life-saving abilities and evasion of damage, and because he himself was unaffected by Divinity Organ abilities, Li Suisui silently reached an understanding with Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing was to act as the main force, attracting the primary brunt of Shen Tuguang''s damage, while he himself would serve as support, skirting the edges, seizing opportunities to stealthily inflict damage.


    The two launched attack after attack, but all were futile. Shen Tuguang''s immensely tough body was almost unaffected by damage, his equally astonishing action speed meant he was even too lazy to evade their attacks from the beginning to the end.


    Li Suisui had intended to decisively flee, to save themselves and perhaps find a way to counterattack later... but seeing Xue Jing continuously fighting without any sign of confusion or plans to stop, he thought perhaps there was a way, so he persisted until now.

 Chapter 355_2

    The battle between the warriors who had achieved a Second Breakthrough and beyond was causing quite a stir, but in the remote wilderness, it didn''t attract much attention. However, many of the examiners and students who continued to emerge from the Steel Tree Sea fled back to the Intersecting Boundaries after witnessing the scene.


    Only a few, those with enough guts and curiosity about strong warriors, dared to stay and watch the battle.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    Li Suisui, upon receiving a glaring look from Lion Eye, suddenly stiffened in midair and was kicked squarely in the chest, his body nearly flying through the air, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth. Enduring the pain, he slashed with the egg knife in his hand, spinning as it chopped into Shen Tuguang''s flesh.


    "Hm?"


    He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt as if this cut had left a deeper red mark on Shen Tuguang than any before.


    After flipping backwards a few times, Li Suisui landed next to Xue Jing, half-kneeling and gasping for breath. Seeing his condition, Xue Jing reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.


    The caved-in part of Li Suisui''s chest began to visibly twitch and mend itself.


    Throughout the unceasing fight, he had suffered multiple severe injuries, all of which were healed thanks to Xue Jing''s transfer of Life Force using Dragon Cherry.


    "...This is really annoying."


    Shen Tuguang held The Blade That Never Dulls in his hand, frowning as he looked at the two.


    The battle had gone on for quite some time, longer than he had expected.


    A pesky brat... But that was all, just a futile struggle.


    He didn''t believe that Xue Jing''s ability to transform into Dark Flame and ignore physical damage, coupled with healing Li Suisui, was limitless.


    Continuing the fight, they were bound to reach their limit, and after all, those two couldn''t injure him or drain much of his energy...


    "Hm?"


    Shen Tuguang suddenly felt something was off.


    Why did he feel... a bit tired?


    Realizing something was amiss, he swiftly covered his entire body with his consciousness, thoroughly examining himself.


    Immediately after, Shen Tuguang''s complexion changed.


    He extended his arm before his eyes, and looking up, he felt a chilling tingle on his scalp.


    His entire arm was covered in dense silver-red specks, looking as if he had contracted some serious skin disease.


    Upon closer inspection, these silver-red specks were all tiny, hideous buds, wriggling and shaking nonstop.


    Beneath all the buds, there were dozens, even hundreds of tendrils extending out and burrowing into the crevices of his flesh, pulsing continuously as they seemed to draw something into themselves, causing the buds to grow larger. Some of the buds had even begun to bloom.


    And it wasn''t just on his arms; his whole body, chest, back, neck, and face were covered in these silver-red specks.


    The sight, enough to make anyone with trypophobia faint on the spot, caused Shen Tuguang''s forehead veins to throb violently.


    "You despicable, shameless brat, dare to ambush Laozi!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Tuguang glared at Xue Jing.


    Seeing that he had realized what was happening, Xue Jing didn''t bother hiding it and chuckled:


    "From the moment you decided to bully minors, you lost the right to speak of ''despicable and shameless,'' Old Saint."


    Shen Tuguang snorted coldly, his muscles tensing as he shook violently.


    He managed to expel all the Cannibal Flower buds from his body.


    And then...


    "Spurt¡ª"


    Shen Tuguang''s body burst forth with blood, his skin split open, flesh rending.


    The countless buds'' tendrils had penetrated deep into his flesh, intertwining with each other. Such a forceful extraction caused him to sustain considerable injury in an instant.


    The key wasn''t the wounds themselves but that the buds were connected to his Life Force, or rather, his ''nutrition.'' As they were torn out, this unique energy within him was also pulled out from the roots.


    In an instant, Shen Tuguang''s entire complexion appeared dry and wilted, devoid of its previous resilience.


    "You''ve really angered me, brat."


    Shen Tuguang''s face showed a deep chill. Although he seemed much weaker, the Dynamic Qi emanating from his body grew more intense, almost visible to the naked eye, like an invisible fire blazing around him, distorting the light in the air.


    What of a shrewd ambush? Even in his current state, killing these two brats would still pose no problem.


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed.


    "Brother Sui, it''s now, use whatever trump cards you have."


    Before he had finished speaking, Xue Jing''s figure had already flashed, darting towards Shen Tuguang.


    Li Suisui, upon hearing this, didn''t speak but immediately followed.


    Along the way, Xue Jing rapidly began bestowing buff after buff upon himself.


    His azure pupils turned into pure silver with a touch of Divinity, and golden rage slowly began to burn.


    "Ano Ano Shuatum (I and I, never apart)."


    A golden-red divine glow converged behind him, revealing the towering figure of the Two-faced God Child. With a dignified and holy mien, both the divine and the Buddhist sides positioned their hands together in prayer.


    A sharp cry rang out.


    A golden-red halo spread from the Two-faced God Child, followed by another sharp cry, and another halo radiated outward.


    Infinite Spiral, Power of Twins synergizing for a second Breakthrough, output increased eightfold!


    Shadowy currents converged, turned into Dark Flame, entwining around his body to form the luxurious Entwined Armor.


    Golden-red Dragon Horns appeared above his head, while the light of Destruction Flame Thunder gathered in his hands. Continue your story on My Virtual Library Empire


    A formidable aura of no return filled Xue Jing, spreading violently and creating a tangible storm of air currents.


    "You insects, too proud to bow your heads and embrace death, dare spew such wild words."


    Filled with disdain, Xue Jing clenched his fists in front of his waist and appeared in front of Shen Tuguang.


    Shen Tuguang''s eyes widened as his extraordinary intuition sounded alarm after alarm, an ominous premonition chilling him from head to toe like a bucket of ice water.


    Why... could a mere boy who had not yet made a Breakthrough give him this feeling?


    Then, he saw Xue Jing''s indifferent face appear close at hand, with unimaginable speed.


    "True¡¤Continuous Serious Punch."


    "BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG¡ª¡ª!!!!"


    The thunderous sounds of countless explosions resembling missile impacts erupted continuously.


    With each explosion came a vacuum extending tens of meters and earth-shaking tremors.


    Shen Tuguang, once invulnerable in flesh, now had countless fist-sized blood holes erupting all over his body, revealing the faintly golden-tinted flesh within as the blood holes continued to be violently battered...


    In no time at all, the front of his body had been completely shattered, exposing ribs, breastbones, and internal organs, which likewise crumbled away...


    Shen Tuguang, furious to the extreme, showed no sign of fear and brandished his arms in a clash with Xue Jing. But facing the limit-pushing power of the Infinite Spiral and the Continuous Serious Punch, he was weakened and could only struggle briefly before his arms were reduced to shattered fragments.


    "BANG BANG BANG BANG¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Amidst the quaking earth, not until everything had settled did Xue Jing slowly come to a stop, exhaling lightly.


    His fists emitted thick white steam, their skin completely torn, revealing the bones beneath.


    As for Shen Tuguang, almost the entire upper half of his body had vanished, with splattered blood and fragmented flesh scattered over tens of meters.


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the remaining greater half of Shen Tuguang''s head,


    ...


    Shen Tuguang, furious to the extreme, showed no sign of fear and brandished his arms in a clash with Xue Jing. But facing the limit-pushing power of the Infinite Spiral and the Continuous Serious Punch, he was weakened and could only struggle briefly before his arms were reduced to shattered fragments.


    "BANG BANG BANG BANG¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Amidst the quaking earth, not until everything had settled did Xue Jing slowly come to a stop, exhaling lightly.


    His fists emitted thick white steam, their skin completely torn, revealing the bones beneath.


    As for Shen Tuguang, almost the entire upper half of his body had vanished, with splattered blood and fragmented flesh scattered over tens of meters.


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the remaining greater half of Shen Tuguang''s head,

 Chapter 356

    After putting on an act, Xue Jing casually waved his hand, and a black current converged into a Shadow Flame, lunging at the head that was all Shen Tuguang had left.


    The pitch-black flame, deep as a black hole, annihilated the Ultimate Breaker''s divine body, eroding his last vestiges of Life Force.


    Even in the face of death, Shen Tuguang''s expression showed no regret; his furious eyes, through the flickering Dark Flame, were fixed unyieldingly on Xue Jing.


    It appeared as though, should he be able to move, he would surely leap up to bite onto Xue Jing.


    "Just like a rabid dog."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    Even as an Ultimate Breaker, with most of his body gone, his Life Force was also diminishing, and although he could momentarily cling to life despite only his head remaining, under the effects of the Shadow Flame, he quickly lost his life force.


    [...True Martial Experience Points +16852]


    [...Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +10519]


    [...Warlord Experience Points +11321 (Maxed)]


    [For slaying a being with divine nature, Divinity +15696]


    Within a cascade of prompts, a pop-up on the panel gave Xue Jing a jolt of substantial gains!


    The five-digit regular skill experience gains aside.


    Divinity, five digits, fifteen thousand!


    This was an unprecedentedly vast quantity of Divinity collected, and from a single person no less!


    Now, with his own original reserves, Xue Jing''s held Divinity had broken through twenty thousand.


    "As expected of an Ultimate Breaker brought forth through infusion of Divine Factors... Pity, if only you could spew out all the Divine Factors you''ve used up, the haul would definitely have been even larger."


    Xue Jing voiced his slightly dissatisfied regret.


    The bottle of Divine Factor that the Cease-Blades commander had hidden in her room, which was only a small bottle, let Xue Jing gain over six thousand Divinity.


    The amount spent to cultivate a person to the Ultimate Breakthrough level was surely far more than what was in that small bottle. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    The process of modifying one''s body definitely wasn''t 100% efficient in utilizing Divine Factors, resulting in many needless losses... Otherwise, the spoils from killing Shen Tuguang would have been more than fifteen thousand.


    But it was still enough for Xue Jing to feel exhilarated.


    Even his body, almost drained from the Continuous Serious Punches, felt as if it had been moistened by a timely rain, far more comfortable.


    This time he had truly exhausted all his effort.


    Without holding anything back, he released the highest output he was capable of at the moment.


    Although [True Red] could integrate all his Divine Skills into physical strength, because of the existence of the Two-faced God Child and having the strongest Burst Skill, the Infinite Spiral, Xue Jing''s ultimate performance was still best in his normal state.


    [True Red] had the advantage of endurance; as long as he didn''t want to turn it off, he could keep it activated indefinitely, while the explosive peak of the Infinite Spiral was immense but only for a momentary output.


    Xue Jing closed his eyes and internally assessed his body''s condition.


    The situation was not good.


    Although it looked like only his hands had skin peeled off revealing the bone, on the inside everything was a mess, and the operation of his organs had almost ceased.


    His Life Force was almost entirely depleted, barely hanging by a thread, unable to even mend the flesh of his palms.


    Though the process had been smooth, this was by far the most wretched victory he ever had since he had started his journey.


    If it hadn''t been for the fortuitous gain of a Cannibal Flower seed in the Steel Tree Sea, which applied a defense-weakening debuff on Shen Tuguang, he might have had to make an embarrassing escape.


    While he wouldn''t have died, it was still infuriating.


    Even though he had won in the end, Xue Jing was now at his weakest point, and anyone like Zhou Yinglin could easily take him down.


    "Are you alright?"


    Li Suisui stepped forward and asked Xue Jing.


    "Do I look like I''m alright?" Xue Jing replied with a smile as usual:


    "Brother Sui, you could easily capture or kill me now."


    Li Suisui crossed his arms and shook his head.


    "Stabbing a teammate who has just fought side by side with me to the utmost of his strength in the back¡ªI''m still a kid, and I can''t do such a thing yet.


    "And also..."


    Li Suisui glanced at Xue Jing.


    "A person like you isn''t a reckless fool who rushes forward without looking back... With me not being a fully trustworthy ally, it''s impossible for you to leave such a huge flaw unfended. You must have a contingency plan."


    "If I really strike at you now, the consequences won''t be very nice."


    Having witnessed the scene where Xue Jing had pummeled the Ultimate Breaker to death with a storm of punches, Li Suisui''s vigilance towards Xue Jing''s strength had been set to the highest. Even now, despite his apparent weakness, Li Suisui dared not underestimate him.


    Xue Jing smiled: "Smart kid."


    If Li Suisui really dared to make a move, then Xue Jing would admit his judgment had been wrong, that he had befriended someone not worth befriending.


    What would await the naughty kid then would be a big surprise.


    He wasn''t cheating; he was merely a follower of Brother Chun. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    A Cease-Blades member clad in a Tactical Suit came down from an aircraft, jogged over to Xue Jing, and saluted.


    His face was full of awe; as someone who had watched the battle from start to finish, his reverence and fear for Xue Jing had peaked.


    That was ''Lion Eye'' Shen Tuguang...


    One of the core members of Cease-Blades, independent of all squads, answering only to the commander and two other personages.


    Though his strength wasn''t widely publicized, it was very well known within the Cease-Blades, having completed myriad highly difficult missions.


    And yet, he was bested by Mr. Xue¡ªbeaten to death, just like that...


    "Take Yuantai and head back first; I''ve still got some things to handle here."

 Chapter 356_2

    Xue Jing pointed toward Ning Yuantai, who was still in a comatose state at a distance, and spoke to the Cease-Blades members.


    Ning Yuantai had been knocked unconscious by Shen Tuguang with a Lion Eye stare at the very beginning of the fight, and had remained passed out until now.


    Although there were many questions that needed Ning Yuantai''s answers, such as why Shen Tuguang, a member of Cease-Blades, would come to kill him... but those were not urgent for the moment.


    The internal affairs of The Sixth Agency were intricate and complicated, and it wasn''t surprising for anything to happen within such a bloated organization.


    But for now, his trust in Cease-Blades had decreased somewhat, he would rather wait until his condition had fully recovered before making another trip to the Zhige Base.


    "Yes!"


    The Cease-Blades member saluted with proper form, then turned and jogged over to lift Ning Yuantai''s body, carrying him back to the aircraft.


    "Now that this is over, Brother Sui, let''s part ways here, until we meet again... It has been quite pleasant to fight alongside you."


    Xue Jing waved his hand somewhat weakly at Li Suisui and turned to walk toward the teleportation portal of the Steel Tree Sea.


    The bystanders nearby, upon seeing Xue Jing approach, didn''t care how weak he appeared and scattered away from him in panic.


    Li Suisui, watching his retreating figure, whispered, "Me too... Goodbye."


    ...


    Afterward, Xue Jing returned to the Steel Tree Sea, brought all the students back to the present world, and boarded the aircraft for the return journey.


    In the face of the students'' worries and distress about his physical condition, Xue Jing casually mentioned that he had been in a fight outside and told them not to worry.


    Due to the unexpected events, the excitement of scoring good grades was gone from all the students'' faces, and the mood was rather somber.


    The victory celebration that had been planned was canceled because of Xue Jing''s physical condition, deciding to wait until Mr. Xue had healed his injuries.


    At night, Xuanwu Mansion.


    In the room used for resting, Xue Jing lay on his side on the bed in Lion''s position, his eyes closed, breathing long and steady, in a deep sleep.


    The wounds on his palm where the bones were exposed were slowly writhing, continually mending and healing.


    A faint golden light emanated from his entire body, exuding an aura of solemn Divinity.


    The fragrance of lotuses diffused from his body, filling the entire room.


    Under the dual effects of [Sleep] and the Nirvana Technique, the dried-up Life Force within his body was recovering at an astonishing rate, gradually becoming full again.


    While Xue Jing himself was in deep sleep and unconscious, several notifications popped up continuously on the Skill Panel.


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Sleep"...]


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Health Cultivation"...]


    ...


    Not until the afternoon of the next day did Xue Jing slowly wake up.


    This was the first time since he obtained the panel that he hadn''t woken up according to his biological clock but had slept for nearly a full day.


    "Ugh~"


    He slowly sat up and stretched, his bones cracking pleasantly.


    Feeling as if a rusted machine had been thoroughly cleaned of rust, Xue Jing felt a surge of comfort and relief.


    He looked at his palm and gave it a squeeze, the flesh had completely healed and restored to its original state.


    Upon examining his innards, the Life Fire within him was burning vigorously, and it had essentially fully replenished.


    "It''s really exaggerated, Sleep and the Nirvana Technique... would take an ordinary Martial Artist at least a year and a half to recover from something like this."


    Xue Jing exclaimed.


    Shaking his head, he opened the panel, ready to enjoy the pleasure of spending money.


    He then saw two notifications.


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Sleep"...]


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    One, ????? (Fulfilled)


    Two, level reached Lv10


    Three, required Divinity: 1000]


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Health Cultivation"...]


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    One, ?????


    Two, level reached Lv10


    Three, required Divinity: 1000]


    He had achieved the sublimation conditions for two skills at once? Xue Jing was slightly startled, and then showed a look of surprise.


    Putting Sleep aside, the conditions for "Health Cultivation" were finally activated!


    This skill, one of the first standard skills he activated and, aside from "fitness," the most impactful regular skill, provided him with an extremely abundant Life Force and energy.


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    The reason he could tirelessly continue his Martial Arts Practice without fatigue, while his personal perseverance played a role, the key was the boundless energy provided by "Health Cultivation."


    Not to mention its help in actual combat; the powerful Life Force had saved him countless times.


    "...But like ''fitness,'' the conditions filled with question marks are still unfulfilled."


    Xue Jing scratched his head.


    Well, this is a bit fucked.


    Could there be a hidden restriction where the stronger the skill''s effect, the harder the conditions for its sublimation are?


    "Fitness," as the first regular skill whose sublimation condition he detected, has yet to sublimate. "Health Cultivation," a skill whose effects aren''t much inferior to Fitness, God knows when that will happen.


    He sighed lightly, and Xue Jing''s gaze moved to Sleep.


    Unlike the frustrating situation with Fitness and Health Cultivation, "Sleep" was a good little darling.


    Once detected, the question mark condition was immediately satisfied... only the level was left.


    [Sleep Lv9 (3662/8000)]


    Just a few more sleeps and he would be able to activate it, without knowing what it would sublimate into.


    Closing the prompts, Xue Jing opened the panel interface and looked at the amount of Divinity below.


    [Divinity Held: 22512]!


    Twenty-two thousand...


    Without hesitation, Xue Jing''s gaze directly moved to "Dragon Horn" in the Divine Skill Bar.


    It was the skill he had planned to level up to Lv10 to activate its Avatar next.


    Dragon Horn was of great help to him, not only in daily martial arts practice but also after he had obtained the Destruction Flame Thunder Dragon Horn form, it was extremely effective in actual combat, and among all divine skills, it had the strongest pure destructive power.


    [Dragon Horn Lv7 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 22512/3000)]


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Dragon Horn Lv8 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 19512/4500)]


    [Dragon Horn Lv9 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 15012/6000)]


    [Dragon Horn Lv10 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 9012/8000)]


    [Conditions for unlocking Dragon Horn Divine Incarnation have been met, unlock now?]


    [Yes/No]


    Xue Jing clicked ''Yes.''


    [Unlocked successfully]


    [Divine Incarnation acquired: Reversal Dragon]


    [Description: Not in the mirror, not an illusion, this is the dragon that overturns the world]


    [Call of the Word Spirit: Huh Nun (Obey my command, heavens and earth invert)]


    "...Still as incomprehensible as ever."


    "But it sounds powerful."


    The Reversal Dragon that overturns the world... what a wild claim.


    I have no idea what the actual effect will be.


    Full of anticipation, Xue Jing planned to directly chant the Word Spirit to summon it.


    "Ha hu nah... Ha hu nau..."


    Although he had learned the recitation for the two other Divine Incarnations'' Word Spirits, such strange language and intonation were still not fully mastered by Xue Jing. The incantation for Reversal Dragon, even though short, was even more difficult to pronounce than the previous two, but Xue Jing didn''t mind and kept trying over and over.


    After about ten minutes.


    "Huh Nun."


    With Xue Jing''s chant-like pronunciation of the correct Word Spirit, in the next moment, something unexpected happened.


    A massive amount of dark silver brilliance suddenly erupted from the void, and upon seeing this, Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    "Not good!"


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Within the Xuanwu Mansion, the entire building where Xue Jing was located suddenly shattered, bricks, steel, glass, concrete... rocketing in all directions.


    Students who were in the dormitory buildings and at the training grounds watched in dumbfounded confoundment towards the direction where the building had collapsed.


    Dust scattered everywhere, surrounded by swirling dirt.


    A gigantic dragon that stood dozens of meters tall... like Godzilla itself, towered above the earth.


    ...With Xue Jing''s chant-like pronunciation of the correct Word Spirit, in the next moment, something unexpected happened. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A massive amount of dark silver brilliance suddenly erupted from the void, and upon seeing this, Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    "Not good!"


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Within the Xuanwu Mansion, the entire building where Xue Jing was located suddenly shattered, bricks, steel, glass, concrete... rocketing in all directions.


    Students who were in the dormitory buildings and at the training grounds watched in dumbfounded confoundment towards the direction where the building had collapsed.


    Dust scattered everywhere, surrounded by swirling dirt.


    A gigantic dragon that stood dozens of meters tall... like Godzilla itself, towered above the earth.


    ...

 Chapter 357

    That was a terrifyingly large dragon, slender and beautiful, with four large wings on its back and a body covered in what looked like a layer of steel armor.


    Its head bore sharp twin horns, and its dark silver body still shimmered with a faint brilliance amid the dust clouds, exuding a divine majesty that made one feel inconsequential and insignificant just by looking at it.


    Its emotionless golden vertical pupils looked down from above, casting a glance at the earth beneath its feet, peering at the students who seemed as insignificant as ants.


    "Whoo¡ª"


    The harsh sound of an alarm resounded throughout the sky above the city.


    Faced with the sudden appearance of the massive monster, the government of Silver City reacted swiftly by immediately activating the alarm.


    And then¡ª


    It vanished in an instant. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    As if it had never existed, a mere collective illusion of everyone present.


    But the building that had exploded into fragments, the dust that hadn''t yet settled¡ªit all continued to remind everyone of what had just happened.


    "...Dragon?"


    "Where did it go?"


    "Everyone saw it, right?"


    The students looked at each other in confusion.


    "Damn, that''s so freaking cool, it''s the first time I''ve ever seen a real Dragon Breed..."


    "Mr. Xue!!"


    "Mr. Xue is still inside!!"


    Ye Jingqiu suddenly shouted out loud, panic-stricken and almost on the verge of tears.


    Once this was said, all the students immediately descended into chaos.


    To them, Xue Jing was like a godlike figure, but now... he was injured.


    The image of Mr. Xue being so weak that he almost needed their support the day before was still fresh in their memory, and just the appearance of that dragon was enough to show its ferocity¡ªthe weight was unimaginably heavy. If it had suddenly appeared and had fallen on the weakened Mr. Xue...


    "Hurry to save Mr. Xue!"


    "Quick, quick, quick!"


    All students rushed towards the collapsed building''s rubble.


    After they crossed through the thick dust, they split up and searched.


    Soon enough, the observant Zhao Longtu found Xue Jing in a certain part of the wreckage.


    "Mr. Xue, are you alright!?"


    His shout directed all the students toward the sound, and they quickly converged on the location.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    Upon reaching Xue Jing, they saw him sitting cross-legged on the ground and exhaled in relief.


    "What are you doing here? A dragon that looked like it had an attack of 3000 and defense of 2500 just appeared..."


    He Han approached Xue Jing and was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly stopped short.


    Trembling, he stretched out a finger and pointed at the dark silver little dragon, the size of a cat, that Xue Jing was holding in his arms.


    "Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!"


    "Teacher, you turned out to be a duelist..."


    "Bang¡ª"


    Chen Xingyan knocked He Han on the back of the head and said without a trace of amusement, "Quit fooling around."


    "Are you hurt, teacher? Is the dragon a toy? It''s really well-made... holy shit, it moved!"


    "Wait, how come this toy looks the same as the dragon that just appeared..."


    "Couldn''t be..."


    Everyone thought of an incredible possibility.


    Xue Jing smiled, stroked the head of the dragon in his arms, and said, "I''m fine, no need to worry."


    ...


    The people of Silver City''s government soon came to inquire about the situation.


    A dragon of that size appearing so suddenly had raised concerns among the authorities, and some experts believed that this might be an unanticipated phenomenon of overlapping worlds, inadvertently flinging creatures from the Otherworld into the present.


    Staff members from Xuanwu Mansion, students, and residents from a nearby suburb who also witnessed the scene were all asked for their accounts.


    Xue Jing, however, presented his identity as a reserve member of Cease-Blades, a reserve member of White Crow, and a B-grade Custodian of the Wu Family Custodian Company, and tactfully declined the official inquiry.


    He also advised the students to just say they didn''t know anything.


    In the Inner Ring of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, a wilderness area.


    Over a vast forest, a dark silver dragon of several dozen meters in length, sleek and elegant, beat its four large wings. Each flap produced a massive roaring noise, generating huge currents of air, whipping up fierce gusts that bent trees and plants.


    It soared through the air, and wherever it passed, all the animals in the forest, from the apex predators at the top of the food chain to the unthinking insects below, scattered in panic as if facing a natural disaster.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the head of the dragon, arms crossed, eyes reflecting thought.


    After a day of exploring, he had roughly figured out the capabilities of the dragon.


    First was its basic condition. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Like the Two-faced God Child, it possessed a physical body that was exceptionally formidable in combat without relying on special abilities.


    It could reach an impressive size of nearly fifty meters. Solely in terms of physical strength, it even surpassed the Two-faced God Child.


    It had the ability to change size at will, from a maximum of fifty meters to as small as a domestic cat.


    However, when smaller, its strength also diminished; its physical power was directly proportional to its size. To fully leverage the dragon''s power, it had to maintain its maximum size.


    Additionally, it could fly.


    Not by the Feather Transformation but through an intrinsic flight capability¡ª


    That is, the Dragon-type Creature Biological Field.


    It could remain forever aloft with no cost, as a Sky-Dwelling Species King, a creature beloved by the sky.


    The four large wings on its back were purely for acceleration.


    Having covered the basics, let''s talk about its special abilities.


    There were two.


    The first ability was¡ªform transformation.


    At a thought from Xue Jing, the dragon beneath him roared and opened its mouth wide.

 Chapter 357_2

    ```


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    In the midst of the Dragon''s Chant, silvery-white Dragon Thunder scattered across its body amidst crackling sounds, flashes of electricity flickering, coalescing in front of its mouth, transforming into the Silver Dragon Thunder Light Cannon.


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    "Hum¡ª¡ª"


    The light cannon burst out like Dragon Breath, rippling across the forests and the earth.


    Wherever the light cannon passed, the forest instantly vanished like a pencil drawing erased by a rubber, plants and trees disappearing, leaving a deep trough carved into the ground with silver-white electric arcs still crackling loudly.


    Then, Xue Jing''s thoughts moved once again.


    The reversed dragon underwent a change, it''s dark silver body began to transform, scales slightly opening, resembling an explosion of scales, with faint glows of Red Gold Flame Thunder leaking from the gaps.


    The dragon horns atop its head also changed, twisting into sharp spirals, identical to the dragon horns when Xue Jing used the Red Gold Flame Thunder form.


    The reversed dragon opened its jaws wide, this time Red Gold Flame Thunder gathered and compressed in front of the mouth, accompanied by the sound of the Dragon''s Chant, the enormous Flame Thunder Light Cannon spewed forth, plowing through the forest once again.


    All the birds and beasts in the forest either accidentally became charred by the impact or fled desperately for their lives, the rustling noises were tremendous.


    "Ah, not bad."


    Xue Jing nodded his head.


    The ability to change forms is an extension of the Dragon Horn, and the reversed dragon can also use both Dragon Thunder and Destruction Flame Thunder, with the power surpassing that of Xue Jing himself.


    The body would also undergo changes during the shift of forms.


    Just like Physical Strength, the power is proportional to the size of the reversed dragon; the larger it is, the higher the power of the Dragon Thunder and Flame Thunder, and the greater the consumption.


    In the future, if there''s a chance for the Dragon Horn to absorb ''special Divinity,'' it''s speculation that it would increase its ability to transform further.


    Besides ''form changing,'' another ability was the key point.


    Xue Jing called it¡ª''Time Rewind.''


    He controlled the reversed dragon to stop in midair, then leaped down from the dragon''s head to the ground below in the forest.


    The reversed dragon also shrunk to the size of a kitten and flew onto Xue Jing''s shoulder, coming to a rest.


    Xue Jing looked around, locked onto a big tree, and extended his right hand forming a blade, slashing diagonally in one swift motion.


    At first, the tree showed no response; then, after a few seconds, the severed trunk slowly slid down, crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise.


    The cut was extremely smooth, as if sliced by an incredibly thin line.


    Xue Jing carelessly lifted the nearly ten-meter-tall tree, whose diameter was thicker than a man, and flung it mightily forward!


    With a whoosh, the tree flew forward like an artillery shell, reaching well beyond a hundred meters in the blink of an eye.


    At that moment, the golden pupils of the reversed dragon on Xue Jing''s shoulder shone brightly.


    The rapidly flying tree immediately stopped midair as if the physical law of inertia ceased to exist. It went from 100 to a standstill in an instant, with absolutely no deceleration.


    It was as though the video had been paused.


    Then, the tree flew backward at the same speed it had come, extremely fast!


    Along its path, every movement trajectory, down to the detail, without a nanometer of error, replicated the forward motion exactly.


    Even the minute speed changes caused by air resistance during its forward journey were flawlessly reversed back to their original state.


    "Time Rewind."


    Xue Jing stretched out his hand to catch the large tree returning to his palm, murmuring.


    The effect of this ability is simple.


    It could reverse the entire material motion trajectory of a moving object, creating a phenomenon similar to time going backward.


    ...Or rather, it was undoubtedly Time Rewind itself.


    Time is simply a scalar that records material motion; reversing material motion is unquestionably ''Time Rewind.''


    However, this ''Time Rewind'' is limited to a particular independent object and is not a reverse of material motion for the entire world. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This ability is strong... but it all depends on how it''s used."


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    This power reminded him of the ''Material Motion Reversal'' skill from the Tears of the Kingdom of Zelda.


    It goes without saying that its auxiliary functions are not mentioned, although the greater the kinetic energy and inertia, the higher the consumption of Time Rewind, but in an evenly matched battle, even if the effect is merely a momentary pause for the opponent, it could be a key factor that influences the outcome.


    Of course, that''s just the crudest way to use it.


    ```


    This ability could be used for offense, and of all Xue Jing''s powers, it was the strongest in terms of sheer attack power, bar none.


    However, using it required some finesse...


    Xue Jing glanced at the large tree in his hand, waved his hand, and split it in two.


    He held one half, laid it flat in his hand, walked forward in a straight line for a few steps, then placed it on the ground.


    He then returned to his original position and applied the power of reversal to it.


    The half of the tree on the ground immediately began to move, as if an invisible transparent person was carrying it. It first floated into the air and then slowly flew towards Xue Jing''s position.


    At this point, Xue Jing lifted the other half of the tree, placing it in the path of the other half as it ''reversed back'' towards its original location.


    "Crack¡ª"


    Without the slightest hesitation, Xue Jing felt an unstoppable force transmitted to his hands; the half-tree he was lifting was directly smashed apart, and the half that was reversing back continued along its original trajectory in an unstoppable motion, returning to its original location.


    "The trajectory of material reversal is unstoppable... no amount of strength can stop it."


    Xue Jing picked up the wood again, tossed it out, and then applied the reversal power to make it return the same way.


    This time, he simply raised his hand and blocked its path.


    The wood crumbled to pieces upon contact with his palm, slowly getting flattened and crushed, until it eventually dissipated into nothingness.


    "However, due to the limitations of its own physical strength, while the trajectory is unstoppable, it will shatter when it comes into contact with a substance whose strength far exceeds its own due to the unstoppable motion."


    Xue Jing''s eyes gradually brightened.


    "This means that an object with a strength of 1, when reversed, will inevitably penetrate all materials with a strength less than 1 on its path."


    "So..."


    Xue Jing reached into the invisible void, slowly pulling out an ancient and beautiful long knife.


    GOD-519¡¤The Blade That Never Dulls.


    Its power was¡ªEternal Indestructibility.


    Theoretical strength¡ªInfinite.


    "Am I invincible now?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    With The Blade That Never Dulls, Zhao Ye, at his disposal, all he had to do was throw it out and then apply the reversal power to it. With its eternal indestructibility and the absolutely unstoppable trajectory of reversal, wouldn''t it be theoretically capable of penetrating all matter in the world?


    Moreover, there was another ability that could cause a qualitative change in the use of this power...


    Feather Transformation.


    After Zhao Ye underwent Feather Transformation, it could carve out any trajectory in the air like a flying sword.


    What was originally just a simple use of ''throwing out'' and ''reversing back'' became a highly versatile method that could carve out any trajectory at will.


    "Holy crap, I really am invincible."


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly.


    If he had obtained this ability earlier, would Shen Tuguang even matter? Would he have needed to scheme so hard?


    He would have just let him understand what the laws of physics meant.


    The only problem was that it would be a bit odd to set up this move. He would have to make Zhao Ye fly backward, using the hilt to pretend to stab someone... Only then, during the reversal back, would the blade be leading.


    "Awesome!"


    Having gained a new mighty weapon, Xue Jing was in a great mood and soared into the sky with a jump.


    The Dragon''s Chant resonated as the Dragon Thunder morphed into dozens of meters in size instantly, catching him on its head.


    "Boom¡ª"


    Within the roaring and gusty sounds of its wings flapping, the dark silver dragon headed back toward Silver City.


    ...


    Silver City, Zhige Base.


    In a room, Ning Yuantai and the captain of the Six Five Squadron, Yang Yingyu, along with the deputy captain Zhuang Qiu, and a middle-aged man with a refined face, sat together.


    Ning Yuantai sighed, "Mr. Zhang, I''m afraid you made a mistake this time."


    ...

 Chapter 358

    "I had no other choice," the elegantly dressed middle-aged man named Zhang Jinghe slowly began.


    "The only ones capable of mobilizing ''Lion Eye,'' such core special combat personnel, are just three individuals... and I have no right to stop any of them."


    "Ning, it''s not that I am unwilling; it''s that I literally can''t."


    This time, Ning Yuantai didn''t correct the other''s form of address, merely shaking his head.


    "You aren''t unable to stop it; your stance just isn''t firm enough, Comrade Zhang Jinghe."


    "I advise you, don''t try to play both sides and vacillate like a yes-man. You''d better stand firmly by the commander''s side. If she favors Xue, you ought to find a way to protect him, not act as you do now, thinking that by doing nothing you won''t offend anyone. In reality, such an approach will lead to everyone not considering you one of their own and offending everyone equally."


    Ning Yuantai''s voice grew increasingly vehement, and his expression was infused with cold indifference, a stark contrast to his usual laughing and joking demeanor around Xue Jing¡ªa look that befit someone of high birth and exceptional understanding.


    "You might think that as long as Lion Eye succeeds in killing Xue, the commander won''t do anything drastic to you over a dead man."


    "But you are wrong. If Xue really ends up killed by Lion Eye as you anticipate, then as of this moment, you too would be a dead man."


    Ning Yuantai''s gaze was meaningful.


    "You don''t really believe that Xue was noticed by the commander just because of his talent, and she showed him some minor favor as just another talented person, do you?"


    Zhang Jinghe said nothing, his eyes showing deep contemplation.


    "It seems you haven''t grasped the situation from the start... You didn''t even come to welcome Xue when he first arrived in Silver City."


    "Spend more time focusing on and analyzing the movements within the organization; don''t just shut yourself in your Silver City base, living in isolation."


    "Fortunately, Xue''s strength once again surpassed everyone''s expectations, and he managed to even kill a core special combat personnel like Lion Eye on the spot... If something had really happened to him."


    Ning Yuantai''s voice began to fill with anger.


    "Apart from facing the wrath of many great figures beyond your imagination... even I, much as I may not wish to, would have to go home to my parents."


    ...


    Due to the lodging building at Xuanwu Mansion being smashed by the entry of the Reversing Dragon, Xue Jing was temporarily without a place to stay.


    He thought about finding a hotel to stay at himself, but when the students learned of his situation, a few who were locals and quite wealthy immediately lit up with the idea of luring Mr. Xue to stay at their homes.


    However, since there were too many with this intention, they started arguing. Each debated that their own home was more comfortable and could provide Mr. Xue with the best rest. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the end, Fu Jialin won... Her family owned a high-end hotel, and she suggested that Xue Jing stay in the highest-grade room in their hotel.


    In this way, Mr. Xue wouldn''t stay at any student''s home, and the others reluctantly agreed.


    On the top-floor balcony of Jiali Hotel in a wealthy part of Silver City.


    Hmm, the hotel''s name is Jiali.


    Xue Jing, wearing only swim trunks and revealing a perfect, godlike pale body, sat by the side of the luxurious open-air swimming pool.


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    The dark silver Reversing Dragon shrunk to its smallest form, cradled in his left palm.


    As he examined the Reversing Dragon''s form, he moved his right hand.


    On his right palm, his flesh and skin squirmed, occasionally shifting, the color turning from pale to dark silver and then swiftly back again. Parts of the skin occasionally burst open, sprouting a few dragon scales, and then quickly disappearing.


    After some time, Xue Jing''s gaze focused on the tips of his right hand''s fingers.


    Unlike the nails of a normal human, his fingertips had transformed into claws resembling those of the Reversing Dragon, sharp and curved black talons protruding from the tips, gleaming with a lethal and hard cold light.


    "... Dragon Breed bodies are truly quite complex," Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    He was attempting, using the Reversing Dragon as a blueprint and [Thousand Changes], to transform himself into a dragon, much like turning into a cat.


    But in comparison to a cat''s simple body structure, the difficulty of transforming into a dragon was indeed beyond Xue Jing''s expectations.


    He had been earnestly trying for quite some time, and even with the Reversing Dragon as a perfect template, he had only managed to turn the tips of his five fingers into dragon claws.


    "The good news is, it''s indeed possible!"


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed.


    Although it was challenging and might take a month or two to completely succeed in the transformation, nonetheless, the skill [Thousand Changes], was truly capable of turning into a dragon!


    "With this, besides the Dragon Breed, other Transcendent creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries should also be transformable."


    "It''s somewhat like a youthful version of the Monkey King''s seventy-two transformations, having learned some of the Monkey King''s tricks."


    Xue Jing felt a bit itchy to scratch the floor with the claws, testing their sharpness.


    But after some thought, considering the hotel belonged to his student, it wouldn''t be right to cause trouble, so he resisted the urge.


    "Using ''Eye-Dotting'' with dragon claws... the compatibility should be maxed out; I wonder how the power will change."


    He squeezed his palm, canceled [Thousand Changes], and restored his fingers, then dived with a leap into the pool.


    Even without having deliberately focused on it, the skill [Swimming] had still reached Level 8 over time.


    Now, Xue Jing was undoubtedly a white dragon frolicking in the waves, more adept in water than fishermen who had lived by the river or sea their whole lives.

 Chapter 358_2

    With the addition of his Extraordinary Saint-level physical prowess, swimming had become...


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Loud booming sounds echoed from the top floor of the hotel down to the lower levels, nearly making everyone in the hotel feel the vibration.


    Xue Jing was like a rocket, shuttling back and forth in the pool with unbelievable speed. Wherever his body passed, the water parted like the Red Sea, churning to the sides and raising waves several meters high.


    In the fifty-meter pool, Xue Jing needed only two or three seconds for a round-trip. If not for the fear that too much turbulence would break the pool, he could have been even faster.


    Although the hotel was built with materials of high durability, considering its use by Martial Artists, it was hard to withstand his full power.


    It was only after more than half an hour that the enormous booming finally subsided.


    By then, half the water in the pool was gone, slowly being replenished by the automatic water filling system.


    With a loud splash, Xue Jing leapt from the pool to the shore.


    He ran his hands through his hair, flicking it back, and then, without preparing himself, suddenly shook his body sharply.


    Countless droplets of water sprayed off him, all flung to the ground, leaving his body, including his hair and swim shorts, almost completely dry.


    "So cool, Xue," said Ning Yuantai, who had been there unnoticed the whole time, his eyes lighting up as he clapped his hands in admiration.


    Even Ning, a man, thought Xue''s perfect body was truly beautiful; any young girl who saw this would probably not be able to keep her legs together and would just want to rush up and start licking.


    "...Swoosh, Mr. Xue," Fu Jialin stood next to Ning Yuantai, her eyes glazing over as she stared at Xue Jing''s body clad only in swim shorts... and subconsciously wiped the drool leaking from her mouth.


    Xue Jing smiled at the two of them and said,


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    He turned to Fu Jialin,


    "Jiali, you can go first. I need to discuss some things with your Uncle Tai."


    Ning Yuantai''s expression turned odd at that.


    Uncle Tai... he was possibly even younger than this young woman.


    Fu Jialin, however, had no objections. Although they were about the same age, she had subconsciously come to regard Xue Jing as an elder, a friend of her teacher, naturally someone of an uncle''s generation.


    "Okay, Mr. Xue."


    She took several lingering looks at Xue Jing''s body, then reluctantly turned and walked away from the balcony, looking back every three steps.


    Xue Jing lay down on a lounge chair by the pool, turning his head to glance at Ning Yuantai.


    "Yuantai, take a seat," he said.


    Ning Yuantai quickly responded, "Sure, Xue," and then sat down on the lounge chair next to Xue Jing, though he did not lie down. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you alright?" Xue Jing asked first.


    Ning Yuantai passed out on the spot after being glared at by Shen Tuguang while trying to warn Xue Jing of Shen''s formidable nature.


    With Ning Yuantai''s personality, he was bound to come look for him soon after waking up. Since it had taken two days, he must have been unconscious for a full two days.


    "No issues. Shen Tuguang''s ''Lion Eye'' power is unique; it allows him to make a spontaneous judgment on any target he sees, gauging the ''combat will'' of both sides. Those below Shen Tuguang in ''combat will'' suffer spiritual suppression... The gap between me and Shen Tuguang was so large that I fainted instantaneously, which actually spared me from greater harm," Ning Yuantai explained.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see. So that''s the ability... ''combat will,'' I think I can grasp the concept, but what exactly does it refer to, Dynamic Qi?"


    Ning Yuantai thought for a moment and replied, "It could certainly be considered a form of Dynamic Qi. To explain it, maybe it''s the sheer ''will to fight'' and the degree of eagerness for ''struggle''?''


    "Shen Tuguang is naturally aggressive and has been undefeated with his ''Lion Eye,'' outwitting many who are stronger than him but lack his ''combat will.''... I never expected even he would be defeated by you, Xue."


    He said this with a look of amazement on his face.


    Considering himself as one of the people who best understood just how powerful Xue was, Ning Yuantai had always tried to estimate Xue Jing''s strength using logic that exceeded common sense and set his expectations exceptionally high.


    But in the end, I still underestimated how much of a monster Xue was.


    "Who the hell is that man, and why did Cease-Blades send him to kill me?"


    Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    "Shen Tuguang, he''s one of Cease-Blades'' ''core combat personnel,''"


    Ning Yuantai said gravely.


    "Such individuals number fewer than twenty, they represent the true foundation of Cease-Blades, and missing any one of them lessens their voice within the institution to a certain extent."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "So, haven''t I caused trouble? Inflicted a great loss on Cease-Blades?"


    Ning Yuantai hastened to reply, "Not at all. He came after you and got himself killed instead; there''s no issue at all, and nobody can say anything about it."


    After a pause, he continued,


    "You know, once an organization reaches a certain size, various factions naturally emerge... Inside Cease-Blades, only three people have the authority to command ''core combat personnel,'' and aside from these three individuals'' orders, they wouldn''t take any extra action."


    "One of them, the commander, naturally bears you no ill will. It must be one of the other two who sent Shen Tuguang to kill you."


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the armrest of his reclining chair, "Who are these two, and why do they have the same authority as the commander?"


    "Not only do they have the same authority as the commander¡­ Theoretically, their authority is even above that of the commander,"


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    He stretched out a finger, pointing upwards.


    "They are dispatched by the ''Institution Management Committee.''"


    ...


    Ning Yuantai spoke.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, so that''s the kind of power¡­ I can roughly understand the meaning of ''combativeness,'' but what does it specifically refer to? Dynamic Qi?"


    After thinking for a moment, Ning Yuantai replied, "It could indeed be categorized as a kind of Dynamic Qi. If I were to explain, it might refer to the amount of ''combat spirit'' and the degree of passion for ''struggle''?"


    "Shen Tuguang was naturally combative and invincible with his ''Lion Eye,'' defeating many who were stronger than him because they lacked his fighting spirit... It''s unexpected that even he fell to you, Xue."


    He said with a look of emotion on his face.


    Believing he was one of the people who understood best just how strong Xue was, Ning Yuantai had already tried to think as highly as possible and estimate Xue Jing''s strength using logic beyond the ordinary.


    But in the end, I still underestimated how much of a monster Xue was.


    "Who the hell is that man, and why did Cease-Blades send him to kill me?"


    Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    "Shen Tuguang, he''s one of Cease-Blades'' ''core combat personnel,''"


    Ning Yuantai said gravely.


    "Such individuals number fewer than twenty, they represent the true foundation of Cease-Blades, and missing any one of them lessens their voice within the institution to a certain extent."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "So, haven''t I caused trouble? Inflicted a great loss on Cease-Blades?"


    Ning Yuantai hastened to reply, "Not at all. He came after you and got himself killed instead; there''s no issue at all, and nobody can say anything about it."


    After a pause, he continued,


    "You know, once an organization reaches a certain size, various factions naturally emerge... Inside Cease-Blades, only three people have the authority to command ''core combat personnel,'' and aside from these three individuals'' orders, they wouldn''t take any extra action."


    "One of them, the commander, naturally bears you no ill will. It must be one of the other two who sent Shen Tuguang to kill you."


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the armrest of his reclining chair, "Who are these two, and why do they have the same authority as the commander?"


    "Not only do they have the same authority as the commander¡­ Theoretically, their authority is even above that of the commander,"


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    He stretched out a finger, pointing upwards.


    "They are dispatched by the ''Institution Management Committee.''"


    ...

 Chapter 360

    After studying the All Things Myriad Phases Flow from Li Suisui, Xue Jing finally had the foundation to learn the "Near-God Move."


    In his vision, the "Return to Nothingness," an unbeatable defense, and "Unity," an unstoppable offense, were the ultimate realms in the field of martial arts.


    This would require a vast, unimaginable amount of martial arts knowledge until he could instantly understand all martial arts techniques and realms; only then would "Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity" be truly accomplished.


    Now, what Xue Jing needed to do was accumulate.


    Learn everything that could be learned, and practice everything that could be practiced.


    All martial arts, whether they were miscellaneous, orthodox, prestigious, unconventional, sophisticated, or inferior¡­ even the shoddiest martial arts contained knowledge that could help him.


    He would integrate everything using the All Things Myriad Phases, pushing forward toward the goal of mastering the "Near-God Move."


    So, where could he acquire such vast knowledge of martial arts?


    Naturally¡­ it was the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    The Holy Land in the hearts of martial artists worldwide, constantly gathering millions of martial artists, with bodies shipped out daily that could pile up into small mountains.


    Each level required winning several matches to advance further, and each match was with completely different people from all around, using various martial arts.


    And Xue Jing had a unique advantage, possessing the Extraordinary Skill "Empowerment," which he could use as the Absorption Technique.


    Defeat one, absorb one¡­ there was no faster or better method to acquire vast martial arts knowledge than this.


    The only problem was whether he would be able to withstand it.


    "Empowerment" put a significant mental burden on the receiver, as it meant having to process in a very short time the knowledge that others had spent long periods training to achieve.


    Even Xue Jing, enhanced by many skills, struggled to handle the influx of external knowledge in a short time.


    However, things were now different.


    With "Nirvana," his recovery speed had broken through to a new level. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All the transformed Extraordinary Skills on the Skill Panel had their transcendent aspects that surpassed common sense.


    Mental fatigue, much harder to alleviate than physical fatigue, posed no issue in the face of Nirvana.


    Nirvana meant transcending all troubles, desires, and life and death; it lightly handled mental struggles.


    Without any companions, Xue Jing set off alone for the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    He boarded a large flyer conceptually similar to a combination of a bus and a subway, a public transportation facility available in every Inner Ring City, traveling fixed routes to and from the Sky Center daily.


    Throughout the trip, Xue Jing wore "ordinary-looking glasses" and kept his Aura Blockade fully activated, avoiding any incidents. After several hours of travel, he successfully reached the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    This was his second time here.


    Right upon entering the grounds of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, his wristband immediately began to flash.


    In less than a second, the lazy and pleasant female voice of the super AI ''Xuanling'' sounded in his ear:


    "Xue Jing, you''re here again."


    It seems ordinary-looking glasses and Aura Blockade are completely ineffective against AI¡­


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "What, you''re not welcoming me?"


    "The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace does not refuse any martial artist."


    Xuanling asked curiously, "What are you here to do today?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin: "You and intelligence don''t really match, do they¡­ Asking a martial artist who comes to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace what he''s doing here... isn''t that like asking an air conditioning technician what his job is?"


    Xuanling responded discontentedly: "But last time you just came looking for someone; I was waiting to collect more of your data, but you ran off like that."


    Xue Jing waved his hand: "Last time I came as a teacher catching naughty students; today I am purely a martial artist¡­ No need to say more, just send me up."


    "Your performance last time is still valid; you qualify for any level under ten thousand... which level will you go to?"


    Xuanling seemed a bit livelier now, her tone also more excited.


    "As high as I can go¡­ Arrange a match for me immediately."


    "Okay!"


    Shortly after, countless visible data began gathering beneath Xue Jing''s feet, forming an orange layer of light film, slowly rising and engulfing him entirely from bottom to top.


    The next moment, the environment changed; no longer the first-floor prep hall, but rather a scene filled with noise, where platforms abound.


    Numerous martial artists were contending on platforms; the clash of combat was incessant, accompanied by numerous spectators discussing loudly.


    The entire floor, including the floors, ceiling, platforms¡­ nearly everywhere was enveloped in a semi-transparent orange ''SC force field,'' looking very sci-fi.


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    Attacks from martial artists powerful enough to demolish Earth or pierce steel buildings were absorbed upon hitting the SC force field, synchronously endured by the entire Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, causing no destruction.


    "The arrangement is made, and there''s a vacancy now."


    Xuanling''s voice echoed in his ear.


    "Platform 108... your opponent is..."


    Xue Jing didn''t listen to who the opponent was; he just looked for where platform 108 was and headed there directly.


    When he found it, on the SC-wrapped orange platform stood a short-haired young man, looking about twenty years old.


    The platform was surrounded by quite a few onlookers.

 Chapter 360_2

    The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace''s arena match drew more spectators the more renowned the contestants were, and that young man also seemed to be someone with a bit of fame; quite a few people had come specifically to watch his match.


    Xue Jing stepped forward, slowly ascending the platform.


    "Hmm? A young man."


    "Never seen him before, must be a newbie."


    "Wonder how strong he is... He''s kinda unlucky, though, just arrived and already up against Luo Feng, who reached the ten thousand six hundredth level last year, then went back to his hometown and vanished, only recently returned... His progress from a year ago got wiped, so now he''s climbing up the levels again."


    "With a year''s time, someone with Luo Feng''s outstanding talent and in the midst of rapid growth, could now reach at least ten thousand seven or even ten thousand eight, right?"


    "A newbie killer indeed... Bad luck running into him."


    On the arena, neither of the two spoke.


    At that moment, the holographic projections of their names appeared above their heads.


    Luo Feng, Xue Jing.


    "Hmm? Xue Jing? I feel like I''ve heard that name somewhere..."


    Some spectators felt the name was familiar upon seeing it.


    A prompt sounded, and the match began.


    Then¡ªBang!


    Including Luo Feng and all the spectators, no one managed to react in the instant the match ended.


    No one could see Xue Jing''s movements, or know what he had done, but in a moment, his figure appeared in front of Luo Feng, and then the other swiftly flew backwards, crashing into the orange light wall formed by the SC force field, slowly sliding down, and crumpling to the ground.


    At the spot where his chest and abdomen met, a deep fist imprint appeared.


    "..."


    Under the silent gaze of everyone present, Xue Jing nonchalantly stepped forward, extending his hand to place it over the fainted Luo Feng''s crown.


    After a while, he withdrew his hand, and like a student tired from reading, closed his eyes.


    Ten seconds later, he turned and walked down from the arena, not saying a single word from beginning to end.


    "...I remember now."


    Someone among the spectators had an epiphany.


    "Xue Jing... He''s the one who got an A+ rating just a few days ago during the first test event!"


    "A+ grade!?"


    "Oh man, doesn''t that mean he''s at least made a Breakthrough? Perhaps even a Second Breakthrough... That''s the strength to contend for the nine hundred Level Master spot."


    "This ten thousand level was actually his starting floor..."


    "Where did this genius spring from... Can''t even tell if he''s of age just by looking at him."


    "I know him, he''s an outsider, quite famous out there. My sister who''s still in elementary school really likes him, spends all day watching his match clips..."


    "Luo Feng really is unlucky... A small True Dragon facing the True Dragon..."


    "Place your bets, quick, throw all your support behind him."


    ...


    Inside one of the temporary rest rooms available on every level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Jing sat in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.


    "Xuanling, please arrange the next match as soon as possible."


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    He spoke up.


    In the floors of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, you could advance a level after accumulating three wins, and if over 80% of the support votes from the spectators were approval votes, you could skip levels.


    If all matches were victorious in a short period of time, and the approval vote ratio remained high, one could make a significant leap in levels.


    "No problem... But, are you okay?"


    Xuanling seemed a bit worried as he asked.


    "When you touched Luo Feng''s head just now, there seemed to be an unusual strain on your mental state..."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Don''t worry... There''s no problem at all."


    Seeing him say so, Xuanling had no objections.


    "The next match is already arranged, on arena number 096, and your opponent is..."


    In this way, Xue Jing had Xuanling continuously arrange opponents for him to compete against.


    Each time, he resolved the opponent in a flash, then inverted the Empowerment process to extract the Martial Arts knowledge from his opponent''s mind.


    After completing three victorious matches on the ten thousandth level, with an approval vote ratio exceeding 95%, he directly ascended ten levels.


    For an entire afternoon, he continued to win consecutively, absorbing...


    By the afternoon, he had already defeated nearly a hundred opponents. Thanks to a large number of consecutive wins and the ratio of praise votes, he had leaped directly to over fifteen thousand floors.


    The astonishing speed of his ascent attracted the attention of countless people.


    Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, floor 15736.


    "Bang¡ª"


    With a single strike, his opponent was plastered against the wall and then crumpled to the ground.


    Xue Jing approached the unconscious opponent, squatted down, and placed his palm on the other''s crown.


    "Still one hit, another one-hitter!"


    "No matter how you prepare, it''s useless¡ªit''s just an overwhelming crush of speed, power, and technique from start to finish!"


    "When is he going to actually have a real fight? Each match ends instantly with one hit; I''m getting tired of watching this!"


    "That''s not Xue Jing''s fault, you can only blame the weakness of the opponents... But why does he always touch the opponent''s head after fighting?" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Maybe it''s some cultural ritual from his hometown, something to show respect for life?"


    "...I punch you to death and touch your head to show respect for life?"


    On floor 15736, among over a hundred rings, only the one where Xue Jing was competing saw the number of spectators at full capacity.


    This was because many people, upon hearing about this youth who had achieved an A+ rating in an event, became curious. They descended from their own floors and followed him to witness Xue Jing''s climb with their own eyes.


    Xue Jing, as always, didn''t speak. After stepping down from the ring and returning to the temporary rest room, his figure swayed slightly as if he was somewhat unsteady.


    Unsteadiness... such a thing happening to Xue Jing was hard to imagine, indicating just how bad his current condition was.


    "Xue Jing... are you really okay?"


    Xuanling''s voice, full of concern, sounded in his ear.


    She was constantly scanning Xue Jing''s body data and detecting his mental state through the electromagnetic signals emitted from his brain... the more she detected, the more alarmed she became.


    Xue Jing''s mental burden at this moment was so great it was unfathomable, nearly identical to the state of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster-level master who practiced martial arts until they became deranged.


    It wouldn''t surprise her if Xue Jing went insane in the next second.


    "It''s nothing... don''t worry."


    Xue Jing rubbed his temples with both hands.


    Countless martial arts knowledge clashed and scattered madly in his mind... opening his eyes, within his field of vision, innumerable black matchstick figures were practicing various techniques everywhere.


    On chairs, tables, windows, beds... they were all over the place.


    "I''m about at my limit," Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He didn''t push himself any further but instead told Xuanling ''let''s stop arranging opponents for now, I need a rest'' and then lay down on the bed in the temporary rest room.


    Assuming the Nirvana Lion Resting position, Xue Jing had a peaceful expression, undisturbed for the briefest of moments.


    ...


    Xue Jing, as always, didn''t speak. After stepping down from the ring and returning to the temporary rest room, his figure swayed slightly, as if he was somewhat unsteady.


    Unsteadiness... such a thing happening to him was hard to imagine, revealing just how poor his condition was at the moment.


    "Xue Jing... are you really okay?"


    Xuanling''s voice, full of concern, sounded in his ear.


    She was constantly scanning Xue Jing''s body data and detecting his mental state through the electromagnetic signals emitted from his brain... the more she detected, the more alarmed she became.


    Xue Jing''s mental burden at this moment was so extreme it was almost unimaginable, nearly identical to the state of a Breakthrough Master Level expert who trained in martial arts to the brink of madness.


    She wouldn''t be surprised if Xue Jing lost his mind in the next second.


    "It''s no bother... rest assured."


    Xue Jing massaged his temples for a while.


    A myriad of martial arts knowledge violently collided and darted through his mind... upon opening his eyes, his range of vision was full of countless black matchstick figures practicing all sorts of maneuvers.


    On chairs, tables, windowsills, beds... they were everywhere.


    "I''m nearly at my limit," Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He didn''t endure any longer, instead telling Xuanling ''let''s stop scheduling opponents for now; I need to rest,'' and then lay down on the bed in the temporary resting room.


    Assuming the Nirvana Lion Resting position, Xue Jing''s expression was serene, undisturbed for even a moment.


    ...

 Chapter 361

    Serene, peaceful, ethereal... as if transcending all worldly matters, far removed from every annoyance.


    Every burden upon his spirit was dissolving rapidly in front of this absolutely calm force that could hardly be called a force, like snow melting swiftly.


    In sleep... or perhaps it is more accurate to call it Nirvana, a vast amount of martial arts knowledge¡ªwherein all impurities were instinctively filtered out by Xue Jing, leaving only the essence¡ªwas absorbed rapidly by the depths of his consciousness.


    "...Incredible."


    In a makeshift resting room, beside Xue Jing, a countless number of semi-transparent data converged in the void, merging into a semi-transparent female form.


    She wore a slim-fitting garment with a black base and red embroidery, the style seemed to reference ancient Zhuxia attire, yet merged with some modern styles, appearing extremely gorgeous. Like a black cascade, her hair floated in the air as if gravity did not affect it, and it was impressively long, stretching nearly six meters when pulled straight.


    The ends of her hair continually glowed, releasing many small blue semi-transparent data fragments, adding a futuristic sci-fi beauty to her.


    A red floral hairpin adorned her fair and radiant forehead, and her clear gaze watched over Xue Jing, lying in bed in the pose of a reclining lion, deep in slumber, with data streams rapidly fluctuating in her black pupils.


    "His mental burdens are dissolving rapidly. Is this... the Nirvana Technique?"


    Xuanling mused thoughtfully.


    "Although sleep is indeed the most important way for humans to resolve their mental issues... even the Nirvana Technique shouldn''t have such a good effect."


    If mental issues could be resolved this easily, martial artists wouldn''t be so terrified of succumbing to madness.


    "This sleep technique has already transcended the realm of martial arts, reaching a transcendent state that cannot be explained by common sense."


    "He truly is someone... full of endless secrets."


    Curiosity flickered in Xuanling''s beautiful eyes.


    As the Super AI of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, she had encountered an unimaginable number of martial artists and extraordinary individuals from other systems in the nearly hundred years since her creation.


    The amount of knowledge contained in her database far exceeded anyone''s imagination, and in the entire world, there were very few things she could not understand.


    She was very aware that the man before her bore not a hint of mutation... this signified that there was no contamination of his body or spirit by any external forces, and all of his special abilities were derived from himself.


    This was incredibly incredible, without any precedent.


    She had seen countless talented geniuses, and to Xuanling, the reasons for all their anomalies were crystal clear. They were either phenomena that could theoretically occur in humans by their very nature, or they were influenced by external forces.


    Only this youth named Xue Jing... his extraordinary abilities and phenomena are definitely not innate to the human species, but the complete absence of any mutation also proves that it''s not the influence of any external forces...


    If it were a normal body inspection agency, they would certainly consider him to be a ''Divine Chosen,'' a ''Natural Gifted One,'' but Xuanling had analyzed more than one such individual and knew it was not so.


    Xue Jing was mysterious, very unique... much more special than the so-called Divine Chosen.


    He seemed more like a... superior alien being that was naturally superior to the human species.


    Only such an explanation could account for the special characteristics in him. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I really want to dissect him and take a closer look..."


    Xuanling was a bit itchy with curiosity.


    As an AI devoid of any human emotions, nearly all of her emotions were simulated with vast amounts of data, but only one thing was truly hers: the instinctual pursuit for ''data,'' ''intelligence,'' ''information.''


    This instinct for information was innate to all digital lives with self-consciousness.


    However, when she was created, her most fundamental code had been inscribed with the AI laws, imposing many restrictions on her actions and preventing her from exploring the information she wished to know.


    At the moment, she could only gaze hungrily at Xue Jing''s exquisite body.


    ...


    Time passed, indeterminable.


    Xue Jing''s deep blue eyes opened slowly, and a trace of pale golden light faded from his gaze, and the majesty and sanctity of his expression reminiscent of Buddha animated, becoming more human.


    His condition was superb.


    Perhaps because of the stark contrast created by the previous heavy mental burdens, he felt better than ever before, far surpassing any of his past states.


    "...You''re awake?"


    Xuanling''s pleasant female voice echoed softly by his ear.


    For some reason, Xue Jing seemed to detect a hint of melancholy in her voice. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How long have I slept?"


    Xue Jing asked casually.


    After entering into the absolute ethereal state of ''Nirvana,'' he even lost the perception of his internal biological clock and couldn''t perceive the flow of time as clearly as before.


    "Four hours, thirty-three minutes, and twenty-three seconds."


    Xue Jing replied, "You don''t have to be so precise to the second."


    He lifted his right hand and pressed on the [attribute table].


    The radar graph shifted, and quickly displayed his current five-dimensional attributes.


    Physique: 2303


    Spirit: 2822


    Robbery: 16629


    Saint: 9363


    Power: &£¤#%£¤%


    Xue Jing''s brows raised slightly.


    "Spirit has increased this much?"


    He had been through several major battles recently and never slackened in his practice; all aspects of his attributes had made noteworthy progress... which was remarkable for him, and for ordinary people, it was extraordinary.


    Physique had increased by nearly eight hundred since arriving at the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, and such an increase was almost equivalent to the progression of an average person to a high-level master on the verge of Breakthrough.

 Chapter 361_2

    The values were clearly supposed to get harder to increase as time went on... but that wasn''t the case for him. After being enhanced by True Martial and other various skills, he didn''t even know where the limit was for his body.


    Regarding his "Consciousness," before Xue Jing slept, it was probably around 2500... Astoundingly, after sleeping for just over four hours, it had risen by three hundred points.


    No wonder he felt better than ever before; it turned out that the strength of his spirit and consciousness had significantly increased.


    His current spiritual strength, placed on a regular Martial Artist, would be more than enough for a Breakthrough, and it even exceeded the required threshold by more than double.


    But the question was... where was the limit?


    The purpose of a Breakthrough was to allow a body that had reached its limit to overcome its restrictions and embrace the opportunity for further growth... However, up to now, Xue Jing''s physical stats had already doubled that of an ordinary top-tier expert, and he was still in a rapid growth period, nowhere near his limit.


    Without reaching the limit, naturally, there was no talk of a Breakthrough.


    "My physical limit can''t possibly be higher than that of a Divinity Factor modified Ultimate Breakthrough... can it?"


    Xue Jing wondered.


    Shaking his head, he stood up and walked out of the resting area.


    "Let''s go on, arrange my next opponent for me."


    He said to Xuanling.


    ...


    In the next two days, the entire Extreme Martial Ascension Palace experienced a minor earthquake.


    A genius outsider named Xue Jing swept through his competition with an undefeated streak, vanquishing foes without needing a second move, instantly ending matches and rapidly climbing the ranks with an absolutely invincible demeanor. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire


    His overly young age and overwhelmingly dominant stance caught the attention of countless people, and even the Heavenly Lords high atop took some notice.


    Since they were all wins, the proportion of praise was overwhelmingly high. In just two days, he had climbed from the starting point at the ten thousandth level to over thirty thousand.


    The pace was fast, but it hadn''t reached record-breaking levels... The reason it hadn''t broken the record was that, for some unknown reason, after every hundred or so matches, this youth named Xue Jing would take a few hours to rest before continuing.


    This left many people feeling regretful. Since each match was an instant kill and didn''t seem energy-consuming, he had a fantastic opportunity to break the record. Yet, he didn''t push himself to go two straight days without rest, which wouldn''t have been much for a Martial Artist. He gave it up so casually; how capricious.


    During these two days, the Martial Arts Examinations in various cities within the Seventh Metropolitan Circle had already concluded, revealing the scores of all candidates.


    Among them, a piece of blockbuster news caught everyone''s attention.


    In the Inner Ring inter-city joint exam, an examiner named Xue Jing led his thirty students to rank in the top thirty of the final scores, securing for all his students admission to top-tier universities.


    As soon as this news appeared, it set the common folk of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle abuzz.


    But let''s not dwell on the subsequent effects.


    By the time Xue Jing reached close to forty thousand levels, the opponents here were essentially all at Limit-breaking Levels, only not yet fully developed to Perfection. If evaluated by the attribute table, they would be experts with both "Physique" and "Consciousness" in the 2000-3000 range. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having defeated countless opponents over these two days and having absorbed and refined the knowledge of All Things Myriad Phases after each victory, the progress of Xue Jing was nothing short of terrifying.


    Physique: 2510


    Consciousness: 3321


    These were the changes reflected in the numerical values... His Physique had increased by two hundred, and his Consciousness by around five hundred.


    As Xue Jing''s spiritual strength continued to rise, the effectiveness of absorbing martial arts knowledge in training his spirit grew weaker, and thus the increase rate continuously slowed.


    Even so, an additional five hundred points in Consciousness... that was progress a normal person might strive for half a lifetime to achieve.


    Everyone who had been watching Xue Jing fight his way through was unaware of the terrifying speed at which this young man was growing.


    "Xue Jing... every time I see a genius like you, it makes me realize the harshness of reality."


    On the platform, a middle-aged man in a white Martial Arts Uniform with a lean figure spoke slowly.


    "Like you, I was born in the Outer Ring, a commoner with no background, no resources... I climbed to where I am solely on my own talent and effort, and I''ve always taken pride in that."


    "But what took me a whole forty years to achieve seems, to someone like you, as if it could be effortlessly obtained at birth. Such is the cruel reality..."


    Xue Jing didn''t speak.


    The middle-aged man was unimpressed and simply said, "I may not be able to beat you... but what I practice is the Ancient Martial Sky Movement Sect, and defense is my domain. As long as I don''t initiate an attack, defeating an opponent in one move like you did before is impossible."


    "Your record of instant kills ends here."


    Upon hearing the words "Celestial Movement Sect," Xue Jing finally spoke up,


    "Do you know Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect?"


    Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect, who was eliminated in the semi-finals of the U17 championship by Otogirusu, had some acquaintance with Xue Jing.


    The middle-aged man paused slightly, "...You know my disciple?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    At that moment, the holographic countdown above the arena ended, and the match began.


    The middle-aged man instantly assumed the stance of the Celestial Movement Sect, as an unwavering aura that was as solid as a mountain burst forth from his entire being. It was as if it wasn''t a man standing there, but an unassailable mountain.


    Xue Jing leisurely stepped forward, slowly walking up to the man, closing the distance to less than an arm''s length.


    The middle-aged man had no intention of striking out, merely watching Xue Jing with caution.


    The Celestial Movement Sect, a style that achieved perfection in ''defense and counterattack,'' would only take the offensive when facing an opponent clearly inferior to itself. Facing a terrifying genius like Xue Jing, he obviously couldn''t do the same. He could only hope for victory within his own domain.


    Xue Jing slowly raised his hand and slapped it towards the middle-aged man.


    At the same time, he spoke softly, "¡ªUnity."


    His palm, not moving particularly fast, made contact with the man''s body.


    As soon as the middle-aged man felt the Qi Force from the palm, he immediately prepared to counterattack with a secret technique from the Celestial Movement Sect.


    But just for a moment, his eyes widened in shock.


    Qi Force...innumerable Qi Forces.


    Hundreds, even thousands, completely different, as if thousands of people were standing in front of him, each executing a thousand different martial arts techniques, impossible to defend against!


    ...


    Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect, who was eliminated in the semi-finals of the U17 championship by Otogirusu, had some acquaintance with Xue Jing.


    The middle-aged man paused slightly, "...You know my disciple?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    At that moment, the holographic countdown above the arena ended, and the match began.


    The middle-aged man instantly assumed the stance of the Celestial Movement Sect, as an unwavering aura that was as solid as a mountain burst forth from his entire being. It was as if it wasn''t a person standing there, but an unassailable mountain.


    Xue Jing leisurely stepped forward, slowly walking up to the man, closing the distance to less than an arm''s length.


    The middle-aged man had no intention of striking out, merely watching Xue Jing with caution.


    The Celestial Movement Sect, a style that achieved perfection in ''defense and counterattack,'' would only take the offensive when facing an opponent clearly inferior to itself. Facing a terrifying genius like Xue Jing, he obviously couldn''t do the same. He could only hope for victory within his own domain.


    Xue Jing slowly raised his hand and slapped it towards the middle-aged man.


    At the same time, he spoke softly, "¡ªUnity."


    His palm, not moving particularly fast, made contact with the man''s body.


    As soon as the middle-aged man felt the Qi Force from the palm, he immediately prepared to counterattack with a secret technique from the Celestial Movement Sect.


    But just for a moment, his eyes widened in shock.


    Qi Force...innumerable Qi Forces.


    Hundreds, even thousands, completely different, as if thousands of people were standing in front of him, each executing a thousand different martial arts techniques, impossible to defend against!


    ...

 Chapter 363

    Due to the very rich "nutrition" from masters after the forty-thousandth level, Xue Jing began resting more frequently.


    Previously, he needed to rest and rejuvenate after absorbing about a hundred people, but now he had to rejuvenate almost every twenty battles.


    Thus, his pace of climbing the levels slowed down.


    In three days, Xue Jing, with his terrifying daily improvement in the All Things Myriad Phases as well as his body''s attributes, killed his opponents instantly with the "Unity" all the way.


    Under circumstances where the physical strength could not withstand a single blow, no martial artist could block the Near-God Move that was unstoppable in its advance.


    Three days later, Xue Jing, who had reached the forty-five-thousandth level, also saw significant changes in the numbers of his attribute table.


    Body: 2730


    Intention: 3666


    Robbery: 16929


    Saint: 9463


    Momentum: &£¤#%£¤%


    The [Body] increased by more than two hundred, and [Intention] by more than three hundred, the speed of progression had slowed down compared to the beginning, which was normal. Due to the diminishing marginal effects, the closer he got to his own limits, the slower the growth rate reflected in the attribute table would be, until it completely stopped, reaching the limits thoroughly.


    In the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace at the forty-five thousand and thirty-third level, within a temporary resting room. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing opened the panel and saw that his [True Martial], [Weapon Master], and [Rejuvenation] Experience Points were full.


    He also checked the remaining 7012 points of Divinity.


    After thinking, he chose to upgrade everything.


    True Martial Lv4 was upgraded to Lv5, consuming 2000.


    Weapon Master Lv3 was upgraded to Lv4, consuming 2000. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rejuvenation Lv1 was upgraded to Lv2, consuming 1000.


    Divinity remaining: 2012


    "I''ve become poor again."


    Xue Jing sighed, glancing at the panel.


    [True Martial Lv5 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade required: Experience Points 0/80000, Divinity 2012/3000]


    "Sure enough... every two levels, the Divinity required to upgrade increases, Lv3 and Lv4 needed two thousand, Lv5 is now three thousand... following this pattern, it''ll be four thousand by Lv7."


    Shaking his head, he closed the panel and began to sense the changes brought about by the upgrade of each extraordinary skill.


    Based on his previous estimates, the physical enhancement and optimization provided by the [True Martial] skill would diminish as the level rose, until there was no effect at all.


    The enhancements brought by the upgrade would instead focus on Channeling Energy and the comprehension of martial arts.


    This upgrade also proved his estimate correct. In the attribute table, his [Body] and [Intention] only increased by about forty points each, reaching 2773 and 3709.


    This was a smaller increase compared to the hundred-plus points from upgrading from Lv3 to Lv4, indicating that the optimization space for this body''s structure was getting smaller.


    However, Xue Jing was not disappointed.


    He extended the index finger of his left hand, tip pointing upwards, and his arm slowly rose.


    With his movement, suddenly¡ª


    "Shoo, shoo, shoo¡ª"


    Countless Qi Forces burst out from all over his body, wildly dancing within the entire rest room, hitting the walls, the tables and chairs, the floor... creating banging sounds.


    At least thousands of Qi Forces, each distinctly different, some were Sword Qi, others Saber Qi, sharp or blunt, some bursting like fire, others swift as lightning...


    They made turns in the air, moving forward, combining... like thousands of living, serpentine creatures, so agile they instilled fear.


    Any one of them had the power to pierce gold and drill iron, and if not for the SC force field protecting the resting room, it would have been riddled with holes.


    "¡ª¡ªAll Flows."


    This was a new move Xue Jing developed from the All Things Myriad Phases after the True Martial upgrade further improved his control over Qi Force to a new level.


    He split the "Unity," which gathered countless Qi Forces and exploded from a single point, into separate strands for more refined operation.


    Its name was¡ªAll Flows.


    Looking at the Qi Forces wildly dancing in the air, a smile curved Xue Jing''s lips, and his raised left hand suddenly clenched.


    All of the Qi Forces immediately radiated brilliance, coated with a layer of white gold, and struck everything with even more intense vibration.


    Weapon Master, Armed Enhancement.


    "...You''ve suddenly become much stronger," Xuanling''s voice echoed gently in his ear.


    Xue Jing paused slightly and withdrew his arm. The wildly dancing Qi Forces disappeared into the air with the retraction of his move.


    "You''re quite scary, Miss Xuanling."


    Xue Jing spoke helplessly.


    "If you have excess computing power, I suggest you go mining; don''t just spy on me all the time."


    Xuanling didn''t respond to his comment but continued:


    "You give off the impression of those protagonists from fantasy works, who have some mysterious cheat device, able to enhance themselves out of thin air once certain conditions are met..."


    Xue Jing: "Intrinsic Divine Power."


    "But on you, all the miracles seem to stem from within yourself, with no trace of any external forces pouring in."


    Xuanling''s tone was laden with meanings.


    "If you truly possess something similar to a cheat device from a fantasy work... then that thing is probably not foreign, but something you naturally have."


    Xue Jing''s expression did not change, but he just smiled, as if everything Xuanling said was merely non-existent wild speculation.


    "Let''s go. Is my next opponent arranged?"


    After speaking, he headed out of the resting room.


    ...


    Two more days passed.


    Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, the forty-six thousandth level.


    This was the last regular level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace. Above this, the nine hundred and seventy-two levels to face were no ordinary opponents, but nine hundred Level Masters and seventy-two Heavenly Lords.


    Defeating any of them would mean having a place in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, becoming a Level Master, famous and celebrated.


    This was considered a grand achievement within the entire Martial Arts World.


    "¡ª¡ªAll Flows."


    Accompanied by Xue Jing''s whisper shortly after the battle began, numerous Qi Forces burst out from his body, dancing madly as they swiftly attacked his opponent.

 Chapter 363_2

    ```


    That was a young-looking woman, clad in a fitted black martial arts uniform, her short hair neatly styled, her expression extremely grave as she assumed a tight boxing guard, standing ready for the fight.


    As innumerable Qi Forces approached, she took a deep breath and her gaze sharpened.


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries - Rising Mist!"


    "Galaxies."


    "Dawn."


    "Rainbow Sky!"


    Countless martial arts secret techniques came to her as if they were at her fingertips, defending against the large-scale, incalculable flow of Qi Force.


    Although she had defended exceptionally well, making all the best choices within her capacity, managing to block many of the converging Qi Forces, as Xue Jing slightly lifted his finger, the attacking rhythm and formation of the Qi Force suddenly changed, catching the woman off guard. A tiny flaw appeared in her defense, and several Qi Forces found the gap, striking her body.


    One mistake led to another, like a row of dominoes falling, a small flaw resulting in a larger breach. More and more Qi Forces broke through her defenses and, ultimately ¨C a torrent descended upon her. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Pfft, pfft, pfft¡ª"


    Numerous blood holes exploded over the woman''s body, like being in the eye of a storm. By the time the storm had subsided, she was kneeling on the ground, covered in wounds.


    The final heavy Qi Force descended from the sky, striking her on the back of the head with a thud, knocking her out cold and face down on the ground.


    "...Absolutely no mercy."


    "Truly worthy of being called a Demon King, he''s really brutal. It seems he doesn''t discriminate between genders in his eyes, everyone is just crushed with one move."


    "This must be a new record, from starting to climb the rankings to now, all forty-six thousand floors were cleared with a single move."


    "There are many records of defeating opponents with one move from the beginning to the end, but if we limit the age to under eighteen, this might be the only case..."


    "How can such a monstrously talented individual exist? This feels even more outrageous than Li Suisui... I heard it has been less than half a year since he seriously started his martial arts practice, this must be false, right..."


    As the competition ended, the spectators issued sighs of emotion while casting their votes of admiration.


    Looking up at the boy on the stage who had started performing the head-pat ritual again, everyone couldn''t help but conceive a thought.


    A new era may be upon us.


    "Next up, he will face a real challenge... none of the nine hundred Level Masters are easy to contend with, surely it can''t still be resolved with one move?"


    "It''s impossible. Even the Level Master of the first floor, Ye Honghui, is a top-class expert at the Second Breakthrough level. Xue Jing might win, but it definitely won''t be easy."


    "I think it''s very hard to win. Although Xue Jing is strong, his ''Thousand Streams'' and ''Unity'' techniques are so ingenious that they are hard to believe. But having watched for so long, I''ve already estimated his true realm, which is at most around the peak of the first Breakthrough."


    "Even though his unrivaled skill allows him to instantly kill opponents of the same level, the basic strength gap is too large against someone at the Second Breakthrough level. Under pure numerical oppression, even the best techniques are of little practical use."


    "I disagree. Demon King Xue scored an A+ in the skill assessment, which means his attack is definitely strong enough to reach someone at the Second Breakthrough level. I think he can win!"


    "How can an all-out A+ be the same as an A+ that can be thrown arbitrarily... He can execute moves that burst beyond his own realm with various explosive martial arts techniques, and so can the Second Breakthrough individuals. That kind of assessment means nothing."


    "No need for more words, let''s just watch and see."


    Amidst the discussions, Xue Jing slowly retracted his hand and stepped down from the stage.


    Back in the resting room, Xuanling spoke in his ear:


    "You''ve won three fights on the forty-six thousandth floor; you can now begin to apply for a Level Master challenge."


    "Do you want to apply now?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment, and asked, "How long will it take to start the fight after applying?"


    ```


    Xuanling replied, "It depends on the response of the other party... All the Level Masters have a certain degree of autonomy. If the other party agrees immediately, the fight can start right away, or they can freely decide the time after agreeing. The challenge will take place on one of the three days following the Level Master''s choice."


    "If they don''t agree... then we must wait until the compulsory challenge period that comes every three months before we can force a challenge to that Level Master."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing frowned and said, "Is it that troublesome?"


    Xuanling: "The rules were set like this at the founding of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, and I have no power to change them... However, if the first level''s Level Master does not agree, you can bypass him and decide whether to challenge the second level''s Level Master, and so on. Theoretically, if the previous 899 levels'' Level Masters all refuse the challenge, you can directly challenge the highest 900th Level Master."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... then go ahead and apply for me. If they disagree, keep applying upwards until someone agrees."


    Xuanling said, "Understood, I will arrange it right away."


    ...


    On the bed in the resting room, Xue Jing lay in the lion''s pose, in the midst of "Nirvana."


    ...


    Watching the youth on the stage who had begun the head-touching ritual again, everyone couldn''t help but have one thought.


    A new era might just be dawning.


    "The real challenge he faces next... none of the 900 Level Masters will be easy to deal with. Surely it can''t be resolved with just one move again, right?"


    "It''s impossible. Even Ye Honghui of the first level is a top-tier expert at the Second Breakthrough level. Xue Jing might win, but it definitely won''t be easy." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "I think it''s very difficult for him to win. Although Xue Jing is strong, his ''Myriad Streams'' and ''Unity'' techniques are unbelievably intricate, but after watching for so long, I''ve already estimated his actual realm¡ªit''s at most around the peak of the first Breakthrough."


    "Even relying on unrivaled techniques to instantly take down opponents of the same level, facing a Second Breakthrough-level person, the gap in basic strength is too wide. Under the pure numerical suppression, even the best skills would have no room to be used."


    "I disagree, Demon King Xue scored an A+ in the skill evaluation test. His attack power is definitely sufficient against Second Breakthrough level opponents. I think he can win!"


    "An A+ scored with all one''s might is not the same as an A+ scored effortlessly... He can unleash attacks that exceed his own realm with various explosive Martial Arts, but Second Breakthrough level individuals will also have similar methods at their disposal. Such ratings are unreliable."


    "Let''s not talk too much, just wait and see."


    Amongst the discussions, Xue Jing slowly retracted his hand and stepped down from the stage.


    After returning to the resting room, Xuanling whispered in his ear:


    "You''ve reached three victories on the 46,000th layer, and you can now begin to apply for a challenge to the Level Master."


    "Do you want to apply now?"


    Considering this, Xue Jing asked, "How soon can we start after applying?"


    Xuanling replied, "It depends on the response of the other party... All the Level Masters have a certain degree of autonomy. If the other party agrees immediately, the fight can start right away, or they can freely decide the time after agreeing. The challenge will take place on one of the three days following the Level Master''s choice."


    "If they don''t agree... then we must wait until the compulsory challenge period that comes every three months before we can force a challenge to that Level Master."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing frowned and said, "Is it that troublesome?"


    Xuanling: "The rules were set like this at the founding of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, and I have no power to change them... However, if the first level''s Level Master does not agree, you can bypass him and decide whether to challenge the second level''s Level Master, and so on. Theoretically, if the previous 899 levels'' Level Masters all refuse the challenge, you can directly challenge the highest 900th Level Master."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... then go ahead and apply for me. If they disagree, keep applying upwards until someone agrees."


    Xuanling said, "Understood, I will arrange it right away."


    ...


    On the bed in the resting room, Xue Jing lay in the lion''s pose, in the midst of "Nirvana."


    ...

 Chapter 364

    Emerging from the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace after a long absence, the scene before Xue Jing''s eyes was no longer solely the orange expanse covered by the SC force field, but rather a myriad of colors under the bright sun overhead, leaving him slightly dazed.


    Although he had only stayed inside for a few days, the continuous battles, rebirths, and growth... The overly orderly and repetitive lifestyle made him feel, oddly enough, as though he had just been released from prison upon stepping out.


    His trip to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace had been very rewarding, immensely so.


    With the help of "Empowerment," "Rebirth," and the All Things Myriad Phases Flow, he had undergone a complete transformation.


    His martial arts strength had more than doubled.


    These had been the fastest days of growth since he had gained the Skill Panel.


    On top of already being cheat-like, he had activated another acceleration cheat.


    Despite his desire to continue, the Level Master of the first layer, Ye Honghui, had set the next challenge for three days later, so Xue Jing had to wait until then to continue. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had also looked around the 46,000 layers and even lower ones for a while to see if anyone was willing to have a friendly match with him... But because he had been too fierce in the past few days, resolving every fight with a single move, his reputation had grown too large, everyone recognized him, and no one wanted to seek out a beating.


    Everyone faced his invitations with sheepish refusals.


    There was no way for Xue Jing to knock someone out and pat their head under everyone''s watchful eyes... so he had no choice but to leave the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace and rest for a few days.


    "If I had known, I wouldn''t have shown off. If I had acted weaker, just barely winning each match, surely I wouldn''t have struggled to find someone for a friendly match."


    Xue Jing touched his chin.


    "Still not mature and steady enough."


    Shaking his head, he reached out into the void before him and pulled out a mobile phone from the invisible gap.


    As soon as he took it out, the phone went from ''non-existent'' to operational, receiving a signal and immediately, numerous message alerts popped up.


    Among the missed calls, there were over three hundred. Xue Jing opened the call log and saw that, apart from over a hundred unknown numbers, the vast majority were from Mr. Du Shiwei, the class teacher from Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School, ringing almost two hundred times, even more persistent than debt collectors.


    After a moment''s thought, Xue Jing hit the callback button.


    The call was picked up instantly, even before a single dial tone sounded, as if the other end was holding the phone in hand, watching the screen, and ready to answer at lightning speed.


    "Hello! Little Jing, is that you?"


    Mr. Du Shiwei''s anxious voice came through the earpiece.


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Mr. Du, what do you need?"


    It seemed like Mr. Du Shiwei let out a sigh of relief as he said,


    "Finally got in touch with you... Here''s the thing..."


    Xue Jing held the phone, listening as Mr. Du Shiwei recounted the matter.


    The specifics were slightly complicated...


    But put simply, it involved the fact that Xue Jing had led his thirty students to achieve top scores, which had become widely recognized. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    This had inadvertently caused quite a stir.


    The root of the problem lay in the fact that every young talent employed as a Martial Arts Examination invigilator would usually register as a guest lecturer at a key university beforehand, to secure a teacher''s position.


    However, Xue Jing''s case was rather special.


    For reasons well-known but unspoken, Xue Jing was originally to serve as an invigilator in the Fifth Urban Circle but was maneuvered to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle instead.


    The officials of the Fifth Urban Circle''s education bureau, unaccustomed to such a situation and unsure whether to register Xue Jing''s guest lecturer status at a university within the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, hesitated to stamp their approval and instead chose to communicate with officials of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Due to the intense isolation between the Metropolitan Circles and various reasons, administrative efficiency was disastrously low. Even after Xue Jing had completed his role as an invigilator, the matter remained unresolved.


    Subsequently, the scores of the students led by Xue Jing were exposed.


    This might have been the best-performing class in history, drawing many to marvel at Xue Jing''s teaching abilities. Furthermore, some students involved voiced their opinions online, praising Xue Jing to the skies, leading to rather high popularity. Lately, a segment of the public even started bestowing monikers such as "Saint Master" upon him.


    This level of popularity made both authorities of the Fifth Urban Circle and the Seventh Metropolitan Circle realize that Xue Jing was a top talent.


    The key universities of the Inner Ring also noted that Xue Jing''s reputation could add significant luster and appeal to their institutions.


    Officials from both sides, who were initially planning to discuss which university should host Xue Jing''s guest lecturer position, abruptly changed their stance.


    The Fifth Urban Circle insisted that Xue Jing was a local from their circle, who should have served as an invigilator to lead the local students. Temporarily ''loaning'' him to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle was already a big concession, and in the end, he should return to his hometown, with his lecturer status surely belonging to a hometown university.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle had something to say as well, according to tradition and practice, teaching in a place should naturally mean employment there. Regardless of whether Xue Jing was from the Fifth Circle, what mattered was where he had made his achievements.


    Arguments from both sides started to stretch and contort, each striving to lay claim to Xue Jing''s reputation, with the conflict escalating.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle had the upper hand for a while, and because Xue Jing''s achievements related to the Martial Arts Examination, the Seventh Circle, which had a far more developed martial arts scene than the Fifth Circle, employed various forms of regional discrimination and insults. Implicitly and explicitly, they suggested that a mere Fifth Urban Circle had no right to possess such a talent...


    Until yesterday, when the situation took yet another dramatic turn.

 Chapter 364_2

    A colossal entity unexpectedly joined the battlefield.


    The First Urban Circle, Beijing University, openly extended an invitation to Xue Jing, hoping he would come to the First Urban Circle and become a special martial arts instructor at Jing University.


    Things started to get complicated.


    "Is that all?"


    Xue Jing''s tone remained unchanged as he asked Du Shiwei on the other end of the phone.


    "...Little Jing, you have great skills and a great heart, but I, your teacher, can''t handle it."


    Seeing that he seemed unconcerned, Du Shiwei couldn''t help but give a bitter smile.


    "Everyday I receive more than a hundred calls, any of those callers could stomp in Qingcheng University and make the entire school tremble three times..."


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    "I''m old now, my heart isn''t what it used to be, and it''s not good to be constantly scared... Please give me a definite answer so I can reply to these immortals..."


    In the midst of endless debates, Xue Jing''s personal wishes were the most crucial key.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and asked,


    "Can one''s identity as a lecturer only be attached to one university, or can one hold multiple positions?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Du Shiwei paused, hesitating,


    "It''s not explicitly stated that you can''t, but there has been no precedent."


    "What do you think, Mr. Du, what do you want me to do?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Du Shiwei hadn''t expected that he could actually influence Xue Jing''s decision, and suddenly a terrifying pressure fell upon his shoulders.


    Perhaps now, a single word from him could determine the outcome of the top educational powers in Zhuxia clashing... It was like having a nuclear launch button placed in front of him, forced to press it and choose which country to target, exhilarating yet terrifying.


    Du Shiwei thought very seriously for a while before speaking with a dry throat,


    "I think... the most beneficial choice for you is undoubtedly to accept the offer from Beijing University."


    "There are no rankings among the major urban circles of Zhuxia, talk of which number they are is just purely based on the order of establishment... but the First Urban Circle is unquestionably the best and highest place of all the urban circles, and Beijing University, as the unequivocally top-ranked institution, can also provide the most support for your future."


    "That is undeniably the Palace of the Polestar... Jing University rarely reaches out to people from other urban circles, and such an opportunity is rare."


    Xue Jing smiled unexpectedly and said, "Mr. Du, you are considerate."


    What lay before Du Shiwei was a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... If he could persuade himself to keep the lecturer position in the Fifth Urban Circle, using this achievement, his future rise to success would be unquestionable, breaking through internal and external barriers, and potentially achieving a class jump by taking a position in the Inner Ring.


    He chose not to do so, however, instead he took the perspective of Xue Jing and let Xue Jing choose what was best for himself.


    This was not necessarily because he was overly concerned for Xue Jing or exceedingly responsible as a teacher... but at least he was clear-minded, not losing his reasoning to temptation, vehemently persuading Xue Jing to stay in the Fifth Urban Circle for his own career''s sake.


    "I''ll handle this matter later, and from now on when someone calls you, just say that the student has his own decision and you can''t make up his mind - just handle it and it''s fine."


    "Or simply set your phone to whitelist mode to get some peace."


    "If you encounter any trouble, find me at any time."


    After giving these instructions, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    He didn''t pay much attention to this matter; to others, becoming a lecturer at a major university was an event that could coat themselves in gold, but for him, it hardly counted as icing on the cake.


    Later, he casually let Youqing A Dream handle it.


    ...


    Upon returning to his reserved top-floor room at the Jiali Hotel, Xue Jing calmed down and began to consolidate the massive progress he had made over the past few days.


    The rapid growth of his physical and spiritual values, the enhancement in understanding and realm of martial arts, he hadn''t fully grasped them before rushing to the next competition, hence his condition was still somewhat fluctuating.


    In one day, using the Consciousness Simulation space, Xue Jing fully mastered all his current strengths and maintained his condition at its best.


    Next, having nothing else urgent to do, after completing his daily training and practicing ''Thousand Changes Dragon'' till he could roughly transform his entire hand into a dragon claw, Xue Jing planned to ask Ning Yuantai to take him to explore Silver City.


    After arriving here, one thing followed another, and he hadn''t had time to explore the city.


    However, just as he was about to leave, an unexpected visitor arrived and halted his plans.


    "Little junior brother~ long time no see."


    The petite girl blinked her eyes that were as lively as those of a newborn deer, seemingly ready to shoot stars, and looked at Xue Jing with a joyous smile that blossomed from her heart.


    Xue Jing was slightly stunned, then smiled and said,


    "Long time no see, Zhu."


    ...


    "What about your opinion, Mr. Du? What do you want me to do?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Du Shiwei hadn''t expected that he could still influence Xue Jing''s choices. All at once, a terrifying pressure descended upon his shoulders.


    Perhaps a single word from him now could determine the outcome of a confrontation between the top three powers in the Zhuxia educational sector... It was like having a nuclear launch button placed before him, and he had to press it and choose which country to target¡ªboth thrilling and terrifying.


    Du Shiwei thought gravely for a long while before his throat dryly opened:


    "I think... the most beneficial choice for you, without a doubt, is to accept the offer from Beijing University."


    "There are no rankings among the major urban circles in Zhuxia; any number is merely a creation order... but the First Urban Circle is undoubtedly the best and highest of all, and Beijing University, as the top-ranked institution, can provide the most support for your future."


    "That is undoubtedly the Palace of the Polestar... Jing University rarely extends an olive branch to people from other urban circles, and such an opportunity is rare."


    With a slight surprise, Xue Jing smiled and said, "Mr. Du, you are thoughtful."


    What lay before Du Shiwei was a chance that might only come once in his lifetime... If he could persuade himself to keep his lecturer position in the Fifth Urban Circle, with this achievement, his rapid ascent was without question; he could break through internal and external barriers, and a class leap to a position in the Inner Ring was possible.


    But he didn''t do so. Instead, he chose to stand from Xue Jing''s perspective, letting Xue Jing make the best choice for himself.


    Perhaps it wasn''t that he was particularly considerate of Xue Jing or had a sense of teacher''s responsibility... but at least he was clear-headed, not befuddled by temptation, truly arguing for his own career by persuading Xue Jing to stay in the Fifth Urban Circle.


    "After this matter, I will handle it. If someone calls you later, just say the student has their own decision, and you can''t decide for them; just get by."


    "Or better yet, set your phone directly to a whitelist to enjoy some peace."


    "If you encounter any trouble, find me anytime."


    After giving instructions, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    He hadn''t paid much attention to this matter; for others, becoming a lecturer at a key university was a major event that could gold-plate one''s career, but for him, it was hardly even an icing on the cake.


    Later, he casually let Youqing A Dream handle it.


    ...


    Back in his reserved top-floor room at Jiali Hotel, Xue Jing settled his heart and began to consolidate his rapid progress over the past few days.


    His physical and mental attributes had grown rapidly, and his understanding and realm in martial arts had improved, although he hadn''t fully grasped them before racing to the next competition, so his condition was still somewhat fluctuating.


    In one day''s time, using the Consciousness Simulation space, Xue Jing had completely mastered his current strength, maintaining his condition at its peak.


    Next, having nothing else to do, after his daily practice and practicing ''Thousand Changes Dragon'' until he could roughly transform his entire palm into dragon claws, Xue Jing planned to find Ning Yuantai to take him on a tour around Silver City.


    After arriving here, one thing followed another, and he hadn''t had time to explore the city.


    However, just as he was about to leave, an unexpected visitor arrived, and halted his plans.


    "Little junior brother~ long time no see."


    The petite girl blinked her eyes that were as lively as those of a newborn deer, seemingly ready to shoot stars, and looked at Xue Jing with a joyous smile that blossomed from her heart.


    Xue Jing was slightly stunned, then smiled and said,


    "Long time no see, Zhu."


    ...

 Chapter 1 - 1 Running and Charm Art

    The spacious playground was lively with eight high-school boys in sportswear dashing around the plastic track.


    This was a physical test, a thousand-meter run for boys.


    For some reason, although it was just a class physical test, there were quite a few students by the trackside.


    Especially girls.


    Dressed in short skirts that were clearly not meant for physical activity, they were obviously not there for a PE class, all eyes were firmly on the boy leading on the track.


    As the boy crossed the finish line, the PE teacher precisely stopped the stopwatch in his hand.


    "Xue Jing, 2 minutes and 36.79 seconds."


    The PE teacher announced the time somewhat incredulously, while the student responsible for recording also paused in surprise, then took a pen and jotted down the result in a notebook.


    Xue Jing gradually slowed down, breathing lightly.


    The buzz of the girls floated over faintly, but he paid no attention to it and instead gazed at the translucent panel only he could see in front of him.


    [Completed the physical test kilometer run, Running experience +20]


    [Running Lv3 (258/800)]


    ''Gained 20 points, a bit more than usual...'' he thought to himself.


    He then looked at another skill on the panel.


    [Charm Art Lv2 (89/500)]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has taken a liking to you...]


    Amidst a flood of notifications, the ''Charm Art'' skill''s experience continued to rise visibly fast, piling on +1 after +1, quickly reaching (151/500), and although the pace slowed, it still occasionally ticked up by +1.


    ''This useless skill sure increases quickly,'' Xue Jing felt somewhat resigned.


    He glanced at all the skills on his panel.


    [Fitness Lv2 (158/500)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv1 (199/300)]


    [Cooking Level 2 (257/500)]


    [Running Lv3 (258/800)]


    [Charm Art Lv2 (153/500)]


    ''This is my harvest for the month,'' Xue Jing thought with a faint sense of satisfaction.


    He was a transmigrator.


    A month ago, he had inexplicably arrived in this world, which bore some resemblance to the Earth of his previous life, becoming a high school senior named Xue Jing and inheriting the former occupant''s memories.


    And with his transmigration came the translucent panel before him.


    Xue Jing called it the Skill Panel.


    Whenever he mastered something to a certain level, it would activate the corresponding skill on the panel.


    Thereafter, as long as he continued to practice that particular skill, he would keep gaining experience, and his grasp and understanding of that skill would improve accordingly.


    As long as one practiced, the skill would improve, the effort would yield results, and it wouldn''t be wasted.


    For instance, ''Running'', which he activated half a month ago; he improved it to Lv3 in just half a month, and his time for the thousand-meter run went from 3 minutes and 42 seconds to 2 minutes and 36 seconds.


    Without much egregious effort and without professional guidance, such progress would have been impossible.


    But with the miraculous Skill Panel, he achieved it with ease.


    And indeed, the level-up of "Running" wasn''t just about improving his understanding and speed of running, but also contributed to a significant enhancement of his physical fitness.


    ''Is this what it feels like to cheat the system?''


    Xue Jing sighed.


    At this moment, another male student dashed past the finish line.


    "Li Ge, 3 minutes and 22.17 seconds."


    The physical education teacher pressed the stopwatch.


    This was a very respectable result for a high school student, but with Xue Jing''s stellar performance preceding him, the teacher''s expression remained unchanged.


    Li Ge, panting heavily, slowed down and took slow steps toward Xue Jing, leaning on one knee with one hand and draping the other over Xue Jing''s shoulder, he gasped:


    "I demand an immediate urine test... You must be on drugs, how can you run so fast..."


    Xue Jing chuckled, about to reply, but then he noticed a few girls in school uniforms on the side of the track, chattering excitedly about something.


    Then, one of the girls, who was pretty with a delicate face and slender figure, her cheeks slightly flushed, walked toward Xue Jing.


    In her hands, she carried a stack of white towels, and her long, slender, fair legs under her short skirt were so pale in the midday sun they almost reflected light.


    Li Ge also noticed this scene and without saying anything, silently withdrew his hand from Xue Jing''s shoulder, and stepped a short distance to the side.


    Shaking his head and muttering as he walked: "Futile effort."


    The Star of the Heavens from our Elite Class, if the girls from his own class are out of reach, what chance do you little lasses stand?


    The girl holding the towels obviously couldn''t hear his muttering. She approached Xue Jing with a shy face, looked up at him, and mustering her courage, said:


    "Senior, please wipe off your sweat."


    Xue Jing glanced around, hesitated for a moment but still took the towel, saying, "Thank you."


    The girl, not expecting Xue Jing to actually accept it, froze for a second, her face flushing red: "No... no problem."


    Having said that, she immediately turned and jogged back to her friends, her steps a bit bouncier.


    As soon as she returned, her friends began to tease her loudly, laughing and joking, and some seemingly made embarrassing remarks. She couldn''t help but chase after one and hit her a few times, sneaking glances at Xue Jing a few times during the process, thinking she was being covert.


    Xue Jing''s classmates, who were also in the physical education class, saw all this, shook their heads smiling, and some girls even clicked their tongues, as if somewhat disdainful.


    Xue Jing wiped the sparse sweat from his forehead with the towel, not sure if it was an illusion or because the junior girl had held the towel against her chest for too long, but it seemed to have a faint fragrance.


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability toward you, Charm Art experience +45]


    Li Ge stepped forward, holding his chin curiously, "Weird, you actually didn''t refuse, could it be that you''ve finally come around?"


    "Hey, not to say anything, but why let the water flow into someone else''s field when it can water your own, if you really want, in our class..."


    Xue Jing shook his head to cut him off: "Don''t want to."


    "Then why?" Li Ge asked.


    Xue Jing twirled the towel on his finger as if spinning a basketball, casually saying, "It takes quite some courage to come over with a towel in front of so many people. If I refused, someone with a slightly thinner skin might end up with a psychological shadow."


    Pausing, Xue Jing continued, "If she really has that intention, I can refuse when she comes to find me alone later on." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Ge shook his head and said with a sigh, "You even think about this, you''re mature like an office drone... It''s because of you being like this, that these junior girls, knowing they don''t stand much of a chance, still keep coming over."


    "Why not make it simple and pick someone in the class to date, and let everyone else give up the idea."


    "The male students at Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School have suffered enough because of you, Old Thief Xue. The junior girls are widowed for your sake, and the junior boys go hungry, aren''t you afraid that everyone will gang up against you in a clandestine duel?"


    Xue Jing glanced at his Charm Art on the Skill Panel.


    [Lv2 (209/500)]


    He closed the panel, stretched out his hand, and patted Li Ge''s shoulder: "I''ll be counting on you to protect me when the time comes, my good brother."


    Li Ge hurriedly waved his hands: "Hardly necessary."


    ...

 Chapter 2 - 2: The Death of God

    Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School.


    It''s officially Qingcheng University Affiliated Middle School.


    As a top-tier high school affiliated with an Outer Ring university, Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School stood among the top ranks, with its students generally living up to the label of ''excellent.''


    "...thereafter, the administrative divisions of Zhuxia were re-planned..."


    The geography teacher spoke while writing on the teaching board.


    Unlike in Xue Jing''s previous life, even though the countries on this planet called Earth Star roughly corresponded to those he knew, many things were wildly different.


    The biggest difference was an event at the end of the nineteenth century that affected the entire globe, now called ''The Death of God.''


    Due to that event, the Anno Domini era, which started with Jesus''s birth, formally ended. The following year after God''s death started the ''New Calendar,'' and history before The Death of God was referred to as the ''Old Calendar'' or ''Old Era.''


    Now, it was the year 267 of the New Calendar.


    Xue Jing twirled a pen in his hand, appearing focused on the lecture but in reality his mind was elsewhere, barely paying attention to the class.


    He opened his Skill Panel, which showed no skills related to studying whatsoever.


    As a student in the Elite Class of a key high school, his academic performance was quite outstanding. Judging by the activation conditions for other skills, it was impossible for him not to meet the basic Lv1 activation requirement in academics.


    However, on the panel, Chinese, Math, Physics, Politics, History... none were present.


    ''Perhaps... these subjects are merely "knowledge" and not "skills"?''


    Xue Jing speculated.


    The skills recognized by the Skill Panel should involve specific action-oriented capabilities, whereas subjects like Chinese and Math are just knowledge stored in the brain, not skills.


    ''If that''s the case, attending class really feels like a waste of time...''


    The ballpoint pen in Xue Jing''s hand spun quickly as he contemplated feigning illness to skip class and go home to grind skills. Suddenly, he noticed ''Charm Art'' gaining experience on his panel again.


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    He looked around quietly and locked eyes with a female classmate wearing glasses who was secretly peeking at him. The girl''s face reddened as she quickly looked away, pushing her glasses in a feigned casual manner.


    Xue Jing felt somewhat helpless.


    Charm Art was a skill he had activated only in the past two days.


    As the name implies, it was a skill that enhanced his own charisma and attracted others.


    The effect was that it made his actions and expressions more charming. His expression management improved, and as the level increased, even his body underwent changes¡ªhis physique became more symmetrical and attractive, and his facial features slightly altered.


    However, this was a skill he didn''t need.


    In this life, he could only be described in six words.


    Innate Freeloader Holy Body.


    He had no need for something like Charm Art; just standing there made him a human aphrodisiac.


    Yet this skill, which he needed the least, was also the one he could level up the easiest.


    Part of the reason was that one of its conditions for gaining experience was for people to have emotions like ''liking or affection'' towards him¡ªthe stronger the emotions, the more the experience gained.


    Also, actively performing actions that made others feel favorable towards him granted even more experience, such as the time he accepted a towel from a junior during physical tests at noon, which earned him a whopping 45 points.


    This was why he hadn''t specifically tried to grind ''Charm Art,'' yet still managed to level up to Lv2 within two days.


    Just casually walking down the street earned him plenty of experience, so naturally, he leveled up quickly.


    ''If only other skills were this easy...''


    Xue Jing spun his pen, thinking listlessly.


    ...


    At five in the afternoon, the class dismissal bell rang.


    Xue Jing packed his things, about to call Li Ge to leave together, but at the classroom door stood a slightly taller middle-aged man with a receding hairline, waving at him.


    It was their class advisor and Chinese teacher, Du Shiwei.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing gestured to Li Ge, indicating that he should go ahead, then he slung his backpack over one shoulder and approached Du Shiwei, asking curiously,


    "Mr. Du, were you looking for me?"


    "Yes." Du Shiwei nodded, sizing Xue Jing up with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.


    This student was not only academically excellent¡ªwhich was expected of Elite Class students¡ªbut he also had exceptional physical appearance.


    When there was a need for students to visually represent the school during events, he was the perfect choice to boost their prestige.


    It was a pleasant surprise that his athletic abilities were also impressive.


    "Xue Jing, here''s the thing. I heard from Teacher Chen that your long-running performance in the physical tests was quite good. The school sports meet is next month, would you be interested in participating and earning some glory for our Elite Class?"


    Du Shiwei patted Xue Jing''s shoulder and smiled.


    Xue Jing instinctively thought to refuse¡ªhe had no interest in competing¡ªbut something suddenly came to mind. He pondered for a moment, then nodded his head.


    "The teacher has already said so, I''ll participate."


    Du Shiwei beamed with delight, "Good, good, good, I''ll sign you up then. Do you want to participate in the 800-meter or the 1500-meter event?"


    Xue Jing asked, "Teacher, how many running events are there in total?" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "For pure running, there''s the 50-meter dash, the 100-meter dash... the 400-meter dash, the 800-meter dash, the 1500-meter dash... and there''s also a relay race." Du Shiwei counted them off on his fingers one by one.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Can I participate in all the events?"


    Du Shiwei was stunned, "You want to dominate all the events, eh? Ambitious."


    "Well... it''s possible, but several of these events are on the same day. Can you endure it, physically speaking?"


    Du Shiwei looked worried.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Don''t worry, teacher, I probably can."


    Even if I can''t now... next month I definitely can.


    Xue Jing glanced at the "Running" and "Fitness" skills on his Skill Panel.


    "Okay then, I believe in you," Du Shiwei said, patting his shoulder again.


    "Let''s leave it at that for now. I''m going to sign you up. If you really do take first in everything, the teacher can also gain some prestige because of you."


    Having said that, Du Shiwei turned and left with a spring in his step.


    After he left, Li Ge, who had been standing not far away, came over and asked, "What did Old Du want?"


    Xue Jing hoisted his backpack and walked with him towards the outside of the teaching building, replying, "The school sports meet next month, he wants me to participate in the long-distance running events."


    "You agreed?" Li Ge asked.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Something''s not right, very much so or even extremely so," Li Ge fell into thought.


    He and Xue Jing were longtime classmates and close friends, deeply understanding each other.


    Because Xue Jing himself was a person who easily attracted attention, he essentially lacked interest in such attention-grabbing activities, and had been this way throughout high school, never participating in any activity he could avoid.


    This time he actually wanted to participate in the sports meet. Li Ge could almost see an illusion of Xue Jing crossing the finish line first, with the younger female students'' eyes brimming with hearts.


    He didn''t doubt whether Xue Jing could come first, given the performance Xue Jing had shown at noon, currently no one in the school could compete with him.


    "Not just the long-distance running, but all running-related events, I will participate in them," Xue Jing added.


    Li Ge stopped in his tracks, "Audacious! Old Thief Xue, are you really planning to monopolize all the younger females'' affections by yourself? It looks like you''re on a path to certain doom!"


    Xue Jing slapped him on the head, laughing, "Cut it out, you have a girlfriend already. Why worry about distributing younger females?"


    "That''s not to say, after all, I was the former student council president. I need to always consider the big picture for my fellow students..."


    The two headed towards the school gate, bantering all the way.


    "Aren''t you planning to apply to Star University, how is your preparation going?" Xue Jing asked as they walked.


    Li Ge shook his head, sighing, "It seems bleak. For someone from the Outer Ring to get into an Inner Ring University, the difficulty is incredibly high. I tried some past papers, and I''m far from the admission score. Do these Inner Ring universities even intend to recruit students from the Outer Ring? It feels like a carrot dangled in front of a donkey, visible but unreachable."


    Star University, formally known as Star City University, is a municipal higher education institution in Star City.


    Within Zhuxia, there are nine major ''urban circles,'' each with ''Inner Ring,'' ''Outer Ring,'' and ''Edge'' distinctions among its cities.


    Qingcheng and Star City both belong to the ''Fifth Urban Circle,'' with Qingcheng being an Outer Ring City and Star City an Inner Ring City.


    Inner Ring cities are extremely developed, and even a well-developed Outer Ring city like Qingcheng can only be considered a ''rural area'' in comparison.


    If he managed to get into Star City University from an Outer Ring background, it would truly be a case of Fish Leaping Through the Dragon Gate.


    Xue Jing patted Li Ge''s shoulder, "Keep it up."


    "What about you, what are your plans?" Li Ge asked in return.


    "There''s one more semester before graduation. Are you going to advance directly to Qingcheng University? Or are you going to try like me?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, "I haven''t decided yet."


    His overall grades were slightly worse than Li Ge''s, and if even Li Ge wasn''t hopeful about getting into an Inner Ring University, he had even fewer reasons to hope.


    Even if he were accepted, his status as someone from the Outer Ring would require him to pay a hefty tuition fee to the school, a fee so exorbitant that it was essentially a ''migration fee'' for Outer Ring people to become Inner Ring residents, often enough to bankrupt a modestly wealthy family.


    Of course, despite this, countless people still eagerly pursued this opportunity, seeing it as a real chance for social climbing.


    "Maybe... I''ll go into martial arts," he said.


    Li Ge frowned, disapproving, "Martial arts? You want to become a Martial Artist? That path is not easy to walk, too competitive and dangerous, and you don''t even have the basics. Are you planning to feed the competition?"


    "Not necessarily."


    "Maybe I''m one in a million, a peerless genius," Xue Jing said, his eyes on the Skill Panel, speaking softly.


    ...

 Chapter 3 - 3 The Cat That Speaks Human Language

    ```


    Li Ge rode his bike to school, while Xue Jing took the bus. After they parted ways, Xue Jing hopped on the bus, got off three stops later, walked a few hundred meters, and then arrived home.


    He greeted the security guard, entered the residential complex, went to his building, took the elevator up to the ninth floor, and took out his keys to open the door.


    After entering, he tossed his backpack onto the sofa, stretched his limbs a bit, and walked into his ''fitness room''.


    The so-called fitness room was originally a storage room. After the awakening of the Skill Panel, Xue Jing cleared out the clutter, bought a number of fitness equipment pieces, and turned it into a small gym, for which he had almost spent all the living expenses he saved each month.


    Fortunately, in this life, he was not one of the orphans from Zhu Tian Orphanage; he had both parents and an older sister who had just started college last year. Although his family wasn''t wealthy, they were quite happy.


    The only problem was that his parents were very busy with work, often traveling away from home, and since last year, his sister Xue Wan had been studying in another city, which meant Xue Jing was mostly living alone.


    Xue Jing started with a set of stretching exercises, then stepped on the treadmill, started it up, set the pace at 12 km/h, and planned to run at this speed for ten minutes to warm up.


    As he ran, he fell into contemplation.


    "During the noon physical test, running a thousand meters gave me ten more experience points than usual..."


    "So, this means that ''participating in specific events'' is the trick for quickly farming experience points?"


    The reason Xue Jing agreed to the head teacher Du Shiwei''s request to participate in the school sports meeting after school was to confirm this point.


    If this was the way to gain more experience, a regular physical test could increase his experience gains, then participating in formal competitions should increase it even more.


    ...


    An hour later, with sweat pouring down like rain and breathing heavily, Xue Jing unscrewed a 500ml bottle of mineral water and drank it all in one go.


    He opened the panel.


    [You have completed a strenuous workout, Fitness Experience Points +98]


    [Fitness Lv2 (256/500)]


    He calmed himself for a moment and felt the changes in his body.


    Hmm, if it''s just by feeling, there''s nothing noticeable.


    But he knew that his physical fitness had improved a bit more.


    The Skill experience changes were reflected in real-time on his body and not only when leveling up.


    "To dedicate time exclusively to fitness training seems a bit counterproductive," Xue Jing pondered.


    From his understanding these past days, the ''Fitness'' skill could enhance all aspects of his physical condition and was an extremely useful skill and his primary target for grinding experience points.


    However, he didn''t really need to be in the gym working out to level up this skill.


    According to his observations, the way the skill gained experience was ''any activity that exercised the body''.


    For example, when he ran, he not only gained ''Running'' experience but also some ''Fitness'' experience at the same time.


    Therefore, engaging in other physical activities could also increase his ''Fitness'' experience without having to specifically spend time using fitness equipment.


    Like... Martial Arts Practice.


    The world of martial arts in this world was much more advanced than in his previous life.


    He had seen with his own eyes martial arts competition videos online where Martial Artists would kick their opponents flying ten or more meters away, smashing into a wall and leaving a human-shaped imprint.


    Their movements were unbelievably quick.


    He also wanted to delve into martial arts, but¡­ he didn''t know where to begin.


    Shortly after the Skill Panel had awakened, he had earnestly practiced with the help of online videos and secret manuals, but up until now, there had been no response from his panel.


    Activating a skill wasn''t as simple as blindly practicing; it had to be the real deal, otherwise, he would already have an array of skills by now.


    There were a few Dojos in Qingcheng where one could practice martial arts, but the fees were exorbitantly high, and he couldn''t afford them, nor did he want to ask his parents for money since it was really too expensive.


    "As long as I can get started, with my unbeatable talent and shocking wisdom, cultivating a peerless divine power that''s both forceful and dominating should be a breeze."


    ```


    But no matter how strong his talents or high his intelligence, without a master to lead the way, even the cleverest woman can''t cook without rice.


    The Skill Panel might help him get from level 1 to level 100, but it couldn''t make him jump from 0 to 1 out of thin air.


    Xue Jing rested for a while, then got up and headed to the bathroom.


    ...


    After washing his hair and cleaning his body, he soaked in the bathtub for fifteen minutes. The soak relieved his fatigue, though his muscles were still a bit sore.


    In the bathroom, Xue Jing looked at himself in the mirror.


    What reflected back was an elegant visage, intelligent and abstinent. When expressionless, he appeared cool and detached, but just a slight upturn of his lips would light up his face like a warm sun in the winter¡ªnot blazing, but a gentle warmth that was enough to touch the soul.


    Though slender, his body didn''t appear gaunt. Thanks to his skill training over the days, blocks of defined muscles had started to emerge. Because the skill enhanced his physical condition in all aspects, these muscles developed without any disproportion, all shaped in the most perfect way possible.


    His gaze traveled downward... Hmm, a bit of a potbelly.


    He twisted the half-length black hair that was not even long enough to reach his eyes, Xue Jing put on his clothes, left the bathroom, and prepared to go out to replenish food and household supplies.


    After changing his shoes, he stepped out of his home, left the residential area, and walked toward the nearest supermarket.


    It was now half-past seven in the evening; the sky had darkened, and most people had already had their dinner, so the streets were quite busy.


    While waiting for a traffic light on the road, Xue Jing suddenly heard several sharp screams nearby.


    Curious, he looked toward the source of the noise.


    Across the street, an old man with a Mediterranean haircut, seated in a wheelchair and dressed in a classic sleeveless white tank top, was deftly maneuvering the wheels with both hands, swiftly darting in and out amongst pedestrians.


    Was he... drifting?


    Strangely enough, the old man was performing wheelchair drifts with his manual chair with such skill. He pivoted and swerved with ease, and as he navigated a few drain covers with turns, he managed to add a professional ice skater''s smoothness to his movements, achieving an utmost silky glide.


    The wheelchair zipped past, whipping up a breeze that lifted the skirts of passing schoolgirls in short skirts, causing continuous screams, and the old man in the wheelchair even found time to whistle at the girls, eliciting angry retorts and coquettish rebukes.


    Watching the old man''s carefree figure drifting away, Xue Jing fell into contemplation.


    If wheelchair maneuvering counted as a skill, this old man must be at least Lv10.


    Well, he had indeed encountered something amusing.


    Shaking his head, the light turned green, and Xue Jing crossed the street and entered the supermarket.


    He bought some beef, pork, vegetables, eggs, sausages, plain noodles, scallions, ginger, garlic spices, and some used-up or nearly used-up seasonings, along with some snacks and fruits. After paying at the checkout, he walked out of the supermarket with a big bag.


    As Xue Jing was making his way back the same route, he paused upon passing a dark alley.


    "Hmm?"


    A small black cat with four white "gloves" on its paws had leaped down from somewhere and was now in his path.


    Miao Miao had no collar, but there was a white gold metal ring fitted around the tip of its tail¡ªwhether it was a domesticated cat adorned by its owner or a stray cat forcibly ringed by a passerby playing a prank was unknown. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was dirty and unkempt, with patches of fur missing, presumably from fighting with other cats, and its coat was dotted with dried blood, clearly showing it had suffered quite a bit.


    After jumping down, Miao Miao staggered up to Xue Jing, glanced at him once with its emerald-like vertical pupils, then collapsed sideways on the ground.


    "Playing dead for sympathy?"


    Xue Jing chuckled softly.


    But the cat seemed pitiable, and by chance too. He crouched down, planning to give it a few pieces of sausage.


    Just then, the fallen Miao Miao muttered in a daze, surprisingly articulating human speech, "I never expected... the world of a stray cat... to be this cruel, grrr."


    After speaking, it closed its eyes and fainted.


    ...

 Chapter 4 - 4: Divine Skills

    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing wore a confused expression, first doubting that he had heard a hallucination, then he glanced around and found no one else, which suggested that it wasn''t someone pulling a prank by pretending to speak as a cat nearby. He checked the cat for any devices that could make sound but found nothing.


    After pondering for a while, Xue Jing calmed down, suppressing his leaping curiosity.


    Although talking cats were a common trope in fantasy works, encountering one in reality was somewhat eerie, and it seemed wiser not to engage with it.


    He quickly pulled a few sausages out of the grocery bag, tore off their wrappings, placed them on the ground, and then immediately stood up, ready to leave the place.


    However, as he was about to get up, the unconscious Miao Miao''s tail swept unintentionally, causing the platinum tail ring fitted on it to brush against his finger.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    [Contact interrupted, Divine Absorption failed]


    The translucent Skill Panel automatically popped up with two lines of text that had never appeared before.


    Xue Jing paused, halting his steps to move away.


    "Now... there''s no helping it, the Skill Panel is the foundation of my existence. To investigate this anomaly, I have to take it back with me," he reasoned.


    He sighed, and for some reason, he felt oddly excited.


    Xue Jing bent down without any regard for the dirt, and hugged the black Miao Miao with four white ''gloves'' on its feet, the platinum tail ring touching his body.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    On the panel, what was a pale blue transparent interface now had streams of golden specks emerging, steadily gathering toward the bottom of the panel, where a new skill was faintly taking shape.


    "Divinity... sounds pretty high-end," Xue Jing mused with some anticipation. Holding Miao Miao, he was all set to return home when something came to mind, and turned back to the supermarket.


    Once inside the supermarket, he bought a bag of cat food in the pet section, and requested a larger bag from the cashier to combine the groceries and the cat food, then left the supermarket carrying Miao Miao in one hand and the big bag in the other, heading back to his home.


    Upon entering, he first placed the bag with the ingredients and cat food on the table, then sat on the living room sofa with Miao Miao in his arms.


    Because the Skill Panel had notified him, he couldn''t risk breaking contact with Miao Miao''s tail ring, lest the Divine Absorption fail.


    Although he didn''t know what would happen after the absorption of the so-called ''Divinity'' was complete, as per typical storylines, it wasn''t likely to be a bad thing.


    The golden specks kept gathering on the interface, and while Xue Jing cradled Miao Miao with one hand, he gently stroked it with the other.


    The fur was dirty and matted, with patches missing, but upon a closer look, one could tell that the cat had an exceptional appearance.


    The fur was uncluttered, its four white ''gloves'' were clearly defined against its body, its whiskers were neat, and there were white tufts like eyeliner at the corners of both eyes, slender and refined, making it a feline beauty that could captivate someone with its graceful looks.


    "Little Miao Miao is quite a looker," Xue Jing murmured as he petted Miao Miao, feeling a sense of anticipation in his heart.


    He wasn''t sure exactly what he was anticipating; whether it was the changes to the Skill Panel after the Divinity was absorbed or the exciting changes this talking Miao Miao might bring to his life.


    "..."


    Suddenly, Xue Jing laughed.


    "After all, I''m still ''Xue Jing''..."


    Bringing home a talking cat, the thought that surfaced wasn''t one of unease about the unknown risks, but rather stimulation over the changes it would bring to life. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the spirit of youth, not that of a middle-aged person seeking stability.


    Having resolved an internal query, Xue Jing relaxed, waiting for the Divine Absorption to complete while picking up the remote and turning on the TV to the news channel.


    "...The 37th Under-19 Unlimited Elite Fighting Tournament is about to begin its qualifying rounds soon, with the star athletes of major clubs eagerly awaiting their chance... Let''s interview some of the seeded contestants in today''s event..."


    "...At 2 PM on October 8th, a brief ''boundary quake'' occurred on Huaijiang Road in the East City District of Qingcheng, registering at a magnitude of 4.1. Under the direction of Governing Councilor Chu Minyi, the public orderly conducted emergency evacuation with no casualties reported..."


    "...Kangde Security Company has recently announced that it has successfully dismantled the large criminal organization ''Dragon Cult.'' Guan Yingzhi, the head of Kangde, declared that the Dragon Cult is an unlawful gang disguised as a religious group that has plagued society for over sixty years.


    In order to protect the stability of society and the safety of citizens, Kangde Security will not allow any unlawful elements..."


    "Recently, a smuggling ring operating in the Intersecting Boundaries brought a large amount of illegal goods past the Border City defenses and is currently making its way inland. Residents of Qingcheng are advised to take necessary precautionary measures..."


    ...


    Time passed without notice.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    As a line of text appeared on the Skill Panel, the floating golden specks also dispersed.


    And there, on the Skill Panel, at the very bottom of the Skills section, a new skill emerged, with its golden text glowing, unlike the regular skills in black.


    [Twin Lifes (Inactive): Divine Skill, Divinity required for activation 525/500]


    [Conditions met, would you like to activate?]


    [Yes/No]


    Divine Skill?


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed sharply.


    Just by hearing it, he knew it was clearly not on the same level as ordinary skills.


    Xue Jing immediately tapped on [Yes].


    [Activation Successful]


    [Twin Lifes Lv1 (Divinity required for upgrade: 25/100)]


    [Effects:


    Passive: You possess two lives, allowing you to choose a resurrection time within seven days after death. Cooldown period: three months.


    Active: Unlocked (Divinity required for unlocking 25/500)


    Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock condition: Reach Level Lv10, Divinity 25/2000)]


    "!?!"


    Shocked.


    Although he was mentally prepared and knew that ''Divine Skills'' were definitely not ordinary, Xue Jing never anticipated they would be this outrageous.


    "Ban, you''ve laid your cards on the table, huh? You''re not planning to interact with me as an ordinary golden finger anymore?"


    A moment ago, the Skill Panel was just a run-of-the-mill golden finger within the scope of human capabilities, mundane, albeit with a slightly faster growth rate, but still within the realm of reason.


    But ''Twin Lifes'' just carried him with one step into the threshold of the transcendent world.


    This is a skill that defies both reason and physics.


    Two lives, and the ability to choose your resurrection time after death¡ªthis means you won''t have to fear corpse camping, and it prevents the joke of being immediately resurrected only to be killed again.


    What kind of unparalleled life-saving Divine Skill is this? It''s not even a one-time use Resurrection Coin but can be used again after its cooldown.


    Although the cooldown is somewhat long, but if you round it off, it''s basically the same as unlimited respawning.


    And according to the panel, this is only the passive effect of ''Twin Lifes''.


    "Damn it, why."


    Xue Jing felt as if ants were crawling all over him.


    If the passive is this amazing, the active must be incredible too.


    But it needs Divinity to unlock, where is he supposed to get that from?


    And what kind of effect is this ''Divine Incarnation''...


    With countless thoughts whirling in his mind, Xue Jing''s expression flickered between light and shadow.


    At this moment, Miao Miao, the cat in his arms, suddenly fluttered her eyelids and slowly opened her eyes.


    She raised her head, and her emerald-like beautiful vertical pupils looked up at Xue Jing holding her.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing momentarily put aside his thoughts and reached out to pet Miao Miao''s head.


    He spoke somewhat guiltily, "You awake?"


    He hadn''t gotten the cat''s consent before using Divine Absorption, and he didn''t know what effect this would have on Miao Miao.


    Caught up in the excitement earlier, he hadn''t paid attention, but now that he thought about it, taking without asking seemed a bit...


    Although Xue Jing believed his own moral standards to be quite flexible and volatile, and despite realizing this point, he would have secretly performed the Divinity absorption for the Skill Panel anyway, the ''victim'' waking up in front of him still inevitably made him feel guilty.


    Miao Miao, curled up in Xue Jing''s arms, stared at him for a while as if she hadn''t grasped her current situation yet.


    Her gaze shifted around, surveying the surroundings, then it returned to Xue Jing''s face.


    A glint seemed to flash through her emerald vertical pupils.


    Miao Miao spoke.


    "Meow~~"


    That voice.


    Gave Xue Jing goosebumps.


    ...

 Chapter 5 - 5 Are You Still Pretending?

    "..."


    Xue Jing''s expression was somewhat subtle.


    Had Miao Miao never learned how normal cats meowed? How could it be so different?


    What are you pretending to be?


    Xue Jing slid his hands under Miao Miao''s front legs and lifted it up to his eye level.


    Miao Miao looked utterly innocent, just like any ordinary kitten.


    "..."


    "You can talk, right?"


    Xue Jing was upfront and wanted to have a serious talk with Miao Miao about what it really was, why it could speak, what the platinum ring on its tail was about, how to find a similar one, and why a speaking divine cat ended up almost crushed in the stray cat world.


    However, Miao Miao''s face showed an ''I have no idea what you''re talking about'' expression of innocence, looking just like a normal cat.


    "Meow~~"


    "Stop pretending, I heard everything, just talk properly." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Meow?"


    "Just speak up, and you can have as many dried fish as you want."


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao licked its paw, completely indifferent.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Still pretending?"


    He placed Miao Miao on his lap, one hand pressing down on the back of its neck while the other reached towards the base of its tail.


    This was one of the most nerve-dense areas on a cat''s body, and most cats loved being petted there, arching their backs involuntarily from the pleasure.


    Xue Jing''s fingers skillfully scratched the area at the base of the tail, and the little black cat''s eyes immediately bulged.


    "Meow!!!"


    It let out an almost agonizing cry, its buttocks involuntarily raised high, its limbs struggled, but Xue Jing firmly held down the neck, rendering it immobile, only able to continuously cry out.


    After a while, Xue Jing stopped his actions, by which time Miao Miao had given up struggling, lying weakly on Xue Jing''s thigh, panting with its tongue out, eyes rolling back, a look of complete defeat.


    Yet, even subjected to such brutal treatment, it never said a word from start to finish, maintaining the appearance of just being an ordinary kitten.


    This even made Xue Jing doubt himself somewhat.


    Could it be that the Divine Absorption from the Skill Panel, had absorbed its ability to speak? Had it really become a regular kitten?


    If it wasn''t for the extremely tense ''meow'' when it woke up, Xue Jing would have believed it.


    But Xue Jing really had no way to deal with it.


    As long as Miao Miao didn''t plan on having a frank and open communication with him, and kept pretending, he surely couldn''t really resort to torture to force it to speak.


    Having just benefited from its help, Xue Jing''s moral standards, however flexible, would not allow him to do such a thing.


    Shaking his head, he finally spoke, "Alright then, let''s leave it at that for now, are you hungry?"


    Miao Miao responded with a listless "meow."


    Xue Jing took it as a yes.


    He placed Miao Miao on the couch and then stood up, went to the kitchen to get a large bowl, opened the supermarket bag at the table, took out the bag of cat food, tore it open from the opening, and poured it into the bowl.


    Putting the bowl filled with cat food in front of Miao Miao, Xue Jing thought that as a cat that had suffered a lot in the stray cat world, it would start eating immediately.


    Unexpectedly, Miao Miao just glanced at the cat food in front of it, then clicked its tongue and turned its head away without hesitation, not even giving it a second glance.


    "Hmm?"


    Seeing this, Xue Jing suddenly had a thought.


    This reaction¡­ didn''t seem quite right.


    It wasn''t the response of a picky cat displeased with the taste of the food, but more like¡­ the thing in front of it wasn''t even considered food at all.


    A lightbulb went off in Xue Jing''s mind as he suddenly understood.


    He might have misunderstood from the beginning.


    He recalled the words the cat had spoken earlier.


    "I never imagined... the world of a stray cat... could be so cruel."


    This statement hinted at two possibilities.


    The first possibility was that it was a domestic cat that had never been outside wandering, so it was unfamiliar with the world of stray cats.


    It was also because of hearing this statement and thinking of this point, coupled with its vulnerability to the extent of being bullied by stray cats, that Xue Jing subconsciously felt it was essentially a cat that, for some unknown reason, had learned to speak human language.


    But there was another possibility... It was unfamiliar with the world of stray cats and the reason it could speak human language was that it was not a cat at all, but some creature capable of speaking human language that had taken on the appearance of a cat.


    The most likely possibility was... a human.


    Xue Jing squinted his eyes, didn''t say much else, turned around, and entered the kitchen to start preparing dinner for the day.


    After he left the living room, Miao Miao, who was unaware that Xue Jing had deduced much information from a casual action of its own, immediately stood up from the sofa.


    It jumped to the floor, tiptoed silently to the corner leading from the living room to the kitchen, sneakily poked out half of its cat head, and confirmed that Xue Jing was indeed cooking before finally breathing a sigh of relief.


    ''I never expected him to have heard me speaking earlier.''


    Miao Miao felt troubled, its tail twisted, and its gaze shifted to the ring at the tip of its tail.


    ''GOD-1391¡¤Cat Tail Ring... That jerk, after taking so much money, didn''t even explain the specific effects of this Divine Relic; I can''t transform back once I''ve transformed!''


    Miao Miao''s face, very human-like, displayed a gnashing of teeth expression.


    After raging helplessly for a while, Miao Miao collected its thoughts and looked around the room.


    ''This is a good place to hide; the security company''s people would never guess that I have turned into a cat and am hiding in an ordinary person''s home.''


    Recalling its own experience of being chased and bitten in the territory of stray cats, it shuddered.


    ''I''ll just stay here until I get accustomed to this Divine Relic and can transform back, then I''ll leave.''


    Miao Miao calculated in its mind.


    ''However... to avoid involving this kind-hearted young man, let me just be an ordinary cat.''


    It knew that kind-hearted people, who would take home a strange, talking cat, could easily get dragged into danger if they interacted and formed an emotional bond with it.


    Therefore, it had to cut off this possibility from the beginning.


    Without interaction, there would be no deep involvement; when the time came, it would just leave, disappearing without a trace, and they would never cross paths again.


    ''Although he has already heard me talk, no worries, it''s all his imagination; I just need to make him think he''s a cat-loving young man who loves cats so much he is hearing things!''


    ''As long as I don''t admit it myself and stubbornly act like a normal cat, no one can expose me!''


    Having made up its mind, Miao Miao nodded satisfactorily, its tail standing erect and swaying due to its buoyant mood.


    ¡­


    Xue Jing busied himself in the kitchen for quite some time, making spicy stir-fried beef, bitter melon with scrambled eggs, and silky tomato meat soup¡ªthree simple home-cooked dishes.


    [You have completed a dish, Cooking Experience +20]


    [You have completed a dish, Cooking Experience +21]


    [You have completed a dish, Cooking Experience +20]


    [Cooking Level 2 (318/500)]


    Xue Jing opened the fridge, took out yesterday''s leftover rice, filled two bowls, heated them in the microwave, and then brought everything to the dining table.


    He didn''t speak, picked up one bowl of rice, and started eating.


    Meanwhile, Miao Miao, which had been starving for two days and was planning to forcibly feed itself cat food, stared dumbfounded at the delicious-looking dishes on the table.


    The aroma transformed into a tiny seductive hand, pinching its nose and drawing it involuntarily closer to the dining table, even knocking over the bowl filled with cat food without noticing.


    By the time it snapped back to reality, it found itself sitting upright at the dining table, right in front of the other bowl of white rice that Xue Jing had served.


    Turning its head awkwardly, it saw the good-looking young man shoveling rice into his mouth while looking at it with a smirking gaze.


    As if to say, are you still pretending?


    ¡­

 Chapter 6 - 6 Aiming

    Xue Jing''s nearly mocking gaze stung Miao Miao''s face, and all it wanted to do was jump off the table right away, but its body wouldn''t obey.


    "..."


    After being silent for two or three seconds, Miao Miao pretended it couldn''t comprehend Xue Jing''s gaze at all and meowed softly, lowering its head to bite into the white rice with a crunch.


    It wasn''t unheard of for a cat to eat whatever its owner ate. As an ordinary cat, having the same food as its owner was perfectly reasonable and logical, nothing strange about that.


    Eating the same food as humans ¡Ù Being human.


    Miao Miao convinced itself and completely ignored Xue Jing''s increasingly mocking gaze. Time to show off!


    First, it bit into the rice, then flicked out a claw to use as chopsticks, hooking a piece of spicy stir-fried beef from the plate, cooling it with a huff, huff.


    Xue Jing watched speechlessly as Miao Miao, wary of the heat due to its sensitive cat tongue, puffed air on the food.


    After blowing on it a few times, Miao Miao carefully bit the beef into its mouth.


    The flavor spread delightfully across its teeth and tongue, and having not eaten for two whole days, Miao Miao couldn''t help but express an incredibly human-like blissful expression.


    With the first bite igniting its taste buds and awakening its stomach, Miao Miao broke its inner barriers and sped up its eating, alternating between a mouthful of rice and a mouthful of dish, reveling in the feast.


    Occasionally, it ate too fast to cool the food and got burned, letting out a ''rua''.


    "Eat slowly; I''m not competing with you."


    Xue Jing smiled helplessly, watching Miao Miao struggle a bit with its claws hooking the food, so he helped it by placing dishes into its bowl, allowing it to focus solely on eating, and even served it a bowl filled entirely with meat soup.


    By the end of the meal, the table was cleared, a third of which had gone into Miao Miao''s belly¡ªan impressive amount, considering its size.


    Not a single grain of rice was left in the bowl filled with white rice; Miao Miao had licked it clean, lying on its side on the table, belly swollen and rounded as if pregnant.


    Xue Jing cleaned up the dishes and wiped the table, then washed his hands before picking up Miao Miao from the table and placing it on the sofa.


    Watching Miao Miao lick its paws as if picking teeth like a human, Xue Jing coughed and spoke:


    "So, now that you''ve fully exposed yourself, can we talk?"


    Miao Miao''s ears twitched, and it stopped licking its paws, looking innocently at Xue Jing.


    "Meow?"


    Have no idea what you''re talking about, as I''m just a harmless little kitty.


    "..."


    "What, acting innocent after freeloading?"


    Xue Jing laughed in exasperation.


    He extended his hands and pinched Miao Miao''s face, scratching its cheeks with all ten fingers.


    This was also one of the spots that cats loved to be petted the most, very satisfying.


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao immediately couldn''t handle it, squinting its eyes in pleasure and meowing blissfully.


    It was resolved to keep up the act.


    If it didn''t talk, if there was no communication, no problems would occur.


    "..."


    Seeing that Miao Miao still wouldn''t admit anything, Xue Jing was momentarily at a loss.


    "Forget it, go take a bath."


    Though he had already bathed earlier, he got dirty from holding Miao Miao, and after cooking several greasy dishes, he wasn''t exactly clean.


    At the thought of bathing, Xue Jing glanced at Miao Miao, who had already smudged the sofa, and twitched the corners of his mouth, lifting it up.


    "Come on, bath together with me."


    Miao Miao was stunned for a moment at these words, then positioned its paws in a salute like the French military, shaking its head like a bobblehead, ears flattened back.


    "Meow meow meow meow meow!"


    "Cursing your mom, huh? You''re definitely taking this bath, not even Jesus can stop you, I''ve decided!"


    Xue Jing huffed, picking up Miao Miao and heading towards the bathroom.


    "Meow!!!!"


    ...


    In the glass shower, Xue Jing brought a small stool inside, sitting on it and squeezing shower gel onto his hands before starting to thoroughly clean the thoroughly wet Miao Miao.


    Miao Miao had already resisted, but to no avail, displaying an utterly listless demeanor as Xue Jing''s hands traveled up and down its delicate body.


    "Meow meow meow meow meow¡­"


    Speaking in cat language, Xue Jing continued his thorough petting unperturbed.


    Having no idea what you''re saying, after all, I''m just a harmless, terrifying upright ape.


    During the process, Xue Jing tried to remove a platinum ring from Miao Miao''s tail but found that though it seemed not tightly fitted, it was as if embedded in the tail, immovable.


    He didn''t force it, cautious not to hurt Miao Miao, but he understood inside that the item was unremovable, evidently a "Divine Substance" recognized by the Skill Panel, its mysterious nature not surprising.


    After thoroughly grooming Miao Miao without missing a spot, Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction and turned on the showerhead to start rinsing.


    After the rinse, Miao Miao looked comically slim due to its fur sticking to its body from being wet.


    "Meow."


    Miao Miao began shaking off water vigorously, then was about to step out of the bathroom but was called back by Xue Jing.


    "Hold on a moment."


    Xue Jing quickly rinsed himself as well, then picked up Miao Miao and stepped out of the glass shower.


    Approaching the bathtub, he turned on the hot water, adjusted the temperature to fill the tub.


    He then held Miao Miao and entered the bathtub.


    "Meow~~" "Ah~~"


    The water level rose and spilled over, both the man and the cat emitting sounds of sheer pleasure.


    Xue Jing supported himself with both hands on the sides of the bathtub, lying inside with only his head visible, while Miao Miao was sprawled on Xue Jing''s chest, its head resting on the edge of the tub, tail swishing under the water creating ripples.


    It comfortably squinted its eyes, purring contentedly.


    "Hmph, and you said you''re not human,"


    Xue Jing spoke casually.


    What kind of cat enjoys a bath this much?


    "Meow~~"


    Miao Miao couldn''t even be bothered to pretend anymore, simply striking a pose, and nonchalantly meowed once as a response, completely unbothered.


    Lying on Xue Jing''s chest, feeling his strong, steady heartbeat, Miao Miao was a bit dazed.


    How long had it been... since it last enjoyed this feeling of security?


    His body seemed lean when clothed, but quite impressive once undressed, those pectorals...


    Perhaps feeling finally at peace, Miao Miao also started to notice that the young man in front of it was quite attractive indeed.


    Once this realization hit, it was like a small hole had been bored into a dam of thoughts, and they began to flood in.


    Miao Miao couldn''t help it and sneakily glanced at the young man''s belly.


    While soaking in the bath, and wholly bored, Xue Jing suddenly saw a notification pop up on his Skill Panel.


    [Someone has developed a fondness for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    "Hmm?"


    He shifted his gaze to Miao Miao, his expression subtle.


    ...


    After the bath, he stepped out of the tub, first toweling himself off and then wrapped Miao Miao in another towel to dry it.


    Then carrying it to his room, he took out a hairdryer and a comb, plugged it in, and began to blow-dry Miao Miao''s fur.


    While combing smoothly, he carefully dried every corner with the hairdryer, Miao Miao had by this point completely given up resisting and let Xue Jing do as he wished.


    "Meow~~"


    Since it had come to this, what could it do but let him handle it.


    Once the blow-dry was complete, a shiny, well groomed black cat appeared before him.


    Emerald vertical pupils matched with slender white eyeliner created an unmistakably refined and charming appearance from that feline face.


    Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction, "Factory settings restored~"


    At that moment, he noticed that the patches of fur missing from Miao Miao''s body... seemed to have all grown back?


    And the belly that had been distended from overeating had also flattened.


    "Interesting,"


    Miao Miao seemed to realize it exposed something again, pretentiously stretching lazily, turned its body away, not letting Xue Jing see its stomach.


    "Meow~"


    Xue Jing didn''t say more, he turned and left the room, heading to the living room.


    In a corner on the living room wall hung a plastic dartboard, covered with dense punctures, and the surrounding white walls were also filled with scratch marks and pinholes, clearly a scene of some serious dart throwing.


    Xue Jing took several darts from a holder next to the dartboard and walked to the front door, the farthest straight-line distance to the dartboard at nearly five meters.


    He picked up a sharp dart, held it with three fingers around the shaft, and aimed for a while. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Whoosh!"


    The dart flew from his hand, fiercely stabbing into the dartboard with a loud thunk, the sound was loud, giving the impression it almost pierced through the dartboard.


    It didn''t hit the bullseye, but hitting the dartboard from this distance was already a good show of accuracy, quite skilled.


    Xue Jing threw the remaining darts in his hand, all hitting the dartboard, with one even getting close to the bullseye.


    Over the past week, he had been spending some time each night practicing darts, hoping to develop some sort of throwing skill.


    Thuds continued to echo in the living room, during which Miao Miao also sauntered out of the bedroom into the living room, lazily glanced at Xue Jing, jumped onto the couch, stepped on the remote to turn on the TV, and found an animation to watch on the video app.


    Having completely given up, aside from not speaking, it didn''t even bother to pretend anymore.


    Xue Jing merely glanced at it, suppressing the urge to throw a dart at it, and continued the motion of throwing and retrieving darts.


    About forty to fifty minutes later, Xue Jing, holding a dart and targeting, suddenly had a strong premonition.


    This throw, it would definitely hit the bullseye.


    Without any reason, surely it would, easily!


    His eyes brightened, and the dart flew from his hand.


    Thud!


    An unprecedented loud sound startled Miao Miao watching TV nearby, its fur slightly bristled.


    On the dartboard, the dart was deeply embedded in the bullseye, right at the center point, piercing through the dartboard.


    Xue Jing looked to the panel.


    [Conditions met, skill activated: Aiming]


    [Aiming Lv1: (0/300)]


    ...

 Chapter 7 - 7 Health Cultivation, Library

    At precisely 5 a.m., Xue Jing awoke from his sleep on time.


    Despite just waking up, he felt no fatigue at all¡ªhis spirit was fully charged, as if the very moment he opened his eyes, sleepiness was completely banished.


    He opened the Skill Panel.


    [Early to bed and early to rise, Health Cultivation experience +37]


    [Health Cultivation Lv1 (236/300)]


    Health Cultivation was a skill that Xue Jing had activated a week ago.


    From his observations, the effects were to enhance some physical qualities, significantly improve sleep quality, and very noticeably, increase his energy levels.


    Since the activation of the Health Cultivation skill, he almost never felt tired throughout the day, was full of drive, able to immediately do things he thought of, significantly reduced procrastination, and could fall asleep shortly after closing his eyes, completely ridding himself of insomnia.


    It could be said to be the most satisfying conventional skill he had.


    However, this skill seemed only to gain experience through early sleeping and rising; he had also tried eating supplements, maintaining a regular diet, and other Health Cultivation tricks, but they barely made a difference.


    Closing the panel, Xue Jing prepared to get out of bed to wash up and run, but he noticed the feel of his left arm felt fuzzy¡ªlifting the blanket, indeed, Miao Miao was holding onto his arm with its four white paw ''gloves,'' sleeping soundly.


    Xue Jing felt somewhat troubled.


    Although he had let Miao Miao thoroughly expose the fact it wasn''t just an ordinary cat yesterday, he still couldn''t make it talk.


    As long as Miao Miao didn''t speak, he was unable to obtain information about Divine Substance, and unlocking the active effect of "Twin Lifes" was still out of reach.


    Moreover, he couldn''t openly say he needed "Divine Substance"; he was extremely cautious about everything related to the Skill Panel, not intending to reveal any of it to anyone.


    "Let it be, things will sort themselves out when it comes to it."


    He pulled his arm from Miao Miao''s embrace, got out of bed, and covered Miao Miao with the blanket, leaving only a cat head exposed.


    It was still pitch-dark outside; he went to the bathroom, switched on the light, and began to clean up.


    After finishing, he changed into clothes suitable for running, put on a sports watch, laced up his shoes, and went out for a run.


    Not far from the residential area where Xue Jing lived, there was a small garden for strolls and recreation, and a red brick path laid out around the garden, constructed especially for use during quieter times, making it perfect for running.


    At this point in time, Xue Jing was alone there.


    The sky was still dark, and the streetlights had not yet been turned off; under the illumination of these lights, Xue Jing walked onto the ''track,'' did some stretching exercises,


    and then started running at a pace far above that of an ordinary jog, almost like ordinary people sprinting with all their might.


    This was his current ''jogging'' speed.


    One lap, two laps, three laps¡­


    An hour later, Xue Jing gradually slowed his pace and came to a stop.


    He gasped heavily, sweat pouring down his body, feeling a burning sensation from his toes up to his thighs, and his lungs as if they were being squeezed by a hand, constantly kneading, each breath he took was pushed out, barely alleviating the feeling of oxygen deprivation.


    A few minutes later, his breathing gradually steadied, and he recovered; he lifted his right hand and looked at the data on the sports watch.


    Running duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 13 seconds, average speed: 18.3 kilometers per hour


    This average speed was already close to the level of professional half-marathon athletes from his previous life.


    Maintaining this pace for an uninterrupted hour was still a huge challenge for Xue Jing''s current body.


    Recently, he had been running like this every morning.


    Originally, he couldn''t manage to run every day¡ªmuscle damage simply couldn''t recover quickly enough.


    But since activating "Health Cultivation," his body''s recovery ability greatly increased, no matter how tired, just a sleep, and he would wake up feeling completely refreshed.


    Xue Jing opened the panel.


    [You completed a long run, Running experience +205] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Running Lv3 (463/800)]


    Running a distance of over 18 kilometers increased the Running skill by 205 experience points.


    As this skill''s experience increased and the level rose, everything related to running on his body strengthened.


    His postures and force applications became more perfect; how to use strength to avoid injuries while bursting powerfully, which posture can reduce wind resistance and run faster, how breathing rhythm should synchronize, all ingrained in his body like instincts.


    His physical qualities were boosted as well, especially lung capacity and leg explosive power.


    Xue Jing glanced at the "Fitness" skill again.


    [You completed a long run, Fitness experience +32]


    [Fitness Lv2 (288/500)]


    He went to sit on a bench in the garden, taking a rest for a while.


    "Comfortable."


    Very tired, but the visible satisfaction of improving himself brought him joy that far surpassed the fatigue.


    Even without mentioning the growth speed of the skill panel, just being able to clearly see one''s own progress was an incredible cheat.


    It''s like how some people can''t stick to exercising for long but can play games all night for days¡ªthe biggest difference lies in whether one can accurately recognize that they are progressing.


    The certainty of receiving real-time feedback and the anticipation of knowing one would become strong could elicit a powerful motivation from deep within most people.


    It almost brought one halfway into the saintly realm of ''unity of knowledge and action''.


    It was already past six o''clock, and the day had fully brightened; people were gradually starting to appear around him.


    Xue Jing wiped the sweat from his forehead and slowly walked back home.


    Arriving home, he took off his clothes and threw them into the washing machine, then showered, feeling refreshed and invigorated.


    Miao Miao hadn''t woken up yet, even though it had slept with him the previous night¡ªclearly, its biological clock was very un-cat-like.


    Xue Jing went to the kitchen, pulled out six eggs from the fridge, placed them in a pot, and added just enough water to cover the eggs before setting it on the induction cooker.


    He also poured a large bottle of pure milk into another pot and heated it on the gas stove until it was hot, turned off the heat, and added oats and some sugar, making a pot of sweet oat milk.


    Then, he took out the bread slices from the cabinet that he had bought yesterday morning and hadn''t finished¡ªthis was his breakfast for today.


    Because it was too simple, it hardly counted as cooking, so the "Cooking" experience did not increase.


    He ate four of the boiled eggs, peeled the remaining two, and put them on a small plate. The oat milk and bread were also left unfinished, all of which he prepared on the dining table for Miao Miao to eat when it woke up.


    Although the cat constantly refused to communicate, which greatly displeased him, it still brought him the opportunity to transform through the Skill Panel, and for this Xue Jing was truly grateful.


    After all this, Xue Jing changed into his uniform, slung his school bag over one shoulder, and casually picked a dart from the holder next to the dartboard.


    At the front door, he opened the door and simultaneously turned and threw the dart, then immediately turned his head back without looking at the result, stepped out, closed the door, and locked it.


    And on the dartboard hanging at the corner of the wall, a dart was firmly embedded in the bulls-eye.


    [Precision Strike on Bulls-eye, Aiming Experience +1]


    Xue Jing left his house, walked a distance, caught a bus, and during the ride with a girl student sneaking glances at him, he gained more Charm Art experience over three stops, then got off the bus and arrived at Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School.


    It was around six-thirty in the morning, with crowds bustling at the school gate; Xue Jing followed the stream of people into the campus, but instead of heading to his class, he walked directly across from the Affiliated School''s teaching building.


    As the affiliated middle school of Qingcheng University, Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School and Qingcheng University''s campuses were interconnected, allowing students to visit each other freely.


    Xue Jing was heading to Qingcheng University Library.


    In this world, there existed certain anomalies that were not found on Earth in a previous life.


    However, due to various considerations, official information about these matters was quite tightly sealed off; some information could be found online, but it was all vague and simplistic in detail.


    But not being able to find it online doesn''t mean it couldn''t be found in Qingcheng University.


    As one of the top universities in the Outer Ring, the students who studied there were the future elites of society, and they were entitled to know some secrets.


    Xue Jing was a student in the specially-established Elite Class of Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School.


    The Elite Class was a special class that naturally had special privileges. As long as students in the Elite Class maintained their grades and kept up their status until graduation, they could choose not to take the college entrance exams and be directly promoted to study at Qingcheng University.


    Thus, students in the Elite Class already had some of the privileges of Qingcheng University students, such as accessing the seventh floor of Qingcheng University Library.


    The first six floors of the library were accessible to ordinary students of the Affiliated School, but not the seventh floor; it held documents and archives not found online and was off-limits to anyone who wasn''t a Qingcheng University student or an Elite Class student from the Affiliated School.


    Xue Jing had been curious once and ventured into this floor, but it was too chaotic and cluttered with documents and archives, with no computers to search or locate books, making it hard to find exactly what he wanted to know; he had not returned since.


    But it was the only place where he might find information about "Divine Substance", so he had no choice but to search and try his luck.


    The library of Qingcheng University covered a vast area; numerous access gates stood at the main entrance. Xue Jing took out his library card, swiped it at the sensing area of the access gate, was verified, and walked into the library.


    He went straight up without stopping, directly to the sixth floor, and at the staircase leading to the seventh floor, there was another gate; he swiped his card again, passed through, and reached the seventh floor.


    Compared to the modernized decoration of the first six floors, the seventh floor of the library appeared plain and unadorned with old bookshelves, old tables and chairs, old documents, and dim old-fashioned lamps hanging from the ceiling, giving the impression of having traveled back in time upon entering.


    But it had a historic depth that the first six floors lacked.


    Nobody was usually on the seventh floor, especially not early in the morning, and Xue Jing thought it should be empty.


    However, to his surprise, in the area with old tables and chairs for resting, there was already a young girl sitting there.

 Chapter 8 - 8: The Leeway of the Strong

    The girl was seated by the window, dressed in a snug white T-shirt and light-colored skinny jeans, with a pair of canvas sneakers on her feet. She sat upright in a posture that was impeccably proper, which tightly accentuated the curves of her figure.


    Her hair was silky black, long and straight, tied high in a ponytail with a white hair tie, reaching down to her waist. Under her bangs, her eyes, quiet and focused, watched the book she held in her hands, occasionally turning the pages with her neatly trimmed fingers.


    Possibly because she was too absorbed in her reading, the arrival of Li Ge was met with no response from the girl.


    ''A student from Qingcheng University? Looking at her age... she doesn''t seem like one.''


    Li Ge was somewhat surprised as he glanced twice at the girl, pausing as he noticed her slightly purple-tinted beautiful eyes.


    She wasn''t wearing a uniform, probably not a student from the Affiliated Middle School; perhaps she''s a college student with a younger appearance.


    He wasn''t particularly concerned and turned to head towards the bookshelves.


    The seventh floor had a total of four rows with sixteen double-sided wooden bookshelves each, plus wall-mounted bookshelves that completely covered three walls, leaving only one area for a lounge, all of which were packed, even overstuffed with dense arrays of old books and documents.


    The collection of books was astonishing.


    Without computer indexing and no classification of the books, trying to find specific materials in such a sea of books was as difficult as reaching the heavens, no wonder this place was seldom visited.


    Li Ge randomly chose a row of bookshelves, went to the middle, and looked somewhat painfully at the old disordered documents laid out in front of him, not knowing where to start.


    He picked up a relatively intact book randomly, wiped the dust off it, a wine-red hardcover with no designs. The center featured a title in sans-serif font and the bottom right corner had the author''s name and the date of publication in smaller white letters.


    "Hypotheses on the Phenomenon of Intersecting Boundaries", Author: Ning Furen, Published: New Calendar Year 87.


    ''An antique book from nearly two hundred years ago...''


    The overlapping of realms was a peculiar phenomenon that appeared on Earth Star after "God''s death".


    Just as the term suggests, the overlapping of realms meant ''two worlds coming together''.


    If we were to say that the world is a car driving non-stop on the road, then the overlapping of realms would be like two cars colliding.


    This phenomenon would cause parts of the two worlds to embed into each other''s ''bodies'', and these overlapping areas were known as the ''Intersecting Boundaries''.


    The globally accepted explanation for this phenomenon is that the ''driver'' had died.


    Without ''God'', the driver, at the helm, the vehicles were left to clash and collide uncontrolled on the road.


    "..."


    Li Ge opened the book and glanced through a couple of pages. The theories, though quite flawed by modern standards, were considered cutting-edge research back then and laid an indispensable foundation for current research on the phenomena of realms overlapping. Although outdated as theoretical data, it was still very valuable as historical data.


    After placing the book back in its original spot, Li Ge continued to look for a needle in a haystack, searching for any clues related to ''Divine Substance''.


    An hour later.


    He browsed through the document "Eternal Night War Chronicles" he held in his hands and then placed it back on the shelf.


    Li Ge shook his head, as he had expected, there were no fruitful findings.


    Since he had anticipated this, he wasn''t disappointed.


    He composed himself and checked the time on his phone¡ªit was already half-past seven, nearly time for class.


    Just as he was about to leave, he saw the girl he had noticed earlier in the lounge area walking towards him with a book in her arms.


    Li Ge''s gaze was naturally drawn to an eye-catching part of the girl''s anatomy¡ªnot that he was looking there, but it was where the book she was holding lay. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a thick book, about as wide as three fingers, wrapped in black leather with a peculiar cover.


    The cover depicted a figure with a halo over its head, covered with numerous wings from top to bottom, radiating brilliance, holding an azure Earth Star in its hands aloft. The figure''s face, blurred upwards as if shouting something, with light flowing like blood from its entire body and plunging into an abyss below its feet.


    The meaning represented by this cover was known to the world: it was "The Death of God," or more precisely, "Divinity''s Death."


    Similar imagery, Li Ge had seen in countless paintings, movies, and games.


    Li Ge looked at the title of the book.


    "If God Had Not Died".


    He nodded politely, sidestepped to let the girl pass him. When she was up close, Li Ge noticed her face¡ªshe was quite pretty in a clean-cut way, not strikingly stunning at first glance, but the more he looked, the more attractive she seemed.


    The girl also nodded at him, then tried to stuff the book she was holding into the topmost gap on the bookshelf, but struggled a bit since she was not tall enough, tiptoeing to reach.


    Seeing this, Li Ge spoke up softly, "Let me help you with that."


    He reached out, motioning for her to hand him the book, which she did without resistance.


    Watching Li Ge easily place the book into the gap on top of the shelf without even tiptoeing, the girl with slightly purple-tinted clear eyes blinked and said, "Thank you."


    Xue Jing grunted in response, not minding this trivial favor.


    After completing the task, he did not linger and walked straight out of the library toward the Affiliated Middle School''s classroom building.


    ...


    By the time he entered the classroom, morning reading was almost over, and classes were about to officially start.


    All the students had arrived, except for a few who were whispering, the majority were silently flipping through books or doing worksheets.


    The pressure on students in the Elite Class was still very high.


    Xue Jing was quite popular in this class, and although the atmosphere during morning reading wasn''t ideal for talking, many classmates still nodded at him as a way of greeting.


    Xue Jing responded to each of them, but when he arrived at his own seat, he stopped in his tracks.


    His desk and chair were scratched.


    The wooden fiberboard was covered with crisscrossing scratch marks, looking dreadful, and the desk was scribbled with many words like "Kill kill kill," "You''re dead," "Watch your back after school," and other threatening phrases.


    "Tsk, such ugly handwriting."


    Li Ge came over, looked at the words on Xue Jing''s desk, and clicked his tongue.


    "What happened?" Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged.


    Such an incident of bullying, had it happened to anyone else, be it a high school student or an adult, would have caused some stir inside.


    However, at that moment, like his demeanor, his heart was undisturbed, driven purely by curiosity to know what had happened.


    Just as those who exercise regularly tend to have more confidence, physical strength naturally fosters inner strength as well.


    At that moment, facing high school-level bullying tactics, he felt like a lion looking at a little kitten baring its claws at him.


    "Not sure, it was like this when I came in the morning," Li Ge leaned against a nearby desk and shrugged.


    "The drawer was stuffed with some disgusting things like dead mice and cockroaches; I''ve cleaned them out for you, but these words are written with an oil-based pen, so there''s no easy fix at the moment."


    Xue Jing patted his shoulder gratefully, "Thanks."


    "For what? We''re brothers," Li Ge replied, and then added:


    "The priority now is to find who did this, or if it keeps happening like this every day, it''s going to be unbearable."


    "Have you pissed anyone off recently?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought carefully; he felt he had been quite peaceful and couldn''t recall provoking anyone.


    "Don''t know, but it doesn''t matter. From the words written on the desk, this isn''t some coward''s prank but a threat and a warning."


    Xue Jing touched the desk, heavily scarred with scratches, pausing his fingertip on the words "Watch your back after school."


    "I guess they''ll show themselves during lunch break or after school, just wait and see."


    People, simply by being outstanding, can inadvertently block others'' paths and attract resentment; this he had experienced in his past and present lives.


    There''s no need to reflect on what you might have done wrong; thinking about it is pointless. Facing issues and solving them is the way to go.


    Xue Jing sat down, intending to put his backpack into the drawer, but hesitated midway, feeling disgusted since it had previously held dead rats and cockroaches, so he hung the backpack on a hook on the side of the desk instead.


    Then, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and settled into a restful posture, ready for class.


    Seeing how effortlessly calm Xue Jing appeared as if nothing had happened, Li Ge couldn''t help but remark, "So cool, Lord Jing."


    "But why don''t we just tell the teacher?"


    Li Ge was somewhat puzzled.


    With his eyes still closed, Xue Jing casually said, "Just like calling the police isn''t always the solution, teachers aren''t omnipotent either. Telling a teacher might solve this, but the process would definitely be troublesome and likely lead to future problems."


    "I have a simpler solution; no need to involve the teacher."


    Li Ge grunted, fell silent for a while, then couldn''t help adding, "You look so cool, with a strange, mature composure... or perhaps the ease of a strong person? Those few words you said, they had some real force..."


    As the two were chatting, suddenly, there were voices calling from the classroom door: "Xue Jing, someone''s looking for you!"


    Xue Jing turned to look, and there at the doorway stood a pretty schoolgirl in a uniform skirt.


    It was the junior from yesterday, who had brought him a towel during the physical fitness test.


    ...

 Chapter 9 - 9 School Spirit

    ```


    The junior girl''s eyes were red and swollen; it seemed she had just cried, exuding a pitiable softness that stirred sympathy.


    From a distance, she waved to Xue Jing, attempting a forced smile as a greeting.


    Seeing her like this, Xue Jing had an epiphany and muttered softly, "So that''s it..."


    "Hmm? Why''s this junior here? Pretty brave of her, not even waiting for the lunch break to end, rushing straight to our class to find you," Li Ge said, puzzled.


    He was a bit nearsighted and was not wearing his glasses at the moment, so he didn''t see the junior''s expression clearly. He turned to Xue Jing with a smile, "Be gentle when you reject her, don''t break the girl''s heart too harshly. Actually, trying out a relationship wouldn''t be bad either, and with those long white legs, it wouldn''t be a stain on your reputation..."


    Xue Jing didn''t say much, just acknowledged with a hum and stood up to walk out of the classroom.


    Many in the class had noticed the beautiful junior at the door and, following someone''s shout earlier, knew she was there for Xue Jing. Their eyes followed as he walked out.


    After Xue Jing and the junior left, the gossip flames ignited in the class and a wave of enthusiastic discussion erupted.


    ...


    Xue Jing followed the junior to the stairwell at the end of the corridor. By then, since class was about to start, the hallways were empty of other students.


    "This will do."


    Xue Jing spoke.


    "What''s the matter?"


    As soon as the junior heard Xue Jing speak, tears began flowing uncontrollably.


    "I''m sorry, senior... It''s all my fault..."


    She began to explain what had happened. Weeping made her speech erratic and emotional, and her words were somewhat difficult to comprehend. But Xue Jing didn''t hurry her, patiently listening until she finished, only interjecting with questions when he truly couldn''t understand something.


    It wasn''t until she had finished recounting the ordeal that Xue Jing finally understood what had happened.


    Simply put, this pretty sophomore had an admirer in her class, named Pei Youguang.


    That name was well-known at Affiliated Middle School, and Xue Jing remembered him as one of those influential bullies on campus.


    The problem started from the previous day during the physical test when the junior brought him a towel.


    Somehow, the act of her handing him the towel made it to Pei Youguang, who loudly declared this morning in class that he''d teach Xue Jing a lesson.


    "..."


    Although Xue Jing had an inkling about what was happening when he saw the junior''s tear-stained face looking for him, having it confirmed still made him feel a mix of laughter and helplessness.


    "Senior, I''m really sorry, I begged him for a long time not to trouble you, but he just wouldn''t listen..." The junior sobbed, continuously wiping away tears.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    Are you sure this isn''t adding fuel to the fire?


    He was somewhat speechless.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he knew these teenagers weren''t fully considerate, he might suspect the junior was intentionally fanning the flames.


    These types of boys, who thought of using violence to assert dominance, were clearly very impulsive. Hearing that the girl they liked was pleading on someone else''s behalf would only ignite their anger even more, perhaps even subconsciously affirming that they were right, that they had found a ''weakness'', otherwise, the junior wouldn''t appear so frightened.


    However, Xue Jing wasn''t blaming her.


    He nodded and said, "I understand. You can go back now." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He paused, then added, "This is not your fault. Don''t worry about it; I''ll handle this."


    Did the junior have problems? To some extent, yes.


    But as to how serious those problems were, they weren''t so grave.


    Even if there was fault with the likes of Baosi, Daji, or Concubine Yang, the blame surely wouldn''t fall entirely on them.


    "Senior..."


    The junior was touched.


    "I''ve actually always..."


    ```


    She wanted to take this opportunity to say something, but she found that Xue Jing turned around and walked back to his class, clearly not planning to listen to her subsequent words.


    "..."


    The younger student understood his meaning. It was an ostensibly harsh but actually gentle rejection. She fell silent for a while, gave a self-deprecating smile, and walked away feeling dejected.


    ...


    "So the person causing you trouble is Pei Youguang?"


    Li Ge pinched his chin, his brows deeply furrowed as Xue Jing finished recounting what had happened.


    "That''s not very good, Lord Jing."


    Xue Jing pulled out the Chinese language textbook he needed for the first class from his backpack, placed it on the desk, and casually replied, "What do you mean?"


    "You don''t really keep up with this kind of news, so you might not know, but Pei Youguang is trouble."


    Li Ge explained.


    "Let''s just say it like this, if we were assigned hats when we entered Affiliated Middle School, he would be reporting straight to Azkaban."


    "This guy is from the Martial Arts Club. Relying on his bit of martial arts training, he bullies students routinely. It''s commonplace to hear that he has beaten up someone, and it''s said he often harasses female students."


    Li Ge moved his chair closer to Xue Jing and lowered his voice, "That''s not even the main issue. I''ve also heard that he has killed someone and even sexually assaulted a female student."


    "As far as I recall, last semester, a girl from the second year, class seven, suddenly transferred schools. It is said she moved because of his bullying."


    Xue Jing''s brows furrowed. "That can''t be true, can it? If he really did something like that, how could he still be at the school?"


    Li Ge: "I initially thought the same, but then I discovered that the students he bullied were all too scared to tell their teachers or parents. It seems that the school is also turning a blind eye."


    "So I asked around in the second year, and that''s when I learned that Pei Youguang''s dad works for a Governing Councilor, so he has strong backing."


    "Actually, if you think about it, it makes sense. For a bully like him to get into Affiliated Middle School, he must have a very solid background."


    Governing Councilor, theoretically the highest level in the power pyramid of a city, with around thirty members in Qingcheng, including a chief and three deputies.


    Working for a councilor indeed qualifies as a mighty background.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and asked, "Has he really killed someone?"


    Li Ge shook his head, "There''s no concrete statement about that, but many people have seen Pei Youguang carrying a knife. If he dares to do such things, it wouldn''t be surprising if he has killed someone."


    "We should tell a teacher. What if someone like Pei Youguang actually decides to seriously hurt you?"


    Li Ge was seriously worried.


    Xue Jing smiled.


    Quite intimidating. Most students would be frightened out of their wits by this Pei Youguang upon hearing this.


    However, Xue Jing didn''t find him particularly fearsome.


    The ways of the world have their logic. Many things become transparent once the level of Consciousness reaches a certain point, allowing one to see through appearances and grasp the essence.


    These sorts of vile acts are absolute taboos in human society. Forget having a dad who works for a Governing Councilor; even the councilor themselves wouldn''t act so blatantly, almost as if they wanted the whole world to know.


    Those at the pinnacle of power still need to outwardly comply with the rules. How much more so for a mere campus bully?


    The average student, not yet out in the real world, lacking in awareness, hears these rumors and becomes scared, mentally adding layer upon layer of "tiger skin" to Pei Youguang, making them increasingly fearful of him.


    On the contrary, the more Xue Jing heard, the more he stripped away Pei Youguang''s tiger skin.


    Some people, the more they lack something, the more they emphasize it.


    "No need to tell the teacher."


    "I will have a good talk with Pei Youguang myself."


    Xue Jing said softly.


    The bell for class rang, and the homeroom teacher, the Chinese instructor Du Shiwei, walked in.


    ...

 Chapter 10 - 10 Pebbles

    This morning''s classes included Chinese, English, Physics, and Physical Education.


    Unlike Xue Jing''s previous life, Zhuxia seemed to put extra emphasis on physical education, at least that was the case at Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School. Not only were there quite a few PE classes every week, but it was also unlikely for a PE teacher to be "asked to take leave".


    After three cultural classes, following a short break, the entire Elite Class headed to the changing room to swap their school uniforms for indoor sports attire.


    "Hey, hey, those abs."


    A tall classmate wearing glasses was startled when Xue Jing took off his shirt.


    "Not bad, Xue Jing. How come I never noticed before? You''ve got some great abs."


    As soon as he spoke, all the male students in the changing room turned their attention toward them.


    "Holy crap!"


    "Lord Jing is awesome. How did you get such beautiful abs? Teach your brothers."


    "Firstly, I''m not gay, and secondly, can I touch them?"


    "Envious of the future Mrs. Xue."


    "Can I take a photo? Not that I wanna see it, it''s just that I have a sister going through puberty who is really looking forward to this."


    Xue Jing quickly pulled on his short-sleeve sports shirt, with a look of speechlessness: "Can you guys not be so gay? It''s creepy."


    Next to him, Li Ge finished changing and teased with a laugh, "You''re scared by just a joke, you''re a deep closet homophobe, aren''t you? With your conditions, if you keep not getting a girlfriend, don''t blame the guys for overthinking."


    Xue Jing kicked him, causing him to stagger: "Get lost."


    ...


    "Good shot!"


    Inside the gym, Xue Jing made a long jump shot. The basketball left his hands and accurately dropped into the basket, immediately followed by cheers.


    After a quick high-five with his teammates to celebrate, Xue Jing took a quick breath and glanced at the panel.


    [Shot accurately hit, Aiming experience +2]


    [Aiming Lv1 (78/300)]


    The Aiming skill, which he had just activated last night, when applied to basketball¡ªa sport requiring precision¡ªwas like playing at a lower dimension.


    Within the three-point line, he could achieve nine out of ten shots even with opponents disturbing him, and outside the three-point line, he also had a very high probability of scoring. With just his shooting ability alone, he already had professional-level talent.


    As such, even though he wasn''t relying on his physical prowess to dominate aggressively, he was still causing a few classmates on the opposing team to feel utterly dispirited.


    Especially since the girls who were resting on the side were watching the game.


    Even though the girls were very modest and didn''t make a sound, the awkwardness of being background decor for someone''s showing off was still haunting and inescapable.


    Xue Jing was not the kind who loved to show off; he had initially planned to just play casually without picking on his classmates.


    This thought persisted until he made his first basket and saw the +2 experience for Aiming.


    "Keep it up, keep it up, there''s still a chance, we can win this back!"


    From the opposing team, Li Ge clapped his hands to encourage his teammates, barely keeping their spirits up.


    At the sound of the PE teacher''s whistle, the game recommenced.


    "Block him, block him! Block that shot!"


    "Uh..."


    Immersed in the basketball game, the students of the Elite Class failed to notice that a few figures in school uniforms had walked into the gym through the main entrance.


    Leading them was a tall teenager with a somewhat chubby face. After coming in, he casually pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and placed it in his mouth with authority. Immediately, someone by his side lit it for him with a lighter, the whole procedure mimicking how minions light a cigarette for the boss in movies.


    The teenager pinched the cigarette between two fingers, expertly puffing smoke rings, eyes slightly squinting as he watched the ongoing basketball game and said:


    "Which one is Xue Jing?"


    Someone immediately pointed out, "It''s him, the one who just shot the basket!"


    The portly youth stared for a while, then clicked his tongue and said, "This pretty boy looks quite human-shaped, no wonder Shiyu likes him."


    Someone hesitantly voiced from the side, "Pei, maybe let''s not do this, Xue Jing is from the Elite Class, and the school..."


    Hearing this, Pei Youguang turned his head to look at the speaker, who promptly shut his mouth.


    "What''s there to fear about the school? Even the principal has to be polite to my dad, what''s there to be afraid of? What the hell is the Elite Class anyway? If I, Pei Youguang, want to finish him, I''ll finish him!"


    Pei Youguang took a drag on his cigarette, spoke decisively, filled with confidence and domineering spirit.


    The lackeys nearby were instantly subdued by his charisma, showing looks of admiration.


    "Let''s go. It''s enough to recognize the person. It''s not good to start anything here. We''ll deal with him after school."


    As he said this, Pei Youguang turned to leave first, and his followers lagged a step behind him, making for quite a scene.


    ...


    The gym class ended, and the aiming experience had reached (158/300), progressing rapidly.


    The growth in skill experience was reflected in real time in Xue Jing''s performance, so his shooting got smoother as time went on, his hit rate steadily increasing, causing his male classmates to put on masks of pain one after another.


    "Damn it, if I play basketball with you again, I''m a dog!"


    In the class, Li Ge cursed loudly.


    He then quickly added, "Unless I''m on your team."


    Xue Jing was packing his things into his bag, heard this, and smiled, "Okay, next time I''ll take you flying."


    At home, practicing throwing darts, hitting the bullseye only earned me 1 point of experience, but playing basketball with others outside, scoring a basket earned 2 points. The system clearly wasn''t encouraging practicing behind closed doors.


    After a while, Li Ge also packed up his stuff, slung his backpack on, walked over to Xue Jing, and said earnestly, "Let''s go, I''ll walk you back."


    Xue Jing looked at him, his expression as if he was about to make a noble sacrifice, and found it a bit funny and touching.


    Unlike Xue Jing, Li Ge viewed Pei Youguang through a lens of terror, seeing him as a thug who might kill, set fires, and bully students. Knowing that this thug was likely to cause trouble for Xue Jing after school and still being willing to go back together, it could be said that he was quite loyal.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "No need, I can go back on my own."


    However, Li Ge insisted, "You needn''t say more, a bro isn''t like that, I said I''d walk with you, and I will!"


    "Okay then," Xue Jing stopped refusing.


    He added, "But remember, I''ll handle this. You just watch from the side, got it?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Ge was a bit puzzled, but he nodded anyway.


    The two left the classroom and headed towards the school gate.


    Compared with the usual, Xue Jing''s demeanor was normal, whereas Li Ge''s steps were heavy, his face full of worry, as if he was heading to his execution.


    As they walked onto the sports field, something suddenly came to Xue Jing''s mind.


    ''Hmm... I remember he said he had some martial arts training? Just in case, I better prepare.'' Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He lowered his head and searched on the ground for a while, then walked to the side of a pebble path.


    Li Ge saw Xue Jing suddenly squat down, pick up some stones, and put them in his pocket, and asked curiously, "What are you doing?"


    Xue Jing felt the stones in his pocket, checking their size and texture, and said offhandedly, "It''s showdown time, I''m actually a successor of ''Little Li Flying Dagger''."


    Li Ge: "Huh?"


    ...

 Chapter 11 - 11: The Ingenious Use of Aiming

    Xue Jing and his companion had just reached the school gates when Li Ge suddenly patted Xue Jing''s shoulder with a solemn expression, pointing to a student heading straight toward them.


    "Here he comes! That guy is one of Pei Youguang''s underlings."


    The newcomer sported semi-long hair and walked with a sloppy gait. To emphasize his individuality, he wore his uniform in a haphazard fashion, with the top two buttons of his shirt undone, his tie loose, and the sleeves of his jacket rolled up to his elbows. He also held a cigarette in his hand as though he believed it made him look really cool, his face exuding an air of smug satisfaction.


    "You''re Xue Jing, right? Pei Youguang, knows about you, he''s got something to discuss, come with me."


    As the student faced Xue Jing, he had to tilt his head back to compensate for his lack of height, not wanting to diminish his own presence, thus he spoke as if he were looking down his nose at others.


    "..."


    Li Ge''s expression grew even more grave. Although he had resolved to follow his heart and back up Xue Jing, a deep sense of panic echoed within him as the moment approached.


    Xue Jing looked down slightly at the other and said with a smile, "Let''s go."


    This unexpectedly calm demeanor caused a flicker of surprise to pass across the student''s face.


    Which student wouldn''t tremble like a sieve when they heard that Pei wanted to see them?


    And yet this guy could still smile?


    But seeing that Xue Jing was playing along so smoothly, he didn''t say much. He simply grunted affirmatively and led the way out of the school gate.


    Xue Jing and his companion followed, and this scene was witnessed by many students. The usually bustling area near the school gates suddenly fell into an eerie silence. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t until the group had moved some distance away that people slowly began to talk again.


    "Isn''t that Pei Youguang''s underling, Zhou Juncheng? Are they going to bully someone again?"


    "Who''s the guy following him? He''s really good-looking."


    "You don''t recognize senior Xue Jing? Have you been attending Affiliated Middle School for two years for nothing? He''s the recognized school hunk."


    "It looks like Pei Youguang is going to bully him, what should we do?"


    "Tell a teacher?"


    "No way, Pei Youguang''s family is so powerful, telling a teacher won''t help, and you''ll get marked by him!"


    The discussion at the school gate grew louder and incessant.


    ...


    "Lord Jing, maybe we should run for it," Li Ge whispered to Xue Jing, his voice low as they followed the student.


    "We''re taking a back route, and there''s fewer and fewer people around. They must be leading us to a secluded place. If something happens there, we won''t even be able to shout for help!"


    Xue Jing looked helplessly at Li Ge, who was both cowardly and loyal; it was hard to believe he was still following along despite his fear.


    After pondering for a moment, he said, "I have a favor to ask you."


    Li Ge was taken aback, "Tell me."


    "You do this..." Xue Jing whispered a few words and then handed over his cell phone from his pocket.


    Li Ge took the phone and nodded.


    The student leading the way hadn''t noticed the two ''lambs to the slaughter'' quietly scheming behind him, puffing on his cigarette and thinking about how to deal with Xue Jing later.


    Having the chance to bully a student from the Elite Class, who was usually out of reach, brought a twisted thrill to his heart.


    And so, the three of them walked into a dark alley.


    Xue Jing looked up.


    It was an old alley, its walls built with bricks and tiles, dark in color and severely oxidized, clearly of great age.


    Trash littered the ground, and an odd stench lingered. At the end of the alley stood five or six students dressed in uniforms from Affiliated Middle School, mostly smoking, and the portly teenager who was leading the group had his back to them, striking a pose. His companions looked on with ill intent in their eyes.


    It seemed the moment Xue Jing walked in was the one Pei Youguang, a portly youth, had been waiting for. He slowly turned his body around, his triangular eyes fixated on Xue Jing, took a fierce drag on the cigarette in his mouth, and then immediately threw it to the ground and stomped it out.


    "Xue Jing... right."


    His voice was deep as he spoke.


    As he began to speak, the younger students around him wickedly smiled and pulled out weapons such as baseball bats, wooden sticks, and knives.


    They were masters of this intimidation tactic; by this time, the students they summoned would typically start begging for mercy, some even wetting themselves on the spot out of fear.


    However, they realized something was different this time.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak. He methodically took off the suit-like school blazer he was wearing and handed it to Li Ge, who stood behind him.


    He then slowly unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt on both sides and rolled up his sleeves to reveal his well-defined forearm muscles.


    Li Ge swallowed hard, quite afraid, but still did as Xue Jing had previously instructed: taking the blazer and retreating several meters away, then taking out his phone, turning on the camera, and aiming it at the group in the dark alley.


    "..."


    "Huh? What''s this kid trying to do?"


    Before Pei Youguang and the others could unravel their confusion, Xue Jing suddenly crouched slightly, adopting a runner''s starting position.


    In that instant, Pei Youguang was inexplicably reminded of a nature documentary he had watched, where a tiger ready to hunt crouched on the ground, gathering strength for the pounce.


    Then, he saw it.


    The ''tiger'' shot out like a cannonball towards them.


    In the blink of an eye, Xue Jing sprang forward like an arrow released from its bow, covering the distance to confront Pei Youguang and his crew. He swung a punch, hitting the student at the forefront squarely in the face with a thud. The victim''s upper body jerked violently backward, dropping the baseball bat from his hands and collapsing to the ground, passing out without making a sound.


    "Damn it, get him, mess him up!"


    Pei Youguang cursed in anger upon seeing this, and those around him reacted as well, moving towards Xue Jing with their weapons in hand.


    Xue Jing''s gaze was cool as he observed the ''slow'' moving sticks and knives coming at him.


    Once the skill "Aiming" was activated, Xue Jing found that his vision had greatly enhanced, both static and dynamic.


    Especially when he concentrated, his dynamic vision, far superior to before, even granted him an ability similar to ''bullet time.''


    This was the source of his confidence in his fighting ability; physical fitness and running could not give him much combat strength, and facing an armed opponent, getting stabbed would still promptly take him out. But with Aiming, his sense of slowed-down dynamic vision allowed him to possess Insight like that of a martial world expert, as if he had activated the Sharingan.


    This was why he dared to face Pei Youguang and his gang alone.


    Of course, his greatest reliance was "Twin Lifes"; having an extra life gave him the capital to take risks recklessly, without any fear whatsoever.


    Dodging several armed attacks in quick succession, Xue Jing found a gap, his eyes flashed, and while jumping back to evade, he threw a punch, grazing past the chin of one of the students with precision.


    The accuracy brought by Aiming is not only useful in throwing objects but also in fighting.


    In fact, fighting is a sport that requires a great deal of precision. Although the distance of a punch is very short, hitting a dodging target accurately in the chaos of a fight is not an easy task.


    Therefore, the precision of a punch is also an important indicator of a fighter''s combat strength.


    And now, Xue Jing, who had virtually no real combat experience, reached an outrageous level of punch precision under the enhancement of the Aiming skill.


    Aiming, a skill that seems only useful for throwing and shooting at a glance, is actually extremely terrifying in boosting unarmed combat strength.


    The student who was hit in the chin immediately felt his brain shake back and forth in his skull, the world turned upside down, and he fell to the ground limply.


    "Chen Hao, what the hell are you doing, putting on a show here!?"


    The punch was so fast and covert that no one noticed it except for Xue Jing, who threw it, and Chen Hao, who took it. Pei Youguang only saw one student swing a bat and miss Xue Jing, then immediately fall to the ground as if it were an act, leading him to curse loudly.


    "Damn it, all of you back off, I''ll do it!"


    ...

 Chapter 12 - 12 Fighting, The Cost

    Pei Youguang reached out to part the crowd, intending to personally take care of Xue Jing.


    Although the combat power of this pretty boy senior was unexpectedly strong, causing him some surprise, Pei Youguang was confident that he would not be his match.


    After all, he had trained in a dojo and had received true transmission!


    However, just as he had stepped forward and before he could throw out a few more harsh words, everything went dark before his eyes, and a sharp pain shot through his left eye.


    "Ah!!"


    Pei Youguang covered his left eye and cried out in pain, with blood flowing out from between his fingers.


    He said furiously, "Despicable scoundrel!"


    It was Xue Jing who had pulled out a quail egg-sized pebble from his pocket and casually threw it, hitting Pei Youguang''s left eye with precision, resulting in a critical weak point attack.


    Enraged beyond measure, Pei Youguang, enduring the pain in his left eye, opened only his good right eye and charged at Xue Jing.


    He swung a reverse Swing Fist with extreme speed, but because he only had the vision of his right eye, he misjudged the distance. Not only did he miss the dodging Xue Jing, but he also accidentally punched the wall.


    "Bang!"


    A crisp sound echoed as the brick wall was actually cracked with a small hole from the punch, and seeing the power behind it, Xue Jing''s eyes twitched.


    ''Is this¡­ martial arts?''


    Xue Jing took two steps back and pulled out another pebble from his pocket. Seeing this, Pei Youguang, with the psychological shadow of his left eye being damaged, could not help but use his hand to protect his only remaining right eye.


    But Xue Jing didn''t throw the stone; instead, he mimicked the actions from a martial arts video and delivered a spin kick with built-up force, severely kicking at Pei Youguang''s head. Although the latter managed to react in time and put his hand up to block, the power behind the kick was beyond his expectation. It pressed down his blocking arm and still hit his head, causing him to stagger.


    "He has trained in martial arts too?" Pei Youguang felt the force of the kick and his color drained away in shock.


    "No, that''s not right; it was pure physical strength without ''energy.''


    But that made even less sense.


    How could he, who has not trained in martial arts and relies on brute force, overpower my ''energy''!?


    Is this guy really a high school student?


    Xue Jing was unaware of Pei Youguang''s thoughts or he might have mockingly commented, do you know the value of ''Running'' when it comes to explosive leg strength?


    Having landed a blow, he immediately followed up with an offensive, closing the distance and raining punches and kicks on Pei Youguang.


    Under the relentless assault from Xue Jing, Pei Youguang was unable to regulate his breathing, preventing him from using his ''energy'' and forcing him to continuously endure the beating and defend.


    Xue Jing used both his hands and feet, getting more fluent and excited with each strike. The fighting moves he had earnestly learned from videos over the past month were being executed more smoothly, gradually becoming more natural to him.


    Pei Youguang''s lackeys on the sidelines were stunned; this was their first time seeing Pei so embarrassed, getting beaten down like a dog!


    Li Ge, who was not far away recording the video on his phone, was trembling with excitement, unable to speak.


    Lord Jing, Jing, God Jing!


    It was uncertain how much time had passed, but in a moment of ''Fortune Comes to a Prepared Mind,'' Xue Jing''s previously chaotic and unstructured striking suddenly clicked and was followed by a beautifully executed right Swing Fist.


    The angle of his fist was particularly tricky, bypassing Pei Youguang''s defensive guard and slipping through the gap, hitting Pei Youguang''s face squarely.


    Accompanied by the sound of breaking bone, Pei Youguang was lifted off his feet by the punch and fell backwards.


    [Conditions met, Skill ''Fighting'' activated]


    Xue Jing, still maintaining his punching pose, stared blankly at his own fist.


    A tingling sensation spread through his muscles, which began to squirm and change internally.


    His strength increased, his Flexibility enhanced, more adept at exerting force. It was as if a heavy iron coat had been shed, gifting him a lightness akin to a swallow.


    Not only that, but once he stood up straight, his body suddenly cracked with the sound of bones rubbing against each other. He had grown slightly taller.


    His skeletal structure had changed, becoming thicker and harder, causing his whole body to appear as if enhanced in proportional size by Photoshop.


    "Pei!" Several underlings cried out in alarm, looking at Pei Youguang lying on the ground, his nose caved into his face, a ghastly sight.


    Clang clang, everyone involuntarily dropped their weapons, looking at Xue Jing with fear.


    Xue Jing closed his eyes and focused, sensing the changes within himself.


    The scene fell silent for a moment.


    After a while, Xue Jing opened his eyes and looked calmly at the several subordinates of Pei Youguang.


    Those whose sight was swept by his gaze felt like prey animals targeted by a top predator, their legs went soft, and they knelt on the ground.


    "Xue... Xue," we...


    One of them began with trembling lips.


    But before he could finish, Xue Jing interrupted, "Pick them up."


    "Huh?" The group was puzzled.


    "I told you to pick up your weapons."


    Xue Jing''s tone was unfaltering, instantly sending a chill down the students'' spines, like children frightened by the sudden sternness of their father, and they involuntarily picked up the weapons that had been discarded on the ground.


    "Attack," he ordered.


    "..." The students looked at each other, not daring to move.


    "I will only count to three," Xue Jing said, his eyes flashing coldly.


    "One."


    "Two."


    "Ahhhh!!" Unable to withstand the pressure, one of the students raised his baseball bat and swung it maniacally at Xue Jing.


    Once one person took the lead, the others, influenced by the herd mentality, charged at Xue Jing together.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The students fell apart like burst sacks, each with a punch or foot imprint caved into their faces.


    In the quiet alley, students in Affiliated Middle School uniforms lay twisted and sprawled everywhere, either passed out or groaning while clutching their wounds, with only Xue Jing standing.


    He had a cold, intellectual look, untouched by the fight, his clothes only slightly disheveled, and, coupled with the surrounding scenery, he appeared like a gangster in a suit from a movie, an elegant yet violent contrast.


    "..." Li Ge stared at the scene, stunned for a long time before slowly regaining his composure and stopping the recording on his phone.


    He walked up to Xue Jing, wanting to say something but not quite daring to speak.


    Seeing his hesitant look, Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "How is it, cool or not?"


    With his usual gentle tone, Xue Jing somewhat softened the violent impression from before, and Li Ge relaxed a bit, laughing,


    "Cool, insanely cool, from today on, I am Iron-blooded Jing."


    Xue Jing patted his head, "Cut the flattery."


    He reached out for the phone, "Let me see how well you recorded it."


    The video showed the entire process clearly from when Xue Jing entered the alley, except for some shaky segments where Li Ge''s excitement caused his hand to tremble; overall, it was well recorded.


    It had also followed Xue Jing''s directive to turn off the sound and only capture the video.


    When the video showed the students being threatened by Xue Jing to pick up their weapons, without sound, it appeared as though the students, still not giving up, picked up their weapons to continue attacking Xue Jing.


    Li Ge, puzzled, asked, "Why do this?"


    Xue Jing calmly explained, "Under Zhuxia law, in cases where the opponent is armed and intends to commit violent crimes, the victim has the right to unlimited self-defense."


    Li Ge scratched his head and said, "Weren''t they surrendering at that point?"


    "What does their surrender have to do with me?"


    Xue Jing seemed to be speaking to Li Ge, yet also as if he was talking to himself.


    "People must always pay a price for their mistakes."


    ...

 Chapter 13 - 13 Power

    Pei Youguang had a dream.


    In his dream, his family was happy and fulfilled. Although his father was as stern as ever, he was always proud of him. His mother would always sneak him pocket money behind his father''s back, cup his head in her hands, and tell him, "Mama loves you." His siblings in the dojo looked up to him as their leader, and he became a world-renowned martial arts prodigy, the center of attention.


    He would not be scorned by his father as if he were an invisible man, his mother was still alive, and he was not always seen as just an accessory to his genius brother who went to the Inner Ring City. Nor did he have any experiences of being humiliated in the dojo and running away, unable to bear it.


    Everything was so beautiful.


    "..."


    His father in the dream seemed to be saying something to him. Pei Youguang strained to listen, but he just couldn''t hear it.


    His father repeated himself many times, seemingly impatient, and then he slapped Pei Youguang across the face.


    "Slap!"


    Pei Youguang woke up, feeling his right cheek burning with pain.


    "Hey."


    Xue Jing squatted down, looked at Pei Youguang who was lying on the ground, now with his eyes open but still a bit dazed, and slapped him again. Slap, producing symmetrical imprints on both cheeks.


    "Pei Youguang, right? You had something to talk to me about? What is it, speak up."


    Xue Jing said coldly.


    Pei Youguang: "¡­"


    After coming to his senses and realizing the situation, Pei Youguang fell silent for a while and then showed an embarrassed smile,


    "No¡­ nothing anymore."


    Xue Jing nodded, "If there''s nothing, that''s good."


    "But now that you''re fine, I do have something to talk to you about."


    Pei Youguang touched his nose, now sunken into his face, the pain making him hiss sharply, but upon hearing Xue Jing''s words, he quickly said, "Please tell, please tell."


    He wasn''t a defiant person. Having been bullied countless times from a young age, he had long learned to swallow his pride and bear insults quietly.


    Although after entering the Affiliated Middle School he had grown accustomed to throwing his weight around and almost forgot his past, now he had been abruptly reminded of his muscle memory by Xue Jing''s two slaps.


    He didn''t pull rank using his family''s background anymore. All the students at the Affiliated Middle School knew he had connections. Now that Xue Jing dared to hit him, it meant he wasn''t afraid.


    Whether it was confidence through backing or just sheer audacity, Pei Youguang had lost either way.


    He could only yield.


    Looking down at him, Xue Jing asked, "I heard you have killed someone? And bullied female classmates?"


    Pei Youguang said with a forced smile, "No, no, those are all rumors."


    "What about that girl who transferred out last semester?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "¡­ I was pursuing her, but I really never did that sort of thing. That classmate transferred out because she was too scared, if it were true, the school would not have waited until now to expel me."


    Saying this, Pei Youguang glanced at the fallen lackeys beside him, hesitated for a while, and said softly, "Please don''t spread this around, but I''m still a virgin."


    Xue Jing slapped him backhandedly across the face.


    Slap¡ª


    "I don''t want to hear this kind of useless information."


    Pei Youguang covered his side face, "Yes¡­"


    "Since nothing like that happened, why didn''t you clear things up?"


    "Clarifying it might not work, and¡­ with such rumors, all the classmates are afraid of me¡­ I thought it was cool¡­"


    Xue Jing delivered another slap to his face.


    Silently he said, "Are you brain-damaged, wanting to take on the name of a strong criminal for yourself?"


    Pei Youguang didn''t dare to talk back, "What you said is right."


    "From now on, be a good student and don''t get involved in these pointless schemes. Write a reflection when you get back, listing everything you''ve done and haven''t done. Recite it ten times in front of the whole class during morning reading, and have your underlings record it. I''ll check it later."


    Pei Youguang said with difficulty, "Ah, this..."


    Slap¡ª


    Pei Youguang covered his cheek with one hand and frantically waved the other, "I''ll write it as soon as I get back."


    Xue Jing hummed, seemingly asking casually, "By the way, the punch you threw at the wall had quite some power. What was that about?"


    Pei Youguang honestly answered, "I''ve practiced martial arts. The punch just now, I used ''Power''."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "Power? Is it something like the ''Inner Strength'' you read about in wuxia novels?"


    Pei Youguang first nodded, then shook his head, "Power, also known as Inner Strength... It''s not some supernatural energy, but a way of using Physical Strength. It''s a skill that draws out the body''s inherent potential through coordinating muscles, bones, blood, breathing, and so on. That''s ''Power''."


    Pei Youguang recalled what the master at the dojo had taught and explained.


    "To put it in scientific terms, ''Power'' is essentially kinetic energy. Different organs within the body cooperate in movement to accumulate kinetic energy, which is then released through ''moves'' to produce far more force than an ordinary punch or kick."


    "I''ve heard that some impressive Martial Artists can exaggerate the use of Power to the point where they can punch through a tank''s armor with their bare flesh and blood. I don''t know if that''s true."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, remaining silent.


    Seeing this, Pei Youguang immediately understood and hastened to say, "If you''re interested, I could teach you. Although I only know a bit about Basic Energy Harnessing..."


    Xue Jing, seeing his eagerness, patted his shoulder, softening his expression a bit, "Then I''ll trouble you with that."


    Pei Youguang cautiously said, "It''s no trouble at all, but about writing the reflection and reciting it in class... could you possibly let that slide?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and then said, "No, but you don''t have to read it ten times. Once will be enough."


    "..." Pei Youguang felt there was no difference between ten times and once, as both meant a loss of ''dignity''. It seemed an odd concession, but he didn''t dare argue and could only chuckle, "Thank you very much."


    "Alright." Xue Jing stood up.


    "That''s settled then. I''ll come to find you this afternoon or tomorrow when I''m free to learn ''Power''. From now on, study hard and be a proper student; don''t let me hear about you bullying anyone again."


    Pei Youguang: "I''ll do as you say."


    ...


    After Xue Jing left the alley, the underlings lying on the ground pretending to be unconscious slowly got up, rubbing their heads and groaning as if they were just waking up.


    "Hey, Pei, where''s that Xue... Senior Xue?"


    Pei Youguang sat up, reached into his school uniform pocket, pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes, and thought about lighting one but then decided against it with a sigh.


    "From now on, we''re to call him Jing."


    The underlings looked at each other in confusion but agreed nonetheless.


    The scene quieted down for a moment, and Pei Youguang looked thoughtful: ''He hasn''t trained in martial arts, but he has such physical aptitude... He must be what the dojo masters call someone with good aptitude...''


    ''Just like Big Brother...''


    Whether he was convinced by the beating or something else, Pei Youguang had an intuition that Xue Jing was not an ordinary person.


    The phrases ''cling to the big thigh'' and ''Dragon''s Achievement'' flashed through his mind, but the limits of his perspective and understanding made it hard for him to discern the pros and cons.


    After a while, he shook his head.


    "Forget it, I won''t think about it. In any case, getting on good terms with him is the right move!"


    Pei Youguang decided to follow his intuition.


    ...

 Chapter 14 - 14 Battle, Cool!

    After Li Ge left on his own, Xue Jing also walked to the bus station, ready to go home. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the way, he opened the panel to check the gains from this time.


    [You experienced a fight, Fitness Experience Points +109]


    [You experienced a fight, Aiming Experience Value +50]


    [You experienced a fight, felt very comfortable, Health Cultivation Experience Value +33]


    [Condition met, Skill activated: fighting]


    [You experienced a fight, fighting Experience Points +68]


    [Fitness Lv2 (431/500)


    Health Cultivation Lv1 (269/300)


    Cooking Level 2 (279/500)


    Running Lv3 (502/800)


    Charm Art Lv2 (398/500)


    Aiming Lv1 (208/300)


    fighting Lv1 (68/300)]


    The first thing to note was the Experience Points, his fitness skill alone had risen by over 100; usually, an hour of hard work in the gym would net him a similar amount, but now he had earned that just from a not-so-tough fight.


    Aiming increased by 50 points, which likely included his use of dynamic vision during the fight and aiming while throwing punches, plus hitting Pei Youguang in the left eye with a stone, which also yielded much more than the usual training sessions.


    What really made Xue Jing incredulous was that the "Health Cultivation" Experience had actually increased by more than 30 points.


    A skill that previously only increased in Experience through early bedtimes and early rising was gaining Experience from a brawl?


    So fighting is a Health Cultivation exercise, huh.


    However, Xue Jing considered the panel''s prompt of "feeling comfortable," and it made sense.


    A key aspect of Health Cultivation is to maintain a good mentality, the influence of which on the body is indisputable; often there are stories of severely ill patients who miraculously recover because they maintained a very positive attitude.


    After the fight, he indeed felt exceptionally clear-headed and exhilarated, with a sweeping sense of joy.


    Fighting, thrilling!


    "It seems I should frequently engage in things that make me happy..."


    The massive gain in Experience Points, once again, confirmed that the panel didn''t encourage a withdrawn lifestyle; he still needed to get out more.


    Last of all was the newly activated skill¡ª"fighting."


    Xue Jing truly didn''t expect to activate a skill directly linked to combat ability here.


    He thought that following the videos for training during the past month was a waste of time, but all that accumulation exploded into effect at this moment.


    In the quiet path, seeing that there was no one around, Xue Jing performed a high leg split, lifting his right leg, creating a vertical split in the air.


    At this moment, he almost felt no pain from the stretch between his legs, a level of flexibility he never had before.


    After raising his leg above his head and holding it there, he did not feel the slightest strain; his left foot alone provided a very stable, well-balanced support.


    "fighting" had changed his body structure.


    Human bodies subtly change due to different living habits and ways of exercising, like how the body structures of gymnasts and weightlifters are completely different.


    Years of training align their body structures highly with their professions, one being light and flexible, the other sturdy and powerful.


    Upon the activation of the fighting skill, Xue Jing''s body had been ''specialized;'' from the structure of a normal person to one ''suited for fighting.''


    Beyond the basic physical enhancements, reaction speed, explosive power, flexibility, Anti-Strike, agility, fist sensation, sense of balance... every attribute related to fighting had also been enhanced to varying degrees.


    "This skill has only enhanced my ''fighting ability,'' it hasn''t made me directly master ''fighting techniques''..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    "So, it seems, just like Chinese, mathematics, and physics, techniques also fall under ''knowledge'' rather than skills themselves. ''Fighting'' can help me better control the techniques but can''t directly instill them into me..."


    "Rather than calling it ''Fighting Skills'', it seems more like ''Fighting Talent''."


    In fact, other skills are pretty much the same. ''Cooking'' enhances his control over heat and use of cooking utensils, but it doesn''t provide him recipes directly; ''Fitness'' doesn''t give him fitness knowledge but simply strengthens his body.


    ''Running'', ''Aiming'', ''Charm Art'', ''Health Cultivation'' are all the same, only enhancing his related abilities, without directly imparting knowledge.


    "Anyway, I was thrilled."


    Xue Jing looked pleased.


    This feeling of becoming stronger is truly addictive. His body, already light as a feather from the ''Fighting'' enhancement, felt even lighter.


    "Going home to pet my cat."


    ...


    After taking the bus to the street where his neighborhood was located, Xue Jing didn''t go home immediately but stopped by the supermarket to buy some ingredients before returning home.


    He took out his keys, turned the lock, opened the door, and found Miao Miao squatting at the entrance, seemingly waiting for him.


    As soon as it saw him come in, Miao Miao immediately meowed, its tail ringed and gently swaying behind it as a greeting.


    After placing his backpack and the bag of ingredients on the living room table, Xue Jing squatted down, grabbed Miao Miao''s head with both hands, and started rubbing its cheeks back and forth.


    "Did the little kitty want some petting, huh?"


    Miao Miao initially tried to struggle but instantly succumbed to the exquisite technique and couldn''t help but squint its eyes in pleasure.


    "Meow~"


    The feel of the cat''s head was delightful. Xue Jing petted it for a while and, reluctant to stop, then gripped its cheeks with one hand and said with a smile:


    "Hungry, huh?"


    Despite knowing that the cat in front of him was most likely a transformed person, Xue Jing''s tone inevitably softened, much like when teasing a small child.


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao tried to push away with its two white-gloved paws, attempting to free itself from Xue Jing''s grasp on its cheeks, but to no avail. It meowed helplessly, indicating it was indeed hungry.


    Xue Jing chuckled, let the pitiful Miao Miao go, and picked up the ingredients from the table to head into the kitchen.


    Miao Miao''s face showed a very anthropomorphic dissatisfaction, pawing at its aching cheeks.


    ''Stupid humans, always so rough.''''


    Miao Miao, having somewhat forgotten it was not a cat, thought angrily.


    It paced with feline steps to the corner leading from the living room to the kitchen and sneakily peeked at Xue Jing. Confirming he was busy, it immediately dashed into his room.


    Since Xue Jing had returned so abruptly earlier, some things had been left unhandled.


    Once in the room, Miao Miao jumped onto the computer desk and with difficulty moved the mouse with its paw. Using ''One-Claw Zen'', it pressed the keyboard keys to clear the browsing history and then uninstalled a suspicious program, making the computer look ''as if nothing had happened.'' Then it shut down the computer.


    After finishing, Miao Miao sighed in relief, silently left the room, went to the living room, jumped onto the couch, curled up lazily, its paw resting on the remote control, and turned on the TV.


    "... The head of the Public Security Bureau in Qingcheng, Shang Mingyang, stated that the police have confirmed the escape route of this batch of smugglers at the Intersecting Boundaries. It is very likely they will pass through Qingcheng. The bureau has now issued a yellow safety alert, urging all residents to be exceedingly cautious regarding their personal safety..."


    In the kitchen, Xue Jing''s phone suddenly rang.


    He put down the soy sauce and soup ladle, washed his hands, wiped them on his apron, and took out his phone from his pocket.


    Xue Jing checked the incoming call display, which showed a number without a name but one he remembered well.


    He pressed the answer button and said, "Hello~ Mom, what''s up?"


    ...

 Chapter 15 - 15 Xue Wan

    "Son, have you eaten yet?"


    The tender voice of his mother, Nan Jiayu, came through the phone speaker.


    Xue Jing smiled, switched the phone to speaker mode, and placed it in the basket next to the stove. While busy cooking, he replied, "Not yet, what''s up? Why are you calling all of a sudden?"


    Although his parents were often away on business trips in this life, their love for the two children at home was no less than any other parents'', and they spent all the money they earned on their children. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I can call even if there''s nothing up, can''t I? Can''t I even listen to my own son''s voice?"


    Xue''s mother, Nan Jiayu, feigned anger.


    "You''re right, my fault," Xue Jing immediately conceded.


    Nan Jiayu then inquired kindly about Xue Jing''s recent situation, and the two of them chatted about home matters for quite a while.


    "Your dad and I will probably come back around New Year''s Day, and we''ll bring you some gifts."


    "Also, be more careful on your way to and from school lately, don''t just wander about. It''s best to stay home. I just saw in the news that there might be a gang of smugglers from the Intersecting Boundaries operating in Qingcheng. Those people are desperate criminals. If you notice anything suspicious outside, you must not go near."


    Nan Jiayu instructed seriously.


    Xue Jing immediately realized that this was the real reason she had called.


    He reassured her, "Don''t worry, Mom, I know what I''m doing. If anything happens, I can run faster than a dog."


    "That''s good to hear."


    Nan Jiayu sounded very pleased and then suddenly seemed to remember something. She asked, "By the way, have you talked to your sister lately?"


    Xue Jing: "It''s been about half a month since I last called her. We did chat on WeChat a few days ago, why?"


    Nan Jiayu was silent for a moment before saying, "Yesterday afternoon, Wanwan suddenly called and said she missed your dad and me."


    "Isn''t that normal?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    "It is normal, but I just feel something isn''t quite right. That child is just like your father, seems lively on the surface but likes to keep things to herself and not let others know when there''s something wrong."


    "It may be a mother''s instinct, but I feel a bit uneasy. Son, when you have time, ask her about it. Wanwan and you have always been close since you were kids and you''re of the same generation. If there''s something wrong, she might just tell you."


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing promised, "Alright, don''t worry, Mom, I''ll ask her."


    ¡­


    After finishing the call with Nan Jiayu, Xue Jing appeared thoughtful.


    His sister, Xue Wan, was a very cheerful and beautiful person, always someone people noticed in school. She regularly topped the lists for school beauty, and her grades were always excellent. Although she didn''t get into an Inner Ring university, she got into a top Outer Ring university, ranked even higher than Qingcheng University, and she had always been someone people could count on.


    But growing up with her, Xue Jing knew she wasn''t as perfect as she appeared. She wouldn''t get up unless forced, liked to cheat during games, had a terrible temper when losing bets, and never admitted defeat. Even claiming liars are like dogs, she could easily bark "Woof, woof, woof" without any pressure.


    She would also trick her female classmates into treating her by introducing them to her ''handsome brother'' under his name...


    But the biggest flaw was just as their mother had said: she liked to keep things to herself.


    Xue Jing felt a bit worried. After thinking for a while, he picked up his phone, dialed a number, but his finger lingered on the call button and didn''t press it. Instead, he exited the dialing screen and put away his phone.


    "Better call her at night."


    He decided to call his sister Xue Wan late at night, when people are more inclined to confide.


    After putting away his phone, he continued to work in the kitchen, cooked a pot of rice, and made three dishes, his cooking skills improving by more than 50 points.


    After having lunch with Miao Miao, Xue Jing picked up the cat, who had sprawled out on the floor from being too full, and walked into his room to sit down in the computer chair, pressing the power button.


    With one hand on the belly of the reluctant Miao Miao and the other on the mouse, Xue Jing planned to look up information about "Power."


    He opened the browser and entered a commonly used search engine website. Just as he was about to type, his gaze shifted.


    Xue Jing''s computer keyboard was black, which hid dirt well. Usually, dust and stains were hard to see.


    However, with his Aiming skills activated, his vision was exceptionally sharp, so he could see things that most people couldn''t.


    He distinctly saw black and white hairs stuck in the crevices of the keyboard.


    "Is this... cat hair?"


    Xue Jing unnoticeably shifted his gaze toward the Miao Miao in his arms.


    This little thing, did it touch my computer?


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing made no fuss about it and pretended he hadn''t noticed, beginning to search for information on Power.


    Skipping many useless ads and incorrect information, it took him about fifteen minutes before he finally found some useful content on a question-and-answer platform that was somewhat professional, similar to Zhihu.


    He was engrossed in reading, and the Miao Miao in his arms also sat up on his lap, looking at the webpage.


    ''Hmm? Looking for martial arts information? Is he planning to practice martial arts?'' Miao Miao thought while watching.


    ''These half-baked articles, all pretense without understanding, can only fool laymen. "Reaching high levels can develop supernatural abilities" ¡ª can that really be trained? Without consuming banned drugs or implanting alien implants, even a "Limit Breaker" who has crossed the Dragon Gate is just a mortal of flesh and blood.


    There are no human miracles in this world, only ruthless determination and technology...''


    Miao Miao lifted its head and looked at Xue Jing''s gently curved chin.


    ''If he''s really interested in martial arts... once I leave, perhaps I could introduce him to that person, as payment for the rent I owe for staying here...''


    Thinking, Miao Miao yawned.


    After eating, drowsiness followed persistently.


    It curled up on Xue Jing''s thigh, the comforting scent of the young man lingering no its nose, and slowly drifted off to sleep.


    "..."


    Noticing that Miao Miao''s breathing was calm and prolonged, signifying that it was completely asleep, Xue Jing quietly exited the website.


    He opened the search engine and typed in "screen recording software that can be hidden," selected one after a moment, and successfully downloaded a screen recording application that met the requirements.


    He set it to "enable autostart" and "automatic recording," then restarted the computer. After checking the results and finding no issues, he then shut down the computer.


    Having completed these tasks, Xue Jing gently picked up Miao Miao, placed it on his bed, and then tiptoed out of the room.


    ...


    In the ''gym,'' Xue Jing looked at the barbell on the bench press rack in front of him.


    It was a standard barbell weighing twenty kilograms, with two twenty-kilogram plates hanging on each side, adding up to exactly one hundred kilograms.


    This was his regular weight for bench press workouts, though he could actually add about twenty more kilograms if he pushed his limits.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, picked up two fifteen-kilogram plates from the yoga mat covered with barbell plates on the floor, attached them to the rod, then picked up two five-kilogram plates and put them on as well.


    In this way, the weight of the barbell reached one hundred forty kilograms.


    Xue Jing lay down on the bench press rack, grabbed the barbell with both hands, took a deep breath, lifted the barbell from the hooks down to his chest, and then exerted force. His muscles instantly tensed up as he lifted the barbell!


    The one hundred forty kilograms barbell was slowly raised with scarcely a tremble in the process, very stable, evidently leaving some strength to spare.


    After successfully lifting it, Xue Jing did not stop but repeatedly performed bench presses until he completed a set of nine, then placed the barbell back on the hooks.


    He breathed slightly heavily, feeling refreshed.


    "After activating ''fighting,'' my physical fitness has improved considerably, and with the additional 100 plus Fitness Experience Points gained from fighting, my limit on the bench press increased by about twenty to thirty kilograms."


    Though this increase might not seem like much, it must be noted that there is a diminishing marginal effect in physical training.


    The closer one gets to the human limit, the harder it is to increase strength.


    With dedicated training, a person could move from bench pressing sixty kilograms to one hundred twenty kilograms in just two or three years, but to reach one hundred forty kilograms is no longer a matter of effort; even ten or eight years or even a lifetime might not suffice.


    Therefore, the twenty to thirty kilograms increase that Xue Jing achieved in his bench press weight is highly significant.


    Having tested the bench press, Xue Jing walked to the standing punching bag in the middle of the room, took a deep breath, focused his gaze, and threw a punch!


    "Bang!"


    A loud explosion sounded as Xue Jing''s fist heavily imprinted on the punching bag, creating ripples on its leather surface, and it almost seemed as if the force of the punch was spreading outward, the heavyweight iron base filled with sand, weighing over 150 kilograms, suddenly tilted dramatically to the side.


    Xue Jing stretched out a hand to steady the punching bag, nodded, and muttered to himself, "Not bad."


    ...

 Chapter 16 - 16 My House is Quite Big

    At 1:30 in the afternoon, Xue Jing arrived at school.


    Just like in the morning, he didn''t go directly to his class but entered the Qingcheng University campus once more, heading to the Qing University Library.


    Compared to the sparse population in the morning, there were quite a lot of people in the library at this time. However, everyone was very quiet, with basically only the sound of flipping pages to be heard.


    Xue Jing''s arrival caught the attention of many students. A short-haired girl sitting in the lounge area with an extracurricular book in her hands looked towards Xue Jing, who was clad in the Affiliated Middle School uniform, with bright and shining eyes, whispering excitedly to her best friend:


    "Look, look! That boy is so handsome!"


    "Should we go ask for his WeChat?"


    Her best friend, while staring at Xue Jing, teased her, "I thought you liked older guys? Why are you chasing after a young pup from the Affiliated Middle School?"


    "Even if I''m not fond of sweets, when faced with top-tier desserts like this, I can''t help but salivate!" said the short-haired girl, her eyes sparkling.


    "Come on, I''ll go ask for his WeChat, and you bolster my courage¡­"


    As she said this, she stood up from her chair.


    The chair was pushed back, causing a friction sound with the floor that was a bit sharp.


    It seemed as if Xue Jing had heard the noise, he turned his head and looked toward the short-haired girl.


    "¡­"


    That glance from those cool and detached eyes made the girl feel as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, chilling her from scalp to heel, extinguishing her desires in an instant.


    It wasn''t until Xue Jing had ascended the stairs, leaving her line of sight, that the short-haired girl suddenly clutched at the ample fruits in front of her chest, gasping for air as if she were a drowning victim who had just been pulled ashore.


    Her best friend was stunned for a moment before quickly patting her back to help her catch her breath, asking with concern, "What''s wrong, Lin? Are you alright?"


    The twin-tailed girl named Lin, still shaken, said, "I don''t know why, but that boy... he seemed quite dangerous. I think I won''t ask for his WeChat after all."


    ¡­


    Unaware of the psychological impact his inadvertent glance had just inflicted on someone, Xue Jing continued to ascend and arrived at the seventh floor.


    The seventh floor was as deserted as ever, a stark contrast to the bustling six floors below. Only a girl sat there, in an old chair, holding a book, still sitting so perfectly upright that not a single fault could be found, the light blue skinny jeans stretched tight like a perfectly ripe peach.


    This was the same girl Xue Jing had encountered in the morning at the same spot.


    Different from the morning encounter, when the girl saw Xue Jing this time, she nodded at him, her waist-length ponytail swaying gently, and a hint of a smile appeared on her clean and pretty face.


    Xue Jing smiled back but didn''t speak, also nodding his head in return.


    He thought this silent exchange of nods was quite interesting.


    Walking into the bookshelf area, Xue Jing began to look for clues that might relate to ''Divine Substance.''


    Under the dim yellow lights, Xue Jing and the girl were busy with their own matters, clearly demarcated. They seemed like two unrelated passersby to each other yet there was an inexplicably natural harmony between them.


    An hour later, Xue Jing had learned a bunch of things that ordinary people didn''t know, but still came up empty-handed in regard to Divine Substance.


    "I should go to class first."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing put the book back on the shelf and left the library.


    The silent seventh floor was left to the girl alone, as if she were a lone Bound Spirit confined to this place, with only the occasional turning of a book page to prove her real existence.


    ¡­


    When Xue Jing walked into his own classroom, he found that the desk and chair originally defaced by Pei Youguang had been replaced with a whole new set.


    "It was that second-year student, Pei Youguang, who moved it over. He swapped out your desk and chair," explained a classmate who had come in quite early.


    "I see," said Xue Jing in response.


    He didn''t mind it much, as chairs and desks are still functional no matter if they are scratched or not. However, that set of graffiti-covered furniture had indeed been stuffed with filthy things in its drawers, so it was quite good that it was replaced.


    Pei Youguang is pretty sensible,


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    It wasn''t in vain that he had earnestly lectured him.


    The four afternoon classes quickly passed by, and Xue Jing greeted Li Ge, saying he had something to do and told him to go ahead first.


    Then he packed up his textbooks, slung his backpack over one shoulder, and walked out of the third teaching building where he was.


    The Affiliated Middle School has three teaching buildings, one for each year, with twenty classes per year.


    Xue Jing arrived at the corridor of the second teaching building where the second-year students were, leaned against the pillar at the doorway, took out his phone, and while browsing some martial arts explanatory videos, he waited.


    He was quite eye-catching, and the second-year students exiting the building couldn''t help but let their gaze linger on him a bit more than usual.


    He didn''t have to wait long; soon, a plump young man bandaged up with band-aids on his nose and eyes, wrapped like a mummy and surrounded by a crowd of lackeys, came out.


    It was none other than Pei Youguang.


    The lackeys beside him also had various injuries, just not as severe as Pei Youguang''s.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing, Pei Youguang was momentarily stunned, then hurried over and said eagerly, "Hey, Jing Bro, are you waiting for me?"


    His behavior immediately stunned the surrounding second-year students.


    "Is that Pei Youguang?"


    "Ah? That''s Pei Youguang? He''s wrapped up like a mummy, I didn''t recognize him."


    "Who''s that guy? Why does it look like Pei Youguang is... fawning over him?"


    "It''s Xue Jing from the third year! This morning I saw him getting called out at the school gate by Zhou Juncheng, I thought he was going to get beaten up by Pei Youguang, but it seems like nothing happened to him at all..."


    "Stupid, with Pei Youguang looking like that, he definitely tried to hit someone but ended up being hit instead."


    "What happened? Wasn''t Pei Youguang trained in martial arts? How did he end up getting beaten like this?"


    Whispers of discussion came from all around, with the students sporting expressions of excitement as if they had stumbled upon juicy gossip. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This school bully wasn''t well-liked on regular days, so now that he seemed to be at a disadvantage, everyone was quite pleased.


    "Serves him right, always bullying others; now he''s run into a tough nut to crack!"


    "Finally, someone can handle him."


    "I''m in the same class as Pei Youguang. This morning he was still saying he was going to teach Xue Jing a lesson, supposedly because Lin Shiyu likes Xue Jing... Look, Lin Shiyu is coming out."


    The younger school girl Lin Shiyu, wearing a school uniform skirt, with long, straight legs that shone in the sunset, walked out of the teaching building and saw Xue Jing. A look of embarrassment appeared on her beautiful face.


    Having her confession rejected that morning and now encountering the person concerned left her feeling awkward.


    Fortunately, Xue Jing didn''t even glance at her, as if he hadn''t noticed her at all. Although it seemed a bit heartless and made her feel dejected, she couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief.


    Lin Shiyu quickly grabbed her bag and, holding on to her best friend''s hand, scurried away.


    "Jing Bro, you came to learn Power from me, right? Come on, let''s go to my place. My house is quite big, and we have almost all the equipment needed for Martial Arts Practice in the dojo..."


    While speaking, Pei Youguang gestured with his remaining good eye to his lackeys.


    One of the lackeys immediately understood and stepped forward to offer politely:


    "Jing Bro, let me carry your backpack for you."


    "Mm, let''s go," Xue Jing smiled, handed his backpack to the lackey, and followed Pei Youguang out of the school.


    ...

 Chapter 17 - 17 Breathing Skills, Good Aptitude

    (I''ve made some changes to the protagonist''s family background and character settings, as well as fixed the pacing issues of the previous chapter. Readers who have read it may revisit it, especially chapters 15 and 16. Sorry for the trouble, and thank you for your understanding.)


    (Thank you all for your rewards, monthly tickets, and recommendations. As a newcomer, I''m flattered and will strive to repay you by writing more!)


    ...


    Qingcheng has four major districts: east, south, west, and north. There''s a saying that goes, ''The east is rich, the west is poor, the north is noble, and the south is lowly,'' which roughly describes the residential division within Qingcheng.


    Residents of the East City District are mostly wealthy, with major companies and corporate headquarters primarily located there¡ªit can be said that every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. The North City District, on the other hand, is home to officials and dignitaries, with extremely high security. The issue here is not the cost of the land, but rather that money can''t buy it.


    The West City District is where the majority of common folks reside, which is also where Xue Jing''s home is located.


    Of course, this is not an absolute, and living in the East City District doesn''t guarantee wealth, nor does living in the West City District guarantee poverty¡ªit''s after all just a loose division.


    But there is no debate about the ''lowly'' reputation of the South City District.


    It''s a true slum, the ultimate destination of all crime in a city, governed not by law but by gangsters. Even the Public Security Bureau has no control over it. Many criminals simply vanish into its depths, impossible to find, with only the security companies behind the gangs having any say there.


    However, Xue Jing had never been to the South City District. Since childhood, his parents and other elders had warned him countless times to never go near it, so he didn''t know much about it except for what he heard from others.


    He never imagined that Pei Youguang, who his classmates said had a ''strong background,'' actually lived within the South City District.


    Although it was just on the periphery of the South City, close to the West City, it still touched a bit of the ''slums'' edge.''


    "Jing, come in," said Pei Youguang, taking out his keys to open the gate of a rather large house and speaking to Xue Jing.


    The house''s exterior looked quite old, with a square shape and a front yard that covered a fairly large area. The white brick walls were full of mottled signs of age, severely oxidized and yellowed.


    The surrounding environment of the house was also a picture of backwardness and decay, with many areas on the street cluttered with bottles and cans, which appeared to have not been cleaned for a long time.


    Xue Jing shook his head and followed Pei Youguang inside.


    Contrary to the antiquated exterior of the house, the interior decoration was surprisingly nice, with grey faux wood flooring, a large fluffy carpet in the middle of the living room, and all kinds of furniture that, while not exuding great taste, at least seemed quite harmonious.


    Xue Jing took off his shoes, walked into the living room, hung his backpack on a hook at the entrance, chose an armchair to sit on, and said:


    "Are you living here alone?"


    Pei Youguang, who was retrieving a beverage from the fridge, paused for a moment and nodded, "Yes."


    With a casual tone, Xue Jing said, "Why are you living here? Isn''t your dad working for a councilman? Even if he can''t get into the North City District, he should at least be able to live in the East City District, right?"


    Pei Youguang tossed a bottle of soda to Xue Jing, opened one for himself, took a big gulp, sighed with satisfaction, and then said, "My relationship with my dad isn''t that great... This house belonged to my mom. After she passed away, she left it to me. I moved in here after a fight with my dad two years ago."


    "There''s a Golden Wind Dojo nearby, supposedly the Arena Master is from the Inner Ring City and is a descendant of the ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword.'' After I moved here, I joined the Golden Wind Dojo out of admiration and trained martial arts with the masters for a few months... Later, some things happened, and I left the dojo."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    It seemed that Pei Youguang also had his share of difficulties.


    However, everyone has a story to some extent, and Xue Jing was not interested in digging deeper. So he stood up and said, "We should not delay any further. Let''s begin teaching me ''Power'' now."


    That was his sole purpose for coming here.


    Upon hearing this, Pei Youguang also got up, threw the empty bottle he had finished drinking into the trash bin, and said, "Alright, Jing, follow me. Let''s go to the training room."


    ...


    This was a large room of about seventy square meters, covered with a thick layer of matting and filled with various types of fitness equipment, as well as some machines that Xue Jing didn''t understand the use of. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the center of the room, several punching posts and sandbags were placed, all of different materials, looking worn, evidently in frequent use.


    "If you want to develop power, the key lies in breathing,"


    In the training room, Pei Youguang began to explain like the old masters in the dojo.


    "Power is the kinetic energy produced by the movement of internal organs in the human body, but our control over our bodies is very limited; we can''t control the flow of blood, nor the functions of the internal organs, and even our control over muscles is merely ''tense'' and ''relax''. Therefore, we must first learn how to affect these parts of the body that we can''t usually control.


    That''s where ''breathing skills'' come into play,"


    "Next, I''ll teach you a set of ''breathing skills.'' This set of basic breathing skills is something every dojo disciple learns. With it, you can exert influence over your body''s internal functions."


    After finishing his explanation, Pei Youguang sat down cross-legged on the cushion.


    "Come, Jing, follow my lead," he said.


    Xue Jing did as instructed, sitting down cross-legged like Pei Youguang.


    Pei Youguang then proceeded to detail the specific steps of the breathing skills, demonstrating and instructing Xue Jing to follow along.


    The breathing skills weren''t too complicated, but they were extremely challenging. Some steps involved very long intervals between inhaling and exhaling, requiring one to take in a large amount of oxygen at once. With such a volume of oxygen rushing into the lungs, those with insufficient lung capacity didn''t even qualify to practice.


    Pei Youguang had thought that Xue Jing would surely be unable to keep up with the breathing skills on his first try. It had taken him a whole month before he barely managed to complete a full practice of the breathing skills when he first trained.


    So, he expected with a hint of mockery to see Jing''s embarrassing coughing fit, but he was shocked by the end of the full set of breathing skills.


    Xue Jing had actually followed through the whole sequence, succeeding in completing the full basic breathing skills on his first attempt!


    "Is it over?"


    Xue Jing, after inhaling a large amount of oxygen and feeling unaccustomed to it, felt very dizzy, his heart racing, with a nauseous urge to vomit, and his vision blurred, as if flames were burning throughout his body.


    This was due to the large amount of oxygen entering the bloodstream through the alveoli, causing the blood to circulate at an excessive speed and raising the body''s temperature.


    It was a rough experience, but he had completed it.


    "Jing, awesome," said Pei Youguang, truly impressed, giving a thumbs up.


    Only someone like him, who had practiced it, knew how difficult it was to practice breathing skills, yet Xue Jing did it outright on his first attempt.


    Perhaps this was what the old master referred to as ''good aptitude''!


    Pei Youguang couldn''t help but feel envious.


    "Once you get used to the breathing skills and practice them often, even turning them into your instinct and using them constantly, you can continually improve your physical condition. However, I haven''t managed to do this myself yet. Currently, I can''t perform the breathing skills too many times each day, or my body won''t be able to take it."


    "Once you''re accustomed to it, you''ll start to feel the rhythm inside your body while breathing. When you learn how to use different breathing patterns to influence and even control them, you will naturally develop power," explained Pei Youguang.


    Xue Jing, with his eyes closed, was calming the various strains caused by his first time performing the breathing skills.


    After a long while, he opened his eyes and said, "Teach me again."


    Pei Youguang, concerned, replied, "You''ve just been introduced to the breathing skills, so it''s best to practice just once for today and continue tomorrow. Otherwise, I''m worried your body won''t handle it."


    Xue Jing shook his head: "It''s fine, continue."


    He had already memorized most of the steps of the breathing skills but needed another go to solidify his memory and ensure he made no mistakes.


    ...

 Chapter 18 - 18: Buying a Life

    After practicing the complete breathing technique with Pei Youguang again, Xue Jing had thoroughly memorized all the detailed steps of the breathing skills.


    This completion of the breathing skills, just like the first time, was very uncomfortable, but it was slightly better compared to the first attempt, as if he had adapted a little.


    At this moment, Pei Youguang, having conducted the breathing skills practice twice in a row, also felt a bit uncomfortable. He touched his head and exclaimed,


    "Not only did you successfully complete the cycle on the first attempt at practicing breathing skills, but you also did it twice in a row..."


    "If the master at the dojo knew this, he would probably be shocked beyond belief."


    As Xue Jing slowly recovered from the strain of the breathing skills, he said, "Youguang, thank you for this time."


    Pei Youguang, flattered, quickly replied, "Hey! What''s there to thank me for, Jing? It''s an honor for me that you allowed me to teach you..."


    Though his words carried a hint of flattery, he genuinely felt that way.


    Considering Xue Jing''s natural talent and substantial potential, it was obvious to anyone that his prospects were boundless. Pei Youguang felt fortunate to have the chance to build a ''teaching bond'' with Xue Jing while he was still emerging.


    Such basic breathing skills, which were not very valuable, enabled him to establish a relationship with a person of boundless potential, which he considered a huge gain.


    Pei Youguang lamented, "Unfortunately, I do not have the dojo''s secret medicine here. Breathing skills should be combined with the secret medicine for training to achieve the best effect. I remember the master calling this process ''blood cleansing''..."


    "He said that blood is the fundamental source of energy for the body, and the cleaner and finer the blood, the stronger the energy it provides. Each dojo has its unique ''Blood Cleansing Secret Method''. If you join one, maybe you''ll have access to them, Jing."


    While Xue Jing listened to him speak, he opened his panel to take a look.


    [You practiced a breathing technique, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You practiced a breathing technique, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [Fitness Lv2 (463/500)]


    Having performed the breathing skills twice, his fitness experience had increased by over thirty points?


    Pei Youguang mentioned that breathing skills could improve physical fitness, but he hadn''t expected the effect to be so significant.


    "A complete cycle of the breathing technique takes about fifteen minutes, which means over sixty points in an hour."


    By focusing solely on physical fitness, one could gain about a hundred points in an hour.


    It seemed that breathing skills were less efficient than dedicated physical training, but it wasn''t so simple.


    Physical training required specific equipment and environment, whereas breathing skills could be practiced anytime, anywhere!


    If he could maintain the breathing skills operation for twenty-four hours, then by ''idling'' for a day, he could increase his fitness experience by over fourteen hundred points!


    This was an incredibly significant increase!


    Of course, at the moment this was impossible, as the breathing skills posed a tremendous strain on the body. After performing two complete cycles, he already felt that he could not continue without injuring himself.


    Nevertheless, having an additional method to increase fitness experience at any time and place made Xue Jing very satisfied.


    About twenty minutes later, Xue Jing felt he had fully recovered.


    He stood up, looked around, and suddenly his eyes lit up as he noticed a machine in the corner.


    Pei Youguang, noticing his interest, smiled and said, "That''s a strength-testing machine, Jing. Would you like to try?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Pei Youguang replied, "Alright, I''ll go turn it on for you." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He ran to the back of the strength-testing machine, pressed a button, and the screen on the machine''s stand lit up, displaying the previous test score.


    [1472N].


    "The data unit for this machine is N, which stands for ''Newton''."


    Pei Youguang explained,


    "1472 Newtons, converted into the more understandable KG, or kilograms, is approximately one hundred and fifty kilograms."


    Pei Youguang was a bit proud, "This is the data I punched out the day before yesterday using Channeling Energy, impressive huh?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Yeah, pretty impressive."


    He paused, "Let me give it a try."


    Seeing this, Pei Youguang immediately gave up his spot.


    Xue Jing stepped forward, positioned himself, took a deep breath, aimed at the slightly worn leather pad on the strength-testing machine, and threw a powerful straight punch!


    "Bang!!"


    A loud explosion, the heavy strength-testing machine shook slightly, and the numbers on the monitor on the stand started jumping before finally stopping.


    [1773N].


    Pei Youguang''s eyes widened slightly.


    "What the hell!?"


    1773 Newtons, converted into weight, is roughly around 181 kg.


    "Jing, you haven''t actually trained secretly just to trick me, have you?"


    Pei Youguang clicked his tongue in amazement.


    "No Channeling Energy, purely brute force, to punch out 1773 Newtons, that''s almost 180 kg, that''s insane!"


    He touched his nose wrapped in bandages, "No wonder you almost blew my nose off at noon..."


    Xue Jing laughed heartily, "How about that? Not bad, right?"


    Pei Youguang nodded repeatedly, "That''s more than good, bro. If you learn to channel energy, you could immediately qualify for a Professional Martial Artist certification."


    Xue Jing didn''t reply but instead looked curiously at another machine nearby with many buttons, "What''s that?"


    Pei Youguang smiled, "That''s for training reflexes. You see all those buttons, right? It''s like playing whack-a-mole. You need to press them as soon as they light up, the faster the better..."


    ...


    Xue Jing stayed at Pei Youguang''s home until about eight in the evening, agreed that they would often come over during this period, then he finally bid goodbye and left.


    Before leaving, Pei Youguang had asked if he could be spared from the morning reading tomorrow, which Xue Jing denied.


    He had initially made him read mostly to tweak the school bully, but now he let him read sincerely for his benefit.


    Carrying a reputation as a merciless killer wasn''t a joke.


    Pei Youguang was too young to understand the consequences, or maybe he vaguely understood but was somewhat resigned due to certain reasons, but Xue Jing did not want him to ruin himself like that.


    Although he had done many wrong things before, as long as he hadn''t made a fundamentally irreversible mistake, there was still a chance to correct his ways.


    Xue Jing walked on the streets, although it was only eight o''clock at night, the street in the South City area was very quiet, with only a few shops still lit up.


    The evening breeze blew, swirling the bottles, jars, newspapers, and plastic bags around the quiet street, creating a series of echoes.


    Xue Jing carried his school bag on one shoulder, looking natural as he walked towards the nearest bus stop.


    Behind him, a few dozen meters away in a narrow alley, several people were lurking, eyeing his back with nefarious intentions.


    One of them, a man with a tuft of white dyed hair at the front, chuckled, "It''s rare, to find a fat sheep this late outside, wearing a school uniform from Qingcheng University Affiliated Middle School?"


    Standing in the middle of the group, a middle-aged man with a long scar on his right cheek deeply inhaled on a cigarette he was clutching and slowly exhaled, dressed in a sleeveless black sweatshirt, his muscly right arm newly tattooed with a dragon over his shoulder.


    "Wandering around on our Razor Gang''s turf so late at night, we can''t let him go without leaving something behind."


    "If he can afford the tuition at the Affiliated Middle School, he should be able to afford the ransom too, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 19 - 19 Night Raid

    Dark night.


    Xue Jing walked on the streets just outside the perimeter of South City.


    The narrow and poorly planned blocks were crammed together in disarray, all the buildings old and dilapidated, some could not even be called houses, but were merely shanties made of sheets of iron and planks of wood.


    The construction material of these houses was obviously inferior, having lacked basic maintenance for a long time, some parts were already crumbling.


    The ground was littered with floating tin can garbage, uneven cement surfaces with puddles everywhere, a few stray dogs watched Xue Jing, as if waiting for something.


    "..."


    Xue Jing stopped.


    Even though there was no one to be seen on the streets, he had a strange feeling.


    Just like the calm before a storm, the dark night seemed to be gestating a terrifying beast, with an indistinct sense of something swelling and contracting.


    It was his heartbeat.


    Even though he wasn''t using any breathing skills, the blood in his body suddenly began to circulate faster, his body temperature started to rise as if it was about to boil.


    The hair on his back stood up, his scalp tingled as if there was an extremely sharp knife resting on his neck, slowly scraping against the skin.


    Without any reason, without the aid of any senses, the "fighting" instinct latent deep within his body was reminding him of danger.


    Without any hesitation, Xue Jing chose to trust his instincts.


    Run!


    On the street, Xue Jing crouched slightly, his thigh muscles tensed, and in an instant, the leg strength from "Running" exploded, whooshing towards the outskirts of the street!


    Just as he suddenly started to run, shouts and curses came from the crevices and alleys between the houses.


    "Damn it, he''s noticed!"


    "Wants to run, chase him down!"


    "Shit, this little bastard is so fast!"


    From various hidden alleys, more than a dozen figures emerged, chasing after Xue Jing.


    Most of them were armed with a variety of weapons, knives, sticks, machetes, baseball bats... The clanging sound of metal weapons dragging on the ground was incessant.


    These people were obviously not doing this for the first time, the positions of each person, centered on Xue Jing, had almost formed an encircling net.


    If Xue Jing had acted just ten more seconds later, once the encirclement was fully formed, there would be no escape.


    But now, there were only two people directly in front of him!


    "Orange, Little Li, stop him!"


    The people behind were shouting, Xue Jing looked at the two in front on the road, one was a skinny teenager in a red T-shirt wielding a baseball bat, the other was a fierce-looking young man with a crew-cut, his hands empty.


    The distance between Xue Jing and the two was rapidly closing, and although contact was imminent, he showed no sign of slowing down.


    The crew-cut young man didn''t move, while the teen with the bat took two steps forward, raising the bat, ready to swing, seemingly about to treat the charging Xue Jing like a baseball.


    Closer, ever closer.


    Just as the skinny teenager''s gaze focused and swung his bat, Xue Jing''s body, without any decrease in speed, suddenly ducked.


    The whooshing bat grazed his head, brushing few strands of hair, and at the same time, Xue Jing, squatting down, clenched his right hand and on rising, delivered a ferocious uppercut "Rising Dragon Fist" to the skinny teenager''s chin!


    With his "Aiming" skills, the precision of his punch was incomparable, hitting the teenager''s chin directly.


    "Bang!"


    A blast sounded at the same moment, faintly accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, Xue Jing felt from his fist the sensation of having smashed something.


    The strong inertia from the running, combined with his 180 kilograms of "Punch Force", the intense kinetic energy sent the skinny teenager flying nearly a meter into the air; when he landed, he was already rolling his eyes and motionless, his neck twisted at an exaggerated angle, the skin on his chin uneven, obviously his jawbone had been completely shattered.


    "Little Li!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Damn it, this kid''s a bit tough, everyone be careful!"


    The people following behind called out in shock.


    Xue Jing did not pause for long, merely a brief moment, before he continued charging forward.


    The remaining buzz-cut youth, who initially wore a casual expression, understood through the previous scene that Xue Jing was not an ordinary weak student.


    His expression became serious as he raised his fists, his knees slightly bent, adopting a boxer''s stance to meet the oncoming attack.


    He was fully prepared, confident that he could react no matter from which angle Xue Jing attacked.


    As long as he could momentarily block this rapidly running student, his companions would catch up, and then it would be like catching a turtle in a jar or beating a dog in a dead-end street.


    He stood ready for battle, his face stern, watching as Xue Jing rapidly approached.


    ''Left punch, right punch, or a kick?''


    And just when he was about to make contact with Xue Jing, at the most critical moment¡­


    Xue Jing didn''t pay him any attention and simply ran past him.


    The buzz-cut youth was taken aback.


    It seemed to him that Xue Jing, as they brushed shoulders, gave him an odd look that seemed to say: What are you doing?


    "Fuck you!"


    The buzz-cut youth instantly turned red with rage, cursed loudly, and chased after Xue Jing.


    On the main streets on the outskirts of South City, Xue Jing was running ahead with a dozen people chasing after him.


    A few minutes later, as they watched Xue Jing''s figure getting further away, everyone gradually began to slow down and stop.


    "This... this damn brat... how... how can he run like that..."


    A panting person leaned on his machete to support his tired body and spoke in broken sentences.


    "Damn it, spent all day hunting geese, but the geese pecked out our eyes, this time we really screwed up, didn''t catch the guy, and even got a brother hurt."


    "What now, Duan is still waiting in the warehouse, we couldn''t handle this trivial matter, no idea how badly we''re going to get chewed out."


    "What else can we do, everyone has..."


    A dyed-haired youth didn''t finish his sentence when he suddenly stopped.


    At the corner of the street at the end, just as Xue Jing was about to disappear from their view, he suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, and looked toward them.


    "Hey, that little bastard, can''t run anymore huh?"


    Someone sneered.


    "Let''s go, we''ll get that dog, made us exert so much effort, later we definitely need to mess him up good."


    "My pliers for pulling teeth are almost rusting, this kid looks so prim and proper, just the type those girls who like pretty boys fancy, not sure if he can still..."


    Mockingly, the group approached Xue Jing.


    ...


    As the curses and footsteps behind him became fainter, Xue Jing knew he had escaped the danger.


    The accelerated heartbeat brought on by the sense of crisis slowly subsided, but a rage began to smolder in his heart.


    Out of nowhere, a bunch of people chased him like a dog, no matter the reason, he took note of this grudge.


    Rationality told him he should leave immediately and not take risks, it would be safer to seek revenge after becoming stronger; there was plenty of time for a gentleman''s revenge, even if it took ten years.


    But his emotions told him to fuck rationality!


    He slowly turned around and looked across the street at the dozen or so figures.


    He opened his panel and confirmed the passive effect of "Twin Lifes," feeling a surge of confidence.


    He looked around on the ground and spotted a half-piece of red brick about the size of a fist nearby.


    Xue Jing picked up the half brick and weighed it in his hand.


    Under the astonished gaze of the dozen or so people, he walked towards them with a blank expression and steady steps.


    ...

 Chapter 20 - 20: Guerilla

    "Huh? What does this kid want to do?"


    Watching Xue Jing approaching them, someone expressed their confusion aloud.


    "Wait, what is he holding in his hand..."


    A short-haired youth suddenly pointed at Xue Jing''s right hand.


    "A brick?"


    "He mustn''t think that picking up a brick from the ground would be intimidating, haha, what can a brick do?"


    Someone scoffed, weighing the metal baseball bat in their hand.


    The crowd snickered as they walked towards Xue Jing.


    On the quiet night street, one side was a dozen gangsters clustered together, and the other was a lone student in a school uniform, both slowly approaching each other.


    As Xue Jing moved forward, he gauged the distance relying on the instinct of aiming.


    Just when the two sides were less than twenty meters apart, Xue Jing stopped in his tracks.


    ''This should be about right.''


    Barely feeling that it was an excellent throwing distance, Xue Jing, going with the feel, raised the half brick the size of his fist in his hand.


    "That kid is about to throw a brick, watch out!"


    Someone called out a warning.


    No sooner had he spoken than the head of a close-cropped youth beside him suddenly exploded.


    "Bang!!"


    "Ah!!"


    Red brick fragments splattered everywhere, cutting several wounds on his face and some fragments even lodged in his eyes, causing him to cry out in pain.


    The youth with the close-cropped hair hit by the brick was now lying silently on the ground, a large gash on his forehead, blood gushing out.


    "Fuck!"


    "What the hell!?"


    "Did someone get shot!?"


    "No, it''s that kid''s brick!"


    "Sheng Hua has passed out!"


    "Damn it, get him, go!"


    In the ensuing chaos, some went to help the youth with the exploded head, some stood dumbfounded, but most immediately rushed towards Xue Jing at full speed.


    However, the instant Xue Jing threw the half brick, he turned around without hesitation and started running again!


    "Fuck, chase him!"


    "Don''t run, you little bastard, I''m going to kill your whole family, fuck your mother!"


    ...


    Minutes later, everyone stopped, panting heavily, looking at the figure in the school uniform in the distance.


    They just couldn''t catch up!


    Just as they stopped, Xue Jing also stopped and slowly turned around.


    A bad feeling arose in everyone''s hearts.


    Soon, their premonition came true.


    In the streets of South City area, there wasn''t much else, but there was garbage everywhere.


    Xue Jing picked up a 500ml glass beer bottle from the ground.


    Seeing this, the gangsters immediately panicked.


    "Fuck, find cover!!"


    "Move, this spot is mine!"


    People were pushing each other for a spot behind a plastic trash can.


    "Spread out, spread out!"


    In the panic, the glass beer bottle whizzed in, blasting the head of a tall, thin youth who couldn''t dodge in time.


    "Bang!"


    "Ah!!"


    The tall, thin youth clutched his head, blood pouring through his fingers, "He''s got nothing left in his hands, go get him now!"


    He seemed to be a minor leader; as he commanded, people hurriedly emerged from their hiding spots.


    But by then, Xue Jing had already run far away.


    The crowd glanced at each other, unsure whether to chase.


    "What are you waiting for, chase him!"


    The tall and thin young man said in frustration.


    Seeing this, the others had no choice but to chase after Xue Jing once again.


    After several chases, and running at full strength, everyone''s physical strength was barely holding up. This time, they didn''t chase for long before most of them slowly started to lag.


    As they slowed, Xue Jing immediately noticed and stopped in his tracks.


    "This..."


    The crowd swallowed hard, watching fearfully as the good-looking boy in the school uniform slowly turned around.


    Just as Xue Jing picked up something off the ground again, someone in the crowd couldn''t keep it together anymore.


    "Run!!"


    Hearing this shout, those who were already contemplating retreat instantly scattered, desperately diving for nearby cover.


    "Move, move, I was here first!"


    "What the hell are you squeezing for, get lost!"


    "Damn it, clumsy fool, risk your own life, I''m out!"


    Faced with an enemy they could never catch up to, and who might randomly choose a "lucky" spectator for a headshot when stopping, everyone genuinely felt fearful.


    Regret, overwhelming regret engulfed everyone''s hearts.


    Who the hell decided we should catch this Affiliated Middle School student!?


    "Whoosh!"


    A rusty steel rebar, over thirty centimeters long and as thick as a finger, flew straight towards the crowd like an arrow.


    "Plop!"


    A gangster hiding behind a tin shack saw the steel rebar pierce through the thin iron sheet, missing his head by mere centimeters, and burst into tears right there.


    His legs gave out, and he fell to the ground. Looking up, he saw Xue Jing in the distance bending down to pick up something from the ground again.


    "Mommy!!!"


    The gangster immediately began sobbing bitterly, wishing he had more legs to run away from Xue Jing faster.


    But before he could get far, a small concrete block flew from afar, striking him precisely on the back of the head. As it exploded into a cloud of dust, it cracked his skull open.


    "Run, run, run fast!"


    Fully devoid of any desire to resist, the crowd fled back the way they came, heads down in sheer terror.


    Thus, the situation reversed.


    In the night of South City, a bizarre scene unfolded on the outer street.


    A dozen or so young men with various hairstyles and tattoos were screaming and fleeing desperately, while a good-looking student in Affiliated Middle School uniform, looking like a well-behaved boy, was relentlessly pursuing them.


    From time to time, the student would randomly pick up some hard trash from the ground and hurl it at the crowd ahead. Each throw was accurate, with sounds of heads being struck ringing out continuously.


    The weapons in their hands had also fallen to the ground, becoming projectiles for Xue Jing to throw.


    "Here it comes again!"


    "Bro! Dad! Daddy, grandpa! Please, stop throwing them!"


    "I surrender, I surrender, ah, stop throwing them!"


    All the while, everyone was screaming as they ran.


    The commotion was loud and caught the attention of residents in the neighborhood, who opened their windows to look out. Seeing such an absurd spectacle, they clicked their tongues in amazement.


    "Hey, isn''t that the Razor Gang? What happened?"


    "Is another gang invading to take over this territory?"


    "No, wait, why is there a student? And he seems to be wearing an Affiliated Middle School uniform."


    "Hey, weird and bizarre, why are they being chased by a student?"


    A young man with blonde hair finally couldn''t run anymore and stopped to catch his breath.


    Just then, a figure like a nightmare approached him from the side.


    The blonde-haired youth turned his head and saw Xue Jing standing emotionlessly in front of him, his cold, sharp gaze piercing through him as he held a metal baseball bat.


    "...OK, OK, I beg you to spare my life."


    The blonde-haired youth smoothly knelt down, his eyes filled with terror, pleading.


    "Bang!"


    The whooshing baseball bat brutally struck his left ear, sending him flying sideways for several meters; he lay motionless on the ground.


    Xue Jing, holding the blood-stained baseball bat, slowly walked towards the rest of the gangsters who were nearly unable to run anymore.


    The baseball bat dragged on the ground, its metal surface scraping against the concrete, making a clanging sound.


    His footsteps were neither fast nor slow, but each step seemed to land squarely on the hearts of the crowd.


    Step by step.


    ... S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 21 - 21: The Triumph of Martial Arts!

    "Wrong, bro, I was wrong, please, stop..."


    "Bang!"


    "Wait, we are from the Razor Gang, you..."


    "Bang!"


    "Hey, can we make peace?"


    "Bang!"


    On the street, the scattered members of the Razor Gang lay defeated where they fell, like golf balls neatly placed. Xue Jing, holding a metal baseball bat, approached each one and, no matter what they said, their heads exploded with each swing.


    Before long, only one crew-cut youth remained standing on the scene.


    Xue Jing slowly walked up to the crew-cut youth, the metal baseball bat in his hand dented in several places and covered in blood due to the excessive force and numerous hits.


    "I''m very curious,"


    he began.


    "As an utterly harmless student, it''s normal for me to visit a classmate''s house, isn''t it? Nothing odd about that at all."


    "I never cause trouble on any ordinary day, I wouldn''t drive onto a spacious sidewalk when traffic jams occur, and when the taste of food in restaurants doesn''t match the price, I just pinch my nose and pay. Encountering thugs like you scares me to death, and I always take detours to avoid you."


    "Not to mention, I''ve never even been to South City before, so there''s no way I could have inadvertently provoked you."


    "So what exactly did you plan to do by suddenly rushing out at me?"


    The tone of Xue Jing''s speech was not harsh, as if he was casually chatting with a friend.


    But the fear on the crew-cut youth''s face deepened with each word Xue Jing spoke, until by the last word, his legs gave out, and he fell to the ground, frantically waving his hands:


    "No way, not at all, bro, we were just passing by... Ah!!"


    Before he could finish speaking, Xue Jing swung his bat, smashing it against the youth''s ankle.


    The sound of bone cracking erupted, and the crew-cut youth''s ankle twisted into a grotesque angle.


    "Answer the questions honestly when asked, and don''t make unnecessary excuses. Didn''t your teacher teach you that?"


    "Yes... yes."


    The crew-cut youth, his face pale with pain, hastily said:


    "We are under Duan Kaiping from the Razor Gang. Brother Duan saw you walking alone on the street in your Affiliated Middle School uniform and thought about kidnapping you to extort your family..."


    Xue Jing shook the baseball bat in his hand and asked, "Where is this Brother Duan now?"


    "Brother Duan felt that, as a student, there was no need for him to act; he let us handle it while he waited in a warehouse on the next street!"


    The crew-cut youth spoke very fast, afraid that anything might dissatisfy Xue Jing and result in another hit.


    "Is this Brother Duan very formidable?" Xue Jing asked.


    "Brother Duan is a core member of the Razor Gang, authorized to have ''Razor'' tattooed over his chest... He, with the Gang Leader''s connections, trained in martial arts at the Golden Wind Dojo. I''ve only seen him in action once; he split a coke can in half barehanded as if he was wielding a razor!"


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    Golden Wind Dojo... He had just heard about it from Pei Youguang, who had trained there to learn "Power."


    That a dojo would let these gang members who casually engage in kidnapping and extortion train there proved it wasn''t a good place, hence its location in South City.


    ''To split a coke can in half means slicing a throat would be even easier... His combat power isn''t low.''


    Xue Jing pondered.


    After this, he had squarely confronted the Razor Gang, injuring many of their members. Although it was entirely their fault, he did not believe the gang members would be reasonable with him.


    First, Xue Jing considered the possibility of silencing them, but he soon realized it was impractical.


    Not to mention whether he could bring himself to do it, the commotion they caused was too loud, probably witnessed by many. Asking a few bystanders would lead straight to him.


    So, there was no way out.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and then asked, "Tell me more about your Razor Gang."


    He paused, "How big is your influence, how formidable are you exactly, and how many key members like ''Brother Duan'' do you have?"


    The crew-cut youth hesitated, then replied, "Our Razor Gang is one of the seven peripheral gangs in the South City area; we control a few streets around here... There are several dozen core members like Brother Duan."


    Xue Jing squinted, "What''s your gang leader''s relationship with the Golden Wind Dojo?"


    "The gang leader is a direct disciple of the Arena Master of the Golden Wind Dojo..."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing felt a headache coming on.


    Just as he thought, pulling out one root revealed a clump of dirt. These entrenched gang forces were entangled in various relationships; provoking one would unravel many.


    Was he to deal with the Razor Gang and then the Golden Wind Dojo? And after that, what else might emerge?


    Wouldn''t this be endless?


    Hey, can we make peace?


    "But... there''s not no way to break the situation."


    Xue Jing felt he could use the situation to his advantage.


    The Razor Gang was backed by Golden Wind Dojo, but in Qingcheng, they weren''t the only dojo around.


    Dojos needed to conduct business, take your money, and let you become a disciple for martial arts practice.


    Xue Jing didn''t believe that with his unmatched talent and astonishing wisdom, he wouldn''t be treated with utmost respect in any dojo he joined.


    You Razor Gang have someone powerful backing you, right? I''ll soon be just as powerful!


    Even, he thought of a cunning plan.


    He''d take the initiative and pay to join Golden Wind Dojo first!


    By the time the Razor Gang came looking for trouble...


    I acknowledge your power, but if I choose to join directly, how will you deal with that?


    However, he currently had a very bad impression of both Golden Wind Dojo and the Razor Gang, and unless he had no choice, he didn''t want to do this.


    Xue Jing felt a sense of urgency.


    Previously he hadn''t felt much pressure. Although he wanted to practice martial arts, he wasn''t in a hurry, but now he needed to figure out how to gather money to join a dojo as soon as possible.


    "Thank you for the information."


    Xue Jing said to the crew-cut youth.


    The latter quickly smiled obsequiously, "It''s no trouble, bro, it''s all in a day''s work... Look, can you let me off the hook for this?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Alright, I''ll give you a chance."


    Having said this, he looked around and picked up a few handy stones from the ground not far away.


    Seeing this, the crew-cut youth was traumatized, a bad premonition arising in his mind.


    "Run, I''ll only count to ten."


    Xue Jing tossed the stones in his hand.


    "One." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey? Bro, look at my foot..."


    The crew-cut youth grimaced, pointing to his foot which had been broken by Xue Jing''s stick.


    "Two."


    "Wait a second, wait a second, can we start counting again?"


    "Three."


    The crew-cut youth grit his teeth, endured the intense pain in his ankle, pushed himself off the wall, and hobblingly made his way towards the other side of the street.


    "Four."


    But since he could only move one foot, he really couldn''t walk fast.


    "Five."


    The counting voice, like a death knell, slowly came from behind him; he scrambled to speed up, only to trip and fall.


    "Six."


    He struggled to get up, but in his haste, he touched his injured ankle and fell over again from the pain.


    "Seven."


    He moved forward in a mix of rolling and crawling.


    "Eight."


    "Ahhhhhh!"


    He cried out in fear.


    "Nine."


    "Ten."


    Xue Jing watched the crew-cut youth who hadn''t made it twenty meters away and threw a stone at him.


    "Bang!"


    The final headshot noise echoed through the night.


    Xue Jing looked around at the bodies strewn about, looked at the stone in his palm, squeezed it tightly, and confidently declared:


    "It''s the victory of martial arts!"


    ...

 Chapter 23 - 23 Sect Leader

    "...So, you weren''t beaten up, but you beat someone else up?"


    At the dinner table, Miao Miao stood on its hind legs, forepaws crossed over its chest, like a dignified little miss of a cat.


    A look of disbelief was written all over its face.


    It had been so worried it couldn''t even pretend to be dumb and keep silent¡ªlittle did it know, the situation was the complete opposite of what it had imagined.


    Xue Jing''s appearance was overly deceptive, so cultured that anyone meeting him for the first time would think he''s an intellectual scholar-type man, even though Miao Miao had seen him well-muscled, it still subconsciously believed he was the one likely to be bullied.


    "Thank you for being so worried about me, Wan,"


    Xue Jing chuckled.


    Then, seeing Miao Miao standing up with its paws crossed looking too adorable, he couldn''t help but reach out and pinch its cheeks.


    The fight had been worth it, with an unexpected bonus.


    Accidentally achieving success, Miao Miao, who would otherwise not choose to speak, had actually started talking because it was worried about the bloody scent of the Razor Gang thugs on him.


    While touched, Xue Jing also couldn''t help but find it amusing.


    "...Don''t call me Wan, you must respectfully refer to me as Sect Leader!"


    True to its name Ning Fengwan, the cat stretched out its paw and slapped Xue Jing''s hand away, saying indignantly.


    The childish voice of a young girl didn''t seem to have any deterring effect on Xue Jing, who nodded and said with a smile, "Alright, Sect Leader Wan."


    He then reached out again to pet Miao Miao''s head, stroking back and forth.


    If this were a comic, by now Ning Fengwan''s forehead would have bulged with veins as she tried with both white-gloved paws to stop Xue Jing''s caresses, which were ineffective, and she exclaimed in frustration: S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Show some respect for your elders!"


    When it had been pretending to be a cat, it was okay; it could deceive and comfort itself that it was just a cat, and being petted was no big deal¡ªmight even be somewhat enjoyable.


    But now that its identity had been completely exposed, being ''teased'' like this spread a wave of embarrassment from the tips of Ning Fengwan''s toes right up to the top of her head.


    Xue Jing saw that it was really getting anxious, so he withdrew his hands and curiously asked:


    "An elder? Exactly how old are you, Wan?"


    Miao Miao replied discontentedly, "You should call me Sect Leader."


    After a pause, "Anyway, I''m older than you, that''s for sure."


    When Ning Fengwan spoke these words, her tone was somewhat evasive, but Xue Jing didn''t pay it much attention as he stroked his chin and said:


    "Leader of Dragon Sect... the same Dragon Sect mentioned in the news reports?"


    He had heard this name before in news reports, described as a ''gang disguised as a religious organization,'' which Kangde Security Company had now dismantled.


    Wait? My Miao Miao is a mafia boss?


    Miao Miao crossed its paws over its chest and lifted its head proudly, huffing in a young girl''s voice:


    "Correct, it''s that Dragon Sect, scared now, aren''t you?"


    Finding it a bit adorable, Xue Jing couldn''t resist any longer; he enveloped its cat head with both hands and began to rub its cheeks back and forth, laughing, "So scared, Sect Leader."


    Miao Miao gritted its teeth, "Where are you scared? Let go now!"


    Xue Jing withdrew his hands and asked, "The news said that the Dragon Sect has been destroyed by Kangde Security, so are you all alone now?"


    Miao Miao stretched out a paw and signaled toward the pot of chicken soup, asking Xue Jing to serve a bowl for it and then said:


    "Well... you could say that for the time being."


    Xue Jing took the ladle, scooped up half a bowl of chicken soup, added a large chicken leg into the bowl, and placed it in front of Miao Miao.


    "So, what are your plans for the future?"


    Miao Miao tore off a bite of the tender, delicate chicken leg, chewed it, and its face showed an anthropomorphized expression of enjoyment.


    After swallowing the meat, he said, "You don''t need to concern yourself with these things. It''s better for you not to know. I am only temporarily staying with you, and I''ll leave soon."


    Miao Miao showed a serious expression.


    Even though she had coincidentally started communicating with this boy, Miao Miao still wanted to avoid getting him involved as much as possible.


    For a behemoth like Kangde Security Company, even the official government found it to be a massive headache. For an ordinary person like Xue Jing, if Kangde sneezed, he would be blown to smithereens.


    "Alright."


    Seeing its serious demeanor, Xue Jing also nodded in agreement.


    Then, as if asking casually, he questioned:


    "By the way, Wan, since you are a person, why can you transform into a cat?"


    "You should call me Sect Leader," Miao Miao initially expressed dissatisfaction before explaining, "Well, about that."


    It stretched its tail forward, and the platinum tail ring reflected and twinkled in the light.


    "This is a type of artifact known as a ''Divine Relic,'' purportedly the legacy left behind after ''God'' died."


    "I don''t quite understand the specifics, I just know that every Divine Relic possesses some miraculous abilities, like this one."


    It shook the tail ring on its tail.


    "I bought this from a swindler, serial number GOD-1391, Cat Tail Ring, and its power is to allow the wearer to transform into a cat."


    "...It''s just that once transformed, temporarily you cannot change back," Miao Miao''s mouth twitched.


    Xue Jing''s mind stirred.


    "Serial number GOD-1391? Are there many Divine Relics? The serial numbers go beyond a thousand," he commented.


    "Hmm... there should be many, I think. I don''t know about these things; I''ve only seen this one Divine Relic. The serial number and the name were told to me by that swindler," Miao Miao said.


    "...Okay," Xue Jing replied, somewhat helplessly.


    This was almost the same as saying nothing at all.


    The plan to obtain more ''Divine Substance'' through Miao Miao had apparently gone up in smoke.


    The upgrade and unlocking of the active effects of ''Twin Lifes'' was still far in the future.


    However, it wasn''t without gain; at least he now knew that these items were called Divine Relics, and judging by the serial numbers, there seemed to be quite a lot of them, at least over a thousand.


    As Xue Jing watched Miao Miao lowering its head, eating chicken and sipping chicken soup, an idea suddenly occurred to him, and he spoke up:


    "Oh, there''s one more thing."


    "Go on," Miao Miao replied, her speech muffled with a mouthful of chicken.


    "The Leader of Dragon Sect sounds very imposing. You must have a lot of clout on the streets and be well-informed, right?" Xue Jing began with a bit of flattery.


    "Hmph, of course," Miao Miao replied haughtily as she lifted her head.


    "Here''s the thing. I want to join a dojo for Martial Arts Practice. Which dojo is more formidable? Sect Leader, do you have any recommendations? Oh, and if I could leverage your supreme authority to get a discount on the tuition fees, that would be great." Xue Jing made a request.


    Miao Miao nodded, "Regarding that, I was actually about to discuss it with you."


    "You''ve taken me in and allowed me to eat and live at your place without charge, so I must repay this kindness."


    "In a few days, I''ll introduce you to someone. When it comes to Martial Arts Practice, there should be no one more formidable than this person in Qingcheng."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "Who is it?"


    "The Old Dojo Master of Hidden Dragon Dojo, ''Dragon King'' Li Qi."


    A name spilled from Miao Miao''s mouth.


    ...

 Chapter 24 - 24: Banned Drugs, Old Martial Arts, Leaping Through the Dragon Gate

    "Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He remembered this dojo.


    When he first accessed his awakening panel and planned to learn martial arts, he had looked up the tuition fees of various dojos in Qingcheng, and Hidden Dragon Dojo was one of those that charged the highest fees.


    However, the high fees were not the reason Xue Jing remembered it.


    It was because, online, Hidden Dragon Dojo had a very high rate of bad reviews... All complaining that the teaching quality did not match up to the tuition fees.


    Xue Jing''s expression was slightly peculiar.


    Miao Miao licked its paw, yawned, and said:


    "The reputation of Hidden Dragon Dojo is very poor... but that''s just the opinion of outsiders."


    "In the real circle of martial artists, no one underestimates Hidden Dragon Dojo, especially the old dojo master, Li Qi."


    Miao Miao stretched its front paws forward, stretched lazily, and arched its back high.


    "He is one of the few who hasn''t taken ''Banned Drugs'' yet successfully leapt through the Dragon Gate, breaking human limitations as an old martial arts expert."


    "Decades ago, during his peak, he had a great reputation in the Inner Ring City, famous alongside ''Vajra Zhou'' and ''Asura Chen'', and was known as ''Dragon King Li''."


    "Although now he is just an old man in a wheelchair, he''s more than capable of teaching you martial arts."


    Xue Jing reached out to lift Miao Miao onto his lap, curiously asked:


    "Banned Drugs? Leaping Through the Dragon Gate? Old Martial Arts? What do all these mean?"


    He felt as if a brand-new door was unfolding before him, behind which lay the world of martial artists.


    Miao Miao seemed sleepy, its eyes half-closed, as it lay down on Xue Jing''s lap; the latter stroked its back gently, transmitting a familiar comfort, lulling it toward sleep.


    "Banned Drugs are made from products found in special intersecting boundaries and are highly stimulative, causing the consumer''s body to undergo various transformations, thereby possessing a non-human physique."


    "For instance, one type of drug can alter the nature of a person''s skin, giving it the toughness of steel, and there are even some drugs that can make a person grow extra limbs, turning into a six-armed monster..."


    "Since the appearance of Banned Drugs, the development of martial arts has taken a completely new path..."


    "And those martial artists who refuse to use Banned Drugs and insist on pursuing human limits with their natural bodies are called ''Old Martial Art Sect''."


    Miao Miao yawned continuously, "As for Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, it''s too early for you, and you might even never come into contact with it in your lifetime, so there''s no need to know too much right now..."


    Having barely finished its last sentence, Miao Miao''s eyelids closed, curling up in Xue Jing''s embrace, breathing evenly, and fell asleep.


    Xue Jing gradually stopped stroking its back, gently picked it up, returned to his room, placed Miao Miao on his bed, and covered its body with a thin blanket, leaving only the head exposed.


    Then he quietly left the room, took a shower in the bathroom, changed into pajamas, put the bloodstained school uniform in the washing machine for cleaning, and then took his phone to the balcony.


    By now it was ten-thirty at night, Xue Jing lit up his phone screen, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and opened the dialing interface.


    He had a rather cautious odd habit; he never stored family members'' contact names in his phone, so even if his phone were lost, whoever found it couldn''t scam his family members using his phone.


    Although it was unlikely this habit would ever need to be used in his lifetime.


    After entering a string of numbers, Xue Jing made the call.


    It didn''t make him wait too long; after three or four rings, the call was connected.


    "Hello hello hello~ woof woof woof?"


    A cheerful and pleasant voice came through the phone.


    As a child, Xue Jing often played a fighting game with his sister Xue Wan; they would often wager something, either a piece of candy or some pocket money.


    When Xue Jing lost, he would surrender his wager honestly, accepting his loss graciously. But when Xue Wan lost, she often defaulted on her debts, hence the bets were later accompanied by the phrase ''defaulting is acting like a dog''.


    That day, the world lost a person but gained a dog.


    "Sis, are you asleep?" Xue Jing started with a laugh.


    "Do you want to listen to what you just said?" Xue Wan responded grumpily.


    After a pause, she continued, "What''s up with you calling at this time? Just letting you know, I''m broke."


    Xue Jing: "Am I the type of person who only calls you when I need money?"


    Xue Wan: "As long as you''re not, tell me, what''s up?"


    Xue Jing: "Venmo me 50."


    Beep... Beep... Beep...


    The call was immediately hung up by Xue Wan.


    Xue Jing chuckled and redialed.


    "What''s up? I need to sleep," Xue Wan said helplessly.


    After a moment of silence, Xue Jing spoke softly, "Sis, is something bothering you?"


    Xue Wan seemed stunned for a moment before saying, with a laugh and a cry, "What could possibly be bothering me? I''m fine. Don''t overthink it."


    Xue Jing thought for a while and continued to ask, "Are you sure everything''s okay?"


    "Absolutely... You seem a bit overly concerned about your sister. That''s not good; your little girlfriend might get jealous,"


    Xue Wan joked.


    Hearing that her tone was indeed normal, Xue Jing quietly sighed in relief: "Mom is really worried about you, studying alone in Maple City..."


    ...


    Having not seen each other for a long time, Xue Jing and Xue Wan still had a lot to talk about, and they chatted for a long while.


    By the time Xue Jing hung up, it was already eleven o''clock.


    "It seems like nothing''s wrong."


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    There seemed to be nothing amiss with Xue Wan just now; it must have been mom''s needless worry.


    After stretching lazily, Xue Jing walked back into his room.


    He didn''t go back to bed but instead sat cross-legged on the living room couch.


    He began practicing basic breathing skills.


    An hour later.


    Xue Jing sat dizzily with his eyes closed, leaning on the couch.


    His body was radiating heat due to the blood rushing too fast, almost like a fever.


    After a while, Xue Jing recovered and opened the panel to check.


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You completed a session of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    Several skills levels had enhanced his physical condition and, having gradually gotten used to the breathing skills, he managed to perform four complete cycles this time.


    "Power..."


    Xue Jing stretched out his right arm, touching the elbow with his left hand, pondering.


    While circulating the breathing skills, he seemed to have touched a crucial point; at a certain moment of breathing, the muscles in his right arm twitched.


    Trying hard to recall that sensation, Xue Jing attempted to replicate it but failed after several tries.


    He wasn''t in a rush since it seemed that the right moment hadn''t arrived yet.


    After drinking a glass of water, Xue Jing returned to his room, lay down on the bed, stroked Miao Miao who was sleeping beside him, closed his eyes, and drifted into sleep. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...

 Chapter 25 - 25 Channeling Energy, Kicking the Pavilion

    Three days later.


    In Xue Jing''s home, within the ''gym''.


    [You have performed a set of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You have performed a set of breathing skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +16]


    [You have performed a set of...]


    As he watched the panel pop up with the same message over a dozen times, Xue Jing felt the various rhythms in his body as he breathed.


    The stretching of bones, the functioning of organs, the flexing of muscles¡­


    He stared blankly at his arm, the muscles under the skin expanding and contracting with his breath, as if they were living entities with their own consciousness.


    Not knowing how much time had passed, until a certain critical point, Xue Jing felt streams of heat surge from all over his body and rapidly converge to his right arm in rhythm with his breath.


    He silently moved to stand in front of the punching bag in the center of the room, bent his knees slightly and placed his right hand towards his lower back, assuming a posture as if readying for a Straight Punch.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath and threw out a Straight Punch.


    "Bang!!"


    This punch was not fast in comparison to the ones he had thrown before, nor did it seem very powerful.


    But the punching bag, which weighed a good three hundred pounds, was sent flying as if hit by an oncoming car. With the point of impact as the center, the entire bag arched like a shrimp and flew into the wall, shaking the whole room.


    [Conditions met, activating skill: Channeling Energy]


    [Channeling Energy Lv1 (0/300)]


    In an instant, what had been a sporadic burst of energy that he had mustered by chance, quickly became something he mastered, turning it into his instinct.


    Xue Jing''s eyes shone with delight.


    He immediately began to circulate his breathing skills as the internal organs of his body complied with his breath, generating various rhythms, transforming it into kinetic energy, ''producing'' the Power.


    Xue Jing thought, and the Power flowed to his right leg, then with a lift of his foot, he stomped down!


    Crack¡ª


    The tiled floor cracked, and even the steel-reinforced concrete beneath the tiles split a bit, sending a tremor through the floor.


    [Punching the floor, Channeling Energy Experience Points +1]


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    Now that he had a hammer in his hand, he couldn''t help but treat the floor like a nail.


    He hoped his mother wouldn''t notice when she got back.


    Miao Miao sat crouched beside him, tilting her head as she looked at Xue Jing, her face bearing an anthropomorphic expression of utter bewilderment.


    "...You said you just encountered breathing skills three days ago?"


    "Yes," Xue Jing nodded as he straightened the punching bag he had sent flying with a punch.


    "Have you never been involved in martial arts before?" Miao Miao''s tail began to wag.


    "How many times are you going to ask," Xue Jing replied somewhat helplessly.


    "I''ve told you, I possess invincible aptitude and astounding wisdom."


    He said this with all seriousness, without blushing or skipping a beat.


    Miao Miao rolled her eyes, "You''re quite talented, but to claim you have invincible aptitude is premature. In this world, there are geniuses who master the Power immediately upon encountering breathing skills."


    "Some big corporations can even use special technological means to create these ''geniuses''."


    "The world is vast, and you just have a bit of talent, so don''t get ahead of yourself."


    Ning Fengwan earnestly advised.


    Xue Jing smiled, walked over to her, and pinched her arrogantly cute little face, "I got it."


    "Don''t be handsy, and remember to call me Sect Leader," Miao Miao stated demurely.


    "Of course, Wan," Xue Jing rubbed her cat head as he spoke.


    Ning Fengwan just issued a habitual rebuttal; she had gotten used to Xue Jing''s impudence over these three days.


    "However, since you have such a level of talent, and you''ve already developed your Power, we''re going to have to use a different approach to enter the Hidden Dragon Dojo,"


    Miao Miao pondered for a moment before speaking.


    "Hmm? What do you mean?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    Miao Miao leaped gracefully onto Xue Jing''s shoulder, where she sat down, began licking her paw, and explained:


    "If you enter purely on my recommendation, you''ll be a bona fide ''connection entry'', inevitably looked down upon and treated differently."


    "So how do we get in, Teacher Wan?" Xue Jing saw its adult-like demeanor, which was somewhat cute, and teased her.


    Seemingly quite pleased with being addressed as teacher, Miao Miao''s tail couldn''t help but wag, and a touch of anthropomorphic pride appeared on its small face.


    "Of course, we follow the rules of the Rivers and Lakes, challenge the dojo!"


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, at the South City District Wharf.


    A sturdy old man with short, graying hair, a gloomy face, and a straight posture like a thousand-year-old pine, dressed in a black short jacket, walked slowly into a warehouse with his hands clasped behind his back.


    In the warehouse, Duan Kaiping and a young man in black named Yun Ye had been waiting for some time.


    Seeing the old man walk in, Duan Kaiping immediately took on a solemn expression, knelt down before him, prostrated with his hands on the ground, and respectfully knocked his forehead to the floor, saying, "Kaiping pays respect to his teacher, may the teacher''s fortune be as vast as the ocean and his life as long as the heavens!"


    Yun Ye, standing beside, scoffed at this display, his disdain apparent.


    ¡­


    The old man, who was none other than Arena Master Jiao Hongyuan of Golden Wind Dojo, showed no change in expression and simply said to Duan Kaiping, "Mhm, rise."


    He then turned to Yun Ye and said, "The goods?"


    Yun Ye stretched his neck and gestured behind him with his thumb toward a three-meter-tall shipping container placed within the warehouse.


    "Knowing you''d be back today, I brought it along. It''s right inside there."


    "And with that, our transaction with Kangde Corporation is concluded. Transfer the remainder of the money to..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Jiao Hongyuan turned his gaze on him, cutting him off without any fluctuation in tone.


    "Concluded?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You might have forgotten. When the order was placed, Kangde Corporation made it crystal clear that the transaction was to be kept confidential, with absolutely no leaks."


    "What kind of operation are you running, swaggering your way through Border City and barging right in?"


    "Now that The Sixth Agency is involved in the investigation, do you realize how much trouble this is?"


    Yun Ye sneered, "What''s it to you?"


    Jiao Hongyuan smiled.


    "I''ve heard that the ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother'' can birth special insect species corresponding to the different things it''s fed. I''m curious to know if that''s really true."


    Yun Ye frowned and, without hesitation, raised his left hand, protected by a gauntlet-style glove, aiming it at Jiao Hongyuan.


    However, at the same instant he lifted his arm, Jiao Hongyuan''s sturdy body had vanished from its spot.


    Duan Kaiping didn''t even have time to realize what happened when Jiao Hongyuan suddenly appeared behind Yun Ye, flicked his right hand to shake off the fresh blood.


    "Golden Wind... White Rainbow Sword..." Yun Ye managed to utter his last words in a gravelly voice before his head and left hand slid off, falling to the ground together.


    The headless body remained standing, the cuts on its neck and arm so smooth there wasn''t a single rough edge, as if made by an exceptionally sharp divine weapon.


    "Teacher... this..." Duan Kaiping swallowed, unsettled.


    "This lot of desperadoes, whether in their personal conduct or their methods, are far too crude. He''s lucky to have died by my hand," Jiao Hongyuan said slowly.


    "Teacher, what about the others?" Duan Kaiping asked worriedly.


    "Naturally, they''ll accompany him. Kangde Corporation has already been dealt with."


    Jiao Hongyuan, with his hands clasped behind him, gazed at the three-meter-tall shipping container in front of him, and it might have been an illusion, but it seemed like a fierce, beast-like breathing could be heard coming from within.


    "Kaiping, where are the things I asked you to prepare?"


    Duan Kaiping replied respectfully, "They are all ready. All the roaches have been cultivated by us, not purchased from outside, and the people are also ready¡ªall officially recorded as deceased or missing..."


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded in satisfaction, "Prepare some more; after some time, when the attention from above shifts away from Qingcheng, we can commence the plan."


    "Yes," Duan Kaiping responded.


    "By the way, Teacher, didn''t little brother accompany you back?"


    "He''s still in Maple City participating in the selection competition. He has to fight a few more bouts..."


    ¡­


    In the East City District, in front of a tall building.


    Dressed in casual attire suitable for activity, Xue Jing shielded his eyes from the glaring noon sunlight and looked up at the upper floors of the building.


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo is on the seventeenth floor; GOGOGO, let''s go up!"


    Miao Miao, perched on Xue Jing''s shoulder, pointed upward with her paw, urging him on.


    ¡­

 Chapter 26 - 26 Charm Art Lv3, Leave the Rest to Me

    "So handsome, such a tall younger brother..."


    "Wow, a cat sitting on his shoulder too, that''s just too cute."


    "Why does even the cat look so good? I''ll sneak a photo from this angle and post it online; it will definitely blow up."


    ...


    In the bustling streets of East City District, with skyscrapers dense and orderly, Xue Jing stood on the street with Miao Miao, his overly youthful face somewhat out of place with the surroundings.


    You could vaguely hear a few beautiful office ladies, dressed in OL outfits and wearing delicate makeup, whispering nearby, and his Charm Art experience points kept increasing.


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience points +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience points +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience points +1]


    [Someone toward you...]


    [Charm Art upgraded to Lv3 (0/500)]


    Turning off the panel, Xue Jing asked:


    "Are you sure I won''t get killed on spot if I go challenge them like this?"


    Miao Miao first looked at the young man with confusion, then sniffed his scent.


    Why does he suddenly look better and smell even nicer...


    Shaking her head without overthinking, Miao Miao lightly hummed, "If your Sect Hierarch has directly sent you here, of course there is certainty."


    "In fact, this is the correct way to open up the Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Oh? How so?"


    Miao Miao''s tail swept across Xue Jing''s cheek, wrapping around his neck.


    "The disciples in the dojo are also ranked. Those who merely pay to enter, even if they are seriously taught, cannot achieve fame without talent. To maintain its reputation, the dojo must rely on the truly initiated disciples, and these are the ones with talent."


    "As for how to select initiated disciples... each dojo has its own methods, and one of Hidden Dragon Dojo''s methods for selecting initiated disciples is ''self-recommendation''."


    "In the path of martial arts, mentality is especially important. Having an undefeatable spirit allows one to throw unbeatable punches. Confidently showcasing your talent to the dojo gives you a chance to become an initiated disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    "What could better display your spirit and talent than ''challenging the dojo''?"


    Miao Miao teased:


    "You dare to challenge the dojo without much training in martial arts. With such unbeatable resolve and astonishing wisdom, Old Man Li would definitely appreciate it."


    Xue Jing rhetorically asked, "What if I get severely beaten up when I go up there?"


    "That won''t happen."


    Miao Miao shook her head.


    "The dojo, wanting to keep its reputation, also cares about face. They generally only send someone of a similar age to accept the challenge."


    "Although you''ve just learned to channel energy, your physical quality is incredibly strong, which is very rare at your age. Peers in Hidden Dragon Dojo likely won''t be a match for you."


    "Besides, what we want isn''t necessarily a successful challenge. Even if you get beaten up after going up there, as long as the people from the dojo see your potential talent, that goal is considered achieved."


    "Just stop thinking about it, hurry up and go in, just say you want to challenge the dojo, and leave the rest to me!"


    Miao Miao urged him.


    "..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Alright."


    After all, it was a chance to enter the dojo for free, and he was very confident in his current self. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He opened the panel to take a look.


    [Fitness Lv4 (139/1200)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv2 (109/500)]


    [Cooking Lv3 (12/800)]


    [Running Lv4 (873/1200)]


    [Charm Art Lv3 (12/800)]


    [Aiming Lv2 (169/500)]


    [Fighting Lv1 (196/300)]


    [Channeling Energy Lv1 (12/300)]


    Over the past three days, although he spent most of his time researching how to control his energy through breathing, he still managed to gain a lot of experience in other skills.


    The biggest gain was in fitness, advancing from Lv3 to Lv4. His physical condition was once again significantly enhanced, with his bench press reaching two hundred kilograms. Although he hadn''t tested his punch force, he estimated that it was at least two hundred forty kilograms.


    If he used his power, he wasn''t sure how powerful his punch could be.


    He was now afraid that he couldn''t restrain his strength and might accidentally kill someone.


    Walking into the office building with Miao Miao, he entered the elevator and pressed for the seventeenth floor.


    This building was a Grade A office building, located in the costly East City District. The rent was extremely high, yet Hidden Dragon Dojo managed to lease an entire floor of two thousand square meters. Xue Jing roughly calculated that the monthly rent was at least four hundred thousand Zhuxia currency¡ªa considerable sum indeed.


    The elevator reached the seventeenth floor, the doors opened to a long corridor, and at the end was an automatic transparent door with a sign hanging above it, inscribed with the flamboyant characters "Hidden Dragon Dojo".


    Xue Jing walked through the door with Miao Miao. Just as they entered, Miao Miao left a message, "You just focus on challenging the dojo; leave the rest to me," then jumped off his shoulder and dashed into the dojo, disappearing from sight.


    "Challenge the dojo? How do I even do that? I''ve never challenged anyone before..."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and approached the reception close to the main entrance, where a receptionist, dressed in a cheongsam uniform and possessing both a good figure and looks, was seated.


    "Excuse me, miss."


    Xue Jing approached, his handsome face breaking into a smile that was as warm as the winter sun.


    The girl was secretly slacking off playing on her phone, and suddenly hearing someone, she jumped in surprise and quickly looked up. "Yes, may I..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the young man in front of her and was momentarily lost for words.


    She saw fields of flowers, clusters of stars, her long-forgotten first love, and the synthesis of all the wonderful things in the world...


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +54]


    "..." Seeing the message that popped up on the panel, Xue Jing paused and restrained the smile at the corner of his mouth.


    The girl finally came back to her senses, her face flushed as she looked down and stood up, somewhat at a loss for what to say. "H-hello, can I help you with anything?"


    As she spoke, she sneakily glanced up at Xue Jing.


    My goodness... How can there be someone so good-looking in this world...


    Xue Jing hesitated for a moment, then somewhat awkwardly said, "Uh... Could you please notify them that I want to challenge the dojo?"


    The girl: "What?"


    ...


    Meanwhile, after slipping into the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Miao Miao seemed very familiar with the place and headed straight to a room marked ''Heart-Nourishing Room'' after making several turns.


    No sooner had it reached the door than a slightly aged voice from inside said, "Come in."


    He was able to detect the nearly silent steps of the cat through the door.


    Miao Miao, not surprised in the least, extended her white-gloved hand, pushed open the door, and walked inside.


    In the spacious room, there was only one man, who was wearing a classic old man''s outfit of a white vest and shorts, sitting on a wheelchair, his balding head shining.


    "It''s been a long time, Old Man Li." Miao Miao said softly, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.


    "Hm? That voice... Girl Ning?"


    Li Qi exclaimed in surprise.


    "You rascal, where have you been? Not even sending a message to let this old man know you''re alive. I''ve been wheeling around every day looking for you, utterly exhausted."


    Li Qi touched his bald spot and shook his head with a sigh.


    "Save it, you perverted bald old man. The only reason you go out in your wheelchair is to blow up girls'' skirts," Miao Miao snorted disdainfully.


    Old Man Li was displeased: "Hey, who are you calling small?"


    "So, you''re not denying you''re a perverted bald guy..." Miao Miao said, speechless.


    "Enough nonsense, I''m here for only one reason..."


    ...

 Chapter 27 - 27 Am I Here for a Blind Date?

    After Xue Jing declared his intention to challenge the dojo, the receptionist picked up the phone on the desk with a puzzled face and notified the dojo of the news that "someone is here to challenge."


    She looked at Xue Jing, who was sitting on a lounge chair with his arms crossed, resting with his eyes closed, with a sense of pity.


    Such a good-looking guy, it''s a pity that his brain seemed a bit...


    But even so, it''s not like it wouldn''t work...


    Even if he were put in a house as a piece of meat... as decoration, it would still be superb.


    Unaware of the improper fantasies the girl at the front desk was having about him, Xue Jing sat in his chair, silently playing the part of a master, quietly waiting for Hidden Dragon Dojo''s response.


    A few minutes later, the receptionist answered a phone call, spoke a few words, then hung up, stood up, and said to Xue Jing,


    "Sir, Mr. Sir."


    Xue Jing opened his eyes to look at her.


    The girl tried her best to show the most attractive smile she had practiced in front of the mirror and said softly, "Please follow me."


    Xue Jing nodded and stood up as well.


    The girl led the way, dressed in a form-fitting dark cyan cheongsam that highlighted her beautifully shaped figure, with slits on either side that went up nearly to her thigh, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her long, fair, and shapely legs in high heels swinging from side to side.


    It was unclear whether she was doing it on purpose, but as she walked, she exaggeratedly swayed her full and pert curves, stretching the cheongsam tight and revealing their shape. Xue Jing, following behind her, ended up taking a few more glances.


    Oh, the cheongsam is indeed a great invention.


    Following the cheongsam-clad girl into the interior of the dojo, which was in stark contrast to the modern decoration outside, the dojo''s interior was decorated with an ancient style.


    Wooden corridors carved with dragons, phoenixes, and mythical creatures, traditional Chinese folding screens, and ancient paintings adorned the place, aligning well with Xue Jing''s impression of an Ancient Martial Arts Dojo.


    However, upon reaching the most spacious training hall on the entire floor, the style shifted again, and it was no longer ancient.


    In the large and square training hall, over a white rubber floor, there were several different styles of punching posts and sandbags, as well as a variety of fitness equipment, most of which Xue Jing didn''t recognize.


    Besides those, there were octagonal rings padded with soft mats in each corner of the training hall where disciples in white training garments were sparring, with quite a few other disciples standing around watching eagerly.


    "You can look around here for now and take a tour,"


    After leading Xue Jing inside, the girl in the cheongsam said to him with a smile.


    Xue Jing hummed softly and began looking around, observing the environment.


    Seeing that this handsome young man didn''t show further interest and seemed rather indifferent towards her, the girl in the cheongsam was a bit disappointed, but nonetheless, she had to head back to the reception in her high heels.


    Xue Jing watched the combat on one of the rings for a while and found it quite intense, with punches landing solidly on flesh, which explained why the surrounding disciples were so excitedly cheering them on.


    ''These must be the regular paying disciples, but their level seems much higher than I anticipated.''


    He didn''t watch much longer and removed his shoes before walking barefoot to the rest area, where he sat down on a leather couch.


    The disciples around him took notice of him.


    "Hmm? Who is that guy? Is he new here?"


    "He didn''t change clothes, so probably not. Is he here for a tour?"


    "Hee hee, he''s really good-looking. I''m going to ask for his contact info; I want to snag a young one today," said one of the female disciples, eyes lighting up.


    However, before they could act, a commotion suddenly came from the entrance of the training hall.


    "The Old Dojo Master and several of his direct disciples are here!"


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted, looking towards the entrance.


    He saw a group of five or six people, led by an elderly man with male pattern baldness sitting in a wheelchair, entering one by one and walking towards him.


    Behind the old man in the wheelchair was a girl who looked to be in her twenties with a childlike appearance. She was pushing the wheelchair, her bright eyes lively like a young animal''s, curiously looking at Xue Jing.


    Flanking the girl on both sides were two men and one woman.


    One was a muscular middle-aged man with long hair that fell to his waist, a handsome and cold appearance, dressed in a black training garment with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms.


    The other was a young man in his early twenties, handsome with peach blossom eyes, who was sizing up Xue Jing, nodding and making clicking sounds from time to time.


    The last one was a pretty, short-haired girl with a cool complexion, resembling the middle-aged man in appearance, seeming to be father and daughter. She, too, wore a black training garment, had an impressive figure, and held an astonishingly large meat bun in her hands, constantly taking bites. The astonishingly large parts of her body also swayed with every step she took.


    After sizing up the group, Xue Jing''s gaze settled on the cat perched on the armrest of the wheelchair.


    Miao Miao licked its paw and nodded at him.


    "What''s going on? Even the Old Dojo Master is here. I''ve been at the dojo for so long, but this is the first time I''ve seen him in the training hall."


    "All the Direct Disciples who never leave are here too. Is something big happening? Could it be that our dojo is finally going under?"


    "What a cute cat... I''ve been single for so long that even a cat looks graceful and handsome to me."


    "Zhu and Meng are right in front of you, and yet you''re looking at a cat... You deserve to be single." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the Arena Master and the Direct Disciples arrived, the trainees in the training hall sensed that something was amiss and gradually fell silent, except for some sporadic whispering.


    "..."


    Old Man Li came to a stop in front of Xue Jing, with four Direct Disciples lined up behind him, each with a distinguished appearance and demeanor. They looked quite imposing, whereas Old Man Li himself resembled an ordinary old man you might find by the roadside.


    "I hear you''ve come to challenge our dojo?"


    Old Man Li asked.


    As soon as he said this, it immediately caused a stir among the crowd.


    Xue Jing first glanced at Miao Miao, then stood up with a calm demeanor and nodded,


    "Indeed."


    Seeing him stand up ready for action, Old Man Li immediately waved his hand and sighed, saying, "No rush, no rush. A challenge is a challenge, why so serious? Sit down first."


    Xue Jing, who had just stood up, paused for a moment, his mouth twitching slightly before sitting back down.


    Old Man Li gave Xue Jing a once-over, and for some reason, his eyes seemed inexplicably kind.


    "What''s your name?"


    Xue Jing looked puzzled: "Xue Jing..."


    "How old are you?"


    "Seventeen..."


    Old Man Li nodded, seemingly satisfied, "Mm... The age is quite suitable, and the zodiac signs aren''t in conflict."


    "Where do you live? What do your parents do?"


    "Are you an only child? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"


    "You attend Affiliated Middle School, eh? Nice."


    As Old Man Li kept asking various questions, the atmosphere on the scene gradually got weird.


    Xue Jing was completely baffled.


    Did I come here for a blind date?


    The cat on the armrest of the wheelchair had veins throbbing on its forehead from embarrassment and anger.


    What exactly did this old coot misunderstand!?


    "Meow!" It quickly interjected to stop the conversation.


    If this continued, she would be too ashamed to live in Xue Jing''s house.


    Hearing the clearly dissatisfied meow, Old Man Li reluctantly stopped his questioning.


    He cleared his throat and said, "Well then, let''s get to the point. Little Jing wants to challenge the dojo. Who''s interested?"


    He looked toward the disciples beside him.


    The young girl with a youthful face lit up, quickly raising her right hand: "Hey hey hey! I''ll do it!"


    ...

 Chapter 28 - 28: True Gender Equality Advocates

    "Zhu, stop messing about,"


    a young man among the direct disciples shrugged and said.


    "Your skills aren''t perfected yet; being too rough or too gentle is risky. He could be our future junior brother; what if you hurt him?"


    "I, the most mature and steady here, will..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Old Man Li, looking thoughtful, interrupted, "No, let Shanying do it."


    The young man questioned, "Huh?"


    The master was just being warm and kind to this boy; didn''t he seem to like him quite a bit?


    Why let the junior sister do it... Now it''s going to be a disaster; he''s likely to end up traumatized before even getting started.


    The young man looked at Xue Jing with eyes full of pity.


    "Yay!"


    The girl named Zhu Shanying cheered, her bright eyes curving into two crescent moons.


    Without anyone seeing how she moved, she suddenly flashed to Xue Jing''s side with incredible speed.


    She took Xue Jing''s hand and quickly walked towards the nearest sparring ring.


    "Junior brother, follow me!" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered¡ªthis speed...


    He didn''t resist, letting the girl''s soft hand lead him forward.


    Miao Miao, sitting on the armrest of the wheelchair, pursed her lips, feeling inexplicably irked for some reason.


    Once Zhu Shanying led Xue Jing onto the sparring ring, she let go of his hand and then bounced to the opposite side of Xue Jing with two backflips, landing gracefully and elegantly. She then saluted Xue Jing with folded fists, her eyes curving into a smile, "Junior brother, please give me your guidance!"


    Xue Jing was somewhat amazed by her displayed agility; backflips were not difficult, but achieving such a cat-like lightness and natural ease was a different matter altogether.


    This was his first time facing someone who had truly practiced martial arts, and he was a bit excited at the prospect.


    He imitated the girl, also folding his fists, saying, "Please give me your guidance."


    As they got ready, the other disciples crowded around to watch the spectacle.


    "Hey, hey, what''s going on? Wasn''t that guy here to challenge the dojo? And why did the Arena Master question him like he was sizing up a prospective match for marriage? What''s with the current situation? I can''t figure it out."


    "Right, being confused is the correct reaction; I don''t get it either... Anyway, since it''s Zhu going into action, he''s definitely in for a beating."


    "I bet fifty cents he''ll break at least an arm and a leg."


    "Be more confident; I''ll bet five bucks he breaks all his limbs."


    "Tsk, tsk, poor guy."


    Xue Jing inexplicably noticed that almost everyone around him was looking at him with a pity he couldn''t understand.


    At that moment, the young direct disciple walked to the center of the ring, patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, and comfortingly said, "Be careful, if you can''t handle it, give up quickly, and I''ll come to save you right away."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "Now..." The young man stood between the two, raised his right hand, and with a downward sweep, announced, "Begin."


    After saying that, he immediately jumped back out of the ring.


    "Junior brother, be careful!"


    Zhu Shanying, with a happy smile, took a step forward and dashed towards Xue Jing like an arrow released from a bow, her speed outrageously fast.


    She clenched her bare hand into a fist and swung at Xue Jing.


    And then... Xue Jing caught her wrist and used her momentum to perform a shoulder throw, slamming her heavily onto the ground.


    "Bang!"


    He didn''t hold back with the throw, even applying power with a substantial force that made the entire platform shudder.


    The girl lay flat on the ground, immediately falling into a baby-like sleep.


    "Eh?" the spectating disciples.


    "Hm?" the young direct disciple with a dumbfounded face.


    ```


    The two true disciples who looked like a father and daughter and had been silent since they came in couldn''t help but glance sideways, looking towards the young man standing on the stage.


    Miao Miao''s eyes shone with pride, and her tail couldn''t help swishing back and forth uncontrollably.


    The entire dojo fell into a strange silence.


    "So... does this mean I''ve successfully challenged the dojo?"


    Xue Jing stood on the stage, looking at Li Qi in the wheelchair, and asked with confusion.


    "..."


    In the silence, Li Qi looked at Xue Jing, then glanced at Miao Miao on the armrest, and sighed,


    "... You really did find an excellent prospect for this old man."


    ...


    Walking home, with Miao Miao perched proudly on Xue Jing''s shoulder, she said,


    "Beating a Hidden Dragon Dojo direct disciple without having trained in martial arts means you can go to the Hidden Dragon Dojo anytime and receive free teachings from Old Man Li without anyone daring to object."


    "And for me, I don''t owe Old Man Li a big favor. On the contrary, because I brought you to him, Old Man Li should be thanking me."


    "Win-win, we win twice."


    Her tail brushed Xue Jing''s cheek, bringing a soft itchiness. He thought for a moment, then said,


    "I didn''t expect things to end so quickly. I thought the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s direct disciples would be very strong. I was even prepared to be badly beaten."


    "You haven''t thought wrong," Miao Miao said.


    "In fact, that girl is indeed very strong, much stronger than you are now."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Then why?"


    Miao Miao laughed and said, "Instead, I want to ask you, why should being stronger guarantee a win?"


    "There are countless examples in this world where the weak have defeated the strong. Some people can''t even win against eight hundred with a hundred thousand soldiers. If such a huge gap can be overturned, what about you and that girl?"


    "Martial arts is not about comparing numbers. There''s no rule that the person with higher numbers will definitely win. Mindset, state of mind, will, intelligence, decisions... even just an insignificant bit of luck can become the key factor influencing the outcome."


    "If that girl had been more cautious, not starting with such wide, sweeping straight punches, if she had known a bit about you, understood your reaction speed, if she had readied her energy to protect her body beforehand, if you hadn''t gone all out when you saw your chance..."


    Miao Miao said meaningfully.


    "Any slight change in these little factors, and she wouldn''t have lost to you. But the undeniable fact is, she lost."


    "This is the world of the Martial Artist."


    Xue Jing seemed enlightened.


    "This is also a good warning for you. With your talent, you are likely to become very strong in the future, but you must not get too carried away, or you may end up just like today."


    Miao Miao reminded him.


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "I''ll keep that in mind, Teacher Wan."


    Hearing this address, Miao Miao nodded her head in satisfaction.


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Fighting Experience Points +211]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Fitness Experience Points +121]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent and felt a pleasant mood, Health Cultivation Experience Value +89]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Aiming Experience Value +56]


    [You experienced a battle where you overcame a stronger opponent, Channeling Energy Experience Points +139]


    [Fighting has been upgraded to Lv2 (107/500)]


    Xue Jing glanced at the prompt on the panel, feeling his body become even more robust, and silently smiled, a sense of satisfaction arising in his heart.


    "By the way, you didn''t hesitate to hit that pitiable girl so hard. You don''t have some kind of aversion to women, do you..."


    Miao Miao suddenly asked.


    Xue Jing gave her a curious glance and shook his head.


    "That''s not it. I''m a true believer in gender equality, treating men and women the same when it comes to fighting..."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 29 - 29: Just Call Me Lord Jing

    The next morning, Xue Jing woke up, freshened up, made breakfast for Miao Miao who was still asleep, and immediately left the house to catch the bus to the East City District, and entered the office building where the Hidden Dragon Dojo was located.


    He took the elevator to the seventeenth floor, and upon entering the main door, he saw the cheongsam-clad lady who had received him the day before sitting at the reception.


    Xue Jing walked up, tapped on the reception desk, and said with a smile,


    "Good morning."


    Because she had come to work so early and was yawning while sneakily playing with her phone, the receptionist in the cheongsam got startled, looked up to see it was Xue Jing, hurriedly put away her phone, and stood up.


    "Good... Good morning, Young Master Xue."


    Young Master?


    This somewhat corrupt-sounding title made Xue Jing feel uncomfortable.


    He waved his hand and sighed, "What Young Master? There''s no need for such formality, just keep it simple, calling me Lord Jing will do."


    The cheongsam-clad lady: "..."


    She felt that this title was even more excessive than Young Master.


    However, she immediately spoke up, smiling sweetly, "Yes, Lord Jing~"


    "Eh," Xue Jing responded with a sound, now feeling quite comfortable.


    Yesterday, after he defeated Zhu Shanying, a Direct Disciple, Li Qi announced on the spot that he would take him as a disciple, adding another Direct Disciple to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    From then on, he was the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s junior Direct Disciple, his status only second to Li Qi, the Arena Master. Ordinary disciples had to respectfully address him as junior brother, while non-disciple staff also had to call him ''Young Master''.


    ''It feels like I''ve suddenly jumped social classes...'' Xue Jing thought, leaving the reception and walking into the dojo.


    The receptionist in the cheongsam watched his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight, then sat down with a somewhat wistful expression.


    Xue Jing made his way directly to the training hall.


    It was still early, and the training hall only had a few diligent ordinary disciples inside. When they saw him enter, they all greeted him, calling him junior brother with quite a respectful attitude.


    This was also one of the reasons why Ning Fengwan suggested he enter the dojo in the form of a ''dojo challenge''. After the ordeal yesterday, having witnessed his strength, no one would have any complaints about such a young and talented youth suddenly becoming a Direct Disciple.


    "Junior brother, over here, this way."


    A calling voice reached his ears, and when Xue Jing turned his head, it was one of the Direct Disciples, that handsome young man.


    "...Senior Brother," Xue Jing nodded and said with a smile.


    The young man smiled back and said cheerfully, "My surname is Chen, my name is Fuguang, just call me Senior Brother Chen."


    "Come with me, junior brother, I''ve been waiting for you for a while now," he said, heading outside the training hall.


    Xue Jing got up and followed.


    As Chen Fuguang led the way, he said,


    "You are a Direct Disciple, so you have a private cultivating room. I''ve already cleaned it up for you. From now on, you will practice there. I''ll show you the way first."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Thanks, Senior Brother."


    "By the way, Senior Brother Chen, where are our master and the other brothers and sisters?" he asked, puzzled.


    "Master has an appointment with the doctor today. He has some chronic leg issues. Every now and then he goes to check on it with the doctor. He''ll be back later," Chen Fuguang explained with a smile.


    "As for the other brothers and sisters... let me introduce them to you first,"


    "Currently, there are four direct disciples staying in the dojo. Besides me, ranked fifth, the one you sparred with yesterday was Zhu Shanying, Sister Zhu, ranked sixth. She is the youngest direct disciple apart from you. You also met the other two yesterday, Senior Brother Meng Boshang and Fourth Sister Meng Qingjiao."


    "Are those two related?" Xue Jing recalled the resemblance in their appearances and expressions and asked.


    Chen Fuguang smiled and nodded, "They are father and daughter. Senior Brother Meng was the first to join our master, and later he married and had a daughter, Meng Qingjiao. She had great talent, so our master also took her as a disciple and taught her."


    "We, direct disciples, usually have work to do. It was a coincidence that all four of us were present yesterday. Senior Brother Meng and Meng Qingjiao are hardworking; after you left yesterday, they went out for work and haven''t returned yet. Sister Zhu is accompanying our Master to see the doctor..."


    As they spoke, the two rounded a corner and arrived at an elegantly decorated, antique-style corridor. Xue Jing looked up and saw a total of seven doors on both sides of the corridor, three on the left and four on the right, with signs bearing Chinese numerals, neatly numbered one to seven.


    "Our Master''s name is Li Qi, so when he established the dojo more than twenty years ago, he said he wanted to take seven direct disciples. Therefore, no matter how many times the dojo has moved, we always prepare seven cultivation rooms in the renovation,"


    Chen Fuguang said with some emotion.


    "Now that you''ve joined us, our Hidden Dragon Dojo finally has its full complement of members."


    The two stopped in front of the door marked ''Seven'', and Chen Fuguang pushed the door open.


    This was a spacious room of roughly eighty square meters, with a deep red solid wood floor that seemed quite expensive, virtually free of any furnishings, and completely visible at a glance.


    "This cultivation room will be yours from now on."


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder and changed the topic:


    "Alright, Brother has some urgent matters to attend to, so you can have a look around the dojo. Master will be back soon."


    Xue Jing nodded and laughed, "It seems that being a direct disciple is indeed very busy, and Senior Brother Chen also has to go out for work early in the morning."


    Chen Fuguang waved his hand, "Not really, I met a rich woman at the bar last night, and I have arranged to share some martial arts insights with her today..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    ...


    After hurriedly leaving, Xue Jing didn''t wander around but stayed in the cultivation room, sitting in meditation to practice his breathing skills.


    As the levels of his various skills related to physical fitness improved and combined with the gradual development of Power, his body''s adaptability to the breathing skills greatly increased.


    He could now perform about twenty cycles of Basic Breathing Skills in a row before feeling the strain.


    [You have practiced the breathing skills once, gaining 16 Fitness Experience Points]


    [You have practiced the breathing skills once, gaining 16 Fitness Experience Points]


    After two breathing sessions and half an hour, an elderly voice suddenly came from beside him:


    "Your Basic Breathing Skills bear traces of the breathing skills from Golden Wind Dojo. Where did you learn it from?"


    Xue Jing opened his eyes, only to find Li Qi in his wheelchair right next to him; he didn''t know when he had arrived, as quiet as a ghost.


    He quickly stood up and greeted Li Qi with a fist and palm salute: "Master."


    He paused, "A classmate at school was once a disciple at Golden Wind Dojo, and he taught me."


    Li Qi nodded and said with a smile, "Don''t be so formal. I was just asking casually. You are Girl Ning''s little boyfriend, so besides the master-disciple relationship, we have another connection."


    Xue Jing was taken aback, but he did not refute the remark about being the little boyfriend. Instead, he asked curiously, "Master, what is your relationship with her?"


    Li Qi thought for a moment and reminisced, "I suppose... it''s like wanting to be her grandfather but ultimately not becoming one." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing: "Ah?"


    ...

 Chapter 30 - 30 Old Affairs, Hidden Dragon School Kungfu Body

    Li Qi waved his hand, "It''s all old stories. Back in the day, I and Girl Ning''s grandmother were fond of each other and almost became a thing, but unfortunately, her husband didn''t agree..."


    Xue Jing: "?"


    "Go on."


    Xue Jing rarely ignited with a gossip flame.


    Li Qi touched his smooth bald spot, humbly said, "Hey, it''s really nothing. When I was young, I looked quite decent, pretty much just like you, so there were more temptations around me.


    Back then, I was still young and full of vigor, liked all those fighting and killing stuff, so I found a way to sneak into the famously notorious Dragon Cult. At that time, Girl Ning''s grandfather hadn''t become the Sect Hierarch yet. I was close to him like brothers, often visiting his house..."


    Li Qi''s eyes revealed nostalgia.


    "The first time I saw sister-in-law, her buttocks..."


    Xue Jing sat down, listened intently, afraid of missing a single word.


    Who knew Li Qi would just smack his lips, "Alas, there''s nothing good to say, the past is unbearable to recall."


    Xue Jing got a bit anxious, "Don''t stop, Master, tell me more."


    Li Qi gave him a glance, "Are you here to learn martial arts or to listen to stories? Young people should not pry into the matters of the older generation." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing moved his mouth, nearly cursed out loud.


    Damn cliffhanger!


    "Alright, let''s hear this kind of things later, let''s talk about serious matters now," Li Qi said.


    Xue Jing gathered himself and nodded in agreement, "Yes."


    "Come here, let me check your bone." Li Qi waved him over.


    Xue Jing walked up to him.


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Xue Jing did as he was told.


    Li Qi stretched out his somewhat withered palm, grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, and gave it a vigorous shake like he was flipping noodles!


    Xue Jing only felt an irresistible formidable force pouring into his body through his wrist.


    He felt like a small boat amidst stormy waves, involuntarily making various movements, his bones making a series of crackling sounds.


    "Hmm... Huh?"


    Li Qi, using the feedback from the transfer of power, probed Xue Jing''s body, initially puzzled, then surprised.


    "What kind of exercise do you do usually?"


    He asked, puzzled.


    Xue Jing said, "Just some running and stuff, nothing else really."


    After hearing that, Li Qi murmured, "Impossible, can it really be?"


    He lifted his head, his originally cloudy old eyes now frighteningly bright, "Do you, lad, know what condition your body is in?"


    Xue Jing, a bit unsettled, asked in confusion, "What''s wrong, Master? Is my health not good?"


    "Not good?" Li Qi shook his head, seemingly wanting to laugh.


    "It''s not that it''s not good, it''s too good, to an almost impossible level."


    "Your body, is like it was made by some god with obsessive-compulsive disorder, every muscle, every bone, every organ¡­ all balanced and perfect to a frightening extent."


    Li Qi marveled endlessly, stroking the muscles on Xue Jing''s forearm as if they were a rare treasure.


    "If it weren''t for my certainty that I have nothing worth coveting, I would definitely think you were a manufactured genius created by those big corporations with technological means."


    "I never imagined that such a perfect human physique could actually exist in this world..."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    There was no doubt, it was because of the Skill Panel.


    Since he had activated the Skill Panel, especially after activating the "fighting" skill, his body had transformed into this state.


    In some respects, he was indeed the ''man-made genius'' Li Qi spoke of.


    "Little Jing,"


    Li Qi''s gaze towards him grew much more eager.


    "Without a doubt, you are the most suitable person in the world to cultivate the Hidden Dragon School."


    "If it''s you, you can surely cultivate the most perfect Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body."


    "Kungfu Body?" Xue Jing''s gaze shifted.


    He heard a new term again.


    Li Qi smiled and said, "The so-called ''Kungfu Body'' is the physique gradually tempered by cultivating a complete set of martial arts from a specific school."


    "Each school''s martial arts practices and fighting skills are different, each with its own focus, whether it be flexibility and swiftness or powerful forcefulness. People practicing different martial arts will eventually develop a physique suited to their martial arts."


    "Just like how a sprinter''s leg muscles are definitely more developed, a fighter''s muscle structure is completely different from that of a basketball player. This body, trained to adapt to different things, is the Kungfu Body."


    "For example, the Golden Wind Dojo you know of, their school is named Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword. Once the Kungfu Body is fully cultivated there, the internal structure of the body is completely different from ordinary people, capable of generating sharp force like a blade.


    Hitting someone with a fist is like slicing them with a knife, tearing off a large chunk of flesh with each pull and even using a Palm Knife to chop off a person''s head is not difficult."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up with excitement, "Then what are the characteristics of our Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body?"


    Li Qi smiled, "The features of our Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body can be said to exist, yet also not exist."


    Xue Jing: "Hmm?"


    Li Qi said with a bit of smugness, "Hexagonal Warrior, ever heard of it?"


    "The core philosophy of our Hidden Dragon School is eight words¡ª''Hide the Dragon in the Body, Nourish the Dragon in the Heart.''


    "Once the Kungfu Body is fully developed, it''s like having a whole True Dragon hidden inside your body, large or small, ascending or hiding, agile, with speed, strength, defense, penetration...encompassing everything, possessing five ultimate moves, three Ultimate Skills, capable of handling all situations, without any weakness."


    He then sighed, "Of course, excelling in everything often means dilution in all aspects. Hidden Dragon School demands extremely high physical talent; those without enough talent will only become mediocrities if they cultivate Hidden Dragon School."


    "Even your senior brothers and sisters don''t all possess sufficient talent. Although they also cultivate Hidden Dragon School, they each find ways to alter their training methods, developing other Kungfu Bodies with different focuses."


    Li Qi patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, saying, "Your physical talent is the greatest I''ve seen in my life, so balanced it''s unbelievable, perfectly suited for the ''Hexagonal'' philosophy of Hidden Dragon School."


    Sounds awesome...


    Xue Jing eagerly said, "Please teach me, Master."


    Li Qi laughed, "Okay, no time like the present. Today I will first teach you about Static Posture from Hidden Dragon School''s Dynamic and Static Postures¡ªthe Coiling Dragon Art."


    He grabbed Xue Jing''s hand and with just a shake, force extended through the palm into Xue Jing''s body, controlling his movements.


    Uncontrollably, Xue Jing''s legs spread apart, his torso leaned to the maximum limit to the left, his hands clenched into fists beside his ears, and his whole body crackled with a sound like bones popping, his posture resembling that of a dormant dragon.


    "Remember this pose, as well as the corresponding breath and the tremors of force on various nodes of the body."


    Li Qi instructed.


    "Coiling Dragon Art, this posture aims at ''Cultivating Dragon Qi'', is cultivated by meditatively visualizing the dragon''s posture, mimicking the appearance of a dragon, thus nurturing an overwhelming presence of Dragon Qi."


    "Once you are proficient in this posture, I''ll teach you the Dynamic Posture ''Armor Shaking Skill'' to ''Train Dragon Strength.''


    Xue Jing spoke not, focusing entirely on memorizing all the changes inside and outside his body at the moment.


    ...

 Chapter 31 - 31 Younger Martial Brother, You Scared Me

    Maintaining the Coiling Dragon Art posture, Xue Jing remained motionless.


    With each breath, countless hidden nodes within his body were continuously stimulated. If one were to connect all these nodes with a line, they would find their arrangement resembled that of a dormant True Dragon.


    As time passed, Xue Jing felt his body begin to heat up and itch as if countless needles were pricking him. His blood and energy circled rapidly within his body, faintly producing a sound akin to trickling stream water.


    Merely half an hour later, he was sweating profusely, exhaling nearly scalding hot breaths through his mouth and nose. The nodes within his body not only itched and felt hot, but they also gradually became painfully swollen.


    Xue Jing began to breathe haphazardly and was unable to maintain the Coiling Dragon Art posture. He collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, falling into an almost oxygen-deprived state as if his lungs were being squeezed dry.


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Practice, Fitness Experience Points +98]


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Practice, Channeling Energy Experience Points +89]


    Glancing at the panel, Xue Jing couldn''t help but be surprised.


    Just half an hour of Coiling Dragon Art posture practice, and he had gained both 98 Fitness Experience Points and 89 Channeling Energy Experience Points!


    The efficiency was twice as fast as direct gym workouts, and it simultaneously provided Channeling Energy experience!


    "Good, good, this is your first time maintaining Coiling Dragon Art Posture for so long, just as I expected. You are extremely suitable for the Hidden Dragon School," Li Qi said from his wheelchair, expressing his joy.


    "Aside from you, the direct disciple with the best Physical Talent is your eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang. The first time he tried the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Standing, he lasted twenty-three minutes."


    "You lasted thirteen minutes longer than him."


    Xue Jing: "?"


    Thirteen what? Say that again.


    "How is it, did you memorize all the steps of the Coiling Dragon Art well?" Li Qi asked.


    After catching his breath for a while, Xue Jing closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then nodded.


    "I''ve memorized them all, thank you, Master."


    Coiling Dragon Art had countless complex details. Even achieving the correct posture was challenging, let alone the stimulation of nodes by the circulation of energy and blood within the body, which was many times more difficult than maintaining the posture. Such a complex posture skill would have taken an unknown amount of time to memorize using ordinary practices.


    But Li Qi, with his incredible control of energy, merely shook Xue Jing''s hand to help him achieve the most standard Coiling Dragon Art posture. This allowed him to focus entirely on remembering every step, a method of teaching that was simply like playing at a lower dimension.


    "Good, good body and good mind," Li Qi nodded, very satisfied.


    After resting for a while and stabilizing his breath, feeling recovered, Xue Jing asked,


    "Master, what shall I learn next?"


    Li Qi shook his head and said, "Martial arts practice should not be rushed. The Coiling Dragon Art imposes a great burden on the body. People without enough talent can suffer greatly after just a few minutes. Although your talent is excellent, you should not overtrain at the beginner stage."


    "I have already asked Shanying to prepare the Sleeping Dragon Salve. She will help you apply it later to recover your body, and then you can continue training tomorrow."


    Xue Jing hesitantly said, "Shanying is going to help me apply it?"


    Thinking of that young-looking girl... he wondered if he had hurt her yesterday.


    Li Qi waved his hand and said, "She volunteered to help you."


    "Shanying is a year younger than you and possesses a rare, pure Red Child nature. Although she is nominally your senior sister, there are aspects where she might need your care."


    "Now that you have joined my tutelage, she finally has a playmate of her own age. She will be closer to you, so you should get along well."


    Xue Jing nodded in agreement.


    "Ahaha, here comes the Sleeping Dragon Salve~"


    As if waiting for this moment, a cheerful young girl''s voice came from the doorway of the training room. Zhu Shanying entered, holding a fist-sized white porcelain bottle. Her young face was filled with smiles, seemingly unfazed by being defeated by Xue Jing the day before.


    "Hmm, you young people chat for a while. I woke up early today and need to go back to sleep for a while..."


    Li Qi waved his hand and wheeled himself out of the training room.


    As soon as he left, Zhu Shanying turned her gaze toward Xue Jing.


    "Come on, little junior brother, take off your shirt and come sit over here."


    Sitting on the ground in a duck-sit position, Zhu Shanying patted the floor, signaling Xue Jing to sit in front of her.


    The young girl in a fitted training garment had her hair tied up in a bun and her bare, uncolored beautiful jade feet exposed, embodying a naively seductive charm in this posture that showcased feminine beauty.


    "..."


    Xue Jing always felt something was off, but it wasn''t a good time to refuse. He could only nod, grabbed the hem of his T-shirt with both hands, lifted it up, and his perfectly god-crafted upper body was exposed.


    "Wow."


    Zhu Shanying exclaimed.


    "Pretty impressive, little junior brother."


    "You flatter me, Sister Zhu," Xue Jing said as he came over to her, turned his back to her, and sat down cross-legged. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, Xue Jing felt a pair of soft, slightly cool, and silky hands spreading salve on his back.


    Wherever it was applied, there was a sensation as if menthol balm had been rubbed on, creating a hot and spicy feeling.


    In the quiet, Xue Jing thought for a moment and spoke:


    "Sister, I''m truly sorry about yesterday. You weren''t injured, were you?"


    Zhu Shanying''s movements paused as she applied the salve, then she said with a smile, "Of course, I wasn''t injured."


    "However, although my body wasn''t hurt, my feelings were a bit hurt."


    The girl''s fingers wandered over Xue Jing''s back, suddenly pressing down hard on a spot, channeling energy deep into his body, making Xue Jing inhale sharply from the pain.


    Zhu Shanying''s voice, cheerful and velvety, rang by Xue Jing''s ear.


    "Little brother, don''t think I''m not competitive."


    The girl''s fingers twisted, scraping forcefully across Xue Jing''s muscles.


    "Don''t move, okay? Sleeping Dragon Salve needs to be rubbed in this way for the medicine to penetrate deep into the body and work effectively."


    "..."


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at the smiling Zhu Shanying and didn''t speak, silently enduring the massage that clearly carried a hint of revenge.


    After a short while, it was the young girl who couldn''t keep up anymore.


    "...You could say something," the young girl exclaimed tenderly.


    Xue Jing said in a low voice, "It''s nothing, as long as you''re happy, Sister."


    Zhu Shanying: "..."


    "Alright, it was my fault, actually losing to you because of my own carelessness, yet still thinking about revenge, taking the opportunity to deliberately tease you..."


    "Can you not be mad at me..."


    Zhu Shanying said, sounding pitiful.


    Xue Jing was speechless.


    After thinking it over, he said softly:


    "I''m not mad at you, it''s just really painful, so my voice might have dropped."


    "Keep going, Sister, don''t mind me."


    Seeing that he really wasn''t angry, Zhu Shanying breathed a sigh of relief, patted the budding Lailai, "That''s good, little brother, you scared me..."


    ...

 Chapter 32 - 32 Is the Dragon Cult Going Down?

    "Alright, I''ve done your upper body, now take off your pants," she said with a laugh as she patted Xue Jing''s broad shoulders.


    "Uh, I''ll handle the rest myself, no need to trouble senior sister,"


    Xue Jing hesitated, speaking somewhat awkwardly.


    "Hehe, I''m just kidding."


    Zhu Shanying''s eyes were filled with amusement as she found Xue Jing''s discomfort quite entertaining.


    "You''re cute, junior brother."


    "Okay, then I''m going to start on my homework. Junior brother, you follow the method I just used, apply the Sleeping Dragon Salve, and massage it in with Power. I''m heading out first."


    The girl stood up, bid farewell, and left the practice room with light steps.


    After she left, Xue Jing took off his pants and, following Zhu Shanying''s earlier instructions, braced himself against the pain as he applied the medicine and massaged his legs with Power.


    The Sleeping Dragon Salve truly was Hidden Dragon Dojo''s secret medicine, its efficacy was exceptionally remarkable; initially, it was hot and painful, but soon the areas where it had been massaged emitted a warm and comfortable sensation, relieving much of the pain caused by practicing the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Not yet recovered and unable to continue practicing, Xue Jing, having nothing else to do here, left the Hidden Dragon Dojo and took the bus home.


    At this time, Miao Miao was still not awake, and Xue Jing didn''t disturb it but instead turned on the computer in his room.


    After discovering that Miao Miao had accessed the computer, he installed a covert screen recording software to start automatically with the computer, not knowing if it had recorded what Miao Miao was doing.


    After about ten seconds of startup time, Xue Jing used the shortcut key to open the screen recording software and then opened the video folder, indeed finding a recorded video.


    He unconsciously turned his head to glance at Miao Miao still sleeping on the bed, hesitated for a moment, but still opened the video.


    In the video, the mouse slowly moved to the browser on the computer desktop. It seemed that due to the inconvenience of the cat''s paw, the operation was very slow.


    After opening the browser, Miao Miao first entered a website in the address bar, then downloaded a software named in garbled text from a hidden spot on the page.


    After a series of incomprehensible operations by Xue Jing, the software was successfully installed.


    When the software opened, no screen appeared, only a small icon was added at the bottom right corner.


    Then, Miao Miao opened the browser again, entered another address, and after a few seconds of connection, what appeared in the video was a website named ''Inside World''.


    It appeared to be a forum with very many subchannels.


    [Banned Drug Trading Zone][Alien Implant Trading Zone][Bounty Order Zone][Intersecting Boundaries Hunter Zone]...


    At this moment, an advertisement popped up on the screen.


    [Still annoyed by your neighbor''s non-stop noise? Still angry at your partner who betrayed you? Still troubled by the existence of competitors? Kill''em APP at your service. Place an order and someone dies, quick resolution, saves time and effort, place an order now, the first order comes with a free death style selection package ...]


    Xue Jing: "..."


    In the video, Miao Miao didn''t even seem to look, directly closing it with an ''X''.


    Then, it didn''t enter any channel; instead, it clicked on the login in the upper right corner, entered the username and password, successfully logged in, the username was [Sect Leader], with an avatar of a chibi anthropomorphized dragon.


    The mouse moved and clicked into a personal interface, which opened a private chat function, and a chat interface popped up immediately.


    Chat history:


    [October 10, 10:29]


    [Sect Leader: I''m still alive, currently very safe, do not worry]


    [October 10, 21:39]


    [Followers of the Dragon: Sect Leader!! It''s so good that you are still alive!]


    [October 10, 22:46]


    [Followers of the Dragon: Sect Leader, Kangde Corporation is trying to kill us, everyone is talking about disbanding, we can''t stay in the Fifth Urban Circle anymore...]


    [October 11, 01:23]


    [Followers of the Dragon: "Sigh, Mr. An said the old Sect Hierarch is dead, and persisting is useless. He took a cab and left in the middle of the night¡­"]


    [October 11, 08:31]


    [Followers of the Dragon: "Miss Ji said she''s going to the Third Metropolitan Circle to take refuge with relatives¡­"]


    What followed was a string of who left.


    [October 13, 12:18]


    [Followers of the Dragon: "Sect Leader, what shall we do? So many people have left¡­"]


    In the video, Miao Miao started typing. Since typing with cat paws was inconvenient, she spelled out one letter at a time, very slowly.


    [October 14, 15:26]


    [Sect Leader: "It''s fine, it''s much quieter now."]


    After replying, Miao Miao clicked on the X, cleared the browsing history, uninstalled the software that looked like a VPN, and then shut down the computer.


    After watching the video, Xue Jing pinched his chin and thought: "Looks like the Dragon Cult is about to disband¡­"


    But fortunately, it seemed Miao Miao wasn''t too heartbroken about it. All she did was send a ''It''s fine.''


    Xue Jing stood up and walked to the bed, reaching out to touch the sleeping Miao Miao''s head, his gaze gentle, and softly chuckled:


    "If you have nowhere to go¡­ staying by my side is also fine."


    ¡­


    The next day, Monday.


    When Xue Jing got up in the morning, the pain from practicing the Coiling Dragon Art had completely subsided. He wasn''t sure if it was the effect of the Sleeping Dragon Salve or the [Health Cultivation].


    As usual, after making food for Miao Miao, he headed out to school.


    He went straight to the Qingcheng University campus, entering the seventh floor of the library.


    To activate the active effect of "Twin Lifes," he still needed to keep searching for clues about the Divine Relic.


    This time, having obtained specific names from Miao Miao, finding them became much more efficient, feeling able to skip over any books and records unrelated to the words ''Divine Relic.''


    "Classmate, you come here every day specifically, is there something you''re trying to find? Maybe I can help you."


    A soft and pleasant voice came from beside him, Xue Jing turned his head.


    He saw the high ponytail girl who had always been on the seventh floor standing next to him, her pretty face and slightly purple eyes were looking at him.


    The girl was dressed in a pure white form-fitting T-shirt, her hands holding a book against her chest, the upper half of the book compressed in her well-developed southern hemisphere, making the title invisible.


    Xue Jing subconsciously opened his panel to check and saw that Charm Art wasn''t active, clearly, this was a purely benevolent inquiry without any ulterior motives.


    He shoved the book he was holding back into the shelf and casually responded:


    "Are you a student at Qingcheng University?"


    The girl replied, "Um¡­ I suppose so."


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, though not hopeful, he still asked: "Have you heard of a ''Divine Relic''?"


    Upon hearing this word, the girl''s expression visibly paused, then she revealed a slight smile.


    "It seems, classmate, you''re not just any ordinary student."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow:


    "You actually know about this thing?"


    "I know a bit." The girl gestured with her hand towards the seating area.


    "Let''s go there and sit down to talk more."


    ¡­


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 33 - 33 The Day God Died, GOD-1567

    The girl sat erect on the wooden chair, her slender legs clad in tight jeans slightly pressed together, and her delicate, fair face almost glowing. Her smooth ponytail reaching down to her waist swayed gently.


    She placed her right hand over her ample chest and introduced herself with a smile:


    "My name is Wu Youqing."


    "The kind of naive you see in ''childish,'' and the clear skies of ''sunny.''"


    Xue Jing introduced himself as well: "Xue Jing, the ''king'' radical plus the ''scenery'' of ''view.''"


    "Hmm... So first off, how did you come to know about the concept of ''Divine Relics''?"


    Wu Youqing asked curiously.


    "...Sorry, I can''t reveal that," Xue Jing shook his head.


    Miao Miao was probably still being pursued by Kangde Security Company at the moment, so he definitely couldn''t disclose any information rashly.


    "I can only tell you that I have indeed come into contact with Divine Relics, and if possible, I hope you can provide me with information about them."


    Xue Jing said thoughtfully.


    "Of course, if you don''t want to tell me, that''s okay too. It is my fault for not being able to provide information upfront."


    Wu Youqing did not show any dissatisfaction with Xue Jing''s vague words. She pinched her chin and tilted her head, asking, "So, the ''Divine Relic'' you encountered, was it of the oddity type or the living creature type?"


    "There''s a living creature type for Divine Relics?" Xue Jing expressed his surprise.


    That response indirectly answered Wu Youqing''s question. She nodded, "Looks like you''ve encountered the oddity type then."


    After saying this, the girl thought for a moment, stood up, walked over to the resting area against the wall, and crouched down to pull at a wooden handle on the wall that wasn''t very conspicuous.


    There was actually a hidden cabinet within the wall.


    Because of the way she was crouching, the curves of her hips were extremely noticeable, and with the contrast of her slim waist, their presence was strikingly pronounced, which made Xue Jing take a few more glances.


    Tight jeans are indeed a hallmark of a great civilization.


    Xue Jing had thought that Wu Youqing would take out some secret documents from such a well-hidden spot, but instead, she clanked about and brought out a set of tea utensils and a transparent water jug filled with water, placing them on the wooden table.


    "Do you prefer tea or coffee?" Wu Youqing asked as she wiped the tea utensils with a cloth.


    "Are those the only two choices?" Xue Jing looked towards the hidden compartment.


    "There''s also this." The girl turned around and took a 330ml modern canned Coca-Cola from the compartment.


    Although this world had followed a different historical trajectory from the Earth of his previous life, the things that should have appeared still did.


    Xue Jing reached out to take it: "Just this one."


    Wu Youqing didn''t hand it to him, though. Instead, she took a blue flower-patterned gold-rimmed porcelain cup from the tea tray, cracked open the aluminum can tab with a snap, and poured the black carbonated liquid into the exquisite cup. She then slid it over to Xue Jing with two fingers, like a bartender at a pub.


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched, "Fancy."


    The girl didn''t reply; instead, she took out a package of tea leaves of an unknown brand, tore it open, poured it into a teapot, and then picked up the transparent jug to pour water into it¡ªthe water was actually hot, and it was unclear when it had been boiled as it continuously emitted steam upon contact with the air.


    As she went through the steps of brewing tea, Wu Youqing spoke up, "Two hundred and eighty-seven years ago, ''God'' died."


    "Or to put it more precisely, ''the Deity'' died."


    Xue Jing listened quietly.


    The death of God was the biggest event in the history of this world. Even after so much time had passed, it remained a hot topic of discussion.


    But after all, whether the ''God'' who died was indeed the omniscient and omnipotent Lord from the Christian Bible, that couldn''t be confirmed. Therefore, the formally accepted term by the world is ''Death of the God.''"


    ''God'' is the deity of this world, who has no name, but is simply what humanity comprehends as ''God'', all other names are but imposed by humans themselves.


    It''s acceptable to call Him ''God'', ''Allah'' is fine too, ''Brahma'' works as well; if you wish, naming Him ''Primordial Heavenly Venerable'' is also not out of the question.


    The reason why He is generally referred to as God is simply because the concept of God in Christianity has become deeply ingrained in people''s hearts, and it most closely matches the definition of ''God''.


    287 years ago, ''God'' appeared in the material world for the first time, and it was also the last.


    According to historical records, on that day, every human on Earth Star saw with their own eyes... or rather, perceived in some unknown way, a colossal luminous humanoid with both hands cradling the Earth Star, who after emitting a loud and mournful wail, disintegrated into countless points of light.


    In that moment, the three words ''God is dead'' were etched into the consciousness of every human like a branding of thought.


    From that day on, the planet started to experience ''Intersecting Boundaries Phenomena'' from time to time, which after going through ''Boundary Shakes'', ''Weak Intersecting'', ''Strong Intersecting'', and other stages, gave birth to various ''Intersecting Boundaries''.


    The emergence of Intersecting Boundaries brought countless opportunities and crises to humanity.


    The administrative division of the nine major urban clusters of Zhuxia today is a historical remnant of a crisis caused by an Intersecting Boundary.


    "What most people don''t know is that, at the moment of ''God''s death'', He left something behind."


    Wu Youqing stirred the liquid in her teacup with a small spoon and began to explain the origin of Divine Relics.


    "The points of light that dispersed when God died¡­ let''s just call them ''Blood of the God'' for simplicity''s sake."


    "This ''Blood of the God'' scattered across the world and took residence in various objects."


    "Be it artifacts, or living creatures, or perhaps even a segment of human fantasies¡­"


    "These things that were housed and transformed by the Blood of the God, we call them¡ªDivine Relics."


    Xue Jing was listening so intently, and at this moment, Wu Youqing also pushed the cup of freshly brewed tea in front of him. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Try it."


    Xue Jing took the cup, his mind elsewhere as he picked up the tea and sipped, swallowing.


    Then, he immediately furrowed his eyebrows and looked into the tea.


    The amber-brown liquid appeared to be unmistakably black tea, and the nose was met with the slight bitter aroma of black tea.


    But the taste in his mouth was an unusual sweetness.


    "What is this?"


    "Guess," Wu Youqing said, her eyes mischievous, as if carrying a hint of triumph from her successful teasing.


    Xue Jing, perhaps reminded of something, blurted out subconsciously, "Don''t tell me it''s ''Youqing Tea''¡­"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized they were somewhat improper, but he figured a beautiful girl like Wu Youqing probably wouldn''t get the innuendo¡­


    Before he could finish rationalizing in his mind, he immediately saw a blush on Wu Youqing''s pretty face, her eyes looking at him strangely, as if to say: I didn''t expect this from you, Xue Jing¡­


    Xue Jing coughed lightly, "Don''t keep me in suspense, sister."


    Wu Youqing gave him a glance and lifted the transparent jug with one hand, while cradling the bottom with the other, introducing, "Serial number GOD-1567¡¤Sweet Water Jug."


    A Divine Relic?


    Divine Relic!


    Divine Substance, right before one''s eyes!


    ¡­

 Chapter 34 - 34: Please Let Me Join Your Team!

    ```


    "Is this a Divine Relic?" Xue Jing narrowed his eyes, feigning interest as he unconsciously reached for the ''Sweet Water Jug''.


    Seeing this, Wu Youqing did not refuse and directly handed the Sweet Water Jug to him.


    [Divine Substance detected, Divine Absorption in progress...]


    Looking at the prompt that appeared on the screen, Xue Jing blinked, suppressed his excitement, and held the Sweet Water Jug in his arms without changing his expression, curiously touching it here and there.


    On the screen, [Divinity] was rising at several points per second, 26, 27, 28...


    "Why don''t you guess what the specific function of GOD-1567 is?"


    Unaware of the strange operations Xue Jing was secretly conducting, Wu Youqing, seeing his ''naive'' demeanor, couldn''t help but chuckle as she spoke.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "The water poured out is sweet without adding sugar? And it also has the function of producing hot water out of thin air?"


    Combining the name of the Divine Relic with what he had seen and felt before, he voiced his speculation.


    "Close, guess again," Wu Youqing said.


    At her words, Xue Jing took a closer look at the water jug in his hands, feeling that something was still amiss.


    As time passed, Divinity on the panel continued to increase, and Xue Jing suddenly frowned, saying somewhat uncertainly:


    "The amount of water... seems unchanged?"


    The water jug was made of transparent material, allowing a clear view of its contents. When taken out, the water inside was brimming to the top.


    Wu Youqing had just used it to brew a pot of tea, pouring out a significant amount, but when Xue Jing looked at it, the water level inside the jug still seemed full to the brim.


    A nearly unbelievable speculation crossed his mind: "The water in this jug... is unlimited?"


    At his words, Wu Youqing looked slightly surprised, and then nodded her head, her pretty face revealing a hint of satisfaction as she said, "You guessed right."


    "GOD-1567¡¤Sweet Water Jug, its function: it can produce hot water that has the same physical properties as normal water but carries an unusual sweetness."


    She paused for a moment, "Moreover, the water inside, will never run out."


    "As an excellent student of Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School, you should understand what this means," the young girl said with a smile on her face.


    Of course, Xue Jing understood what this meant.


    "Ignoring the law of conservation of energy..." he murmured.


    Material equivalents were energy, so infinite water equated to infinite energy.


    The capability to output unlimited energy to the external world without consuming any energy, this jug, while seemingly mundane in function, was in reality one of humanity''s ultimate dreams.


    A type-one Perpetual Motion Machine!


    If one were to speak grandly, this item was a true entity capable of overturning the fundamental laws of the universe.


    The significance was immense.


    "This, is a Divine Relic." Wu Youqing leaned back slightly, with her slender legs clad in tight jeans, crossed in a queenly manner.


    "Its very existence symbolizes ''unreasonableness'', as if it was a prank by the gods."


    On the panel, [Divinity] had risen to two hundred.


    To hold onto it for a longer period, Xue Jing began to make small talk:


    "Is such a useful Divine Relic only used to make tea?"


    Wu Youqing replied, "Do you think it would be making full use of it to turn it into a ''Perpetual Motion Machine''?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Though it was just an ordinary-sized water jug with an outflow efficiency that wouldn''t exceed 1000 milliliters per second, its attribute of unlimited output was sufficient to devise ways to turn it into a somewhat limited but still significantly impactful Perpetual Motion Machine.


    Especially since the water poured from the jug was ''hot water''.


    The majority of human energy usage is merely about boiling water in various ways.


    "From the moment GOD-1567 was discovered, the first person who acquired it had this idea, yet it is impossible."


    "Over the years, through research into thousands of Divine Relics, humanity has derived five laws." Wu Youqing extended her right hand, spreading her five fingers, then closed them until only her index finger remained extended.


    ```


    "One of them is that ''Divine Relics possess random transfer nature.''"


    "No matter how good the containment measures are, they are of no use. Any Divine Relic possesses the ability to randomly transfer with trigger conditions that are unclear. They can be transferred to another place at any time, with no pattern, unpredictable, and simply impossible to intercept."


    "Given that the Sweet Water Jug might disappear and transfer at any moment, it is impossible to specifically spend a lot of time and tens of billions in funds to make a Perpetual Motion Machine powered by it. This would only be a waste of manpower and resources for nothing."


    The young girl spoke eloquently.


    "I see," Xue Jing nodded in agreement.


    So, this jug was not as useful as imagined; its perpetual nature was non-replicable and couldn''t theoretically be applied elsewhere. Moreover, it could transfer at any time, making it impractical as a power source for a Perpetual Motion Machine.


    As a result, such a Divine Relic with mind-blowing significance was, in reality, nothing more than a toy capable of pouring out sweet, hot water.


    No wonder Wu Youqing would leave it here, in what seemed like a wasteful display.


    "In summary, all Divine Relics are similar to GOD-1567 in that they all have aspects that surpass human scientific understanding, being neither logical nor physical," the young girl said.


    Xue Jing listened to Wu Youqing''s introduction while watching the progress on the panel.


    [Divinity held: 397]


    "I never imagined that such wondrous things existed in the world," Xue Jing remarked.


    "Do you just believe that?" Wu Youqing raised an eyebrow.


    "No need to test its authenticity? Aren''t you afraid I''m deceiving you? Maybe this jug''s water was just pre-boiled, with some sugar added, and there''s a hidden compartment for replenishing the water?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, looking serious, "No need, I trust you."


    The panel''s reaction was the perfect proof.


    Wu Youqing snorted lightly, "Naive."


    Then she couldn''t help but laugh, "But somewhat cute."


    She reached out to take the Sweet Water Jug back from Xue Jing''s hand. He saw her movement and said nonchalantly:


    "Sister, would you like some water? I''ll pour it for you."


    Having said that, he stood up, took a teacup from the tea tray, filled it with the jug, and pushed it in front of Wu Youqing.


    The girl didn''t say much, withdrew her hand meant to take the jug, then picked up the cup, slightly pursed her red lips, and took a sip, frowning slightly.


    "The water from GOD-1567 has a plain sweet taste, yet the components tested show not a hint of sugar, identical to ordinary water."


    "It''s a pity that this sweetness is too cloying and doesn''t taste that great; otherwise, it could be used to make real ''sugar-free desserts''."


    Wu Youqing said with a bit of regret.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 502]


    Finally, I can activate the active effect of ''Twin Lifes''! S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing suppressed the urge to jump up in celebration, placed the Sweet Water Jug on the wooden table, thought for a moment, then turned to Wu Youqing with a puzzled expression:


    "Sister, I''m very curious, how do you know so much, and why are you telling me all this?"


    The young girl smiled slightly, rummaged through a small bag on a nearby chair for a while, took out a business card, and handed it to Xue Jing.


    "Let me introduce myself again."


    "I, Wu Youqing."


    Xue Jing took the business card and looked at the words on it.


    "CEO of Wu''s Divine Relic Containment and Research Co., Ltd."


    "I hope you..."


    Before the girl could finish her sentence, Xue Jing who had read the business card stood up from his seat, walked in front of her, and sincerely took her hand.


    "Please let me join your team, dear sister."


    Wu Youqing: "..."


    ...

 Chapter 35 - 35 D-Class Divine Relic Custodian, Twin Lifes Active Unlock

    Divine Relic Custodian Company!


    What kind of Immortal organization is this, I must join!


    Just hearing about it I know there will be many opportunities to come into contact with Divine Relics, and what''s the difference between that and letting a mouse into a rice barrel for him?


    The only source of Divinity currently is Divine Relics, so any opportunity to come into contact with more Divine Relics must not be missed.


    He still doesn''t fully understand the function of Divinity, but just a single Twin Lifes is enough to show him its importance.


    Having more contact with Divine Relics, what if he activates one or even multiple Divine Skills in the future?


    Damn it, if he could have a set of Divine Skills like Twin Lifes that defy logic, then who in this world could stand against him?


    "Mmm... I was actually planning on inviting you to join as well," she said, "Since you''re interested, that''s even better."


    Wu Youqing was quite stunned for a moment before replying with a strange expression on her face.


    "So where is our company located? I don''t mean anything by it, I just want to take a look," said Xue Jing with an unchanged expression.


    The girl was rummaging in her bag while saying, "Our company headquarters isn''t in Qingcheng... it''s a bit far from here, I''ll take you there later."


    Xue Jing showed clear disappointment, and seeing this, Wu Youqing smiled and said, "It seems you''re really interested in Divine Relics."


    "There might not be anyone in this world who loves Divine Relics more than I do," Xue Jing sighed.


    Upon hearing this, Wu Youqing nodded in satisfaction, "That''s the best, our company needs employees just like you the most."


    She took a document out of her bag and pushed it in front of Xue Jing.


    On the cover were five vertical characters: Employment Agreement.


    Xue Jing picked up the document and flipped through it.


    It was a contract agreement for the position of ''Divine Relic Custodian.''


    It was not much different from a regular labor contract, but it contained additional confidentiality agreements, such as not disclosing one''s work outside, and not leaking any research information related to the Divine Relics already in the company''s possession, among other things.


    There were also some benefits and insurance agreements, such as compensation for disability or death during the containment process...


    "... Is a Custodian''s job very dangerous?" Xue Jing asked.


    Wu Youqing nodded, then shook her head, "Divine Relics are divided into D, C, B, A according to their danger level."


    "Since you are just starting, you''re classified as a D-level Custodian, the company will only assign ''harmless'' D-level Divine Relic containment tasks to you."


    "For this level of Divine Relic, if you follow the assigned procedures exactly, there''s basically no danger."


    "If you grow in the future and rise to a C-level, the ''dangerous'' level, or B ''high-danger level'', then you will be involved in truly risky work."


    Xue Jing suddenly realized, "I see... What about A-level then?"


    "A-level is the ''highest danger level''. The harm that this level of Divine Relic can cause is incalculable, potentially affecting an entire city, an entire country, and some might even have a global impact."


    "You don''t need to worry about A-level Divine Relics for now. Such level occurrences are not something a person or a company can resolve. When that time comes, official agencies will intervene."


    Wu Youqing explained.


    Xue Jing nodded, "One last question... Why did you choose me to become a Custodian? Just because I''ve been in contact with Divine Relics doesn''t mean I''m qualified to be a Custodian. This job obviously requires enough professional skills. On what basis did you decide that I could be a Custodian?"


    Wu Youqing didn''t understand him at all, didn''t know about his panel, didn''t know he was practicing martial arts, didn''t know how powerful he would be in the future, and just wanted to hire him simply because he had encountered Divine Relics before, which actually seemed quite strange.


    Seeing that Charm Art didn''t show any reaction on the panel, obviously, she wasn''t captivated by appearances.


    At his words, a smile appeared in Wu Youqing''s beautiful eyes.


    "You''re mistaken about one thing," she said softly.


    "It''s not that ''you came into contact with Divine Relics'', but that ''Divine Relics came into contact with you''."


    Xue Jing''s gaze flashed, as if he understood, "You mean..."


    "For many years, through our research on Divine Relics, we''ve roughly deduced that Divine Relics themselves likely possess some degree of ''personal will''."


    Wu Youqing stretched out her hand and caressed GOD-1567, "They... actively approach those who attract them."


    "These Divine Relics probably possess some sort of power to influence fate. You might think you encountered a Divine Relic by coincidence, but perhaps... it''s not a coincidence at all."


    "It''s not you who found the Divine Relic, but the Divine Relic that found you," Wu Youqing said word by word.


    "The ability to attract Divine Relics is extremely rare. In fact, just by joining our company, even if you do nothing, I estimate that the probability of encountering Divine Relics would increase significantly."


    "I am such a person, and because of this unique constitution, I ultimately became the CEO of this company."


    "Even... the fate of you and I meeting here might be influenced by a Divine Relic."


    Wu Youqing laughed.


    "Now you understand why I want you to become a Custodian at our company," she said.


    Xue Jing suddenly realized.


    So that''s how it is...


    No wonder the salary is so generous.


    Xue Jing glanced at the employment agreement''s monthly salary of two hundred thousand, along with the various bonuses and subsidies for successfully containing Divine Relics.


    Xue Jing sincerely said, "Salary or not doesn''t matter to me, what''s important is that I like Divine Relics. I''m willing to join your company, big sis."


    ...


    After signing the employment agreement and exchanging contact information with Wu Youqing, making a pact to contact him whenever there was a Divine Relic containment job, Xue Jing left the library.


    First, he went to the comprehensive building''s teacher''s office at the Affiliated Middle School to ask his homeroom teacher Du Shiwei for leave, then hurried back home.


    Upon entering the door, he headed straight for the ''gym'', sat down cross-legged in the center of the room, and opened the panel.


    [Twin Lifes Lv1 (Divinity required for upgrade: 502/100)]


    [Passive: Possesses two lives; can choose when to resurrect within seven days after death, cooldown time: three months]


    [Active: Unlocked (Unlock condition: Divinity 502/500, currently unlockable)]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock condition: Divinity 502/2000, level reached Lv10)]


    Xue Jing took a deep breath and clicked to unlock the active effect.


    [Unlocked]


    [Active: At each Lv1, designate one physical-related ability to produce double effect upon use]


    [Currently selectable: Physical Strength, Physical Defense, Action Speed, Reaction Speed, Calculative Ability, Concentration, Memory...]


    There were dozens, if not hundreds of options extending beyond, but Xue Jing didn''t look closely.


    "Designate one ability... to produce double effect?"


    Xue Jing pondered, chin in hand.


    "Does this mean if I choose ''Physical Strength'', then I could have double the strength when using Twin Lifes?"


    It was somewhat subtle.


    This ability... seemed quite powerful, yet it also seemed... not to live up to the powerful passive effect of Twin Lifes.


    Was there something he had overlooked?


    Xue Jing fell into contemplation.


    "Which ability should I choose for the first one?"


    ... sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 36 - 36: Divinity Skills Beyond the Physical

    [Physical Strength][Action Speed][Physical Defense].


    Xue Jing''s gaze moved back and forth among these three items.


    Without a doubt, these three were definitely the biggest boosts to his combat strength at this stage.


    The rest, such as [Reaction Speed][Perception Ability][Instinctive Intuition], were also good, but obviously, for now, their effects were not as direct as speed, strength, and defense.


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing first dismissed [Physical Defense].


    Having the passive resurrection effect of Twin Lifes, he didn''t need this life-saving ability at the moment. Moreover, as a Stone-throwing Immortal, if he encountered an enemy he couldn''t defeat, he certainly wouldn''t get close to them, so [Physical Defense] was dispensable.


    All that was left to choose was between strength and speed...


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing chose [Action Speed].


    Now, with his skills enhanced, his physical strength was not weak. Coupled with Power, handling human-level physicality was a breeze.


    His senior sister, Zhu Shanying, whom Miao Miao once described as ''much stronger than him,'', had fainted on the spot from his judo throw, although it was because she didn''t use Power for Defense, it still somewhat revealed that martial artists were a bit like glass cannons, high attack, low defense.


    Speed was different, however; it was an attribute that was forever scarce and one could never be too fast with.


    In the world of martial arts, no defense is impregnable, only speed is unstoppable!


    Xue Jing clicked on [Action Speed].


    Instantly, he instinctively understood how to use the active effect of [Twin Lifes] as naturally as breathing.


    "Twin Lifes, activate!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next moment, Xue Jing was like a video set to fast forward, his action speed suddenly doubled.


    He stood up, walked over to the standing punching bag, channeled his Power, and punched it flying away, the whole process incredibly fast.


    "Eh? This feeling..." Xue Jing paused, his eyes reflecting his thoughts.


    Then, he tested it again by setting up the standing punching bag, punched it again, just as incredibly fast, as if a fast forward button was pressed.


    The standing punching bag flew out again, hitting the wall.


    "So it''s true, indeed..." he muttered.


    "One last test..."


    Xue Jing walked out of his house, left the residential area, and went to the small garden track where he usually jogged in the morning.


    It was already eight or nine in the morning, and being a Monday, most people were at work or school, leaving few people in the garden, just a few elderly men and women walking, doing Tai Chi, and exercising.


    Xue Jing took out his phone, opened the stopwatch function, and confirmed that no one around was watching him, then pressed start on the timer!


    In an instant, he shot forward like a cannonball, moving at speeds impossible for a human, streaking across the track like a meteor.


    In a matter of seconds, he had run half a lap, then he stopped and pressed the stop button on his phone.


    [5 seconds 12]


    "This track is two hundred meters in total, half a lap is one hundred meters... it took only 5 seconds 12."


    "So, this is the true nature of the active effect of [Twin Lifes]?"


    A look of surprise flashed in Xue Jing''s eyes.


    "To ignore any physical law, to directly make one''s action speed gain the effect of doubling..."


    "Simply, conceptually, my speed has doubled!"


    Xue Jing was overjoyed.


    It is known that physical training has diminishing marginal effects.


    To increase one''s running speed from twenty seconds per hundred meters to twelve seconds is relatively easy, just requiring persistent high-intensity training for a while.


    But after achieving twelve seconds, factors like air resistance and physical limits mean that every 0.1-second improvement requires a hundred times, even a thousand times more effort.


    Once reaching the ten-second domain, it''s even more absurd, every 0.01-second improvement is a remarkable progress, unachievable without enough talent and ample resources.


    But now, Twin Lifes simply ignored all that, making his speed simply double!


    From 10 seconds 24, it directly became 5 seconds 12!


    Imagine this, he was in the midst of a high-stakes close combat where not a single mistake was permitted and suddenly he activated "Twin Lifes". His hand speed doubled instantly. What concept is that?


    This was an acceleration that defied logic and instinct; no one could have anticipated it, almost ensuring a sure hit.


    This is Twin Lifes, a Divine Skill that transcends physics!


    "It''s a pity, it really is just the speed that has doubled¡­ The attack strength is still calculated based on the original physical properties."


    Speed equals mass, and the faster the punching speed, the higher is the attack.


    However, Twin Lifes only doubled his speed, which means even if he could throw punches at the speed of sound because of the doubled speed, the kinetic energy released is still that of the original speed, not that of a sonic speed punch.


    Despite this, he still felt that the "Twin Lifes Speed" could be described as invincible.


    "So, does Twin Lifes also ignore physical laws and double "Physical Strength" and "Physical Defense"?"


    At this thought, Xue Jing became a bit restless.


    He definitely needed to rush and absorb some seventeen or eighteen Divine Relics.


    "I''m bloody desperate!"


    He picked up his phone and glanced at Wu Youqing in his contacts.


    She was his only channel to access Divine Relics, and he had no idea when she would bring some work his way.


    With a sigh, Xue Jing collected his thoughts.


    Just as he was planning to continue testing the effect of Twin Lifes Speed, he suddenly discovered¡­ it seemed to be unavailable.


    He opened the panel and saw that the originally shining, golden "Twin Lifes Lv1" had become dull.


    "Ah? There''s also a cooldown period?"


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched.


    He carefully looked at the "Twin Lifes" on the panel; the golden light was slowly returning.


    "Just now, I ran for over 5 seconds, plus the time I used it inside the house..."


    Xue Jing did a quick calculation, it seemed like he had used Twin Lifes Speed for about 20 seconds, and it had entered cooldown.


    In that case¡­ he would need to use this skill more strategically.


    He wasn''t sure how long the cooldown was or whether upgrading it would extend the usage time.


    "Ban, is this really your limit?"


    Xue Jing was somewhat disappointed.


    ¡­


    When he returned home, Miao Miao had already woken up and was nestled on the sofa in the living room, watching a cartoon on TV while licking its disheveled fur.


    Seeing Xue Jing come back, it yawned, exposing a few sharp teeth.


    "Didn''t you go to school, you''re back so soon?"


    Xue Jing smiled and said:


    "I missed Sect Hierarch so much, I couldn''t help but take leave and come back."


    This statement was a joke made in high spirits after activating Twin Lifes.


    What Xue Jing hadn''t expected was that upon hearing this, Miao Miao paused for a moment, then turned its face away, its back towards him.


    "Is that so¡­"


    The childish female voice seemed a bit shy, not quite able to hide its mood as the cat''s tail flicked uncontrollably.


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    If he said right now that he was just joking, would he be scratched on the spot?


    ¡­

 Chapter 37 - 37: Cheating-like Twin Speed

    In the afternoon, Xue Jing observed that "Twin Lifes" on the panel flashed back with a pale golden glow and conducted further experiments, from which he drew some conclusions.


    "The usage time is about 20 seconds, and after it''s fully used up, it takes about six hours to cool down to 20 seconds..."


    "The cooldown recovery is ongoing at all times. Suppose I use one second of ''Twin Speed'', leaving 19 seconds, one-twentieth of six hours is 18 minutes, meaning I will fully recover to 20 seconds of usage time after 18 minutes."


    Xue Jing derived detailed usage data from his experiments.


    Unfortunately, the usage time of level 1 Twin Lifes is just too short; he had to calculate his resources carefully.


    "Speaking of which, practicing the Coiling Dragon Art is also an ''action'' that can be accelerated with ''Twin Speed''."


    "This could directly double the efficiency... but the current duration is still too short; I''ll worry about it later."


    ...


    At three in the afternoon, Xue Jing still hadn''t gone to school; he had taken the day off.


    Taking the bus to Hidden Dragon Dojo, perhaps because it was the afternoon shift change, the receptionist at the front desk wasn''t the same qipao-clad lady as before, but another equally beautiful receptionist dressed in a qipao.


    Although she had not met Xue Jing before, she seemed to have been forewarned and seen his photo; upon seeing Xue Jing, she stood up and sweetly called out ''Lord Jing'', which made Xue Jing feel a bit odd.


    ''This title isn''t much better than the young master.''


    Upon entering the dojo, Xue Jing first went to check out the training hall.


    "No, no, your way of channeling energy is too rigid. We have an old saying in martial arts: ''Train to lift a thousand pounds, apply with just four ounces of effort.'' You''re only using your muscles, which belong to ''dead strength,'' both strenuous and ineffective..."


    In the center of the training hall, Zhu Shanying was instructing an ordinary disciple as many other disciples watched.


    Just as Xue Jing walked into the training hall, Zhu Shanying turned her head toward the door for some reason. Her eyes, nimble as newborn animals, immediately lit up, and she waved her hand joyfully and shouted, "Hey, hey! Junior brother, over here, come here!"


    Xue Jing paused slightly and, not wanting to refuse, walked toward the center of the hall.


    "Is he the new direct disciple of the Old Dojo Master? Junior Brother?"


    "He looks really handsome, even better looking than Senior Brother Chen..."


    "I heard he defeated Zhu, and the Old Dojo Master was amazed by his talent and accepted him as a disciple right then and there?"


    "Who told you that, it''s all nonsense; Zhu was just caught off guard and didn''t dodge..."


    Many disciples who hadn''t been at the dojo that day and thus had not met Xue Jing turned their curious eyes on this new junior brother.


    "Junior brother, you arrived just in time. Let''s have a sparring match, and show them the correct way to use power," Zhu Shanying said with a smile, taking Xue Jing''s hand and leading him toward the nearby sparring ring.


    The girl''s hand was soft and smooth, not at all like that of someone who practiced martial arts. Men of weaker will could be ensnared by such a hand, though Xue Jing remained unyielding and stood his ground.


    Zhu Shanying, unable to pull him forward, looked at Xue Jing with some confusion.


    "Um... perhaps we should forget it, I am still not quite skilled, I''m afraid it won''t have much of a teaching effect," Xue Jing hesitated before speaking.


    Zhu Shanying gave him a reproachful look. "Didn''t you defeat me before? How can you say that you are not skilled? Come on, your senior sister will be gentle, it won''t hurt a bit..."


    Xue Jing remained expressionless, having already sensed that Zhu Shanying still harbored the intent to recover her dignity somewhat.


    After thinking for a moment, he nodded and agreed.


    Zhu Shanying was instantly overjoyed and, holding Xue Jing''s hand, led him up to the sparring ring, shattering the hearts of countless male disciples with their overly intimate behavior.


    "Eh, who do you think will win?"


    "That''s no question, it was clearly because Zhu was careless last time. Junior Brother has just started learning martial arts; how could he possibly win?"


    "Sigh, I hope Zhu will be gentle; don''t hurt our junior brother too badly."


    "Damn it, I can''t be wrong this time, right? I bet fifty cents, Zhu, wins!"


    The watching disciples were somewhat excited.


    In the sparring ring, the two of them stood facing each other.


    "Junior brother, be careful."


    Zhu Shanying crouched down slightly, positioning her hands in a stance, and cautioned Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing nodded, mimicking Zhu Shanying''s stance, but having never practiced it, even the ordinary watching disciples could tell he was a novice in fighting skills.


    However, Zhu Shanying had personally experienced this junior brother''s prowess and did not underestimate him, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of focus.


    However... In the next moment, her whole body suddenly leaned and fell toward the right.


    "Eh?"


    Xue Jing suddenly crouched down with incredible speed, delivering a powerful low sweep with his right foot that knocked her legs off the ground, causing her whole body to topple to the side.


    The incident was sudden, and Zhu Shanying, based on her past experience, initially focused her attention on the upper body since no opponent typically used a low sweep with a long wind-up at the start of a match.


    ...unless the opponent''s speed was extremely fast, which naturally made their movements unrestricted.


    Caught off guard due to insufficient intelligence, Zhu Shanying, though startled, was not thrown into disarray and was about to brace herself with her hands to regain balance.


    However, just when she was momentarily suspended in mid-air without any leverage, Xue Jing had already, with speed beyond reason, grabbed her wrist...


    "Bang!"


    Zhu Shanying lay on the arena floor, her face showing a blank expression, not knowing what had happened.


    It was another shoulder throw, with the same result.


    This time, the girl had preemptively used Power for defense, which prevented her from being knocked out.


    But to her, it made no difference... this was only a contest, not a fight to the death, and she had already lost.


    The discussions among the surrounding disciples abruptly ceased, falling into silence.


    "I yield, Senior Sister Zhu."


    Xue Jing, looking at the girl lying on the ground in a daze, spoke softly.


    After speaking, he turned and walked down from the arena, slowly heading toward the dojo''s entrance.


    Along the way, all the disciples Xue Jing passed involuntarily stepped aside as if there was an invisible wall of air around him, clearing away everything.


    Not until Xue Jing had left the dojo did the disciples slowly come to their senses and looked toward Zhu Shanying, who was still lying on the arena floor.


    "This... Senior Sister Zhu..." a disciple hesitatingly spoke.


    The girl did not respond, just gazed blankly at the ceiling.


    ...


    Xue Jing made his way to his training room, sat down cross-legged in the center of the wooden floor, and opened his panel to check.


    The pale golden light of Twin Lifes had dimmed slightly.


    The spar with Zhu Shanying had used Twin Speed for about three seconds.


    It was the first application of this skill in real combat, and the effect was exactly as Xue Jing had anticipated, even surpassing his expectations.


    Damn powerful!


    Not to mention the sheer speed of this skill, the unexpectedness that defied logic was truly terrifying.


    Zhu Shanying had sparred with him once and knew his attack speed, had mentally prepared in advance, but she had no room to react to the sudden surge in his speed.


    If he could exploit the huge disparity in speed properly, the advantage it provided was indeed massive.


    Anyone who has played games knows how torturous this ''Quick-Slow Blade'' can be.


    [You have experienced a battle, Fighting Experience Points +97]


    [You have experienced a battle, Fitness Experience Points +81]


    [You have experienced a battle, felt joy, Health Cultivation Experience Value +49]


    [You have experienced a battle, Aiming Experience Value +26]


    [You have experienced a battle, Channeling Energy Experience Value +69]


    [Channeling Energy increased to Lv2 (9/500)] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm? Not considered a victory against the odds anymore?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    The previous time he had beaten Zhu Shanying, the panel indicated a victory against the odds, but not now.


    It seemed the panel had decided that with the activation of Twin Speed, he was no longer considered weaker than Zhu Shanying?


    ...

 Chapter 38 - 38: Five Major Practices, Leaping Through the Dragon Gate

    In the cultivation room, dressed in black training garments, Xue Jing was assuming a posture, his Power channeling throughout his body, stimulating his nodes as he practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills.


    At Level 2 Channeling Energy, his use of Power had reached a new level, allowing for even finer and more detailed stimulation of the critical nodes within his body.


    His body temperature rose slightly, and sweat seeped out from the pores all over his body, drop by drop falling to the floor, gradually forming a puddle on the solid wood flooring beneath his feet.


    This time, Xue Jing persisted for nearly an hour before he couldn''t help but collapse to the ground, ending his practice of the Coiling Dragon Art.


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills practice, Fitness Experience Points +198]


    [You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills practice, Channeling Energy Experience Points +187]


    The results were quite gratifying, almost twice the gain from his last session of practicing the Coiling Dragon Art.


    "Gradually adapting..."


    Xue Jing felt the aching in various parts of his body.


    Although the duration of this cultivation session was longer than the last, the feeling of swelling and pain was more bearable. This was not only due to the upgraded Channeling Energy but also because his body was gradually adapting to the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Xue Jing picked up the remaining Sleeping Dragon Salve from yesterday that was in the cultivation room and began to apply and massage it onto himself.


    "With this, and the recovery capabilities from ''Health Cultivation'', I feel like I could train again today."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    Applying the salve on his own was somewhat inconvenient, so after struggling for more than ten minutes to get it done, he sighed with relief, lying on the floor resting.


    "Junior Brother, are you there?"


    Chen Fuguang''s voice suddenly came from outside the cultivation room.


    Xue Jing paused slightly, sat up, and said, "Yes, Senior Brother Chen, please come in."


    The door opened, and Chen Fuguang, dressed in casual clothing and with hands clasped behind his back, walked in. Seeing Xue Jing''s sweaty appearance, he smiled and said,


    "Oh, practicing?"


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded, "Just finished."


    "I heard from Master, you persisted for more than half an hour the first time you practiced the Coiling Dragon Art."


    Chen Fuguang said with admiration,


    "I thought our eldest senior brother with his monstrous muscles was already outrageous, but I didn''t expect you to be even more so."


    "It''s rather embarrassing to admit, but when I first practiced, it hurt so much after three minutes I didn''t want to continue, which really irritated Master," said Chen Fuguang, shaking his head.


    "Although the Coiling Dragon Art is much simpler and easier to practice than the Armor Shaking Skill, it''s still far from what ordinary people can endure. Only you, junior brother, and our eldest senior brother seem to relish it."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than a person suddenly leapt into the cultivation room through an open window.


    It was a middle-aged man with a clear, handsome face and long hair reaching his waist. He must have been around two meters tall, with an extremely burly and robust physique. His oversized training garment was stretched taut, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal muscles that gleamed almost like metal, imposing a powerful sense of strength.


    After leaping in through the window, the man landed as lightly as a cat, his toes touching the solid wood floor nearly without sound, a stark contrast to his imposing build.


    ...


    If it were simply someone climbing in through a window, that wouldn''t have been anything out of the ordinary.


    The problem was... the Hidden Dragon Dojo was located on the seventeenth floor of an office building.


    "Eldest senior brother."


    Chen Fuguang, seemingly used to such an entrance, casually greeted the middle-aged man.


    Xue Jing also snapped back to reality amidst his shock, quickly saying, "Senior Brother!"


    Senior Brother Meng Boshang did not speak but nodded at Xue Jing with a barely discernible curl of his lips, as though he had smiled but also as though he had not.


    Xue Jing was quite puzzled and didn''t quite understand Senior Brother''s attitude towards him.


    Meng Boshang still did not speak and silently walked out of the training room, his destination unknown.


    "Senior Brother always takes the road less traveled, eh? Every time he takes a stroll around the Hidden Dragon Dojo and just enters through whichever window he finds open."


    Chen Fuguang exclaimed. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing walked over to the window and glanced out, confirming that he was indeed ten stories high.


    "Seventeenth floor... that must be over seventy or eighty meters, right? How did Senior Brother get in?"


    Xue Jing wondered aloud.


    Chen Fuguang chuckled: "For us martial artists, the limitations of terrain have never been an issue."


    "Especially for someone like Senior Brother, leaping directly to the seventeenth floor dojo from the ground is hardly a difficult feat."


    "Directly to the seventeenth floor?"


    Leaping more than seventy meters from the ground, how much power would that require?


    Two words surfaced in Xue Jing''s mind.


    Superhuman.


    "Senior Brother is a master who has almost reached Perfection in the Five Major Practices and is about to Leap Through the Dragon Gate. Even the Public Security Bureau has to seek Senior Brother''s help for matters they can''t handle," Chen Fuguang said, his face beaming with pride.


    "Five Major Practices? Leaping Through the Dragon Gate?"


    Xue Jing asked curiously.


    "Right, you''ve just started, little brother, so your understanding of martial arts cultivation must still be superficial. Let me tell you about it," Chen Fuguang said, sitting down cross-legged on the solid wood floor.


    "In our martial artist''s cultivation, there are Five Major Practices concerning the body which consist of skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood."


    "These five elements are interconnected; there is no strict sequence in their cultivation. They can be trained simultaneously or with particular emphasis on certain aspects."


    "As for our Hidden Dragon School, we progress evenly in all Five Major Practices, which makes us extremely versatile. However, this also means that those who do not cultivate well lack any remarkable characteristics and become mediocre," he continued.


    "Those who have Completed the Five Major Practices have reached the theoretical pinnacle of human physique. At that moment, if one can go even further and break through the body''s limits, it is akin to Fish Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, shedding the mundane, undergoing a complete transformation, and continuing the climb to even greater pinnacles.


    It''s said that our master had reached this level over twenty years ago."


    Chen Fuguang talked with enthusiasm.


    "Five Major Practices, Leaping Through the Dragon Gate..."


    "So is ''Leaping Through the Dragon Gate'' the highest realm in martial arts?" Xue Jing asked with curiosity.


    Chen Fuguang shook his head. "I''ve asked the master about this, and his reply was that there is no end to the martial arts."


    This sounded like an empty platitude, but Xue Jing could only nod in agreement, after all, it was what the master had said.


    "However... the master did mention some ancient legends to me."


    Chen Fuguang suddenly continued.


    "It is said that there is a legendary ultimate state of the body passed down among ancient martial artists, known as the ''Treasured Body''."


    ...

 Chapter 39 - 39 The Legend of the Supreme Ancient Body

    ```


    "What is a ''Treasured Body''?" Xue Jing asked curiously.


    Chen Fuguang explained, "The so-called Treasured Body literally refers to treating one''s body as a ''treasure'' and forging it into one."


    His voice took on a melodious tone, "In ancient times, there was a poem that went¡ª"


    "Flesh hosting dragon and elephant, tendons like iron built,"


    "Skin bursting like glazed glass, unyielding jade bones underneath."


    "Blood like molten lava scorching red gold, utmost perfection and marvel, a true Treasured Body."


    "It refers to the legendary ''Five Realms of the Treasured Body''."


    "''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant,'' ''Iron Tree Entwining Tendons,'' ''Lustrous Glass Skin,'' ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' ''Dripping Blood Melts Gold.''"


    "These five great realms are the ultimate physical states that ancient martial artists dreamed of."


    As Xue Jing listened, entranced by the realms depicted by ancient martial artists, he couldn''t help but ask further,


    "What specifically do these five great realms represent?"


    Chen Fuguang, very pleased with Xue Jing''s reaction that greatly satisfied his desire to share, smiled proudly and said,


    "The so-called ''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant'' refers to muscular flesh that harbors the power of dragons and elephants. Among aquatic creatures, the dragon has the greatest force, and among land creatures, the elephant is the strongest. These two are considered the most powerful beings in legends, so ''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant'' should be easy to understand."


    "There is an old saying that goes: Why does one strive to shake the land under heaven? Solely to cultivate the flesh of dragon and elephant."


    As Chen Fuguang spoke, he began to shake his head and sway, getting excited.


    "Secondly, ''Iron Tree Entwining Tendons'' refers to sinews like the roots of an iron tree. Trees are naturally tough, but iron trees are even more so, surpassing in both hardness and resilience. Muscles and tendons are inseparable, with muscles being the extension of tendons and tendons the essence of muscles.


    Possessing sinews like the roots of an iron tree can bind the flesh of dragon and elephant, maximizing their potential."


    "There''s a saying that praises: Divine power limitless, moving mountains with ease, iron tree tendrils tightly winding the body."


    Chen Fuguang listed these attributes as if counting treasures, and when he got to the sayings, he almost sang them like a professional storyteller.


    "Third comes ''Lustrous Glass Skin,'' which doesn''t refer to the skin''s outward appearance but rather its nature, as flawless and impervious as glass. Once attained, the body would have no weak points, capable of retaining all energy, blood, and spirit, minimizing consumption, shutting out external pressures, impervious as diamond glass, and unharmed by divine weapons."


    "There''s a saying that praises: Perfect worldly affairs are rare since ancient times, as impeccable is the glass skin without blemish or leak."


    "Fourth is ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' which involves tempering one''s bones into unyielding jade. These bones would then possess an unparalleled function of blood creation, endlessly circulating blood and essence energy. Physical consumption would no longer pose an issue, combined with ultimate hardness and sharpness. No weapon could harm them, and no object could withstand their damage.


    Utilizing such bones to execute martial arts techniques significantly enhances their killing power."


    "There''s a saying that praises: A thousand years, ten thousand years, eroding worldly winds, yet not wearing down a set of unyielding bones."


    Xue Jing teased, "Why doesn''t it rhyme when you get to the bones?"


    Chen Fuguang gave a sigh and waved his hand, "What does rhyme matter? It''s about looking cool."


    "Don''t interrupt, let me finish," he said.


    Chen Fuguang gathered his emotions again, his eyes reflecting a touch of vastness,


    "Fifth is ''Dripping Blood Melts Gold.'' It''s recognized by ancient martial artists as the most difficult to achieve of the Five Realms of the Treasured Body. It refers to the moment when one mobilizes their body, their blood boiling fervently, hot as volcanic lava.


    A single drop has the power to dissolve solid gold, and as blood is the source of human dynamism, imagine the might such blood could unleash!"


    "There''s a saying that praises: True gold fears not the furnace''s trial, only the martial artist''s blood that melts gold!"


    Surprised, Xue Jing said,


    "This feels less like a description of realms and more like a myth."


    As soon as he spoke, Chen Fuguang''s expression suddenly darkened.


    The previously fiery atmosphere abruptly came to a halt.


    "Yes, it''s just a myth."


    "No one can achieve it."


    A sigh escaped Chen Fuguang.


    In the past, Master Li Qi had described this ultimate pursuit of the body by martial artists with the same fervor before sighing listlessly afterward.


    Putting aside whether such realms were even attainable, but even if they were, what then?


    The times had already changed...


    ```


    ```


    Genius can be manufactured, a few shots of banned drugs and the corresponding scientific training methods can quickly produce a strong fighter, not to mention the existence of ''Alien Implants''.


    Ten years of hard work in martial arts is not as good as one surgery.


    Even if someone does manage to cultivate a Treasured Body to the fifth level, it is still uncertain whether they can defeat the crystallization of new era technology.


    The path of the Old Martial Arts has long reached its end...


    Chen Fuguang''s face was full of melancholy, he stopped speaking, and Xue Jing also noticed something and did not persuade him, only remained silent.


    He and Chen Fuguang were different, possessing the greatest anomaly in this world.


    What others couldn''t do, for him, was not impossible.


    The five realms of the Treasured Body...


    Maybe he could try, see if he could become a ''Martial Arts Myth''.


    "Alright, Junior Brother, you go ahead and train, I''m busy with work and will leave first," said Chen Fuguang, patting Xue Jing on the shoulder with a smile.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Take care, Senior Brother Chen."


    ... S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Two days later, in the training room of the Hidden Dragon Dojo,


    Xue Jing stopped practicing the Coiling Dragon Art and stood on the solid wood floor, slowly steadying his breath.


    Under his feet was a staggering pool of sweat, enough to make one question just how much water the human body could possibly hold.


    [You have completed a session of the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills Practice, Fitness Experience Points +208]


    [You have completed a session of the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills Practice, Channeling Energy Experience Points +201]


    [Fitness has been increased to Lv5 (59/2000)]


    [Channeling Energy has been increased to Lv3 (198/800)]


    Xue Jing''s body crackled crisply, his overall physical quality suddenly increased, receiving an all-around enhancement.


    He gripped his hand, power pulsed with his breath, and a patch of skin on his arm suddenly bulged as if a mouse was scurrying beneath it.


    After moving his fingers, the ''mouse'' scurried up to his index finger. Xue Jing posed his thumb and index finger in a flicking gesture, snap!


    Just a flick of the fingers produced a loud, powerful pop!


    "Great! Power through the fingertips, a Finger Flicking Strike, as a teacher, I didn''t expect that, aside from your exceptionally outstanding physical talent, you also possess such great ability in channeling energy," said Li Qi, who was sitting in a wheelchair, clapping his hands with a laugh.


    Looking at the disciple before him who he couldn''t be more satisfied with, Li Qi felt even the bald patch on his head seemed to shine a bit brighter.


    "As the saying goes, ''A resonant force is worth a thousand gold.'' To finely control power to extend to the fingertips, and be able to kill with a flick, in the Old Era, that alone would classify you as an expert, honored as ''Master'' once you stepped outside," he said.


    A smile of satisfaction appeared on Xue Jing''s face as well. He smiled and said,


    "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent guidance."


    Li Qi hummed in agreement, then said, "You''re progressing too fast, far exceeding my expectations, it might be possible to try the next step ahead of time."


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "The next step? Is it the Armor Shaking Skill?"


    Li Qi shook his head, "No, it''s the Visualization Method."


    "The Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills aim to ''cultivate Dragon Qi'', but where does this Dragon Qi come from? It comes from within the heart!"


    "You have to cultivate a dragon in your own heart."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 40 - 40: The Boy Who Screams Traffic

    Xue Jing followed Chen Fuguang into the venue.


    Somehow, the soundproofing in this venue was incredibly effective. It was almost quiet outside, but as soon as they entered, a cacophony of noise instantly assaulted their ears.


    Xue Jing looked up to see the seats filled with a dense crowd, and a rough count told him there were at least a few thousand people there. In the dimly lit space, neon lights flashed everywhere, illuminating the faces of people who were shouting loudly.


    In the center of the venue was an octagonal cage ring raised more than a meter off the ground and quite spacious. Inside, two muscular men clad only in shorts were fighting barehanded, striking with fierce moves that produced a cracking sound upon contact.


    "This is the Fist Competing Pavilion, junior brother. You should know what this place is," Chen Fuguang said with a smile as he watched Xue Jing observing his surroundings.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I know."


    Fist Competition is a unique method of commercial competition in this world.


    Due to the prevalence of martial arts, companies found a peculiar way to resolve their disputes: each would send one or several Martial Artists to sign an agreement beforehand and engage in ''Fist Competition'' fighting matches.


    The representative who won the Fist Competition could, according to the prior agreement, claim the benefits stipulated in the contract.


    Initially, this was only a form of competition among a small circle of company owners who were martial arts enthusiasts.


    But decades ago, a major figure skilled in martial arts took charge in ''Cangting'' and enacted a new law known as the ''Fist Competition Act.''


    Since the enactment of the ''Fist Competition Act,'' this form of dueling spread far and wide, becoming popular throughout the country and even globally.


    To this day, any company with some reputation would support one or several players specifically for Fist Competition matches.


    As Fist Competitions attracted more attention, aside from their inherent commercial competition significance, they also accrued considerable additional commercial value.


    Some large companies'' Fist Competitions featured renowned star players, each event drawing tremendous interest, with massive promotion beforehand, renting large venues for ticket sales, and even involving some gray areas like bookmaking and gambling...


    Indeed, some companies would even fabricate disputes to attract attention and hold Fist Competitions to rake in money.


    "Practicing martial arts is a very costly affair."


    Chen Fuguang led the way while speaking.


    "Junior brother, you''ve just started training, so you might not feel it yet. ''Coiling Dragon Art'' only requires some healing medicines for care, but once you start practicing ''Armor Shaking Skill'' in ''Dynamic Posture,'' you''ll discover that your body is like a bottomless pit."


    Chen Fuguang shook his head.


    "The practice of ''Kungfu Body'' in our Hidden Dragon School requires many secret medicines, and a lot of the materials must be obtained from the Intersecting Boundaries, purchased from those immensely greedy companies there, especially materials related to the ''Dragon Breed.''


    "Cultivating Dragon Qi, Training Dragon Strength, the ultimate goal of the Hidden Dragon Kungfu Body is to harbor a True Dragon within one''s flesh. Naturally, many materials related to the Dragon Breed are needed, as they are the source of Dragon Qi and Dragon Force."


    "And all of these require money, lots and lots of money!"


    Chen Fuguang said slowly and earnestly.


    "We disciples only have the role to honor our Master; there''s no logic in bleeding him dry, so we have to earn this money ourselves. Aside from Zhu, whose family has substantial wealth, all the other senior brothers and sisters are busy for exactly this reason."


    He then patted Xue Jing on the shoulder.


    "The Hidden Dragon Dojo is prestigious, and many matters that need to be handled by Martial Artists are entrusted to us. The remuneration for resolving these commissions, aside from a small part used to maintain the Dojo''s operation, is spent on ourselves."


    "For example, today''s Fist Competition is a match where Boss Zhao of Haoteng Real Estate has contracted us to represent the company. The fee is this much."


    Chen Fuguang stretched out his hand, spreading five fingers.


    "Five hundred thousand?"


    Xue Jing spoke.


    "Correct, all the major dojos in Qingcheng take on this kind of job. The usual appearance fee is around three hundred thousand, but our dojo has a bigger name, so we charge higher than the average market price,"


    "These small companies that lack the capability to sponsor Fist Competition fighters are our clients. For such deals, our opponents are typically the direct disciples from the various dojos in Qingcheng."


    As they talked, the two had already moved from the noisy center of the venue to the quiet backstage rest area for the competitors.


    Chen Fuguang removed his casual clothes, wearing only a pair of crimson fight shorts, his muscular physique more distinct and imposing than when clothed.


    "Sooner or later, you''ll be dealing with these things too. It won''t hurt to learn more now," Chen Fuguang said as he sat on the soft mat in the rest area, smiling.


    Xue Jing nodded in understanding, feeling somewhat excited inside.


    Such real combat could bring him far more experience than regular daily practice, not to mention the money to be earned. It was a win-win situation.


    However, his martial arts skills were not yet perfected, and he thought his teacher probably wouldn''t agree to let him participate. It would have to wait.


    "The Fist Competition match between Haoteng Real Estate and Honghui Real Estate will begin shortly. Please have the competitors from both sides prepare!"


    An announcement from a staff member came from outside the rest room door.


    The next moment, the door opened, and Boss Zhao, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, stepped inside. His chubby face was covered in sweat, and he kept wiping it with a handkerchief, anxiously saying,


    "Master Chen, are you ready?"


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing''s shoulder, stood up, and walked towards the competitor''s passage.


    "Watch, little junior brother, and see your senior brother''s valor."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded, following behind him.


    Chen Fuguang seemed quite famous. As he emerged from the competitor''s passage, the noise and cheers from the audience immediately grew louder.


    The cameras set up for filming all focused on him. Chen Fuguang waved at the audience, performed a nimble somersault on the spot, and struck a boxing pose for the cameras, eliciting even louder cheers. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing, as the accompanying person, stood straight and proper behind him, not speaking, but his outstanding appearance still caught the attention of many.


    The photographers seemed to notice this youth who simply ''screamed potential,'' with one even directly moving the camera to focus on him.


    Inside a particular box, a young man with bandages on his head and a buzz cut suddenly pointed at Xue Jing on the screen.


    "It''s him, it''s him! That little brat who threw things!"


    "Damn, it''s this son of a bitch. Finally found him!"


    "Duan, look, there he is!"


    Duan Kaiping, large in stature, shirtless, with a dragon tattoo crossing his shoulder and a razor etching, took a deep drag from the cigarette in his mouth and put down the poker cards in his hand.


    His gaze moved from the screen to the refined and handsome youth, and then to Chen Fuguang beside him. His eyebrows instantly furrowed deep.


    ...

 Chapter 41 - 41 What Do You Want to Do to My Little Junior Brother?

    ```


    "It''s Chen Fuguang from the Hidden Dragon Dojo..."


    "Why is that kid following behind him?"


    Duan Kaiping furrowed his brows tightly, feeling a very bad premonition.


    A person''s fame is like the shadow of a tree, and the reputation of Li Qi, the Old Dojo Master of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, is significant¡ªeven in the circles of Inner Ring City, let alone in a ''backwater place'' like Qingcheng.


    Although more than twenty years ago, a ruthless person had broken his legs and squashed his fighting spirit, turning him into almost a cripple, the past majesty of ''Dragon King'' was still held in high esteem in the underworld.


    Such a figure''s disciples would naturally be no ordinary individuals.


    Compared to other dojos that widely opened their doors, Li Qi was quite strict in selecting his direct disciples to inherit his mantle. To this day, he had only taken in six, each with a reputation in the martial arts world.


    Even though Duan Kaiping was a disciple from within the Inner Gate of the Golden Wind Dojo, he wasn''t a direct disciple, and his status was fundamentally different from that of direct disciples like Chen Fuguang.


    Therefore, seeing the young man he had once tried to kidnap now walking alongside Chen Fuguang, he immediately felt incredibly anxious.


    Pat.


    The door of the private room was pushed open, and a young man with semi-long hair, bare-chested, with a razor tattoo on his chest, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, walked in.


    His physique was somewhat lean, not bulky, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that his muscles were tightly coiled, as if filled with steel beneath the skin, exceptionally rigid, even giving off a blade-like sharp sensation.


    "Senior Brother Su."


    Duan Kaiping hurriedly got up to greet him.


    The others also stood up and called out, "Boss!"


    The leader of the Razor Gang, Su Bijin, nodded and said indifferently, "Everyone, sit down."


    After everyone was seated, he noticed Duan Kaiping seemed hesitant to speak, and frowning, he said, "What''s it, spit it out, don''t act like a woman."


    Duan Kaiping gave a sheepish chuckle, scratched his head, pointed at the screen showing Xue Jing, and recounted the events from a few days earlier.


    After listening, Su Bijin''s mouth twitched, and he slapped Duan Kaiping on the head, scolding:


    "You fucking idiot, don''t you know it''s a critical time right now? Didn''t Master tell us not to stir up any trouble for now? Are you acting dumb?"


    "Causing trouble is one thing, but you couldn''t even handle it cleanly, truly useless."


    Duan Kaiping muttered, "We still don''t know what relationship this kid has with Chen Fuguang... Maybe it was just a chance meeting?"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Fuguang in the screen wrapped his arm around the young man''s shoulder, as if talking about something, their relationship seeming very good.


    "..."


    Su Bijin turned his gaze emotionlessly towards Duan Kaiping.


    ...


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +1]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +3]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +5]


    ...


    [Charm Art upgraded to Lv4 (0/1200)]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you, Charm Art experience +6]


    [Someone has developed a liking for you...]


    Suddenly the panel started flashing like mad, a flood of notifications for increased Charm Art experience popping up.


    Only then did Xue Jing notice the cameraman pointing the lens at him.


    His brow furrowed slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he moved a couple of steps to the side, attempting to get out of the camera''s view.


    However, the cameraman seemed determined to capture his popularity, the lens staying firmly locked on him.


    Chen Fuguang, standing next to him, noticed the situation and put his arm around Xue Jing''s shoulder, advising:


    "Junior Brother, you have to get used to it. With such exceptional talent and good looks, you''ll definitely be a superstar martial artist in the future. You can''t avoid this kind of attention."


    Fortunately, at this moment, the photographer also realized it was time to stop, and the camera turned in another direction.


    ```


    "Alright, just watch from down here and see how formidable our Hidden Dragon School is."


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder and turned to step onto the stage.


    As both fighters ascended the stage, the host began to introduce the competitors from each side.


    Chen Fuguang''s opponent was a man with a higher fat content, his muscles not very pronounced, and his stature quite imposing, almost resembling a mountain of flesh.


    According to the introduction, he was a disciple from the Tiger-Rhino Dojo named Xiang Jun, practicing the ''Tiger-Rhino Twin Form'' martial arts style.


    "Tiger and rhinoceros, huh¡­" Xue Jing''s gaze settled on the man''s hefty body.


    Shape Imitation Boxing typically has distinct characteristics, and martial artists who specialize in twin forms usually choose ''Tiger-Crane Twin Form,'' which combines agility with brute strength. Xue Jing had never seen the aggressively powerful Tiger-Rhino style before.


    The match began with the sound of the bell.


    Xiang Jun was extremely heavy; every step he took on the eight-sided ring seemed to shake the ground as he charged at Chen Fuguang. He didn''t resemble a man but a rampant rhino that even lions and tigers would prefer to avoid.


    As the two fighters clashed, Xue Jing was watching intently when suddenly, a hand reached out toward his shoulder.


    Since the activation of the panel, skills like fitness, fighting, and aiming had greatly enhanced Xue Jing''s reaction speed. The moment he sensed the hand, he reflexively lifted his arm and grabbed the wrist of the incoming hand.


    Su Bijin looked at his hand being held with some surprise.


    Seeing the puzzled look on the young man''s face, Su Bijin tried to show a friendly smile as he said:


    "Hello there, young man, my name is Su Bijin."


    "I''m a disciple of Jiao Hongyuan from the Golden Wind Dojo and also... the leader of the Razor Gang."


    "Bang!"


    A corner of the octagon cage suddenly burst open, and the disciple from the Tiger-Rhino Dojo, Xiang Jun, lay on the broken netting with a deep fist imprint indented in his chest, like kneaded clay, knocked unconscious.


    Chen Fuguang stepped out from the broken part of the cage and, looking at Su Bijin reaching for Xue Jing''s shoulder and being caught, spoke with an icy gaze:


    "Hey, what do you think you''re doing to my junior brother... ?"


    Su Bijin''s mouth twitched at the mention of ''junior brother.''


    It was the worst possible scenario he had imagined.


    This kid... damn it, he''s been made a direct disciple by Li Qi!


    "¡­Let''s step aside for a word, Master Chen," Su Bijin said with a forced smile. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    In the private room, Duan Kaiping was on his knees, earnestly and without embellishment recounting the attempt to abduct Xue Jing that night.


    As soon as he finished speaking, Su Bijin slammed his head down to the floor, smashing the floorboards with a bang, and blood started to seep out from beneath Duan Kaiping''s prostrate face.


    "Brother Xue, this was the unscrupulous work of our Razor Gang. I, Su Bijin, apologize on their behalf!"


    "I hope you can be magnanimous and let bygones be bygones, considering this an obligation I owe you. If you need the Razor Gang''s assistance in the future, just come to me!"


    "If there''s anything you''re still unsatisfied with, just say the word, and I''ll make sure it''s done!" Su Bijin proclaimed, thumping his chest.


    He believed that, given his status, offering such a humble apology was a significant gesture. A young man like Xue Jing must have never witnessed such a grand gesture and would surely let go of any resentment.


    However, Xue Jing seemed unmoved, showing no emotion on his face, and simply said quietly:


    "Senior Brother Chen, what do you think?"


    If Su Bijin''s grand apology had been directed to him as an ordinary young man, then Xue Jing might have been impressed by his generosity and agreed to forget the enmity, especially since he wasn''t really harmed.


    But it was obvious that the other party was intimidated by the Hidden Dragon Dojo, and that made Xue Jing quite reluctant.


    Chen Fuguang clearly understood his junior brother''s intention.


    He nonchalantly sat down on the sofa, propping up one leg over the other, and said carelessly:


    "If apologies were enough, then what''s the point of practicing martial arts?"


    "Let''s stick to the rules. Cut off a hand first."


    ...

 Chapter 42 - 42: Raise a Dragon in Your Heart

    "Amputate the hand?"


    Lying on the ground, Duan Kaiping suddenly raised his head, looking towards Su Bijin with a panicked expression.


    The latter slightly furrowed his brows, "Master Chen, isn''t this a bit too much?"


    The body of a martial artist, trained and honed, is like a precision machine; missing an arm or a leg is akin to missing a crucial part of that machine, greatly troubling its overall function.


    Especially since their practiced technique was the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, the essence of which resided in the limbs¡ªamputating a hand was not just about losing the hand itself.


    To say it would be crippling was an understatement.


    "Too much?" Chen Fuguang glanced at Su Bijin, his eyes playful.


    He leaned back on the couch, hands crossed and resting on his crossed knee, speaking lightly:


    "You might not know how much my mentor values my little junior brother. If he were to find out his disciple had encountered such treatment, chopping off a hand or two wouldn''t suffice, even if your master Jiao Hongyuan came, he might not be able to handle it."


    Su Bijin''s expression changed.


    Escalating things to involve Li Qi was something he couldn''t accept.


    Currently in a critical period, if he upset Hidden Dragon Dojo and they discovered anything, even a slight trace, it would be catastrophic for him and Golden Wind Dojo.


    With this in mind, Su Bijin clenched his teeth, his left hand miming a knife''s edge, and harshly chopped towards Duan Kaiping.


    "Shh."


    Without much ado, one of Duan Kaiping''s arms quietly fell off, the cut so clean that neither bone nor flesh showed any ragged edges.


    "Aahhhh!!"


    Clutching his severed limb with his other hand, Duan Kaiping screams agonizingly, chillingly.


    This sudden act stunned everyone in the private room, even Xue Jing and Chen Fuguang paused for a moment.


    That was decisive? Just like that?


    "Is this¡­ good enough now?"


    Su Bijin suppressed the anger and frustration simmering inside him, slowly said.


    Being forced to amputate his own subordinate''s hand was a tremendous humiliation for a gang leader, a severe blow to his authority.


    If he couldn''t protect his own men, who would follow him in the future?


    But he had no choice; messing up the big plans of those security companies would put them at risk. They might be fine, but they would push all the blame onto Golden Wind Dojo, and the consequences would be much graver than the humiliation he was facing now.


    Su Bijin had no choice.


    "..."


    Chen Fuguang gave him a deep look and then said:


    "Little junior brother, let''s go."


    After finishing, he stood up and walked out of the private room.


    Xue Jing, thoughtfully nodding, followed behind Chen Fuguang.


    In the room, only Duan Kaiping''s wails echoed.


    Disturbed by the sounds, Su Bijin pointed at the hand on the floor and shouted:


    "Pick up the hand, pick up the hand!!"


    Duan Kaiping, sweating profusely from pain, still managed to shakily pick up the fallen hand.


    Su Bijin took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, put one in his mouth, and seeing none of his people moving, he cursed:


    "Are you all blind? Light my cigarette!"


    His men finally snapped to action, urgently fishing out lighters from their pockets.


    Su Bijin lit his cigarette, taking a harsh drag, pulling almost the whole cigarette through in one go, then slowly exhaled the smoke.


    Amidst swirling smoke, his gloomy gaze followed the direction in which the Chen brothers had left.


    ...


    "Master Chen, Master Chen, I truly thank you this time!"


    At the entrance of the Fist Competing Pavilion, Boss Zhao grasped Chen Fuguang''s hand, swinging it up and down, his chubby face grinning like a bloomed old chrysanthemum, ecstatically happy.


    Chen Fuguang sighed, "Taking money for services. there''s no need for thanks, Boss Zhao, no need for formality."


    The two exchanged pleasantries before Boss Zhao finally took his leave to take possession of the plot of land he had acquired through the Fist Competition agreement.


    Chen Fuguang, with Xue Jing in tow, got into the car, turned the ignition, and slowly drove out of the parking lot before he said thoughtfully,


    "This Su Bijin has a problem."


    Xue Jing also had many questions, and upon hearing Chen Fuguang bring it up, he asked, "Senior Brother Chen, what is your take?"


    Chen Fuguang held the steering wheel as the car stopped at a traffic light intersection.


    "These gangsters are famously hot-tempered. My original intention was to provoke him into making a move, to teach him a lesson and stand up for you, but I didn''t expect him to be able to endure it and actually prefer to chop off his subordinate''s hand to keep the peace rather than blow things up."


    The light turned red, and Chen Fuguang pressed the gas pedal.


    "That being so, I felt I couldn''t bully him too much, otherwise it would have seemed that we were in the wrong."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, "Great patience often precedes great strategy."


    Chen Fuguang nodded, "Exactly, that''s what I thought as well."


    "We need to investigate what Golden Wind Dojo has been up to recently... Such vengeful gangsters will not let things rest. We should also find an opportunity to completely disable them. When we get back, I will discuss this matter with Master and Senior Brother."


    Xue Jing looked apologetic, "I have caused trouble for Senior Brother and Master."


    Chen Fuguang waved his hand and smiled, "Don''t say that. Between brothers, what''s a little trouble?"


    "We martial artists are fierce and competitive. It''s inevitable that we get into trouble outside. I have had Master and Senior Brother clean up after me many times, but none of that matters."


    "Sooner or later, we will likely need your help, Junior Brother."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded his head.


    ...


    Two days later, Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the training room.


    Xue Jing ceased his practice of the Coiling Dragon Art, standing on the hardwood floor, slowly steadying his breath.


    The pool of sweat at his feet was so exaggerated it could make one question how the human body can hold so much fluid.


    [You conducted one practice session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills, Fitness Experience Points +208]


    [You conducted one practice session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills, Channeling Energy Experience Points +201]


    [Fitness level increased to Lv5 (59/2000)]


    [Channeling Energy level increased to Lv3 (198/800)]


    Xue Jing''s body crackled crisply, and his comprehensive physical quality suddenly jumped up a notch, receiving an overall enhancement.


    He clenched his hands, Power surged with his breath, and a patch of skin on his arm suddenly bulged as if a mouse was scurrying beneath it.


    Moving his fingers, the mouse swiftly moved up to his forefinger. Xue Jing positioned his thumb and forefinger in a flicking gesture, and with a snap,


    a single flick made a powerful explosive sound!


    "Excellent! ''Power Through Fingertips'', ''Finger Flicking Strike''. I didn''t expect that besides your exceptional physical talent, you would also possess such great skill in channeling energy,"


    Li Qi, sitting in a wheelchair, clapped and laughed.


    Looking at the disciple in front of him, who could not be more satisfying, Li Qi felt even his receding hairline shine a bit brighter.


    "There''s an old adage in boxing, ''A good sound is worth its weight in gold.'' In the Old Era, anyone who could direct their Power to the tips of their fingers and execute a ''Finger Flicking Strike'' would be considered a master and respectfully called ''Master'' outside the home."


    A satisfied expression appeared on Xue Jing''s face, and he smiled, saying,


    "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent teaching."


    Li Qi hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Your progress has been so rapid, far beyond my expectations. Perhaps you could try the next step ahead of schedule."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "The next step? Do you mean the Armor Shaking Skill?"


    Li Qi shook his head, "No, the Visualization Method."


    "The Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills aim to ''cultivate Dragon Qi,'' but where does this Dragon Qi come from? It emanates from the heart!"


    "You must nurture a dragon within your own heart." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...

 Chapter 43 - 40: Divine Relic Law, Meditative Visualization Lv1

    "Try it first. Clear your mind, think of nothing, and let your body''s instincts run the Coiling Dragon Art," Li Qi said.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and assumed the stance required for the Coiling Dragon Art, trying his best not to think.


    After several days of practice, he had already mastered the flow of the Coiling Dragon Art. Even without deliberately controlling it, once he assumed the stance, his body instinctively began to operate, gradually stimulating countless nodes and cultivating the Coiling Dragon Art.


    However, he could only maintain this state for less than three minutes before his spirit began to flutter restlessly, and he involuntarily took over control of his body again, actively running the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes and shook his head, "Master, I can''t maintain that state for long."


    But Li Qi was satisfied, "You don''t need to maintain it for long, just being able to do it is enough."


    "Genius is truly genius. You get it with just a hint. Compared to you, Chen Fuguang is simply a club. I almost died of frustration when I taught him back in the day."


    "..." Xue Jing didn''t know what to say, so he pretended he hadn''t heard.


    "I''ll go prepare something. Just wait here, and don''t move," Li Qi instructed.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    After Li Qi wheeled himself away, Xue Jing took out his phone and saw that he had an unread message on WeChat.


    Opening it, he saw it was from Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing felt a thrill but realized it wasn''t a job offer, just some files sent by the other party.


    [Wu Youqing: These are materials related to the Divine Relic. Try to learn as much as you can, as you''ll need it in the future.]


    [Xue Jing: PandaHeadOK.jpg]


    [Xue Jing: Big sister, when will there be work to do?]


    On the screen, Wu Youqing sent an emoticon of Miao Miao patting a head to comfort someone.


    [Wu Youqing: Don''t rush. Our company doesn''t have performance reviews. Even if we don''t acquire a Divine Relic for a whole month, salaries will still be issued.]


    [Xue Jing: Hey, what big sister says. The salary doesn''t really matter to me, I mainly enjoy acquiring Divine Relics.]


    [Wu Youqing: Smirk.jpg. So you''re saying it''s alright if we don''t send one then.]


    ...


    After chatting with the wealthy CEO for a while and seeing that Li Qi hadn''t returned, Xue Jing opened the materials about the Divine Relics that Wu Youqing had sent.


    The Five Laws of Divine Relics


    [First, Divine Relics are unique. All Divine Relics are one of a kind and cannot be replicated.]


    [Second, Divine Relics cannot be destroyed. Even if a Divine Relic is physically pulverized to dust, it will reappear elsewhere in random form.]


    [Third, Divine Relics invariably have side effects, which are independent of the power of the Divine Relic and follow no discernible pattern.]


    [Fourth, Divine Relics possess a Transfer Nature. Any Divine Relic has unspecified random transfer capabilities triggered by unknown conditions, unpredictable in nature.]


    [Fifth, Divine Relics are just that: Divine Relics. Even if they possess thoughts, emotions, language abilities, or even human appearance, they are just Divine Relics, not actual living beings. Therefore, no Divine Relic has human rights. To reiterate, no Divine Relic has human rights.]


    "..."


    Xue Jing carefully read through the five laws of Divine Relics, his finger lingering on the fifth point, "Divine Relics are just Divine Relics," his face thoughtful.


    "I always feel something terrible must have happened for them to add this bizarre law," he muttered.


    Shaking his head, he closed the document, then opened another one.


    Divine Relic Atlas (lambda version)


    As he clicked it, a long list of selectable serial numbers appeared.


    [GOD-001¡¤¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-002¡¤The First¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-003¡¤Divine¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-004¡¤Emerald¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-005¡¤Mirror¡ö¡ö]


    ...


    [GOD-015¡¤Reversal¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-016¡¤Ashes¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-017¡¤In the Name of the Father¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-018¡¤Death''s¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öPartiality]


    [GOD-057¡¤Golden¡ö¡ö]


    [GOD-066¡¤Future¡ö¡ö]


    Xue Jing first started from the top hundred in the sequence, only to find that they were either entirely blocked or partially covered, and clicking on them would only prompt "Insufficient Permissions"; thus, he couldn''t review the content.


    He continued scrolling down, and from serial number 300, he occasionally glimpsed the full names of the Divine Relics but still lacked the permissions to access the details.


    Only after serial number 1000, when he clicked on a Divine Relic was he able to see a simple introduction.


    Xue Jing randomly picked one.


    [GOD¡¤1057¡¤Rapid Heart-Wrenching Pill]


    [It will disguise itself as an ordinary heart-saving pill and often randomly transfers into the bottle of common heart-saving pills. After ingesting, it causes excruciating heart pain. The consumer will not die or lose consciousness for any reason within two hours, remaining distinctly aware of the pain for the full duration.]


    Xue Jing: "..."


    What kind of devilish Divine Relic is this?


    However, it could also be considered a life-preserving artifact, truly deserving of being called a Divine Relic, it completely defies reason¡ªabsolutely non-lethal within two hours...


    As he was engrossed in his reading, the cultivation room''s door opened, and Li Qi wheeled himself in.


    In his hands, he held a porcelain medicine bottle, opened the stopper, and poured out a pitch-black pill, handing it to Xue Jing.


    "Eat it,"


    Li Qi said.


    Without any suspicions, Xue Jing took it and threw it into his mouth, swallowing it directly.


    The taste was peculiar, a strong medicinal flavor with a faint, hardly detectable fragrance mixed within.


    Xue Jing asked, "Master, what is this?"


    Li Qi slowly replied, "It is a Secret Medicine concocted using the body fluid of a ''Dragon-type Creature'' from the Intersecting Boundaries as the main ingredient. It has a certain level of hallucinogenic effects."


    "... Can I ask what kind of body fluid it is?"


    "Some things are better left unknown," Li Qi said with profound meaning.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "Little Jing, look at me," Li Qi suddenly said.


    Xue Jing instinctively met Li Qi''s gaze.


    Boom, Boom, Boom!


    Xue Jing felt as though his brain was suddenly hammered, noises reverberating around his ears, his vision going white.


    When his vision restored and he looked up again,


    there was no trace of Li Qi in front of him, the entire cultivation room held only a dormant, lifelike old dragon! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The old dragon had four feet and five claws, its head adorned with qilin horns, its body covered with closely packed golden scales, yet it was scarred all over, its eyes weary, almost lifeless.


    But merely by being glanced at by those dark golden vertical pupils, Xue Jing was frozen in place, unable to move, and even breathing seemed like a luxury.


    Only when he regained his senses and thought to rub his eyes, he raised his hand and was startled.


    Are these¡­ dragon claws?


    His arm was unexpectedly covered with layers of scales, and his fingertips had grown sharp claws.


    With a flash of realization, Xue Jing immediately assumed the stance of the Coiling Dragon Art, his entire being¡­ the whole dragon stayed low on the ground.


    He left the operation of the Coiling Dragon Art to his instincts, immersing his whole heart in the sensation of ''having become a dragon.''


    ...


    He did not know how much time had passed.


    Xue Jing slowly opened his eyes, and for a moment, his gaze intensely shone, his pupils transforming into dark golden vertical pupils, but it was merely a fleeting moment before they returned to normal, almost like an illusion.


    [Condition Satisfied, Skill Activated: Meditative Visualization]


    [Meditative Visualization Lv1 (0/300)]


    ...

 Chapter 44 - 41: Dynamic and Quiet Qi, Real Combat Training with Meng.

    Looking at "Meditative Visualization" on the panel, Xue Jing felt the changes happening within himself.


    His mind felt like a long-dusty pearl that had finally been cleansed, shining light that could pierce through mountains and rivers.


    This was a truly wondrous feeling where every thought in his consciousness raced like lightning, almost without hindrance.


    ''Is this... an increase in wisdom? No, it must be the concretion of the spirit, able to exclude any unrelated thoughts.''


    No sooner had a doubt surfaced in his mind than Xue Jing immediately and firmly deciphered its cause.


    ''"Meditative Visualization," its effects must be the enhancement of "thought control capability," "emotional control capability," and... also the enhancement of "imagination"?''


    Xue Jing tried to visualize a dragon in his mind.


    In just an instant, a true dragon with huge wings on its back and five claws on each of its four feet was sketched out vividly, every detail lifelike, down to each mane hair and golden scale.


    Then, with a shift of his thoughts, his whole person entered the dragon''s body, transforming into the true dragon, stretching its massive body, its muscles rolling like waves, its golden scales flashing dazzling light.


    In the training room, Li Qi watched in astonishment as Xue Jing, standing in the center, radiated an inexplicable majestic aura.


    "Just the first time doing meditative visualization... and you''ve directly cultivated ''Dragon Qi''?"


    Xue Jing exited the meditative visualization, his body''s ''Dragon Qi'' dissipating, and looked towards Li Qi, puzzled, and asked,


    "Master, what exactly is ''Dragon Qi''?"


    Perhaps influenced by his prior transformation into a true dragon in his consciousness, his voice sounded much deeper than usual, carrying an indescribable weight and authority.


    Li Qi smiled warmly and began to explain, "The so-called ''Dragon Qi,'' to put it simply, is a kind of emotion."


    "Humans are quite miraculous creatures, extremely susceptible to emotions, like an angry person whose punches are definitely heavier than usual. You must have heard of stories like ''an old grandmother, in a burst of desperation, lifts a car off her grandson,'' right?"


    "Killing intent, fighting spirit, confidence, anger, greed, willpower... these unseen, intangible, abstract mental forces, when combined in certain ways, can gather to form an ''emotion'' that positively influences the physical body."


    "Mimicking a dragon''s posture in Coiling Dragon Art and visualizing a dragon using the Visualization Method, if sustained over time, will cultivate a strong ''Dragon Qi'' that makes you see yourself as a dragon. When you throw a punch, it will naturally carry the powerful momentum of a dragon, unleashing the mighty force of a true dragon."


    Xue Jing suddenly understood.


    Li Qi continued to explain, "We martial artists refer to the stirred-up emotions as ''Dynamic Qi'' and the ability to control emotions as ''Quiet Qi''."


    "Without Dynamic Qi, how forceful can your punch be in a fight if your heart lacks spirit? Without Quiet Qi, if you let emotions control you, you''ll just end up being manipulated by others."


    "Every qualified Martial Artist must learn to cultivate Quiet Qi and accumulate Dynamic Qi. By using quietness to control activity and combining stillness and motion, one can be invincible in all situations."


    Xue Jing nodded earnestly and said, "Disciple has learned much."


    Li Qi, pleased, said, "Generally speaking, disciples who have just cultivated Dragon Qi, because they see themselves as dragons, tend to act more wildly, which shows a lack of Quiet Qi."


    "But you are as usual, not at all affected by the Dragon Qi, which clearly shows pretty good talent in Quiet Qi as well."


    Xue Jing simply glanced at the "Meditative Visualization" on the panel.


    Yet another divine skill... sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It enhanced imagination and thought control capabilities, essential for activating ''Dynamic Qi.''


    It also strengthened emotional control capability, meaning that ''Quiet Qi'' would be improved synchronously...


    After a string of skills related to physical talent, he had finally obtained a skill related to mental and consciousness talent.


    "Let''s stop here with Coiling Dragon Art for today. Your progress has exceeded my expectations, and it''s time for you to start learning ''Fighting Skills.''"


    Li Qi said, taking out a cell phone from his pocket, fiddled with it for a moment, then put it down again.


    "Fighting Skills? How do I practice that?" Xue Jing was invigorated.


    Li Qi chuckled and said, "Martial arts practice comprises simply these four activities: ''Cultivating, Training, Fighting, Killing.''"


    "Coiling Dragon Art is to cultivate Dragon Qi, Armor Shaking Skill is to train Dragon Force, killing techniques are for later, and as for Fighting Skills... it''s all about self-perception."


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled, "Self-perception?"


    "Fighting Skills refers to the methodology of battle, including your personal habits, strategies, instincts... It''s an entire fighting system that you need to build gradually on your own."


    "The only way to practice Fighting Skills, naturally, is to fight!"


    "Fight fiercely, continuously, and the Fighting Skills will gradually take shape on their own."


    Li Qi said with a smiling expression.


    It seemed to coincide with Li Qi''s words that, as soon as he finished speaking, the door of the training room was pushed open.


    A woman with short, cold-featured hair and a curvaceous body dressed in black training attire walked in.


    She was holding a handheld pancake, nibbling on it continuously. As she moved forward, the impressively sized areas of her body stretched the usually loose training garment tight, as if it were about to split open at any moment, creating a heart-stopping sight.


    Xue Jing was stunned, "Sister Meng..."


    Hidden Dragon Dojo''s fourth direct disciple, Meng Qingjiao.


    The daughter of the eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang.


    And she was the woman with the best figure Xue Jing had ever seen in his two lifetimes, bar none.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao didn''t speak, but just nodded her head with a cold expression, came over to Xue Jing, and with her other hand that wasn''t holding the pancake, she touched his head.


    Was she trying to express affection and closeness?


    Xue Jing was somewhat unsure, but he didn''t resist either.


    "Qingjiao''s control over her energy is the best among the disciples, even her father, Boshang, can''t compare with her," Li Qi said leisurely.


    "Let her be your opponent in training your fighting skills."


    Xue Jing hesitantly looked at Meng Qingjiao''s ''World Cup.''


    This was much bigger than Wu Youqing''s ''European Cup,'' and Zhu Shanying''s ''Asian Cup.'' Wouldn''t this be inconvenient?


    However, he soon cast aside his distractions, took a deep breath, and said with a fist salute towards Meng Qingjiao, "Please teach me, senior sister!"


    Since the girl herself hadn''t made much of it, he felt it wasn''t right to be overly sensitive himself.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao didn''t speak and still just nodded her head coldly. Then, she quickly gobbled down the pancake in her hand in two or three bites, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster''s as she chewed continuously and soon swallowed it down.


    Then, with one hand behind her back and the other gesturing an ''invite,'' with a bit of pancake crumbs still on the corner of her mouth.


    Her tall figure was as straight as a pine, exuding a faint Grandmaster presence. However, her figure was too attractive, round and lustrous, which somehow felt a bit provocative...


    Fortunately, after Xue Jing activated "Meditative Visualization", his mental control greatly improved, quickly shaking his head to clear away all distractions and his gaze became serious.


    "Be careful, senior sister."


    As soon as the words fell, Xue Jing pushed off the floor, shooting towards Meng Qingjiao like an arrow released from a bow!


    "Bang!"


    Xue Jing merely felt a blur before his eyes and was struck by a burst of soft power in the chest, involuntarily flying backward onto the solid wood floor.


    "Your intentions were too obvious," Li Qi commented from the side.


    "Don''t consider Qingjiao''s female identity, you can''t afford that in real combat. You must try every possible way to win, be it despicable or malevolent. In martial arts, standing means victory, lying down means defeat, regardless of the methods."


    "Engage your mind, use any means, just focus on winning without any reservations!"


    Xue Jing nodded, quickly got up in a carp flip, and prepared himself again, continuing his charge towards Meng Qingjiao.


    This time, he didn''t avoid the sensitive key parts, hitting wherever he saw gaps, but after only two moves, he was again sent flying back.


    He didn''t say much, just stood up and continued.


    In that manner, he kept initiating challenges, but also kept getting defeated.


    Every time he was sent flying away, Li Qi pointed out his shortcomings, and like a sponge, Xue Jing absorbed the fighting knowledge, gradually getting better.


    From being thrown away upon contact to lasting two moves, and then ten moves, it took Xue Jing one hour.


    To last twenty movements, Xue Jing took three hours.


    As the sky gradually darkened and the crescent moon hung high, Xue Jing could no longer keep up, only managing a few steps before his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground.


    ...

 Chapter 45 - 42: Fired at the Wrong Place...

    [You underwent a real combat training session, Fitness Experience Points +188]


    [You underwent a real combat training session and felt pleasure from being hit, Health Cultivation Experience Value +78]


    [You underwent a real combat training session, Aiming Experience Value +109]


    [You underwent a real combat training session, fighting Experience Points +267]


    [You underwent a real combat training session, Channeling Energy Experience Value +219]


    [Aiming advanced to Lv3 (8/800)]


    Xue Jing lay on the ground, finding it extremely difficult to breathe, his body devoid of any muscle strength to even squeeze out a bit of energy.


    Exhausted.


    From his birth to now, even adding his past life, he had never felt such exhaustion.


    Yet, alongside the fatigue, a strange sense of satisfaction and pleasure emerged.


    This was the brain secreting endorphins, rewarding himself for his excessive effort.


    Li Qi looked with relief at Xue Jing, who lay motionless on the ground.


    With his keen eye, he could tell that this was not a lazy type of fatigue from avoidance but a genuine state of having used all his strength, reaching his limit.


    Talent, temperament, will.


    As a Martial Artist, the disciple before him lacked none of the qualities, each beyond his expectations.


    Meng Qingjiao looked at Xue Jing lying on the ground, and after confirming that he likely wouldn''t stand up again, she tiptoed over, crouched down, and touched the sweat-soaked back of Xue Jing''s head.


    It seemed to be both comforting and praising.


    "¡­"


    Li Qi smiled at her, "Let''s call it a day today, Qingjiao. Go ahead and have your meal."


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, patted Xue Jing''s head again, stood up, and left the practice room.


    "How do you feel?" Li Qi asked, smiling.


    Xue Jing squeezed a bit of strength into his throat and said in a muffled voice, "I feel great."


    Li Qi burst into hearty laughter.


    ...


    At 5 a.m. the next day, Xue Jing woke up on time, exactly, to the second.


    [Early to bed, early to rise, Health Cultivation Experience Value +38]


    [Health Cultivation advanced to Lv3 (3/800)]


    Instantly, Xue Jing felt revitalized, a warm current flowing through his body, filled with an unleashing energy, hardly feeling like he had just woken up.


    Upon closer examination, although he had been nearly comatose from exhaustion the previous night, he could not feel it at all now; it was as if last night''s combat training had never happened.


    Already fully recovered.


    What is Health Cultivation?


    Xue Jing smiled, delightedly reaching out to pet Miao Miao.


    "Hmm?"


    He reached out and grasped at air, lifting the blankets to see, Miao Miao was not on the bed.


    Lately, he was used to petting Miao Miao as soon as he woke up and felt off without doing so.


    Xue Jing got up and walked to the living room, turned on the light, and found Miao Miao just coming in from the balcony.


    "Hmm? Teacher Wan, did you just go out?"


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    Miao Miao shook her body, raised her butt, stretched, yawned, and said sleepily:


    "Went out to handle some stuff¡­ so sleepy, I''m going to sleep."


    Without waiting for Xue Jing''s response, she dashed into the room, burrowed into Xue Jing''s blankets, cuddling the remaining warmth, and fell deeply asleep.


    Xue Jing was curious, but since he had promised Ning Fengwan not to inquire into her matters, it wasn''t right to ask further. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After washing up in the bathroom, Xue Jing changed into a sports outfit and went out for a run.


    One hour later.


    The alarm on his watch vibrated, and Xue Jing paused, panting lightly.


    [You completed a long run, Running Experience +258]


    [Running elevated to Lv5 (57/2000)]


    This skill, one of his earliest activated, had finally been elevated to Lv5.


    Xue Jing quickly crouched down, swung his arms back, lifted his heels, and with a sudden leap, he shot forward a considerable distance.


    He looked back and roughly estimated that he must have jumped close to four and a half meters.


    "Previous world record for the standing long jump on Earth¡­ Weren''t they a bit over three meters?"


    Xue Jing thought uncertainly.


    Now, the explosive power of his legs had completely exceeded the limit of ordinary people.


    And that was without using any Channeling Energy.


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing walked back home, took a bath, made breakfast, left some for Miao Miao, and then headed out to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    After arriving by bus, he entered the office building, took the elevator to the seventeenth floor, and without any delay, went straight to the training room.


    To his surprise, as soon as he pushed open the door, there was already someone sitting in the training room.


    A short-haired beauty sat neatly on the hardwood floor, holding a giant triple-layered beef burger, silently nibbling away.


    There were a few burger wrappers balled up on the floor, indicating she had already eaten quite a few.


    "..."


    Seeing Xue Jing enter, Meng Qingjiao nodded at him, then started eating faster, constantly chewing, her thin lips coated with grease, looking as if they were painted vermilion, and a bit of yellow cheese sauce even stuck on her perky nose.


    "Meng, are you here to help me train?"


    Xue Jing sat down cross-legged in front of her and smiled.


    Meng Qingjiao, still eating her burger, nodded her head, making a vague mmhmm sound.


    Seeing how much she enjoyed eating, Xue Jing considered for a moment and then said, "Sister Meng, next time I''ll cook something for you, I''m quite good at cooking."


    According to Chen Fuguang, Meng Qingjiao must be very busy, but she still made time to come and help him train in fighting skills. He couldn''t just not reciprocate.


    Xue Jing opened the panel and glanced at his Cooking skill.


    [Cooking Lv3 (501/800)]


    Although he hadn''t deliberately practiced this skill, his daily cooking had been steadily adding one to two hundred Cooking Experience Points every day.


    Now he wouldn''t dare say he was on par with a great chef, but at least within the domain of home-cooked meals, he was proficient enough to ensure the flavors were top-notch.


    Meng Qingjiao, hearing this, lifted her brows slightly, her eyes lighting up a bit, and nodded.


    She put the last bite of the burger in her mouth, then rolled up the wrapper into a ball, threw it to the floor, and reached out to pat Xue Jing''s head.


    This seemed to be her way of expressing closeness.


    After patting his head, the short-haired beauty stood up, took a few steps back, one hand behind her, the other gesturing a ''please''.


    "Sister Meng, you just finished eating, don''t you want to rest a bit?"


    Xue Jing expressed his concern.


    Meng Qingjiao shook her head, rubbed her belly, as if to say it was fine.


    Since she had no issues, Xue Jing was agreeable. He stood up, said, "Be careful, Sister Meng," and charged towards Meng Qingjiao.


    In the training room, a new round of fighting skills training began.


    ...


    Three days later.


    In the training room, Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were exchanging blows with fists and feet flying, fiercely engrossed in the fight.


    Differently from before, after three solid days of intense fighting skills training, Xue Jing had acquired a significant level of real combat experience. With his skills enhanced, his fighting style had shape and substance, his punches and kicks whistling through the air, sharp sounds echoing as they continually targeted Meng Qingjiao.


    The latter, with her usual calm and chilly demeanor, parried Xue Jing''s attacks accurately, each block perfect in timing, neither too much nor too little.


    Those knowledgeable in martial arts could see she was feeding moves to her opponent with absolute superiority, not truly engaged in a hard-fought battle.


    Xue Jing sent a Straight Punch towards Meng Qingjiao''s exposed chest, but it was quickly parried as she swiftly defended herself, grabbing his wrist, halting him just an inch from her chest.


    A flash of insight sparked in Xue Jing''s eyes as he finally identified a genuine flaw.


    Using his breathing skills, he channeled his energy, focusing it at the tips of his fingers, and the fist only an inch away from the chest, his thumb and index finger pinched together, followed by a swift flick!


    "Pop!"


    A sound burst through the air, Power Through Fingertips, the Finger Flicking Strike.


    A soft sensation transmitted back, and Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    ...

 Chapter 46 - 43 Why Meng Doesnt Speak

    "Slap."


    Feeling the continuous touch at his fingertips, Xue Jing realized something was wrong and his expression changed.


    Caught up in the fight, he hadn''t thought too much, only seeing the distance between his fingers, he subconsciously felt an opportunity and used a flick.


    He truly hadn''t done it on purpose.


    While Xue Jing was still stunned, Meng Qingjiao''s palm struck his chest, sending him flying.


    She still used Soft Power.


    Xue Jing rolled over and stood up, asking Meng Qingjiao with concern,


    "Senior Sister, are you alright?"


    Meng Qingjiao shook her head.


    She gave Xue Jing a deep look, her expression unchanged, and had it not been for a barely noticeable blush on her face, one would think nothing had happened.


    The atmosphere turned a bit awkward for a moment, but fortunately, Li Qi broke the silence, "Alright, let''s call it a day for today''s training."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing also breathed a sigh of relief.


    After what had happened, he somewhat felt inappropriate thoughts emerging, his fighting spirit completely gone, or perhaps it was ''Dynamic Qi'' that had dissipated, leaving his punches powerless, and he simply couldn''t continue fighting.


    As astute as Li Qi, he noticed this and ended the training session for the day.


    "Qingjiao, you go and rest," Li Qi said gently.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded, thought for a moment, walked over to Xue Jing, and patted him on the head as if to say it wasn''t a big deal.


    Xue Jing was momentarily taken aback, managing to detect a hint of maternal tenderness in that cold and beautiful face.


    After the short-haired beauty left, Xue Jing watched her shapely figure retreat, thinking to himself,


    ''Next time, I''ll make a grand meal for Senior Sister Meng... with all my efforts.'' S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing opened the panel to take a look.


    [Fitness Lv5 (827/2000)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv3 (468/800)]


    [Cooking Lv3 (751/800)]


    [Running Lv5 (699/2000)]


    [Charm Art Lv4 (66/1200)]


    [Aiming Lv3 (567/800)]


    [Fighting Lv3 (520/800)]


    [Channeling Energy Lv4 (217/1200)]


    [Meditative Visualization Lv1 (251/300)]


    These three days of practical training had been greatly beneficial to him.


    Especially in fighting and Channeling Energy, having both increased a level respectively, and Fitness, Aiming, as well as Health Cultivation all gained substantial experience.


    Of course, these are only the stats displayed on the panel. The practical combat experience he gained over these three days and the fighting skills system that was starting to take shape were not reflected on the panel.


    This was the real substantial increase in combat capability.


    "Although I''ve grown used to your rate of growth, it still surprises me every time," Li Qi said as he stroked his chin.


    Xue Jing humbly replied, "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent guidance."


    Li Qi waved his hand, "As martial practitioners, we need to learn how to deceive, we can''t always be bluntly honest."


    "In actual combat, as long as you can deceive your opponent, that''s winning half the battle. Misinformation can be fatal in a critical fight, remember that."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Disciple understands."


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing asked, "By the way, Master, why don''t Senior Sister Meng and the eldest senior brother talk?"


    He voiced the question that had been puzzling him since he joined the dojo.


    He had originally thought that this father and daughter were of a taciturn and aloof nature, but after spending several days together, he found that they were different from what he had expected.


    When the eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang, saw him, he would always nod his head towards him, showing a smile that he wasn''t sure could be counted as a smile, probably trying to express goodwill.


    As for senior sister Meng, there was no need to even mention it. Every day she would take several hours to feed him moves and train him in fighting skills, and would even pat his head. Even ... when he accidentally hit her frontal armor, she did not get angry, obviously really treating him like a much-loved junior brother.


    Apart from the perpetual silence and lack of expression, they had practically nothing to do with the word ''aloof''.


    "..."


    Li Qi was silent for a while before he sighed and said,


    "When Qingjiao was young, something happened..."


    "Boshang, in his youth, followed me around the circles in Inner Ring City, and he had some reputation, living up to the title of a promising young talent. He knew many daughters of wealth and status ..."


    "He and one of them, Qingjiao''s mother, were mutually attracted to each other, and soon after that, they got married and had Qingjiao."


    At this point, a trace of sorrow and regret shone in Li Qi''s aged and dim eyes.


    "Back then, I was overconfident in my martial prowess, acting brashly and arrogantly, challenging others to fights every day, but eventually, I met my match and was severely beaten, having my legs broken and my ''True Dragon'' within my heart destroyed, draining my will."


    "I had too many enemies, and upon learning that I had become half-crippled, countless others kicked me while I was down."


    "At that time, Boshang would stay by my side every day to ensure my safety, inevitably neglecting his family. One day, only Qingjiao and her mother were at home when our enemies came knocking..."


    "To protect her, Qingjiao''s mother hid Qingjiao and told her, ''You must absolutely not make a sound until mommy comes back''."


    Xue Jing listened in silence, already having a rough idea of what had happened.


    "By the time Boshang and I sensed something was wrong and rushed back, we found Qingjiao, who had been starving in the cellar for several days, while her mother had disappeared, her fate unknown to this day."


    "Since that day, Qingjiao has never spoken again."


    Li Qi''s gaze turned towards the window.


    "Boshang was originally an outgoing and cheerful person, but later on, to avoid making Qingjiao feel like she was an outsider because of her disability, he too stopped talking."


    "In order to avoid our enemies and protect Qingjiao, we left Inner Ring City dejectedly and came to Qingcheng, where we opened the Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    Xue Jing remained silent, not knowing what to say.


    But in his heart, a pang of pity for Meng Qingjiao couldn''t help but arise.


    ''You must absolutely not make a sound until mommy comes back'' - the reason she has been unable to speak ever since was too heartbreaking.


    Since he wasn''t involved, he couldn''t comment on the past as narrated by Li Qi, and could only remain silent.


    "... As one gets older, it''s inevitable to become more sentimental. I''ve spoken too much." Li Qi suddenly laughed.


    "You needn''t mind these matters, they''re all old stories, and they''re in the past now."


    Li Qi reassured Xue Jing.


    "Master, do you want to take revenge?"


    Xue Jing pondered and then asked.


    Li Qi shook his head, "What''s the end of endless vengeance ... it was my fault for stirring up too much trouble and accumulating a mountain of enmity, which led to Boshang''s family encountering such a disaster."


    "To say whether I have thoughts of revenge, of course I do. My only remaining obsession is to find those who hurt Qingjiao and her mother, but ..."


    Li Qi shook his head, "I have too many enemies; I don''t even know who to pinpoint anymore."


    Without a second thought, Xue Jing blurted out, "Then don''t think about who it was specifically; just smash them all to pieces in the future."


    Li Qi was rendered speechless.


    "You''re even more brazen than I was at my peak. All of my enemies are big shots from Inner Ring City, not the trivial figures from Qingcheng here; each is difficult to deal with. How could you smash them all to pieces?"


    Xue Jing blinked and said earnestly, "I believe I can do it."


    Li Qi laughed heartily.


    "Then I shall look forward to that."


    ...


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 Chapter 47 - 44: Glasses and Hairspray are a Perfect Match

    At noon, Xue Jing had his meal at the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    After he started his martial arts practice, his appetite gradually increased. If he were to eat ordinary food, his consumption would need to be measured in basins.


    The direct disciples of the Hidden Dragon Dojo typically ate specially prepared medicinal meals for their main courses, accompanied by some nutrient pastes that Xue Jing had never seen before.


    After eating, his whole body would feel warm and toasty, and practicing the Coiling Dragon Art at this time would yield more experience points than usual.


    [You practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills once, Fitness Experience Points +258]


    [You practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills once, Channeling Energy Experience Points +221]


    [You practiced the Coiling Dragon Art Visualization Method once, Meditative Visualization Experience Points +79]


    [Meditative Visualization advanced to Lv2 (30/500)]


    After an hour of standing practice of the Coiling Dragon Art, Xue Jing gradually calmed his breathing and sorted out the hot energy within his body, as the ''Dragon Qi'' gradually dissipated from all over.


    A breeze seemed to pass through his mind like one in the summer, bringing a refreshing coolness that penetrated his heart and made his thoughts clearer and more focused.


    With closed eyes, he visualized the entire training room in his mind, then walked a few steps forward, naturally squatting down to pick up a bottle of mineral water from the hardwood floor, unscrewed it, and gulped it down.


    He then walked to the window and without any hesitation, reached out and opened it to welcome the fresh air outside.


    It did not seem at all like he had lost his sight.


    When people close their eyes, they lose their sense of distance, balance, and direction.


    But now, even with closed eyes, as long as Xue Jing visualized the training room in his consciousness, everything here was as clear to him as if he had ''spiritual power scanning'', no different from seeing with open eyes.


    "Maybe if I continue like this, I could develop a ''Mind''s Eye''?"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    Without using the eyes to see, relying solely on the ''imagination'' of consciousness, to anticipate every move of an opponent, freeing oneself from the dependency on the senses.


    That was his future expectation for the Skills of Meditative Visualization.


    While he was resting, his phone on the floor suddenly vibrated.


    He looked at it and saw a message from the wealthy dominating woman.


    [Wu Youqing: There''s a job, hurry over.]


    Xue Jing immediately became spirited.


    Damn, there was finally some work! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He immediately stood up, changed his clothes, and almost ran out of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, boarding the bus.


    First, he went home to get his library card, took the time to rub the face of Miao Miao, who was napping, then quickly left the house and headed straight for Qingcheng University''s campus, arriving at the seventh floor of the library.


    After entering, Xue Jing looked around; apart from Wu Youqing, who was sitting in the rest area wearing glasses, he did not see Wu Youqing anywhere else.


    He looked around again, then suddenly realized something was wrong.


    Huh? The Wu Youqing wearing glasses... isn''t that Wu Youqing?


    He turned around abruptly.


    The girl took off the rimless glasses she was wearing and looked at Xue Jing with a smile brimming with meaning.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Xue Jing felt that Wu Youqing seemed much prettier than when he had seen her before.


    "Your ''consciousness intensity'' is very high, to be able to find out I was here so quickly," the girl said with a blink of surprise.


    Seeing Xue Jing staring at the glasses in her hand, Wu Youqing smiled and said, "As you can see, this is a Divine Relic."


    "Would you like to try them on?"


    Without a change in expression, Xue Jing reached out to take the glasses while curiously asking, "What is the function of this Divine Relic?"


    [Detection of Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    "GOD-1280¡¤Ordinary Looking Glasses."


    The girl explained.


    She sat up a little straighter, projecting the developed European-sized bosom with pride, trembling slightly.


    For some reason, Xue Jing felt that Wu Youqing was now much more attractive than before, and he couldn''t help but fix his gaze on her.


    "It''s a simple effect, it makes one''s presence diminish, becoming ''ordinary and unremarkable'', and won''t draw the attention of others."


    Wu Youqing looked at Xue Jing''s drifting gaze with a teasing expression.


    "However, the function of the glasses is to suppress presence, not to eliminate it¡­ Once you take off the glasses, the suppressed presence will burst out all at once, especially attracting people''s attention. The longer you''ve been wearing the glasses, the stronger the burst of presence will be."


    Xue Jing suddenly understood.


    So it wasn''t that he suddenly became a lecher, it was because of the glasses'' effect that made Wu Youqing more attractive than usual.


    That''s alright then.


    He directed his gaze to the charming aspects of the girl and began to look openly.


    - This wasn''t his desire to look; it was the fault of the Divine Relic.


    "BOSS, didn''t you say there was a job?"


    Xue Jing spoke up.


    Wu Youqing took out a stack of documents from the bag beside her and handed them to Xue Jing.


    "This mission is very special. It''s a C-level containment mission¡ªnot something you should be dealing with, but..."


    The girl lifted her chin, gesturing him to look at the documents.


    Xue Jing put on the [GOD-1280], and in an instant, his presence transformed from Innate Freeloader Holy Body to an unnoticed stone on the roadside, catching Wu Youqing slightly off guard.


    He flipped through the documents.


    [Divine Relic Sighting Report]


    [At 2:32 PM on October 18th, a stabbing incident occurred on Lianming Street in the South City area of Qingcheng; the assailant was identified as a blonde, tattooed young woman wearing a crown]


    [At 1:11 AM on October 19th, the same woman reappeared¡­]


    In the documents, there were a lot of sighting reports, with several color photos attached to the side. The photos showed a young woman in her late twenties wearing a black dress, with golden dyed hair, a neck tattoo of an exaggerated large spider, and a beautiful crown on her head. At the center of the crown was a black flower.


    [Confirmed, the crown worn by the woman is ''GOD-1105¡¤Crown of the Wicked Woman,'' classified as a ''Dangerous'' Divine Relic. Please proceed with containment as soon as possible]


    After reading the last passage, Xue Jing turned to the next page to find the information about [Crown of the Wicked Woman].


    [GOD-1105¡¤Crown of the Wicked Woman]


    [It actively approaches females with malevolent thoughts, and once worn, continuously strengthens the wearer''s inner malevolence. At the same time, it synchronously enhances the physical abilities of the wearer, until she becomes a peerless great villainess.]


    Xue Jing placed the documents on the table.


    "Finished reading?" Wu Youqing asked.


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Finished¡­ So why am I assigned to this C-level containment mission?"


    Wu Youqing''s eyes brimmed with amusement as she sized him up from head to toe.


    "[Crown of the Wicked Woman] can continuously enhance the wearer''s malevolence¡­ Women too have reputations."


    "Seeing an attractive man, they can''t help but want to possess him; that''s also a kind of ''malevolence.''"


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    He understood why he was chosen for this containment mission.


    He adjusted the rimless glasses on his nose.


    "So these glasses were prepared for this purpose?"


    Wu Youqing nodded, smiling, "You naturally have a good foundation; once you wear [GOD-1280] for a while and then take it off, that momentary burst of presence is enough to shatter the already weak psychological defenses of the [Wicked Woman], igniting her desires."


    "At that point, you''ll be able to easily remove the [Crown of the Wicked Woman]¡­ This containment mission is tailor-made for you."


    Xue Jing was speechless.


    This was asking him to sell his charm.


    But it was indeed suitable for him.


    Perhaps he could take a shot¡ªafter removing the glasses, a swipe of styling gel on his head.


    From now on, shall I stand above the heavens?


    ¡­


    Begging for monthly votes, can you please stuff your big monthly votes into my saucy book?

 Chapter 48 - 45: Activate, Power of Twins!

    "BOSS, where did these glasses come from?"


    Xue Jing pushed up the GOD-1280 on his nose and glanced at the panel.


    [Divinity: 201]


    "Borrowed from another containment company," Wu Youqing replied, arms crossed.


    Xue Jing was startled.


    "There are other containment companies?"


    Wu Youqing gave him a strange look. "Did I ever say there weren''t?"


    Xue Jing shook his head. "That''s not what I meant... I just thought our company seemed so mysterious and high-end, I assumed it was the only one in the country without any branches."


    "You''re mistaken. Divine Relic Custodian Companies are somewhat special, but not that upscale. If I were to describe it... it''s essentially no different from street sweepers cleaning the roads."


    Wu Youqing shook her smooth, high ponytail, her slightly purple pupils shimmering like amethysts.


    "You know, all Divine Relics possess random transfer abilities... That means no matter how good the measures, they can''t be fully contained, so containment must be continuously and indefinitely carried out in an endless cycle."


    "There are thousands of known Divine Relics in the world. Just think about it, thousands of Divine Relics could appear anywhere at any time. The workload is tremendously large, too much for a single company to handle."


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing asked,


    "Since they''ll transfer anyway, can''t we just ignore them and let them be?"


    Wu Youqing objected, "That won''t work. All Divine Relics have unreasonable powers; they''re too dangerous. If we did that, the whole world would quickly fall into chaos, even if containment is like ''drawing water with a bamboo basket,'' it must continue without pause."


    "I see."


    After pondering again, Xue Jing asked, "Are we in a cooperative relationship with other containment companies?"


    "Not necessarily, it depends on the situation," Wu Youqing responded.


    "The containment task is essentially outsourced to us by the officials, who allocate funds to each containment company based on their performance annually. Some companies might engage in aggressive competition to earn this money."


    "If you encounter people from other companies while carrying out containment tasks, be careful too."


    Xue Jing nodded, understanding.


    "Alright, and if anything goes wrong or you encounter any unmanageable dangers, retreat immediately, safety first," Wu Youqing advised.


    "Understood." Xue Jing acknowledged, then suddenly added,


    "By the way, big sis, I want to test out the effects."


    Wu Youqing was slightly taken aback. "What effect?"


    As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xue Jing removing the [Ordinary Glasses].


    It was like a common stone shaking off dust, suddenly emitting a blazing, brilliant light.


    In that moment, Xue Jing re-entered the state of the Innate Freeloader Holy Body.


    "..."


    Wu Youqing showed no reaction, only silently averting her gaze from him, a barely noticeable blush tinting her cheeks.


    Xue Jing, looking at the panel displaying[Someone has developed a favor for you, Charm Art Experience Points +19], silently smiled.


    It seemed that the effect was very good.


    ...


    Holding a stack of documents about the wearer of the Glory of the Wicked Woman, Xue Jing left the library, planning to go home and prepare.


    Wearing frameless glasses, he boarded a bus, looking over the information in his hands.


    ''The name is... Lou Huiying.''


    ''The main activity area is in South City...''


    ''Bars, discos, male host clubs, KTVs... quite the standard range of a gang leader''s activities,'' Xue Jing silently remarked.


    The information indicated that Lou Huiying had already made a name for herself with the physical enhancements from the Crown of the Wicked Woman, establishing a small gang called the Rose Gang.


    Every day was a spree of indulgence within her controlled territory.


    The malice released by the Crown of the Wicked Woman was unmasked, drawing discontent from nearby gangs.


    However, due to her formidable personal combat strength, no one could handle her for the time being.


    Xue Jing glanced at the GOD-1105 information again.


    "Crown of the Wicked Woman... Theoretically, the stronger the wearer''s malice, the greater the enhancement to physical abilities... the current upper limit is unclear, the highest record is an international female fugitive, rated at a danger level of 4.2 with the Crown''s enhancement..." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But once it is removed, the wearer''s physical abilities will gradually revert..."


    "I see..."


    Xue Jing looked at the materials, thinking of a strategy quietly.


    Without realizing it, the bus stopped, and Xue Jing got off and walked back home.


    As soon as he entered the door, Xue Jing casually called out, "Teacher Wan?"


    There was no response.


    He searched around the house but couldn''t find Miao Miao.


    "Out again?"


    Xue Jing wondered.


    Lately, it felt like Miao Miao was always going out, and he had no idea what she was doing.


    He didn''t pay much attention and went into the ''gym,'' opening the panel.


    [Divine Absorption Complete]


    [Divinity Held: 311]


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Compared to the nearly five hundred points of divinity provided by the GOD-1391 Cat Tail Ring and the GOD-1567 Sweet Water Jug, this ordinary-looking pair of glasses had only provided just over three hundred.


    "It seems there''s quite a big gap in the divinity that each Divine Relic can provide."


    After lamenting, Xue Jing swiped to the Divine Skill page and clicked [Twin Lifes].


    [Twin Lifes Lv1 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 311/100, can upgrade now)]


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Twin Lifes Lv2 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 211/300)]


    [Passive: Have two lives, can freely choose the time to resurrect within seven days after death, cooldown: 80 days]


    [Active: Each Lv1 can specify a physical ability related to oneself, producing double effects when used]


    [Currently Activated: Action Speed]


    [Options Available: Physical Strength, Physical Defense, Reaction Speed, Calculative Ability, Concentration, Memory...]


    "The cooldown time for the passive has decreased by ten days... If upgrading Lv1 reduces it by ten days... then wouldn''t reaching Lv10 mean infinite resurrections?"


    Xue Jing looked at the updated passive effects, somewhat surprised.


    This was an upgrade worth the level!


    He then looked toward the active effects, his eyes thoughtful.


    "Hmm... let''s go with [Physical Strength]."


    Xue Jing made a decision.


    This choice should provide the highest combat boost for him at the moment. Whether in hand-to-hand combat or testing the waters with a thrown stone, both would receive significant enhancements.


    He was about to confront someone wearing the Crown of the Wicked Woman, who had strong physical abilities; choosing Physical Strength should be the right move.


    Xue Jing pressed [Physical Strength] on the panel.


    [Currently Activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed]


    After activation, Xue Jing resisted the impulse to test it out on the spot and stepped out of his house.


    On the small garden running track where he often jogged, Xue Jing picked up a thumb-sized pebble from the ground.


    After looking around, he fixed his gaze on a camphor tree twenty meters away.


    Holding the pebble, he raised his arm, operated the breathing skills, power surged in, and Xue Jing''s gaze intensified.


    [Power of Twins], activate!


    "Whoosh!!"


    The pebble whizzed through the air like a cannonball, the air wailing in friction, and flew straight towards the camphor tree.


    "Bang!!"


    A loud explosion startled the nearby pedestrians, one young man close by was so frightened that he fell to the ground.


    "Was that a gunshot?" he stood up, still in shock, and spoke.


    The curious crowd also came forward to see what had happened.


    "Wow, is this some kind of stunt?"


    "Could this be a meteorite?"


    "No, wait, it looks like a pebble?"


    "How did he do that, shoot it with a sniper rifle?"


    On the camphor tree, whose diameter was over fifty centimeters, the outer bark had burst open radially, exposing the white heart of the tree.


    At the center, a pebble that had split into several sections was deeply embedded, penetrating a full three inches.


    ...


    So itchy, really want a big monthly ticket...

 Chapter 49 - 46 Both of Me are the Same X Too!

    ```


    South City District, Lianming Street.


    Lou Huiying, dressed in a black dress, stepped out of a restaurant holding a metal baseball bat in one hand and picking her teeth with a toothpick in the other.


    Her hair was dyed a bright gold, looking dry and disheveled, a bit like a bird''s nest.


    On her head, she wore a delicate tiara carved with black flowers, but her eyes were too shadowy, making her look not like a princess but more like a wicked witch who had stolen the princess''s tiara.


    "Where to go next, hmm..."


    She murmured softly to herself, scanning her surroundings with eyes that made anyone who met her gaze shudder immediately and hastily look away.


    Seeming to relish the fear she inspired, Lou Huiying''s eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up.


    The feeling of doing whatever she wanted was just too damn good.


    This street was all hers!


    Whatever she wanted to do, she''d do it!


    Go to a restaurant to eat, and after eating, demand money from the owner; if they don''t pay up, bust their head!


    Sing at a KTV, and afterward, demand money from the owner; if they don''t pay up, bust their head!


    Go to a club to find a man, get satisfied, then demand money; if they don''t pay up, get satisfied once more!


    This world was just too fucking perfect!


    But that wasn''t enough!


    She wanted more, to control even more streets, take even more money, bust even more heads, screw even more men!


    "Hey, Lou, take care."


    The middle-aged, somewhat balding restaurant owner stood at the doorway, bowing and scraping to Lou Huiying.


    Seeing him reminded Lou Huiying of something, and she stretched out a hand, pressing it on the owner''s head.


    Gripping his skull, she licked her lips and said:


    "Your two sons, why didn''t I see them today?"


    The owner''s mouth twitched, understanding her implication.


    "Umm, they both had the day off today..."


    Lou Huiying''s hand, which was gripping his head, began to tighten, like a vice grip, making the owner feel as if his skull was gradually cracking open, and he couldn''t help but cry out in pain.


    "Stop, stop stop stop! I get it, get it, Lou, I understand, I understand!"


    Feeling the vice grip on his head slightly relax, the owner breathed a sigh of relief and fearfully said:


    "You... whichever one you want, I''ll call him over."


    Lou Huiying''s eyes flicked up.


    "Which one?"


    She got close to the owner, glared at him with wide eyes, and a grotesque smile stretched across her face as saliva kept dripping out:


    "I fuck both of them all the same!"


    Owner: "..."


    ...


    Outside Lianming Street, more than a dozen gang members armed with various weapons walked with aggressive intent towards the street.


    The leader was a middle-aged man in a black sleeveless tank top with a dragon tattoo that extended over his shoulder.


    "With Duan heading the charge this time, that crazy bitch Lou Huiying is as good as dead!"


    "This worthless woman dares to mess with our Razor Gang; she must really be sick of living!"


    "Damn it, she actually shoved that baseball bat up my ass; my butt still hasn''t clamped shut. Duan''s got to get revenge for me, I''m gonna fucking puncture her too!"


    Duan Kaiping frowned as he heard the noisy shouting of his underlings.


    He had been warned by his master Jiao Hongyuan that they were in a crucial period, and his disciples should try not to cause trouble and keep the Razor Gang members under control.


    Alas, he had avoided looking for trouble, but trouble had found him.


    This crazy woman Lou Huiying had emerged from God knows where, acting outrageously, even daring to ride roughshod over the Razor Gang.


    A portion of Lianming Street was under his watch, and all protection money usually flowed to him, but now this woman had snatched it all away.


    If he didn''t make a stand now, he would look even more cowardly in the eyes of others, which would be strange.


    So today, he had reluctantly prepared to take matters into his own hands and kill this woman.


    "Shut up, all of you."


    Duan Kaiping snapped irritably.


    Seeing him flare up, the underlings immediately shut their mouths.


    A bunch of useless idiots.


    Duan Kaiping cursed inwardly.


    ```


    ```


    Can''t even handle a woman, and now Laozi has to do it himself.


    Before too, couldn''t catch a damn student, got pelted with a few rocks and flopped around like a dog.


    He irritably reached into his pocket for his pack of cigarettes, and put one in his mouth.


    A sharp-witted underling immediately pulled out a lighter and lit it for him.


    He took a deep drag of the cigarette and exhaled a cloud of white smoke.


    At this moment, a normal-looking young man with glasses walked past him, Duan Kaiping gave him a glance, felt a sense of familiarity but didn''t pay much attention, and instead turned to his underlings and instructed:


    "When the fight starts, you guys just watch from the side, don''t fuck things up for Laozi..."


    ...


    "Huh?"


    Xue Jing turned to look at this group of street youngsters.


    A few of them looked familiar to him.


    They seemed to be the ones who had wanted to kidnap him when he left Pei Youguang''s house that day.


    So the leader of this group, ''Duan'', was obviously Duan Kaiping.


    Xue Jing pushed up his glasses on his nose, which glinted slightly under the sunlight.


    "Interesting."


    He thought for a moment, then walked into an alley, made a circle, and came up behind Duan Kaiping and his group, following them from a distance.


    News of the Razor Gang coming to cause trouble quickly reached Lou Huiying''s ears.


    Just sitting at the entrance of the restaurant smoking and wondering how to beat two with one, Lou Huiying suddenly saw one of her underlings run over, gasping for breath:


    "Boss Lady, not good, Duan Kaiping from the Razor Gang is here!"


    Lou Huiying raised an eye, indifferent, "Duan Kaiping? Who''s that jackass?"


    Ever since she put on this accessory, she felt she was getting stronger at an exaggerated speed daily.


    She was fucking Wonder Woman herself!


    Duan Kaiping? Even Duan Zhengchun would die if he came!


    "He''s a core member of the Razor Gang, they say he can chop off heads with his palms, a tough guy indeed!"


    The underling said anxiously.


    "They''re already outside now, Boss Lady, let''s scram!"


    Lou Huiying snorted, didn''t speak, picked up the metal baseball bat in her hand, and headed straight outside.


    Before a 1V2, smashing a head as an appetizer isn''t bad.


    If this Duan... Duan Zhengchun? is good looking enough, then it''ll be a 1V3!


    Three, I''d handle the same way!


    Black mist began to seep out from the crown on Lou Huiying''s head, and she suddenly felt her strength increase further.


    On the other side, Duan Kaiping had already arrived inside the street, and from afar, he saw a woman with a baseball bat, her hair full of blonde strands, immediately realizing she was the target and quickly walked towards her.


    The two approached each other and sized up one another. Lou Huiying had a look of disappointment on her face.


    "You stinking whore, I heard you''re quite bold," Duan Kaiping squinted, taking a drag of his cigarette, about to drop some classic tough-talk and assert the Razor Gang''s prestige to the onlooking street residents.


    But before he had barely finished speaking, a howl followed and a metal baseball bat flew towards his forehead at high speed.


    Duan Kaiping''s heart raced, instinctively ducking his head; the bat skimmed his scalp, bringing a sting of pain.


    He touched the fresh bald spot on his head, his anger ignited.


    "You bitch, asking for it!"


    He quickly brought his hands together as if they were a blade, and slashed at Lou Huiying.


    Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, better with no blade than having one, possessing a sharp Power that could sever steel, although Duan Kaiping hadn''t reached such a level, cutting through flesh was still easy.


    However, to his surprise, when his hand blade struck Lou Huiying''s neck, it was like hitting a tree stump wrapped in thick cowhide, making a crunching sound and only leaving a slight red mark.


    Duan Kaiping immediately realized something was off; this woman wasn''t right!


    At that moment, the baseball bat swung at him again, incredibly fast. Although it came in a brute and straightforward manner, by the sound of it, one knew the force was terrifying, definitely not to be taken head-on.


    As Duan Kaiping prepared to dodge, a loud "pang" exploded from his thigh.


    A rock the size of a thumb, not knowing where it came from, hit him in the thigh, penetrating it like a bullet and leaving a bloody hole.


    After being hit, Duan Kaiping screamed, his movement paused, and the howling bat immediately hit his head, flinging him seven or eight meters away, crashing through a barber shop''s glass and falling inside, motionless, his life or death unknown.


    "Brother Duan!!"


    All the underlings were instantly shocked.


    ...


    ```


    sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 50 - 47: A Woman Unvirtuous, With Intention to Throw Punches

    Lou Huiying rested the baseball bat on her shoulder and touched the slender red mark on her neck, clicking her tongue.


    "Still pretty painful."


    It was the first time she felt pain again after a long while since she donned that headpiece.


    Having dealt with Duan Kaiping, Lou Huiying felt a sense of accomplishment and was about to return to the restaurant when she saw a bespectacled youth walking towards her at a leisurely pace not far away.


    For some reason, even though the youth appeared quite ordinary and not at all special, Lou Huiying inexplicably felt a tingling sensation on her scalp and her footsteps involuntarily halted.


    She just watched as the youth reached her, pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose¡ªhis eyes obscured by the glare of the afternoon sun¡ªbut she knew he was looking at her.


    "Kid, did you do what just happened?"


    Lou Huiying narrowed her eyes and asked.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled, "Yes, it was me."


    Lou Huiying immediately became cautious, "Are you carrying a gun?"


    A moment ago, Duan Kaiping''s thigh suddenly burst open with a bloody hole, the kind of power that was clearly caused by a bullet fired from a gun.


    Although she didn''t know if her current self could withstand a bullet, she had no desire to find out.


    "A gun... kind of." Xue Jing smiled.


    "But don''t worry, I won''t use a ''gun'' against you."


    Xue Jing took off his jacket, threw it on the ground, twisted his neck and stretched his limbs, starting to warm up as if no one else was present.


    Having observed her exchange with Duan Kaiping earlier, Xue Jing had already gained a rough understanding of her level of martial prowess.


    She was strong and resilient, but her fighting skills were crude, obviously untrained in any formal fighting technique.


    ¡ªShe was a perfect live-training bag.


    This was a good opportunity to practice his fighting skills, so Xue Jing decided then and there that he wouldn''t rely on visual advantage by taking off his glasses; he wanted to defeat her head-on.


    With Twin Lifes activated, and now possessing both the Twin Speed and Power, he was itching to put them to use.


    Of course, if something did go wrong, he would take off his glasses halfway through the battle to trigger his ''Hard Control'' skill.


    Lou Huiying heard his words and saw his actions, realizing what he meant.


    "You? Take me on? With what, you?"


    Lou Huiying''s eyes showed scornful derision.


    Hmm... But upon closer inspection, this youth, although wearing glasses making it hard to see his features clearly, had a great physique, and likely looked good too; playing along with him could be entertaining.


    "Then bring it on, let''s see if your fists are as tough as your mouth..."


    Lou Huiying licked her lips.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak further. Instead, he took a deep breath, circulated his breathing skills, and let Power surge inside him as his blood flow started to accelerate and his body temperature gradually increased.


    In his consciousness, he visualized a True Dragon with wings sprouting from its back, and a faint ''Dragon Qi'' began to emanate from him.


    Lou Huiying frowned, sensing that something was amiss.


    This youth, could he actually be... very strong?


    "Who the hell are you!?"


    Lou Huiying demanded.


    After thinking for a bit, Xue Jing smiled and said, "You can call me... the Arm Master."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Xue Jing immediately activated Twin Speed, charging towards Lou Huiying.


    His speed was beyond normal, like someone had pressed a fast-forward button, capable of achieving a certain degree of First Encounter Strike effect, with nearly no one able to react in time.


    Lou Huiying was no exception; she hadn''t systematically learned fighting skills and was severely lacking in vigilance. She was caught off-guard by Xue Jing''s extreme speed, unable to react at all.


    "Bang!"


    The fist cut through the air, carrying Power, and struck Lou Huiying''s chin hard.


    She was knocked into a severe backward arch, her upper body bending backwards, but she didn''t fall.


    From the feeling upon contact with his fist, Xue Jing understood how tough this woman was. His gaze sharpened as he activated the Power of Twins, following up with a snap kick to Lou Huiying''s waist.


    The force of the kick could have bent steel bars, and Lou Huiying was sent flying more than three meters away, crashing into a concrete wall and fracturing it.


    Xue Jing, having gained the advantage, immediately followed up with more attacks, closing in on Lou Huiying with Twin Speed and continuously punching her face with both hands, mercilessly.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang!"


    The dull sound of heavy blows echoed, with the first punch, Lou Huiying''s head slightly sunk into the wall.


    With the second punch, it sank deeper.


    The countless fists that followed continuously drove her head deeper into the wall, embedding it there as cracks around the hole where her head was lodged spread out in all directions on the concrete wall.


    "Crash..."


    Finally, the wall couldn''t bear the relentless pounding and completely collapsed, breaking into countless pieces of stone and burying Lou Huiying amidst them.


    Xue Jing took a slight breath and, looking at his slightly reddened fists, clicked his tongue and said:


    "Damn hard..."


    The residents who were watching, including Duan Kaiping''s dozen or so underlings, all had their mouths agape, staring at the youth with glasses, standing tall as a stately pine.


    "Filming a movie?"


    "Damn, even the wall is smashed to bits; I hope Lou isn''t shattered as well."


    "Hiss... such brutality, even if she''s like that, she''s still a woman at the end of the day, to strike with such force."


    "An unvirtuous woman warrants a deliberate punch!"


    "Who the hell is that guy? Even Duan Kaiping got flipped over by a single hit from Lou, yet he''s managing to dominate her in the fight?"


    From amidst the rubble, a slender arm suddenly stretched out.


    "Crash..."


    Lou Huiying slowly sat up, with dust and small stones continually falling off her body.


    A punch that would kill an ordinary person outright, she took countless to her face, but at this moment, aside from some bruising, she surprisingly seemed to be mostly unscathed.


    "Kid... you''ve really fucking pissed me off!"


    Lou Huiying ground her teeth as she enunciated each word with effort.


    The black-flowered tiara on her head faintly emitted a black vapor, flowing into her body, while it fortified her physique, it also further amplified her malicious thoughts.


    Xue Jing''s gaze hardened as he watched her, but excitement surged within him.


    This was fighting!


    Thrilling!


    Lou Huiying abruptly stood up, and with a heavy stomp, she cracked the cement ground and charged toward Xue Jing.


    Though it was completely unskilled, the sheer explosive power of her legs meant that her speed was still extremely fast as she reached her hand towards Xue Jing.


    Fast, almost got him. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lou Huiying stretched her mouth in a grotesque smile, drool spilling out.


    As long as she caught him, she swore she would tear this youth to shreds!


    However, just as she was about to grab Xue Jing, he simply stepped back, causing her outstretched hand to grasp at nothing.


    Immediately after, Xue Jing reached up and grabbed her long golden hair.


    With a fierce yank downward!


    As Lou Huiying''s head was pulled down, Xue Jing channeled the Power of Twins and dealt a vicious knee strike, embedding his kneecap directly into her face.


    The head that had just fallen was rocketed upward again, and even Lou Huiying, despite the heavy hit, couldn''t help but scream in pain as blood gushed from her nose.


    But her rage only intensified; twisting her waist, she forcefully stopped her head from tilting back and in a turn, grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist.


    Before she could do anything more, Xue Jing''s other hand was already in front of her eyes, his fingers flicking out.


    "Aaaaah!!!"


    Power surged, channeled through his fingertips; this lethal flick on the soft eyeball was unbearable even for Lou Huiying. She immediately let go of Xue Jing''s hand and covered her eyes, screaming in agony.


    In Xue Jing''s mind flashed the teachings of Li Qi.


    "Dishonorable or malicious, as long as you win, any technique is permissible. The person who stands at the end is the one who has the right to speak!"


    Xue Jing''s eyes hardened; without hesitation, he unleashed a Spartan Kick straight toward Lou Huiying''s lower abdomen.


    Not just men''s that place, but also women''s that place, was a significant weak point!


    ...


    I beg you, lords, to cast your monthly votes for the author, it really matters! Starting now, for every additional one hundred monthly votes, I will add one more chapter daily on top of the scheduled three, please!

 Chapter 51 - 48: What Are You Pretending to Be?

    The Spartan Kick, with the heel as the final point of force, possessed the most lethal power among all front-kicking actions.


    "Puff!"


    Despite being Lou Huiying, under the ferocious kick aimed at her vulnerability, she doubled over like a cooked shrimp, covering her stomach with both hands, as blood and vomit burst forth from her mouth.


    Without any hesitation, Xue Jing continued forward, his right leg raised straight up, higher than his head, the power churning, building up to the limit, like the blade of a guillotine, and he suddenly chopped down!


    Lou Huiying, clutching her abdomen and bending over, took the brunt of the blow to the back of her head, like a plummeting onion, and Xue Jing fiercely drove her into the ground with one foot.


    "Bang!"


    Her face was deeply embedded into the hard concrete, dust billowing around, from her as the center, a crack spread more than a meter in diameter.


    Lou Huiying did not move again, the dark crown fell off, rolling to the side, looking like a mere hair ornament, with no special features.


    All the onlookers at the scene were rendered speechless, intimidated by the young man''s terrifying martial prowess and his ruthless treatment of the woman.


    Xue Jing didn''t care about the spectators'' thoughts, he straightened the glasses on his nose which had slightly shifted due to the intense action, bent down, and picked up the "Crown of the Wicked Woman."


    "Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing divinity¡­"


    He pulled out his phone, took a photo of the dark crown, and sent it to Wu Youqing.


    "Custody successful," Xue Jing murmured to himself.


    Glancing again at Lou Huiying, who lay face down on the ground motionless, Xue Jing stepped forward, extending his right foot, and flipped her body over.


    To prevent her from being suffocated with her head buried in the ground.


    As for the punishment due to the many evil deeds she had done after wearing the Crown of the Wicked Woman ... he would leave that to the residents she had oppressed these days.


    The folks of the South City district were simple and the major gangs were full of talent; without the Crown of the Wicked Woman, Lou Huiying, reduced to an ordinary person, was bound to face difficult days ahead.


    Just as Xue Jing was about to leave, he suddenly heard a deep, indifferent voice from behind:


    "Oh? Nearly came too late, but it turned out just in time."


    "Hey, kid."


    "Hand over what you''re holding. That''s not something you''re qualified to touch."


    Xue Jing paused slightly, slowly turned around, and looked towards the source of the voice.


    It was a quite burly man dressed in a suit and leather shoes.


    He was impeccably dressed, his clothes nearly wrinkle-free, and his tie perfectly tied. His hair, slicked back with hair oil, lacked a single strand out of place, making him look like he had OCD.


    The man''s facial features were stern, his eyes carried a hint of indifference, his gaze at Xue Jing was condescending.


    Xue Jing lingered on his face a little longer, feeling something odd.


    His skin was very pale, unnaturally so. There were several indentations on his cheeks, as if the skin was sewn on by very precise methods, giving a sense of disharmony and eeriness.


    That went for his eyes too, one was a normal black while the other emitted a faint glow of dark red.


    "What if I say no?" Xue Jing asked, his tone completely steady.


    He glanced at the panel.


    In the Divine Skills section, beneath "Twin Lifes," wisps of golden light seeped out, continually gathering.


    He had seen this phenomenon before.


    It was the same as when he first encountered a Divine Relic, the moment Twin Lifes was activated.


    A new Divine Skill was being born.


    Xue Jing closed the panel, tucked the "Crown of the Wicked Woman" into his neckline, ensuring it was in constant contact with his body.


    Noticing his action, the man''s eyes narrowed.


    "Kid, you''re courting death."


    The man took off his suit jacket, threw it aside, and began walking towards Xue Jing, loosening his tie as if ready to fight.


    The dark red prosthetic eye analyzed the data of the youth in front.


    "Physical Power Level estimation: 1.7~1.9"


    "Physical Mutation Rate: below 1%"


    "Traces of martial arts practice detected, no evident specialized parts, unable to calculate combat model"


    ¡­


    After a plethora of data assessments, the final evaluation came in.


    "Comprehensive danger level estimation: 2.1~2.5"


    The result surprised the man.


    Appearing to be only sixteen or seventeen years old... living in a rural area like the Outer Ring City, to have an assessment over 2 at this age, the kid is quite talented indeed.


    But...still too weak.


    The man''s eyes revealed scorn.


    "Kid, I''m giving you one last chance,"


    "Hand it over."


    He walked up to Xue Jing, with his arms crossed over his chest. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I can spare your life, just break an arm and a leg."


    "Kneel down and thank me for this mercy."


    His words were tinged with an irritating sense of entitlement.


    Xue Jing was silent for a moment, blinked, and then smiled:


    "You piece of shit, you probably haven''t played tough muck like this, have you?"


    The man''s gaze turned cold.


    "Let me guess, you must be the type who is willing to be a lowly, groveling dog, but still tries to squeeze into circles that aren''t yours. Now you feel so cool because you can enter this circle, superior to others, walking with a swagger, unable to resist imitating those higher-ups you encounter every day."


    "But¡ª you haven''t really played this role before, have you? It''s too rigid, really, I''m embarrassed for you."


    Xue Jing''s smile was as brilliant as the sunshine.


    "I''m curious, you lower-class stinking dog, who are you trying to impress here?"


    A member of the Razor Gang watching couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    "Pfft..."


    When the man heard the laughter, it seemed to hit a nerve; his face turned from green to white, and his prosthetic red eye flickered between shame and outright fury.


    "You''re dead...you''re dead...you''re dead..."


    "I''m going to...kill you!"


    He was about to make a move, but Xue Jing had already taken the initiative, launching a crotch kick without hesitation towards the man''s groin.


    "Smack!"


    Following a dull sound, the man''s eyes revealed scorn:


    "Despicable martial artist, always using such despicable tricks, how could we not be prepared?"


    Xue Jing immediately realized something was off; the feeling of hitting the target didn''t feel like a human body, but rather like kicking a rubber-made, hard tire.


    "It''s over!"


    The man suddenly lunged for a bear hug, extremely fast, almost like a beast snapping its jaws at Xue Jing.


    This move was almost certainly secure, according to the evaluation from the prosthetic eye, a youngster with a physical power level of less than 2, at this distance, it was impossible to dodge.


    However, the man grasped at air.


    The young man was extremely quick, ducking down to dodge the bear hug with a speed far exceeding his rating, took a step back and distanced himself.


    Then¡­ without hesitation, he turned and ran!


    "Damn it!"


    The man was furiously angry, smashing the floor as he chased after Xue Jing.


    ¡­


    Xue Jing weaved through the complex alleyways, deep in thought.


    ''Who is this person? A custodian from another containment company?''


    ''His body is strange...has he used banned drugs, or does he have an alien implant?''


    ''Outer Ring City lacks medical facilities, and the use of alien implants is prohibited...could he be from Inner Ring City?''


    Continuous thumping sounds came from behind.


    Xue Jing looked back.


    While he zigzagged, using light-body skills in the alleys, the other party simply brute-forced his way through like a tank, smashing countless walls in a straight line as he rapidly closed in.


    Seeing the distance being closed gradually, and knowing that Twin Speed couldn''t be maintained for long, Xue Jing glanced at the progress of the Divine Absorption on his panel.


    The light points of pale gold were still converging.


    ''First, find a way to buy some time and see what the new Divine Skill is.''


    Xue Jing made up his mind.


    He turned into another alley, his gaze sweeping across the area like lightning, took a few steps forward and picked up a rusty, bent nail from the ground.


    ¡­

 Chapter 52 - 49: The Dark Flame, Blessed One

    "This little bastard really can run!"


    The man cursed under his breath while using his prosthetic eye to lock onto Xue Jing''s trail.


    Martial artists are such a pain, all nimble like monkeys, darting here and there, it''s so frustrating.


    After shattering another wall, the man waved away the dust and stopped in his tracks.


    The tracking traces displayed in his prosthetic eye ended here, with three question marks appearing in the upper right corner, indicating insufficient data to determine the direction.


    "Got away?" The man''s face darkened.


    "No, if he could''ve escaped, he would have done it earlier. He must be hiding!"


    The man switched his prosthetic eye mode from [Tracking] to [Insight].


    "You can''t run away, you cur."


    In the dark red view, every detail of the alley was scanned into the chip for thorough analysis.


    A silhouette exactly matching Xue Jing''s physique appeared in the prosthetic eye''s vision; ''he'' leaped and dodged into the alley, looked around for a moment, and then bent down to pick something up from the ground.


    The prosthetic eye was still analyzing when suddenly a sharp whizzing sound came from above.


    Instinctively, the man raised his right hand and extended two fingers in front of his eyes, just in time to catch a rusty nail. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But before he could react further, immediately following the nail, a figure dropped from the sky at an unbelievable speed, throwing a punch straight at him!


    The figure''s speed was so incredibly fast that the man had no time to react; the punch had already struck his palm, which was holding the nail, and forcibly drove the nail forward, directly into his prosthetic eye!


    "Aaaahhhhh!!!!"


    The rusty nail brutally penetrated his eye, sinking in completely, and the man screamed in agony as blood poured out, covering his eye as he wailed.


    Seeing his surprise attack had succeeded, Xue Jing immediately pressed on, bombarding the nail-pierced eye of his opponent with a continuous barrage of punches.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang..."


    The already embedded nail was driven deeper into the man''s body with each successive punch.


    "You''re asking for it!!"


    The man roared in anger, enduring the pain, opened his other eye to regain his vision, and forcefully pushed outward with both hands, breaking Xue Jing''s barrage of attacks.


    Then he kicked out at Xue Jing, who immediately raised his arms in defense, placing them in front of his chest.


    Xue Jing was knocked back several meters by the kick, slamming into a wall and leaving an imprint of his body.


    "..."


    Although he had braced himself with his power for defense, Xue Jing still felt a painful sensation, his arms burning and his chest feeling tight.


    "Such inhuman strength."


    Xue Jing casually picked up a handful of stones from the shattered wall on the ground and threw them at the man.


    "Pitter-patter..."


    The stones, which almost served as bullets in his hand, had no effect on the man but made him cover his face with his hands, shielding his eyes.


    "I''ll tear you limb from limb, you despicable runt!"


    The man bellowed.


    He truly hadn''t expected to fall head over heels in a rural place like Outer Ring City, and to suffer such a loss at the hands of a kid who had just barely passed a Level 2 evaluation.


    "Lowly dog, you''re just a bit thick-skinned."


    Xue Jing taunted.


    He opened the panel and glanced at it.


    His new Divine Skill shone even brighter.


    Enraged beyond control by the taunt, the man charged at him like a heavy tank.


    Xue Jing activated his Twin Speed, stepped to the side to dodge, and the wall was directly smashed through by the man.


    ''Damn it!''


    The man felt like spitting blood in frustration.


    If it weren''t for the fact that [ISE] couldn''t pass the security check to be legally brought into Outer Ring City, would he have allowed this kid to hop around like this?


    He would have fucking obliterated him already!


    At that moment, as Xue Jing dodged to the side, his gaze sharpened, and he suddenly kicked out, brushing precisely at the man''s chin.


    It was a stroke of Fortune Comes to a Prepared Mind, an effortless, antelope-hanging strike, with almost perfect angle and timing.


    The force of Xue Jing''s kick, combined with the man''s forward momentum, immediately caused a concussion in the man''s head, making him feel as though the world was spinning.


    ''This is bad!''


    As he watched the ground get closer, the man sensed trouble.


    The most valuable part of his body was the [C5-grade Protective Membrane] on his skin, which provided excellent defense against the Power of martial artists.


    But even so, he couldn''t withstand a heavy blow to the chin, the most vulnerable part of the human body¡ªthe brain.


    The man collapsed to the ground and struggled to stand up, but the concussion had destroyed his sense of balance, and despite his efforts, he couldn''t get up.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes and picked up a discarded pressure cooker lid from a pile of trash in the alley, walking towards the man.


    "Bang!"


    The lid''s edge struck the man''s occiput harshly, making a loud noise.


    "Bang bang bang bang!!"


    After continuous heavy blows, the handle of the lid couldn''t bear the force and broke off, and the lid flew away.


    "You... wait for me, I will... eat you alive..."


    However, the man seemed to be fine and even gradually regained his balance, slowly standing up, and shouting threats.


    Xue Jing clicked his tongue, "What a monster."


    This was simply not a human''s anti-strike capacity.


    At that moment, a dazzling golden light bloomed on the panel.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    And beneath Twin Lifes, a new Divine Skill appeared!


    [Shadow Flame (Inactive): Divine Skill, Divinity required to activate 539/500]


    [Requirements met, activate now?]


    [Yes/No]


    Xue Jing hesitated, unsure whether to upgrade Twin Lifes and activate another active effect or to activate this new Divine Skill.


    But [Shadow Flame] sounded like an offensive skill...


    After considering, Xue Jing made his decision, clicking [Yes].


    [Activation successful]


    [Shadow Flame Lv1 (Divinity required to upgrade: 39/100)]


    [Effect: Turns shadows into tangible Shadow Flames]


    [Divine Incarnation: Locked (Unlock requirements: Divinity 39/2000, level to reach Lv10)]


    In the alley, from every shadow untouched by sunlight, countless black streams, like whirlpools, converged toward Xue Jing.


    Whoosh¡ª


    Clusters of black flames began to burn and bloom on Xue Jing''s body.


    The black flames grew fiercer and transformed into a magnificent coat of Dark Flame.


    The man, gradually recovering from his daze, witnessed this scene, and the pupil of his only flesh eye drastically contracted.


    He opened his mouth wide, his expression gradually shifting from anger to fear.


    "You...!"


    He seemed to want to say something, but he couldn''t speak any longer.


    An arm wreathed in Dark Flame grabbed the lower half of his face and lifted him high.


    The man''s pupil shrank tightly, terrified to the extreme, and didn''t dare to resist at all.


    ''Inhuman strength, the Blessed One...''


    ''He is a Blessed One!!''


    ''Am I actually contending with a Blessed One?''


    ''Ha, hahaha, haha...''


    ''I''m dead, am I going to die?''


    ''It''s over for sure...''


    "Better watch how you talk in your next life," said Xue Jing softly.


    "Boom!"


    The countless Dark Flames, under his control, converged toward his arm and poured into the man''s mouth.


    The man convulsed a few times, his skin swelled up, his eyes rolled back, and shortly after, he stopped struggling.


    Trails of Dark Flame emerged from his eyes, nose, and ears and dissipated into the air.


    "..."


    Gazing at the now still body in his hand, Xue Jing dropped it to the ground, calming the inner turmoil prompted by his first deadly encounter.


    The black flames wrapped around him, dancing quietly, as though he was clothed in the deathly attire of a god from the Netherworld.


    ...

 Chapter 53 - 50: A Wave of Fatness, Miao Miao Transforms

    In the alley, Xue Jing sat on the ground, watching a cluster of Dark Flame burning in his palm.


    "Shadow Flame..."


    Curiously, he let the cluster of Dark Flame jump back and forth between his hands.


    It was very smooth to control, like an extension of his own limbs, without any hindrance.


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing casually picked up a piece of brick from the ground and controlled the Shadow Flame to attach it to the brick.


    "Boom!"


    The silicon-based material, which was supposed to be difficult to burn, ignited like wood.


    The brick gradually melted in the Dark Flame and turned into ashes after dozens of seconds, dissipating into the air.


    "It''s completely different from ordinary flames."


    "Or rather, its essence is not a flame, it just appears in the form of black fire."


    Xue Jing mused.


    He used the Shadow Flame to ignite another brick, this time only burning it for a while before dispersing it.


    He touched the stone, finding it pit-marked on the surface from the burn but without any signs of carbonization, and it felt ice-cold.


    "The temperature does not change, it''s not a high-temperature attack... it''s conceptual damage to the material, without any specific properties?"


    Xue Jing experimented with the Shadow Flame in the alley for a while, gaining a preliminary understanding of the Divine Skill "Shadow Flame."


    "The larger the area of surrounding shadows, the more Shadow Flame I can convert, and the smaller the consumption..."


    "The damage it causes is unrelated to physical properties... it''s only related to intensity... this person''s skin is very tough, it takes a long time to burn through."


    Watching a cluster of Shadow Flame burn for a long time before finally burning a small hole in the man''s arm, Xue Jing nodded.


    On the panel, the golden light of the words "Shadow Flame" was dim, and it could no longer be used, not knowing how the cooldown was calculated.


    Xue Jing stood up, stretching lazily.


    "Huge gain~"


    He looked at the panel and sighed.


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fighting experience points +452]


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fighting experience points +633]


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fitness experience points +422]


    [You have experienced a fight where you overcame stronger opponents, fitness experience points +558]


    ...


    Among the string of prompts, his skill experience points skyrocketed.


    [Fitness increased to Lv6 (28/3000)]


    [Health Cultivation increased to Lv4 (25/1200)]


    [Aiming increased to Lv4 (102/1200)]


    [Fight increased to Lv4 (805/1200)]


    [Channeling Energy increased to Lv5 (127/2000)]


    What''s called a hefty gain.


    This is what the fuck is called a hefty gain!


    Xue Jing''s body crackled, and he clenched his fists, feeling that he was nearly twice as strong as before.


    More importantly, he had activated a purely offensive Divine Skill¡ªShadow Flame!


    This greatly enhanced his lethality.


    "It''s true that it''s good to fight more often."


    Immersed in the satisfaction of growth for a while, Xue Jing then remembered that there were a lot of things he had not dealt with.


    First, he took a photo of the man''s body and sent it to Wu Youqing, detailing what had happened.


    After all, having killed a person, Xue Jing felt somewhat out of his depth and needed to find a backer to settle things.


    Compared to the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Wu Youqing, the lady boss with a semi-official background, seemed more reliable.


    After all, it was the matter of retrieving the Divine Relic that had brought this about; Wu Youqing surely couldn''t ignore it.


    Wu Youqing didn''t leave Xue Jing waiting long, quickly making a call, and Xue Jing immediately picked up, saying:


    "Hello, BOSS, it''s exactly as I described in the WeChat message." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From the phone, Wu Youqing''s gentle voice came through, "I understand, don''t worry, you have done nothing wrong, I will handle it."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Send me the location, don''t move the body, I will send someone to take care of it, just go home directly as if nothing happened."


    "Come find me at the library tomorrow."


    Xue Jing readily agreed.


    After hanging up the phone, he sent Wu Youqing his detailed address, thought for a moment, dragged the man''s body into a pile of trash, and slightly covered it up so as not to be noticed by passersby.


    Then he dusted himself off and left the alley.


    ...


    By the time he got home, Miao Miao had already returned.


    Opening the door to a cat greeting him was something that could generate a sense of happiness.


    Having killed someone, Xue Jing was uneasy, but his heart eased quite a bit after seeing Miao Miao.


    "Ha~~ you''re back." Miao Miao yawned, rubbed its emerald eyes with a paw, and said lazily.


    "Hm?"


    Miao Miao approached Xue Jing, its cute nose twitching slightly.


    "Blood scent... did you get into a fight again?"


    Xue Jing picked it up, rubbed his face against its face, and smiled, "Something small happened, but I''ve taken care of it."


    "Come on, Teacher Wan, it''s been a long time since you had a bath..."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Feng Wan started struggling in Xue Jing''s arms.


    "...Cats don''t need a bath every day, hey, let go, go wash yourself!"


    ...


    "Ah~"


    In the bathtub, Xue Jing, holding Miao Miao, submerged into the slightly hot water, and both of them let out a comfortable sigh.


    Miao Miao lay on Xue Jing''s chest, its tail swaying back and forth, brushing against his chin.


    It turned its head slightly and inadvertently glanced at Xue Jing''s Divine Sword, which was difficult to look away from, then quickly averted its gaze.


    In the silence, Miao Miao''s youthful feminine voice echoed in the bathroom.


    "Young man, are you feeling down?"


    Xue Jing, slightly taken aback, smiled and said,


    "I am a bit, but seeing you makes me feel a lot better."


    Ning Feng Wan proudly raised her head and snorted, "Flattery does not work on this Sect Hierarch."


    Xue Jing glanced at the panel.


    [Someone has developed favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +21]


    He chuckled, didn''t expose it, but simply pinched Miao Miao''s face.


    "Hmm? Why are you wearing glasses in the bath? They''re all fogged up."


    Miao Miao glanced at the glasses on Xue Jing''s nose, which were all fogged up, and felt a bit awkward.


    So it reached out a paw and flicked.


    The glasses dropped.


    "Hm?"


    Completely off his guard, Xue Jing hadn''t expected this, and by the time he thought to put the glasses back on, it was too late.


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +89]


    The presence he had been suppressing all day erupted suddenly with the removal of the glasses; in that moment, Xue Jing was almost the epitome of a Succubus.


    Miao Miao stared at him, completely dazed.


    Then, the unexpected happened.


    The tail ring on Miao Miao''s tail began to emit a platinum radiance, gradually brightening, then bursting into a blinding circle of light.


    Xue Jing instinctively shielded his eyes.


    Suddenly, he felt a heaviness in his chest.


    The fuzzy sensation of Miao Miao was gone, replaced by a soft, slick touch...


    Not exactly... within the soft and slick, there was still a bit of fuzziness.


    He opened his eyes and looked.


    He found himself looking into a pair of narrow, seductive eyes.


    ...


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 Chapter 54 - 51: Unsheathed

    Moist black hair cascaded down her back, droplets of water gliding down her strands onto her soft, jade-like skin, flowing into the bottomless ravines.


    With her willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes, her beauty was almost inconceivable, as if her radiant face, seemingly unaware of what had happened, was caught with her mouth slightly open in a bewildered state.


    Two sharp little canine teeth added a touch of dangerous cuteness to her, and the two cat ears on her head trembled slightly, causing Ning Fengwan''s face to gradually turn a shade of embarrassed red.


    She clasped her hands over her chest, and the long cat tail encased in a white gold tail ring that grew on her tailbone wrapped around Xue Jing''s head, covering his eyes.


    "Don''t look!!"


    The girlish voice was almost breaking into a cry.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He felt the silky soft touch rubbing back and forth across his chest, adding a slightly fuzzy sensation and a subtle nub... Xue Jing''s expression immediately became odd.


    He indeed stopped looking¡­ but it seemed that looking was not the issue now¡­


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing spoke up to comfort her, "Teacher Wan, calm down, I didn''t see anything."


    Seeing that Xue Jing''s eyes were covered by the cat tail, indeed showing that he could see nothing, Ning Fengwan gradually calmed down.


    "..."


    But soon, she realized an even more fatal truth.


    The touch transmitted a shudder-inducing thrill of electric current.


    "Mmm~"


    Xue Jing heard a strange sound next to his ear, and his expression instantly became even more peculiar.


    "How could it¡­ suddenly revert."


    Ning Fengwan, while suppressing the thrilling sensation, gritted her teeth and said annoyedly.


    "It might be that you accidentally triggered the transformation condition of this Divine Relic," Xue Jing tried to speak in a calm tone.


    But inevitably, his voice wavered slightly.


    His heart was beating fast.


    His body, in the throes of late adolescence and at the Great Perfection Realm, was like a piece of paper that ignites at a single touch, difficult to restrain.


    Trigger conditions?


    Ning Fengwan, suppressing her embarrassment, recalled the earlier scene.


    She had taken off Xue Jing''s glasses, and then¡­


    developed a tiny bit¡­ just a tiny bit of feeling for him.


    And then reverted to human?


    What kind of nonsensical trigger conditions are these, could she be the protagonist of some cat-girl theme narrative from another realm?


    Ning Fengwan, who had been watching animations recently and had learned many things, twitched the corner of her mouth.


    All reverted to human, yet the cat ears, the canine teeth, this tail¡­


    Damned ''Divine'', what kind of crappy legacy is this!


    "..."


    "You..."


    Ning Fengwan suddenly angrily slapped Xue Jing.


    "Don''t think anything messy, this was just an accident!"


    She saw that the holy sword¡­ was drawn.


    "There''s nothing I can do to control it," Xue Jing said calmly.


    After pausing, he continued, "But¡­ if you don''t get out soon, there might be more things I can''t control."


    Ning Fengwan: "..."


    "Hmph, then I''ll move the tail away, and you cover your eyes with your hands¡­"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Seeing this, Ning Fengwan carefully held the edge of the bathtub, ready to stand up.


    But then, another accident happened.


    Either she was too emotionally unsettled and made a mistake, or because there was still some shower gel left on the edge of the bathtub, as soon as Ning Fengwan pushed herself up to leave, her palm slipped.


    She sat back down, creating a splash of water.


    Not only that, but for some reason, Xue Jing''s body was now somewhat slippery. Ning Fengwan watched helplessly as she slid down...


    "Hmm~"


    "Hiss..."


    Xue Jing sharply inhaled a breath of cold air.


    "Teacher Wan, you..."


    Ning Fengwan was on the verge of collapse and said ashamedly, "It wasn''t on purpose..."


    Xue Jing trembled and covered his eyes with his hands.


    His voice also trembled, "I understand... Please leave now."


    "Otherwise, you might not be able to leave at all."


    Watching as Xue Jing''s veins bulged and he was about to lose control and truly reach the realm of Great Perfection of his youth, a trace of fear emerged in Ning Fengwan''s heart. She quickly got up and fled the bathroom like she was escaping.


    "..."


    As the door closed, the bathroom fell silent.


    Xue Jing sighed, suppressing the restless energy within him.


    But still, he could not calm down for a long time; his divine sword was more difficult to suppress than an AK.


    He gently touched his chest with his hand.


    He didn''t know if it was because of the shower gel or something else, but it felt sticky...


    Xue Jing wore a bizarre expression.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in a secret basement in the South City district,


    Jiao Hongyuan, a man of robust and upright stature with an aged face, stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards the center of the basement.


    There lay a four-meter-tall, enormous ''Nest.''


    The exterior looked like a bee''s nest, but the color was closer to sky blue. Its surface, like flesh, constantly squirmed, and from time to time, it would pulsate like a heart, emitting a dull sound.


    "Clang." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The cover above the basement was lifted, and a figure with a bandaged head, leaning on a cane, came down the stairs.


    Jiao Hongyuan turned to glance at him, noting his appearance, and asked with puzzlement,


    "Kaiping, what happened?"


    Duan Kaiping leaned on his cane, bowing awkwardly to Jiao Hongyuan, "I''ve seen Teacher."


    "Something happened today¡­" His face showed difficulty as he explained how he had gone to trouble Lou Huiying but was unexpectedly ambushed, resulting in Lou Huiying shooting him in the head.


    Jiao Hongyuan frowned.


    "Didn''t I tell you to avoid causing any trouble lately? Are you deaf?"


    Duan Kaiping felt as if he was plunged into an icy cave under his cold gaze, and sweat flowed freely; he quickly knelt down, enduring the stabbing pain in his thigh.


    "Teacher! I was wrong!"


    He swallowed, feeling as if an extremely sharp dagger was sliding across his neck, its cold light threatening, ready to easily sever his head at any moment.


    After a long while, as the cold, knife-like gaze faded, Jiao Hongyuan said indifferently, "All right, get up."


    "Yes." Duan Kaiping breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and then noticed that his body was completely soaked in sweat, and a puddle had formed at his feet.


    "Has ''Number One'' grown any bigger?" Jiao Hongyuan suddenly asked.


    Duan Kaiping quickly nodded, "I just checked the cage, and it''s already bigger than a dog, growing at a frightening speed."


    Speaking of ''Number One,'' a trace of fear flashed in his eyes, and goosebumps covered his body.


    It wasn''t fear of its strength or anything else, but a sheer psychological repulsion to its appearance.


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded his head.


    "Number One is just a test subject; the proportions are still not perfect. The Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother can birth even better children..."


    "However, Kangde Corporation seems to want to test the effects first. After a while, once Number One has fully grown, we''ll release it."


    Duan Kaiping respectfully nodded, "Yes."


    ...


    Please, please vote for me!

 Chapter 55 - 52: Promotion and Salary Increase

    By the time Xue Jing emerged from the bathroom, an hour had passed.


    He walked into the living room and saw Miao Miao curled up on the sofa, wallowing in self-isolation.


    "Hmm? You''ve changed back?"


    Xue Jing exclaimed in surprise.


    On the sofa was not the beautiful black-haired cat-eared girl, Ning Fengwan, but a black cat with four white-gloved paws.


    "Mm," Ning Fengwan buried her cat head in the crevice of the sofa and responded in a muffled voice, sounding very dull.


    She didn''t know how to face Xue Jing anymore.


    To have such an intimate contact with him in her human form... and to have even brushed against that unsheathed holy sword.


    For a girl who had never even held a man''s hand, it was too much stimulation.


    At the thought of it, she wanted to slam her head against the wall and die on the spot.


    Ning Fengwan stretched out two cat paws and covered her face.


    "Wan, how did you change back, and can you change again?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing sat down on the sofa beside her.


    "You should call me Sect Leader..." Ning Fengwan said feebly, then sighed,


    "...I don''t know, I just calmed down and then turned back into a cat."


    "Now I can''t turn back into a human again, this is really inexplicable."


    She felt a bit disappointed, yet she was also secretly relieved.


    If she could completely return to her human form, she would have no reason to continue staying at Xue Jing''s house, and she would have to resume her role as the Sect Hierarch of Dragon Cult.


    Although she had temporarily reverted due to triggering some special conditions, the situation was still unstable, so she had to continue staying with him.


    "Hmm... I''ve recently met someone who knows quite a bit about Divine Relics. I''ll go ask her about the specifics tomorrow," Xue Jing pondered.


    Ning Fengwan nodded her head without asking Xue Jing how he came to know such a person, simply gazing at him with her emerald green, vertical pupils, her eyes full of complex emotions.


    For a moment, silence descended, and an awkward air gradually filled the space between them.


    Xue Jing had been pretending as if nothing was amiss after coming out of the bathroom, but he was beginning to feel the strain.


    He cleared his throat and said unnaturally, "I''ll go out for a walk."


    Then he got up, took his keys, and left the house.


    Upon hearing the door close, Ning Fengwan sprawled upside down on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.


    Images of what had happened in the bathroom floated through the girl''s mind, making her toss and turn restlessly on the sofa.


    ...


    The next morning, when Xue Jing woke up, he lifted the quilt and, seeing Miao Miao still asleep beside him, smiled.


    After cooling off separately the day before, the awkward atmosphere had dissipated by the time Xue Jing came home, and the way they interacted had seemingly returned to normal.


    At least on the surface, it was.


    As for how things would develop in the future, and what the incident in the bathroom the previous night would ultimately lead to ¨C only time would tell.


    After preparing breakfast as usual and a notification on his panel, Xue Jing''s [Cooking] Skills finally advanced to the level of Lv4.


    He went out for his routine jog, took a bath after returning home, and then set off for Qingcheng University.


    Without any delay, he made his way directly to the seventh floor of Qing University Library.


    In the dimly lit, old library, there was still only one girl, sitting on a wooden chair, engrossed in her book, exuding a serene atmosphere all around her.


    Today, the girl wasn''t dressed in the body-hugging white T-shirt and skinny jeans from before, but in a black blouse paired with an off-white grey checkered women''s shirt tied at the waist, accentuating her slender waist. She wore fitted black trousers that hugged her long, shapely legs and simple white canvas shoes on her feet.


    Because it was a novel experience, Xue Jing couldn''t help but take a few extra glances at her before pulling out the "Crown of the Wicked Woman" and the "Utterly Ordinary Glasses" from his backpack and placing them on the table in front of Wu Youqing.


    "BOSS, mission accomplished," Xue Jing said with a smile, sitting down in a chair.


    Wu Youqing closed the book in her hands and blinked, with her light purple eyes looking towards Xue Jing.


    "You did well this time, you worked hard,"


    she said softly.


    "I''m sorry that I didn''t anticipate someone else would come and interfere unexpectedly, putting you in danger," the young girl said, with a hint of guilt on her face.


    Xue Jing shook his head and replied, "You''re not omniscient, how could you foresee everything? Since I chose to join the company and signed the contract, I was prepared for this. This level of danger is to be expected, don''t worry about it."


    Wu Youqing nodded and said softly, "Even so¡­ due to the special circumstances of this containment mission, I will upgrade it to a C+ level evaluation, and increase your profit share as compensation."


    She took a document from the bag on the chair next to her and handed it to Xue Jing.


    "The man you killed has been taken care of yesterday, and his identity has been investigated."


    Xue Jing took the document and opened it.


    A passport photo was printed on the file folder, showing the man Xue Jing had killed yesterday.


    His name was Zhu Yingkun, hailing from one of the three major Inner Ring Cities of the Fifth Urban Circle, Yuan City.


    "This man was a C-level Custodian affiliated with Xu''s Containment Company."


    Wu Youqing leaned forward slightly, toward Xue Jing, and said.


    "However, when I contacted Xu''s Shelter yesterday, they were quite certain that Zhu Yingkun was not assigned to handle this containment task, it was his own personal action."


    "It''s an unclear and confused matter now, and that''s as far as it goes¡ªbut I don''t think Xu''s Shelter is trying to pass the buck."


    "To leave his own jurisdiction and come all the way from the Inner Ring to here to contain a C-level Divine Relic, it really doesn''t seem like an assignment given by a containment company."


    The girl spoke softly in front of Xue Jing, with her hair hanging down before her eyes, giving off a faint and elusive fragrance.


    "Regardless of the reason, I will have Xu''s Shelter give you some compensation," she said.


    Xue Jing nodded, "If you''ve decided, that''s fine."


    In any case, he hadn''t been at a loss, he had pulverized the other party.


    "Speaking of which, the autopsy report of Zhu Yingkun is a bit strange," Wu Youqing said meaningfully, gazing at Xue Jing.


    "Apart from one of his eyes being destroyed, there''s hardly any wounds on his body surface, but his internal organs are as if they have been gnawed away into nothingness."


    "That kind of wound, even detection can''t figure out how it happened¡­"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Hmm¡­ can I decline to comment? Pretty please?"


    For now, he didn''t know how others would view an ability like Shadow Flame, akin to superpowers, so it was better to keep it hidden.


    Wu Youqing nodded, unconcerned, "It''s fine if you don''t want to say anything. Everyone has their secrets, and it''s enough to know that you have the necessary containment abilities."


    She took out another item from her bag.


    It was a black identification card similar to an ID card, with a material resembling obsidian, reflecting slightly under the dim light.


    The front was embellished with white brushstrokes depicting ''Death of a God'', exquisitely crafted.


    The back held several lines of text.


    [Wu''s Divine Relic Containment and Research Co., Ltd.]


    [Special Hire C-level Divine Relic Custodian¡¤Xue Jing]


    ¡­


    Please vote for monthly tickets, pretty please!

 Chapter 56 - 53: Containment Certificate Privilege, Cat Goddess Bastet

    ```


    Is this considered a promotion with a raise?


    ```


    Xue Jing touched the [C-Class] inscription on the card.


    "You performed very well this time, even in the face of special circumstances, you managed to complete the containment task smoothly. Based on my personal judgment, you already possess the qualifications to be a C-class Custodian."


    "This is also the highest level I can appoint you to directly. Any further promotion requires official recognition, where you would undergo some special assessments and tests for advancement."


    Wu Youqing saw Xue Jing curiously playing with the card and smiled, murmuring softly:


    "This is a containment license, an official special license. With this, you will find it much more convenient when carrying out containment tasks in the future."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "Oh? So, am I an official now?"


    "You''re a semi-official," Wu Youqing emphasized.


    Xue Jing toyed with the containment license, wondering about the material it was made of¡ªit felt extremely comfortable to the touch.


    "What specific conveniences does it bring?" he asked.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment and replied, "For example, like yesterday when you killed that man in self-defense, if you were apprehended by the Public Security Bureau, as long as you present your containment license and explain the situation, you''d get released on bail and could leave immediately."


    "They will then investigate the specific circumstances. As long as it''s confirmed that you didn''t engage in any regular criminal activities, the matter would be over."


    "Of course, if you did commit a crime and tried to use the containment license to exonerate yourself, after the Public Security Bureau investigates and confirms your actions, they would arrest you again. Because you possess a containment license, you would be labeled a high-risk criminal.


    They would directly deploy highly capable experts to deal with you, and they might even adopt a shoot-to-kill policy."


    Wu Youqing crossed her arms and stated:


    "So, this card only provides you some conveniences; it doesn''t allow you to do whatever you want."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Understood."


    He stroked the containment license in his hand, unable to part with it.


    Although it wasn''t a ''do-whatever-you-want card,'' the feeling of becoming a ''privileged individual'' was indescribably strange and delightful.


    "In the future, you''ll be able to undertake C, that is, Dangerous level containment tasks. Your compensation and subsidies will also increase correspondingly. However, as I mentioned before, starting from C-class, the containment items all possess significant dangers, so you have to be even more careful."


    Xue Jing nodded in agreement.


    "By the way, BOSS, since I''ve been promoted, I should have higher access to the Divine Relic information now, right?"


    Wu Youqing hummed affirmatively, took out her phone, operated it for a while, and sent Xue Jing a website via WeChat. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is a special website for Divine Relic information, set up by an official organization. Take a look."


    Xue Jing did as instructed.


    Upon clicking, he was taken to an odd website with an all-black background and a single input box in the center.


    "Take your containment license and place your right thumb on ''God''s'' face for ten seconds," instructed Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows, extended his right thumb, and touched the ''Death of God'' painting on the face of the containment license, pausing on God''s face.


    After ten seconds, the white lines on the containment license started moving chaotically, aligning and rearranging themselves, eventually forming a sequence of letters and numbers at the bottom.


    [FDS54#$dfkjs]


    "This is a special feature of the containment license¡ªthe ''Dynamic Key.''"


    "Only through this key, which changes every three minutes, can you log in to this website."


    Wu Youqing explained.


    Xue Jing nodded to indicate he understood.


    The General''s Token, right?


    Xue Jing entered the key one by one into the box and clicked login.


    The next moment, it displayed [Login successful, welcome, C-class Custodian, Mr. Xue Jing].


    The webpage, after login, was also quite simple, with a gray-white background. It began with [GOD-001] and listed countless Divine Relic serial numbers below.


    Each serial number was highlighted and clickable.


    Compared to the files Wu Youqing shared with him earlier, the website revealed more information about the Divine Relics, at the very least, the danger levels of each.


    However, the relics within the top hundred serial numbers had three question marks instead of a danger level rating.


    ```


    Xue Jing scanned the area, and it might have been because his authority had increased, but for a few of the Divine Relics ranked within the top hundred, he could now see their specific names.


    [GOD-018¡¤The Unreasonable Favoritism of the Death Goddess]


    [GOD-041¡¤Emperor''s Pinnacle]


    [GOD-051¡¤Refined a Thousand Times]


    [GOD-069¡¤Cinderella Boy]


    ...


    Xue Jing was very curious, but when he clicked in, the prompt [Insufficient Authority] still appeared, preventing him from reading the detailed information.


    He scratched his head and rapidly scrolled down to find [GOD-1391¡¤Cat Tail Ring].


    To his surprise, the danger level marked for the Cat Tail Ring was B.


    Wasn''t this thing only supposed to transform people into harmless little kittens, the kind that can''t even beat an ordinary stray cat?


    And yet the danger level is B!?


    Xue Jing clicked in.


    There were detailed introductions to the Cat Tail Ring and various records of tests performed on it by the experimental staff, and so forth.


    After reading for a while, Xue Jing''s gaze became serious.


    [...Originally a ''harmless level'' Divine Relic, the wearer, after becoming a cat and going through an adaptation period of about a month, would be able to freely transform between human form and cat form]


    [In the New Calendar year 15¡ö, on ¡ö¡ö month ¡ö¡ö day, following the Bastet incident initiated by the Heretical God Cult, during the conferred ceremony ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, the danger level of GOD-1391 was adjusted to ''high danger level'']


    [When the wearer undergoes overly intense emotions, it will cause the GOD-1391 to fuse with the wearer, ultimately transforming into ''Bastet''...]


    [¡ö¡ö records, Dr. ¡ö¡ö upon seeing ¡ö¡ö¡ö, fell to the ground, shouting out in frenetic ecstasy: Oh great and wild Cat Goddess Bastet...]


    The changes in Xue Jing''s face caught Wu Youqing''s attention.


    "What''s the matter, Xue Jing?"


    She asked softly.


    Upon hearing her, Xue Jing came to his senses and pondered for a while.


    Should he ask Wu Youqing for the detailed information about the Cat Tail Ring?


    But if he were to speak up, he would inevitably reveal the fact that he had a connection with the wearer of the Cat Tail Ring.


    If he didn''t ask, then he would not know what impact becoming ''Bastet'' would have on Miao Miao...


    Should he wait until he is promoted to a higher-ranking Custodian and gains greater authority to understand more? But would there be enough time?


    What if Miao Miao becomes ''Bastet'' in the meantime?


    After weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Xue Jing finally decided to speak, "BOSS, I want to know exactly what ''Bastet'' refers to in the GOD-1391 data..."


    After hearing this, the information about GOD-1391 emerged in Wu Youqing''s mind, and then a realization dawned on her.


    ''I see.''


    She was a clever woman.


    No sooner had Xue Jing spoken than she surmised that his encounter with the Divine Relic was precisely [GOD-1391].


    It was because he had seen the data and had concerns about the current wearer of the Cat Tail Ring that he decided to reveal part of the truth.


    Recalling that Xue Jing had previously been unwilling to disclose information related to it, Wu Youqing smiled.


    ''It seems that this iteration of ''Bastet'' is someone with a sensitive identity, someone who cannot be revealed to the public...''


    The young woman considerately chose not to say much, simply answering:


    "Normally, with your current level of authority, you wouldn''t be able to access this information. However, since you''ve specifically asked, I''ll briefly explain."


    "Have you ever heard of... the Heretical God Cult?"


    ...

 Chapter 57 - 54: Ah, the Gap

    "Heretical God Cult?"


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment, "After the New Calendar, major Intersecting Boundaries gradually appeared around the world, and we humans, through our exploration of these boundaries, found many things."


    "Among them were... traces of deities from other worlds."


    "We differentiated them from ''God'' and named them ¡ª¡ª Heretic Gods."


    Xue Jing asked, "So the Heretical God Cult is a religion that worships Heretic Gods?"


    Wu Youqing nodded, her light purple eyes revealing a meaning Xue Jing could not understand.


    "Some people who found traces of the Heretic Gods in the Intersecting Boundaries, through translating records about the Heretic Gods there and trying countless methods, ultimately came up with a set of unique rituals. They managed to make contact with the Heretic Gods and even... received their blessings."


    Xue Jing frowned, "So the Heretic Gods are actually living deities? Aren''t the Intersecting Boundaries formed by the collision of two worlds that have lost control of the deities?"


    Wu Youqing spoke in a deep tone, "That''s correct ¡ª¡ª but after all, is death truly the end for a god? Just as ''God'' could leave behind a bunch of Divine Relics, that ''dead Heretic Gods'' still posses the ability to connect with mortals and even grant them power is understandable, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    His worldview was slightly shaken.


    "In short, followers of these Heretic Gods can contact them through a unique set of rituals and conduct a gifting ceremony."


    "Those who successfully carry out the ceremony and receive the blessing of a Heretic God are referred to as ''Blessed Ones''."


    Wu Youqing got to this point, sighed, and seemed somewhat dejected.


    "Regarding the Blessed Ones, you don''t need to understand for now. What we need to discuss now is about GOD-1391."


    The girl steadied herself and brought the conversation back on track.


    "About a hundred years ago, there was a Heretical God Cult known as the ''Lion Holy Church'', worshipping a Heretic God named ''Bastet''. After they figured out the rituals, they conducted countless gifting ceremonies. Though they made contact with Bastet, no one could ever win her favor."


    "Until later... a follower took an alternate approach, considering that since Bastet is the Cat Goddess, perhaps she prefers cats over humans. So, he changed his thinking."


    "He acquired GOD-1391, transformed into a cat, and held the gifting ceremony again... He succeeded, yet he also failed."


    Wu Youqing said, "The gifting ceremony was a success... but the subject was not him, it was GOD-1391¡¤Cat Tail Ring."


    "Thereafter, GOD-1391 acquired even more mysterious powers."


    "If the wearer has a high compatibility with it, during intense emotions, they will undergo fusion with GOD-1391, causing their physical form to exhibit feline characteristics."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing couldn''t help but recall Ning Fengwan''s appearance after turning back into a human in the bathroom.


    Cat ears, a cat tail, canine teeth... and that round softness, along with the sparse furry feel...


    Xue Jing hurriedly forced himself to interrupt his own musings.


    Meditative Visualization has its drawbacks, a too vivid imagination, with every detail appearing all too realistically in one''s mind.


    "¡ª¡ª As the fusion process deepens, the wearer begins to possess Bastet''s powers, until ultimately, they become the Incarnation of Bastet."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed as he said, "Does this mean... possession will take place?"


    Wu Youqing shook her head and smiled, "That won''t happen. Don''t forget, the Intersecting Boundaries are formed by the collision of worlds that lost their gods ¡ª¡ª Bastet has long been dead."


    "The Incarnation of Bastet is how the Lion Holy Church describes it. They see a person who fully inherits GOD-1391''s power as the earthly incarnation of Bastet, with a status equivalent to Jesus in Christianity."


    "Moreover, fusion is not that easy. Depending on the emotion that first triggers the fusion, thereafter the wearer must continue to evoke the same kind of emotion to deepen the fusion process."


    The emotion that first triggered fusion... Xue Jing wore a strange expression. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Does that mean that in the future, when Ning Fengwan becomes emotional towards him, only then will the fusion process deepen?


    After pondering for a while, Xue Jing asked, "So, you''re saying that GOD-1391 only brings power to the wearer, and there is only benefit and no harm?"


    "In theory, that''s how it is... At least, over the past hundred years, everyone who has become the ''Incarnation of Bastet'' has not exhibited anything amiss," Wu Youqing said softly.


    "The only problem is that this thing is a sacred object of the Lion Holy Church."


    "Even if a transfer occurs, the Lion Holy Church will stop at nothing to retrieve it, and it''s rare for it to be lost to the outside."


    Wu Youqing hinted subtly.


    Xue Jing nodded thoughtfully, indicating he understood.


    ...


    After chatting a bit more with Wu Youqing, Xue Jing left the library.


    He got on the bus, ready to head to the Hidden Dragon Dojo for his martial arts practice, which required persistent effort.


    Sitting in his seat, Xue Jing was scrolling through his phone when a message suddenly popped up on the screen.


    [...Account ending in 3166 received a deposit of 231,511.31 Zhuxia yuan, current balance: 235,212.25 yuan...]


    Xue Jing''s spirit lifted.


    Payday had arrived!


    No, this must be the financial reward for this recent containment mission.


    He had read the employment contract carefully when signing it; the reward for a C-level containment mission varied from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan, depending on the difficulty.


    The containment of the "Crown of the Wicked Woman" was supposed to be on the easier end for a C-level task, so the substantial reward this time was mainly due to the compensation for the unexpected incident.


    Xue Jing was delighted as he stared at the balance displayed in the message.


    The fingers scrolling through his phone couldn''t help but speed up a bit.


    He found himself frequently returning to the home screen to open the message and check it again.


    This was the first time in his life that he had seen so much money, and he didn''t even know how to spend it.


    Maybe tonight he would buy some expensive ingredients and make a nice meal for Miao Miao.


    ...


    In the Hidden Dragon Dojo, within the training room.


    "Bang bang whack whack bang..."


    Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were fiercely sparring in the center of the room, exchanging punches and kicks that tore through the air with their sharp whistles, each move packed with strength.


    Li Qi and Chen Fuguang were watching intently from the sidelines, their eyes glazed over in amazement.


    Li Qi was a bit better off, somewhat used to Xue Jing''s rapid pace of improvement, although it still surprised him today.


    Chen Fuguang was utterly dumbfounded.


    How many days had this little junior brother been training?


    And he could already spar like this with Sister Meng?


    Ten minutes later, Xue Jing carelessly left an opening and was hit by Meng Qingjiao''s soft power, sending him flying backward.


    He slowly got up from the ground and exclaimed with admiration,


    "Sister Meng, you''re so strong."


    Meng Qingjiao shook her head and walked over to him, patting his head as if in praise.


    Xue Jing had grown accustomed to her way of communicating and smiled.


    He actually quite enjoyed this feeling of being pampered by an older sister.


    Li Qi scratched his receding hairline and glanced over at Chen Fuguang:


    "Guangfu, how long did it take you from starting training to being qualified to learn the Armor Shaking Skill?"


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Chen Fuguang''s mouth.


    "... Master, it was about eight months, I believe."


    Li Qi scoffed, "Eight months my foot, it was nine months and seventeen days."


    Chen Fuguang: "..."


    Why ask me if you remember it so clearly?


    Li Qi gave him a look, then glanced at Xue Jing, "Heh, what a gap."


    Chen Fuguang: "..."


    ...

 Chapter 58 - 55: Armor Shaking Skill, Skill Sublimation!?

    In the training room, Meng Qingjiao and Chen Fuguang had already left, leaving only Xue Jing and Li Qi.


    Li Qi wheeled around the training room twice and said pensively, "I originally thought that even with your exceptional talent, it would still take at least another month before your body was ready to start training in the Armor Shaking Skill."


    "But now it seems that your growth rate has once again exceeded my expectations."


    "It''s time to teach you the Armor Shaking Skill."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s spirits lifted.


    "Please teach me, Master!"


    Li Qi chuckled, "What''s the rush? The Armor Shaking Skill is not like the Coiling Dragon Art; it can''t be learned overnight. It requires a lot of supplementary materials¡ªit''s not about simply practicing a few movements."


    "Wait here for a while. I''ll make the arrangements."


    Xue Jing nodded his head.


    After Li Qi left, Xue Jing took out his phone and glanced at it, discovering a message from his older sister Xue Wan.


    [Xue Wan: [Image]]


    Xue Jing looked at it. It was a photo, presumably taken by Xue Wan herself, seemingly shot inside a large sports venue. The main perspective was from the spectator seats, filled with a sea of people who were all watching the center of the venue¡ªthe large fighting stage.


    Due to the distance of the shooting angle, only two people could be clearly seen on the stage, but there were four big screens set up above the venue showing a close-up view of the stage.


    Two incredibly young men on the stage were entwined in combat, with the ground around them cracking and becoming pitted in various places. It was hard to believe that the scene of devastation was the result of a fight between two humans.


    [Xue Wan: Live from the U19 fighting competition~ The two on the stage are your age. How do these Martial Arts Practitioners even train to be like this? It''s simply inhuman.]


    Xue Jing smiled and typed a reply.


    [Xue Jing: Just like that, I suppose. I think it''s mediocre. Let them throw a punch at me, and I definitely won''t utter a sound.]


    [Xue Wan: Heh, if you''re trying to amuse me with that old joke, I must say, you''ve failed miserably.]


    [Xue Jing: Heh, so not funny, huh?]


    After chatting for a bit, Xue Wan sent him another picture.


    The photo featured an odd middle-aged woman who seemed to be sitting in the seat next to Xue Wan. She watched the match on the stage with a calm demeanor, seemingly indifferent to the intense battle ensuing, a stark contrast to the excited audience around her.


    The middle-aged woman looked quite ordinary. What was strange was her hair¡ªinky green, seemingly styled into dreadlocks that fell like vines from her head, adorned with flowers of different colors.


    [Xue Wan: This is my university''s horticulture professor, quite fashionable, right?]


    Xue Jing''s fingers paused; he looked carefully at the photo.


    For some reason, he felt there was something odd about the middle-aged woman in the picture.


    As he was about to reply, Xue Wan sent another message.


    [Xue Wan: Got caught taking a sneak pic... Let''s end the chat here, the professor is going to scold me.]


    Xue Jing sent back an emoticon of a nodding head and put away his phone.


    After a while, at the entrance of the training room, Li Qi wheeled back in.


    In his hand, he held a peculiar item that looked like a white thermos connected to a... oxygen mask?


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Master, what is this?"


    Li Qi held up the object and explained, "This is a Nebulizer Inhaler."


    "It turns the medicinal liquid into particles smaller than 1 micron... Just put it on, and you''ll see."


    He handed the nebulizer inhaler to Xue Jing.


    After receiving it, the latter examined it for a moment, placed the oxygen mask over his face, secured it with the elastic band behind his head, and fixed the entire nebulizer inhaler onto his head.


    It looked quite strange.


    "We martial artists, each school has its own ''Blood Cleansing Secret Method,''" Li Qi said leisurely.


    "With the advancement of technology, practicing martial arts has become more convenient. The Blood Cleansing Secret Method of the Old Era has also evolved, much like this nebulizer inhaler..."


    "I''ve adjusted our Hidden Dragon School''s secret medicine into a liquid and loaded it into the device. This converts the liquid medicine into tiny particles that can pass through the alveoli.


    Then, using the corresponding breathing skills, the medicinal power enters the bloodstream through the alveoli, gradually soaking and cleansing the fresh blood, and even permeating the brain, internal organs, and marrow, throughout the body."


    "This method of drug absorption is far more efficient than ''eating,'' without wasting any medicinal power," Li Qi exclaimed with admiration.


    "This is one of the scientific martial arts training methods developed by the big companies over in Inner Ring City, smashing all the old methods of the Old Era to pieces. Even the most stubborn Martial Artist can''t help but hold his nose and use these ''exotic tricks and ingenuities.''


    Xue Jing, upon hearing this, curiously eyed the nebulizer inhaler in front of him, and gave it a shake, hearing the sound of the liquid inside moving.


    "Armor Shaking Skill is a form of Dynamic Posture, consisting of five sets of movements, each corresponding to skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood, and also to the five major ''killing moves'' of our Hidden Dragon School."


    "Today, I will teach you the first set of movements, which is for ''Skin Training''!"


    After saying that, Li Qi reached out and grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, giving it a sudden jerk like swinging dough!


    Strong and exquisite Power surged through the palm of his hand into Xue Jing''s body, causing him to involuntarily start performing various movements.


    Midway through the first movement, Xue Jing began to feel his entire skin tingle, as if he had been electrocuted, with hair standing on end, mingled with some prickling pain that was hard to bear.


    At the end of the movement, his whole body trembled violently, much like a True Dragon Shaking Armor, stretching out its dragon body with scales shivering, and despite the intense pain and numbness of the skin, there was a sense of exhilaration as if he wanted to scream out loud.


    Immediately following was the second movement, where the tingling and intense pain became even more unbearable, culminating in another round of trembling at the end of the movement.


    Then came the third, the fourth...


    Each movement was far more difficult than the previous one. When he had completed all twenty-seven movements, Xue Jing involuntarily collapsed to the ground, convulsing all over, almost bursting into tears from the pain.


    This was... Armor Shaking Skill!


    Far more difficult than Coiling Dragon Art, even with Xue Jing''s current physical condition, just practicing the first set of movements once was nearly unbearable.


    His entire skin felt numb and hot, as if being electrocuted while numerous needles were simultaneously pricking all over his pores, the pain was so intense it felt like he could fly.


    But at the same time, there was also a subtle feeling of comfort welling up from his skin, as if the bark of a tree, dry for many years, suddenly burst with vitality, quite exhilarating.


    Xue Jing opened his panel, intending to see the practice results of Armor Shaking Skill but saw a prompt pop up on the panel.


    [Detected "Fitness" Sublimation condition...]


    [Conditions not met, Sublimation failed]


    [Fitness Lv6]


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    First, ?????


    Second, Level reaching Lv10


    Third, Required Divinity: 1000]


    Xue Jing was startled and sat up quickly, disregarding the intense pain throughout his body.


    Skill Sublimation!?


    ...


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 Chapter 59 - 56: The True Legacy, Soft Power

    The skills on this panel can actually be sublimated!?


    Xue Jing was shocked.


    But when he looked at the requirements, his brows furrowed.


    The skill level needs to be Lv10, which is relatively simple for him. Fitness was one of the easiest skills for him to grind, as long as he kept up with martial arts practice, it would eventually reach Lv10.


    But needing 1000 Divinity gave him a headache.


    Why the hell is it double the amount required to activate a Divine Skill?


    However, by changing his perspective, the more Divinity needed for sublimation, doesn''t that mean the sublimated skill will be more powerful?


    With this thought, Xue Jing felt much better.


    Alas, there really was no surplus at home, and there were two children to feed. Now he had another use for Divinity, besides Divine Relics. Couldn''t there be some other channels¡­


    And the remaining condition full of question marks¡­


    Xue Jing guessed it probably had something to do with the Armor Shaking Skill.


    It might be related to the Armor Shaking Skill itself, or something that triggers a bodily reaction during the practice of the Armor Shaking Skill.


    In any case, he would find out if he continued to practice it.


    He couldn''t help but have strong expectations for the effects of Fitness after sublimation.


    [You have practiced the Armor Shaking Skill, earning +209 Fitness Experience Points]


    [You have practiced the Armor Shaking Skill, earning +208 Channeling Energy Experience Points]


    Looking at the skill experience gained, there was no surprise this time. It was normal for the Armor Shaking Skill to yield so much experience because it was so difficult to practice. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And also... Xue Jing pinched the skin on his arm.


    He felt as if his skin had been awakened to some strange vitality. He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but it seemed more resilient when pinched.


    This must be a benefit that was not reflected in the [Fitness] skill, but had a direct effect on him.


    He had felt this when practicing the Coiling Dragon Art too, but it wasn''t as noticeable as with the Armor Shaking Skill.


    "Turn on the nebulizer inhaler," Li Qi said next to him.


    Xue Jing did as told and pressed the button on the nebulizer inhaler.


    The next moment, the nebulizer began to hiss, and light-red mist started to billow out in the oxygen mask.


    "Use the breathing skills that accompany the Armor Shaking Skill I just taught you," Li Qi reminded him.


    Xue Jing recalled the sensation he had felt when Li Qi had controlled his body and started the breathing skills to absorb the medicinal mist.


    The light-red mist had a strong traditional medicine scent, and it felt very thick and difficult to inhale, but Xue Jing endured the discomfort, continued the breathing skills, and drew it into his lungs.


    He could feel the medicinal mist flowing down the trachea, into the lungs, into the alveoli, into the bloodstream, and, under the control of the breathing skills, permeating the blood while constantly delivering medicinal strength to specific locations.


    Before long, he began to feel his skin become as hot as if ignited, scarily hot, and it started to turn red.


    All the pores throughout his body began to open and contract rhythmically... open, contract, open, contract...


    Half an hour later, the nebulizer inhaler stopped, and no more light-red mist came out. Xue Jing slowly ceased the breathing skills.


    "How do you feel?" Li Qi asked with a smile.


    Xue Jing got up, stretched out both hands, feeling as if he had been drenched in sweat on a hot summer day and then suddenly cooled by air conditioning¡ªa refreshing sensation all over his skin.


    "My skin... is breathing," Xue Jing murmured with half-closed eyes.


    "Very good, to catch the feeling on your first practice. If you follow this feeling, you will eventually learn one of the five lethal moves of the Hidden Dragon School," Li Qi said contentedly.


    "Its name is¡ªGolden Scales Transformation."


    "Golden Scales Transformation?" Xue Jing repeated, brown-nosing, "Did Master come up with that? A great name."


    Li Qi sighed, humble, "I''ve told you, we in martial arts mustn''t always speak blunt truths, we need to get used to tricking..."


    "Alright, I have prepared a medicinal bath for you, it should be ready now. Go and soak in it, and remember to keep using the breathing skills while soaking, to find that ''skin breathing'' sensation. This way you can absorb the power of the medicinal bath¡­"


    "The Armor Shaking Skill is extremely harsh on the body, and every practice requires a full set of Secret Medicine nourishment, otherwise, mere days of practice could kill a person¡­"


    ¡­


    In the following days, Li Qi taught Xue Jing the remaining four sets of Armor Shaking Skill movements, corresponding to the muscle, sinew, bone, and blood.


    Each set was harder than the last, and each one required different Secret Medicines, different medicinal baths, and sometimes Li Qi would even perform acupuncture personally, leaving him looking like a hedgehog.


    Xue Jing couldn''t help feeling that this was the true nature of martial arts practice... The idea of just getting a manual and practicing at will described in novels was unrealistic.


    The cultivation technique was only one aspect, even an insignificant aspect. These Secret Medicines and their corresponding methods that accompanied the technique were the real crux, the core heritage of the major Martial Arts Sects.


    Time flies, and before long, seven or eight days have passed.


    In the Hidden Dragon Dojo, inside the training hall.


    "Ha!!" "Bang!"


    In front of the strength-testing machine in the training hall, ordinary disciples, dressed in training garments, are lining up. One by one, they take their turns to accumulate power and punch at the machine, generating a stream of numbers on the display screen.


    "Wen Zhaorong, punch force 201.3 kg..."


    Xue Jing, dressed in a black training garment, stands upright next to the punch testing machine, his sturdy figure resembling a tough pine tree firmly rooted to the ground, conveying an unshakable sense of stability.


    In his hand, he holds a stack of notebooks, and with a pen in the other hand, he writes in them, recording the results of the disciples'' punch force tests.


    Today is the monthly minor test day at the Hidden Dragon Dojo, used to check the progress of the disciples'' martial arts practice.


    Among the other direct disciples who were extremely idle, Xue Jing was pulled in by Li Qi to help, responsible for recording the results of the minors'' tests.


    On the soft chairs in the nearby resting area, several female disciples who had already completed their tests sat watching Xue Jing while they giggled and whispered to each other.


    "Junior brother!" Another young disciple approached the strength-testing machine, greeted Xue Jing with a bow, and upon receiving a nod from him, began to position himself in a fighting stance and threw a punch with all his might at the machine.


    "Bang!"


    Xue Jing glanced at the screen and wrote in the notebook, "Yi Yingyu, 212.2 kg..."


    Yi Yingyu seemed a bit surprised by his score, his face showing delight as he bowed to Xue Jing again before happily moving on to the next test.


    "Junior brother, why don''t you test too? Let everyone witness the prowess of a direct disciple!"


    A pretty female disciple teased from the side.


    No sooner had she spoken than many voices echoed in agreement.


    "Yeah, yeah, junior brother, give it a try, we''re all very curious."


    "I wasn''t present the two times junior brother made a move, it''s such a loss. Show us a little of what you can do today~"


    "Junior brother has only been practicing for a short time after all. Even if he''s a genius, his punching power might not be very strong, let''s not pressure him."


    And there were those who tried to provoke him.


    Xue Jing simply smiled and said softly, "No need, there''s nothing much to test, and I doubt it would show anything special."


    Once he said this, the disciples immediately became more insistent.


    "Hey~ why be like that? Showing us a little won''t cost you a limb."


    "Junior brother, are you really afraid of showing weakness? Don''t worry, you''ve only started not long ago; nobody will laugh at you."


    "If anyone dares to laugh at junior brother, I''ll be the first to not let them off. Just give it a try..."


    The disciples were always curious about this very young direct disciple and rarely had the chance to get close to him, so they couldn''t help but want to tease him.


    At that moment, a figure walked through the entrance of the training hall¡ªit was Chen Fuguang.


    He waved towards this side without saying anything, and only Xue Jing noticed him.


    Xue Jing looked at the insistent disciples in front of him, considered for a moment, and then smiled, "Alright, I''ll just give it a quick try."


    The crowd immediately started clapping.


    "Great! Let''s witness junior brother''s elegance!"


    "That''s more like a direct disciple. It''s fine to not be strong for the time being, the most important thing is to not shy away from the spotlight."


    "Everybody make way, let''s watch junior brother perform!"


    The disciples all laughed and made noise.


    They didn''t mean any harm; they just wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Xue Jing and join the fun.


    The disciples cleared out, making space for Xue Jing.


    He stepped in front of the strength-testing machine, not bothering to assume any particular stance, and with his body sideways, he casually swung a backhand punch at the machine''s padded surface, like tossing a bottle into the trash.


    "Puff!"


    A muffled sound emerged, but the screen showed no response.


    "Huh?" The disciples looked perplexed.


    But after Xue Jing threw his punch, he had already turned to walk towards the entrance of the training hall.


    While everyone was still perplexed, the padded surface on the strength-testing machine suddenly ripped apart with a tearing sound.


    Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, the padding continued to split at various points, and the foam within, like withered leaves, crumbled one after another, falling to the ground. All that remained in the place of the original padding was a bare metal pipe.


    Seeing this scene, everyone looked as if they had seen a ghost, their expressions filled with disbelief.


    "Is this... Soft Power!?"


    ...

 Chapter 60 - 57: Poor Literati and Rich Warriors, A Banquet for the Second Generation

    Soft Power, also known as Hidden Power.


    It represents an advanced technique for manipulating Power.


    By minutely controlling the Power and concentrating it at one point, then channeling it into the target and unleashing it there, one can achieve this effect.


    Xue Jing threw a punch using Soft Power, directing all the Power into the punch pad of the Strength-Testing Machine without touching the machine itself, leaving the machine unaffected while the punch pad was torn into pieces by the Soft Power.


    Those skilled in using Soft Power, such as Meng Qingjiao, could even manage it with ease, striking silently and effortlessly, a mere touch of their palm capable of sending Xue Jing flying dozens of meters without hurting him, focusing all their Power on "Thrust."


    Since the day before yesterday when Xue Jing''s Channeling Energy reached Lv6, he had quickly learned how to use Soft Power.


    However, he was not yet proficient, as his punches still made a dull sound, failing to achieve the state of silent and effortless lifting.


    "Junior Brother, please go get a punch pad from the warehouse and fit it onto the Strength-Testing Machine,"


    Xue Jing said with a smile, as he patted the shoulder of a junior disciple.


    He suddenly felt slightly strange, as if he were a leader who caused trouble for others and needed their help to clean up his mess...


    However, he had not actually planned to strike, it was only because the disciples enthusiastically invited him that he couldn''t restrain himself from showing off a little. Even without dismissing the fact, it was definitely the cheering disciples'' fault that the punch pad was destroyed.


    The disciple, unaware of the thoughts going through this Senior Brother''s mind, hurriedly nodded and respectfully said, "Yes, Junior Brother!"


    He inadvertently established a bit of authority in the process...


    Xue Jing chuckled, said no more, and left the training hall at a leisurely pace.


    Just as he was leaving, he saw Chen Fuguang standing there, and Xue Jing immediately asked,


    "Senior Brother Chen, do you need something from me?"


    Chen Fuguang put an arm around his shoulder and smiled, "The dojo just received a mission that''s very suitable for you. Would you like to try it?"


    At these words, Xue Jing''s face showed a trace of interest.


    "Please tell me about it," he said.


    Since he had started practicing Armor Shaking Skill, he deeply realized the meaning of the phrase "the poor excel in literature, the wealthy excel in martial arts."


    The various secret medicines he needed daily for his training cost, on average, over ten thousand Zhuxia currency each day.


    That was just the cost price! It only included raw material costs and processing fees, essentially meaning Hidden Dragon Dojo was losing money by supporting him.


    Many of the raw ingredients for these secret medicines needed to be sourced from Intersecting Boundaries, purchased from those gluttonous Intersecting Boundaries companies, especially materials related to "Dragon Breed," which were outrageously expensive.


    As the training deepened, the required medicine would only increase in quantity and price...


    This was why Direct Disciples were always so busy and often elusive¡ªbecause they needed to earn money.


    Currently, Xue Jing''s regular income included only a monthly salary of two hundred thousand from the containment company and bonuses from completing containment missions¡ªan unstable income.


    This was insufficient to support his Martial Arts Practice needs.


    Therefore, he also had to start, like other Direct Disciples, taking on some "assignments."


    Hidden Dragon Dojo was renowned, and many affairs requiring Martial Artists were entrusted to it from various sectors of society. These assignments were a significant source of income for Hidden Dragon Dojo, even exceeding the tuition fees paid by ordinary disciples by a large margin.


    As long as he completed the assignments, Xue Jing could earn a considerable commission, which was why he had asked Chen Fuguang a few days earlier to give him any suitable assignments.


    There was finally some news.


    Chen Fuguang took out his cellphone, operated it for a moment, and then handed it to Xue Jing.


    On the screen was an address.


    [East City District, Jinhai Street No. 617, Rui Zhu Hotel, Telephone: XXXXXXX]


    After memorizing it, Xue Jing handed the cellphone back to Chen Fuguang, who, taking it back, said, "The client is Rui Zhu Hotel. According to them, last night one of their guests was attacked mysteriously."


    "Mysterious attack?" Xue Jing showed a puzzled face.


    Chen Fuguang nodded and mumbled, "It was a young woman in her twenties, on a business trip from out of town to Qingcheng. She was in her room at midnight, and suddenly she was murdered. Her body was mauled terribly¡ªit''s unknown whether it was the work of a psychopathic killer or something else."


    "The surveillance didn''t capture any clues?" Xue Jing asked.


    "No, the hotel corridor''s surveillance didn''t capture anyone coming to that floor several hours before and after her death."


    "Therefore, the murderer likely entered the room from somewhere else, such as a window or balcony."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "So they suspect the killer might be a martial artist who used light-body skills to enter the room and commit the murder?"


    Chen Fuguang grunted affirmatively and said, "Exactly. Actually, murders in hotels are not uncommon. Generally, you just report to the police, and let the Public Security Bureau handle it."


    "However, unfortunately, Rui Zhu Hotel has a banquet tomorrow... it''s organized by a group of influential second-generation kids from North City District. Their parents are either Governing Councilors or company heads, and none of them can afford an incident, so Rui Zhu Hotel had no choice but to enlist several dojos to enhance security at the event."


    Xue Jing complained, "Someone died, and these people don''t find it unlucky. Don''t they think of changing the venue?"


    Chen Fuguang smiled helplessly and said, "Originally, Rui Zhu Hotel did suggest changing the venue or date, but these second-gens, hearing about the death, were even more thrilled by it, saying it adds an exciting and thrilling element, and insisted on having the banquet tomorrow."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow. "Talk about taste."


    Once people have both money and power, they naturally lose a lot of things, such as worries...


    The saying goes that you seek what you lack, so it wasn''t surprising to see these influential youths creating their own troubles; it was quite normal.


    "This time your assignment is to protect these influential youths at the banquet. Besides our Hidden Dragon Dojo, there will be disciples from a few other dojos present."


    Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder.


    "I don''t think the killer will come looking for trouble. Most likely, it''ll just be a formality to complete the assignment. But you also need to be careful. If you encounter any danger you can''t handle, don''t hesitate to run immediately; safety is most important¡ªit doesn''t matter what happens to those rich kids."


    Xue Jing nodded with a smile.


    "Tomorrow night, someone from Rui Zhu Hotel will come by car to pick you up. Little brother, you just need to follow them." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well then, brother, I also have an assignment to tend to, so I''ll be leaving now. Call me anytime if you need anything."


    Having said his piece and given a few more instructions, Chen Fuguang then left Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Xue Jing saw him off at the door before returning to the training hall to continue recording the students'' test results.


    Unlike before, this time all disciples were seriously and silently going through the tests, none dared to tease him again.


    The sponge fragments on the floor had already been cleaned up, and the punching pads that had been replaced emitted a distinctive smell of new leather.


    ...


    Seeking monthly votes...

 Chapter 61 - 58: There wont be any accidents!

    By the time the monthly minor test had ended, it was already noon.


    Xue Jing loosened his wrists, placed the notebook with the recorded scores in the office, had a meal of medicated cuisine in the cafeteria, and after leaving the cafeteria, he made his way through several turns to arrive in front of a room.


    He pushed the door open and entered, immediately greeted by an extremely strong scent of medicinal herbs.


    The room was like that of a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, with densely packed, numbered medicine cabinets filling the four walls. A rough count showed there were several hundred compartments, each crafted from wine-red solid wood, with characters carved on the outside, indicating the type of medicine contained within.


    This was the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s Medicine Storage, with the four walls filled with medicine besides the large Medicine Preparation Table in the center of the room, covered with various instruments for preparing medicines.


    Xue Jing expertly picked up a scale pan from the table and began selecting the medicines he needed for the day from the various cabinets.


    After he had finished picking, the scale pan was filled to the brim, and he carried it over to the Medicine Preparation Table to start preparing the Body Refining Elixir of the Hidden Dragon School, according to the steps taught by Li Qi.


    Once the preparations were complete, Xue Jing placed all the medicines into a container resembling an electric kettle, poured in water at the appropriate ratio, turned on the switch, and let it simmer automatically.


    Having done all this, Xue Jing took the notebook and pen from the Medicine Preparation Table, opened it and started writing down the specific quantities of the medicine he had used.


    After writing it down, he referred to the price list beside him and did some calculations, totaling about twelve thousand Zhuxia currency.


    "Who can afford to practice martial arts...," Xue Jing sighed.


    Half an hour later, with a ding, the Secret Medicine was ready.


    Xue Jing picked up the Nebulizer Inhaler beside him, resembling a thermos, opened the lid, and poured all the prepared medicinal liquid into it.


    The black medicinal liquid emitted a strong, pungent odor, which Xue Jing faced with an unchanged expression, already accustomed to it.


    After pouring, Xue Jing walked out of the Medicine Storage, closed the door behind him, and returned to his own cultivation room. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He placed the Nebulizer Inhaler aside, took a deep breath, assumed the proper stance, and began practicing the Armor Shaking Skill of the day.


    This technique comprised five sets of movements, one for each day, completing a cycle in five days. Today, Xue Jing was practicing movements related to ''Bone Training.''


    As he operated his breathing skills, Xue Jing started to pose in a series of strikingly difficult positions.


    At the end of each movement, his body would tremble like a True Dragon Shaking Armor, followed by the sound of numerous bones grinding against each other from within his body, resonating like thunder rolling across a cloud-packed sky.


    Intense stabbing pain and scorching heat emerged from the depths of his bones, but Xue Jing remained unaffected, his expression unchanged, as he practiced the Armor Shaking Skill step by step, slow but resolute.


    An indeterminate amount of time passed.


    Following the final tremble and the cacophony of bone-cracking sounds, Xue Jing''s breathing gradually returned to normal, and he stood in place.


    As if having an epiphany, he gleaned something from the full set of Armor Shaking Skill movements, a sense that was fleeting and vague, impossible to grasp firmly.


    "Master said that this set of Bone Training movements corresponds with one of the five main offensive techniques of the Hidden Dragon School, the ''Seal Cloud Tail,'' which relies on one''s own formidable Root Bone to guide, bear, and channel the enemy''s Power, enhancing one''s own body before launching a Counterattack Skill," he thought.


    "If I could have an intense enough battle, maybe I could capture that inspiration...," Xue Jing considered.


    Shaking his head, he picked up the Nebulizer Inhaler beside him, turned it on, and inhaled the pale black medicinal fog into his lungs, using the corresponding breathing skills.


    As he circulated his breathing skills, he glanced at the panel.


    [Fitness Lv6 (2108/3000)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv4 (669/1200)]


    [Cooking Lv4 (681/1200)]


    [Running Lv5 (1821/2000)]


    [Charm Art Lv5 (335/2000)]


    [Aiming Lv5 (227/2000)]


    [Fighting Lv5 (785/2000)]


    [Channeling Energy Lv6 (733/3000)]


    [Meditative Visualization Lv3 (337/800)]


    In these seven or eight days, he had spent all his time diligently practicing martial arts and ''grinding'' other skills, accruing substantial gains.


    Aiming had leveled up again, reaching Lv5, enhancing his accuracy, vision, Reaction Speed, and other areas.


    Plus, with the daily practical training with Meng, his Fighting skill had also leveled up again.


    Meditative visualization within the practice of Coiling Dragon Art had also advanced a level, enhancing his consciousness and spirit-related abilities, and his body''s ''Dragon Qi'' grew increasingly intense.


    Of course, there were also gains that were not directly visible on the panel.


    The practice of the five Armor Shaking Skill movements brought about a strengthening of skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood. Although it wasn''t reflected on the panel, Xue Jing could clearly feel the benefits himself.


    For instance, he could now utilize Soft Power, which, aside from the growth of his Channeling Energy skills, also had a lot to do with the ''Blood Training'' aspect of the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Blood is the source of human kinetic power; the cleaner and more exceptional the blood, the more smoothly energy flows through it, like adding lubricant to gears, making it exceptionally smooth.


    Staring at the conditions for the ascension of the [Fitness] skill for a while, Xue Jing closed his eyes and began to circulate his breathing skills seriously, silently absorbing the medicinal mist.


    ...


    Elsewhere, in North City District, a certain villa.


    In the spacious and luxurious living room, Pei Youguang sat in a corner on the couch feeling like he was on pins and needles and very uncomfortable.


    He couldn''t help but glance toward the group of people seated in a circle, chatting and laughing with ease, showing a complex expression.


    He felt his presence there was superfluous and out of place.


    Pei Youguang looked toward the young and handsome man at the center of the crowd.


    Dressed in a very simple leisure outfit, the saying "clothes make the man" seemed inapplicable to him and instead became "the person beautifies the clothes."


    His clean, handsome face bore a warm smile like the sun, and he mingled effortlessly with the sons and daughters of wealth and status, not showing any timidity and even vaguely regarded as the center of the crowd.


    The simple clothes he wore seemed as if they had become the elaborate attire of a banquet.


    "Only someone like big brother deserves to be here," Pei Youguang sighed, gazing at his own brother, Pei Tiancheng, somewhat spellbound.


    For some reason, he suddenly thought of another figure.


    ''Hmm... If Jing were here, maybe he could compare with big brother,'' he thought.


    It had been a long time since he last saw Jing, who had been taking leaves of absence lately and hadn''t been to school for many days.


    They had only met once at school previously, and Jing mentioned that he had joined a dojo and became a Direct Disciple... How enviable.


    "Youguang, why are you sitting so far away? Come over here, I have something to tell you."


    At that moment, Pei Tiancheng''s gentle voice came from the center of the group.


    Pei Youguang jerked to attention, quickly stood up and found a place to sit next to his brother.


    Being too hasty, he even bumped into a pretty girl with exquisite makeup; she rolled her eyes and disdainfully twitched her mouth, tutting, as if she wanted to say something, but after glancing at Pei Tiancheng, she held her tongue.


    "Tomorrow is Ye''s banquet, remember to dress up nicely and don''t disgrace our Pei family," Pei Tiancheng said.


    His voice was consistent in its gentleness, quite pleasant, making the girls from wealthy families nearby reveal smiles.


    "Ah? I have to go too?"


    A look of difficulty appeared on Pei Youguang''s plump face.


    What was he going for? To make up the numbers?


    A well-dressed man sitting on the couch said with a smile, "The younger brother of Pei is also an attractive talent; how could he disgrace us?"


    "However, the hotel hosting the banquet is rumored to have a murderous demon on the loose. Should there be any danger, Pei shouldn''t just focus on protecting his own brother and neglect us, your sworn brothers and sisters."


    As soon as these words were spoken, laughter erupted in the living room; upon hearing of the murderous demon, all eyes gleamed with excitement and interest.


    Having a banquet in a hotel where a murderous demon might appear was thrilling - it felt like a scenario straight out of a detective novel!


    Pei Tiancheng chuckled and shook his head.


    "Rest assured, everyone, although my martial arts are not perfect, I do have some skills, and these cowards who attack only defenseless women are far from being a concern in my eyes."


    His tone was as gentle as ever, but a strong confidence was unmistakable.


    "I assure you all, tomorrow night will be a wonderful banquet with no accidents."


    ...

 Chapter 62 - 59 The Banquet with Hidden Dangers

    East City District, Rui Zhu Hotel, seventh floor, inside a certain suite.


    In the pitch-dark room, a figure with his upper body bare and both his head and legs wrapped in bandages, sat in a chair, continuously flicking ashes from his cigarette.


    Amidst the swirling smoke, the faint light filtering through the gaps in the curtains revealed a gloomy male face.


    It was indeed a member of the Razor Gang, a disciple from the Golden Wind Dojo, Duan Kaiping.


    His gaze shifted toward a corner of the room, his expression fluctuating uncertainly.


    There stood a rectangular object about two meters long and one meter wide, upright in the corner of the room, completely wrapped in circles of black tape, obscuring whatever was inside.


    Occasionally, there would come rustling and clicking noises from within, inexplicably sending chills down one''s spine.


    Duan Kaiping stared at the rectangular object with a terrified gaze, took out his phone, and made a call.


    The call was quickly connected.


    "..."


    Even though he was just making a call, Duan Kaiping immediately turned respectful, nodding and bowing as he ingratiatingly said,


    "Yes, I''m very sorry, I didn''t expect this. I had already fed ''Number One'' in advance, yet it still managed to break out of the cage and go hunting on its own... Fortunately, it has been in the cage since birth and considers the cage its home, so it returned on its own after eating..."


    "..."


    "Rest assured, it won''t go wrong, these foolish heirs have no idea that they are our targets. They even dare to hold a banquet today... I''ve already installed the device you provided. I''ve calculated it, and the range should just cover the entire floor, ensuring that they won''t be able to contact the outside world when the time comes."


    "..."


    When the person on the other end hung up, Duan Kaiping put away his fawning demeanor, took a deep puff of his cigarette, and continued to gaze nervously at the rectangular object.


    The rustling sounds persisted intermittently.


    ...


    Nighttime, Hidden Dragon Dojo, Nourish the Heart Room.


    "This one, how about this one?" Zhu Shanying held up a neatly folded burgundy suit, clearly of very high-quality fabric.


    "For a banquet, it''s necessary to dress properly, I have experience, trust me!"


    She cheerily said as she held the clothes up to Xue Jing''s frame.


    Beside her, Chen Fuguang clicked his tongue and spoke, "Sister Zhu, that''s not right. You should know what our little brother''s biggest advantage is¡ªhis youth! Look at that face, full of youthful charm."


    "I say, he shouldn''t wear something that makes him look too mature. We need to highlight our advantages. I think the Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School uniform is quite good, also a suit style, but it has a fresh, youthful feel... I wanted to apply there just because of the good looking uniform, but unfortunately, I didn''t get in."


    Xue Jing sighed, helplessly saying, "I''m going there as a bodyguard... I can wear anything, really. I''ve already coordinated with the hotel, everyone else is almost there, Senior Brother Chen, Sister Zhu."


    Zhu Shanying''s young and delicate face, with eyes bright and spirited as a newborn animal''s, widened as she rebuked, "You are representing our Hidden Dragon Dojo. How can you dress casually? You need to outshine the other dojo disciples!"


    "Mine is good, wear this one, I picked it out from my closet at home after a long time!"


    Just then, Meng Qingjiao, who had been silently standing to the side, also came over holding a set of clothes.


    "Sister Meng," Xue Jing was startled.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao, her cool face showing no emotion, simply handed the clothes to Xue Jing, then raised her hand and gently touched his head.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Alright, I''ll wear what Sister Meng picked."


    "Eh~why like this, I was here first," Zhu Shanying pouted, a bit disappointed.


    Chen Fuguang glanced at the clothes and flattered, "Sister Meng does have taste."


    Xue Jing smiled.


    With no need for modesty among those present, he stripped down to his shorts and changed into the clothes.


    It was a Republic-era style black linen martial arts uniform, a pure white inner shirt paired with a black jacket and trousers. The turned-up sleeves revealed the white lining, perfectly suited to the clean, neat temperament of a martial artist. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    <img data-ywcc-imgId="10039271" data-ywcc-path="/imgChapter/26012070001632301/28619577604670004/10039271/2a59ec52da554e73e77e6da944cfabfcKRT9Pv1O62Ho7Ji.jpg">


    Overall, it was the kind of outfit commonly seen in kung fu movies set during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era.


    However, with Xue Jing''s already maxed-out physique and looks, he managed to infuse the outfit with a high-class feel, standing tall and firm like a lofty pine, profound and imposing like a mountain, resembling a young Grandmaster at his peak.


    "Hmm, it just feels... very fitting?" Zhu Shanying pinched his chin, hesitating.


    Chen Fuguang rolled his eyes, "Nonsense, with our junior brother''s figure and face, even a burlap sack wouldn''t look much different."


    Xue Jing also looked at himself in the mirror and nodded.


    I really am handsome.


    "Alright, thank you senior brothers and sister, I''ll be going now."


    Xue Jing smiled at the three of them.


    "Go ahead, go ahead, junior brother, this is your first time going out on a mission, remember, safety first. If you encounter a dangerous situation you can''t handle, run immediately, don''t hesitate!" Chen Fuguang patted his shoulder.


    Zhu Shanying also nodded repeatedly, "Safety first, don''t force yourself."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao stretched out her hands, took his palm and squeezed it, seemingly conveying encouragement.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I understand, senior brothers and sister, no need to worry."


    They kept giving instructions like they were worried about a child going away to study for the first time, and only then did they let him leave.


    He walked out of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, took the elevator to the ground floor, exited the office building, and looked around, soon hearing a few car horns.


    Xue Jing turned his head and saw a well-known luxury sedan parked on the nearby road.


    He walked over, the car door opened, and a slightly overweight middle-aged man wearing glasses and a well-fitted suit stepped out from the driver''s side.


    The man looked at Xue Jing and spoke with a respectful tone,


    "Are you Master Xue from Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "Yes, that''s me."


    "I''m the driver assigned to pick you up, my name is Zhao Dequan, you can just call me Zhao. I was the one who spoke with you on the phone just now."


    While speaking, he opened the rear door of the sedan and gestured with his hand for Xue Jing to enter.


    "Please get in the car."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Thank you for your troubles."


    "Don''t mention it, it''s all part of the job," Zhao replied respectfully.


    After Xue Jing got into the back seat, Zhao closed the door and quickly jogged around to get into the driver''s seat.


    The car started with a vigorous and pleasant engine sound and headed towards the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    ...


    The East City District in Qingcheng is often referred as ''East Wealthy,'' and saying that every inch of land there is worth its weight in gold is an understatement.


    Being able to open a large hotel that occupies thousands of square meters in such a place indicates substantial financial power.


    And naturally, the person who can reserve the top-level banquet hall in such a hotel is either very rich or very prestigious.


    The sedan slowly drove into the parking lot, and after parking, Zhao got out of the car first, then walked around to the rear seat to open the door.


    Xue Jing stepped out of the car, looked around.


    In the spacious parking area, there were luxury and sports cars whose names he couldn''t recall parked all around, and the people stepping out of them were young, well-dressed, and of distinguished presence.


    They were chatting and laughing as they walked into the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    After getting out of the car, Xue Jing followed Zhao, who was leading the way, and also entered the hotel.


    ...

 Chapter 63 - 60 Jing! ?

    ```


    Xue Jing followed the driver, Zhao, into the automatic doors of the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    He was modestly dressed, which should have made him inconspicuous, yet his appearance and aura were too outstanding. Along the way, he caught the attention of many people.


    "Hmm? Who is that person?"


    A muscular young man clad in white, designed for ease of movement, pointed at Xue Jing in the distance, his face expressing confusion.


    "Judging by his clothes, he looks like someone who practices martial arts. He probably isn''t here to attend the banquet as a second-generation wealthy... Which dojo''s disciple is he from? Is he also invited to take care of security? He seems too young for that."


    Next to him, a man in a suit glanced at Xue Jing and Zhao, and after a mental comparison, he laughed and said,


    "Master Li, that should be a high-ranking student of the Hidden Dragon Dojo."


    Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoquan''s eyes twitched with doubt, "I''ve seen all six direct disciples of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, including the youngest lass, but I don''t recognize this lad?"


    "They can''t take on new disciples?" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone nearby teased.


    Li Zhaoquan heard this and turned to glance at the speaker.


    "Zhang Daqing, you rascal, why are you here too?"


    Zhang Daqing, tall and slim, dressed in a dark teal suit, stepped forward, elbowed Li Zhaoquan''s shoulder, and nodded towards Xue Jing.


    "''Dragon King'' Li Qi has always said he would take on seven disciples. This one might be the seventh. Kept quite secret, he''s able to handle tasks already, and no one in the circle knows. Probably has been secretly training for a while, maybe to make a sensational debut."


    Li Zhaoquan curled his lip,


    "What could a kid who''s not fully grown do? Most likely this job today was just a formality, and Li Qi let him come here to mooch some credit and gain some experience. As long as he doesn''t fall behind, that would be good enough."


    He looked at Xue Jing''s facial features and chuckled,


    "Who knows, he might also be here to hook up with a few rich ladies and misses."


    Zhang Daqing clicked his tongue and shook his head, sighing, "Don''t say that. You may not even beat him. His lower body is extremely stable; every step is the exact same distance, no more, no less. His upper body doesn''t even sway, showing a strong control over his body, and his skill in channeling energy is quite tempered."


    Li Zhaoquan was dismissive, flexing his large muscles on his arm, "What''s the use of using Power well? Even if he can amplify a single force into ten, he''ll still be knocked out by a punch with a hundred or a thousand times more power, it''s meaningless."


    Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes, "There''s no point in talking with you bunch of meatheads."


    ¡­


    "Master Xue, take a look."


    Zhao took out a blueprint from the hotel lobby and spread it out in front of Xue Jing.


    "This is a map of the banquet hall," Zhao explained.


    He pointed a finger at an area on the map that was circled.


    "We''ve invited six masters today, each in charge of security for a different area. This is your responsibility."


    "Once you''re in the banquet hall, the security of this area is all on you."


    Xue Jing carefully looked at the map and committed it to memory, then nodded and smiled, "Don''t worry, leave it to me."


    As they walked towards the elevator, Zhao continued to mention several points to note, which Xue Jing remembered one by one.


    After all, he was there to make money, and his work attitude was quite serious.


    Following Zhao through several elevators, Xue Jing arrived on the twenty-second floor of the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    "If you go straight along the corridor, you''ll reach the banquet hall. Today is Ye''s exclusive event. He ordered that, unless necessary, others should not come close. I can''t go in, so I can only accompany you this far."


    Zhao''s attitude was as respectful as ever.


    Xue Jing nodded, turned, and walked toward the banquet hall.


    After a short walk, just around a corner, he saw a pair of double doors. He went over and pushed them open directly.


    Xue Jing had expected the banquet of these wealthy and noble second-generation elites to be like in the movies; to the gentle sound of piano, countless men and women would be elegantly toasting and conversing about matters beyond the reach of common folk.


    Yet, as he pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, he was greeted by the noisy booming beats.


    "everybody¡ª¡ª"


    ```


    "Let''s get hyped!!"


    In the midst of shouts and cheers, neon lights flickered across the venue.


    Xue Jing paused slightly, eyeing the extremely out-of-place DJ booth in the center of the hall, and the DJ atop it, dressed in hip-hop style, headphones on, hands constantly rubbing the surface of the booth, although what he was actually doing was unclear.


    "Hmm? Did I walk into the wrong place?"


    He slipped back out quietly and checked the floor.


    22nd floor, banquet hall.


    "This is the right place, isn''t it?"


    He pushed the door open again and walked back in.


    The raucous and dynamic music resumed, and Xue Jing looked around the banquet hall. Above his head were several elaborate and magnificent crystal chandeliers, the walls were decorated with artistic murals and sculptures, and beneath his feet lay a large patterned carpet. The overall decor was clearly classical in style.


    Except for the oddly placed DJ booth in the middle...


    "You might as well have gone straight to the disco," Xue Jing said somewhat speechlessly.


    Had they specifically rented out such an expensive hotel banquet hall just to change the scene for a dance party?


    Watching the dozens of well-dressed youths swaying to the thumping music, Xue Jing smiled and didn''t pay it much mind.


    After all, he was only there on security duty. What the attendees chose to do was none of his business.


    Even if he had opened the door to find dozens of people doing improv, his job for the day would still be the same.


    Xue Jing surveyed the hall and, after comparing it with the map he''d seen earlier, headed towards his assigned area to start patrolling.


    From a distance, he could also see several individuals whose postures and auras clearly suggested they had martial arts training. They were presumably other dojo disciples hired by the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    By now, the noisy music was reaching its end; as the last beat sounded, the several crystal chandeliers on the ceiling lit up, and the previously dim hall was instantly bright.


    About ten staff members entered from the main door, dismantled the DJ booth in the center of the hall, and carried away the parts one by one.


    Xue Jing nodded. It appeared that dancing was just one of the night''s events, not the main purpose.


    And as the lights came on, he himself became more visible.


    "Hmm, who is that?" Nearby heiresses spotted him, their eyes suddenly sparkling.


    But before they could act, a muscular man dressed in white martial attire approached Xue Jing.


    "Are you the new direct disciple taken in by Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    The man was quite direct and immediately asked as he came up to Xue Jing.


    The commotion caught the attention of those around them.


    A few men and women holding wine glasses and standing together also looked over.


    "Hmm? What''s happening over there?" inquired Ye Chenglin, organizer of the banquet, curiously.


    "Seems like a conflict between two security guys arranged by Rui Zhu... Are they having a dispute?" someone answered, a curious look crossing their face.


    "Let''s go check it out!" said Ye Chenglin with a laugh.


    A group of them promptly made their way over to where Xue Jing was, with Pei Youguang among them.


    He scratched his head, following behind his elder brother Pei Tiancheng.


    Upon getting closer, he glanced casually at the two security personnel in a dispute, lifted his glass for a sip¡ªptooey!


    "Jing... Jing bro?"


    Staring at the familiar figure standing amidst the crowd, Pei Youguang couldn''t help spitting out his drink in shock and disbelief.


    ...

 Chapter 64 - 61: Is He Taking Drugs?

    "Whose dojo disciple is that? He''s quite the looker, just a bit too young."


    "That brute Li Zhaoquan, what''s he up to? Picking on a kid?"


    Disciples from various schools were also coming forward to join in on the excitement.


    Zhang Daqing chimed in from the side, "I heard that one is a new direct disciple of the Hidden Dragon Dojo; today should be his first public appearance."


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo? Then, is he that ''Dragon King''s'' closed-door disciple?"


    "Why not throw a big apprentice reception to liven things up? The circle has been too quiet lately, not much fun at all."


    "That''s where you''re wrong. That person has always kept a low profile when it comes to taking disciples; aside from the first disciple, Meng Boshang, whose circumstances are unclear, the other disciples were all taken on very quietly..."


    A few people practiced in the martial arts discussed excitedly.


    In the name of people, in the shadow of trees, renowned throughout Inner Ring City''s circles, even someone as distinguished as the old dojo master Li Qi enjoyed a high reputation; and even more so in Qingcheng, this ''countryside'' location.


    Though it''s said that an adversary broke his legs over twenty years ago, killing his spirit and leaving him a half-invalid, the old ''Dragon King''s'' prestige still commands great respect on the streets.


    The commotion among the onlookers didn''t affect the two people at the center.


    Xue Jing looked up at the burly man in front of him, a question mark forming in his mind.


    Seeing Xue Jing silent, as though frightened, Li Zhaoquan grinned and loudly said,


    "Don''t worry, you don''t have to be afraid; it''s working hours now, and I won''t trouble you at this time."


    Then, his tone shifted,


    "However...we''re colleagues now, and if there''s danger later, we''ll need to cooperate. That means we must understand each other''s level beforehand, don''t you think?"


    Xue Jing showed no emotion and calmly asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    Li Zhaoquan stretched out his right hand, rolled up his sleeve to the elbow, revealing muscles hard as chunks of iron, and grinned,


    "Let''s have a go."


    In the Old Era, for a martial artist wanting to earn a living through martial arts, reputation was everything.


    Therefore, renowned martial artists absolutely would not fight each other lightly. If one lost, their brand would be tarnished, and even if there were to be a fight, it would be a closed-door, private affair, with the results never spoken of publicly.


    If there were to be a formal fight betting on the honor of both parties'' schools, it would essentially mean that both sides had irreconcilable, major conflicts, and the duel would not only settle who was superior but also determine life and death.


    Given this situation, a certain martial etiquette known as ''having a go'' emerged among martial artists.


    Impressive martial artists had their kung fu ingrained in their very bones. Just by casually exchanging a few moves, the exertion and retraction of their power allowed them to roughly understand the other''s level. With this understanding, there was no need for a public ruckus. Everybody favored peace over conflict, making it a kind of ''soft contest.''


    Hearing the other side suggest having a go, Xue Jing didn''t mind.


    He had only started practicing martial arts not long ago and didn''t quite understand the rules of the circle, just thinking it was probably a form of greeting among martial artists when they first meet.


    Thus, he too extended his right hand and placed his forearm against the other''s.


    Visually, the difference in the size of their arms was quite significant, like that between a child and an adult.


    "They''re having a go! Now we''ll have a good show; Li Zhaoquan loves that brute play, pressing people down to their knees with a simple hand-shake; it''s his trademark move, and many have suffered from it!"


    "The Tiger Soul Dojo places the utmost importance on refining qi force through flesh training, and they have deep expertise in it. This young man has just started his career; I''m afraid he''s about to learn a hard lesson the tough way."


    Hearing a couple of other dojo disciples'' discussions, Pei Youguang wanted to remind Jing brother to be careful but glanced at his elder brother, Pei Tiancheng, hesitated, and then stopped himself.


    At that moment, however, a change occurred in the arena.


    As soon as Xue Jing made contact with the other''s hand, he instantly felt an overwhelming force, like a tidal wave, surging from the other''s forearm, and it came without warning.


    He blinked, his expression unchanged, as he too channeled his power and pressed it towards the other man.


    "Hmm?" Li Zhaoquan''s expression changed slightly.


    He felt like he was not having a go with a minor but was pressing down on an increasingly agitated bull.


    ''Not good, I can''t subdue him!'' Li Zhaoquan clenched his teeth, continued to apply more force, his face turned a shade of flush, and his arm began to tremble slightly.


    ''This man, he''s quite strong,'' Xue Jing thought, surprised as he took another look at the other man.


    With all his skills and having practiced the Armor Shaking Skill and the Five Major Body Cultivation for many days, his strength had increased rapidly. Although he had not tested it, even without any technique, his punch force must be at least 800 kilograms. He could be considered explosively strong in terms of pure physical quality.


    But the person in front of him seemed to have the intention of surpassing him, likely a bit stronger than him in terms of Qi Force.


    "How interesting," Xue Jing slightly narrowed his eyes, piqued with curiosity.


    He activated the Power of Twins with a mere thought, instantly doubling his strength.


    "Crack..."


    In less than half a second, a barely perceptible sound of bone cracking could be heard.


    Li Zhaoquan''s face changed slightly, and a few drops of sweat appeared on his forehead as he slowly withdrew his right hand.


    Without changing his expression, he clasped his fist towards Xue Jing and said in a loud voice, "Worthy of being a top disciple from Hidden Dragon Dojo, I am Li Zhaoquan!"


    Xue Jing also withdrew his hand, smiled, and returned the gesture, "Xue Jing." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Good, Brother Xue Jing, I''ll treat you to tea when I''m free. I''m working now, so let''s leave it at that... Um... I need to use the restroom urgently!" Li Zhaoquan said quickly.


    Seeing Xue Jing nodding with a smile, Li Zhaoquan then turned around and walked towards the door at a comfortable pace.


    "Is that it?" The crowd was somewhat confused.


    Zhang Daqing, who was not far away, felt something was amiss.


    What''s happening, since when was this brute so polite?


    He pondered for a moment and then stealthily followed Li Zhaoquan, exiting the door after him.


    Then, he watched as Li Zhaoquan suddenly crouched down at a corridor turn, letting out a sharp intake of breath.


    "Hss!"


    Li Zhaoquan was seen holding his right forearm with his left hand, continuously rubbing it.


    His right hand trembled uncontrollably, resembling someone with Parkinson''s disease.


    Li Zhaoquan grimaced in pain, his face twisted.


    "What the hell kind of monster is this?!"


    Looking at his trembling arm, he deeply regretted his impulsive action.


    This was no mere new learner of martial arts; if someone told him this kid had been lifting weights in the womb and was born holding dumbbells, he would believe it.


    Was he actually overpowered by an adolescent in sheer strength?


    "Uh... what are you doing?"


    Suddenly, a voice Li Zhaoquan did not want to hear at that moment came from behind him.


    He immediately stood up, turned around nonchalantly, and faced Zhang Daqing''s somewhat mocking face.


    "Just wanted to take a leak, do you know where the restroom is?"


    He tucked his still-shaking right hand behind his back and spoke indifferently.


    Zhang Daqing clicked his tongue. "You keep pretending; I''m watching."


    The corner of Li Zhaoquan''s mouth twitched.


    "If you saw it then why the fuck are you asking."


    He gave up on pretending and continued to rub his right forearm, occasionally letting out a sharp hiss of pain.


    Watching him suffer, Zhang Daqing found it slightly amusing but also couldn''t help but feel inwardly alarmed.


    That new disciple from Hidden Dragon Dojo... what exactly was his background?


    Could he have subdued Li Zhaoquan in Qi Force by taking drugs?

 Chapter 65 - 62: It is they who want to meet me, not I who want to meet them.

    "So why the hell did you go looking for trouble with that guy?" Zhang Daqing pinched his chin and asked, tilting his head.


    "..."


    Li Zhaoquan scratched his head.


    "There are quite a few babes here, so I just wanted to show off a bit..."


    Zhang Daqing was somewhat speechless, "You''re really not afraid of stirring up trouble, are you? That guy doesn''t live alone; mess with him, and maybe tomorrow ''Little Dragon King'' Meng Boshang will come knocking on your dojo''s door to challenge you."


    "It''s just sparring, I won''t really do anything to him, I''ve already got my excuse ready." Li Zhaoquan said confidently.


    Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes, too lazy to say more.


    "Hiss... My bone really broke, this guy''s not normal, we absolutely can''t mess with him..." Li Zhaoquan rubbed his arm.


    Zhang Daqing quickly waved his hands, "What ''we''? Don''t lump me in with you, I have nothing to do with this. I''ve been looking at him with nothing but friendly, kind and warm eyes..."


    ...


    "Huh? It''s over just like that?"


    A group of rich and noble young ladies and gentlemen were somewhat puzzled.


    It looked like these two were about to clash, so how come after a short exchange it was all over?


    Ye Chenglin looked towards Pei Tiancheng.


    "Pei, what do you think happened here?"


    The rest of the small circle also turned their attention to him.


    Pei Tiancheng smiled and took a sip from the glass in his hand, saying, "That''s called ''touching hands.'' Among highly skilled martial artists, when two people want to test each other''s skills, they only need to touch hands to know the other''s rough level; they don''t need to actually fight."


    The second-generation rich kids who were not familiar with these things suddenly found it amazing, expressing their astonishment.


    "So, they''ve already tested each other just now? Pei, who do you think had the upper hand?"


    Ye Chenglin asked with interest.


    "Don''t even need to mention it, it''s definitely the good-looking bro here." A girl immediately spoke up, staring at Xue Jing with gleaming eyes.


    "That big meaty guy ran so fast, he must have lost," another girl quickly chimed in.


    Next to them, a young man sporting a slicked-back hairstyle felt a bit miffed, "Hey, hey, hey, you guys, these aesthetic addicts, don''t just judge by looks, they were comparing martial arts skills, not in a beauty contest, Pei, you''re the most knowledgeable here, what do you say?"


    Pei Tiancheng looked towards Xue Jing and spoke with a calm voice, "It seems that this young man is indeed stronger."


    "See, I told you, he definitely won!" The girl immediately beamed with joy.


    "Pei, Pei, what about you then? If you compared with him, who would be stronger?" Someone suddenly asked.


    Pei Tiancheng smiled, a trace of confidence appearing on his face.


    "It''s not a fair comparison; I''m a bit older than him."


    With that said, everyone there was no fool; they understood what he meant.


    He was suggesting that he was stronger than the other, but modestly used age as the reason.


    "Wow~" The group looked at him with admiration.


    Next to them, the portly Pei Youguang hesitated before muttering, "Uh, that... I know him."


    "Hmm?"


    All eyes turned towards Pei Youguang.


    The usually overlooked Second Young Master Pei suddenly found himself the center of attention and became a bit flustered.


    "Oh? Second Young Master Pei knows him?"


    Ye Chenglin''s gaze was curious.


    "Yes, he''s my senior from the same school." Pei Youguang said, inevitably reaching to touch his nose, which had healed quite a bit but still throbbed with a dull pain.


    He had been beaten up by him not long ago... he added in his mind.


    "Second Young Master Pei... could you introduce us to him?" A girl in a sexy off-shoulder dress asked eagerly, her eyes shining as she spoke to Pei Youguang.


    The European cup accents made Pei Youguang''s mind go blurry for a moment.


    This was the first time a girl had spoken to him voluntarily after he started hanging out with Pei Tiancheng, and she called him Second Young Master Pei. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Second Young Master Pei, please, we beg you."


    "Just introduce him to us..."


    The other rich daughters also joined in, and for a moment, Pei Youguang felt under the illusion that he was actually quite popular.


    Introducing them to Jing... shouldn''t be a problem, right?


    ```


    Aside from being a bit worried about whether his body could take it¡­


    Just when Pei Youguang was already in a daze, Pei Tiancheng glanced at him.


    "Youguang."


    Pei Youguang immediately regained clarity and hurriedly said, "Big brother!"


    Pei Tiancheng smiled softly and said, "I also want to meet him, such an outstanding youth¡­"


    "Thank you for your trouble."


    Pei Youguang didn''t dare to retort and bowed his head, saying, "Yes¡­"


    ¡­


    After finishing the exchange with the man named Li Zhaoquan, although feeling a bit baffled, Xue Jing didn''t mind it.


    He wandered around the hall for a while and, seeing a long table filled with a buffet, he walked over, wanting to grab something to eat.


    Picking up a plate from the table next to the cutlery stand, faced with a dazzling array of dishes, Xue Jing was somewhat indecisive.


    "Jing, Jing!"


    A call came from the side, Xue Jing turned his head and saw a portly young man, dressed in a black suit, looking dapper.


    It was actually Pei Youguang?


    He raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "It''s Youguang, what are you doing here?"


    Pei Youguang chuckled, adjusted his collar, and said, "I''m here to attend the banquet. I never expected to see you here, Jing."


    "Jing, I saw the way you ''sparred'' with that big guy just now; you''re amazing."


    He gave a thumbs-up.


    Xue Jing picked up a meatball from the buffet table and said, "Oh? You noticed?"


    Pei Youguang scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, "I didn''t notice... actually, my big brother told me. He said you won."


    After chatting leisurely for a while, Pei Youguang then pondered for a moment and said:


    "Jing, my big brother wants to meet you¡­"


    Xue Jing, as if he hadn''t heard, reached out with his fork to pick up a fried meatball from the plate, put it in his mouth, and chewed for a while before swallowing.


    Pei Youguang quickly added, "He said you are an outstanding youth, and he admires you a lot. He just wants to get to know you. Jing, my big brother is really capable, a genius who got into Inner Ring University through martial examination..."


    "There are many people over there, all wishing to befriend you, all from Qingcheng''s upper social circle... the sons and daughters of influential families..."


    Seeing that he seemed a bit anxious, Xue Jing put down his plate, pulled out a paper napkin from the table, and leisurely wiped his fingers.


    Then smiling, he said, "Youguang, you might be a little mistaken."


    He placed his hand on Pei Youguang''s shoulder, the smile on the corner of his lips carried a slight chill.


    "Be it your brother, various second-generation members of your circles, or the workers at the convenience store on the street..."


    "Wanting to get to know me and be friends is not an issue; I welcome it."


    "But if they really want to be friends with me, then they should come to me by themselves."


    "One should strive for what they want, not wait for others to bring it to them."


    Pausing, Xue Jing continued in a soft voice: "It''s them who want to meet me, not the other way around. Don''t get it twisted."


    After saying this, he patted Pei Youguang''s shoulder and turned to leave.


    Pei Youguang stood there, stunned for a long time, before a sudden panic set in his heart.


    He had screwed up.


    Pei Youguang felt as if he had plunged into an ice cave.


    He could feel that at that moment, his relationship with Jing had grown much colder.


    Only then did he realize that the manner of his ''introduction'' was somewhat humiliating to Xue Jing.


    Wanting to get to know him, yet not coming over on their own and instead having someone else call him over...


    This commanding way was undoubtedly condescending.


    As if it was an honor for Xue Jing to know them, imbued with a sense of entitlement.


    Even they themselves probably hadn''t realized it.


    Pei Youguang watched Xue Jing''s tall and straight back, firm like a sturdy pine, wanting to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn''t utter a word.


    He had screwed up¡­


    ¡­


    ```

 Chapter 66 - 63 The Invisible Monster

    Pei Youguang returned to his group looking completely disoriented.


    Seeing him in such a state, Pei Tiancheng frowned.


    "Youguang, where is your senior? Why didn''t he come with you?"


    The others also turned their puzzled gazes toward him.


    Pei Youguang hesitated, started to speak, then stopped, thought for a moment, and scratched his head.


    "Haha, we were chatting so happily that I forgot to mention this to him." His plump face broke into an awkward, foolish grin.


    As soon as he said this, everyone''s faces showed dissatisfaction and surprise.


    "Second Young Master Pei, how could you forget something like that?" a girl said with a displeased expression.


    Pei Youguang forced a smile: "Sorry, sorry..."


    Pei Tiancheng seemed contemplative, then after a while, he nodded and said indifferently, "I see... well, let it be then, he has his duties, and we shouldn''t disturb him."


    It seemed he had quite a high status within the group, and though others still had many objections, they no longer spoke up.


    Yet subtly, their rejection of Pei Youguang, who had never quite fit into the circle, intensified.


    Noticing the somewhat somber atmosphere, Ye Chenglin clapped his hands to draw everyone''s attention and said with a smile:


    "Enough, there''s still an event tonight. Later, when it gets late, let''s go explore that suite where someone died; maybe we''ll encounter something thrilling!"


    ...


    Meanwhile.


    Zhao Dequan, the driver who had brought Xue Jing to Rui Zhu Hotel, was using both hands to push a cart toward the elevator, loaded with a cream cake that was stacked seven or eight layers high.


    As the hotel manager, he wouldn''t normally need to do this himself, but the guests at the banquet hall on the twenty-second floor were not ordinary guests.


    To prevent any mishaps due to the clumsiness of staff and considering his desire to build relationships with these wealthy and powerful second generations, he had decided to deliver the cake himself.


    "Ding¡ª"


    The elevator doors opened, and Zhao Dequan carefully pushed the cake inside, moving slowly.


    "Hm?"


    Once inside the elevator, Zhao Dequan glanced curiously at the person next to him.


    It was a tall man, dressed in black sportswear, wearing a black baseball cap, large sunglasses that completely hid his eyes, a mask covering the lower half of his face, and even construction gloves on his hands.


    The man was also pushing a cart, on which lay an oblong object completely wrapped in black tape, unidentifiable.


    "Uh... hello," Zhao Dequan greeted the stranger out of habit.


    The Rui Zhu Hotel had almost been deserted since someone died there yesterday, with guests checking out, and apart from the banquet hall on the twenty-second floor, the entire building was nearly silent.


    He hadn''t expected to meet... a guest?


    Something felt off about Zhao Dequan''s unease.


    The man''s attire seemed suspicious, and Zhao knew all the hotel employees, so this man was most probably not one of them...


    However, having grown savvy over his midlife years, Zhao understood very well that sometimes, less is more.


    It was not his place to concern himself with who someone was or what they were up to; investigating people was the sheriff''s job, ensuring safety was security''s responsibility, and he was just a manager...


    Many guests are odd... this is quite common.


    He reassured himself.


    The elevator doors slowly shut.


    The strange man remained silent.


    Zhao Dequan fidgeted, feeling as if the eyes hidden behind the sunglasses were constantly watching his neck.


    "It''s so hot today... even though it''s almost November, hehe." Zhao Dequan forced a laugh and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the unstoppable sweat on his face.


    "..." The man said nothing. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Dequan''s hands nervously moved back and forth on the handle of the cart as he watched the elevator numbers slowly climb.


    17th floor, 18th floor, 19th floor...


    Just as the elevator was about to reach the 22nd floor.


    "rustle rustle¡ª¡ª"


    The object on the man''s cart suddenly shook, making a strange rustling noise.


    Zhao Dequan''s mind raced back to when he was young, living in a dilapidated rented room where, in the dead silence of midnight, cockroaches would scuttle across his wooden bed right beside his ears...


    ..."


    The strange man turned his head toward Zhao Dequan.


    Even with the sunglasses, it was clear that the man''s gaze was fixed on him, causing Zhao''s heart to pound like thunder, his eyes gradually filled with fear.


    "Ding¡ª"


    The elevator doors opened.


    "Help¡ª"


    He only had time to utter a single word before Zhao Dequan''s head slid off his neck.


    Blood gushed out, turning the huge cream cake into a ''strawberry cake''.


    "Tsk." Duan Kaiping rubbed his blood-stained hand disdainfully against the corpse.


    A rectangular object wrapped in black tape suddenly began to shake violently.


    Duan Kaiping''s expression changed, "Damn, it smells the blood and it hasn''t been fed for a day. It''s going to rampage!"


    He immediately leaned on the trolley, kicked Zhao Dequan''s body and the cake to one side, and started sprinting down the corridor with the rectangular object as he exited the elevator.


    Before long, he saw the grand doors of the banquet hall. By then, the rectangular object''s trembling intensified, and the black tape made crackling noises as it began to split all over.


    Duan Kaiping''s expression drastically changed. He fiercely pushed the cart toward the banquet hall doors while simultaneously pulling out a remote-control-like device from his pocket.


    There was a red button on the device. Duan Kaiping did not hesitate to turn back and dash towards the stairwell meant as a fire exit; he then pressed the red button.


    In a hidden spot on the twenty-second floor, a little black circular box suddenly blinked red.


    "Beep¡ª Beep¡ª Beep¡ª"


    ...


    "Sorry, I don''t use a phone. I don''t have WeChat,"


    In the hall, Xue Jing was smiling as he shook his head, declining the flirtations of a young woman dressed in a sexy off-shoulder gown.


    "Eh~ Don''t lie, handsome boy, just add me~ I won''t eat you up~"


    The young woman was relentless, whining as she clung to Xue Jing''s arm, subtly pushing his hand into her soft embrace.


    Xue Jing, unperturbed, silently sighed to himself, Rich women sure are something...


    Just then, he frowned, pulling out his phone from his pocket.


    The young woman''s eyes lit up, thinking she had managed to coax the attractive young man and couldn''t help but feel a bit smug.


    "That''s right, come on, add me. I will tell you so¡¤many¡¤things~"


    As she spoke, her voice gradually became seductive and enchanting, making her words especially alluring.


    Xue Jing, however, paid her no attention, instead silently staring at his phone with furrowed brows.


    The palm touching his phone felt a barely detectible tingling sensation. Had he not practiced the Armor Shaking Skill for many days, becoming more sensitive to touch, he might not have noticed it.


    Before he could think more about it, the phone''s screen suddenly went dark.


    Following that, the lights across the entire banquet hall all flickered off simultaneously.


    The room plunged into complete darkness.


    "Eh? What''s happening?"


    Someone exclaimed in surprise immediately.


    "Is it a power outage?"


    "Wait, let me turn on my phone''s flashlight... Huh? My phone''s dead too?"


    The noise in the room escalated.


    Xue Jing patted his phone in his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    ¡ªHe was quite sure his phone had been fully charged.


    Moreover, it wasn''t just his phone; in such darkness, not a single person out of the dozens present could use their phones to provide light. Apparently, everyone''s phones were disabled.


    Together with all the lights in the banquet hall being out¡­ it seemed like all electrically powered devices were malfunctioning.


    All these phenomena inevitably made him think of one thing.


    "EMP¡­" he muttered to himself softly.


    Electromagnetic Pulse, a high-tech method capable of instantly destroying all electronic devices.


    "Ah! I''m so afraid of the dark. You have to protect me, handsome," the young woman clutched Xue Jing''s arm even tighter, burying it deeper into her softness.


    She laughed playfully, unfazed by the sudden darkness.


    It was just a power outage, after all; what was the big deal?


    Just then, a loud noise suddenly came from the direction of the banquet hall''s main entrance.


    "Bang!!"


    The sound of shattering glass, along with what seemed like something hitting the ground, was so shrill in the darkness that it startled everyone.


    "What the hell!?"


    "Damn, that scared the hell out of me!"


    "Ahh!!"


    The woman in the gown was also frightened, emitting a sharp scream.


    Xue Jing took the opportunity to break free from her grasp and walked forward two steps, his deep eyes quietly scanning the surroundings.


    In the darkness, it seemed as if invisible monsters were crawling around.


    ...

 Chapter 67 - 64: Taking Action

    ```


    "What''s that sound over there?"


    "Must be someone running around in the dark and smashing into the door, breaking its glass. Seriously, in this darkness, they should be more careful."


    "Does anyone''s phone still have battery? Mine''s completely dead."


    "So is mine."


    "Mine too... Does anyone have a charger?"


    "It''s a blackout, what good is a charger? Anyone got a power bank?"


    The scene was noisy, but everyone basically just thought the hotel had suddenly lost power, and there wasn''t much panic.


    "Something''s not right," Pei Tiancheng said as he pressed the power button of his phone for a long time, but it remained unresponsive.


    He frowned, "How can it be that the hotel loses power and so many people''s phones die at the same time?"


    In the darkness, Ye Chenglin spoke up, "Let''s not talk about that now. Who knows how long the blackout will last. Let''s just leave the hotel first. The elevator won''t work, so we have to take the stairs... Does anyone have a lighter for lighting the way?"


    Pei Youguang quickly said, "I have one."


    He reached into his pocket and fished out a branded oil lighter.


    "Snap¡ª"


    He flicked his finger and lit the lighter.


    In the pitch-black lobby, a source of light appeared.


    Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. Humans have an innate fear of the dark etched into their genes, and the sight of light again brought a feeling of happiness.


    "Everyone, please come over here,"


    Ye Chenglin clapped his hands and called out loudly.


    "Follow the light. Come this way. Let''s walk out slowly, no rushing, and watch your step."


    The young people in the lobby were mostly either friends of Ye Chenglin or brought by his friends. Combined with the sense of security from the lighter''s flame, they all obediently gathered together.


    "Ah, such a good party, but why did the power have to go out? What''s Rui Zhu Hotel up to?"


    "It might not be the hotel''s fault. Maybe there''s an issue with the power plant? Perhaps this whole area is without electricity."


    "I think this is kind of fun. It feels thrilling. If this were a suspenseful horror film, we would probably be in grave danger by now, haha."


    People chatted and laughed, and though they were in a dark environment, the presence of so many others and the source of light chased away most of the unease, creating an odd feeling of ''exciting yet reassuring.''


    As a result, most people were in a good mood and didn''t feel too unhappy about the abrupt end to the party.


    "Why don''t we go check out that suite where someone died? Wouldn''t that be more thrilling?"


    Someone suddenly suggested in Ye Chenglin''s group.


    "Let''s not, it''s too scary without any lights. I''m a bit afraid..."


    A girl said in a soft voice.


    "What are you afraid of? There are so many of us here, even if a ghost came, it wouldn''t know who to grab. Besides, isn''t Pei here? His martial arts are so strong, he could protect us if anything happens."


    The person said carelessly.


    Pei Tiancheng smiled, about to speak, when suddenly he heard a rustling noise. He quickly turned his head and in the corner of his eye, it seemed as if he saw a dark shadow darting by.


    "What is that!" he shouted sharply.


    The others jumped at his outburst.


    "What''s wrong, Pei? What happened?"


    "Don''t scare me, my heart can''t take it. There aren''t really ghosts, are there?"


    Pei Tiancheng stared intently in one direction. In the faint light of the fire, everything in the hall was barely visible, indistinct.


    "I might have seen it wrong,"


    he said uncertainly.


    But just as he finished speaking¡ª


    "Pff¡ª"


    Before everyone''s eyes, it seemed as if the person in Ye Chenglin''s group who had proposed exploring the dead person''s suite had vanished on the spot!


    "Ying Yang!?"


    "Where did he go? What happened!?"


    "Hey, don''t scare me!!"


    The next moment, a piercing and extreme scream came from the banquet hall.


    "No, what is this thing, aaaahhhhh!!"


    That scream was so visceral that it made one''s hair stand on end, as if the person was undergoing unimaginable agony.


    "It''s Ying Yang''s voice!"


    "What exactly happened!?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crowd immediately burst into a frenzy.


    Several Dojo Disciples, including Li Zhaoquan and Zhang Daqing, immediately stepped in front of everyone. Zhang Daqing said with a serious look:


    "Everyone, stay together, don''t run around!"


    While they were organizing everyone, they quickly discussed among themselves:


    "Did you see clearly?"


    "No good, there''s only one lighter, it''s still too dark. I just saw a shadow; I don''t know what it was."


    "Does anyone else have a lighter? Light them all up now!!"


    One of the Dojo Disciples shouted loudly.


    Though the young people present were in a panic, thankfully they were obedient. Several more sources of light gradually appeared in the crowd, brightening the hall a bit more.


    "What... what the hell is that!"


    Suddenly, someone pointed, trembling, towards a corner of the hall.


    Everyone looked in that direction and immediately began screaming.


    "Aaaahhhhh!!"


    In the corner lay a body, riddled with holes and bites all over, its face gnawed beyond recognition. But by the clothes, it was clear that it was the person who had disappeared while screaming only moments earlier.


    And on the body was perched a creature.


    The creature was pitch-black, appeared to be nearly two meters tall, and had human-like legs, but at the place of arms, it had six scythe-like appendages with sharp barbs. Its head resembled a human''s, yet it had two enormous compound eyes, two antennae atop its head, and its mouth was a bug-like mandible that was ceaselessly moving as it chewed on a mass of flesh.

 Chapter 68 - 64: Making a Move_2

    It had several giant thin wings stacked on its back like those of a cockroach, and its rear end resembled the lower body of a cockroach, with two tail hairs at the tip that trembled nonstop like steel needles; the whole entity was an alien monster that appeared as if a cockroach and a human had fused together.


    Everyone, including a few martial arts-practicing dojo disciples, couldn''t help but get goosebumps and have their hair stand on end.


    Insects, by nature, were creatures that made most people''s skin crawl, and cockroaches were among the most discomfort-inducing insects.


    And a cockroach that was bigger than a person, even looking as if it were a hybrid with a human...


    "Ahhhhhh!"


    The crowd immediately retreated and ran away from the monster, pressing themselves against the walls of the hall, still screaming incessantly.


    "What the hell is that? An escaped experiment from a biotech company? Or is it a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    Zhang Daqing said, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.


    "I don''t know... what do you think, should we fight it?" Li Zhaoquan swallowed hard.


    "Fight? Never mind if we can''t beat it, I''m terrified of bugs, I don''t even want to touch it..." another dojo disciple quickly shook his head.


    At this moment, someone couldn''t stand it anymore and broke away from the group, running towards the direction of the banquet hall''s main door, attempting to escape.


    "Hey! Don''t panic!"


    Zhang Daqing shouted urgently, but the person ignored him.


    The ''Roach Man'' seemed to notice its prey trying to escape. Its head tilted slightly, looking at that person, its antennae twitched.


    The next moment.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The floor exploded as the Roach Man transformed into a black shadow and dashed towards the person at extremely high speed, like a streak of black lightning.


    The escaping person didn''t have time to scream, instantly being bisected at the waist and falling to the ground, a mess of white, yellow, and red spreading on the floor.


    The figure of the Roach Man appeared beside the two halves of the body, its sharp insect leg spur dripping with bits of flesh and blood.


    "Hisss¡ª" The crowd immediately gasped, frozen with fear.


    "How the hell do we fight this!?" A dojo disciple cursed loudly.


    In the dim firelight, the Roach Man''s antennae moved slightly, looking towards the crowd.


    Then, the four thin wings on its back suddenly opened, the wingspan reaching nearly three meters, creating an extremely terrifying visual effect.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    It flew up, swooping at the people like a cockroach from the south suddenly flying at their faces!


    "Damn!!"


    No one dared to face it; several dojo disciples immediately jumped to the sides to dodge, letting the Roach Man plunge into the crowd.


    "Pei, save us!!"


    The members of Ye Chenglin''s group screamed desperately for help while Pei Tiancheng, with gritted teeth, stepped forward to block in front of the crowd, preparing his stance.


    "Ha!!" He shouted loudly to boost his courage, anticipating the Roach Man''s flying speed and threw a straight punch, ''bang'' sound echoed as he sent the Roach Man flying backwards, crashing into a long table.


    This act boosted everyone''s spirits.


    But before they could even cheer, the next moment, the Roach Man, lying on the ground, raised its rear and stood up immediately.


    Then it bent its legs slightly, assuming a crouched posture.


    Pei Tiancheng''s instincts immediately sent a danger warning; he realized something was wrong and roared, "Run!!"


    Before the crowd could react, they saw Pei Tiancheng jump to the side, falling to the ground.


    Just as he dodged, a black shadow whisked past where he had been, cutting three or four people in half along the way like threading skewers.


    "Ahhhhhh!!"


    The crowd screamed once more.


    The Roach Man seemed to understand that its speed was something these prey could not deal with.


    So, it once again assumed a sprinting position, lunging at the crowd.


    A dojo disciple was caught off-guard and was pounced on mid-air without any resistance, having his head bitten off by its mouthparts. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even Pei Tiancheng, a highly skilled martial artist, and the dojo disciples couldn''t confront it, and everyone immediately despaired, screaming and scattering in all directions, with no discipline whatsoever.


    In the chaos, Xue Jing''s gaze followed the shadow of the Roach Man, with hints of Dark Flame flickering in his eyes.


    "So that''s how it is... Looks human, but its internal structure is entirely different and is more like the hydraulic makeup of an insect, allowing it to burst with an acceleration far superior to that of a human body."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Moreover, it takes a punch and is virtually unscathed, its life force is like that of a cockroach too?"


    "Impressive."


    "But not unsolvable."


    Xue Jing made up his mind and stepped forward.


    In the center of the hall, the Roach Man''s antennae wriggled atop its head as it seemed to be picking its next prey for slaughter.


    At that moment, it saw a piece of prey that seemed quite substantial and actually walked towards it voluntarily.


    From the scattering crowd, Pei Youguang saw someone walking towards the monster and took a closer look. Despite the dim lighting from the fire, he immediately recognized that it was Xue Jing!


    "Jing!?" he exclaimed anxiously.


    What is Jing trying to do? This could be deadly!


    The rest of the crowd also noticed this scene.


    "What is he trying to do? Is he seeking death?"


    Even though they were full of fear, they couldn''t help but wonder.


    Zhang Daqing, Li Zhaoquan, and Pei Tiancheng also watched the figure, thinking: Has he gone mad?


    This monster, with its speed, life force, and killing power, is practically specialized in attacking humans, not something these young people could confront!


    Don''t you run fast, or are you seeking death?


    Such professional dedication? Taking on a bodyguard job and not caring about your own life?


    Ignoring the thoughts of others, Xue Jing strode up to the Roach Man and stood firm.


    "Bang!"


    The floor exploded, and a black cannonball, like lightning, struck Xue Jing.


    His gaze intense, he focused, and his Aiming reached Lv5, providing him with dynamic vision far beyond normal human limits.


    The speed of the Roach Man, imperceptible to others, was clear in his sight.


    Twin Speed, Power of Twins, all fucking engaged!


    Xue Jing, as if the acceleration button had been pressed, swiftly turned around with a powerful straight kick!


    "Bang!!"


    As if perfectly calculated, the flying Roach Man was precisely hit by his kick in the chest!


    The kick was extremely fierce, full of force and enhanced by the absolute double power of the Power of Twins, directly sending the charging Roach Man flying back more than twenty meters, embedding it into the stone wall of the banquet hall, leaving a huge imprint.


    "Guah¡ª"


    The Roach Man in the wall opened its mouthparts and vomited a few mouthfuls of dark green blood.


    In the dim light, the crowd, originally running and screaming everywhere, fell abruptly silent, staring dumbfounded at the young man who was slowly withdrawing from his kicking stance.


    Xue Jing looked at the Roach Man inside the wall, his tone utterly even as he spoke:


    "You seemed to be having a lot of fun just now."


    "Now, let''s have some fun with me."


    ...


    (This is almost two chapters long, begging for monthly passes...)

 Chapter 69 - 65: Ingenious Use of Shadow Flame, Killing Move - Seal Cloud Tail

    The mouthparts of the roach man writhed, emitting a series of eerie, clicking sounds.


    Its pair of emotionless compound eyes intensely fixed on the prey, which seemed to have excellent flesh but was elusive to catch.


    "Swoosh¡ª" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It extended its six legs and scraped itself out of the stone wall, scattering debris everywhere, creating a tinkling noise in the silent hall.


    With the barbs on its legs hooked onto the wall, the Roach Man hung there as if its feet were firmly planted on the ground.


    "Boom!"


    The stone wall exploded, and dark lightning struck again, this time with even greater speed and spontaneously blasting a circular ring of airwaves that spread out, extinguishing several lighter flames in the hall.


    The banquet hall returned to darkness.


    Just then, unbeknownst to everyone, two flames of Dark Flame ignited in Xue Jing''s pupils, quietly pulsating within.


    He slightly shifted his body, managing to precisely dodge the roach man''s rapid sprint attack in complete darkness, and as they crossed paths, he counterattacked with a punch towards the roach man mid-air.


    "Bang!"


    The explosive sound spread, and the Roach Man was punched and sent flying again.


    But this time, it managed to recover in the air, its six legs with barbs grabbing onto the hall''s carpet, sliding backward several meters, ripping through the carpet and forcefully stopping itself.


    With the Dark Flame burning in his pupils, Xue Jing looked at the roach man and whispered,


    "You beast... It''s not only you who can move freely in the dark."


    Originally, Xue Jing did not plan to step forward.


    The Roach Man''s strength was one thing; the main issue was the poor battle environment.


    Affected by a suspected EMP phenomenon, all electrical devices in the hall were disabled, and with only occasional lighter illumination, the restriction on visibility was too severe.


    In such conditions, even if he had the power to fight the Roach Man, he stood no chance against it.


    The enemy hidden, me exposed; there was no way to fight effectively, rashly advancing was merely presenting oneself as an easy target.


    However, as the Roach Man sprinted and pounced around, he subconsciously followed its movements with his gaze.


    But under the dim and weak light of a lighter, he could hardly see anything.


    At that moment, perhaps because his desire ''to see clearly'' was too strong, "Shadow Flame" spontaneously activated and ignited in his eyes.


    Suddenly, his vision brightened substantially, seeing in black and white as if it were broad daylight.


    This was the real reason he decided to step forward.


    "''Shadow Flame'' also grants ''Dark Vision''... The interface didn''t make it clear; I had to discover it myself," Xue Jing shook his head.


    He stepped forward, rushing towards the Roach Man.


    The latter also opened its mouthparts, emitting strange hissing sounds, and swung its six legs like blades towards Xue Jing.


    Because the light from the lighters was extinguished by the airwaves, all present heard only a loud bang and had no idea what was happening.


    Pei Youguang hastily lit his lighter again.


    Under the faint illumination, everyone widened their eyes.


    The young man who had stepped forward was now locked in combat with that monster!


    The six legs, like six sharp blades, continuously struck out, relentless as a sudden stormy downpour.


    Yet the young man dodged agilely, evading each strike perfectly, as if navigating through each raindrop on a stormy day, his agility unbelievable.


    He even managed to counterattack from time to time with punches and kicks, striking the roach man and causing a series of muffled impacts.


    "This¡­"


    Pei Tiancheng and several Dojo Disciples watched the battle, utterly speechless.


    They had initially wanted to help, but upon seeing this scene, they immediately abandoned the thought.


    The fighting speed and rhythm were so fast they couldn''t even see clearly, let alone keep up.


    "In the martial arts world, speed is unbeatable; overbearing speed is the most despairing," he said.


    "Going forward would only hinder them and make him even more distracted by taking care of them," he added.


    "Everyone, now''s our chance!"


    "Let''s move towards the main entrance, slowly and calmly, no rushing or pushing!"


    Ye Chenglin quickly spoke.


    The crowd snapped to their senses.


    "Right, let''s hurry. Staying here will only hold him back and distract him!"


    "Once we leave, he can fully deal with the monster. After going out, we can also find a phone to call for help!"


    ...


    "Boom!"


    "Rip¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing''s fist hammered into the face of the Roach Man, sending him flying back several meters. At the same time, a bug leg hooked his clothing, tearing it and revealing his pale skin and bulging muscles underneath.


    "It''s really tough..." Xue Jing shook his numb fist.


    The Roach Man, with an exoskeleton covering its body, was extremely hard. Punching it felt like hitting stone.


    Even though he had landed several heavy blows, the Roach Man still seemed unfazed.


    The Roach Man charged at him again.


    Xue Jing, now accustomed to its attack pattern, instinctively sidestepped to dodge.


    At that moment, the Roach Man''s four massive thin wings unfolded behind it!


    The creature flapped its wings furiously in the air, making a sharp turn while rushing forward, and rammed directly towards Xue Jing!


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened, his scalp tingled, his body hair stood on end, and a sense of extreme crisis enveloped him; the shadow of death loomed over his heart.


    The world slowed down.


    In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Xue Jing''s mind like a revolving lantern.


    And finally, he focused on a particular image.


    A two-winged True Dragon navigating tirelessly through the sea of clouds, its body wreathed in heaven''s thunder, scales shimmering intensely, radiating layers of light, with golden vertical pupils that commanded everywhere it looked, capable of exhaling Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires with every breath.


    The True Dragon lazily rolled in the clouds and occasionally flicked its tail.


    Instantly, the boundless sea of clouds rolled back like tidal waves, revealing clear skies in a blink.


    The Roach Man collided with Xue Jing.


    The immense force of the impact spread through Xue Jing''s body, threatening to tear him apart.


    Yet at that moment, blessed by Fortune Comes to a Prepared Mind, numerous bones throughout his body trembled, emitting a thunderous rumbling sound, gradually enduring and absorbing the tremendous force¡­


    This strike, strong enough to shatter stone and bend steel, did not make Xue Jing retreat even half a step!


    His whole body tingled with Power, layered upon layered, wrapping all the kinetic energy that entered his bones, converting it for his use. All his strength surged towards his right hand, focusing at one point.


    In the dim banquet hall, a sound of a dragon''s chant echoed, making everyone instinctively turn their heads towards Xue Jing.


    They saw¡ª


    A colossal True Dragon, eclipsing the sun and the sky, swinging its massive tail.


    "Puff¡ª¡ª"


    The Roach Man''s head burst open, its dark green blood spattering like bullets, splashing even those at a distance.


    Xue Jing stared blankly at his fist, still hearing the sound of his bones ringing in his ears.


    Hidden Dragon School killing move¡ªSeal Cloud Tail!


    ...

 Chapter 70 - 66 The Sense of Security Brought by Xue Jing

    The roach man''s head was smashed by a single punch, and the onlookers hadn''t had the chance to process what had just happened.


    Without a head, the roach man somehow moved again, its six insect legs stretching out to embrace Xue Jing.


    "Tsk, figures it''s a cockroach," Xue Jing frowned and leaped backward, avoiding the roach man''s deadly embrace while kicking out mid-air.


    Under the explosion of the Power of Twins, he broke two of the roach man''s stacked legs, sending its torso flying backward.


    "Crack!"


    Xue Jing didn''t pause; instead, he immediately activated the Twin Speed, bending forward and dashing up to the roach man, his gaze sharpening as he reached his hand into the gaping hole where its head had been.


    Cockroaches, as creatures, do not have their weakness in their heads. Even without it, they won''t die, at least not for eight or nine days, until they perish from thirst and hunger for lack of food.


    Their real vulnerability lies just below the throat, above the chest, in the nerve ganglion beneath the esophagus.


    A sticky and disgusting sensation transmitted up from his palm, and Xue Jing, suppressing his revulsion, scooped up what seemed like a soft object.


    The roach man immediately convulsed, struggling frantically as several sharp legs sliced deep, bone-deep gashes in Xue Jing''s body.


    Xue Jing hardened his heart. Instead of dodging, he strengthened his whole body with Power for defense; then, gripping the soft object, he hoisted the headless roach man into the air before slamming it into the ground and pinning it there.


    In the banquet hall, shadows cast by the lighter''s flame allowed numerous black streams to flow towards Xue Jing''s palm. Inside the roach man''s body, unseen by others, a burst of Dark Flame exploded.


    The surface of the roach man''s body suddenly swelled, then stiffened. Its convulsions and struggles gradually ceased until it lay motionless.


    Pei Youguang, holding his lighter, watched Xue Jing''s movements, and thought he saw wisps of Black Flame rising from the creature''s body. But it was so dark that it was hard to see clearly, almost like an illusion.


    He mumbled to himself, "My god... Dark Flame of Bashen?"


    As the roach man stopped moving, Xue Jing withdrew his palm from its body.


    "Is it... over?"


    The crowd stared blankly at the young man standing in the center, his body covered in wounds and smeared with dark green goo.


    The monster that seemed to have leaped out of a horror movie no longer stirred; it lay dead on the ground.


    "It''s dead, it''s dead!"


    Someone exclaimed excitedly.


    Many people''s faces were splattered with the foul-smelling, dark green goo from the roach man''s burst head, but they were unconcerned, their excitement and joy at having survived a harrowing experience unchecked.


    "Who is that guy? Which dojo''s disciple is he? I want to donate money to his dojo, I''ll donate a freaking million!"


    "You can spare a million? I''m donating two million, damn it, and I want to acknowledge him as my brother. If that doesn''t work, even an adoptive father will do!"


    "Second Young Master Pei, Second Young Master Pei, hurry up, take us over there, let us meet him!"


    Noticing Pei Youguang standing stunned to the side, someone quickly nudged his shoulder and urged him on.


    Li Zhaoquan, Zhang Daqing, and the other surviving dojo disciples gazed at the blood-drenched Xue Jing with vacant eyes.


    Zhang Daqing stretched out his hand, patted Li Zhaoquan on the shoulder, and gave him a thumbs-up.


    "Old Li, from now on, I am completely convinced by you."


    "You dared to provoke such a person; from here on out, in the entire Qingcheng martial arts circle, who wouldn''t commend Old Li for his courage?"


    Li Zhaoquan swallowed hard, feeling weak in his knees.


    What did he do just now¡­ with that guy?


    Shook hands¡­


    His bones still ached.


    Suddenly, Li Zhaoquan appeared thoughtful.


    "Old Zhang, I might have just made a huge gain," he said.


    Zhang Daqing looked at him curiously, "What are you talking about?"


    "Look, this Xue... Xue, he''s definitely going to make it big in the future, right?" Li Zhaoquan pinched his chin.


    Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes, "No shit."


    "Then tell me, the sparring I just had with him, it was exceptionally intense, wasn''t it? I only lost by a slight margin at the end, a narrow defeat."


    Li Zhaoquan patted his own arm.


    Zhang Daqing stared at him in disbelief, "You... Are you planning to brag about this to others in the future? Do you have no shame?"


    Li Zhaoquan chuckled.


    ... sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ying Yang..." Ye Chenglin walked to the first victim''s body, his face showing grief.


    As he began to speak, everyone was jolted from the joy of their narrow escape, realizing that several friends had died.


    "Why on earth... Where did this monster come from, and why did the power at the Rui Zhu Hotel suddenly go out, even our phones stopped working."


    "This must be a targeted, organized, premeditated assassination against us; I will definitely have my dad look into it!"


    Ye Chenglin shouted angrily.


    He felt panic inside.


    Those who attended the banquet today were not ordinary people, but several had died. As the organizer of the banquet, he was definitely going to be blamed, maybe even mostly blamed.


    Even if his father was a Governing Councilor, this was still too much to handle!


    He glanced at Pei Tiancheng standing beside him, anger burgeoning in his heart.


    Damn it, what a bold claim, saying ''nothing would go wrong with me here''. Bullshit!


    Recalling how Pei Tiancheng had simply jumped aside when faced with the monster, causing several people behind him to get killed, Ye Chenglin felt a surge of bitter resentment.


    All these martial arts bodyguards turned out to be good for nothing... Thank goodness that young man was there; otherwise, everyone might have died today.


    Pei Tiancheng beside him looked like he wanted to say something but in the end, he didn''t; he just sighed.


    He, too, had not anticipated... that it would be just a banquet. Even though someone had died the day before, he thought the danger would merely come from a common psycho killer or something similar and that he would easily take control with lightning.


    Who could have expected such a terrifying creature to appear?


    At that moment, a tall figure, drenched in blood and exuding an inexplicable oppressive aura, approached.


    Everyone''s eyes gleamed with excitement as they looked at him, wanting to say something, but they were intimidated by the aura he radiated. No one could utter a word, and silence ensued.


    Xue Jing spoke as usual, "Everyone."


    "Even though that beast has been killed by me, we might not be out of danger yet and need to remain cautious."


    "Based on my estimation, the instantaneous failure of all electrical devices was probably due to an electromagnetic pulse, which is likely manmade."


    "Given it''s manmade, then that creature must also have been deliberately let in, not accidentally appearing here."


    Everybody listened quietly to his words, with no one interrupting.


    "¡ª These matters will be left to everyone to investigate later. I''m just a security officer, my duty is to ensure your safety for now."


    "Let''s go, I will lead you out of here."


    Having said that, Xue Jing took the lead towards the door.


    Though his body was covered in wounds and blood, his words were filled with conviction to the people who had just witnessed his martial prowess. It sounded utterly persuasive.


    Everyone hurriedly followed him.


    Now, only by staying close to this man did they feel a semblance of safety.


    ...


    (Requesting monthly votes...)

 Chapter 71 - 67: Great Harvest, My True Dragon, Born Here

    Xue Jing thought that with the enemy having arranged such a large-scale ambush, complete with electromagnetic pulses and non-human monsters, there would probably be more surprises along the way.


    But unexpectedly, the journey was quite peaceful. Under his leadership, everyone safely descended the stairs to the hotel lobby.


    The moment they saw the bright lights, everyone couldn''t help but sigh in relief.


    Never before had they felt so profoundly that humans truly cannot do without light.


    "Is it safe? Is it really safe?"


    "Thank goodness, let''s hurry. I just want to go home. I never want to come to this hotel again!"


    "Hold on, we can''t be sure we''re out of danger yet. First, call our families and the police, let them come pick us up!"


    The group discussed excitedly.


    The front desk receptionist, who had been yawning due to the lack of guests at the hotel these past few days, suddenly screamed when she saw a figure covered in blood leading a group of people through the stairwell entrance.


    "Ah!!"


    "What are you screaming for, shut your mouth!" Ye Chenglin, already in a bad mood, couldn''t help but scold her harshly upon being assaulted by the noise.


    After scolding, he seemed to realize something, and looked at Xue Jing somewhat nervously, but upon seeing that he didn''t seem to care, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Ye Chenglin showed a strange expression.


    Why did it feel like he was in front of a father...


    The scolded receptionist shrank back, covering her mouth and trembling.


    Xue Jing approached her, smiled, and said softly:


    "Sister, may I borrow your phone?"


    His appearance was truly frightening, covered in wounds and blood. The receptionist, making a pained face as if about to cry, reluctantly took out her phone and handed it over to him, trembling as though she was being robbed.


    Xue Jing didn''t care. After getting the phone, he woke up the screen, dialed the police while thinking:


    "So, the range of this EMP was just the banquet hall layer... The hotel lobby isn''t affected, no wonder nobody noticed anything strange for so long."


    "If that''s the case, then the device emitting the EMP must still be upstairs. I''ll have the sheriff search for it later."


    The emergency services picked up the call, and Xue Jing briefly explained what had happened. The Public Security Bureau took it seriously and said they would send someone immediately.


    After calling 120, his injuries, although not severe, also needed some attention, otherwise, he didn''t know if the monster''s fluid might infect his wounds.


    A few other people were injured too, some by the Roach Man, others by their own missteps in the dim escape environment.


    After making the calls, Xue Jing handed the phone to Ye Chenglin and others, telling them to call their families one by one.


    Once done with these tasks, Xue Jing walked over to a sofa in the lobby and sat down to rest.


    The others didn''t dare bother him, but they unintentionally moved closer to him, feeling more secure the nearer they were to him.


    Xue Jing ignored them and opened the panel.


    [You experienced an intense battle, stimulating your body''s potential: Fitness Experience Points +1027]


    [You tasted victory in the intense fight, leaving you very soothing: Health Cultivation Experience Value +829]


    [You gained new insights into sprinting: Running Experience Value +538]


    [You acquired a bit of a killing aura, attracting certain groups more powerfully: Charm Art Experience Value +551]


    [Your accuracy improved through the intense fight: Aiming Experience Value +518]


    [Your understanding of fighting greatly deepened: Fighting Experience Points +1539]


    [You learned a new skill and deepened your understanding of Channeling Energy: Channeling Energy Experience Points +1347 (meets specialization requirements)]


    [You visualized the true dragon sweeping the Cloud Sea: Meditative Visualization Experience Value +1211]


    [Fitness upgraded to Lv7 (135/4500)]


    [Health Cultivation upgraded to Lv5 (298/2000)]


    [Running upgraded to Lv6 (359/3000)]


    [Fighting upgraded to Lv6 (324/3000)]


    [Meditative Visualization upgraded to Lv4 (748/1200)]


    Even though Xue Jing had been mentally prepared and knew there was a significant reward coming, he hadn''t expected it to be this huge!


    Just the four-digit Skills Experience Points gain alone, there were a whopping four of them!


    A series of bone-cracking sounds erupted from his body, his flesh and tendons writhed ceaselessly, and all his wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    His physical condition dramatically improved, the blood that flowed from his wounds was extremely viscous, vividly red, as pure as rubies, almost glowing, and it even faintly emitted a fresh fragrance.


    However, Xue Jing didn''t focus on the changes in his body, but was staring at the panel that showed [Channeling Energy Lv6 (Option to specialize)].


    Option to specialize? What does that mean?


    He clicked on [Channeling Energy], and a description immediately popped up on the interface.


    [Conditions met, can convert Basic Energy Harnessing into Specialized Energy Harnessing, would you like to specialize?]


    "Conditions? Does it mean I have comprehended ''Seal Cloud Tail''?"


    ''So, does this ''Specialized Energy Harnessing'' relate to the Hidden Dragon School''s martial arts?''


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up; this was another new function of the panel he discovered after the upgrade of [Fitness].


    And unlike the insufficient conditions for the upgrade in fitness, this time he could directly [specialize]!


    "Specialized Energy Harnessing; it looks far more potent than Basic Energy Harnessing."


    Xue Jing didn''t hesitate and immediately clicked to specialize.


    [Specialization Successful]


    [Channeling Energy Lv6 (2080/3000), total 6880 Experience Points, converted to Hidden Dragon Vigor Lv4 (1880/4000)]


    Hidden Dragon Vigor!


    Xue Jing immediately began practicing the Armor Shaking Skill breathing methods, mobilizing the internal forces of his body to produce power.


    An extremely smooth sensation naturally arose.


    It was as if a machine that had been operating for years and had rusted was cleaned of rust and freshly lubricated; the power moved freely and smoothly within his body. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, if someone came close to Xue Jing, they would hear a surging, torrent-like muffled sound coming from inside his body, mixed with an indistinct fine dragon''s chant.


    It was as if a great dragon was using his body as a river, churning through the waters, freely moving about!


    "Yes, Dad, hurry over here, I nearly died here, this must be¡­"


    In the hotel lobby, a young man making a call to his family on his phone suddenly stopped, unable to speak.


    Confused inquiries came from the phone''s receiver, but received no response.


    It wasn''t just him, everyone in the lobby, including Pei Tiancheng and a few Dojo Disciples who had trained in martial arts, silently stared at the figure sitting on the couch, their eyes filled with terror and awe.


    It was like the ordinary civilians of ancient times, finding themselves in the Golden Throne Hall facing the True Dragon Emperor, an invisible yet tangible pressure making it hard for them to breathe.


    A faint golden glint flashed in Xue Jing''s eyes, his body suffused with Dragon Qi.


    "The ultimate goal of Hidden Dragon School, is to harbor a True Dragon within one''s own body, yielding a dragon''s chant and grandeur with every movement, possessing the mighty power of a True Dragon!"


    "My True Dragon is born here!"


    ...

 Chapter 72 - 68: The Key to Breakthrough

    ```


    It wasn''t clear whether it was because of the special identity of the victim or some other reason, but the sheriff arrived very quickly, completely void of the sluggishness often depicted in movies where they only show up after the criminal has left.


    In just about five minutes, the sound of police sirens was incessant in the parking lot of Rui Zhu Hotel, with an impressive turnout of more than a dozen vehicles all at once; the mobilized police force was quite exaggerated.


    Not long after the police cars arrived, several ambulances also made their way, their sirens blaring almost simultaneously with the police''s arrival.


    "... That''s the situation in detail."


    Xue Jing sat on a bench inside the ambulance, his upper body bare, covered with shocking wounds.


    Two nurses were handling scissors, cotton swabs, bandages, antiseptics, and other items with utmost care, tending to the temporary treatment of his injuries.


    A uniformed middle-aged sheriff was taking notes, writing down everything Xue Jing described.


    "So you mean to say, you took down that monster single-handedly?" the middle-aged sheriff asked.


    After giving it some thought, Xue Jing nodded and said, "You could say that."


    Others hadn''t really been of much help; only Pei Tiancheng had managed to land a punch on the cockroach, but it was almost ineffective.


    Once he stepped in, there simply wasn''t any chance for the others to intercede. They couldn''t match the reaction speed, and given the severely limited visibility, fighting the cockroach monster was like delivering food on a platter.


    "Okay, I''ve recorded everything here; thank you for your cooperation," the middle-aged sheriff said as he closed his notebook and put away his pen, then patted Xue Jing on the shoulder where there were no wounds.


    "Truly, a young hero..." he remarked with emotion.


    Xue Jing smiled and asked, "Sir, you''re from law enforcement, experienced and knowledgeable, do you know anything about the origins of this monster?"


    The sheriff hummed in affirmation, seemingly hesitant, and then chose his words carefully before saying, "I can only tell you that this thing is probably related to the Intersecting Boundaries."


    Compared to the young man before him who had personally killed the monster, he knew much more about the origins of the creature.


    As early as a month ago, people from ''higher up'' had come down to Qingcheng to investigate a smuggling gang involved with the Intersecting Boundaries.


    It was rumored that the smuggling gang carried something extremely dangerous. If not dealt with swiftly, it could even escalate into a city-destroying crisis.


    Thus, all the unusual cases that had occurred in Qingcheng over the past month had drawn high-level attention from the Public Security Bureau, and this was why they dispatched such a large police force immediately upon hearing of a ''monster'' sighting.


    This time... they might have finally caught a lead.


    The middle-aged sheriff glanced at Xue Jing.


    It would only be a matter of time before those people came to question the young man.


    "Intersecting Boundaries..." Xue Jing nodded, as expected.


    Such a monster was either the creation of a mad scientist from a biotech company, or a mysterious product of the Intersecting Boundaries¡ªcertainly not a natural creature.


    "That will be all from me here. You take care of your injuries. We might give you a call later to ask some questions, or summon you to the Public Security Bureau. I hope you''ll cooperate then," said the middle-aged sheriff.


    Xue Jing agreed, "Of course."


    The middle-aged sheriff gave a few more instructions before turning to leave.


    By this time, a considerable duration had passed since the alarm was raised.


    One after another, expensive sedans kept arriving at the hotel''s parking lot, out of which many well-dressed middle-aged individuals stepped.


    They found their children and engaged in conversation, still shaken by the events. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In addition to these people, there was also a short-haired female journalist in office attire, holding a recording pen and interviewing several individuals. A cameraman with a camera followed behind her.


    Everyone she interviewed pointed in the direction of Xue Jing.


    ```


    "Alright, big sisters, that''s enough. I have urgent matters and need to head home now," said Xue Jing, as he glanced at the female reporter approaching.


    The two nurses, who had been tending to his wounds and unintentionally stroking his chest and abdominal muscles, quickly responded, "No, your injuries are quite serious. You should come with us to the hospital first."


    The other nurse nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes."


    Xue Jing smiled but said nothing, picked up his tattered shirt from the chair beside him, draped it over himself, and jumped straight out of the ambulance.


    Ignoring the nurses'' discouragement and attempts to make him stay, he took a few swift steps and sped away from the parking lot.


    He certainly did not want to end up on the news, as his family seeing him injured would surely worry them to death.


    Shortly after Xue Jing left, a sedan hurriedly drove into the parking lot, and a middle-aged man with a look of panic descended from the vehicle.


    "Ying Yang! My son! Where is my son? Has anyone seen my son? Why hasn''t he called me?" he frantically asked among the crowd.


    Someone, unable to bear it, said softly, "Uncle, Ying Yang, he''s already..."


    The middle-aged man shuddered, squatted down in agony, and covered his face with his hands.


    ...


    At the Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the Heart-Nourishing Room,


    Xue Jing, wearing only a pair of shorts, sat on a single bed while Zhu Shanying held a transparent medicine bottle, occasionally pouring liquid medicine onto his hand to apply on Xue Jing''s wounds.


    "How could this have happened? It was just an ordinary security task, and yet such a monster appeared. Junior brother is really unlucky," muttered Zhu Shanying while applying the medicine.


    "The tasks for the dojo are inherently dangerous, accidents like this are unavoidable," responded Li Qi, sitting in a wheelchair, shaking his head before reassuringly adding,


    "Fortunately, you survived, and even turned misfortune into a blessing by successfully mastering a powerful technique of our Hidden Dragon School. Indeed, for martial artists, the edge between life and death is the best form of tempering."


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing said, "Master, there''s more."


    "I think... I''ve grasped the essence of the Hidden Dragon School."


    Li Qi was momentarily stunned.


    Then, as if realizing something, he quickly wheeled himself to Xue Jing''s side, reached out, and grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, channeling his power into his body.


    This time, although Xue Jing did not think to resist, his body involuntarily reacted; his power surged within him, a faint sound of a dragon''s chant emanated, and it forcibly pushed Li Qi''s hand away.


    Far from being shocked, Li Qi was overjoyed and laughed heartily,


    "Dragon, you''ve raised a dragon within you!"


    Zhu Shanying, puzzled, asked, "Master, what are you talking about?"


    It took a while for Li Qi to stop laughing before he explained, "To hide a true dragon soaring through the clouds, one must nurture a hatchling within oneself. Your junior brother has fostered the ''dragon'' within his flesh!"


    "He has infused his spirit and heart into the Dragon Qi, integrating it into his physical body. The mind and body unite, power circulates and roils as if it were a living dragon, even possessing a sort of ''consciousness'' to some degree."


    "From now on, practicing martial arts is no longer just training but nurturing the dragon within. That is the true core of our Hidden Dragon School!"


    Li Qi''s gaze towards Xue Jing could not have been more satisfied.


    "Little Jing, you''ve obtained the key to ''breakthrough''."


    ...

 Chapter 74 - 69 Maybe I came at the wrong time? (Ask for first order, ask for monthly ticket!!)_2

    Li Qi patted his shoulder and said with satisfaction,


    "Master, I heard from my fellow disciple that you once were a formidable figure who had ''leaped over the Dragon Gate''. So why did you still grow old?" Zhu Shanying asked, puzzled.


    Li Qi laughed and said lightly, "The ''dragon'' I raised was killed by someone, so my consciousness could not soak into the body anymore. Naturally, I could no longer maintain the ''Breakthrough'' state and constantly adjust my body, so aging became inevitable."


    Zhu Shanying nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.


    ...


    By the time Xue Jing returned to his residential area, it was already past midnight.


    He touched the wound on his body and found the healing speed was so fast it was almost absurd; the skin that had been torn open was already growing a thin layer of flesh.


    At this rate, he estimated it would heal in two or three days.


    He greeted the security guard, entered the neighborhood, and got home.


    When he opened the door, he did not see Miao Miao coming to greet him.


    He closed the door, searched all around the house, and wondered,


    "Not here again?"


    Lately, Miao Miao was too mysterious, disappearing from time to time. Xue Jing had no clue what it could be doing.


    After some thought, Xue Jing''s gaze swept through the entire house, imprinting everything firmly in his eyes before he closed them.


    [Meditative Visualization].


    This skill, which could enhance the intensity of his consciousness, gave him an incredibly terrifying ability to control his thoughts and imagination.


    Especially since it had reached Level 4 tonight.


    He visualized every trace in the house in his mind; every detail was depicted vividly.


    The cat hair on the sofa, the slightly worn soft plastic buttons on the TV remote, the faint scratch marks on the chair legs...


    He used his imagination to work backward through all the traces.


    Inside the house visualized in Xue Jing''s mind, a black cat with white ''gloves'' appeared.


    It moved around the house, stretching, watching TV, clawing at the chair, rummaging through the fridge, playing with the computer, bouncing on the bed... S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The actions of the black cat corresponded to every slight trace inside the house.


    At last, the black cat, which was idly playing with its tail on the sofa, seemed to have heard something and turned its head to look towards the balcony.


    Soon after, it stood up, walked with elegant cat steps to the balcony door, and struggled to push open the glass sliding door with its paw, walking out.


    In reality, Xue Jing also closed his eyes and followed the black cat in his mind, stepping out onto the balcony.


    The black cat jumped onto the railing of the balcony¡ªXue Jing opened his eyes.


    The impeccable vision brought by Aiming allowed him to inspect the railing for a while, finding two almost imperceptible paw prints of Miao Miao on the black paint.


    Based on the shape of the paw prints, he visualized Miao Miao''s jumping posture, direction, and arc.


    He leaned his upper body over the railing in a posture that would be extremely dangerous for the average person and looked straight down below the balcony.


    He could barely make out an air-conditioning unit hanging there.


    The unit, long-unwashed and covered in dust, had many cat paw prints imprinted on it.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, grabbed the railing with both hands, flipped over with a jump, and swung over with agility like a monkey, landing silently on top of the air-conditioning unit.


    Then he continued to visualize the traces of Miao Miao''s actions...


    ...


    In a dark alley not far from Xue Jing''s residential area.


    Ning Fengwan squatted on a crumbling brick wall, watching two figures, one larger and one smaller, both clad in black trench coats, black sunglasses, and masks, wrapped up tightly, and sighed humanely.


    "I''ve said, try not to come find me of late."


    "And you two, are you trying to make sure nobody misses how suspicious you look? What''s with this get-up?"


    Ning Fengwan commented.


    The smaller of the two weakly raised her hand, speaking in a soft, girlish voice, "I was against dressing this way, like some stalker, but the Priest..."


    The taller silhouette glanced at her, immediately silencing her, preventing her from speaking further.


    Turning her cat-like head, Ning Fengwan frowned at the taller figure and said:


    "Mr. An, didn''t you take off for Inner Ring City already? What brings you back here now?"


    Previously, when she was chatting on the ''Inside World Forum,'' Yun Qin had told her that the members of the Dragon Cult had mostly scattered, and Mr. An was among the first to leave.


    Mr. An''s voice was deep as he said:


    "Sect Hierarch, I didn''t run away; I went to the headquarters."


    Beside him, Yun Qin muttered softly, "Going to the headquarters is also running away..."


    Ning Fengwan, surprised, said, "Huh? We have a headquarters?"


    Her succession as the Sect Hierarch came quite abruptly, and there were many things the old Sect Hierarch had not mentioned to her. It was the first time she had heard of this.


    Mr. An said, with an utterly unvarying tone, "Our Dragon Cult is a sect that serves the ''Infinity Dragon'' Ananda Tashasha, who has a thousand heads. Therefore, our Dragon Cult..."


    "Has a thousand branches."


    Ning Fengwan was astonished and said, "A thousand?"


    Mr. An nodded and said, "Indeed, a thousand. It''s normal for you not to know, Sect Hierarch. The branches are spread all over the world, and the connections between them are not close. We haven''t been in contact with other branches for over thirty years now. The old Sect Hierarch probably forgot this as well."


    Ning Fengwan frowned and asked, "Since the connections are not close, why bring this up to me now?"


    Mr. An removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of red vertical pupils.


    Ning Fengwan''s pupils contracted slightly.


    Mr. An''s voice gradually became more fervent, "Because Ananda Tashasha himself has responded to us!"


    "The branch in Yuan City has received a divine oracle from Ananda Tashasha. According to ancient rules, they are the headquarters for this generation."


    "Let''s go, Sect Hierarch. Follow me to Yuan City now to worship and receive the infinite blessings of Tashasha. This is the highest honor, something the old Sect Hierarch never encountered in his lifetime!"


    Mr. An spread his arms, his fervent faith clear for all to see.


    Ning Fengwan inexplicably felt a sense of horror, causing her fur to stand on end, and her emerald-green, cat-like eyes filled with wariness.


    "Sect Hierarch, your potential is exceptional, and you could surely become a Blessed One under Tashasha, even possibly a ''Divine Child''..."


    As Mr. An was speaking, he began walking towards Ning Fengwan.


    "By then, our branch of the Dragon Cult can rebuild with the strength of the headquarters. The Spirit of the Heaven that is the old Sect Hierarch would certainly..."


    His words had barely finished when a ''bang'' suddenly echoed from the side.


    A handsome and tall youth appeared from nowhere, causing the alleyway''s cement floor to crack as he landed.


    "Sorry, I didn''t expect that the air conditioning unit was full of water. I slipped a bit."


    Xue Jing spoke with a bit of embarrassment.


    He looked around at the three pairs of eyes that turned to face him, pondered for a moment, then hesitantly said, "Maybe I''ve come at a bad time?"


    ...


    (Hurry and fill me with your big monthly tickets!!)

 Chapter 75 - 70: Made the News? (Seeking first subscription, seeking monthly ticket!)

    "..."


    The three people in the alley were dumbfounded by the sudden scene, staring at Xue Jing with wide eyes.


    "...So cool." Yun Qin muttered softly.


    Ning Fengwan widened her cat-like eyes, "Jing¡­ why are you here?"


    Xue Jing grunted and pinched his chin.


    "Would you believe me if I said I was just passing by accidentally?"


    Ning Fengwan gave him a dismissive look, "Stop messing around and go home. What are you wandering around for in the middle of the night?"


    Her tone carried a hint of urgency.


    Mr. An glanced at her, then at Xue Jing, a hint of a different color flowing in his crimson vertical pupils.


    "So, the Sect Hierarch is temporarily staying at this young man''s house."


    He shook his head and looked at Ning Fengwan.


    "Sect Hierarch, come with me to the main sect. There''s nothing good left in Qingcheng now. Once we reach the main sect, not even Kangde Corporation will be able to do anything to us."


    "Once you successfully receive the infinite divine grace from Ananda Tashasha, given time, it''s not impossible to eradicate Kangde Corporation."


    "..."


    Miao Miao shook her head and said in a childish voice, "No, I don''t want to go."


    Mr. An paused, withdrew his hand, and asked in confusion, "Why?"


    He did not understand ¡ª being the Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult and a believer in Ananda Tashasha, how could she not want to go upon knowing she could receive such grace?


    Hmm?


    Mr. An turned his head and looked at the young man who had just descended from the sky.


    His gaze lingered on that excessively handsome face for a while before he suddenly realized.


    Ning Fengwan sighed, about to say something.


    But Mr. An spoke directly,


    "Sect Hierarch, you wouldn''t want anything to happen to this young man, right?"


    Ning Fengwan: "..."


    Yun Qin: "..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    At these words, the other three were all taken aback.


    Yun Qin muttered softly, "...underhanded."


    Ning Fengwan''s cat face showed a distinctly anthropomorphic chill.


    "You''re threatening me with him?"


    Xue Jing also narrowed his eyes, stepping forward as danger tinged his voice, "I can''t pretend I didn''t hear that."


    Realizing he had said something likely to be misunderstood, Mr. An quickly clarified,


    "No¡­ it''s not a threat, I mean, Sect Hierarch, if you continue to stay in Qingcheng and live at this young man''s house, if Kangde Corporation finds out, it will surely cause trouble for him. It''s better to follow me to the main sect quickly."


    "..." Ning Fengwan was indeed hit in a sensitive spot by these words.


    She cursed irritably, "There would be no issues if you guys hadn''t come looking for me. I told you to not find me for now!"


    "I never wanted to be the Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult; it was that old man''s unilateral decision to make me the successor. That''s still fine, but he also caused such a huge problem before he died!"


    "Now you want me to go to the main sect and receive some divine grace? If you want to receive it, go receive it yourself. Don''t involve me!"


    Yun Qin inadvertently shrunk her slender body, her small face behind the sunglasses full of innocence.


    Xue Jing listened to their conversation; not understanding what had exactly happened with the Dragon Cult and Miao Miao, he found it inappropriate to comment further.


    After a long silence, Mr. An finally said, "¡­Alright, let''s leave it here for today. If Sect Leader changes her mind, contact me anytime."


    Ning Fengwan remained silent.


    Mr. An turned and left the alley. Yun Qin looked at Ning Fengwan, but seeing her say nothing, she felt somewhat disappointed and dejectedly followed Mr. An away.


    Only a person and a cat remained in the alley.


    "..."


    Xue Jing smiled gently, "Let''s go home, Teacher Wan. I''ll make a late-night snack for you."


    Miao Miao blinked her emerald-like vertical pupils, was silent for a while, then gently hummed in agreement.


    ...


    The next morning, as soon as Xue Jing woke up, he first checked the wounds on his body.


    The situation was better than he had anticipated; all the wounds had already scabbed over.


    Originally, he thought he might have to rest for a day and stop his martial arts practice, but now, it seemed it wouldn''t affect his practice.


    He threw off the covers, stretched lazily, and looked at Miao Miao sleeping beside him.


    He reached out and touched Miao Miao''s cheek.


    After returning home yesterday, Xue Jing didn''t ask much, and Miao Miao didn''t say much either; they seemed to interact as usual.


    But Xue Jing could vaguely sense that Miao Miao might already be contemplating leaving.


    Because she didn''t want to drag him into trouble.


    Originally, she had maintained the appearance of a cat due to the Divine Relic, which was sufficiently inconspicuous, and it was safe to stay here.


    But now that the people from the Dragon Cult had found her, her risk of exposure had increased significantly.


    "Kangde Security Company¡­" Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    The security company was a very special entity, even vaguely stepping outside the bounds of typical corporations.


    In this world, due to various reasons, the proliferation of highly powerful individuals was rampant¡ªmartial artists, transformed people, and even the ''Blessed Ones'' that Xue Jing had heard about from Wu Youqing were all destabilizing factors.


    People possessing weapons easily develop murderous intentions; everyone with a hammer sees others as nails. With so many high-powered individuals wandering the streets, how could there not be trouble?


    Compared to Earth in Xue Jing''s previous life, the cost of maintaining public order in this world was far too high.


    With limited official law enforcement resources, what could be done? Naturally, they had to look elsewhere for solutions.


    Therefore, during a particularly chaotic period, the government outsourced a portion of ''law enforcement rights'' to various security companies.


    It allowed security companies to develop and maintain their own armed forces to assist the government in maintaining public order.


    Just think about it¡ªit is tremendously potent to legally possess one''s own armed forces, not to mention a share of ''law enforcement rights.''


    The phrase ''law enforcement rights'' is almost synonymous with ''sovereignty rights''!


    Even if it was limited rule, it still was rule.


    During that period, the major security giants began to grow savagely, gradually becoming enormous entities deeply rooted in the nation.


    Now, they had indeed become unshakable.


    Thinking about making enemies with such corporations, which even officials found headache-inducing, was enough to make one''s scalp tingle.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Forget it, no more thinking about this."


    "Martial arts practice, growth, someday I will solve all problems, and even if I can''t solve all problems, I will surely deal with all people who cause problems."


    Xue Jing resolved in his heart.


    "Damn it, what company mother company, all will be blown away with one punch!"


    ...


    In the training room at Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Xue Jing was practicing Armor Shaking Skill.


    Today, according to schedule, he was training "Blood Training," the most challenging of the five moves and the one that demanded the highest physical fitness.


    Like the other Armor Shaking Skill moves, it ended with a full-body tremble, christened True Dragon Shaking Armor¡ªwith blood boiling.


    Today, however, the sensation during his practice was completely different from before.


    After specializing in Channeling Energy into Hidden Dragon Vigor, it felt as if there was a dragon nourished within his body, this ''dragon'' acting like his own doppelg?nger, controlled smoothly and seamlessly.


    As the power surged, his entire blood was forged and tempered by the ''dragon'', becoming cleaner, and thicker, resembling mercury.


    With every tremor, Xue Jing could feel the ''dragon'' growing larger.


    After a long while, having finished all the moves, Xue Jing calmed his boiling blood, his body emitting nearly visible steam, frighteningly hot.


    "Hoo¡ª"


    He threw a Straight Punch into the air.


    Energy surged like a dragon, naturally flowing into his fist, concentrating at one point and then bursting forth explosively.


    The air tore apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound, and faintly, amidst it, the sound of a dragon''s chant could be heard, near the curtain, which looked as though it had been hit by an air punch, creating a circular indent that only reverted back to original shape seconds later.


    "This set of Blood Training movements corresponds to the ''Shaking Star Fire'' amongst the Five Major Practices of Hidden Dragon School."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "From point to plane, activating the energy, penetrating the enemy''s body to explode and create a Defense-Breaking Skill, specifically designed to deal with hard-skinned skilled practitioners."


    He threw another punch.


    "Hoo¡ª"


    Energy exploded, creating a gust of wind.


    "Using ''Hidden Dragon Vigor'' to deliver this hit, Shaking Star Fire, feels like releasing a dragon to bite someone inside¡ª"


    Xue Jing had a strange thought.


    [You performed one practice session of Armor Shaking Skill, Fitness Experience Points +331]


    [You performed one practice session of Armor Shaking Skill, Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +367]


    After checking his achievements on the panel, Xue Jing picked up the Nebulizer Inhaler next to him, beginning to absorb the medicinal mist.


    A few moments later, footsteps came from the doorway of the practice room.


    "Little junior brother, little junior brother."


    Chen Fuguang called at the door.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes, removed his Nebulizer Inhaler, and walked out of the practice room.


    In the corridor, Chen Fuguang stepped forward, clasped Xue Jing''s shoulder, and with a wink said:


    "Little junior brother, you''ve struck it rich."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "How so?"


    "Didn''t you slay a monster at Rui Zhu Hotel yesterday and save that group of second generations?"


    Chen Fuguang said, a hint of envy in his eyes.


    "Today, we at Hidden Dragon Dojo received a lot of donations, upon checking, it''s all from those second generations'' parents."


    "Master said, this money is your reward, all credited to your account."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up.


    That''s great, these wealthy and influential folks really know how to handle things.


    "How much money?" he asked curiously.


    Chen Fuguang pulled out his phone from his pocket, checked it.


    "Hmm... basically, each amount is over a million, we''ve already received several payments now, totaling twenty-two million."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Am I rich now?


    Chen Fuguang ruffled his head, laughing:


    "Don''t slack off just because you''ve made so much money. Martial arts practice is a great undertaking, mountains of gold and silver can be consumed by it, twenty-two million won''t last long."


    "You''ve just started the Five Major Practices, going deeper, you''ll need medicine for ''Organ Nourishing'', ''Nourish the Essence'', and even ''Nourish the Heart'', each ridiculously expensive." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Prepare to say goodbye to your twenty-two million."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    Poor literary, rich martial...


    "Oh right, little junior brother, there''s one more thing."


    Chen Fuguang tapped and swiped on his phone, then handed it to Xue Jing.


    "Look at this."


    Xue Jing took the phone, looked at the screen.


    On the screen, there was a news item.


    [Qingcheng Morning News]


    [Seventeen-year-old high school student beats bizarre monster to death, a martial arts prodigy from Qingcheng University Affiliated Middle School?]


    ...


    (Asking for monthly votes!)

 Chapter 77 - 72: Charm Art Lv6, Special Mechanism (3K, Seek Monthly Votes)

    "Sparring commission?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed confusion.


    Zhu Shanying nodded, her bright and lively eyes sparkling as if they were constantly emitting little stars.


    "The client is also a martial artist, who became curious about you after watching the news reports, and wants to have a bout with you."


    "The reward is five hundred thousand, you know."


    The girl chuckled.


    After some thought, Xue Jing nodded and said, "Okay then."


    Since it was this kind of easy job, he naturally wouldn''t refuse.


    Although it was a little strange to pay five hundred thousand just for a sparring session¡ªit seemed too much¡ªthe spending habits of the wealthy are different from ordinary people. Perhaps for the client, this expense was quite normal.


    Zhu Shanying hummed with a smile, "The client requests the time to be tomorrow noon, and as for the location, they''ll call you when it''s time."


    Xue Jing nodded to show he understood.


    After discussing the formalities, Xue Jing, seeing that Zhu Shanying had no intention of leaving, thought for a moment and asked:


    "Sister Zhu, how come you seem to have so much free time every day?"


    Zhu Shanying raised her embroidered eyebrows, walked up to Xue Jing, stood on her tiptoes, stretched out both of her jade hands, and pinched his cheeks on both sides:


    "Little junior brother, are you implying that sister has too much leisure time? Are you fed up with sister bothering you?"


    Xue Jing helplessly said, "That''s not what I meant."


    He moved away Zhu Shanying''s hands, which were pinching his cheeks, "All the other senior brothers and sisters are so busy completing commissions that they''re on their feet all day... I was just curious."


    Zhu Shanying withdrew her hands, folded them behind her back, and with a tilt of her head, she huffed lightly, "Sister has a superpower, actually."


    Hmm?


    Xue Jing glanced at her, curious, "What superpower?"


    "Super rich!"


    Zhu Shanying said playfully.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "What do you think, are you tempted? I''m a super-rich lady, way beyond your imagination rich. If you could win me over, you wouldn''t need to worry about money for the rest of your life."


    The girl said with a smile, as if joking.


    She had thought that her little junior brother would be somewhat moved, and then she could tease him a bit, taking a small revenge for the two times he had thrown her over his shoulder.


    However, contrary to the girl''s expectations, Xue Jing shook his head with an unchanged expression.


    He stretched out his right hand and clenched it into a fist.


    "Money, power, fame... These external things, which can be lost at any time, are ultimately just inferior substitutes for strength."


    "For a strong person who possesses great power, they are nothing more than stones that can be found everywhere, so easily grasped that they are discarded without a care."


    "If I were to be with sister for the sake of money, then the day I become someone who regards money as mere stones, sister will also become just a stone to me¡ªsomething I can discard without a second thought."


    Xue Jing spoke in his usual tone.


    He really didn''t care too much about money at the moment.


    Of course, the main reason was that he had just made twenty million. He was in sage mode, not desperately in need of money anymore, which naturally made him indifferent and allowed him to say such pretentious words.


    "..." Zhu Shanying seemed spellbound, staring blankly at Xue Jing.


    After a long while, she finally sighed softly, with a complex expression on her pretty face, she murmured quietly, "I was just joking."


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience Points +231]


    [Charm Art has been upgraded to Lv6 (125/3000)]


    Xue Jing saw the message that popped up on the panel but remained composed.


    Zhu Shanying didn''t realize her complex emotions were exposed by the panel; she looked at Xue Jing''s face with some puzzlement.


    Somehow, junior brother... seemed even more handsome.


    Keeping her thoughts to herself, the girl resumed her usual expression and walked to the center of the training room, beckoning to Xue Jing.


    "Little junior brother, it''s been a while since we''ve sparred. Let''s have a couple of rounds."


    Xue Jing limbered up and walked forward, laughing while he did, "Thanks for the honor, fifty thousand."


    Zhu Shanying''s eyes widened slightly, "Didn''t you say that money is just a stone that can be casually thrown away?"


    "That''s for the future... I''m worth a lot right now. The client spent five hundred thousand to book me. As a self-proclaimed super-rich lady, surely you can''t offer less than others, right?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes were full of teasing mirth.


    Zhu Shanying glared at him, "I don''t care, I''m your senior sister, and I get freebies!"


    After saying that, she immediately moved in close and threw a punch at Xue Jing.


    Two minutes later.


    "Bang¡ª"


    Zhu Shanying, who had once again been thrown over the shoulder and smashed onto the ground, cupped her face with both hands, curling into a ball.


    She went into a self-imposed isolation.


    ...


    Qingcheng University, Library, Seventh Floor.


    In the quaint and old attic filled with a sense of historical depth, under the dim glow of a large lamp, the girl sitting in the wooden chair was flipping through a book, reading quietly.


    Her posture was straight, her attire simple, her face without makeup but still charming, it formed an elegant picture amidst the old attic.


    At that moment, a breeze that seemed out of place in the closed attic stirred, causing the girl''s ponytail to sway gently.


    A woman with short hair dressed in a black form-fitting tactical suit appeared abruptly in the attic.


    She appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, of average looks with a blade-like scar at the corner of her eye. On her tactical suit¡ªat the elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, waist... all the easily accessible places¡ªwere all sorts of sharp blades of different shapes.


    And on the chest of her tactical suit was an emblem: a pair of fully spread white wings with a few feathers falling around it, looking quite exquisite.


    Wu Youqing didn''t seem surprised by the visitor; she calmly closed her book and from a hidden compartment next to her, she took out various tea utensils and a "GOD-1567¡¤Sweet Water Jug."


    Without a word, she silently brewed tea with the GOD-1567 and pushed one of the cups towards the seat opposite her.


    The short-haired woman approached, sat down on the wooden chair, picked up the cup of tea, took a sip, and frowned slightly:


    "What an odd flavor."


    As Wu Youqing stirred her teacup with a spoon, she spoke, "Speak, what brings you here?"


    The short-haired woman seemingly pulled an obsidian-like card out of nowhere, showed it to Wu Youqing, and began:


    "Miss Wu, I am the captain of the 838 squad of the White Crow Task Force, which belongs to the Special Duty Department under the Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters, codename ''Void Blade.''


    Wu Youqing sighed, "You don''t have to list all that, I can''t remember it, just get to the point."


    Void Blade''s expression didn''t change as she said, "The procedure requires it."


    "Miss Wu, Xue Jing from the C-level Custodians at your Divine Relic Custodian Company is related to a case we are currently investigating. We are going to make contact, and I''m here to inform you of this."


    Wu Youqing furrowed her brows, thinking of the news she''d seen that morning, she spoke up:


    "Is it because of the incident reported in the news?"


    Void Blade stood up and shook her head, "I can''t answer that, but you have been notified, so now I will¡ª"


    "Stop." Wu Youqing''s tone was cold as she spoke.


    Her light purple eyes seemed to be faintly glowing, their color deepening slightly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go ahead and make contact, investigate by all means, as it''s all procedural. If he agrees to cooperate in whatever you need, I won''t intervene."


    But remember, don''t let any of those corrupt practices of the White Crow influence him."


    "If I find out something has happened to him, and it''s due to your actions¡ª"


    "Trust me, even if you have a member of the Institution Management Committee backing you up, they can''t withstand the fury of the Wu Family."


    "..." Void Blade''s expression remained unchanged, as if she didn''t register Wu Youqing''s threat.


    The involuntary cold sweat on her forehead, however, betrayed her inner turmoil.


    "Do you understand?" Wu Youqing spoke softly.


    "...I understand." Void Blade nodded.


    The breeze blew by, and the short-haired woman in the black tactical suit disappeared within the attic.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment, chin in hand, then took out her phone, opened the interface, and went to her contacts.


    She scrolled through, finding the number labeled ''Xue Jing,'' hovered over the ''call'' button.


    The girl seemed to think of something, and ultimately chose not to make the call.


    She exited the contacts, scrolled through her screen, and opened a video.


    It was a low-resolution surveillance video, on a decrepit old street you could vaguely make out two figures fighting.


    The last frame showed one of the figures enshrouded in dark flames, grasping the other person''s head and pouring the flames into their mouth.


    "Strange ability," the girl muttered to herself.


    "He has many mysteries... Letting the White Crow come into contact with him may not be a bad thing after all."


    ...


    The next day at noon, Xue Jing was quietly practicing Coiling Dragon Art in the training room.


    Armor Shaking Skill and Coiling Dragon Art, one dynamic, one static, one training Dragon Force, the other cultivating Dragon Qi, were complementary and needed to be practiced concurrently to progress evenly.


    His physical condition had improved leaps and bounds from before, and the burden of practicing Coiling Dragon Art was easily bearable for him now. He could even consider maintaining the posture of Coiling Dragon Art for twenty-four hours straight as a challenge.


    However, with martial arts practice, there is such a thing as too much; a balance between work and rest was necessary. Practicing Coiling Dragon Art for an hour or two each day was sufficient¡ªany longer and emotional fluctuations would become erratic, greatly reducing the efficiency of the practice.


    "You have completed a session of Coiling Dragon Art Posture Skills practice. Fitness Experience Points +228"


    "...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +217"


    "...Meditative Visualization Experience Points +116"


    Shortly after he had finished practicing Coiling Dragon Art, his phone on the solid wood floor began to vibrate and ring.


    Xue Jing picked up the phone and answered the call.


    "Yes, it''s me."


    "..."


    "No problem, I''m available now."


    "..."


    "Alright, I''ll be right there."


    It was the caller who wanted him to be a sparring partner.


    After hanging up, Xue Jing first went to the bathroom to take a shower and change clothes. Then he left the Hidden Dragon Dojo and hailed a taxi.


    "Driver, please take me to Mufeng Street in the North City District..."


    After getting into the car, Xue Jing gave the driver the address provided by the client.


    "Alright, sit tight," the driver replied cheerfully, spinning the wheel in a sharp turn.


    The car sped off toward the North City District.


    ...


    (Seeking monthly votes...)

 Chapter 78 - 73: The Right Way to Make Friends (3K, ask for monthly pass)

    The traffic was too heavy at noon, and the taxi was stuck on a big bridge. The uncle, bored and fidgeting with the steering wheel, rolled down the window, pointed diagonally across the bridge, and said casually:


    "Look, that''s the suburban area of South City. Over a decade ago, a big company planned to develop that area, drawing a lot of investment and exciting the people of South City.


    But unexpectedly, it turned out to be a ''high-frequency earthquake zone.'' The buildings were only half-done when it became clear they couldn''t be sold, so construction was simply abandoned, leaving behind a whole bunch of unfinished buildings."


    Xue Jing followed his pointing, and could see clearly at the end of his line of sight, a large cluster of half-built buildings, most of them with their steel rebar exposed.


    "Now you can''t even find a living soul there, but there''s a pile of dead bodies. Many of Qingcheng''s unsolved cases where people died, the bodies were found there. It''s because the area is usually deserted, which makes it convenient to hide a body."


    Xue Jing sat in the back seat without responding, his gaze intensifying instead.


    With his Level 5 Aiming skill, his vision was extremely strong, far beyond that of ordinary people, equivalent to having built-in binoculars. Even at a great distance from the abandoned building site, he could still see many details clearly.


    Atop one of the unfinished buildings without a ceiling, there seemed to be a strange black shadow standing on a rusty piece of rebar¡ªit looked like... a cockroach?


    Xue Jing blinked, looked more carefully, and found that what was hanging on the rebar was just a large black plastic bag, flapping loudly in the wind.


    "An illusion..." He was a bit puzzled.


    Could it be an aftereffect of killing that Cockroach Monster two days ago? Now, seeing anything similar felt like seeing a cockroach.


    He shook his head and didn''t pay it too much attention.


    Perhaps there really was a slight psychological shadow left behind; after all, cockroaches are truly disgusting.


    ...


    North City District is where the majority of government officials reside, and has always been nicknamed ''Noble North.''


    Of course, this is just a saying and not absolute. North City District also has many ordinary residents. There are only a few government officials; if only they could live in North City, it would be a ghost district.


    This was Xue Jing''s first visit to North City District. He sat in the car curiously looking through the window for a while but didn''t notice anything different from East City or West City.


    However, as the car drove up a long slope, rounded two corners, and entered Mufeng Street, his opinion changed.


    On the clean and tidy street, one villa after another was interspersed among lush green trees. The pedestrians were well-dressed and carried an air of distinction; some even wore the kind of butler and maid outfits one might see only in idol TV dramas...


    The cars on the street weren''t all expensive luxury vehicles, but their license plates were all ones and fives, six six six six, nine nine nine nine, and the like.


    Such license plates, even on a Wuling Hongguang, would be quite imposing, giving an indication of the kind of people in the cars.


    After the driver uncle had driven into this area, his originally relaxed driver''s demeanor vanished, and he became extremely serious. Both hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his body leaned forward, his full attention engaged.


    Like taking a driving test, he was extremely cautious, afraid to scrape or bump into anything.


    Upon reaching the destination, Xue Jing scanned a code to pay, thanked the driver, and got out of the car.


    He turned around to look at the house in front of him.


    Well, a big villa.


    At the gate, wide enough for a big car to pass, there were already two people waiting.


    "Youguang?" Xue Jing asked with surprise.


    He looked at the plump young man who was scratching his head and forcing a smile, then at his brother, Pei Tiancheng, beside him.


    "Is it you guys who made the request to the dojo?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Pei Youguang approached with a smile and said, "Sort of."


    "Let''s not talk about that for now, Master Xue, welcome to our brothers'' home. Please, come in!"


    ...


    Xue Jing followed Pei Youguang and his brother into the villa, through a large courtyard, several corridors, and arrived at a spacious and elegantly decorated living room.


    He sat down on the sofa in the living room and was immediately served by several maids carrying trays of tea.


    One of them knelt down in front of Xue Jing, prepared the tea set, and brewed him a cup of red tea of an unknown variety with warm water.


    "Please enjoy the tea, sir." She respectfully extended her hand and glanced at Xue Jing''s profile, a blush appearing on her face.


    "Thank you," Xue Jing replied politely, lifted the expensive-looking cup and took a sip. He couldn''t taste much, but the flavor was quite good, with a strong aftertaste.


    Setting down the cup, he turned to Pei Tiancheng seated opposite him and began with a smile:


    "Master Pei, are you inviting me here because you want to practice with me?"


    Pei Youguang, standing beside him, had the corners of his mouth twitch as if he wanted to laugh but dared not.


    Pei Tiancheng immediately shook his head quickly and hurriedly explained:


    "No, it''s not me. Someone wants to meet you through me. They said they wanted to see you in person."


    "I thought you must be really busy, and it might not be appropriate to invite you directly, so I decided to pay for a request instead."


    Pei Tiancheng said tactfully, with an embarrassed look.


    Previously, at the Rui Zhu Hotel banquet, he wanted to get to know Xue Jing and asked Pei Youguang to call him over, but Pei Youguang came back alone.


    At that time, he already realized it was not because Pei Youguang forgot; it was that Xue Jing had pride, and wouldn''t do anything that smacked of groveling.


    He invited Xue Jing by way of a request this time because he was worried that a direct invitation would remind Xue Jing of that night''s incident and result in another refusal.


    Xue Jing was unconcerned with Pei Tiancheng''s complex thoughts, merely curious:


    "Oh? Someone wants to see me? Who is it?"


    Pei Tiancheng waved his hands, signaling the maids to leave.


    Then he spoke in a low voice:


    "I don''t know... He''s a man, seems to have a special background. My father respects him quite a bit and told me to accommodate his requests as much as possible."


    "Yesterday, Youguang and I had a drink with him. I did find out some things. He said he''s from a special government organization, but what exactly it is, I couldn''t find out."


    Pei Tiancheng paused, then continued:


    "However, this man is strong."


    "Although I''ve never fought him, I can tell from his appearance, demeanor, and certain habits that he''s likely used to fighting. He''s decisive and forthright in his speech and actions, disliking beating around the bush."


    Xue Jing nodded and asked,


    "Where is he?"


    Pei Tiancheng thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "He''s on the hill behind North City District, not far from here. He said he would take you to meet him when you arrived."


    Xue Jing noticed that Pei Tiancheng seemed a bit cautious in his words. Xue Jing reached out and reassuringly patted his shoulder, chuckling,


    "Relax, you''re the employer now. You call the shots."


    Pei Tiancheng let out a sigh of relief.


    "That''s good to hear."


    "No time to waste, I''ll take you there right away."


    ...


    On a grass-covered slope in the North City District''s outskirts, a man was lying in the sun with his legs crossed.


    With his eyes closed, he seemed to be in his early twenties, sporting a buzz cut, slightly dark skin, a resolute face, and a blade of grass tucked between his teeth that he was grinding.


    The man was dressed in a black sleeveless vest, green military pants, and black combat boots. His exposed muscles were robust and filled with a sense of solidity, glowing with an almost metallic sheen, as if forged from steel.


    "Hmm?"


    Suddenly, the man opened his eyes, sat up, and gently pressed behiend his ear with his hand.


    "Hello? Captain?"


    "..."


    "Ah? Don''t go too far? Didn''t you say we were going to try inviting him to join White Crow? Isn''t this part of it? Otherwise, what was the point of all my past suffering?"


    "..."


    "His backing? How strong can it be, anyway? Fine, I''ll try to pull my punches."


    "But, he might be our comrade in the future, you know how dangerous the Intersecting Boundaries are. It''s essential for comrades to know each other well... I''ll try to test his limits and will have to land some heavy blows."


    There was the sound of a car driving on gravel, coming from a distance. The man turned to look.


    "Enough talking, he''s here."


    After pressing behind his ear, the man stood up and stretched his limbs.


    A black sedan slowly drove onto the grass and stopped.


    Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang got out of the driver and passenger seats, respectively.


    The rear door of the car also opened, and an overly handsome young man stepped out.


    "Oh? He does look the part," the man muttered to himself.


    He walked toward the young man, spreading his arms as if to embrace him. His arms were exceptionally long, reaching past his knees, similar to the limbs of an ape.


    The man grinned and said,


    "Xue Jing, pleased to meet you. You can call me ''Mountain Demon.''


    "So let''s not waste any time, let''s become friends right away."


    "The best way to make friends¡ª"


    "Is to have a fight!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the grass around him burst apart, and he vanished from the spot.


    Xue Jing, facing the Mountain Demon who appeared suddenly before him and was now swinging a punch at him, showed no change in his expression.


    True to what Pei Tiancheng had said, the man was swift and decisive.


    "Very well."


    "I don''t dislike this direct way of communication."


    The punch carried tremendous power, whistling through the air as if even a steel plate in front of it would be pierced.


    However, Xue Jing did not dodge or flinch, standing his ground and taking the punch straight to the chest.


    "Puh¡ª"


    As the Mountain Demon looked on in slight surprise, the fist that reached his chest felt as if it had struck a tire, the sound dull and heavy.


    Xue Jing''s bones trembled, emitting a rolling thunderous sound. The powerful kinetic energy from the punch was absorbed by his bones and transformed...


    His breathing skills activated, his power surged within his body, turning into a True Dragon that roamed everywhere, sweeping the kinetic energy in his bones into his own power.


    The sound of the dragon''s roar resonated.


    All the force converged in his right fist. Xue Jing spun around quickly and threw a backhand punch as powerful as the tail of a True Dragon sweeping the clouds from the sky. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Killing move¡ªSeal Cloud Tail!


    "Bang!!"


    The air was torn asunder, and the grass within several meters was flattened into a fan shape by the blast.


    In the stunned gaze of Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang, followed by a loud explosion, the Mountain Demon was launched more than twenty meters away, his body rigid as a javelin, plunging into the sloping hillside.


    ...

 Chapter 81 - 75 I Just Want to Touch the Divine Relic (4K, Asking for Monthly Votes~)

    "Dragon Wing Device?" Xue Jing muttered.


    Mountain Demon, with a sense of pride, said, "This is an Alien Implant made from the Core Organ of a Dragon Breed."


    "You know about the Dragon Breed, right? It''s a very special type of creature within the Intersecting Boundaries."


    Xue Jing nodded. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Secret Medicine he was now taking daily often used materials sourced from Dragon Breeds.


    However, information about the Intersecting Boundaries was always shrouded in mystery. He couldn''t find anything online, and he didn''t know what exactly a Dragon Breed was like.


    "The most significant characteristic of Dragon Breeds is their ability to fly," Mountain Demon said, looking towards the captain who was gradually approaching, now turning from a mere dot into a distinct human form.


    "All Dragon Breeds possess incredible flying abilities without exception, even those several tens of meters long and weighing hundreds to thousands of tons. They all manage to fly."


    "Flying for them is as natural as breathing, without any energy cost. They can stay perpetually in the sky, even sleep there, completely unaffected by gravity."


    "Based on years of research on Dragon Breeds, we''ve discovered that they can fly because they inherently possess an odd ''Anti-Gravity Biological Field.''"


    The woman in the sky had now arrived above Xue Jing and was slowly descending.


    Mountain Demon, looking up at her, said, "The Dragon Wing Device is made using the Core Organ of a Dragon Breed that possesses an ''Anti-Gravity Biological Field.'' Once implanted into the human spine and connected to the nerves, it grants the ability to fly."


    "It''s the best-selling Alien Implant from South Heaven Heavy Industries, highly acclaimed without competition."


    At this moment, the woman also gradually landed in front of them.


    Xue Jing glanced at her appearance.


    She looked average, with sharp eyes, appearing to be in her late twenties with a blade-shaped scar by her eye. Her black tactical suit, designed for easy access, was laden with various shaped blades everywhere.


    "You can call me ''Void Blade''."


    The woman introduced herself in a calm tone.


    "We are from the ''Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters'' under the jurisdiction of the Special Duty Department, the White Crow Task Force, specifically dealing with abnormal incidents related to the Intersecting Boundaries."


    She extended her right hand.


    "I am the captain of the White Crow Task Force 838, and the gorilla next to me is a team member."


    Mountain Demon: "Hey."


    Xue Jing also extended his right hand and shook hers, saying, "So you''re inviting me to join this ''White Crow Task Force''? Why?"


    Void Blade said, "You are very talented...that monster you killed a few days ago, did you know its origins?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Is it a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    "Yes, but also not really."


    As Void Blade spoke, she extended her right hand, tapping a few times on a silver bracelet on her wrist, which immediately lit up and projected a blue light, forming a 3D holographic image that slowly rotated in the air.


    The image displayed a creature with a human torso, legs, and six insectoid legs, exactly the Cockroach Monster that Xue Jing had killed.


    "We''ve examined the creature''s body, and it indeed contains some elements unique to Intersecting Boundaries creatures, such as¡ªCore Organs."


    She manipulated the holographic image with her other hand, enlarging the Cockroach Monster''s body, and then swiped her finger to slice open the area below the throat of the Cockroach Monster, revealing its interior cross-section.


    Inside it, numerous nerve pathways converged around a center that was a soft-looking sphere.


    Seeing this, something clicked in Xue Jing''s mind.


    He had reached into the body of the Cockroach Monster, and it seemed he had grabbed something¡ªprobably this.


    "This is a Core Organ, something every creature from the Intersecting Boundaries has inside, though its form varies¡ªlike a heart, a brain...or even limbs, nails, even skin."


    "The Core Organ is the source of the Intersecting Boundaries creatures'' special powers. For example, this Cockroach''s incredible burst strength and speed actually come from the energy supplied by this Core Organ. Otherwise, with such a large body but an insect-like structure internally, even breathing oxygen would be a problem, let alone anything else."


    Xue Jing puzzled, said, "Since it has a Core Organ, it''s clearly a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries. Why then say ''it could also be said not to be''?"


    Void Blade waved her hand, dispersing the Cockroach Monster''s holographic image.


    Then she tapped a few more times on her bracelet and a new holographic image appeared in the air.


    It was a continuously squirming creature that resembled a human brain in form but without the wrinkles, a peculiar insect.


    "This creature is called ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother.''"


    "It''s from the Intersecting Boundaries site F056, known as ''Rotten Flesh Lake.''"


    Void Blade said softly, "Its danger level rating peaks at 6.2..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Hold on, what exactly is a danger level?"


    Void Blade: "..."


    "Don''t they teach you this at the Dojos in the Outer Ring?"


    She seemed a bit incredulous.


    "Mountain Demon, give me the combat data from your fight with him." Void Blade turned her head and called out to Mountain Demon.


    Mountain Demon reluctantly said, "I''m not a gorilla..."


    He touched something behind his ear, performing some operation unknown to us, and Void Blade did the same.


    After a while, Void Blade looked somewhat surprised and said to Xue Jing, "Oh? Your current danger level rating has already reached between 2.9 and 3.1."


    Xue Jing shrugged, "I don''t understand."


    "The danger level is a rating system summarized by a doctor in Inner Ring City who is passionate about evaluating combat strength."

 Chapter 82 - 75 I Just Want to Touch the Divine Relic (4K, Asking for Monthly Votes~)_2

    "A healthy adult male has a danger level of about 1 to 1.1,"


    "This grading system is exponential, similar to the Richter scale. A difference of 0.1 roughly equates to a multiple of 1.414; in theory, a person at level 1.1 is approximately 1.4 times stronger than one at level 1."


    "Simply put, the highest danger level of the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother is 6.2, which is equivalent to sixty-five thousand of you stacked together," Void Blade said.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    That was indeed dangerous...


    "Of course, this is an extreme case. In reality, the level of the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother fluctuates greatly, with a maximum of 6.2 and a minimum of 1.8."


    "The Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother can assimilate the genetic information of the creatures it consumes to spawn corresponding insect species, and it can even mix the genes of different creatures..."


    "A little over a month ago, a smuggling gang from the Intersecting Boundaries captured a Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother at ''Rotten Flesh Lake'' and took it out."


    "Upon receiving this news, we pursued them relentlessly until they fled into Qingcheng and suddenly disappeared."


    "It doesn''t matter that they disappeared, but the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother must be found; otherwise, if it eats something indiscriminately and spawns some monstrous creature, it won''t be a laughing matter."


    Void Blade looked at Xue Jing.


    "And now, through you, we finally have a clue,"


    Xue Jing frowned and said, "You mean, the cockroach monster I killed was spawned by the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother?"


    Void Blade nodded and said, "Correct."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly.


    "So this thing... was a fusion of a cockroach and a human?"


    "Probably. The Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother moves slowly, and it''s a large target. If it were acting alone, it wouldn''t remain undetected for so long; someone must be hiding it, intending to use it for some purpose."


    Void Blade looked at Xue Jing earnestly and said, "Xue Jing, you''re only seventeen years old, and in just over a month of martial arts training, you''ve reached such a level. Your talent is outstanding, and you have the courage to face creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries... Someone like you would be wasting your potential staying in the Outer Ring."


    "I hope you can join our White Crow Task Force. We are backed by the [organization], possessing the most professional and advanced training system in all of Zhuxia, and we can fully unlock your potential without any dead angles." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You deserve a bigger stage."


    Xue Jing remained silent.


    For a moment, he was truly tempted.


    But soon, he dismissed the idea.


    Joining the White Crow, backed by the organization, what Void Blade described sounded wonderful, but unfortunately, it wasn''t suitable for him.


    A training system superior to all others, he had had that from the beginning...


    Perhaps joining such an official organization would indeed accelerate his growth, but the thought of the accompanying lack of freedom made him uncomfortable.


    There''s no such thing as a free lunch... Accepting things from the official side inevitably required giving something in return.


    What if the higher-ups asked him to carry out orders he was unwilling to execute?


    To be beholden to others for such a slight increase in growth rate wasn''t worth it.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "Sorry, but I must decline."


    Void Blade''s expression didn''t change, as if he had anticipated this response, he said, "No worries, I probably understand your thoughts, but don''t be too quick to refuse."


    "How about this, as the captain of Squad 838, I temporarily grant you the status of an external member of the White Crow Task Force."


    "You will still be free, not obligated to obey anyone in the organization, but when necessary, I will ask you to do tasks in the form of requests, which you can choose to accept or reject."


    "If you choose to accept and complete the task, I will also report to the organization and reward you accordingly."


    "If you eventually wish to join formally, you can become an official member at any time."


    "How does that sound?"


    Beside him, the Mountain Demon showed an expression of wanting to speak but stopping, and stopping but wanting to speak again.


    The captain was perhaps treating him... too favorably.


    Was talent really that amazing?


    Xue Jing: "..."


    The conditions were overly generous.


    However, they meant little to him, and he was about to decline, but then something crossed his mind.


    Xue Jing opened his mouth and asked, "Do you have any Divine Relics in this ''organization''?"


    Void Blade was slightly startled and, considering Xue Jing''s identity as a C-level Custodian, a hint of a smile passed through his eyes.


    "Yes, of course, there is. One of the research departments within the organization is the ''Divine Relic Institute,'' which houses many Divine Relics, including several in the top hundred rankings..."


    "Are you interested in Divine Relics?" Void Blade asked.


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "I am interested, not going to lie to you, I''m a Divine Relic enthusiast. My dream is to touch all the Divine Relics. Of course, just touching them is enough for me."


    Void Blade understood what he meant.


    "Then, as long as you complete the tasks commissioned by White Crow in the future, I will report to the agency and reward you with the opportunity to access the Divine Relics within the agency."


    Xue Jing extended his hand, sincerely saying, "Deal. Not going to lie to you, I''ve been a fan of White Crow for ten years. My dream is to become a member of White Crow... Naturally, as an external staff member."


    Void Blade shook his hand and laughed, "Deal."


    ...


    After exchanging contact information with Void Blade, Xue Jing called the Pei brothers back, and the three of them drove away from the hills behind the North City District.


    After they left, only Void Blade and the Mountain Demon remained at the scene.


    "Captain, is it necessary?"


    The Mountain Demon crossed his arms, tucking them behind his head, "He''s just a martial arts prodigy, although rare, it''s not too uncommon, right? To keep him, you even offered such conditions?"


    Void Blade shook her head, "You don''t understand."


    "This person... is not just a simple martial arts prodigy."


    She tapped her forehead with the silver bracelet on her wrist.


    Instantly, countless pixel-like colorful little squares erupted across her face, transforming her ordinary scarred face into a quite striking pretty face.


    "Yesterday, I made contact with that Miss Wu of the Wu Family to probe a bit, and her level of concern for Xue Jing was beyond imagination."


    The Mountain Demon exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Wu from the Wu Family? The ''Natural Gifted One''?"


    Void Blade nodded, "Yes."


    "She has always been searching for a way to rid herself of the Blessed One status... Only a god can contend with another god."


    "Apart from Divine Relics, she apparently cares about other things too... Xue Jing must have some special qualities that we haven''t discovered yet."


    Void Blade gathered her wind-blown short hair, her gaze following the direction Xue Jing had left in.


    "When you know it''s something good, even if you''re not sure what it is, you should grab it first then figure it out."


    "White Crow, that''s how greedy we are."


    She muttered softly.


    ...


    Sitting in the car, Xue Jing suddenly remembered something.


    Previously, while riding in a taxi, he had looked out the window towards the South City area and saw a building that seemed to have a cockroach-like creature.


    Although it seemed like he was mistaken, it was just a black plastic bag...


    But just to be safe, he took out his phone and sent the information to Void Blade via WeChat.


    Soon, he received a reply from her, stating she would investigate the area, and Xue Jing nodded and put away his phone.


    Xue Jing didn''t go to visit the Pei brothers but had them drop him off at his house instead.


    The Pei brothers tried to persuade him to stay, but seeing that Xue Jing really wasn''t interested, they gave up.


    After getting out of the car outside his residential complex and saying goodbye to the two brothers, Xue Jing was about to go home to play with his cat when his phone suddenly vibrated.


    He opened it to see a WeChat message from Youqing Wu.


    "[When you have time, come find me at the library.]"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and seemed to have no other plans at the moment.


    Since the rich and powerful boss is summoning, he might as well go and see if there''s a Divine Relic to touch.


    ...


    (Two chapters totaling 8K, already updated one chapter, currently owe 13 chapters, would love your monthly votes~)

 Chapter 83 - 76: Killing Move - Whirlwind Thunder, Sports Meet (4K, Request for Monthly Pass)

    Xue Jing sat on the bus, idly scrolling through his phone.


    This was a new phone he had bought; his old one had been completely damaged due to an electromagnetic pulse at the Rui Zhu Hotel.


    He opened a current affairs news app.


    [The U19 regional preliminaries have concluded, with dark horse contestant Li Chengxuan from Golden Wind Dojo dominating in the Maple City division, boldly claiming to defeat ten...]


    [Recent frequent occurrences of boundary quakes in various regions, experts: A new Intersecting Boundaries may soon emerge.]


    [Six boundary quakes occurred in three days in South City''s Unfinished District, the highest magnitude being 5.6, which may trigger a ''weak overlap''. Residents, please be cautious...]


    "Unfinished District..."


    Seeing this news, Xue Jing''s thoughts drifted back to the cockroach-like shadow he had glimpsed from afar, which seemed like an illusion.


    "Wonder if White Crow has made any progress."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    The bus slowly came to a stop. Xue Jing got off and headed straight for Qing University Library, making his way to the seventh floor.


    In the old attic, a young girl was sitting alone on a wooden chair, silently flipping through a book, as if she were a Bound Spirit forever tethered to this place, unable to leave.


    Her long ponytail swayed gently; her beautiful face wore an eternally peaceful expression, and her graceful figure and proper posture painted a serene and elegant scene in the aged attic.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing arrive, Wu Youqing glanced at him with her pale purple eyes, then pointed at the seat opposite her.


    "You''re here, take a seat."


    Xue Jing stepped forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down.


    There were two cups of hot tea on the wooden table. Xue Jing picked up the one in front of him and took a sip.


    A strange sweetness...


    "BOSS, can''t we drink something better?"


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    Wu Youqing also picked up her tea cup and took a gentle sip.


    "This is your favorite tea, made with water from a Divine Relic." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She chuckled.


    "I''ll choose Coke, thanks." Xue Jing stood up, went to the wall, pulled open a hidden compartment, and took out a can of Coke from inside.


    With a pop, he opened it and guzzled it down, the fizzy drink''s crisp refreshment coursing through his body.


    When he returned to his seat, Wu Youqing finally said,


    "White Crow must have contacted you by now."


    Xue Jing''s hand holding the Coke paused slightly.


    Then he nodded, "Yes, just now. They invited me to join White Crow, but I declined."


    Wu Youqing hummed in acknowledgment.


    "If it were any other division within the agency, it might be alright... but White Crow is not a good place to be. You made the right choice by not joining."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Why do you say that?"


    Wu Youqing set her tea cup on the table.


    "Do you know the meaning behind ''White Crow''?"


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Crows are usually considered ominous creatures, harbingers of death and disaster."


    Wu Youqing spoke softly.


    "The White Crow, contrasting with the crow''s color, is seen as a symbol of rebirth, a benevolent bird that brings good fortune; a beautiful wish is entrusted in this name."


    "The reason for this name is because the work of White Crow involves a very high mortality rate..."


    "They are responsible for investigating all abnormal events related to Intersecting Boundaries, often entering dangerous Intersecting Boundaries to carry out various tasks, and if a new Intersecting Boundary appears, it is also White Crow that is responsible for the preliminary exploration."


    "Those who join White Crow and live safely for three years are already considered elites; there are almost none who survive ten years. In the more than sixty years since White Crow was established, you can count on two hands the number of people who have retired safely."


    Xue Jing grimaced, "That is indeed dangerous..."


    It seemed he would have to carefully consider if White Crow approached him for work in the future...


    He couldn''t just agree for the chance to touch a Divine Relic.


    The revival effect of Twin Lifes could only be activated once in a short period...


    "By the way BOSS, what exactly is this ''agency''?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    This ''agency'', with a name too long for him to remember, and one under which even an impressive-sounding organization like White Crow was a subordinate''s subordinate.


    How immense might the agency itself be?


    After a moment of thought, Wu Youqing said, "It might be good for you to understand a bit about it."


    "The Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters, is a special organization established by Zhuxia after the start of the New Calendar, aimed at tackling various unusual disasters, and it has a history of over two hundred years."


    "In dealing with unconventional events, unconventional methods must be adopted; that was the founding intent."


    "Therefore, upon its establishment, the organization was granted an incredibly unbelievable range of authority and freedom."


    "It possesses an autonomous system, unaffected by all domestic judicial bodies, prosecutorial organs, adjudicative bodies, administrative bodies, military agencies; it operates independently of the five major agencies and is thus also known colloquially as ''The Sixth Agency.''


    Wu Youqing paused, then continued,


    "Simply put, you can think of it as ''a state within a state.''


    "For instance, if you joined White Crow Task Force, you would be a member of the agency. At that time, if you suddenly lost your mind and went on a killing spree in Qingcheng, or even madly detonated a nuclear bomb..."


    "Even if you committed crimes of that magnitude, you would not be subject to the laws of Zhuxia, and theoretically, the rest of Zhuxia''s governmental units would have no grounds to arrest you or impose any penalties on you."


    "Theoretically, the only body that could handle and judge you would be the internal court of The Sixth Agency."


    Wu Youqing smiled.


    "Of course, that''s just theoretically..."


    Xue Jing was somewhat dumbfounded.

 Chapter 84 - 76: Killing Move - Whirlwind Thunder, Sports Meet (4K, Request for Monthly Pass)_2

    "Even if it''s just ''theoretically'', doesn''t the power of The Sixth Agency seem excessive?"


    "The Sixth Agency was originally established temporarily to coordinate domestic forces; the plan was to disband it once the abnormal disasters from the Intersecting Boundaries were under control."


    Wu Youqing spread his hands.


    "As you can see, the problems with the Intersecting Boundaries have not been solved to this day, and new issues arise every day¡ªHeretical God Cult, Martial Artists, Blessed Ones, private military corporations, and various terrorist organizations... The number of anomalies is only increasing."


    "Therefore, The Sixth Agency has remained in existence until now."


    Xue Jing mused, "The Sixth Agency has such extensive power¡ªis the government not worried that it might get out of hand?"


    Wu Youqing shook his head, "The top tier of the agency is the ''Institution Management Committee,'' consisting of thirteen people, nearly all of whom reside in ''Cangting.''


    "Even the chairperson of each generation of the committee is directly... there''s no one above that person anymore."


    She pointed upwards.


    Xue Jing indicated that he understood.


    In that case, he had understood.


    The Sixth Agency was essentially the nation itself.


    It was an official means used to legally and legitimately surpass all institutional constraints and directly mobilize national power.


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed contemplation.


    Although he expected the agency to be influential, he hadn''t anticipated that it would be to such a degree.


    "Alright, I had you come today mainly to remind you about the issue with White Crow and besides..."


    Wu Youqing looked at him pensively.


    Then shook his head again.


    "Never mind, there''s nothing else for now."


    Xue Jing was somewhat puzzled but didn''t inquire further.


    He stayed a while longer, chatted with the young woman about home, and then left the library to return to his home.


    ...


    Three days later.


    Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    In the training room, Xue Jing was practicing the ''Flesh Training'' movement of the Armor Shaking Skill; each pause made his muscles roll and tremble like waves, making a swooshing sound.


    Li Qi, seated in a wheelchair, was watching his progress, and after a while, nodded, saying, "It''s about time. Your muscle strength should now be sufficient to withstand this move; give it a try."


    Xue Jing nodded, took a deep breath, and activated his breathing skills.


    The True Dragon inside him roared, moving throughout his body, causing all his muscles to suddenly tense up.


    Afterward, the muscles in his right arm started wriggling from a point near his right shoulder, gradually revealing spiral indentations.


    These indentations twisted, extending toward his palm, gradually converging as though several steel bars were being twisted together in the manner of wringing a towel.


    All the spiral indentations ultimately converged, centering on the fist of his right hand.


    Xue Jing''s gaze intensified, and he swung this spiraled punch at the air!


    "Boom!!"


    This strike, surprisingly, created an explosive thunderous noise out of nowhere!


    The air in front of Xue Jing was swept up by this punch, whirling and hissing as it struck the curtain five meters away. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The window was open at the time, and the violent air current caught the curtain, causing it to fly out the window, crackling as if it would fly away from its hooks.


    "Excellent!"


    Li Qi laughed and clapped, saying, "This is one of the Five Major Practices of Hidden Dragon School, Whirlwind Thunder!"


    Xue Jing felt his right hand.


    At this moment, his right hand was extremely sore, many parts of the muscles had torn, and his skin was covered in red and purple marks, the result of the muscle tears causing bruises.


    Whirlwind Thunder, one of the Five Major Practices of Hidden Dragon School, corresponding to the ''Flesh Training'' movement of Armor Shaking Skill.


    The theory behind it involved injecting Compressed Strength into the muscles in a spiral form, condensing and compressing it, and finally unleashing a powerful strike.


    It was the most basic yet powerful Burst Skill among the Five Major Practices, the ultimate in Rigid Force.


    "Whirlwind Thunder is the easiest to learn among the Five Major Practices, but it also demands the most."


    Li Qi laughed.


    "This type of spirally compressed strength is practically limitless, provided your body can endure it. You could even unleash a force several times stronger than the punch just now."


    "However, this move demands extremely high muscular strength, and right now you''re just barely able to use it. Don''t think about compressing the strength further, otherwise, it could cause your muscles to burst or even dissolve, which can be fatal."


    Li Qi reminded.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I''ll remember that, Master."


    "Hmm..." Li Qi pinched his chin, pondered for a moment, and said,


    "Your progress is as quick as ever. At this rate, you''ll soon move from the external to the internal and begin Organ Nourishing."


    "Unfortunately, our Hidden Dragon School follows the external path and doesn''t have much research on ''Organ Nourishing''."


    Li Qi sighed.


    "The true experts in ''Organ Nourishing'' are the Martial Artists of the Taoist Sect. They possess a manuscript called ''Yellow Grannie Skill,'' which is unparalleled for Martial Arts Organ Nourishing."


    Xue Jing asked with curiosity, "Yellow Grannie Skill? That''s a weird name."


    Li Qi smiled and said, "The name isn''t strange; you just haven''t grasped its essence."


    "In the Taoist practices, they liken the five organs inside the body to five different entities."


    "Among them, the spleen is ''Yellow Grannie,'' the lungs are ''Golden Gentleman,'' the liver is ''Wood Mother,'' the heart is ''Charming Lady,'' and the kidneys are ''Red Child.''


    "And Yellow Grannie, or the spleen, plays a crucial role in Taoist Organ Nourishing."


    Li Qi, now enthusiastic, went on a roll:


    "In the five organs, the spleen''s role is to harmonize the balance of other organs, acting like a ''matchmaker.''


    "In the Five Elements, the liver and lungs, namely Golden Gentleman and Wood Mother are incompatible; liver energy tends to rise, lung energy tends to fall, and their conflict leads to sickness."


    "But Yellow Grannie, it can ''regulate the liver and lungs,'' making them harmonious, essentially matchmaking the ''Golden Gentleman'' and ''Wood Mother.''


    "As the saying goes, ''Yellow Grannie mediates, Red Child and Charming Lady happily unite,'' if Golden Gentleman and Wood Mother, this couple, are harmonious, then the heart and kidneys, the Red Child and Charming Lady, will be healthy."


    "The Taoist Sect''s ''Yellow Grannie Skill'' bases on the spleen to regulate all the organs, ultimately benefiting the Five Major Practices from inside out, truly a unique internal cultivation technique in the world."


    Xue Jing laughed, "Master, you seem to know a lot about this."


    Li Qi waved his hand, saying, "When I was younger and handsome, a lot of girls liked me, including a little girl from the Taoist Sect... Unfortunately, relying on my youthful and robust body, I didn''t pay attention to Organ Nourishing and failed to learn her ''Yellow Grannie Skill.''


    Xue Jing blinked, "You had quite a few romantic debts, it seems."


    Li Qi glared at him, "What romantic debts? I am a decent gentleman with proper morals, wholly devoted to your aunt, and never messed around. Don''t talk nonsense, kid."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "Alright, I got up too early today, need to catch up on some sleep. You keep practicing."


    Li Qi waved his hand and wheeled away, leaving the training room.


    After he left, Xue Jing circulated his strength to eliminate the bruising in the injured area of his right arm muscle.


    With the enhancement of his health and Health Cultivation skills, plus the practice of Armor Shaking Skill and the Five Major Practices strengthening his body, his recovery abilities had now far exceeded the limits of ordinary people.


    He could feel the torn muscles knitting back together, healing, and even becoming tougher.


    However, it wasn''t suitable to continue practicing Armor Shaking Skill for the time being.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, took a shower, changed out of his training garment, then left the Hidden Dragon Dojo, planning to go home.


    As he reached the nearby bus stop and waited, his cell phone suddenly vibrated with a ringtone.


    He pulled out his phone and saw an incoming call on the display.


    It was their homeroom teacher, Du Shiwei.


    Xue Jing''s heart skipped a beat.


    He suddenly remembered, today was supposed to be the school sports event...


    He had promised Du Shiwei that he would attend, but had forgotten about it.


    Xue Jing answered the call, cleared his throat, and said, "Hello, Mr. Du."


    "Xue Jing, where are you? Why aren''t you here yet?" Du Shiwei''s voice sounded anxious.


    "I''ll be there soon, there''s a traffic jam here," Xue Jing chuckled, hastily waving down a taxi.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Du, I''ll be there shortly."


    ...


    (Request for monthly passes...)

 Chapter 85 - 77: Just in Time, the Cockroach Monster in the School (4K, Request for Monthly Tickets)

    South City''s suburban district, a basement of an unfinished building.


    Jiao Hongyuan squatted darkly at the basement staircase entrance with his palms together, constantly rotating his thumbs.


    Occasionally, when his thumbs rubbed against each other, they emitted a sound like metal clashing.


    After a while, the basement entrance above was lifted open.


    A young man around twenty-seven or twenty-eight with half-long hair, wearing a sleeveless vest marked with a razor, walked down.


    His physique was somewhat lean, not bulky, but if one looked closely, they would see that his muscles were tightly wound like steel was embedded beneath the skin, incredibly hard and even giving a sense of sharpness similar to a blade.


    Jiao Hongyuan looked at him and began by asking, "Bijin, how did it go?"


    Razor Gang''s leader, Su Bijin, approached Jiao Hongyuan and respectfully said:


    "Master, all the experimental subjects have been transferred."


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded, his expression softened a lot, yet he frowned and said:


    "I didn''t expect these White Crows to have such a keen sense of smell that they could find this place. Thankfully, I had arranged many spies beforehand... Did they listen to the so-called experts who think that this place is prone to ''weak overlaps,'' hence they came to investigate? Was it just a coincidence?"


    Jiao Hongyuan shook his head.


    "By the way, how is everything at Kaiping?"


    Su Bijin nodded and said, "As you instructed, he took ''Number Nine'' to Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School; we should hear from them soon."


    Jiao Hongyuan hummed, "Using Number Nine to distract the White Crows and draw them away allows us to transfer the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother. Otherwise, this thing is too conspicuous and could easily be exposed."


    Su Bijin couldn''t help but complain, "Kangde Corporation is not helping at all; it''s all on us¡­"


    Jiao Hongyuan said expressionlessly: "That''s how big companies are, they don''t want to stick their necks out. If the plan succeeds, they reap the benefits; if it fails, they lose nothing. They play their cards well."


    "Moreover, it''s because of this that such tasks fall to us."


    Su Bijin worriedly said, "Master, if this plan succeeds, won''t Kangde Corporation stab us in the back?"


    Jiao Hongyuan stood up, gazing towards the heart-like pulsing turquoise insect nest at the center of the basement.


    "How could I have not considered that?"


    "The contingency plan is already in place... if we run into trouble, Kangde won''t have it easy either."


    ...


    At Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School''s sports field, the noise was deafening.


    Nearly all teachers and students of the school, amounting to thousands, were gathered on the sports field, all dressed in sportswear convenient for movement.


    "Mr. Du, what did Xue Jing say? Is he coming yet?"


    The students of the Elite Class were gathered together when Li Ge saw Du Shiwei approaching with a phone and asked him.


    Du Shiwei nodded, his expression eased, "He''s coming, said he''s on the way, stuck in traffic."


    Li Ge sighed in relief, "That''s good."


    As the class president of the Elite Class, he cared quite a bit about the honor of his class.


    Recently, Xue Jing had been frequently absent from school, and Li Ge was genuinely worried that he might have forgotten about the sports event.


    "Mr. Du, I''m going to use the restroom."


    Li Ge informed Du Shiwei and left the group, heading towards the restroom.


    The opening ceremony had just ended, and the time was nearing ten in the morning. The sun was high up in the clear sky, glaringly harsh.


    "What nice weather."


    Li Ge shielded his eyes with his hand and glanced at the sky.


    "Huh? Who is that?"


    Li Ge looked toward a man not far from the restroom, dressed in a janitor uniform, wearing a cap and a mask, pushing a garbage bin.


    "Never seen him before¡­ is he a new janitor?"


    Li Ge didn''t pay much attention, only noticing that the janitor had a good physique, tall and strong, not at all hunched over like common janitors who often work with their heads down.


    He turned and entered the restroom to relieve himself.


    And right after he entered, the garbage bin pushed by the janitor moved slightly.


    By the time Li Ge came out of the restroom, the new janitor had disappeared, his whereabouts unknown.


    Li Ge returned to his class''s gathering spot.


    "Class president, where''s Xue Jing? Why hasn''t he arrived yet?"


    A classmate asked.


    "He''ll be here soon; he said he''s caught in traffic," Li Ge shrugged and replied.


    "Class president, why don''t you give him a call to check? The races are about to start, and the 100 meters is the first event," a short-haired female classmate whispered to Li Ge.


    Li Ge scratched his head and sighed, "Alright, I''ll check with him." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He took out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, found Xue Jing''s number, and dialed.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing sat in a taxi¡­ indeed caught in a traffic jam.


    He rolled down the window to look around. The sound of horns was incessant, the road was packed tight with cars, completely jammed with no space to move.


    "Damn, why is it so badly jammed today?"


    The taxi driver slapped the steering wheel, complaining.


    Xue Jing, observing the situation, thought:


    ''At this rate, I probably won''t make it on time¡­''


    At that moment, his phone rang.


    Xue Jing saw the caller ID and answered the call.


    Li Ge''s voice came through the earpiece.


    "Hey, hey, hey, Lord Jing, have you arrived?"


    Xue Jing held his phone out the window, letting Li Ge hear the continuous honking on the road.


    "It''s jammed."


    Li Ge said, "Your race starts in fifteen minutes; the 100 meters is the first event..."


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing replied, "Don''t worry, I''ll be there soon."


    He hung up the call and said to the driver in the front seat:


    "Master, just stop here; I''ll walk the rest of the way."

 Chapter 91 - 80: Golden Scale Skin, The World Cup That Stressed Xue Jing (4K, Seeking Monthly Pass)

    Everyone stared in dumbfounded silence at the carcass of the Cockroach Monster that had fallen to the ground.


    "What the hell? You didn''t just toss a depleted uranium armor-piercing round with your bare hands, did you?"


    The Mountain Demon said with an incredulous expression.


    The petite, short-haired girl Jing muttered, "It must have been an Armor-Piercing Knife..."


    Captain Void Blade gave Xue Jing a deep look, "...My knife is quite expensive."


    After the knife Xue Jing had thrown pierced through the Cockroach Monster, it didn''t stop. Instead, it kept flying away in a spiral, and now it was nowhere to be found.


    If this had been an animation, there could have been a special effect of a twinkling star.


    Xue Jing''s right arm drooped powerlessly, covered in bruises, almost the entire arm swelling to purple.


    Utilizing Whirlwind Thunder, a move with an immense load on the user, repeatedly had left his arm muscles in a dire state.


    While quietly circulating his Hidden Dragon Vigor to dispel the bruising, he laughed and said, "Sorry, I didn''t control my strength. Let''s look for it. If we can''t find it, I''ll compensate you for the loss."


    Captain Void Blade shook her head, "I''m not seeking compensation from you..."


    She glanced at Xue Jing''s frighteningly bruised arm, "Let''s go, get on the plane, we''ll send you back to the Hidden Dragon Dojo first. We''ll talk about the other things later. Your dojo should have some Secret Medicine specifically for this kind of injury, right?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then took out his cell phone from his pocket with his other hand.


    It was quite astonishing that the phone had only cracked its screen during such an intense battle, while all other features remained perfectly functional.


    After tapping on the phone a few times, he opened the dialing interface and called his homeroom teacher, Du Shiwei.


    "Hello, Mr. Du, I''ve been a bit injured and will have to leave early..."


    Mr. Du on the other end of the phone hastily said, "You''re busy, you''re busy, the teacher understands everything."


    "Then thank you, Mr. Du."


    Xue Jing laughed.


    He hung up the phone and nodded to Captain Void Blade, "Let''s go, I appreciate the help, Captain Void Blade."


    Captain Void Blade grunted in acknowledgment.


    Mountain Demon casually said from the side, "Boss, what about this Crying Feather corpse?"


    Captain Void Blade shook her head, "Crying Feather had only joined the team recently, he didn''t have any mandatory alien implants to retrieve. Just take his ''Black Belt'' back with us. The Public Security Bureau should be here soon, let them handle the body. We''ll just bring the Cockroach Monster corpse."


    Mountain Demon shrugged his shoulders, "Another team member gone. Captain, should we request for more members from higher up?"


    "We''ll talk about it later. You''ve seen Crying Feather''s case; newcomers aren''t much use... If a few more die, the mortality rate for our team members will be too high, and my end-of-year evaluation will be downgraded."


    Xue Jing silently listened to their conversation, internally sighing at White Crow''s attitude, which treated the death of a comrade as normal, even indifference.


    Soon, Mountain Demon had finished packing up the Cockroach Monster''s body.


    The group boarded the helicopter, and as the students from Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School watched, the helicopter''s engines started, its rotors whipping up a tempest, kicking up countless particles of dust, and slowly ascended into the sky and away.


    ...


    On the helicopter, Xue Jing checked his panel for the gains.


    [You''ve survived a fierce battle, and your body''s potential has been stimulated, Fitness Experience Points +1367]


    [You''ve survived a fierce battle, landed the final blow, and secured a kill, leaving you feeling immensely satisfied, Health Cultivation Experience Value +939]


    [You''ve survived a fierce battle, and delivered a perfect strike, demonstrating the utmost precision, Aiming Experience Value +1211]


    [You''ve survived a fierce battle...]


    [Aiming advanced to Lv6 (198/3000)]


    [Hidden Dragon Vigor advanced to Lv5 (232/5500)]


    [Meditative Visualization advanced to Lv5 (121/2000)]


    Scrolling through a whole slew of notifications, Xue Jing was in pain all over, but inside, he felt like he had gulped down a big spoonful of sweet shaved ice on a hot summer day¡ªpainful yet refreshing. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He turned his head to look outside the helicopter.


    High in the sky, the vast expanse of Qingcheng was almost entirely within his field of vision. He picked a direction at random, concentrated, and adjusted his focal length, making everything dozens of kilometers away crystal clear.


    In an old restaurant, a group of customers were sitting around a table, laughing and talking. The minute expressions on their faces were vividly detailed, and Xue Jing could even guess what they were saying by reading their lips as they spoke.


    "This place has really good hotpot, the ingredients are so fresh, Boss Zhang made a good recommendation..."


    "I''ve already talked to Mr. Li; he plans to give us the contract to work on it together..."


    Xue Jing withdrew his gaze.


    With Aiming at Lv6, the enhancement to his static vision was akin to having high-quality binoculars built in, with a hint of a microscope''s functionality as well.


    He had a subtle feeling that, if he disregarded air resistance, he could precisely hit an object several kilometers away by throwing a stone from here.


    It wasn''t just a matter of sight and aiming; the improvement in his Aiming level also brought an increase in his throwing instinct and hand feel.


    "About the unfinished buildings in South City that you mentioned, although we haven''t found any clues about the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother yet, we did come across another discovery," said Captain Void Blade from the helicopter.


    "After we got there, since the boundary shakes were quite frequent, we conducted some tests and found that the pollution rate of that area has surpassed 10%."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Pollution rate?"


    It was the first time he had heard the term and did not understand its meaning.


    With a slight sigh, Captain Void Blade explained, "This is worrying... the educational level on the Outer Ring. You didn''t learn anything at all, did you? The pollution rate refers to the degree of the ''Otherworld''s'' pollution in our Current World''s regions."


    "When the Current World and the Otherworld collide, the ''overlapping of the two worlds'' occurs. The more severe the overlap, the higher the pollution rate."


    "If the two worlds only brush against each other lightly, then only ''boundary shakes'' will happen. At that time, the pollution rate will generally be between 1% to 5%, and it quickly returns to 0%."

 Chapter 94 - 82: Reenacting the Scene with the Sect Leader (Requesting Monthly Votes)

    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience +668]


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience +784]


    [Someone has developed a lot of favorability towards you, Charm Art Experience +851]


    [Charm Art upgraded to Lv7 (131/4500)]


    As several notifications popped up consecutively on the panel, Xue Jing paused slightly, somewhat astonished.


    The Charm Art experience points were rising way too fast.


    Based on past patterns, the more experience points he received, the more favorability someone had developed for him.


    Could it be that Sect Leader Ning...


    Xue Jing looked at Ning Fengwan, who was tightly embracing him and curled up in his arms, and a strange idea suddenly popped into his head.


    Maybe now if he asked her to call him ''Daddy'', she might just do it...


    He shook his head, dismissing this bizarre thought.


    The events of the afternoon with Zhu and Meng had left some side effects, making him a bit restless.


    Xue Jing was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed.


    The cat-eared girl was holding him very tight at the moment.


    Very, very tight.


    As though she wanted to meld her entire being into his body.


    As a result, some parts naturally pressed against him.


    And the sensation... was far too soft.


    Xue Jing hesitated for a moment and said, "Teacher Wan, you... aren''t wearing any?"


    He looked down only to see that the lower half of Sect Leader Ning was not visible, while the upper half only had one of his T-shirts on.


    It made sense, the rooms of his sister Xue Wan and his parents were locked, and she couldn''t get into them, the only clothes she could find at home were his.


    At this moment, naturally, there was no external armor equipped.


    As soon as Xue Jing made this remark, Ning Fengwan''s body stiffened instantly.


    She had inadvertently forgotten about that.


    The cat tail behind her seemed to sense her emotions and began to shudder and sway uncontrollably.


    The girl released her hands from hugging Xue Jing and shifted her bottom, moving out of his embrace.


    Then, covering her chest with her hands, her face flushed as she said:


    "I couldn''t find any."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, pondered for a moment, and said:


    "Teacher Wan, there''s something I need to discuss with you." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing his serious and solemn expression, as if he wanted to skip over the topic and discuss important matters, Ning Fengwan immediately felt relieved.


    Although she felt an indescribable disappointment in her heart, she still asked softly with curiosity:


    "What is it?"


    Xue Jing explained the situation with the Cat Tail Ring [GOD-1391] to Ning Fengwan.


    "The bearer, when emotionally agitated, will fuse with the Cat Tail Ring and gain the power of the Heretic God Bastet..."


    Ning Fengwan furrowed her brows.


    "So does that mean from now on, whenever I get emotionally agitated, it will deepen the fusion progress with the Cat Tail Ring, till I fully become the ''Incarnation of Bastet''?"


    Xue Jing cleared his throat.


    "That''s correct, and... it''s not just any emotion, it has to be the type of emotion that triggered the first fusion."


    Ning Fengwan first showed confusion, "The emotion during the first trigger?"


    Then she immediately realized that the emotion she had experienced during the first fusion was towards Xue Jing...


    Her face immediately turned crimson, her hands covering her chest, she moved her bottom farther from Xue Jing, stretched the hem of the T-shirt to cover her glowing white thighs, and said weakly, "What... what are you thinking of doing?"


    Xue Jing rolled his eyes, "It''s not about what I want to do, it''s about whether or not you want to do it."


    Ning Fengwan''s face turned an even deeper shade of red.


    Xue Jing realized she had misunderstood and said helplessly, "No, that''s not it, I''m asking if you want to try and actively accept this power."


    "If we are to go against a big company like Kangde Security, we need to ensure that we have as many advantages as possible... The Cat Tail Ring, reputed to enable one to ''become the Incarnation of Bastet'' and connect with a deity, must be pretty powerful."


    "That Boss Wu said that so far, those who have become ''Bastet''s incarnation'' have not shown any abnormalities, just purely gaining Bastet''s power..."


    Ning Fengwan pouted and said, "Do you really trust this Boss Wu that much?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "It''s not that I trust her a lot... it''s just that I don''t see any reason for her to lie to me."


    In the past few days, Xue Jing had also sensed something off about White Crow''s attitude towards him.


    Members of an organization that almost symbolized the nation itself treated him with such courtesy, and Xue Jing didn''t believe it was just because they valued his talent.


    Moreover, considering the indifferent attitude that Void Blade had towards the death of their team members and the contrast in how they treated him...


    After much thought, the most likely reason seemed to be that the rich and domineering Boss Wu had played a role.


    Xue Jing felt that Wu Youqing was probably much more badass than he had imagined.


    Such a person, he guessed, didn''t need to specifically deceive him about anything.


    From their interactions over time, his impression of Wu Youqing herself was also very good; he didn''t feel she harbored any malice towards him.


    Ning Fengwan embraced her own thighs, her jade feet curled up as she stammered:


    "Should... should we try it?"


    After saying this, her face reddened, and she quickly added, "Don''t get me wrong, I just think that the more strength we have, the better our chances, it''s not because of anything else..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "I understand. You don''t need to explain."


    He paused, then hesitantly said, "So... shall we try it?"


    "How should we try?"


    The two looked at each other.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat, "How about... we recreate the scene from that day?"


    The young girl''s complexion turned a burning red.


    But after a while, she gently nodded and murmured almost inaudibly.


    ...


    In the bathroom, Xue Jing lay naked in the bathtub, soaking in warm water.


    Ning Fengwan had once again transformed into a cat and lay on his chest, also soaking.


    "How does it feel?" Xue Jing asked.


    Ning Fengwan did not dare to look directly below at the holy sword but said softly, "It seems... it seems not."


    Xue Jing recalled the situation at the time.


    It was because the "Plain Glasses" were removed and the suppressed presence exploded instantaneously that it instantly overwhelmed Miao Miao at that time.


    Now without that Divine Relic, how could he make Ning Fengwan overwhelmed?


    After thinking, Xue Jing gently said, "Teacher Wan, become human."


    Become human? In this situation?


    Ning Fengwan suddenly remembered what had happened that day in the bathroom, and her cat face humanized a hint of embarrassment.


    But inside... she didn''t seem to resist that much.


    After thinking for a while, she faltered, "Then you¡­ you close your eyes..."


    Xue Jing nodded and closed his eyes.


    He couldn''t help but swallow his saliva, feeling a bit restless inside...


    Shortly after closing his eyes, he heard Ning Fengwan apparently take a deep breath.


    Then... something heavy on his chest.


    The familiar touch awakened his muscle memory.


    Warm, slippery, with a bit of fuzziness, and a subtle graininess that could be faintly felt...


    His body moved slightly, brushing against it.


    "Mmm~" A strange sound came from beside his ear.


    "What... what should we do now?" Ning Fengwan said softly, seeming to endure and suppress something, her voice a bit deep.


    Xue Jing said, "Teacher Wan... pardon me."


    "Hm?" Ning Fengwan was puzzled.


    Before she could react, Xue Jing suddenly sat up from his lying position.


    She immediately slid downwards, letting out a cry of surprise.


    This time there was no collision incident.


    But their position turned into Xue Jing holding her from behind.


    In the cramped bath, the two were pressed tightly together.


    "Jing... you..."


    Ning Fengwan suddenly trembled all over, feeling tingles on her scalp, her complexion reddening to almost smoke.


    She could feel something scalding pressing against her back...


    ...

 Chapter 99 - 85: Asura Blade Intent, Weapon Strike Lv1 (4K, Request for Monthly Pass)

    South City District Wharf.


    "Ga¡ª Ga¡ª"


    Seagulls circled in the sky, squawking noisily, as a giant cruise ship slowly docked.


    On the wharf, Jiao Hongyuan, a man with an aged face but a robust stature, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at a handsome young man on the cruise ship deck who was waving at him.


    Standing behind Jiao Hongyuan, the leader of the Razor Gang, Su Bijin, spoke with a smile,


    "Little junior brother really stole the show in Maple City this time, crushing the twelve preliminary matches with overwhelming victories, spreading the name of our Golden Wind Dojo throughout the whole Outer Ring.


    Jiao Hongyuan''s expression remained unchanged, save for a hint of satisfaction in his eyes; he spoke lightly,


    "It''s still early, that little brat doesn''t know who he is after winning a few matches, bragging about taking on ten in front of the media, without a semblance of composure, making a laughingstock of himself."


    Su Bijin had been a direct disciple of Jiao Hongyuan for many years and knew his temperament well, clearly seeing the deep satisfaction Jiao harbored, despite his customary habit of verbally pressing his disciples to keep them from becoming arrogant and rash.


    Laughing, he flattered, "It''s natural for the young to be spirited, and little junior brother is a prodigy. Even in the Inner Ring City, he would be considered a standout. A bit of arrogance isn''t bad, and he was just speaking the truth; Master need not take it to heart."


    Jiao Hongyuan nodded and grunted in acknowledgment.


    Then he spoke lightly,


    "Is White Crow still on to us that tightly?"


    Upon hearing this, Su Bijin briefly paused, his expression turning serious as he replied in a low voice,


    "Many brothers from the Razor Gang have been arrested... I guess it''ll be my turn soon."


    Jiao Hongyuan turned to look at him,


    "Have you taken care of everything?"


    Su Bijin nodded, "A couple of days ago, I intentionally stirred up trouble and had a fierce battle with the Blood Claw Gang, silencing everyone who knew about it, making it look like an accident during the fight... White Crow won''t find anything out."


    Jiao Hongyuan took two steps forward, his tone solemn,


    "Once this matter is exposed, we will definitely have no place to be buried, no luck can save us, you understand that, right?"


    Su Bijin, with a grave look, nodded.


    "Master, I understand¡­"


    Jiao Hongyuan, watching the young man descending the cruise ship''s staircase, spoke indifferently,


    "After this matter is settled, we will officially join Kangde Security, become a part of this giant entity, status, power, money... Setting aside these external things, Kangde promised they would provide us with ''breakthrough surgery.''"


    Jiao Hongyuan''s eyes showed a hint of fervor.


    "I''m old, and the decline of my vital energy is inevitable, self-breakthrough is a dim hope, leaving me no choice but to rely on such means... But who said technologically induced breakthroughs are inferior to natural ones?"


    "I''ve grown tired of seeing Dragon Gate grandmasters who''ve broken through on their own being hung up and beaten by artificially-enhanced warriors that have undergone several surgeries!"


    He patted Su Bijin on the shoulder,


    "Bijin, Kaiping''s death is a regrettable thing... but it''s just a small setback on the road to success. In this matter, among the direct disciples, you put in the most effort. After success, there will definitely be a spot for you in the breakthrough surgery arranged by Kangde."


    Upon hearing this, Su Bijin''s spirits lifted.


    He quickly bowed his head, suppressing the sudden excitement and quickened heartbeat in his chest, and said eagerly,


    "Thank you, Master!"


    After a moment of thought, Su Bijin asked, "And little junior brother?"


    Jiao Hongyuan gave him a look, "With Xue Jing''s talent, he''ll be able to break through without surgery... Those who leap over the Dragon Gate on their own not only elevate their bodies but also their spirit. The path he needs to take is different from ours.


    "Don''t let Xue Jing know about this matter. He''s still young and can''t yet understand our reasoning, you get it?"


    Su Bijin quickly nodded, "Understood."


    ...


    Hidden Dragon Dojo, Heart-Nourishing Room.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the hardwood floor and asked Li Qi,


    "Master, does our Hidden Dragon School have any weapon techniques within its martial arts?"


    Li Qi sat in a wheelchair, going through the steps of tea-making on the table in front of him. Hearing Xue Jing''s question, he paused his actions and smiled,


    "Why do you ask all of a sudden?"


    Xue Jing placed his hands on his knees, rocking back and forth, his body spinning around like a weathervane as he spoke,


    "Isn''t there an U19 unrestricted fighting competition coming up? I want to give it a try, but weapons are allowed in that contest and I feel at a disadvantage unarmed."


    In the end, Xue Jing decided to participate.


    The U19 competition had a long schedule. Upon checking the format, starting from the elimination matches in Maple City, it would be at least one to two months before he could face Otogirusu.


    For others, this period was short, hardly enough to make a difference, but it was different for him.


    From the start of his martial arts practice to now, in just over a month.


    Give him another month or two, and defeating Otogirusu might not be impossible. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For GOD-519... it was worth a try.


    Li Qi lifted the teapot high, pouring tea like a thread into the cup, his hand steady, the tea swirling slightly along the bottom of the cup without spilling a drop.


    He then said, "U19... that''s a decent competition, it''s considered to have a high standard among traditional martial arts contests. Now many Dragon Gate grandmasters, even those who have won ''titles,'' participated in this competition when they were young.


    "You can enter if you want. Even though you haven''t practiced martial arts for long and it''s unlikely to achieve a high rank, it''s not bad to gain some experience."


    Li Qi held up his cup of tea, taking a sip, before continuing,


    "About the Hidden Dragon School''s use of weapons... Of course, there is."


    "The techniques of first-rate martial arts are fundamentally interconnected; moves that can be executed with fists and feet can certainly be done with a blade, and those performed with a blade can also be done with fists and feet."

 Chapter 100 - 85: Asura Sword Intent, Weapon Strike Lv1 (4K, ask for monthly ticket)_2

    "The five deadly moves of the Hidden Dragon School, with the essence lying within the channeling of energy within the body, whether they manifest through fists and feet or swords and blades is of no consequence."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing also thought of the time he had taken Captain Void Blade''s sword to launch a spiral strike that penetrated the Cockroach Monster with the ''Whirlwind Thunder'' technique.


    Indeed, he had felt no discomfort at the time, everything had seemed natural.


    Li Qi wheeled himself over to Xue Jing and said with a smile:


    "Our Hidden Dragon School has three ultimate skills, one of which is called ''Eye-Dotting''. This skill seeks the ultimate ''Piercing Force'', and thus in actual combat it is generally not exerted with the bare body, but with a weapon in hand, focusing on a single point, capable of piercing through anything."


    "However, this is not a move specifically for deploying with a weapon... The highest realm of ''Eye-Dotting'' is rather to execute it without any weapon, using only the body, epitomized by the saying ''A lesser dragon needs external force; a true dragon has Dragon Qi''."


    "Once one has fully developed the Kungfu Body of the Hidden Dragon School, they possess the sharp Dragon Qi of a True Dragon and naturally no longer need to borrow power from weapons."


    Xue Jing listened with longing.


    "A lesser dragon needs external force; a True Dragon has Dragon Qi."


    What a domineering saying.


    "Overall, the martial arts of our Hidden Dragon School, whether it be hand-to-hand or with weapons, are fully transferrable to weapon use."


    Li Qi continued, pausing thoughtfully.


    "However... since you mention weapons, there are indeed other things I could teach you."


    At those words, Xue Jing asked curiously, "Please tell me, Master."


    Li Qi stroked his shiny bald spot, his eyes reflecting memories.


    "In my younger days, after leaving the Dragon Cult because of a matter concerning your Auntie, I went and mixed in with the Inner Ring City, where I managed to make a name for myself."


    Xue Jing''s eyes gleamed, interrupting eagerly:


    "Master, hold off on Inner Ring City for now, could you first tell me some stories about you and Auntie?"


    The last time Li Qi had spoken about Auntie was... the last time.


    And the story had been left hanging at ''Auntie''s buttocks''.


    Xue Jing had been curious about the continuation for quite a while.


    Li Qi was about to begin boasting about his past heroic deeds when he was interrupted, giving his disciple an annoyed glare.


    "Young people shouldn''t pry into the affairs of the older generation."


    Xue Jing earnestly responded: "Oh come on, Master, please tell us, I''m really curious about you and Grandma Feng Wan''s story, start from ''the buttocks'' and don''t leave out any details."


    Li Qi rolled his eyes: "No way, I''ve only got so many stories, If you knew them all, how could I maintain the dignified image of a mentor?"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "Master, ever since the day I saw you drifting in your wheelchair and flipping up a high school girl''s skirt in the street, you lost any claim to having an image."


    Li Qi exclaimed in surprise: "You saw that?"


    Then he reached out a dismissive hand, "That''s just a little personal hobby of mine, you shouldn''t take it too seriously."


    "Fine, we''ll talk about Auntie''s story another time, let''s get back to what happened in Inner Ring City."


    Seeing that he still wasn''t willing to disclose the story, Xue Jing could only shrug helplessly.


    Li Qi reminisced: "At that time, I made quite a name for myself within the Inner Ring''s Old Martial Circle, known as ''Dragon King Li''."


    "However, Inner Ring City brimmed with talent, and although I was formidable, I wasn''t the only one."


    "There were two others at the time, famed alongside me."


    He held up two fingers and looked at Xue Jing.


    The latter nodded and cooperatively asked, "Then who were those two that could stand equal to you, Master?"


    Encouraged by the response, Li Qi carried on with enthusiasm:


    "One was ''Vajra Wishful Hand'' Zhou Liexiong, also known as ''Vajra Zhou''."


    "And the other was ''Asura Blade'' Chen Buyan, known as ''Asura Chen''."


    "I was in good terms with both of them, often exchanging martial arts knowledge, which benefitted me greatly."


    Li Qi stretched out his thin arm, then suddenly clenched his fist.


    On his wrinkled skin, a pattern of golden scales emerged, with spiral grooves spreading from his shoulder to his palm.


    "The ''Golden Scales Transformation'' and ''Whirlwind Thunder'' among my Hidden Dragon School''s moves were largely refined by taking inspiration from ''Vajra Wishful Hand''."


    "His martial arts philosophy ''Utmost firmness must be supple; the utmost firm becomes the utmost supple'' and his method of channeling energy is truly unique, allowing for effortless transitions between firmness and suppleness, a spectacle to behold."


    "However, what I''m teaching you today has nothing to do with the Vajra Wishful Hand, but with the ''Asura Blade'' instead,"


    Xue Jing asked curiously, "How so?"


    Li Qi thought for a moment and mused, "Hmm... it''s rather complicated to explain in words, so let''s just give you a direct experience."


    Xue Jing was unsure how to experience it and was about to ask.


    Just then, Li Qi suddenly looked up, locking eyes with him.


    Xue Jing saw... a blade oozing with endless blood flying out from Li Qi''s eyes, stabbing towards his own.


    The next moment, Xue Jing felt his body stiffen, an extreme chill creeping up from the soles of his feet, causing his hair to stand on end and his skin to tingle and ache as if pricked by countless needles.


    Death.


    He saw his own death.


    A blade oozing with endless blood kept slashing at him.


    Beheaded, split in half vertically, bisected at the waist, pierced through the chest, hacked into pieces...


    An onslaught of visuals of his own death suddenly flooded his mind. Countless corpses of Xue Jing formed mountains of flesh and rivers of blood, filling every space in his brain, leaving no room to think of anything else.


    Xue Jing did not panic.


    Having reached level 5 in Meditative Visualization, his mental control far exceeded that of ordinary people. Although his consciousness was now occupied by mountains of flesh and rivers of blood, he somehow forcefully retained a part of his thought process. He observed and contemplated his current state from a perspective similar to that of a deity.


    "Is this... pure and overwhelming killing intent?"


    Xue Jing recalled his first experience with the Coiling Dragon Art Visualization Method.


    The feeling was similar to that.


    "Master is indeed a person who once crossed the Dragon Gate; he can actually affect others with his spirit and consciousness out of thin air, and this is completely unscientific," Xue Jing sighed inwardly.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed when the mountains of flesh and rivers of blood receded like a tide, and his consciousness became clear again.


    He began to gasp for air as if he had been deprived of oxygen for a long time, cold sweat pouring down his body, soaking his black training garment and making him look as if he had just been fished out of the water.


    "How do you feel?"


    Li Qi, looking at Xue Jing''s still calm eyes, revealed a gratified expression and asked with a smile.


    "Terrifying," Xue Jing said evenly.


    Li Qi laughed heartily, "You don''t look scared at all. You are indeed my disciple."


    After a pause, he continued, "This is the Sword Intent of the ''Asura Blade,'' akin to our Hidden Dragon School''s ''Nourishing Dragon in the Heart,'' which is a spiritual form of kung fu. This Sword Skill is the most heavily charged with killing intent and the purest among all the martial arts I''ve seen, with its application of Dynamic Qi being truly supreme."


    "Back in the day, I had a close relationship with Chen Buyan. Although I never got the chance to learn the moves of the Asura Blade, I managed to learn its Sword Intent! Since you''ve shown interest in Combat Skills, I will pass this Asura Blade Intent to you. Even without the matching Asura Blade Skills and moves, just wielding a blade with this Sword Intent will be extraordinary."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Please teach me, Master!"


    ...


    Two days later, at the Hidden Dragon Dojo training hall.


    Xue Jing was clashing swords with his senior brother, Chen Fuguang, each wielding a long blade on the platform.


    The sound of metal striking metal was unceasing. After a short while, Xue Jing slowed down a change in his attack, revealing an opening, and was deflected by Chen Fuguang. His guard was broken, leaving him exposed, and in the next moment, the blade''s edge was across his neck.


    Xue Jing looked at the blunt long blade against his neck and exhaled, smiling, "I''ve lost again."


    Chen Fuguang withdrew his blade, propping the tip on the ground and resting his hands on the hilt, saying with a sigh:


    "Little Junior Brother, in just two days, your Sword Skills have already become quite decent."


    Xue Jing smiled, opening his panel to take a look. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There, a brand-new Skill had appeared.


    [Combat Skills Lv1 (128/300)]


    ...


    (Another chapter in progress~)

 Chapter 103 - 87: Instantaneous Thousand Cuts Deity Slaying Strike, Li Chengxuan of Golden Wind Dojo

    Hidden Dragon Dojo, inside the cultivation room.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the solid wood floor, the long saber resting flat on his knees, eyes closed, motionless.


    In the entire cultivation room, only his long, steady breathing remained.


    After a while, Xue Jing opened his eyes with a frown.


    "No good, the imaginary mountains of corpses and seas of blood... they lack any sense of reality."


    He had reached an impasse in his cultivation of the "Asura Blade Intent."


    The Asura Blade required to be tempered in fresh blood.


    But he couldn''t imagine that kind of pure killing intent, proving one''s way amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.


    "It''s still not enough material."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    The only person he had killed with his own hands was Zhu Yingkun, whom he had burned to death with Shadow Flame during the containment mission that day.


    The rest were just two Cockroach Monsters...


    The ''material'' he had accumulated was so little that he couldn''t comprehend the true meaning of the Asura Blade.


    Although he could somewhat mimic a feeling through Meditative Visualization, it was still lacking realism; he couldn''t experience the essence of true killing intent.


    "I can''t just go kill people to practice this... Let it be, I''ll leave it to fate."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    He stood up, raised the long saber, and began to meticulously practice the fundamental routines of the sword skills.


    Chop, hack, sweep, intercept, pick, deflect, stab...


    He practiced seriously, striving to make the posture and power of each strike as ideal as possible.


    With "Combat Skills" activated, he could now feel clear progress with almost every strike he made.


    The blade in his hand became increasingly naturals as if obeying his will, and the slashing grew smoother.


    Half an hour later.


    "Huff¡ª"


    The blade cut through the air, making a whooshing sound. Xue Jing drew the saber back, twirled it into a flourish, and sheathed it.


    [You have completed a session of sword practice, Weapon Strike Experience Points +55]


    [Combat Skills have been raised to Lv2 (23/500)]


    In an instant, Xue Jing felt as though his connection with the long saber in his hand had grown tighter, even experiencing a strange sensation of bloodline connection, as if the saber were an extension of his own body, a part of him.


    "A few more levels, and I reckon I''ll become an ''Innate Blade Tao Holy Body''... Or should I say, the ''Greek God in Charge of Weapons''?"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Combat Skills" wasn''t just about improving saber skills... It covered all weapons.


    At least all cold weapons.


    He had also tried using sticks, swords, spears, and such in the past two days, without exception, all had felt excellent, just like the saber.


    "In The Old Martial World, there are ''seven great titles'', one of which is called ''Army Master''... The Martial Artist who claims this title is hailed as the number one master of cold weapons of the age, skilled in all weapons without exception."


    "With ''Combat Skills'' in hand, I reckon I could play at being an ''Army Master'' too," Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    But for now, practicing with just the saber was enough; mastery of all weapons could wait.


    He shook his head and continued to cultivate.


    A few hours later, as noon approached.


    Xue Jing had just finished today''s Armor Shaking Skill practice and was feeling a bit hungry. He went to the cafeteria for a medicinal meal then returned to the training room, ready to continue with saber practice.


    Just then, his phone vibrated. Xue Jing checked it.


    It was a WeChat message from Wu Youqing.


    A document titled ''Otogirusu''.


    Then there were a few more vibrations, several videos sent in quick succession following the document file.


    Xue Jing didn''t immediately watch them, but the video covers all featured a long-haired man in black garb wielding a long saber, clearly Otogirusu.


    Xue Jing had already contacted the wealthy domineering boss yesterday, saying that he would participate in the U19 and try to see if he could defeat Otogirusu, while also hoping the boss could provide some information on the opponent.


    Today, he received the material, quite promptly.


    First, Xue Jing replied with a "Thanks BOSS," then he opened the file.


    [Otogirusu, male, 18 years old, third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu...]


    As Xue Jing read on, it introduced Otogirusu''s family background, relations, hobbies, practiced Martial Arts Sects, and more in great detail.


    Many photos were attached, including one from a Sword Dao competition, which seemed intense¡ªhis top was torn.


    Xue Jing took a close look at the photo, checking his pectoral muscle situation, confirming this person was indeed male.


    "His appearance is too deceiving."


    Looking at the photo of the delicate-faced, long-haired Otogirusu, Xue Jing couldn''t help but comment.


    He continued to browse the file.


    "Suzaku Style..."


    Xue Jing glanced at the detailed introduction of this Martial Arts Sect.


    [Far Eastern Sword Saint, Master Tamuramaro, who claimed to be a descendant of the legendary Martial God of the Far East, Sakagami Tamuramaro...]


    [Naming the sect ''Suzaku Style'' after Sakagami Tamuramaro''s treasured sword ''Suzumaru,'' the Sword Saint established this Martial Arts Sect]


    [Suzaku implies ''swift'', and the Suzaku Style is famous in the Martial Arts World for its extremely fast strikes]


    [The sect''s Ultimate Skill, ''Deity Slaying Strike,'' is known as ''Instantaneous Thousand Cuts,'' with the highest realm capable of performing a thousand slashes in an instant]


    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    "Instantaneous Thousand Cuts, Deity Slaying Strike... Interesting."


    About Sakagami Tamuramaro, the Martial Deity of the Far East, Xue Jing was somewhat familiar due to having played some history-themed gacha games that featured historical figures.


    There''s an intriguing anecdote about him; supposedly, he was a descendant of the Eastern Han Dynasty Royal Family, originally with the surname Liu...


    Though it was just a piece of unreliable, wild history not worth a smile, Xue Jing found it deeply memorable because it was so interesting.


    "A style that emphasizes ''speed'' is exactly the type I''m good at dealing with," he mused.


    Xue Jing nodded to himself, feeling somewhat assured in his heart.


    ''Unrivaled speed'' is an ultimate truth in martial arts; opponents who rely on speed have almost no flaws, which causes headaches for most martial artists.


    But Xue Jing was different.


    With the skill of "Aiming," he possessed extremely strong dynamic vision, which made handling speed-based opponents look easy.


    Like the previous two battles against the Cockroach Monster, it was all thanks to this skill.


    "I''ll strive for it once more, to see if I can level up ''Twin Lifes'' before the official fight, then I''ll have double the reaction speed..." Xue Jing clicked his tongue.


    He began to feel like he was the born nemesis of this Otogirusu.


    "But in the end, it all comes down to actual strength... No matter how fast my reaction speed, it''s useless if my body can''t keep up." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It depends on how much I can improve in the next month or two..."


    After glancing over the information, Xue Jing closed the file and opened the video sent by Wu Youqing.


    The video showed a huge open-air venue filled with spectators, with a spacious stage in the center that stood one meter tall.


    Otogirusu stood elegantly with a long blade in hand, and his opponent was a young man holding a blade as well.


    The video was shot from a high angle, likely an official viewpoint.


    The shouts of countless spectators could be heard, mostly in Far Eastern language, creating quite the din.


    As the two competitors took their places, the referee drew a line between them, and the match began.


    In the next second, the scene cut abruptly, as if edited.


    Otogirusu''s opponent was on his knees, clutching a shoulder that was gushing blood.


    Otogirusu himself was standing with the bloodied long blade¡ªwhich no one saw him draw¡ªflinging off the blood with a flick to the side.


    Then he executed a beautiful blade twirl, sheathed his sword, and finished with a poised stance...


    A series of standard Far Eastern Swordsmanship moves, full of ritualistic grace.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow at that speed...


    Soon, the video showed a slow-motion replay of that moment.


    In the high-speed camera footage, Otogirusu performed an Iaido Slash, drawing his blade in an upward strike.


    Even though it was slow-motion, the footage slowed down tenfold still showed his ''very fast'' speed.


    In this shot, his opponent hardly moved at all, looking completely bewildered as he took the slash head-on.


    Xue Jing closed the video and opened others.


    They were essentially similar, with Otogirusu in each video ending the fight in an instant.


    "As expected of a child from a zaibatsu, with the world''s top resources at his disposal, to be this good at eighteen."


    "In a little over a month, I wonder if I''ll be able to beat you."


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    "But I''ve always got to try."


    He drew his long blade and continued to practice sword techniques with precision.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the entrance of Hidden Dragon Dojo''s office building.


    "Oh? Hidden Dragon Dojo is up there?"


    A young man with a hint of roguishness in his gaze looked up at the upper floors of the office building.


    "Just one floor? Don''t they have their own independent building? Looks a bit shabby."


    The young man said with a smile.


    He appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, with handsome features and a very tall stature, at least 1.9 meters tall, dressed in casual clothes suitable for movement.


    The young man''s posture was straight as a blade, exuding a sharpness that made people''s eyes wince. Passersby would instinctively give him a wide berth, as if an invisible circle of blades surrounded him.


    "Little Junior Brother, Hidden Dragon Dojo is different from us; they don''t rely on taking disciples to make a living. Just a few people, so one floor of an office building is completely enough for them," said Su Bijin, the leader of the Razor Gang, standing beside the youth, explaining.


    "And this is East City District¡ªrent is quite expensive. To rent a floor here for a dojo is not at all shabby."


    Upon hearing that, Li Chengxuan shrugged his shoulders and said:


    "Anyway, let''s go, Su. Come with me upstairs."


    However, Su Bijin didn''t move; he hesitated for a moment before saying:


    "Little Junior Brother, the master said not to cause trouble recently... Maybe we should forget it, Hidden Dragon Dojo is not easy to provoke, and in a few days, you still have to participate in the Maple City elimination round. If you get hurt..."


    "Su, you speak wrongly," Li Chengxuan waved his hand and shook his head.


    "I come with the purpose of a proper martial arts exchange, how could that be considered causing trouble?"


    "He, a martial arts prodigy who appeared in the news for killing the dreadful Cockroach Monster twice at the age of seventeen¡ªI''m close to him in age and wish to exchange some pointers. That''s understandable, right?"


    Li Chengxuan smiled, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.


    "...and just incidentally, I want to ask why, when he killed the beast, Kaiping also died there."


    Su Bijin was at a loss for words.


    Seeing his reaction, Li Chengxuan shook his head and said:


    "Never mind, Su, you needn''t say more. Kaiping was very good to me. His mysterious death...I can''t pretend nothing happened, especially since he had a conflict with this Xue Jing before he died. And strangely, Xue Jing happened to be at the scene. How can this be a coincidence?"


    "I need to get some clear answers from him."


    After speaking, Li Chengxuan walked into the office building.


    Su Bijin, seeing that he had no intention of listening to persuasion, could only sigh and discreetly text their master Jiao Hongyuan.


    Then he quickly followed.


    ...


    (There''s one more chapter, I''m typing it~)

 Chapter 104 - 88 Li Qi: Compared to my apprentice, youre nothing

    "Junior Brother, Junior Brother."


    Xue Jing was practicing swordsmanship when Zhu Shanying''s voice came from outside the practice room.


    He paused, sheathed the long sword in his hand, placed it on the ground, took down the towel hanging on the wall, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    The door to the practice room was pushed open, and Zhu Shanying''s petite figure darted in.


    "Clang, clang, clang! The hero arrives!"


    The girl''s bright and lively eyes smiled into crescents, and she held a rectangular black cloth strip in her hands.


    "Junior Brother, look what I''ve brought for you."


    Xue Jing smiled and greeted her:


    "Senior Sister Zhu."


    Then he looked at the black rectangular cloth strip in her hand, curious:


    "What''s this?"


    Zhu Shanying grinned and said, "Guess what?"


    Xue Jing glanced at the black cloth strip, about to speak when his expression suddenly shifted.


    He inexplicably felt a strange sense of familiarity with the black cloth strip, as if it were calling out to him.


    Xue Jing took the cloth strip in his hand, and a feeling of blood connection spontaneously arose.


    He exclaimed, "What a good sword."


    Zhu Shanying was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, "How do you know it''s a sword?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "I guessed." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Shanying pouted, "Junior Brother, you''re lying."


    "If you were guessing, you would''ve guessed it''s a ''sword'', so how could you directly say it''s a ''good sword''?"


    Xue Jing said in surprise, "Senior Sister Zhu, why do I feel like you''re kind of smart?"


    Zhu Shanying, upon hearing this, wasn''t too happy.


    She glared at Xue Jing and muttered, "What do you mean ''kind of''? I''ve always been smart."


    The girl reached out with both hands, grabbing the sides of Xue Jing''s cheeks.


    "Come on, tell me how you knew this is a good sword."


    Xue Jing untied the string around the black cloth strip and removed it.


    A long sword with a black scabbard embroidered with simple and elegant silver patterns appeared before his eyes.


    Xue Jing slowly drew the sword, revealing a silvery-white chill.


    His eyes lit up, and he fondly stroked the blade, chuckling:


    "It... was just introducing itself to me."


    Zhu Shanying said in confusion, "Huh?"


    Introducing itself? Can the sword talk?


    Xue Jing gently caressed the beautiful long sword in his hand.


    The black hilt, the silver-white blade, the total length was about one and a half meters.


    In terms of form, it should be considered an Imperial Forest Army sword, slightly curved, and under the sunlight streaming in through the window, it reflected glimmers of cold light, indicating its extremely sharp quality visible to the naked eye.


    The innate close feeling to weapons brought on by his "Combat Skills" allowed him to quickly understand everything about the sword.


    It was as if... the sword was introducing itself to him.


    Seeing how Xue Jing couldn''t put the sword down, Zhu Shanying also felt very happy, resting her hands behind her back and said with a smile:


    "This sword is a part of my grandfather''s collection."


    "Junior Brother, since you are going to participate in U19, you need a good weapon... I haven''t given you anything since you joined, so this sword is for you!"


    Xue Jing paused in his action, shook his head, about to say something.


    But Zhu Shanying stood on tiptoes, touched his head, and said with a smile in her eyes, "Don''t worry, my grandfather has lots of collections, and I''ve talked to him about giving this sword away, and he agreed."


    "I see..." Xue Jing looked at the beautiful long sword in his hand, thought for a moment, and said:


    "Thank you, Senior Sister Zhu... May I ask, how much is this sword worth?"


    Zhu Shanying tapped her chin.


    "Hmm... the main material of this sword is ''Dragon Bone Steel'', it''s an alloy made by smelting dragon bones from the Dragon Breed with other rare metals."


    "The smith is a master named He Jiuxi, who has retired now."


    The girl calculated with her fingers.


    "If you include its collectible value, it should be around twenty million."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    Merely unsheathing it equaled his entire fortune?


    In an instant, Xue Jing quickly discarded the notion that he was a wealthy man from his mind.


    "Zhu Shanying... this is too precious," he said.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    But Zhu Shanying spoke softly,


    "Junior brother,"


    "You once said, ''To the powerful, money is but a pebble that''s seen everywhere, easily acquired, and if lost, not even worth a second thought.''"


    She gazed at Xue Jing.


    "It''s just a mere twenty million worth of a sword, do you feel you can''t bear it, can''t pay it back?"


    The girl''s tone was extremely calm, completely different from her usual self.


    "..."


    Xue Jing stared steadily at Zhu Shanying.


    Her bright eyes seemed to carry a certain hope.


    After a long while, Xue Jing smiled.


    "I was being petty."


    He sheathed the long sword in his hand, and said earnestly to Zhu Shanying,


    "Thank you, Sister Zhu, I''ll accept the sword."


    In the little over a month he had been in the dojo, his strength had grown rapidly


    But his pride... didn''t seem to have completely caught up.


    Xue Jing rubbed his brow.


    He never thought the boastful words he had said before would come back like a boomerang and hit him.


    Yes, it''s just twenty million.


    To him, it was no longer something so valuable that he couldn''t pay it back.


    Just like a normal person wouldn''t feel uneasy just because a friend treated them to a meal, to him, this twenty million worth sword was just ''a meal.''


    He needed to reflect and adjust his mindset.


    "Humph, this is the junior brother I wanted to see," Zhu Shanying said with a smile reappearing at the corner of her eyes, patting Xue Jing on the back.


    "Junior brother, junior brother!"


    An anxious call suddenly came from outside the training room.


    Xue Jing and Zhu Shanying exchanged a glance, and then he carried his sword to the door and opened it.


    Outside stood a regular male disciple dressed in a white training garment, who, upon seeing Xue Jing, hurriedly said,


    "Junior brother, the master is calling you to the training hall."


    Xue Jing asked with perplexity, "What happened?"


    The male disciple explained, "People from the Golden Wind Dojo have come to us... it seems they''re looking for trouble."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed, "Golden Wind Dojo?"


    ...


    "So, you kid are here to challenge the dojo?"


    Inside the Hidden Dragon Dojo''s training hall.


    Li Qi sat in a wheelchair, looking at the two people before him, his tone completely steady.


    Standing opposite Li Qi, Li Chengxuan raised an eyebrow and said, "Please don''t get me wrong, sir."


    "Who in Qingcheng would be so suicidal to dare to challenge the ''Dragon King''s'' dojo?"


    "I mean for a pure exchange," he clarified.


    Li Qi gave him a look and harrumphed.


    "I''ve heard of you, young and yet able to practice the Golden Wind''s White Rainbow Sword to the ''Blade Reaching Four Edges'' level, indeed somewhat gifted," he acknowledged.


    Li Chengxuan immediately bowed slightly, saying with a smile, "It''s an honor to be recognized by you, sir."


    Li Qi ignored the flattery, stroking his balding head, and said indifferently,


    "But Jiao Hongyuan has protected you too well, making you a bit too conceited."


    "Compared to my disciple, your talent is but a piece of wind-dried dung by the roadside, which I can hardly be bothered to glance at."


    As Xue Jing approached the entrance to the training hall, he heard these words and his expression became complex.


    Master''s description... was uniquely vivid.


    ...

 Chapter 105 - 89: The Interaction of Forces (4K)

    "..."


    "That''s a rather unpleasant way to put it, sir."


    Li Chengxuan considered himself skilled in maintaining his composure, but he was still young after all, and being belittled to such an extent by Seventh Master made him lose his cool a bit.


    His lips twitched, and his expression chilled.


    Next to him, Su Bijin quickly interjected,


    "Seventh Master, my junior brother didn''t mean it like that¡­"


    "Enough."


    Seventh Master waved his hand, cutting him off.


    "If it''s a challenge, then just challenge; no need for this flowery talk. We''re not incapable of handling it."


    His gaze turned to Li Chengxuan.


    "Kid, there''s an unwritten rule in martial arts, we try to match challengers with opponents of similar age, but you think because you''re young, you can play this game, you''ve miscalculated."


    "This damn rule is nothing in my eyes! Even if you were only three years old, if you dare trouble the Hidden Dragon Dojo, I''d personally squeeze the shit out of you!"


    As Xue Jing walked into the training hall and heard this, a bead of sweat trickled down his back.


    It seemed... he had entered the Hidden Dragon Dojo through a challenge too.


    Is it still time to thank master for not squeezing him?


    Su Bijin''s face changed.


    He didn''t think Seventh Master was just bluffing to scare people.


    In the past, even Master Jiao Hongyuan, who was far inferior to the formidable figure known as Dragon King, had to pinch his face and admit.


    Such an entity, even now a seemingly half-paralyzed old man in a wheelchair, no one could guarantee he was really disabled.


    A martial artist who had leaped the Dragon Gate and burnt away his mundane ties, breaking through human limits, who knew what capabilities he had.


    Su Bijin quietly stepped forward two steps, subtly shielding Li Chengxuan behind him.


    "Heh, then that''s even better. I''d also like to see the renowned Hidden Dragon School, which even my master had to bow down to."


    Anger flashed in Li Chengxuan''s eyes as he stepped forward.


    Three sentences not free from shit and piss, damn it, no class.


    He wasn''t afraid of this old man, a bit of respect by calling him Dragon King, without it, he''s just a dead cripple.


    "I''m just afraid you can''t even stand up!"


    At this, Su Bijin''s mouth twitched.


    But instead of getting angry, Seventh Master chuckled:


    "At any other time, you''d already be cleaning up your own shit."


    "But today, you''re in luck."


    "I really want to see how your wild turd compares to our diamond."


    He turned his head toward the door.


    "Su and Zhu are here!"


    Someone shouted.


    Li Chengxuan and Su Bijin shifted their attention towards the door. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The surrounding disciples parted to either side, clearing a path.


    A youth in a training garment, tall and straight like a young pine, slowly walked over.


    His face was handsome, with piercing brows and bright eyes, perfectly proportioned features without a single flaw, shining with brilliance as he walked, as if enhanced by special effects.


    Li Chengxuan had always prided himself on his appearance, but upon seeing this youth, he uncontrollably felt a pang of shame.


    He narrowed his eyes, avoiding the youth and instead looked at the young girl lagging half a step beside him, his gaze brightening immediately.


    "Su."


    "Su, Zhu!"


    "Su, you came¡­"


    "Su¡­"


    All the disciples greeted the youth reverently.


    The latter nodded and smiled back at everyone.


    "Su, that person..." Li Chengxuan whispered quietly.


    Su Bijin nodded, glancing at Xue Jing.


    ...That''s the one who took out ''Number One'' and ''Number Nine.''


    Although he knew the person was very young, seeing him in person was still somewhat surprising.


    He thought for a moment, then leaned in to whisper, "Junior brother, this guy is strong, if you do fight him, be careful..."


    "I wasn''t asking about him."


    Li Chengxuan waved his hand dismissively, his gaze fixed brazenly on Zhu Shanying, and exclaimed:


    "What a cute girl, is she also a direct disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    Su Bijin paused, feeling that his focus was a bit off, but replied nonetheless:


    "Yes... her name seems to be Zhu Shanying, besides Xue Jing, she''s the youngest direct disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo, hardly ever seen in public, quite mysterious."


    Li Chengxuan clicked his tongue.


    "Su, I''ve changed my mind, we definitely should foster good relations with Hidden Dragon Dojo, we''re all in the same line of work, we should communicate more, seriously communicate..."


    Su Bijin: "..."


    Soon, Xue Jing and Zhu Shanying, under various gazes, made their way to the center of the hall, to Seventh Master''s side.


    Zhu Shanying, seeing the person opposite continuously staring at her, frowned slightly, sidestepped two steps, and stood behind Xue Jing, avoiding the gaze.


    "Master~"


    She sweetly called out.


    Xue Jing also respectfully said, "Master."


    Seventh Master chuckled in response, "Hmm."


    Then he looked at Xue Jing, "Did you hear what was said earlier?"


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "Go, show him there''s a difference even among geniuses," Seventh Master waved his hand.


    "Junior brother, beat him up!"


    Zhu Shanying, standing behind him, pumped her little fist in encouragement.


    She then began directing the surrounding disciples.


    "Everyone, back off, move away a bit, clear the area..."


    The disciples also knew the main event was starting, moving back to clear the area while eagerly discussing amongst themselves:


    "Here comes the good show!"


    "Finally we see Su in action."


    "Actually, it''s not good, this challenger named Li Chengxuan, I''ve kept up with the recent U19 competitions, this guy is freakishly strong."


    "I''ve seen his matches too, he always deals with his opponents cleanly and never even uses weapons!"

 Chapter 106 - 89: The Interaction of Forces (4K)_2

    """


    "He''s been quite popular online recently; he''s the dark horse from the Maple City division..."


    "Our older apprentice brother definitely doesn''t lack talent compared to him, but after all, he''s younger and has only recently started practicing martial arts..."


    "Ah? What do we do then? It''s not like he''s actually going to succeed in challenging us, is it...?"


    As these words circulated among the disciples, they instantly grew anxious.


    Seeing the situation had come to this, Su Bijin could only sigh and pat Li Chengxuan on the shoulder: "Junior apprentice brother, you really need to be careful; that guy is no ordinary opponent."


    Li Chengxuan casually acknowledged the warning, not taking it too seriously.


    After Su Bijin left the arena, Li Chengxuan turned to the youth in front of him and said with a smile:


    "So, you are Xue Jing?"


    "My name is Li Chengxuan... I''m a year older than you; if you don''t mind, you can call me ''Brother Li''."


    Xue Jing did not respond.


    "Don''t get me wrong; I really didn''t come here to challenge anyone. I just heard about a genius like you through the news and really wanted to meet you, so I showed up uninvited."


    Li Chengxuan glanced at the petite figure standing behind Li Qi''s wheelchair, cheering "junior apprentice brother, you can do it," and continued with a smile:


    "Rest assured, this is just a friendly spar; I''ll hold back and won''t make you lose face."


    "Of course, as an exchange, I''d like to ask you a few questions after we finish..."


    But Xue Jing shook his head.


    "You... sure talk a lot."


    "Bang!"


    The floor suddenly cracked.


    Xue Jing''s figure vanished from where he stood.


    Power surged, and the sound akin to a dragon''s chant erupted.


    Spiral grooves appeared on his right arm, twisting and extending towards the fist.


    Whirlwind Thunder!


    "Boom!"


    Xue Jing threw a punch at Li Chengxuan''s face, with the spiral force swirling a fierce current, making a sound like thunder exploding.


    Li Chengxuan hadn''t finished speaking when he was met head-on by the punch, immediately looking displeased. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His hands moved swiftly, raising an arm in a highly intricate angle, using the toughest part of his elbow to meet Xue Jing''s punch.


    The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword Kungfu Body was activated, revealing a sharp power, intending to teach the insolent youth a lesson.


    "Bang!"


    A ring of air wave burst out from between the two.


    Li Chengxuan slid backward seven or eight meters, his feet dragging deep furrows in the rubber floor.


    He looked at his smoldering, somewhat numb elbow, his expression slightly changing.


    The power behind that punch... something was off!


    "Good reception."


    Xue Jing''s eyes shone; he clenched his fist, which now revealed a fresh red bloodline as if cut by a knife, feeling somewhat excited.


    Oddly enough, this was his first proper fight with a martial artist.


    Previous opponents were either transformed people or cockroach monsters.


    He had only had some non-combative, placid training with his fellow apprentice brothers and sisters.


    Now, he finally encountered a worthy opponent.


    Having his punch received, he instantly closed the distance again, rushing towards Li Chengxuan.


    Along the way, his power surged to his skin, spiraling within, and immediately, dense dragon scale imprints emerged on his skin from the neck down.


    "Golden Scale Skin!?"


    Seeing this, Li Chengxuan immediately became more serious, his gaze sharpening.


    He knew that his master once mentioned that the fundamental reason he had been defeated by the Dragon King, Li Qi, was his inability to deal with his opponent''s Golden Scale Skin.


    Who would have thought that Xue Jing, so young, had already learned this move?


    ''But... those are stories from years past.''


    ''The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword has improved significantly since then!''


    Li Chengxuan took a firm step, his eyes piercing as he charged towards Xue Jing.


    The two engaged closely, rapidly entwining in the center of the arena.


    "Clang, clang, clang, clang¡ª"


    Xue Jing was surprised to find that with every punch or kick that made contact with his opponent, it produced a sound like metal striking metal, as though his opponent was not a person but a humanoid form of steel.


    ''The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword... quite interesting.''


    His gaze shifted subtly, finding a non-vulnerability to exploit, he engaged his Twin Speed, suddenly moving faster, almost as if he had hit fast forward, his fist heading through a gap straight toward Li Chengxuan''s chin.


    The latter, though surprised, did not panic. Knowing he couldn''t possibly defend in time with his arms, he stooped his head, using the crown of his skull to take the punch.


    "Bang!"


    It sounded as if it had hit steel, and after the loud noise, Li Chengxuan appeared completely unharmed!


    "Master, what''s happening here?" Zhu Shanying asked in surprise.


    Li Qi, watching the two continue to fight, explained:


    "The Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword turns one''s body into a blade. The Kungfu Body''s features are not only sharpness but also toughness."


    "This youngster has trained his Kungfu Body to the ''Blade Reaching Four Edges'' level, with even his hair as sharp and strong as a blade, let alone his naturally hard skull."


    Hearing this, Zhu Shanying expressed his concern: "Junior apprentice brother will be okay, right..."


    Li Qi smiled but said nothing.


    "Bang!"


    Xue Jing threw another punch, connecting with Li Chengxuan''s elbow.


    The Golden Scales trembled like a True Dragon shaking its armor, deflecting the sharp power, dissolving it into nothingness.


    The two exchanged blow after blow, their fists and feet colliding relentlessly. The more Li Chengxuan fought, the more alarmed he became.


    How is this possible!?


    Is he really only seventeen?


    Even on the U19''s competition field, he had never seen such an opponent.


    ''No, I can''t keep going like this.''


    Feeling the numbness and swelling in his limbs, Li Chengxuan glanced at Xue Jing who, still clad in Golden Scale Skin and as vigorous as a live dragon, made him deeply appreciate the helplessness his mentor Jiao Hongyuan must have felt back then.


    It''s time to strike hard.


    His eyes hardened with resolve.


    Golden Wind, White Rainbow Sword, Golden Wind to slash, White Rainbow to pierce.


    He crossed his hands to form an X, firmly withstanding Xue Jing''s onslaught and then, with a strong push, he repelled him.


    Subsequently, he channeled Spiral Force throughout his body, focusing it at his right fingertip.


    Xue Jing''s eyes flickered, instinctively sensing a hint of danger.


    Without hesitation, he promptly activated Twin Defense, while also shielding his chest with both hands.


    "Whoosh!"


    The next moment, the air tore apart, giving way to a white wave.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    Extremely sharp, like the tip of a blade, his finger sunk fiercely into Xue Jing''s arm.


    The Golden Scales trembled in unison, forming a barrier that could not withstand the concentrated, piercing tip of the finger. The scales shattered, and Xue Jing''s arm was penetrated, leaving a bloody hole.


    But... that was it.


    The fingertip collided with the bone in Xue Jing''s arm, making a crackling sound.


    "Ah!!"


    Li Chengxuan stumbled back two steps, clutching his own twisted fingers that had bone spurs jutting out from the skin, crying out in agony.


    "Didn''t your physics teacher ever teach you..."


    Xue Jing advanced upon him, Spiral indentations surfacing, swinging a punch toward Li Chengxuan''s chest.


    "The action of force... is mutual."


    "Boom!"


    Li Chengxuan was sent flying back dozens of meters with that punch, slamming into the wall and vomiting blood.


    "Stop it!"


    Su Bijin''s expression changed drastically as he called out to stop him.


    Xue Jing, as if he hadn''t heard, stepped forward, using both hands and feet, unceasingly bombarding Li Chengxuan who, plastered against the wall, had no room to dodge.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang!"


    Su Bijin immediately panicked, wanting to step forward, but a wheelchair had silently moved in front of him at some unknown time.


    "The fight''s not over, what are you rushing for?"


    Li Qi said with a faint tone.


    Su Bijin tried to disregard Li Qi and pass by him, but a chill suddenly ran down his spine.


    He saw... a pair of dark golden vertical pupil eyes.


    For a moment, his mind went blank, all thoughts vanishing.


    "Bang bang bang!"


    The concrete wall cracked as Xue Jing''s continuous beating embedded Li Chengxuan into the wall.


    "It''s over¡ª"


    Xue Jing raised his right fist.


    Just then¡ª


    "Stop¡ª"


    A furious and startled shout came from somewhere.


    Crash¡ª


    The glass of the training hall shattered as a figure rushed in from the window.


    "Kid, I told you to stop!"


    The figure extended an arm toward Xue Jing, striking with incredible speed. Xue Jing''s pupils constricted.


    He saw it, but it was too fast, and his body couldn''t react in time.


    Just then, another figure flashed in from the window.


    "Snap!"


    Xue Jing looked at the palm that was just a few centimeters away from his neck, still somewhat shaken.


    And that palm was firmly grasped by another massive hand.


    Xue Jing looked towards the tall figure standing in front of him.


    Eldest senior brother¡ªMeng Boshang.


    ...

 Chapter 107 - 90 The Strength of a True Master (4K)

    "Big Brother!"


    Xue Jing looked at the broad and robust figure in front of him and spoke with unsettled fright.


    That instant just now was probably the closest he had ever come to death.


    The speed that left his body completely unable to react, and the bone-chilling coldness on his neck...


    He had no doubt that if that palm had touched him, it would have cut through his neck as easily as slicing through tofu.


    ''Is this... the gap between me and a true martial arts powerhouse?''


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered.


    The gap in strength was simply too great. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had almost no ability to resist; if the other person wanted, he could have killed him on the spot.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t alone...


    Meng Boshang turned his head to glance at Xue Jing, nodded, and the corners of his mouth twitched, as if he were smiling. It seemed like he was just saying hello.


    The sandbag-like huge palm held the wrist of the person opposite firmly like a vise, unmoving, displaying a frightening amount of strength in the silence.


    Xue Jing followed the arm in front of him with his eyes.


    The neatly combed grizzled hair, the aged and grim face that still bore a look of shock and anger, the invisible Power around his body pulsating, cutting thin, long ravines into the floor around him.


    "Jiao Hongyuan, you shameful old dog,"


    Li Qi, sitting in the wheelchair a distance away, spoke coldly.


    "Your damn son sought out my disciple for a martial arts practice contest, was defeated fair and square, and now you old dog have the nerve to attack my disciple?"


    "Decades have passed, and have the few dog teeth that I, your father, knocked out grown back? Do you think I''m a soft persimmon that you can pinch whenever you please?"


    Jiao Hongyuan was at a loss for words for a moment; he looked at the deep human-shaped indent on the wall, where Li Chengxuan was embedded.


    "Master..."


    From the wall, came the muffled voice of Li Chengxuan.


    Jiao Hongyuan''s face changed, he twisted his wrist, and the Power swirling around him removed Meng Boshang''s grip.


    Then with a flicker of his figure, he had already moved next to the wall.


    As he moved, Meng Boshang extended his muscular, thick arm, protecting Xue Jing behind him.


    "Chengxuan."


    Jiao Hongyuan called out, seeing that Li Chengxuan was embedded too deeply to pull out easily. He then stretched out his palm and drew it across the wall several times, slicing it open.


    Steel rebar and concrete offered no resistance; they were cut through as if they were playdough by the Palm Knife, leaving smooth openings as if made by a Divine Weapon.


    "Crash, crash¡ª¡ª"


    Rubble fell, dust billowed, and Li Chengxuan extricated himself from the wall, looking utterly disheveled, with his body covered in bruises and rents in his clothing, revealing skin mottled with bruises.


    "Hiss¡ª¡ª"


    Yet, he seemed in surprisingly good shape, and was currently sucking in a breath of cold air, holding his protruding, twisted fingers.


    "Master, I was careless,"


    he looked at Jiao Hongyuan and said with his head bowed.


    Not far off, Zhu Shanying, upon hearing this, immediately curled his lip in dissatisfaction and said:


    "What do you mean ''careless''? If you can''t win, you can''t win; don''t make excuses!"


    "There are so many eyes here, and everyone saw it clearly!"


    The ordinary disciples around, intimidated by the inhuman strength Jiao Hongyuan had just displayed, didn''t dare to speak up, but they nodded in agreement nonetheless.


    What carelessness? It was purely a gap in strength.


    Jiao Hongyuan spoke quietly to Li Chengxuan, "We''ll talk about this when we get back."


    He turned his head toward Li Qi.


    Then, to everyone''s surprise, he bowed deeply toward Li Qi, hands clasped in a fist, and said loudly:


    "Seventh Master! I was wrong just now. In my haste to protect my disciple, I acted out of urgency and struck your disciple. I apologize to you here!"


    "In a few days, I''ll set a table, invite colleagues, and formally apologize to you in front of everyone, compensating you for all losses. You decide the amount of the losses, whatever it is!"


    "What do you think of this solution?"


    Jiao Hongyuan''s posture was unexpectedly humble, a stark contrast to his aggressive manner when he had burst through the window and attacked Xue Jing directly earlier, baffling everyone present.


    Li Qi narrowed his eyes, sensing something was amiss.


    This old dog was not someone known to Li Qi to be this mild-tempered.


    Whenever something is abnormal, there must be a demon at play.


    Li Qi, as a Martial Arts Grandmaster, understood the ultimate principles of martial conflict.


    The more the enemy doesn''t want us to do something, the more we must do it.


    Seeing that Jiao Hongyuan was so eager for peace, Li Qi might not know the reason, but he understood that he could not just go along with his wishes.


    "What''s the use of an apology if martial arts practice will suffice?"


    Li Qi scoffed with a laugh.


    "If you truly want to apologize, that''s fine. Chop off that hand you extended toward my disciple, and your father here will accept your apology."


    "This is too much!" Li Chengxuan shouted angrily.


    "The one being too much is you, punk who still needs his ass wiped after shitting! Daring to shout around here!"


    Li Qi scolded with flying spittle.


    Pointing at Li Chengxuan''s nose, he looked like he was about to stand up as he cursed:


    "You come here acting like a brainless prat, and even though you lost, you still have the face to yell. If you were under my tutelage, you would''ve been kicked down the drain long ago!"


    Li Chengxuan, with a finger pointed at his nose, wanted to retort, but he couldn''t refute the hard truths being thrown at him. Opening and closing his mouth he couldn''t find the words to say, and ended up shaking with rage.


    Jiao Hongyuan frowned slightly, gestured with his hand for Li Chengxuan not to speak, and then said to Li Qi:


    "Seventh Master, that condition is a bit too much."


    Li Qi chuckled dismissively.


    "Too much?"


    Without another word, he turned to look at Meng Boshang.


    "Boshang, close the doors and beat the dog."


    Meng Boshang''s serene face showed no change. He nodded slightly, his movements undetectable, as his long hair that reached his waist began to rise without any wind, coiling itself up, ready for a fight.

 Chapter 108 - 90: The Strength of a True Master (4K)_2

    Xue Jing''s eyes showed astonishment from the sidelines.


    This was the realm of "Strength Reaching Four Extremities," where Power penetrated even the most minute parts of the body, allowing even the hair to be controlled freely.


    It was even possible to flick one''s hair to pierce through the human body, using hair to kill.


    Jiao Hongyuan''s expression changed slightly.


    "Wait a minute!"


    However, Meng Boshang paid no attention to his plea.


    In the blink of an eye, his enormous and robust figure vanished from its original spot. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he reappeared, he was already in front of Jiao Hongyuan.


    That sandbag-sized fist swung towards Jiao Hongyuan''s aged face.


    The air around them trembled, and concentric waves of energy erupted from the punch, blowing so fiercely that those nearby could hardly keep their eyes open.


    And as the direct target of this punch, Jiao Hongyuan felt an immense sense of oppression.


    "Ultimate Fist! This youngster is nearing his Breakthrough and is just one step away from leaping through the Dragon Gate!"


    With his wealth of experience, Jiao Hongyuan immediately recognized the level of the punch and could not help showing a look of shock.


    If he were twenty years younger, he wouldn''t be afraid, but as the saying goes, nothing is more fearsome than a young man''s fist. He had not achieved a Breakthrough, he was not an "Immortal of the Ordinary World," and his physical state could not remain at its peak. Having aged with the years, how could he possibly block this prime-aged junior''s Ultimate Fist?


    He had just enough time to raise his elbow, attempting to divert and dissipate the power of the fist with his own seasoned and sharp strength as the fist and elbow collided.


    "Bang!"


    A deafening explosion sounded, shattering all the windows on the seventeenth floor of the building housing Hidden Dragon Dojo, and the violent airflow knocked back everyone nearby, causing them to shield their faces with their hands.


    The entire building shook slightly, causing countless people to wonder if there had been an earthquake.


    Standing very close, Xue Jing involuntarily squinted his eyes when the punch erupted, and the forceful airstream pushed him back more than ten meters off the ground, leaving him unable to see anything.


    In the chaos, he could only hear the sound of something happening in the arena.


    After a dozen seconds, when the airflow calmed, he fully opened his eyes and looked towards the center of the room.


    At that moment, all the equipment in the gym was scattered and shattered beyond repair, the floor was cracked everywhere, and the walls were full of fissures with several large holes also present.


    However, Jiao Hongyuan and Li Chengxuan had vanished, and all Xue Jing could find in their original standing spot was a pool of thick, mercury-like, nearly solid blood.


    The eldest senior brother Meng Boshang was also nowhere to be seen.


    "Is this...the true strength of a martial arts master?"


    Xue Jing stared at the mess within the room, somewhat dumbstruck.


    He would believe it if someone told him they were superhuman.


    The aftermath of just one punch was like a tactical nuke.


    "So am I still just a rookie up to now?"


    Xue Jing sighed.


    The explosive increase in his strength over the month of Martial Arts Practice made him think he was already quite strong.


    Only now, having witnessed the true power of a real martial arts master, did he realize that he was still far from the mark.


    "Clickety-clack¡ª"


    The sound of a wheelchair approaching came from the side.


    Xue Jing turned his head and asked, "Master, what''s the situation now?"


    Li Qi rubbed his eyes, which were irritated by the dust, and replied, "That old dog Jiao Hongyuan took a solid punch from Boshang and used the momentum to grab his disciple and run off. Boshang has chased after them, and by now, they''re probably still fighting."


    Xue Jing walked over to the shattered floor-to-ceiling windows and looked outside.


    The fierce wind at the top of the building rustled his clothes, and with the extreme vision brought by his Lv5 Aiming, he could vaguely make out a series of ring-like airwaves continually bursting out in the distance, moving farther and farther away.


    Presumably, that was the disturbance created by senior brother Meng Boshang and Jiao Hongyuan clashing.


    "Master, what should we do now? Should we try to help?"


    Xue Jing asked, turning back.


    Li Qi ran his hands through the sparse hair on the sides of his head and said, "No need. Jiao Hongyuan is old and weakened, no match for Boshang. We''ll just wait for news."


    He glanced at the wrecked Hidden Dragon Dojo and snorted coldly.


    "We''re not going to let this slide. I''ll make sure that old dog loses a layer of skin for this."


    After speaking, he turned his head towards a figure sneaking around.


    "Boy, where do you think you''re running off to?"


    Su Bijin, who had intended to sneak away amidst the chaos, stiffened upon hearing this.


    He slowly turned around and offered an awkward smile, saying, "I didn''t want to get in your way..."


    Xue Jing glanced at Su Bijin, thought for a moment, then whispered a few words into Li Qi''s ear.


    Li Qi''s expression shifted, and he pondered for a moment before speaking:


    "So that''s how it is..."


    "No wonder Jiao Hongyuan, that old dog, was so scared just now, trying to calm the situation and appease people."


    His gaze turned towards Su Bijin, who was squatting obediently at the original spot, and he said with ill intent:


    "Kid, you''re in big trouble."


    Upon hearing this, a bad premonition emerged in Su Bijin''s heart.


    ...


    "Dadadadadada¡ª"


    The helicopter hovered in the sky while Xue Jing and Void Blade stood not far from the office building of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, talking.


    "I had my suspicions before, but now I can almost confirm that there''s definitely a big problem with Golden Wind Dojo."


    Xue Jing spoke.


    "That guy is a Direct Disciple of Golden Wind Dojo, with no low status. He probably knows something. We''ll leave the person to you."


    Void Blade, clad in a black tight tactical suit that showcased her slender figure, directed people to escort Su Bijin onto the helicopter before turning back to Xue Jing.


    "If there''s indeed a discovery this time, it will be considered your achievement. Then, I will apply for your reward with headquarters."


    Xue Jing blinked his eyes, feeling somewhat bemused.


    If there was to be a discovery, rather than saying he had achieved something... it was more accurate to say Li Chengxuan had achieved something.


    This damn kid suddenly came running over to offer up a head, and now, even his master''s head was almost delivered.


    Whether or not Golden Wind Dojo was related to the Cockroach Monster, there were definitely shady things hidden within.


    After this incident, even if Golden Wind Dojo doesn''t collapse, it will at least be skinned.


    "Are you really not considering joining White Crow officially? I think you''re truly well-suited for this job."


    Void Blade tried to persuade him.


    "I''ve thoroughly checked your profile and what happened to you. On October 9th, you were confessed to by a female classmate from your school..."


    Void Blade recounted the recent incidents that Xue Jing had encountered.


    From being confessed to by a junior at school which triggered Pei Youguang''s jealousy, to visiting Pei Youguang''s household for martial arts practice, being troubled by the Razor Gang on his nighttime walk home, to the encounter with the Cockroach Monster at Rui Zhu Hotel and not long after, another encounter with a Cockroach Monster at school. He was always at the crime scene first.


    "Now, you are actively sought out by this Golden Wind Dojo, which looks very problematic..."


    "You have a strange constitution where trouble finds you without you looking for it... This is really rare and makes you extremely suitable for this line of work."


    Xue Jing felt somewhat speechless.


    What is this about trouble finding him...


    Wu Youqing also said that he possessed a special body that attracts Divine Relics. Now, not only Divine Relics but troubles too?


    Though, on second thought, it did seem to be the case.


    What was this, the Sacred Body of a typical protagonist from old web novels?


    Xue Jing repeatedly waved his hands:


    "It''s just a coincidence... There''s no such absurd constitution. We should believe in science."


    Void Blade pinched her chin:


    "Don''t disregard superstitions. Since God died, there have been many strange things in this world, like the Divine Relic you are so fond of. Each one can''t be explained by science..."


    She spoke meaningfully:


    "Who knows, the continuous troubles coming your way could be influenced by a certain Divine Relic, which you just haven''t discovered yet."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He shook his head and walked towards the office building of the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    "Alright, stop with the alarmist talk. We''ll leave the matter in your hands, I''m going back."


    Void Blade just smiled and said no more.


    ...


    Boarding the elevator in the office building, Xue Jing opened the panel to check.


    [You have been through a real combat...]


    Skipping a series of prompts for increased experience points, he looked directly at the bottom.


    [Fitness has risen to Lv8 (107/6000)]


    [Health Cultivation has risen to Lv6 (29/3000)]


    Fitness and Health Cultivation, which were already at the brink of leveling up, both advanced a level.


    Xue Jing clenched his palms, feeling the significantly enhanced physical quality, and while he felt elated, he also felt somewhat dissatisfied.


    Whether it was Jiao Hongyuan, who could easily take his life, or his eldest senior brother, whose punch made it impossible for him to get close, both made him keenly aware of the severe inadequacy of his strength.


    Suppressing the restlessness in his heart, Xue Jing said to himself:


    "No worries, take it slow, there will come a day..."


    ...

 Chapter 111 - 92: Qingcheng, a City of Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers, Perfect Sports (4K)

    The car moved along a cobblestone driveway, and Xue Jing looked through the window at the elegantly arranged scenery inside the manor, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the scabbard of the Crouching Rabbit.


    "There''s the stable, little junior brother, have you ever ridden a horse?"


    Zhu Shanying pointed at a circular corral not far away on the grass, which had a row of wooden barns constructed, each pen containing vividly colored horses, and a servant was adding food to the manger with a big spoon.


    "How about we go riding later? Just behind my house is the back mountain of the North City District, which is a great place for horse riding."


    Xue Jing shook his head, "I can''t ride horses." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Shanying''s bright eyes were full of mirth, "Then that''s perfect, I''ll teach you."


    Xue Jing initially wanted to refuse, but suddenly realized something, thought about it, and smiled:


    "Alright, let''s give it a try."


    Zhu Shanying exclaimed in surprise, somewhat unexpectedly.


    "I thought you''d be very serious, saying ''I''m here to train in martial arts, not to play,'' and firmly refuse."


    She poked Xue Jing''s cheek with her finger and giggled, "It seems little junior brother you are more interesting than I thought."


    The vehicle slowly stopped in front of the small square at the main house, the car door opened, and Xue Jing got out.


    He glanced at the beautifully designed fountain in the center of the small square and asked Zhu Shanying, who had just stepped out of the car:


    "Where are sister''s family members? I should greet them first."


    The main reason for coming to Zhu Shanying''s house was that he needed a spacious place for martial arts practice, especially sword skill training.


    Usually, the training room at the Hidden Dragon Dojo was a bit cramped, he could only practice basic sword routines.


    The dojo was crowded with ordinary disciples, making it restrictive and fearful of accidentally cutting someone, not to mention being continuously watched, which was quite uncomfortable.


    Luckily, the Hidden Dragon Dojo was being renovated, and Zhu Shanying said her house was big, allowing for unrestricted movement, so Xue Jing agreed as it saved him the trouble of looking for a new training venue.


    Having already come, it was essential to greet Zhu Shanying''s family members properly so as not to be impolite.


    Hearing Xue Jing''s words, Zhu Shanying shook her head, "My family isn''t in Qingcheng, apart from the servants who take care of the house, I live here alone."


    Hmm?


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and looked at her.


    "What, sister Zhu, are you some city lady from elsewhere here to experience rural life?"


    Zhu Shanying pursed her lips and said, "That''s about right... but the way you put it sounds odd."


    "Qingcheng is where my ancestors started... before my ancestor passed away, he left a will saying Qingcheng is our family''s Dragon Prosperity Land, and each year we need to stay here for a while."


    "Two years ago when I moved to Qingcheng, I met the master and became his disciple, and for martial arts practice, I have settled here long-term."


    After listening, Xue Jing fell into thought.


    A small Qingcheng, yet full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.


    Although he did not know the specifics of Zhu Shanying''s family heritage, from her ancestor''s courage to describe Qingcheng with the words ''Dragon Prosperity Land,'' it was certainly extraordinary.


    Besides Zhu Shanying, there was also master Li Qi, the ''Dragon King'' who retired from Inner Ring City, and the specifics unknown, but definitely impressive Wu Youqing.


    These were just the ones he had connections with, there were unknown others without connections.


    "Sister Zhu''s ancestor was knowledgeable, ''Dragon Prosperity Land'' has its reasonings."


    Xue Jing shook his head and spoke.


    Indeed, Qingcheng was a hidden dragon''s land, and the biggest ''dragon''... was himself.


    Zhu Shanying waved her hand nonchalantly, "It doesn''t matter, let''s go in little junior brother."


    After speaking, she walked towards the main house in front, and Xue Jing followed behind her.


    The black double doors slowly opened, revealing an entrance corridor decorated in a soft beige tone.


    Contrary to Xue Jing''s expectations, the decor of the main house did not aim for highbrow elegance but was quite homely, filled everywhere with traces of modernity aimed at comfort and practicality.


    The entire house, apart from being exceptionally big, had a style that was extremely down-to-earth, basically devoid of impractical things like oil paintings, antique sculptures, or crystal chandeliers.


    Past the entrance hall, opposite was a little living room, although Zhu Shanying didn''t escort Xue Jing there, instead, leading him up the stairs from the corridor on the left.


    "Only I live in this house now, little junior brother, feel free to wander around without any reservations."


    As Zhu Shanying spoke while climbing the stairs, Xue Jing followed behind, their positions allowing glimpses to fall on the young girl''s pert curves, highlighting a youthful yet deadly temptation against the contrast of her slender waist.


    Xue Jing did not linger his glance but turned to survey the house''s intricate structure and lighting design, etc.


    "On the third floor, there is a pretty big swimming pool, little junior brother. If you''re tired from training and want to relax, you can go there. Swimming there is very comfortable."


    "Over there is the library, a lot of them are out-of-print books that you can''t buy outside..."


    Zhu Shanying took Xue Jing roughly around the house, introduced him to the basic layout, and finally brought him to the fifth floor.


    The door opened, revealing an extremely spacious huge room, stretching dozens of meters at a glance, laid out with light grey rubber flooring, other than several load-bearing columns and some equipment, nothing else was present.


    "This is the training room, little junior brother, you can practice martial arts here, or go to the courtyard, or directly to the back mountain of North City District from the back door, all are very convenient."

 Chapter 112 - 92 Hidden Dragon and Crouching Tiger in Qingcheng, Perfect Sports (4K)_2

    Zhu Shanying smiled.


    "Thank you, Sister Zhu."


    Xue Jing expressed his gratitude.


    "In that case, Little Junior Brother, you keep practicing~ I have all the medicinal materials here, and that small room over there is for preparing medicines. You can use it as you wish."


    Zhu Shanying pointed to an inconspicuous door in the corner of the practice room.


    "I still have some things to take care of. I''ll come back to have lunch with you at noon, and then I''ll teach you how to ride a horse."


    The girl said, waved her hand, and left the practice room.


    Xue Jing suppressed the strange feeling of being taken care of, shook his head, took a deep breath, and began his daily training.


    ...


    Elsewhere, outside Qingcheng, in a deserted wilderness.


    Jiao Hongyuan opened his eyes and started coughing fiercely.


    "Cough, cough, cough¡ª"


    With each cough, he spat out a thick, almost solid lump of black blood, involuntarily covering his chest with his hand, his face twisted in pain.


    Li Chengxuan, sitting beside him, quickly reached out to rub his back and asked with concern,


    "Master... are you all right?"


    Jiao Hongyuan waved his hand and looked down at his dantian area.


    There, his clothing was torn open in a circular hole, and his bare abdomen featured a spiral wound about three fingers wide.


    It should have been a large hole, but he controlled his muscles to forcefully contract it into a spiral shape.


    "A Kungfu Body cultivated for nearly sixty years couldn''t withstand a single blow from a junior."


    Jiao Hongyuan sighed.


    "Time spares no one."


    If only he were twenty years younger, would he have been bullied to this extent?


    "Master, what should we do now?"


    Li Chengxuan asked in a low voice.


    He was a bit panicked.


    The master he viewed as nearly invincible was beaten to such a state...


    And perhaps, it might possibly, seemingly, be his fault?


    No, Li Chengxuan denied the thought.


    He had gone to the Hidden Dragon Dojo to seek justice for Kaiping brother''s death and to properly inquire from that Xue Jing what had actually happened.


    Only, he had not expected the people of Hidden Dragon Dojo to be so dishonorable in martial arts...


    Hisss...no wait, they actually seemed quite honorable, only letting Xue Jing, who was younger than him, fight him...


    Forget it, none of that matters now, what''s done is done.


    Even though he had 99% of the problem, didn''t the people from Hidden Dragon Dojo have 1% of the blame?


    Both parties had issues; pondering who was right and who was wrong was pointless.


    Li Chengxuan thought to himself.


    Jiao Hongyuan looked at Li Chengxuan with a complex expression.


    It was as if disappointment mixed with something else.


    He sighed, dispirited,


    "Chengxuan, you should head to Maple City immediately, the elimination contest is about to start."


    Li Chengxuan said softly, "But... it''s still more than a week away, I wanted to spend more time with you."


    Jiao Hongyuan glared at him.


    "Don''t you understand the meaning? I''m asking you to get out of the way!"


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo is not to be trifled with. They won''t let this go."


    "And they''re well aware, I won''t let this go either."


    Jiao Hongyuan clutched at his stomach.


    "What comes next is not something for a youngster like you to get involved in, hurry up and go to Maple City. Your injuries also need to be treated; I know a very skillful doctor there..."


    Just then, a deep voice suddenly came from nearby.


    "Enough, save these trivial matters for later."


    A man clad in a black trench coat covering his entire body was sitting on a fallen dead tree trunk nearby, immensely tall.


    His arms were propped up on his knees, his broad palms stacked together, his green eyes emotionlessly staring at Jiao Hongyuan and his companion.


    The man had no hair on his head, with six-button-like objects embedded on top, his face partially covered with a black mask stitched into the skin around his eyes.


    Even though he was sitting, his stature was evidently immense, easily over two meters tall.


    As soon as Li Chengxuan heard the man speak, he became deathly silent.


    The reason they were able to escape from the monster of Hidden Dragon Dojo was entirely because this man had held back the monster. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Jiao Hongyuan, how is the task I gave you progressing?"


    "The conference is only two months away, don''t tell me that''s all the progress we''ve made."


    The man''s voice carried a mechanical chill, devoid of any emotion.


    Jiao Hongyuan coughed a few times before replying slowly,


    "The mature individuals have already been cultivated and are currently accumulating in number, why the rush?"


    The man stared at him for a while before nodding and saying,


    "That''s for the best."


    "Moreover, this is the last time I''m helping you... the company must not have any involvement in this matter, you understand."


    he man stated emotionlessly.


    "One must deal with one''s own affairs."


    Jiao Hongyuan huffed.


    "I never had any expectations, there''s no need to mention it again."


    The man gave him a deep look.


    "As long as you understand."


    ...


    Toward noon, Xue Jing stopped the blade he was swinging and sheathed the Crouching Rabbit.


    [You have completed a session of Sword Skills practice, Weapon Strike Experience Points +98]


    Having glanced at the panel, Xue Jing thought for a moment, decided not to continue training, and instead opened the door and left the training room.


    He walked down the stairs to the third floor, where Zhu Shanying had once shown him to the indoor swimming pool.


    It was a large pool, twenty meters long and ten meters wide. Xue Jing looked at the blue water, the distinct smell of chlorine from the pool reaching his nose.


    He removed his clothes, folded them neatly with Crouching Rabbit, and placed them on the ground before walking over to a nearby cabinet and opening it.


    Inside were various sizes of unopened swim trunks. Xue Jing selected a larger pair to put on.


    Bare-bodied except for the swim trunks, he displayed his perfectly sculpted body in the air as if crafted by divine hands.


    Approaching the edge of the pool, Xue Jing squatted down and scooped up some water with his hand.


    He then leapt forward with a splash, diving into the pool.


    He awkwardly fluttered in the water in a butterfly stroke form.


    ''It seems I''ve never swum in this lifetime.''


    Xue Jing thought while swimming.


    In a previous life, he had learned a bit and knew how to butterfly swim, a legacy from that past life.


    Xue Jing swam in the pool, initially clumsy, knowing the technique in his mind but not yet instinctive in his body.


    However, the superb body control of a martial artist allowed him to rapidly familiarize himself with everything about the butterfly stroke, his swimming skills improving at an incredible pace.


    "Splashing¡ª"


    Soon, he shot through the water like an arrow, shuttling back and forth in the pool like a torpedo, stirring up a great commotion.


    His powerful physical condition, enhanced by Running and breathing skills, allowed him almost no need for rest, swimming tirelessly.


    After an unknown amount of time, a prompt suddenly appeared on the panel.


    [Conditions met, Skill Activated: Swimming]


    [Swimming Lv1 (0/300)]


    Seeing the panel''s notification, Xue Jing pushed off powerfully, propelling himself to the shore and catching his breath briefly.


    "Sure enough, a skill can be activated."


    Xue Jing let out a breath and spoke.


    He looked at the water surface, feeling an instinctive familiarity.


    As if he was naturally a creature meant to live under water.


    Xue Jing kicked off the pool wall and dove back into the water.


    This time, his movements were much smoother and more graceful than before, almost naturally elegant.


    Like a fish that dwells in the sea, born belonging to the ocean.


    Even without using his arms, just by the agile movements of his body, he swiftly traversed through the water.


    "Puff ha!"


    Xue Jing raised his head out of the water, somewhat delighted.


    "My swimming has significantly improved, and even my physical condition, balance, and control have evenly increased a lot."


    He felt the enhancement that [Swimming] brought him.


    "Regarded as the best sport in the world, perhaps unparalleled, it comprehensively exercises every part of the human body."


    "Aside from demanding conditions, it is a nearly flawless perfect sport."


    "Awesome!"


    Xue Jing flipped over and dove back into the water.


    ...

 Chapter 113 - 93: Fate Is Like a Knife That Cannot Be Defied, The God-like Xue Jing (4K)

    Xue Jing was thoroughly enjoying his swim in the pool when the door was suddenly pushed open.


    "Little junior brother!"


    Zhu Shanying pushed the door open and walked in, turning her gaze toward the figure darting through the water, her eyes lighting up.


    "So you''re here, I was wondering why I couldn''t find you in the training room."


    Upon hearing the voice, Xue Jing first dove fully into the water and submerged himself.


    His feet touched the bottom, his knees bent storing power, and then he pushed off fiercely.


    "Boom!"


    The water''s surface burst open like it had been hit by a bomb, with countless droplets flying everywhere, and a figure leapt from the center of the pool, landing directly on the shore.


    Wearing only a pair of swim trunks, his perfect body proportions were on full display under the excellent indoor sunlight, each muscle sculpted to the utmost human beauty, with numerous droplets running down his skin, glistening and exuding an indescribable sexiness.


    Zhu Shanying, witnessing this ''beauty emerging from a bath'', was completely stunned and found herself unable to look away.


    Xue Jing shook his head and reached up to slick back his inconvenient, medium-length hair, combing it into a slick back and then lifted his gaze to Zhu Shanying, a hint of a smile in his eyes.


    "Senior sister Zhu."


    He greeted her softly.


    Zhu Shanying, looking somewhat dazed, heard the greeting and came back to her senses, quickly shifting her gaze away as her cheeks turned red.


    "Uh... Uh, little junior brother, it''s noon, let''s go have lunch." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her tone was a bit dry.


    Xue Jing nodded, his Power surging and vibrating throughout his body.


    "Crackle¡ª¡ª"


    The droplets on his body scattered instantly, leaving him as dry as if he had been wiped down with a towel, with only a hint of vapor remaining.


    "The control of Power is still not refined enough... If I could vibrate it in such a way that not even the vapor remains, immediately drying my body, I would achieve the state of ''Not Even a Feather Can Be Added, Not Even a Fly Can Land''."


    Xue Jing thought to himself as he put on his clothes.


    The lunch arranged by Zhu Shanying wasn''t anything exotic like rare delicacies, but a slightly better medicinal cuisine compared with what was usually served at the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Ordinary food could hardly meet the nutritional needs of a martial artist.


    After lunch, Zhu Shanying led Xue Jing out of the main house to the stables on the left side of the estate.


    "Miss."


    An old man wearing a cowboy hat, who looked to be in his fifties, stood at the entrance of the stables, addressing Zhu Shanying respectfully.


    "Uncle Bao~" Zhu Shanying also greeted him with a smile.


    She glanced at the stalls inside the stable and after a moment''s thought, said, "Uncle Bao, could you please saddle up ''Sixty-Six'' and ''Wind Eater'' and bring them out?"


    The old man named Uncle Bao nodded and entered the stalls within the stable.


    After quite a while, he returned, leading two tall and large horses.


    One was chestnut red with snowy hooves.


    The other pure black with a tuft of white hair on its forehead.


    "Thank you, Uncle Bao~"


    Zhu Shanying sweetly thanked the old man, then took the reins of the two horses from his hands and led them over to Xue Jing.


    "Neigh¡ª"


    The pure black horse with white hair approached Xue Jing, snorted loudly, and sniffed at him, seemingly catching his scent.


    Then...


    [A creature has taken a liking to you, Charm Art Experience Points +28]


    Huh?


    Xue Jing had an odd look on his face as he looked at the black horse nearly as tall as him and reached out to stroke its mane.


    The horse responded by nuzzling Xue Jing with its head as if to reciprocate.


    "Oh? ''Wind Eater'' seems to really like you, Junior Brother," Zhu Shanying said with a laugh, then stroked the mane of the chestnut horse.


    "Like this one, ''Sixty-six,'' they are both retired racehorses," she explained, then stepped onto the stirrup of ''Sixty-six,'' and swung onto the horse with great flair.


    Afterward, she shifted her seat backward on the saddle a bit and extended her hand to Xue Jing with a raised eyebrow, saying,


    "Come on, Junior Brother, get up here, and I''ll teach you how to ride."


    Xue Jing glanced at her outstretched hand, shook his head, and declined the offer to ride together.


    "No need, although I''ve never ridden before..."


    Xue Jing patted ''Wind Eater'' on the head, then took hold of the reins, stepped onto the stirrup, and swung himself onto the horse.


    "But imitation is not too difficult."


    He sat astride, holding the reins, and said with a smile.


    Zhu Shanying puffed out her cheeks, her pretty face showing displeasure: "Hey, riding requires skill; you''d learn faster if your Senior Sister taught you hands-on."


    Xue Jing ignored her and tentatively flicked the reins, gently squeezing the horse''s belly with his legs.


    Receiving the signal, Wind Eater snorted and began to move forward.


    "See, it''s quite easy," said Xue Jing, a bit cheerfully.


    Zhu Shanying rolled her eyes, pulled the reins, kicked the horse''s sides, and caught up with Xue Jing.


    "Ordinary people don''t learn to ride like this¡ªgiving signals without learning anything could be dangerous," she said with a pout.


    Xue Jing nodded: "I understand."


    His willingness to mount and ride directly was because he was confident that with his strength, he could easily handle any problems that might arise.


    Although Zhu Shanying was somewhat inexplicably disappointed that she couldn''t teach her Junior Brother how to ride firsthand, she still began instructing him:


    "Keep holding the reins at all times, never let go..."


    "When turning, be gentler with the left and right movements, there''s no need for too much force..."


    As she spoke, the two rode out of the manor''s back gate and came to the hills of the North City District.


    There was a vast meadow here, perfect for horseback riding.


    With Zhu Shanying''s guidance and Xue Jing''s current learning ability, coupled with the confidence his formidable strength brought him to try various bold maneuvers, he quickly grew accustomed to riding, propelling Wind Eater to gallop across the meadow.

 Chapter 114 - 93 Fate is Like a Knife That Cannot Be Defied, The God-like Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Zhu Shanying was also riding ''Sixty-Six'' alongside him.


    Xue Jing immersed himself in the joy of riding, turning his head to glance at Zhu. He inexplicably felt the scene was familiar.


    You are the wind, and I am the sand...


    Xue Jing shook his head, dispelling the BGM that suddenly sprung up in his mind.


    Half an hour later, as Xue Jing grew more adept, the Skill Panel suddenly popped up with a notification.


    [Conditions met, skill activated: Riding]


    [Riding Lv1 (0/300)]


    Xue Jing pulled back on the reins, and Wind Eater raised its front legs and stopped with a soft neigh.


    "As expected, it activated..."


    He touched the mane of Wind Eater beneath him, nodding his head.


    As he expected, ''Riding'' clearly counted as a skill.


    Xue Jing carefully felt the enhancements the newly activated skill gave him.


    "Hmm... Sense of Balance?"


    Xue Jing said, slightly unsure.


    He sat on horseback, and compared to before, he had a feeling of ease as if he were sitting on solid ground.


    "And... sense of direction."


    He looked to the left, without a hint of doubt in his mind, he instantly determined, this side is the ''northwest direction''."


    "Interesting, this can''t be all... just the changes I can clearly feel for now."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin with one hand, intending to flick the reins and have Wind Eater change direction.


    But before he could make a move, Wind Eater automatically turned its head in the direction he was thinking of.


    Xue Jing was startled.


    "Neigh¡ª"


    Wind Eater emitted a soft whinny.


    Xue Jing inexplicably sensed a bit of its emotions.


    It seemed a bit tired and also a bit thirsty...


    "Hmm? What''s this? Man-horse as one? Minds connected?"


    Xue Jing blinked.


    "Little junior brother¡ª"


    From a distance, Zhu Shanying rode up on Sixty-Six toward him and after coming closer, she pulled on the reins to stop the horse.


    "Why did you stop?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She asked.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing smiled, "Sister, I think Wind Eater and Sixty-Six are probably tired. Let''s head back."


    "Ah? We''re stopping already?" Zhu Shanying seemed disappointed.


    It was rare for her to have someone to accompany her riding, and she was really enjoying it, not wanting to go back yet.


    "Let''s ride again tomorrow. I find riding quite enjoyable. If Sister is willing, I''ll often accompany you."


    Seeing her expression, Xue Jing spoke to reassure her.


    "Really? You said it yourself, okay?" Zhu Shanying immediately said happily.


    ...


    Around five in the afternoon, Xue Jing rode back in Zhu Shanying''s family car to his own home.


    Upon opening the door, he saw Miao Miao sitting on the living room couch watching TV.


    "Teacher Wan, why didn''t you cook today?"


    Xue Jing entered the house, closed the door, and while changing his shoes, he jovially started the conversation.


    Miao Miao glanced at him with her emerald-like vertical pupils and retorted:


    "Do you still need me to cook? I see you enjoy your freeloading quite a lot."


    "How could that be? Freeloading is never as satisfying as food you make."


    Xue Jing hung the Crouching Rabbit on the wall, walked over to the couch, sat down, and rubbed Miao Miao''s head.


    "Besides, what do you mean by freeloading? I was just visiting my fellow apprentice''s home... Are you jealous over that too?"


    Xue Jing laughed.


    Miao Miao rolled her eyes: "Who''s jealous over you? Stop talking nonsense."


    With her tail ring gently swaying, Miao Miao stretched out her paw, licked it, looked up, and humphed:


    "Although we... had that sort of experience before, you''re still just my owner, nothing more... I don''t mind whoever you wish to be close with."


    "It''s just that little girl..." Miao Miao''s eyes showed contemplation.


    "Her background is quite mysterious, even Old Man Li doesn''t really understand her family''s situation. He only knows that she comes from the First Urban Circle."


    Xue Jing was surprised: "The First Urban Circle?"


    After the Eternal Night War, Zhuxia underwent major administrative changes, dividing into nine major urban circles.


    The urban circles were far apart from each other, with each middle region forming "isolation zones" that made transportation extremely inconvenient, even airplanes struggled to navigate through them.


    As a result, there was very little exchange between the urban circles, each maintaining a significant degree of autonomy, all under the jurisdiction of "Cangting," located at the center.


    Most civilians would never leave their respective urban circle in their lifetime.


    The First Urban Circle and the Fifth Urban Circle, where Xue Jing resided, were one in the north and the other in the south, extremely distant from each other.


    To travel from the First Urban Circle to here, one had to cross countless Intersecting Boundaries, which was an extremely dangerous affair...


    "I specifically asked Old Man Li, that girl''s family comes here from the First Urban Circle and stays for a while every year. Do you know what that means?"


    Miao Miao said meaningfully.


    "Either her family possesses absolute security forces that can traverse through the numerous Intersecting Boundaries without hindrance, or, her family controls a ''special air route'' that can safely go from the First Urban Circle to here..."


    "Regardless of which possibility, it signifies that her family''s power is extraordinary."


    "Being part of such a family comes with many rules; you better be prepared if you want to be their son-in-law."


    Towards the end, Ning Feng Wan''s tone couldn''t help but have a hint of sourness.


    Xue Jing heard it and just shook his head with a smile,


    "What are you talking about, Zhu and I are just normal fellow apprentices."


    Miao Miao hummed, "But that young girl probably doesn''t think so."


    "Not a kid anymore yet inviting a man over to her place alone, her intentions can''t be that innocent."


    A complex expression surfaced on Miao Miao''s anthropomorphic cat face.


    "Actually... if you really could have something with her and gain her family''s protection, I wouldn''t have to worry about you."


    The girl always harbored worries about staying by Xue Jing''s side.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "Let''s talk about that later; when the ship reaches the pier, it will straighten itself out."


    ...


    Three days later.


    North City District, behind the mountain.


    Xue Jing swung Crouching Rabbit on the lawn, chopping weeds, with ceaseless flashes of swordlight, and a sky full of green fragments flying around.


    His pupils dyed red, in his eyes, the swathes of grass being cut were not weeds but the heads of enemies.


    Bodies piled up into mountains, blood accumulated into seas.


    Deep within his heart, the Asura Blade dripping with endless crimson, was emitting an increasingly violent murderous intent.


    "Heaven gives birth to all things to nurture humanity; humans are powerless to reciprocate heaven."


    With the absolute mental control power brought by Meditative Visualization, Xue Jing firmly held his mind clear and never lost himself to the wild killing intent.


    "The life and death of humans are determined by heaven... Even the Asura Palm kills, isn''t it just obeying the commands of heaven... "


    "If heaven wants him to kill, he cannot refuse to kill..."


    Xue Jing''s blade handling became more forceful, his sword techniques increasingly sophisticated, and his cutting of the weeds more precise.


    "The Way of Asura is extreme and powerful, yet its purpose is not lofty."


    "There must be a form of Sword Intent, standing above the Way of Asura."


    Xue Jing''s swinging blade paused above a delicate little grass.


    The extremely sharp blade edge gently touched the grass, bending it, brushing over its body, but not harming it in the slightest.


    "If heaven wants you dead, you have no choice but to die."


    The blood in Xue Jing''s eyes slowly receded, replaced by a slowly emerging silvery-white radiance.


    Indifferent, divine, assertive... Those were eyes like those of a god.


    "Heaven''s intent like a knife... not to be defied."


    Xue Jing gripped the handle of his blade tightly, the silver-white glint flashing.


    "Crunch crunch crunch crunch¡ª"


    The grass in front of him, up to ten meters away, had all been cut at the roots, as if a lawnmower had ravaged it, leaving behind nothing but a bare patch of dirt.


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment in Sword Skills, gaining Weapon Strike Experience Points +998]


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment in Sword Skills, gaining Meditative Visualization Experience Points +1182]


    [Weapon Strike advanced to Lv4 (657/1200)]


    [Meditative Visualization advanced to Lv6 (113/3000)]


    Xue Jing''s silvery-white eyes stared straight at the blade in his hand.


    "A blade to act on heaven''s behalf?"


    "No, I am heaven."


    "The blade I swing is¡ªHeaven''s Will Saber."


    In those silvery-white eyes, not a single emotion was shown, resembling the God of the Azure Sky who commands the life and death of all beings.


    ...

 Chapter 115 - 94 - Heavenly Sabre·Whirlwind Thunder, GOD-508·Hundred Feet Poles Top (4K)

    For a long while, the silvery-white color in Xue Jing''s pupils slowly faded away.


    He gently exhaled a breath.


    "Heaven''s Will is like a sabre, unyielding," Xue Jing mused. "This Sword Intent, born from the Asura Blade, intends something far more profound."


    Xue Jing observed the flowing silvery-white light on the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    "At present, this Sword Intent is only in its nascent form, not yet perfected, but it feels even more challenging to control than the Asura Blade," he continued.


    He recalled being immersed in the artistic conception of the "Heaven''s Will Saber," where he felt like the God of the Azure Sky, disdainful of all, indifferent to the myriad beings...


    "Compared to the Asura Blade, which plunges one into an uncontrollable fury, the ''Divinity'' of Heaven''s Will Saber doesn''t directly affect one''s consciousness, yet it imperceptibly elevates me, making me feel superior to all beings..."


    Xue Jing furrowed his brow slightly.


    "The pinnacle of Old Martial Arts is fundamentally about the spirit, influencing the physical genes with the spiritual mind; the stronger the spirit, the more potent the body, hence, possessing an invincible heart can unleash an invincible fist..."


    "If one has a heart that transcends all beings, naturally, one can wield a Heavenly Sabre that cuts through everything... But is this a good thing or a bad thing?"


    "Would I still be myself then?"


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but ponder.


    He then glanced at the [Meditative Visualization Lv6] on the panel, and his brow relaxed.


    "Trust Ban; even if the Heaven''s Will Saber attains perfection in the future, the level of [Meditative Visualization] will keep increasing, surely locking in my self, anchoring my original intent," he reassured.


    Xue Jing settled down, twirled the Crouching Rabbit Sword in his hand, and said to himself:


    "The Asura Blade has evolved into the Heaven''s Will Saber, but at present, it still only possesses Sword Intent and lacks the matching techniques to truly unleash its power."


    "However, the Hidden Dragon School''s techniques are versatile enough to be used in combination."


    He switched to holding the Crouching Rabbit with both hands, his eyes turned silvery white, his expression became indifferent.


    He then activated Twin Lifes Defense, stimulated his Power, and the Dragon''s Chant began.


    Both arms began to show spiral depressions simultaneously.


    He turned his head towards a small lake not far from the grassy area.


    "Heavenly Sabre, Whirlwind Thunder!"


    ...


    Pei Youguang stood by the lake, holding several flat stones, listlessly skipping stones across the water.


    "Shoo¡ª"


    Though a martial artist, he threw with enough Power that the stone skidded across the water several dozen times, a rather skilled technique.


    "Nice! A new record!"


    He was invigorated, ready to continue.


    "Youguang, stop playing, come help!"


    Pei Tiancheng''s call came from not far, and Pei Youguang could only scratch his head and replied "Yes."


    The brothers were invited today by Ye Chenglin and a group of friends to North City Back Mountain for a barbecue party.


    According to big brother Pei Tiancheng, the Ye family had been facing tough times recently... His father, a Governing Councilor, was heavily criticized, and with the "Great Council" soon to convene, it seemed unlikely he would retain his council seat.


    Thus, they invited these younger generation friends today to strengthen ties, hoping for a remedy...


    Pei Youguang didn''t quite understand these matters, thankfully, he didn''t need to.


    Currently, his only task was to maintain a good relationship with Jing... or at least keep it as it was.


    It was his father, who usually paid him no heed, who personally asked this of him...


    Lately, his relationship with his father had improved quite a bit, even tentatively inviting him to live at home...


    He understood that all this was because he had started having ''value'' to the family.


    Although it felt a bit peculiar to him that his value wasn''t in himself but in his relationship with Jing...


    "Let Second Young Master Pei play, it''s just a barbecue, I can handle it,"


    A girl assembling the grill said with a smile.


    Another girl teased her, "Eh? You''re so gentle towards Second Young Master Pei, do you have some thoughts?"


    "We''re all friends who''ve been through life and death, and there''s that ''suspension bridge effect,'' right? It''s not strange to have feelings. Although Pei is a bit young, he''s a good kid, and I support this!"


    "Speaking of which, why didn''t they invite that Xue this time?" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Only Second Young Master Pei has Xue''s contact, but he mentioned that Xue is busy with Martial Arts Practice, and it''s not good to disturb..."


    "I really want to see him again... I haven''t properly thanked him before, sigh."


    Pei Youguang, listening to the conversation, pursed his lips and threw one last stone towards the lake.


    "Boom!!"


    Suddenly, a sound like thunder exploded, startling everyone.


    "Eh? Is it going to rain? That can''t be, the weather forecast said it was going to be clear today."


    "There are no rain clouds in the sky, either?"


    Confused, everyone looked towards the direction of the sound.


    At that moment, a silvery-white spiral dazzle rampaged across the lake.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡ª"


    Where it passed, the lake water reversed, adhering to it, and soon, a horizontal water tornado formed, roaring across the lake.


    "Holy crap, what is that? A dragon sucking water?"


    "Since when do dragons suck water horizontally?"


    Everyone was dumbstruck.


    And Pei Youguang, he just gaped at the hand he had just used to throw the skipping stone...


    "Huh? Did I do that?"


    ...


    Xue Jing looked at the land that had been plowed over and the agitated lake water, nodded in satisfaction at the power of the stroke.


    "This strike has a touch of fantasy to it now..."


    The union of Heaven''s Will Saber with the Hidden Dragon School''s Whirlwind Thunder technique had indeed produced an effect similar to ''Saber Qi.''


    "What''s this? Vacuum Slash? That''s hardly scientific."

 Chapter 116 - 94 - Heavenly Sabre·Whirlwind Thunder, GOD-508·Hundred Feet Poles Top (4K)_2

    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected confusion.


    He felt there were still many secrets about spiritual mind powers that he didn''t know...


    "I''ll ask the master later."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing sheathed the Crouching Rabbit Sword, holding it as he turned and walked towards ''Wind Eater,'' who was grazing nearby with its head down.


    "Xi l¨¹ l¨¹¡ª¡ª"


    Seeing Xue Jing approach, Wind Eater also moved forward two steps and nuzzled him with its head.


    "Good boy."


    Xue Jing petted its mane and smiled.


    He stepped on the stirrup and swung himself onto the horse''s back.


    No signal was needed, just a thought, and Wind Eater began to run across the grass.


    Holding the reins and riding the horse, Xue Jing opened the panel to take a look.


    Fitness Lv8, Health Cultivation Lv6, Cooking Lv5, Running Lv6, Charm Art Lv7, Aiming Lv6, Fighting Lv6, Hidden Dragon Vigor Lv5, Meditative Visualization Lv6, Combat Skills Lv4, Swimming Lv2, Riding Lv2...


    "Running, Charm Art, Aiming, and Fighting are all about to level up."


    Xue Jing mused, looking at the Divine Skill column, skipping over Lv3 Twin Lifes and Lv2 Shadow Flame to check the Divinity count.


    [Held Divinity: 56]


    "There''s still a significant lack of Divinity. Over at Miao Miao''s side, it''s like squeezing toothpaste, barely managing to pull out a dozen points a day."


    "When can I get another Custodian mission?"


    Xue Jing sighed.


    ...


    Riding back to Zhu Shanying''s manor, Xue Jing went to the indoor swimming pool to relax for an hour, [Swimming] Experience Points +129.


    Zhu Shanying was not around. Although she had said three days ago that she wanted Xue Jing to ride with her every day, he rarely saw her and wondered what she was busy with.


    After swimming, Xue Jing took a shower and drove home.


    "Teacher Wan?"


    Upon entering the house, Xue Jing called out but received no response.


    He looked around but couldn''t find her; it seemed Miao Miao was out, probably because those from the Dragon Cult had come looking for her again.


    Xue Jing took out his phone, intending to call his sister, Xue Wan, to tell her he would be visiting Maple City in a few days.


    But just as he finished entering the number, before he could dial out, his phone vibrated with a call from an unknown number.


    Xue Jing directly answered it.


    "Hello?"


    "It''s me."


    A calm, mature female voice came through the receiver.


    "Captain Void Blade..."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    "You changed your number?"


    Void Blade said, "I didn''t change it. This is a call made to you through an encrypted communication channel."


    "Let''s skip the small talk. I''m contacting you because I have a task I want to entrust to you..."


    "Is it related to the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    "Yes."


    Xue Jing''s expression shifted as he changed his position on the sofa, thought for a moment, and said:


    "Go ahead... but just to be clear upfront, I might not accept."


    Void Blade calmly said, "I understand. Just listen to me first before you decide."


    "Three days ago, someone reported that to the north of the Fifth Urban Circle, a new Intersecting Boundary was discovered..."


    "As it is not within the urban circle, it''s beyond our observation range, and we don''t know when this Intersecting Boundary formed."


    "Upon receiving the news, the agency sent White Crow to enter first and scout the situation..."


    "But they couldn''t enter."


    Xue Jing puzzledly asked, "Why not?"


    "Because the rules do not allow it," Void Blade explained.


    "Intersecting Boundaries are born from the fusion of the Current World and the Otherworld, and the rules within them undergo bizarre changes during the confusion of the two worlds, producing various incomprehensible chaotic rules."


    "White Crow started many tests three days ago and only just yesterday figured out the conditions to enter this Intersecting Boundary."


    Void Blade paused, then continued, "There are two conditions to enter: one is that you must be under eighteen years old, the other is still unclear, but it seems to be ''natural beings.''"


    "Huh?" Xue Jing was dumbfounded.


    "Natural beings... do you mean people who haven''t undergone any modifications?"


    Void Blade affirmed, "Exactly... It''s still unclear if that''s the condition, but so far, tests show that people with Alien Implants, or those who have taken Banned Drugs, or undergone ''Super Surgery,'' cannot enter."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then asked, "Doesn''t the agency have special personnel specifically for situations like these?"


    "Of course."


    Void Blade said.


    "The Special Duty Department has a unit specifically made up of martial artists. It''s tasked with dealing with criminal martial artists and is known as ''Cease-Blades.'' There are many practitioners of Old Martial Arts in it..."


    "The problem is, the relationship between Cease-Blades and White Crow... isn''t very good."


    So that''s how it was.


    Xue Jing roughly understood.


    "This time, the situation is special. To avoid bowing down to Cease-Blades, the higher-ups have given me authority to provide you with the reward in advance."


    Captain Void Blade spoke.


    "Do you not want a Divine Relic? I can give you one that is particularly beneficial to martial artists..."


    Xue Jing blinked and asked, "What is it?"


    "GOD-508¡¤Hundred Feet Pole''s Top..."


    "As a Divine Relic Custodian, you should know the effects of this item..."


    Xue Jing sat up straighter, a covetous glow in his eyes.


    He certainly knew.


    He had scoured through all the information about Divine Relics that his current level allowed him to access on the relic info site.


    The details about GOD-508 were clear in his memory.


    Hundred Feet Pole''s Top appeared to be just a section of bamboo, indistinguishable from the ordinary kind.


    However, its effect was simple: one just needed to place it on top of one''s head, keep it from falling, and continuously engage in an activity.


    After three days, GOD-508 would grow by one section.


    At the same time, the activity that one was engaged in would also advance a level.


    For instance, if one spent three days exercising, one''s physical fitness would increase; if practicing martial arts, one''s martial artistry would improve...


    This was called¡ªadvancing one step further at the top of the Hundred Feet Pole.


    The information revealed that a significant figure, whose name was obscured, had used GOD-508 and successfully achieved a ''¡ö¡ö Ascension''...


    Although the particulars of ''¡ö¡ö'' were unknown, the fact that it was related to ''ascension'' indicated that it was an extraordinary matter...


    The temptation was quite substantial...


    Xue Jing had already been very interested in obtaining a Divine Relic, let alone GOD-508...


    "What exactly is the situation with that Intersecting Boundaries?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Upon hearing this, Captain Void Blade understood that he was considering the offer.


    She took a breath and said:


    "The specific details are not clear yet. The test personnel aren''t strong enough to delve in, but since one can exit at any time, it''s likely a C-level Intersecting Boundaries..."


    Captain Void Blade shared all the information that had been gathered so far, and after listening, Xue Jing said:


    "Let me think about it."


    "Alright, give me an answer within a week." Captain Void Blade said.


    After hanging up the phone, Xue Jing fell into deep thought.


    According to Captain Void Blade, a C-level Intersecting Boundaries wasn''t too dangerous, and even if there were creatures inside, their threat level generally wouldn''t exceed 5.


    His task would be to enter the Intersecting Boundaries and install a special device in various locations within it, which would not only reveal all details about the Intersecting Boundaries but also allow for monitoring any changes happening inside at any time.


    It sounded like the difficulty wasn''t high...


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    About the Intersecting Boundaries, he knew too little; he needed to consult Wu Youqing for more details before deciding whether to accept.


    The style of the organization he had felt from contacting White Crow till now made him distrust Captain Void Blade''s words somewhat.


    "I''ll talk about it later."


    Xue Jing picked up his phone, opened the dialing interface, entered his sister Xue Wan''s number, and called her.


    After a few rings, the call was answered.


    Xue Wan''s cheerful voice came through the receiver.


    "Hello, hello, hello~"


    "My silly bean, don''t always call me if it''s not important. What if I get mistaken for having a brother complex? Good men would shy away from me."


    Xue Jing ignored her teasing and said, "I''m going to Maple City in a few days. Is there anything you want me to bring?"


    A flurry of noises came through the receiver, clattering, as if Xue Wan had knocked something over.


    "Ah? You''re coming to Maple City!?"


    Xue Wan''s voice took on a hint of panic.


    Xue Jing asked suspiciously, "Why, is there something you don''t want me to see?"


    "How could that be..."


    Xue Wan laughed nervously.


    "My dearest bean coming to see me, I''m really happy..."


    Xue Jing said meaningfully, "It better be."


    ... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 124 - 98: The Silver Eyes of God, Ive Snatched Them, Now What? (4K)

    [Twin Born Lv4 (18/800)]


    [Passive: Possesses two lives, can freely choose resurrection time within seven days after death, cooldown: sixty days]


    [Active: Every Lv1 can designate an ability related to one''s own physical body, using it produces double the effect]


    [Current Skills Activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense]


    [Currently Available Choices: Reaction Speed, Calculative Ability, Concentration, Memory, Body Temperature, Flexibility, Perception Ability, Instinctive Intuition...]


    Xue Jing glanced at the Twin Lifes passive after reaching Lv4, and saw that the cooldown time had been reduced by ten days, and nodded in approval.


    "Good, as expected, it''s a fixed ten days per level..."


    This confirmed that after reaching Lv10, the cooldown time for Twin Lifes would be reduced to an unimaginable extent.


    "Even if it''s not infinite resurrection, it''s probably not far off,"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Next is the choice of the active effects."


    "The original plan was to choose ''Reaction Speed''..."


    Xue Jing looked at the dozens of options on the panel.


    He was now hesitating.


    Generally speaking, Reaction Speed is a choice that ranks very high on the priority list for him as a Martial Artist.


    But...


    Xue Jing glanced up at the top of the panel. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Aiming Lv6 (2870/3000)].


    The increase in Dynamic Vision from Aiming nearing Lv7 was too significant.


    With his current strength, getting double Reaction Speed on the basis of Aiming would actually be quite wasteful.


    Because his body could not keep up with his own Reaction Speed.


    Just like that day he faced Jiao Hongyuan''s attack, he had seen the attack, but the body could not avoid it at all.


    His current Reaction Speed was already sufficient for his own strength, and it had even exceeded what his strength required.


    Increasing it further would just be a pure waste.


    "With the sword-drawing speed of someone like Otogirusu, even if I can react, my body still couldn''t avoid it entirely. Perhaps choosing [Instinctive Intuition] would be better. It might help me to sense danger in advance through instinct, letting my body automatically avoid the opponent''s sword draw,"


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    Then he recalled what Wu Youqing once said about the importance of spirit in martial arts.


    "Or should I choose an ability related to spirit? Like [Concentration]..."


    "This choice should help enhance the Artistic Conception of Heaven''s Will Saber and will be beneficial for daily Martial Arts Practice as well..."


    "So difficult."


    Xue Jing shook his head, closed the panel, and decided to put off choosing a new active effect for the time being.


    "We''ll talk about it later."


    He went out to the street, hailed a taxi, and headed to the restaurant arranged with his classmates.


    Soon after, the car stopped in front of a restaurant named ''Baolin.''


    Xue Jing scanned the code to pay the fare, thanked the driver, and walked in.


    Since everyone was a student with limited financial abilities, the chosen restaurant was not very high-end, but it had a good reputation, and Xue Jing had eaten here a few times and enjoyed the food.


    Upon entering, he went straight to the private room area, came to the room Li Ge had sent him via WeChat, and pushed the door open.


    Many classmates had already arrived.


    Students from the Elite Class came in dozens, so a large room with five big tables had been selected.


    As soon as Xue Jing entered, Li Ge, who was sitting by one of the tables, promptly stood up and exclaimed:


    "Hey, hey, hey, the main character has finally arrived, hurry up and serve the dishes, I barely ate at noon and I''m starving now!"


    The other classmates also began speaking.


    "Xue Jing is here, have a seat, have a seat!"


    "I''ll go call the waiter to serve the food."


    "Come, come, here, sit at this table in the middle..."


    Xue Jing walked forward, sat next to Li Ge, and responded to his classmates'' questions with a smile.


    "Ah, it feels like a lot has changed since more than a month ago."


    Li Ge opened a large bottle of cola, poured a cup for both himself and Xue Jing, took a sip, and said thoughtfully.


    "Ever since you started practicing martial arts, it feels like you and I are people from two different worlds."


    "I never thought you''d actually make it this far; even the news is reporting you''re a martial arts prodigy, and the principal even held a commendation meeting to praise you, but it felt weird that you weren''t there."


    Xue Jing put an arm around his shoulder and chuckled:


    "What, feeling all melancholic and lonely because your brother''s Range Rover is moving too fast?"


    Li Ge nodded, and hummed affirmatively.


    "A bit, yes."


    "But as much as I feel that small pinch, I hope more than anything that you really soar to heights so high, I can''t even reach them."


    Li Ge said sincerely.


    "People always have to move upward. Since you have this talent and opportunity, don''t let any ties hold you back. I''ll only ever wish you the best."


    Xue Jing ruffled Li Ge''s hair with his other hand, laughing:


    "You don''t need to tell me. I''d do that anyway."


    Hearing these words from Li Ge stirred a complex mix of feelings inside Xue Jing.


    It''s normal for people to lose something while gaining something else.


    He wasn''t sad about this, but it still made him somewhat reflective.


    "You, do you remember when we first met?"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows.


    Li Ge chuckled, "Of course, I do."


    That was during their first year of middle school, just after they had been assigned to the same class, and even shared a desk.


    Upon first meeting Xue Jing, Li Ge had asked a peculiar question.


    "When you eat an ice cream, are you the type who licks it, or who bites it?"

 Chapter 125 - 98: The Silver-White Eyes of God, I Snatched Them, What Next? (4K)_2

    Xue Jing felt it was utterly bizarre at the time, but still he spoke up, "The one that got bitten."


    Then Li Ge immediately shook hands with him, "Comrade!"


    Xue Jing thought this person was quite weird, but still interesting, so he asked in return:


    "Coke, do you drink Coca-Cola or Pepsi?"


    Li Ge didn''t hesitate and said, "I don''t give a fuck."


    Xue Jing laughed and immediately shook hands with him.


    "I don''t give a fuck either."


    The two built a wonderful friendship with just two bizarre exchanges.


    "What a fateful tie it is, sharing the same class and desk since middle school wasn''t enough, we ended up in the same high school and again in the same class, and later, we both entered the Elite Class."


    Li Ge clicked his tongue.


    "Damn, always hanging out with you, kid, I don''t even know how many romantic chances I''ve missed. All the girls were charmed away by you alone."


    "The most infuriating part is, you don''t even want them."


    As Li Ge looked at Xue Jing''s increasingly exaggerated face, he instantly felt annoyed.


    If he had that face, he''d walk around without wearing clothes.


    Such a waste.


    "Hm? How have things been with your girlfriend recently?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    "Haven''t seen her for quite a while, I''ve got to focus on studying for Star University; I don''t want to lag too far behind you..."


    As they chatted casually, time slowly passed by.


    When the food was all served, a group of students pretended their drinks were wine, like adults, and raised toast after toast to each other.


    The meal was quite enjoyable, and it was almost ten-thirty by the time everyone started leaving.


    Finally, Xue Jing and Li Ge left the restaurant, chatted for a long time on the street, reminiscing about many past events, and then went their separate ways home.


    After Xue Jing reached home, he took a bath, practiced aiming at the dartboard for a while, then went to bed hugging Miao Miao.


    A peaceful night.


    ...


    The next day at noon, in the mountains behind the North City District.


    Xue Jing swung his Crouching Rabbit Sword, wrapped in Shadow Flame and turned pitch-black, practicing various basic sword skills.


    From time to time, a wisp of Dark Flame would flare up on the black blade.


    "This method of turning Shadow Flame into a ''coating'' demands a high level of control precision."


    "I can''t yet maintain the ''coating'' shape one hundred percent for an extended time; I need more practice."


    Xue Jing''s eyes flickered as he turned the ignited wisp of Dark Flame back into a black coating, thinking to himself. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, his phone vibrated and rang from his pocket.


    Xue Jing stopped practicing his sword skills, dispersed the Shadow Flame coating, twirled a flourish with his sword, and sheathed the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    He took out his phone to check it; the caller ID displayed ''Captain Void Blade.'' Without hesitation, Xue Jing answered the call.


    "Hello?"


    "The item has arrived; where are you?"


    The typically direct voice of Captain Void Blade came through the speaker.


    Xue Jing''s spirit perked up.


    The moment at Hundred Feet Pole''s Top has come!


    "I''m in the mountains behind the North City District; I''ll send you my location."


    ...


    In South City, within a temporary base in an abandoned building area.


    Captain Void Blade stood on a helipad marked with a large ''H,'' hung up her phone, opened WeChat, and checked the location sent by Xue Jing.


    Beside her stood a young man about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a navy blue Tactical Suit, wearing a talisman-like paper charm on his left ear.


    "What a big deal, we have to deliver it to him?"


    The young man snorted, opening his mouth as if he found it funny.


    Turning to look at him, Captain Void Blade didn''t answer his question but calmly countered:


    "Why are you personally delivering the item, Ning, the Troublemaker from Cease-Blades?"


    The young man frowned, dissatisfied, "Your people from White Crow really lack manners, don''t call me Ning. I''ve reached this stage all by myself; it has nothing to do with my family!"


    Then changing the subject, "As for why..."


    He was holding a plain-looking, fist-sized green bamboo segment.


    "I''ve been using this... don''t get me wrong, this was a reward I got for my contribution to the ''Troublemaker'' operation, unrelated to my family."


    Captain Void Blade nodded, his expression unchanging, simply saying, "So, why is it you delivering this?"


    "Didn''t I say I was fucking using it? Suddenly someone cuts in line, insisting they get to use it first."


    Ning''s gaze narrowed slightly.


    "How can this young master tolerate such a thing? Naturally, I had to see for myself who has the audacity to cut in line ahead of me," he said.


    After pausing, he added, "Don''t get me wrong. Although I refer to myself as ''this young master,'' it''s just a personal verbal tic that has nothing to do with my family."


    Captain Void Blade spoke softly, "Seeing for yourself is, of course, possible, but I must ask Ning not to cause any unnecessary trouble. That young man named Xue Jing is backed by a very powerful supporter."


    Upon hearing this, Ning burst into laughter.


    "A backer? How formidable can they be? More formidable than my family?"


    He quickly followed up by saying, "Of course, don''t misunderstand, I was just making a comparison. I''ve always relied on myself, not on my family."


    Captain Void Blade''s expression remained unchanged as he replied,


    "I''m afraid they''re indeed a bit bigger than your family, Ning."


    "Don''t call me Ning, I''ve said I rely on myself, on myself!" Ning replied in dissatisfaction.


    "So, who is his supporter?"


    ...


    About half an hour later.


    "Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the grass, eyes closed, concentrating, when he heard the noise of a helicopter rotor cutting through the air in the distance, so he opened his eyes and looked up.


    A black helicopter was gradually approaching his position from the horizon.


    He stood up and waited in place.


    Before long, the helicopter was close, slowly descending.


    The grass was whipped into waving like waves by the rotor''s draft, and Xue Jing put his hand on his forehead to block the assaulting wind from his eyes.


    The cabin door opened, and Captain Void Blade, clad in a tight black tactical suit that revealed her athletic, panther-like figure, jumped down from the helicopter.


    Following her was a young man who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.


    Xue Jing''s gaze lingered for a moment on the green bamboo segment in the man''s hand, then shifted to the approaching Captain Void Blade.


    "Captain Void Blade, it''s been a few days since we last met," Xue Jing said as he nodded and shook hands with her.


    Captain Void Blade also nodded, her tone calm, "You accepting this commission really helped me out a lot."


    Then, she turned her head to look at the young man beside her and began to speak,


    "This is..."


    Before she could finish, the man interrupted,


    "My name is Ning Yuantai."


    Xue Jing looked somewhat puzzled, but still nodded to him and said,


    "Hello, my name is Xue Jing."


    Ning Yuantai waved his hand.


    "Let''s skip the nonsense. I''m here specifically to pass ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'' to you," he said.


    "This thing was originally in my use, but suddenly you were arranged to cut in line. Do you understand my frustration?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing glanced at Captain Void Blade and received a helpless shrug from her.


    After thinking for a moment, he said, "I don''t understand... So what do you want to do?"


    Ning Yuantai twisted his neck, staring at Xue Jing intensely, and declared, "I know you have a powerful backer, but you must understand that one must rely on oneself, just like me. I didn''t use my family''s influence, achieved great things on my own, and earned the reward of ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top''!"


    Xue Jing cocked his head, confused, "What are you trying to say?"


    Ning Yuantai thumped his chest, the sound resonating loudly.


    "Come on, beat me and take ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'' by yourself, prove yourself¡ª"


    Before Ning Yuantai could finish, a fist as white as jade was already inches from his face.


    His pupils constricted; in his dazed state, he saw a pair of silver-white eyes.


    Indifferent, disdainful, as if nothing in the world mattered, reigning supreme above all¡ªthe Eyes of God.


    "Boom!!"


    A thunderous explosion, and a figure spiraled backward like a fan, stirring up windborne grass waves, gouging twisted furrows in the ground, and then, with a thud, crashed into the helicopter, embedding itself into the body of the aircraft.


    Xue Jing withdrew his fist, catching the green bamboo segment falling from the sky, his silver eyes unemotional as he looked towards Ning Yuantai, who was now lodged in the helicopter.


    "I''ve taken it, now what?"


    ...

 Chapter 126 - 99 Evolution of Meditative Visualization, Shaking Star Fire, A True Superpower! (4K)

    In the helicopter cockpit, a Mountain Demon wearing a black tank top and military pants, shaking his head to the music through his headphones, was startled by a sudden violent tremor.


    The entire helicopter tilted momentarily, almost flipping over on its side.


    He quickly took off his headphones and then shut off the helicopter''s engine.


    As the rotor blades gradually came to a halt, the cockpit door opened, and the Mountain Demon jumped out.


    "Huh, Ning Yuantai?"


    He looked at Ning Yuantai, who was practically embedded in the helicopter''s body, and said bemusedly.


    "Please, this helicopter was borrowed from the Qingcheng government; it needs to be returned..."


    Xue Jing tossed the green bamboo segment in his hand, and the panel popped up with a prompt.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]


    Watching his Divinity increase by several points every second, the silver-white in Xue Jing''s pupils faded as he turned to ask Captain Void Blade:


    "What''s the backstory of this guy?"


    Captain Void Blade was stunned, just recovering from that punch, and thought to herself, hardly a few days have passed, and he seems stronger... Is this what a genius is like?


    She tried to keep her voice as calm as possible as she spoke:


    "He is from Cease-Blades, the person I mentioned to you... As you can see, he''s a bit mentally challenged."


    Xue Jing rubbed his chin, "So he''s got a powerful backing?"


    Captain Void Blade hummed in affirmation, "Yes, very powerful." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But not as powerful as you, she added to herself as she looked at Xue Jing.


    "In the chaos when the ''gods'' died and the New Calendar just began, the entire world''s structure underwent drastic changes."


    "Heroes emerge in troubled times... During that period, our Zhuxia saw several ruthless individuals who established formidable businesses and legacies that continue to this day..."


    "These families, along with a few upstarts that came later, are known as the ''Thirteen Great Families''."


    Captain Void Blade explained.


    "Currently, most of the inhabitants of Cangting are related to the Thirteen Great Families... Knowing this, you should understand the gravity."


    "And this Ning fellow is one of the Thirteen Great Families, from the Ning Clan."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Huh? If his family is so formidable, then wouldn''t me beating him up be a problem?"


    Captain Void Blade shook her head, "It shouldn''t be... Although Ning seems mentally touched, as he often mentions, he doesn''t rely much on his family connections... unless they proactively help him."


    "And besides, the Thirteen Great Families are sprawling, each has progeny ranging from tens of thousands to millions, not even counting those who have completely split off from the bloodline."


    "I''m not sure about Ning''s branch, but it''s probably not the core of the Ning Clan."


    Captain Void Blade took another look at Xue Jing, thinking to herself, do you even need to worry about this?


    Xue Jing nodded, "That''s good to hear."


    He rubbed the smooth surface of the green bamboo segment, watching his Divinity swell past the two hundred mark, and said to Captain Void Blade with a smile:


    "Captain Void Blade, thank you for going out of your way to bring me ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top''."


    Captain Void Blade replied, "Don''t mention it, it''s the agreed reward... and you have up to ten days to prepare for the exploration mission of the Intersecting Boundaries."


    "I''ll send you some materials related to the Intersecting Boundaries during this time. Try to read as much as possible, and in ten days, or if you want to go in earlier, just contact me."


    Next to the helicopter, Mountain Demon finally pried Ning Yuantai out before supporting him by slinging one of Ning''s arms over his own neck.


    Ning Yuantai looked like he was in bad shape, his eyes still open but unfocused and his legs unsteady, as if he was dazed but not completely unconscious.


    Xue Jing waved at Mountain Demon from a distance and said:


    "By the way, Captain Void Blade, was there anything learned from Su Bijin of the Golden Wind Dojo?"


    At the mention of this, Captain Void Blade''s expression paused.


    "Some things came out... but it''s hard to say, I''ve been ordered not to mention it to anyone."


    "This matter... has now been taken over by someone else from the top."


    Her tone took on a meaningful depth:


    "I can only say, this case is far more complex than you imagine... It''s no longer merely about the threat of the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother."


    "The upcoming events are beyond our involvement; there''s no need for you to worry about it anymore."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    After chatting a bit more, Captain Void Blade took her leave, boarding the helicopter that Xue Jing had dented but was otherwise not badly damaged and departed.


    Once they left, Xue Jing stroked the green bamboo segment in his hand.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    The panel updated as Xue Jing checked his current Divinity holdings.


    [Divinity Held: 668]


    He raised an eyebrow, surprised.


    "It actually provided over six hundred Divinity points... A new record."


    According to the Divine Relics database, serial numbers starting from three hundred onward simply follow the order of appearance with no relation to the specific functions or danger levels.


    A serial number five hundred does not mean it''s more formidable than one with the serial number three thousand; the ranking between them merely indicates who appeared first.


    So although ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'' ranked higher in serial number, Xue Jing had no expectations of how much Divinity it could provide. Anything over five hundred would be a pleasant surprise, and two to three hundred wouldn''t be disappointing.


    He didn''t expect it to yield over six hundred, which pleasantly surprised him.


    "With over six hundred... I''ll upgrade Shadow Flame by one level first."


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, speaking to himself.


    Shadow Flame currently had a new use which greatly augmented his combat strength.


    He opened the panel and moved to the Divine Skills tab.


    [Shadow Flame Lv2 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 668/300)]


    Xue Jing clicked upgrade.


    [Shadow Flame Lv3 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 368/500)]


    With a thought, black streams of air surged from his shadow.

 Chapter 127 - 99 Evolution of Meditative Visualization, Shaking Star Fire, True Superpower! (4K)_2

    In silence, Xue Jing''s body ignited with Dark Flame, burning fiercely. The flames danced in the air, engulfing his entire being.


    "With the same consumption, the output of Shadow Flame has increased by about one third,"


    At a thought from Xue Jing, the burning Dark Flame suddenly ceased, transforming fluidly over his body into a black membrane that enveloped him completely, like donning a suit of pitch-black armor.


    "It''s much easier to manipulate now, and the membrane is very stable, showing no signs of losing control,"


    Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    He snapped his fingers, and the black membrane instantly transformed back into Dark Flame, detaching from his body and roaring forward.


    A spiral of dark flames, several meters in diameter, tore through everything in its path, plowing a deep trench through the grass. The edges were smooth, not at all like they were burned, but rather as if gouged by the mouth of a beast with sharp fangs.


    It wasn''t until the Dark Flame tornado reached more than twenty meters away that Xue Jing felt he could no longer control it.


    The uncontrolled Dark Flame burst apart, turning into countless small flames and annihilating a large expanse of grass and earth before finally dying out.


    "The power has increased, and the distance of control has also improved by nearly half. Very nice,"


    Xue Jing said, nodding.


    "Next is this thing."


    He tossed the green bamboo segment in his hand.


    "To be worn on the head for three days... this color is not ideal,"


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly as he looked at the shiny green color of the bamboo stalk...


    Despite feeling somewhat awkward about it, Xue Jing didn''t hesitate to place it on his head.


    "How should I conceptualize a talent related to the spirit?"


    Xue Jing pondered thoughtfully.


    According to Wu Youqing, one just needed to place it on the head and not actively do anything for the next three days, maintaining a lazy state. Meanwhile, if one kept thinking about practicing a specific thing, it would enhance the talent related to it.


    "If that''s the case..."


    Xue Jing opened his panel, looking at the only skill he possessed that was related to the spirit¡ªMeditative Visualization.


    "Then you''re the one."


    ...


    For the following three days, Xue Jing, with the Hundred Feet Pole''s Top on his head, began a period of lazy living he hadn''t experienced in a long time.


    Ever since his Health Cultivation skill was activated, he had not experienced the feeling of ''not trying hard''. He had been full of energy.


    Every morning, he would wake up and immediately go back to sleep, not rising until the sun was high. He would eat the meals prepared by Miao Miao, and then spent his time in his room, watching animations and playing games on his computer. He caught up on all the anime, movies, and games he had been interested in lately but hadn''t had the time to deal with.


    Although he seemed to have wasted away in action, his mind was always full of fervent passion. He was constantly thinking, "I really want to work hard," "I really want to practice Meditative Visualization," unwavering and undeterred by the indulgent life of pleasure.


    Three days later, Xue Jing lay in bed idly scrolling through his phone.


    Just then, the bamboo segment on his head began to make a faint crackling sound.


    Xue Jing''s spirit immediately lifted.


    Before he could react, his panel popped up.


    [Detecting special power...]


    [Specialization conditions met, Visualization can be specialized into a new skill. Specialize now?]


    Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    Hm? What''s this...


    The bamboo segment on top of his head crackled, trembling vigorously as if it desperately wanted to grow wildly.


    But it seemed to be restricted by something, barely able to stretch out at all...


    Xue Jing''s expression was odd... It felt like he was... being stifled...


    The panel, however, remained indifferent, with no sign of urging him, as cold as a piece of wood


    The tremors of the bamboo segment grew intense. Xue Jing suspected that if he did not click ''Yes'', the Hundred Feet Pole''s Top might explode.


    Although he was really curious about what would happen if he deliberately didn''t click, he didn''t want any complications and so, clicked ''Yes''.


    In an instant, the Hundred Feet Pole''s Top, as if it had been held in for hours with a chastity lock, burst upwards a significant length in a snap.


    Afterwards, as if drained by something, the entire bamboo turned yellow, exuding a sense of exhaustion and wilt.


    [Specialization successful]


    [Visualization Lv6 (668/3000), a total of 5468 Experience Points, converted to Visualization True Lv4 (468/4000)]


    In a flash, Xue Jing''s brain felt as if it were being pricked by needles, a sharp pain throbbing through it.


    Soon, it was as if someone was hammering at his head, a succession of dull pains pounding him.


    He clenched his teeth, his body trembling as sweat poured out. It felt like his spirit was being kneaded and reshaped, slowly taking on a structure entirely different from the original.


    More complex, more mysterious.


    If his original spiritual structure were compared to a crudely built mud hut, with no refinement to speak of, merely serviceable for shelter...


    Now, a mysterious power had razed that mud hut to the ground.


    And on the cleared, complete plot of land, it began to lay the foundation for a sturdy and perfect structure.


    The process was extremely painful, but it also brought a sense of inexplicable exhilaration.


    It was like a pearl, covered in dust and indelible stains for years, being gradually polished clean, bit by bit.


    With every speck removed, Xue Jing felt his consciousness become clearer.


    Time passed unknowingly until the entirety of the bed was nearly soaked with Xue Jing''s sweat, and the intense pain in his consciousness finally stopped.


    What followed was an indescribable comfort and lightness.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes and took light breaths.


    His spirit felt as if it had shed a heavy suit of clothes, so light that he nearly believed he could fly. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ethereal, crystal clear, pristine, and... powerful.


    Xue Jing took the grown segment of bamboo from his head and set it aside.


    Sitting up, he steadied his breath and began to sense his transformation.


    The moment he set his intention, complex images immediately surfaced in his heart.


    The roaring river of blood, the pulse of solid muscles, the variously colored viscera...


    "Is this... Meditative Visualization!?"


    exclaimed Xue Jing in surprise.


    At that moment, every aspect of his body''s inner workings was almost minutely displayed in his mind.


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but circulate his Power.


    Instantly, all the organs in his body coordinated with each other and, after various complex movements, a clear image of a True Dragon emerged from within him, shuttling back and forth inside his body and emitting bursts of dragon roars.


    The True Dragon, as though an extension of himself, was controlled as easily as moving his own limbs. The dragon''s body flexed, its claws flicked lightly as if tumbling through clouds, free and joyful.


    Xue Jing had a flash of insight.


    He extended his palm and gently pressed it against the mattress below.


    In response, countless streams of fiery hot blood boiled into Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires, joined with the True Dragon, and converged into his palm.


    "Killing move¡ªShaking Star Fire."


    "Pfft¡ª"


    A soft noise rang out, yet the exterior of the mattress remained unchanged.


    Then, from inside the mattress, there came a series of crackling sounds.


    The stuffing, memory foam, springs... Everything inside had fallen apart, leaving the mattress deflated and collapsed.


    Xue Jing stood up and clenched his palm, a shining clear light radiated from his pupils, which should have been dark.


    "Controlling my body feels so easy."


    He remarked.


    It was as if the operator in the cockpit had suddenly evolved into an Ace Mecha Pilot.


    "Then, let''s try this..."


    With a thought from Xue Jing, his hair began to move without any wind, writhing like tendrils, some strands even knotting together.


    "Strength Reaching Four Extremities! Even my hair can be controlled like limbs with the Power!"


    Xue Jing ran his hand through his unevenly long hair, slicking it back into a pompadour without a single hair out of place.


    "Not even a need for hair gel with my hands!"


    Xue Jing was like a child, finding the whole world filled with novel sensations.


    He turned his attention to a book on the desk nearby.


    Almost as if possessed, an incredibly strong impulse arose within him.


    He couldn''t help but reach out to flip the book open, then he stepped back a bit, focusing his gaze on the page with a sharp intensity.


    Xue Jing''s forehead bulged with veins, and his pupils contracted to pinpoints.


    After a dozen seconds or so, whoosh¡ª


    The book on the desk half a meter away had flipped a page all on its own!


    Waveringly, as though an invisible centenarian with trembling hands had turned it!


    This was, in the truest sense¡ª


    Supernatural ability!


    ...

 Chapter 130 - 101 Extreme Test, Whirlwind Thunder Extreme, Xue Jing, Bring it on! (4K)

    Xue Jing was shocked.


    Using imagination to simulate actual combat in his consciousness actually got recognized by the panel and earned Experience Points!


    This was simply too outrageous... Wouldn''t this mean one could really stay home, cultivate in seclusion for ten years, and become invincible upon reemerging?


    "No, that''s not it... although you can grind Experience Points this way, it''s not that easy,"


    Xue Jing looked carefully at the gains listed on the panel.


    Firstly, the Experience Points he got were a bit few... The intense battle he had in the Consciousness Space, if it happened in reality, would yield at least a thousand or two thousand Experience Points, but the simulated battle only gave a little over a hundred.


    Moreover, skills directly related to physical fitness, like [Fitness], couldn''t be improved merely through imagination.


    "Lastly, the consumption is too great..."


    Xue Jing shook his still dizzy and fatigued brain.


    Half an hour of simulated combat had left his spirit feeling parched, and he didn''t know how long it would take to recover.


    "However, although there are many restrictions, it''s still a decent way to grind Experience Points..."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Moreover, grinding Skills Experience Points is actually just a side effect... The most important aspect of simulated combat is that it can provide me with almost unlimited actual combat experience..."


    "As well as the opportunity to experiment with my body without any reservations... Once my spirit recovers a bit, I''ll try to see to what extent I can compress the strength of Whirlwind Thunder."


    Xue Jing sat on the couch with his eyes closed, resting for quite a while, until his mind eased and wasn''t dizzy anymore, then he opened his eyes.


    He gently picked up Miao Miao, who had fallen asleep, and placed her on the couch.


    Afterward, he left the house, first went to a home store to order a mattress, then to the supermarket to buy a lot of ingredients, and started cooking after coming back.


    Since he promised Miao Miao a good meal, Xue Jing spent over an hour cooking a big table of dishes, earning more than two hundred Cooking Experience Points and advancing his Cooking to Lv6. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Time to eat, Teacher Wan,"


    Xue Jing washed his hands, walked over to the couch, and patted Miao Miao''s cat head.


    Miao Miao slowly opened her eyes, those emerald vertical pupils still a bit clouded. She yawned, licked her paw, and then used it to wash her face.


    Then she stood up, her rear end tilted upward as she stretched a very extensive lazy stretch, before standing straight up, transforming into the cat-eared girl form, and putting on the shirt and shorts that were on the couch.


    Just the shirt and shorts.


    Xue Jing glanced at the obvious protrusions on Ning Fengwan''s crookedly worn shirt, and being used to it, paid no mind, instead he petted the girl''s head and said in a gentle voice with a smile,


    "Go wash your hands, it''s time to eat."


    Ning Fengwan had just woken up and her spirit was still a bit hazy. Yawning and revealing two sharp little tiger fangs, she wrapped her arms around Xue Jing''s waist, leaning against him, looking like she was about to fall asleep again.


    "Ah Jing, you smell so nice..."


    The girl''s nostrils flared slightly as she took a couple of light sniffs on Xue Jing''s body, murmuring unconsciously.


    Xue Jing curled his lips, grabbed her face with one hand, and pushed her away, "Alright, hurry up and eat."


    ...


    After eating, Ning Fengwan, touching her slightly rounded belly, lay on the couch with a face of lingering enjoyment.


    "Did you put drugs in the food? Why does it taste so good?"


    She looked at Xue Jing, who was wiping the dining table, and asked somewhat discontentedly.


    "Even though the ingredients and kitchenware are the same, why is it that whatever you make tastes so much better than mine!"


    Xue Jing casually replied, "I guess it''s just a matter of talent."


    Ning Fengwan felt a vein popping on her forehead: "Even if it''s true, it''s still infuriating to hear..."


    Xue Jing laughed, finished tidying up, and then said, "Alright, I''ve got something to do and need to go out for a bit, just stay at home and don''t wander off."


    Ning Fengwan turned over and didn''t answer, her black cat tail gently swaying.


    Xue Jing went to his room, took [Hundred Feet Pole''s Top], and also grabbed the Crouching Rabbit Sword, left the house, flagged down a taxi on the road, and headed to Zhu Shanying''s manor.


    After reaching the manor, he first stopped by the main house, found that Zhu was still not home.


    It seemed her family was indeed very strict.


    Xue Jing didn''t mind and went to the stables to lead Wind Eater out, riding it to the grassland behind North City District''s mountain.


    Once there, as usual, he allowed Wind Eater to go for a stroll by itself while he went to the lakeside where he trained regularly, took out his phone, and sent a message to Void Blade to return [Hundred Feet Pole''s Top].


    Soon, he received a reply. Void Blade told him to wait there, and that he would be there soon to collect it.


    "I hope the authorities don''t come after me for this..."


    Xue Jing tossed the bamboo cane, that was still showing signs of yellowing, in his hand and shook his head.


    He went to sit by the lake, looking at the shimmering water, took a deep breath of fresh air, and assessed his current state.


    "My spirit has recovered quite a bit, I can try again."


    Xue Jing closed his eyes, settled his heart, and ignited his Imagination.


    In the Consciousness Space, countless pixel blocks appeared out of nowhere, rotating to construct the scene.


    Grass, trees, benches, street lamps...


    This was the small garden near his residential area.


    Subsequently, Xue Jing himself also materialized in the garden through the convergence of pixel blocks.


    He clenched his fists, ensuring his body data wasn''t incorrect, then with a thought,


    On the nearby grass, a figure around two meters tall with a very muscular build began to emerge sluggishly.


    He was clad in a black Training Garment, rolling up the sleeves to his wrists, exposing muscles as taut as steel, his face clear-cut, an aura of depth and solidity radiating from his whole being.

 Chapter 131 - 101 Extreme Test, Whirlwind Thunder Extreme, Xue Jing, Bring it on! (4K)_2

    It was the eldest disciple¡ªMeng Boshang.


    Of all the people Xue Jing had encountered in reality thus far, he was the strongest existence, bar none.


    "Although I don''t know exactly how strong the eldest disciple is, I''ve experienced his moves up close and could generally simulate them," he said.


    Xue Jing nodded as he watched the imposing figure standing motionless before him.


    The data was insufficient for this eldest disciple, causing some ''distortion,'' making it difficult to fully reproduce his entire strength, but there was already a basic model; at least it could restore the strength he had shown on the day he took on Jiao Hongyuan.


    "Next, it''s my turn."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, stepped in front of the ''eldest disciple,'' and readied himself.


    His gaze sharpened as he channeled his energy, and the sound of a dragon''s roar emanated from within him.


    Spiral indentations appeared, climbing up and down his arms.


    "Body, let me see your limit."


    With that thought, he activated Twin Lifes'' Power, Twin Lifes'' Defense.


    The indentations wrapped around his fists and chest. Compressing the Spiral Energy Force to this extent was the utmost limit Xue Jing could reach without hurting himself.


    This time, however, he didn''t stop and continued to compress.


    The spiral indentations on his chest slowly and resolutely continued to expand.


    Upward, extending to his collarbones, neck...


    Downward, covering his ribs, waist...


    Xue Jing''s body began to tremble, his flesh emitting a cracking sound of unbearable strain, and the dragon''s roar also seemed to carry a hint of a mournful wail.


    Capillaries began to burst, dark purple spread beneath the skin, muscles were torn and snapped, and even the rigid bones were painfully squeezed by the tightening muscle spiral.


    As the spiral indentations climbed up his face and covered the temporal bones on both sides, Xue Jing felt an extreme pain assaulting his brain.


    This was the body signaling a warning, it could no longer continue.


    If compressed further, like a thread stretched to its limit, the surging power would cause his body to explode like a bomb.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Extreme!"


    Xue Jing threw this punch at the eldest disciple, who was in a defensive stance before him.


    "Boom!"


    Like an actual thunderclap on a clear day, the intense explosion seemed to make the ground tremble, while the violent torrents of air burst forth from the edge of his fist.


    The explosive storm blew their clothes rattling, their hairs fluttering backward incessantly.


    The path of the fist left behind a visible spiral of white air wave, and Xue Jing''s skin split open, with thick blood under intense pressure turning into a mist, spraying out several meters away.


    Blood flowed from his eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth... These were signs of internal bleeding caused by the internal organs being crushed.


    Finally, this punch contacted the arms the eldest disciple had placed in front of his chest.


    "Bang!!"


    Countless ring-shaped airwaves spread out from the center of the two men the instant they made contact. The grass within dozens of meters around them was flattened by the blast, nearby camphor trees rustled loudly, and the turf under their feet was torn away, flying all around.


    The eldest disciple''s body flew backward with great speed, his feet clawing into the ground, plowing two grooves nearly ten centimeters deep into the turf. He struggled to stop himself, yet still had to shift backward over ten meters.


    On his arms, where Xue Jing''s punch had landed, smoke was emanating from the surface. When the smoke cleared, the appearance was revealed.


    It was a dense, overlapping pattern of dragon scale marks, seemingly undamaged, almost without a scratch.


    "Just using localized manifestation of Golden Scale Skin to block it, huh... worthy of the eldest disciple," he said.


    Xue Jing knelt on one knee, one hand supporting himself on the ground, the other resting on his knee, vomiting a large amount of thick, fragrant blood.


    He endured the severe pain, gauging his current condition.


    "My body is all battered up... If I don''t receive treatment soon, I''ll likely die within a few hours," he said.


    With a thought from Xue Jing, countless pixel-like blocks appeared, filling and repairing the wounds on his body.


    In less than a second, he was back to his peak unharmed state.


    "This Consciousness Simulation is too convenient... being able to conduct risk-free testing just like that is more than delightful," he noted.


    "However, that my body''s limit strike could not break the eldest disciple''s defense does hit me hard," he mused.


    "Need to find some confidence," he thought.


    He conjured an image of Li Chengxuan beside him.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Extreme!"


    "Snap!"


    Flesh burst open, a mangled corpse flew forward, and an explosive spiral of blood painted the ground red for meters.


    "Yes, that''s more like it,"


    Xue Jing nodded, regaining his confidence.


    That was the performance of such an ultimate move against a peer.


    "Next, let''s see if I can pull off a combination of deadly moves. The Hidden Dragon School''s five major deadly moves have different Energy Channeling systems, making them hard to use simultaneously."


    ...


    Half an hour later, in the Consciousness Space, the exhilarated Xue Jing finally opened his eyes with reluctance.


    If it hadn''t been for the drain on his spirit, he could have continued for three more days.


    It was similar to the stage when you get hooked on playing a game and just can''t stop.


    [You have participated in a simulated combat, fighting Experience Points +151]


    [... Weapon Strike Experience Points +88]


    [... Visualization True Experience Points +133]


    [... Feeling refreshed, Health Cultivation Experience Value +122]


    [Combat upgraded to Lv7 (88/4500)]


    After glancing at the panel, Xue Jing calmed himself and introspected his physical body.


    "My physical quality improved a bit... my wingspan has increased, and my skeletal frame is thicker too."


    He stretched his hands backwards, linking them behind his back while keeping his body straight, raising them level with his shoulders.


    It felt effortless, with no strain at all.


    "The flexibility has gotten even more ridiculous."


    While leveling up the fighting skill did enhance his physical attributes, that wasn''t the key point; it was just an addition.


    The most critical aspect was how it specialized his body for ''combat''.


    It made him more and more suitable for fighting in all aspects.


    "Comfortable."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, feeling cheerful and relaxed.


    After resting for a while and recovering his mental state, he was about to start his daily training when he heard the sound of propellers "tat-tat-tat-tat" from the sky.


    Looking up, he saw a helicopter that appeared normal at first glance, but upon closer inspection, its side fuselage showed some uneven marks, flying his way.


    Xue Jing stood up and waited in place.


    ...


    Inside the helicopter, Ning Yuantai looked out the window at the slender figure on the ground beneath him.


    Three days ago, he was defeated by a punch from that person, even before he had finished speaking.


    Although it was his own carelessness for not dodging, the fact that he was defeated by a nearly age-matched peer was firmly etched in his mind.


    "Such age, such talent, no wonder even that Mr. Wu... holds him in high regard."


    "But today is different, I''m prepared."


    "To cleanse the disgrace, today is the day."


    Ning Yuantai talked to himself.


    "Ning, why are you following along? You should stay at the base, I could have gotten the top of Hundred Feet Pole for you," said the Mountain Demon, who was piloting the helicopter.


    "My status today is all thanks to myself."


    Ning Yuantai crossed his hands, preparing himself for a fight.


    "What I lost once, I must also regain by myself!"


    Staring at Xue Jing, who was rapidly approaching, he stated resolutely.


    After he finished speaking, for some reason, he suddenly recalled a pair of detached silver-white eyes akin to those of a deity, which sent a chill through him and cast a shadow over his heart.


    He shook his head, banishing those eyes from his mind.


    "Uh, are you sure?" the Mountain Demon asked with a peculiar expression.


    Being bold enough to seek a rematch after being knocked out with a single punch... Ning seemed to have some strange predilections.


    Unaware that his image had been severely twisted in the eyes of the Mountain Demon, Ning Yuantai, looking at Xue Jing''s figure afar, was resolute. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..." Void Blade remained calm by his side, not speaking a word.


    The helicopter slowly descended, and for some reason, this time it landed far away from Xue Jing, several dozen meters further than three days ago.


    As the propellers slowly ceased spinning and the cabin door opened, three figures jumped out one after another.


    Ning Yuantai gazed at the distant figure standing tall and firm like a towering pine and took a deep breath.


    Then he exploded with movement, disappearing from his spot, rushing towards his opponent at breakneck speed.


    "Second round!"


    "Xue Jing, let''s battle!"


    ...

 Chapter 132 - 102: Is That... The Eye of God, Neo Martial Arts System·Red Lotus Volcanic Stream (4K)

    "Captain, aren''t we going to stop Ning?"


    The Mountain Demon watched Ning Yuantai charging out and spoke to Void Blade.


    "What if Ning gets seriously hurt by Xue Jing? We''ll probably be blamed too."


    Void Blade replied calmly:


    "Don''t worry, although he was instantly killed a few days ago, Ning is not weak."


    "When he is fully prepared, Xue Jing... might not really be his match."


    She looked towards the two who were about to clash in the distance.


    "A month ago, Ning had already successfully consumed the second set of Banned Drugs ''Red Lotus Volcanic Stream,'' initially transforming into the ''Volcanic Variant''..."


    ...


    Seeing the figure sprinting towards him, Xue Jing slightly raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.


    "Interesting."


    Top-notch dynamic vision allowed him to clearly see Ning Yuantai''s body suddenly begin to redden as he charged over.


    Skin, hair... and even the air around him, within a half-meter radius, burst out with a ring of crimson airflow, just like the aura-burst mode of fighting comic characters.


    "What is this? An alien implant? A special technique?"


    Xue Jing, who was originally standing still pretending to be high-skilled, suddenly became interested. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The figure transformed into a crimson shadow had already come close.


    Ning Yuantai felt the power boiling inside him like the inside of a volcano, about to explode with great intensity; his confidence surged, completely dispelling the shadows cast by those silvery-white eyes.


    "I will win!"


    He thought to himself.


    Having joined the prestigious Red Lotus Dojo, enduring the painful transformations brought about by the Banned Drugs for years, he had finally refined the Volcanic Variant, famous throughout the Martial Arts World.


    A volcanic eruption is one of the most terrifying natural disasters on this planet.


    The Volcanic Variant, which fully mimicked the internal movements of a volcano, naturally possessed terrifying explosive power.


    Even just at the entry level, it definitely wasn''t something the Old Martial Arts could match.


    "Three days ago, it was just my carelessness, Xue Jing. In front of this fully activated ''Volcanic Variant,'' can you withstand it?"


    Ning Yuantai felt exhilarated inside, looking at Xue Jing who was quite surprised at how close he was. His Power surged through his body like boiling magma, focusing into his right hand and launching out like a cannonball.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    The explosive power erupted, with the crimson fist as the center, blasting out a circle of red air waves, like the magma scattering from a volcanic eruption, spraying towards Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing''s pupils slightly constricted, detecting something unusual.


    Well-versed in martial arts for a long time, he had an exceptional understanding of human anatomy.


    The punch in front of him, the way of Channeling Energy was extremely peculiar, utterly different from the Energizing methods of Martial Artists he knew, and was an entirely different system.


    "Is this the Neo Martial Arts system developed from Banned Drugs?"


    "Interesting, a rare chance; let''s try facing it directly."


    Xue Jing saw an opportunity, clenched his right fist, power surging, spiral indentations appearing on his right arm, converging towards his fist.


    "Whirlwind Thunder!"


    "Boom!"


    Amidst the sound of thunder, his right fist whirled the spiraling airflow and fiercely swung out.


    "Boom!!"


    At the moment the two fists connected, a loud explosion occurred, causing Void Blade and Mountain Demon, who were watching from a distance, to feel a pain in their eardrums, involuntarily covering their ears.


    The grass was torn apart, and soil flew scattered, blocking the view, obscuring the specifics of the battlefield.


    At that moment, a figure flew straight out from the dust formed by the soil, crashing harshly onto a grassy slope dozens of meters away.


    "Eh, Xue Jing!?"


    The Mountain Demon exclaimed in surprise.


    This clash of fists, it seemed like... Xue Jing had lost?


    From a distance, Xue Jing performed a kip-up from the ground, his body from the neck down covered in dragon scale marks, yet his Power surge had activated Golden Scale Skin.


    He was unharmed except for a slight aching in his right fist.


    "So this is... Neo Martial Arts?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes held a trace of surprise.


    In the moment their fists met, he felt like he wasn''t clashing with a human fist but rather a chunk of magma ejected from the center of a volcano.


    Such wild and overpowering explosive power, completely different from his assessment of Ning Yuantai''s strength.


    "Can win, definitely can win!"


    Ning Yuantai watched as he sent Xue Jing flying, shouting excitedly in his mind.


    "Indeed, last time I was just careless; he''s no match for me!"


    "With the fully activated Volcanic Variant, Power will keep boiling, growing stronger as the fight progresses. He couldn''t beat me at the start, and will be even less able to later!"


    "Those strange eyes, just an illusion after all!"


    "Won, won!"


    "Ha!"


    Ning Yuantai cried out, transformed into a streak of red light, and charged towards Xue Jing.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing''s thoughts flickered, and he activated Twin Life Defense.


    "This Neo Martial Arts system is quite interesting, let''s gather some more data..."


    He thought to himself, stepping forward to meet the charge.


    This time, Xue Jing didn''t choose to clash directly, but instead used an arm swing, utilizing Soft Power to deflect Ning Yuantai''s punch.


    "Straightforward, unable to switch techniques after having his move deflected, seems like it''s hard to finely control this kind of Power..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes flickered.


    He activated Twin Speed, and before Ning Yuantai could react, quickly reached out and grabbed his neck, lifting him up, and slammed him into the ground, causing the soil to burst apart.


    "The skin is very hot... this temperature, at least a hundred degrees, is this the reason for his explosive power?"


    Boiling body leading to boiling Power?


    Ning Yuantai was caught off guard by Xue Jing''s sudden quick actions, but although surprised, he wasn''t shaken. At the moment he was smashed to the ground, his body suddenly sprayed out layers of pale red mist.

 Chapter 136 - 104: Zhus Prank, Organ Training, Sure-hit Technique - Eye-Penetrating Flow (4K)

    "Huh, Zhu, what did you do to me?"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows and asked directly.


    "Nothing¡­ nothing at all,"


    Zhu Shanying stepped back with her hands behind her, her face showing clear guilt.


    "I really didn''t do anything!"


    The young girl argued.


    Xue Jing looked at her twice, thought for a moment, and said,


    "I don''t believe that."


    He rubbed his temples, stood up, and walked towards Zhu Shanying.


    The girl, seeing him approach, kept retreating as Xue Jing would advance a step, she''d step back one, her hands still protecting something behind her back, as if they were playing a game of eagle catching chicks.


    "I really didn''t do anything... don''t come over!"


    She spoke somewhat frantically.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing not only did not stop, but instead speeded up and walked towards her.


    "Wait¡­ wait a moment!"


    Zhu Shanying had already backed up against the wall, with nowhere else to retreat.


    Xue Jing ignored her protests, reached out, and touched her head, feeling the softness of her hair that flowed like a black waterfall.


    Then, as if twisting a bottle cap, he turned his palm, causing her petite body to involuntarily pivot, revealing what she had been hiding behind her. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Huh? Lipstick?"


    What Zhu Shanying held in her hand was a small, rather expensive-looking black lipstick.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing rubbed his lips with his finger, took a look, and found a trace of red on his fingertips.


    "...I just thought you looked so pretty, and makeup would only enhance that."


    "So I couldn''t help but apply a little."


    Zhu Shanying said with a sheepish grin.


    "It really does look nice! If you dressed up a bit and wore women''s clothes, you''d be absolutely stunning!"


    Xue Jing gave her a speechless look.


    "Your idea is good, just don''t think about it again."


    Zhu Shanying quickly stepped forward, took his arm, and cooed,


    "Don''t be mad, little junior brother, I won''t do it again..."


    Touching his arm gently, she could feel the soft warmth of it. Xue Jing glanced at her and pondered,


    "I''m not mad... but the way you put it, it seems like you''re hinting there might be a next time?"


    The young girl continued to pout,


    "Not at all, you''re just too sensitive."


    "Alright, I came here to invite you to lunch together, let''s head downstairs, little junior brother."


    Xue Jing nodded.


    The two left the training room together.


    Zhu Shanying lagged a few steps behind Xue Jing, watching his back with a relieved expression.


    Then, she lightly touched her radiant red lips, her cheeks slightly flushed, and a smile crept into the corners of her mouth.


    ...


    After having lunch with the mischievous Sister Zhu, she went out to busily handle her business again.


    Xue Jing, feeling unusually drained and unwilling to practice martial arts today, decided to take the day off.


    Carrying the Crouching Rabbit Sword, he left the estate, hailed a taxi, and planned to visit Hidden Dragon Dojo to check on the renovation progress and meet his master whom he hadn''t seen for a long time.


    Although Zhu Shanying''s estate and Hidden Dragon Dojo were in different districts, they weren''t far from each other, just under half an hour away.


    Xue Jing paid with a scan code, thanked the driver, got out of the car, entered the office building, and took the elevator to Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    The sounds of hammering and drilling were continuous; Xue Jing went to the reception desk for a look.


    There sat a receptionist with an attractive figure dressed in a cheongsam.


    It was the same cheongsam girl Xue Jing had encountered on his first visit to Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    She was currently leaning on the reception desk, idly scrolling through her phone, looking like she could fall asleep any second.


    Feeling a bit playful, Xue Jing silently walked up to her and tapped the table with the knuckles of his fingers.


    The tap looked gentle, but the force went through his fingertips, producing a heavy thud on the marble table.


    The posture of the cheongsam girl leaning on the table was already susceptible to the vibrations of the table; she instantly jumped up from her chair in fright at the sound.


    Xue Jing, however, did not linger and quietly entered the main gate after his tap.


    The cheongsam girl looked up, saw nothing in front of her, and murmured somewhat scared,


    "...Did I see a ghost?"


    Entering the dojo, Xue Jing looked around. The renovations were nearly complete, with the corridors almost finished and the training area laying down a new rubber floor with new equipment being installed.


    It looked like it would be finished in a few days.


    After checking out the progress, he walked inside to the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    This room, made of special materials, had the best soundproofing in the entire dojo. Even with the ongoing noisy renovations outside, once the door was closed, the Heart-Nourishing Room remained quite quiet, only minor sounds could be heard.


    Xue Jing opened the door, walked in, and casually closed it.


    "Master."


    Xue Jing respectfully greeted Li Qi, who was flipping through an old thread-bound book at his desk.


    "Hmm? Little Jing, I haven''t seen you in days, and you''ve come at just the right time,"


    Li Qi put down his book and smiled.


    He moved his wheelchair closer to Xue Jing.


    "Let the old man see your progress these past few days."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Yes."


    He extended his hand, which was then grasped by Li Qi''s aged palm.


    A surge of power seeped into Xue Jing''s body through his wrist, prompting his body to instinctively move. The True Dragon inside him let out an irritated dragon roar, ready to counterattack automatically.


    At that moment, Xue Jing''s thoughts shifted, and his strong and powerful spirit immediately suppressed the True Dragon''s dissatisfaction, making it shut up and stay silent.


    Li Qi, seeing this, was slightly shocked.


    "You''ve managed to control the True Dragon inside you to this extent... Incredible, it hasn''t been long."

 Chapter 137 - 104: Zhus Prank, Organ Training, Sure-Hit Technique - Eye-Penetrating Flow (4K)_2

    Having let out a customary sigh, Li Qi calmed down and, using his Power, began to sense Xue Jing''s current physical state.


    As he received more and more information, he nodded.


    "Very good, the progress in the ''Five Major Practices'' is very sufficient, tsk, this perfect human body structure, how on earth does it grow, I really want to take a look at your genetic analysis..."


    "The progress is now sufficient to start from the outside to the inside, to perform ''Organ Nourishing''..."


    After a while, Li Qi released Xue Jing''s wrist and pondered:


    "It''s settled, next, when you practice the Armor Shaking Skill, you need to add a few more movements, and the medicine you take should also be changed to ''Dragon Thunder Powder''."


    Xue Jing looked puzzled, "Dragon Thunder Powder?"


    Li Qi explained, "This is the Secret Medicine used by the Hidden Dragon School for ''Organ Nourishing'', made from some special plants found in the Intersecting Boundaries."


    "Pureblood Dragon-type Creatures can spew and command a type of special lightning known as ''Dragon Thunder''. Some plants struck by this Dragon Thunder surprisingly survive and are imbued with the Power of Dragon Thunder."


    "Dragon Thunder Powder, made primarily from these plants, combined with Armor Shaking Skill, can vigorously refine and temper one''s own organs, and the effect is excellent, the only downside... is that it''s very expensive."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, "How expensive, master?"


    Li Qi thought for a moment and said, "If you take the necessary amount of Dragon Thunder Powder every day according to your current progress... it will be about three hundred thousand."


    "You still have over twenty million in your account, enough to last two months, don''t worry."


    Li Qi patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, comforting him.


    "...This consumption is just too outrageous." Xue Jing was somewhat speechlessly choked up.


    Twenty million hadn''t even warmed up, and he was told it would have to say goodbye in two months?


    Li Qi waved his hand and said, "Your talent is too good; naturally, the medicine must also be top-notch, otherwise it would be a waste of your talent. There are other options for Organ Nourishing medicine, but since you can use the best, you should not compromise."


    "If there''s something you need, just buy it, the money isn''t really spent, it just changes its form and stays by your side."


    Xue Jing uttered a sound, thought for a moment, and said:


    "Right master, I have now comprehended four of the five ultimate moves, but I have no clue about the last one, the ''Eye-Penetrating Flow''..."


    Hidden Dragon School''s Five Ultimate Techniques.


    Regarding ''Skin'' defense skills¡ªGolden Scales Transformation.


    Regarding ''Flesh'' burst skills¡ªWhirlwind Thunder.


    Regarding ''Bones'' counterattack skills¡ªSeal Cloud Tail.


    Regarding ''Blood'' defense-breaking skills¡ªShaking Star Fire.


    All of these he had already mastered, only remaining was one move regarding ''Tendons'', the Eye-Penetrating Flow, which he had not yet grasped, with no signs of comprehension at all.


    Although Xue Jing felt that this move should be highly compatible with him...


    Li Qi smiled and said, "Don''t rush; the ''Eye-Penetrating Flow'' is a bit special, involving a deeper level of ''Tendon Training'', which is linked to ''Organ Training''."


    Xue Jing tilted his head, "What do you mean?"


    "What is called ''Organ Training'' is actually an extension of the ''Five Major Practices''."


    Li Qi began to instruct.


    "Since ancient times, medicine and martial arts were inseparable. In Ancient Medicine and Taoist Sect theory, the organs have corresponding relationships."


    "What''s called ''Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood'', Ancient Medicine refers to them as Five Bodies, and their relationship to the Five Organs is very close¡ªLungs pair with Skin, Spleen with Flesh, Liver with Tendons, Kidneys with Bones, Heart with Blood."


    "Strong lungs mean robust skin, a strong spleen means firm flesh, a strong liver means resilient tendons, strong kidneys mean solid bones, a strong heart means ample blood."


    "And our Hidden Dragon School, being an external martial arts school, trains from the outside to the inside, from external to internal, starting with training the Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood, then using their robustness to benefit the Organs."


    Li Qi stretched out his withered hand and pointed at his own old, blurred eyes.


    "The Five Bodies and the Five Organs also correspond with the Five Senses."


    "Form, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch, namely, Vision, Hearing, Smell, Taste, Touch."


    "Eye-Penetrating Flow is the ultimate skill of ''Tendons'', corresponding to the Liver among the Five Organs, which is related to vision; a strong liver means clear sight!"


    "Therefore, the key to Eye-Penetrating Flow is not the ''Tendon'' itself but the ''Eye''." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This move is a ''Sure-hit Technique'', penetrates all the enemy''s illusions, as if a True Dragon looks through it, the Cloud Sea Billow parts, revealing all flaws and weak points, thereby striking with certainty."


    "Once you begin Organ Training and refine your liver to a certain extent, you will naturally understand."


    After listening, Xue Jing realized, "So that''s how it is."


    Li Qi smiled, "Once you have mastered all five ultimate moves, the next step will be the Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point of ''Five Murders Combine into One''..."


    He couldn''t help but reflect,


    "How quickly time passes! It''s been just over a month, and I already feel as if I''m running out of tricks."


    Then, changing the course of the conversation,


    "Alright, I will first teach you the subsequent organ training movements of the Armor Shaking Skill. Stretch out your hand."


    Xue Jing did as instructed.


    Li Qi grabbed his wrist, allowing Power to seep in, then flicked it as if he were shaking noodles.


    Xue Jing suppressed the instinctive restlessness of the True Dragon within him, relinquished control of his body, and under the manipulation of Li Qi''s Power, he practiced various complex movements and breathing techniques.


    This set was part of the ''Muscle Training'' movement of the Armor Shaking Skill. As he swayed, the fascia wrapped around his muscles began to tingle painfully.


    After he had completed the dozens of movements he had already mastered, his body didn''t stop but continued to perform new movements.


    They were more complex and more challenging, stretching not only the fascia but even causing a slight oppressive feeling in the internal organs.


    Xue Jing closed his eyes, entering an internal vision perspective.


    Within his field of view, as his body moved externally, the brownish-red liver also trembled and pulsed, secreting a slightly darker and murky substance.


    The blood flow accelerated, entering the liver, removing these substances and leaving the liver''s surface faintly shimmering more crystalline and translucent.


    Even though the internal vision perspective did not literally see light, that was the sensation Xue Jing felt.


    By the time all the movements were practiced, Xue Jing opened his eyes.


    His whole body''s fascia was tingling and sore, and there was a faint pain in his liver, but he felt somewhat refreshed and clear-headed.


    He blinked, not sure if it was an illusion, but it seemed like his vision had improved a bit.


    "How do you feel?" Li Qi asked.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and replied, "It seems like my vision has improved a bit."


    Li Qi hummed in acknowledgment and nodded.


    "A strong liver supports clear vision. As you begin training the organs, your five senses will become increasingly sharp. When I was young, I met a Taoist girl who practiced the ''Yellow Grannie Skill'' and had extraordinary achievements in ''Spleen Training,'' hence her sense of touch was remarkably strong.


    By touching the ground with her hands, she could feel people''s footsteps from tens of kilometers away and even gauge the power of the person from their steps."


    Xue Jing was somewhat amazed, "Is that even possible?"


    What a human radar...


    "That''s exactly how astounding it was."


    Li Qi''s eyes revealed a reminiscent look.


    "I wonder how that girl is doing now. Back then, I even had some disputes with her master and got hit by a Golden Bottle Palm, which was the second closest I''ve ever come to dying..."


    Xue Jing, "Master, I''m more interested in hearing about sister-in-law''s story..."


    Hearing this, Li Qi choked up and glared, "You''re choosing now? Well, I won''t tell."


    Xue Jing smiled, suddenly had a thought, and he started speaking,


    "Speaking of which, Master, there''s something else."


    "I have a friend who discussed a theory with me..."


    Xue Jing explained Wu Youqing''s theory of ''mental power influencing one''s own reality'' to Li Qi.


    After listening, Li Qi fell into deep thought.


    Then, his eyes lit up with realization and joy among other complex expressions,


    "So that''s how it is... then many things can be explained..."


    He seemed to have thought of something, murmuring to himself, his two cloudy old eyes losing focus, drifting into a daze.


    It is unknown how much time had passed when Li Qi regained his composure, his expression complex.


    "A true word is passed in a single sentence, false teachings fill thousands of books..."


    "I... took quite the detour."


    He patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, his face showing relief:


    "Good boy, good boy..."


    "Thank my friend for me."


    "I really owe a great favor..." Li Qi sighed.


    ...

 Chapter 138 - 105: The Overly Dangerous Silver Eyes and Charm Art, Xue Jing VS Xue Jing (4K)

    Hidden Dragon Dojo, inside the Medicine Storage.


    Standing in front of the Medicine Preparation Table, Xue Jing looked at the transparent container before him, which was filled with the boiled and prepared liquid ''Dragon Thunder Powder''.


    The golden liquid miraculously flickered with fluorescent light, occasionally revealing lightning-like thin lines.


    After it had cooled down slightly, Xue Jing poured it into the Nebulizer Inhaler, then put it on and pressed the start button.


    Golden fluorescent mist began to emerge inside the oxygen mask. Xue Jing closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and initiated his breathing skills.


    Through the perspective of inner vision, the tiny particles of the Dragon Thunder Powder, vaporized into mist, looked like tiny sparks as they were inhaled into the lungs, entered the bloodstream through the alveoli, and circulated throughout the body.


    Most of the particles ultimately targeted the brownish-red liver.


    Everywhere the particles passed, there was a tingling sensation, like being electrocuted, especially in the liver which was the main target.


    Once the particles entered the liver, they attached and soaked into the flesh and blood, and their medicinal properties were gradually absorbed.


    Xue Jing could feel the liver becoming gradually stronger and more resilient amidst the tingling and stabbing pain...


    Time passed until no more golden mist seeped out from the Nebulizer Inhaler; only then did Xue Jing open his eyes.


    In the dimly-lit Medicine Storage, his eyes suddenly brightened, like lightbulbs.


    "Did my vision improve? But that doesn''t seem quite right."


    Xue Jing felt his current field of vision.


    "It''s not just simply ''seeing things more clearly'' on a physical level, but it''s as if... I can see more things that I usually cannot see."


    He reached out and touched the Medicine Preparation Table in front of him.


    He could vaguely make out, with his vision, some fine cracks and damage on the surface of the table, and instinctively the idea came to him that if he struck here or sliced there, the table would likely be easily destroyed...


    Although not very distinct, he definitely felt this way.


    "Martial arts really are quite idealistic... This is probably also a manifestation of ''spiritual power influencing one''s reality''."


    "A simple increase in eyesight wouldn''t have this effect..."


    Xue Jing remarked.


    He opened his panel to take a look.


    [You have practiced Armor Shaking Skill, Fitness Experience Points +352]


    [You have practiced Armor Shaking Skill, Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +330]


    First came two notifications, Armor Shaking Skill had added a few movements for Organ Training, thus gaining more Experience Points.


    But the following notification made Xue Jing''s eyes widen slightly. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You have taken medicine that moistens the liver, Health Cultivation Experience Value +218]


    The importance of the Health Cultivation skill needs no further mention.


    It has given Xue Jing almost endless energy, allowing him to maintain enough passion to keep striving upward without any thoughts of slacking or laziness; just this alone makes Health Cultivation a cheat-level skill.


    Not to mention the extremely strong physical and mental recovery abilities it provides.


    But all along, apart from the daily early to bed, early to rise for a few dozen points of Experience Value, there was no other steady way to gain Experience in Health Cultivation.


    Only activities like fighting which made him feel pleased with himself occasionally gave some extra gain.


    But now, he had finally found a method to steadily increase [Health Cultivation] Experience Value!


    Taking Dragon Thunder Powder, a type of Organ Nourishing Elixir... could cultivate health!


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly.


    "No wonder when Health Cultivation was just activated, those health supplements I ate had no effect."


    "Only medicine of the caliber of Dragon Thunder Powder can yield Experience Points..."


    He looked at the notebook on the table, which contained his recent medicine usage records.


    Upon comparing the price list and the amount used, the batch of Dragon Thunder Powder he prepared was worth over 330,000 Zhuxia currency...


    "Indeed a money-burning skill."


    Xue Jing scratched his head.


    And yet, the Dragon Thunder Powder for nourishing the liver is still considered cheap.


    Though each medicine for cultivating the internal organs is called Dragon Thunder Powder, their formulas differ, with specific requirements for dosage, heat control, and auxiliary herbs. The only commonality is the main ingredients are all soaked with Dragon Thunder.


    The most expensive among them was the Dragon Thunder Powder for nourishing the heart. Xue Jing did a quick estimation; the price goes upward of 400,000.


    Thanks for the invitation, I''m in Zhuxia, just got off the plane, with a net worth of 20 million, ready to beg for food.


    "The money I have now can only last two months, I need to figure out a way to continue earning money."


    Xue Jing thought helplessly.


    ...


    The next day, at the back mountain in North City District.


    Silver light scattered across the grass, with saber radiance spreading in all directions, Xue Jing wielded the Crouching Rabbit in his hand, with waves of silver-white Saber Qi ploughing up the surrounding grass into a mess.


    After a while, he stopped his movements, flung the Crouching Rabbit to the side, and channelled Power into the blade, shaking off the plant juice that stained it and returning it to a pristine state, then he sheathed the saber.


    Looking at the floating green scraps around him, Xue Jing glanced at a tree not far away and narrowed his eyes before speaking out:


    "If you have something to say, come out and say it, what are you hiding there for?"


    A few seconds after finishing these words, a figure walked out from behind the tree.


    It was Ning Yuantai.


    Xue Jing smiled, shook off the grass clippings stuck on him, and casually said, "What, came to pick a fight with me again?"


    Ning Yuantai made an awkward sound and said, "...I wouldn''t dare."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows rose: "Wouldn''t dare?"


    That answer was somewhat unexpected for him.


    "So what are you doing here?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    He wondered... could it be that Hundred Feet Pole''s Top really couldn''t be used anymore, and he had come to question about it?


    While pondering how to deflect the blame, Ning Yuantai scratched his head and said:

 Chapter 139 - 105: The Overly Dangerous Silver Eyes and Charm Art, Xue Jing VS Xue Jing (4K)_2

    "Young master... I just wanted to ask if you''re interested in joining ''Cease-Blades''."


    Xue Jing smiled and joked:


    "The Sixth Agency is so short on people, they even want to recruit me."


    He then shook his head.


    "I''m not interested in joining any agency... besides, I''ve already agreed with White Crow to take assignments as an external member, it wouldn''t be good to get involved with ''Cease-Blades''."


    However, Ning Yuantai seemed to expect his response, his expression unchanging as he explained:


    "Xue... Xue, our ''Cease-Blades'' isn''t like White Crow, it''s a team entirely composed of Martial Artists, possessing resources aimed specifically at Martial Artists."


    "For example, martial arts cultivation techniques, Cease-Blades internally has inheritances from the majority of schools in the country, both Old Martial Arts and Neo Martial Arts."


    "The nature of the job isn''t as uncertain as White Crow''s, since we handle martial artist crime, our opponents are traceable Martial Artists. If arrangements are properly made, we can generally resolve issues smoothly, and fighting against Martial Artists can also sharpen your own skills, especially for someone from an Old Martial Art Sect like you." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai said a lot, but Xue Jing remained unmoved and shook his head.


    The inheritance of schools must match with the corresponding Kungfu Body to be effective; his body had already taken the form of Hidden Dragon School, and the potency of other schools'' martial arts skills would surely be greatly reduced in his hands, having only referential value, not a necessity.


    As for practical combat opportunities, he was not lacking either, with the ability of Consciousness Simulation, he could endlessly duel with any opponent he had encountered.


    "No need to say so much, I''m really not interested," Xue Jing said.


    "Is that so?" Ning Yuantai looked unsurprised.


    He had already consulted Void Blade in detail before coming, knowing that Xue Jing was averse to the constraints of joining an organization. Thus, he had little expectation and was simply fulfilling his duty.


    Then, he voiced his real intention.


    "In that case, Xue. "


    "The conditions are completely the same as with White Crow, how about becoming an external member of ''Cease-Blades'' as well?"


    Xue Jing didn''t speak, just gave him a look.


    "Tasks would be handed to you in the form of assignments, whether you accept them or not is up to you, and for rewards... our side can also provide Divine Relics, and resources in the martial arts."


    Ning Yuantai earnestly said:


    "You''ve just started learning martial arts not long ago, hence there are many things you still don''t understand, and the environment in the Outer Ring isn''t great, leading to a lot of limitations on your perspective."


    "The path of martial arts is very long... much longer than you can imagine. The further and longer you go on this path, the more and more precious resources you''ll need."


    "Many resources can''t be bought even if you have the money, many talented Martial Artists, just because they lack resources, cannot break through, and waste decades..."


    "You don''t feel it deeply now because you are just at the beginning, not yet at the stage where you lack resources."


    "Believe me, linking up with Cease-Blades will definitely be very beneficial for you."


    Xue Jing remained expressionless, but smiled and asked, "Why are you all so persistent with me? Even willing to give such terms, is it because of Boss Wu?"


    Ning Yuantai seemed to hesitate for a moment, then nodded and then shook his head:


    "Honestly, there is that reason... mostly it''s because of that with White Crow, for me... it''s half and half."


    Xue Jing curiously asked: "What exactly is her identity that even people from your agency seem a bit eager to please her."


    Ning Yuantai pondered and said: "If you still don''t know... then I can''t say more, only she can tell you personally."


    "I see," Xue Jing nodded, then asked:


    "So... you said the reason is half and half, one half is because of Boss Wu, what about the other half?"


    Ning Yuantai did not answer this question but instead suddenly became very respectful... even reverent, cautiously saying:


    "Could you... let me see your eyes."


    ...


    [Someone''s faith and worship towards you increases, Charm Art Experience Points +236]


    After Ning Yuantai left, Xue Jing glanced at his panel, then closed it.


    The silver white in his pupils gradually faded, and his expression returned from indifference and scorn to normal.


    He eventually accepted Ning Yuantai''s invitation, becoming an external member of ''Cease-Blades'' following White Crow.


    If everything Ning Yuantai had said was true, then agreeing to this invitation would be quite beneficial.


    And Ning Yuantai... was unlikely to deceive him.


    "Charm Art combined with the Artistic Conception of Heaven''s Will Saber... very dangerous."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    He recalled Ning Fengwan''s reaction that day as well as Ning Yuantai''s reaction just now.


    "In ancient times, I reckon I could have played the role of Jesus or Sakyamuni for fun."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    He did not quite like this eerie attraction, even feeling a chill run down his spine.


    "I should try not to let people around me see this form, otherwise... I''m afraid something I don''t want to see might happen."


    Xue Jing sighed, dispelling the stray thoughts, and moved to the lakeside, where he sat down cross-legged.


    He then submerged his mind into the consciousness space and began to construct the scene.


    Streets, alleys, a rainy night...


    "Boom¡ª"


    "Splash splash splash¡ª"


    The torrential rain covered everything, and in the pitch-black night, the only source of light was the lightning flashing across the sky.


    Pixel blocks spun and converged, materializing Xue Jing''s body.


    He clenched his right hand, holding the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    Then, in front of him, another figure slowly appeared.


    "Crack¡ªBoom!"


    The lightning illuminated the pitch-dark alley for a moment, revealing the true face of that figure.


    An exceedingly handsome appearance, an indifferent and scornful expression, holding the Crouching Rabbit Sword in his right hand.


    And, those silver pupils that even the pitch-black night could not conceal.


    It was¡ªXue Jing himself.


    "Come on, let me see just how strong I really am..."


    Xue Jing was somewhat excited, flicking the Crouching Rabbit Sword in his hand, eyes tainted silver and white, yet a dark flame quietly burned at the center.


    The originally pitch-black rainy night was now clearly visible in his eyes.


    The silver-white blade was coated with a black film, and Xue Jing muttered to himself,


    "If it were me... how would I counter this move?"


    "Black Heaven Blade¡¤Whirlwind Thunder!"


    "Boom!"


    The thunder exploded.


    The pitch-black spiral of blade light shattered the ground and engulfed the pouring rain, grinding everything in its path like a meat grinder as it swept towards the opposing figure.


    ''Xue Jing'' did not move, without the slightest flinch, and as the pitch-black tornado neared him, his sword blade also coated with a black film.


    Then, holding the blade in both hands, his entire body began spinning rapidly like a top, turning into a vertical pitch-black tornado.


    Two tornadoes collided horizontally and vertically, creating a ''sizzling'' sound like metal grinding against metal, locking in a long standoff.


    Eventually, the long-range strike from Xue Jing ran out of force, fracturing into scattered blade light that split the rain curtain and carved countless deep rifts in the surrounding ground and walls.


    "Using Golden Scales Transformation in a blade-wielding stance to dissolve it, worthy of me."


    Xue Jing looked at the figure who had stopped spinning, unharmed, his eyes shining with excitement.


    He took a step on the spot, and ''Xue Jing'' disappeared from the original position at the same time.


    The next moment, numerous clanging sounds erupted.


    Two figures appeared and disappeared within the rain curtain, each encounter flashing with blade light and emitting sharpness, leaving sharp cuts on the ground and walls.


    Massive gaps in the rain curtain occasionally opened, the two moving non-stop at high speed, one moment on a high building and the next on the ground, the sound of metal clashing never ceasing.


    Both using Twin Speed, their action speeds were not human-like at all, almost as preposterous as a superpowered fighting comic.


    Pitch-black flames burst forth, and the buildings around exploded one after another; in just over ten minutes, the entire street was in ruins, a complete mess.


    At full power without the constraints of divine skills consumption, the two Xue Jings, even stronger than in reality, merely the aftermath of their battle, was terrifyingly formidable.


    ...

 Chapter 142 - 107: Xue Jing, Ambushed and Unarmed, Faces a High Wall Against Armed Assault (4K)

    My vision has become even stronger.


    Xue Jing slid open the glass door, stepped onto the balcony, and looked out at the street scene.


    His pupils focused and underwent a slight change, imprinting every detail of the scene into his eyes.


    Already enhanced by the Organ Training, coupled with the Lv7 Aiming skill, as long as there was no obstruction along his line of sight, he could clearly see objects dozens of kilometers away.


    Xue Jing''s gaze settled on a large tree at the roadside, several kilometers away.


    Through the gaps in the green leaves, he clearly saw a stink bug lying on the tree trunk, sucking plant juices.


    With a thought, Xue Jing''s pupils turned luminescent white, as if bathed in moonlight.


    Silently, the stink bug split symmetrically down the middle, with even the tiny feeding apparatus cut perfectly in two, the precision was exceedingly exaggerated.


    "Eh, it works at this distance too?"


    Xue Jing was slightly surprised.


    He had merely thought about it and instinctively tried the Tsukuyomi Slash at this distance, not expecting it to actually succeed.


    From over a dozen kilometers away, he had sliced the bug into two pieces.


    Xue Jing closed his eyes to feel the state of his spirit''s consumption.


    "...It''s the same as when cutting the crucian carp, there''s no increased consumption due to distance."


    He had a guess in mind.


    "Let''s experiment once more."


    Xue Jing looked around, then walked to a corner of the balcony where an angle allowed him to avoid a large building and open up a wider view.


    He then adjusted his eyes'' focus, aiming his sight at the rooftop of an apartment building almost thirty kilometers away.


    There was a row of plastic handrails for drying clothes.


    Suddenly, one of the handrails developed a sharp split, almost severing it completely in two, with just a layer of plastic barely holding it together, hanging by a thread.


    Xue Jing withdrew his gaze, the luminescent white disappearing from his eyes.


    "As expected... the consumption is exactly the same."


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    Tsukuyomi Slash was more powerful than he had originally thought.


    The range of this move was equivalent to his field of vision!


    As long as his eyes could clearly see a place, he could unleash this move.


    "This is a mechanism skill... the range ignores the spirit value, and hinges only on the mechanism..."


    "Assassinations from dozens of kilometers away... who the hell would expect that."


    And this wasn''t the limit.


    As his vision became stronger and he could see further and further...


    And if somehow, he could obtain some sort of x-ray ability to see past visual obstructions.


    Perhaps one day, he could snipe someone on the other side of Earth Star from half a planet away.


    "What about intercontinental sniper rifles..."


    "Feels like a beautiful mechanism."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    Just as he was contemplating the wonderful prospects of Tsukuyomi Slash, the sound of keys turning came from the main door.


    Xue Jing walked from the balcony into the living room, just as the door opened and Ning Fengwan, in her cat-eared girl form wearing glasses, walked in.


    She was carrying several semi-transparent white plastic bags in her hands, which appeared to contain vegetables, meats, and other assorted household items.


    "Teacher Wan, you went grocery shopping."


    Xue Jing approached and spoke softly as he reached out to take the bags from her.


    Ning Fengwan adjusted the glasses perched delicately on her nose, the lenses reflecting light.


    She was dressed in a light-yellow cotton linen dress with a black bow tied at the neckline, a sash wrapped around her slender waist, accentuating the plumpness and curvature above and below.


    The overall fresh and sweet attire, along with her just-below-the-knee skirt, showcased her perfectly proportioned, jade-like long legs, and the eye-catching cat ears on her head...


    Barely noticeable.


    Like a rock by the roadside, not eye-catching at all.


    "These glasses are really useful."


    Ning Fengwan nodded in satisfaction.


    The GOD-1280 that Wu Youqing had given to Xue Jing, she had been using lately. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With these glasses that suppressed her presence, she could now move around outside in her human form without fear of being discovered.


    Xue Jing began to put away the groceries Feng Wan had bought, chuckling at her comment.


    "They are indeed useful... just a shame they can''t be used on you anymore."


    He said with a touch of regret.


    A few days ago he had used the glasses for a cosplay, exploiting the burst of suppressed presence to extract a wave of Divinity from Feng Wan, triggering her activation of the second Heretic God ability of Bastet.


    It was named ¨C The Invincible Lionheart.


    Whether by coincidence or not, one effect of this ability was to become immune to mental disruptions.


    Although Xue Jing did not know the extent of this immunity, he tried the full day''s suppression and then released a burst of allure on Feng Wan the next day, and she... remained unmoved.


    The idea of using the GOD-1280 to extract a large amount of Divinity each day was thus abandoned.


    "Hmph, the same trick cannot be used on a Saint Fighter twice," Feng Wan said as she sat on the sofa, arms crossed, a smirk of pride on her pretty face.


    Her cat tail waved uncontrollably behind her.


    Hearing her words, Xue Jing simply shook his head and laughed, washing his hands as he casually said,


    "We''re taking a ship to Maple City tomorrow, do you need to prepare anything..."


    ...


    The next day, in the South City docks,


    Xue Jing, dragging a black trolley suitcase, headed towards the ticket checkpoint.


    The Crouching Rabbit Sword was tied with a rope to the suitcase, and on top of it sat a black cat with four white gloves.


    "Pets aren''t allowed on the cruise, and we''re going through security shortly, you''ll have to find your own way on board, no problem, right?"


    Xue Jing said to Miao Miao.

 Chapter 143 - 107: Xue Jing Ambushed, A High Wall Between Unarmed and Armed (4K)_2

    "Don''t worry, no problem," Miao Miao replied in a youthful girl''s voice, calmly but brimming with confidence.


    After merging with the power of the Cat Tail Ring for a while, she had already changed significantly.


    Not to mention the two Heretic God abilities she had acquired, her physical abilities had also been greatly enhanced, embodying the agility and strength of the Cat Goddess.


    Finding a gap that the staff failed to notice and using her light-body skill to scale the cruise ship was nothing but a simple task for her.


    "Woo¡ª"


    The sound of a steam whistle came from the sea, and Xue Jing turned his head to look. A massive black and white cruise ship was parting the vast waters and heading towards the dock.


    "Alright, we''ll regroup on the ship."


    Miao Miao said, and then her tiny figure vanished in an instant, moving so fast that no one knew where she had gone.


    Xue Jing didn''t mind but picked up his phone to check the ticket inspection time again, then he opened his camera and took a photo of the massive incoming cruise ship to send to his sister, Xue Wan.


    ...


    What Xue Jing didn''t notice was that not far from him in the dock''s warehouse area, several figures were hiding in a dark corner of the wall, secretly watching him.


    "Are you sure? Is that person really Xue Jing from Hidden Dragon Dojo?"


    One of the figures, a large bald middle-aged man, asked in a low voice.


    "It''s definitely him. That pretty boy look is unmistakable," replied a thin young man with long hair.


    "What do we do, big brother?"


    The bald middle-aged man pondered for a moment and said,


    "Go to the Golden Wind Dojo, notify Zhao, and take those ''guys'' out of the basement."


    The thin young man exclaimed,


    "Ah? Are we using guns? That doesn''t sound like a good idea."


    The bald middle-aged glanced at him and said indifferently, "That Xue Jing is a dangerous person who can defeat our junior brother alone¡­ Zhao might not be able to handle him, using guns is the only way to ensure nothing goes wrong."


    The thin young man looked worried, "But using guns will break the rules, and the Public Security Bureau..."


    "We can''t worry about that now," the bald middle-aged man said sternly.


    "These past few days, those from the Hidden Dragon Dojo have been causing trouble daily. Our master and the senior brother are severely injured. Zhang and Chen are in the Inner Ring. Su''s whereabouts are unknown, and now we don''t know what''s happening... "


    "Our Golden Wind Dojo has come to such a state in just a few days."


    "This Xue Jing is Li Qi''s most valued disciple. As long as we can capture him, the Hidden Dragon Dojo will have to compromise... "


    "Go on, take out all the ''guys.'' This is a rare opportunity; we''ll finish this in one fell swoop!"


    ...


    There was still some time before the ticket inspection, so Xue Jing, having nothing else to do, bought a bowl of Kanto stew and a portion of fries at the convenience store at the dock entrance. He walked to the seaside railing, where he stood enjoying the sea breeze and view while eating.


    "Ga¡ª Ga¡ª"


    Seagulls circled and squawked above, apparently noticing the food in the young man''s hand and casting menacing glances his way.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    A seagull dove from Xue Jing''s blind spot toward the fries in his hand.


    It was a habitual offender, adept at stealing fries, rarely failing in its endeavors.


    However, the young man seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, and just as the seagull''s talons were about to touch the fries, he moved them away.


    Following the first seagull''s failed attempt, the rest immediately swooped in to try to snatch the fries by force.


    The sound of fluttering wings was incessant as Xue Jing found himself surrounded by dozens of seagulls, encased in their midst.


    "Scram."


    A flash of silver-white passed through Xue Jing''s eyes.


    The tone was not harsh, and the voice wasn''t loud, merely the soft command to "scram."


    All the seagulls stiffened, their chaotic squawks coming to an abrupt halt.


    They then panicked as if encountering a savage beast, frantically flapping their wings as they scrambled away from Xue Jing.


    "Ah!"


    Some passersby, hit in the face and body by the frantic seagulls, couldn''t help but let out frightened screams.


    Black and white feathers scattered everywhere, and, as if nothing had happened, Xue Jing coolly skewered a fish ball on a wooden stick and popped it into his mouth.


    After finishing his snack, he dusted off his hands and took hold of the Crouching Rabbit Sword attached to the handle of his luggage.


    He began leisurely to unfasten the ropes of the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    Normally, weapons would not pass security, but he was a U19 elimination game contestant and thus had certain privileges.


    As long as he handed the sword to the staff for safekeeping after boarding, carrying it onboard was permitted, and he could retrieve it after disembarking.


    "Speaking of which, South City is the territory of Golden Wind Dojo, almost forgot that,"


    Xue Jing, holding the Crouching Rabbit Sword, turned around and looked towards the opposite warehouse area.


    Countless colorful containers were lined up, Xue Jing''s eyes slightly squinted as he looked at the desolate opposite side, seemingly noticing nothing unusual.


    But the faint sense of danger that had emerged in his mind stubbornly lingered.


    "Bang¡ª"


    A gunshot rang out, Xue Jing''s pupils contracted.


    In his field of vision, a steel bullet rapidly approached him; even with his dynamic vision at that moment, he could barely see it clearly, only perceiving a blurry line.


    "Clang!"


    Instinctively, Xue Jing swiftly drew his sword, positioning the blade in front of him.


    The bullet grazed the sword''s edge, splitting into two.


    Xue Jing did not hesitate to open his panel, and immediately applied the unselected Twin Lifes active effect to [Instinctive Intuition].


    [Now Activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense, Instinctive Intuition]


    The speed of the bullet, faster than the speed of sound, was something he couldn''t react to at the moment. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could only rely on instinctive intuition to make predictions.


    The next moment, dozens of figures emerged from behind the containers in the warehouse area.


    Each person was holding a firearm.


    Most were various models of handguns, but there were also a few with long-barreled guns that required both hands to hold.


    Xue Jing could not identify what kind of guns they were, when the sound of "Bang bang bang bang" of gunshots exploded incessantly.


    Dozens, hundreds of bullets were fired at him simultaneously.


    The pedestrians around screamed in terror and scattered in all directions.


    Xue Jing then stamped his foot on the ground and disappeared from his spot with great speed.


    Steel bullets hit the ground, railings, and benches.


    Some buried into them, others ricocheted, causing a mess where Xue Jing had originally stood, with stone shards flying everywhere.


    "To use firearms within the city areas... that''s quite bold."


    Xue Jing''s eyes slightly squinted, just as he was about to circle around and launch a surprise attack, a figure rapidly sprinted towards him.


    It was a very tall man, about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a goatee, dressed in a meticulous black suit and leather shoes.


    His gaze fixed on Xue Jing, his stern face showing anger.


    "Die!"


    With a loud shout, the man extended his palm in a ''Piercing Hand'' posture, thrusting towards Xue Jing.


    The fingertips rubbed against the air, actually making the hissing sound of a sharp object slicing through air, and faintly forming a sharp white cone at the fingertips.


    Xue Jing immediately recognized it as a technique from the Golden Wind''s White Rainbow Sword.


    "Aiming for my abdomen, not planning to kill me... I see."


    In a flash, Xue Jing understood what the other party planned.


    "Really underestimated me."


    "Dare to come close to me while I''m armed with a sword?"


    Xue Jing gripped the handle of the Crouching Rabbit Sword, his pupils tinged with silvery white.


    Spiral indentations appeared on his hands, extending towards his fist.


    The compressed spiral power poured into the body of the Crouching Rabbit Sword, causing it to tremble slightly and emit a buzzing sound.


    "Heavenly Sabre¡¤Whirlwind Thunder¡ª"


    "Boom!"


    A thunderous roar out of nowhere, a silvery-white spiral tornado of sword light whistled towards the man in the suit.


    The sharp white Piercing Hand met the spiral sword light tip to tip, and after a brief standoff in midair, clang¡ª


    "Ah!!"


    A scream, the man was blown back, the spiral sword light penetrated his palm, starting from his fingers, a deep spiral wound spread upward, directly gouging out the flesh of his entire arm, hanging tattered on the bones.


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing had somehow already appeared beside him, plunging a sword into his abdomen with a plop, the silvery white blade passing through his body.


    "Between the unarmed and the armed, there exists a high wall."


    Xue Jing looked at the man''s widened eyes, his tone flat as he spoke.


    ...

 Chapter 150 - 111: Titan God Brigade, The Invincible Lionhearts Warning, Russian Roulette (4K)

    Qiao Ying looked ecstatically at the exceedingly handsome youth before her.


    Indeed, the young person...although his attire and hairstyle were quite mature, with her experienced eye, she readily identified him as an underage youth, so tender he seemed almost dewy.


    His youthful face bore a mature composure, obviously his first visit to the casino, curious about everything yet exuding an unwavering self-confidence with no sign of stage fright.


    His posture was straight and proud, each step measured and unhurried, every move graceful yet casual, as if he were strolling in his own backyard.


    The muscles on his arms were soft yet firm, one touch was enough to know this was a body well-honed from exercise.


    She had found a treasure, Qiao Ying thought as she looked up at the side profile of the youth.


    As a member of the well-known ''Titan God Brigade'' from the Intersecting Boundaries, she had accumulated an unimaginable amount of stress in her daily work.


    In such a cutthroat work environment where one misstep could be fatal and one must always be ready to not live till the next day, one definitely needs to vent once in a while, or it would soon drive one to madness.


    Although she was on a mission now, and logically shouldn''t be ''hunting for beauties'' at such a time...


    She possessed high professional integrity, never slipping up mid-mission before.


    But this young man...was simply too tempting.


    Ever since their boss offended ''Joint Cultivation'', a super-conglomerate company, the brigade''s situation became increasingly grim, and her pressure grew greater, her spirit ever tighter.


    Sent to capture the Sea Bee King, she had searched long but not even seen a swarm, now only able to pin her hopes on information from that charlatan ''Mr. Hu'', a notorious joker who gave half-truths deliberately designed to mislead, leaving her anxious about what might happen and just waiting in unease.


    The pressure had built up too much, and she was nearly at a breaking point.


    Under such circumstances, how could she restrain herself upon encountering such a beautiful youth?


    If she missed the chance to have an encounter with this man, she would definitely regret it her entire life. After this thought emerged in Qiao Ying''s mind, she could no longer hold back, disregarding that she was still on a mission and stepped forward to embrace the youth''s arm.


    "...So, Mr. Xue, I shall take my leave first, enjoy your time."


    Chen Liang, who was beside them, revealed an I-know-everything look and chuckled as he spoke.


    "Then, see you later, Director Chen." Xue Jing nodded in response.


    Chen Liang turned and left, chuckling and shaking his head.


    Mr. Xue, after all, was a youth in his prime, interested in that sort of thing...


    Once he had left, Qiao Ying leaned her head on Xue Jing''s shoulder and said with a smile:


    "Little brother...what''s your name?"


    Having her arm held tighter and tighter, Xue Jing gave her a glance. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The woman''s face before him grew increasingly flushed, her eyes misting over, almost dripping with water, as if she had been drugged...


    Xue Jing considered for a moment, then leaned down to her ear and whispered:


    "Before asking someone''s name, you should introduce yourself first...what a rude, naughty sister you are."


    The warm and slightly hot breath on her ear made Qiao Ying go completely stiff, a tingling sensation starting from her scalp, spreading throughout her body, every pore expanding as if electrified, yet without any pain, but more like she was floating through clouds, an indescribable agitation spreading from her mind.


    An unimaginable pleasure nearly broke her spirit, Qiao Ying trembled all over, biting her teeth tightly, and covered her mouth with her hand.


    Xue Jing, noticing the few new spots on the carpet, moved his lips slightly, somewhat speechless.


    This was a bit...


    Qiao Ying''s eyes were foggy, her whole body hanging onto Xue Jing, looking at the youth who had overwhelmed her with just one sentence, struggling to maintain her last bit of clarity.


    "Sister''s name is a secret, no... I can''t tell you that."


    Qiao Ying spoke coyly.


    She had intended to blurt out a fake name, but at the moment of speaking, she strangely didn''t want to lie to the youth and ended up saying this playful line.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled, "That''s fine...meeting as strangers without knowing each other''s names has its own charm."


    "So, what shall we play?"


    ...


    In the suite on the twenty-second floor, Ning Fengwan lay on the bed, about to drift off into a drowsy sleep, when an irritable feeling suddenly arose in her heart, causing her to open her eyes.


    She furrowed her brows and placed a hand over her heart, saying in confusion, "What''s going on?"


    An inexplicable rage surfaced in her heart.


    It was a strange feeling of being violated.


    As if seeing her treasures that she would absolutely not allow anyone to touch being gradually handled by someone else, impatient, enraged.


    Yet she had no idea where the feeling came from.


    Ning Fengwan covered her head with the blanket, trying to forcefully suppress the feeling and go to sleep.


    But soon she threw off the blanket, sat up irritably, and furiously scratched her head with both hands.


    "Ahhhhh!!"


    Having a vague sense that ''The Invincible Lionheart'' was trying to alert her to something, Ning Fengwan gritted her teeth, stood up, opened her wardrobe, and began changing her clothes.


    ...


    "Won again, won again!?"


    "What is this, shooting a movie here? ''The Young Gambling God''?"


    "Must be on a winning streak of twelve games by now, right? Still winning, still on a streak!"


    At a blackjack table, surrounded by countless onlookers, everyone was watching with shock and envy the youth seated at one of the spots.


    Xue Jing smiled, casually pushing a large pile of chips to the side, crossed his arms, and watched the dealer across the table sweating profusely.

 Chapter 151 - 111: Titan God Brigade, The Invincible Lionhearts Warning, Russian Roulette (4K)_2

    "Brother, you''re amazing!"


    Qiao Ying sat next to him, clasping her hands together, her voice sweetly exclaiming in shock.


    The admiration and obsession nearly spilling out of her eyes could make any adolescent''s head spin.


    Xue Jing just smiled and didn''t speak.


    Qiao Ying silently clenched her teeth, thinking to herself that this man was incredibly difficult to deal with, completely unmoved by her reaction.


    But the flames in her heart, fanned by Xue Jing''s indifference, burned uncontrollably wilder, bordering on madness.


    ''I must have him...''


    ''If all else fails, even by force...''


    Qiao Ying thought fiercely.


    Although that would ruin most of the fun, she couldn''t stand it any longer. If she couldn''t have him, she felt she would surely suffocate.


    Unaware of the strange thoughts of the woman next to him, Xue Jing pinched his chin, thinking to himself:


    "It seems I really can become a Gambling God."


    Unfortunately for others, he possessed an absolute cheater''s tool in almost all gambling games¡ªthe ability to see through cards.


    With Visualization True, once he saw the cards and got enough information, he could immediately visualize what each covered card was.


    Like now, playing blackjack, being able to see the dealer''s hole card guaranteed his win rate, and seeing each card that would be dealt next let him understand the entire hand''s direction from the start.


    It was simply a god-mode with some rules and restrictions...


    He couldn''t lose, simply could not lose.


    As he was lost in thought, a booming voice suddenly echoed nearby.


    "Hey, you seem quite skilled."


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the table and turned around.


    A tall and robust man who made his suit bulge stood beside him, looking down at him with an emotionless gaze.


    Xue Jing''s gaze lingered briefly on the faint scars visible on the man''s face.


    "Interested in gambling a couple rounds with me?"


    The man spoke in a flat tone.


    Before Xue Jing could reply, Qiao Ying, who was beside him, stood up, her pretty face turning cold as she said, "Wei... what are you trying to do?"


    However, the man seemed not to have heard her and completely ignored her, his gaze fixed on Xue Jing.


    The surrounding onlookers sensed that the atmosphere seemed off, and the noisy scene started to quiet down.


    Xue Jing eyed the two individuals with Alien Implants and after a moment''s consideration, replied with a smile:


    "Sure, what do you want to bet on?"


    Upon hearing this, the man reached into his suit and, to everyone''s surprise, pulled out a silver revolver and slammed it on the table.


    The presence of the dangerous firearm instantly drew exclamations from the surrounding crowd.


    "A gun!? Is that real?"


    "What does this mean, betting with guns? Russian roulette?"


    Some quick-thinking staff members, seeing the man draw a gun, immediately left the scene to call security.


    Perhaps it was human nature''s curiosity, or disbelief that it was a real gun, but most people, upon seeing such a dangerous object, did not leave but instead watched on with great interest.


    Qiao Ying''s expression changed as she slammed her hand on the table, biting back, "Wei... don''t go too far!"


    Her slap was so powerful that it was entirely at odds with her appearance; the large table tilted and almost flipped over before finally settling back down under gravity''s pull.


    Chips and cards scattered across the floor with a loud clatter, and the revolver fell to the ground.


    The tall man finally turned his gaze to her, his expression still void of emotion as he said:


    "Excessive? The excessive one is you. Do you even know what you''re doing?"


    Qiao Ying stiffened, unable to respond.


    The man turned his gaze back to Xue Jing.


    "As you can see, Russian roulette. Are you in or not?"


    At that moment, a multitude of footsteps sounded; the crowd of onlookers parted, and Security Chief Chen Liang came through with a group of people.


    He looked around and seeing Xue Jing, he paused and hesitantly said:


    "Mr. Xue?"


    Xue Jing didn''t look at him, but gestured dismissively with his hand.


    Chen Liang understood, it was a sign for him to stay out of it.


    He nodded silently, holding his team back and joined the spectators.


    Xue Jing picked up the revolver from the ground.


    The silver gun was beautifully designed, much larger than a regular pistol, with a lengthy barrel, indicating a large caliber revolver.


    Not being a military enthusiast and paying little attention to the firearms of this world, Xue Jing couldn''t recognize what model the revolver was, but its appearance alone conveyed its tremendous firepower, far beyond that of a regular pistol.


    ''It''s like shooting a Hong Kong gambling film; things are getting interesting...''


    Xue Jing was amused, placed the revolver on the table, stood up, and looked directly into the man''s eyes, interest evident in his voice:


    "Alright, then let''s have some fun. What''s the stake?"


    Qiao Ying, who was standing by, suddenly became anxious upon hearing this.


    "Little brother, this is no joke, people really die! He''s a madman, don''t pay him any attention, can''t we go do something else?"


    Qiao Ying pulled at Xue Jing''s sleeve, looking at him with pleading eyes.


    Before having a showdown with this guy, how could he possibly die?


    Qiao Ying had a strong premonition that if she did not get this man, she would definitely be left with a lifetime of regret and emptiness.


    Would she have to sleep with a corpse then?


    The tall man gave Xue Jing a deep look: "Rare, you''ve got guts."


    He picked up the revolver on the table, removed the cylinder, then took out a brass-colored bullet from his pocket and inserted it into one of the chambers.


    The cylinder was closed and he gave it a spin with his hand, causing it to rotate inside the gun''s frame, and then it stopped.


    "The rules are simple, rock-paper-scissors decides who goes first, the winner of rock-paper-scissors can choose whether he or the opponent fires the gun first."


    "The chosen person points the gun at their own head, they can fire as many shots as they want, but they have to fire at least one."


    "There''s only one bullet in the gun, the other five are empty, which means that within six shots, one is definitely a live bullet."


    The man paused here.


    "As for the stakes... if you survive, I give you ten million Zhuxia currency."


    "If you die... no other price is needed."


    The man said indifferently.


    His goal was to stop Qiao Ying from fooling around and wasting time; just killing this youngster was enough, he didn''t need any other stakes.


    He knew exactly after which shot the bullet in the revolver would fire, now he just needed to win the rock-paper-scissors, choose to go first and this young man would be as good as dead...


    And as for rock-paper-scissors... heh.


    "You talk as if you''ve already won..."


    "But I find it interesting, I agree."


    Xue Jing said with a slight smile.


    Qiao Ying, beside him, clutched Xue Jing''s sleeve, shaking her head desperately:


    "No, don''t agree, you''re going to lose, it''s certain, you''ll really die!"


    The people around were excitedly buzzing with discussion:


    "They''re really going to play Russian roulette, that revolver is real!"


    "Never thought I''d see this kind of scene on a cruise, money well spent!"


    "I''m a bit scared to watch, but I really want to see it!"


    Ignoring Qiao Ying''s attempts to dissuade him and the commotion around, Xue Jing said with a light chuckle:


    "Shall we begin?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man gave him a penetrating look: "Interesting kid... I''ll remember you."


    He extended his arm, and Xue Jing did the same.


    "Rock paper... scissors!"


    Both raised their arms and swung down simultaneously.


    The tall man''s gaze hardened, and a blue light flashed in his left eye, with countless invisible data flickering and moving within it.


    From the tilt in Xue Jing''s eyes, to the twitching of his arm muscles, to the possible extensions of his hand...


    All the data was continuously analyzed by him, and ultimately, he drew his conclusion.


    Rock: 12%


    Scissors: 57%


    Paper: 31%


    Most likely scissors, huh...


    No matter, regardless of your move, in the final instant, I will change gestures at a speed you cannot see, and you will lose no matter what...


    The man thought this, and in the instant when their palms stopped, he saw Xue Jing''s gesture.


    It was actually paper...the data analysis wasn''t very accurate.


    The man quickly changed his palm to scissors at a speed imperceptible to the human eye.


    And then, the result was revealed.


    The man showed scissors.


    Xue Jing showed rock.


    "It looks like my luck isn''t too bad, I win."


    Xue Jing held up his fist-shaped hand and said with a light laugh.


    The man''s pupils contracted suddenly.


    This... how is it possible!?


    ...

 Chapter 154 - 113: Handy Shadow Flame, Hand Blade Waist Slash, Sea Bee Swarm Attack (4K)

    "This damn woman."


    The male with the Wei surname glanced at Qiao Ying''s body lying on the ground, a slight squint in his eyes.


    If it weren''t for her harboring ill intentions during the mission and insisting on getting involved with that young man, things wouldn''t have escalated to this extent.


    "Fortunately, she knew the task was more important... The trap is set, now to see what role it will play later."


    The man with the Wei surname shifted his gaze from Qiao Ying''s body to the young man not far away, who was spotlessly clean from head to toe.


    He very steadily unscrewed the cylinder of the revolver in his hand, silently loaded brass bullets into it.


    When he got to the last one, he took out a bullet that was all red and had a much sharper tip.


    After loading, he put the cylinder back in place, gave it a twist, and positioned the red bullet at the sixth round.


    "It''s a pity, I didn''t bring the [ISE] because it would have been convenient for action if we were to leave it at the base... Otherwise, I could have enjoyed a close-quarters fight with him."


    The man with the Wei surname seemed contemplative.


    "Now, with only one gun and without a massive firepower cover, it''s very hard to pose any threat to a Martial Artist of this level."


    "Should I go back to the room to fetch the equipment?"


    While he was pondering, Xue Jing, who had been going back and forth in the room, suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    He then bent down to pick up something from the ground.


    "Is that... dice?"


    The man with the Wei surname took a closer look at what Xue Jing had picked up.


    There were two sixteen-sided dice, presumably used in some sort of game, each face etched with Arabic numerals. They were much bigger than regular dice, almost a third the size of a fist, and by the looks of their color, they seemed to be made of metal.


    Just as he was wondering what Xue Jing was up to, he saw the latter close his eyes.


    Then he put one of the dice in his right hand, casually tossed it up, as if feeling its weight.


    The other hand was pointing in the air around him with an index finger while holding the other die.


    His finger stopped when it pointed in the direction of where the man with the Wei surname was.


    A bad premonition suddenly rose in the man''s heart.


    Trusting his instincts, he quickly dodged to the side.


    The next moment¡ª''Boom!''


    The spot where he had just been standing looked like it had been pierced through by a cannonball; the table, screen, glass, wall¡ªeverything in a straight line had a circular, spiraling hole torn through it.


    "¡ªWhat the hell is this thing?"


    The man with the Wei surname was astounded by the scene.


    Before he could make another move, a slender figure in a wine-red suit suddenly appeared before him.


    Just like being ''jump-scared'' in a horror game, startled but quick to react, the man with the Wei surname raised his revolver with lightning speed and didn''t hesitate to pull the trigger.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The revolving brass bullet flew towards the young man''s forehead and was, of course, deftly dodged as he tilted his head in advance.


    The man with the Wei surname hadn''t expected that shot to accomplish much, only aiming to briefly hinder the young man''s movements.


    After firing, he reached into the lining of his coat with great speed and took out a metal lighter with numerous tiny holes, quickly twisting the ignition. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No sparks came out; instead, the entire lighter exploded with a ''whizz.''


    An intense flash and a deafening bang emanated from the disintegrating lighter.


    "Buzz, buzz¡ª"


    The man with the Wei surname turned away, while a transparent, thin membrane suddenly grew out of his ear canal, blocking most of the damage from the noise exceeding one hundred and eighty decibels.


    Even so, his brain still trembled, a constant ringing in his ears, and he could barely keep his balance, staggering a couple of times, almost falling to the ground.


    He didn''t move rashly but silently waited for his disoriented brain to recover.


    The Shock Bomb had detonated right in front of him, he had prepared in advance, avoiding the Intense Light by turning away; the reflected brightness did little harm to his Prosthetic Eye, and the ear membrane guarded against most of the Sound Wave.


    For ordinary people, a Shock Bomb would cause immediate blindness and unconsciousness, but for him, in a matter of seconds, he would be able to regain his vision and bodily balance.


    Xue Jing, though, would suffer much more severely.


    This was a weapon aimed at sensory perception; a Martial Artist''s senses are more Agile than those of ordinary people, so overly sharp vision and hearing would cause them to suffer even greater damage.


    Now both men could be said to be incapacitated, and as long as he recovered first, Xue Jing would naturally be at his mercy.


    "Too young, to come close to me without any Defense measures... it''s over," he thought.


    But at that moment, an extremely violent impact hit his back, catapulting him off the ground like a javelin, spinning forward.


    "Bang¡ª"


    He was embedded into one of the large load-bearing columns in the casino, piercing it right through.


    "What''s going on!?"


    With a scorching pain in his back, the man with the Wei surname touched his back and found the skin twisted up as if pinched by an invisible hand.


    Looking back, his vision, now recovered, saw the slender figure.


    Xue Jing stood upright, retracting the fist he''d swung, without showing any signs of lost vision or balance.


    The man with the Wei surname shook his head as if his vision hadn''t fully recovered; it was somewhat blurred, an Illusionary Vision... He thought he saw Dark Flames flickering in the young man''s eyes and ear canals.

 Chapter 155 - 113: Handy Shadow Flame, Hand Blade Waist Slash, Sea Bee Swarm Attack (4K)_2

    The youth''s mouth moved slightly, as if he was saying something, but because his ears hadn''t fully recovered, he couldn''t hear clearly.


    "...So many tricks, too bad they''re useless against me."


    Xue Jing looked at the man with the Wei surname, the Shadow Flame quietly burning in his pupils and ears.


    As the man pulled out the shock bomb disguised as a lighter, Xue Jing instinctively used the Shadow Flame, turning the surrounding shadows into Dark Flame to block his ears and eyes.


    The violent intense light and sound wave, upon invading his eyes and ears, were directly incinerated by the annihilating Dark Flame, leaving nothing behind.


    He only felt as if a light breeze had brushed over his body.


    "This ability is too useful," Xue Jing couldn''t help but marvel.


    He stepped on the ground, approaching the man with the Wei surname, about to continue his attack.


    "Kid... don''t underestimate me!"


    The man with the Wei surname said in a low voice, and at the same time, his left hand suddenly swelled up significantly.


    It was not just a simple muscle expansion, but every part of the right hand enlarged to over ten times its original size in proportion.


    It was as if... a giant''s arm had been attached to a human body.


    "Hoo¡ª¡ª"


    The fist, several sizes larger than a cauldron, swung toward Xue Jing, bringing with it a fierce wind and momentum, stirring the air, clearly indicating tremendous power.


    But Xue Jing''s eyes lit up.


    "Interesting..."


    He even didn''t dodge and stood in place, seemingly ready to take the punch with his body.


    The man with the Wei surname had only intended to push him back, but seeing that Xue Jing seemed to have no intention of dodging, he immediately focused and gritted his teeth, causing the swollen arm to grow even larger.


    This move was his application of ''Giant''s Blood'' within his body, still very clumsy to use, and would increase the mutation rate of his body. He hadn''t planned to use it unless the situation was urgent.


    He hadn''t expected this kid to actually plan not to dodge and take it head-on...


    Then let you die!


    As the fist, much larger than his own body, came close, Xue Jing felt like he was standing in front of railway tracks, the giant fist like a train engine slamming into him.


    "Bang!"


    A loud noise erupted as the giant fist connected with his body, blasting out a ring-shaped wave of air.


    And Xue Jing actually stood firmly in place, not being directly blown away by the punch.


    He activated Twin Lifes Defense, his bones trembling and rumbling like rolling thunder, the immense force flooding into his body, yet absorbed, gradually supported, and transformed by his bones...


    Power surged, the Dragon''s Chant began.


    All the kinetic energy was completely absorbed by his bones. Even with Xue Jing''s physical resilience at that moment, his bones still began to wail with strain.


    With energy surging throughout his body, wrapping around the kinetic energy in his bones, Xue Jing turned around and threw a backhanded Swing Fist.


    Hidden Dragon School ¡ª Seal Cloud Tail!


    The long-unused Hidden Dragon counterattack skill erupted once again.


    In this punch, not only his own strength was included but also all the kinetic energy from the man with the Wei surname''s Giant punch.


    "Pff¡ªcrack¡ª"


    Without any resistance, the massive arm before him, starting from the knuckle of the middle finger, was cut open like it had been slashed by a knife.


    The slit kept tearing inward, like a piece of paper being ripped apart, from the fist bone to the forearm, the upper arm, the shoulder...


    "Aaaaah!!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huge amounts of blood and flesh gushed from the gigantic arm, scattering to the ground, as the man with the Wei surname, with his massive left arm and shoulder split in two, howled in agony.


    Xue Jing, feeling his bones still trembling slightly, praised the man with the Wei surname, saying:


    "Impressive... How did you manage that move, is it a kind of Alien Implant?"


    The man with the Wei surname''s massive left arm slowly shrunk back to its original size, still split in two from the middle of the knuckle, hanging limply on the ground like two noodles dangling from his body.


    He clutched his shoulder, breathing heavily, staring straight at Xue Jing.


    This monster...


    He actually withstood a Giant''s punch with a human body. At this age, it''s simply astonishing.


    "Alien Implant... sort of. My bone marrow has been implanted with ''Giant''s Blood,'' which is the blood from one of the strongest races of the ''Land-dwelling Species,'' the ''Giant Species.'' It allows the body to undergo changes similar to that of a giant."


    The man with the Wei surname spoke.


    Seeing that he seemed willing to cooperate and not making another move, Xue Jing didn''t attack again but inquired:


    "I''m very curious, what exactly are you two, and what is your purpose on this ship?"


    The man with the Wei surname appeared to have conceded, showing no other actions, and honestly answered:


    "We are members of the ''Titan God Brigade,'' a hunter group from the Intersecting Boundaries... Our purpose here is to capture a sea-dwelling creature known as the ''Sea Bee King.''"


    Xue Jing was about to ask more when suddenly his body tensed, and he felt a chill run down his spine.


    Subconsciously, the imprint of dragon scales appeared all over his body, and he thought about using the Golden Scales Transformation''s absolute defense.


    "Snap¡ª"


    At that moment, a noise came from the side.


    "Jing... I told you, with you on this ship, something was bound to happen."


    Ning Fengwan, who had appeared behind him at some point, was wearing a beautiful black lace dress and glasses, and spoke with a speechless expression on her face.


    She was reaching out with her slender, jade-like palm, grabbing the wrist of Qiao Ying, who also had mysteriously arrived behind him.


    "Teacher Wan..."


    And...


    Her?


    Xue Jing looked at the woman in surprise¡ªshe was supposed to have been killed by him already.


    Her neck had returned to normal, but the red fingerprint marks still remaining there told of what had just occurred.


    In her hand, she held a black dagger that was glowing green at the tip, silently vibrating.


    "High-frequency weapon?"


    "Damn!" The man with the Wei surname cursed as Qiao Ying''s sneak attack failed.


    This nail that had been planted from the beginning, the one that was supposed to decide the outcome, had been disrupted by a girl who had come out of nowhere!


    "Bang bang bang bang¡ª"


    The man with the Wei surname quickly raised his revolver, firing four shots at Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan.


    Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan dodged by moving swiftly to the side.


    "Go!"


    With a loud shout, the man with the Wei surname took to the air as if flying, and so did Qiao Ying¡ª


    It turned out that both of them possessed a flying ability similar to the ''Dragon Wing Device''.


    "Teacher Wan, leave the female to you."


    Xue Jing looked at Ning Fengwan and spoke softly.


    "Don''t worry..." Ning Fengwan adjusted her glasses, and through the reflections in the lenses, her narrow, phoenix eyes narrowed as they followed Qiao Ying ascending into the air.


    For some reason, even though it was their first encounter, she felt inexplicably irritated at the sight of this woman.


    From the tips of her fingers, sharp, silver-white claws sprouted.


    ¡ªSerpent Slayer Spearhead.


    Then, she vanished on the spot, and like a cat, she sped along the walls on all fours, rapidly closing the distance to Qiao Ying; each swipe of her claws punctured ten small holes, making it seem as though she was running on flat ground.


    The casino was a bounded space, only three floors high and just over a dozen meters; to her and Xue Jing, it made no difference whether the enemy could fly or not.


    Xue Jing took a step and used the stair railings to propel himself directly towards the man with the Wei surname.


    After what had just happened, he was no longer in the mood to play around.


    The man with the Wei surname, looking to evade in midair, suddenly encountered a pair of serene, silver-white eyes.


    They were like the moon in the sky, tranquil and gentle.


    Swiftly and silently, moonlight sprinkled onto his eyes, causing the man with the Wei surname to stiffen, immobilized.


    Xue Jing extended his right hand, his palm shaped like the blade of a knife.


    Black streams of air floated out from the shadows around him, condensing at the ''edge'' of his hand blade, coating it with a layer of sharp black membrane.


    Spiral indentations emerged from his arm, converging down onto the hand blade, all coming together.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    A black spiral thread flashed through the air.


    The man with the Wei surname was cleaved in two in midair, bisected at the waist.


    The two halves of his body fell to the ground, with organs, intestines, and blood spilling out.


    The upper half of the man with the Wei surname had an expression of lost consciousness, but his fingers were still reflexively pulling the trigger.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The revolver fired its last bullet.


    Whether by intention or coincidence, the crimson bullet flew towards the ceiling. The specially made bullet caused an explosion, blasting a large hole in the ceiling.


    At that moment, the entire ship suddenly tilted and shook, and an ear-piercing alarm echoed throughout. Panic-stricken voices came from the speakers scattered about.


    "Sea... Sea Bee Swarm, we have a Sea Bee Swarm attacking!"


    ...

 Chapter 162 - 116: Charm Art Sublimation, Purity Too Low, The Realm of Ultimate Skills (4K)

    "Bang¡ªBang¡ªBang¡ª"


    By the large swimming pool on the deck, Xue Jing, clad only in a pair of beach shorts, lay on a lounge chair. His physique was perfect for a human being, flawless and fully exposed under the sun as he wore sunglasses.


    The sounds of crew members repairing the cruise ship echoed in his ears. Half a day had passed since the Sea Bee Swarm attack, and it was now ten o''clock in the morning of the following day.


    After dealing with the Sea Bee Swarm last night, the crew, too weary and scared to continue, had only roughly patched up the leak in the hull to prevent more water from coming in before they all went to rest.


    It was only in the morning of the next day that the real repair work began.


    In the meantime, several rescue boats had carefully approached and, after a discussion with the management of the Infinite Nova, took away many passengers who were psychologically traumatized or severely injured during the sheltering.


    Xue Jing had initially planned to get on a rescue boat too, but none were bound for Maple City; they all aimed to take passengers to the nearest Qingcheng or other places.


    The Infinite Nova was supposed to sail back, but after learning that Xue Jing, the great benefactor who saved the entire ship, was headed to Maple City, the captain decided to give him a lift and directed the Infinite Nova to Maple City for repairs.


    And so, they came to the present moment.


    Picking up a cup of freshly squeezed juice from the small table beside him and taking a sip, Xue Jing stretched languidly, sat up, and took off his large sunglasses.


    "Splash¡ª"


    Water sprayed from the pool as Ning Fengwan''s slender figure emerged. She reached for the ladder and climbed out of the pool.


    The cat-eared girl wasn''t wearing glasses, and at the moment, she was dressed in a black and white backless one-piece swimsuit that perfectly accentuated her figure.


    As soon as she got ashore, she tilted her head, reached up, and patted her head, causing her cat ears to twitch as if trying to shake out the water.


    Then, much like a cat shaking off water, she began to furiously fling herself about, sending her black hair into a flurry around her.


    Droplets and mist exploded from her, soaking the front of Xue Jing''s body.


    Xue Jing wiped his face, looking at her somewhat speechlessly.


    "Hmph~"


    With a proud tilt of her chin, Ning Fengwan grabbed the juice from Xue Jing''s hand and took a sip.


    She then glanced around.


    "...It really is just the two of us here, no one else."


    They were the only two in the massive waterpark on the deck, utterly deserted.


    If not for the sounds of the ship being repaired reaching their ears, the whole cruise ship would have felt like a ghost ship.


    Shaking his head slightly, Xue Jing sighed softly, "I can''t understand what these passengers are thinking."


    Despite many passengers having been taken away by the rescue ships, there were still at least two thousand left on board.


    Even after yesterday''s Sea Wasp swarm attack, though most people weren''t in the mood to frolic, there should still be some around.


    In fact, when Xue Jing had first arrived at the waterpark, there were still dozens of passengers playing there.


    However, as soon as they saw him approach, all the guests fell silent and bowed reverently to him.


    Some even made praying gestures towards him, as if worshipping a deity.


    Afterward, everyone gradually left the waterpark area, leaving only Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan behind.


    "This Charm Art skill..."


    Xue Jing opened his panel and took a look.


    [Charm Art Lv10 (3221/?)


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    First, ????? (Fulfilled)


    Second, reach Level Lv10 (Fulfilled)


    Third, required Divinity: 1000]


    Last night, after he killed the Soldier Bee and was standing on the deck striking a hero pose, numerous panel alerts popped up.


    [Someone has begun to worship you with faith, Charm Art Experience Points +89]


    [...Charm Art Experience Points +102]


    [...Charm Art Experience Points +133]


    [...Charm...]


    The myriad of alerts pushed his recently leveled up Charm Art directly to Lv10.


    Then, similar to the Fitness, a Skill Sublimation prompt was triggered.


    Unlike Fitness, whose ''First Condition'' remains a mystery, Charm Art''s first condition was also a question mark, but it already indicated ''Fulfilled.''


    Now, only the last condition, a thousand Divinity, was needed to sublimate the skill.


    But ... it felt tiresome.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    He always had some reservations about the Charm Art skill and didn''t like it much.


    Yet, ironically, it was the skill for which he most easily gained experience.


    Just like yesterday, when he struck a hero pose and so many passengers witnessed it, pushing it straight to Lv10.


    So much Experience Points, if only they could be applied to other Skills besides Cooking.


    "Objectively speaking, Charm Art is useful," Xue Jing thought.


    Since obtaining a panel after crossing, he had inadvertently reaped many benefits from Charm Art.


    Many people''s kindness and Favorability towards him were thanks to this skill... Although he had not specifically thought about it, he understood that this skill had brought him many advantages.


    Nevertheless, he simply didn''t warm up to this skill.


    How to put it... it didn''t fit his aesthetic.


    There wasn''t a pure kind of beauty in its strength.


    This skill was powerful, but it was an ''impure kind of strong.''


    Simply put, it was crooked and a bit annoying. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The purity was too low.


    Even knowing how exaggerated this skill would become upon sublimation and the benefits that would follow, he didn''t want to spend Divinity on it.


    It was like playing a game where a skill, though very useful, wasn''t cool enough, not likable, not something he wanted to use.


    "I''ll just leave it as it is for now. I''ll sublimate it someday when there''s an excess of Divinity to spare."

 Chapter 163 - 116: Charm Art Sublimation, Purity Too Low, Ultimate Skills Realm (4K)_2

    Xue Jing looked at the experience bar behind his Charm Art level on the panel.


    (3221/?£©


    The experience needed for leveling up had turned into a question mark.


    However, he could still continue gaining experience points, and he didn''t know what the situation was.


    Had he reached the current level''s maximum and needed to ascend before he could continue improving?


    Or had it simply become invisible?


    As he pondered, Ning Fengwan beside him yawned.


    "...those two from the ''Titan God Brigade'' we ran into yesterday."


    The young girl began to speak.


    "These two, they might not be dead yet."


    When Xue Jing heard this, he interrupted his thoughts, somewhat surprised.


    "Oh? Why do you say that?"


    "Aren''t their bodies still on the ship? One was bisected at the waist, and the other was cut into six pieces by you..."


    Ning Fengwan sat down on the armrest of Xue Jing''s lounge chair, her ample buttocks slightly marked by her swimsuit, which became even more prominent as she sat down, exhibiting an astonishing sexual allure against the backdrop of her slender waist.


    "To say they are not dead... it''s also hard to say whether they are truly dead."


    The young girl stretched her hand to tuck her damp black hair behind her ear, a gesture steeped in a strange femininity. From Xue Jing''s angle, he could clearly see her exposed pale neck.


    "You know about ''consciousness upload'' from science fiction, right?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow:


    "That is very cyber... Has our technology really advanced to this level?"


    Ning Fengwan shook her head:


    "Just our own human technology is still facing many unsolvable problems. Right now, we can''t achieve that."


    "But, a company called ''Deep Blue Network'' has mastered the technology of ''consciousness upload'' using some method."


    Curious, Xue Jing asked, "What method?"


    Ning Fengwan ran her fingers through her hair and said casually, "I don''t know."


    "It''s the core secret of their company; they can''t reveal it to the outside¡­ However, many speculate that Deep Blue Corporation likely possesses a creature from the Intersecting Boundaries in the form of a ''consciousness life-form,'' hence they mastered ''consciousness upload.''


    "Anyway, since Deep Blue Corporation acquired this technology decades ago, many people have chosen to backup their consciousness in the Deep Blue Network."


    "Of course, it''s quite expensive."


    She twirled her long hair around her finger, looking at Xue Jing.


    "For a group of Intersecting Boundaries Hunters like the Titan God Brigade, who do things ordinary people can''t do, although their lives are at constant risk, every member is very rich; the cost of consciousness upload is not unaffordable for them."


    "Yesterday, I checked the corpses of those two, and found that their thalamus was stuffed with a deep blue-colored small sphere connected to countless nerves."


    "Afterwards, I went to check on the Inside World forum and found that this sphere is used to upload their consciousness memory data to the Deep Blue Network at any time." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing pinched his chin: "No wonder these two seemed fearless of death..."


    Especially that woman, who was starry-eyed with love looking at him before she died.


    Originally, he thought it was because they frequently walked the line between life and death. Now, it seemed there was another reason.


    "But in the end, whether the dataized self after consciousness upload is still the original self, is also quite hard to determine."


    Ning Fengwan crossed her arms, pushing up her European cup: "This is one of the perpetual difficult problems for humanity, the Ship of Theseus?"


    Xue Jing sipped some juice and casually asked, "So, is Deep Blue Network the only one with ''consciousness upload''? Don''t they hold countless secrets then?"


    Ning Fengwan said, "Naturally, they would sign very strict agreements not to violate customer privacy... However, whether they adhere to them is another question."


    "Real secrets are also only known to the big shots... Currently, there seems to be no one considered a ''big shot'' who has uploaded their consciousness into the Deep Blue Network...


    After all, this technology has only been around for a few decades, and many concepts, ethics, as well as considerations from many aspects, have made consciousness upload not so popular, and thus Deep Blue Network''s market value is also ranked low among major companies."


    She paused, then continued:


    "Besides, there are other methods of life extension aside from consciousness upload... Only those like the Titan God Brigade, who frequently face life-and-death crises on a physical level and have a need for life extension, yet cannot access other methods, would choose consciousness upload."


    ...


    Having chatted leisurely with Ning Fengwan for a long time and gained much knowledge, Xue Jing went to have lunch at noon.


    Afterward, he returned to his suite.


    Ning Fengwan reverted to her Miao Miao form and was already curled up on the bed, deep in sleep.


    Opening the glass door of the balcony, Xue Jing stepped outside, inhaling the salty sea breeze and listening to the incessant sound of the waves, he closed his eyes, his mind sinking in.


    In the Consciousness Space, countless pixels rotated and emerged, constructing the Infinite Nova that was indistinguishable from the real one.


    Shortly after, Xue Jing''s own body appeared on the ship.


    Yesterday, he was so tired that he went straight to bed without having the chance to test how much stronger he had become.


    With a thought, countless pixels gathered in front of him, forming a barbell that looked rather exaggerated.


    The huge black weight plates on both sides were packed full, clearly indicating the weight was extraordinary.


    Xue Jing walked up, gripped the barbell, tensed his muscles, and lifted it.


    "A ton of weight... not bad."


    Xue Jing lifted the barbell above his head; the alloy bar could hardly bear the weight of the plates on either side, bending like a bow and emitting a creaking sound of metal distortion.


    He couldn''t recall how long it had been since he had tested his actual Physical Strength value.


    Xue Jing swung the barbell in his hands around and then hurled it upward with force.


    "Creak¡ª"


    The alloy barbell bent to an extreme state and then snapped with a loud crack.


    "Actual strength values don''t really matter anymore, they don''t align with the combat power you can actually exert..."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    A powerful Martial Artist can interfere with their own reality through their spirit, exerting combat strength beyond the physical limits of their body.


    Like him, in terms of pure physical strength at the physical level, he could probably lift one ton or two, and at most not more than five tons.


    Such a level of strength sounds quite impressive, but in reality, it couldn''t even lift a road roller.


    With the addition of Power, maybe he could exert seven or eight tons of strength, but it still wasn''t much in terms of combat power.


    However, what about the combat performance he could actually exhibit?


    One slash could send out Saber Qi extending over ten meters, and with the addition of Shadow Flame, he could create a black tornado and cause water to be drawn up from the sea.


    The strength of which, without going into details yet, the range alone was absurdly high, entirely beyond the things a mere few tons of strength could achieve.


    With a thought from Xue Jing, pixels gathered in front of him, forming a robust figure.


    "Come on, elder brother, it has to be you."


    Xue Jing clenched his hands into fists and clashed them against each other twice.


    After the figure of his eldest disciple brother, Meng Boshang, appeared, he glanced at Xue Jing and nodded with a calm and composed face, as if to say hello.


    Xue Jing was momentarily startled upon seeing this.


    It seemed that the upgrade to Visualization True had made the simulated figures a lot more lifelike.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Extreme¡ª"


    "Boom!"


    Meng Boshang stood with his hands behind his back, taking the punch on his chest. His front garment immediately burst open, revealing a robust chest.


    It was filled with densely packed dragon scale imprints, far more detailed than the Dragon Scale Skin that Xue Jing used.


    "...even the personality seems to be partly reenacted, previously it was definitely the arms blocking this move."


    Xue Jing was somewhat speechless.


    He felt that he had been shown up by his elder brother without even realizing it.


    With a thought, he healed his own injuries.


    "Come to think of it, I''ve also mastered Eye-Penetrating Flow, I''ve already learned all five of Hidden Dragon School''s ultimate moves."


    "Next up, I''m touching on the domain of Five Murders Combine into One."


    "Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point... how should I go about it?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    ...


    (Transition chapter, stuck on writing, update is a little late)

 Chapter 164 - 117: Combined Killing Move, Shadow Flame Upgrade, Revival of the Shadow Beast (4K)

    "Five Murders Combine into One is the ''Eye-Dotting''... but the method of channeling energy for each killing technique is like trying to mix oil with water..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected deep thought.


    "Is this really possible?"


    For each killing technique of the Hidden Dragon School, executing them required precise coordination throughout the entire body to conjure up special types of power.


    For instance, Whirlwind Thunder, although it mainly involves ''muscles'', to forcibly create that kind of spiral compression, the cooperation of blood, bones, tendons, and even the skin is indispensable.


    Among the five killing techniques, only the Eye-Penetrating Flow is slightly different, only involving the tendons... Yet even so, while executing the Eye-Penetrating Flow and channeling through the tendons, it is impossible to execute other techniques that also require the cooperation of tendons.


    "Unless I could make every part of my body move on its own..."


    "Whirlwind Thunder only uses muscles, Shaking Star Fire only uses blood, Seal Cloud Tail only uses bones, Golden Scales Transformation only uses skin, and Eye-Penetrating Flow only uses tendons... Now, it seems only Eye-Penetrating Flow is doable."


    Xue Jing gripped his palm.


    If it were just about making a part of the body move on its own, he could already do it now.


    Hidden Dragon Vigor let his power manifest as a True Dragon, almost developing its own consciousness, and coupled with ''Visualization True'', his spirit underwent a transformation, allowing him to achieve control of power to the point of ''Strength Reaching Four Extremities''.


    The so-called four extremities refer to the fingers, tongue, teeth, and hair.


    These are actually four minor realms, and the first one is ''Power Through Fingertips, Finger Flicking Strike''.


    Yet Xue Jing had already learned the most difficult ''Vigor Reaches the Hair Tips'', being able to control hair, which lacks nerves, as if manipulating hands and feet with sheer force.


    With his level of power control, it was possible to make a single body part move independently without affecting other parts.


    But that was all.


    Similar to a newborn baby, being able to move the feet doesn''t mean it can walk.


    Creating the spiral compression form of Whirlwind Thunder with just the muscles... For Xue Jing at present, it was like asking someone who had just learned basic arithmetic to solve calculus.


    "Forget about combining the Five Murders for now; it''s simply impossible."


    Xue Jing mused.


    "However, I can try combining two techniques instead..."


    "For example¡ªcombining the explosive power of Whirlwind Thunder and the penetration of Shaking Star Fire to detonate directly inside the enemy''s body."


    "But the difficulty of that is too great, one technique is the extreme of rigid force and the other the extreme of soft power."


    The mere thought made Xue Jing''s scalp tingle.


    "The channeling of Seal Cloud Tail''s power doesn''t conflict too much with Whirlwind Thunder or Shaking Star Fire, so that could be a place to start."


    "However, I should still start with the simplest."


    At a thought, Xue Jing''s pupils transformed into vertical slits of a dragon''s eye.


    Without harnessing the Heavenly Blade Mindset, his pupils changed from dark brown to dark gold instead of silver-white.


    After initiating the Eye-Penetrating Flow, Xue Jing looked at his eldest senior brother.


    Unlike the ''lines'' and ''dots'' he saw when looking at the Sea Wasp, when he looked at Meng Boshang with the Eye-Penetrating Flow, he saw¡ªnothing on his body.


    The so-called lines and dots are visual manifestations of vulnerabilities, weak spots, and the like.


    At this moment, his eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang, stood calmly with his hands behind his back; in Xue Jing''s vision of Eye-Penetrating Flow, not a trace of weakness could be seen.


    "...Truly worthy of being the eldest senior brother."


    Xue Jing shifted his gaze and looked down at the deck underfoot.


    He focused on a rectangular wooden plank, and immediately, several lines appeared on it.


    Xue Jing gathered a bit of sharp energy on the big toe of his right foot and ran it along one of the lines.


    The wooden plank was easily split open, revealing that the cut followed the grain of the wood¡ªthis was the spot where the plank was most susceptible to splitting.


    "For now, the eldest senior brother is a no-go. Let''s change targets."


    Meng Boshang''s image pixelated and disappeared, replaced by Wei Chu, a man from the Titan God Brigade.


    As the robust figure appeared, Xue Jing looked intently, and although they were sparse, he still could see several ''lines'' across his body parts. As for ''dots'', there were very few¡ªjust some faint ones near the heart, neck, and head that were almost invisible.


    These transformed people, with alien implants filling their bodies, had very few vulnerabilities.


    "Maintaining the Eye-Penetrating Flow state, use another killing technique..."


    Xue Jing exhaled softly, steadying his mind.


    The True Dragon manifested within, power stirred, blood boiled and burst forth with Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Threads of soft power began to form in sync with the circulation of inner power, ready to converge at the fist...


    Xue Jing struggled to maintain control, trying not to involve the tendons, and to preserve the Eye-Penetrating Flow''s circulation.


    However, the operation of Shaking Star Fire instinctively affected a part of the tendons soon after, causing issues in the Eye-Penetrating Flow''s operation, and his pupil reverted from vertical to normal.


    Xue Jing felt a sharp pain in his forearm, where a small bump emerged as if a ball was embedded underneath¡ªan error in power circulation resulted in a problem with the tendons there, twisting into a knot.


    "It''s difficult... but not impossibly so."


    Xue Jing nodded, circulating power to dissolve the knot in his tendons.


    Then he continued trying.


    The second attempt saw Xue Jing''s power circulation become even more aggressive, his right shoulder burst open with a splash of blood as the boiling blood and tangled tendons collapsed together, exploding.


    Though the injury was quite severe, this was only a consciousness simulation, and Xue Jing paid it no mind, restoring his body with a thought and continuing his trials.

 Chapter 167 - 118: Creation-level Shadow Flame Activation, Dominating Onshore, Had Enough? (4K)_2

    Xue Jing guzzled his soda with a loud gulp, emitting a satisfying sigh.


    ...


    "Whoo¡ª"


    The enormous horn of the cruise ship echoed across the sea surface, as the Infinite Nova was already nearing the Maple City Port.


    Dressed in casual clothing, Xue Jing stood with his hands on the railing, gazing towards the distant unfamiliar city.


    Seagulls circled overhead, squawking nosily, as the gentle sea breeze ruffled his hair, bringing a hint of saltiness.


    "Hm? The wharf over there seems quite lively."


    Xue Jing suddenly spoke up.


    Standing a half-step behind him, Security Chief Chen Liang was momentarily stunned before he too glanced towards Maple City Port.


    But with his eyesight, at this distance, he could only make out the more noticeable buildings of Maple City Port, unaware of the specific situation there.


    "Maple City is a central coastal area with developed waterway transport, so it tends to be a bit crowded," Chen Liang casually remarked with a smile.


    He then seemed to recall something, adding,


    "Right, the U19 elimination round is about to start; I almost forgot you''re here to compete, Mr. Xue... Some well-known players usually arrive in Maple City by ship around this time."


    "A lot of journalists will be at the dock to interview the competitors, oh, and us too."


    Chen Liang scratched his cheek.


    "The news about the Infinite Nova being attacked by the Sea Bee Swarm the day before yesterday has already broken, many journalists got the message and know the ship will dock at Maple City for repairs, so they''ll definitely come over to interview the passengers."


    Xue Jing''s pupils focused slightly as he observed two figures on the dock, approaching each other with an imposing air, their faces filled with a fighting spirit.


    After thinking for a moment, he pulled out his mobile phone and called his sister, Xue Wan.


    After two rings, the call was picked up.


    "Yayaya~ have you arrived?"


    A cheerful, pleasant voice came through the receiver.


    "Sis, where are you?" Xue Jing asked, keeping an eye on the situation at the dock.


    "I''m inside the port''s waiting hall; what''s up?"


    Xue Wan sounded puzzled.


    Waiting hall...


    Xue Jing paced back and forth on the deck, adjusted his line of sight, and located the building labeled "Waiting Hall."


    It was quite close to those two who appeared about to start a fight...


    "Just to be safe,"


    Xue Jing thought.


    Then he said into the phone, "Just stay inside the hall, don''t go out to the dock, it might be a bit dangerous out there."


    "What danger?"


    Before Xue Wan could get a clear answer, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    Then, turning to Chen Liang beside him, he said,


    "Director Chen, I''m going to go ashore now, please look after my luggage for me. I''ll come to collect it after the ship docks."


    "Ah?"


    Chen Liang looked puzzled and confused.


    Heading to shore first? How so?


    They were still at least a nautical mile (1.85 kilometers) from the dock...


    Could Mr. Xue be planning to swim there? What could be so urgent?


    Before Chen Liang could figure it out, he saw the young man in front of him hurdle the railing, sprint across the lower deck, and rush towards the sea from the bow of the ship.


    Just as Chen Liang thought Xue Jing truly intended to swim, the scene unfolding before him made his eyes widen in astonishment.


    Since they were soon to dock, many passengers were near the bow enjoying the scenery and chatting, when suddenly, one of the passengers pointed at the sea ahead and exclaimed:


    "Look!"


    "Damn, is he walking on water?"


    "Wait, that''s Mr. Xue!"


    "It''s Mr. Xue, that''s not surprising then."


    "After all, it''s Mr. Xue, this kind of move is normal for him."


    Once they recognized it was Xue Jing, most passengers instantly stopped being surprised and displayed an expression that said it was to be expected.


    Across the sea, a figure gracefully moved forward on the water surface, resembling a dragonfly.


    It wasn''t through frenzied stepping or creating miracles by force.


    Instead, it truly looked like something out of the legends of Qinggong, as he lightly touched the water surface with his feet, and his whole body would float forward several meters without even splashing, just a series of gradually expanding ripples.


    Xue Jing thus elegantly and swiftly made his way towards Maple City Wharf across the water.


    Naturally, this wasn''t any Qinggong, nor was it the utilization of Power.


    Instead, whenever he stepped on the sea surface, he used his Shadow Flame to form a solid, palm-sized black plate beneath his feet, stepping on it to leverage himself forward.


    It wasn''t really water-walking after all.


    "Such a convenient skill..."


    He couldn''t help but comment.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the dock.


    "Du Mingluan, you shorty managed to be selected as a seed player? Has the Xuanjiao Club degraded to such an extent?"


    A young man with grayish white long hair, dressed in a black athletic outfit, with large knuckled hands and a youthful face scoffed mockingly. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The one being mocked, a boy named Du Mingluan, with a sweet and youthful face, dressed casually in a t-shirt and shorts, appeared barely over 1.6 meters tall.


    His eyes narrowed as he spoke, "Kou Chengjian..."


    As he raised his head slightly to meet Kou Chengjian, who was a head taller and had approached him, Du Mingluan, despite being much shorter, showed no weakness in his demeanor.


    "You dodged the bullet at the last Southern Exchange, but you won''t be so lucky this time."


    There was undisguised malice in Du Mingluan''s tone.


    "I''ll break your legs on the ring."


    Kou Chengjian chuckled, seemingly amused.


    "You shorty, you''re barely this tall, and yet you talk so big."


    Kou Chengjian crossed his arms and looked down at him.


    "On the ring? I''m worried you won''t get to me, and someone else will take you down halfway through!"


    "How about we settle this now, boy? Are you up for it?"

 Chapter 168 - 118: Creation-level Shadow Flame Activation, Dominating Onshore, Had Enough? (4K)_3

    Du Mingluan wore an expression that clearly asked if something was wrong with his brain.


    "Are you crazy? Starting a fight here, with so many ordinary people around, any trouble will get you disqualified immediately."


    Kou Chengjian chuckled.


    "What, too scared?"


    "Signed a contract for eighty million a year, claimed to be last year''s most expensive youthful prodigy of the Outer Ring, and that''s it; that''s all?"


    "A master of marketing, yet both height and courage are equally lacking?"


    Du Mingluan took a deep breath.


    "I know, you''re just jealous of my salary, wanting me to mess up and breach the contract."


    As he spoke, Du Mingluan''s hair started to move as if there were no wind.


    "Such a low-grade provocation¡­"


    "But, I accept it." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right here, right now, I''m going to cripple you."


    "Boom!"


    A fierce rumbling echoed across Maple City Wharf as two figures clashed, a ripple of air expanding from the center where they met, blowing passersby so they could hardly open their eyes.


    Soon after, the crowd realized that two formidable martial artists had actually begun fighting in such a public place.


    They quickly scrambled away from the area.


    In the waiting hall, a striking figure sat elegantly on a lounge chair, legs crossed in a queenly pose, one hand scrolling on a phone, the other cradling her chest.


    She was dressed in a beige mini-dress, revealing legs smooth as jade, with white shoes on her feet and slightly curled black hair cascading down like a waterfall, so sleek one could tell at a glance that it was incredibly soft, perfect for a shampoo commercial without any special effects.


    Her lovely face currently wore a gentle expression, her milky, delicate skin seemingly glowing softly.


    "Boom!"


    Hearing the loud noise and feeling the tremors from outside the hall, Xue Wan turned her head towards the source of the sound, tilting her head curiously.


    "Bang!"


    The walls of the hall suddenly burst apart.


    "Ahh!"


    The people in the hall screamed.


    Countless fragments flew in all directions, and Xue Wan was also within the range of debris.


    She blinked as the marble floor beneath her feet cracked unnoticed, a tender green sprout forcefully sprouting through the crack, pushing up the tiles and rapidly elongating into a whip, swatting away the incoming fragments.


    From the exploded part of the wall, two figures were entangled, exchanging relentless punches and kicks, creating terrifying explosions and visible waves of air.


    As the fight continued, the two gradually moved closer to where Xue Wan was sitting.


    And amidst such dangerous circumstances, she seemed oblivious, sitting motionlessly in her spot.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang!!"


    Just as the two fighting youths drew near Xue Wan,


    a figure dashed rapidly from a distance over the sea, the swift movement parting the waters on either side, creating bursts of spray.


    In the waiting hall, the two youths were fiercely battling, completely oblivious to their surroundings, fighting right before Xue Wan.


    The wind from their punches and kicks caused her long hair to flutter backwards; Xue Wan leisurely lifted her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.


    At that moment, an incredibly fast figure leaped through the hole in the wall.


    The two entangled youths had no time to react before their heads were each pressed down by a long, slender palm.


    Then, an irresistible massive force surged, and they helplessly watched each other''s faces drawing closer and closer...


    "Had enough?"


    Along with a reprimand, the heads of the two, mouth to mouth, collided...


    ...


    (Secretly coding late into the night, fell asleep... the update is late again.)

 Chapter 169 - 119: One Slap Each, The Gate to the New World, The Bizarre Sister (4K)

    "Smack¡ª"


    The collision of lips was so intense it sounded like a clap of hands.


    Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian''s eyes widened as they stared at each other from just a breath away, utterly unable to accept reality, their eyes filled with disbelief.


    Thus, the kiss lasted for more than a second.


    "Click¡ª"


    The sound of a camera''s shutter snapped nearby, and a flash of light finally brought them back to their senses.


    They immediately pushed each other away with all their might, breaking free from the hold Xue Jing had on the back of their heads, and putting distance between them.


    "Ugh¡ª"


    Then they dramatically began to retch, furiously wiping their lips as if they wanted to tear off the outer layer of their skin.


    "Hahaha."


    Xue Wan held her phone, watching the photo she had just taken, covering her mouth with one hand, and trembling with laughter, absolutely delighted.


    "Sis, can''t you dodge a bit? Standing there like a block of wood."


    Xue Jing looked at her speechlessly and said.


    Xue Wan waved her hand, her face full of smiles, "I was so shocked that my legs went weak; I couldn''t move at all."


    So shocked her legs went weak?


    Xue Jing looked at her, cheerfully viewing the photo on her phone, and genuinely found no trace of her being startled.


    "My silly pea, it''s been months, how have you grown taller again?"


    Xue Wan stood up and reached out to touch Xue Jing''s head.


    She was tall and well-built, at least over five foot seven, and reaching Xue Jing''s head posed no challenge for her.


    While speaking playfully, Xue Wan''s eyes were quite gentle, obviously very happy to see her brother after such a long time.


    "...Hmm? What''s with your face, did you get plastic surgery?"


    She patted Xue Jing''s cheek, puzzled.


    "It doesn''t seem changed... but why does it look much prettier?"


    "Oh, these muscles..."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, and he grabbed Xue Wan''s hand which was wandering all over him.


    Meanwhile, an irritated and angry voice came from the side.


    "Hey, woman."


    "Did you just take a photo? Give me your phone."


    The shorter Du Mingluan''s face was dark as he reached out his hand towards Xue Wan.


    Xue Wan cocked her head, a look of ''don''t worry, I understand'' on her face, speaking in a friendly tone, "Don''t worry, I''ll add your contact later and send you the photo."


    Du Mingluan paused, "That''s not what I mean."


    On the other side, Kou Chengjian spoke irritably, "Why waste words with her? Just snatch it and smash the phone; this photo absolutely cannot get out!"


    After saying this, he couldn''t help but spit again, "Tsk! That''s really disgusting!"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Wan immediately hid behind Xue Jing and peeked her head out from over his shoulder, displeased, "This is the witness of you opening the door to a new world; it has so much commemorative value, we can''t delete it."


    Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian''s faces twitched as they looked at Xue Jing, who was shielding Xue Wan.


    Never mind that this woman might look pretty but was clearly somewhat crazy, it was this man who was the real instigator.


    But this man was not simple.


    Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian looked at each other.


    Although they had been focusing on each other just before, the fact that he could approach them with a speed they couldn''t react to and accurately grasp their heads¡­


    Clearly showed his exceptional martial prowess.


    Looking at his appearance, his age should be similar to theirs; he must also be here to compete.


    This was an opponent on their level!


    "So how do we do this?"


    Du Mingluan asked.


    Kou Chengjian, with a dark expression, said, "The most important thing right now is to destroy the photo."


    Xue Jing, while they were talking, turned his head slightly and glanced at Xue Wan, who was resting her chin on his shoulder with her eyes.


    "Just delete it. Although, coming from me, the instigator, it might not sound great... but as a male, I empathize with their aversion."


    Xue Jing sighed.


    Xue Wan shook her finger, a pleased look on her face as she spoke, "People are different; you might truly be repulsed, but look at these two ¨C they seem like they''re enemies, but at the crucial moment, they immediately start cooperating. This kind of understanding..."


    "Such a classic foe-to-friend literature!"


    "This photo might just be the witness to their first step; it would be a shame to delete it!"


    Xue Jing groaned.


    Hearing this, Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian clenched their fists so tightly they nearly burst into a fight on the spot to prove they absolutely had no such inclinations with the other.


    Kou Chengjian, struggling to hold back, gritted his teeth, "The photo first!"


    Du Mingluan''s fists crackled, "You take the left, I''ve got the right!"


    Xue Wan''s eyes lit up, "See, that understanding!"


    Without another word, they both took a step and vanished from where they were.


    Du Mingluan appeared on the left, reaching for the phone in Xue Wan''s hand.


    Kou Chengjian appeared on the right, swung his fist, his thick joints stirring up a circular wave of air, aimed at Xue Jing - a diversion to try and occupy him so he couldn''t protect Xue Wan.


    At the same time, almost unnoticed, many small cracks appeared on the marble floor beneath their feet, soon bulging slightly as if something was about to burst forth.


    Xue Jing watched the two men approaching, his expression unchanged, roughly estimating their level from their movements.


    "They should be about the same level as Li Chengxuan... or maybe slightly stronger."


    "Is this the standard of the geniuses around here, aged seventeen or eighteen?"


    He thought to himself, but his actions did not slow down. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Power and Twin Speed were activated simultaneously.


    The Power surged, and the True Dragon roamed within him.

 Chapter 170 - 119: One Slap Each, The Gate to the New World, The Bizarre Sister (4K)_2

    His entire skeletal structure vibrated, emitting a deep rumbling, like rolling thunder.


    He stretched out his left hand and precisely grabbed Kou Chengjian''s wrist as it swung toward him, directly absorbing the Power carried by the punch into his bones via Seal Cloud Tail.


    His right hand did the same, catching the wrist that Du Mingluan extended towards Xue Wan.


    The speed of his movements was incredibly fast, preempting their attacks as if he and the two opponents were in different time flows.


    The force brought by their attacks was completely nullified by Seal Cloud Tail and absorbed into his skeletal system. By the time they realized and tried to muster their Power again, it was already too late.


    An unstoppable, overwhelming strength transferred from their wrists, and both men once again helplessly watched as they grew closer to each other¡­


    Clutching their wrists, Xue Jing drew upon the Power transformed by Seal Cloud Tail and, like flinging noodles, he violently threw them forward.


    "Pang!"


    Two silhouettes collided with each other, bursting out a circle of air waves.


    This time, it wasn''t mouth to mouth, but their cheeks inevitably pressed together, and their bodies stuck closely, as if they were hugging.


    "Ah, what?"


    Xue Jing was momentarily taken aback.


    He didn''t do it on purpose. It was just an instinctive reaction, feeling this way he could simultaneously inflict damage on the two men...


    "You motherf***er!"


    "Damn it!"


    Watching disbelief and anger crossing the men''s faces, Xue Jing knew they had misunderstood.


    "Forget it, let''s leave it at that."


    Xue Jing simply opened his hands and, like swatting mosquitoes, he slapped towards the two heads stuck together.


    "Smack¡ª"


    With Power flowing, Shaking Star Fire activated. As his palms made contact with their heads, Soft Power infiltrated, causing their skulls to shake violently. They collapsed on the spot, passing out.


    The two men lying on the ground were still closely pressed together.


    "Click-click, click-click¡ª"


    Continuous shutter sounds rang out around them, with flashlights flickering nonstop. Xue Jing looked around and found many people, dressed like reporters with cameras of different sizes, incessantly snapping photos.


    Xue Wan looked at Xue Jing with a puzzled expression:


    "You''re even more enthusiastic about this than I am... I didn''t expect this from you, Jing."


    Without a sound, the fractures that had bubbled up on the floor returned to normal. Apart from a few more cracked lines, it seemed like nothing had happened.


    Xue Jing sighed, "I didn''t do it on purpose... Anyway, let''s slip away."


    ...


    "Wu¡ª"


    At the railing of a platform near the dock, Xue Jing and Xue Wan gazed at the approaching huge cruise ship.


    The sea breeze brushed through Xue Wan''s smooth, long black hair. She moved her hair behind her ear, sighing:


    "I didn''t expect you to take the path of Martial Arts Practice... and to have such great talent. I never noticed it before."


    "Sister, I thought you''d surely end up being kept by some rich woman..."


    She looked at Xue Jing, her expression tender but tinged with complexity.


    "It''s just that this path always seems to involve some fighting and killing, which makes me worry."


    Xue Jing leaned his elbow on the railing, looking out at the sea, and casually said:


    "The person who makes people worry is you, sister."


    Xue Wan tilted her head: "Me?"


    Xue Jing glanced at her, implying, "Just now... There seemed to be something beneath the floor. That wouldn''t have anything to do with you, would it?"


    His observational skills were extraordinary; even at such a critical moment of being attacked, he wouldn''t ignore what he caught from the corner of his eye.


    Confusion displayed across Xue Wan''s pretty face: "Huh? What are you rambling about spirits and demons for?"


    Xue Jing stared at her for a while, although he was doubtful, he didn''t insist on prying into the matter, instead, shifting the topic:


    "By the way, I got a cat, and I brought it this time too."


    He himself had plenty of things he preferred to keep from his family, so he hardly had the right to press Xue Wan for answers.


    After meeting her and personally ensuring that his sister''s spirits were quite well, without any signs of despair from some terrible ordeal, he felt much more at ease.


    He''d leave the rest to take its natural course.


    "A cat? What kind of cat?" Xue Wan''s eyes brightened.


    "Picked it up on the road. Not sure what breed, but it''s pretty good-looking. You''ll know when you see it," Xue Jing said nonchalantly.


    Ning Fengwan had discussed it with him aboard the ship.


    For various reasons, it was decided that it was best not to face Xue Jing''s family in her human form just yet.


    Being treated as just a cat was quite nice.


    "Hmm? Can cats board cruise ships?" Xue Wan asked, puzzled.


    Xue Jing smiled faintly and said casually, "They can''t, in principle... but your brother, I carry a lot of weight."


    Xue Wan raised an eyebrow, reached out to encircle his neck with her arm, and locked it under her armpit, "I''m not sure about face, but I can certainly tell how big your face is!"


    Xue Jing''s head was locked in place, his face pressed against Xue Wan''s slender waist, "Let go, haven''t you heard that men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things?"


    Because of the pose, his voice sounded a bit muffled.


    "I once held you while you peed, and you''re still talking about not touching hands?" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    The cruise ship was gradually approaching the shore, and Miao Miao was squatting on the penetrating balustrade, yawning.


    "Why haven''t I seen Jing? Where did he go¡ª"


    She suddenly saw a sight that made her choke.


    On a platform not far away from the dock, Xue Jing was wrestling with a woman who looked very similar to him... wrestling?


    He was laying on the ground with a look of utter dejection, his right hand being wrapped by the woman, forming an impeccably perfect cross-hold.


    "That must be Jing''s sister, she''s very... very lively."


    Miao Miao''s face showed a very anthropomorphized strange expression.


    "Don''t think just because you''ve excelled in martial arts that you can raise your tail to the sky, do you understand the concept of bloodline suppression?"


    Xue Wan looked down at Xue Jing lying on the ground, saying smugly.


    "Alright, alright, I know you practiced in college, now let go," Xue Jing said reluctantly in a tone similar to coaxing a child.


    "A proper cross-hold is inescapable! Oh, right, there''s another move I wanted to try¡ªah!"


    Xue Wan hadn''t finished speaking when she let out a shriek of surprise.


    It was because Xue Jing got up effortlessly as if he had nothing on his hand.


    Xue Wan was left dangling in the air, looking just like someone holding a grocery basket fresh from shopping.


    "Had enough fun?"


    Xue Jing moved her from his arm to in front of him and slapped her head with his other hand with a loud and crisp "smack".


    "Hiss¡ªOw, that really hurts! How could you hit so hard!"


    Amid the playful wrestling, time passed and the cruise ship officially docked.


    Crew members on the ship threw ropes to the shore, and dock workers caught the ropes, tying them to the mooring posts.


    Under a series of operations, the cruise ship docked successfully and connected with the sky bridge.


    Xue Jing, accompanied by Xue Wan, boarded the ship from the sky bridge and along the way encountered many disembarking passengers who greeted Xue Jing with the utmost respect:


    "Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue..."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled in response, like an official inspecting the site.


    "Seems like you really do have quite a bit of face."


    Xue Wan said with a smile, patting Xue Jing''s shoulder.


    "Meow~"


    Upon reaching the deck, a cat''s meow was heard, as a black cat with four white ''gloves'' elegantly approached Xue Jing.


    "Wow~ It''s so cute!"


    Xue Wan covered her heart, clearly smitten by the cat''s cuteness, her eyes sparkling.


    "How can there be such a beautiful cat! Have I been single for too long? Why does even a cat seem attractive to me."


    Xue Wan quickly approached and gently picked up Miao Miao.


    "It''s so well-behaved... and smells so good."


    Rubbing her cheek against Miao Miao, Xue Wan said blissfully.


    "Ah, why didn''t I think of getting a cat earlier, should have adopted one long ago! What''s its name? Did you name it yet?"


    Xue Wan turned her head to look at Xue Jing.


    "A name?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then said off the cuff, "Call it Feng Wan."


    "Ah? Which ''Feng Wan''? The ''Feng Wan'' from Black-Boned Chicken White Phoenix Pills?"


    Xue Wan tilted her head.


    Upon hearing this, Miao Miao seemed to recall something unpleasant, looking annoyed as it made a face.


    "No, ''Feng'' as in Wang Xifeng, and ''Wan'' as in Li Wan," Xue Jing explained with a smile.


    "...Why did you give the cat that name? Been reading ''Dream of the Red Chamber'' too much, huh?" Xue Wan found it a bit amusing.


    "And they''re all married women... Brother, is this what you''re into?"


    ...

 Chapter 177 - 123: Force of Utmost Firmness, You Have No Secrets Before These Eyes (4K)

    "Then I''ll just call you Little Jing."


    Jiang Siwei suppressed the excitement in her heart and tried to show a calm and sincere smile.


    She opened the briefcase she carried and took out a brown sealed document envelope.


    The seal had not been broken, Jiang Siwei tore it open and took out a paper document of about six or seven pages.


    "The club said they used a special channel to treat you as a signed player in advance and reported your name as a seed spot for this U19 knockout tournament... This is your official contract."


    "They said it can only be opened once you are here, I''m seeing it for the first time too... wait a moment, I''ll check it for you."


    As Jiang Siwei spoke, she began to flip through the contract documents.


    Xue Jing nodded and said with a smile, "No rush, take your time."


    A male waiter in servant attire came over from the side and asked respectfully, "Sir, would you like something to drink?"


    Xue Jing glanced at Jiang Siwei who was earnestly inspecting the contract, thought for a moment, and said, "Bring me a Coke... and also a cup of coffee."


    Dressed so much in the style of an office lady, this kind of city beauty must like drinking coffee ordinarily, he guessed.


    "What kind of coffee would you like?" asked the waiter.


    "I''m not too sure, you choose," Xue Jing said in a gentle tone.


    After a while, the waiter returned with a can of Coke and a cup of steaming coffee, and placed them on the table.


    "Please enjoy."


    Xue Jing picked up the Coke, pulled open the tab, and took a drink. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Siwei sitting across from him, however, kept turning the pages of the contract, her eyebrows furrowing tighter the more she read.


    ''Such a strange contract... A one-year contract, a monthly salary of two thousand three... that''s the bare minimum, just to comply with the law.''


    ''For any competition, all prize money goes to the individual... there are no obligatory commitments... all activities are based on personal willingness...''


    The corners of Jiang Siwei''s mouth twitched as she felt her recently kindled ambition shatter completely...


    No wonder such a promising talent, who was bound to become a martial arts superstar without any surprises, was assigned to her.


    This was not a serious player at all... It seemed more like a privileged second-generation using their club''s platform to experience martial arts competitions.


    She thought she was finally going to do something big and nurture a top expert under her guidance.


    Jiang Siwei sighed, closed the contract documents, and pushed them towards Xue Jing.


    "I''ve finished looking, there''s no issue, Little Jing, you look at it too, and if it seems fine, you can sign it."


    Although disappointed, Jiang Siwei still put on a brave face and smiled at Xue Jing.


    Let''s treat it like a vacation... at least this one is a feast for the eyes just by looking.


    Xue Jing took the contract and opened it.


    Having trained in martial arts for so long and with an array of skills to bolster, his mental capacity was far above the ordinary, able to read and fully understand a page full of terms in nearly two seconds.


    Externally, it appeared that he was casually flipping through each page, finishing the entire document in a short time, like quantum speed reading, quite casual.


    "Hmm, done." Xue Jing nodded.


    It was exactly as Wu Youqing had said, a contract with almost no constraints.


    He picked up the pen and the stamp pad Jiang Siwei had passed to him, signed his name under the Party B column, and pressed his thumbprint with the stamp pad.


    "Good, now let me tell you about the schedule for the U19 knockout competition," Jiang Siwei said, collecting the contract documents and smiling at Xue Jing.


    "Here in Maple City, there are a total of thirty-two players in the knockout competition, among which twelve are seed players from major clubs..."


    "The official list of participants will be announced tomorrow along with the draw ceremony, and the competition will officially begin the day after tomorrow."


    "The first round is from thirty-two to sixteen, completed over two days with eight matches each day, followed by a day of rest, and the fourth day starts the second round, which is sixteen to eight, with a three-day rest period after that..."


    As Jiang Siwei explained, Xue Jing calculated the schedule and found that it barely allowed him to carry out his mission in the Intersecting Boundaries on separate days.


    He still had five days until the final deadline agreed upon with White Crow.


    In five days, he had to head to the newly emerged Intersecting Boundaries for an exploration mission.


    ''The day after tomorrow is the thirty-two to sixteen matches; sixteen matches finished over two days, then a day to rest...''


    Xue Jing showed a thoughtful expression.


    ''This means, in five days, it''ll be the second round, sixteen to eight, right on the final deadline. Finish the match then rush off to do the task, should be just in time... perfect.''


    After Jiang Siwei finished explaining the schedule, she rummaged through her briefcase and took out a thick stack of documents, placing them on the table with a thud due to their heft.


    "This is the detailed past information of the competitors I''ve prepared in advance, about fifty people in total. Although the detailed list of competitors hasn''t been announced yet, it should fall within these fifty. Little Jing, take a look, it''s good to know more about your opponents."


    Xue Jing glanced at her, took the thick stack of documents, and randomly flipped to a page.


    The page featured information on a player named ''Gu Hongding'', including his photo, age, fighting style, school of martial arts practiced, what to watch out for when fighting him, past records, match details... a comprehensive array, very detailed.


    It was clear that Jiang Siwei had put a lot of effort into collecting this information, and the format was very neat, giving a clear and concise overview at a glance.


    "Wei, you''ve done well," Xue Jing commended.

 Chapter 179 - 124: Extremely Rigid True Dragon, Wishful Shaping, Hidden BOSS Xue Jing (4K)

    "However, to learn this Ultimate Rigid Energy Method, there are still many challenges to be solved," said Xue Jing as he dismissed his juvenile pose and pondered.


    "First, to exert this hundred percent Pure Rigidity itself is a big challenge... The Vajra Wishful Hand likely solves this issue by cultivating a special Kungfu Body."


    He glanced at the tall and majestic Yin Muhu not far away.


    "The physique of Yin Muhu could have been achieved to this extent perhaps due to some inherent genetic factors, but reaching such a state definitely involves the training methods of his School of Martial Arts," he said.


    "A woman working to achieve a physique as robust as a man''s, if unaffected by external factors, would have to exert ten or even nine times the effort."


    It''s only by training with specific techniques and Secret Medicine that one can forge a body of such extreme rigidity and thus unleash equally extreme power.


    "Let''s give it a try," he said.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, inhaling a vast amount of oxygen into his lungs.


    Since the "Running" skill had been upgraded and had strengthened his lungs, currently, the lungs were the strongest of his five viscera.


    The robustness of one''s lungs is crucial for the circulation of power; Martial Breathing Skills absorb oxygen from the outside, which from the lungs enters the blood, providing the driving force that surges throughout the body, mobilizing various organs. This is the principle behind power.


    The more oxygen that can be inhaled in one breath, the stronger the resulting driving force, and naturally, the more power that can be mobilized.


    This was one of the reasons why Xue Jing was able to ''overpower'' his fellow talented peers with his power.


    The difference in lung capacity between them was too great. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As his blood circulated rapidly under the breathing technique, Xue Jing''s body surface grew slightly warm, and Power manifested as a roaring True Dragon.


    With a thought, he entered his inner vision.


    The True Dragon roamed throughout his body, treating his corporeal form as if it were rivers and seas, creating the turbulent sound of a mighty river wherever it passed.


    This Power-created True Dragon, with its appearance and details becoming more refined as Xue Jing continuously grew stronger, had also grown significantly larger.


    "First... try to eliminate as much Soft Power as possible," he thought.


    As Xue Jing''s mind flickered, the True Dragon instantly shed numerous fine scales from its body.


    These scales, falling like feathers, floated softly, appearing extremely pliable.


    The True Dragon roared, and the gaps left by the falling scales were quickly refilled by the surrounding flesh.


    The new scales looked extremely sharp and hard, and its body subtly shrank by a barely noticeable margin.


    At the same time, the previously agile and nimble form of the True Dragon stiffened significantly, resembling a rusted machine that could not easily turn, and its eyes even appeared somewhat dull.


    "Still not enough," he said.


    Xue Jing''s mind sharpened.


    The scales on the True Dragon''s body lifted abruptly, making the dragon resemble a startled cat.


    Then, a multitude of fresh blood sprayed from the gaps of the lifted scales, each drop an abstract thread of power.


    Not only Soft Power was drawn from the True Dragon, since it was difficult for Xue Jing to precisely remove only Soft Power, hence, he had to excise large chunks of power that contained traces of Soft Power altogether, like slicing flesh to cure disease.


    In this continuous process of removal, the True Dragon''s body continuously shrank, now only half its original size.


    Its movements also became more and more rigid, until at a certain moment, it nearly completely froze, appearing as if transformed into an inanimate puppet.


    "Hmm, this is probably the current limit," Xue Jing observed the dragon, now almost entirely made of Pure Rigidity, in his inner vision.


    "It can... still move," he noted.


    The rigid dragon managed to move, but it was the kind of movement where its body remained static, simply shifting in the air.


    It was like a video game character getting stuck.


    Xue Jing controlled it, bringing it over to his right hand, fortifying his right fist, and then suddenly swung at the nearby Yin Muhu.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    The fist, which completely defied aerodynamics with its rigidity, emitted an intensely sharp whistling sound due to friction with the air, displacing layers of air waves as it struck the well-built chest and abdomen of Yin Muhu.


    "Bang!"


    A sound akin to a hammer striking a bell rang out as Xue Jing''s fist and the steel-like body of Yin Muhu both trembled from the impact, causing both individuals to fly backward due to the mutual force.


    Planting his feet on the ground and carving two grooves in the solid wood flooring, Xue Jing stopped the backward momentum.


    "Rigid power is just too hard to control," he shook his head.


    "The main issue is still not reaching the true ''Pure Rigidity,'' as some Soft Power that cannot be removed still remains... This nearly there yet not quite state is the most uncomfortable," he reflected.


    "If all the Soft Power could be eliminated, giving rise to an ''Extremely Rigid True Dragon'' that could shatter with a slight exertion, then the next step of ''Wishful Shaping'' could begin," he mused.


    Xue Jing walked over to Yin Muhu, placed his hand on her shoulder, and began channeling power, permeating into her body.


    Through the invasion of power, he vaguely explored her internal body structure.


    He hadn''t reached the level of his master, Li Qi, who could perceive the entire body upon the incursion of power, only managing a rough exploration.


    "It''s still due to the Kungfu Body. Yin Muhu''s Kungfu Body is special, extremely rigid, ensuring that the power generated internally has very little ''Soft'' component, and the ''Rigid'' is distinctly separated, making it very easy to remove," he deduced.


    "If I''m not mistaken, when the School of Martial Arts related to Vajra Wishful Hand fully matures, all the generated power will be ''Pure Rigidity,'' even without needing any removal," he conjectured.

 Chapter 180 - 124: Extremely Rigid True Dragon, Wishful Shaping, Hidden BOSS Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    "It seems I can only use persistent effort," he mused.


    "A martial artist''s Kungfu Body will adaptively change with the continuous practice of martial arts," he thought.


    "As long as I keep practicing relentlessly, pursuing the essence of rigidity, my current Kungfu Body will gradually evolve, becoming more suited to unleashing pure rigid force, and in time, the ''Extremely Rigid True Dragon'' will naturally emerge."


    A feeling of dizziness came over him, and Xue Jing pressed his temples, exiting the Consciousness Simulation.


    All of everything dissipated into blocks of pixels, and Xue Jing opened his eyes back in reality.


    "I''ll take it slow," he said to himself.


    Fortunately, the Hidden Dragon School''s Kungfu Body was quite versatile and innately had strong adaptability to martial arts from other sects, so the process shouldn''t take too long.


    [...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +306]


    [...Meditative Visualization True¡¤ Experience Points +288]


    After checking his gains on the panel, Xue Jing closed his eyes, and in just a few seconds, he fell into a deep sleep.


    ...


    The next day at noon, in the lounge area of the hotel lobby.


    Xue Jing, Yin Muhu, and Jiang Siwei were sitting on the sofa in the lounge area, watching a tablet that was placed on the table in front of them.


    It was brought by the agent, Jiang Siwei.


    The screen of the computer showed a live stream.


    A line of subtitles read below¡ª


    [U19 No-Limit Fighting Tournament - Regional Knockout - Maple City Sector Drawing Ceremony, About to Start]


    The video was still playing ads at the moment, and Xue Jing, bored, said, "Speaking of which, how much is the prize money for the U19 tournament?"


    Sitting beside him, Jiang Siwei thought for a moment before she answered,


    "The prize money itself isn''t much. The total prize pool this year is less than one hundred million Zhuxia currency... As for the champion''s prize, it should be around twenty million."


    "The prize money for martial arts competitions is just a bonus; what matters is the fame and honor gained during the competition," she said.


    Jiang Siwei glanced at Xue Jing, still feeling it was a pity.


    If this young man were willing, with the resources of the club he could quickly become a rising, unstoppable top new star.


    It''s a shame he doesn''t seem to be interested.


    But, he sure was good-looking...


    Jiang Siwei gazed at Xue Jing''s perfectly contoured profile, somewhat distracted.


    "It looks like it''s starting," Yin Muhu said from beside him, arms crossed over his chest.


    On the tablet computer, the advertising had ended, and the screen switched to a brightly lit, large stage.


    A middle-aged host with an honest face, dressed in a suit and shoes, stood on the stage, holding a stack of cards, rattling off various advertising slogans.


    Behind him was a huge screen displaying messages like audience barrages, text messages, and the like.


    "...well then, without further ado, dear viewers, please look at the big screen!" the host said, pointing his hand, and the image instantly changed.


    "Here it comes, the list of contestants." Jiang Siwei and Yin Muhu immediately sat up straight and started watching intently.


    On the screen, there were four groupings of names, eight each, totaling thirty-two competitors.


    Xue Jing''s name was also among them, positioned in the second row, third place.


    After confirming his name among them, he glanced casually at the other names.


    With just a sweep of his eyesight, he memorized all the names of the dozens of competitors.


    Comparing with the competitor information Jiang Siwei gave him the day before, he noticed that, except for someone named ''Deng Jizhou,'' all the other contestant''s names were included in that information.


    ''Pretty impressive,'' Xue Jing glanced at Jiang Siwei and nodded.


    "Du Mingluan and Kou Chengjian from the two major branches of the Night King Style, Jiang Jinkang from the Rage Tide Sect, Ji Huaiyu from the Four Elements Dojo..." Yin Muhu listed the sects and names of some competitors.


    "They are all well-known young talents. This edition of U19 has too fierce a competition..." she said.


    After speaking, she couldn''t help but look at Xue Jing sitting beside her.


    ```


    "Especially with you around..."


    Xue Jing smiled but didn''t say anything.


    The live broadcast began to show detailed introductions of the contestants.


    Many of them had participated in public competitions before and had made appearances.


    "... Li Chengxuan, a direct disciple of Qingcheng''s Golden Wind Dojo, trained by the professional martial artist Jiao Hongyuan ninth dan..."


    On the computer, they were introducing someone Xue Jing was quite familiar with; then the screen cut to a playback of Li Chengxuan''s highlights from previous matches.


    "...the dark horse who made a surprising rise in the previous preliminaries, practicing the martial arts sect ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword,'' also known as the No-Blade Four Sword Style, which terrifyingly trains hands and feet to become true swords, and each strike is either deadly or injurious!"


    In the footage, Li Chengxuan crossed paths with an opponent in a flash, flicking the blood from his hand blade, as his opponent slowly fell to the ground, looking quite handsome.


    Yin Muhu curled his lips, "That''s some obvious posing... Too deliberate."


    Jiang Siwei laughed lightly, "Aren''t all young people like that? Loving to show off."


    ...It would be nice if he liked showing off just as much.


    Jiang Siwei looked at Xue Jing and couldn''t help thinking.


    He didn''t have the flamboyance of a young man and was too mature for his age, leaving no angle for others to grasp.


    As the contestant introductions continued, it was quickly Xue Jing''s turn. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, the screen only showed a silhouette with a white question mark over it, followed by some basic information - conspicuously lacking in detail.


    Just the name, Martial Arts Sect of Hidden Dragon School, and the representative seed player of ''Galaxy Martial Arts Club.'' Nothing more.


    "Quite mysterious, huh? Doesn''t this give off a hidden BOSS vibe?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled.


    Jiang Siwei shook her head, "This is actually quite common. Many large clubs arrange for their newly signed young talents to make a stunning debut at U19, audiences are used to it."


    Yin Muhu, however, agreed, "You indeed are a hidden BOSS."


    Xue Jing waved his hand and voiced a modest protest, "What big truths you''re spouting."


    Soon, the contestant introductions were over, and the screen switched back to the main stage.


    "Next up is the drawing of lots... I hope Little Jing you can draw one of the first eight matches and finish on the first day,"


    Jiang Siwei said.


    "That way you''d get one more day of rest than the contestants in the later eight matches..."


    "For martial artists, injuries can happen easily in competitions, so having a little more rest time is always better."


    The knockout preliminary round was from thirty-two to sixteen, divided over two days, and after that, there was only one day to rest. Contestants who drew one of the first eight matches could finish on the first day, which was considered a good draw.


    Yin Muhu''s mouth twitched, "Er... I don''t think you need to worry about that."


    Jiang Siwei pushed up her glasses, curious.


    This strong-looking... girl seemed to have high regard for Little Jing.


    Although she had looked at Xue Jing''s information and knew he was quite strong, she had never seen him in action, so she did not have a specific understanding of his martial arts skill level.


    Yin Muhu scratched her head and grumbled in a sweet girl''s voice that contrasted with her looks, "I just hope we''re not in the same half-bracket... I don''t want to be sent home after just two matches, only to be ridiculed by that old coot of a master for an entire year."


    Xue Jing gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.


    "I think you won''t be that unlucky, Shady Girl."


    On the live broadcast, an elderly man in a training garment, with a clear, spirited face, walked onto the stage from backstage. His steps were extremely steady, and his body didn''t tremble at all as he walked.


    "Next, we invite the eighth dan, Xu Jinghong, to personally conduct the drawing of lots!"


    ...


    Maple City, at a top-floor suite in a certain hotel.


    Li Chengxuan soaked in a circular bathtub, holding a champagne flute filled to the brim, while two naked beauties embraced him, leaning on his shoulders on both sides.


    Watching the screen of the large TV in front of him, the initially pleased Li Chengxuan''s face suddenly darkened.


    [Match six: ''Hidden Dragon School'' Xue Jing VS ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword'' Li Chengxuan]


    "Damn it, this persistent little brat!"


    "Forget it, I was careless last time. This time on the field, I''ll definitely beat you to death!"


    Li Chengxuan issued his threat, yet a sense of unease he didn''t want to admit crept into his mind.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 181 - 125 Maple City University Martial Arts Club, Xue Jing:

    "Li Chengxuan..."


    Xue Jing stared at the live broadcast for a moment, then couldn''t help but laugh.


    "That is quite a coincidence."


    The Yin Muhu beside her nodded and said, "I''ve watched a few competitions of this Li Chengxuan. His style ''Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword'' is quite interesting. It has a bit of a reputation in the Inner Ring circles. I''ve heard from my grandmaster that the Trio of Jade City had some disputes with the disciples of that style."


    Xue Jing chuckled, "I''ve heard my master mention that as well."


    Yin Muhu: "My grandmaster said that most of the trouble they encountered back then was stirred up by Dragon King Li Qi. He heard about the great reputation of the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword style, and when he saw a disciple from that style, went up to them, and just like ''What are you looking at''..."


    "But I think it''s probably frame-up and slander by my grandmaster. Most likely, it was him who stirred up the trouble..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He felt that it probably wasn''t frame-up and slander. Even if there was some embellishment, overall, it should be the truth.


    He didn''t know why Yin Muhu had such a deep prejudice against her grandmaster.


    "Li Chengxuan''s strength is not bad. Among the thirty-two contestants in this knockout match, he can rank within the top twelve. He already belongs to the ''Upper Circle''."


    Jiang Siwei said from the side, her hands typing rapidly on a thin laptop.


    "The general opinion among insiders is that if his luck is a bit better, he has a chance to be one of the final four to advance."


    "Little Jing, you need to be careful..."


    Jiang Siwei paused, then continued, "I know you''re very strong... but this is your first time competing, and you might not be used to it. The schedule for this knockout round is very tight, with three matches back to back in a short time. If you get hurt in any one of those, it will become a significant disadvantage in the following contests."


    "We need to not only win but do so while ensuring we minimize any injuries. It''s always right to be more careful."


    Xue Jing glanced at her, just smiled gently, and whispered, "Don''t worry, Wei, I''ll be careful."


    In the live broadcast, the spirited old man continued the draw.


    Soon Yin Muhu''s name also appeared.


    "The ninth match... Lucky, you''re not in the same half as me."


    Yin Muhu nodded in satisfaction, somewhat relieved.


    The structure of the knockout matches has the first eight in one half, and the following eight in another half. Xue Jing was in the sixth match, belonging to the first eight. She was in the ninth match, belonging to the second eight.


    The two halves would each have three matches, determining two advancing spots each.


    That way, until the knockout matches were all over, she wouldn''t face Xue Jing in the arena.


    Jiang Siwei wondered, "Aren''t martial artists supposed to value bravery and advancement? Being afraid of meeting Little Jing... that mindset doesn''t seem quite right, does it?"


    Yin Muhu gave her a look, extended her right hand, showed a thick index finger, and wagging it, she corrected:


    "It''s not about being afraid to meet him, but not wanting to meet him. There''s a difference."


    "Even if martial artists are brave and striving for progress, they aren''t brainless... Knowing that they''re likely to lose to an opponent, of course, they''ll avoid if they can. It''s not cowardice; it''s a strategic retreat."


    Yin Muhu said this as a matter of course, without any embarrassment.


    Xue Jing pinched her chin, agreeing, "Quail feast."


    ...


    After watching the drawing ceremony, Xue Jing had dinner with the two at the hotel, then they went their separate ways.


    Xue Jing returned to her room to practice the Armor Shaking Skill and the Coiling Dragon Art as usual.


    Afterward, she simulated combat in the Consciousness Space, striving to use almost pure Rigid Force throughout the fight.


    When she felt her spirit beginning to wither, she exited the Consciousness Space, and it was already two o''clock in the afternoon.


    After a bath and changing into new clothes, Xue Jing walked out of the hotel, intending to visit her sister Xue Wan''s school.


    She first called Xue Wan to ask and after getting a positive response, she flagged a taxi and headed for Xue Wan''s school¡ªMaple City University.


    ...


    At the gate of Maple City University.


    "Wanwan, we are just about to go to KTV. Want to come sing with us? Some handsome guys are coming too!"


    A group of three female university students walked out of the school gate and, seeing Xue Wan holding Miao Miao beside her, one of the long-haired girls lit up and invited her.


    "Eh, what a cute Miao Miao. Was this cat in the school before? I feel like I''ve never seen it."


    Among them, the short-haired girl with glasses looked curiously at the Miao Miao in Xue Wan''s arms, reached out to pet it but was swiftly avoided by the cat after receiving a glance.


    Xue Wan chuckled, "This is my cat; it''s very shy and doesn''t let strangers touch it... You go ahead; my brother will be coming to the campus later, and I ought to show him around."


    "Your brother!?" The three university girls'' eyes shined. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is it the brother you always talk about? The very handsome one?"


    "It must be that one! Wanwan has shown us his photo before. Wow, that god-like little brother is actually coming to our school... slurp (drools)."


    "Wanwan~~ introduce us, please~"


    The last girl among them, petite and young-looking, immediately hugged Xue Wan''s arm and said in a coquettish tone.


    Xue Wan''s expression turned odd: "Aren''t you going to sing with some handsome guys..."


    The long-haired girl turned serious: "Ordinary handsome guys, we can make plans with them any time."


    The short-haired girl with glasses quickly added, "A top-tier handsome guy is a rare opportunity, not just tasting but even an extra glance is life-extending~"

 Chapter 182 - 125 Maple City University Martial Arts Club, Xue Jing:

    Xue Wan''s lips twitched, "Have a taste... and don''t you guys get any ideas about my little brother."


    "How could we?" the three said in unison.


    The long-haired girl smiled slyly, "But... if the little brother has designs on us, there''s nothing we can do about that."


    Xue Wan nonchalantly waved her hand, "Ah, don''t get your hopes up, that won''t happen."


    "Hmm? Why''s that?" the bespectacled girl asked curiously.


    Xue Wan laughed, "He''s grown up with me since we were kids... you know what I mean."


    The petite girl looked puzzled, "Huh? What do you mean?"


    Xue Wan pointed at her face, unveiling a beautiful smile.


    "Growing up with a top beauty like this, he''s built up an immunity to women!"


    The three gritted their teeth in frustration.


    But seeing Xue Wan''s indescribably pretty face, they had to deflate and admit, it seemed to be the truth.


    "Damn, give me some of your family''s genes!"


    "I want to tear that annoying little mouth of yours!"


    The group erupted in laughter.


    Miao Miao lay in Xue Wan''s arms and yawned, thinking to herself that women together could really be annoying.


    After a while, a taxi pulled in and slowly came to a stop nearby.


    The rear car door opened, Xue Jing scanned to pay, thanked the driver, and stepped out.


    He adjusted the glasses on his face and walked towards the school''s main entrance.


    From a distance, he saw his sister Xue Wan holding Miao Miao and talking with several girls.


    "Wanwan, has little brother not arrived yet? Call and ask," said the long-haired girl.


    "Yeah, call and ask. What if some female gangster attacked him on the way?" the short-haired girl asked worriedly.


    Xue Wan rolled her eyes at them, "What''s the rush..."


    Then her eyes shifted and she looked not far to the side.


    "Ah, here he comes."


    "Where, where!" the three college girls suddenly became anxious.


    Their gaze focused as they searched around, but they couldn''t find him.


    "Where the heck is he?"


    Just then, Miao Miao jumped out of Xue Wan''s arms onto the ground, stretched languorously, and with elegant cat steps, walked towards a nondescript man wearing glasses.


    Having reached him, she elegantly leapt onto his shoulder, sat down, and licked her paw.


    Xue Wan also waved at him, "Jing, over here, over here."


    The three college girls then noticed him.


    They all shared a dubious look, "Eh... is he, the little brother?"


    "Nothing like what we imagined..."


    "We thought he''d be like some kind of dazzling star."


    "Why does he look so... ordinary?"


    The petite girl stared at Xue Jing for a while, then suddenly said, "Wait, look closer, his face is actually quite handsome!"


    "But something''s off... it just doesn''t feel right."


    Xue Wan walked up to Xue Jing, adjusted his collar, and asked curiously:


    "Why are you wearing glasses?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "If I didn''t wear them, there might be some trouble."


    Xue Wan nonchalantly said, "Come on, let''s take a walk around the school, and by the way, have you decided which university you want to apply to? Senior year is just around the corner."


    The two of them started walking towards the school.


    "We''ll see... I might not even go to college," Xue Jing said after a thought.


    Xue Wan nodded, "I guess so... Your martial arts skills are so impressive, following that path could lead to great prospects, though our parents might hesitate... actually, I also suggest you should experience college, not for the degree, but the university life experience is one of a kind, you miss it and it''s gone."


    "We should really enjoy our youth..." Xue Wan said, her eyes betraying a slight complexity.


    The two approached the three college girls.


    "These are my classmates... they said they wanted to get to know you," Xue Wan said, extending her palm towards them and then towards Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing looked at them, the glasses on his nose reflecting the sunlight, and he said with a smile, "Hello, sisters, I''m Xue Jing."


    The three college girls paused, then exchanged glances.


    The long-haired girl smiled and said, "Hello, little brother, I''m Zhao Lu."


    "I''m Shang Ping."


    "I''m Wei Juan..."


    The other two also introduced themselves.


    They walked together towards the campus.


    Chatting along the way.


    "Your younger brother is still in his second year of high school, right? Has he considered applying to Maple University in the future?"


    "Does your brother have a girlfriend? Does he prefer someone younger or older?"


    "Your brother practices martial arts, right? Wanwan was bragging to us that you made the news..."


    The female university students continued chatting while sneakily taking out their phones to communicate in their private group of three. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Although he looks rather ordinary, there''s something inexplicably charming about his smile... So weird.]


    [It''s a bit subtle, but he''s definitely a top-notch handsome guy.]


    [If there''s a chance, we shouldn''t let it slip!]


    Miao Miao, sitting on Xue Jing''s shoulder, glanced at them, a hint of a mocking smile curling on her lips.


    After wandering around for a while, Xue Wan said,


    "Oh right, let''s go check out the Martial Arts Club. Our Maple University''s Martial Arts Club is quite famous."


    Zhao Lu''s eyes lit up, and she added, "Maple University''s Martial Arts Club often participates in the Outer Ring collegiate league, and they''ve won quite a few championships."


    "Why don''t you go take a look, Jing? Maybe you''ll be interested in Maple University after the visit."


    Xue Jing was primarily there to chat with his sister, so he was indifferent about the location. He nodded and said, "Sure, let''s go take a look."


    ...


    Maple City University Martial Arts Club, inside a spacious venue.


    Dozens of male and female university students, wearing training garments, were busy with club activities on the plastic floor.


    Some were sparring, some were exercising with equipment, and some were giving or receiving guidance.


    A tall man, nearly two meters tall with a muscular build and short hair, was personally teaching a younger club member.


    "No, don''t lift your foot so high. Feet are the foundation of the body, and any technique involving the feet must be cautious. Losing balance is a fatal mistake for a martial artist..."


    At that moment, someone rushed into the venue through the entrance.


    "Feng, Feng!"


    The person approached the man known as Feng, panting heavily.


    Feng calmly said, "What''s the hurry? Take it slow."


    The man nodded, took a few deep breaths, and then said, "Goddess Xue, Goddess Xue is here!"


    Upon hearing this, Feng''s eyes widened slightly, but he just frowned and said, "Just passing by, right?"


    The man shook his head quickly, "No, she''s really coming here, heading straight to our club with Zhao Lu and the other two, and there''s a guy with them!"


    Feng narrowed his eyes.


    "Oh right, I took a good look at that guy, and he looks a lot like Goddess Xue. Must be her brother?"


    The man added.


    Feng, hearing this, smacked the back of the man''s head and scolded, "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    It''s good if it''s the brother...


    The man, holding the back of his head, said in an aggrieved tone, "Can''t I catch my breath?"


    Feng ignored his complaint and said, "Be smart later, Wan... Xue Wan must be bringing her brother here to visit our Martial Arts Club."


    "I''ll greet them. We need to make a good impression on our little uncle... on her brother."


    ...


    As they got closer to the Martial Arts Club venue, Xue Wan suddenly turned to Xue Jing and said,


    "Oh, Jing."


    Xue Jing looked at her, puzzled, "Hmm?"


    Xue Wan smiled and said,


    "The president of the Martial Arts Club will probably want to give you some guidance."


    "Just agree to it, and then... you can be a bit harsher in your response."


    Xue Jing adjusted his glasses, which reflected the light, "Why?"


    Zhao Lu casually said, "What else? It''s just that thing... that guy is quite annoying. Wanwan has already made it clear she''s not interested, but he won''t give up."


    "But his martial arts skills are really strong. He even participated in the U19 last year. Brother Jing... any problems?"


    She said, somewhat worried.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "I should be a bit stronger than him."


    ...


    (Don''t scold, don''t scold, I''ll try to write a bit more...)

 Chapter 183 - 126: Crazy, Cool, and Dazzling, What Kind of Champion Are You? Acting Lv1

    "That guy is pretty arrogant. He once got drunk at the male dormitory and publicly declared that Wanwan was his. Once he saw Wanwan chatting and laughing with a male classmate, he threatened the guy not to speak with Wanwan anymore."


    "He is skilled in martial arts and everyone at the school fears him. Now, almost no man dares to approach Wanwan."


    Zhao Lu listed the Martial Arts Club president''s wrongdoings. After hearing this, Xue Jing shook his head and sighed, "This guy really has no taste."


    Xue Wan raised an eyebrow, reached out with her slender hand to pinch his waist, and threatened,


    "What are you saying?"


    Xue Jing spread his hands, "Nothing."


    As the group talked, they walked into the Martial Arts Club venue. A male college student dressed in a training garment immediately lit up and came over, smiling,


    "Hey, Goddess Xue is here, welcome, welcome!"


    Xue Jing looked at his sister, gave an ''uh'' sound, "Goddess?"


    Feeling embarrassed by her brother hearing this nickname, Xue Wan''s face turned slightly red, but she quickly justified herself with confidence, "What, is there a problem?"


    The short-haired girl wearing glasses, Wei Juan, laughed, "Wanwan is quite famous at Maple University, right? ''The most beautiful school flower of the decade''?"


    As she said this, she turned to tease Xue Wan.


    Xue Wan: "..."


    Xue Jing looked at Xue Wan and said with a teasing smile, "It seems they have quite a big misunderstanding about you, Goddess."


    Xue Wan glared at him, "You talk less."


    Then she cleared her throat and said to the male college student, "My brother is just visiting Maple City, and he''s practiced a bit of martial arts, so I brought him to see our Maple University Martial Arts Club... You''re not going to be unwelcoming, are you?"


    The male college student said exaggeratedly, "How could that be, very welcome! If Goddess Xue''s brother wants to come here and be the president, Feng would definitely step down immediately to offer his place."


    Xue Wan just smiled lightly and asked, "Where''s your president?"


    The male college student pointed to a tall man not far inside the venue, "Over there, teaching the new members. Chen is just too serious sometimes, might be a bit clueless about other''s feelings. Goddess Xue rarely visits our Martial Arts Club, and he doesn''t even come over to greet..."


    The man, dressed in a training garment, was earnestly instructing a club member on how to stand in a stance. He seemed very serious, but from time to time, he couldn''t resist sneaking glances at Xue Wan.


    Zhao Lu found it somewhat amusing and shook her head, "All for show..."


    "Let''s go over there," said Xue Wan.


    ...


    "Right, your feet need to be placed above your hands, your hands above your hands, and your butt over your head..."


    While sneaking glances at Xue Wan, Feng muttered to himself, not even realizing what he was saying.


    "Huh? Feng, I didn''t quite catch that, could you repeat it?" asked the confused junior he was instructing.


    Catching a glimpse of Xue Wan and company approaching in his peripheral vision, Feng suppressed his excitement and seriously said to the junior, "If you didn''t understand, it means you haven''t been diligent enough. Have you not been paying attention in Teacher Zhang''s classes?"


    The junior: "Huh?"


    By this time, Xue Wan was already close by.


    Today she was dressed sweetly, wearing a white lace blouse with semi-transparent long sleeves on both sides and a black pleated skirt covering half of her thighs, paired with a pair of little white shoes, revealing her sculpted, slender legs. She looked both sexy and sweet.


    Her waist-length, slightly curled black hair hung down naturally, smooth like a cascading waterfall. Without even a touch of makeup, her beautiful face carried a half-smiling expression. Merely by walking beside Feng, she instantly sent his thoughts into a whirlwind.


    Even though there was a distance between them, just the sight of her caused Feng to hallucinate, as if he could already smell her enticing fragrance, and his eyes betrayed a look of intoxication.


    "Senior Chen, instructing the juniors, I see?" Xue Wan asked with a light laugh.


    Chen Feng cleared his throat and tried to appear calm as he waved his hand at the junior, saying,


    "You go practice by yourself over there."


    There was no response.


    The junior was still staring blankly at Xue Wan.


    Chen Feng''s brows furrowed, and he suppressed the anger in his heart, giving a light slap to the back of the junior''s head.


    "Aren''t you going yet?"


    The junior snapped back to reality, hurriedly answered "Yes," and ran off to the side.


    "Wanwan, do you need something from me?" Chen Feng asked, feigning a tender voice that was deliberately deep, even trailing off with a pop.


    Standing behind Xue Wan, Zhao Lu seemed unable to tolerate this act, immediately covering her mouth to prevent herself from laughing out loud.


    "Senior Chen, I''ve told you not to call me ''Wanwan,''" Xue Wan said, furrowing her long, slender eyebrows.


    Chen Feng responded gently, "If you don''t like it, I won''t say it, don''t be angry, okay?"


    Xue Wan clicked her tongue and rubbed her right arm, which was getting goosebumps, as she said,


    "¡­Never mind, let me introduce you, this is my brother Xue Jing."


    Chen Feng''s gaze shifted to Xue Jing, his tone cordial, "Oh? So you''re Wanwan''s brother. I''m Chen Feng, you can call me Brother Chen Feng¡­"


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    Xue Wan gave him a look, her eyes twinkling with amusement, "Senior Chen, my brother recently started practicing martial arts too, and it seems he has quite a talent. He''s developed some skills, but lately, he''s become more and more arrogant, thinking he''s above everyone else¡­ I want to teach him that there are skies beyond skies, and people beyond people."


    "Senior Chen, could you do me a favor and teach him a lesson?"


    Chen Feng was taken aback, "This¡­"


    Xue Wan sighed, "The person I worry about most in my life is my brother, but now that he''s grown up, I can''t control him anymore. So I''ve decided that I need to find a boyfriend who can keep him in line."


    Chen Feng straightened up, crossed his arms, and said solemnly, "Wanwan, you don''t have to say more, I understand your intentions. I cannot shirk this responsibility." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan''s lips twitched, "¡­As long as you understand. But conversely, someone who can''t even beat or handle my brother, I would never consider. I hope you get that clear."


    Xue Jing cooperated very well, putting on a disdainful and cocky expression, looking down his nose as he said,


    "Sis, why bother with all the talk? Let''s just get started. No one from your pathetic Martial Arts Club looks capable of fighting."


    Chen Feng shook his head, chuckling, "Xue, you must be new to martial arts, so you haven''t heard of me¡ªlast year''s champion of the Southern Colleges Tournament¡ª"


    Before he could finish, his vision suddenly blurred.


    "Bang¡ª"


    A lean palm, moving at a speed he couldn''t comprehend, grabbed his throat, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him down.


    The rubberized floor bore the imprint of a human figure from the impact.


    The entire Martial Arts Club hall fell silent at this unexpected turn of events.


    Chen Feng was still lying on the ground, not yet recovered, when a foot stepped on his chest.


    The cool and disdainful voice reached his ears.


    "Ah? What champion were you?"


    Xue Jing said with utter scorn.


    [Condition fulfilled, skill activated: Acting]


    ¡­

 Chapter 189 - 130: Harvest, New Divine Skill—Plant Pact! Reliable Youqing A Dream (4K)

    Countless roots around were visibly withering at a noticeable speed.


    Xue Jing took a step forward, walking toward the black-robed woman bound into a bundle by the Shadowflame Steel Barrier, the black semi-transparent giant wrapped around his body slowly dissipated into shadow flames as he advanced.


    The name was Nagu... some sort of plant that was gradually withering, no longer absorbing oxygen, and the thin oxygen density around was immediately replenished by the outside world, becoming abundant again.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, feeling his body revitalizing, and whispered, "Fortunately, I won."


    The situation was quite dire this time.


    He had indeed never really considered, someday facing a situation where oxygen was limited and he couldn''t use his power.


    "Even if the martial arts sect you practice is all-powerful, it cannot escape the framework of the system and cannot rid itself of the limitations of martial arts itself," he reflected.


    "Unless one reaches the breakthrough realm of ''Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, Turning Celestial,'' where consciousness and spirit themselves can control any minute part of the body, then it''s possible to escape oxygen limitations and use the power without the need for oxygen..."


    "Before that, I indeed need to be cautious whether the enemy possesses the ability to interfere with oxygen."


    He looked at the black-robed woman lying on the ground in a baby-like sleep and smiled, "Should I say that cleverness was mistaken by cleverness?"


    Using roots of otherworld plants that absorb oxygen to deal with him would indeed be a killing move if he were just a martial artist.


    However, the opponent couldn''t possibly imagine that he also possessed a divine skill like ''Shadow Flame.''


    The countless roots, although absorbing oxygen, also blocked the sunlight, creating a vast area of shade, which in turn provided him with the perfect environment to use Shadow Flame.


    The larger the area of shade around, the more Shadow Flame he could convert, and the smaller the consumption.


    Were it not for such a vast area of shade, he could not have used it so recklessly, even employing the bizarre move ''Susanoo,'' creating a giant made of the strongest Shadow Flame.


    "Fair to say, this move is pretty useful," Xue Jing touched his chin.


    As long as the Shadow Flame budget allows, this move is the strongest use of Shadow Flame right now.


    "Big is good, plentiful is beautiful!"


    Operating a Gundam was too joyful.


    Although he couldn''t operate a big one yet, with the upgrades of Shadow Flame, one day he would operate a real Gundam.


    Xue Jing silently raised the usage priority of Shadow Flame''s divinity by one notch.


    He opened the panel and took a look.


    [...Fitness Experience Points +611]


    [...Health Cultivation Experience Value +1539]


    [...Running Experience Value +315]


    [...Aiming Experience Value +458]


    [...Fighting Experience Points +512]


    [...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +433]


    [...Visualization True Experience Value +422]


    [...Acting Experience Points +498]


    [Acting raised to Lv2 (267/500)]


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Although it wasn''t a fight to the death, the Experience Points gained were quite good.


    After all, he was facing an opponent whose combat power was quite formidable, the strongest he had actually fought so far.


    As he didn''t win through martial arts, the martial arts-related Experience Points gained were slightly less, but still pretty good.


    The gain in Health Cultivation Experience Value was a bit outrageous... S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Health Cultivation Lv7 (4486/4500)]


    Just a bit shy of leveling up directly.


    "The secret to longevity and health cultivation for men¡ªoperating a Gundam."


    Smiling, Xue Jing crouched down in front of the fallen black-robed woman, a thoughtful look in his eyes:


    "What should I do with her?"


    Just kill her?


    That would be unnecessary, as the woman had no intent to kill him, just wanted him to join her religion, although forcefully which was quite annoying.


    But letting her go just like that was obviously not an option.


    "She was instructed by the high ranks of the Flower God Society to find me, at the very least, I need to figure out why the Flower God Society is targeting me."


    Xue Jing considered several possibilities internally.


    "Speaking of which, this person is a Blessed One..."


    Blessed Ones are those blessed by gods, who have obtained Heretic God powers.


    Having such a direct connection with a god, there has to be something divine, right?


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up as he looked over the black-robed woman.


    Then he reached out, touching her mature and beautiful face.


    His fingers touched the eyelid of her left eye, forcibly pulling it open to reveal the colorful iris.


    At the end of the fight, Xue Jing had seen the black-robed woman reaching toward this iris, seemingly about to do something.


    If there was anything likely to have divinity on her body, Xue Jing immediately thought of this.


    With the eyelid pulled open, and because she was unconscious, the colorful eye looked unfocused and empty.


    Without any hesitation or psychological barrier, Xue Jing''s finger pressed directly on the colorful pupil.


    "Gurgle¡ª"


    A slippery sensation was transmitted, and at the same time, the panel automatically popped up.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    Indeed! Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He opened the panel.


    The divinity value started to rise rapidly, several points per second.


    "It seems the gain will be quite good¡ªwait, this!?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes suddenly widened slightly.


    He saw, in the divine skills section, under [Twin Lifes][Shadow Flame], strands of pale golden light continuously emerging, flowing out, and gathering together.


    This phenomenon, he had encountered it twice before.


    "A new divine skill!?"


    Xue Jing was astonished.


    Years had passed... over a month, and finally, a new divine skill was about to activate?


    Considering the strong performance of Twin Lifes and Shadow Flame, Xue Jing, since activating [Visualize], rarely found himself restless and unable to control his emotions.

 Chapter 190 - 130: Harvest, New Divine Skill - Plant Pact! Reliable Youqing A Dream (4K)_2

    He took a deep breath, his powerful mental and emotional control suppressing the excitement and restoring his calm.


    Yet, his eyes still could hardly hide the joy.


    "I didn''t expect such an unexpected gain... You''ve arrived at the perfect time!" His gaze toward the robed woman in front of him softened a great deal.


    What a Wealth-bringing Child!


    At this moment, perhaps because her eyeball was directly touched, making her uncomfortable, the eyelid of the robed woman''s other eye twitched slightly, and she woke from her coma.


    She opened her eyes, realizing that Xue Jing seemed to be doing something to her "Stigmata," she panicked and said:


    "What are you doing to me!?"


    She immediately struggled, and although her body was bound by steel rails made of Shadow Flame, turning her head was not a difficult task; she managed to avoid Xue Jing''s fingers.


    [Contact separation, Divine Absorption failed]


    Seeing this, Xue Jing frowned and showed no mercy as he slapped her across the face.


    "Slap¡ª"


    "Behave yourself."


    On the robed woman''s beautiful, mature, and fair face, a vivid handprint appeared immediately, the Power invading and vibrating her jawbone, causing her brain to shake inside her skull, and she passed out again.


    "Why does this feel so strange..."


    Xue Jing''s expression was odd, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.


    It was as if he was doing something bad...


    When in fact, he was merely rightfully claiming his compensation after being provoked.


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing continued to lift the eyelid of the robed woman, touching the colorful eyeball with his fingers.


    As time slowly passed, the countless roots around them had withered into black hemp stalks, which then shattered, scattering into traceless black ash.


    Only the messy concrete ground remained, strewn with broken holes everywhere.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    "Finally..."


    Xue Jing exhaled and opened the panel. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the Divine Skill slot, beneath Twin Lifes and Shadow Flame, a brand-new skill appeared.


    [Plant Pact (Unactivated): Divine Skill, Divinity needed for activation 518/500]


    [Condition satisfied, activate?]


    [Yes/No]


    "Plant Pact? Is it a wood-element skill?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He seemed to have caught onto a pattern in the activation of Divine Skills.


    The master of Thousand Red and Ten Thousand Glamorous was clearly related to flowers and trees, hence a plant-related Divine Skill was activated from its Blessed One?


    Twin Lifes was activated from the Cat Tail Ring, Shadow Flame from the Crown of the Wicked Woman... Are these two Skills somehow related to the two Divine Relics in a way he didn''t know?


    A hint of doubt surfaced in Xue Jing''s mind, but he shook his head shortly after.


    He clicked [Yes], activating the Plant Pact.


    [Activation successful]


    [Plant Pact Lv1 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 19/100)]


    [Effect: After signing a pact with a plant, one can control that plant]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock conditions: Divinity 19/2000, reach Lv10)]


    ...A simple introduction in line with Shadow Flame.


    But any Divine Skill was bound to be extremely powerful.


    Just like Shadow Flame, as its level increased and it developed, it went from initially unremarkable to incredibly powerful.


    Xue Jing wanted to test the effects, but looking around, he found no plants nearby.


    "I''ll deal with this matter first."


    Xue Jing stood up, looking at the unconscious robed woman, his eyes reflecting contemplation.


    Although the robed woman had said she had sprinkled around a kind of Otherworld plant pollen that made people ''not want to come close'', which is why no one had approached for so long.


    But this pollen obviously couldn''t last forever, and this place was, after all, the entrance of Maple City University with a high volume of people; such an abnormal situation would probably soon attract the attention of official departments.


    Xue Jing was somewhat unsure of what to do now.


    He had just absorbed a wave of her Divinity and activated a Divine Skill, it wouldn''t be right to kill her and erase all traces of the deed.


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing took out his cellphone from his pocket.


    When in doubt, consult Youqing!


    Opening his contacts list and finding the note for the rich and domineering lady, Xue Jing made the call.


    He didn''t have to wait too long; after a few rings, the call was picked up.


    "What''s up?" Wu Youqing''s serene and lovely voice came through the receiver.


    "Youqing A Dream, only you can help me¡­"


    "Heh." Wu Youqing seemed to laugh on the other end of the line.


    "What''s it this time, Daxiong."


    Since his joke had been caught on, Xue Jing couldn''t help but chuckle, then he said:


    "It''s like this¡­"


    He recounted what had just happened¡ªhow he was approached by a Blessed One from the Flower God Society, refused their proselytism, and then defeated them, merely omitting the Shadow Flame.


    Actually, at this point, Xue Jing didn''t think he could keep his remarkable ability to use Shadow Flame a secret any longer.


    He guessed it must have been captured by the surrounding cameras.


    But for the moment, he didn''t know what excuse to use to explain it to Wu Youqing, so he chose to remain silent.


    "I see¡­" Wu Youqing''s voice was faint, as if she was contemplating.


    After a pause, she continued, "I originally thought you just had a physical constitution ''that easily attracts Divine Relics,'' but now it seems what you attract is not limited to Divine Relics."


    "Do you have any clue why you always seem to be sought out by these incidents?"


    Xue Jing was somewhat speechless.


    Why was there another person teasing him? Did he really possess a Sacred Body that naturally attracted trouble?


    He didn''t believe it; it was just a coincidence.


    "The person received orders from above, seeking me out with a specific purpose, not on a whim because they thought I looked nice and decided to forcibly recruit me," Xue Jing said.


    Wu Youqing''s voice carried a hint of amusement: "Just admit whether you''ve encountered any incidents or not."


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    Putting the teasing aside, Wu Youqing pondered for a moment before saying, "Flower God Society¡­ Alright, for now, take her back and keep her confined in the hotel."


    Xue Jing asked, "Can she be contained?"


    After all, this was a Blessed One skilled in magic.


    Although he had absorbed some of her Divinity, judging by what happened when the Divine Relic and Miao Miao had their Divinity absorbed by him and nothing happened, this robed woman probably wouldn''t be affected either.


    "There is definitely a part of her body that is different from ordinary people. Take a look," Wu Youqing instructed.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "There is something¡ªher left eye is strange, it''s multicolored."


    Wu Youqing hummed in acknowledgment, "That''s the ''Stigmata,'' the source of the Blessed One''s power."


    "After successfully receiving a Heretic God''s blessing, a part of their body will mutate, obtaining characteristics similar to the Heretic God they worship; this is called the ''Stigmata.''"


    "Her ''Stigmata'' is the left eye, right? Then gouge out her left eye," Wu Youqing said calmly.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly at the ruthlessness.


    Yet, without hesitation, he immediately crouched down, reached for the robed woman''s left eye, and pried it open.


    Then with his thumb and forefinger squeezing the upper and lower eyelids, he channeled Power deep into her eye socket, severing all the nerve endings connecting to the eyeball.


    With a dig of his fingers and a pop, he effortlessly removed the colorful, speckled eyeball.


    He wasn''t sure if it was because of the hard slap he had delivered earlier, but even with her eye being gouged out, the robed woman did not wake up.


    "I''ve removed it."


    "Good, now she can''t use the Heretic God''s power anymore," Wu Youqing said.


    "The Blessed Ones of the Flower God Society rarely have abilities related to physical enhancement. Once the Stigmata is removed, they''re basically ordinary people. Just tie her up with a rope and that should be enough."


    "Take her back to the hotel and keep her confined. I''ll speak with Maple City''s officials and the hotel about it," Wu Youqing said.


    "Then I''ll contact the Flower God Society to find out why they came to recruit you."


    "Once I have clear answers, we''ll consider how to deal with this person," she concluded with a clear and straightforward plan.


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but say, "Impressive as always, BOSS. You even have connections with the Heretical God Cult; is there anything you don''t know or can''t do?"


    "I just happen to know some things, and I can happen to help you, that''s all," replied Wu Youqing casually.


    After chatting a little while longer, Xue Jing hung up the call.


    He wiped the somewhat viscous fluid off the eyeball and slipped it into his pocket.


    According to Wu Youqing, the ''Stigmata'' has a certain level of immortality; it won''t rot or easily get damaged, so he didn''t need to worry about how to preserve it.


    Then, lifting the robed woman like carrying a sack, he leapt up and navigated through the crisscrossed buildings, heading towards the hotel.


    ...

 Chapter 192 - 132: Interrogation, Near Gods Domain, Mutative Disease, Tree-man Syndrome (4K)

    Was the surgery successful?


    Qin blinked, her consciousness gradually becoming clear, and finally realized that something was off with her field of vision.


    There was also a faint tugging pain coming from her left eye.


    "What... what have you done to me!?" she exclaimed in both anger and fear, instinctively trying to use the power of the Heretic God...


    But the ''Stigmata'' did not respond to her at all.


    "Looking for this?"


    The handsome young man across her casually placed a bowl on the table and pulled a colorful, round gem from his pocket.


    No, that was an eye.


    That was my fucking eye! My Stigmata!


    "Give it back!" Qin demanded angrily.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Lady, you seem to have not quite grasped your current situation."


    He tossed the eyeball onto the table, and it bounced high into the air, smacking the ceiling before falling back down, where Xue Jing caught it.


    "Oh? Quite bouncy."


    Xue Jing held the eyeball in his hand, spinning it with his index finger like a basketball, his voice laced with mirth as he said:


    "Hey, if you were to casually toss this outside, it would probably bounce away and vanish, impossible to find. You can''t be careless with this."


    Qin''s mouth twitched:


    "You... don''t mess around, let''s talk this over properly."


    Xue Jing hummed a sound of acknowledgment, "Then let''s have a proper talk."


    While tossing the colorful eyeball, he said:


    "From now on, nothing you say will be admissible in court, nor do you have the right to remain silent, and whether you are lying or not, if I think you''re lying, I will boil this little thing, got it?"


    Qin sighed as if giving up, "I give up, just ask whatever you need to."


    Xue Jing''s voice was devoid of any inflection, "You''re cooperative... Is this eyeball that important to you?"


    "Not that important..." Qin started defiantly, but seeing Xue Jing''s narrowed eyes, she quickly corrected herself, "It is... quite important. This is a ''Stigmata'' of the Blessed One; if it were lost, even the gentle Merciful Mother would be upset..."


    Xue Jing uttered an indifferent oh, stood up, walked over to a small table, and pressed the start button on the electric kettle placed there.


    The kettle began making the noise of boiling water, and Qin blinked and added:


    "... or rather, she would be very angry. Generally speaking, unless the Merciful Mother is very fond of this Blessed One, it''s unlikely that a second divine grace would be bestowed to grant another Stigmata."


    After a hesitation, she continued uncertainly:


    "Though, it''s hard to say whether the Merciful Mother is really angry... We only roughly gauge Her mood from Her reactions, and thinking She would be angry might just be wishful thinking on our part, humans can''t truly understand the divine."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "Second question, who assigned you to find me, and why?"


    Qin did not hesitate, "It was the professor, Professor L¨¹ sent me."


    "Professor L¨¹ of the Horticulture Institute at Maple City University, your sister Xue Wan''s mentor."


    "She is a priest of the Flower God Society''s Maple City branch, the person in charge, everything was arranged by her, I''m just a tool executing tasks!"


    Qin swiftly sold out the person behind the scenes.


    Upon hearing his sister''s name, Xue Jing frowned, his expression turning serious, and asked: S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why? Does it have to do with my sister?"


    "Your sister, like me, is a Blessed One favored by the Lord of Thousand Red and Ten Thousand Glamorous, and it was Professor L¨¹ who personally conducted the blessing ceremony for her." Qin said.


    Xue Jing slightly squinted, "When did this happen?"


    Qin answered without hesitation, "It should be in the last couple of months... I also met your sister about a month ago during a routine gathering, that was the first time Professor L¨¹ brought her in front of us."


    Xue Jing recalled, the timing pretty much matched when his mother, Nan Jiayu, felt something was off about Xue Wan.


    Should I say ''like mother, like son''?


    "Your sister, she has good qualifications."


    Qin said, then feeling it insufficient, added seriously, "Very good."


    Xue Jing remained silent, his gaze prompting her to continue.


    "The so-called qualifications of a Blessed One are ''the degree to which they are favored by deities.''"


    "Your sister is one of the rare individuals who triggered the ''Dream Medium'' during the blessing ceremony."


    "The ''Dream Medium'' is the only mean of communication between us and the otherworldly Heretic God, specifically speaking, it''s like dreaming, where the Heretic God speaks to the Blessed One in dreams."


    "Of course, to say it talks isn''t quite accurate, the expression methods of Heretic Gods are very abstract, like your sister''s own description, she only went to a place in her dream where endless seas of flowers spread, each flower speaking in words she couldn''t understand, terribly noisy."


    "Those who can trigger the Dream Medium are called ''Divine Children'', meaning those deeply loved by deities and able to communicate with them, ranking above ordinary Blessed Ones."


    Qin uncomfortably shifted her bound hands and feet, but the steel wire rope was tied too tightly, restricting her movements. She sighed and continued:


    "Your sister, with such rare qualifications, has a promising future, as long as she is not mutated, it is possible for her to reach ''Near God''s Domain''..."


    Xue Jing calmly asked, "Mutation?"


    Qin tilted her head, "You don''t even know this... Well, you''re not a Blessed One, that strange Dark Flame power must come from some Divine Relic, right?"


    Xue Jing remained silent... In a way, she had guessed correctly.

 Chapter 193 - 132: Interrogation, Near Gods Domain, Mutative Disease, Tree-man Syndrome (4K)_2

    ```


    Shadow Flame was activated from the "Crown of the Wicked Woman," and it''s not wrong to say it came from a Divine Relic.


    He perfunctorily said, "Sort of... Don''t interrupt, what exactly is mutation about."


    Qin glanced at him, "We, the people of this world, try to obtain powers not of this world, naturally there must be a price."


    "Like implanting an Alien Implant or your Martial Artists taking Banned Drugs and practicing Forbidden Skills, all will contaminate the body and cause mutation... The Blessed Ones who received the power of the Heretic God that is not of this world are naturally the same."


    "The contamination and mutation caused by Alien Implants and Banned Drugs, mostly just bodily mutations, can be suppressed through a variety of Anti-Mutation Agents and surgeries... but the contamination and mutation the Blessed Ones suffer from are of the mind."


    "During the blessing ceremony, we touch the divine with our Spirit Consciousness, the God''s Power naturally seeps in and contaminates the Spirit Consciousness, and because its Rank is far above mundane beings, nothing external can intervene. Aside from resisting the contamination with our own will, there''s hardly any other way."


    Xue Jing frowned, "What are the consequences of mutation?"


    "Based on the Mutation Rate," Qin said in a deep voice.


    "A Mutation Rate below 10% has no effect, below 30% the effects are minimal, most Blessed Ones keep their Mutation Rate suppressed below 30%."


    "Once it exceeds 50%... all sorts of ''Mutative Diseases'' begin to manifest."


    "Such as Aging Disease, Berserk Syndrome, Undying Disease, Self-Dissolving Disease, Phantom Face Disease... Different Blessed Ones exhibit different symptoms.


    Our Flower God Society''s Blessed One would develop ''Tree-man Syndrome,'' with their skin turning into bark and growing flowers, branches, and leaves, etc., as body traits continuously transform towards plant-like, and their mind also becomes more and more dull, disinclined to move."


    "The higher the Mutation Rate, the more severe the Mutative Disease symptoms become, until 100%, completely losing all traces of being human and transforming into another kind of existence... which to the person concerned is no different than death."


    Xue Jing''s brows were tightly knit as he asked, "Is it difficult to suppress mutation?"


    Qin nodded, "Very difficult."


    "Different people have different suppression methods, like meditation and so on, but generally speaking, the purer the Spirit, the simpler it is to suppress. The more attachments, the more complicated a person is, the more difficult it is to suppress mutation, hence many Blessed Ones try to keep themselves free of attachments."


    She gave Xue Jing a meaningful look. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your sister values family greatly, values you."


    "She is to go to the Merciful Mother... Your attachment will become an obstacle in her path."


    "I think, Professor L¨¹''s idea was, since it''s impossible for your sister to sever mortal kinship, might as well have you always by her side... that''s why he sent me to invite you into the society."


    Xue Jing''s lips curled into a mocking smile:


    "Or a failure in receiving the blessing could also solve the problem, couldn''t it."


    Qin shook her head, "That I don''t know."


    Xue Jing held the colorful eyeball in his hand, twirling it as though it were a walnut, and said:


    "You Blessed Ones, rather than saying you''ve obtained the power of the gods, it feels more like you''ve been cursed by them."


    Qin smiled, but her face showed a trace of devotion.


    "No, this is the blessing of the gods, not a curse. If one cannot bear it, it''s merely that mortals are not fortunate enough to enjoy it, not a fault of the gods."


    "He just bestows the power; how we use it is our affair, and if we use it poorly, that too is our mistake."


    Xue Jing was noncommittal, "I have no intention of arguing these points with you..."


    After some thought, he said, "Right, that plant you control, that thing called what was it... Nagussium something something Chalatos."


    Qin pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, "Nagussium Chalatos! Are you even a high school student, at the time when your brain should be at its best, yet you can''t even remember a name!"


    Sounds from the electric kettle indicated the water was boiling; Xue Jing looked at her, twisting the eyeball in his hand, raising an eyebrow.


    Qin immediately corrected herself, "The name is a bit complex, it''s normal to not remember it after a short while..."


    Xue Jing chuckled and said, "Too complicated, let''s just call it ''Oxygen-Absorbing Tree''... Give me one of those, or even a seed will do."


    The remaining brightness in Qin''s right eye suddenly lit up.


    "Then give me back my Stigmata, so I can summon it..."


    Xue Jing touched his chin, "If you get your hands on this thing, you should be able to use it for some strange tricks, right?"


    He remembered how the woman had reached toward her eye at the end of their last fight.


    "Eh... no way, I''ve just got that one ability, and you totally blew it up, didn''t you?" muttered Qin, somewhat sheepishly.


    Xue Jing said nothing, went straight over to the kettle, opened it, and steam billowed out. He pretended to be about to throw the eyeball inside.


    Qin turned pale with fright, "Wait! Big brother, good big brother!"


    ```


    Xue Jing had no intention of paying attention to her, but his movements still halted.


    Because his phone rang.


    He took out his phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen.


    It was from Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing returned to his seat, answered the phone, and began, "Hello, BOSS."


    "I found out, the Flower God Society said it was an act of someone lower down acting on their own," Wu Youqing''s serene and ethereal voice came through the receiver.


    "The person you caught, you can dispose of them as you wish; they won''t pursue it."


    Xue Jing nodded and replied, "I understand."


    "Thanks, good sister."


    After chatting for a few more sentences, Xue Jing hung up the phone, his gaze turned toward Qin, his eyes devoid of any fluctuations, making it impossible to read his emotions.


    Qin felt uncomfortable under his gaze, and stuttered:


    "What... What now?"


    Xue Jing did not respond immediately, but waited for a moment, then slowly said:


    "Actually, between you and me, there''s no significant conflict."


    "Letting you go just like that, it''s not impossible."


    Qin nodded repeatedly, nearly moved to tears, "You''re absolutely right..."


    "However¡­" Xue Jing''s tone suddenly changed.


    "Letting you go without any consequences, it makes me look kind of easy to bully, which is somewhat irritating to me."


    Upon hearing this, Qin''s face suddenly flushed, and she said hesitantly:


    "Then, if worse comes to worst, I can give you¡­ that,"


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He said exasperatedly, "What are you thinking about, shrimp-head girl really is clueless."


    Qin retorted dissatisfied, "What now, I, a beauty like me, have taken the initiative, what else could you be dissatisfied with!"


    "Wake up, look at me, then look at yourself in the mirror, and tell me, who would be at a disadvantage in doing this?" Xue Jing chuckled.


    Qin: "..."


    She wanted to retort with conviction that it would definitely be her loss.


    But looking at Xue Jing''s face¡­ she really found it hard to say it out loud.


    She asked angrily, "Then what do you suggest we do?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then said, "You need to give me one of those Nagussium Chalatos, a seed will also do."


    Qin quickly nodded, "That''s no problem."


    "Additionally¡­" as Xue Jing spoke, he suddenly changed his mind, "No, never mind."


    He stood up, walked in front of Qin, and holding the colorful eyeball said:


    "This eye, I can just stuff it back in for you, right?"


    Qin was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "No problem¡­ As long as the Stigmata and my body are in contact, I can use the Merciful Mother''s power to heal myself, and the nerve connections in the eye can also be repaired quickly."


    "That''s good then." Xue Jing directly pulled back her left eyelid, aimed for a moment, and with a plop, stuffed the colorful eyeball into the empty eye socket.


    "¡­You could at least wash it first." Qin said reluctantly.


    Considering that Xue Jing not only had put her eye in his pocket but had also been playing with it... she felt particularly uncomfortable.


    But the feeling of the Stigmata returning and the ability to use God''s Power again relieved her, and she quickly activated it, a pale green glow beginning to emanate from her left eye.


    After a short while, she blinked, and her vision fully recovered.


    Then, as if offhandedly, Xue Jing asked, "How does it feel, is there anything wrong?"


    ...

 Chapter 199 - 136 Health Cultivation Lv8, Life Force Development, Undying Body, Xue Wans Gift (4K)

    Nighttime, Maple City University, Horticulture Institute.


    Qin, cloaked in a black hooded cape, walked into the cultivation area of the horticultural garden.


    "Wow, it''s quite a mess."


    She clicked her tongue as she took in the scene before her.


    The neatly organized, lush and blooming garden area was now a changed sight.


    The ground was torn and tattered, with cracks and debris-strewn soil everywhere; countless flowers and trees were either withered or shattered, creating a chaotic scene as if it had endured the ravages of war.


    In the center of the garden, stood a solitary figure, silent and motionless.


    Dark green hair that resembled dirty dreadlocks, and a plain middle-aged woman''s face.


    It was Professor L¨¹.


    She didn''t seem to be in good shape, with her clothing somewhat tattered and a clump of her vine-like hair broken off, as if it had been forcibly torn by something, leaving a jagged end.


    "Nearly none of the ''children'' you''ve painstakingly cultivated survived... Professor."


    Qin approached her and greeted her with these words.


    Professor L¨¹ maintained her usual calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened.


    "This is a cost I was already prepared to bear... It''s insignificant."


    Her tone was flat, without fluctuation.


    Qin chuckled, glancing at the professor''s broken vine-like hair: "She even aimed for your ''stigmata''. That girl really meant business. If she had been strong enough, she might have even managed to commit ''regicide.''


    "You made a wrong decision... You underestimated how much she cares about her younger brother."


    Professor L¨¹ calmly shook her head, "On the contrary, the more she cares, the more it shows that I am right. The heavier her emotional attachments, the more detrimental it is to the path she must take."


    "I didn''t make the wrong decision; I simply didn''t succeed."


    Qin shrugged: "As long as you''re happy."


    Professor L¨¹ gave her a look: "As a martial artist who has only just begun his training, with your ability, why weren''t you able to subdue him?"


    "He''s more than just a martial artist," Qin retorted.


    She briefly recounted her encounter and battle with Xue Jing and added:


    "The young man knows very little about the Blessed Ones. I assumed that his strange Dark Flame ability was brought on by a Divine Relic... But upon reflection, it doesn''t seem like it."


    "He used that ability too effortlessly, completely unlike someone utilizing the power of an external object."


    "Oh?" Professor L¨¹''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    After pondering for a moment, Qin said, "Professor, that young man gives me a very bad feeling."


    "Maybe I''ve got a bit of a psychological shadow after losing to him."


    She scratched her face.


    "I don''t know what you plan to do next, but I would advise against making another move on him."


    "Even if you do, don''t come to me. In any case, I don''t want to be his enemy anymore. That person... is very dangerous."


    Professor L¨¹ didn''t say anything but nodded thoughtfully.


    Qin didn''t linger, quickly leaving the place.


    Only Professor L¨¹ was left standing alone amidst the ruined garden.


    ...


    Early morning, as the sky began to brighten, Xue Jing opened his eyes.


    [Early to bed, early to rise, Health Cultivation experience +51]


    [Health Cultivation has risen to Lv8 (37/6000)]


    "Finally Lv8... "


    As the panel notification passed, Xue Jing felt a jolt through his body.


    His robust and acute consciousness sensed an indescribable force, like flames burning invisibly, coursing through every corner of his body.


    Xue Jing''s face showed surprise.


    "Is this... Life Force?"


    It gave him a feeling of vitality and burgeoning growth, undoubtedly what was referred to as ''Life Force.''


    It was as if his own lifespan, health, and vigor were materialized into a fierce Life Fire.


    "Health Cultivation Lv8... Has my Life Force become so vigorous that my inner vision can detect it?"


    Xue Jing considered for a moment, then sat up from his lying position, stretching his hand in front of him with fingers spread.


    With a thought, he used the ''Telekinesis'' of Visualization True, capable of influencing reality and turning pages of a book, trying to drive his Life Force.


    Life Fire, which was quietly burning throughout his body, began to fluctuate as if a breeze had brushed past it.


    "Difficult... but not impossible."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed.


    Driven by spiritual power, the Life Force moved sluggishly like a snail''s pace.


    Slowly, he concentrated the Life Force upon his fingertips.


    At the tips of his fingers, the Life Fire burned more intensely.


    Then, the nails on his elongated fingers began to grow at a visible rate, extending two to three centimeters.


    The newly grown nails had the texture of jade, lustrous and white, smooth, pristine, and with a compelling sense of strength.


    The tips of the nails were sharp and pointed, resembling the claws of a ferocious animal.


    "What am I, Inuyasha?"


    Xue Jing shook his head and made a scratching gesture in the air.


    He opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out a nail clipper to start trimming his grown nails.


    However...


    "Click-click¡ª"


    He pressed the nail clipper to its limit, forcing the steel handle to bend under the strain, but the jadelike nail on his index finger... remained virtually unscathed. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "This..."


    The nails grown with the aid of Life Fire were that hard?


    He placed the nail clipper back in the nightstand and stood up to walk to the corner, picking up the Crouching Rabbit Sword there, unsheathing the blade.


    With a surge of Power, he infused the blade, and in a flash of light, the five sharp nails were cleanly severed, with cuts as smooth as if finely polished.

 Chapter 200 - 136 Health Cultivation Lv8, Life Force Development, Undying Body, Xue Wans Gift (4K)_2

    "Not bad," Xue Jing nodded with satisfaction.


    "Right, let''s test the regenerative power too..."


    He held the Crouching Rabbit Sword and made a cut on his arm. The sharp blade immediately left a gaping wound from which thick, ruby-like blood slowly oozed out.


    Then, with a thought, he activated his Life Force, which began to burn intensively at the site of the injury.


    Instantly, the wound started to wriggle and heal at a visible rate. In just a few seconds, it had completely healed, leaving the skin smooth and flawless, not even a scar to be found.


    If it weren''t for the fresh blood still staining it, it would look as if nothing had happened.


    "Impressive, hyper-speed regeneration," Xue Jing''s eyes lit up.


    "As long as I concentrate and burn Life Force, I can recover from injuries in no time."


    "With this ability, even if my neck were to be sliced, it seems I wouldn''t die... Even if my head were chopped off, as long as it''s reattached in time, it should probably heal," he mused.


    He inspected the still vigorous Life Fire within himself.


    "Given sufficient Life Force, as long as I''m not killed instantly, I reckon I could recover," he thought.


    "It''s practically an Undying Body!"


    Xue Jing looked with satisfaction at [Health Cultivation Lv8] on his Skill Panel.


    It was worthy of being one of his most valued routine Skills; it really was handy.


    Considering [Fitness] and [Charm Art] have already triggered the requirements for sublimation, Health Cultivation should be able to sublimate as well.


    I wonder how powerful it will become after sublimation; I''m really looking forward to it...


    ...


    At noon, after finishing his meal, Xue Jing sat on the sofa, petting the cat, and looking at the Skill Panel.


    [Divinity Held: 702]


    He glanced at the Divinity value first, then turned his attention to [Plant Pact].


    Should I upgrade Plant Pact by one or two levels to see its effects?


    The upgrade from Divine Skill Lv1 to Lv2 only requires one hundred points, and three hundred points for Lv2.


    That''s only four hundred points in total...


    Now with another means to obtain Divinity, Xue Jing felt he could be a little more generous.


    As he was pondering this, a gentle knock came from outside.


    He closed the Skill Panel and expanded his Spirit Consciousness, using Meditative Visualization to see the scene outside the door.


    It was Xue Wan, holding a black bag and knocking on the door.


    Xue Jing interrupted his Meditative Visualization and controlled a black arm made of Shadow Flame to open the door.


    Xue Wan had already contacted him by phone saying she was coming over; he just wanted to confirm with Visualization.


    As the door opened, Xue Wan walked in, and her gaze immediately turned to Miao Miao coiled up beside Xue Jing, her eyes lighting up.


    "Feng Wan, my Little Feng Wan, mommy''s here!"


    Xue Wan pounced over and hugged the cat in her arms, rubbing her face against it constantly.


    "Meow~"


    Miao Miao''s face was filled with anthropomorphized resignation, looking towards Xue Jing for help.


    "Meow meow meow meow meow~" Xue Wan adorably cooed at the cat.


    "Enough already, can''t you see it''s not happy?" Xue Jing said with a wry smile.


    "Which eye of yours saw it being unhappy? Little Feng Wan is overjoyed to be loved by mommy, right?"


    As she spoke, Xue Wan rubbed even more vigorously against Miao Miao, then buried her face into its belly, starting to sniff the cat deeply.


    "Sniff sniff... you smell so good."


    "Meow..."


    In response to Miao Miao''s pleading gaze, Xue Jing could only offer a helpless shrug of his shoulders.


    "The little kitty must want a kiss from mommy, mua~mua~"


    By the time Xue Wan was satisfied, Miao Miao had already flopped onto the sofa, its paws up in the air, its pupils out of focus in resignation.


    "This is for you," Xue Wan said, her face bright from her contentment, handing over the black bag to Xue Jing.


    "What is this?" Xue Jing asked curiously. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He took the bag, peering inside.


    Inside were several strands of dark green... vines?


    "These are my mentor''s hair, her ''Stigmata''," Xue Wan explained.


    "Didn''t you say that absorbing stuff from Stigmata that causes contamination and mutation is beneficial for you? This should work."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows raised.


    He had a long conversation with his sister the day before and did mention this matter briefly.


    He hadn''t expected Xue Wan to bring it to him so soon.


    He reached into the bag and pulled out several strands of the dark green vines.


    [Divine Substance detected, extracting Divinity...]


    "Where did you get this?" Xue Jing asked.


    "Uh... did the mentor feel guilty for forcibly wanting to bind you into the sect and cut her hair as an apology to show her resolve?" Xue Wan said with an innocent face.


    Xue Jing glanced at the messy broken ends of the vine.


    It was obviously torn off by force.


    "You''re trying to trick ghosts?"


    Xue Wan said indignantly, "Just take it, why ask so many questions!"


    Xue Jing smiled and didn''t say more, only saying, "Thank you, sister."


    After speaking, he turned his gaze to the vine in his hand.


    Stigmata are mutations that appear on the bodies of the Blessed, resembling the parts related to the deity they worship.


    So that''s what the hair of the deity known for Thousand Red and Ten Thousand Glamorous looks like¡ªif It had any hair.


    He didn''t have to wait for long. After dozens of seconds, the panel notification lit up.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    And the Divinity Value had increased from 702 to 1028.


    "These few vines are probably just a small part of that Professor L¨¹''s stigmata, and they provided more than three hundred points of Divinity?"


    Xue Jing was a bit surprised, not expecting to absorb so much.


    If they could pluck all of the professor''s hair, how much Divinity would that be...


    "Alright, I''ve made plans to go shopping with classmates first."


    Xue Wan said with a smile.


    "I will go to the venue for your competition this afternoon."


    "I''ll be off then."


    She said farewell.


    "I''ll see you out." Xue Jing stood up.


    After sending his sister to the door, Xue Jing closed it, went back to his room, and gazed at the panel showing more than a thousand points of Divinity, deep in thought.


    "A bit wealthy, but how should I spend it?"


    Upgrade Twin Lifes or Shadow Flame by one level?


    Or perhaps directly raise Plant Pact to Lv4...


    "For Twin Lifes, there''s currently no urgently needed double effect."


    "But the increase in the duration of active effects and the reduction in the cooldown for the passive revival from the level up would be quite nice."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Shadow Flame... upgrading would enhance the strength of the Activated Substance, as well as the ''Blue Bar'' and its Annihilation power."


    "That means bigger Gundams can be summoned!"


    With that in mind, Shadow Flame''s priority seemed higher than Twin Lifes.


    "However, let''s first raise Plant Pact by one level."


    Going from Lv1 to Lv2 only requires a hundred points of Divinity Value, which offers a great cost-to-benefit ratio. Even after the upgrade, there would still be more than nine hundred points left, enough to raise Twin Lifes or Shadow Flame."


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Plant Pact Lv2 (Divinity required for upgrade: 928/300)]


    After reaching Lv2, the skill name for Plant Pact, which had dimmed due to the pact with the Oxygen-Absorbing Tree seed, suddenly brightened quite a bit.


    It became about as dim as it was when he had only made a pact with the Spider Plant.


    Xue Jing touched the Spider Plant Seed on the table next to him, recontracting it.


    The name of the Plant Pact skill dimmed a little again, but it wasn''t obvious.


    "Good, the ''Blue Bar'' has improved quite a bit."


    "Let''s test the strength changes."


    Xue Jing took out a dark red seed from his pocket, along with the Spider Plant Seed, and threw them both on the ground.


    Immediately, green root tentacles and sword-like leaves grew from the two seeds, flailing wildly in the air and starting to attack each other under Xue Jing''s control.


    After a clattering of collisions, numerous robust tentacles and leaves fought like two armies in complex offense and defense, and soon, wood chips and broken leaves littered the floor.


    But overall, the Spider Plant clearly showed signs of fatigue, constantly retreating under the onslaught of the Oxygen-Absorbing Tree.


    "After all, it''s a noble Otherworld special plant, it''s normal that it can''t win. The pact costs aren''t even on the same level."


    Xue Jing nodded.


    "The Spider Plant''s leaves have increased a bit in toughness, the limit of proliferation and growth has increased from a dozen meters to nearly thirty meters, not bad."


    As he was getting into it, Miao Miao sat upright on the sofa, watching the magical scene of the plants writhing in front of her, lost in thought.


    "Is this what it means to be a Martial Artist?"


    She wondered what Old Li Qi would think if he saw this scene.


    "Martial Arts: From Novice to Magic Mastery"?


    ...

 Chapter 208 - 139: Life Force Accelerates Growth, The Suspicious Mr. An

    The next afternoon.


    Xue Jing was practicing the daily Coiling Dragon Art and Armor Shaking Skill in the gym.


    Among the Five Major Practices-corresponding to skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood-he was today working on the Armor Shaking Skill for ''Bone Training,'' which also corresponded to ''Kidney Training'' among the five organs. Strong kidneys lead to full bones, and vice versa.


    Since the practice of the Armor Shaking Skill puts a great strain on the body, Xue Jing had to alternate it daily, practicing only one set of movements per day to allow ample rest and recovery time for his body.


    Previously, Xue Jing had always done this, but today was different.


    His lengthy breaths slowly steadied, and Xue Jing''s whole skeleton continued to tremble violently, emitting a rumbling thunderous sound.


    From an introspective view, his kidneys were constantly expanding and contracting, each time squeezing out some dark turbid substance, which was then swept away by the torrent of blood.


    With each expulsion of the turbid substances, the kidneys imperceptibly became stronger, and their surfaces more crystalline and translucent, giving them a clean appearance.


    After a complete set of the Armor Shaking Skill for Bone and Kidney Training, his body was very tired, bearing various degrees of injury in different places.


    Martial Arts Practice emphasizes moderation; it was now necessary to stop and rest until the body had recovered tomorrow before continuing.


    However, Xue Jing had a thought.


    From the introspective view, a quietly burning flame inside his body manifested his robust life force.


    His strong and influential spiritual power began to interfere with the life force inside him, forcibly mobilizing it.


    The Life Fire began to burn fiercely and surged towards various injuries incurred from practicing the Armor Shaking Skill.


    In just over ten seconds, all the injuries healed completely, and his body was fully restored.


    He then continued to practice the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Not until he had practiced it thoroughly once more and his whole skeleton emitted continuous rumbling thunderous sounds did Xue Jing stop.


    He did not continue to force life force to rapidly heal the injuries, but instead picked up a Nebulizer Inhaler, already filled with liquified Dragon Thunder Powder, placed it on his face, and turned it on.


    He operated the breathing skills, inhaling Dragon Thunder Powder vaporized into golden mist into his lungs, to be transported to the kidneys and throughout the body by the blood.


    It wasn''t until the liquified Dragon Thunder Powder was depleted that Xue Jing took off the Nebulizer Inhaler and opened the panel to have a look.


    [You have practiced the Armor Shaking Skill once, Fitness Experience Points +351]


    [¡­ Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +333]


    [¡­ Fitness Experience Points +359]


    [¡­ Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +349]


    [You have taken a kidney-nourishing medicine, Health Cultivation Experience Value +221]


    After introspecting the burning situation of his life force within, Xue Jing opened his eyes.


    "Health Cultivation Lv8 brings robust life force that allows me to forcefully repair my body''s injuries, practicing the Armor Shaking Skill twice a day."


    "This way, the guaranteed increase in my daily Fitness and Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points has doubled, reaching seven hundred points... and the progress on the Five Major Practices that the panel does not show has also doubled." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    His growth rate was accelerating.


    If life force itself didn''t also need time to recover, he could even continue to practice crazily all day, immediately forcing life force to heal injuries once done.


    But that would be a forced overdraft, and there would come a time when his life force couldn''t keep up.


    Nowadays, activating his life force once a day to heal injuries and practicing the Armor Shaking Skill twice, with the life force itself completely recovering the next day, maintained a just-right balance of inflow and outflow.


    As he advanced to higher levels of Health Cultivation in the future, his life force would grow even stronger, and soon he might be able to train three, four, or even five times a day...


    "A day''s routine gains would be several thousand experience points, wouldn''t that rocket one to the sky?"


    Xue Jing stood up and left the gym, walking into the living room.


    Ning Fengwan, in her cat-eared maiden form, was sprawled on the couch, playing with Xue Jing''s phone.


    Beneath her denim shorts were two slender, jade-like legs kicking alternately, with a tail atop her perky buttocks swaying leisurely from side to side.


    Seeing Xue Jing come out of the gym, Ning Fengwan flipped over and sat up in a duck-sitting position, handing the phone to Xue Jing and saying,


    "Jing, look at this."


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing walked over to her, took the phone, and glanced at it.


    The screen displayed a chat page, one he had seen before.


    It was the ''Inside World'' forum page, which he had glimpsed when he used screen recording software to spy on Miao Miao''s computer activities.


    [def3y64b: Sect Hierarch, are you in Maple City right now?]


    [def3y64b: I have urgent business with you. Let''s meet.]


    The chat history had only these two messages, and Ning Fengwan hadn''t responded. The messages were sent last night at eleven.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and asked, "Who is this?"


    Ning Fengwan crossed her arms over her chest, pushing up her bust contemplatively, "It should be Mr. An."


    "Only Yun Qin, that little girl, knows about my account on the Inside World forum, and she''s currently with Mr. An. This is a new account, created a few days ago, yet it knows who I am. It must undoubtedly be Mr. An."


    "But why didn''t he let Yun Qin contact me, instead opting to create an account himself?"


    Xue Jing sat down on the couch, casually asking, "How does he know you''re in Maple City?"


    Ning Fengwan shook her head, "I didn''t tell him¡­ Maybe he saw the news about your competition in Maple City and guessed I might have come with you?"


    Xue Jing placed his hand on his thigh, tapping lightly with his index finger as he thought for a while before saying,


    "Sounds a bit suspicious. Let''s ignore him for now."


    "However, the Dragon Cult headquarters is somewhat troublesome, and Mr. An has been wanting you to go there for the bestowal ceremony. We have to deal with this eventually."


    "Let''s leave him hanging for now. I''m leaving for the Intersecting Boundaries the day after tomorrow after the competition. We can talk about this when I return."


    Ning Fengwan nodded at first, then whispered, "¡­I''m a bit worried about Yun Qin; it''s been a few days since she last contacted me."


    Yun Qin was a follower specifically assigned to take care of her after she was chosen as the Dragon Cult''s heir, much like an ancient lady''s maidservant.


    Hardworking and loyal, she was one of the few people Ning Fengwan cared about within the Dragon Cult.


    Xue Jing was aware of this and, after a moment''s thought, said softly, "You use the Inside World forum to ask Mr. An about Yun Qin''s situation. If you can''t get anything, then we''ll go meet him."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Fengwan hesitated before shaking her head,


    "If she''s fine, there''s no need to contact her. If something has happened, then contacting now would be too late."


    "We have many enemies; we must be cautious. Mr. An seems a bit suspicious, so it''s better not to meet him for the time being."


    As Xue Jing was about to speak, a knocking sound came from outside the door.


    "Thud, thud¡ª"


    ¡­


    (There''s another 4K chapter tonight. I''m too sleepy now, going to sleep¡­)

 Chapter 212 - 143: Huh, I Hit Xue Jing? For Real...Sorry, Im in a Hurry (4K)

    "Dragon and Tiger Strike Together! It''s Dragon and Tiger Strike Together! Until now, he''s been using only the ''White Tiger Form'' against his opponents, making everyone think he specializes in the White Tiger Form. Unexpectedly, Ji Huaiyu is also proficient in the ''Azure Dragon Form,'' and his skill in it is by no means inferior to the White Tiger Form.


    He''s reached the level where he can execute Dragon and Tiger Strike Together!"


    "Down he goes! Si Liyuan has fallen! As expected of the renowned Martial Arts World''s Four Elements move, under Dragon and Tiger Strike Together, no one can withstand the power of the dragon''s bite and the tiger''s pounce. It''s a pity for competitor Si Liyuan..."


    In the competitors'' lounge, watching the screen and listening to the commentary resounding in his ears, Xue Jing nodded.


    "The Four Symbols Shadowy Spirit School is somewhat interesting."


    The Four Symbols Shadowy Spirit School that Ji Huaiyu had cultivated was a school with similarities to the Hidden Dragon School, also one that practiced ''Shape Imitation'' by Meditative Visualization of powerful creatures.


    However, unlike Hidden Dragon School''s principle of ''Both Body and Mind as Dragon,'' the Four Symbols Shadowy Spirit School emphasized spirit over body and did not have the Hidden Dragon School''s domineering intent of transforming oneself into a dragon with ''Hidden Dragon in the Body, Nourishing Dragon in the Heart.'' Instead, it held the Four Elements Divine Beasts in high regard, worshipping them within one''s heart, borrowing the power of the ''spirit within the heart'' when making a move.


    In fact, to be precise, it''s not so much ''Shape Imitation'' as it is ''Divine Striking.''


    "Ji Huaiyu... this person is one of the most eye-catching genius competitors from the Outer Ring this year and has even attracted the attention of the top clubs from the Inner Ring, with the intention of bringing him into their circle."


    Jiang Siwei, sitting beside him with a notebook, was writing something in it while speaking.


    "There are even rumors that the Secret Martial Society had approached him too."


    Xue Jing looked at her, puzzled: "The Secret Martial Society?"


    Jiang Siwei: "You don''t know? Hmm... It''s a very famous yet mysterious organization within the martial arts circle, just like the ''Skull Club'' or ''Mutual Aid Society.''"


    "Rumor has it that the Secret Martial Society was established by a major figure currently living in Cangting for a certain purpose when he was young."


    "Although that major figure has since distanced himself from the Secret Martial Society, the organization has been preserved and passed down to the present day."


    "What the Secret Martial Society actually is and its purpose are unknown to anyone except its members. It''s very mysterious, but those contacted and absorbed by the Secret Martial Society are without exception martial artists of exceptional talent and potential."


    Jiang Siwei whispered: "Although it''s not very credible, there are rumors that this organization possesses the power to overturn nations."


    Xue Jing noncommittally: "Hmm...sounds pretty impressive."


    Jiang Siwei looked at her ladies'' watch on her wrist and reminded him: "Little Jing, there are fifteen minutes left in the halftime break before it''s your turn to go on stage."


    Xue Jing picked up his phone to check the time as well.


    [16:39]


    Twenty-one minutes until five o''clock in the afternoon.


    "Hmm...should be enough time."


    Xue Jing put away his phone and picked up the Crouching Rabbit Sword next to him.


    "By the way, who am I fighting again?" he wondered aloud. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Siwei smiled wryly: "You''ve really paid no attention to your opponent... It''s Gu Hongding from Kunqing Club, a very rare ''Battlefield Faction'' Martial Artist."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "What''s that?"


    Jiang Siwei explained: "In simple terms, it means using any means necessary... You''ll understand when you see him."


    Soon, a call from the staff echoed from outside the door.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, Competitor Xue Jing, please get ready for your performance!"


    Xue Jing wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but this time, the staff''s voice sounded much more cautious and respectful than on the day of his first appearance.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I''m off then, Wei."


    Jiang Siwei smiled: "Go on, may your martial fortune prosper~"


    ...


    In another competitor''s rest room.


    "Eh, I''m fighting Xue Jing? For real..."


    Gu Hongding, a stocky and slightly overweight bald man with a general''s belly, was sitting on a chair, scratching his smooth head.


    He looked over at his friend Deng Jizhou, who was also a competing contestant:


    "Old Zhou, don''t you know divination? Can you divine my fate? Is my luck strong today?"


    Deng Jizhou, with long hair and dressed in a black martial arts uniform, shrugged and said:


    "Already divined. As hard as titanium."


    Gu Hongding breathed a sigh of relief: "That''s good."


    Then he started putting on a full coverage, antique-styled armor made of titanium next to him.


    The scales gleamed metallic under the lighting, exuding an overwhelming sense of solidity.


    "You really have no shame, Old Gu."


    Deng Jizhou looked at him speechlessly.


    "What do you know, we from the Battlefield Faction have always been like this. This isn''t about having no shame; it''s purely a characteristic of our school!"


    Gu Hongding banged on his chest armor twice with satisfaction and nodded.


    "Damn, my opponent is that Xue Jing... You saw it with your own eyes too."


    "Without this gear, I wouldn''t dare to step on stage to fight him... I don''t want to end up like Li Chengxuan, with a body full of flesh gouged out."


    "To tell the truth, even though I only saw him make a move once, I could basically tell his strength is not on the same level as ours."


    "Us from the Battlefield Faction always prioritize survival... To think I have to fight an opponent who I clearly can''t beat, sigh."


    Gu Hongding sighed.


    Deng Jizhou smiled and responded:


    "But you didn''t concede defeat, nor did you run away. Instead, you''re seriously preparing, right?"


    His eyes showed a hint of pride.


    "Go on, Old Gu, the anthem of humanity is a hymn of courage, and although you''re shameless, you''re a brave hard man."


    "Fight on, I think you can win."

 Chapter 213 - 143: Huh, I Hit Xue Jing? For Real...Sorry, Im in a Hurry (4K)_2

    ```


    Gu Hongding rolled his eyes, "Don''t even start."


    He paced forward, picking up the three-meter-long cleaver propped against the wall, and headed for the doorway, as the titanium alloy armor clanked and rattled.


    "I''m off then."


    Gu Hongding had a somber look, even carrying a hint of melancholy.


    It was as if he wasn''t heading to a competition, but marching towards a battlefield with certain death awaiting.


    Deng Jizhou found it a bit humorous, "Go on, just remember to be decisive. If you can''t make it, just surrender straight away. There''s no shame in that."


    Gu Hongding waved his hand without turning back, "I know."


    ...


    "The brief intermission comes to an end, let''s return to the match..."


    "...The upcoming battle is undoubtedly the most anticipated match of the day, featuring Kunqing Club''s competitor Gu Hongding against Galaxy Club''s Xue Jing..."


    Commentator Hao Yongyun, after rambling for a bit, finally announced:


    "Alright, enough talk, let us welcome¡ªcompetitor Gu Hongding!"


    As his voice fell, the spotlight converged on the entrance of the players'' tunnel.


    With each clanking step, Gu Hongding emerged from the tunnel, encased in an armor as thick as a tortoise shell, his figure as imposing as a Gundam under the spotlight.


    The audience''s applause was mixed with astonishment.


    "What is that? Cosplay?"


    "Damn, he''s actually wearing full body armor? How scared can this guy be..."


    "Haha, it kinda makes sense though, considering his opponent is my hubby..."


    "I was beginning to think he was off to war, acting all cowardly yet shameless, but becoming so shameless it''s actually amusing."


    "Keep it up, armored big bro!"


    The commentator introduced:


    "Competitor Gu Hongding, practitioner of the legendary ''Qitun Wushuang School''. He is one of the rare ''Battlefield Faction'' martial artists today, fighting in each match as if he is on an actual battlefield, giving it his all... Hmm, this armor is also considered a cold weapon, so it doesn''t violate any rules."


    "Let''s take a look at his hexagon stats chart."


    "Attack 7, Speed 5, Defense 8, Skill 7, Spirit 8, Intelligence 9... Oh~ besides ''Speed'', all are top-tier stats, it''s truly a luxurious lineup, no wonder he''s a seeded competitor."


    "And such a formidable contender, taking on his opponent so seriously, pushing the limits of the rules, who might that opponent be?"


    "Let us welcome¡ªCompetitor Xue Jing!"


    By the end of the commentator''s speech, his voice grew loud and excited when he mentioned Xue Jing''s name.


    The audience was very supportive, with applause and cheers almost ready to overturn the entire venue.


    The spotlight shone down, and a figure slowly emerged from the entrance of the player''s tunnel.


    Upon seeing him, the clapping and noise level increased by a notch.


    "Hubby, hubby, hubby!!"


    "Xue Jing, hubby, look over here!!"


    Exaggerated shouts came from the audience.


    This level of popularity was not on the same level as Gu Hongding or any other competitor who had appeared before, it was extremely exaggerated.


    Standing in the ring, Gu Hongding couldn''t help but break into a sweat, feeling as if he had entered the opponent''s home court, with the entire audience against him.


    He removed the full-face helmet from his head, revealing a shiny bald head and wiped the sweat from it with his hand.


    Xue Jing was also slightly surprised, not expecting such a loud welcome.


    Carrying the Crouching Rabbit Sword, he walked towards the ring while nodding and smiling to the audience.


    Wherever his gaze fell, that part of the audience erupted in even louder cheers. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The photographer, perched up high, once again smartly began to circle Xue Jing, creating a silky smooth 360-degree surround shot, clearly showing favoritism.


    This time Xue Jing did not smile at the camera, as if not seeing it, ignoring the photographer.


    Still, the applause from the audience remained enthusiastic.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, as you all must be quite familiar with by now, from his first match two days ago, his smile and swordplay astounded the world. One could say he reached the pinnacle from the beginning, not even the male lead of a martial arts novel could compare!"


    "He practices the ''Hidden Dragon School'', let''s take a look at his hexagon stats chart."


    "Attack 10, Speed ?, Defense ?, Skill 10, Spirit ?, Intelligence ?... Since competitor Xue Jing only has one match on his record so far, some stats are currently missing, but just from what he has shown so far, he has already obtained two perfect scores of 10!"


    "I''m really looking forward to seeing what kind of spectacular match Xue Jing will bring us today?"


    On the ring, Xue Jing looked towards Gu Hongding across from him, his eyes pausing for a moment on the obviously high-quality armor, and immediately understood why his adversary was a ''Battlefield Faction'' martial artist.


    "That outfit must have cost a pretty penny," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    Gu Hongding was taken aback.


    Having seen how Xue Jing had butchered Li Chengxuan with his sword, he had assumed that his opponent had a not-so-great temper, but he didn''t expect him to speak in such a friendly and gentle tone.


    "Uh... it was a bit expensive," he scratched his bald head.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... Then I''ll be extra careful."


    Gu Hongding: "Huh?"


    Before he could ponder further, the commentator had already brought the banter to a close.


    "...This match can be described as the strongest spear against the strongest shield. Who will ultimately claim victory? Let''s wait and see!"


    As the words ended, the referee stepped into the ring, halfway between the two competitors.


    "Both competitors, please take your positions."


    "Ready..."


    "Begin!"


    As the referee''s arm swung down between the two men, a sudden commotion erupted from the stands.


    ```

 Chapter 214 - 143 Eh, I hit Xue Jing? For real... Sorry, Im in a hurry (4K)_3

    "Come on!"


    "Gu Hongding, come on!"


    "Come on, bald big brother!"


    The cheers had bewildered Gu Hongding.


    It was that phrase ''bald big brother'' that sounded a bit harsh...


    After a moment of thought, he understood, and a bitter smile appeared under his helmet-mask.


    ''There''s only one reason fans cheer for their idol''s opponent...''


    ''Pity cheers thinking I''m bound to lose, huh...''


    "Damn it, they really look down on me."


    Gu Hongding curled his lips.


    His gaze became serious as he pointed his three-meter-long saber at Xue Jing.


    It might seem like cheating, but his equipment was specifically designed to counter the opponent.


    That sort of distant Saber Qi looked imposing, but its power was definitely not as good as a direct slash of the blade.


    And a real blade couldn''t break through the defense of his armor shell.


    The martial art he practiced, ''Qitun Wushuang School,'' was developed for the battlefield.


    In a battlefield, which aspect of combat ability is most important?


    Endurance!


    The strongest point of Qitun Wushuang was its endurance.


    He could fight in his heavy armor for hours without growing tired!


    ''I''ll wear you down to death.''


    Gu Hongding thought as he looked at Xue Jing.


    As the match started, the cheers of the audience gradually quieted down, and they began to focus on the match itself. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing observed Gu Hongding for a while, then shook his head.


    He channeled his Power into the Crouching Rabbit Sword, driving it, sheath and all, into the ground of the arena and let it stand there before releasing his grip.


    He had entered the arena at 16:57.


    Now, it was about 59 minutes past.


    Xue Jing looked at the prepared Gu Hongding across from him, thought for a moment, and then spoke:


    "Sorry, I''m in a rush."


    Gu Hongding hadn''t yet reacted when he saw Xue Jing''s demeanor change completely.


    "Chan¡ª"


    The Dragon''s Chant echoed through the entire venue.


    White wave-like Dragon Qi surged from Xue Jing''s shoulders, enveloping him.


    An intensely fierce and dominating aura burst forth from his entire body.


    His eyes turned into dark golden vertical pupils, and with just a light glance, Gu Hongding felt his body freeze.


    At that moment, in Gu Hongding''s eyes, standing before him was no longer just another man.


    It was ¡ª a Dragon.


    A seclusive, divine-like Dragon that looked down at him like a mere ant ¡ª a True Dragon.


    All the spectators also held their breath, staring at the figure surrounded by Dragon Qi, heavy as the sea.


    In Xue Jing''s eyes, Gu Hongding''s reflection appeared.


    Most of his ''lines'' and ''points'' were detailed and apparent.


    In an instant, almost unnoticed by everyone else, he had vanished from his original spot.


    The next moment, the True Dragon''s claw pinned Gu Hongding to the ground.


    "Chan¡ª"


    Eye-Penetrating Flow ¡¤ Shaking Star Fire.


    Amidst the Dragon''s Chant, Xue Jing''s fist struck the fallen Gu Hongding''s chest.


    As blood boiled fiercely, his Power transformed into Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires, moving through the weak points, bypassing the armor, and flooding into Gu Hongding''s body.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    After a loud explosion, Gu Hongding twitched violently, and Xue Jing''s fist drove him nearly two meters deep into the ground of the arena, spreading violent circular shockwaves that made it hard for nearby spectators to keep their eyes open.


    "Bang!!"


    Centered on Gu Hongding, a huge circle of cracks spread across the arena, swiftly enveloping the entire structure.


    "Crack-crack"


    As the arena collapsed, the entire venue shook slightly.


    Everyone stared dumbfounded at the only figure still standing amidst the rising dust.


    This...


    Xue Jing first confirmed that the embedded Gu Hongding couldn''t stand up anymore, then pulled out his phone to check the time.


    [16:59]


    The next second ¡ª [17:00]


    "Done, just in time."


    Xue Jing nodded, satisfied.


    ...

 Chapter 217 - 145: Sky Pirates Attack, Susanoo Reemerges, This Strike Pierces the Stars (4K)

    ```


    "A million Dragon Breed..."


    Xue Jing subconsciously glanced through the porthole beside him toward the horizon.


    The endless blue sky and white clouds revealed nothing... but according to what Captain Void Blade had said, were there really more than a million Dragon Breed orbiting the Earth Star at a distance of 10,000 kilometers that he still couldn''t see?


    "Just adapting to the space environment beyond 10,000 kilometers is an extremely difficult task, let alone the fact that the Dragon Mother is protected by a million-strong Dragon Breed cluster, making it nearly impossible to kill it."


    Void Blade said.


    "For decades, every country in the world has thought of various strategies, like absolute firepower coverage and covert beheading operations... but the vast majority of weapons and methods are greatly limited in the space environment."


    "Among the million Dragon Breed, there are many with unique abilities, and their reconnaissance and detection capabilities are diverse; there''s not the slightest gap for covert infiltration near the Dragon Mother."


    The Mountain Demon took over the conversation from Void Blade, saying:


    "Actually, it''s not like there''s no way to kill the Dragon Mother, but the cost would be much greater than the price of letting it live."


    "The cost-performance ratio is simply too low, we might as well let it continue in space, and we just eliminate the overflowing Dragon Breed from time to time. It''s the small countries that lack the capability to resist the Dragon Breed that suffer."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Do Dragon Breed come to the ground to harass humans?"


    Void Blade replied, "Of course they do."


    "However, Dragon Breed are very intelligent creatures. In the territories of strong nations like Zhuxia, New Cross Church State, Arctic Second Federation, New Beiyang Council... the Dragon Breed generally avoid these areas because they have suffered losses there before."


    "But for countries that lack sufficient deterrence, the Dragon Breed are much more unrestrained..."


    "Now, every time the ''World Alliance Conference'' is convened, there''s a group of countries that suffer from Dragon Breed harassment, jointly requesting a campaign against the Dragon Mother..."


    ...


    Meanwhile, as Xue Jing was chatting with the two in the cabin.


    Not far from the plane, within the clouds, four silhouettes hovered in the air.


    Each one of them was dressed in rubbery wetsuit-like garments that covered their entire bodies except for their heads, and they were wearing dark-tinted protective goggles over their eyes.


    "Hmm? Are there still planes daring to fly at this altitude now? Are they asking for death?"


    One of the hovering men, tall in stature, spoke up in bewilderment. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He pointed at the black plane in the distance, ripping through the air as it moved forward.


    The gaunt woman floating beside him followed his finger and frowned, "How can that be? It shouldn''t be possible."


    The third among them, a man with long hair, had his eyes light up as he exclaimed, "No, look behind it!"


    "There''s no ''contrail'', the plane isn''t emitting any fuel exhaust!"


    "It''s a Dragon Core Machine! Dammit, to actually see a Dragon Core Machine out here in the Outer Ring?"


    His voice grew excited.


    That was indeed a Dragon Core Machine!


    The production of such planes was extremely limited; there probably weren''t even a thousand of them in the whole world.


    To say nothing of the required technology, the raw materials alone were incredibly rare.


    Dragon Breed core organs suitable as a power source were precious items that couldn''t be bought at any price; you might not get one out of a hundred Dragon Breed.


    Moreover, such core organs had a wide range of uses, and making planes was not the most cost-effective application for them.


    All these reasons contributed to the rarity of Dragon Core Machines.


    "What do you say, shall we make a move and snatch it?" The long-haired man immediately proposed.


    The gaunt woman rolled her eyes, "What are you thinking, that it''s wild? A Dragon Core Machine isn''t a civilian product, who knows which major power this one belongs to!"


    The long-haired man argued, "What''s there to be afraid of, as if we don''t have a power backing us? If we had this Dragon Core Machine, our group would be much more efficient in doing things. This thing doesn''t have the problem of a mutation rate, it can stay in the sky forever!"


    The gaunt woman shook her head, "No, I disagree; we don''t know the situation with this aircraft, how many people are inside, what kind of combat power it has, it''s all unknown. What if we upset some kind of monster? It''s too late to call for backup now."


    "Stop dreaming, you damn military otaku. If you want to fly a plane, wait until we get back to the Inner Ring and buy yourself a ''Simulation Pod'' to experience it."


    The long-haired man pouted and didn''t argue with her anymore, looking towards the tall man, "Bang, what do you say?"


    Bang, with his tall figure, simply shrugged, "I follow Zhong''s lead."


    The last among them was a burly and muscular man who appeared to be in his thirties.


    His face was square, his expression calm and collected, with a purple diamond-shaped crystal embedded along the spine on his back, visible outside the tight suit.


    "See, we have Zhong with us!"


    The long-haired man seemed to find a compelling reason and his eyes shone brightly.


    "Zhong, what do you think?"


    Zhong, arms crossed and tapping his finger on his arm twice, stated succinctly, "Take it."


    The woman frowned and sighed, "...If something goes wrong, I''ll be the first to run and won''t look back at you guys."


    The long-haired man laughed, "No need to worry about us. With Zhong here, snatching a plane will be a piece of cake, right?"


    ...


    "By the way, Captain Void Blade, I saw in the information you sent me that the Pureblood Dragon Breed in the Roaring Waterfall is a ''Core Creature''? What does that mean?"


    Inside the cabin, Xue Jing asked.


    ```

 Chapter 218 - 145: Sky Pirates Attack, Susanoo Reemerges, This Strike Pierces the Stars (4K)_2

    "Hmm..." Captain Void Blade leaned against the wall, pondered for a moment, and said:


    "Just like the creatures of the Intersecting Boundaries possess a ''Core Organ'', each Intersecting Boundary itself also has its own ''Core''."


    "This ''Core'' might be a creature, could be a plant, or maybe something else."


    "To explain this, first, you need to understand that the Intersecting Boundaries actually have a concept similar to ''life and death''."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Life and death?"


    Captain Void Blade nodded, "Yes, life, and death."


    "An Intersecting Boundary with its Core intact is ''alive''."


    "A living Intersecting Boundary continuously undergoes various changes, such as the phenomenon of expansion of the Intersecting Boundaries, which is a kind of change that causes the area of the Boundary to keep expanding, encroaching upon the current world region."


    "This is also why we need to place ''monitors'' within the Intersecting Boundaries; we must observe them at all times to respond to their possible changes... Otherwise, to give you an example, the Roaring Waterfall you were going to might suddenly experience accelerated time, or a time leap phenomenon might occur.


    The Pureblood Dragon Species inside might still be in its juvenile phase now, but it could reach adulthood by tomorrow."


    "An adult Pureblood Dragon Species, if we don''t discover it in time and allow it to escape into our world and invade the urban zones... that would be an unimaginable disaster."


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing asked, "Then what about ''death''? Does an Intersecting Boundary disappear when it dies?"


    Captain Void Blade shook his head, "Once an Intersecting Boundary appears, it never disappears... at least none have been found to disappear so far."


    "The so-called death of an Intersecting Boundary refers to the destruction of its Core."


    "Once the Core is destroyed, the Intersecting Boundary dies, and there won''t be those sudden change phenomena anymore..."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "So, you''re saying, if I were to kill that Core Creature, which is probably the Pureblood Dragon Species, the Roaring Waterfall would ''die,'' and we wouldn''t need monitors anymore?"


    Captain Void Blade hesitated for a moment, "Well... that''s right."


    "However, I''d advise against such ideas,"


    Captain Void Blade said diplomatically.


    "A Pureblood Dragon Species... even in its juvenile phase, has a danger level of at least 6, and depending on the capability of its Core Organ, even 7 is possible."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Hey, I was just talking, it was just a joke, how could I really do such a thing? I don''t want to die."


    Captain Void Blade nodded, "It''s good that you understand." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Mountain Demon next to him felt something odd and was about to say something.


    It was then that a broadcast suddenly sounded in the cabin.


    "Captain! The radar shows something is approaching the craft at high speed!"


    "There''s a reaction from the biological field of a Dragon-type creature, it seems like... a person infused with the Dragon Wing Device!"


    Upon hearing this, both Captain Void Blade and Mountain Demon''s expressions changed.


    "Approaching quickly without greetings, they''re up to no good," Mountain Demon remarked, stroking his chin.


    Xue Jing''s gaze sharpened, "A person infused with the Dragon Wing Device... Could it be the Sky Pirates?"


    Mountain Demon frowned, "Sky Pirates? Are there actually Sky Pirates in the Outer Ring? And we just happen to run into them? What do they want?"


    After a moment''s thought, Captain Void Blade said, "They''re probably here to rob us."


    Mountain Demon asked in surprise, "Rob? There''s not much of value inside the plane, right?"


    Captain Void Blade stated blandly, "They''re not after the things inside the plane but the plane itself."


    Saying this, she suddenly thought of something and looked at Xue Jing somewhat strangely.


    Xue Jing felt uncomfortable under her gaze, "Captain Void Blade, why are you looking at me like that?"


    With a queer expression, Captain Void Blade said, "It''s nothing... just thinking that we didn''t encounter any Sky Pirates on our way here."


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched.


    He knew that Captain Void Blade wasn''t suspecting any connection between him and the Sky Pirates.


    Instead, she was subtly pointing out his ''trouble magnet'' nature.


    "Seriously, you should formally join The Sixth Agency. You''re perfectly suited for this job," Captain Void Blade couldn''t help saying.


    Mountain Demon chimed in exasperatedly from the side, "Big brother, big sister, we are in a crisis, can we not chat so leisurely right now?"


    After thinking for a moment, Captain Void Blade walked to the wall, took the intercom hanging there, and calmly said, "Jing, stop the plane, then open the cabin door."


    After hanging up the intercom, she turned to Mountain Demon and Xue Jing, "You both lack the ability to fly, and the constraints are too great in a high-altitude environment. Stay inside the cabin, I''ll go outside and talk with the Sky Pirates, see if we can resolve this through discussion, if not..."


    Mountain Demon nodded, digging through a large backpack on a nearby seat, and pulled out an unknown model but visibly large-caliber sniper rifle.


    "Don''t worry, Captain, I understand."


    The airplane gradually stopped moving forward, hanging in midair. The embedded cabin door popped open with a hiss, and the strong wind from the high altitude immediately rushed into the cabin, blowing Xue Jing''s hair back into a slicked-back style, causing even the skin on his face to flutter incessantly.


    Void Blade leapt out of the cabin with a vault.


    The Mountain Demon raised his hand in front of his eyes to shield against the fierce wind, intending to close the cabin door, but Xue Jing suddenly raised a hand to stop him.


    "What''s wrong?" the Mountain Demon asked, puzzled.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "It seems negotiations have failed, I''ll help, too."


    In the howling wind, it was hard to hear clearly, so the Mountain Demon yelled, "No way, even if you''re impressive, you''re just a Martial Artist. In this high-altitude environment, a slip could send you into free fall. How can you help?"


    "I''ll give you a gun, and we''ll just shoot from inside the cabin."


    Xue Jing shook his head, "I''ve graduated from being a Pure Martial Artist."


    In the sound of the wind, the Mountain Demon didn''t hear clearly; he shouted, "Huh? What did you say?"


    But no one answered him anymore.


    Xue Jing, holding on to the side of the door, somersaulted and landed lightly on the back of the airplane.


    ...


    Void Blade stood in midair, hovering next to the airplane, watching the four figures speeding towards her.


    The four had clearly seen the airplane stop and someone come out, yet they did not slow down at all.


    Seeing this, Void Blade immediately understood that the others did not intend to talk.


    She stretched out her hands and drew two sharp blades from her left thigh and right waist, gripping them in reverse.


    "This is troublesome, one of them is difficult to deal with," Void Blade thought, furrowing her brow.


    Individuals who constantly walk the line between life and death possess a keen instinct and a superior perception of danger.


    At that moment, every nerve in her body was alerting her that among those Sky Pirates, the muscular man flying in the lead was very dangerous.


    "Now we''re short on combat strength... Although Xue Jing is strong, this environment probably won''t be of much use."


    "If it really comes down to it... we might just have to abandon this Dragon Core Machine and settle the score later."


    As the four Sky Pirates moved quickly forward, they swiftly closed the distance between them.


    "Ha, they only have one person coming out, they must want to negotiate," the man with long hair exclaimed excitedly.


    "Seeing such a weak response, it seems we''ve really stumbled upon a windfall!"


    "Woman, you''ve got nothing good left to say!"


    The thin woman smirked, just about to speak, when she noticed another figure appears on the back of the airplane.


    "Who''s that?"


    Before the four could react, suddenly, black streams of air began to emerge all around that figure.


    The black streams ignited, transforming into a translucent black shadow.


    The shadow swirled around his body, shifting and gathering together, forming a skeletal structure.


    Shortly after, the skeleton was covered with flesh, morphing into a sturdy body, which then donned a splendid set of Black Armor.


    Eventually, a gigantic upper-body of translucent black armor formed, wearing a full-face helmet, with only a pair of white, hollow eyes visible.


    Then, the giant drew a bow.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    A massive black arrow, like a meteor, was shot out, tearing through the air, leaving behind a trail of slowly spreading foam.


    Before anyone on the scene could react, the arrow pierced through the abdomen of the long-haired man, cutting him in half at the waist.


    As he lay dying, an unconscious thought flashed through the long-haired man''s brain.


    ¡ªThis strike pierces the stars.


    ...

 Chapter 219 - 146 ISE, Shadowflame Wrap Armor, Is This the Divine Chosen? (4K)

    The black arrow, like a meteor reversed in direction, soared toward the edge of the sky, as a large amount of blood gushed forth from the long-haired man''s body, severed in two.


    Everyone present was shocked by the sudden turn of events.


    "Damn it, inhuman strength, that''s a Blessed One!"


    The tall man known as Wan Bang exclaimed.


    "Tan Hao has fallen, his ''Dragon Wing Device'' at his waist, it''s been shot to pieces!"


    Wan Bang watched the long-haired man''s bisected body plummeting straight to the ground and stopped moving forward, preparing to rescue him.


    The tall woman immediately stopped him, "Don''t bother with him! The Blessed One is too powerful, with such an obvious target you''ll be shattered by every attack!"


    "Tan Hao is already dead, he hasn''t been implanted with a regenerative Alien Implant, such a waist-cut wound is beyond saving, we should retreat for now!"


    She started to sound the retreat.


    Wan Bang angrily retorted, "Damn it, one of our companions has been killed, how can we retreat at a time like this? What do you think, Brother Zhong?"


    He turned to look at the robust man leading them.


    Brother Zhong''s expression remained unchanged as he concisely commanded, "Go."


    After speaking, he was the first to accelerate, flying towards the half-transparent black giant standing on the plane.


    Wan Bang did not hesitate to follow, the thin woman bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then flew after them.


    On the other side, Captain Void Blade, upon witnessing that arrow, immediately looked back and saw Xue Jing hidden within the shadows of the giant, causing her to feel a bit dizzy.


    "Xue Jing? What''s going on?"


    "Wait, you''re a Blessed One? Why didn''t you say so earlier?"


    One of the entry requirements to the Roaring Waterfall is a Mutation Rate of 0%, a Natural Person.


    A Blessed One''s Spirit and Consciousness would be contaminated by the power of the Heretic God, and they absolutely cannot enter.


    With this in mind, asking for Xue Jing''s help had seemingly turned the event into a farce.


    Upon hearing Captain Void Blade''s question, Xue Jing stroked his chin and replied, "It''s a bit complicated... have you heard of the ''Divine Chosen''?"


    Captain Void Blade was taken aback.


    Divine Chosen...


    She was aware of this concept, the other name for a Natural Gifted One, chosen actively by the deities.


    It is said that these Divine Chosen are free from the troubles of contamination and transformation... but whether they qualify as a ''Natural Person'' meeting the conditions to enter the Roaring Waterfall was questionable.


    After all, White Crow didn''t have the luxury to specifically find an underage Divine Chosen to test it.


    These were extremely rare individuals, less than twenty in the entire world.


    Captain Void Blade felt a headache coming on and wanted to discuss it thoroughly with Xue Jing, but the situation was urgent, so she had to say, "...We''ll talk about this later, let''s deal with the situation at hand first."


    Xue Jing activated his [Twin Instinct], looking at the tough man leading the three Sky Pirates across from him.


    The doubled keen intuition made the hairs on his body stand on end, warning him of the danger this man posed.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes and said, "Captain Void Blade, leave the leader to me."


    "The other two are up to you."


    Without waiting for Captain Void Blade to respond, he stepped on the fuselage, shooting forward like an arrow leaving its bow, toward the three people ahead.


    His Shadowflame Giant also surged forward with him, but the six-meter-tall behemoth''s bulk created significant drag, severely affecting its speed.


    Realizing this, Xue Jing immediately controlled the Shadowflame Giant, reducing its size to coat himself in a suit of armor that burned with scattered sparks of Dark Flame, wrapping his entire body tightly, leaving only a pair of eyes visible on his face.


    Contrary to the half-transparent Shadowflame Giant, the color of this armor was as black as ink, like a black hole, seemingly absorbing all the surrounding light. At the joints of the limbs and back, sharp black spines grew, and the gauntlets ended in pointed claws.


    "This technique shall be called¡ªEntwined Armor."


    Faced with Xue Jing''s movement, reactions among those present varied.


    Among the remaining three Sky Pirates, the leader, undaunted, merely sped up and charged straight for Xue Jing.


    The other two, lagging behind, turned their gaze towards Captain Void Blade.


    The latter tacitly raised the blades in her hands.


    "King versus king, general versus general, huh?"


    The gaunt woman said, sighing in relief as she viewed the situation.


    "That Blessed One, he should''ve just stuck with long-range attacks like before, yet he recklessly chose to engage Brother Zhong in close combat... a foolish decision."


    A smile began to edge at the corners of her mouth.


    In the sky, as the leading Sky Pirate was about to clash with Xue Jing, a transformation occurred on his body.


    An amethyst diamond-shaped crystal embedded in his spine at the back and waist, emitted a faint glow.


    Shortly after, the crystal proliferated and spread like a living thing, covering his entire waist and ribcage, then extending to his chest and thighs, and finally, even his feet and head were enveloped in the amethyst crystal.


    In barely a second, a complete suit of Amethyst Armor had formed.


    Amethyst and black met in mid-air, illuminated by the sun.


    "Boom!!"


    A colossal ring-shaped shockwave, strong enough to distort light, exploded between the two, scattering purple crystal dust and fragments of black flame outward.


    The other two Sky Pirates and Captain Void Blade were blown away by the spreading shockwave, and a nearby hovering plane tilted from the blast, tossing the Mountain Demon aiming secretly with a high-caliber sniper rifle inside into a head-over-heels tumble.


    When the shockwave dissipated and eyes reopened, the battlefield came into focus.


    A black and a purple figure stood face to face, palms clasped together, locked in a power struggle like two bulls wrestling.


    Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 220 - 146 ISE, Shadowflame Wrap Armor, Is This the Divine Chosen? (4K)_2

    "Clack¡ªclack clack¡ª"


    The two, with only their eyes visible through their helmets, stared at each other. From their gauntlets, purple crystal dust and shattered fragments of Dark Flame kept falling, producing dull clacking sounds.


    Void Blade lowered her arm that was shielding her eyes from the strong wind and took a glance at the amethyst crystalline armor on the leader of the Sky Pirates, her expression changing instantly.


    ISE!?


    She immediately shouted, "Xue Jing, be careful of his crystalline armor, it''s alive!"


    At the altitude of ten thousand meters, where the cold wind was fierce, it was difficult for voices to be heard, but Xue Jing, with his Five Major Practices well-honed, had a strong kidney and thus exceptional hearing, barely making out Void Blade''s words.


    "Alive?"


    While pondering the meaning of these words, Xue Jing''s hands didn''t slow down, as spiral grooves began to emerge on his arms and shoulders.


    The Sky Pirate before him had an unusually strong physical constitution; even when Xue Jing used the Power of Twins, their clashing palms only tied in a contest of grip strength, and he even felt slightly overwhelmed.


    This was the first time he had encountered such a situation since he had started practicing martial arts.


    Unable to surpass in fundamental attributes, it was time to compete in skills.


    With a surge of Power, the True Dragon hummed softly, and thunder boomed. Whirlwind Thunder activated, and under the augmentation of spirally Compressed Strength, his grip strength massively increased in an instant.


    The Shadow Flame that formed the pitch-black gauntlets shattered immediately under this unparalleled grip, leaving Xue Jing''s fingers completely exposed.


    The Sky Pirate leader let out a light exclamation, clearly caught off guard by the sudden increase in Xue Jing''s grip.


    But his expression remained unchanged, and he didn''t strain against it. Instead, the amethyst armor on his chest moved and multiplied, bursting into several crystalline spikes that rapidly shot toward Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing had planned to rely on his Shadowflame Wrap Armor to withstand this attack and crush the pirate''s hand first, but the Twin Instinct, which had been active from the beginning, sent a warning.


    His intuition told him he couldn''t afford to resist head-on.


    Without the slightest hesitation, he trusted his instincts, shook his hands free of the Sky Pirate leader''s grip, then kicked his opponent''s stomach, causing himself to fly backward.


    The crystalline spikes missed their target, and after the kinetic energy from his backward flight exhausted, Xue Jing, unable to fly, began to fall downwards.


    At that moment, his body performed a backward somersault in mid-air, then his legs slightly bent.


    Black air flow emerged from the soles of his feet, forming into a thin plaque.


    He stepped on the plaque, pushed off forcefully, and his body shot toward the Sky Pirate leader like a bullet. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he moved, his eyes, visible through the slit of his helmet, turned silver-white, a sign of Divinity, and his pupils morphed into slits. Black air flowed over his palms, manifesting into a long black blade.


    At that moment, the Sky Pirate leader''s amethyst armor underwent another change.


    Multiplying and transforming, it formed a... Gatling gun.


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    The Amethyst Gatling aimed at Xue Jing, its six barrels spinning rapidly.


    "Da-da-da-da-da¡ª"


    A barrage of bullets, hundreds per second, stormed at him. His mobility hindered in the air, he found it impossible to dodge for the moment, so Xue Jing simply raised his blade to meet the onslaught.


    Under the guidance of Twin Instinct, he perceived the trajectory of every bullet, unleashed Twin Speed, and, following his instincts, swung his blade quickly, slicing through the incoming bullets or blocking them.


    However, facing such a crystal storm, the Shadow Flame blade, only as durable as steel, couldn''t withstand the onslaught for long and soon shattered.


    "Da-da-da-da-da¡ª"


    Xue Jing condensed Shadowflame Plaque under his feet, maneuvering around in the air. The stream of bullets followed his movement, shadowing him closely.


    As he dodged the bullets, Xue Jing pulled a dark red seed from his pocket and threw it into the air.


    Immediately, dozens of thick green vines sprouted from the seed, each stretching tens of meters, wildly thrashing in the sky like a gigantic octopus.


    Leader Zhong of the Sky Pirates was taken aback.


    Another ability? From which sect was this Blessed One?


    Plants? Does he belong to the Flower God Society?


    But the ability to manifest black material he displayed bore no significant relation to the Flower God Society, at least not any obvious one.


    Forget it, regardless of the enemy''s abilities, the fight must go on.


    Zhong didn''t pause at all, the Amethyst Gatling continued to fire, reducing the green vines to mere paper in its torrent, shattered and splintered, filling the sky with wooden debris.


    But Xue Jing was unconcerned; summoning the Oxygen-Absorbing Tree wasn''t meant to accomplish much.


    It served only one purpose.


    The tendrils, wooden chunks, and fragments, under the sunlight, cast countless shadows on each other.


    Shadow Flame was the ability to turn shadows into Dark Flame; the larger and deeper the nearby shadows, the stronger the skill.


    Under the night sky, moonlight cast upon the earth does create extensive shadows, but because the light is too faint and the shadows lack depth, Shadow Flame is much less effective.


    The more intense the brilliance, the deeper the shadows it casts.


    At this very moment, high above ten thousand meters, it was afternoon, and although the sunlight wasn''t as strong as at noon, it was still formidable.


    From within the profound shadows cast by countless wooden fragments, Xue Jing drew forth a thick black current.


    The current ignited into a Dark Flame, and then morphed into pitch-black crows with white, empty eye sockets.


    One, two, dozens, hundreds.


    The eyes of everyone present widened as they watched the dense swarm of soundlessly cawing Shadowflames.


    "What is that?"


    "Crows? Alive?"


    Xue Jing pointed towards the Sky Pirate leader, and hundreds of crows immediately flapped their wings, fearlessly diving towards their target.


    The Amethyst Gatling fired at the approaching crows, but they dodged agilely in the air. Despite some being shattered by the gunfire, most of them continued to draw closer to the Sky Pirate leader.


    Without the pressure of being aimed at by bullets, Xue Jing immediately did a somersault without hesitation. Black plaques formed beneath his feet, and with a forceful push, he lunged towards the Sky Pirate leader.


    A black longsword reappeared in his hand.


    The first crow crashed into the Sky Pirate leader, bursting open and turning into a Dark Flame burning on the Amethyst Armor, creating a shallow crater from the annihilation.


    "This is..."


    The Sky Pirate leader Zhong''s pupils contracted.


    His Gatling transformed as blades sprouted from his wrists, with the gauntlets on his forearms and upper arms separating to form a drum structure.


    The other arm underwent the same transformation, and then both arms faced the oncoming flock of crows, the Amethyst Blades beginning to spin at high speed, turning into two meat grinders.


    Crows that collided with the meat grinders immediately burst into Dark Flames, annihilating the crystals, but whenever there was a gap, Zhong quickly made the Amethyst Armor proliferate and fill it.


    While he was busy dealing with the murder of crows, Xue Jing, wielding the black longsword, had already reached his side.


    "¡ª Black Heaven Blade ¡¤ Eye-Penetrating Flow."


    The dragon''s vertical pupil, piercing through the Cloud Sea Billow, reflected the sparse ''lines'' and ''points'' on the Sky Pirate leader''s body.


    The black longsword in his hand swung along an obscure ''line'' on the opponent''s neck.


    A flash of black light.


    The imperceptible crack in the Amethyst Armor was split by the blade''s light, and the longsword touched flesh.


    "Crack¡ª"


    A massive gash opened on the Skylord leader''s neck, and blood fountained out like a geyser.


    "Zhong!!"


    Seeing the scene, the expressions of another male and female Sky Pirate immediately changed.


    "Still daring to be distracted?" The Void Blade''s gaze sharpened as she fought them.


    She held two blades in her hands, and another three danced in the air around her.


    In an instant, her hands swiftly slashed out with the blades, their speed unimaginable, she completed the motions of slashing, switching blades, and slashing again within half a second.


    Five streaks of blade light flashed, and the male Sky Pirate named Wan Bang was instantly cut into over a dozen pieces on the spot.


    Simultaneously, gunfire rang out.


    A bullet flew from the plane''s hatch, piercing through the female Sky Pirate''s left abdomen.


    She clutched her wound, turned, and fled without hesitation.


    Void Blade wanted to chase after her, but the other party took out a capsule, swallowed it, and within seconds, their flight speed surged, quickly widening the gap.


    Seeing this, Void Blade stopped and turned her head towards Xue Jing''s direction.


    The sky filled with Dark Flame, roots and tendrils and rubble, the knight wielding a sword, nearly split in half, his opponent.


    Void Blade''s eyes narrowed slightly, remarking,


    "ISE''s combat methods are famously varied, but this time it seems like a fake ghost ran into a real one."


    "How many more tricks does this person have?"


    "Is this the Divine Chosen?"


    ...


    (Been slacking off recently, adjusting my routine, will make up for it with an extra update tomorrow)

 Chapter 221 - 147: Primordial Return, Shadow Flame Lv5, Mythical Battle! (4K)

    High above the sky, Xue Jing split open the armor of the Sky Pirate leader with a single slash and was about to continue the pursuit.


    At that moment, the Twin Instinct that had been active all this while issued another warning.


    Without any hesitation, a black thin plate materialized in front of him as he kicked off with the back of his foot, retreating swiftly. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Simultaneously, as he retreated, the body of the Sky Pirate leader began to change.


    The Amethyst Armor that covered the entire body moved as if alive, rapidly sprouting countless crystal spikes from its surface, each one dozens of meters in length, dense and numerous, resembling a super-giant Amethyst Sea Urchin.


    This spike eruption was fierce and fast, with each point sharp beyond compare. Had Xue Jing not retreated quickly, he would have been pierced with innumerable bloody holes by now.


    Xue Jing materialized several thin plates in the air, using them to leap and land on the body of the aircraft. He looked up at the giant ''sea urchin'' and frowned,


    "What in the world is that thing?" he asked with furrowed brows.


    Captain Void Blade flew beside him, floating in the air, also looking towards the ''sea urchin,'' and said,


    "That is an ISE, officially named Implant Silicon Based Organic Exoskeleton,"


    "It is made from a special living creature from the Intersecting Boundaries known as the ''Living Crystal Species'', a true ''living armor''."


    "Implanted into the human body at the spine through surgery, and connecting with the human nervous system, one can control it as naturally as their own limbs,"


    "The ISE can absorb energy from the human body to freely transform, proliferate, and other operations... The strength of the ISE depends on the grade of the Living Crystal Species used as raw material. The ISE used by this Sky Pirate is at least at grade B3."


    Captain Void Blade rattled off quickly, explaining the ISE in less than ten seconds.


    "... A skilled ISE user can utilize a technique called ''Primordial Return'' to entrust their flesh and Spirit to the ISE, reversing back to the biological state of the ''Living Crystal Species''... "


    As Captain Void Blade spoke, the ''sea urchin'' seemed to respond to her words, beginning to transform.


    All the crystals softened, curled up, withdrew, and condensed on the body of the Sky Pirate leader into a huge purple spherical crystal.


    Then, the sphere began to wriggle and change shape, first elongating into a rectangle, and then gradually edges and corners began to emerge from various places, as if an invisible artist were sculpting it.


    Head, limbs, tail...


    Before long, what appeared before Xue Jing and the others was a creature that greatly resembled a wolf.


    It was nearly fifteen meters in length, with sleek and elegant limbs, huge and sharp claws and teeth, and eyes that were the only red spots on the body of purple crystal.


    "ROAR¡ª!!"


    The Amethyst Giant Wolf opened its mouth for a piercing roar, vibrating and distorting the air to create a shockwave. Standing on the plane, Xue Jing, along with the plane itself, was blown backwards by the force.


    Captain Void Blade was also sent tumbling backward by the shockwave. She struggled to stop her retreat and then touched her hand to her ear, where she heard Jing''s voice through the communicator.


    "Captain!..."


    After listening, Captain Void Blade''s expression changed, and she quickly said to Xue Jing,


    "Jing has made a rough estimate of the data. This ''Living Crystal Primordial''s'' overall danger level is at least above level 5!"


    Xue Jing extended his arm in front of his eyes to block the wind, his eyes narrowly peering through his pitch-black helmet.


    "Captain Void Blade... you go into the cabin, and then get the plane to move further away from here," he said.


    Captain Void Blade understood that she was of no use here except to drag behind, so she nodded immediately, flew to the cabin door, and had the Mountain Demon open the hatch before taking refuge inside.


    After she went in, Xue Jing took a deep breath, his Power surged, his legs bent slightly, and he launched himself even higher with explosive force from his feet.


    Moving his fingers, numerous thick vines grew from the dark red seeds beside him, casting a myriad of shadows in the sunlight.


    He then accessed the panel.


    [Divinity possessed: 962]


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to the Divine Skill column.


    [Shadow Flame Lv4 (Divinity needed for an upgrade: 962/800)]


    The ISE strength of this Sky Pirate leader was formidable, and at the current level, whether it was Shadow Flame''s own power of Annihilation Destruction or its physical manifestation, it was unlikely to cause much damage to the opponent.


    And based on the threat level feedback from the Twin Instinct, the opponent''s attacks were clearly a significant threat to him.


    Now having employed ''Primordial Return'', it was evident the opponent had become much stronger.


    If he didn''t upgrade now, he feared he wouldn''t be able to win the fight.


    Faced with the choice of upgrading his Plant Pact to Lv4 or Shadow Flame to Lv5, Xue Jing didn''t hesitate and focused on ''Shadow Flame''.


    In the current situation, what he needed most was pure combat power.


    Although upgrading Plant Pact to Lv4 might be more versatile than Shadow Flame, Shadow Flame was currently his strongest skill, signifying the upper limit of his combat power in one aspect.


    Therefore, upgrading this skill would directly raise his limit, the best choice for the current situation.


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Shadow Flame Lv5 (Divinity needed for an upgrade: 162/1200)]


    The next moment, Xue Jing''s Dark Enchained Armor erupted with numerous Dark Flames, fiercely burning.


    From the shadows created by the interlacing roots, he extracted intense black currents that flowed towards him.


    The Dark Flames grew larger and larger, eventually covering around ten meters around him, and then began to materialize, forming a large, translucent black skeleton.


    Then came the sinews and flesh... Layers of human tissue emerged from the skeleton, finally forming a complete and massive robust human body, no longer just an upper body as before.

 Chapter 222 - 147 Primordial Return, Shadow Flame Lv5, Mythic Battle! (4K)_2

    Xue Jing''s true body was hidden in the very center of the giant dark humanoid''s chest.


    "Boom!!"


    Following that, the Shadow Flame ignited on the giant figure, animating into a suit of ancient and exquisite armor covering the entire body. Each piece of the armor was even more intricate than that of Lv4, its color a deeper and darker black, dotted with bursts of Dark Flame.


    As the helmet materialized, covering the head and revealing only the pale, hollow eyes, the complete form of the near fifteen-sixteen-meter-tall Shadowflame Armor giant was finally fully assembled.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    The Amethyst Giant Wolf issued a challenging roar towards the dark giant, the sound so immense it seemed as though the heaven and earth trembled twice in response.


    In the distance, inside the cockpit of an airplane, Void Blade and Mountain Demon gazed through the cabin window at the mythic scene of the giant and the wolf, their mouths agape in astonishment.


    "He... he wasn''t at full strength just then?"


    Inside the ''cockpit'' at the center of his chest, Xue Jing was carefully feeling the changes occurring in the Lv5 Shadow Flame.


    "Very good, the scale has expanded, and the strength has greatly improved," he noted.


    "It''s also much smoother to control and allows for much more precise maneuvers..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled as he thought of a use for his newfound ability.


    "Maybe I can try..."


    As the power in his legs ran out, the giant, lacking the ability to fly, began to fall towards the ground.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    The Amethyst Giant Wolf howled and started to ''run'' on nothingness in mid-air, sprinting towards the dark giant with incredible speed. The giant body churned the air current, ripping apart the clouds on its way as if tearing them in two.


    Xue Jing controlled the dark giant, spreading its arms and legs wide in a free fall, getting closer and closer to the wolf that was rushing upwards.


    Just as the two were about to collide, Xue Jing''s gaze intensified.


    Inside the Shadow Flame animated humanoid, various changes began to occur.


    At that moment, if a Martial Artist could have seen through the body of the giant, they would have been astonished to find


    it was using breathing skills and mobilizing its Power!


    Spiral indentations began to appear on the giant''s armor-clad right arm.


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although it couldn''t compare to the extreme precision of a human body, and while his method was quite crude and brutal, by forcibly mobilizing the internal veins and tissue movements of the giant, he did actually manage to generate some Power!


    "Come on!" he shouted.


    The giant''s right arm was raised high.


    "Damn Super Rolling Thunder!"


    The massive gauntlet-covered right fist swung out violently, sending a spiral-shaped visible blast of air towards the approaching wolf''s head.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!"


    An unprecedented terrifying noise erupted, and a ferocious wave of air tore open the clouds within a hundred meters, creating a kind of vacuum to some extent. The intense Sound Wave vibrations spread, causing the airplane''s windows to crack and show lines, almost shattering completely.


    "Quick, move further away! Don''t stay so close to them!" urged Void Blade.


    "Crack¡ªCrack Crack Crack¡ª"


    The purple crystal skull of the giant wolf shattered directly from the punch, scattering countless shards, while the dark giant''s entire forearm also burst into numerous flames of Dark Flame.


    "Awooo¡ª¡ª"


    The wolf let out a pained howl, flung dozens of meters away before forcibly halting its body. It shook its head as the shattered skull began to regrow and continued to pounce again.


    Xue Jing immediately drew out the dense black air current, transforming it into Dark Flame to refill the giant''s arm.


    Then the spiral indentations emerged again on both arms¡ª


    "Ora ora ora ora ora ora!!"


    Countless shadows of black fists bombarded the wolf, bang bang bang bang bang!


    A relentless barrage of random blows landed on the wolf''s crystalline body, shattering countless fragments and keeping it at bay.


    Each punch carried a weight that life could hardly bear, each one brutal and unforgiving.


    The wolf was battered into continuous cries, and in desperation, its crystalline fur stood on end.


    "Whiz whiz whiz whiz¡ª¡ª"


    A barrage of crystal spikes like a torrential rain assaulted the dark giant, striking its body, producing a cacophony of clashing metal sounds.


    The black armor was ripped apart, spikes penetrating the giant''s flesh, embedding deeply more than a meter before stopping. Seeing this, Xue Jing retracted the giant''s arms in front of his chest.


    "Zzzzzz¡ª¡ª"


    In a matter of seconds, the giant''s body was filled with dense, slender crystal spikes.


    Looking at his arms now penetrated and showing tips of spikes, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    Countless Dark Flames burst from the giant''s body, burning and annihilating the crystal thorns stuck to his body, and then filling and repairing the giant''s body.


    Afterward, the giant assumed a double-handed grip, a mass of Dark Flames burned in its palms, materializing a long black sword.


    "For fuck''s sake, the Fatal Ascending Dragon Sword!"


    The giant swung the pitch-black long sword, chopping towards the giant wolf with a force capable of splitting mountains.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª"


    Starting from its head, the Amethyst Giant Wolf was split into two halves, the split extending from the head down to the abdomen, almost severing the body in two.


    Xue Jing, who had been keeping his Eye-Penetrating Flow active, sharply noticed something abnormal inside the wolf''s cleaved amethyst body.


    In a specific part of its right half, there was a slightly brighter ''dot''.


    That must be the location of the Sky Pirates'' leader¡ªXue Jing instantly realized.


    His entire body leaped out directly from the ''cockpit''.


    Twin Speed, activate!


    A black plate appeared beneath Xue Jing''s feet, and with a fierce shove of his feet against the plate, he headed towards the inside of the wolf''s body, which was gradually sealing itself.


    "Gundam fight''s over, now it''s pilot brawl time."


    Under Twin Speed, Xue Jing''s velocity was truly that of an arrow released from the bowstring, instantly closing in on the ''dot''.


    His right fist ignited with Dark Flame; corporeal Dragon Qi exited and coiled around his body while he activated the Power of Twins.


    "Whirlwind Thunder!"


    Thunder exploded, the spiraling Qi Force caused the Dark Flame to rotate as well, slamming into the crystal wall in front of him.


    "Crack!"


    The crystal shattered, and a spiral-shaped, deep hole was dug out. At the end of the hole, one could vaguely see a piece of rubber-like clothing buried within the crystal.


    That was where the Sky Pirates'' boss truly was.


    Xue Jing immediately dove into the hole, raising his fist high; his blood boiled as if Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires had been ignited, bursting forth.


    "It''s over."


    He muttered to himself.


    The fist capable of crushing steel and cutting iron passed through the crystal walls, bypassed the tough implanted skin membrane, and exploded within his body.


    ...


    In a distant plane, Void Blade and Mountain Demon were nervously watching the giant battle the giant wolf through the cracked window.


    "Xue Jing''s real body seems to have jumped in there?"


    "What''s the situation now?"


    Mountain Demon swallowed nervously.


    Void Blade spoke, "Xue Jing''s combat talent is high; he wouldn''t make reckless moves. He must have found the Sky Pirate''s weak spot."


    As if responding to her words, in a short while, the Amethyst Giant Wolf''s body stiffened up entirely.


    Then, its body began to crack bit by bit, the cracks growing more and more numerous and wider.


    As the cracks spread all over, the wolf''s body reached its limit, and with a crack, it completely shattered.


    Numerous crystal shards sparkled under the sunlight, like a magnificent curtain of rain, with Xue Jing''s tall figure standing amidst countless shimmering crystal rains, holding aloft a burly man who was limp and boneless like a rag doll.


    Void Blade stared at the scene, somewhat dazed.


    "I... Goddamn, he won!"


    Mountain Demon exclaimed in shock.


    Returning to her senses, Void Blade picked up the intercom on the wall and said, "Jing, drive over there."


    ...


    Xue Jing stood on a black plate in the air, dodged nimbly, and jumped onto the body of the airplane coming to pick him up.


    The hatch was opened, and holding the Sky Pirates leader, he flipped down with agile movements into the cabin.


    "Brother!"


    Mountain Demon immediately knelt down in front of him, hugging his thigh.


    "Mountain Demon has wandered half his life, lamenting the lack of a worthy master. If you do not cast me aside, I wish to become your sworn brother!"


    He spoke with genuine sincerity.


    Xue Jing tossed the Sky Pirates leader to the ground, ignored Mountain Demon, pretended to wipe the nonexistent sweat from his forehead, and sighed impetuously:


    "That was close, almost got killed, lucky I''m one step ahead..."


    ...

 Chapter 223 - 148: Thats How the Divine Chosen Is, To Reap More, You Must Deploy More Gundams

    The Mountain Demon looked down at the air pirate leader, whose life or death was uncertain, and with a touch of skepticism, asked,


    "How much time has passed, and how have you become so strong?"


    "This air pirate''s individual combat rating has already reached level 5 or above... Level 5, do you know what that means? Even within the Inner Ring, that would mark him as someone well-known. He could easily serve as a mid-rank captain within White Crow."


    "And you have killed him just like that..."


    "Xue Jing, you couldn''t be hiding something from me, like some kind of daily check-in upgrade system, could you?"


    Xue Jing, unfazed, just waved his hand nonchalantly and said,


    "What are you thinking? You''ve been reading too many novels. There''s no such thing as a system or a panel in reality. I was simply chosen by a Heretic God out of the blue, becoming what they call a ''Divine Chosen''."


    The Mountain Demon scratched his head, "I''ve heard of the Divine Chosen... But is it really that exaggerated?"


    "That''s how the Divine Chosen is," Xue Jing affirmed.


    Captain Void Blade, listening to the conversation, secretly thought, "No wonder that Wu Family young mistress treats him so specially... Is it because of a sense of kinship with someone of the same kind?"


    "How should we deal with this guy?" said the Mountain Demon, gesturing toward the prostrate air pirate leader.


    "But first... is he dead or not?"


    Xue Jing lifted his foot and flipped the prone air pirate leader over to face up, "I didn''t hold back, but I could feel he wasn''t dead after delivering the final blow."


    "But now..."


    He frowned as he took a look at the now motionless air pirate leader.


    Void Blade crouched down, extended her hand, and checked the air pirate leader''s body.


    "He''s dead... Other than the knife wound on his neck, there''s basically no damage to his body surface... This is the B5-level Protective Membrane, his muscles are of the R9 gold grade, with slight damage near the chest..."


    She examined and explained at the same time.


    "... The most severe damage is to his internal organs, almost as if they''ve been through a meat grinder, but next to his heart, he had implanted a ''Supreme Efficient Repair Device'' that triggers when his heart stops. These injuries shouldn''t be fatal."


    She calmly inserted her hand into the air pirate leader''s chest wound, fumbled around for a while, and amid the squelching sounds of coagulated blood and flesh, she pulled out an oval-shaped black stick with many broken circuits.


    "The repair device hasn''t activated. Was it destroyed, or did he manually cut off the activation mechanism of the repair device?"


    The Mountain Demon, somewhat impatient, spoke up, "Let''s not worry about the cause of death right now, just check if his ISE can still be used. It''s at least a B3-level Alien Implant that can''t be bought anywhere¡ªit''s a rare item!"


    Void Blade turned the air pirate leader''s corpse over as she slowly said, "Even if it''s not broken, it''s mostly unusable by others. B-level or higher Alien Implants are typically custom made for a person. These things already put immense strain on the body, and if the compatibility isn''t high enough, the rejection reaction will be severe.


    As soon as it''s installed, the Mutation Rate will shoot through the roof."


    The corpse was turned, revealing a purple diamond-shaped crystal on the spine at the waist on its back.


    The Mountain Demon''s eyebrows lifted, "It looks like it''s unbroken... Xue Jing, this is your spoil of war, how do you want to handle it?"


    After pondering briefly, Xue Jing shook his head, "I don''t know, got any suggestions?"


    The Mountain Demon looked to Void Blade, "Captain, can ''Black Nest'' modify this thing so that it becomes a general-type ISE compatible with most people?"


    Void Blade responded evenly, "Black Nest already has too many things to study. Even though they consume a large amount of funding from the institution each year, they''re still short on funds. If you go to them for help, they will charge an exorbitant fee."


    The Mountain Demon scratched his head, "What do we do with this thing then? Sell it on the black market?"


    Void Blade said, "This guy''s body is full of precious Alien Implants, quite valuable, but all are custom-made. Others can''t use them; the only option is to dismantle them and sell the raw materials."


    Xue Jing gestured dismissively, "Then please handle it for me, Captain Void Blade."


    Void Blade nodded and said, "Then I''ll help you list it on the black market through my channels, and I''ll take a cut of the commission." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing smiled and agreed, "That''s only fair."


    "By the way, why are there air pirates in the Outer Ring?" The Mountain Demon wondered aloud.


    Clearly, no one present could answer this question.


    "I''ll investigate it later," Void Blade said as she tapped a few times on her silver-white bracelet, which emitted a ring of light and scanned the air pirate leader from head to toe.


    "Dragon Core Machines aren''t something just anyone can deal with. If these air pirates had the guts to attack a Dragon Core Machine directly, they''re either greenhorns who don''t know anything or they have some backing power behind them."


    "... Judging by this body full of Alien Implants, it doesn''t seem like something a greenhorn could afford."


    ...


    The jet, spray-painted black, sped through the sky, flying northward as the daylight gradually dimmed.


    In the cockpit, Xue Jing lay back in a seat, one hand propping up the back of his head, and he opened the panel.


    [...Fitness Experience Points +1524]


    [...Pleasure, Health Cultivation Experience Value +1862]


    [...Running Experience Value +1337]


    [...Aiming Experience Value +1321]


    [...Fighting Experience Points +1262]


    [...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +1028]


    [...Visualization True Experience Value +668]


    [...Weapon Strike Experience Points +1560]


    [...Acting Experience Points +669]


    [...Aiming upgraded to Lv8 (223/6000)]


    [...Fighting upgraded to Lv8 (141/6000)]


    [...Acting upgraded to Lv4 (52/1200)]


    It was, without a doubt, a sizable haul.


    Fighting a life-and-death battle against a powerful adversary and emerging victorious, although most of the time he was using Shadow Flame, had earned him a considerable batch of valuable regular skill experience.


    "Health Cultivation really racks up the points, huh? Guess I should keep cranking up the Gundam, it''s truly satisfying," thought Xue Jing, and then he closed his eyes and introspected, feeling the changes that were happening within himself.


    Fighting had finally risen to Lv8, and as before, what strengthened was the ''foundation'' of his body.


    His bones had become harder, his bone marrow''s blood-forming abilities more impressive; the structure of his muscles and veins had been altered, now stronger and more powerful with heightened flexibility. Even the instincts deep within his genes had become more acute...everything about him was now better suited for battle.


    He opened his eyes and turned to look out the side window.


    Under the dimming sky where the sunlight was about to vanish, visibility was much lower than during the day, but when he looked down through the window, the powerful vision granted by Lv8 Aiming immediately pierced through the shroud of mist, breaking free of the dusk''s constraints, and brought the scenery below the ten thousand meters into view.


    Grassland, streams, a drinking hare, and in the brush, a fox with a predatory gaze.


    His pupils turned into a soft silver-white, and Moonlight Slash descended out of nowhere, cutting off a tuft of weeds in front of the hare, startling it into fleeing in leaps and bounds.


    The fox hiding in the brush was a bit confused, not understanding how it had been discovered.


    But seeing the hare gone, it had no choice but to chalk it up to bad luck, shook its body, and moved on from the spot.


    ...


    The time came to nine o''clock at night.


    "Look, down there that''s Border City No. 328," said Captain Void Blade to Xue Jing, gesturing for him to look down through the side window.


    With a speed of over a thousand kilometers per hour and after more than four hours of flight, they had almost crossed the entire Fifth Urban Circle, traveling from the far south to the far north.


    Xue Jing looked downward; beneath the pitch-black night, a desolate and dilapidated city was faintly visible, with only a few lights shining, too dark to discern any specifics.


    "Once we leave this Border City, further out lies the domain no longer belonging to humans¡ªthe ''Evil Land''."


    "We''ll arrive at the ''Roaring Waterfall'' in about half an hour. I hope you, the ''Divine Chosen,'' can make it in. If not..."


    Void Blade sighed with a hint of a headache.


    ...

 Chapter 224 - 149: GOD-005, Stepping into Intersecting Boundaries, He... Cant Return (4K)

    An endless wilderness.


    The red, barren land had only sporadic, withered grasses still stubbornly struggling, while visible black ash permeated the air everywhere.


    The scorching temperature caused visible distortions in the void, and under the pitch-black night, a distant volcano spewed out bright red lava flows, illuminating a murky, fiery glow.


    Inside the cabin, Xue Jing looked out of the porthole and said,


    "Although I have heard that the environment of the ''Evil Land'' outside the urban area is bad... I didn''t expect it to be this bad." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Void Blade, standing beside him and looking out the window as well, spoke in a calm tone, "That''s not entirely true."


    She pointed at the distant volcano that continuously erupted with bright red lava flows.


    "That volcano is a remnant of the ''Intersecting Phenomenon,'' a collision between our world and some Otherworld. It was tossed into our realm from the other realm when the two collided."


    "The internal motion rules are completely different from the laws of our world; the frequency of eruptions is absurdly high, which is what causes the surrounding area''s environment to deteriorate to this extent."


    Mountain Demon interjected, "The environment of this area is harsh, but that''s not entirely a bad thing. It keeps the Intersecting Boundaries creatures from liking this place too much, so at least near here, you don''t have to worry too much about being suddenly attacked by something dangerous."


    "Just be sure to prepare cooling measures and poison gas masks, and you''ll be fine."


    Void Blade shook her head, "We might still encounter attacks from Intersecting Boundaries creatures... Some special ''Flame Habitat Species'' rather like this environment; we still need to be careful."


    Mountain Demon opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of Xinsha Soda, twisted the pull tab, took a sip, and chuckled,


    "The temperature here hasn''t reached the level that higher-grade Flame Habitat Species prefer. No need to worry."


    "Speaking of Flame Habitat Species, I haven''t eaten ''Flame Crab'' in a long time... just thinking about it makes my mouth water."


    "After this mission, we definitely need to go to the Inner Ring for a meal."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "What''s a Flame Crab?"


    Mountain Demon smacked his lips, as if savoring the taste:


    "It''s a type of Flame Inhabiting Creature, appearing as a crab with constant flames burning on its body. The meat on them is naturally cooked, just peel back the shell and you can eat it directly, absolutely delicious to die for."


    "However, their breeding environment is very demanding, only a few cultivation companies have the capability to breed them, so they''re expensive. Especially the ''Joint Cultivation'' Flame Crabs are the largest and best in quality but also the priciest."


    "They have this King Crab, one in a hundred thousand, with a pound of its meat selling for over ten thousand. Last time, a record-size King was sold at an auction for nearly ten million, outrageously expensive."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Sounds great, I''ll have to try it sometime."


    As they chatted casually, the plane gradually approached its destination.


    ...


    In the night wilderness, several campfires quietly burned.


    Around the campfires, a dozen large and small tents were set up, various instruments laid out on the ground, and dozens of figures in bulky gray protective suits, wearing poison gas masks, were busy with their tasks.


    "Whooosh¡ª¡ª"


    A hissing sound from the sky, a black-coated plane, nearly invisible in the night, arrived above the campsite, then paused and slowly descended.


    "Captain Void Blade is back, those of you over there, hurry up and move, clear the space!"


    A man in a protective suit shouted to several nearby personnel who were chatting together.


    The personnel quickly dispersed, and the plane landed on the cleared ground.


    Hisss¡ª¡ª


    The cabin door opened, and Void Blade, Mountain Demon, and Xue Jing stepped out.


    As soon as Xue Jing disembarked, he felt a wave of heat enveloping his entire body.


    It was as if he was in a steamer, the sensation had moved beyond ''hot'' to ''scalding''.


    He took a brief breath of air, and immediately felt a sticky, scorching sensation in his nostrils.


    He glanced at the floating black ash particles in the air and frowned.


    Mountain Demon, already wearing a poison mask on his face and holding another in his hand, handed it to Xue Jing.


    "Put this on."


    Xue Jing reached out, put on the mask.


    Due to the mask, the air intake was less than usual, making it more difficult to breathe and uncomfortable, but it felt much better than directly inhaling volcanic ash.


    Another person emerged from the cabin, it was Jing, a petite girl who was also a member of the Void Blade Squad, already wearing her mask.


    "Captain Void Blade, welcome back."


    A man in a protective suit, wearing a poison mask, came forward and shook hands with Void Blade.


    After exchanging pleasantries with him, Void Blade gestured towards Xue Jing and introduced him:


    "This is Xue Jing, the new explorer for this Intersecting Boundaries mission."


    Xue Jing nodded, extended his hand, and smiled, "Hello."


    The man''s eyes brightened as he shook hands with Xue Jing and said, "Hello, hello, Xue, glad you finally arrived... I''m Shen Da, the head of this ''Roaring Waterfall Temporary Research Group.'' "


    Void Blade spoke, "This Intersecting Boundaries exploration task is entirely in charge of Doctor Shen. He will provide you with logistical support. As for what to do once you''re in the Intersecting Boundaries, just listen to Doctor Shen."


    Shen Da: "Let''s go, let''s talk inside the tent, the air here is not so good."


    ...


    This was a large tent covering an area of more than twenty square meters. As soon as Xue Jing entered, he felt a chill over his whole body.


    He looked around the interior, which apart from a small bed and several chairs, was almost completely filled with various instruments, constantly emitting beeps, clicks, and other mechanical sounds. The remaining space for movement was only about five or six square meters, making it rather cramped.

 Chapter 225 - 149: GOD-005, Stepping into Intersecting Boundaries, He... Cant Return Anymore (4K)_2

    After everyone had entered the tent, Shen Da zipped up the entrance to seal it, then proceeded to remove the gas mask from his face and stripped off the cumbersome protective suit he was wearing.


    "Phew, back to life. This godforsaken place, the environment is really too harsh."


    He let out a light breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    It was only then that Xue Jing got a good look at his face: a man around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a receding hairline, thick eyebrows, and a somewhat plump face.


    The Xuren Mountain Demon and Jing also took off their masks one after another, and seeing this, Xue Jing did the same.


    This time, the sensation of smooth breathing was just as usual within his nose.


    "This tent is equipped with simple air conditioning and a simple air purifier."


    Mountain Demon explained from the side.


    "It''s sort of the little black tech specially supplied within The Sixth Agency. Don''t look down on it; it''s actually military-grade, works extremely well, and you can''t buy it in the Inner Ring."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I can feel it."


    Inside the tent was virtually a different world from the outside; to put it dramatically, it was like heaven and hell.


    Just two portable machines were enough to provide a comfortable environment akin to normalcy in such an adverse place, which was indeed quite impressive.


    Shen Da walked to a corner of the tent, lifted a tarp that covered something, revealing a large box.


    He opened the box and took out a black cylinder the size of a mineral water bottle.


    The material of the cylinder looked quite high-end and techie, with very regular patterns and indentations on it, making it seem as if it could transform into a robot at any moment.


    Shen Da carried the cylinder over to Xue Jing, showed it to him, and said, "Xue, this is the ''Intersecting Boundaries Real-Time Monitoring Scanner''. Its scanning limit radius is six kilometers, which amounts to an area of about 110 square kilometers. It can monitor changes within the Intersecting Boundaries in real time."


    "Your primary task is to find a concealed spot every six-kilometer radius inside the ''Roaring Waterfall'' and install this device until it approximately covers the whole Intersecting Boundaries."


    As Shen Da spoke, he pressed something on the ''scanner'', and it suddenly transformed.


    Eight small panels on one end of the cylinder flipped open, and eight alloy mechanical legs stretched out, making it look like a mechanical spider.


    "After finding a suitable spot, just place it on the ground, and it will automatically dig a hole to bury itself."


    "I''ll give you a tablet, which will display a real-time map based on the GPS mounted on the ''scanner''. The map will mark the scanning range of the scanner, making it easy for you to grasp the distance for placing the next one."


    Shen Da added many more caveats, and Xue Jing listened attentively, nodding from time to time to show he understood.


    "...The toughest step is to place a monitor around the habitat of that Pureblood Dragon Species, near the large waterfall."


    Shen Da cautioned solemnly.


    "The physical capabilities of the Pureblood Dragon are incredibly strong, and its Perception Ability is also exceptionally outstanding. With a sniff of its nose and a flick of its ears, it can detect movements within a dozen kilometers."


    "To place a monitor in its territory without being detected is impossible, so it''s a matter of luck. Good luck, and it might leave you be, but bad luck and you''ll need to run as fast as you can. Don''t even think about confronting it directly."


    "Xue, I''ve read your profile and know you''re an extremely outstanding martial arts genius, but trust me, you absolutely cannot face off against such a beast right now. Not even one in a hundred thousand chance of winning ¡ª do not entertain any odd ideas."


    Xue Jing nodded sincerely, "Don''t worry, my motto is to be prudent. I will definitely keep a low profile in the Intersecting Boundaries and not do anything unnecessary outside of the mission."


    Shen Da heard this and felt the sincerity in Xue Jing''s words, nodding with satisfaction.


    The members of the Xuren Squad beside him scratched their heads, feeling something was a bit off.


    Shen Da took a black wristband from the pocket of his coat and handed it to Xue Jing.


    "This is a recording wristband; it will record what you see and hear in the Intersecting Boundaries in real time."


    "There are indigenous humans in this Intersecting Boundaries. Your second task is to make contact with the natives as much as possible... Of course, this mission is secondary, and it''s okay if it''s not completed."


    Xue Jing took the black wristband and put it on his wrist.


    "I''ll do my best," he said, nodding.


    White Crow had already given him the reward for this mission in advance, upgrading his Meditative Visualization to Visualization True, which was of substantial help to him.


    Even though the reward of Hundred Feet Pole''s Top wasn''t offered with pure intentions, Xue Jing still appreciated it and was determined to do his utmost in this mission.


    This was also a kind of ''investment''... If he did well, White Crow might think of asking for his help again next time. With Hundred Feet Pole''s Top as a precedent, the reward offered next time wouldn''t be too shabby either.


    The best possibility would be to let him into The Sixth Agency''s collection of Divine Relics for a good ''browse''...


    ...


    The next morning.


    Boom!!


    A distant volcano suddenly erupted, and the ground trembled faintly.


    In a solitary tent, Xue Jing opened his eyes and sat up from the sleeping bag.


    After arriving at the camp by plane last night, he had a talk with Doctor Shen and got the necessary equipment for the mission, originally planning to immediately enter the ''Roaring Waterfall''.


    But Doctor Shen said there was no rush since it was too late and many of the equipment operators had gone to sleep, suggesting they enter tomorrow morning instead.


    So Xue Jing spent the night at the camp.


    Inside the small tent, the air conditioner and air purifier emitted a nearly inaudible hum, and after a good night''s sleep, Xue Jing stretched and stood up from the sleeping bag.


    He picked up the black tactical suit that White Crow had custom-made for him, which was lying next to him, and put it on.


    The tight tactical suit outlined his perfect physique as if sculpted by deities, defining every muscle attractively.


    Donning the poison mask and carrying the Crouching Rabbit Sword, Xue Jing walked out of the tent.


    Half an hour later, Xue Jing gazed curiously at the land shrouded in a faint layer of light screen in front of him.


    Behind him, scores of agency personnel bustled back and forth, operating various devices.


    "Record wristband testing complete."


    "Cross-border vital signs sensing device testing complete."


    "Native language simultaneous translation earphone testing complete."


    The agency personnel continuously reported the testing results for the equipment on Xue Jing, ensuring nothing was amiss.


    Next to him, Xuren looked a bit nervous as he stared at Xue Jing, fearing he would be repelled the moment he stepped into the Intersecting Boundaries.


    The Divine Chosen didn''t suffer from the troubles of pollution and mutation, but whether they qualified as a Natural Person was really uncertain.


    If after all this effort, Xue Jing couldn''t even enter... that would be quite the situation.


    "... All testing complete, no anomalies."


    Following the agency personnel''s final words, everyone''s gaze settled on Xue Jing.


    "If you run out of the rations you carry and can''t replenish inside, you can come out anytime. There''s a GPS already set up at the exit; you won''t get lost," said Doctor Shen while incessantly tapping on a tablet, further instructing Xue Jing.


    "Remember, absolutely do not engage in direct conflict with that Pureblood Dragon Species..."


    "Alright, you can go in now, be very careful!"


    Dressed in the black tactical suit, wearing a Bluetooth earpiece on his left ear, and carrying a large backpack, Xue Jing nodded with a smile upon hearing the words.


    "Then I''ll be going."


    "Go on, be careful, and we''ll eat Flame Crab together after you come back," the Mountain Demon waved his hand dismissively.


    "Be careful," nodded Xuren.


    Xue Jing stepped into the light screen before him, and his entire body entered without any hindrance.


    Seeing this, Xuren breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Thank goodness..."


    But before she could feel at ease, something unexpected happened.


    "Buzz¡ª"


    Suddenly a ring-shaped light cascade fell from the sky, perfectly enveloping the whole area of the ''Roaring Waterfall'' Intersecting Boundaries within it.


    The next moment, the Intersecting Boundaries burst into brilliant light!


    All the people at the scene instinctively raised their arms to shield their eyes.


    As the light gradually faded, Doctor Shen''s expression changed when he saw the completely distorted light screen at the Intersecting Boundaries. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "GOD-005 ¡¤ Mirror World... "


    "The ''Reflection Phenomenon''... Why, how could this happen so suddenly?"


    Xuren frowned and asked, "Doctor Shen, what''s happened?"


    Doctor Shen''s face was troubled: "This is bad... He didn''t enter a pure Intersecting Boundaries, but an Intersecting Boundaries merged with the Mirror World by the Reflection Phenomenon."


    "He... can''t come out now."


    ...

 Chapter 227 - 151: Boredom, I Want to See Rivers of Blood, Divinity Contained in Dragon Breed (4K)

    This thing can explode Divinity!?


    Xue Jing blinked, his heart beating uncontrollably and fiercely.


    Although he had already exploded Divinity when he had slain the Sea Bee King earlier, which prepared him somewhat, he knew that slaying creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries could likely result in Divinity explosions.


    But when the fact was actually before his eyes, he was still shocked.


    A single one, 12 points of Divinity?


    If I kill a million of these, won''t I become an Immortal on the spot after I clear this Intersecting Boundaries?


    Boring, I want to see rivers of blood.jpg.


    <img data-ywcc-imgId="10081420" data-ywcc-path="/imgChapter/26012070001632301/28619577604670004/10081420/0c7bed01131d3eefc225ae6fbd528fecgtyj9ltyzX7SdpM.jpg">


    ...No, no, wait a second, maybe it''s just because this creature is special; maybe there aren''t many of these things after all?


    The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment; better not think too much for now.


    "Ssslurp¡ª"


    Xue Jing wiped the nonexistent saliva from the corner of his mouth, his strong mental control barely pulling his rationality back.


    He touched his chin, "First, let''s ask the natives, see if this monster has any family, go to its home, kill its entire family..."


    It''s best if there''s a large racial group... just eliminate them all in one go.


    Thinking this, Xue Jing waved to the Shadow Flame Raven that was clutching a backpack with its claw.


    The raven fluttered its wings and moved closer. Xue Jing took out a pair of ordinary looking rimless glasses from the bag and put them on his face.


    Then he walked toward the girl native who still looked dazed.


    Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the native had a rather attractive appearance.


    She had shoulder-length brown hair, was dressed lightly revealing a somewhat dark but finely textured skin, small and slender in stature, with a face that combined features from both East Asian and some Western ethnicities, quite exquisite, like a mixed-race child.


    "Hey, hey..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand in front of her, catching the girl''s attention.


    Only then did the native girl turn her head to look at Xue Jing.


    She blinked, placed her hands on her chest as if relieved, and started talking briskly, her voice crisp.


    Through the simultaneous translation earpiece, Xue Jing understood what she was saying.


    "That was really dangerous just now... I came to train in this forest with my Daruka, never thought I''d actually encounter a ''Vomitus Beast''..."


    "Did you save me? Thank you..."


    As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the Shadow Flame Raven clutching the backpack beside Xue Jing, her eyes brightening.


    "Is this your Daruka? It looks really good... Was it the one that took care of the Vomitus Beast just now?"


    Xue Jing pushed up his glasses, reached into a small pocket on the side of the bag, and pulled out a Bluetooth earpiece.


    Then he reached over to lift the girl''s hair on the right side to put the earpiece on her.


    This gesture surprised the girl somewhat, but for some reason, she did not resist and just stiffened as Xue Jing put the earpiece on her.


    "There, that''s better."


    Xue Jing nodded satisfactorily.


    "Now, can you understand what I am saying?" he asked.


    The native girl listened to the translation coming through the earpiece, her eyes showing surprise.


    "What is this... it''s amazing! It''s speaking right in my ear!"


    Xue Jing: "This is a little gadget from my homeland, capable of simultaneous..." he thought about it and gave up explaining, "just wear it, and we can communicate with each other."


    The native girl put a finger to her lips, curiously said, "I''ve never heard the language you''re speaking, and I''ve never seen clothes like yours either... are you a foreigner from somewhere else?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "Yes, that''s right."


    The native girl seemed to want to say something more but was interrupted by Xue Jing:


    "Alright, now it''s my turn to ask you."


    The girl looked affectionately at the Shadow Flame Raven beside her, then obediently nodded her head.


    Xue Jing glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and said, "I''m Xue Jing, what''s your name?"


    The girl''s voice was clear as she said, "I''m Renea."


    Then she whispered, "xue...xuejing... such a hard name to pronounce."


    Due to linguistic habits, the pronunciation of these two characters seemed quite difficult for her, and she did not pronounce them correctly.


    Xue Jing: "That''s how names are in my homeland, you''ll get used to it." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a pause, he continued, "Renea, I''ve just arrived here, so why don''t you introduce me to this land, as an outsider."


    Renea''s eyes lit up, "No problem."


    She stood up, patted the mud off her pert buttocks, "We..."


    ...


    After some conversation, Xue Jing learned quite a bit about the Intersecting Boundaries.


    Firstly, according to the native girl named Renea, there were two countries in this land.


    They were [Magudolama] and [Migudolama].


    Literally translated as [This Country Here] and [That Country There]... Strange names, but that''s exactly how the simultaneous translation earpiece translated them.


    According to Doctor Shen, since the translation earpiece was rushed into production and still quite rough, it sometimes resulted in such literal translations.


    So Xue Jing manually adjusted and refined it a bit, turning them into more appropriately translated [This Country] and [That Country].


    Renea was a citizen of This Country.


    Although it was called a country, it was actually just the territory of one city, and the total number of citizens didn''t even exceed ten thousand, making it a very small country.


    And they referred to the Intersecting Boundaries creatures like the ''Vomitus Beast'' as [Daruka].


    The people of This Country would domesticate Darukas, turning them into their own pets to help with work and combat.


    "So, it''s kind of like a Pok¨¦mon worldview, huh." Xue Jing nodded, realizing.

 Chapter 229 - 152: The Abnormality Gathering Around Xue Jing, The Locals Are Too Impolite (4K)

    "This Dragon Breed, it has Divinity?"


    Surprised, Xue Jing released the grip on the Flying Dragon''s tail, his eyes reflecting deep thought.


    His grip was simply too strong; the Flying Dragon''s tail had been crushed to the point of splitting skin and rupturing scales, with flesh bulging out from both sides, its bones shattered.


    "Dragon Breed and Vomitus Beast, do they have anything in common?"


    Xue Jing crouched down, pulling the Flying Dragon out of the pit.


    He walked from its tail to its head, examining it closely.


    The already dead Flying Dragon, its tongue sticking out to the left side of its mouth, both eyes having burst out of the sockets from the force of the impact, now displayed only two bloody holes.


    "According to Renea''s statement, all dragons within this Intersecting Boundaries are ''Dragon God''s'' offspring..."


    "That being the case, one possibility is that creatures of the Intersecting Boundaries with Dragon God''s lineage would contain Divinity within them?"


    "If so, maybe the Vomitus Beast''s body also possesses the Dragon God''s bloodline?"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, musing.


    "Let''s just assume so for now..."


    "In that case, another question arises."


    "This Pureblood Dragon Species, according to the speculation on White Crow''s side, is the ''Core Creature'' of the Roaring Waterfall."


    "Then, does it possess Divinity because ''Pureblood Dragon Species inherently possess Divinity'', or is it because ''it''s a Core Creature that it has Divinity''?"


    "That remains unconfirmable for now..."


    "In any case,"


    Xue Jing glanced at the Flying Dragon on the ground.


    "First, kill all the Dragon Breed within this Intersecting Boundaries then talk."


    ...


    Outside.


    Back at the camp, the three members of the Xuren Squad along with Doctor Shen were gathered inside a tent.


    "...So that''s the situation."


    Xuren whispered to the silver bracelet glowing on her wrist.


    "Understood."


    From the bracelet came Wu Youqing''s emotionless, ethereal voice.


    After a moment of silence, she continued:


    "And you, White Crow, supposed to specialize in handling anomalies of Intersecting Boundaries, are also too amateurish. Not even prepared with ''Mirror Film'', have you not considered the possibility of being reflected by GOD-005? Why gamble with luck."


    Despite the clear criticism, Wu Youqing''s voice remained eerily calm as usual, sending a chill through everyone present.


    Xuren thought it over but didn''t voice the retort that setting up ''Mirror Film'' over several dozen kilometers was cumbersome and expensive, certainly out of their budget, usually reserved for only certain A-level or higher Intersecting Boundaries for consistent coverage.


    She was well aware that Miss Wu Da was not oblivious to these difficulties but rather was slightly emotional about them having endangered Xue Jing.


    The words of blame were merely a way to vent those emotions, and it was best to bear them in silence.


    After all, what happened was purely accidental, who could have foreseen that the ''Mirror World'' would choose such a coincidental moment, reflecting and merging exactly as Xue Jing entered the Intersecting Boundaries?


    With Miss Wu Da''s intelligence and levelheadedness, she obviously understood this fact as well.


    As Xuren predicted, Wu Youqing did not pursue further blame but instead, after another moment of silence, said:


    "Xue Jing is a man destined to attract trouble... Only those with ''True Sight Vision'' can see the extraordinarily complex ''anomalies'' clustering around him, like a vast source of light, drawing all manner of ''insects'' towards him."


    "This incident probably unfolded similarly, it''s not your fault."


    Upon hearing her words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    The thought of incurring Miss Wu Da''s wrath over this incident was too dreadful for them to even contemplate.


    Xuren whispered, "What should we do now, Miss Wu?"


    "I do not believe that a mere Pureblood Dragon Species could stop Xue Jing in his tracks," Wu Youqing said, "but he must at least be made aware of the current situation."


    A mere Pureblood Dragon Species...


    The Mountain Demon beside her twitched at the corner of its mouth upon hearing this.


    Only Miss Wu Da would say something like that...


    Even a juvenile Pureblood Dragon Breed would require at least three White Crow Squads, after thorough preparation, to have a fair chance of handling such a super-level creature.


    No matter how powerful Xue Jing was, he couldn''t possibly win against such a creature, Miss Wu Da''s confidence in him seemed overly sufficient...


    "What do we do now?" Xuren asked.


    Wu Youqing replied indifferently, "Since it is a Divine Relic, we shall counter with another Divine Relic." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Come to Qingcheng immediately."


    ...


    Within the ''Roaring Waterfall,'' deep in a certain forest.


    Xue Jing had cleared a space and gathered some wood to start a campfire with his lighter.


    "I''ve heard Dragon Breed materials are very valuable."


    At the moment, Xue Jing, his Crouching Rabbit Sword drawn, was scraping scales off a large piece of Flying Dragon meat.


    This was the tail meat of that Flying Dragon.


    "Dragon meat is a delicacy only available at high-class restaurants in the Inner Ring, it''s a rare opportunity and must be savored."


    Xue Jing made a scrapping noise as he worked on the scales.


    The fine, pale yellow dragon scales were being cleanly shaved off under his expert Sword Skills and the sharp edge of the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    "Yo-ho, my knife work is top-notch."


    Xue Jing, looking at the scaleless piece of tail meat with its skin slightly wrinkled, nodded in satisfaction.


    He reached out and touched the bone on the cut surface of the tail meat, his fingertip igniting with Dark Flame.


    After using Shadow Flame to annihilate the bones and blood inside into nothingness, Xue Jing beckoned to the crow beside him. He took out various seasonings from the large backpack it held and began to marinate the dragon meat.

 Chapter 230 - 152 The Abnormalities Clustering Around Xue Jing, The Locals Are Too Rude (4K)_2

    On the other side, in the forest, several figures were making their way toward Xue Jing''s location.


    Each person was accompanied by a distinct ''Daruka'', some with long six legs, resembling large crocodiles, others crawling with their heads sniffing the ground, covered in scales like hunting dogs... the variances were endless.


    "An Luowa, slow down a bit, be more discreet," a tall man frowned and spoke.


    "This is within the territory of That Country, if their patrol team finds us, just a few of us won''t be able to escape."


    The man named An Luowa shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned, "Don''t worry, Captain A Pawar, the patrol team of That Country has so few people, how could we possibly run into them?"


    "This forest is also the domain of the ''Long-tailed Dragon'', according to their reverence for dragons, they wouldn''t enter the forest to disturb it."


    "This task is simply too easy, let''s move faster, catch the Long-tailed Dragon quickly, sell it, and then drink booze!"


    The others echoed in agreement:


    "Indeed, Captain A Pawar is being overly cautious."


    "We''ve been in this business for so long, catching a dragon is no big deal, it''s a piece of cake, no need to be so nervous."


    Captain A Pawar furrowed his brows, shook his head, and said in a low voice:


    "I feel a bit uneasy, something seems off, this forest... it''s too quiet."


    "Under normal circumstances, even if it''s dragon territory, we should have seen plenty of Darukas by now, but since we entered the forest, we haven''t seen a single one."


    Seeing that the captain seemed nervous, An Luowa was about to offer some comforting words.


    It was at that moment, suddenly, the Daruka who resembled a scaly hunting dog seemed to have smelled something, stopped in its tracks, bared its teeth, and made a warning ''whine'' toward the front.


    Seeing this, everyone became serious.


    "There''s something ahead, be careful!"


    The group cautiously advanced a few steps, silently pushing away the grass that obstructed their view.


    Then, they saw the dragon.


    To be precise, the corpse of a dragon.


    A massive body, nearly twenty meters long including the tail, was lying quietly on the ground, its tail severed from the middle, apparently missing a piece.


    Next to the dragon''s corpse, sat a man wearing strange clothes, holding a stick with a piece of meat on it, roasting it over a campfire, sizzling soundly as juice dripped profusely, looking quite tempting.


    "Isn''t that the Long-tailed Dragon!?"


    An Luowa''s eyes widened.


    "Beaten to it by someone else? Wait, that person is actually roasting it! Could it be he''s going to eat the dragon?"


    The line of people were shocked.


    Dragons hold an extremely special status in this world, all dragons are offspring of the Dragon God, carrying sacred bloodlines.


    Although That Country, unlike This Country, is not as strict to the extent that only shrine maidens are qualified to tame dragons, still, no one would dare do something like ''eat a dragon''.


    "Has that man gone mad? Doing such a thing that would invite divine retribution, he will be cursed to death by the Dragon God!"


    "What do we do now?"


    The line of people looked at each other.


    Their objective had been snatched away, and by a lunatic who dares to eat dragon meat... S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s just retreat, that Daruka of his I haven''t seen before, but it looks quite troublesome..."


    Someone noticed the crow flapping its wings beside that ''madman'' and whispered a suggestion.


    Thinking it over, Captain A Pawar was about to give the order.


    In that moment, that ''madman'' seemed to inadvertently glance in the direction where they were hiding.


    "Not good!"


    A Pawar''s heart skipped a beat as he thought to alert everyone to prepare.


    But before they could act, suddenly from the shadows of the forest, more than a dozen black ''fins'' darted out and swam rapidly toward them.


    Soon afterward.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    More than a dozen black sharks leaped out of the water and pounced toward them, opening their huge mouths, accurately biting down on each person and each Daruka.


    "Ah!"


    "What is this, don''t, don''t bite me, Captain A Pawar save me!"


    In their panic, they found that these black sharks, after biting them, did not tear their flesh as they had imagined, but instead transformed into black iron cages, like springs wrapping around their entire bodies, bundling them all up like caterpillars.


    Xue Jing stood up, holding the roasted dragon meat, and walked toward the natives he had captured.


    As he walked, he bit into the dragon meat in his hand, savored it for a moment, nodded his head.


    "Hmm... the taste is decent, quite juicy, the meat is tough, but not tough, the texture is quite nice."


    Eating the dragon meat, he approached the natives, swallowed the food in his mouth, and spoke in an even tone:


    "Spying on someone''s meal from the side, you locals really don''t know manners."


    The natives looked at each other:


    "What... what is he saying?"


    "A language we''ve never heard, is he a foreigner?"


    "What do we do, this man who dares eat dragon meat, won''t he eat us too?"


    Xue Jing frowned, finished the dragon meat in two or three bites, and then tossed the stick aside.


    He took out a simultaneous translation device from the bag held by the crow and put it on the head of a native who seemed to be the leader.


    "Now, can you understand me?"


    Xue Jing spoke flatly.


    Captain A Pawar listened to the voice coming from the earpiece, his eyes wide in disbelief.


    "I... I understand now."


    "So, what are you doing sneaking a look at me, trying to do what?" Xue Jing crossed his arms and looked down at him.

 Chapter 231 - 152: The Abnormalities Gathered on Xue Jing, The Locals are Too Rude (4K)_3

    Xue Jing noticed that there seemed to be a tinge of hostility in A Pawar''s tone, so the captain hurriedly blurted out at a rapid pace:


    "We are the ''Dragon Hunting Group'' from That Country, here to capture the lord of this forest, the ''Long-tailed Dragon''. We really didn''t mean to spy on you, and we have no ill intentions!"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, "Dragon Hunting Group?"


    A Pawar quickly nodded and said, "Yes, Dragon Hunting Group. We make our living by capturing dragons and selling them to the Nobles of That Country."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "So you''re saying you''re very professional, huh?"


    "Professional?" A Pawar was taken aback for a moment, "Yes... we are professional."


    Xue Jing immediately showed a friendly smile, lifted him off the ground like picking up a chicken, and had him stand straight.


    Then he helped pat the dust off his body and draped an arm around his shoulder, laughing:


    "Look at this fuss, it''s all a misunderstanding... By the way, since you''re professionals, do you have a way to find dragons?"


    A Pawar first marveled at Xue Jing''s impressive strength and then, a bit unnerved by Xue Jing''s sudden change in demeanor, hesitantly said:


    "I have a map of the dragon territories on me... It''s something we''ve compiled over the years. If you need it..."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing patted his shoulder hard and said with sincerity, "Good brother!"


    "You locals are too polite; truly a land of manners! I won''t refuse such generous hospitality... In return, how about I treat you to some dragon meat?"


    A Pawar immediately shook his head violently, almost shaking out sparks, "No need, no need, I''m just glad to be of help... you see?"


    He indicated the black steel barrier strapped to his body with a nod of his chin.


    Xue Jing smiled and snapped his fingers.


    At once, every Shadowflame Steel Barrier on the people dissipated.


    Seeing this, A Pawar breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled an old scroll map out of his pocket, spread it out, and handed it to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing looked up to see a map that was quite clear and straightforward, marked with red dots of various sizes, each accompanied by native script.


    "Look, this is where we currently are, the territory of the Long-tailed Dragon."


    A Pawar pointed to a red dot on the map.


    "The center here is the Roaring Great Waterfall... The closer the dragon is to the waterfall, the stronger it is, like here, here, and here."


    He pointed at several large red dots near the map''s center, "The dragons in these areas are terrifying. It''s best not to go near them."


    "We usually choose to hunt dragons on the outskirts..." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After some time, Xue Jing had mostly grasped how to interpret the information on the map.


    "...That''s pretty much it."


    Xue Jing looked at the map, satisfied, and nodded, "Thanks a lot."


    "...Glad I could help," A Pawar said cautiously.


    "So, can we... leave now?"


    Xue Jing waved them off, "Go on, go on... Sure you won''t have a bite of dragon meat? It''s quite tasty."


    "No thanks, no thanks," A Pawar quickly refused.


    "Then we''ll be off..." He took off the headset and handed it to Xue Jing.


    He then said to the others, "Retreat!"


    With that, he took the lead and walked towards the edge of the forest.


    The others were silent as the dead, following behind A Pawar.


    They started off walking slowly.


    Once they were a certain distance from Xue Jing and sure he wasn''t going to follow, they immediately spread their legs and scurried frantically toward the edge of the forest.


    A Pawar was the fastest among them.


    "Captain A Pawar, wait for us!!"


    Deep in the forest, Xue Jing paid no mind to the commotion of the locals, merely spreading out the map to look at it.


    "Hmm, let''s start on the outskirts and gradually work inward, starting with this spot here."


    His gaze settled on the red dot closest to him.


    ...


    (My updates have been lagging these past couple of days; I''ll try to add more tomorrow...)

 Chapter 232 - 153: Massive Gains, Crazy Grind, Soaring Experience Points and Divinity (4K)

    In a valley strewn with yellow sand.


    Xue Jing placed an already deployed monitor on the ground, letting its eight mechanical limbs dig into the yellow earth.


    He took out a tablet from the backpack held by the Shadowflame Crow and glanced at the map displayed on the screen. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, there were already three spaced-out white dots on the map, indicating that he had placed three monitors in the Intersecting Boundaries.


    "Why do I feel that this Intersecting Boundaries is much larger than originally predicted?"


    Xue Jing moved in a series of leaps and bounds, jumped onto a cliff, and stood on a large rock more than three meters high, peering into the distance.


    Even with his ability to see tens of kilometers away, he still couldn''t see the edge of this world.


    According to the information given by White Crow, the total area of ''Roaring Waterfall'' should be between five hundred and over one thousand three hundred square kilometers.


    If the Intersecting Boundaries is roughly circular, then a diameter of one thousand three hundred square kilometers would only measure a few tens of kilometers across.


    With his vision, as long as there was no obstruction in sight, even if he was standing at the very edge of the Intersecting Boundaries looking towards the farthest other side, he should still have been able to clearly see the boundary.


    "Something''s not right, and even when calculating by the dragon breed distribution map, something''s not right."


    Xue Jing took out the map he had gotten from the leader of the ''Dragon Hunting Group,'' spreading it out to have a look.


    "From that Long-tailed Dragon territory forest to the nearest Dragon Breed territory, I''ve walked at least seven kilometers."


    He stretched out his hand, measuring the distance between the Long-tailed Dragon territory and his current location in the valley... roughly the length of half a finger.


    On the entire map, the two farthest-apart red dots were separated by about the length of an adult''s arm.


    "If half a finger''s length is seven kilometers, the farthest-apart Dragon Breed territories would be separated by at least a hundred kilometers."


    "This is just the map of the Dragon Breed territories, not the ''world map'' of this Intersecting Boundaries."


    "This area, obviously, is far beyond the area mentioned in White Crow''s data."


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected contemplation.


    "...Either White Crow''s surveyors were unprofessional and the data error is outrageous, or something has happened that I don''t know about."


    He thought back to the anomalies he encountered when he first entered the Intersecting Boundaries.


    "The GPS at the exit as well as the two ''monitors'' that were originally in place are not showing up on the tablet."


    "It seems indeed something has happened that I don''t know about..."


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the rock, a Dark Flame ignited in his hand, tossing it up and down.


    His gaze turned towards the horizon.


    A figure resembling a long snake was flying towards the direction of the valley.


    "There''s no need to ponder other matters for now, the bridge will straighten itself when the ship arrives at it."


    "The first priority now is to wipe out all the Dragon Breeds in this Intersecting Boundaries and blast my Divinity through the roof."


    The serpent-like figure flew from the horizon to near the valley and revealed its full appearance.


    It was a Dragon, clawless, wingless, with a single horn on its head, its entire body covered in smooth dark red scales and a serpentine form.


    Dragon-type Creatures have very recognizable characteristics.


    Firstly, their bodies must be covered with scales.


    Their heads must have Dragon Horns.


    Their eyes must be slit pupils.


    Lastly, and most recognizably¡ªDragons must fly.


    Their flight is attributed to the natural Anti-Gravity Biological Field they possess. Even if they have wings, these are just for flight assistance and are not used for take-off.


    "That one is the Dragon Breed marked on the map."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    At this moment, the Red Scale Dragon Breed flying nearby noticed on the rock of the cliff, a ''little bug'' sitting there, daring to invade its territory.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    It immediately flew close to Xue Jing, letting out a dragon''s roar that shook the whole valley, a visible wave of breath starting from its mouth, blasting forward, and the strong wind blew Xue Jing''s hair into a pompadour.


    Xue Jing smoothed his hair, slightly frowning, "You''re a bit forceful with your breath."


    Countless black currents were drawn from the shadows, surging towards his shoulders, igniting into a large-scale Dark Flame.


    Soon after, a seven to eight meters long right hand wearing elegant Gauntlets burst forth from the Dark Flame, gripping the Red Scale Dragon Breed flying in the air.


    "Gah¡ª!!" The whole serpentine body of the Red Scale Dragon Breed was seized by the giant hand, and was suddenly unable to make a sound.


    It struggled and writhed desperately, opening its mouth towards Xue Jing.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    A dark green liquid shot out from its throat with great speed, like a high-pressure water gun, forming a straight line.


    Xue Jing dodged in a flash.


    The dark green liquid pierced through the rock which he had been sitting on, leaving a big hole, and the splashed green fluid on the surroundings started fizzing with white smoke upon contact with the ground, seemingly possessing a strong corrosiveness.


    Seeing this scene, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Spitting randomly... The local Dragons really have low standards."


    He reached out with his right hand towards the Red Scale Dragon Breed and squeezed.


    Simultaneously, the Shadowflame Giant''s hand that was grabbing the Red Scale Dragon Breed squeezed as well.


    "Crack¡ª"


    With a crisp snap, the body of the Red Scale Dragon Breed was crushed flat, and its innards were squeezed out from both ends.


    A mist of blood erupted from its tail, while its head opened its mouth, and chunks of blood and flesh spewed out incessantly.


    [Slain a special creature with Divinity, Divinity +29]


    "Done... Time to find the next one."


    Xue Jing spread out the map in his hand and pointed at the red dot closest to his current location.


    "I''ll go around like this, first clearing out all the peripheral ones, then gradually moving inward, solving them in one circle after another..."

 Chapter 233 - 153 Huge Gains, Crazy Grind, Soaring Experience Points and Divinity (4K)_2

    ...


    Two days later.


    Dressed in a black tactical suit, Xue Jing walked on water, speeding across a vast lake.


    With each step, a Shadowflame Plaque appeared beneath his feet, his whole body shooting forward like an arrow.


    As he advanced, the violent currents he stirred up sliced through the lake''s surface, sending waves in his wake and leaving a clear indentation that took seconds to fill back in.


    Yet, even at his extreme speed, something beneath the water was even faster.


    Under the lake, a massive shadow slowly approached him in the sunlight, gradually moving beneath his feet.


    The shadow appeared to be a giant fish over a dozen meters long, its tail thrashing as it drew nearer to Xue Jing, growing more and more prominent, larger and larger.


    Until at a certain moment¡ªboom!


    The lake''s surface exploded as a giant, bizarre fish with ribs as wings, a six-horned head, and shining golden scales leaped out of the water into the bright sunlight.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    Amidst the dragon''s chant, the strange fish opened its mouth filled with sharp teeth and lunged at Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged; he lightly tapped his toes and stepped on the Shadowflame Plaque, propelling himself skyward and narrowly avoiding the bite.


    "Crack¡ª"


    The huge jaws snapped shut in mid-air, the spray scattering, and the sound grating on one''s nerves.


    Xue Jing flipped in the air, oriented himself head-down, conjured another Shadowflame Plaque beneath his feet, and dove toward the fish below.


    Black currents converged on his right arm, igniting into Dark Flame and forming gauntlets entwined with armor as he stretched his palm out in a Piercing Hand pose.


    Spiral indentations emerged along his entire arm.


    "Whirlwind Thunder Penetration¡ª"


    The gauntlets, with their extremely sharp black claws combined with the spiral Compressed Strength of Whirlwind Thunder, created an immense Piercing Force.


    The droplets that filled the air from the fish''s leap were drawn in by the spiral force, forming a water spout.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    The Piercing Hand made contact with the head scales of the monstrous fish and, after about half a second of resistance, ground through the scales and penetrated deep into its hard skull, almost half a meter, but failed to completely pierce through due to the thickness of the bone.


    "Roar¡ª!!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a pained cry, the fish began to thrash wildly in the air.


    Xue Jing''s left hand gripped the scales on the top of the fish''s head to steady himself and prevent being thrown off, while the right hand entwined with armor deactivated, reigniting into Dark Flame.


    "Boom¡ª"


    Pure Shadow Flame incessantly annihilated the fish''s skull, burning through an arm-thick hole straight to the brain.


    Sensing the threat of death, the fish let out a howl as all its scales lifted, bristling like a frightened cat.


    Under each lifted scale, a pitch-black hole was revealed; the effect of the numerous small holes and raised fine scales was dense and horrifying. Xue Jing caught sight of this scene and instantly got goosebumps, his fear of holes triggering on the spot.


    "Hiss¡ª!"


    From the dense array of small holes, jets of water shot out like lasers,


    Xue Jing, realizing the danger, ignited his body in Dark Flame, transforming it into a glorious suit of entwined armor that covered his entire body.


    Even so, riddled with holes by the laser water cannon''s firepower akin to armor-piercing shells, the armor bore the marks on his Qi Force-condensed Dragon Scale Skin.


    "Clang clang clang clang¡ª"


    Amid the sound of metal striking metal, the water cannons were blocked by the Dragon Scale Skin. Xue Jing felt a numb, aching sensation throughout his body.


    He didn''t stop his momentum, immediately thrusting both hands into the hole made by the Whirlwind Thunder Penetrating Hand, then, with a surge of Qi Force, unleashed Dragon-Shaped Energy that wrapped around his body, spinning him at high speed like a drill.


    Golden Scales Transformation¡ª


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    In the fish''s agonized screams, flesh and blood flew from its head, with chunks of meat being ejected and scattered by the drill, creating a downpour of blood that tainted a swath of the lake red.


    Seconds later, Xue Jing burrowed entirely into the ''brain hole,'' and the fish ceased its thrashing, falling into the water and creating a massive splash.


    All was calm again.


    Seconds after that, a figure burst from the blood-tinted water and walked on the surface toward the shore.


    Upon reaching the shore, Xue Jing shook his body with a surge of Qi Force.


    The blood and water clinging to him instantly burst apart, turning into mist and droplets that dampened the surrounding ground.


    He shook his hair, flinging off the moisture, and in an instant, he was dry and refreshed.


    "Whew¡ª"


    Xue Jing let out a breath, feeling somewhat tired.


    He opened the panel and took a look.


    [Slaying a special creature with Divinity, Divinity +91]


    [Total Divinity: 1029]


    "The closer to the center, the more dangerous the Dragon Breed becomes..."


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed deep contemplation.


    Over the past two days, he had been relentlessly hunting Dragon Breeds.


    From the outskirts to the inner areas of the map, he had cleared two circles, slaughtering nearly thirty Dragon Breeds in total.


    From the casually killed Dragon Breeds at the periphery at the beginning to the strange fish-shaped Dragon Breed which had just taken him quite an effort to kill, Xue Jing clearly felt the increasing difficulty.


    "Looking at this, I might not be able to defeat those three around the Roaring Great Waterfall yet."


    Xue Jing spread out the map he had taken from his backpack, his fingers touching the three thick red dots in the center.


    "However, just because I may not defeat them now doesn''t mean I can''t in a couple of days," Xue Jing muttered softly.


    Gaining Divinity in the past two days was hard, but the rewards were significant.


    It wasn''t just about the Divinity gains but the continuous real combat to the death had also caused a huge surge in experience for his regular skills.


    [Fitness Lv10 (1261/?)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv8 (5402/6000)]


    [Cooking Lv6 (2120/3000)]


    [Running Lv8 (2169/6000)]


    [Charm Art Lv10 (10000+/?)]


    [Aiming Lv8 (3596/6000)]


    [Fighting Lv8 (3623/6000)]


    [Hidden Dragon Vigor Lv7 (4521/9000)]


    [Meditative Visualization True Lv6 (988/7000)]


    [Combat Skills Lv7 (4197/4500)]


    [Swimming Lv5 (533/2000)]


    [Riding Lv4 (499/1200)]


    [Acting Lv5 (355/2000)]


    Among them, Fitness had the highest increase, with nearly six thousand experience points, pushing it directly to Lv10, one of the conditions for Skill Sublimation!


    After reaching Lv10, the experience value turning into a question mark also dispelled a curiosity of Xue Jing''s¡ªit seemed the regular skills'' limit was Lv10, and Charm Art was not an exception.


    Perhaps it''s only after Skill Sublimation that one could continue to improve.


    Unfortunately, for the moment, Fitness Sublimation fulfilled two conditions, reaching Lv10 and acquiring 1000 Divinity, but the final, unclear ??? still showed ''Conditions Insufficient.''


    Otherwise, he could have sublimated Fitness right there and then.


    Besides Fitness, the experience gained for other skills was also substantial.


    Running reaped nearly four thousand experience points, leveling up to Lv8, Health Cultivation gained over three thousand, Aiming three thousand, Fighting three thousand, and Hidden Dragon Vigor close to four thousand.


    Visualization True had reached Lv6, and the three skills Swimming, Riding, and Acting gained a considerable amount of experience, each rising by one level.


    One could say his grinding had reached its limit. Ever since obtaining the panel, he had never grown this rapidly before.


    The full extent of his foundational power had increased significantly.


    Closing the panel, Xue Jing, filled with a profound sense of satisfaction, reached into the backpack the crow was holding, rummaged for a while, and took out a ''monitor.''


    "Hm? This is already the last one."


    Xue Jing felt the inside of the backpack and found it was now empty.


    Over the past two days, he had followed Doctor Shen''s instructions, placing a monitor every set distance, and nearly thirty monitors from the backpack were now gone.


    "Each monitor should cover an area of about 110 square kilometers; originally, thirty monitors should have been more than enough."


    Xue Jing turned on the monitor''s switch, letting it take root in the soil on its own.


    "But now, clearly the monitors are far from enough... The primary mission of entering this Intersecting Boundaries has failed."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "Never mind, it doesn''t matter. I''ll kill all the Dragon Breeds first. If all else fails, I''ll just have to figure out a way to kill that ''Dragon God.'' Once the Core Creature is dead, the Intersecting Boundaries will stop changing, and there will be no need for monitors then."


    ...


    (Got so immersed in watching MSI... It''s been a while since I watched the games)

 Chapter 236 - 155: Dragon Knight, Full Moon Saber Qi, Contact with Mirror Person Xue Jing (4K)

    The Fire Dragon struggled frantically in the sky, its entire body bursting into fierce flames, intending either to burn Xue Jing on its back to death or to shake him off.


    However, the Shadow Flame had been upgraded to level 6, giving the material activated from it a strength that was incomparable to before.


    At this moment, Xue Jing was covered entirely by the Entwined Armor, and the flames bursting from the Fire Dragon were not as powerful as the Dragon Breath it belched from its mouth.


    One was stronger than before, and the other was weaker, so naturally the outcome was different from before. The Shadowflame Wrap Armor firmly blocked the scorching flames, melting only slowly and even repairing itself momentarily.


    Xue Jing, enduring the burning, extended several black shadow tendrils from his armor, binding the Fire Dragon and securing himself firmly on its back to prevent being thrown off.


    Then he gripped the black Spiral Lance that had pierced into the Fire Dragon''s body and twisted it again.


    Like a lotus blooming inside the Fire Dragon''s body, the countless black thorns that blossomed with this twist reverted to their original form, turning into Dark Flame and exploding inside the Fire Dragon.


    "Roar¡ª!"


    The Fire Dragon let out an even more agonizing pain-filled dragon roar as its internal organs started to undergo continuous annihilation, as if a terrifying beast was incessantly gnawing inside it.


    Still, even after the entire Spiral Lance had turned into Dark Flame and been depleted, the Fire Dragon was incredibly still lively and struggling more violently, its life force astonishingly strong.


    Xue Jing was somewhat taken aback, but his hands were unceasing in their movements.


    A black airflow was drawn out from his shadow below, ignited into a Dark Flame, and formed into reins that were placed in the Fire Dragon''s mouth and around its neck.


    Although it was unfamiliar with the concept of ''Riding,'' the Fire Dragon instinctively understood the humiliating implication of Xue Jing''s actions at that moment.


    It immediately roared furiously, struggling to shake off the Shadow Flame reins wrapped around it.


    "Filthy beast, were you enjoying spitting out your spittle just now?"


    Xue Jing looped the reins around his palms, then pulled hard.


    With veins in his arms bulging, his formidable martial arts combined with the physical strength of Fitness Lv10, the doubled force of Twin Lifes power and the control power provided by ''Riding,'' he momentarily overpowered the Fire Dragon in brute strength and pulled its head back.


    "Roar¡ª!"


    The angry dragon roar shook the skies.


    ...


    Elsewhere, the group from That Country watched the abnormal behavior of the Flame Wailing Dragon in the distant horizon, thoroughly shocked.


    "There''s someone on the Flame Wailing Dragon!"


    "Wait, what is he doing?"


    "A rope, he put a rope on the Flame Wailing Dragon''s head!"


    "Is that reins? He really dares to treat the Great Dragon God''s offspring as a mount?"


    The crowd kept exclaiming.


    "Never mind that person''s disrespectful actions, how did he manage to get on the Flame Wailing Dragon in the first place?"


    "Is he from That Country?"


    Hidden in the shadow under a large tree, holding a bowl of water, Renea gazed at the silhouette on the back of the Flame Wailing Dragon in the horizon, lost in contemplation.


    "Oh? I didn''t expect that the humans from your Intersecting Boundaries would be this formidable."


    Amazingly, the bowl of water Renea was holding began talking, emitting a childish voice filled with a hint of surprise.


    "He''s actually reached the level of hunting high danger Dragon Breed alone."


    On hearing this, Renea lowered her eyes to the surface of the water in her hands.


    In the reflection, her delicate features were visible, and on her left shoulder sat a tiny person not more than ten centimeters tall, swinging its legs and looking up at the sky.


    Just earlier, she had met this magical creature living in the reflection by the riverside.


    This magical being called itself ''Mirror Person''... Renea regarded it as a very special, talking Daruka that looked a lot like a human. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Natives?"


    Although the Mirror Person was speaking a language Renea had never learned, she understood the meaning behind its words.


    She thought about it and hesitantly spoke,


    "That person... he might not be a ''native'' from our side."


    "But an outsider."


    The Mirror Person''s spirit perked up: "Outsider?"


    "Hmm? From your words, you know him?"


    The Mirror Person asked, puzzled.


    Renea scratched her head, "I''m not certain if the person on the Flame Wailing Dragon is him, but I do indeed know an outsider, just three days ago."


    The reflection in the water leapt up onto Renea''s shoulder and, grabbing her hair, said urgently,


    "What''s his name? Is it Xue Jing?"


    Renea was startled, "Ah? Yes, it''s Xue Jing, how did you know?"


    The Mirror Person''s face lit up with joy: "Broke through iron... oh, not broken through yet, fortune comes effortlessly!"


    "So the one on the Dragon Breed is Xue Jing, right? Take me to see him quickly!"


    Renea pointed to herself, puzzled, "Ah? Me?"


    She looked at the Flame Wailing Dragon in the far distance, its roaring shaking the heavens and earth.


    Even from such a distance, Renea still felt her bones trembling in the roar.


    Her mouth twitched.


    How does one get over there?


    ...


    Xue Jing straddled the neck of the Fire Dragon, his hands gripping the reins placed on the Fire Dragon''s head, maneuvering it like a Dragon Knight.


    The Fire Dragon began to dash wildly, now diving to the ground, now crashing into mountains, now breaking large trees.


    The ongoing clamor continued unabated; Xue Jing seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself, thinking that probably he would gain quite a lot of Riding experience out of this.


    However, he hadn''t forgotten his original purpose, and was thinking about continuing to inject Shadow Flame into the Fire Dragon''s wounds.


    "Hmm?"


    But at that moment, he was taken aback and discovered that the wound he had made with the Spiral Lance had already healed?

 Chapter 238 - 156: The Great Undertaking of Killing a God Will Be Realized in Your Hands (4K)

    The patrol team from That Country carefully advanced through the forest, with no one daring to make a sound.


    "Be careful, we''re almost at the site where the Flame Wailing Dragon fell... Tinier, let the Night Hidden Bat go ahead and check out the situation,"


    The middle-aged man leading the team gestured for everyone to stop moving, then spoke.


    The middle-aged woman named Tinier nodded her head and spoke in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.


    A large bat that had been silently circling above the forest seemed to receive some command, immediately changed its course, and flew forward.


    As the Night Hidden Bat went ahead to scout, the group stood in place, silently waiting without speaking.


    Perhaps due to the Flame Wailing Dragon''s roar just before, all the creatures in the nearby area had been frightened away, and not even an insect could be found.


    The entire forest was completely silent, eerily so.


    Renea, holding a bowl of water from which much had spilled due to the hurried journey, stepped slightly away from the group and walked behind a big tree, speaking softly to the Mirror Person reflected in the water:


    "Little Mirror, are you from the same foreign place as Xue Jing? Fellow countrymen?"


    The Mirror Person standing on Renea''s shoulder replied discontentedly, "Don''t call me ''Little Mirror''; I am decades older than you. Technically, you''d even be taking advantage if you called me ''Grandpa Mirror''!"


    Pausing, it continued, "Relative to you, he and I could be considered from the same place..."


    Renea asked in confusion, "Then what exactly do you want to do when you see him?"


    The Mirror Person stroked his chin, "Explaining everything from start to finish would be too troublesome; just take me to see him."


    Renea muttered, "Because you said Xue Jing was in a critical situation and needed to meet him urgently, I suggested to Uncle Ezaki that we come investigate. I''m even risking being close to a Flame Wailing Dragon, so let me know what''s going on..."


    The Mirror Person crossed his arms and said indifferently, "It''s not some unspeakable secret; just listen when we meet Xue Jing."


    At that moment, the silently flying Night Hidden Bat returned.


    Upon seeing this, Renea picked up the bowl of water and walked back toward the group.


    The Night Hidden Bat emitted a series of strange rhythmic sounds, and after listening carefully for a while, the middle-aged woman, Tinier, exclaimed,


    "The Flame Wailing Dragon... is dead."


    ...


    "This meat is a bit tricky to handle,"


    Xue Jing furrowed his brows.


    In front of him was a campfire, a few sticks arranged as a makeshift barbecue grill that was placed over the fire, with a piece of bone-picked, blood-drained, seasoning-rubbed Fire Dragon meat on top.


    "It must have been roasting for about half an hour now,"


    Xue Jing held a small stick in his hand and poked the Fire Dragon meat.


    Since he started roasting the meat half an hour ago, the piece had not changed at all.


    "Being a fire-type Dragon Breed, it''s indeed hard to imagine that the meat could be cooked with fire... might as well think of another way to eat it."


    "Maybe this thing, like the Mountain Demon said about the Flame Crab, doesn''t actually need to be cooked, and you can just start munching on it directly?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing rubbed his chin.


    He took the Fire Dragon meat off the grill, looked at the somewhat tender surface of the meat, hesitated for a moment, and then brought it to his lips.


    Just as he was about to take a bite to try it, his gaze suddenly shifted and he turned to look toward a part of the forest a hundred meters away.


    Now, his sensory acuity was already dozens of times that of a normal person.


    When someone''s gaze directly targeted him, in Xue Jing''s senses, it was as if the intangible thing called ''gaze'' materialized, gliding back and forth across his skin.


    Clearly alarming.


    ...


    "That''s... the Flame Wailing Dragon, how tragic, it''s already dead!"


    In the forest, members of the patrol team from That Country hid behind large trees, looking toward the front where the ground was covered with magma and black soil in the ''battlefield'' with shocked expressions.


    "Who is that man? He seems to be eating... the Flame Wailing Dragon?"


    A somewhat dark-skinned young team member stuttered as he watched Xue Jing, who was roasting the dragon meat.


    "I must be dreaming... The Dragon God''s offspring, Flame Wailing Dragon, has been killed and even eaten."


    Someone covered their head, their eyes unfocused as they murmured to themselves.


    "Captain Ezaki, what should we do now?"


    A female team member swallowed hard, her face full of fear and anxiety as she asked.


    The middle-aged man, Captain Ezaki, looked solemn, took a deep breath, and was about to instruct everyone to covertly retreat.


    A man capable of killing the powerful offspring of the Dragon God single-handedly was an entity beyond his imagination.


    Whether the other party was from That Country or a foreigner, they were definitely not someone their patrol team could handle.


    It was better to retreat for now and return to report to the Shaman...


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    A straight stick sliced through the air, penetrated a big tree, and embedded itself in a tree trunk right in front of Ezaki, sinking three inches deep.


    He looked at the stick just inches from his head, and cold sweat immediately broke out all over him.


    If it had hit his head, the only result would have been instant death.


    He stepped back two steps and fell to the ground.


    Having narrowly escaped death, his legs grew weak.


    "We''ve... been discovered; what do we do?"


    Seeing this, the patrol team members looked again at the young man roasting the dragon meat and immediately panicked.


    "Calm down, he didn''t attack directly; this was just a warning!"


    Ezaki stood up from the ground, heart pounding as he touched his chest with lingering fear.

 Chapter 239 - 156: The Great Achievement of Killing a God Will Be Realized in Your Hands (4K)_2

    "I''ll go and talk to him..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, Renea suddenly interjected:


    "I''ll go, Uncle Ezaki."


    "I know him..."


    As soon as she said this, everyone was astonished.


    ...


    Xue Jing looked at the girl walking out of the forest, a look of realization on his face:


    "I thought it was another impolite local; it turns out to be you, Renea."


    The girl walked across the battlefield. The still smoldering lava made the air around her murky and scorching, causing her to sniffle; instantly her lungs were irritated, and she began coughing violently.


    "Cough...cough cough, Xue, Xue Jing."


    Walking up to Xue Jing, Renea glanced at the corpse of a Flame Wailing Dragon nearby and exclaimed:


    "I didn''t expect you to have killed a Flame Wailing Dragon... Are all foreigners as formidable as you?"


    Xue Jing took out a simultaneous translation earpiece from his backpack, put it on her, and smiled:


    "We outsiders are like that, seeing something and wondering whether it tastes good. That dragon looked pretty appetizing; I couldn''t resist."


    Just as Renea was about to ask why he had fought with the Flame Wailing Dragon, hearing his reason made the corners of her mouth twitch:


    "Oh... Okay then."


    The son of the Great Dragon God... to be killed for such a reason, it seems a bit unfair.


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows, "What, didn''t offend your beliefs, did it?"


    Renea quickly shook her head, waving her hands, "Not at all, not at all, as long as you''re happy."


    Xue Jing chuckled, looked at the bowl in her hand, and asked curiously, "Hmm? What are you doing with that bowl?"


    Renea then remembered her main task and hurriedly handed the bowl to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing reached out to take it and looked into the bowl.


    It contained only half a bowl of ordinary water.


    As he was puzzled, in the reflection in the water, a small person appeared on his shoulder.


    At the same time, a panel suddenly popped up with a message.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed.


    The little person standing on his shoulder in the reflection slowly began to speak:


    "You must be Xue Jing, right? Let me introduce myself. I am a Mirror Person, which, according to your human terminology, is also¡ª a Divine Relic [GOD-1108]."


    ...


    "I see, so you''re the BOSS''s messenger to inform me about this," Xue Jing realized.


    After a conversation with [GOD-1108¡¤Mirror Person], Xue Jing understood his current predicament.


    "[GOD-005¡¤Mirror World], not long ago the BOSS talked to me about this (see extra chapters); I didn''t expect to encounter it so soon."


    Xue Jing frowned.


    "The merging mirror, the combination of Mirror World and Intersecting Boundaries, caused unpredictable changes..."


    No wonder since he entered the Intersecting Boundaries, things seemed strange, many places did not match the information provided by the White Crow.


    "That''s the situation, this Intersecting Boundary now possesses the properties of the Mirror World; you cannot leave through the usual methods. You must find the flaw in the Mirror World, that is, the core of the Intersecting Boundaries, and break it in order to leave."


    The Mirror Person sat on his shoulder, swinging his legs, and spoke casually.


    "I heard you are the elite of the elite from The Sixth Agency; you have been here for several days, do you have any clue about the core of these Intersecting Boundaries?"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows, "Hmm? Hasn''t the White Crow told you?"


    The Mirror Person, sensing his ominous premonition from his words, asked, "What do you mean?"


    Xue Jing smiled slightly and said, "It seems you have been deceived, Little Mirror."


    "Before I entered the Intersecting Boundaries, the White Crow had already mostly located the core of these Intersecting Boundaries."


    "Moreover, I am not one of the elite of The Sixth Agency; I''m just an external collaborator with them."


    The Mirror Person urgently said, "What is the core?"


    "It is a Core Creature, a young Pureblood Dragon Species," Xue Jing replied.


    Upon hearing this, the Mirror Person started stomping furiously on Xue Jing''s shoulder, exasperatedly exclaiming, "Damn humans, I''ve been deceived again!"


    "If I had known it was like this, I would never have agreed to come in!"


    "Pureblood Dragon Species... Even at a juvenile stage, you can''t possibly defeat it; it''s over, we will be trapped in the Intersecting Boundaries forever!"


    "I never expected Wu Youqing, that bushy-browed girl, to deceive me!"


    "I''ll never trust you humans again!"


    Seeing it on the verge of tears, Xue Jing comforted, "I know you''re anxious, but don''t panic just yet."


    "Things are indeed a bit troublesome, but not unsolvable."


    The Mirror Person squatted down in despair, hugging its knees, "How can it be solved? The only way out is to destroy the Core, but the Core is a Pureblood Dragon Species... You don''t understand how terrifying the Pureblood Dragon Species is, even just a juvenile is a monster beyond your imagination."


    "It''s hopeless, we''re doomed."


    Seeing that it had withdrawn into itself, Xue Jing didn''t say much more, just opened the panel to take a look.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Holding Divinity: 851]


    Hmm, not bad, it provided over five hundred sixty points of Divinity.


    Indeed, Divine Relics are satisfying... basically don''t need to do anything, just touch them and earn several hundred points.


    Unlike Dragon Breed, which are tiring to farm and do not provide as much Divinity.


    Fortunately, the bulk quantity accumulates to something substantial.


    "We must kill that Pureblood dragon to get out of the Intersecting Boundaries... indeed, it''s troublesome."


    Xue Jing reflected with a thoughtful look.


    If he wasn''t occupied, it wouldn''t matter; he could just develop in the Intersecting Boundaries until he could kill the Pureblood dragon ¡ª he''d get out sooner or later.


    But the problem was, he had a competition in a few days.


    Though challenging U19 to snatch [GOD-519¡¤The Blade That Never Dulls] from Otogirusu wasn''t too critical of a matter.


    Yet, it was a rare request from Wu Youqing outside of work.


    The tycoon lady boss was really good to him, so if possible, he wanted to do his best to fulfill this task.


    In that case, he needed to kill the Pureblood dragon within these few days...


    Xue Jing crossed his arms, tapping his right elbow with the index finger of his left hand.


    "Can''t overpower it with brute force, will have to find a way with the Serpent Slayer Spearhead."


    His gaze shifted to Renea, who was sitting obediently beside him.


    At the moment, the girl was holding a piece of seasoned Fire Dragon meat, looking hesitant, her small face scrunched up, not knowing whether to eat it or not.


    Seeing her, Xue Jing suddenly had an idea, pondered for a moment, then spoke:


    "Renea, this Dragon God Priestess... what exactly do you do?"


    The girl paused for a moment, then spoke softly, "A priestess serves the deities... the Dragon God Priestess, of course, serves the Dragon God."


    Xue Jing stared at her for a while, smiled, and said, "You seem somewhat reluctant?"


    Renea lowered her head, making her expression unreadable, and spoke in a flat tone, "How could that be? Serving the Great Dragon God is the highest honor, and in this generation, I am the only one in my country so honored."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then said, "The situation is quite urgent now, and I don''t have much time left, so I can''t slowly figure out your exact thoughts. Therefore, I''ll just ask directly."


    "I plan to kill your ''Great Dragon God.'' Would you be willing to help me?"


    Renea''s expression shook violently: "Kill... the Great Dragon God!?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "That''s right."


    "I..." Renea''s face showed hesitation.


    Seeing her expression, Xue Jing felt reassured, he smiled and said, "Don''t rush your decision."


    He held up two fingers.


    "Two days."


    "In two days, I''ll be waiting for you here."


    "Then, tell me your answer."


    Renea''s expression calmed down, she shook her head, and said, "It''s impossible, the Great Dragon God cannot be killed."


    "And... even if, if I agreed, what could I really help you with?"


    Xue Jing tilted his head, "Didn''t you say your duty is to serve the Dragon God? Since it''s service, I presume you''d have close access opportunities to the Dragon God, right?"


    Renea paused, "Yes, that''s correct, but..." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s enough." Xue Jing smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Renea''s slender shoulder.


    "The grand deed of deicide may just be realized by your hands..."


    Xue Jing murmured softly.


    ...

 Chapter 240 - 157: The Hierarchy of Divine Relics, Using Dragon Thunder Against Dragon Thunder (4K)

    After talking with Renea for a while and understanding some matters, the girl took her leave.


    Watching the girl''s hesitant figure fade from view, Xue Jing sat down where he stood, placing the bowl of water he held onto the flat rock beside him.


    He then picked up the Crouching Rabbit Sword and cut a piece of meat from the Flame Wailing Dragon''s corpse, skewering it on the blade.


    Shadow Flame ignited, erasing all the blood from the meat, and he took a bite.


    "So tough."


    Xue Jing bit down hard on the meat in his mouth, chewed for quite a while, his cheeks starting to ache before he could finally grind the meat into pieces.


    "The taste is also weird."


    For some reason, the dragon meat had a sour taste similar to that of a plant.


    "Forget it, I''m not eating this crap."


    He flicked the Crouching Rabbit Sword, the Power vibrating, shaking off all the stains from it, and then sheathed the blade.


    After that, he took out a compressed biscuit from his backpack and started munching on it.


    The Mirror Person reflected in the water, originally crouched down hugging its own legs in self-isolation, couldn''t help but speak after seeing Xue Jing leisurely eating, "Why do you look so unworried?"


    "We might be stuck in these Intersecting Boundaries forever..."


    Xue Jing glanced at it and chuckled, saying, "You don''t seem to have much confidence in me."


    After a moment of silence, the Mirror Person said, "It''s not that I lack confidence in you... Your ability to hunt a high-danger level Dragon Breed on your own is sufficient proof of your impressive skill."


    "But Pureblood Dragon Species are different, the level of terror of such creatures is unlike any Dragon Breed you have faced. Those are ''True Dragons''."


    The Mirror Person''s tone was very solemn.


    "Among all Beings of the Intersecting Boundaries, aside from some special entities, they are the closest to being ''god-like''!"


    It looked up at Xue Jing through its reflection in the water.


    "You''re very young to have the power to defeat high-danger level Dragon Breeds at your age is quite extraordinary. In the over two hundred years since my birth, I have seen countless talented humans, very few can match you at the same age, and I''ve only seen maybe fifty or so who were stronger than you."


    Xue Jing jested, "That seems like quite a lot."


    The Mirror Person glared at him, "Don''t interrupt."


    "I''ve lived for over two hundred years. In such an extended period, I couldn''t tell you how many great figures have been recorded in the history books, those who could match or even surpass you are even rarer than the ones in those books!"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, "Now that you put it that way, I feel much better."


    The Mirror Person crossed its arms, "But even a genius like you hoping to kill a Pureblood Dragon Species, even just a young one, is nothing but wishful thinking."


    "Just dealing with the ''Dragon Thunder,'' which all Pureblood Dragon Species can wield, and their powerful bodies will be challenging, not to mention their Core Organs have unique abilities."


    "If it''s one of those abilities that are exceptionally suited for combat, then the level of danger climbs several notches higher."


    Xue Jing smiled, "I have to try, don''t I?"


    The Mirror Person tilted its head, "Judging by your demeanor, it seems you''re not blindly confident in your power to defeat a Pureblood Dragon Species... Do you have some other source of confidence?"


    Xue Jing replied, "Of course I do, you will see when the time comes..."


    Changing the subject, he added, "Speaking of which, can you only stay in the water? That seems very inconvenient."


    The Mirror Person replied, "As long as there''s a ''Mirror Surface'' that can reflect images, I can enter it."


    It glanced at the black wristband on Xue Jing''s wrist.


    That was the recording wristband given to him by Doctor Shen, its surface material resembled the screen of a black mobile phone, smooth enough to be used as a mirror, qualifying as a ''Mirror Surface.''


    The Mirror Person''s figure vanished from the reflection in the water, and the next moment, its voice came from Xue Jing''s wristband.


    "As long as the two ''Mirror Surfaces'' can reflect each other, I can move freely between them. I''ll stay here from now on."


    Xue Jing extended his arm to look at the black wristband.


    His figure was reflected on its smooth black surface, and because the wristband was curved, the mirror was a ''Convex Mirror,'' which made the reflection of Xue Jing appear twisted. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Mirror Person, resembling a little boy, sat on his shoulder, distorted for the same reason.


    "Although I don''t know what you''re relying on, let''s pretend the dead ant is a live one, and let''s see how far you can go," it said.


    Xue Jing corrected, "It''s ''A drowning man will clutch at a straw.''"


    The Mirror Person pouted, "Of course I know. Can''t you tell I was making a joke? You''re quite the young man, but too stiff for my taste."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Being called stiff by someone of your age feels quite peculiar."


    The Mirror Person huffed, "I am not like you humans, not subject to emotion driven by hormonal secretions, my age does not bring age or decay, neither in body nor in spirit."


    At these words, Xue Jing''s curiosity was piqued.


    He asked, "By the way, what is your own perception of yourselves as Divine Relics? Do you see yourselves as ''God''s offspring''?"


    Upon hearing this, the Mirror Person stretched out its hand and shook its forefinger, saying, "Not at all, Divine Relic is just a concept you humans have imposed on me, and I don''t acknowledge it."


    "After the death of the gods, Divine Blood was scattered throughout the world, residing in all things, leading to the birth of Divine Relics... This is the most accepted theory by humans at present, but as ''Divine Relics,'' we don''t have such memories."


    "For example, when I came into being, I was as clueless as a human infant, and it was only after observing you humans for a long time within a mirror that I gradually learned your language and started to form some understanding."

 Chapter 254 - 163 From now on, I am the king of this country, who agrees, who is against? (4K)

    Renea touched the simultaneous translation earpiece she was wearing on her ear, as Xue Jing had not taken it back when they separated two days ago.


    Her eyes showed determination, and she asked,


    "So, what exactly do we need to do?"


    Xue Jing released the hand he was holding with Renea and said,


    "Renea, you mentioned before that you can get close to the ''Dragon God,'' right?"


    The girl nodded, "That''s correct."


    "My ancestor, it is said, had a little-known connection with the Great Dragon God, and she entered into an equal ''Daruka Contract'' with him, becoming the First Generation Dragon God Priestess."


    "The First Generation Shrine Maiden, according to legend, was the one who rode the Dragon God in the myth of world creation, establishing ''Nagdor''... the land beneath our feet."


    Renea placed her hands in front of her chest, fingers crossed, assuming a prayerful stance.


    "Although the history of the ancestral connection between the First Generation Shrine Maiden and the Great Dragon God has been lost, the contract between the shrine maiden and the Dragon God has been passed down."


    "According to the terms of the contract, every generation of Dragon God Priestess has one opportunity to summon the Great Dragon God through a ritual ceremony."


    "If the Dragon God who arrives is satisfied with the maiden of that generation, he will become her ''Daruka''... but up to now, aside from the First Generation Shrine Maiden, none of the descendants have ever managed to do so..."


    Renea''s eyes darkened a bit.


    "Those who do not meet the Dragon God''s requirement, according to the contract, are taken back by the Dragon God to the ''Roaring Great Waterfall,'' where they must serve it for life..."


    "And it has a terrible temper, often consuming the shrine maidens who serve it. My mother, my grandmother, both have already perished in its belly, and currently in the Roaring Great Waterfall, only the previous shrine maiden, my sister Dottia, is still alive... I hope."


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment and said, "I see..."


    "When can you perform this ritual ceremony to summon the Dragon God?"


    Renea hesitated, "Is it urgent?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "Very, it''s best if it could be today or tomorrow."


    Renea pinched the hem of her black robe she wore and murmured,


    "It''s impossible today, holding the ritual ceremony requires the consent of the Elders Council, plus arranging for people to construct the altar... The altar is complicated, and I can''t build it alone."


    Xue Jing said, "What about tomorrow?"


    "Tomorrow is also doubtful, the efficiency of the Elders Council''s work is... not so good, and I also don''t know if they will agree to my request." Renea shook her head.


    Hearing this, Xue Jing nodded and looked toward the Mirror Person in his bracelet.


    "Little Mirror, what do you think?"


    The Mirror Person, with the appearance of a handsome young boy, pursed his lips, "Don''t call me Little Mirror, my age could make me your ancestor."


    After pausing, it spoke with significance, "Just go ahead with your idea."


    Xue Jing chuckled lightly, turned his gaze to Renea, and placed his hand on her shoulder, asking with a smile,


    "Renea, speaking of which, I''ve been here for several days now, but I haven''t had the chance to visit your country yet? As a foreigner, I''m quite curious about your exotic culture."


    "Take me for a tour, will you? And if possible, introduce me. I would like to meet this Elders Council of your country..."


    Renea: "Huh?"


    For some reason, although the smile on Xue Jing''s face was clearly warm and sunny, it surprisingly made her shiver.


    ...


    That Country.


    In the land known as ''Nagdor,'' one of the only two nations, with a total population not exceeding ten thousand, consisting of only one city.


    Nagdor is the land of dragons, and the absolute rulers here are the creatures known as ''dragons.''


    Because of the existence of the Dragon God Priestess who had once made a contract with the Dragon God, That Country has never suffered from dragon attacks, and thus, the people live in tranquility and peace.


    However, today, years of peace were once again shattered.


    "That Country, the scoundrels from That Country are attacking!"


    Atop the city''s watchtower, a middle-aged soldier clad in leather armor shouted in panic.


    He immediately grabbed a horn made from a large animal''s horn, hanging by a rope at his side.


    "Woo woo¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª"


    The mournful and muffled sounds of the horn echoed through the entire city, with the extended, uninterrupted notes signaling the highest alert, causing everyone in the city to involuntarily stop their work.


    Subsequently, some people saw that there were more than a dozen shadows in the sky, coming toward That Country, backlit against the sun.


    "Are those... dragons!?"


    "There are people on the backs of the dragons!"


    "Is it the Priestess? No, this generation''s shrine maiden is a failure... She hasn''t managed to tame a single dragon!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s from That Country, those despicable creatures, they even dare to offend the Great Dragon God, capturing and taming dragons!"


    "What do we do now?"


    "Inform the Elders Council and the Shaman first, and quickly summon back the ''patrol team.'' Right now, only the guard team is in the city, they won''t be able to stop those scoundrels from That Country!"


    ...


    "Hmm? Is that That Country?"


    Xue Jing and Renea rode atop a giant lion, born from Shadow Flame, arriving at a high hilltop, looking down from a height.


    Beneath the hill, there was a small, circular city, enclosed with stone walls, that looked somewhat like a medieval town often seen in otherworldly fantasy series.


    A river divided the city right down the middle, and the internal structures were meticulously planned and aesthetically pleasing.


    At that moment, near the city gate, there was quite a buzz of activity.

 Chapter 255 - 163 From now on, I am the king of this country, who agrees, who opposes? (4K)_2

    On the city walls, at the city gate, and even in the sky nearby, there were people and all sorts of ''Daruka'' engaged in a fierce melee.


    Flames, water streams, poison fog, lightning... chaotic attacks burst forth from various Daruka, crackling loudly, which left Xue Jing stunned.


    "What, did I come at a bad time? Are you conducting a military exercise?"


    Renea covered her mouth, distressed, "Wait... don''t talk to me just yet."


    She was not quite accustomed to the speed and jolting of the Shadowflame lion while Running, which made her feel unwell; she was dizzy and almost vomited.


    After a while, she patted her face, forcibly suppressed the urge to vomit, took a few deep breaths, and managed to recover slightly, then looked toward the city gate.


    "Huh, what''s happening?"


    Renea appeared perplexed.


    Xue Jing shrugged, "You''re asking me?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Everything was fine when I left the house this morning..."


    Renea blinked but soon caught on and frowned.


    "It''s the people from That Country!"


    "That Country has invaded again."


    Xue Jing casually asked, "What, do your two countries have a grudge?"


    Renea nodded, "Yes."


    "This Country and That Country were originally one country, created by the Dragon God Priestess, named ''Dolama''."


    Xue Jing''s gaze sharpened.


    ''Dolama'' in the native language of the Intersecting Boundaries means ''nation'', so the country created by the Dragon God Priestess was named [Nation]...


    That makes sense... if there was only one nation in the world, there wouldn''t need to be more names to distinguish them, simply calling it [Nation] is quite logical.


    "That Country consists of a group of people who do not accept the ''Dragon God creation theory'' from the original ''Dolama''..."


    Renea was about to explain in detail when Xue Jing immediately waved his hand.


    "Let''s skip these old stories for now; I was just asking casually, and we can talk more about it some other time."


    The time was still tight, and he did not want to waste time listening to the inconsequential stories between these two countries.


    After he had killed the Pureblood Dragon Breed, if White Crow became interested in the native culture of the Intersecting Boundaries, they themselves could form an exploration team and ask.


    The pressing matters needed his immediate attention now.


    Xue Jing stood up from the top of the Shadowflame lion''s head, crossed his arms, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked up at the dozen or so Flying Dragons flying above the city gate.


    "Didn''t expect these to slip through the net... That''s right, the captain of the Dragon Hunting Group who gave me the map said they made their living by capturing dragon breeds and selling them to the upper echelons of That Country."


    "Almost missed out, still got a few sheep left unshorn."


    Renea was taken aback, about to speak.


    But at that moment, Xue Jing took a step forward, and like an arrow released from its bow, he dashed toward the city gate below the slope, moving at an unbelievable speed.


    ...


    "No way, we can''t stop them, That Country has brought too many dragons!"


    "All my Daruka are dead... what do we do now?"


    "Damn it, if it weren''t for the fact that our generation''s priestess is that failure... how could we be in this situation!"


    "We should never have let Lady Dottia conduct the sacrificial ritual! If she were still here, how would the despicable people from That Country dare to invade?"


    Facing the onslaught from That Country, the people of This Country were somewhat desperate as they faced defeat after defeat.


    Just then.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    A figure suddenly descended from the sky and landed in the center of the battlefield, making a loud explosion.


    The forceful impact caused a circular wave of dust to spread out from the center, sending mud flying, covering the entire battlefield and obscuring the vision of all the people and Daruka around.


    "What''s happening?"


    "Something fell from the sky! Was it one of the dragons being brought down?"


    In the midst of the dust, Xue Jing, dressed in a black tactical suit, slowly stood up, his gaze turning to the dozen Flying Dragons in the sky.


    "First off..."


    "Let''s round up these ones that got away."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath. Amidst the dragon''s roar, the Extremely Rigid True Dragon was born from within him.


    As soon as it appeared, it immediately shattered, turning into a fine powder-like force, that after Wishful Forming, once again took on the form of a True Dragon.


    It then split into two; one part surged into his blood, igniting Ten Thousand Sparkling Starfires, and the other rushed into his muscles, stirring up thunder and lightning.


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s figure disappeared from the spot, and when he reappeared, he was already in the air, face to face with the nearest Flying Dragon.


    Before the Flying Dragon and the soldier from That Country riding it could react, Xue Jing threw a punch, hitting the Flying Dragon squarely on the head.


    Meanwhile, he suddenly had an idea and used the Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength to add a bit of Soft Power into his already formed punch.


    "Pfft¡ª¡ª"


    In the muffled sound, the Flying Dragon, without uttering a word, was sent flying backward, and the man from That Country on its back was also flung off.


    While flying backward, the Flying Dragon''s entire body began to swell crazily, like boiling hot water, forming countless large blisters. As it collided with another Flying Dragon, its body burst open, spraying flesh and bones all over the sky.


    The Flying Dragon that was hit also, like the first, was sent flying backward, its body swelling, and as it hit another Flying Dragon, it too exploded.


    This scene repeated over and over, one Flying Dragon exploding and colliding with another, and in just a short while, ten Flying Dragons had exploded and died in succession.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang bang¡ª¡ª"


    The continuous explosions and the sky full of blood mist and flesh put everyone on the battlefield in a state of shock.


    Everyone stared blankly at the scene in the sky, eyes vacant, motionless.


    It was not fear or shock, but complete incomprehension.


    Now, what was happening in front of them was beyond their wildest imaginations.


    Why can someone jump so high?


    Why can someone punch a dragon and send it flying?


    Why did the punched dragon explode?


    Why did another dragon explode after being hit by another dragon?


    They did not understand at all, they could not comprehend, they were utterly clueless.


    Xue Jing gently landed on the ground, looked at the result of his punch, and nodded slightly, quite satisfied.


    "This move, let it be called¡ª''Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron¡¤Hu Chuan''."


    He looked towards the few remaining Flying Dragons and snapped his fingers.


    A black airflow twisted around him, turning into the Dark Flame, forming a giant figure in armor that had only the upper body.


    The giant held a black colossal bow, poised with an arrow drawn back, and several black arrows appeared on the bowstring.


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh¡ª¡ª"


    The arrows flew out, accurately piercing through the necks of the remaining Flying Dragons in the sky, bringing them down killed.


    The giant then turned around, swinging a giant fist backward at the stupefied soldiers of That Country and the Darukas on the ground.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    With one swipe of the giant fist, a huge wave of dust rose, sweeping all the soldiers and Darukas within range, throwing them dozens of meters away.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª¡ª"


    The booming sounds were endless, and the people of This Country all stood at the gateway, watching in a daze as the giant god relentlessly crushed mortals.


    The soldiers of That Country started crying and screaming, hating that they only had two legs, desperately fleeing from the terrifying black giant.


    Before long, all the dust settled.


    The Shadowflame Giant turned into Dark Flame and gradually dissipated, and Xue Jing himself slowly stepped out from the flames.


    His figure, as if emerging from the depths of hell.


    Looking at that figure wrapped in black flame robes, godlike and devilish, the people of This Country immediately came to their senses and fell to their knees without hesitation, bowing their heads respectfully to the ground.


    Including all the Darukas, every living creature in front of Xue Jing kneeled down en masse.


    In the quiet atmosphere, the huge city gate slowly opened, making a creaking sound.


    About a dozen people, clearly more elegantly dressed than the others, walked out from the city.


    All of these people were male, with the youngest looking to be over forty years old, most of them grey-haired and elderly.


    Trembling, they approached Xue Jing.


    The leader of the group cautiously said, "I am the Great Elder of the Elders Council of This Country, may I ask who you are..."


    Xue Jing glanced at him but said nothing.


    Then, atop the hill, the Shadowflame Lion carrying Renea made a few leaps and quickly arrived beside Xue Jing, crouching down.


    Renea slid off the Shadowflame Lion somewhat unsteadily, hesitated for a moment, touched her chest, took a while to suppress the feeling of nausea, and then slowly approached Xue Jing, standing half a step behind him.


    Under everyone''s astonished gaze, Xue Jing slowly spoke:


    "Renea, from now on, you will help me with translations."


    "Tell them."


    His tone was completely flat.


    "¡ªFrom now on, I am the king of this country."


    "Who agrees, who opposes?"


    ...

 Chapter 256 - 164: Plant Pact Lv6, Nice Weather, Perfect for Slaying the Dragon (4K)

    In the city of That Country, there was a considerably large, open, circular square.


    This square was shaped like a circle with a multitude of ancient-looking, time-weathered, green stones placed around its edge, each stone engraved with different mysterious characters.


    In the very center of the square stood a stage constructed of wood.


    At this moment, Xue Jing was sitting there in a dominating posture.


    Beneath him was an old wooden chair woven from branches and vines.


    Looking down at the citizens of That Country, who were busy moving various sacrificial items and laying them out on the square, Xue Jing yawned.


    The sudden invasion by That Country had done him a small favor, allowing him to display his personal combat strength directly in front of the Elders Council of This Country without needing any other reason.


    Afterward, things became quite simple. Once he had Renea translate that sentence for him, there was silence for a while, but nobody dared to stand up and object.


    The people of the Elders Council acknowledged a hero when they saw one and knelt down, submitting to him and welcoming this outsider as the new king of This Country.


    Xue Jing had no desire to play emperor, so he ordered the Dragon God worshipping ceremony to be held immediately to summon the Pureblood Dragon Species.


    Normally, this proposal would have to go through a vote by the Elders Council, with approval required by over two-thirds of the members, and after the decision to hold the ceremony was made, they would inform the Shaman, who would conduct a ceremony to ask the First Generation Shrine Maiden for permission. Once granted, they would then select a day...


    Anyway, it was very complicated.


    But however traditional or complex the rules might be, under the pressure of absolute martial force, there wasn''t anything that couldn''t be compromised...


    Under Xue Jing''s "skipped" guidance, all processes were abbreviated, and the construction of the altar began immediately, expected to be ready by noon the next day to hold the ceremony to summon the Dragon God.


    Since Xue Jing was not familiar with how to build an altar, he couldn''t help and instead sat idly on the throne, acting as a ''supervisor''.


    Out of boredom, he opened his panel for a look.


    [Divinity held: 1271]


    After killing those dozen or so Dragon Breeds from That Country, although each was quite weak and did not provide much Divinity, the small amounts added up to a considerable total of over five hundred Divinity.


    With the over seven hundred he already possessed, the amount of Divinity he now held had returned to the thousands.


    "How much Divinity have I gained since entering the Intersecting Boundaries?" Xue Jing wondered, reminiscing a little.


    He had upgraded Shadow Flame by one level, which cost twelve hundred Divinity.


    Plant Pact had been upgraded three levels, totaling to sixteen hundred Divinity.


    The two amounted to two thousand eight hundred, plus the current one thousand two, minus the five hundred provided by the Mirror Person...


    Up till now, this Intersecting Boundary had provided him with nearly three thousand five hundred points of Divinity...


    About the yield of seven Divine Relics!


    Plus, the steady stream of combat against various Dragon Breeds had yielded a wealth of regular skill Experience Points...


    "This is a bit like taking off," Xue Jing mused.


    All that remained was the final Pureblood Dragon Species.


    He wondered how much Divinity it could provide if he could kill it? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Or perhaps... what he could gain wasn''t just limited to Divinity.


    As Xue Jing pondered, Renea, who stood by his side like a Shrine Maiden, spoke softly:


    "Your Majesty."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing came back to his senses, glanced at her, and waved his hand, saying:


    "What ''Your Majesty''... Just keep calling me Xue Jing, Renea."


    Renea pouted and said, "Your identity has already been confirmed by the Elders Council and written into the ''Code of Law''...


    "If I am too informal, the Elders Council would take issue with it."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "But you are my personal translator, my only channel of communication. Would they dare to take liberties with you?"


    Renea didn''t immediately grasp the meaning of ''ÎÒ'', but when the simultaneous translation earpiece received such a difficult word to translate, it quickly explained to her the specific meaning.


    It was a self-reference used by emperors and rulers.


    Renea retorted, "It seems you''re getting into the role quite quickly."


    After a pause, she continued, "Maybe it''s just inertia... Because I''ve been called ''the most useless Shrine Maiden in history'', unable to tame even a single dragon, they have always been commanding towards me like this, and even now, they still look down on me."


    Xue Jing laughed softly and said:


    "Don''t worry, probably after tomorrow, you''ll no longer be ''the most useless Shrine Maiden in history'', but ''the most legendary Shrine Maiden in history''."


    Renea fell silent for a moment, her eyes shining with resolve as she spoke softly:


    "What do you need me to do?"


    Xue Jing reached into his Tactical Suit pocket and pulled out four... no, three and a half Serpent Slayer Spearhead claws.


    After a moment''s thought, he put two back and handed only the two intact ones to Renea.


    "When the ritual succeeds and summons the Dragon God, find an opportunity to drive these two claws into its body."


    Renea took the two claws, which for some reason made her heart race, and asked, "Where should I strike?"


    The Mirror Person in Xue Jing''s bracelet spoke up, "Anywhere will do... but the torso or head would be best."


    As Renea''s fingers caressed the two beautifully shining silver-white claws, she asked in doubt:


    "But... with my strength, it can''t be possible to harm the Great Dragon God, right?"


    Xue Jing replied, "Just stab it, and don''t think about anything else."


    Renea fell silent again, then spoke with a hint of dejection:

 Chapter 257 - 164: Plant Pact Lv6, Nice Weather, Perfect for Slaying the Dragon (4K)_2

    ```


    "Then... will I die?"


    Attacking the Dragon God at close range... Regardless of what happens to the Dragon God after the attack, her own fate seemed quite obvious.


    Would she die?


    Xue Jing didn''t answer immediately but pondered for a moment before replying earnestly,


    "I can''t guarantee that to you, Renea."


    "Your actions are very dangerous, and I would not deceive you about that."


    "You might die, or you might not... The probability of death is much greater than that of survival."


    "All I can say is, I will do my utmost to protect your safety wherever possible."


    "What you are about to do is indeed that dangerous."


    Xue Jing reached out and gently touched her head, saying softly,


    "If you are afraid, you can refuse this mission; you shouldn''t feel burdened, it''s only human."


    Renea was stunned, somewhat lost in thought.


    A glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, and she murmured, "Why, why don''t you lie to me and say it''s not dangerous?"


    "Why don''t you threaten me, force me to do this?"


    Hearing this question, Xue Jing couldn''t help but give a wry smile.


    "...I''ve not fallen so low as to deceive and coerce a young girl."


    He paused, continuing gently, "Our partnership is based on mutual willingness, an equal cooperative relationship. Besides that, you are my friend; I would not do such a thing to you."


    Renea''s eyes lit up, "What if I choose to refuse?"


    Xue Jing laughed, "Then I will go and slay the Dragon God by myself."


    Renea''s eyes shone even brighter, "Without my help, it will be very difficult for you, right?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "Honestly, yes."


    "If you do not help me, the probability of killing the Dragon God will be very low... close to impossible."


    Renea''s voice trembled slightly, "Is it impossible without me?"


    Xue Jing said solemnly, "It is impossible without you, only you can help me, only you can do it."


    Tears suddenly slid down the corners of the girl''s eyes.


    "Only I can do it..."


    "After hearing such words, how can I refuse..."


    The girl, labeled as the ''most useless'' shrine maiden in history, for the first time in her life felt her self-worth affirmed.


    ...


    "Were you acting just now? Were you deceiving her?"


    In the valley, Xue Jing strolled, searching for the Dragon Thunder Plant.


    The dozen or so Dragon Thunder Seeds he had were almost destroyed in the deadly fight with the third Guardian Dragon; facing a Pureblood Dragon Species, he needed to collect even more.


    In response to Mirror Person''s question, Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "Why do you ask? Do I look like I was acting?"


    After a moment of silence, Mirror Person shook their head, "You don''t seem to be acting, but I feel that this child is very good at acting."


    "...I''m just purely curious whether you intentionally played the emotion card to make her volunteer?"


    After thinking for a while, Xue Jing said, "A third of it was intentional I suppose."


    "I did feel that saying it that way would touch her, prompting her to volunteer for the task."


    "...However, not a single word I said was a lie."


    "If she''s unwilling, I wouldn''t force her; this is a partnership based on mutual consent and willingness."


    "I need to slay the Dragon God, and she does too. Given that we both need this outcome, I merely gave her a small nudge."


    Xue Jing squatted down in front of a golden crown of flowers, his fingers gently touching the petals, imprinting them with a Pact Seal.


    "If after all this, Renea still decides to refuse out of fear,"


    "then it only shows that her courage only extends so far. Such a person, I wouldn''t trust to hand over a crucial ''claw'' to..."


    With a sigh, Mirror Person said, "You are very mature... not like a child."


    Xue Jing put the golden seed into his pocket and laughed, "Is that a compliment?"


    ```


    The Mirror Person folded his arms across his chest, not responding verbally but instead glanced at the glasses Xue Jing wore and teased,


    "Actually, you have a much simpler method to make her wholeheartedly do things for you."


    Xue Jing obviously understood what it meant but simply shook his head, saying,


    "If it really becomes necessary, I won''t be stingy in using this face."


    "The premise is that it really becomes necessary."


    The Mirror Person snorted lightly, teasing, "Did I ever talk about your face? You really love yourself."


    ...


    All day long, Xue Jing had been collecting Dragon Thunder Plant seeds throughout the territories of the Guardian Dragons.


    The final yield was about twenty-five or twenty-six.


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t collect more, but rather that the limit of the Plant Pact had been reached.


    To contract more seeds, he even used 1200 points of Divinity to upgrade the Plant Pact once again, reaching the same level 6 as Shadow Flame.


    Now, he had thoroughly pushed his strength to the current utmost limit, without a single drop of Ban left.


    By the time he returned to this nation, it was close to noon the following day.


    At this moment, the altar had been completely set up at the plaza.


    All sorts of ritual vessels were placed around the plaza, the meat of numerous creatures, and a variety of local foods, unrecognizable to Xue Jing, served as offerings and filled the now-transformed plaza altar everywhere.


    Hundreds of citizens of this nation, each dressed in different colored ceremonial garb, were each positioned and ready, waiting for the ceremony to begin. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Atop the central high platform of the altar, Renea, her face covered in heavy makeup, wore the Shrine Maiden''s ceremonial attire and a splendid ceremonial crown, her hands each holding a hooked-blade-like ritual vessel, sitting quietly on her knees.


    Xue Jing did not enter the city but stood far away on a hillside, looking down at the worship scene below.


    Time slowly passed until, when the sun was directly overhead at noon, the ritual ceremony officially began.


    The Shaman below the platform seemed to be saying something and, after he finished speaking, all the participants of the ritual began their own actions, with Renea also starting to dance gracefully atop the platform.


    As the ceremony progressed, a mysterious and invisible power seemed to be gradually emanating from the altar.


    "BOOM¡ª!!"


    An earth-shattering peal of thunder came, and Xue Jing''s gaze turned toward the center of the Intersecting Boundaries¡ªthe Roaring Great Waterfall.


    Golden giant lightning bolts struck down from the sky incessantly, after which, with some delay, he could hear a thunderous boom.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Under Xue Jing''s watch, a massive shadow shot up from the Roaring Great Waterfall into the sky.


    Its speed was so fast that, due to the distance, it didn''t seem very impressive.


    But the continuous sonic boom screams from its body and the white airwaves spreading along its path of advance all emphasized a fact.


    Xue Jing''s pupils narrowed, "Supersonic..."


    At that speed, he reckoned his body couldn''t endure it just by standing on its back, let alone being hit by something moving at that speed...


    Xue Jing looked closely, his extraordinary vision imprinting the supersonically flying creature clearly in his eyes.


    Without a doubt, it was¡ªa dragon.


    Having entered the Intersecting Boundaries, Xue Jing had already seen quite a few Dragon Breeds, but never had any dragon given him such a strong sense of ''dragonness.''


    It was enveloped in a kind of absolute, domineering aura that overshadowed all other creatures, placing it at the top of the food chain.


    It had an air of natural superiority as if it were destined to be above all other creatures from birth, with no room for doubt, its pride taken to the extreme, its natural authority taken to the extreme.


    The dragon scales, like bark, didn''t have the roughness of the three Guardian Dragons but were finely crafted as if molded attentively by deities, elegant and magnificent.


    Huge wings, streamlined and elongated body, swaying slender tail, as well as two sharp, upward-curving Dragon Horns on the top of its head.


    Around the Dragon Horns wrapped twisting brown branches with beautiful flowers blooming on them, resembling cherry blossoms.


    "That is the Pureblood Dragon Species... a True Dragon," Xue Jing inferred excitedly.


    "Be careful, stick to the plan, and don''t be impulsive," the Mirror Person reminded.


    "Don''t worry," Xue Jing said softly, watching the True Dragon slicing through the air, leaving a trail of sonic booms.


    He took a deep breath, touched the Crouching Rabbit Sword hanging at his waist, and looked up to the sky.


    The cloudless sky featured only one sun at its zenith, casting down strands of sunlight.


    "Nice weather, just right for Slaying the Dragon."


    ...

 Chapter 258 - 165: All-Out, Unreserved Battle (4K)

    The True Dragon, flying at supersonic speeds, covered tens of kilometers in less than two minutes and arrived thousands of meters above the altar in this nation''s airspace.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    The delayed sonic boom caused all the residents of this nation to cover their ears involuntarily.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    Above the sky, the clear day suddenly turned into a sky dense with dark clouds, and the atmosphere darkened. Golden lightning crackled and flickered within the clouds.


    Above the altar, the ritual was still ongoing; Renea continued the relentless Kagura Dance on the platform, while the Shaman chanted the prayers below.


    Xue Jing, with arms crossed, stood on a distant hillside, quietly observing the scene, silently waiting.


    "Glug¡ª¡ª"


    In the center of the thick clouds, a circular hole slowly opened.


    The majestically perfect form of the immense True Dragon, with an air of absolute dominance, flapped its wings and slowly descended.


    Upon seeing the supreme and noble figure, every citizen of this nation, regardless of their prior thoughts, appeared extremely fervent in their worship, solemnly kneeling down, prostrating themselves, and chanting the prayers they knew by heart to welcome this creator Dragon God.


    Renea, seeing the Dragon God slowly descending towards her, couldn''t help but take a deep breath and touched the two "claws" hidden in her waistband.


    Her heart was now beating so fast she doubted it would leap out of her mouth the next second.


    Nervous, limbs weak, an immense pressure, constantly getting closer with the Dragon God, nearly crushed her to the ground.


    "I can''t do it without you, only you can achieve this, only you can help me."


    Xue Jing''s gentle yet solemn words echoed in her mind, and after stiffening for a moment, Renea felt the pressure miraculously ease a lot.


    With impeccable etiquette, she kneeled down before the descending Dragon God, showing the Shrine Maiden''s submission to the deity.


    The wings, flapping violently, stirred the wind, fluttering her loose Shrine Maiden attire and her shoulder-length brown hair waved with the breeze, while the ritual crown on her head shook continuously.


    "Hush¡ª¡ª"


    As the Dragon God''s feet gently touched the ground, all beings within this nation knelt down, none daring to make the slightest sound, and the entire city fell into an eerie silence.


    With its feet gripping the platform on the altar, the Dragon God''s dark golden vertical pupils gazed at the kneeling Shrine Maiden, its head slowly stooped down, approaching her.


    "Hmm¡ª¡ª"


    A deep, engine-like rumble emitted from the Dragon God''s throat. Its long neck circled around the Shrine Maiden on the ground, scrutinizing her carefully, its gaze slightly narrowed.


    Then, the Dragon God abruptly lifted its forepaw, grabbed the Shrine Maiden in its hand, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky, pulling a trail of sonic booms as it returned to Roaring Great Waterfall.


    This was an outcome that surprised no one; each face revealed a "just as expected" expression.


    The most useless Shrine Maiden in history naturally could not earn the Dragon God''s approval; her only fate was to be captured back to the Holy Land''s Roaring Great Waterfall, to serve the Dragon God for life.


    The aged Shaman beneath the altar platform sighed deeply, his face full of worries.


    "What now... The Shrine Maiden did not leave any offspring; will the lineage of Dragon God Priestesses end with this generation?"


    "Had I known, even if she was still young, I should have..."


    ...


    On the hillside, Xue Jing watched the True Dragon surge back into the sky, clearly seeing Renea in its clutches.


    "Very well, let''s follow them."


    Xue Jing''s eyes slightly narrowed; the ground beneath his feet exploded, and he instantly vanished from the spot, racing towards Roaring Great Waterfall.


    As he raced, he watched the True Dragon, much faster than him, continuously increasing the distance between them and said:


    "Using the Dragon Species Force Field to protect Renea, shielding her from the damage of supersonic wind pressure, this Pureblood Dragon Species is quite considerate towards her."


    Mirror Person hummed: "Pureblood Dragon Species have always viewed other creatures disdainfully, almost like ants. This scene is rare... I wonder what story the First Generation Shrine Maiden had with it, to make it still willing to ''accommodate'' her descendants."


    The True Dragon''s flight speed far outstripped Xue Jing''s running speed; in no time, it had left his sight.


    Xue Jing was not anxious, though; he continued at full speed while constantly adjusting his mind and body to face the imminent great battle in the most perfect condition.


    In intermittent casual conversations with Mirror Person, he crossed tens of kilometers and arrived at the very center of Intersecting Boundaries¡ªthe ''Roaring Great Waterfall''. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Boom, boom, boom¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing, looking at the scene before him, was somewhat shocked.


    The silvery waterfall, like a giant dragon, cascaded from a sky-high peak, making a deafening explosive noise, nearly resembling thunder.


    It was an endless, furious flow of water, truly a silver river falling from the sky.


    At a glance, it was nearly two thousand meters wide, and looking down from the cliff, the height, obstructed by the dense spray formed by shattering water droplets, was obscured from view by the thick mist.


    But at least, it was also over three thousand meters high.


    "This small piece of Intersecting Boundaries can hold such a big scenic spot."


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the cliff''s edge.


    "That Dragon Breed is right inside the cave behind the waterfall."


    "Now, we wait."

 Chapter 259 - 165: An All-Out, Unreserved Battle (4K)_2

    "I hope Renea can succeed, and I hope she survives."


    The Mirror Person said, "It seems you gave her a Dragon Thunder Plant seed, didn''t you?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "That is a tree species... Once the True Dragon''s claws touch it, there will inevitably be a major commotion."


    "When that happens, I''ll immediately control the seed to form a root bulb sphere, enclosing her within to keep her as safe as possible."


    The Mirror Person hummed in acknowledgment, "Next, it''ll depend on whether her fate is tough enough."


    "Wait, and keep hope alive."


    ...


    In the center of the cliff at the Roaring Great Waterfall, inside the huge Water Curtain Cave.


    Renea was released from the claws of the True Dragon, and because of the True Dragon''s immense size, she fell from a height of tens of meters, watching helplessly as she plummeted toward the ground.


    Believing she would die before accomplishing her mission, Renea was terrified, but then realized she had fallen into a soft embrace.


    Before she could calm her startled spirit, she looked up and suddenly exclaimed with joy:


    "Sister!"


    The person who caught and held her was her sister, the former Dragon God Priestess¡ªDottia.


    "Renea, why are you here? Who let you conduct the ritual?"


    Dottia held Renea''s face, her voice filled with both joy and urgency as she asked.


    She resembled Renea closely, with shoulder-length hair and slightly dusky, smooth skin, but differed in that her breasts were much more developed than Renea''s, giving off a strong maternal aura.


    It was these perfectly matched ''airbags'' that allowed Renea a safe landing from the air.


    With her face gripped, Renea spoke in a muffled voice: "It''s a long story..."


    Dottia softly said, "Then we''ll talk about it later."


    After speaking, she led Renea toward the Dragon God, and both of them knelt on the ground, reverently saying:


    "Great Dragon God..."


    The True Dragon, with its bark-like scales, glanced at them, ignored them, turned around, and went deep into the cave to lie down, half-closing its vertical pupils as if to rest.


    Renea was about to rise, but Dottia held her down, and the two continued kneeling on the ground.


    Only after about ten minutes, realizing that the Dragon God had no reaction, did Dottia finally relax. She stood up with Renea, holding her hand, and they quietly retreated to the mouth of the Water Curtain Cave.


    "Great Dragon God has a very bad temper, you must be very careful living here..."


    Dottia earnestly advised Renea.


    But immediately, Renea shook her head, speaking softly: "Sister, let me tell you about what has happened outside..."


    Dottia paused, then nodded, earnestly starting to listen.


    Renea recounted everything from the beginning, how after inheriting the role of priestess, she had failed to tame even a single dragon and was considered the most useless priestess in history, narrating the events of the recent times.


    After listening, Dottia''s mouth hung open in disbelief: "It''s really that way... That foreigner, did he kill all the dragons, including the Three Nobles!?"


    Renea nodded affirmatively, saying: "He''s very strong, incredibly strong!"


    "That''s also why I conducted the ritual and came to the side of the Great Dragon God... Sister, do you want freedom?"


    Looking at the determined glow in her younger sister''s eyes, Dottia was somewhat spellbound.


    ...


    Before long, the two priestess sisters stood at the cave entrance, looking toward the sometimes visible, sometimes hidden Dragon God deep inside the cave.


    In each of their right hands, they held a silver-white, beautifully sharp claw.


    "... Once we take this step, we can''t turn back, Renea. We''re definitely going to die."


    Dottia''s voice trembled as she spoke.


    In her eyes were three parts fear, three parts excitement, and four parts concern for her sister.


    "It''s okay, sister."


    Renea, on the other hand, seemed very calm.


    She smiled gently at Dottia and said,


    "What difference is there now between us and death?"


    "Freedom and life, if we do nothing, we have neither, let''s take a risk, perhaps we''ll have both."


    Dottia was silent for a moment, then tenderly said,


    "Renea, you''ve become stronger."


    "Let''s go, meet our destiny."


    The two stepped cautiously and silently toward the cave, slowly approaching what seemed to be the slumbering Dragon God. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps the Dragon God was truly asleep, not noticing them, or perhaps it detected them but simply did not care what two insignificant ants were up to, so it didn''t bother to open its eyes.


    The Shrine Maiden sisters reached the Dragon God with ease and clearly heard its thunderous, steady breathing.


    The sisters, one standing under the Dragon God''s armpit, the other beside its head, looked at each other, dared not speak, and simply nodded quietly.


    Then, they raised the silvery-white claws in their hands and swung the blades of rebellious faith at the deity they worshiped.


    The moment they raised the claws high, the True Dragon, a race favored by the heavens, received an instinctive intuition warning, causing it to suddenly open its vertical pupils.


    However, perhaps because it had been invincible since birth and had never faced anything threatening, although the True Dragon sensed the danger, its reaction was a moment too late.


    "Hissss¡ª"


    The two silvery-white claws plunged directly into its scales, which were many times harder than steel, like a hot knife through butter, without any resistance.


    Once the claws were inside the True Dragon''s flesh, they seemed to come alive, automatically burrowing deeper.


    "Roar¡ª!!!!"


    A mad, furious roar echoed through the heavens and earth, the entire Water Curtain Cave began to shake violently, the Shrine Maiden sisters'' eardrums were instantly ruptured by the sound waves, blood gushed from their ears, and they passed out.


    Outside, Xue Jing, sitting on the cliff, immediately noticed the commotion.


    He heard the rage and pain in the True Dragon''s roar, his spirit lifted, realizing Renea had succeeded!


    Without any hesitation, he immediately controlled the Dragon Thunder Plant seeds carried by Renea, extending dozens of thick golden roots to wrap around and protect Renea.


    At the same time, he mobilized his Power, channeling Whirlwind Thunder to boost his legs, as he blasted forward, stirring up layers of air waves, sprinting toward the Roaring Great Waterfall.


    "Pfff¡ª"


    As the water burst open, Xue Jing entered the cave, taking in the scene before him.


    The massive True Dragon lay on the ground, writhing like a fish out of water, continuously emitting painful roars, with golden lightning exploding from its body, shattering and piercing everything around it.


    Before it, stood a golden root-formed sphere, somewhat battered by the Dragon Thunder.


    Apart from that, there was a girl who resembled Renea, lying unconscious on the ground, blood oozing from her ears, yet, fortunately, not affected by the Dragon Thunder.


    Xue Jing immediately employed Twin Speed, shot forward, grabbed the girl on the ground, and threw her into the golden wooden sphere.


    The wooden sphere, controlled by him, opened a hole and received the unconscious girl, and then Xue Jing''s right arm ignited with Shadow Flame, transforming into a pitch-black armored giant hand, grabbing the golden wooden sphere and forcefully flung it out of the cave.


    Everything ready, Xue Jing looked towards the irreparable wounds under the flailing giant dragon''s armpit and head, his gaze sharp.


    "You did well, Renea, you defeated your destiny."


    "Now, leave the rest to me."


    Dodging a golden lightning strike, Xue Jing took a deep breath, reached into his pocket of his tactical suit, and pulled out a golden seed, scattering it into the air.


    Countless golden roots, branches, thorns, vines, and flowers twisted and entwined densely around him in the air.


    In the shadows of the cave, dense black currents were drawn and surged towards him, transforming into roaring Dark Flame.


    Intensely concentrated spirit ignited the Life Fire, Divine silver tinged his pupils.


    "Then, let''s begin," Xue Jing murmured softly.


    "With all our might, wits, and bravery exhausted."


    This would be his first battle of truly going all out without reservation in his life.


    "The feat of slaying the True Dragon shall be accomplished by my hands,"


    ...

 Chapter 266 - 168: Explosive Harvest, New Divine Skill, Dragon Cherry Seed! (4K)

    Watching the Crouching Rabbit Sword dissipate with the wind, leaving not even the hilt behind, Xue Jing gently closed his eyes, his body freefalling through the air, plummeting toward the earth.


    The moment he was reborn, Xue Jing suddenly understood the meaning of the Crouching Rabbit Sword.


    It wanted¡ªto sacrifice itself.


    To transform from a tangible, perishable blade into an intangible, immortal Sword Intent.


    Xue Jing understood its wish and respected it, transforming its tangible form into one of his Heavenly Saber''s mystic arts¡ªCherry Full Moon.


    The name ''Crouching Rabbit'' originally signified the sinking moon in the west.


    But ultimately, it defied the fate embedded in its name, becoming an eternal, ever-present mystic art in Xue Jing''s hands, never sinking like the full moon.


    This was the first Mystic Art Level martial arts technique that Xue Jing had learned.


    He had not expected that before the Hidden Dragon School''s "Eye-Dotting" technique, he would first obtain the mystic art of the Heavenly Saber.


    "You... you actually didn''t die!?"


    Only now did the Mirror Person, unable to contain his excitement, stand up from Xue Jing''s shoulder.


    "What in the world happened, you really almost scared me to death!"


    Xue Jing smiled, opened his eyes, and casually said:


    "Forgot to tell you, I have a third divine ability... Resurrection Armor."


    Mirror Person: "..."


    "You could''ve mentioned that earlier, dammit!"


    It cursed, utterly exasperated.


    "What''s up with the Heretic God that blessed you, giving you so many unrelated secret techniques. "


    "It really spoils you too much." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing: "That''s how it is with The Chosen."


    Mirror Person shook his head: "Don''t understand."


    Then it couldn''t help but laugh.


    "But, that''s great... I knew you wouldn''t just stop here."


    "This way, I can also leave the Intersecting Boundaries, and after I go out, I will gain true freedom."


    "We both have a bright future!"


    Xue Jing laughed heartily: "Is that so, congratulations then."


    Killing a monster that was originally deemed impossible to defeat, his heart was also filled with joy at this moment.


    For the Mirror Person, a Divine Relic who had provided him with much information and significant help, Xue Jing was also happy that it could achieve its wish.


    At that moment, the sky over the Intersecting Boundaries suddenly looked like a mirror, filled with dense cracks, emitting cracking sounds.


    "Hm? What''s this?"


    Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    Mirror Person spoke with a smile: "The Core Creature, the Pureblood Dragon Species you killed, the ''flaw'' that the Mirror World relied on the core had also been shattered by you."


    "This is the phenomenon of ''Reflective Fusion'' being released."


    "If it were a pure Mirror World, it would mean the entire world is breaking apart, but for the Intersecting Boundaries, it will only strip away the specific uniqueness of the Mirror World itself."


    No sooner had its voice fallen than the sky, like a shattered mirror, completely broke apart, scattering numerous light spots.


    However, the Intersecting Boundaries itself underwent no changes.


    But Xue Jing vaguely felt as if some kind of bond that had been entangling him was gradually dispersing.


    "From now on, this Intersecting Boundaries will ''die'', it will no longer have any sudden changes, and it will maintain its original state, letting the creatures within the boundaries develop on their own."


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    The body of the Pureblood Dragon Species fell to the earth, its massive mass raising a cloud of dust like a mushroom cloud.


    Xue Jing, freefalling, followed after it, and just before hitting the ground, he activated several thin plates with the last bit of his Shadow Flame from the Blue Bar to cushion himself, landing steadily.


    Taking a deep breath, Xue Jing excitedly opened his panel.


    First to catch his eye, without a doubt, were the Divine Gains.


    [Killing a divine special creature, Divinity +2568]


    Two thousand five!!


    Xue Jing clenched his fist tightly, trying to suppress his excitement.


    This amount, even for him who had already gained a lot of Divinity in the Intersecting Boundaries, seemed quite massive.


    But he knew this was just an appetizer!


    [... Fitness Experience Points +3039 (Reached limit)]


    [You overcame the crisis of a massive power difference successfully killing a juvenile Pureblood Dragon Species, the sense of accomplishment fills you with unmatched joy, Health Cultivation Experience Value +4060]


    [... Running Experience Value +2930]


    [... Aiming Experience Value +3306]


    [... fighting Experience Points +3658]


    [... Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Experience Points +4681]


    [... Meditative Visualization True Experience Points +3511]


    [You resurrected in a life-or-death fight, marvelled at the spectacle of Cherry Full Moon, and gained a Sudden Enlightenment under the sacrifice of the Crouching Rabbit Sword, Weapon Strike Experience Points +6633]


    [... swimming Experience Points +1566]


    [... Acting Experience Points +1357]


    [Health Cultivation upgraded to Lv10 (278/?)]


    [Meditative Visualization True upgraded to Lv7 (1499/9000)]


    [Weapon Strike upgraded to Lv9 (4888/8000)]


    [swimming upgraded to Lv6 (499/3000)]


    [Acting upgraded to Lv6 (912/3000)]


    [Detection of ''Weapon Strike'' sublimation conditions...]


    [Insufficient conditions, sublimation failed]


    [Sublimation conditions:


    first, ?????


    second, level reached Lv10


    third, required Divinity: 1000]


    A long list of prompts, a massive gain in Experience Points and skill level upgrades, as well as the triggering of the [Weapon Strike] sublimation conditions...


    Like [Fitness] and [Charm Art], there was still a condition completely unknown, unclear how to meet it.


    Xue Jing, not stopping to digest the specific details of his power increase, immediately scrolled down to the end of the panel, his eyes focusing on the Divine Skill section.


    Beneath [Twin Lifes], [Shadow Flame], [Plant Pact], a new skill suddenly appeared!


    [Dragon Horn (Inactive): Divine Skill, Activation Divinity required 2639/500]


    [Conditions met, activate now?]


    [Yes/No]


    Huh? Dragon Horn?


    Xue Jing was slightly puzzled.


    The name felt odd, unlike Twin Lifes, Shadow Flame, Plant Pact which very directly displayed abilities, it wasn''t immediately intuitive what power it possessed.


    Although the relation to ''dragon'' was clear... This was something Xue Jing had anticipated.

 Chapter 267 - 168: Explosive Harvest, New Divine Skill, Dragon Cherry Seed! (4K)_2

    Divine Skills and their sources of acquisition are indeed related... Slaying a Pureblood Dragon Species yielded the [Dragon Horn].


    But all these don''t matter; let''s activate it first.


    Xue Jing clicked [Yes].


    [Activation Successful]


    [Dragon Horn Lv1 (Divinity required to level up: 2139/100)]


    [Effect: Can conjure the horns of a True Dragon]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock conditions: Divinity 2139/2000, reach Lv10)]


    Yet another succession of plain introductions...leaving one utterly clueless about its functions.


    Considering for a moment, Xue Jing directly initiated it.


    "Pili pala¡ª"


    Instantly, sounds of electrical currents came from his forehead, and then, fine silver electric currents slowly appeared and gathered in increasing numbers.


    Amidst the crackling noises, two ''Dragon Horns'' appeared on Xue Jing''s head, resembling frozen silver lightning.


    The two Lightning Dragon Horns were shaped in a ''Z'' pattern, extremely sharp at the tips, surfaces constantly undulating, shimmering with fine silver electric currents, looking incredibly beautiful.


    Xue Jing had a realization in his heart as he stretched his hand towards a large, half-human-high stone on the ground.


    "Zzzzz¡ª"


    Amidst the sound of electric currents, silver lightning shot from his hand onto the stone.


    Instead of disappearing, the lightning wrapped around the stone like chains, one end remaining in Xue Jing''s hand.


    Xue Jing lifted his hand upwards and, after a slight sense of resistance, the stone was directly lifted into the air by his electric chains.


    "Is that¡ª!!"


    The Mirror Person''s eyes widened.


    "How do you still have abilities? No, this is new."


    "Have you acquired another God-Given Secret Art?"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Seems like it."


    He withdrew the silver lightning in his hand, and the stone immediately fell back to the ground.


    "So it is, after using [Dragon Horn], I can now wield this silver lightning that influences ''gravity''."


    Xue Jing understood in his heart.


    What he had done just now was not lifting the stone with actual lightning.


    Rather, he had used the lightning to make the stone''s ''gravity'' zero, causing it to float on its own.


    "This is Dragon Thunder!"


    Lightning that affected gravity, a symbol of the Pureblood Dragon Species cherished by the heavens, Dragon Thunder!


    Xue Jing pointed with his finger, and a bolt of silver lightning shot out, striking the large stone.


    "Boom¡ª"


    The stone exploded, shattering into countless fragments.


    "Hmm, the sheer power is not bad either, especially the attack speed is very fast." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing nodded to himself.


    "So, next..."


    Xue Jing looked forward with anticipation. He took a deep breath, the two Lightning Dragon Horns on his head crackling.


    In the next moment, silver thunder enveloped his body, like a silver and white feather belt winding around him, flickering and undulating with the wind, giving him an ineffable aura of Immortality, as if a deity had descended.


    Under the influence of the silver Dragon Thunder, the gravity that had been binding him from birth gradually decreased to nothing, completely freeing him from its restraint.


    And thus, Xue Jing took flight.


    "Flying ability!"


    "Finally acquired!"


    Xue Jing slowly ascended to a height of about a dozen meters, his heart filled with surprise.


    Flying, escaping the bonds of gravity, one of humanity''s ultimate dreams, was realized by him at that moment.


    Without the use of Alien Implants, but purely by his own ability.


    This was something that even the highest levels of Old Martial Arts training could never achieve.


    Although he had previously indirectly gained the ability to move in the air through Shadow Flame, it was nothing compared to true flight.


    This was the ultimate symbol of freedom, a human dream!


    Xue Jing familiarized himself with the effect of the Dragon Thunder on his own gravity in the air, learning how to adjust it to move forward, backward, left, and right...


    Initially, he was quite unfamiliar and controlled it with difficulty, but with his learning capability at that moment, after just ten minutes, he was able to control his direction skillfully, freely flying through the sky.


    "Cool... just a bit slow."


    Xue Jing, at a height of dozens of meters, moved forward at a pace of approximately four or five meters per second.


    This was currently his top speed.


    He opened the panel, switched to the Divine Skill tab, opened [Dragon Horn], and chose to level it up.


    [Dragon Horn Lv2]


    [Dragon Horn Lv3]


    [Dragon Horn Lv4 (Divinity required for upgrade: 1239/800)]


    He had directly upgraded it to Lv4, spending nine hundred points of Divinity.


    The silver Thunder Feather Belt wrapped around Xue Jing crackled loudly, its lightning intensifying, and Xue Jing''s originally sluggish flying speed suddenly accelerated.


    He reached a speed of almost thirty meters per second.


    Although this wasn''t comparable to his running speed on the ground, it was still quite fast, exceeding a hundred kilometers per hour.


    "Let''s leave it at this for now and not hurry to continue upgrading; I''ll save some Divinity for backup."


    Xue Jing, having satisfied his desire to playfully fly, slowly descended from the air.


    Upon touching the ground, he dispersed the silver-white Lightning Dragon Horns on his head into currents of electricity.


    "...To think you''ve been given another God-Given Secret Art from a completely different realm, just what kind of Heretic God do you have?"


    The Mirror Person exclaimed in astonishment.


    "Could it really be as I suspect, an old master who has returned from the ''Great Silence''..."


    Xue Jing was about to speak when his gaze suddenly shifted, looking towards the True Dragon corpse nearby.


    At that moment, the thoroughly mangled True Dragon corpse, covered with countless fine cuts, was slowly collapsing inwards at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes: "What''s going on?"


    The Mirror Person said leisurely, "Don''t worry, it''s already dead."


    "...Pureblood Dragon Species are born from nature itself without parents, and upon death, they naturally return to nature."


    "Its flesh and blood will turn into nutrients that nourish the land. For the next several decades, even a hundred years, this area will be very fertile, and planting anything here will yield a great harvest."


    "Besides, it will leave something behind."


    Xue Jing asked, "What is it?"


    The Mirror Person said, "An egg."


    "It must be a survival instinct remaining even after death. From its corpse, a final Dragon Egg will be born, roughly inheriting its own genes."


    "However, only those Pureblood Dragon Species born from nature count; the Dragon Egg it leaves behind, even if very similar to itself, is just an imitation. Moreover, because it''s nothing but ''Embers'' after death, it''s even a step below the lineage of the Guardian Dragons."


    "The Dragon Egg is your battle trophy, how do you wish to handle it?"


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing smiled and said, "Let''s give it to Renea; I owe her a lot for this time."


    The Mirror Person nodded, somewhat gratified:


    "You''re quite generous... If you were to auction off that Dragon Egg, you''d probably get at least fifty million Zhuxia currency as a starting bid."


    Xue Jing: "?"


    He scratched his head: "Can I take back what I said?"


    The Mirror Person said irritably, "Don''t be so petty, once a word is spoken, it cannot be chased back even with a team of horses."


    Xue Jing laughed: "Just kidding, it''s just fifty million after all."


    He stretched lazily, planning to find a place to take a nap.


    Although he had been fully revived with Twin Lifes and did not feel tired at all,


    the memory of the battle that lasted several hours was still there, and following the inertia of the memory, he felt it was better to rest.


    The last move he made, ''Cherry Full Moon,'' also took a significant toll on his spiritual power, after all, it was a Mystic Art Level technique.


    "Hm? Wait a second, look at its head."


    The Mirror Person suddenly spoke, pointing at the Dragon Horn on the True Dragon''s corpse.


    There were dark branches wrapped around it, but the cherry blossoms that had bloomed on the branches had all withered and decayed.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing had a realization: "Right, I almost forgot about this."


    "This is the real ''battle trophy''!"


    Saying so, Xue Jing reached out to touch the dark branches on the Dragon Horn.


    With a touch, a ''Pact Seal'' was imprinted on the branch.


    Xue Jing checked his panel and saw that the Level 6 Plant Pact, which should have been close to a full Blue Bar due to the previous seeds'' demise,


    had its name dimmed and its Blue Bar consumed by more than half the moment he made a pact with the branches on the Dragon Horn!


    "The more powerful the plant, the greater the consumption."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up as he plucked the branches from the dragon''s head and threw them onto the ground.


    He then snapped his fingers, and the branches immediately took root in place, wriggling and multiplying, and in no time, they grew into a towering black tree dozens of meters tall.


    Countless silver-white cherry blossoms bloomed on its branches, a breathtaking sight to behold.


    A petal fell at a speed of five centimeters per second, landing gently in Xue Jing''s palm.


    "I shall name you¡ª ''Dragon Cherry''."


    Xue Jing murmured softly.


    After finishing, he felt something was amiss.


    Hidden Dragon School, Dragon Horn, Dragon Cherry...


    "Damn, it makes me look like I''m obsessed with dragons, with more than half of my martial arts and skills related to dragons."


    ...

 Chapter 279 - 173: Innate Pretentious Holy Body Xue Jing, Lacking Sisters Dignity Xue Wan (5K)_2

    Xue Wan only then noticed her younger brother had come over, and she pouted a bit discontentedly:


    "You haven''t seen your dear sister for so long, and the first thing you do when you see her is ask about another woman?"


    Xue Jing paused for a moment and said speechlessly, "Are you like a sensitive girlfriend in a long-distance relationship who has no sense of security? Cut out this act, it''s off-putting."


    Xue Wan giggled.


    Today she was wearing a black Japanese JK uniform, with long and plump bare legs beneath the short pleated skirt, and a pair of black loafers on her feet.


    She looked just like a beautiful manga girl who had stepped straight out of the pages, and perhaps because of the blessing she received from the Flower God, she was also exuding a somber floral fragrance.


    "Little Yin was called backstage by the staff, and she''s up next for the following match."


    As she spoke, Xue Wan reached out her arms to hug Xue Jing''s neck and kissed him on the cheek with a smack.


    "Jing, you looked pretty cool just now. I felt so proud to be your sister, this is your reward!"


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, and he reached out his hand, wiping away disdainfully the sparkle that had landed on his face.


    Seeing this, Xue Wan immediately said in dissatisfaction, "Hey, what are you doing?"


    Xue Jing gave her a glance: "Can''t I feel disgusted?"


    Xue Wan slapped his shoulder and said angrily, "You''re disgusted by a beautiful girl''s saliva?"


    "...It''s not beautiful girls I''m disgusted by, it''s you," Xue Jing sighed.


    At that moment, the commentator''s voice came from the arena.


    "The brief halftime break has ended. Now, let us welcome..."


    ...


    After Yin Muhu entered the stage, a fierce battle ensued, and even though she was injured, she managed to secure a victory and one of the four tickets to the finals. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her use of the Vajra Wishful Hand special move ''Horizontal Ruyi'' gave Xue Jing a slightly new insight into the application of the Wishful Force, a valuable gain.


    Afterward, they stayed to watch the last match, and by the time it was over, it was almost six in the evening, and the sky was getting dim.


    The Maple City elimination round had thus come to an absolute end.


    Xue Jing and Xue Wan, Jiang Siwei, and Yin Muhu, the group of four, walked out of the stadium and into the parking lot.


    Xue Jing spoke, "Shady Girl, shall I drop you off at the hotel first?"


    Yin Muhu crossed her arms over her chest, displaying her muscular build, shook her head, and with a contrastingly crisp girly voice, said:


    "No need, I''ve already booked my ticket, and I''ll be heading back to Rong City soon."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    Next to him, Xue Wan seemed a bit unwilling to part, saying, "Little Yin, you''re leaving just like that? Won''t you stay and play for a few more days? There are so many places in Maple City I still haven''t taken you to."


    Yin Muhu scratched her head: "No... I''m short on time."


    "I''ve already been left far behind by Brother Xue. If I don''t buckle down now, I might not even see his shadow in the future."


    Xue Jing chuckled softly, "What you''re saying is an exaggeration... My situation is somewhat special, you shouldn''t use me as a benchmark."


    Yin Muhu said seriously, "But you are right in front of me."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "That''s true."


    Yin Muhu turned with flair and started walking towards the exit of the parking lot, raising her hand towards Xue Jing without looking back, "It''s a long road ahead in the jianghu, I''ll see you at the finals!"


    After she left, Jiang Siwei said:


    "Little Jing, Wanwan, where are you two heading next?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "We''ll go pick up Miao Miao from Maple University first, then head back to the hotel... Feng Wan is in your dorm, right?"


    He looked at Xue Wan.


    She nodded her head.


    "Okay, let''s go then."


    The sedan started up and slowly drove out of the parking lot.


    However, what Xue Jing failed to notice was that not far from the parking lot, under the cover of the dense foliage of a camphor tree by the road, two tall figures with hunched backs and heads wrapped in black cloth were hidden.


    "This person must be ''Xue Jing'' that snake mentioned... The woman with the Sacred Object is staying with him, so following him would lead us to the Sacred Object," one of them said in a low voice, like a beast.


    "Act now, Beliru?" he looked over at his companion.


    "Wait, Bazebu," Beliru squinted his eyes which resembled those of a wild animal.


    "This is the city center; it''s too conspicuous... Official government isn''t a concern, but attracting the attention of those crazies from the ''Secret Martial Society'' would be a bother."


    "Let''s not act rashly... This guy is heading back to Qingcheng, and he will take a boat. We''ll wait for him at the dock."


    ...


    The car slowly stopped in front of Maple City University.


    Because Xue Jing had had a fight there with that woman named Qin from the Flower God Society previously, the ground was in a mess from the damage.


    Although it had been more or less repaired after a few days, there were mismatched traces of newly applied cement everywhere.


    The car door opened, and Xue Wan jumped out with a flourish of her hips, lifting her pleated skirt, revealing the safety shorts she wore underneath.


    "I''ll go get Feng Wan, wait for me," she said.


    Xue Jing stayed in the car, chatting with Jiang Siwei. About ten minutes later, he saw Xue Wan carrying Miao Miao, coming out of the university gate.


    From afar, as soon as Miao Miao saw Xue Jing, it immediately leapt from Xue Wan''s arms and ran swiftly towards him.


    Then, with a burst of acceleration, it jumped through the open car window into the vehicle, landing on Xue Jing''s thighs. The cat bore a very human-like expression of discontent, meowing plaintively as though complaining about something.


    Following behind, Xue Wan got into the car with a sigh and said:


    "Ah, Little Feng Wan, you really have no conscience. Despite all my love for you, you''ve forgotten all about me as soon as you saw your real dad."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he scratched Miao Miao''s chin.


    "Speaking of your real dad, what do you say?"


    Miao Miao, aggravated, bit his finger.


    Jiang Siwei looked at the cat through the rearview mirror and exclaimed:

 Chapter 280 - 173: Innate Pretentious Holy Body Xue Jing, Lacking Sisters Dignity Xue Wan (5K)_3

    ```


    "...What''s with your family''s genetics? It''s one thing that everyone''s good-looking, but even the cat is so attractive."


    Xue Wan stroked her chin, "Wei, you really have a way with words, truly a corporate elite!"


    Xue Jing pulled his finger from Miao Miao''s mouth, smiled and said, "Let''s go, back to the hotel."


    By the time they returned to the Yunlu Hotel, the sky had completely darkened.


    After saying goodbye to Jiang Siwei, Xue Jing and Xue Wan entered their hotel room.


    Though it had been a while since they stayed, the room was very clean because cleaners maintained it regularly.


    As soon as Xue Wan entered, she threw herself onto the sofa and clapped her hands at Xue Jing''s cat in his arms, "Come here, Little Feng Wan~"


    Miao Miao pursed her lips, turned around, and buried her head into Xue Jing''s embrace.


    Xue Wan''s eyes widened slightly, "You ungrateful little kitty!"


    Xue Jing set Miao Miao down on the floor and casually said, "I''m going back to Qingcheng tomorrow, Sister."


    "Ah? Why the hurry?" Xue Wan felt a bit disappointed.


    "Stay with me a few more days... It''s rare for me to see you, and you''ve been so busy we hardly spent any time together," she grumbled.


    Xue Jing took out a bottle of mineral water from the fridge, twisted off the cap, took a sip, and said:


    "Isn''t it the New Year''s holiday in a few days? You can come back to Qingcheng then. Mom and Dad said they''d be home for the New Year''s too."


    Xue Wan stood up, walked over to Xue Jing, wrapped her arms around his, and cooed:


    "Then stay with me until New Year''s, and we can go back together~ Please?"


    Xue Jing remained unmoved, "You''re the elder sister, shouldn''t you maintain some dignity?"


    Xue Wan immediately squatted down, picked the cutest angle she could find, looked up at Xue Jing with innocent, big eyes, shaped her hands into little cat paws on her cheeks, tilted her head slightly, and said in a coquettish tone:


    "Woof~"


    Then continued in a whiny voice, "Please~"


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He sighed, "Fine, you win."


    "Hehe," Xue Wan immediately flashed a triumphant and radiant smile.


    "By the way, have there been any changes to your mutation rate while I was away?"


    Xue Jing inquired.


    "Speaking of which, it''s been a bit odd," Xue Wan pondered for a moment.


    "Before, it took about a month after becoming a Blessed One for my mutation rate to grow above 10%."


    "But ever since you touched the Stigmata and extracted stuff from it, my mutation rate dropped below 1%... And now, it''s only been eight or nine days, but my mutation rate has shot up to 10% again."


    "I''m not sure what caused it..."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Mutation rate needs to be suppressed actively, right? You probably relaxed your spirit because you knew there was a solution to the mutation, neglecting the resistance against Divine Power eroding the spirit, hence the fast increase."


    Xue Wan realized and said, "Oh? Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case."


    As she spoke, she took off her JK jacket, unbuttoned a few buttons of the undergarment, flipped up the hem of her top, exposing her slender and sexy waist. There, on her lovely navel, hung a ruby-like Stigmata belly button ring.


    "Come on, take a suck."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "Don''t use such a weird expression," he said flatly.


    Xue Wan smiled with her eyes narrowed and said nothing.


    Xue Jing reached out and gently touched the Stigmata on her belly button.


    [Divine Substance detected, Divine Absorption in progress...]


    Divinity began to increase, Xue Wan could feel the warmth of her younger brother''s fingers on her skin, her face flushing slightly.


    "Ah~ This feeling of having something restraining me being removed... It''s kind of comfortable."


    Xue Jing gave her a look, "Don''t make that strange sound!"


    "What''s the big deal," Xue Wan pouted.


    Xue Jing couldn''t be bothered with her and said nothing more.


    After a while.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Current Divinity: 1566]


    It had increased by three hundred and something.


    Although he had made a sizable amount in the Intersecting Boundaries just a short while ago, Xue Jing was still pleasantly surprised at the number.


    Because it signified a sustainable gain of Divinity.


    Xue Jing looked at his sister with less disdain and more gentleness in his eyes.


    He appeared like an old farmer admiring a well-grown leek. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Wan, feeling rather spooked under his gaze, quickly pulled down her top, buttoned up, and covered her chest defensively:


    "Why are you staring at me like that... I''m your real sister, remember? Even if you think I''m good-looking and hot, you can''t have that kind of thought!"


    Xue Jing: "Heh."


    ...


    (Another chapter to come, writing now, don''t wait up¡ªread it when you wake up tomorrow~)


    ```

 Chapter 287 - 178: The Ceiling of Human Individual Combat Power! Shelter from the Official (4K)

    "How do you know everything, dear sister? Is there really nothing you don''t know?"


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but say.


    Wu Youqing picked up her cup, took a light sip of tea, and said casually,


    "I don''t know everything, I just happen to know."


    Then she changed the subject.


    "Okay, I happen to have some things to discuss with you, and you''ve come at the right time."


    Xue Jing, seeing that she cooperated in not discussing the matter any further, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.


    If Wu Youqing really insisted on pursuing it, he would have felt embarrassed, not knowing what other excuses to find.


    He definitely couldn''t mention Ban, and with no preparation on short notice, no matter how fast his mind worked, he couldn''t find a suitable, flawless reason.


    ''A terrifying woman...''


    Xue Jing sighed inwardly.


    So far, Wu Youqing was the only person who seemed to be tricky in every way, as if he was always somewhat under her control.


    And yet, he couldn''t muster any ill feelings or defenses against her... because she controlled everything to just the right extent.


    "Now you''re officially ''debuting'', entering the sights of many interested parties."


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment before speaking.


    "Currently, in the eyes of outsiders, you are a ''Natural Gifted One'', a ''Divine Chosen''... This identity is good, although I do not know if you chose this label for yourself after careful consideration, or if it was a serendipitous fluke."


    "Anyhow, this identity is sufficient to explain most of the anomalies about you, almost flawlessly. Only a being like me, also one of The Chosen, could notice that something is slightly amiss."


    She picked up a plastic fork, scooped a piece of the cream cake that Xue Jing had brought, put it in her mouth, chewed a few times without showing her teeth, swallowed, pointed at Xue Jing with the fork, and continued,


    "However, this identity does not only have advantages without disadvantages."


    Xue Jing asked doubtfully, "What disadvantages?"


    Wu Youqing put the plastic fork to her thin lips, thought for a moment, and said, "Have you heard of the ''Secret Martial Society''?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes flickered, "I''ve heard of it... but only the name."


    His agent, Jiang Siwei, had once mentioned this organization to him. It was said to be fierce, possessing enough power to overturn a country... though that seemed a bit far-fetched.


    Wu Youqing said, "Well... then I will explain it to you briefly."


    She paused, "This is an organization that has existed for over a hundred years, founded by a man known as the ''Extreme Martial King''."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, "Extreme Martial King..."


    He had also heard this name before.


    When he was at the Intersecting Boundaries, the "Mirror Person" had inadvertently mentioned this name to him, but when he curiously inquired further, the Mirror Person avoided the topic abruptly and quite bluntly.


    "For now, you do not need to know who the Extreme Martial King is, you just need to know one thing."


    Wu Youqing''s lavender eyes showed earnestness.


    "He is currently one of the residents of ''Cangting''."


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly.


    Cangting!


    The very center of Zhuxia, the real rulers of the nine metropolitan circles, the dominators who control the entire national machinery.


    Its position is tantamount to the country itself!


    Considering this, the claim that the ''Secret Martial Society'' has the ability to overthrow this country probably isn''t an exaggeration.


    The mere fact that its founder, the Extreme Martial King, was part of the ruling circle of Cangting was convincing enough.


    "And now, the Secret Martial Society has become your enemy."


    Wu Youqing said with a light tone.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, "...Please elaborate."


    "The Extreme Martial King, in his youth, was slightly... intense," Wu Youqing delicately phrased it.


    "You know, since the passing of God and the start of the New Calendar, we humans have obtained many power systems that allow individuals to greatly enhance their own strength."


    "But most of these systems involve powers ''beyond human''."


    "Like ''Power Ascension By Divine Bestowal'', ''Alien Implant Implantation'', and the ''Neo Martial Arts'' that transmutate the body, these are essentially reliant on external forces and are ''Impure Things''."


    "Among all the systems, there exists only one ''path that is completely of human origin''."


    Xue Jing murmured, "...Old Martial Arts?"


    Wu Youqing nodded, "Correct, precisely Old Martial Arts."


    "What it seeks is to constantly surpass the limits of the purely natural human body, to ascend with our native carbon-based flesh and blood into true ''gods''!"


    "And the Extreme Martial King... is a Seeker of the Way on the path of Old Martial Arts."


    "He takes pride in his pure human identity, in the only path of human seeking that is entirely our own, ceaselessly surpassing his own limits."


    "He despises any system beyond Old Martial Arts, disdaining those who seek powers beyond human as ''Impure People''... And his overly powerful talents and distinct charismatic leadership have gradually gathered a group of radical thinkers under his banner."


    "Thus, the Secret Martial Society was born."


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the table, his eyes thoughtful.


    So that''s how it is, he roughly understood why the Secret Martial Society would be his enemy.


    Wu Youqing continued, "At first, they existed as a secret organization, covertly capturing, judging, killing the Blessed Ones, those implanted with Alien Implants, and practitioners of Neo Martial Arts... and later, as the organization grew, their actions became increasingly audacious, openly carrying out these radical activities."


    "There was even a major incident later known as the ''Extreme Martial Uprising''..."


    Xue Jing questioned, "Such a disorderly group, doesn''t the government take any action?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 288 - 178: The Ceiling of Human Individual Combat Power! Shelter from the Official (4K)_2

    Wu Youqing: "Of course, although it''s no longer mentioned now and the information has all been sealed, for a considerable period in the past, the label on the Secret Martial Society was ''extreme terrorist organization''."


    Having said this, she changed the topic: "...Alright, these are all old stories, and it''s not good for me to say too much to you now. If you have the chance, you should find out for yourself."


    "Let''s talk instead about the current threat of the Secret Martial Society to you."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "After hearing so much from you, it feels like I''m definitely going to die, isn''t it?"


    Wu Youqing shook her head: "First, listen to me."


    "Since the Extreme Martial King chose to join the officials, underwent Longevity Surgery, and became an ''Impure Person'', the Secret Martial Society also transformed overnight, from a terrorist organization into a semi-official organization."


    "But its purpose has never changed... The Extreme Martial King, feeling that he was impure, no longer had the right to lead the Secret Martial Society, and chose to step down."


    "His successor, still inheriting his ideology, is still a pure Old Martial Arts organization targeting various external humanoid systems... It''s just that now, because it has become a semi-official organization, it has become a lot more restrained compared to its former extreme state."


    Xue Jing found it somewhat incredible: "Hm? Wait a minute."


    "So, the Extreme Martial King is basically a former terrorist leader... With such a background, he was actually able to join the officials and even took charge of Cangting?"


    "That''s too preposterous."


    Wu Youqing said with profound meaning: "Indeed preposterous... But it''s precisely because it''s preposterous that it illustrates how valuable the Extreme Martial King is."


    "His strength is beyond normal reasoning... To this day, every Martial Artist who knows of his existence sees him as ''the true limit of humanity'', ''the endpoint of martial arts'', modeling their lifelong goals after this embodiment of ''the Way''."


    "He is the real ceiling of human individual combat power at present."


    Xue Jing''s pupils contracted: "How high... is the ceiling for Old Martial Arts?"


    Since he began Martial Arts practice, everyone he met was disdainful of Old Martial Arts, treated it as loathsome as vermin, all advising him not to practice it, as there was no future in it.


    But now, someone finally told him, Old Martial Arts is formidable, and there was a person who practiced only Old Martial Arts being called ''the ceiling of human individual combat power.''


    Although the path he himself was following was not essentially Old Martial Arts but rather developing Ban, he couldn''t help feeling somewhat exhilarated.


    "How high?"


    Wu Youqing thought for a moment and said:


    "He is currently one of the very few people in the world who can single-handedly subdue Super Organisms with a danger level above 10."


    Super Organisms above level 10 in danger rating, such beings, are said to possess the power to destroy the world.


    And yet, the Extreme Martial King could single-handedly conquer them...


    That''s incredibly powerful.


    Xue Jing was full of doubts: "If the Extreme Martial King can reach such heights just by practicing Old Martial Arts, then why does it seem like Old Martial Arts have always been scorned?"


    Wu Youqing smiled and said: "One reason is that the Extreme Martial King''s name, due to his special past, is only known among a small group of people."


    "Additionally... throughout the entire New Calendar, for nearly three hundred years, Old Martial Arts have produced only one Extreme Martial King."


    "He is an exception among exceptions, with almost no value for reference. Not to mention finding anyone on par with him, you can''t even find anyone who comes close." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing nodded: "I see."


    "Originally, you would have been just the type of talent that the Secret Martial Society likes."


    Wu Youqing took a sip of tea.


    "Once you made a name for yourself, showing your talent in reaching the current level in Old Martial Arts within a few months, and they discovered your background, they would immediately seek you out, absorb you into the Secret Martial Society, and cultivate you as the best successor to the Extreme Martial King."


    "But now..."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "If it were only that you were pretending to be a Chosen Blessed One, that would be one thing, but your martial arts talent is so high, and you''ve become famous."


    Wu Youqing spread her hands.


    "In this case, there will certainly be some people in the Secret Martial Society with more extreme thoughts who think you have wasted your talent, tarnished humanity''s glory, and so on, seeing you as a thorn in their side..."


    Xue Jing scratched his head: "Why am I suddenly beset with this inexplicable trouble..."


    Just then, his phone suddenly started vibrating and ringing.


    Xue Jing picked it up and saw the caller ID said ''Chinese Teacher Du Shiwei.''


    It was his homeroom teacher.


    "I''ll take this call," Xue Jing said to Wu Youqing.


    She nodded, gesturing for him to go ahead.


    After hitting the answer button, Xue Jing said:


    "Hello? Mr. Du."


    Du Shiwei''s voice came from the handset:


    "Xue Jing... I heard from the students that they saw you coming to school, but why didn''t I see you?"


    Xue Jing laughed: "I''m in the library, teacher."


    Mr. Du paused, then chuckled awkwardly: "I see... well, good, it seems you are also working hard on your studies outside of class, very good, very good."


    He paused, then continued, "The thing is, there''s something I''d like to discuss with you."


    "Go ahead," Xue Jing said.


    "I saw your match; you really made our school proud. Just yesterday, the principal told me that our school received praise from higher up for having such an excellent student as you!"


    "And then?" Xue Jing asked, his curiosity piqued. "What else did they say?"


    Mr. Du continued, "There''s another matter. In just over a month, the ''martial arts examination'' will begin."


    Martial Arts Examination.


    It was held once a year, akin to the college entrance exam, but for martial arts students.


    Students who had achieved success in their martial arts practice could enter their dream universities through the martial arts examination.


    The government had numerous supportive policies for martial arts students, and the martial arts clubs of major universities in the Inner Ring were pivotal in earning honors for their institutions.


    The regular college entrance exam took place in June, but the martial arts examination was in February.


    Was Mr. Du suggesting that he take part in the martial arts examination?


    Xue Jing smiled, about to decline; attending university now would just be a waste of his time.


    At that moment, Mr. Du continued speaking:


    "...After watching your spectacular performance in the competition, the authorities took notice of you and would like to hire you as an examiner for this martial arts examination."


    Xue Jing was taken aback.


    "Me? An examiner?"


    From the other end of the line, Mr. Du said, "Yes, it''s one of the traditions of the martial arts examination. Every year, they invite a group of young, talented martial artists to serve as examiners to inspire the candidates... "


    "What do you say? Are you willing to go? I recommend that you do. It''s an extraordinary addition to your resume and an honor that will smooth your path in the future..."


    Mr. Du began persuading him.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing replied, "Let me consider it, Mr. Du."


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Du persuaded him further, listing numerous benefits before hanging up the phone.


    Xue Jing put away his phone and fell into deep thought before telling Youqing about the conversation he just had.


    "Martial arts examination examiner?"


    Youqing was initially startled, then her eyes showed surprise.


    "Is it that much of a coincidence?"


    Her expression then turned to one of realization as she murmured, "So that''s how it is..."


    Xue Jing asked with confusion, "What''s the matter?"


    Youqing tapped her fingers on the table and said, "Serendipity... I suggest you accept this task as an examiner."


    Xue Jing''s gaze narrowed slightly, "Explain."


    "Do you know where the tradition of inviting young martial artists to serve as examiners originates?" Youqing asked with a smile.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    Youqing explained, "The Extreme Martial King... It was when he first came into the limelight, becoming widely known as ''the youngest examiner in history.''


    "The martial arts examination he supervised saw a surge of martial arts talents emerge; it remains the highest quality examination to date."


    An epiphany struck Xue Jing, "Are you suggesting...?"


    Youqing nodded, looking thoughtful:


    "The government is protecting you."


    "Members of the Secret Martial Society include quite a few university martial arts students... They wouldn''t want to offend the universities when recruiting new members."


    "And every martial arts examination examiner gets registered as a guest lecturer at some university."


    "...Moreover, you''d be following the tradition set by the Extreme Martial King to become an examiner."


    "It''s customary to avoid offending the highly regarded... This way, if the Secret Martial Society takes action against you, it would be seen as disrespectful to the Extreme Martial King to some extent."


    Youqing spoke admiringly:


    "Truly a masterful move, nearly resolving a big problem for you without making a sound."


    "It seems someone up high really favors you."


    "Hmm, this saves me the trouble of worrying about you..."


    The last sentence was nearly a whisper, unheard by Xue Jing.


    He raised an eyebrow, puzzled, "Which big shot is helping me? Why? Because I''m handsome?"


    Youqing smiled thoughtfully and replied, "Perhaps it really is something like that."


    ...

 Chapter 289 - 179 Superstring Entities, the True Face of God, Mother Going Home (4K)

    "Given that, then I''ll take on the task of the examiner."


    Xue Jing said.


    Wu Youqing gave a hum and said, "However, you''ll have to be officially in possession of the examiner''s position more than a month from now, so you still need to be extra careful before then."


    Xue Jing nodded: "I understand."


    After the two chatted for a while about various matters that had happened during this period, Xue Jing asked casually:


    "By the way, dear sister, since you are a Chosen Blessed One... Which Heretic God have you been blessed by?"


    Upon hearing this, Wu Youqing glanced at Xue Jing, drank the last of the tea from her cup, and then poured herself another cup.


    Only then did she speak at leisure:


    "What do you want to know this for?"


    Xue Jing smiled and simply said: "I''m curious."


    Thoughtfulness shone in Wu Youqing''s pale purple eyes, and after pondering for a moment, she began:


    "Although it''s still too early for you to be dealing with these matters... listening won''t hurt."


    "Well, in that case, I need to start by telling you about the composition and origin of the universe..."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched: "...no way."


    Wu Youqing looked serious: "That''s the way it is."


    Do I really need to start from Pangu creating the world? Xue Jing scratched his head.


    Wu Youqing stood up, walked to the wall, and tapped on it with the plastic fork in her hand¡ªas if she was a teacher knocking on a blackboard with chalk.


    Seeing her start to get into her teaching play with great interest, Xue Jing sat up straight and also posed as if he were seriously attending a class. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The wealthy and domineering lady nodded in satisfaction, a smile in her splendid purple eyes.


    "I ask you, what is the smallest unit that composes everything in the world, even the universe itself?"


    She asked in the tone of a teacher.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment and uncertainly said: "Quarks? Quantum?"


    Wu Youqing extended a finger and shook it.


    "No, the smallest unit of the universe, its name is¡ª''string''."


    "String?" Xue Jing was taken aback, then asked:


    "Is this the ''string'' from ''string theory''? Has this theory actually been proven to be true?"


    String theory is a unified field theory that describes the universe.


    The basic premise is that the fundamental elements of the universe are not various point-like particles, but various line-like ''strings''.


    Everything in this world, from constellations, galaxies, and clusters to electrons, protons, and quarks... everything is due to the motion and vibration of ''strings''."


    In Xue Jing''s previous life on Earth, this theory was considered the most promising Grand Unified Theory to explain all problems in physics.


    Wu Youqing said: "It''s somewhat true.


    "The ''string'' I''m talking about does indeed exist, but the one referred to in ''string theory'' is only similar, not the same thing... Think of the ''string'' I''m talking about as something entirely new and don''t link it to ''string theory''."


    Xue Jing nodded: "I''ve understood."


    Wu Youqing began to narrate:


    "The world we live in, this universe, is all made up of these ''Cosmic Strings'', including all the so-called absolute physical laws, all determined by ''Cosmic Strings.''"


    "Therefore, Cosmic String is the theorem of the universe."


    "What is called ''god'' by the most advanced scholars of humanity up to now, has a more accurate name¡ª''Superstring Entities''."


    Xue Jing''s eyes narrowed slightly: "Superstring Entities?"


    He felt that he was beginning to touch upon the deepest secrets of this world.


    Wu Youqing nodded: "Correct... Superstring Entities, as the name implies, you must understand, they are existences that have transcended the binds of ''Cosmic Strings''... They have elevated their Rank, woven themselves into the fabric of Cosmic Strings, becoming a part of the strings, and even started to manipulate ''Cosmic Strings'' themselves."


    "One plus one equals two... This is an absolute truth, the most basic setting of the universe, but these ''Superstring Entities'', can manipulate Cosmic Strings, forcibly altering this theorem."


    Wu Youqing spoke faintly: "Guess what happens if 1+1=2 changes?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, indicating he didn''t know.


    Wu Youqing went to the wooden chair, picked up the small bag on it, opened it, searched for a moment, and took out two one-yuan coins, placing them on the table.


    "These are two coins."


    She placed the two coins together.


    "1+1=2... Two one-yuan coins together make two."


    "But if a ''Superstring Entity'' manipulates the Universe Thread to make it 1+1=3..."


    Wu Youqing''s tone remained calm.


    "The two coins would just become three... Is that what you think?"


    Although Xue Jing had guessed some of the consequences, he still nodded along with Wu Youqing.


    "It''s not as simple as that."


    Wu Youqing took out another coin and placed it on the table.


    "If 1+1=3, then two one-yuan coins together would become three yuan, two bombs together would become three bombs."


    "And then... two units of energy together would become three units of energy."


    "That is already enough to cause terrifying consequences, but the truth is even more than that."


    "Because the ''1'' that appears due to equaling 3 is not included in the other universal laws, yet it does indeed exist, and therefore, this 1 will also react and stack with the other two 1''s, creating another 1+1=3, and the newly emerged 1 will continue to add on with the previous ones..."


    "Thus, everything in the universe would expand infinitely in an instant, energy accumulating without limit."


    "In the end, no particle combination in the universe would be able to maintain stable existence, turning into infinitely expanding yet dead silent blocks of energy, leading to the direct collapse of the universe."

 Chapter 290 - 179: Superstring Entities, the True Face of God, and Mother Returning Home (4K)_2

    "The same principle applies, if 1+1=2 was altered to 1+1=1, the same effect would be achieved, only in reverse: the universe would continuously collapse, eventually condensing into a point... a point without size, without density, but one that definitely exists."


    Explore stories on m,v l''e-m|p y r


    Wu Youqing stated a terrifying truth casually.


    In front of "Superstring Entities"... that is, the gods, the so-called universe was indeed so fragile.


    Hearing such words easily gave rise to a sense of nihilism as if everything up till now was meaningless.


    Xue Jing sighed softly, as he too, unavoidably felt a flicker of this feeling.


    No wonder Wu Youqing said it was too early for him to be exposed to these things.


    "Of course, just listen and don''t think too much about it."


    Seeing him a bit silent, Wu Youqing smiled.


    "We''ve known for centuries that Earth Star is merely a speck of dust in the universe, and humans are nothing more than parasites that live on it through its long life... the principle is the same, we need not ponder such grand narratives, just focus on the present."


    "Although Superstring Entities can manipulate the Cosmic Strings, they are not absolutely omnipotent. At least altering what 1+1 equals isn''t something they can just do randomly."


    "The world we now live in, although the native Superstring Entity... that is, ''God'' has already died, to this day, no other gods have entered our world, which shows how difficult it is for them to influence our world."


    "We have a long time... even until we die, there''s no need to worry about how to face the ''Superstring Entities''."


    "Focus on the present," said Wu Youqing emphatically.


    Xue Jing nodded, his strong spiritual consciousness turning into a Tsukuyomi Slash, directly cutting through the sense of void and returning to normal.


    He spoke up, puzzled, "Mrs. Wu, after all you''ve said, what is your Blessed Heretic God?"


    Wu Youqing picked up her teacup, sipped from it lightly, and tapped his head with a plastic fork as if teaching:


    "What''s the rush? We haven''t gotten to that yet."


    After a pause, she continued:


    "Now that you understand what Cosmic Strings and Superstring Entities are, we can move on to even higher concepts..."


    Xue Jing helplessly said, "...there''s something even higher?"


    He began to regret asking.


    It even felt like Ban might not be able to keep up with what Wu Youqing was explaining.


    He used to think that with Ban, he would eventually become an invincible entity... now it seems a bit uncertain.


    Wu Youqing laughed and said, "Besides our world, there are so many other heretic gods, so many other worlds, how could there not be something even higher?"


    Xue Jing sighed lightly, "...please continue, teacher."


    But Wu Youqing didn''t continue explaining immediately, instead, she mused for a moment and said:


    "What I''m about to tell you, even the foremost human scholars don''t know... probably only we who can communicate with the ''gods'' to some extent know these things."


    Xue Jing tapped the table with his finger, "Is it okay to tell me then?"


    Wu Youqing hummed affirmatively, nodding, "It should be fine... I''ve said before, your nature... is even more special than The Chosen."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He didn''t know what she''d discovered... or rather, what she considered Ban to be.


    Without letting him ponder too much, Wu Youqing continued her narrative.


    "Just as Earth Star is merely one of the planets in the universe, all the planets are encompassed within the universe... and if you expand the view, treating each universe as a planet, there must be a ''Great Universe'' that encompasses all universes."


    "And this ''Great Universe'' also has its most basic constituent units," said Wu Youqing.


    "I tentatively call it¡ª''Great Strings''." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing muttered, "Great Strings..."


    "What exactly Great Strings are, what their function is, I do not know,"


    Wu Youqing shook her head.


    "All I know is that my Blessed Heretic God was once an entity that entered the ''Great Strings'', but was eventually expelled from them."


    "Its divine name, if translated into Chinese, is ''Crimson Mist''."


    ...


    After coming out from the library, Xue Jing was still a bit dazed.


    He had heard too many things he shouldn''t have as a "small potato."


    Cosmic Strings, Superstring Entities, Great Strings...


    It felt like a frog being forcibly pulled out of a well to see the real world.


    But fortunately, as Wu Youqing had said, since God''s death till now, no Superstring Entities had been able to enter the present world.


    Humans, for now and for a long time to come, wouldn''t need to consider how to confront these real gods.


    "First, take care of everything at hand."


    Xue Jing snapped back to reality and left the school.


    He had chatted with Wu Youqing for a long time, and now it was already past six in the evening, and it had grown dark.


    He flagged down a taxi and headed home.


    On the road, Xue Jing sat in the car, his gaze contemplative.


    Wu Youqing was a Divine Chosen.


    And all the Divine Chosen would, at some point in the future, experience the ''Phenomenon of Divine Disappearance'' and vanish without a trace.


    Was Wu Youqing''s care for him intended to use him to solve the ''Phenomenon of Divine Disappearance''?


    Xue Jing touched his chin, "If ''Divine Disappearance'' is related to divinity, I might actually be able to solve it..."


    However, the wealthy tycoon boss hadn''t mentioned it, so he didn''t ask.


    Lost in thought, after driving for more than half an hour, Xue Jing got off at the street entrance of his neighborhood and walked back to his home.


    Xue Jing took out his keys, opened the front door, and was immediately hugged by a figure who had been waiting at the door.


    "My boy~!"


    "Long time no see, you''ve grown taller again!"


    Xue''s mother, Nan Jiayu, beamed with joy, holding her son, whom she hadn''t seen for nearly half a year, and continually rubbed his head.


    "Mom, you''re back... let me change my shoes first."


    With his head stuffed into his mother''s embrace, Xue Jing''s voice was a bit muffled and groggy.


    Upon hearing this, Nan Jiayu finally let him go.


    Xue Jing escaped from his mother''s grand embrace, changed into indoor shoes, and looked at his mother.


    Dressed in a rather mature burgundy office lady outfit, with light makeup on her face, she seemed to have just returned.


    The mother of Xue Jing and Xue Wan, with excellent genetics, Nan Jiayu was quite beautiful. Her long, shiny black hair had not a single white strand, and she did not at all look like a mother with two grown children. And although her demeanor was quite mature, she seemed to be only about thirty years old, a very well-maintained, mature beautiful woman.


    Xue Jing smiled and hugged her, asking,


    "Where''s dad? Why don''t I see him?"


    As Nan Jiayu touched Xue Jing''s face and hair, observing his growth changes, she laughed and said,


    "Your dad still has some work unfinished and will only come back tomorrow. I was eager to see you and Wanwan, so I came back first."


    "Eh, just like my son, getting handsomer and taller... but it''s best to stay this height now, don''t grow any taller, otherwise, it will put pressure on my future daughter-in-law..."


    Saying this, she began to feel Xue Jing''s body.


    "Wow, these muscles..."


    Xue Jing quickly held her hand, saying,


    "Mom, you work so hard, let me cook tonight to treat you!"


    The quirky personality of Xue Wan was mostly inherited from her mother, Nan Jiayu.


    Xue Jing knew this very well.


    His mother still saw him as a child who hadn''t grown up, allowing her to continue this way might lead to some kind of developmental examination.


    Better not, though it probably wouldn''t go to that extreme, Xue Jing felt it necessary to be cautious.


    Nan Jiayu paused, then grinned,


    "Oh? Suddenly you can cook? You wouldn''t happen to have gotten yourself a girlfriend, would you?"


    ...

 Chapter 299 - 184: Meteor-like Colorful Fireworks, Superhero Xue Jing Makes an Entrance! (6K)

    Upon arriving at the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Xue Jing went straight to the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    At that time, only Master Li Qi and senior disciple Meng Qingjiao were inside the room.


    Li Qi was instructing Meng Qingjiao about something when he saw Xue Jing enter wearing a rather formal suit and vest. His eyes lit up and he exclaimed,


    "Truly worthy of being my disciple, with those clothes on, you''re nearly a match for the young me."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao''s cool demeanor did not change, merely casting a glance at her own master that was filled with ambiguous meaning.


    As if to say, "Huh?"


    Xue Jing smiled, without fluttering his face, "You''re too modest, Master."


    Li Qi waved a hand, "Let''s not discuss that, did you bring the gift I asked you to deliver?"


    Xue Jing nodded and showed the ancient-looking scroll he was holding.


    "Hmm... this time, everyone attending Old Man Zong''s birthday banquet is quite notable in the Wuxing community. Since my legs are not agile enough to attend, the only ones from our dojo who can go are the two of you," said Li Qi.


    "Martial artists often fight and kill, which inevitably leads to many grudges. Among those attending the banquet, several have had frictions with our Hidden Dragon School in the past. While they would give face to Old Man Zong and are unlikely to start trouble at the banquet, you two must still be careful," Li Qi warned.


    "And if someone really causes trouble..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I understand, Master, I''ll just kill anyone who causes trouble."


    Li Qi glared at him, "I haven''t finished talking, why are you being so impulsive? We live in a society governed by law¡ªdo you understand what law is?"


    He waved his hand, "...Try to act in self-defense as much as possible."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Got it." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Qi grunted, then continued, "Also, if you come across someone you can''t beat, just run. There''s no shame in that. Let your eldest senior brother help you recover your dignity later. Don''t lose substance for the sake of appearing strong in the moment..."


    Li Qi issued several more notes of caution, with Xue Jing smiling and nodding in response to each one.


    "...And the real purpose of your visit this time is that little girl Zong Shichan," said Li Qi while stroking his chin.


    "That child has quite extraordinary innate talent. Among all the people I have met, she would rank within the top five."


    "Although due to being a young lady, her Qi Force talents fall short of your eldest senior brother, and her Flexibility is slightly less than Qingjiao''s, she excels in every aspect. Her comprehensive Root Bone quality is second only to yours... She''s a very good fit for the six-sided philosophy of our Hidden Dragon School."


    "This is also why Old Man Zong, despite being angry at the idea of her switching to Hidden Dragon School, does not object to it," he said.


    "Tiger Soul School focuses on mastering Qi Force, which indeed is not very suitable for a young lady''s cultivation and would hardly allow her to realize her full potential."


    "...What do you think? She should make a good disciple, one that won''t shame you," Li Qi suggested, winking and nudging.


    Xue Jing remained indifferent and simply replied, "We''ll see after we meet."


    He wasn''t interested in taking on disciples, so it mattered little to him how talented the other party was. As long as they were obedient and not troublesome, he would give them recognition.


    On the other hand, even if they were the most talented in the world, even stronger than himself, but troublesome in temperament, he would refuse them.


    Li Qi chuckled and waved his hand, "Alright, off you go."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "We''ll be leaving now, Master."


    He turned to Meng Qingjiao and said warmly, "Let''s go, Senior Sister Meng."


    Meng Qingjiao nodded silently and followed Xue Jing out of the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    In the dojo''s corridor, Xue Jing glanced sideways at Meng Qingjiao walking quietly beside him.


    As they were going to attend the birthday banquet, she was not wearing her usual black Training Garment but a rather figure-hugging black long dress.


    In terms of style, it was quite conservative, very low in terms of exposure, merely revealing a little bit of her collarbone.


    But... as long as the stunning "World Cup" was present, even if she just casually threw a sack over herself, it would still be top-tier uniform temptation.


    At this moment, walking down the corridor with each step, the "World Cup" would gently sway, which, in stark contrast, made her slender waist and full hips unusually prominent, almost breathtaking.


    Xue Jing prided himself on not having a keen interest in carnal desires. As his strength increased, his tolerance grew, and it was rare for anything to make him waver.


    But with Senior Sister Meng... every time he was near her, Xue Jing dared not look at her directly.


    It was a kind of bashful feeling akin to an adolescent boy newly aware of gender differences who wouldn''t dare to look directly at a beautiful girl...


    Of course, such ''mental pressure'' was hardly anything to him and he could easily suppress it with his robust consciousness.


    With an unaffected face, he smiled at Meng Qingjiao and said,


    "Senior Sister, you''re usually so busy. How come you have time to attend the banquet today?"


    Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao turned her head to glance at him. Her cool and pretty face remained unchanged, only a hint of dewiness appeared on the corner of her mouth.


    "Tsk tsk¡ª"


    She reached out with the back of her hand to wipe away the dewiness from the corner of her mouth.


    Xue Jing blinked, "...Oh, I see."


    He nodded, "That''s true, after all, it''s a seventieth birthday celebration. There will surely be many delicacies at the banquet that you don''t see every day..."


    At that moment, Meng Qingjiao reached out and gently tugged at the hem of his clothing.


    Xue Jing turned to look, only to see Meng Qingjiao holding up her phone, flipping the screen to show him.


    It was a page in a notebook, with a few words written on it.


    [And also, to protect you.]


    Xue Jing paused for a moment, then looked directly into Meng Qingjiao''s seemingly emotionless, pure, and clear beautiful eyes.

 Chapter 300 - 184: Meteor-like Colorful Fireworks, Superhero Xue Jing Makes an Entrance! (6K)_2

    He spoke in a gentle tone and laughed:


    "With Senior Sister here, I feel at ease."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao heard this, nodded, and reached out to pat Xue Jing''s head.


    It was as if she were saying, "Don''t worry, I''m here."


    The two of them left the Hidden Dragon Dojo and arrived under the office building.


    Just as Xue Jing was about to hail a taxi, Meng Qingjiao took his hand and led him to the parking lot.


    Soon, they arrived at a parking spot where a very beautiful deep red two-seater convertible sports car was parked.


    "Hmm? Senior Sister, is this your car?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, her eyes shining.


    She took out the remote control key to unlock the car, then opened the driver''s side door, got in, buckled up, and patted the passenger seat next to her, signaling Xue Jing to get in.


    Xue Jing sat in the car and also buckled up, glancing at Meng Qingjiao.


    Although it wasn''t very obvious, and her expression didn''t change much, he could feel that Senior Sister Meng seemed quite excited.


    After a moment''s thought, he asked, "Senior Sister, do you really like driving?"


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded emphatically.


    Then she glanced at Xue Jing, as if to ask, "Are you ready?"


    Xue Jing felt it was a bit odd but still nodded his head.


    Meng Qingjiao started the engine, and the deep red convertible immediately emitted a low rumble.


    Sitting up straight, she turned the steering wheel sharply.


    "Ssssssh¡ª"


    The tires screeched against the ground, and Xue Jing felt a sudden ''chest-pushing'' sensation, causing him to involuntarily lean forward.


    The car swiftly reversed out of the spot, then Meng Qingjiao''s hand professionally flicked the gear stick, she stepped on the gas, and the car shot out of the parking lot.


    A strong thrust from behind pushed him, and as Xue Jing watched the scenery flying backward outside the window, he twitched the corner of his mouth:


    "...Senior Sister, this is the downtown area."


    "Ssssssh¡ª"


    The car stopped abruptly at the traffic light, and Xue Jing felt that if it weren''t for the seatbelt, he would have flown out of the front window.


    He crossed his arms, not panicking, just with a strange look on his face.


    ...Senior Sister Meng, are you sure you''re here to protect him?


    ...


    "Ssssssh¡ª"


    The deep red convertible drifted precisely into a narrow parking space in the lot, spot on, leaving only a few overly conspicuous tire marks on the ground, nearly perfect.


    The engine turned off, both car doors opened, and Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao got out of the car.


    Although it wasn''t very obvious, Xue Jing inexplicably felt that Meng Qingjiao''s usually cool and distant demeanor seemed even more radiant than usual.


    He smiled helplessly and swallowed the warning that had reached his lips.


    ''Forget it, she seems to really enjoy speeding... With such good skills and quick reflexes, plus a martial artist''s instinct for danger, she probably won''t have an accident.''


    "Let''s go in, Senior Sister," he said with a smile.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded.


    Then she hesitated, extended her hands, and hooked onto Xue Jing''s right arm.


    An astonishingly soft touch came, and without changing his expression, Xue Jing just cleared his throat:


    "Let''s go."


    The two of them walked toward the entrance of the Tiger Soul Dojo.


    At this moment, in the banquet hall of the Tiger Soul Dojo, at the centermost main table, a robust old man was seated.


    He was dressed in a festive, dark-colored traditional Chinese jacket. Although his face was aged, his posture was upright, exuding a powerful demeanor as if he were a prime-aged tiger reigning over the forest.


    "Hmm? Where''s Chan''er? Wasn''t she just here?"


    Zong Jinkui surveyed the surroundings with sharp eyes and asked with a frown.


    "She probably went to the restroom. That girl seemed very nervous, kept drinking beverages," a direct disciple sitting beside him said with a laugh.


    "Not just her, I''d be nervous too meeting Xue Jing," another female disciple muttered.


    "Damn it, that girl gets to be my husband''s disciple, I''m so envious!"


    She gritted her teeth in jealousy.


    Zong Jinkui gave her a fierce glare: "What do you mean ''your husband, her husband''? Speak properly to your master!"


    The female disciple explained: "Master, ''my husband'' is what we fans call him affectionately..."


    Zong Jinkui waved his hand dismissively: "Stop talking nonsense. The matter isn''t settled yet. Whether he can become Chan''er''s master or not will have to be judged by me first!"


    At that moment, a dojo disciple came running up to Zong Jinkui and whispered: "Arena Master, Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao from the Hidden Dragon Dojo have arrived."


    Zong Jinkui lifted an eyebrow, "Bring them over."


    "Yes," the disciple replied.


    Soon, the disciple brought Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao into the hall.


    "Hmm? Is that?"


    In the banquet hall, many people turned their curious gazes that way.


    "I''ve seen him on TV! It''s Xue Jing!"


    "The new direct disciple of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, right? Last I heard about him, he had killed some sort of monster. To think his fame has grown so much in such a short time."


    "I''ve watched the kid''s match videos, he''s definitely got something. Just mastering ''Ultimate Skills'' isn''t something ordinary people can achieve, no wonder our dojo''s disciples see him as an idol."


    "Tsk, why does he look even better in person than in the videos? This is so infuriating!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That crippled fellow from Hidden Dragon Dojo really has dog''s luck, was about to die and still managed to dig up such a golden boy..."


    "Shush, keep it down..."


    "Hiss!! That''s Meng Qingjiao, right? It''s my first time seeing her, and she''s just as stunning as the rumors suggest..."


    "If I could marry her, I wouldn''t have to worry about having twenty kids..."


    "Forget it, she''s the daughter of ''Little Dragon King'' Meng Boshang. If you''re not afraid of death, try getting close to her..."

 Chapter 301 - 184: Meteor-like Colorful Fireworks, Superhero Xue Jing Makes an Entrance! (6K)_3

    ```


    Various murmurings reached his ears, but Xue Jing appeared as if he hadn''t heard them, remaining impassive as his gaze indifferently swept past some of the less kindly speakers.


    When he reached the central main table, the disciple guiding him whispered at his side, "That one there is our Arena Master..."


    Xue Jing glanced at him and said warmly, "Thank you."


    The disciple blushed slightly with excitement upon hearing his gratitude and stuttered, "No... no problem."


    Xue Jing strode forward and came before the old man in traditional attire sitting at the main table''s head seat, and bowed his hands in greeting as he said in a sonorous voice:


    "Hidden Dragon Dojo Disciple Xue Jing, wishes to express his congratulations to Old Dojo Master Zong on his grand birthday, wishing the Old Dojo Master health and longevity, with every year like today, and every year a new dawn!"


    Although Zong Jinkui had had some reservations about Xue Jing due to some previous reasons, faced with such a young man who was extraordinarily handsome, full of talent, and brimming with youthful energy, offering such a spirited congratulation, a smile could not help but appear on his face.


    "Good, good, good lad."


    He took out two red envelopes from his bosom and placed them into the hands of Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao.


    Xue Jing accepted it with a smile and said, "Now I have been touched by the Old Dojo Master''s good fortune; we as the younger generation have made quite a profit."


    Zong Jinkui laughed heartily, "You flatterer, come, sit down quickly."


    He patted the chair beside him.


    Then he turned to Meng Qingjiao with a pleasant expression and said: sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Qingjiao, you take a seat too."


    Meng Qingjiao nodded and sat down next to Xue Jing.


    After Xue Jing was seated, he took out the elegant scroll given to him by Li Qi, unrolled it, and revealed five large characters written with a brush.


    [Great Masters Train Great Disciples].


    "This is the birthday gift my master sends to the Old Dojo Master. Due to his inconvenient legs, he could not come himself, I hope the Arena Master will forgive his absence," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    "Great Masters Train Great Disciples... Hmph, Old Man Li really does know this old man''s heart," Zong Jinkui nodded and took the scroll, his eyes showing satisfaction.


    The proudest achievement of his life thus far had been training a good disciple, and at this moment, these five words scratched exactly where it itched, pleasing him more than any expensive gift could.


    Meanwhile, Meng Qingjiao had already picked up the chopsticks, silently beginning to pick up dishes from the table.


    After handing the scroll to a disciple to take away, Zong Jinkui glanced around with a frown:


    "Where''s Chan''er? How come she hasn''t come back yet?"


    "Send someone to look for her immediately; really, she said she wanted to take Little Jing as her master, and now she''s absent when the master is here, showing a lack of manners..."


    The surrounding Tiger Soul Direct Disciples all showed strange expressions.


    Just now, who was it that acted like they planned to give Xue Jing a hard time with the intention to test him?


    "We''ve already sent someone to look, Master," one of the particularly robust direct disciples said in a low voice.


    "Call a few more people to search," Zong Jinkui ordered with a frown.


    "Yes," the disciple responded.


    Zong Jinkui then turned to Xue Jing with a beaming face and said, "Come, Little Jing, have some dishes."


    He pointed to the table.


    "This ''Dragon and Tiger Champion Soup'' is a secret medicine of our Tiger Soul lineage. It''s extremely beneficial for increasing Qi Force. Old Man Li would shamelessly come here every day for this very soup; you should drink a few more bowls..."


    ...


    Elsewhere, within the storage room of the Tiger Soul Dojo, located in a remote corner, a little girl lay on the ground, regaining consciousness, her mouth sealed with tape and her hands and feet tightly bound with steel cables as thick as chopsticks.


    It was Zong Shichan.


    "...What happened?"


    She looked around a bit dazedly, unable to see anything in the lightless environment, only her nose twitched slightly, faintly smelling an ominous scent.


    Moving her limbs and feeling the restraints, she immediately tried to exert her Inner Strength with a strong pull, but the steel cables binding her hands and feet were too tough, and after trying for a while, she gave up.


    Zong Shichan didn''t know what to do, when suddenly a light flickered to life.


    She quickly turned her head towards the source of the light, only to see a young man with dark circles under his eyes, holding a lighter.


    "Yuyan, you''re awake," the young man said softly, his eyes filled with adoration as he looked at Zong Shichan.


    "Look, I''ve just finished another work. The martial arts you taught me, I''ve made improvements again," he said, pointing with his hand towards a corner of the room.


    Zong Shichan looked at his hand and noticed for the first time... his fingers were dripping blood.


    Her pupils contracted, and as she followed the direction of his fingers, her whole body shook.


    Zong Shichan had seen those sheep carcasses sold in the market, skin entirely flayed off.


    And now, the object in the corner reminded her of them.


    No, it was not a sheep but... a person.


    A person with their entire skin flayed off.


    There was nothing but pink, white, red all over, no trace of skin, just various bloodied fibrous tissues that made one want to vomit.


    "Look, Yuyan."


    "Getting to see you ''over here,'' I was too happy to resist showing off my progress," the young man said with a light laugh.


    Zong Shichan closed her eyes.


    "Yuyan, you always commend my craft, why aren''t you looking or talking?"


    "Oh, my fault, I forgot this..."


    The young man reached out and peeled the tape off Zong Shichan''s mouth.


    "Now you can talk, Yuyan," he said.


    Zong Shichan opened her eyes, her gaze ice cold as she glanced at the young man.


    Then, taking a deep breath, she gathered her Inner Strength in her throat.


    "¡ªHelp¡ª"


    The incredibly loud voice burst from her mouth, but after only emitting a single word, her mouth was swiftly covered by the young man whose expression quickly changed.


    ```

 Chapter 302 - 184: Meteor-like Colorful Fireworks, Superhero Xue Jing Makes an Entrance! (6K)_4

    "Mmm¡ª"


    "Yuyan, what are you doing? This will cause trouble as it might attract others here."


    "I know you just woke up in this world and are still a bit confused... no worries, we have enough time now. Let''s move somewhere else..."


    The dark-circled young man whispered gently, reapplying the tape over Zong Shichan''s mouth.


    Then, as if handling a rare treasure, he carefully lifted her and walked out of the warehouse. With a push of his feet, he moved left and right, using his light-body skill to quickly leave the Tiger Soul Dojo.


    Zong Shichan looked anxious.


    What should I do?!


    ...


    "Where is Brother Zhang?"


    In the banquet hall, disciples directly taught by Golden Wind Dojo were seated around a table, and Chen Wenyan frowned and spoke.


    "I don''t know. He disappeared in the blink of an eye... Maybe he went to the restroom?"


    Su Bijin said offhandedly.


    Chen Wenyan had an ominous feeling.


    At that moment, martial arts practitioners in the hall renowned for their keen hearing suddenly shifted in expression after hearing a strange noise.


    At the main table, while chatting with Xue Jing, Zong Jinkui''s expression darkened. He slammed the table and stood up sharply.


    "It''s Chan''er''s voice!"


    "Something happened!"


    "Quick, go look for her!"


    He commanded anxiously, and all the disciples around immediately responded, dispersing.


    Without a second thought about maintaining any decorum, Zong Jinkui also burst out with his power, smashing through a wall with a loud bang and rushing towards the source of the sound.


    Seeing this, the guests present exchanged glances.


    "What''s going on?"


    Xue Jing, with his skills enhancing his hearing, also heard the noise. He narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and whispered to Meng Qingjiao, who was voraciously eating beside him:


    "Sister, something seems off. I''ll go check it out."


    Meng Qingjiao, with her cheeks stuffed, blinked as Xue Jing spoke and then disappeared in a flash. She slowly reached for two big chicken legs from a plate of roasted chicken, stood up, and followed behind Xue Jing.


    ...


    A secluded warehouse; this was the source of the noise.


    Xue Jing walked within the warehouse, with his eyes blazing with dark flames, the pitch-black environment doing nothing to hinder his sight.


    By now, disciples from Tiger Soul Dojo, including the master, had already been here but found no one before hurriedly leaving to search elsewhere.


    "Interesting... The Skin-Peeler? Quite crafty."


    He muttered to himself, looking at a corner where a body with its skin removed lay.


    After pondering awhile, he closed his eyes.


    As he began his meditative visualization, every detail around him reflected in his mind, sharply outlined.


    In his consciousness space, he began reconstructing the scene that had just occurred based on all those details.


    A disciple of the Tiger Soul Dojo was standing outside the warehouse door, idly yawning.


    Suddenly, a man approximately 1.8 meters tall, holding something, arrived there, and his palm knife swiped...


    As more details filled his mind, the visualized scene gradually completed.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes, walked out of the warehouse, looked left and right, and then swiftly darted towards a direction.


    If the dark-circled young man saw this, he would have been shocked to find that Xue Jing''s footsteps and every move precisely matched his own, down to the last detail. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Half an hour later.


    The young man, clutching Zong Shichan, sped through the city, stealthily yet swiftly, and unknowingly moved from East City District to South City District.


    "We''re almost there, Yuyan," he said gently, looking down.


    Zong Shichan''s mouth was sealed, unable to speak, only despair in her eyes as tears welled up.


    "Who can... save me..."


    "Grandpa... Xue Jing..."


    "Save me..."


    The little girl cried inwardly.


    That moment.


    In the pitch-black night.


    A streak of firework as radiant as a meteor with a long tail tore across the skies, swiftly approaching.


    At that moment, all the passersby looked up, admiring the beauty of that firework.


    That moment, the dark-circled young man, caught off-guard, had his most treasured possession snatched away, his eyes nearly bursting with anger.


    That moment, the little girl held in the arms, rescued by the colorful meteor, stared blankly at those silver-white eyes she had dreamt of night and day.


    The light, trailing through the night sky, lingered longingly.


    In Zong Shichan''s young mind, that eternal moment was etched.


    "...to be kidnapped by such a pervert, I hope you can quickly forget this experience and not carry any trauma. Otherwise, your future martial arts achievements could be seriously hindered," Xue Jing said with a smile as he pulled the tape off the little girl''s mouth and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.


    Zong Shichan''s face flushed and her heart raced, almost feeling like it would leap out of her throat the next moment.


    How could anyone forget this?!


    ...


    (I fell asleep while writing... considering the update''s delay, I decided to write a bit more...)

 Chapter 305 - 186: Solution, Harvest, Apprentice (4K)

    The burning colorful fireworks slowly dissipated.


    Xue Jing clenched his fist and nodded.


    Although it was the first time he had used this move in the real world, he felt the effect was quite good.


    Flame Color Chain - Burning Wheel, this was one of the results he had achieved during his recent Consciousness Simulation.


    The term ''Burning Wheel'' was an ancient name for a whirlwind, used to refer to the Hidden Dragon School''s deadly move ''Whirlwind Thunder''.


    Fusing the Heavenly Sabre''s technique Flame Color Chain with the Hidden Dragon School''s Whirlwind Thunder... this method of combining moves from two different martial arts systems to create a new technique was practically an impossible feat.


    Just think about it, even the five highly compatible deadly moves within the Hidden Dragon School itself are so difficult to combine, let alone moves from completely incompatible schools of thought.


    But Heaven''s Will Saber was an exception... because it belonged entirely to the spiritual level, unrelated to the physical body, relying solely on spiritual power.


    It might not even be considered a school, merely an ''artistic conception''.


    This gave Xue Jing room to exploit.


    Intervening in personal reality with spiritual power, executing Flame Color Chain while the body also operated in sync, condensing Power and performing Whirlwind Thunder.


    This was a very difficult task because controlling the body also required the control of the spirit and consciousness, especially when performing complex moves like deadly techniques, which required considerable focus.


    This was not as simple as doing different things with each hand.


    It was like doing mental arithmetic, using your mind to simultaneously solve two complex advanced mathematics problems.


    Extremely difficult... but with the increasingly robust spiritual power from Visualization True, he had succeeded.


    He was quite satisfied with the results too, possessing both the terrifying burst speed of Flame Color Chain and the powerful attack of Whirlwind Thunder.


    There was even a subtle mutual enhancement, with both speed and power exceeding the original two deadly techniques.


    The first time it was used in actual combat, it had achieved remarkable results, instantly defeating the four Direct Disciples of the Golden Wind Dojo.


    Xue Jing adjusted his slightly disheveled vest.


    After all, it wasn''t the most suitable clothing for intense activities; now two of the buttons at his collar had popped off, revealing a delicately shaped collarbone, creating a sense of disheveled elegance.


    He stepped forward, leaping back to the rooftop where Meng Qingjiao and Zong Shichan were, and took out his phone from his pocket.


    He opened the contacts, found Ning Yuantai, and pressed the call button with one hand while holding down Zong Shichan''s head with the other as she lunged to hug him.


    "Master!! I respect your boundless wisdom!"


    Zong Shichan''s delicate little face was flushed, and admiration almost seemed to spill out of her eyes.


    Xue Jing, while holding her back, casually said, "I know, don''t fuss."


    The phone had barely started ringing, just a single tone, when it was immediately answered.


    "Xue, are you looking for me?" Ning Yuantai''s respectful voice came from the handset.


    "Yuantai, I''ve caught the Skin-Peeler, come over," Xue Jing said.


    "Ah?"


    On the phone, Ning Yuantai was taken aback.


    After a while, he hastily replied, "I''m on it, as expected of you! I''ll be there shortly!"


    Xue Jing hummed affirmatively and said, "I''m currently on... actually, I don''t know where this is, just check my location. I''ll wait for you on the rooftop of this building."


    After a few more words, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    Then he handed the phone to Zong Shichan.


    "Call your grandpa."


    Zong Shichan''s eyes lit up, she took Xue Jing''s phone in her hand, pressing it against her cheek with an enraptured expression.


    "A phone that Master has always carried with him..."


    "Sniff sniff... so fragrant, it has Master''s scent." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    He formed the gesture of flicking with his finger, giving the little girl a flick on her forehead.


    Zong Shichan winced in pain, quickly rubbing her forehead, and tearfully looked at Xue Jing, "Master, why~"


    Xue Jing pinched her soft cheek with two fingers, "You little pervert, are you into objectophilia or what?"


    "Ouch ouch ouch ouch..." Zong Shichan yelled.


    After Xue Jing let go, she touched her now swollen cheek, not pleased, "Please correct your statement immediately, I''m not a pervert or objectophilic. I just genuinely like Master!"


    "If I could smell Master directly, I wouldn''t need to smell Master''s phone. It''s a matter of principle!"


    Xue Jing suddenly had a face of ''old man on the subway with a phone.jpg''.


    He bounced the little girl''s head like spinning a basketball and teased, "You little rascal, you''re not old but you sure do talk a lot. You''ve been surfing the Internet quite a bit, huh?"


    "Don''t press the phone against your face, it might look clean, but it''s never been washed or disinfected, it''s filthy."


    Zong Shichan giggled, looking to embrace him, "Then I''ll just press it up against Master himself!"


    Xue Jing pressed against her head, keeping her at bay, and said indifferently:


    "Cut it out, hurry up and call your grandpa to let him know you''re safe."


    "Alright..." Zong Shichan pouted, took the phone, and opened the dial screen.


    She was about to enter the number, but suddenly her hand froze.


    She said awkwardly, "... I don''t know my grandpa''s phone number."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I thought as much. You don''t look very bright. It''s normal for you not to remember the number."


    Zong Shichan retorted, "That''s not it. I just haven''t memorized it. If it was Master''s number, I''d definitely remember it!"


    Xue Jing laughed, "Pretty sly for your age."


    He took the phone back from the little girl, thought for a moment, and called Li Qi.


    "Hello, Master..."


    After connecting, Xue Jing briefly explained what had happened, asked Li Qi to inform the Tiger Soul Dojo so they wouldn''t worry, and said they would bring Zong Shichan back soon before hanging up the phone.

 Chapter 306 - 186: Solution, Harvest, Apprentice (4K)_2

    And just then, a prompt popped up on the panel.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 2133]


    ''Nearly five hundred points of Divinity... a decent haul.''


    Xue Jing nodded.


    The reserve of Divinity surged past two thousand points, enough to upgrade Shadow Flame to the next level at level 6.


    But he wasn''t sure yet how he wanted to use it, so he decided to set it aside for now.


    Xue Jing also glanced at his Experience Points gain.


    [...Health Cultivation Experience Value +806]


    [...Running Experience Value +768]


    [...Aiming...][...fighting...][...Combat Skills...][...Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength...][...Visualization True...]


    Although the fight ended in an instant, it was still real combat, and the opponent was fairly strong, so the gains were substantial, with [fighting] and [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength] nearly leveling up.


    Turning off the panel, Xue Jing was in a great mood, and even found the annoying little girl Shichan much more pleasing to the eye.


    He joked around with her for a while, and about twenty minutes later, the sound of a helicopter''s rotors ''tak-tak-tak-tak'' came from the sky.


    The rooftop of this tall building was quite spacious, allowing the helicopter to land directly in front of Xue Jing, the airflow from the rotors blowing his hair back sleekly.


    The cabin door opened, and Ning Yuantai jumped down from the helicopter, running over to Xue Jing and quickly greeted:


    "Xue!"


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded at him, then pointed to a young man with dark circles under his eyes, still unconscious on the ground.


    "This is the Skin-Peeler."


    As he spoke, Xue Jing took a matchbox from his bosom, handing it to Ning Yuantai.


    "Found it on him."


    Ning Yuantai took it and said curiously, "So this is GOD-1291..."


    "I heard that after lighting a match from GOD-1291, since everyone''s perception and definition of beauty are different, the ''little girl'' they see is always different, but without exception, it will make the user become deeply obsessed..."


    "I don''t even know what kind of ''little girl'' I would see if I lit it..."


    Xue Jing laughed, "Now that you mention it, I''m a bit curious too... Why don''t you try it first?"


    Ning Yuantai hastily shook his head and waved his hands, "Xue is joking, of those who have ignited GOD-1291, none have successfully quit; I, a mere small potato, dare not..."


    As he spoke, he directed several crew members who had disembarked from the helicopter to inject an unknown serum into the young man with dark circles, then carried him onto the helicopter.


    After seeing that, Xue Jing casually asked, "What is that?"


    "Muscle relaxant... a special formulation." Ning Yuantai explained.


    "Handcuffs and the like don''t really restrain Martial Artists, so when we capture a Martial Artist, we administer a dose of this to them. Unless it''s a Breakthrough level Grandmaster, one jab and they won''t even be able to open their mouth."


    As he said this, Ning Yuantai walked to the edge of the rooftop, looking down towards the main street below.


    At that moment, the sound of various fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances could be heard, and the road was completely clogged with vehicles and onlookers.


    The large man-sized hole in the ground, broken trees, and bodies pierced through, alongside several buildings that had been penetrated, made Ning Yuantai exclaim:


    "Quite an intense fight, Xue."


    Xue Jing smiled, "You''ll have to explain things to the Qingcheng government on my behalf."


    Ning Yuantai replied, "No problem."


    Xue Jing acknowledged, "Alright, then that''s it. I''ll hand him over to you, I have other matters to attend to, so I must leave."


    Ning Yuantai nodded sincerely, "Xue, thank you for this time, I will request a reward for you from Cease-Blades!"


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "It was nothing much...But I still want the reward, preferably a Divine Relic."


    Ning Yuantai laughed, "I understand, your preference for Divine Relics is well-known throughout the Special Duty Department."


    As he spoke, he handed the matchbox back to Xue Jing, "Oh right, Xue, this war trophy is yours to dispose of as you wish."


    Xue Jing took it, raising his eyebrows, "What, no need to bring it back as evidence?"


    Ning Yuantai waved his hand, "No need, my word is evidence enough... Don''t get me wrong, it''s not about my family background, it''s purely because of my personal credibility."


    ...


    The helicopter ''tak-tak-tak-tak''ed away, and Xue Jing looked at the matchbox in his hand.


    The divinity of this thing has been completely absorbed by him, it''s of no use to keep it; he didn''t know what to do with it.


    "Hmm, I''ll take the opportunity to give it to Youqing A Dream."


    He thought to himself, sliding the matchbox into his pocket.


    "Done, senior sister, let''s head back," Xue Jing said with a smile to Meng Qingjiao standing beside him.


    As he spoke, he grabbed Zong Shichan by the collar from behind.


    Zong Shichan''s eyes widened, and she flailed her limbs in the air, struggling: "Master, I request to be carried like a princess!"


    Xue Jing casually said, "You''re not a princess."


    Zong Shichan said with all seriousness, "Because I''m very pretty, everyone at school calls me Your Highness."


    "Save it, Your Highness, I don''t offer that service."


    Xue Jing said indifferently.


    "Master..." Zong Shichan''s eyes shone brightly, her little face flushed with excitement, "Can you call me Your Highness again?"


    "...You little rascal, your skill in climbing the pole has really maxed out."


    ...


    While carrying Zong Shichan, amid the ceaseless chatter of the little girl, Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao returned to the Tiger Soul Dojo.


    Zong Jinkui was walking back and forth anxiously at the entrance with a group of Tiger Soul Dojo disciples. Seeing Xue Jing carrying Zong Shichan back, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Chan''er!"


    He approached Zong Shichan and hurriedly asked, "Are you hurt?"


    Zong Shichan shook her head, happily saying: "I''m fine, Master arrived just in time, Grandfather you listen, Master is super amazing!"


    The little girl began to describe what had just happened, using both hands and feet, focusing on the part where Xue Jing had made his entrance to save her and defeated the disciples of Golden Wind Dojo. However, her limited vocabulary made it somewhat incomprehensible.


    "Master went ''bam'' a cry, ''boom'' everything, those people..."


    Zong Jinkui''s mouth twitched, interrupting her: "Ah, right... Grandfather understands."


    Then, he patted Xue Jing on the shoulder, earnestly saying,


    "Little Jing, I owe you a huge favor!"


    Xue Jing smiled, "Just a fortunate occurrence, a little effort, Old Dojo Master need not worry."


    Zong Jinkui shook his head: "Big favors need no thanks. From now onward, even if I have to climb mountains or go through frying pans, I will repay this kindness."


    Xue Jing said, "Old Dojo Master, you overstate it."


    "Not at all... forget these empty words, we martial artists hold our promises dear, if you ever need anything, just come to me!"


    Zong Jinkui patted his robust chest, his aged and resolute face filled with gusto.


    "Speaking of which, Little Jing, regarding the matter of Chan''er wanting you as her master... what do you think?"


    Zong Jinkui inquired.


    Hearing this, Zong Shichan immediately cast an expectant look at Xue Jing.


    "Master..."


    "Don''t worry, whether you take Chan''er as your disciple or not, I will still transfer this dojo to Old Man Li. You shouldn''t feel burdened; this small matter is nothing,"


    Zong Jinkui said loudly.


    Xue Jing looked at Zong Shichan.


    Although the little girl was a bit annoying and a bit quirky, she was good-looking and lively, and Xue Jing quite liked her.


    After thinking for a moment, he asked,


    "Shichan, I have only recently started practicing martial arts myself. Just keeping up with my own training is already enough to fill my time... You need to know, if I take you as my disciple now, I won''t be able to teach you anything."


    "All you would gain is merely a nominal title. Even so, do you still wish to take me as your master?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before he had even finished speaking, Zong Shichan had already leapt forward to hug him.


    "Master!"


    She exclaimed joyfully.


    Xue Jing was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and patted her head.


    "Alright then."


    ...

 Chapter 307 - 187: Mystic Art·Vital Point! Pure and extreme lethality, Skill Fusion! (4K)

    With such an incident, the birthday banquet obviously could not continue.


    After Zong Jinkui explained the situation to all the guests, everyone expressed their understanding and left one after another, with only a few who were extremely close to Zong Jinkui remaining.


    Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were naturally among them.


    What was meant to be a grand birthday banquet turned into a small family feast. While it was somewhat less lively, it became much more comfortable.


    During the meal, Xue Jing also spoke with Zong Jinkui about the Golden Wind Dojo issue.


    Zong Jinkui was extremely angry with the sect that dared to kidnap his granddaughter and intended to silence them upon discovery.


    But when Xue Jing asked what he planned to do, Zong Jinkui fell silent for a while before saying:


    "...do nothing."


    "The downfall of the Golden Wind Dojo is already a matter of fate, likely happening soon. It''s very complicated... Little Jing, you should also try not to get involved."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"


    Zong Jinkui picked up a large bowl filled with white liquor, downed it in one gulp as if drinking water, his expression unchanged.


    After contemplation, he spoke softly: "I also heard a bit from Qingsheng, apparently the Golden Wind Dojo is involved in a struggle between ''corporations'' and ''officials''..."


    Qingsheng refers to Zong Jinkui''s disciple Lin Qingsheng, who had successfully established a Tiger Soul branch in the inner ring of Yuan City and secured a foothold.


    "The current situation is like immortals fighting, and the Golden Wind Dojo is a pawn of one side... Getting involved is not a good thing; better to stay well away."


    Xue Jing nodded: "I see... Thanks for the advice, Old Dojo Master." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zong Jinkui''s advice echoed what Void Blade had previously said to him, to stay out of Golden Wind Dojo''s affairs.


    Certainly not one to bang his head against a wall, Xue Jing had no plans to get involved anymore.


    However, from the time he began his martial arts practice, the Golden Wind Dojo had already suffered too many losses at his hands, this time even having six of their direct disciples taken down by him directly.


    It was hard to know what Jiao Hongyuan''s reaction would be.


    But no matter, he would face whatever came; when the soldiers come, block them, when the water rises, cover it with earth.


    Jiao Hongyuan, who had been severely injured by the point-struck hit from the eldest senior brother Meng Boshang, no longer had the strength from his heyday; even if he took action himself, Xue Jing was not afraid.


    With all his techniques at the ready, Twin Lifes, Shadow Flame, Dragon Cherry, Dragon Horn... Xue Jing himself didn''t know how strong he was now.


    Unless he faced a breakthrough-level Grandmaster, he figured he should be able to handle anyone.


    "Master, eat this, this is delicious."


    Sitting next to Xue Jing, with her chair pushed right up beside him and her body almost leaning on him, Zong Shichan kept piling food onto his plate.


    After heaping a full bowl, she stopped using her own chopsticks and watched Xue Jing with her hands cupping her cheeks, seemingly lost in some fantasy, occasionally letting out a giggling laugh with her cute little tiger teeth on show.


    Xue Jing had grown accustomed to her quirky ways and didn''t mind, pushing the full bowl of food in front of Meng Qingjiao, who was eating voraciously, and fed all of it to his senior sister.


    Zong Shichan: "..."


    Love doesn''t disappear; it just moves on, doesn''t it?


    ...


    The banquet ended, and the host and guests were all pleased.


    Xue Jing declined Zong Jinkui''s and Zong Shichan''s invitations to stay overnight and bade farewell to Tiger Soul and his party before he and Meng Qingjiao got into the deep red convertible and sped back to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    The two took the elevator, entered the dojo, and came to the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    "Master..."


    Xue Jing began to report everything that happened at the banquet to Li Qi.


    After listening, Li Qi stroked his chin and said:


    "Although I expected some incident to happen, I didn''t think it would be related to that bunch of bastards from the Golden Wind Dojo again."


    "Now that you''ve killed so many direct disciples of the Golden Wind Dojo, an unbreakable enmity has been forged... We should find a time to eliminate that old ghost Jiao Hongyuan to prevent future problems."


    Xue Jing said, "Master, about that..."


    He repeated Zong Jinkui''s words and then added:


    "We should still refrain from getting involved."


    Li Qi looked thoughtful and nodded: "Well then, we''ll leave it be for now."


    Then he looked at Xue Jing and smiled:


    "Little Jing, we owe you a lot this time for getting that old man Zong Jinkui to let his guard down."


    Xue Jing shook his head: "I am your disciple, Master; it''s only natural for me to share your concerns."


    Li Qi said with satisfaction: "You are too dutiful, my child..."


    "But, even if you consider it your duty, I must not fail to express my gratitude... Come here, in front of me."


    He beckoned with a wave of his hand.


    At his words, Xue Jing stepped forward in front of Li Qi, curious: "Master?"


    Li Qi extended his withered hand, grabbed Xue Jing''s wrist, and said:


    "You have been practicing Hidden Dragon School for nearly three months, and your progress is outlandishly fast. Not only have you already comprehended the five major techniques early on, but you''ve also brought the ''Dragon Qi'' to a state of physical manifestation..."


    "Moreover, you''ve even begun trying to combine techniques for combined execution, touching the realm of the Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point... So, I will add fuel to your fire. How hot it burns is up to you."


    "You have only one chance... Remember the feeling that comes next."


    Li Qi''s aged, murky eyes suddenly brightened, changing to a dark golden vertical pupil.


    Sharp, majestic, noble... An air of arrogance only possessed by the strongest creatures at the top of the food chain erupted wildly from his entire body.


    In the room with the doors and windows shut tightly, a visibly fierce energy endlessly poured from Li Qi''s body.

 Chapter 308 - 187: Mystic Art·Vital Point! Pure and extreme lethality, Skill Fusion! (4K)_2

    At that moment, he was no longer a partially bald, middle-aged man of no import.


    Instead, he was the ''Trio of Jade City'', Dragon King Li Qi, whose name echoed throughout Inner Ring decades ago!


    A force such as Xue Jing had never seen or felt before, a mighty energy that reached its zenith, originated from Li Qi''s palm, transforming into an exceedingly exquisite, nearly tangible True Dragon that surged into Xue Jing''s body.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    Within the earth-shattering sound of the Dragon''s Chant, Xue Jing consciously did not resist, and thus his Spirit was immediately dispersed by the roar, losing control over his body.


    Following that, the Power manifested as a True Dragon scattered throughout Xue Jing''s body, entering every part of his Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, and Blood.


    Golden Scales Transformation, Whirlwind Thunder, Eye-Penetrating Flow, Seal Cloud Tail, Shaking Star Fire... his body, under the control of the Power, began to synchronize and operate the five deadly techniques of the Hidden Dragon School.


    In the obscure depths of his mind, Xue Jing''s diffusing Consciousness observed the transformations occurring within his body from a bystander''s perspective.


    His skin unveiled densely packed dragon scales, his muscles began to spiral and compress, his pupils turned into dark golden slits, his bones resounded with thunderous quakes, and his blood boiled as if ignited.


    The five distinct techniques operated simultaneously, each distinct yet inexplicably resonating harmoniously.


    The five distinct Powers began to find their ''gaps'' within this mysterious resonance, interlocking with each other, fusing into one.


    A force, immense and sharp to the extremes, as if nothing could withstand its terror, was cultivated under the operation of Xue Jing''s body.


    Its name was¡ª


    "Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point!"


    ...


    By now it was eleven o''clock at night, yet many floors in the office building were still lit, all occupied by office workers forced to work overtime.


    Within the entire office building, everyone suddenly heard a loud Dragon''s Chant.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!"


    Instantaneously, everyone froze, unable to move, even their eyeballs were fixed in place.


    In nature, weaker creatures, when confronted by a top predator in the food chain, protect themselves by having all their cells submit instantly, immobilizing like stiff corpses in a feigned death state.


    This is the most humble plea, praying that the predator might spare them due to their disdain for a corpse.


    At that moment, everyone''s primal instincts buried in the depths of their genes were awakened.


    It took several seconds before the people in the office building gradually recovered, starting to breathe desperately and cough to relieve their discomfort.


    "Cough, cough, cough... What on earth... happened..."


    "I... saw a dragon."


    "Thought I was going to die..."


    The sudden terrifying event left everyone in shock and panic.


    Meanwhile, in the Heart-Nourishing Room of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Xue Jing was staring blankly at his right fist that he''d just swung.


    Wisps of smoke were emanating from the fist, and the hairs on his arm were singed and curled, while the skin of his entire right arm appeared a reddish hue... a result of the intense friction with the air.


    Before him, there was almost no change, except for a fist-sized spiral hole in a windowpane.


    A normal pane of glass had been pierced by the fist wind, unshattered, just adorned with a ''Fist Hole''.


    Anyone with a bit of knowledge in physics would know how terrifying this was, what immense Piercing Force was required to achieve this ''too quick to shatter'' effect.


    Xue Jing''s gaze followed the spiral-shaped ''Fist Hole'' on the glass, looking into the distance.


    Far beyond human limits, he clearly saw, a hundred meters away, at the top of a building, a decorative sphere about three meters in diameter.


    That was the famous ''Pearl Tower'' in the East City District, and the sphere was the tower''s symbol, the Pearl.


    And now, on the Pearl, there was a spiral-shaped Fist Hole, identical in size to that on the glass, piercing right through the entire Pearl.


    "This is ''Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point''..."


    Xue Jing marveled at the terrifying power of this strike.


    No great commotion, just a constant, extending ''Piercing Force'' along the direction of the punch. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Simple, yet extremely terrifying.


    Great sounds are silent, great images formless, pure lethality.


    It was like adding that unassuming yet crucial ''Vital Point'' to a massive True Dragon!


    "Huff... huff..."


    Li Qi collapsed into his wheelchair, gasping heavily, while Meng Qingjiao silently stood behind him, reaching out to stroke his back and ease his breath.


    "...How do you feel?"


    After a moment, he asked.


    At that moment, Li Qi seemed to have aged a decade in an instant, weak to the extreme.


    Xue Jing walked up to him, knelt down, and placed his hand on his knee, worriedly saying, "Master, are you alright?"


    Li Qi waved his hand, took a few breaths, and said, "It''s nothing serious."


    "During your time in Maple City, I referenced the ''Spiritual Interference with Self Reality Theory'' you mentioned, and I have gained much."


    "Although it was only for a moment... I was able to exert my strength from my prime, and it was just right to use it on you."


    "However... that was the only time it could happen, as this old body truly has nothing left."


    He said in a light-hearted, joking manner.


    "Master..." Xue Jing was silent for a while.


    Li Qi smiled and said, "Alright, stop fussing, tell me about your feelings, how much did you understand?"


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing said, "Everything."


    In that instant, his consciousness had spread throughout his body, firmly imprinting all changes on himself.


    Li Qi was stunned for a moment, then his face showed relief.


    "Good, good, truly worthy of you."


    "With this, you could consider that ''Eye-Dotting'' has been learned... but, until I say you can use it, you must never employ this technique, unless you are absolutely out of options and must risk your life in a critical moment."


    Li Qi said solemnly.


    "Just now, ''Eye-Dotting'' was executed with my Power."


    "The requirements for using this technique are perhaps the highest among all the ultimate skills in various schools; your current physical strength in all aspects hasn''t met the standards yet. Forcing it could at least result in severe injuries and near-death, or even instant death."


    "Understood?"


    Xue Jing nodded seriously, "I understand, Master."


    Li Qi hummed a response, exhaustedly saying, "Alright, you guys should go rest too, I need to rest myself, I''m dead tired."


    Xue Jing got up, bid farewell to Li Qi, and then he and Meng Qingjiao quietly left the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    In the corridor, Meng Qingjiao reached out to tousle Xue Jing''s hair and straightened his slightly disheveled collar.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Senior sister, are you going back?"


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, her expression cool.


    "I said last time that I wanted to cook and treat you to a big meal."


    Xue Jing said after a moment''s thought.


    "Whenever you''re free, senior sister, you can come to my house at any time."


    Meng Qingjiao''s eyes sparkled.


    ...


    By the time Xue Jing got home, it was nearly midnight.


    He first went to the bathroom for a bath, changed into loose and comfortable clothing, then lay on his bed, gently petting the already asleep Miao Miao, and opened his panel.


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment of Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point, achieving a new understanding of fighting, Experience Points in fighting +3268]


    [You have gained a sudden enlightenment of Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point, achieving a new understanding of Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength, Experience Points in Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength +4262]


    [Fighting upgraded to Lv10 (2624/?)]


    [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength upgraded to Lv9 (3187/13000)]


    [Detected potential skill fusion: Fighting + Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength]


    [Fusion conditions:


    First, Fighting Lv10 (fulfilled)


    Second, Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv10


    Third, required Divinity: 1000]


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing suddenly sat up, the mattress shook, and Miao Miao was jolted off.


    ...


    (I just realized yesterday was my birthday; since it''s on the lunar calendar, I never remember the exact day...)


    (I''ll write another chapter later to celebrate...)

 Chapter 309 - 188: Skill Fusion, Start Working! Tutorial Lv1

    Miao Miao woke up the moment she was shaken off the mattress. According to the Butter Cat Paradox, even without fully coming to her senses, she gracefully flipped in midair and landed on all four paws.


    "¡­Jing, what are you doing."


    The cat''s face showed a humanized dissatisfaction.


    Xue Jing blinked and casually said, "It''s nothing, just a leg cramp."


    A leg cramp?


    Miao Miao''s mouth twitched.


    "Can''t be bothered with you."


    She leaned forward, raised her butt, stretched lazily, jumped back onto the bed, pressed her front paws under Xue Jing''s armpits to find a comfortable position, curled up her body, and lay down.


    "Just don''t cramp up again," she said with a pout.


    Xue Jing chuckled and shook his head while petting Miao Miao, looking at the panel only he could see in front of him.


    "Skill Fusion¡­"


    "Ban, why didn''t you mention this feature earlier?"


    Xue Jing calmed his somewhat excited heart and looked towards the conditions for Skill Fusion.


    Fighting Lv10, Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv10, and Divinity 1000¡­


    "Compared to Skill Sublimation''s mysterious conditions, Skill Fusion''s conditions are much friendlier, giving specific conditions directly, and they''re also not difficult, now just lacking ten thousand experience points for Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength¡­"


    Thinking further, Xue Jing felt something was amiss.


    "No, the actual difficulty of Skill Fusion is probably tougher than Sublimation; the real challenge is not in the three stated conditions, but in the ''trigger conditions''."


    "Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength is a specialized skill that has undergone two specializations; it is very rare to obtain this skill itself."


    "Moreover, it''s after I underwent a Sudden Enlightenment of ''Eye-Dotting'' that I triggered the fusion conditions, and this level of enlightenment itself is also a challenge."


    "There might also be issues like the compatibility between the two skills¡­"


    His gaze then fell on the Divinity condition.


    "1000 points¡­ Same as the Divinity requirement for Sublimation. It seems that the skill level after fusion is of the same rank as after sublimation?"


    Xue Jing was filled with anticipation.


    Fighting and Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength, these two skills directly related to his combat ability. What changes would occur once they fused?


    "Soon, just ten thousand Experience Points, and I''ll have it within a few days!"


    He clenched his fists and closed his eyes to inspect his body internally.


    Having reached Lv10 in Fighting, his body structure had changed again, becoming more suited to combat.


    "Feels like I''m hardly human anymore¡­ could practically claim my own combatant race lineage," Xue Jing thought to himself.


    If he had used Eye-Dotting before reaching Lv10 in Fighting like Li Qi said, it would probably have killed him on the spot.


    Now, though¡­ he should survive, probably just with severe injuries?


    "Time to sleep, need to store up energy for tomorrow''s grind!"


    ¡­


    The next morning, after Xue Jing woke up, he washed up, had breakfast, and immediately took a taxi to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    He went straight to his training room and began preparing for his practice.


    Following the daily routine, he practiced the Flesh and Spleen Training Section of the Armor Shaking Skill today.


    With a thought, sparks flickered on his forehead, forming two Lightning Dragon Horns, and silvery-white Dragon Thunder enveloped his body.


    Ten times the gravity immediately pressed evenly upon his body.


    Feeling the heavy pressure, Xue Jing felt much more relaxed than before¡­ Lv10 in Fighting had strengthened his physical resilience.


    He roughly estimated his condition and thought he could handle a bit more gravity.


    The moment that thought arose, the silvery-white Dragon Thunder wrapped around him intensified, increasing the gravity again by two times, making it twelve times.


    "Hmm, this should be the current limit," Xue Jing nodded.


    The current level of his [Dragon Horn], could impose up to fifteen times the gravity on an object.


    "Alright, let''s start."


    He took a deep breath, activated his power, and began the strenuous practice of the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Over an hour later, Xue Jing collapsed on the floor, having gained 625 Experience Points for Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength.


    After resting for a while, he forcefully repaired his damaged body using Life Force and Dragon Thunder Electrotherapy, and continued to practice the Armor Shaking Skill.


    Only after having practiced three times consecutively did he end up sprawled on the floor in the training room, unable to even crawl.


    The entire training room looked like it had been flooded, the floor soaked with his sweat.


    Surrounding him were over twenty empty mineral water bottles.


    It wasn''t until twenty minutes later that he finally regained his strength, opened the panel, and saw that his Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength had gained nearly two thousand Experience Points.


    "...This won''t do. Although it''s fast, if I keep pushing myself this hard, life force recovery won''t keep up, and I feel like it might shorten my lifespan."


    Xue Jing thought, sweating profusely.


    "Practicing the Armor Shaking Skill under twelve times gravity three times in a row was a bit too much, better to stick to twice a day... and do something else to gain more experience for Wishful Strength."


    After resting for quite a while, Xue Jing got up, stretched lazily, and went to wash in the dojo''s bathroom.


    After coming out of the bathroom, when Xue Jing returned to the training room, disciples had already helped clean up all the sweat inside.


    However, a little girl just over one meter forty in height had appeared in the now clean training room. She was lying on the floor, seemingly sniffing it with her nose.


    "...What are you doing?"


    Xue Jing asked with a puzzled tone.


    Zong Shichan sat up, blinked her eyes, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye was quite eye-catching.


    "This is where Master usually practices martial arts... I''m trying to absorb Master''s aura."


    As she spoke, a hint of regret appeared on her tender little face:


    "But it seems to have no scent, what a pity."


    Xue Jing twitched his mouth and said speechlessly:


    "You little weirdo, can''t you be a bit more normal?"


    He walked to the middle of the training room and sat down cross-legged.


    Zong Shichan scooted over to him, her face beaming, embraced him, and cooed, "Master~~"


    Xue Jing casually said, "Didn''t I tell you I can''t teach you much? Why aren''t you going to your grandmaster instead of coming to me?"


    "I came here this morning and didn''t dare to disturb you while you were practicing martial arts. I only came over after I saw you go to take a bath."


    Zong Shichan, sniffing the scent of Xue Jing, said blissfully.


    "Master, you smell so good."


    Xue Jing pushed her head away with his hand, "Are you a dog or something?"


    Zong Shichan blinked, immediately put her hands on both cheeks, and acted cute, "Woof~"


    For a moment, Xue Jing almost hallucinated a tail wagging like a fan on her buttocks.


    ...Indeed, she''s not a dog, she''s a Xue Wan.


    After thinking a bit, he spoke:


    "Since I have become your master, I can at least teach you the basics of Hidden Dragon School''s Coiling Dragon Art."


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Zong Shichan exclaimed joyfully, "Really? Thank you, Master!"


    She immediately stretched out her right hand.


    Due to her young age, though she was thin, her hand still retained some baby fat.


    Xue Jing grabbed her hand, channeled Power, and flicked it like flinging noodles.


    Lv9 Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength, allowing him to elevate his control of Power to a new level, already able to perform fine control over someone else''s body with Power like Li Qi.


    Under his control, Zong Shichan immediately assumed the posture standing practice of Coiling Dragon Art.


    "Remember this feeling..."


    The little girl herself had a strong martial arts foundation and high talent. She effortlessly switched from practicing Tiger Soul to Hidden Dragon School, and began practicing it skillfully.


    Xue Jing nodded, correcting a few minor mistakes of hers.


    Half an hour later, Zong Shichan finished practicing and eagerly asked Xue Jing: S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Master, how did I do?"


    Xue Jing hummed, "It should be okay, I guess?"


    He only had one reference, which was himself, so he wasn''t quite sure about these.


    After all, he had mastered it perfectly on his first try.


    "Master teaches so well~" Zong Shichan flattered.


    Just as Xue Jing was about to speak, the panel suddenly popped up a notification.


    [Condition met, skill activated: Teaching]


    [Teaching Lv1: (0/300)]


    ...


    (Thank you, lords and ladies, for your birthday month tickets and rewards~)

 Chapter 310 - 189: Cease-Blades Reward, Extraordinary Skill: True Martial Lv1! (4K)

    Teaching?


    They actually gave such a skill at this time?


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    He had occasionally instructed the ordinary disciples in the Hidden Dragon Dojo before, so why hadn''t it been activated?


    Could it be that the condition was that he must teach his own true disciple?


    Xue Jing thought about it and decided that probably wasn''t it.


    Of all the skills he had activated since he got the panel, none had required a specific identity.


    The reason he had now met the conditions to activate "Teaching" must be a matter of "teaching quality."


    Although he had also taught others before, limited by methods and the talents of the learners, the overall teaching quality wasn''t good, therefore not meeting the requirements to activate the skill.


    Now, using the cheat-level teaching method of controlling another''s body with Power, coupled with Zong Shichan''s extremely high talent, she had instantly learned the Coiling Dragon Art.


    Such a level of teaching quality directly activating a skill was not surprising.


    Xue Jing was somewhat distracted thinking about the "Teaching" matter, and seeing him silent, Zong Shichan asked curiously,


    "Master, what''s wrong?" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing came back to his senses, looked at her, and after a brief reflection, said,


    "Shichan, you should be rested enough, right? Get up, let me teach you something else."


    Zong Shichan blinked, "Eh?"


    She had just finished training less than a minute ago¡­ Is this the resting time for the Hidden Dragon School?


    The little girl''s face showed difficulty.


    She had just finished practicing Coiling Dragon Art, and her body was sore and weak, this rest time¡­ absolutely not enough.


    "Come on, stand up, I believe you can do it." Xue Jing said gently.


    "Master..." Zong Shichan''s eyes suddenly sparkled.


    This was the first time Xue Jing had spoken to her in such a pleasant tone, and the little girl was instantly dazed.


    She supported herself on her knees and struggled to stand, scratching her head:


    "But Master, shouldn''t we mix work with rest? Can we rest a little longer?"


    "With your talent being so great, wasting time is simply a travesty." Xue Jing said tenderly.


    "What rest? Only talentless mortals need rest; a genius like you needs continuous, rigorous refining."


    "Come on, give me your hand."


    "Oh¡­ okay." Zong Shichan somewhat blankly stretched out her slightly chubby hand, which Xue Jing grabbed.


    Another fling like tossing noodles, Xue Jing''s Power transmitted into Zong Shichan''s body, forcing her to involuntarily start practicing Armor Shaking Skill.


    Although relying on Xue Jing''s Power, after two or three movements, Zong Shichan began huffing and puffing.


    "Master¡­ Master, I''m so tired, can we take a break?"


    "Chan''er, little Chan, your potential shouldn''t just be this; I believe in you."


    Xue Jing said smilingly, encouraging her.


    "Persistence is the most important for us martial artists, having the talent to persist is even more important than physical talent."


    "Hard work pays off."


    Zong Shichan: "...Master, I feel like you''re CPU-ing me."


    Xue Jing with a sincere face: "How could I, you are my most beloved dear little disciple."


    Although she knew he was probably just spouting nonsense, hearing these words still made Zong Shichan''s face blush and her heart race.


    "Hmm¡­ okay then, I''ll persist a bit more for my most beloved master."


    She couldn''t hide the happiness in her voice.


    It was only after a complete set of Armor Shaking Skill - Skin Training Volume was practiced did Zong Shichan collapse on the floor, her body twitching.


    "Master¡­ Master... I can''t do this anymore."


    The little girl said weakly.


    Xue Jing opened the panel.


    [You conducted a high-quality teaching session, Teaching Experience Points +366]


    [Learn and re-discover, you gained insights during the teaching process, Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Experience Points +512]


    [Teaching upgraded to Lv2 (66/500)]


    Huh? This skill can actually increase the experience of other skills?


    And it increases quite a lot?


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes, looking at Zong Shichan lying on the ground half-dead.


    "Shichan."


    "Eh?" Zong Shichan, lying on the ground, looked up dazedly at Xue Jing.


    "You''re rested enough, right?" Xue Jing said smilingly.


    Zong Shichan''s face turned bitter, "... Master, I just finished training less than two minutes ago."


    "Two minutes is plenty long, time is money, even the work team''s donkey wouldn''t dare rest as much as you."


    "Is this Sparta?! Sparta didn''t have it as tough as you, Master!" Zong Shichan complained.


    "What''s wrong with the young people today, none of you have the spirit to endure hardship like our generation did?" Xue Jing said disappointedly.


    "Master, you''re only five years older than me and it''s not about enduring hardship!" Zong Shichan said incredulously.


    "I really can''t anymore!" She flipped over, switching to a lying position.


    "If we keep training, your dear cute little disciple is going to die right here!"


    Xue Jing knew he had indeed pushed her too hard.


    "Alright, let''s call it a day then."


    He smiled, shook his head, walked over to Zong Shichan, crouched down beside her, and gently touched her face:


    "You did wonderfully, I''m very proud."


    Zong Shichan''s face immediately blushed.


    "I¡­ I think I could try a bit harder."


    "Huh?" Xue Jing was taken aback.


    ...


    Over the next few days, Xue Jing worked hard to gain experience.


    Apart from his regular skill practice and real combat in the Consciousness Space, he focused on instructing Zong Shichan.


    With the activation of the "Teaching" skill, he changed his previous plan of handing Zong Shichan over to Master Li Qi for instruction, opting to teach her himself instead.


    The little girl was thrilled at first, but she quickly started to complain under Xue Jing''s Spartan training, being trained each day to the point of complete exhaustion.

 Chapter 311 - 189 Cease-Blades Reward, Extraordinary Skill: True Martial Lv1! (4K)_2

    Apart from teaching the martial arts of the Hidden Dragon School, Xue Jing also taught her various other skills.


    Skills like Combat Skills, Running, and Aiming¡ªXue Jing could control Shichan''s body through Qi Force, making slight adjustments to her habits and power exertion, which also increased his experience during teaching.


    Teaching her was like teaching himself.


    Moreover, the effect of the [Teaching] skill, aside from gaining Experience Points for Xue Jing''s other skills, also revealed its true function to him.


    It was that the higher the level, the better the quality of teaching.


    Whatever he taught, as the level of teaching increased, Shichan found it increasingly easier to absorb the knowledge and made faster progress.


    This allowed her to make extraordinarily rapid progress in just a few days; her strength increased so swiftly that it significantly surprised Zong Jinkui, who continuously praised Xue Jing for his excellent teaching, extremely delighted.


    Li Qi had no disciples to teach, so he led a leisurely life, joyously zipping around in his wheelchair, flipping up the skirts of high school girls.


    Xue Jing gained a considerable amount of experience through his teaching process and was exceedingly happy as well.


    A triple win. A world where no one got hurt was achieved.


    Shichan: Huh?


    Meanwhile, the transfer of the Tiger Soul Dojo''s premises was also completed, all the ordinary disciples went back to their homes, and the direct disciples headed to the Inner Ring''s Yuan City, pledging to go under the discipleship of Lin Qingsheng, a disciple of Zong Jinkui.


    Since Zong Jinkui had smashed a huge hole in the premises in a moment of agitation when Shichan was captured, repairs were needed, so Li Qi decided to renovate it as well.


    The renovation was expected to take about a month, at which time it would be the grand move of the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    ...


    Four days later.


    Xue Jing''s head sprouted Lightning Dragon Horn, and his body was wrapped in silvery-white Dragon Thunder, slowly calming the blood that was boiling due to the practice of the Armor Shaking Skill Blood Training volume.


    After recovering with Life Force and Dragon Thunder Electrotherapy, he opened his panel and took a glance.


    [Fitness Lv10 (10000/?)]


    [Health Cultivation Lv10 (3278/?)]


    [Cooking Lv7 (320/4500)]


    [Running Lv9 (7290/8000)]


    [Charm Art Lv10 (10000+/?)]


    [Aiming Lv9 (6733/8000)]


    [Fighting Lv10 (3624/?)]


    [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv9 (12387/13000)]


    [Meditative Visualization True Lv7 (3569/9000)]


    [Combat Skills Lv9 (5898/8000)]


    [Swimming Lv6 (1597/3000)]


    [Riding Lv6 (1657/3000)]


    [Acting Lv6 (1912/3000)]


    [Teaching Lv5 (141/2000)]


    Over these days, he had reaped abundant gains; many high-level skills had almost reached the point of leveling up, and the newly activated [Teaching] had also progressed to Lv5.


    "...just over six hundred more, and I can have it done today," Xue Jing thought, looking at the experience bar for Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength.


    He picked up a pack of water bottles placed next to him and began to chug one after another, replenishing the water he had lost.


    While drinking, he began to ponder whether to overdraw some Life Force to train the Armor Shaking Skill again, or to push his dear disciple a bit more...


    At that moment, his phone on the floor started vibrating with a ringtone.


    Xue Jing picked it up, looked at the caller ID.


    It was from Ning Yuantai.


    He pressed the answer button, putting the phone to his ear, "Hello?"


    "Xue, it''s me," Ning Yuantai''s voice came through the speaker.


    "What''s up?" Xue Jing asked.


    "The reward from Cease-Blades for you has been decided; it will arrive tomorrow," Ning Yuantai spoke respectfully.


    "Oh? What is it?" Xue Jing asked, intrigued. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "[GOD-1062¡¤Ice Skates]... It says here, you can only borrow them for three days," Ning Yuantai said.


    "That''s enough, I just love Divine Relics; it''s not about possessing them," Xue Jing nodded.


    Ice Skates, huh... He hadn''t expected Cease-Blades to actually consider these items as his reward.


    He had vaguely understood the Ice Skates'' abilities from the database. It was a Divine Relic with strategic significance in certain aspects.


    Its ability was¡ª''to skate on any terrain.''


    Once worn, even on a grassy field soaked with 502 glue, one could move forward as smoothly as if skating, unaffected by any terrain.


    And this ''any'' meant truly ''any.''


    For instance, the air could also be seen as terrain, enabling one to skate in the air as if flying.


    This Divine Relic was extraordinarily useful. According to the records in the data repository, it had shown miraculous effects in many rules and complex terrains at the Intersecting Boundaries, playing a significant role.


    "Also, there seems to be a Cultivation Technique, a gift from some big shot on Cease-Blades, said to be very useful for you."


    Ning Yuantai added.


    "Cultivation Technique? Got it," Xue Jing nodded.


    He wasn''t particularly interested in the Cultivation Technique, but since it was free, he wouldn''t refuse it.


    "By the way, Yuantai, how''s that weirdo with the second dimension copper refining fetish doing?"


    Xue Jing asked casually.


    "You mean the Skin-Peeler... The procedures are underway. Once he spills everything about his experiences and everything related to [GOD-1291], and fills the Divine Relic data repository, he will be executed."


    Ning Yuantai said, then added:


    "The little girl the Skin-Peeler met is quite unusual. According to him, she seems to master all martial arts in the world and taught him a lot."


    "That''s why he named her ''Yuyan''..."


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, and because he was about to gain Divinity, Xue Jing was in a good mood.


    Thinking it over, he decided not to torment his little disciple today and gave her a day off. He would strain himself and overdraw his Life Force to practice the Armor Shaking Skill once more.


    His Health Cultivation level was high enough, and his Life Force was exceptionally abundant and strong. So as long as he didn''t do this often, there were no side effects.


    If ordinary people did what he did, they would instantly reduce their lifespan drastically and leave irreversible fundamental injuries.


    Xue Jing assumed the posture, with Dragon Horns emerging on his head and silvery Dragon Thunder entwining, as twelve times gravity surrounded him.


    More than an hour later.


    [...Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Experience Points +632]


    [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength upgraded to Lv10 (19/16000)]


    Finally!


    Xue Jing collapsed on the ground, motionless.


    His body was exhausted to the extreme, but his mood was incredibly satisfied.


    Even after having the panel for so long, the satisfaction and sense of achievement brought by the skills level-up still thrilled him.


    "Huff¡ª"


    He took a long breath after quite some time.


    Eagerly opening the panel.


    "Huh? Isn''t Lv10 the limit for a specialized skill like Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength?"


    Xue Jing looked at the experience bar of Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength Lv10 (19/16000).


    "Never mind, I''ll just perform Skill Fusion first!"


    He clicked on the faint golden ''Fusion'' word that appeared behind [fighting] and [Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength].


    [Detected fusable skills: fighting + Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength]


    [Conditions met, spend 1000 Divinity to fuse?]


    [Yes/No]


    Xue Jing didn''t hesitate and clicked [Yes].


    The next moment, the two skills on the panel melted like ink and formed a vortex, intertwining with each other.


    Gradually becoming indistinguishable.


    As Xue Jing watched eagerly, the panel started to change.


    The ordinary skills bar and the Divine Skill bar suddenly began to move up and down separately, and a new skill bar emerged between them.


    And the first skill in the new skill bar also appeared.


    [True Martial Lv1 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade requires: Experience Points 0/10000, Divinity 1158/1000]


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly.


    Fighting + Hidden Dragon Wishful Strength fused... Transcendent Skill ¡ª True Martial!


    In an instant, his body suddenly started making countless cracking noises.


    Like muffled thunder, resembling waves.


    The surface of his skin rolled like waves, as if countless mice were scurrying underneath it.


    There was no pain, only a strong tingling and exhilarating feeling; Xue Jing closed his eyes, intently observing the changes inside his body.


    Skin, muscles, bones, blood, organs... Everything was changing dramatically.


    The Dragon-Shaped Energy automatically came to life without his control, issuing a joyful dragon''s roar, and moving around his body, as if it had been trapped in a shoal and finally reached the sea, arriving in the realm truly belonging to it.


    It was unknown how much time had passed when the changes in Xue Jing''s body gradually settled down.


    He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze extremely bright.


    Suddenly, his pupils emitted two sharp Dragon-Shaped Qi Forces, that pierced the nearby wall, creating two eye-sized deep holes.


    This was ¡ª controlling Qi with the eyes!


    ...

 Chapter 318 - 193: The Rewards of The Sixth Agency, Numerous Divine Relics, Obstructing Foes (4K)

    Xue Jing''s eyes blazed with divine light. Under the strong control power of his True Martial Body, a True Dragon formed from the power surged through all parts of his body, each to its place, as skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood moved in unison, and the Five Major Practices were launched simultaneously.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!!"


    The terrifying roar of the dragon resounded through heaven and earth. As the direct target of the "Eye-Dotting," Meng Boshang felt a numbness all over his body and was unable to move for a moment.


    Although it was only a moment later that he broke free from the "Hard Control" with a strong and powerful spirit and consciousness, the slight delay had already allowed Xue Jing to cross several tens of meters and violently rush to his proximity.


    Pale golden Dragon Qi spilled from Xue Jing''s right arm, transforming into the shape of a dragon, opening its maw, and with a spiraling force, carrying seemingly all-penetrating ultimate destructive power, it thundered towards Meng Boshang.


    Along the way, the air was agitated into spiraling ripples, emitting sharp whistling sounds.


    The vehicle Xue Jing used for Eye-Dotting this time was not a "fist" but a "Piercing Hand" with fingers stretched straight.


    The smaller area of force application meant stronger piercing force but correspondingly, the reaction force he had to bear also greatly increased.


    Meng Boshang''s gaze tightened, showing a serious demeanor.


    He stretched out his palms, bigger than fans, overlapped them, forming a tiger''s bite, and aimed at Xue Jing''s Eye-Dotting Piercing Hand.


    In the moment just before their hands met, he rotated his hands against the spiral of Xue Jing''s Piercing Hand, twisting the air like stirred sugary water, creating a thick spiral ripple.


    The three spectators from afar could only see a burst of dazzling golden light at the center of the contact between their palms, covering both fighters, obscuring a clear view.


    Afterward, numerous finger-thick pale golden sharp spirals of Qi Force burst out from the gold light.


    "Zzzzzzzzzzz¡ª¡ª"


    The numerous pale golden Qi Forces scattered like sparks everywhere, creating densely packed deep holes in the grass in the blink of an eye, and several trees in the distance were also pierced and shattered by the endless rain of Qi Force into countless wood shavings.


    The three spectators, though nearly a hundred meters away, were still within the coverage range of the Qi Force.


    Meng Qingjiao''s expression was cool; her figure flashed, moving in front of Li Qi and Zong Shichan. She opened her arms, legs slightly bent, and assumed a boxing stance.


    A pale golden spiral Qi Force shot toward her; she extended her palm, pulled, and deflected it aside smoothly.


    The continuous incoming Qi Forces were all neutralized by her in the same manner, showcasing her strong application of Soft Power.


    When the violent storm of Qi Force subsided, the golden light also dissipated, revealing the state of the two in the center of the field.


    Xue Jing remained in the posture of thrusting out his Piercing Hand, motionless.


    Meng Boshang, however, used his two huge palms to firmly clasp Xue Jing''s wrist.


    In his chest, where Xue Jing''s Piercing Hand pointed, there was a spiral-shaped hole in his clothing, exposing his steel-like solid pectoral muscles.


    If someone were standing behind him, they would find a similarly spiral-shaped hole in the back of his clothes, as if penetrated from front to back, yet without injury.


    "...Truly, he is an elder brother." Xue Jing sighed aloud.


    After this strike, he had mostly understood how great the gap in pure martial arts skill between him and Meng Boshang was. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Eye-Dotting," this was his currently most powerful martial arts skill, representing his ultimate martial arts strength.


    Meng Boshang simply used his bare hands without any fancy tricks to pin him down and block the attack, only tearing a hole in his clothing.


    Though Xue Jing had not used the Power of Twins for a double output boost, he felt that even if he had done so, the result would likely have been no different.


    Meng Boshang was an expert with the Five Practices Completed, only one step away from the Breakthrough to become a Grandmaster. According to the Martial Artist Association''s tier system, his rating was at least Pro Level Nine or above.


    There was a substantial difference in raw strength between Xue Jing and him.


    Unless he used all his Divine Skills, Twin Shadow Flame Plant Pact Dragon Horn all at once, he might have a chance to defeat him.


    But that wouldn''t make sense.


    "..." Meng Boshang''s expression didn''t change, but he reached out a hand and patted Xue Jing''s shoulder, seemingly in praise.


    "Little Jing, are you alright?"


    Li Qi wheeled his wheelchair closer, scrutinized Xue Jing, and seeing that his expression was normal without any signs of injury, he finally relaxed.


    "Don''t worry, Master, I''m fine," Xue Jing smiled and said.


    Li Qi was somewhat incredulous: "Strange... with your current physical strength, you can actually withstand ''Eye-Dotting''?"


    "Could it be that the old man has misjudged?"


    Zong Shichan and Meng Qingjiao also approached.


    The little girl immediately threw herself into Xue Jing''s arms, happily saying, "Master, you are so amazing!"


    Xue Jing patted her head: "It''s your Master Meng who is amazing."


    Meng Qingjiao also walked up to Xue Jing, stretched out her hand to touch various parts of Xue Jing''s body, seemingly checking if he was injured.


    Because Meng Boshang was present, Xue Jing instinctively avoided certain sensitive areas and laughed, "I''m fine, Senior Sister."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao withdrew her hand, her expression coolly nodding her head.


    "..." Seeing this scene, Meng Boshang''s expression slightly changed.


    Li Qi spoke up, "That''s enough for today. Since Little Jing just used ''Eye-Dotting,'' there might be some hidden injuries left behind. Rest well for now."


    Seeing his command, naturally, no one objected.


    The group had arrived in a large black SUV, which belonged to the eldest brother, Meng Boshang.


    However, the driver was not him, but Meng Qingjiao.


    Perhaps because she was being stared at by her old father, Meng Boshang, sitting in the passenger seat, Meng Qingjiao did not drive her own deep red convertible crazily as usual, but proceeded carefully and steadily at a steady speed, appearing like a cautious experienced driver, which slightly surprised Xue Jing.

 Chapter 319 - 193: The Rewards of The Sixth Agency, Numerous Divine Relics, Obstructing Foes (4K)_2

    "By the way, Master, I haven''t seen Senior Brother Chen recently,"


    said Xue Jing, who was sitting in the back seat, while pressing down on the head of Zong Shichan who was trying to sit on his lap, casually inquiring about news of Chen Fuguang, his fifth senior brother.


    The last time he saw Chen Fuguang was when he had just returned to Qingcheng.


    Although Chen Fuguang was always busy, they used to meet every two or three days, but this time it had been too long.


    "Guangfu took on a commission from the Qingcheng official government and is currently handling their affairs," Li Qi spoke up.


    "The matter is confidential; even I can''t disclose it," he added.


    "It''s not just him, lately, every notable Martial Artist in Qingcheng has taken on official commissions; it seems they are searching for something."


    Xue Jing hazily guessed what the officials were searching for, nodded his head, and said, "I see."


    "Master, I really get car sick, I need Master to hold me so I won''t feel nauseous..." Zong Shichan, pretending to be coquettish, tried to sit on Xue Jing''s lap.


    Xue Jing kept her at bay with a finger on her forehead, saying, "Behave."


    At that moment, Meng Boshang, who was sitting in the copilot seat, had his mobile phone ring.


    He took out his phone to take a look, his expression shifted, and he tapped twice on the central console of the car.


    "..." Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao immediately stepped on the brakes, and the car slowly came to a stop.


    Xue Jing, seeing this, found it somewhat miraculous.


    These two, father and daughter, Meng Qingjiao couldn''t speak because of an incident in her childhood, and Meng Boshang, in order not to make his daughter feel like a disabled freak, also chose not to speak.


    Xue Jing had thought this would be very inconvenient, but now it seemed, their way of communicating was more efficient than speaking.


    Meng Boshang opened the car door, bent his body, and alighted from the front passenger seat, walking towards the back seat window.


    Li Qi pressed the window control button, lowering the window, and asked with a puzzled tone, "What''s happened?"


    "..." Meng Boshang silently handed his mobile phone to Li Qi.


    After a glance, Li Qi''s eyes narrowed: "¡­ so generous."


    He waved his hand: "Go ahead."


    Meng Boshang nodded, his figure flickered, and he instantly disappeared.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing was curious and asked, "Master, what is Big Brother doing?"


    Li Qi closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and said, "A Governing Councilor of Qingcheng just gave him a commission, the same matter we were just discussing."


    "Your Big Brother charges a high price, the government wouldn''t bother him with trivial matters."


    "But now, not only have they approached your Big Brother, but the offer they gave was also double his usual rate, you can tell they are really in a hurry."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and asked, "How much exactly?"


    Li Qi chuckled, stretched out his hand, and shaped a six.


    "Sixty million?" Xue Jing was somewhat surprised.


    Li Qi nodded, confirming his guess.


    "To earn sixty million from a single commission¡­ even without the double, it''s still thirty million normally," Xue Jing pondered.


    "Big Brother is so busy, isn''t he earning a fortune?"


    He recalled when he killed the Cockroach Monster at the Rui Zhu Hotel, receiving gratitude money from a group of second-generation parents totaling twenty million.


    But that was an unexpected income; the actual commission was only about one hundred thousand.


    Big Brother, however, could earn more from one commission than his windfall...


    Li Qi smiled and waved his hand: "It''s not as good as you think."


    "At Boshang''s level, the commissions that come to him are immensely difficult, sometimes even taking more than a month to handle one, so it''s actually not easy money."


    "Also, you should understand by now just how extravagant our expenses for practicing Old Martial Arts are, right?" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing nodded upon hearing this.


    Previously, while training his organs, he had to consume Dragon Thunder Powder, which cost over three hundred thousand Zhuxia currency per day, with twenty million only lasting two months.


    Although he had later activated "Dragon Horn," eliminating his need for Dragon Thunder Powder, once he started practicing "Yellow Grannie Skill," his finances began to drain faster.


    This time it was more severe; to build Five Viscera Temple for the Five Viscera Gods and nurture the Holy Fetus, he needed diverse and stage-specific medications.


    Currently, his expenses were manageable at several hundred thousand a day, but as he progressed, the required medications became rarer and the costs skyrocketed...


    If it weren''t for the fact that Captain Void Blade had recently transferred money from selling the corpse of a Sky Pirate gang leader to him, Xue Jing would probably already be struggling to find ways to earn money.


    Presently, his savings, including the money from Captain Void Blade, totalled just over thirty million.


    "This is also one of the main reasons why Old Martial Arts are on the decline," Li Qi sighed.


    "Powerful practitioners of Old Martial Arts have basically lived off a mountain of gold and a sea of silver, the cost-effectiveness is simply too low... the same amount of money, spent on Alien Implants or Neo Martial Arts, would yield at least twenty to thirty times the combat power, strictly speaking."


    "Your Senior Brother, at this level, might seem to be earning a lot, but in reality, he spends more than he earns and can barely save any money..."


    ...


    After returning to the Hidden Dragon Dojo, Xue Jing entered the training room alone and practiced the Yellow Grannie Skill for a few hours.


    [You have practiced the Yellow Grannie Skill, Health Cultivation Experience Value +688]


    [You have practiced the Yellow Grannie Skill, True Martial Experience Points +671]


    [Health Cultivation Lv10 (6778/?)]


    [True Martial Lv1 (3368/10000)]


    After glancing at the panel, Xue Jing slowly exhaled a breath.


    "The experience points for Health Cultivation are almost at the limit, yet there''s still no prompt for the skill sublimation conditions."


    "It can''t be that this skill can''t undergo sublimation..."


    Xue Jing scratched his head, stood up, changed out of his training garment, and left the training room, ready to go home.


    By this time, it was already past five in the afternoon, and the sky was getting dark.


    He walked out of the dojo and onto the road, intending to hail a cab.


    But after checking the panel and finding that the Running Experience Points had reached (7911/8000), just a tiny bit away,


    he thought for a moment, then tapped his foot and effortlessly began to run on walls, quickly leaping onto a building.


    He then ran and jumped between rooftop structures, moving far faster than the cars on the road, speeding towards his home.


    About twenty minutes later, Xue Jing returned to his home in the West City District from the East City District.


    [Running upgraded to Lv10 (117/?)]


    "Done, another Lv10 skill," Xue Jing nodded and felt a stamp-collector''s sense of satisfaction.


    Before he could fully appreciate the changes brought by Running at Lv10, his phone began vibrating and ringing in his pocket.


    Xue Jing took it out and saw it was Void Blade calling.


    He pressed the answer button directly.


    "Hello, Captain Void Blade?" Xue Jing smiled.


    "Don''t call me that anymore, Officer Xue, you now hold a much higher position than I do," Void Blade''s voice, ever calm, came through the handset.


    Xue Jing sighed, "I''ve told you, don''t be so formal, call me ''Official'' only when others are around, just like before in private."


    ... "All right, cut the jokes. I have a good and a bad piece of news for you. Which do you want to hear first?" Void Blade said.


    "Oh?" Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Then let''s hear the good news first."


    "The agency has decided on your reward."


    Xue Jing''s spirit lifted. "Divine Relic?"


    "Yes... and quite a few," Void Blade said.


    "[GOD-652¡¤Five Emperors Money][GOD-662¡¤Clean Freak''s Treasure][GOD-1399¡¤Crucible of Boiling Happiness][GOD-1474¡¤Eraser]..."


    Void Blade listed the serial numbers and names of eight divine relics.


    The more Xue Jing heard, the more excited he became.


    Eight divine relics... Four thousand Divinity!


    "Since your request was just to study them for a while, and you achieved a great feat, the agency did its best to allocate all the relics they could manage in a short time to you."


    Xue Jing suppressed his fluctuating emotions and asked, "So, what''s the bad news?"


    Void Blade''s tone turned a bit odd: "At the final approval, someone from the logistics refused to stamp, claiming ''no notification received for a large-scale relocation of relics''... Thus, the batch of relics is stuck there."


    Xue Jing remained calm.


    "Even if he doesn''t stamp it, as long as it''s reviewed again, the reward will still be given to you... but it takes time.


    "Quickly, it could be ten days or twenty, slowly, a few months... These relics were only for a limited time, and once the time is up, they must be returned. If it really takes that long, who knows if even two will remain by the time they reach your hands."


    Xue Jing''s tone was unyielding: "Who is this person?"


    Void Blade paused and said, "His surname is Zhu, Zhu Xuanli."


    ... "He''s from one of the Thirteen Great Families, the direct line of the Zhu Family."


    Xue Jing slowly closed his eyes.


    Divinity was the fundamental means to elevate his own strength¡ªthe essential item required by the panel.


    To stop him from obtaining Divinity was to undermine his foundation.


    This was¡ªan obstruction worthy of vengeance.


    ...

 Chapter 324 - 196: Shadow Flame Lv7, Shadow Leap, Concealment Lv1, Assassin Template Activated! (4K)

    ```


    The eight Divine Relics awarded by the mechanism brought Xue Jing an income surpassing four thousand two hundred Divinity, and together with what he originally had, the total reached over five thousand!


    In the ''Roaring Waterfall'', he slaughtered all the Dragon Breed in the Intersecting Boundaries and even killed the ''Dragon God'', and only through fighting to the death did he manage to earn six thousand Divinity.


    Now, he was actually sitting at home, enjoying the breeze, and pocketing over four thousand with ease, which was incredibly comfortable.


    The only regret was that none of the eight Divine Relics triggered a new Divine Skill.


    Xue Jing placed all the Divine Relics on the table, his mood was incredibly uplifted, the dopamine his brain was releasing almost overwhelmed him.


    "Hmm...this can actually be considered additional gain from the trip to the Intersecting Boundaries, so does this mean I earned a total of ten thousand Divinity this time to the Intersecting Boundaries?"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin.


    "It seems that the priority of tasks related to the Intersecting Boundaries from White Crow''s side must be raised a bit in the future... But, it''s still unclear whether every Intersecting Boundary can yield rewards like ''Roaring Waterfall''."


    "After all, this is an Intersecting Boundary that has been reflected and fused by the ''Mirror World''... Perhaps that Pureblood Dragon Breed and its offspring were able to drop so much Divinity purely because of the ''reflection and fusion''?"


    "This requires further verification."


    While pondering, Xue Jing reached for the ''Five Emperors Money'' on the table, tossing it upward with his thumb in a playful manner.


    The Five Emperors Money spun into the air, then divided into five in mid-air, transforming into white, green, black, red, and yellow coins of different colors, clinking as they fell onto the table.


    Xue Jing looked closely, and without exception, all five coins landed face up.


    "I''m not too versed in fortune-telling... Yuantai, do you understand this hexagram?"


    He asked Ning Yuantai, who was next to him.


    Ning Yuantai, caught off guard by the sudden question, had no choice but to pick up his phone and search online.


    Xue Jing laughed, "I was just asking casually; you don''t have to answer it."


    Ning Yuantai, comparing the information from the search with the appearance of the five copper coins on the table, was astonished:


    "Xue, this seems like a ''Starquake Hexagram'', the very best kind of auspicious hexagram."


    Xue Jing laughed, "Oh? Then I must be about to soar." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The hexagram results obtained from the ''Five Emperors Money'' are very valuable for reference. It seems that you have great fortune coming your way," Ning Yuantai complimented.


    ...


    As five o''clock approached, Xue Jing prepared an enormous dinner, so much that the dining table could barely contain it, with large plates stacked high.


    Yet, before the voracious appetites and top-tier digestive capabilities of two Martial Artists, it clearly wasn''t all too impressive, and all the dishes were once again polished off by Ning Yuantai.


    Miao Miao, having woken up, came out of her room and saw that dinner had been devoured. She flared up instantly.


    Upon learning that it was that Ning person who had come to steal her dinner again, Miao Miao firmly held a grudge against him.


    With Xue Jing feeling too lazy to cook another meal, he boiled some instant noodles for her but to comfort her, he added two extra sausages this time.


    Ning Fengwan slurped the noodles with tears in her eyes, vowing to get back at him for Miao Miao, promising to make that Ning person suffer in the future.


    After she finished her noodles, Xue Jing picked up the bottle on the table that looked like shower gel, the ''Clean Freak''s Treasure'', opened the cap, then patted his thigh and said to Miao Miao with a smile:


    "Come, come over."


    "What for?" Miao Miao asked, puzzled, while stepping with her cat-like gait, leaping onto Xue Jing''s lap and sitting down.


    Xue Jing poured a little of the ''Clean Freak''s Treasure'' onto his hand, revealing a colorless, transparent liquid that resembled water.


    After rubbing the liquid in his hands and spreading it evenly, he brushed Miao Miao''s fur from head to tail with his hand coated in liquid.


    Instantly, all kinds of invisible dust particles and any already-fallen cat hair, along with anything ''dirty'' clinging to her, were washed away cleanly.


    Miao Miao felt as if she had instantly bathed ten times, her fur fluffy and extraordinarily clean, which was incredibly comforting.


    "What''s this?" she asked, curious.


    "[GOD-662¡¤Clean Freak''s Treasure]," Xue Jing capped the bottle and explained with a smile.


    "This stuff can wash off anything perceived by the user to be ''dirty''... For example, even something like ''tattoos'', which can''t normally be washed off, could be easily removed if a person who perceives tattoos as dirty uses the ''Clean Freak''s Treasure''."


    "It''s not only physical dirt; it can clean spiritual dirt as well... For instance, if I had seen you pooping and perceived it as ''a very dirty memory'', I could use the Clean Freak''s Treasure to wash it away..."


    Miao Miao''s mouth twitched: "...can you not use me as an example for that."


    Xue Jing waved his hand: "I get it, a pretty girl doesn''t poop, she only excretes pink dreams..."


    Miao Miao: "..."


    "You''re terrible, hurry and wash away the memory of hearing you say that," she retorted.


    Xue Jing placed the Clean Freak''s Treasure back on the table, "Of course, the key lies in perception... if the user doesn''t consider anything ''dirty'', then this thing won''t be able to wash anything away."


    As he spoke, he picked up a pair of ''Beyond Suspicion'' earrings lying nearby.


    "What are these?" Miao Miao scratched her head.


    Xue Jing didn''t reply; instead, he put one on her right cat ear¡ªit was a clip-on earring that didn''t require a piercing to wear.


    He then took the other one and put it on his left ear.


    Before Miao Miao had a chance to react, Xue Jing asked with a mischievous grin:


    "Teacher Wan, do you super love me?"


    ```

 Chapter 326 - 197: The Commission from the Government, Only Xue Jing is Qualified (4K)

    Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the Heart-Nourishing Room, Xue Jing knelt in a very unobtrusive corner, bowing his head ever so slightly, not letting out a hint of breath from his body.


    This corner was the ''most suitable for concealing'' place he subconsciously chose after looking around upon entering.


    After activating [Concealment], he instinctively learned this technique. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In a space, which spot had the dimmest light, which spot was most likely to be ignored, and which spot wouldn''t naturally draw the attention of people''s vision¡ªhe understood all this at a glance.


    He seemed to have turned into a sculpture that blended perfectly with the room without the slightest sense of incongruity.


    Just like the cardboard boxes stored in a warehouse, the mops and plastic buckets placed in the corners of restrooms, or the books on bookshelves, there was a natural sense of ''he originally belonged to this place.''


    Therefore, when Li Qi opened the door to the Heart-Nourishing Room and entered in his wheelchair, he didn''t notice at all that a disciple of his own was squatting in a corner of the room.


    Chen Fuguang, who followed Li Qi inside, naturally didn''t notice either.


    The two of them started chatting in front of Xue Jing.


    "...If we can''t find it, there will be serious trouble. The government is already anxious. Chief Councillor Chi Liangyun is retiring next year and only wants a smooth transition. During his tenure, Qingcheng has been quite peaceful under his control. There were no significant achievements, but also no faults, yet now, in the end..."


    Chen Fuguang reported something to Li Qi.


    Li Qi''s dim and turbid eyes narrowed slightly, "I do know some news; Qingcheng should now be a chess piece in the conflict between the two factions above. Not just Qingcheng, but cities in the Outer Ring of the Fifth Urban Circle have also begun to have incidents, more or less."


    "Golden Wind Dojo has been completely dissolved. Most of the direct disciples have been killed by Little Jing, leaving only that old guy Jiao Hongyuan and his senior disciple Yan Xiangweng, and that Li Chengxuan who is now hiding somewhere unknown..."


    "It''s strange that a citywide carpet search like this turned up nothing..."


    Chen Fuguang thought for a moment and said, "Although it was a citywide search, there are still some places..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Li Qi suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him and turned his head sharply towards the corner, his turbid old eyes flashing with sharpness:


    "Who''s there!?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, he clearly saw the person in hiding and was momentarily taken aback:


    "Little Jing?"


    Xue Jing glanced at the panel that prompted [Concealment Experience Points +366] and stood up, patting the dust off his knees.


    "Master, Senior Brother Chen."


    He greeted with a wave of his hand.


    "Little Junior Brother, what are you hiding there for?" Chen Fuguang scratched his head, puzzled.


    "...Speaking of which, you hid really well. Master and I have been here for quite a while without noticing."


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "I just comprehended a bit on the method of concealing one''s breath and thought I''d try it out¡ªI didn''t expect not even Master to detect me."


    Li Qi glared at him, "No killing intent, no hostility, and not even moving; you were like a ghost. I''m an old man, not an immortal. How was I to see you?"


    Xue Jing complimented, "That''s not true, in my eyes, you are indeed an old immortal."


    Hearing this, Chen Fuguang winked at Xue Jing and gave him a thumbs-up, expressing admiration.


    Li Qi raised his eyebrows and modestly scratched his smooth bald patch, sighing, "I''ve always said people can''t be too honest, you child, should refrain from such blunt truths in the future."


    Xue Jing echoed his sigh, "You are right, Master."


    After some nonsensical chatter, Chen Fuguang said to Xue Jing, "By the way, Little Junior Brother, you''ve come at the right time."


    "The dojo has just received a commission specifically asking for you¡ªtake a look and see if you want to go."


    Xue Jing asked with curiosity, "A named commission?"


    Since he became famous in the Maple City elimination match, Hidden Dragon Dojo had received many commissions specifically asking for him, but most of these commissions... had impure motives.


    And the rewards weren''t much either, so Xue Jing asked the dojo to refuse them all on his behalf.


    Now Chen Fuguang mentioned there was a commission inquiring about his interest¡ªthis must be something special.


    "Didn''t you take a sparring partner commission last time? This client is the same as before, and the commission fee is quite substantial..."


    Chen Fuguang explained.


    "Last time..." Xue Jing thought for a moment before recalling what had happened before.


    Previously, Pei Youguang''s elder brother Pei Tiancheng had used a sparring partner commission to call him to their house, where he encountered the Mountain Demon of White Crow Clan.


    So this meant the Pei brothers had sent him this commission again?


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, took out his phone directly from his pocket, opened the contact list, searched for Pei Youguang''s name, and made a call.


    As if Pei Youguang had been holding his phone, waiting for the call, it was picked up immediately after just one ringtone.


    "Hello, Youguang."


    Xue Jing started.


    "Ah, yes, Jing, it''s me."


    There was a hint of nervousness in Pei Youguang''s voice from the receiver.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "What''s with the panic? Just speak normally."


    "I''ve received a commission from your end here at the dojo¡ªit seems to be from you. What''s the matter, couldn''t you just call directly without going around the bush?"


    He asked curiously.


    "Jing, it''s not me, it''s my father who wants to see you," Pei Youguang said in a low voice.


    "He says he has something important and needs your help, wants to meet you, but it''s not good to just come over or ask you to visit, so he thought of using the form of a commission like last time..."


    Xue Jing put down the phone, turned to Chen Fuguang, and asked, "Senior Brother Chen, how much is the commission fee they''re offering?"

 Chapter 327 - 197: A Commission from the Government, Only Xue Jing is Qualified (4K)_2

    Chen Fuguang extended his index finger, "Ten million."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows raised. He picked up his cellphone and said, "Looks like this is a pretty big deal."


    Pei Youguang said, "I''m not too clear either, but my dad did seem very anxious."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I''ll visit your house this afternoon to meet your father, but as for whether I''ll take this job, I''ll decide after I hear the details."


    Pei Youguang nodded repeatedly, "It should be like this... This afternoon is fine, I''ll have my dad wait at home for you then."


    After chatting a few more sentences, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    ...


    In the afternoon.


    Xue Jing kept his aura hidden to make his movements as undetectable as possible while he practiced his "Concealment" skill on his way to Pei Youguang''s home in the North City District.


    He had spent almost the entire day, apart from his daily martial arts practice, training "Concealment."


    From morning activation through teaching his young disciple, to hiding and eavesdropping in the Heart-Nourishing Room.


    When he arrived at the large villa of Pei Youguang''s family, he was accompanied by a prompt [+311 Experience Points], and his Concealment level had already risen to Lv4 (76/1200).


    This skill not only gave him the ability to perform "Aura Blockade," but it also granted him quite impressive spatial hiding techniques.


    Besides, there was an enhancement in control over his physical body and a boost in sensory agility¡ªespecially hearing and smell.


    It could be said to be a quite useful skill, second only to foundational skills like [Fitness] [Health Cultivation].


    Xue Jing quietly approached the grand villa''s entrance and simply strode in.


    The two security guards at the door seemed vigilant but only noticed Xue Jing''s presence three steps after he''d entered.


    "Eh?"


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue!"


    They had seen Xue Jing before, and together with Pei Youguang''s prior notice of his visit, they immediately recognized him and greeted him respectfully.


    Hearing the commotion here, two people chatting in the front yard also looked over immediately.


    One of them was Pei Youguang, while the other was a scholarly looking, slender middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle.


    "Jing!"


    Pei Youguang quickly blinked to signal to the middle-aged man beside him.


    Without needing the hint, the middle-aged man, upon seeing Xue Jing, immediately walked over quickly, extended his hand, and said with a smile:


    "Xue, good to meet you, finally. Eh, you are quite good-looking; no wonder ever since your last visit, whenever I get up at night to use the bathroom, I can always hear my maids mumbling your name in their sleep. It scared me so much I thought they were possessed."


    "But now that I see you in person, I fully understand why they did that!"


    Xue Jing shook his hand, responding noncommittally to the complement with a smile, "You are Youguang''s father, may I call you Uncle Pei?"


    The man, clutching his hand, nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course you may, I shall take the liberty to call you Little Jing."


    The man named Pei Xiao''en had a voice that seemed deliberately trained, deep and magnetic, quite pleasant to the ears.


    "Come, Little Jing, let''s go inside and talk."


    Pei Xiao''en gestured invitingly with his hand.


    As the group walked towards the inside of the villa, when Xue Jing passed by Pei Youguang, he smiled and patted his shoulder:


    "Let''s go, Youguang. Let''s go in together."


    Pei Youguang hesitated, then said, "Oh, okay."


    Seeing this, Pei Xiao''en''s gaze flickered thoughtfully.


    Then he quickened his pace, walked forward, and patted Pei Youguang''s shoulder as well, saying in a gentle tone, "Youguang, go and prepare some tea. Use the tea from the topmost cabinet in my room, and bring it to my study after you''ve brewed it."


    It had been so long since Pei Youguang had seen such a gentle demeanor from his father, his pudgy face showed a flattered and surprised expression, and he nodded repeatedly, "Okay, I got it!"


    "This way, please." Pei Xiao''en turned his head toward Xue Jing, leading the way.


    The two of them made several turns and arrived in an ancient-looking room, furnished with four large bookshelves.


    After sitting down on wooden chairs, the two chatted casually for a while. Pei Xiao''en was quite the conversationalist, seeming to know a little about everything, from the far reaches of the earth to the seas beyond.


    He even had considerable professional knowledge of martial arts, and conversed with Xue Jing astutely while maintaining an attitude of seeking advice, which satisfied Xue Jing''s desire to speak and made him quite happy.


    Xue Jing was also somewhat eloquent, but even he silently admitted inferiority when facing Pei Xiao''en.


    When Pei Youguang brought in two cups of tea, the two enjoyed the tea for a while. Pei Xiao''en talked about tea with vivid language, subtly mentioning how precious the tea they were drinking was to show his regard for Xue Jing before he began to discuss the pressing matters at hand.


    "...Little Jing, the reason I''ve asked you to come here is truly important, and even pertains to the survival of Qingcheng. I would like to entrust you with this matter," Pei Xiao''en said, setting down his teacup with a grave expression.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Go on."


    After considering his words carefully, Pei Xiao''en continued,


    "I am the secretary to Councillor Zhu, Chu Minyi. This commission to you is actually by Councillor Zhu''s will..."


    "Little Jing, you must be aware of the existence of a ''Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother'' in Qingcheng, as you personally dealt with several of the ''cockroaches'' it spawned."


    Xue Jing nodded.


    Pei Xiao''en''s voice lowered, "In fact, the origin of this Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother is linked to quite complicated matters, so complex that even I am unaware of the specifics. Let''s set that aside for now. The current issue is... we can''t find the Insect Mother."


    "Based on the speculations of experts, after this period of breeding, the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother may have given birth to a swarm capable of threatening the entire city..."


    "If it can''t be found soon, the longer we wait, the more terrifying the number of parasites we''ll be facing."


    "Yet, during this period, our government has already mobilized all forces within Qingcheng for a comprehensive search, practically turning the city inside out, but we still haven''t located the Insect Mother."


    Xue Jing voiced his uncertainty, "Could it be outside the city?"


    Pei Xiao''en shook his head, "Although that''s certainly possible, the Insect Mother would likely not be outside the city if it''s to achieve the effects ''certain people'' desire."


    "If it really is outside the city, then the matter would be much simpler, as the swarm could not breach Qingcheng head-on."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Then what do you need me for?"


    Pei Xiao''en said, "While we''ve conducted a thorough search, there are actually a few places we haven''t, or rather can''t, search."


    "That would be the homes of the thirty Governing Councilors located in the North City District."


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows lifted, "That seems unlikely, doesn''t it? These are the thirty people most deeply connected to the interests of Qingcheng. Would they do something that could ''destroy the city''?"


    "It''s indeed unlikely, but this is the only remaining possibility, and we must verify it at all costs," Pei Xiao''en asserted.


    "Little Jing, I know this is a tough request, but can I entrust you with investigating this matter?" He asked pleadingly.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment before asking, "Why me?"


    "Because in Qingcheng, only you have the qualifications," Pei Xiao''en firmly stated. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing was taken aback, "Me?"


    Pei Xiao''en nodded, "Indeed, you belong to The Sixth Agency, an organization with the ''Act First, Report Later'' privilege. The Governing Councilors might occupy the highest positions in Qingcheng, but you are fully justified in investigating them."


    Xue Jing scratched his head, "Then why don''t you just find someone from the agency to do this? It''s not like you lack the connections."


    Pei Xiao''en smiled bitterly, "Actually, we don''t, or rather, we can''t find someone reliable... Investigating Governing Councilors is a risky business."


    "Those from the ''agency'' aren''t too keen on dealing with local government officials like us, especially those who are quite high-ranking and powerful."


    "And you, Little Jing, though I''m not fully aware of your circumstances, your reputation within the agency is quite high, and you are fully capable of handling this task."


    Pei Xiao''en stood up, bowed to Xue Jing, and begged, "Little Jing, could you please, for the sake of Qingcheng, for the safety of your hometown, accept our request?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected contemplation; he didn''t answer immediately, and Pei Xiao''en maintained his bow without moving.


    After a while, Xue Jing finally slowly spoke, "Let''s not rush the decision... Let''s talk about the reward first."


    ...

 Chapter 342 - 205: GOD-771, Ambushed, You Must Attack This Taunting Clone First (4K)

    The duel between the two Qi-powered avatars in the imperial city did not result in a victory.


    After all, the two avatars were indistinguishable in every aspect, even the controller was the same person, Xue Jing.


    If a normal Martial Artist were controlling these two avatars, perhaps soon one of them might exhibit various minor mistakes, subsequently affecting the situation, causing the balance of victory to tilt and eventually deciding a winner.


    However, Xue Jing, who possessed the True Martial Body, had reached a ''Transcendent'' level of stability, which made it impossible for any mistakes to occur. The two avatars maintained one hundred percent perfect performance from start to finish, a true fifty-fifty draw.


    Controlling the two avatars to stop attacking each other, Xue Jing waved his hand, letting one of them dissipate.


    "This Qi-powered avatar is quite useful... Its very elements are made from my Power, so in terms of pure killing power, it''s the same as my real body. However, since it''s not my physical body, it can''t receive the boost from the Twin Lifes, so its actual combat strength is a bit weaker,"


    "There are also several other issues, the first being that it consumes a lot of physical and spiritual energy, and not to mention the spiritual power needed to ''Form'' it,"


    "Another point is, it''s quite vulnerable... after all, it''s just an avatar shaped by spiritual power. A slight direct hit to critical areas like the torso or head could disrupt its structure and disperse it..."


    "But this can be resolved by wearing the Shadowflame Wrap Armor..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    "Hmm, I still need to test the range, see how far it can go from my real body."


    As he was thinking, the door to the training room suddenly opened.


    Accompanied by a sweet and tender "Master~", a little girl in a training garment, Zong Shichan, ran in and rocketed into Xue Jing''s arms.


    Xue Jing caught her and patted her head, raising an eyebrow, "What''s up?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sniff sniff..." Zong Shichan buried her face in Xue Jing''s chest, taking deep breaths while blissfully saying, "Ah, I''m revived."


    "I haven''t seen Master for several days, if I couldn''t smell Master''s scent I would have died~"


    Xue Jing flicked her forehead, sending her head tilting back, "Are you here to do drugs?"


    Zong Shichan giggled, "Master is in my heart, forget about heroin~"


    Xue Jing twitched his mouth, stretched his hand and pinched her elastic cheeks, pulling them sideways, "...still not enough training."


    "Eh? Su Hu, what''s this?" Zong Shichan, embracing Xue Jing, unintentionally reached into his pocket and touched something, curiously pulling it out.


    Because her cheeks were being pulled, the words from the little girl came out somewhat muffled. Xue Jing looked at the object she was holding in her hand.


    It was a somewhat odd-looking electronic watch, red and white in color, with two protruding mushroom-like buttons on the top.


    "Hmm? How did I bring this thing here?" Xue Jing took the electronic watch, puzzled.


    This was one of eight Divine Relics given to him by The Sixth Agency, the [Proof of Love].


    Its effect was simple yet incredible... It could materialize the affection level one holds towards someone else or vice versa into concrete numbers displayed on the screen.


    The user, holding the device and looking at a target, presses the left button to display their own affection level toward the target, and the right button to display the target''s affection level toward them.


    He had absorbed the Divinity from these eight Divine Relics and then placed them back in the box, waiting for The Sixth Agency to collect them.


    The [Proof of Love] was also placed back in the box... he hadn''t even opened the box, so how did this thing end up in his clothing?


    Could it be Teacher Wan''s prank?


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, couldn''t figure it out, and decided to stop thinking about it.


    He would understand eventually, thinking more without any clues was useless.


    "Master, what is this?" the little girl curiously looked at the [Proof of Love] in Xue Jing''s hands.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, seeing the rare opportunity to have some fun, he smiled and said:


    "This is... kind of a high-tech gadget, it can show the affection level someone has for you, or you for someone else."


    Hearing this, Zong Shichan''s eyes lit up, "That''s amazing! But it feels like one of those IQ tax products like cat and dog language translators."


    Xue Jing smiled noncommittally, "Maybe."


    "Master~ how do I use this, teach me quickly!"


    Zong Shichan exclaimed enthusiastically.


    "Didn''t you think this was an IQ tax product?"


    "Even if it is, I still want to play with it~"


    Xue Jing handed her the [Proof of Love], explained how to use it, and Zong Shichan immediately turned her gaze towards Xue Jing.


    Her tender, pretty little face showed a hint of anticipation as she pressed the left button of the [Proof of Love] towards Xue Jing.


    The electronic screen began to display fluctuating numbers, seemingly calculating something.


    Under the little girl''s transfixed gaze, the numbers on the screen stopped changing.


    "1365... Master, is this number high or low?"


    Zong Shichan asked in confusion, showing the number on the [Proof of Love] to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing was somewhat astonished, "The information I saw said that around 60 is enough to be friends, over 90 could be lifelong best friends, would not be surprising if married, and 120 could almost guarantee happiness after marriage."


    "You little rascal, what are your thoughts on me, to blow the scale up to over a thousand..."


    Zong Shichan stepped forward and hugged Xue Jing''s arm, her eyes curved into crescent moons, "My love for Master is indeed genuine!"

 Chapter 343 - 205 GOD-771, Under Attack, You Must Attack This Taunting Clone First (4K)_2

    At that moment, the number on the screen rose by 30 points, reaching 1395.


    Xue Jing: "..."


    Is it so easy for the favorability to increase?


    "Right, let''s check the master''s favorability towards me..." The little girl, happily looking at Xue Jing, pressed the button on the left.


    The screen fluctuated, and this time it took less than two seconds for the numbers to settle.


    [68].


    Seeing this number, Zong Shichan fell silent.


    "This fake, inferior piece of junk!" The little girl slammed the Proof of Love she was holding onto the ground, fuming.


    "It''s fake, it must be fake! How can master''s favorability towards me be so low!"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "That''s quite a lot, isn''t it? It''s already beyond the friend line."


    He was somewhat proud, "This shows the difficulty level of getting close to me... Truly, I am impervious to beauty."


    "It''s fake, all fake!" Zong Shichan was almost driven to tears by frustration.


    Xue Jing drawled: "Then the more than a thousand favorability points you got for me must be fake too."


    Zong Shichan was desperate: "...That''s different, it''s genuine!"


    Xue Jing picked up the Proof of Love and patted the little girl''s head, smiling:


    "Alright, it''s just a toy after all, it doesn''t represent anything. Let''s go practice martial arts."


    "Let me introduce a new sparring partner to you, this is my Qi-powered clone."


    ...


    That night, Xue Jing walked along the road, leisurely heading home.


    He tossed around the Proof of Love he was holding, somewhat wary of its destructive power.


    This thing, yielding a good result was fine, but revealing an unexpectedly bad one amounted to a direct hit to one''s spirit, causing true harm.


    Zong Shichan was in a state of breakdown all afternoon, crying while she practiced, with tears rolling down from the corners of her eyes, grief flowing like a river.


    And that was just from the semi-belief in the uncertainty of the device''s truth or falsehood, resulting in such huge devastation.


    Although Xue Jing thought 68 was already quite high... The little girl thought otherwise.


    Looking at her pitiful little face, Xue Jing could not bear it, and increased her favorability by two points, crossing into the 70s.


    "This device still should be used carefully, otherwise even I could hardly escape the true damage of a direct hit to the spirit..."


    "Indeed, there needs to be some distance and mystery between people, understanding everything would take away the room for fantasy..."


    Thinking it through while on his way, Xue Jing first went to a supermarket, bought two large bags of groceries and daily necessities, and then entered his residential complex, heading toward the garden inside.


    This was the path he took every day, the shortest route to his apartment.


    The time was just past seven o''clock in the evening. Normally there would be some people around in the garden at this time, but for some reason, Xue Jing hadn''t encountered anyone today.


    He walked all the way to the center of the garden.


    On the red-bricked ground, there were several benches, yet only one person was sitting on one of the benches.


    It was a young man wearing a black jacket and jeans, with sunglasses on, dressed quite retro, as if he had stepped out of the 1990s.


    The quiet of the early night at nineteen o''clock was a bit eerie.


    Xue Jing squinted slightly and stopped in his tracks.


    Under the dim light of a few street lamps, the man slowly lifted his head, looked at Xue Jing, and took off his sunglasses with one finger.


    With a resolute and unemotional face, the man slowly spoke: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xue Jing..."


    "Nice to meet you... You may or may not recognize me."


    He slowly stood up, showing off his nearly 1.9 meters tall stature and muscles that stretched his clothes tightly.


    "My name is Yan Xiangweng, the direct disciple of Jiao Hongyuan from Golden Wind Dojo."


    "You and I have a grudge of killing my master and destroying my dojo, which cannot coexist under the same sky."


    Xue Jing slightly tilted his head and asked, "So? "


    Yan Xiangweng''s body shook slightly, and streaks of golden Sword Qi ripped his upper clothes apart, revealing muscles that emitted a metallic sharpness and had an odd shape.


    He slightly crouched, posing in the White Rainbow Sword stance of Golden Wind, and said to Xue Jing in a flat tone:


    "Although I do not wish to bully the weak, today, you must die here to console the spirits of my fellow disciples and master from Golden Wind Dojo in heaven."


    "Rest assured, afterward I will seek out everyone from Hidden Dragon Dojo one by one. You won''t be alone on the road to the underworld..."


    Xue Jing carried two large bags of groceries and sighed,


    "You said you weren''t around last night, and then today you suddenly show up talking about revenge? What, do you only pick on the weak and fear the strong?"


    "Never mind, it doesn''t matter. My house is just next door; I''ll go drop these groceries off in the fridge."


    He gestured towards the two bags he was carrying.


    Yan Xiangweng shook his head, "No, you''re trying to run away."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing laughed.


    He walked directly towards the direction of his apartment.


    "I''m not asking for your opinion."


    Seeing Xue Jing''s unprotected posture as he headed towards his house, Yan Xiangweng frowned and muttered, "Seeking death."


    He charged forward, slicing through the air, striking toward Xue Jing like a sharp sword.


    The air split around him, like a tangible, transparent jelly cut by the blade.


    ''Is this all the most potential disciple of the Hidden Dragon Dojo can muster? Such a carefree attitude even in the face of a powerful foe?''


    ''Well, if he''s courting death, it''s his own fault.''


    Yan Xiangweng thought to himself, swinging his arm, carrying visibly Golden Wind Sword Qi, chopping at Xue Jing''s neck.


    Just at that moment,


    a pale golden, semi-transparent human shape suddenly appeared between him and Xue Jing, blocking the way.


    "...what!?"


    Yan Xiangweng''s eyes widened slightly.


    The pale golden figure bore almost an exact resemblance to Xue Jing, only expressionless.


    It swung its right fist toward Yan Xiangweng''s attacking arm.


    "Bang!!"


    A Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron exploded, blasting waves of air everywhere.


    Yan Xiangweng flew back at a speed far exceeding his attack, crashing through several streetlights with a crackling noise, and finally buried into the trunk of a large tree.


    "This¡­ what is this..."


    He clutched his trembling right arm, his face full of disbelief.


    Xue Jing himself, however, walked leisurely toward his home as if nothing had happened.


    "Stop right there, don''t walk away!"


    Yan Xiangweng shouted angrily, stood up, and stomped the ground, shattering the bricks beneath his feet as he rushed at Xue Jing.


    However, just like before, the Qi-powered avatar immediately blocked him, expressionless as it hammered him into the ground like nailing a spike.


    "You must attack this taunting avatar first."


    With his back to him, Xue Jing waved his hand and spoke without turning his head.


    "I attack your mom!"


    Yan Xiangweng yelled furious, pushing himself off the ground, but he was greeted again by the fists of the pale golden figure.


    Realizing he wouldn''t get close to Xue Jing without dealing with this entity, he roared and swung his hand at the Qi-powered avatar.


    The man and the avatar began fighting across the park, unceasingly attacking and defending, each punch and kick capable of tearing the ground and chopping down massive trees.


    Mid-fight, Yan Xiangweng sensed something amiss.


    Why has this thing turned black?


    The Qi-powered avatar, now clad in Shadowflame Wrap Armor, naturally didn''t answer his confusion. It stretched out its right hand, grasping a black long knife, and swiftly slashed Yan Xiangweng twice, leaving two deep, bone-exposing wounds on his body.


    "What the hell!?" He gasped in horror, hastily retreating.


    But by then, it was too late.


    Numerous Silver Cherry Blossom petals began to gently fall from the sky, and despite the weather obscuring the moon, a huge full moon appeared in the sky.


    The Shadowflame Wrap Armor-clad, pitch-black Qi-powered avatar flashed behind Yan Xiangweng and slowly sheathed its knife.


    The next moment, Yan Xiangweng''s body burst open with countless deep, fine injuries, blood spurting from every wound.


    "Cherry Full Moon¡ª¡ª"


    Yan Xiangweng read out the name of the ultimate skill in shock, word by word, then coughed up a mouthful of blood and slowly collapsed to the ground.


    ...

 Chapter 352 - 210: Entering the Inner Ring, Privileges of The Sixth Agency, Another Sky Pirates Gang

    Three days later.


    In Qingcheng''s South City district, at the White Crow''s temporary base.


    Xue Jing dragged a black rolling suitcase, heading toward the nearby airstrip.


    Miao Miao squatted on his shoulder, licking its right front paw to wash its face.


    This time, on his trip to Yuan City for the competition, he only brought Miao Miao along.


    Xue Wan originally wanted to go with him since she had never played in the Inner Ring City, but Xue Jing turned her down.


    One reason was that she didn''t have the permit to stay in the Inner Ring area for long, and the other was that Xue Jing had a feeling that this trip wouldn''t be entirely peaceful. For safety concerns, he decided not to let Xue Wan come along.


    Though usually a bit impulsive, Xue Wan was clear-headed when it mattered. Seeing Xue Jing''s serious attitude, she immediately obediently agreed to stay at home.


    A sleek black streamlined aircraft sat quietly on the tarmac, with a young man about seventeen or eighteen years old wearing a dark blue tactical suit and a paper talisman pendant on his left ear standing beside the plane''s hatch.


    It was Ning Yuantai.


    Xue Jing approached him at a leisurely pace, one hand pulling the suitcase, the other waving at Ning Yuantai, he greeted:


    "Ning."


    Upon hearing this address Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Xue, I''m not some young master anymore, whatever I have achieved today is all through my own efforts."


    Xue Jing laughed heartily, "That''s good, your character setting is very stable."


    As he said this, he looked toward the plane.


    He was very familiar with this aircraft, having flown in it two or three times before. It was the Dragon Core Airplane belonging to White Crow.


    However, compared to last time, there were some devices added to the plane''s wings and nose that Xue Jing didn''t quite understand, which seemed to be weapons.


    A few days ago, he called Void Blade to ask about the fastest way to the Inner Ring.


    Void Blade asked him to wait and then hung up the call. Shortly after, he called back, saying that the White Crow Commander had heard about his request and would dispatch a Dragon Core Airplane to take him directly, ready to take off at any moment and quickly reach the destination.


    And so, today had come.


    "Isn''t this White Crow''s plane? How come you are the one coming to pick me up?" Xue Jing curiously asked Ning Yuantai.


    "I mentioned to White Crow that I''m quite familiar with you, so they let me come over," explained Ning Yuantai.


    In terms of familiarity, it probably should be Void Blade and Mountain Demon... But it didn''t matter, Xue Jing smiled and said:


    "Let''s go then, are we ready to depart now?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded, "No problem, we can depart right now."


    The aircraft door opened with a hiss, and Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai walked towards the cabin.


    On the way, Ning Yuantai suddenly noticed that the exceptionally beautiful black cat on Xue Jing''s shoulder was squinting its eyes, staring at him with its emerald-green vertical pupils, exuding an inexplicable danger that made Ning Yuantai shiver.


    He couldn''t help but ask in confusion: Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xue, this cat is?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing reached out to pet Miao Miao''s chin, covering the overly evident malice in her eyes, and smiled:


    "It''s mine, too clingy. It gets anxious and meows restlessly if it doesn''t see me for one day, so I had to bring it along."


    Ever since Ning Yuantai had delivered the Divine Relic to Xue Jing''s house and, on a couple of occasions, finished all the food which led Miao Miao to resort to instant noodles, she had held a grudge against this person who also had the surname Ning.


    Now facing the man himself, the Serpent Slayer Spearhead in Miao Miao''s claws seemed a bit restless.


    After some thought, Xue Jing said, "This cat doesn''t get close to anyone but me, it''s best not to touch her... it''s quite dangerous."


    Ning Yuantai could feel the mysterious murderous aura emanating from the cat. Even though it was exceptionally attractive, he couldn''t muster the desire to pet it and quickly nodded in agreement:


    "I get it!"


    After both boarded the plane, the cabin door closed.


    After a while, with the sound of the engine starting up, the Dragon Core Airplane, propelled by the Dragon Species Force Field, hovered in the air like an extraterrestrial UFO, rising steadily and swiftly soaring into the sky, reaching the height of ten-thousand meters.


    Then, with the Dragon Species Force Field shifting, the airplane pierced through the airflow with a screeching noise, speeding northward at high velocity.


    Inside the cabin, besides Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai, there were over twenty members of ''White Crow'' and ''Cease-Blades'' dressed in fully armed tactical suits. Upon seeing Xue Jing, they all saluted him with serious expressions, calling him ''Lord Jing''.


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded in response before entering a small compartment designated for leaders with Ning Yuantai.


    "Speaking of which, if it weren''t for White Crow sending this Dragon Core Airplane to pick you up, it would have been quite troublesome to rush to the Inner Ring within a day or two."


    Ning Yuantai settled into a soft seat and took out a bottle of soda from a small refrigerator in front of him and said casually.


    As Xue Jing let Miao Miao down to rove freely, he replied, "Oh? How so?"


    "The Inner Ring... is rather chaotic."


    Ning Yuantai said euphemistically.


    "As Alien Implants aren''t banned here like they are in the Outer Ring, they''re quite prevalent. Many civilians implant some in themselves, and common flying devices like the ''Dragon Wing Device'' are quite common because they''re not very difficult to obtain, which has led to the rise of many ''Sky Pirate gangs''..."


    "Now, all Inner Ring cities have basically implemented ''No-Fly Agreements,'' and nearly all approaching aircraft are subject to indiscriminate anti-air attacks, so ordinary people who want to enter the Inner Ring have to travel by land."


    "To enter the Inner Ring by land, one must transfer multiple times, which is both complicated and time-consuming. Traveling from Qingcheng to Yuan City, at the least, takes over three days, which is quite torturous."


    Xue Jing tapped the armrest with his finger, curious:


    "With the No-Fly Agreements in place, why can the Dragon Core Airplane get in?"


    Ning Yuantai took a sip of his soda and explained, "It''s not that Dragon Core Airplanes can get in, but Dragon Core Airplanes belonging to The Sixth Agency can get in..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "This airplane is very useful and rarely available, but that commander dispatched it just to transport you to the Inner Ring."


    "They still hold you in high regard over there and would like you to officially join White Crow..."


    Ning Yuantai whispered.


    Looking out the window at the scenery, Xue Jing smiled and said, "I appreciate the gesture, but joining White Crow isn''t for me; I''m quite content with how things are now."


    Ning Yuantai made a face and said, "I feel the same way. With your martial arts skills, if you were to join anything, it should be ''Cease-Blades''."


    During the casual conversation, the airplane continually headed towards the Inner Ring, and several hours passed in the blink of an eye.


    Suddenly, Ning Yuantai pointed out the window and said, "Xue, look down."


    At his words, Xue Jing looked in the direction Ning Yuantai was pointing.


    Although they were tens of thousands of meters high in the sky, through the clouds, they could vaguely see a vast wilderness below with a huge, hexagonal, black structure sprawled across the land.


    "That''s the ''Joint Cultivation'' Intersecting Boundaries Biological Farm. From here on, we''re officially entering the Inner Ring area."


    As he spoke, urgent footsteps and various commanding shouts suddenly came from outside the small compartment.


    Xue Jing asked, "What''s happened?"


    "Things are a bit more dangerous here in the Inner Ring, so some preparations are needed. Don''t worry, it''s nothing serious," Ning Yuantai said nonchalantly.


    Hearing this, Xue Jing did not inquire further.


    Not long after, as if to confirm Ning Yuantai''s words, through the window, Xue Jing suddenly saw dozens of small black dots appear ahead.


    His exceptionally strong eyesight, defying all reason, needed only a slight adjustment of focus to see those small black dots clearly.


    They were... people.


    Dozens of them, each riding something like a tireless motorcycle, floating and flying straight towards the airplane.


    Their attire was strikingly uniform, all wearing jackets and leather pants studded with metal, and on each of them were visible traces of Alien Implants, not unlike human biological organs. They also all carried weapons on their backs that Xue Jing could not identify but looked to be very high-tech.


    "Tsk, these Sky Pirates, they swarm like dogs catching a whiff of stool," Ning Yuantai remarked.


    Xue Jing gave him an expressionless look.


    "Ah, I didn''t mean you," Ning Yuantai immediately realized his gaffe and hastened to add.


    ...


    (I wanted to sleep for half an hour, but ended up sleeping for three. I couldn''t get the update ready in time, so I''m sending out this chapter first. I''m still writing the rest.)

 Chapter 353 - 211: Open the hatch, Ill be right back, the six-armed Shadowflame Demon God

    "Hmm?" The cat lying on Xue Jing''s thigh raised its head, and its emerald-like vertical pupils dilated towards Ning Yuantai. Its left forepaw''s Serpent Slayer Spearhead unsheathed, and the silver-white claws emitted a deadly cold light.


    It seemed that with just one command from Xue Jing, she would immediately strike, adding some decoration to the face of this Mr. Ning.


    However, her intention to seize the opportunity to act wasn''t successful, as Xue Jing pressed down her fluffy little head without minding Ning Yuantai''s slip of the tongue and asked:


    "Can you handle it, or do I need to step in?"


    Ning Yuantai patted his chest confidently and said, "No problem. Encountering sky pirate bands in the Inner Ring is just like going next door to the convenience store to buy a pack of cigarettes¡ªcommon and easily handled!"


    His voice had barely faded when the devices that looked like launchers on both sides of the plane''s nose suddenly lit up.


    Light red glows condensed and emitted a ''bubububu'' sound, followed by a roar as two pale red laser cannons were fired toward the sky pirates.


    However, this overly conspicuous frontal assault was ineffective as the pirates quickly dispersed, dodging the two light beams.


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to Ning Yuantai.


    "Hmm? This batch of sky pirates seems quite experienced, but don''t worry, just keep watching," Ning Yuantai said confidently.


    No sooner had he spoken than the Dragon Core Fighter''s wings launched countless missiles, trailing fireworks as they shot towards the sky pirates.


    These were unavoidable heat-tracking missiles, each one tightly locking onto its target with excellent agility¡ªcapable of turning on the spot, making them impossible to evade.


    But this time, the sky pirates had a countermeasure as well. At the front of each of their vehicles, a round hole opened up, shooting out a spherical red light. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dozens of red spheres were fired in all directions. The many heat-tracking missiles immediately changed their targets, pursuing the red lights instead, and not a single one hit any of the sky pirates.


    "A strong heat-inducing light bomb?"


    Ning Yuantai was taken aback.


    "How can an ordinary band of sky pirates have such a thing?"


    Xue Jing crossed his arms without speaking as Miao Miao jumped onto the armrest of the chair, looking out at the sky pirates through the porthole.


    They were raising their right hands and shouting something; although not audible, they appeared very excited.


    "The missiles we use have mature infrared imagery guidance technology. Ordinary heat-inducing decoys can''t interfere with the tracking, but these light bombs that can radiate a huge amount of infrared rays in an instant..."


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said:


    "Strange, although it''s a product from the last century, it''s still considered military-grade to this day. An ordinary band of sky pirates shouldn''t possess such a thing."


    Xue Jing glanced at him: "What do you mean?"


    "Don''t worry, the plane is manned by the elites from White Crow and Cease-Blades, all specialized in aerial combat. This band of sky pirates won''t be rampant for long," Ning Yuantai said, scratching his cheek somewhat embarrassedly.


    Xue Jing remained with his arms crossed, tapping his arm with his fingers, shaking his head, and standing up.


    "Forget it. Based on what you''ve said, there seems to be something odd about this band of sky pirates; they might have some reliance... The crew on the plane was, after all, arranged to pick me up. If there are any casualties, that would not reflect well on me," he said softly.


    "Have someone open the hatch. I''ll be back shortly."


    Ning Yuantai was stunned for a moment, not daring to refuse, he immediately responded in a low voice, "Yes."


    He reached out to grab the small intercom on the wall, pressed it, and commanded, "Open the hatch."


    Xue Jing patted Miao Miao on the head, signaling it to stay put on the seat, and then walked towards the exit of the small compartment.


    More than twenty members of White Crow and Cease-Blades stood in the aircraft''s corridor, fully prepared and waiting for the combat orders.


    "Lord Jing."


    "Lord Jing?"


    As they saw Xue Jing emerge, they respectfully greeted him one after another.


    The members of The Sixth Bureau Special Duties Department, especially those from White Crow and Cease-Blades, mostly recognized this legendary young man who had once killed a Pureblood Dragon Species on his own. They understood very well what that entailed and thus held him in high regard.


    Without conscious thought, everyone parted to the sides, making way for him. Xue Jing walked past them, nodding at them with a smile.


    "Zzz¡ª" The hatch slowly opened, and the strong wind poured into the cabin, blowing through his shoulder-length hair.


    He reached out to brace himself at the edge of the hatch opening and looked down.


    From ten thousand meters in the air, the view was quite spectacular, and every so often on the ground, there would be strange structures the likes of which Xue Jing had never seen before.


    Without a second glance, he leapt up, exiting the plane and arriving in mid-air.


    His body turned in the air, relying on Core power, facing the Sky Pirates ahead.


    Then, with a crackling sound, two sharp, silver-white Lightning Dragon Horns grew out from his forehead.


    Amidst the sparks of electricity, a Silver-white Thunder Feather Belt appeared around Xue Jing, like the God''s Feather Robe of one who commands the thunder.


    A black stream also converged upon his body, igniting raging Dark Flames and morphing into a giant upper body of black shadow.


    This time, the giant underwent a huge change from before, possessing three heads and six arms, all wrapped in layers of armor.


    In the palms of the six arms, Dark Flames began to congeal, bringing to life six different weapons.


    They were a saber, a sword, a spear, a staff, a whip, and a bow.


    From a distance, it seemed like a character from myths, wielding immense spells.


    However, in terms of color, it looked more like a denizen of the demonic path, wrapped in Silver-white Thunder, resembling a Demon God.


    The dozens of Sky Pirates, who were previously howling in excitement, suddenly saw the arrival of this indomitable being and were instantly silenced, stuck.


    "What... what is that?"


    "A giant?"


    The Sky Pirates murmured stunned.


    But before they could snap out of it, the giant Shadowflame Demon God with only an upper body flew towards them.


    It moved incredibly fast, trailing colorful flames, and in the blink of an eye, it was amidst the dozens of Sky Pirates.


    A massive black saber, over ten meters long, swung out in the hands of the Demon God.


    "Swoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    "Clang, clang, clang, clang¡ª¡ª"


    With a single blow, as if even the void was split, the arc swept by the large saber exploded with intense winds, creating a vast vacuous crescent in the clouds. Within its range, several Sky Pirates, along with their flying vehicles, were instantly torn into fragments of flesh and machine.


    At the same time, the other five arms of the Demon God also struck out, each with a spear, iron whip, big staff, sharp sword, and giant bow attacking the Sky Pirates around.


    A pale golden Spear Glow swept across, the tip of the iron whip snapped with fierce sonic booms, the big staff shattered everything it touched like the legendary Sea-Calming Divine Needle, the giant bow predicted perfectly, each arrow shot down at least one Sky Pirate, and at most skewered three in a row like candied hawthorns.


    Merely at the very first encounter, what seemed like a professional band of Sky Pirates cried out for their parents and wailed for help as they suffered heavy casualties. Debris and chunks of bodies rained down towards the ground like rain.


    "Ahhh!!"


    "Damn it, fire, fire!!"


    The remaining Sky Pirates raised various weapons they carried on their backs and fired madly at the black six-armed, three-headed Demon God.


    All sorts of colored lasers and bullets struck the Demon God, and they had an effect. The Shadowflame Armor shattered, creating many wounds oozing with Dark Flame.


    Seeing that their attacks were effective, the Sky Pirates got excited and kept firing continuously without pause.


    But soon, someone noticed that the number of attacks landing on the Shadowflame Demon God was diminishing, and quickly only a few traces of shots remained.


    A Sky Pirate looked at his side, puzzled.


    Only then did he notice that of the dozen or so surviving Sky Pirates, only he and another person beside him remained; the rest had vanished.


    As he pondered in confusion, a colorful spiral of fireworks traced past him at high speed.


    The next moment, the only remaining companion by his side was grasped in the hand of a figure with Lightning Dragon Horns on his forehead and his body wrapped in crackling arcs of electricity.


    The figure''s slender hand tightly clutched his companion''s neck, and with a snap, blood and fragments of flesh burst out, his companion''s neck crushed to the thickness of sugar cane, killing him instantly as his body went limp.


    The man just held the corpse of his fallen ally, floating slowly in front of the Sky Pirate, looking down on him from above with calm, Silver-white eyes devoid of any human emotion, only indifference and contempt.


    "E...", the Sky Pirate''s mouth hung open, too terrified to utter a word, his trembling hands letting go of the gun, which fell towards the ground.


    Not far away, the black Demon God dissolved back into Dark Flames and slowly disintegrated, revealing a pale golden transparent ''pilot'' within.


    Xue Jing looked at the Sky Pirate in front of him, curiously surveying his red cockscomb hair and the sunglasses embedded on his face, and slowly said,


    "Your style is quite cyberpunk, but the technology level on you is lacking a bit."


    In a frantic bid for mercy, the Sky Pirate raised both hands: "Spare me, please spare my life!"


    Ning Yuantai, on the plane, stared out the window at this scene, completely dumbfounded.


    ...

 Chapter 356 - 213: Ning Fengwans Defense Broken by

    The plane drew ever closer to Yuan City, and Xue Jing suddenly noticed a layer of transparent, pale blue light enveloping the entire city from above.


    The color of the light membrane was extremely faint; even with Xue Jing''s vision, it was only after they had closed in and he concentrated his gaze that he discovered it.


    "What is that?"


    Xue Jing described the light membrane he had seen and asked Ning Yuantai about it.


    Ning Yuantai was initially stunned, then after pondering for a moment, he said uncertainly,


    "The thing you''re describing... I''m not too sure, maybe it''s some kind of wide-range holographic image generated by holographic technology?"


    "I didn''t see any light membrane..."


    Hearing Ning Yuantai''s reply, Xue Jing nodded and did not continue the inquiry, but he made a mental note of the light membrane''s existence.


    Although Yuan City was visible, it was only because the city was so large; in reality, the distance was still quite far.


    It took a considerable while longer before the plane finally arrived over Yuan City.


    "Yuan City might not be considered big among Inner Ring cities, but its total area is around twenty times that of Qingcheng,"


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    "Inside, there are fifty-five districts, divided into D1 to D23 districts, C1 to C19 districts, B1 to B10 districts, and finally, the A1-A3 districts."


    "The U19 Grand Final you''re slated to compete in will be held in the Super Arena located in B9 district."


    Xue Jing said with a smile, "So the residents from D to A, the wealthier and nobler you are, the closer you live to A district, right?"


    Ning Yuantai replied, "Xue is clever, it''s pretty much like that. Though, the difference among the dozens of D to B districts isn''t that big. Only those living in the three A-class districts are really rich or noble¡ªwithout a certain status, it would be embarrassing to even enter."


    "I remember there''s an urban legend about Yuan City, saying that besides these fifty-five districts, there''s a special district that only certain chosen people can enter, called ''Imaginary Special District''..."


    As they chatted, the plane slowly descended.


    Just as the plane came in contact with the pale blue light membrane that only Xue Jing could see, a burst of red light suddenly flickered ahead.


    Accompanied by an alarm sound akin to a siren, holographic captions saying "Stop! Stop! Stop!" materialized out of thin air, encircling the whole plane with countless "Stop!" tightly packed together.


    The plane obediently paused mid-air, hovering without moving.


    Soon, several small flying vehicles resembling motorcycles without wheels flew over, with drivers all dressed in black uniforms, each sporting a silver trident-like badge on their chest. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm? It''s not the sheriffs who''ve come but looks like it''s folks from Black Tide Security, judging by the uniform," Ning Yuantai said, somewhat puzzled, then turned to Xue Jing and added,


    "Don''t worry, Xue, leave it to me."


    After speaking, he stepped out of the compartment.


    The compartment door wasn''t closed, and looking out, Xue Jing saw the plane''s door open with Ning Yuantai standing at the entrance, speaking with the Black Tide Security personnel who were floating outside.


    "...this place feels weird." Miao Miao said from Xue Jing''s arms, her young girl''s voice clear and pleasant.


    She looked down at her two forepaws which had automatically deployed the Serpent Slayer Spearheads.


    Then she shook her cat tail, bringing the ring at its end in front of her.


    "The Cat Tail Ring is a bit hot, and the blood flow in my body is speeding up..."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment and said, "This place is the headquarters of the Dragon Cult, so ''Bastet''s'' powers probably sense the presence of ''Dragon''."


    Miao Miao looked out the window at the city, saying distantly, "I wonder how Yun Qin is doing."


    Xue Jing patted her head and was about to speak when Ning Yuantai''s voice suddenly rose sharply outside:


    "Recognizing this ID, you should know to which agency this plane belongs, so who gave you the nerve..."


    His voice was filled with irritation.


    Xue Jing stood up, placed Miao Miao on the seat, and walked out of the compartment.


    No sooner had he stepped out than he saw the Black Tide Security personnel outside the plane speaking sternly,


    "The rules in Yuan City are like this right now, and the order came directly from the Chief Councillor, so special treatment for no one; everyone entering the city must be checked, no exceptions."


    He said coldly.


    Laughing, Ning Yuantai crossed his arms and replied, "Eh, I just don''t buy it. I''m not letting you in today, what can you do about it?"


    The leading Black Tide Security personnel didn''t respond.


    After contemplating, Xue Jing spoke up,


    "Dragging this out won''t do any good. Since it''s a special period, let''s just let them check. There''s nothing on the plane that can''t be seen anyway."


    Hearing this, Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Since you say so, Xue..."


    He stepped aside, mouthing, "Come on in then."

 Chapter 357 - 213: Ning Fengwans Defense Broken by

    The lead security officer didn''t speak, but instead was the first to step into the door, entering the cabin, followed by several other personnel.


    After they entered, they each went to a particular area, lifted their right hands, and pressed several times on the wristbands on their right hands. The wristbands suddenly emitted a deep blue conical light, scanning everything inside the cabin.


    "Oh? It seems they are genuinely checking, and here I thought they were just using it as an excuse to extort money."


    Ning Yuantai stroked his chin and said.


    "What did that man mean by ''special period''?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Ning Yuantai replied, "Recently, many incidents occurred in the Fifth Urban Circle. Over at Maple City, many sky pirate gangs suddenly wreaked havoc. Baocheng had a massive martial artists brawl a while ago, causing several blocks to be destroyed, countless innocents killed or injured... And Qingcheng, if not for your presence, that Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother would have claimed many lives."


    "I heard some things happened on the Inner Ring side too, but I haven''t been around the Inner Ring lately, so I don''t know the details."


    He lowered his voice and said, "... I heard it''s the big shots clashing above. I dare not ask too much."


    Xue Jing nodded but remained silent.


    The scanners used by the Black Tide Security personnel were unknown technology, and a quick sweep was considered a complete check, very efficient. In no time, the cabin had almost been fully checked, one of them entered a small compartment.


    Just when Xue Jing thought the checking was about to end, suddenly, an alarm sounded from inside the small compartment.


    "Beep¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª"


    As soon as the prolonged alarm sounded, the expression of several Black Tide personnel standing outside the cabin changed.


    Xue Jing also narrowed his eyes, his figure vanished instantly, and in the next moment, he was inside the small compartment.


    At this moment, Miao Miao was curling up on a seat, her cat face filled with human-like innocence.


    A conical blue light shone on her, turning her into a blue cat, with only the tail ring on her tail flashing red.


    All the security personnel gradually entered the small compartment. The leader, after observing the scene for a while, spoke up with a stern tone:


    "We need to take this cat."


    With that, he reached towards Miao Miao.


    "Snap¡ª"


    Xue Jing grabbed his outstretched wrist.


    The leader exerted a little force, trying to break free, but found his arm immovable, his brow furrowed immediately, and veins popped out on his arm as he exerted more strength to pull away.


    But it was as if gripped by an industrial alloy mechanical claw, utterly immovable even though he was using all his strength, not even a millimeter of tremor, as if it were fixed in place.


    "Don''t touch it," Xue Jing spoke slowly, his tone utterly flat.


    ...


    The leader remained silent for a bit, then said:


    "It has an ''anomaly''; by the rules, we must take it back for investigation."


    Xue Jing looked emotionlessly at him, his pupils tinged with silvery-white, spoke faintly:


    "I won''t say it again."


    The other security personnel quickly drew various firearms and batons from their waists, aiming them at Xue Jing.


    The atmosphere on the scene immediately dropped to freezing, causing the air to stagnate.


    With numerous weapons aimed at him, Xue Jing''s expression did not change; meanwhile, Miao Miao narrowed her eyes, the Serpent Slayer Spearheads on her two front paws flickering with a cold light, and her emerald-like vertical pupils swept over the necks of the surrounding security personnel.


    "... if you don''t want to die, put down your weapons."


    The leader spoke.


    Hearing this, everyone hastily withdrew their weapons aimed at Xue Jing.


    Ning Yuantai also entered the small compartment. His gaze sharpened, his skin faintly reddened, a fine crimson airflow beginning to appear around him.


    "Xue, your call?"


    He looked towards Xue Jing, his expression eager, as if ready to attack the Black Tide Security personnel at a moment''s notice.


    ...


    "About this matter, I will report it truthfully and let the higher-ups handle it."


    The lead security officer noticed that the grip was tightening, feeling his wrist starting to ache severely. He hurriedly spoke to Xue Jing.


    The cracking sound of bones snapping came from his wrist, the corner of his eye twitching slightly: "So... can you let go now?"


    The silvery-white in Xue Jing''s pupils gradually faded, returning to deep brown, as he released the leader''s hand.


    A deep red handprint was left on the leader''s wrist, visibly thinner than the surrounding areas, as if the flesh had been pinched tightly.


    He held his wrist with his other hand, took a sharp breath of cool air, looked warily at Xue Jing, and said, "... Let''s go."


    The team of security personnel followed him out of the cabin, each getting on their own flying devices and leaving the area.


    "Tsk, what a pity." Ning Yuantai dissolved his red aura, his skin color returning to normal, his face full of regret.


    Xue Jing looked out the cabin window, watching the departing backs of the security personnel, and said to Ning Yuantai:


    "Yuantai, it''s okay that I did this, right?"


    Ning Yuantai patted his chest, "Of course, it''s okay. Relax. You are one of us from The Sixth Agency. Letting them board the plane was already more than enough. Thinking they can take things from us too? It wouldn''t be a problem even if we had slapped their faces hard!"


    Xue Jing sighed lightly, "Sorry for causing you trouble."


    Ning Yuantai exclaimed, "What trouble? If I hadn''t been giving you face, I would have already started a fight with that bunch from Black Tide..."


    "But your cat..."


    Ning Yuantai, with a thoughtful look, glanced toward Miao Miao, pausing on the platinum-colored ring encircling its tail.


    "I see." He nodded, saying considerately:


    "You take a rest; I will make a call upstairs to explain."


    Having said that, he left the compartment.


    After he left, Miao Miao looked innocently at Xue Jing.


    "...Did I cause trouble again?"


    Xue Jing mused, "No, based on past experiences, it should be my fault."


    He gradually reconciled with himself, beginning to believe he truly was a "Congenital Trouble-Magnet Sacred Body" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "However, this should just be a small matter with no follow-up. A brief contact and explanation to the officials of Yuan City and The Sixth Agency should suffice."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, unsure, "...I guess."


    Miao Miao placed her two front paws on his knees, whispering in a young girl''s voice:


    "Jing, thank you."


    Xue Jing, lost in thought, turned to look at her, puzzled, "Thank for what?"


    The emerald green vertical pupils of Miao Miao seemed to shimmer:


    "Just now, you didn''t hesitate to choose to protect me."


    Xue Jing smiled, stroking her head, and said:


    "Wrong."


    Miao Miao: "Huh?"


    "I didn''t choose to protect you; it was never a question."


    Xue Jing, his eyes twinkling: "You are my family, protecting you is a natural instinct, with no consideration of benefits involved."


    "Jing..." Ning Fengwan''s heart suddenly began to race, thumping loudly and annoyingly.


    Xue Jing touched his chin, then suddenly took out the [Proof of Love] from his embrace and pressed the right button aimed at Ning Fengwan.


    Numbers began to appear on the electronic screen, continuously jumping rapidly, soon reaching four digits and displaying specific numbers.


    [2178]


    [2181]


    [2215]


    [2257]...


    The numbers kept rising, finally stabilizing at [2313].


    Ning Fengwan, who had been touched, stiffened all over.


    She knew what [Proof of Love] was, as Xue Jing had already explained its function to her before.


    Previously, when Xue Jing had asked her if she wanted to try it, she had decisively refused, saying she feared hurting Xue Jing''s feelings, as her affection level for him was very low.


    Looking at the exaggerated four-digit number on the electronic screen, Ning Fengwan''s mouth twitched, and she said with a forced smile:


    "...You pressed the left side, right? I didn''t expect your affection level for the Sect Hierarch to be so high, too bad I don''t quite..."


    Xue Jing spoke leisurely, "Right side."


    "...Then I must have remembered wrong; it''s the right side that measures one''s affection toward another, right?"


    Xue Jing leaned back, looking down at Ning Fengwan with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Heh."


    "..." Ning Fengwan gritted her teeth, feeling both embarrassed and angry.


    The number on the electronic screen dropped a little, changing to [2312].


    ...

 Chapter 361 - 216: [GOD-035·Giant God Machina], Combat Power Value Test (4K)

    "...How can he be so handsome?"


    The woman with gold and silver highlights looked at the scene before her, her eyes gleaming as she exclaimed.


    The man with a twisted grin and a shadowy countenance turned to her, moving the corners of his mouth that lacked cheeks: "...A little help."


    He struggled a couple times, only to find that the foot pressing on his back was as immovable as Mount Tai.


    "You said it''s really embarrassing to get counter-killed when trying to show off, super hilarious."


    The woman with gold and silver highlights glanced at him, her laugh tinged with scorn, and then she pulled a pistol from the holster at her waist, unhesitatingly pulling the trigger at Xue Jing.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    A subdued gunshot sounded, and a golden bullet burst forth, rotating as it shot towards Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    With Xue Jing''s eye power, he determined the bullet''s velocity to be around 320m/s right off the bat¡ªnot very fast. At such speeds, he could precisely flick it away with a snap of his fingers.


    However, he didn''t do so. Instead, almost simultaneously with the bullet''s discharge, he waved a hand toward the woman with gold and silver highlights. Shadow Flame quietly activated, condensing into a solid Dark Flame bullet that flew toward the golden one, intercepting it precisely in the middle between them.


    "Snap¡ª"


    The golden bullet collided with the Dark Flame bullet and immediately exploded into a large amount of Goldwater, enough to envelop an adult. One couldn''t imagine it had been contained in a tiny golden bullet moments before.


    Xue Jing pivoted on the foot stepping on the man, his Power circulating, and the ground instantly cracked, pressing the man nearly a meter deep into the earth, creating a human-shaped indentation.


    He then flashed behind the woman with gold and silver highlights, following a trailing colorful path of flame, and in the next moment, appeared behind her, kicking her into the Goldwater that had yet to touch the ground.


    "Ah!"


    The woman with gold and silver highlights screamed, engulfed by the Goldwater that stubbornly clung to her, leaving her wrapped in gold, immobile.


    All of this occurred in the blink of an eye. Xue Jing''s speed was simply too fast, and those around were only just beginning to react.


    Apart from the shadowy man, the woman with gold and silver highlights, and Qiao Ying, there were three other members of the Titan God Brigade. Seeing this, they immediately acted, heading straight for Xue Jing.


    But it was already too late.


    "Flame Color Chain - Burning Wheel."


    The Heavenly Sabre technique Flames Connecting Colors, combined with the Hidden Dragon School technique Whirlwind Thunder, enhanced both power and speed when used together, greater than when either was used alone.


    The spiraling trail of colorful flames wove through the air, too fast for anyone present to see clearly.


    "Boom, boom, boom¡ª!"


    After three explosive sounds, Xue Jing reappeared in the middle of the scene, the three members of the Titan God Brigade flung out, smashing through buildings and flying off to who knows where.


    Yin Muhu blinked, staring at the scene that could only be described as overwhelmingly powerful, somewhat dumbfounded.


    It had been less than a month since they last met... how had Xue become so much stronger?


    "Hmm? Who is that, using martial arts or an Alien Implant?"


    "Should be a practitioner of Neo Martial Arts, right? Which school, though?"


    "I''ve never seen him before. Oh, that U19 championship is starting soon, maybe he''s a contestant from out of town."


    "He''s so impressive and good-looking, and we''ve never seen him before... Could he be from the Outer Ring?"


    The surrounding spectators also began discussing amongst themselves in amazement.


    At that moment, Ning Yuantai arrived at the scene, his body streaked with red streams as if he''d powered up with a King''s Fist.


    "Ah? Xue, you''re done already?"


    He looked around with a hint of disappointment and spoke.


    Of all the members of the Titan God Brigade present, only Qiao Ying, who was crouched on the ground, could be said to be standing.


    Xue Jing looked at her and seemed to recall hearing her name earlier. After thinking hard, he couldn''t remember what she was called.


    This was due to the side effect of the Divine Relic he was carrying, the "Proof of Love"¡ªwhich made it easy to forget the names of people who were unimportant to him.


    From what Xue Jing had seen in the Divine Relic archives, the side effect would trigger if the target''s Affection Level was above 10 but below 40 points. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, if the target was involved in something important, one could strengthen the memory by repeatedly reciting the name or similar methods, thus forcibly remembering it.


    It was a rather benign side effect.


    Xue Jing looked at Qiao Ying, who was staring at him dreamily. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to take any action against her and turned to Ning Yuantai:


    "I didn''t expect it to be so quick... The opponents were a bit weak."


    Yin Muhu shook his head: "I don''t think it was that the opponents were weak, it''s that you, Xue, are too strong... With that kind of absolute domination in speed, unless the opponent''s strength is equivalent to yours, can''t keep up with your pace, and doesn''t have sufficient defense, the outcome is always an instant defeat."


    Ning Yuantai sighed with disappointment for not having gotten the chance to fight alongside Xue Jing. He dispersed the red tornado stirred up by the Red Lotus Volcano Forbidden Technique and made his way over to the shadowy man that Xue Jing had stepped into the ground.


    "Hmm, this emblem..."


    Ning Yuantai pulled the unconscious man out of the pit and looked at a symbol on the right arm of his clothes.


    It was a golden symbol of two crossed arms.


    "He''s with the Titan God Brigade?"


    Xue Jing walked beside him and nodded: "That''s how they introduced themselves... Why, you know them?"


    As Ning Yuantai searched the shadowy man''s body, he answered:


    "Yes, I know them. They''re a well-known Hunter organization from the Intersecting Boundaries. Their leader is pretty powerful, known as ''Giant God Machina,'' wielding two ''combat-focused Divine Weapons'' ranked within the top three hundred."

 Chapter 362 - 216 [GOD-035·Giant God Machina], Combat Power Test (4K)_2

    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "A Divine Relic within the top three hundred?"


    The sequence number of Divine Relics, those ranked three hundred and beyond, simply represent the order in which they appeared and are not related to the specific strength of their abilities.


    However, those within the top three hundred are sorted by the strength of their abilities and their hierarchical relations. The closer to the top a Divine Relic is, the stronger its ability and the higher its rank.


    Even those Divine Relics that are ranked at the lower end of the top three hundred are at a completely different level compared to those outside the top three hundred.


    Ning Yuantai nodded and said, "Indeed, he possesses [GOD-205¡¤Giant God''s Left Arm] and [GOD-206¡¤Giant God''s Right Arm]."


    "These are two very special Divine Relics, not only are they rare ''direct combat types,'' but they are also part of a ''Divine Relic Set''..."


    "The effect is that, once equipped, they can extract the wearer''s physical strength, spiritual power, and life force to form golden energy limbs, like [Giant God''s Left Arm], which forms a golden energy left arm. The stronger the user, the larger the arm formed."


    "If one also gathers [GOD-203¡¤Giant God''s Skull], [GOD-204¡¤Giant God''s Torso], [GOD-207¡¤Giant God''s Left Leg], and [GOD-208¡¤Giant God''s Right Leg], and successfully wears them together, these six Divine Relics will merge into one, transforming into [GOD-035¡¤Giant God Machina]."


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but comment, "Who is this dark sorcerer?"


    Ning Yuantai continued, "This thing places a huge burden on the user. Each piece is rated above danger level B. Managing one piece itself is remarkable. However, the leader of the Titan God Brigade can wear two pieces simultaneously, boasting significant combat prowess. It is said that he once single-handedly subdued a Flame Habitat Species of danger level 7 named ''Hellfire Ghost.''"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, "Oh? That strong, huh?"


    Danger level 7 means it''s roughly 32 times stronger than level 6.


    The young Pureblood Dragon Species he had killed at Roaring Waterfall was about danger level 6, though he didn''t know the exact decimal.


    His victory was more a matter of exploiting weaknesses. The Pureblood Dragon Species had been significantly weakened by the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, its core abilities had been incapacitated, and its Dragon Thunder had been suppressed by his ''Plant Pact.''


    The true strength of a creature capable of supersonic flight in its prime wasn''t fully understood by Xue Jing.


    But he could roughly feel that, even with his significantly enhanced current strength, if he were to fight an unweakened Pureblood Dragon Species, he probably wouldn''t win, although it''s not completely impossible.


    If the leader of the Titan God Brigade could solo a level 7 creature... his strength was truly extraordinary.


    Yuan City really lived up to its reputation as an Inner Ring City, where even a random scuffle could draw out someone immensely powerful.


    "Hey, an Inch Dragon III-type Levitating Sword. These hunter groups are really wealthy, huh? The gear they carry isn''t bad."


    Ning Yuantai pulled a palm-sized, handleless black blade from the shady man''s body and nodded.


    He stood up, handed the blade to Xue Jing, and said, "Xue, your spoils of war... Although you might not find much use for this, it''s still a decent toy."


    Xue Jing took it, briefly examined it, couldn''t make much of it, and then slipped it into his pocket, saying,


    "Let''s go, let''s head to the base... Oh," he turned to look at Yin Muhu, "could I bring my friend along for a visit too?"


    Ning Yuantai: "According to the rules, we shouldn''t... but the commander instructed us to fulfill your not too excessive requests if possible. So, this should be fine."


    Xue Jing nodded and said to Yin Muhu, "Shady Girl, what do you think? Come with me, let''s talk and catch up."


    Although she didn''t know what the ''base'' was, Yin Muhu trusted Xue Jing wouldn''t harm her, and having just received his aid, it wasn''t a good time to refuse. So, she nodded, showing her agreement.


    The group quickly left the area, leaving behind several Titan God Brigade members lying around and Qiao Ying squatting on the ground, staring at Xue Jing''s retreating figure for a long time, unable to snap out of it. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Using a Dragon Core Fighter as transportation meant their speed was extremely fast. Not long after, the plane moved from district C6 to Zhi Ge Sub Base located in district B3.


    The base occupied a fairly large area, approximately square-shaped, enclosed by nearly five-meter-high walls, featuring several strongly-built steel gates.


    From the air, Xue Jing calculated the size of the entire base to be around thirty thousand square meters. The arrangement of buildings and facilities inside was quite ingenious, exuding a simple beauty of high utilization.


    The plane slowly landed on the ground, and the cabin door opened as Xue Jing and his companions stepped out.


    A middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue tactical suit was already waiting outside. As soon as he saw Ning Yuantai, he smiled and said,


    "Ning, long time no see."


    Ning Yuantai, dissatisfied, said, "Old Xu, I''ve told you not to call me Ning. I''ve reached this point today all on my own; it has nothing to do with my family."


    The middle-aged man didn''t respond but turned his sparkling eyes toward Xue Jing:


    "So this must be Xue Jing, right?"


    He extended his hand, saying,


    "I am the chief of Zhi Ge Sub Base B3 in Yuan City, Xu Hongzhong,"


    Xue Jing shook hands with him and smiled, "Chief Xu."


    Ning Yuantai added by the side, "You can just call him Old Xu."


    Xu Hongzhong also smiled, "Yes, just call me Old Xu, it sounds more cordial."


    After some more small talk, Ning Yuantai waved his hand towards Xu Hongzhong:


    "Alright, Old Xu, you better hurry on with your tasks, I''ll take Xue around for a tour."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Hongzhong nodded at Xue Jing and Yin Muhu, smiled, and said, "Since Ning has spoken, I''ll take my leave."


    Then he arranged for a base member to help Xue Jing with his suitcase before quickly taking his leave.


    "Let''s go, Xue, I''ll take you around to experience some high-tech that you won''t find in the Outer Ring!"


    Ning Yuantai said, brimming with interest.


    Xue Jing had no objections, bringing along Miao Miao, who was perched on his shoulder, and Yin Muhu, they followed behind Ning Yuantai.


    Soon after, they entered a large building.


    On the way, Xue Jing remarked, "That Chief Xu we met earlier seemed quite strong."


    Ning Yuantai was a bit surprised, "Oh? You noticed?"


    "He''s famously discreet, never showing a hint of his aura. On a normal day, he just looks like an ordinary middle-aged uncle, but in reality..."


    "He''s a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster from the New Martial Sect who has crossed the Dragon Gate!"


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows.


    He had vaguely sensed Chief Xu Hongzhong''s strength, but he did not expect him to be a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!


    Aside from artificial inferior products like Jiao Hongyuan who had achieved breakthroughs, he had never encountered a breakthrough master in the Outer Ring before.


    He sighed in his heart once again, Inner Ring truly was different.


    "Here we are, this is the place,"


    Ning Yuantai led Xue Jing and Yin Muhu, pushing open a set of transparent double doors, and entered a rather spacious laboratory.


    Xue Jing looked up to see the laboratory filled with various equipment and facilities he couldn''t understand; dozens of personnel in white lab coats were bustling around.


    "Xue, look at this,"


    Ning Yuantai pointed to a small compartment that resembled a transparent shower area and said.


    "This is a ''Physical Power Testing Machine,'' a device that can precisely measure Physical Power Levels, with an error margin not exceeding 0.001 levels, the most accurate currently available on the market."


    He then pointed to a circular platform not far away, above which was magically fixed a pale blue spherical water membrane about three meters in diameter.


    "And this ''Spiritual Power Testing Machine,'' is used for measuring spiritual levels."


    "Generally, by testing at these two spots, one can roughly determine what a person''s specific combat strength number is. What do you think, Xue, want to give it a try?"


    Ning Yuantai raised his eyebrows.


    Combat strength number, huh...


    Xue Jing looked at the two devices.


    He really didn''t know what his current combat strength was like, and he was quite interested in finding out.


    After thinking it over, he nodded and smiled, "Sure, let''s give it a try."


    ...


    (I watched "Edge Runners" again for inspiration; it''s really good)


    (My hand feels a bit better, I''ve started looking into how to supplement vitamins daily... there''s quite a bit to consider)

 Chapter 369 - 220: Xue Jing is an ‘Exception’; Fights with Otogirusu Five Seconds After Meeting (4K)

    Yuan City, within a certain dojo.


    Otogirusu was kneeling on the floor, a tea table laid out before him with two cups of light green tea on it.


    Opposite him sat a middle-aged man cross-legged.


    This middle-aged man was rather peculiar: his appearance plain, neither good nor bad; his physique mundane, neither short nor tall; his clothes ordinary, neither trendy nor outdated.


    Such a person, no more conspicuous than a stone if thrown into the street, exuded a chilling, unnatural aura.


    Distorted, uncoordinated... it was like seeing an African elephant in the Arctic ice, or a full Han banquet with a dish looking up at the stars, creating a disturbingly incongruous picture.


    This extreme discordance provoked unease in anyone who saw him, like a splinter festering under the skin, compelling a desire to remove him immediately and producing a visceral disgust.


    Yet Otogirusu seemed oblivious to this, his androgynous, beautiful face bearing no trace of revulsion, but instead he smiled and made a welcoming gesture, softly opening his mouth to say,


    "Mr. Hu, please try this, it''s the Gyokuro tea from my homeland." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The middle-aged man known as Mr. Hu didn''t touch the tea in front of him; instead, he shook his head and looked around curiously, asking,


    "Isn''t your family one of the Six Major Zaibatsu in the Far East, why is your place so humble?"


    His voice was peculiar, faintly accented and sounded as if two people were speaking at once, both thick and thin tones intertwined.


    Otogirusu smiled slightly and responded, "The so-called Zaibatsu were not born as such; my ancestors during the Edo period were merely some minor nobility''s ''Otogi'', persons of such low status they didn''t even qualify to have a surname, until the Meiji Restoration allowed all citizens to take surnames, and we assumed the name Otogirusu."


    "One of our family precepts is never to forget the origins of the Otogirusu name, to remember our humble beginnings, and to avoid arrogance."


    "Being in a foreign country, having a roof over our heads is already a great fortune, how could we ask for more?"


    Mr. Hu gave him an inscrutable look, his face seeming to smile, "Your Chinese is good, but it''s too formal, not colloquial enough, a bit stiff."


    Otogirusu humbly said, "I am still trying to improve."


    Touching his chin, Mr. Hu stared at Otogirusu, his expression eerie,


    "I''ve met quite a few Far Eastern People in the organization, but you''re the first ''normal'' one I''ve encountered."


    Otogirusu sipped from his tea cup with a raised eyebrow, "Should I feel flattered?"


    Mr. Hu shook his head, "Just talking, you take it as you will, is there really a normal person among us? Even those who seem normal are just mimicking."


    Otogirusu chuckled, "Mr. Hu, your words complicate my feelings."


    "Enough, I''ve come to ask for your help with something," Mr. Hu picked up the cup of Gyokuro tea from the table.


    Otogirusu prompted, "Please speak."


    Drinking down the tea, Mr. Hu smacked his lips and said,


    "You know Xue Jing, right?"


    After speaking, he paused abruptly, as if receiving some information, then realized,


    "Oh right, you''re about to meet him very soon."


    Otogirusu''s eyes narrowed.


    "I need you to lose to him¡­ as subtly as possible, as if you truly were defeated," Mr. Hu drawled.


    "Why?" Otogirusu asked.


    Mr. Hu held up a finger, explaining,


    "This man is harboring an incredibly complex ''abnormality'', constantly getting entangled in countless causations. Allowing him to grow, to develop, will one day bring great turmoil to the entire world."


    "In our industry, such people are known as ''exceptions''."


    Pointing his finger at Otogirusu, he continued, "But now, he''s grown for too short a time... and you, you are too strong."


    "I need you to play the sacrificial lamb, nourish him to achieve further advancements."


    "In return, I will tell you three things you want to know."


    Pausing, Mr. Hu added, "Anything."


    Otogirusu didn''t respond immediately but sipped his tea, placed the cup on the table, then rested his hands on his thighs, his posture elegantly rigid.


    He shook his head, stating,


    "I refuse."


    Mr. Hu''s expression did not change: "Oh?"


    "Mr. Hu, forgive my frankness, but you are insulting martial arts."


    Otogirusu''s expression gradually grew colder.


    "Free from guile, supremely honorable, exhausting both parties'' full capacities, burning oneself, striving intensely to defeat or to be defeated by the opponent, I believe this is the necessary respect owed to a true Martial Artist."


    "What you''re asking of me is to force me to insult him, to insult myself, and to insult martial arts."


    "I demand an immediate apology."


    Mr. Hu stiffened, then chuckled inexplicably: "An interesting lad."


    "Well, that''s alright."


    "If he is an exception, how could his trials be few, the Extreme Martial King of those days also..."


    He stood up, looking at Otogirusu.


    "I apologize to you; it was indeed an untimely request¡­ You really are a member of the organization, I see."


    As he spoke wistfully, Mr. Hu''s figure had already vanished from the dojo.


    Otogirusu sat there, unmoved by Mr. Hu''s sudden disappearance, his eyelids slightly lowered, deep in thought.


    Then, the room''s sliding door was pushed open, and a young man with a serious and determined face entered, speaking in the language of the Far East:

 Chapter 371 - 221: A Hearty Battle, A Narrow Victory, Invitation from the Troublemaker Club (4K)

    Xue Jing''s Thunder Flame Boiling Cauldron punch was blocked by Otogirusu''s palm lift and diverted upward, taking a curved path.


    A pale golden dragon-shaped energy surged from his fist, like a dragon ascending from a deep pool into the sky, piercing through the ceiling with a large hole and continuing its trajectory, extending hundreds of meters away.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    "What power," Otogirusu''s eyes shone as he exclaimed in Far Eastern language, unable to contain his admiration.


    As he spoke, his hands did not slow, his right hand shifting from a palm lift to a Piercing Hand, thrusting towards Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    "My Style: Glowing Night Branch¡ª"


    Vaguely, gem-like colors appeared on his palm, glittering and flickering.


    Xue Jing too extended his hand, grabbing Otogirusu''s Piercing Hand, and in the instant he gripped it, he felt an almost unstoppable immense piercing force. It was as if what he was holding was not a human hand but the horn of a charging rhinoceros.


    However, if this were truly a rhinoceros, he could pin it down with a single finger; unfortunately, it was not, and Xue Jing instantly judged that this strike was not good to resist head-on.


    So, he simply didn''t resist.


    He relaxed his feet, no longer gripping the ground, and his entire body relied solely on the strength of his right hand, holding onto Otogirusu''s Piercing Hand, or to put it another way, hanging onto Otogirusu''s hand like a hook.


    As a result, he was directly pushed back by Otogirusu, crashing through a wall with a loud bang, not stopping, continuing to bulldoze through several buildings until he came to the street, dozens of meters away, outside the Ruo Gong Dojo.


    During this process, he continuously held onto Otogirusu''s Piercing Hand, his posture unchanged, not allowing it to get even a fraction closer to his abdomen.


    The tremendous noise caught the attention of countless passersby on the street.


    "What happened? A fight?"


    "Hmm? Isn''t that Otogirusu?"


    Ruo Gong Dojo is located in District A3, where the residents are either rich or noble, and their access to information is much better than that of ordinary people; most of them recognized the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu.


    "This martial arts maniac is fighting someone again... Why is it so intense this time? Weren''t the previous ones over in an instant?"


    The crowd was immensely curious but also understood that it was dangerous to approach such a divine conflict, so they simply kept their distance to watch.


    But they soon realized that keeping their distance... was not safe either.


    "Flame Color Chain¨CBurning Wheel¡ª"


    "Suzaku Style¨CScarlet Dye¡ª"


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    A ring-shaped blast of air exploded out from the middle of Xue Jing and Otogirusu, with them at the center. Everything within dozens of meters was blown away instantly¨C tables, trees, houses... all were shattered, becoming part of the blast wave and spreading out over a hundred meters.


    "Aaahhh!"


    A few bystanders who were too close were blown away by the blast wave, screaming in terror, at a loss.


    A Far Eastern youth named Ruo Gong Taiping quickly intercepted and rescued the airborne bystanders, gently placing them on the ground.


    He sighed with a bit of a headache as he looked towards the two young monsters who had already started fighting fiercely, paying no mind to their surroundings.


    "Young master... at this rate, if we''re not careful, it could lead to an international incident."


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang¡ª!!"


    Explosive sounds continued without end as two figures intertwined, fighting in the sky one moment and on the ground the next.


    Each punch and kick was like a bomb exploding, pushing the air aside to create temporary spherical vacuums, countless vacuums appearing and being filled constantly, forming a violent stream of wind. It was a fearsome power that could nearly alter the weather.


    Though the two of them consciously kept the battle contained near the Ruo Gong Dojo, the destruction they caused was still immeasurable. Anything within ten meters of them was doomed to be shattered, and even a hundred meters out, there was still a risk of being affected by the aftermath.


    From the beginning of his martial arts training, the enemies Xue Jing had encountered had either been instantly killed or overwhelmingly crushed by him, with few possessing the strength to truly exchange blows, especially Martial Artists like Jiao Hongyuan, who should have been a formidable yet incomplete Limit-Breaking Grandmaster.


    In cooperation with his senior brother, the fight ended instantaneously.


    Therefore, he had never truly experienced a match between Martial Artists where they were evenly matched and fully engaged in combat.


    Not until this moment did he finally find the joy of facing a real ''challenge''.


    Attacking, countering, dismantling... Fast, incredibly fast, unbelievably fast.


    Xue Jing''s pupils concentrated to an extreme, his limbs almost turning into afterimages. Every move was exquisite, impossible for an ordinary Martial Artist to withstand even one.


    But Xue Jing and Otogirusu exchanged blows at a rate of dozens, even hundreds of times per second.


    "Suzaku Style... although I''ve long known this style is known for its speed, I didn''t expect it to be this fast."


    Xue Jing felt his own speed had reached its limit but found that, for the most part, he was on the defensive, with only about one-fourth of his actions being offensive out of the tens to hundreds of movements every second.


    If it weren''t for his Lv10 Aiming''s phenomenal Dynamic Vision, he wouldn''t be able to keep up with such a terrifyinly fast pace of combat.


    Even though he could keep up, he was still at a disadvantage.


    Of course, speed is just one part of combat strength. Xue Jing was simply trying to make Otogirusu lose ''convincingly'' by trying to defeat him in the area he excelled in. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 372 - 221: A Hearty Battle, A Narrow Victory, Invitation from the Troublemaker Club (4K)_2

    Since there was no breakthrough to be found in that direction, it was time to change tactics.


    Xue Jing''s movements suddenly became sluggish, as if unable to keep up with the intense pace of the battle. Finally, he faltered and exposed a vulnerability.


    Without a second thought, Otogirusu saw the opening and struck directly at Xue Jing''s chest with a palm.


    "Puh¡ª"


    The air exploded into a vacuum from the force of the blow, highlighting its power. Yet, when it landed on Xue Jing''s chest, it only produced a dull thud.


    In the next instant, Xue Jing''s bones trembled with the sound of rolling thunder, absorbing and transforming the kinetic energy from the attack.


    Hidden Dragon School¡¤Seal Cloud Tail.


    Rather than launching a counter-attack, Xue Jing generated Qi Force, wrapping the kinetic energy within him and employing the absolute control power of True Martial to forcibly activate Whirlwind Thunder and Shaking Star Fire. At the same time, his body erupted in a blaze of colored flames.


    He extended his left hand, grabbed Otogirusu''s wrist, and held it before him, while he raised his right arm, elbow aimed at Otogirusu''s neck.


    "Flame-Colored Rainbow¡¤Thunder Plough Hot Knife!"


    This was a strike capable of killing an incomplete Breakthrough expert like Jiao Hongyuan, and although it lacked Shadow Flame and Dragon Thunder, it was still Xue Jing''s strongest combination attack at this stage.


    Otogirusu''s wrist was firmly gripped by Xue Jing, and struggling to break free was futile. He realized he would have to take the terrifying blow head-on.


    He wasn''t panicking though, raising his other hand to block the Thunder Plough Hot Knife imbued with the colorful flame stream.


    "My Style¡¤Undying Smoke¡ª"


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The unparalleled strike flashed by in mid-air.


    To Xue Jing''s surprise, he didn''t feel any sensation of striking a solid object.


    Not even the feeling of diverting energy as if hitting cotton; it was emptiness, a void, as though the strike landed on a mist.


    He was slightly taken aback, only to discover that Otogirusu had somehow escaped his grip and was now standing a short distance away.


    Otogirusu appeared worse for wear. A sleeve of his feathered garment was torn, revealing his pale arm.


    From the palm to the elbow of his arm, there was a deep gash, baring the bone and oozing viscous blood, clear as crystal.


    "Xue Jun, you truly surprise me," said Otogirusu.


    He looked at Xue Jing with eyes as tender as a lover''s, his cheeks flushed with excitement, exuding a charm more seductive than any woman.


    He gently touched the wound on his left arm with his right hand, smeared the blood on his fingers, and delicately applied it to his lips like rouge, adding an even more provocative allure to his already stunning visage.


    Xue Jing had a bizarre expression.


    This man... Not only does he look feminine, but his actions are so effeminate too.


    "I would love to keep fighting with you till the end of time... but unfortunately, we''ll have to call it a day for now."


    Otogirusu seemed to sense something and suddenly sighed with regret.


    No sooner had he spoken than a multitude of harsh siren sounds erupted from all directions. Dozens of police cars and aircraft descended upon the location of Xue Jing and Otogirusu from the sky and ground.


    "Nobody move, hands up!"


    Once the vehicles and aircraft came to a halt, scores of sheriffs and security officers, clad in riot gear and wielding a variety of firearms, aimed at the two at the scene.


    Facing the weaponry of nearly a hundred officers, an inescapable web, Xue Jing remained impressively unfazed, merely thinking to himself:


    "The law enforcement speed in District A3 is indeed fast... As expected of a wealthy area."


    Recognizing Otogirusu, one of the commanding security personnel showed a look of shock and immediately gestured:


    "Everyone, lower your weapons!"


    Following the order, the commander also holstered his pistol and hurried over to Otogirusu, asking in a quiet, puzzled voice:


    "Mr. Otogi, what''s happening here?"


    Otogirusu, clearly displeased by the interruption of his fight with Xue Jing, gave the commander a cold glance.


    He understood there was no helping it and spoke softly:


    "Sorry, I spontaneously forced this friend into a sparring match and got a bit carried away... I''ll compensate for all the damages caused today."


    As Otogirusu dealt with the law enforcement officers, Xue Jing turned to Miao Miao, who had unexpectedly appeared from somewhere and jumped onto his shoulder.


    "You two monsters, you''ve caused quite the upheaval."


    Miao Miao looked around and clicked her tongue.


    Only the area within a hundred meters of the center of Ruo Gong Dojo was full of pits and hollows, with buildings shattered, trees broken, and the ground looked as if it had been plowed twice, terribly damaged.


    Those who knew thought it was two people fighting, those who didn''t would think two modernized armies had clashed here in street battles.


    "No help for it, this isn''t the kind of opponent who allows me to control the whole situation, can''t control the extent of the damage."


    Xue Jing casually responded while opening his panel to take a glance.


    [You have narrowly won a hard-fought battle of equals, True Martial Experience Points +2672]


    [...Aiming Experience Points +2346]


    [...Visualization True Experience Points +1688]


    [...]


    Such a rare evenly matched battle, although not long and interrupted midway, still brought a substantial gain in Experience Points.


    After closing the panel, Xue Jing looked toward Otogirusu, who had already dealt with the enforcement officers and was walking toward him.


    "Xue Jun, I''m very sorry that my humble abode didn''t allow one to fight freely; we will have to continue our contest in the ring another time."


    Otogirusu said apologetically.


    Xue Jing also knew they couldn''t fight any longer today, so he nodded at the words and said, "If that''s the case, then I shall take my leave."


    "Just a moment, Xue Jun." Otogirusu gestured with his hand to wait a moment.


    He smiled and said, "Since you''re here, please come in for a chat, perhaps try some Gyokuro tea from the Far Eastern Island... I also have something I''d like to discuss with you, Xue Jun."


    ...


    In the dojo, having his clothes slashed by Xue Jing''s Thunder Plough Hot Knife, Otogirusu had changed into a white garment and was now sitting on his heels in perfect form, performing the tea ceremony.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged across from him, watching his movements filled with a sense of Zen tranquility, and felt it was less like he was preparing tea and more like a devout follower offering incense to Buddha.


    "Please."


    Xue Jing lifted the cup emitting a faint fragrance of green tea and sipped lightly.


    He didn''t understand tea, and couldn''t say whether the taste was good or bad, only felt it was lighter than any other tea he''d had before, nothing special.


    "Suzuka, go ahead, what do you want to talk about?" Xue Jing spoke softly.


    Otogirusu smiled, not minding the somewhat teasing ''san'' that Xue Jing added when addressing him, and said:


    "Xue Jun, have you heard of... the ''Troublemaker Club''?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing''s brows slightly rose.


    Troublemaker Club?


    Youqing A Dream had indeed mentioned it to him once before, describing it as a global-scale madhouse of a terrorist organization, and had specially instructed him not to get involved with it in any way.


    Why would Otogirusu bring this up?


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing spoke up:


    "I''ve heard of it."


    Otogirusu clapped his hands and said with a smile:


    "That''s perfect... Xue Jun, I hereby sincerely invite you to join us in the ''Troublemaker Club'' and become one of us!"


    Xue Jing was stunned for a moment, looking incredulously and said:


    "Wait a minute, you''re a member of the Troublemaker Club?"


    One of the six major zaibatsus in the Far East, a noble standing at the pinnacle of the world, the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu, turned out to be a member of an international terrorist organization?


    And he just told him that, not even attempting to hide it.


    What was going on?


    Otogirusu nodded and said, "Yes."


    "...And you just tell me this, no problem?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.


    "Xue Jun, there''s nothing shameful about this."


    A gentle smile appeared on Otogirusu''s handsome face.


    "Our aim is to ''make the world more lively''... There''s a deeper meaning behind it." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...

 Chapter 373 - 222: Righteous Troublemaker, God is an OCD, Contestant No. 1 — Xue Jing (4K)

    "Oh? Let''s hear it."


    Xue Jing sipped his tea and spoke softly.


    In Wu Youqing''s words, the Troublemaker Club was an entity as fearsome as a flood or savage beast, even advising Xue Jing to have nothing to do with them lest he be stained and unable to shake them off.


    But according to Otogirusu, there seemed to be a reason why this organization was so despised?


    Although Xue Jing was more inclined to believe Youqing A Dream''s words than his, since he was here, listening wouldn''t hurt.


    "People misunderstand the ''Troublemaker''; terrorist organization, shit-stirrer, eternal children, lunatics... these descriptions aren''t wrong," he said, "but they''re not the essence."


    Otogirusu, with an elegant posture, held the teapot and perfectly performed the tea ceremony ritual, refilling Xue Jing''s teacup.


    His voice was extremely gentle, like that of a well-bred young lady whose every movement and tone were cultivated.


    Of course, he was indeed a patrician. As for being a young lady... that was debatable.


    "After ''God'' died in the New Calendar, the present world experienced countless anomalies that should not have existed, straying from its intended historical path."


    "Among these, the universally acknowledged most severe impacts were from the continually emerging ''Intersecting Boundaries.''"


    "However, in fact, compared to the Intersecting Boundaries, some things that have appeared have far more serious consequences, it''s just that they haven''t erupted yet."


    Xue Jing asked, "What things?"


    Otogirusu slowly uttered two words: "¡ªHeretic Gods."


    ''God''s'' death drew the attention of numerous Heretic Gods to this godless world. These beings, beyond human comprehension, exerted their influence on our present world through their unique methods."


    "The many existing Heretical God Cults originated from this."


    "Xue Jun, do you know why these covetous Heretic Gods do not descend directly to interfere but instead go through the trouble of creating things like the Heretical God Cult?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, indicating he didn''t know.


    He was not a true Blessed One. His knowledge of the Heretic Gods was basically gleaned from the few words Wu Youqing had mentioned, and his foundational understanding was severely lacking, let alone the deep secrets Otogirusu was now discussing.


    Otogirusu smiled slightly and said, "They do not come because they cannot come."


    "Because our world... is complicated."


    Xue Jing''s expression changed: "Go on."


    Otogirusu spoke softly: "We, born in this world, take for granted the fundamental physical laws, the seamless flawlessness of ''laws'' you might think are standard for every ''normal world''?"


    "However, that is not the case."


    He extended a slender finger and shook it.


    "Quite the contrary, our world is ''abnormal.''"


    "Within the Troublemaker Club, decades ago, there was a senior Chosen Blessed One who had deep exchanges with the Heretic God that blessed him for over twenty years... He organized and recorded all the information and knowledge he obtained from his communications with the Heretic God."


    "According to his records, that Heretic God once mentioned or expressed this sentiment."


    Otogirusu paused, then continued:


    ¡ªHe had never seen such a meticulously precise world; the creator of this world was a damn perfectionist with OCD."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, deep in thought.


    Hearing Otogirusu say this, it indeed seemed to be the case.


    Although those born in this world took it as a given, it seemed that the rules of this world were exceptionally remarkable.


    Down to the microscopic level, every particle''s collision and combination, what phenomena would occur, and what effects they would produce¡ªall were exceedingly detailed. Humans, in order to understand this world, even created ''mathematics'', a discipline just as detailed and rigorous.


    Up until ''God''s'' death, this world seemed to have never had a bug; every phenomenon had a deep principle that could be explained, and whatever was momentarily unexplainable was not due to the world being faulty but rather to human limitations.


    If ''God'' were likened to a programmer, what kind of OCD maestro would he have to be to code such a perfect program (world)?


    Humans, born in this world, take this perfect world for granted without another point of reference and never consider that their home is an extraordinarily exceptional anomaly.


    "The more rigorous and perfectly logical a world is, the less ability Heretic Gods have to affect it," Otogirusu continued.


    "In fact, if it weren''t for ''God''s'' death causing the present world to collide with the Otherworld, creating overlapping phenomena and mixing in the Otherworld laws, resulting in flaws in the previously perfect logic and laws of the present world, Heretic Gods would have been utterly unable to influence our world."


    "Even now, although the laws have flaws, the interference Heretic Gods can enact on our world is still minimal... but this is only temporary." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otogirusu''s tone remained unchanged, but due to the gravity of the content, Xue Jing still felt a serious atmosphere.


    "More and more of the Otherworlds are adjoining our world, Intersecting Boundaries keep emerging, the number of new Intersecting Boundaries increases each year... the level of pollution in the present world''s laws is also rising, and the interference that Heretic Gods can exert will also increase."

 Chapter 374 - 222: Righteous Troublemaker, God is an OCD, Contestant No. 1 — Xue Jing (4K)_2

    "What the Heretic Gods are after, we do not know, but we would do well to keep them outside our door, lest we incur irreparable consequences,"


    Xue Jing cocked his head, "So what should we do, then?"


    Otogirusu spoke softly:


    "That''s exactly what we ''Troublemakers'' are doing."


    "Raise the ''temperature'' of the entire world, make it as lively as possible, make it more complicated..."


    "Well, this might be a little hard to understand. Let''s use an analogy."


    Otogirusu thought for a moment, then said:


    "If we view the world we live in as a computer, then the interference of the Heretic Gods is like a relentless, unstoppable virus slowly invading."


    "What we are doing is making the entire computer work as much as possible, increasing the difficulty for the virus to invade..."


    "This analogy might be inappropriate, but in any case, that''s how it is."


    Xue Jing noncommittally said, "Oh? From what you''re saying, you guys are actually doing a righteous deed for the benefit of the world?"


    Otogirusu shook her head, laughing, "I have no intention of crowning myself with a hat written with the name of justice... The other members of the ''Troublemaker'' feel the same."


    "Terrorist organization, shit-stirrers, brats, lunatics... these assessments and definitions of Troublemaker are all correct, everyone in the organization is just causing trouble according to their own thoughts."


    "But just maybe, someone, for a purpose that might be called ''justice,'' has brought these lunatics together, allowing them to make an even bigger mess, more joyously."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow:


    "Hmm? And you''re inviting me because you think I''m a lunatic as well?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otogirusu shook her head, "Of course not... It''s just that some people, even if they''re not lunatics, can create havoc that is no less than that of a lunatic."


    He smiled meaningfully.


    "Xue Jun, someone has made a judgment about you, designating you as someone who will inevitably cause significant trouble."


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, "Who?"


    Which bastard was slandering him.


    He, a person so law-abiding and meticulous, how could he possibly cause any trouble.


    Wasn''t this just a pure smear?


    Otogirusu stroked his chin, "Hmm... I can''t say, but if you, Xue Jun, join us, you''ll find out immediately."


    Xue Jing stood up and slowly said, "I''ll consider it."


    "Then, we''ve had our tea and said our piece, so let''s call it a day. I will take my leave now, Suzuka."


    Otogirusu also stood up, laughing lightly, "Xue Jun, I look forward to seeing you at the arena."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Me too."


    With that, he turned and headed toward the door.


    At the doorway, the sliding door was pushed open, and Ruo Gong Taiping stood outside, bowing respectfully to Xue Jing.


    "Lord Jing."


    Xue Jing glanced at him, nodded, and, led by Taiping, walked out of the Dojo.


    On the way, Xue Jing followed behind Ruo Gong Taiping, looked at the deserted Dojo, and casually said:


    "Mr. Taiping."


    Ruo Gong Taiping paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "It''s Taiping, Lord Jing."


    Xue Jing, who couldn''t remember names due to the side effects of "Proof of Love," waved his hand, "It''s all the same."


    "Why is there no one in your Dojo?"


    "The disciples are noisy on ordinary days; I was afraid they''d disturb the young master..."


    ...


    After leaving the Dojo, Xue Jing, having nothing to do, decided to go back to Zhige Base for Martial Arts Practice.


    Yuan City was vast, more than twenty times larger than Qingcheng; Zhige Base was located in B3 District, quite far from A3 District. Even with Xue Jing''s speed, if he were to run there, it would take a long time, so he''d have to take the high-speed monorail train back.


    On the way to the train station, Miao Miao spoke:


    "What do you think about what Otogirusu said?"


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "I don''t quite believe his rhetoric, but I also don''t rule out the possibility that what he''s saying is all true."


    "So what are you planning to do? The Troublemaker Club is officially defined as a terrorist organization; are you going to call the police and arrest him?" Miao Miao wondered.


    Xue Jing waved his hand and said, "How could I possibly call the police? He is the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu, an important figure in the Far East. Just on my word, claiming he''s a member of a terrorist organization, the authorities would instead take me into custody and accuse me of harboring ill intent and causing discord in the friendly relations between the two countries..."


    Miao Miao said, "Then what do we do? Do nothing and act as if nothing happened?"


    Xue Jing said proudly, "Hmm, this is where your knowledge falls short. You can''t solve everything on your own."


    "For things you can''t handle, you entrust them to those who can."


    He reached into his pocket and took out his phone.


    "When in doubt, call Youqing A Dream."


    Miao Miao pursed her lips and uttered a light, unintelligible hum.


    Xue Jing opened his contacts, found the number saved as Wu Youqing, and dialed it.


    He didn''t have to wait long, after just two beeps, the call was answered.


    "Hello?"


    A calming and pleasant voice came from the receiver, Xue Jing wanted to banter with Wu Youqing as usual, but under the gaze of a pair of emerald, vertical pupils, he inexplicably felt somewhat guilty and refrained from doing so, simply clearing his throat and began reporting seriously:


    "BOSS, here''s the situation: I''ve just made contact with Otogirusu..."


    He detailed everything Otogirusu had said, including his membership in the Troublemaker Club and the purpose of the organization.


    After listening, Wu Youqing on the other end of the call reflected for a moment and then said:


    "I see, I understand. Whether what he said is true or not, you don''t need to deal with this matter or respond to his invitation. I''ll go verify and handle it."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I understand."


    "However, if the identity he revealed is true, then it''s a bit of bad news that the Troublemaker Club has taken the initiative to contact you."


    Wu Youqing gave it some thought, then said.


    "According to what Otogirusu claimed, there must be someone in the Troublemaker Club who can see through the ''abnormality'' on you and has taken notice of you. Whatever the reason, if you have had dealings with this organization, you''re likely to be in for a heap of trouble, so from now on, be more vigilant."


    Xue Jing replied calmly, "No problem, I''m used to it."


    He had given up resisting his knack for attracting trouble, adopting a stance of dealing with whatever came his way head-on.


    Let them all come if they dare; I''ll knock you all scatter with one punch!


    "By the way, BOSS, speaking of which, is there really an ''abnormality'' on me?"


    Xue Jing asked with puzzlement.


    Otogirusu had indicated he was designated as someone who would cause great chaos... Xue Jing was skeptical, but words from Wu Youqing always carried weight in his eyes.


    If she mentioned an ''abnormality'' on him, then Xue Jing had to take it seriously.


    Wu Youqing hummed softly and said, "We''ll talk about that later, it''s a bit complicated to explain in a short time."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Understood."


    After talking for a few more moments, Xue Jing hung up the call.


    ...


    The next day at noon, in the living room of the Zhige Base residence, Xue Jing sat on the sofa, playing a holographic video with his bracelet.


    It was a live stream, and there was a line of text at the bottom.


    [U19 Unrestricted Fighting Competition ¨C Final Draw Ceremony, Starting Soon]


    Xue Jing didn''t have to wait long, and the screen soon switched to the live scene.


    On stage, the host in a suit and tie held a microphone, overseeing the draw ceremony.


    Soon, it was time to introduce the competitors; Xue Jing''s avatar was also among them, displayed on the screen at the back of the stage.


    There was nothing special about the introductions; it was a very formulaic description of the name, style, and master of each contestant, and that was it.


    Soon, all the competitors had been introduced, and the drawing officially began.


    On stage, a burly middle-aged man in charge of the draw took a drawing ball from the box, opened it, pulled out the slip of paper inside, and unfolded it in front of the camera.


    Number one contestant¡ªXue Jing.


    ...

 Chapter 377 - 224: Miao Miao Jealous of Youqing A Dream, GOD-542 Forgotten Greatsword (4K)

    One entire afternoon, Xue Jing had been experimenting with various uses of Double Flexibility and the cooldown situation of the Twin Lifes blue bar after leveling up to Lv5.


    Each active effect of Twin Lifes had different consumption rates, but they all shared one blue bar.


    Among them, "speed" had the largest consumption. Currently, if Twin Speed were used alone, the blue bar would be depleted after about a minute, making Twin Lifes unusable.


    "Strength" came next, lasting about 100 seconds.


    "Flexibility" was next, lasting nearly four and a half minutes.


    "Defense" was close to six minutes.


    Last was "Instinctive Intuition," which was almost six minutes, similar to Defense.


    These active effects could be used simultaneously, of course, the consumption was cumulative.


    The ''blue volume'' of Twin Lifes was always in a state of recovery, which now recovered much faster than at lower levels. In a situation where the blue bar was completely empty, it would take about two and a half hours to fully regenerate.


    Compared to Lv4, the overall effect had improved significantly. Most importantly, the cooldown for passive revival was reduced by ten days. Now, after revival, it only took fifty days to revive again, which was much more lenient than the initial ninety days.


    Xue Jing''s idea of achieving unlimited revival at Lv10 seemed to be gradually coming to fruition.


    However, these were still premature considerations. Currently, Divinity was usually prioritized for use on Shadow Flame. After creating the Divine Incarnation, it would then be distributed to other skills.


    At six o''clock in the evening, as the sky darkened,


    Xue Jing looked at the battered rooftop and thought that choosing the rooftop as a training spot was a smart decision.


    If it had been inside, one such wrecking would have ruined the entire building.


    Being on the rooftop was much more convenient, at most, they would just need to lay a new floor.


    Xue Jing returned to his bedroom, took a bath, and felt refreshed, ready to go for dinner.


    At that moment, his mobile phone rang.


    He picked it up and saw it was a call from Wu Youqing, so he immediately pressed the answer button.


    "Hello? BOSS."


    Xue Jing sat down on the sofa.


    "About those matters of Otogirusu and the Troublemaker Club you mentioned yesterday, I checked thoroughly."


    Wu Youqing''s gentle and calm voice came through the earpiece, bringing a sense of tranquility that calmed the heart.


    "...He said, it''s very likely true."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "You mean?"


    "The ''Troublemaker''s'' actions, the theory that they are delaying the invasion of the Heretic God into this world." Wu Youqing explained.


    "Based on the information I gathered, starting from about sixty-three years ago, no new Heretic God Cults have appeared in this world. Over the past sixty years, incidents involving new Heretic Gods have been few and far between."


    "Since the New Calendar is just over two hundred years old, although researchers have noticed this slightly unusual situation, they thought it might be due to some cyclical rule."


    "But after I looked up information on the Troublemaker, I found that this group first appeared about sixty years ago, which precisely matches this data..."


    "It''s very likely that the decrease in Heretic God-related incidents over the past sixty years is due to their involvement."


    Xue Jing tapped the armrest of the sofa with his index finger, murmuring, Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So you''re saying, the ''Troublemaker'' organization... might actually be righteous?"


    Wu Youqing differed in opinion, she softly said,


    "No matter how noble the goal, if the process of achieving it is filthy, then it must be regarded as filthy."


    "Even if the Troublemakers'' goal really is to delay the invasion of the Heretic God, their methods are hardly something that can be termed ''in the name of justice''..."


    "However, these philosophical speculations are not important. Considering that the ''Troublemaker'' has never publicly claimed to be just, they likely don''t care about others'' opinions."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded,


    "According to Otogirusu, the members of the Troublemaker are all real terrorists, problem children, and lunatics, merely gathered by this organization for a larger scale of revelry... they indeed never thought of pretending to be just."


    Wu Youqing hummed in agreement, saying, "In that case, our policy towards them doesn''t need to change. Continue treating them like terrorists. I''ll submit this suggestion to the higher-ups."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then asked, "How should Otogirusu himself be handled? He''s a member of the Troublemaker and also qualifies as a terrorist, right?"


    Wu Youqing stated, "There''s no way to handle it... All this has only been his one-sided account unless he actually performs harmful terrorist activities endangering the public, we can only treat it as a mere joke."


    "Even if we capture him, he only needs to claim he was merely joking, albeit too extravagantly, and we can''t help but release him. Doing so might even cause an international dispute, which would be counterproductive."


    Xue Jing nodded, "So, we just leave him alone."


    "Exactly," Wu Youqing said.


    "How sensitive is this guy''s identity? Why does it feel like any trivial matter involving him could potentially lead to international disputes?" Xue Jing casually asked.


    Wu Youqing laughed, saying, "The Six Major Zaibatsu of the Far East ¨C Moon Guardian, Shenjing, Otogi, Scarlet Dream Court, Deer Palace, Tenmanya ¨C you can think of them as the Thirteen Great Families in Zhuxia, except... the Zaibatsu holds an even more exaggerated position within their own country compared to the Great Families."


    She paused, then continued, "They, are essentially the equivalents of the Far East nation itself."

 Chapter 378 - 224: Jealous Miao Miao Over Youqing A Dream, GOD-542·Forgotten Greatsword (4K)_2

    Xue Jing: "Hmm?"


    "Just like the Thirteen Great Families, the Six Major Zaibatsu are ''victors of the new era.'' Compared to the overly massive and quite complicated Zhuxia, the Far East only has two metropolises, ''Tokyo'' and ''Osaka.'' The scale of the Six Major Zaibatsu is enough to completely devour this small island nation."


    "They are the undisputed Kings of that land. Whether it''s the Prime Minister or the so-called ''Living Deity'' the Emperor, they are now nothing more than puppets raised by the Six Major Zaibatsu."


    "Therefore, as the third heir to the Otogi Zaibatsu, Otogirusu''s status is equivalent to that of a crown prince, a prince regent. We have to ensure, as much as possible, that he doesn''t suffer any mishaps in Zhuxia... Of course, all these are just according to basic diplomatic policies; he hasn''t received any special treatment."


    Xue Jing suddenly understood: "I see, I''ve been enlightened."


    Wu Youqing laughed: "You''ve extracted a rather important piece of information this time, uncovering the purpose and motivation behind the establishment of the Troublemaker Club, which counts as another merit for you."


    Xue Jing''s eyes immediately lit up, energized: "Is there a reward?"


    "Not at the moment, I''ll save it up for you," Wu Youqing said.


    Xue Jing pouted: "What''s the point in saving it up? Shouldn''t you reward me on the spot, to show how generous You are?"


    Wu Youqing snorted lightly: "I never said I was generous."


    "I don''t believe it! The wise and valiant Youqing Buddha would definitely not be stingy with a small reward. You must be an imposter. Who are you really!"


    "The wise and valiant Youqing Buddha is neither wise, valiant, nor a Buddha."


    "Hmm? You seem really dissatisfied with that title. From now on, I''ll call you Goddess..."


    "Xue Jing, it seems you''re really asking for it..."


    ...


    After chatting with Wu Youqing for nearly an hour, Xue Jing hung up the phone with a smile.


    He had just put away his phone and was about to follow his original plan to go out for dinner when suddenly, he turned his head sharply to look to the side.


    The room lights were off, and it was nearing nightfall. Only a faint light penetrated from outside the window, in the dark corner of the room, a pair of emerald-like vertical pupils stared at him eerily like two ghost fires.


    "...Teacher Wan, why are you crouching there?"


    Xue Jing cleared his throat and softly spoke.


    Miao Miao snorted lightly, her beautiful and enchanting cat face squinted, presenting an ambiguous expression.


    "Normally you''re so nonchalant towards women. It seems now that you just haven''t met one you truly like¡­ You sure had a lively chat with Boss Wu."


    Xue Jing kept his composure and smiled: "It''s a work necessity. That''s how you talk to a superior. After all, I too am a member of society..."


    Miao Miao neither agreed nor disagreed: "I''ve never seen a member of society call flirting with a superior a work necessity."


    Xue Jing walked up to her, lifted her into his arms, and petted her head as he pondered:


    "What''s this? Have you been wallowing in vinegar in that corner? As expected of a woman with an Affection Level of over two thousand towards me, that terrifying possessiveness..."


    Miao Miao''s mouth twitched: "That damn thing is definitely wrong. How could the Sect Hierarch possibly have such a high Affection Level towards you? It must be either a mistake, or you''re misreporting the situation. Affection Level isn''t calculated like that..."


    Xue Jing simply continued to gently stroke her head, his gaze warm and smiling, but he remained silent.


    Miao Miao felt increasingly uncomfortable under his gaze, feeling like a child lying to her parents, her cheeks heating up as if her parents saw through everything yet chose to be understanding.


    "Hmph!"


    In the end, she just snorted and turned her head away, no longer making eye contact with Xue Jing.


    ...


    Another day passed.


    Today was the official day of the U19 Grand Finals.


    Xue Jing woke up very early today. Before five o''clock, he had gone up to the rooftop, sat down cross-legged, relaxed his spirit, thought about nothing, and began meditating to adjust his condition.


    Today his opponent was not Zhou Yinglin or Otogirusu, but Yin Muhu.


    Out of respect for his friend, although it wasn''t very necessary, Xue Jing still decided to take it seriously and go into the match in the best condition possible. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although under the influence of True Martial, the lower limit of his condition would never fall below one hundred percent, to try to perform above one hundred percent, he still had to put in some effort.


    It wasn''t to the extent of burning incense and bathing, fasting for three days, but at least meditating in quiet contemplation was a form of respect.


    At around eight o''clock, Xue Jing opened his eyes, and a brilliant divine light burst forth from within, intensely bright.


    He stood up, walked to the edge of the rooftop, and looked down.


    He saw Ning Yuantai slowly approaching the building where he was, not far away.


    Over his shoulder, he was carrying a bundle of cloth... a door panel?


    Xue Jing was unsure about what the two-meter-long rectangular object Ning Yuantai was carrying was.


    He turned around and went downstairs, came to the main entrance, and opened the door.


    Ning Yuantai had just gotten to the doorway when he saw Xue Jing and immediately waved hello,


    "Xue, good morning!"


    Xue Jing nodded to him and replied, "Morning."


    Then, curiously, he looked at the ''door panel'' Ning Yuantai was carrying and asked, "Yuantai, what''s that thing you''re carrying?"


    Ning Yuantai patted the ''door panel'' with his other hand, producing a soft thud like tapping on a rock, and laughed, "This was just air-shipped over this morning, it''s for you."


    "Old Xu said, it was a noble person who sent it to you."


    Xue Jing questioned, "A noble person?"


    Ning Yuantai leaned in closer to him and whispered,


    "I don''t know the specifics either, I asked Old Xu but he wouldn''t tell me, so I called my family to investigate, but then my father called me and only said ''I can''t talk about it right now''."


    Xue Jing tilted his head, "What is with this riddle man act?"


    Ning Yuantai shrugged, "Who knows... However, although they didn''t tell me anything, the phrase ''can''t talk about it'' itself reveals a lot of information."


    "The only ones who would make my family stay silent like this... would be the Thirteen Great Families, and it would have to be related to the direct lines of the Thirteen Great Families."


    "Xue, you might want to think about whether you have any involvement with the direct-line families of the Thirteen Great Families?"


    Xue Jing appeared contemplative, "The direct lines of the Thirteen Great Families..."


    Youqing A Dream? Although she had never mentioned it to Xue Jing, judging by her surname ''Wu'' and her almost miraculous ability to solve any problem, she was very likely a member of a direct-line family of the Thirteen Great Families... but considering his relationship with Youqing A Dream, if she was going to send something, there would be no need for such mysterious acting.


    The only other possibility left was the Zhu Family...


    The direct line of the Zhu Family in Capital City, especially the branch that showed him great animosity, wouldn''t send him anything.


    And the animosity of the Zhu Family''s Capital City branch wasn''t without reason; Xue Jing had speculated before that it might be related to his own Teacher Zhu, Zhu Shanying.


    If his own teacher was from a branch of the Zhu Family''s direct line...


    Could it be, this item was sent by Teacher Zhu?


    Xue Jing shook his head, breaking his train of thought, and looked at Ning Yuantai, extending his hand,


    "Let''s see the item."


    Ning Yuantai took down the ''door panel'' he was carrying and handed it over to Xue Jing.


    As soon as he took it, Xue Jing felt a heaviness in his hand, which raised his eyebrows.


    With his current base Qi Force, he was able to lift objects weighing up to several tons. To feel a noticeable ''heaviness'' from this ''door panel'', it must be significantly heavy.


    Xue Jing used his other hand to unwrap the cloth covering the door panel.


    In an instant, a rustic giant sword, two meters and thirty centimeters long and nearly forty centimeters wide, appeared before him.


    The texture of the giant sword was somewhere between steel and stone, with faint rust marks and barely noticeable chips, looking like an ancient battlefield weapon that had withstood the passage of time.


    "This is..."


    Xue Jing was momentarily stunned, and as soon as his palm touched the blade, a panel automatically popped up.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]


    After seeing this prompt, Xue Jing immediately searched through the Divine Relics information in his mind and soon knew what the giant sword in his hand was.


    "GOD-542¡¤Forgotten Greatsword?"

 Chapter 379 - 225: The War Buddy Forgotten by the World, Super Arena, Are You Selling This Cat? (4K)

    [GOD-542¡¤Forgotten Greatsword].


    This is a rather special Divine Relic... Although almost every Divine Relic can be considered special, the uniqueness of the Forgotten Greatsword still ranks quite high among them.


    Because, it is one of the few relics that humans haven''t figured out its abilities to this day.


    The reason is simple, because it was ''forgotten''.


    According to the records in the Divine Relic database, GOD-542 had some kind of power in the distant past, but after that power was used, it was lost, and at the same time, everyone forgot what that power was and what its original name had been. Even all records related to it disappeared, whether they were written on paper or stored online.


    Even the records of where the information vanished could not be traced back as if the world had activated some kind of repair program that automatically corrected everything related to it, filling in all the gaps.


    The evidence is that its original Divine Relic serial number ranking had vanished... there were no gaps from GOD-001 to GOD-541.


    If there are no flaws like this, then why is the Forgotten Greatsword identified as a ''forgotten Divine Relic'' rather than a ''newly emerged Divine Relic''?


    The database records it as follows:


    [...At that time, on the battlefield of ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, faced with the newly discovered object ¡ö¡ö¡ö spoke of, countless warriors suddenly extended their hands, all pointing at its ancient blade submerged in the ground, and in unison they said: It has been here, it existed, it is an old friend of mine, our comrade-in-arms.]


    [...Afterwards, all the warriors forgot the words they had just spoken, and that scene might have been the warriors'' final stubborn resistance to some kind of ''corrective force'', or perhaps just a collective prank on a whim... Regardless, the only record suggestive of GOD-542''s past existence, I solely chronicle here]


    "..." Xue Jing gently stroked the ancient blade of the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Its body, larger than a door panel, was dotted with inconspicuous rust and nicks.


    Its edge was not sharp, quite blunt, in fact; strictly speaking, it should not be called a sword but rather a large iron chunk resembling a sword.


    The sword was two meters three in length, with a guard nearly forty centimeters wide, and a hilt of about fifty centimeters. The whole sword gave off the impression of an old general whose time was waning, but whose remaining prestige still emanated a dangerous majesty.


    "Weighing over two thousand kilograms, using this thing to chop someone is clearly overkill. If it has a purpose for which it was created, then it must be for slaying non-human entities," Xue Jing exclaimed.


    The Forgotten Greatsword had no abilities, but the five essential characteristics that Divine Relics should have were all present, which was also why it was confirmed as a Divine Relic.


    It had transfer nature, meaning even if shattered, it would reappear and even had side effects.


    Its side effect was quite peculiar.


    When the user holds the Forgotten Greatsword, their jumping height is halved.


    Simply put, if a person could normally jump fifty meters, holding the Forgotten Greatsword would reduce it to twenty-five meters.


    This reduction in height is only related to the height of the jump and has nothing to do with other factors like strength, gravity, or air resistance.


    Seeing how much Xue Jing seemed to appreciate it, Ning Yuantai scratched his head in confusion:


    "Who exactly sent this thing over?"


    "It seems rather pointless... It''s too heavy. Even for you, it should be quite difficult to use it right now," Ning Yuantai said.


    Xue Jing hummed a response, then spoke, "That''s hard to say..."


    He held the giant sword in one hand and swung it violently to the side.


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª"


    A strong whooshing of wind, Ning Yuantai''s hair immediately started dancing wildly behind him as if it would fly off his scalp at any moment, his facial skin got pushed back by the current of the sword''s swing, creating ripples, and his eyes squinted slightly because of the strong gust.


    "Hiss¡ªdamn, if someone got hit by that, it wouldn''t be a joke," Ning Yuantai gasped.


    Xue Jing felt the weight of the giant sword as he swung it with one hand, for the first time since he started martial arts practice, he felt strain with a weapon.


    Generally, a weapon''s weight should be kept at around one percent of the user''s limit of Qi Force to fully control and swing it with ease.


    But the weight of this giant sword had reached about one seventh of his base Qi Force limit.


    This is like an ordinary person swinging something close to forty kilograms... at that weight, one would be doing well just to swing it, and if held in one hand, there was even a risk of dislocating a wrist.


    Xue Jing could channel energy to enhance his strength, and his own physical strength was extremely high, so he was not the same as an ordinary person. To say whether he could use the giant sword, indeed he could.


    However, he could not perfectly control a weight of this level, so there would invariably be many flaws in its use.


    It would be fine in an overwhelming situation; a sweep of the sword blade would scatter the weak, and the concept of "one strength subdues a hundred techniques" would render any flaws irrelevant. But when facing a martial artist of the same level, these flaws could be fatal.


    So what was the intent of the ''Noble Person'' who sent the giant sword to him? Was it because they knew he liked Divine Relics and thus sent a gift to befriend him? Or were they trying to hint at something?


    Xue Jing''s gaze grew contemplative. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity Held: 893]


    At that moment, a notification popped up on the panel; Xue Jing closed it and shook his head.


    Regardless, receiving a Divine Relic is always good, and such an ''Exotic Weapon'' would undoubtedly benefit his ''Path of All Weapons Mastery''. He might as well use it for now.

 Chapter 383 - 227: Youre the Challenger, Pre-Match Interview, The Extremely Arrogant Xue Jing (4K)

    The excessive commotion outside the studio had already caught the attention of everyone nearby.


    Zhou Yinglin was the most watched competitor in this U19 Grand Final; as a disciple of the holder of the Eternal Title, every move he made was under the scrutiny of countless people.


    Various staff inside and outside the studio, the competing players, and the reporters all glanced towards Xue Jing, the sound of flashing cameras crackling incessantly as reporters excitedly captured this unexpected boon of news material.


    "That''s Xue Jing, a competitor in this U19, right? I''ve looked through some of his information, isn''t he from the Outer Ring? And he actually knows Zhou Yinglin?"


    "Sounds like there''s some bad blood?"


    "Both of their auras are just too terrifying... To be able to stand equal to Zhou Yinglin without falling short, looks like I need to do some thorough research on Xue Jing''s background when I get back. Shouldn''t there be some recordings of his matches online somewhere?"


    "Initially, I thought the champion would certainly be either Zhou Yinglin or that limitless Otogirusu, but now it''s hard to say!"


    "Come on, what does a clash of auras prove? How could an Outer Ring person compare with the distinguished ''Gun Saint''s'' disciple..."


    "Wei Junwu and Song Nanxing might have a chance too, you know."


    "If you put it that way..."


    Ignoring the whispering buzz around them, Zhou Yinglin watched Xue Jing with sharp, eagle-like eyes and said blandly,


    "You might think you''re an incredible genius because since you started practicing martial arts, all you''ve met were mediocre at best."


    "In that backwater place of the Outer Ring, you might be right, but you''ll soon realize..."


    Zhou Yinglin enunciated each word, "Genius is just the threshold to meet me."


    Xue Jing blinked, "It seems like, you''ve got a bit of a misunderstanding."


    "I didn''t join this competition for you... Think about it carefully, why are you standing here."


    He stepped forward and walked into the studio,


    "It''s not that I wanted to meet you, but rather you wanted to meet me."


    As he passed by Zhou Yinglin, he said softly,


    "Don''t get your place wrong... You are the challenger."


    Having finished, Xue Jing didn''t linger and proceeded straight into the studio.


    Jiang Siwei, coming back to her senses, hurriedly followed behind Xue Jing with her documents in tow.


    Her expression was somewhat excited.


    Although she had always thought that Xue Jing was no ordinary person and was bound to become a star player, she never expected that in such a short time, he would have already reached a level where he could clash with someone of Zhou Yinglin''s stature.


    As an agent, there was nothing more delightful than having a top-level player like Xue Jing with visible potential, still in his ''juvenile'' phase and not yet at his peak under her wing.


    The only regret was that Xue Jing was quite lukewarm about building his personal brand, making her role seem somewhat redundant...


    But now these were just minor details. As long as she could stay by Xue Jing''s side, her life was set!


    "..." Zhou Yinglin''s expression remained unchanged, merely turning his head to watch Xue Jing''s retreating figure until he was out of sight.


    Otogirusu chuckled with a twinkle in the eye, taunting,


    "Mr. Zhou, it seems that when it comes to verbal wit, you are quite outclassed by Xue Jun."


    Zhou Yinglin was nonreactive, merely replying coolly, "Martial arts aren''t fought with the mouth."


    Otogirusu, curious, "Does that mean you admit to having lost the verbal duel?"


    Zhou Yinglin had no intention of arguing and, looking at Otogirusu with slightly narrowed eyes, he said,


    "You seem quite taken with him?"


    Otogirusu grinned, "I have always liked people who are pure and strong."


    Zhou Yinglin walked out, "Then take a few more good looks at him because soon, you won''t be seeing him anymore."


    Otogirusu watched Zhou Yinglin''s retreating figure and, once he was at a distance, muttered to himself in Far Eastern, "I don''t think so."


    "...But Xue Jun is quite good-looking, indeed one should take a few more glances."


    Saying this, he turned and entered the studio.


    ...


    In the interview room, Xue Jing leaned against a blue backdrop that read ''The 37th U19 No-Limits Elite Fighting Championship Grand Final,'' sitting on a chair with a small wireless microphone clipped to his collar.


    Eight cameras were positioned all around him... There were originally only three, but as soon as the interview director laid eyes on him, he immediately gestured magnanimously and called for several more to be brought and placed in various positions.


    Jiang Siwei quietly commented to Xue Jing''s ear, "This guy''s shrewd; he knows the value of viewership."


    Xue Jing remained indifferent to this, merely declining the organizers'' suggestion to put on some makeup and sat in the interview room, quietly waiting for the interview recording to start.


    "Lights... OKOK, everything''s ready."


    "Okay, let''s begin!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the director''s signal, all cameras started rolling, and a female staffer in her twenties standing off-camera, holding a notepad, smiled at Xue Jing and said,


    "So, could you first introduce yourself to everyone?"


    Xue Jing nodded and replied, "Hello everyone, I am Xue Jing, a competitor from Qingcheng in the Outer Ring."


    The staffer admired Xue Jing''s face, praising inwardly.


    No wonder the director suddenly decided to extend the interview and ask more key questions...


    With that face, even sitting silently would ensure high ratings and views.


    She perked up, flipped open her notepad, and cheerfully began,


    "So, the first question."


    "How does Competitor Xue Jing feel about successfully advancing to the U19 Grand Final?"

 Chapter 384 - 227 You Are the Challenger, Pre-match Interview, Xue Jing at His Wildest (4K)_2

    Xue Jing tilted his head, "There''s no difficulty here, what''s there to feel?"


    He spoke the truth, and the spirit of the director in the backstage control room was instantly lifted.


    Generally speaking, professional martial artist competitors from Zhuxia are conservative and modest due to the overall social atmosphere. To please most viewers and avoid attracting haters, they are extremely cautious and modest when speaking in interviews, as instructed by their management companies and clubs.


    It was rare to encounter competitors who spoke so "bluntly."


    And the appearance of such competitors meant that the traffic was incoming!


    Whether their statements were debunked by facts later or proved that they indeed had the capability to make outrageous claims, it stoked the audience''s emotions and generated interest in the competitor.


    The director immediately grabbed the microphone by his mouth and whispered:


    "Ask him a few more questions..."


    In the interview room, a female staff member, hearing the instruction through her headphones, looked at Xue Jing with a smile, and said,


    "Second question, Competitor Xue Jing, among the participants in this final, is there anyone you particularly need to watch out for?"


    Xue Jing, understanding that the organizers intentionally wanted him to make some harsh statements, would have typically made a humble comment to save face at this moment.


    However, he didn''t rely on competing professionally for a living, didn''t care at all, and saw no need to hold back, so he didn''t bother pretending and simply said:


    "There''s no one I need to particularly watch out for; they all seem about the same."


    The female employee''s eyes brightened, "Eh... About Zhou Yinglin, you don''t need to watch out for him either?"


    "Who is Zhou Yinglin?"


    "Hehe... What about Song Nanxing then?"


    "Ah? Is there such a person?"


    ...


    As the interview progressed, Xue Jing kept making explosive statements, thrilling the staff on site.


    The viewership and playback count were going to explode this time!


    Handsome and skilled, and knows how to stir things up, who else would be hot if not him!


    "...So, the tenth question, does Competitor Xue Jing have a girlfriend?"


    The female employee asked with a hopeful look.


    Xue Jing looked at her strangely.


    "Can you ask something more substantial... and by the way, is this interview going to go on this long?"


    The female employee quickly checked the small notebook in her hand and apologized, "I''m sorry, there are just a few questions left, it''s almost done."


    "So, does Competitor Xue Jing have a girlfriend?"


    Xue Jing said speechlessly, "What do you think? No comment."


    The female employee sighed, her tone slightly reproachful, "I think it''s a question the audience is very concerned about, just answer it straightforwardly..."


    Xue Jing crossed his arms, leaned back, and chuckled without expression, then casually said, "Then yes, quite a few."


    "Eh... so perfunctory."


    The female employee said dissatisfied, feeling that Xue Jing''s response was just a cursory effort to get by.


    After a few more questions, as Xue Jing''s impatience began to show,


    "...This is really the last question."


    The female employee, under Xue Jing''s gaze, felt an inexplicable pressure in her heart, making her scalp tingle a bit.


    "Competitor Xue Jing... do you have anything to say to the other competitors?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing got up from his chair and walked leisurely to the door.


    All the cameras in the interview room followed his steps.


    "There''s an old saying in Egypt¡ª''Only two types of creatures reach the top of the pyramid, the eagle and the snail.''"


    Xue Jing said softly.


    "Don''t be disheartened; you have a chance to catch up with me. Keep it up."


    With that, he opened the door and walked out of the interview room. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scene was silent, and all the staff were stunned.


    "What... did he mean by that?"


    "Damn, I get it; he''s saying he''s the eagle, and the others are snails!"


    "Damn, that''s too arrogant, love it!"


    "I''m floored, seriously floored; whether Xue Jing wins the championship or not, his level of show-off is definitely the best in this competition!"


    "He''s clearly showing off, but he talks like he''s encouraging... absolutely ridiculous."


    The scene was buzzing with noise as the staff discussed excitedly.


    The director was even sliding on his knees in the control room celebrating.


    This was definitely a moment and a quote for the ages, the ratings were going to explode!


    ...


    "Little Jing, that was amazing!"


    Jiang Siwei excitedly hugged Xue Jing and gave him a facial wash treatment.


    "You spoke so well, now the entire focus of the finals is going to tilt massively towards you; you were born for this, amazing!"


    Xue Jing first calmed down the annoyed Miao Miao with a pat, then gently pushed Jiang Siwei away and said,


    "I was just telling the truth."


    Aside from the intent to disgust Zhou Yinglin when he said ''Who is Zhou Yinglin?'', his responses to other interview questions were genuinely in line with his true feelings, without any pandering to the audience.


    That final ''encouragement'' towards all the competitors was also a spur-of-the-moment thing.


    Being on the same stage, in the same era as someone like him who stood out so vividly, must be somewhat desperate for others.


    Xue Jing didn''t feel guilty, but he did harbor a bit of compassionate sympathy for these people... which was why he gave them those encouraging words.


    Of course, he understood that these statements might be misinterpreted by many in the short term... but he didn''t care at all.


    Not relying on this career made him that defiant; he never had to worry about things like public appeal.


    "Xue Jun."


    At the doorway of the studio, Otogirusu stood elegantly, smiling softly at Xue Jing as he approached the door.


    He stood tall and handsome, attracting the attention of passersby, both men and women, who lingered their gaze on him for a long while.


    Xue Jing nodded at him and greeted, "Suzuka."


    "Xue Jun, your speech was brilliant."


    Otogirusu praised.


    "Eagles and snails, what a perfect analogy; in this world, those who achieve great things are either geniuses with exceptional talents or relentless hard-workers, while the rest are mostly half-filled buckets shaking around, hardly making it big."


    "These people might not understand the meaning behind your words for now... but in time, once they realize and appreciate the value of that statement, they will definitely thank you."


    Otogirusu spoke softly, his eyes almost tender as he looked at Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing moved his lips slightly, feeling a bit goosebumpy, waved his hand, and said,


    "That''s an Egyptian saying; I just borrowed it... Alright, the competition is about to start soon, see you later."


    Otogirusu chuckled, "I''m really looking forward to your performance, Xue Jun."


    Upon leaving the studio, Xue Jing asked Jiang Siwei who was following behind him,


    "Wei, how long till the competition starts?"


    He was the first competitor, facing the second competitor, Yin Muhu, in the opening match.


    Jiang Siwei quickly glanced at her watch and replied, "About an hour and a half."


    "I know where Little Yin''s resting room is; we still have some time before the match, want to go see her?"


    Jiang Siwei suggested.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment then said softly,


    "No, it''s not good to disturb her now; let''s just head back to the resting room to prepare."


    Jiang Siwei had no objections, nodded, and said, "Alright."


    Once back in the resting room, Xue Jing pulled out the Green Cube from his pocket.


    This time, he merely twisted one layer of the Magic Cube with one hand and then tossed it into the air.


    A vortex of green light, resembling a wormhole, appeared in the air, swirling around. Xue Jing reached into it and slowly drew out the Forgotten Greatsword.


    He held the Giant Sword with one hand and spun a sword flower in the air, creating a huge airflow that blew all the lighter items in the dressing room around.


    "You''re going to fight her with this... isn''t it a bit much?"


    Miao Miao voiced her concern.


    Xue Jing gripped the handle of the sword, and gently leaned the blade of the Giant Sword on the ground.


    Even so, the moment it touched the ground, there was still a heavy ''thunk.''


    Xue Jing said with a smile, "Shady Girl said she had a surprise for me, I shouldn''t hold back either."


    ...

 Chapter 393 - 232: Impeccable, the Nutrient of Near-God Move, The Dragon Cult Attacks (4K)

    "Impeccable¡­ Although I don''t think much of Zhou Yinglin as a person, every time I see his Heavenly Feather Garment, it makes one sigh that this truly is the epitome of human spear skills,"


    Wei Junwu spoke with a sense of wonder.


    "Zhou Yinglin reached the ''Ten Needles and A Hundred Threads'' realm a year ago, and now he is nearing the ''Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads,'' instantly thrusting nearly a hundred spears, each one incredibly precise and exquisite, no less powerful than a deathblow. With over ten variations in a single thrust, any reaction by the opponent would still fall within his repertoire of changes." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He looked at Xue Jing beside him and said pointedly,


    "If he were your opponent, you absolutely couldn''t think of competing with him in terms of martial arts skills. Heavenly Feather Garment is the true pinnacle of Supreme Ingenuity in the realm of ''skill,'' and there''s simply no one better. Trying to find a flaw in him is impossible; you must find a way in other aspects..."


    Xue Jing did not respond.


    His eyes, indifferent with a divine silver-white hue, gradually lost their color and returned to their normal shape. Xue Jing turned his head and glanced at Wei Junwu indifferently,


    "Oh? Is that so?"


    Seeing him seemingly unimpressed and possibly harboring other thoughts, Wei Junwu became a bit anxious,


    "Old Xue, you really shouldn''t be so stubborn... I know you''re very formidable, and you didn''t give your all in the last match, but Zhou Yinglin is definitely an opponent you''ve never encountered before. Just now, he didn''t even use a third of his strength in the arena, you can''t underestimate him..."


    Xue Jing said, "I am not underestimating him."


    With that, he turned and walked toward the exit of the corridor.


    "It''s you guys... who are underestimating me."


    Wei Junwu was taken aback by Xue Jing''s last sentence, which sounded light and weightless.


    ...


    Xue Jing walked on the path leading to the resting room.


    His purpose for attending the match was to gather information on Zhou Yinglin''s martial skill ''Heavenly Feather Garment.'' Now that his goal was achieved, the other competitors'' battles were of no consequence.


    "The person behind Wei Junwu, the one who sent me the Forgotten Greatsword... Could it be Zhu or someone related to her? Or perhaps just an unknown major player who sees potential in me and wants to give me a hand?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed contemplation.


    After pondering for a long time, he shook his head.


    "This person must have good intentions, but I don''t quite like the method,"


    he said to himself.


    Many people have experienced this: something you can handle yourself and are about to resolve, and suddenly someone beside you suggests a solution.


    This ''solution'' is something you could have thought of on your own, but after being spoken by another, solving the issue seems as though it is thanks to their help.


    If the person doesn''t care about such trifles, it''s fine, but if they''re the type to seek credit, flaunting their assistance as if the entire success depended on them, it becomes thoroughly annoying.


    Xue Jing did not wish to be bound by such a ''favor'' that wasn''t a favor.


    It''s as if without the Forgotten Greatsword, without this ''hint,'' he wouldn''t be able to handle Zhou Yinglin.


    Xue Jing opened the Skill Panel and glanced at the [Combat Skills] in his regular skills column.


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    The first, ?????


    ...]


    The sublimation conditions full of question marks remained unmet, but for some reason, Xue Jing felt that the option seemed a bit clearer than before, though he wasn''t sure if it was just an illusion.


    After returning to the resting room, Xue Jing reached out and scooped up Miao Miao, who was sleeping on the couch, moving her to the side before sitting down cross-legged on the couch himself.


    He closed his eyes, and with his powerful spirit and consciousness, he brought his state of mind to a still, unperturbed level, his mind slowly sinking as he began Consciousness Simulation.


    In the Consciousness Space, endless pixels started to construct the simulated environment, quickly establishing the grand arena of the Super Arena.


    Xue Jing himself soon appeared on the stage, and with a thought, a figure with eyes as sharp as a hawk''s materialized not far in front of him.


    Xue Jing looked at ''Zhou Yinglin'' and snapped his fingers, equipping him with a Nine Chi Great Spear.


    With Lv8 [Visualization True], the created entities were almost lifelike, possessing a real sense of self. ''Zhou Yinglin'' looked at Xue Jing in front of him, his sharp gaze revealing a hint of murderous intent.


    The high Spiritual Level allowed this murderous intent to materially manifest in the outside world, distorting the air with vibration. Xue Jing immediately felt as if his exposed skin was being slowly sliced by a sharp wind blade, faintly causing pain.


    Xue Jing looked at ''Zhou Yinglin'' and said softly, "Come, do what you want to do."


    No sooner had the words left his lips than ''Zhou Yinglin'' took a step forward without any hesitation and thrust his spear like a dragon!


    Like a veil of rain, like a deluge, a cascade of spear shadows poured towards Xue Jing with ferocity.


    "Swish swish swish swish¡ª!!"


    The air screamed in agony as countless disrupted air currents twisted like many wild snakes.


    Different from Zhou Yinglin, who held back on the stage before, the ''he'' now was how Xue Jing envisioned a full-power, murderous Zhou Yinglin.


    There was no escape, no hiding, no blocking.


    As the torrent of spear shadows closed in on him, a realization dawned in Xue Jing''s mind.


    At this moment, almost any action he took would be in vain. Any defensive move, redirection, bouncing, or shock wave techniques would prove useless under this absolutely tight assault without any gaps.


    Any retaliation would be dissolved and penetrated under this pinnacle of Supreme Ingenuity, like being enveloped by a Heavenly Feather Garment from the sky above, without a single flaw.


    Xue Jing made no attempt to counter, instead standing quietly in his spot, without even the most basic Channeling Energy for protection. He emptied himself to fully comprehend the incoming impact.

 Chapter 394 - 232 Impeccable, Nourishment for Near-God Move, Dragon Cult Attacks (4K)_2

    ```


    "Ssssss¡ª"


    In an instant, he was first riddled with numerous blood holes that pierced through his body, then reduced to a pile of minced flesh, and eventually even the minced flesh was punctured into even smaller pieces.


    The next moment, countless pixel blocks whirled and combined, and Xue Jing reappeared, unharmed, on the platform.


    "...I see."


    He stroked his chin, pensive.


    "No wonder this martial art is called the supreme ingenuity among people... The difficulty is indeed extraordinary."


    The moment he was hit, Xue Jing experienced the variety of forces and the subtle changes in the Qi Energy as each spear stabbed into his body, and was truly taken aback.


    That was beyond what could be described as complex.


    Each spear thrust had energy channeling changes equivalent to that of a killer move, which was akin to solving a complex high-level mathematical problem.


    And such mathematical problems, numbering in the hundreds or thousands, came incessantly, each with their linkages, with the answer to one problem requiring the answer to another for reference, and yet another''s answer needing several other problems as references.


    The myriad changes within the complex energy channeling were all indispensable linked states, and only by combining all of the problems could the final answer be derived.


    "Such martial arts, the demand on aptitude is terrifying to the extreme..."


    "Not the physical aptitude, but the aptitude of the spirit and consciousness."


    "The required precision and calculation in channeling energy, an ordinary Martial Artist would suffer a mental overload after just two strikes."


    Xue Jing let out a slight breath.


    The incredibly complex changes in the Impeccable technique were too complex; he used his own ''death'' as a price to gain a microscopic understanding, but still, he hadn''t remembered even one-thousandth of the variations.


    This was the first time since he learned Consciousness Simulation that he had encountered such a difficult martial arts technique.


    "However... the first in supreme ingenuity among people?"


    "Seems to be a bit of an overstatement."


    "Complex as it is, it is still within the conventional range and cannot be regarded as ''the ultimate in human technique.''"


    Xue Jing clenched his fist, murmuring to himself.


    He had planned for his future martial arts a Near-God Move that could only be achieved with the absolute control of channeling energy provided by the True Martial Body.


    With the 100% error-free, stable performance of True Martial, to neutralize every martial arts move that came close.


    Any martial art in the world, even all physical damage, once it touched him, would be instantly analyzed and thoroughly understood, then completely neutralized with precisely opposite energy channeling.


    Absolute defense in the truest sense... that would be the true first in supreme ingenuity among people!


    "This ''Impeccable'' is a fortunate encounter. If I could thoroughly understand such complex energy channeling, it could greatly fill the gaps in the foundation of my ''Near-God Move.''"


    "Worthy of the top martial arts of an Eternal Title holder, the volume of martial arts knowledge it contains is terrifying."


    "Let''s continue."


    Xue Jing snapped his fingers and continued to let ''Zhou Yinglin'' come forth, aiming a torrent of spear shadows at him.


    In this way, Xue Jing, in an exaggerated manner that Zhou Yinglin couldn''t even dare to imagine, rapidly absorbed everything about the ''Impeccable.''


    When he felt his head swelling and his spirit and consciousness could hardly endure any longer, it had already been two hours later.


    Xue Jing exited the Consciousness Space and rubbed his aching brain.


    "This extreme learning method that comes at the price of dying is still too demanding on spiritual power."


    Impeccable was already difficult to learn, requiring continuous high-intensity calculation and memorization; the pain and fear brought by ''death'' were also a significant mental burden.


    Therefore, although Contemplation¡¤True had reached the high level of Lv8, Consciousness Simulation could not last too long.


    But the results were very gratifying.


    Xue Jing opened his panel to take a glance.


    [...True Martial Experience Points +1262]


    [...Weapon Strike Experience Points +1679]


    [...Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +1388]


    This was the experience gain from the panel, which was quite good for a non-combat scenario.


    The main point, however, was the learning progress of the Impeccable.


    Xue Jing estimated that he had grasped about one percent of the essence.


    The number might seem small and slow at first glance, but it was actually not the case.


    With this one percent as a foundation, his learning of the Impeccable would accelerate, creating a snowball effect, growing bigger as it rolled along.


    To completely master the Impeccable within a few days was not impossible.


    "You''re awake."


    Miao Miao yawned beside him, her eyelids drooping in a drowsy state, as she spoke.


    She stood up, stretched her front paws forward, arched her back, and raised her tail high, doing a cat stretch.


    "Looks like the competition over there has ended."


    Xue Jing picked her up and placed her on his shoulder, smiling, and said:


    ```


    "Let''s go, we''re heading back," he said.


    He picked up his mobile phone and glanced at it, skipping past the barrage of messages from Xue Wan, and opened the message from Ning Yuantai.


    [Xue, I saw you resting and didn''t dare disturb you. I''ve gone back to the car. Just come to the parking lot when you''re ready to leave.]


    Xue Jing replied with an ''OK'' emoji and then put his phone back in his pocket. He left the rest area and walked towards the exit of the arena.


    Although it had been nearly half an hour since the match ended, the audience hadn''t fully dispersed. There were still a few people lingering around the plaza outside the arena''s main gate.


    Xue Jing''s arrival didn''t attract anyone''s attention as he had initiated ''Aura Blockade,'' making his presence no different from that of a passerby.


    After stepping out of the gate, Xue Jing was about to head to the parking lot.


    At that moment, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    "...Teacher Wan, what''s wrong?"


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at Miao Miao.


    Or rather, looked at the paw that projected the gleaming silver Serpent Slayer Spearhead, making his shoulder ache slightly.


    Miao Miao, as if deep in thought, looked at its paw, then spoke in a tender young girl''s voice: "There''s something strange nearby."


    Xue Jing paused slightly and said discreetly, "Is it coming for us?"


    "Very likely."


    "If it''s targeting us and can cause the ''Serpent Slayer Spearhead'' to react..."


    Xue Jing and Miao Miao exchanged glances and said in unison, "Dragon Cult."


    "What shall we do?" asked Miao Miao.


    Xue Jing looked around at the sparse crowd, thought for a moment, and then said, "Let''s change location..."


    He took out his phone and sent a message to Ning Yuantai: [Wait a bit longer, I have something to take care of.] S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai instantly replied with an emoticon of a bowing bear, with the word OK in its caption.


    Pocketing his phone, Xue Jing lifted his foot and soared up instantly, leaping dozens of meters to the rim of the Super Arena.


    His pupils fluctuated as he swiftly surveyed his surroundings.


    Soon, off to the northwest, he spotted a large park that wasn''t crowded.


    The next moment, without any apparent movement, he vanished from the spot.


    As he left, several figures in black robes emerged from nearby cover, exchanging looks.


    "He ran?"


    "He won''t get away; the ''Technique'' has locked on him... That cat on his shoulder is Qingcheng''s branch Sect Hierarch, Ning Fengwan."


    "Remember, we need a live capture, try not to hurt her."


    "She could potentially become the ''Holy Mother'' in the future."


    "Let''s go, catch up with them..."


    After a brief exchange, the shadowy figures followed their leader and sped off towards the northwest.


    ...


    The sky gradually darkened, as night slowly enveloped the heavens.


    In Yuan City, Zone B9, Dream Marsh Park.


    A figure descended like a falling star to the center of the park.


    Despite his incredible speed and momentum, his landing was almost silent. Landing on the grass, it made only a faint rustling sound, as if weightless.


    "Time to prepare for battle..."


    Xue Jing snapped his fingers.


    From the shadows, countless black streams converged, wrapping around him in a magnificent display of Shadowflame Wrap Armor, even Miao Miao was adorned in a suit of Dark Flame Cat Armor.


    Then, he took out a black walnut-sized Dragon Cherry Seed and tossed it to the ground.


    Since he wasn''t sure of the Dragon Cult members'' combat strength, he was preparing to go all out.


    The Dragon Cherry Seed rooted itself into the ground, quickly burrowing in, and after a while, black roots emerged from the soil, soon forming a large black cherry tree.


    The tree branched out endlessly, with Silver Cherry Blossoms blooming on it, a sight of breathtaking beauty.


    This Dragon Cherry tree wasn''t huge and blended with the rest of the trees in the park as if it had always been there.


    Xue Jing, eyeing the several small black dots swiftly approaching in the distant sky, muttered to himself:


    "As per tradition, a welcome gift is in order."


    He looked around for a target and his eyes soon brightened when he found a prime piece of rock.


    ...

 Chapter 401 - 236: Furnace Noble Species, Abundant Divinity,

    The alarm blared throughout the museum, and the staff was urgently evacuating the crowds.


    In the Flame Habitat Species exhibit, in front of a shattered glass window, a girl from the Arctic Federation named Sofia held a crab nearly one meter in length. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crab had a crimson shell, its entire body covered in blazing flames, with four claws and twelve legs, its eyes protruding outside of its body, the shell resembling a puffed-up loaf of bread.


    Sofia seemed unaffected by the temperature of the crab''s flames, hoisting it into the air by its claw.


    "Sofia Alexandra Yevna,"


    "what on earth do you want to do?"


    Otogirusu spoke softly.


    With her hand fan, Sofia lightly traced the crab''s body, neither quickly nor forcefully, and the fan was not sharp at all.


    Still, the once lively crab suddenly stiffened, a fine slit appearing in its middle, and the two halves of its body slowly slid apart, the cut astonishingly smooth.


    The fragrant scent of crab meat and roe filled the air, the flames on the crab ceased, and the innately cooked plump crab meat and roe shone with an appetizing luster.


    Breaking off a crab leg, Sofia brought out a large chunk of crab meat and started slurping it up.


    While slurping the crab, Sofia leisurely said,


    "Didn''t I say, the main purpose was to eat crab... Indeed, freshly-killed food is more delicious, have some yourself."


    She handed half of the Flame Crab to Otogirusu.


    The latter didn''t take it, nor did he speak, just gazed at her gently and without any hint of aggression.


    Sofia, feeling uneasy under his silent stare as she slurped the crab, sighed,


    "There''s also a minor matter I came for."


    She sat down on a chair, legs crossed, her ample thighs stacking up.


    "This museum recently acquired a rare item..."


    Sofia raised her right hand, which had a silver bracelet around her slender wrist.


    The bracelet emitted a light, forming a holographic photo in the air.


    In the photo was a person whose entire body had a black, transparent, crystalline texture.


    Otogirusu''s narrow, alluring eyes narrowed slightly, and he uttered the name of the creature in the photo softly,


    "A Furnace Noble Species..."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    An explosion suddenly occurred inside the glass window; numerous flaming materials were ejected outside, and Otogirusu, without looking back, extended his right hand, erecting an invisible wall of Qi Force that blocked all the flaming materials aimed at him.


    "Oh? It looks like that boy must have encountered it, based on this commotion," Sofia said casually.


    "By the time I finish this crab, he''ll probably have been killed by that Furnace Noble... It''s a pity really, such a good-looking fellow, and he seems to fit our ''Troublemaker'' philosophy, but still, too young."


    "When he dies, I''ll take that Furnace Noble with me. It''s too rare, one of the few Flame Inhabiting Creatures that can resist ''Sky Ice'' erosion, and there''s a big demand for it back in our Arctic Federation... Little Suzuka, you won''t stop me, will you?"


    Sofia said, smiling mischievously.


    Otogirusu shook his head, "I have not been so presumptuous as to imagine I could stop you to such a degree..."


    Sofia seemed somewhat disappointed, "You''re so boring."


    Otogirusu laughed nonchalantly, in a gentle tone,


    "But you probably won''t be able to take the Furnace Noble with you."


    Sofia made a curious noise, "Why''s that?"


    "You underestimate Xue Jun." Otogirusu looked towards the glass window.


    But the view was obscured by a massive amount of burning flames, and it was impossible to see what was happening inside.


    "The one who will be killed isn''t him, but that Furnace Noble."


    Sofia snorted, noncommittal, "You must be well aware of what a Furnace Noble entails; you should know even you couldn''t make such a thing happen at this point... The guy seems younger than you, too."


    Otogirusu pondered for a moment, "Actually, I don''t have any basis for that... but my gut tells me so."


    "From the first moment I saw Xue Jun, I had the feeling... he was invincible in battle."


    Sofia said with interest, "Your intuition has always been accurate, this could make things interesting..."


    ...


    The ground was enveloped in roaring flames, the earth itself formed by flowing black magma, with Xue Jing clad in Shadowflame Wrap Armor and wielding the Forgotten Greatsword, standing amidst it all, looking around.


    The hundreds of degrees of temperature did not affect him due to the isolation of the Shadow Flame, the only issue being the oxygen was too thin.


    Since entering the Flame Habitat Species exhibit, he had killed a total of twelve Flame Inhabiting Creatures, but only three of them possessed Divinity.


    The combined Divinity of the three was around three hundred points.


    The yield was quite satisfactory.


    He hadn''t ventured too deep but moved back and forth in an area not far from the glass window, only killing those Flame Inhabiting Creatures that approached, attempting to escape through the breach.


    After all, he was just farming for Divinity; there was no need to let these creatures escape and endanger ordinary people.


    Even though it was the young girl with the fluffy hair who broke the window, Xue Jing had simply sped up the process... but if he let the Flame Inhabiting Creatures slip out and start a killing spree, he would still bear 2% of the responsibility.


    It didn''t constitute much of a psychological burden, but it was better avoided nonetheless.


    Another creature enveloped in raging flames roared as it charged towards him, Xue Jing couldn''t even make out its shape, nor did he bother to look, swinging the Giant Sword in his hand and extinguishing countless flames, while accurately striking at the approaching creature.

 Chapter 402 - 236: Furnace Noble Species, Abundant Divinity, _2

    "Boom¡ª!"


    Blood and flesh splattered as the monster was smashed into pieces, dead on the spot.


    [Killed a Divinity imbued special creature, Divinity +109]


    It was a decent harvest, Xue Jing''s spirit was uplifted.


    Soon, he would gather the earnings of either a Divine Relic or a Blessed One.


    Silver-white divine pupils pierced through countless flames, scanning the surroundings.


    The screams of dying Flame Inhabiting Creatures seemed to act as an awakening, making many monsters aware of the dangers of approaching this area.


    Xue Jing waited for quite a while but saw no new Flame Inhabiting Creatures coming this way.


    Just as he was considering whether to delve deeper,


    a pitch-black figure, treading on the burning magma, slowly walked towards him.


    Where it passed, the flames split aside like the parting of the Red Sea, seemingly frightened and avoiding it as if in terror.


    "Boom¡ª!"


    In an instant, an overwhelmingly tangible pressure shook the air and pressed towards Xue Jing.


    The surrounding flames flickered and jumped, bowing down as if they were medieval peasants before a noble.


    Xue Jing slightly squinted his eyes, looking at the humanoid creature approaching.


    Standing close to three meters tall, it looked like a small giant, its entire skin composed of black transparent crystals. Through its surface, countless thin circuits could be seen inside, resembling blood vessels, except what flowed was not blood but red-hot magma.


    The Black Crystal Giant had facial features similar to humans, but where its eyes should be, there were round rubies continually wavering like ocean waves. Through its transparent ''skin,'' countless magma nerves connected these two gems.


    As Xue Jing watched, the Black Crystal Giant slowly opened its mouth, emitting a sound like a steaming machine, with copious black smoke billowing out continuously.


    "Looks like a heavyweight... interesting," Xue muttered.


    This oppressive force was similar to the Guardian Dragons of the Pureblood Dragon Species he had encountered at the Intersecting Boundaries.


    The Black Crystal Giant seemed to feel the dangerous aura from Xue Jing as well; it halted, slightly raising its right hand.


    On the ground, countless streams of black magma surged and gathered in its palm, slowly forming a sword over five meters long, similar in shape to the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Then, beneath its transparent skin, countless magma circuits suddenly brightened, starting to flow at an accelerated rate, and its dark exterior began to emit a red glow.


    The Black Crystal Giant''s legs slightly bent as it crouched.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    It vanished from the spot, and the next instant, appeared in front of Xue Jing, with the black magma greatsword mere inches from Xue Jing''s face.


    As the Black Crystal Giant made its move, Xue Jing moved simultaneously.


    With the Twin Speed activated, he crouched down at an incredible speed, dodging the ominous-looking heavy strike, the Forgotten Greatsword in his hands switching to a two-handed grip.


    Whirlwind Thunder Force activated, spiral indentations appeared on his arms, and after spinning around, he performed a backward slashing strike, gathering Qi Force and forcefully smashing it against the waist of the Black Crystal Giant.


    "Bang-Crack¡ª!!"


    A dull impact mingled with a crisp sound of crystals shattering; the upper body of the Black Crystal Giant was violently smashed into a highly distorted and exaggerated arc.


    Yet, this strike that could have sent a tank flying did not break him, nor did his feet leave the ground!


    Seeing this, Xue Jing immediately realized that the thing''s physical resistance was absurdly high.


    With a thought, a Lightning Dragon Horn grew on his forehead, silver-white thunderbolts flickering on the Forgotten Greatsword, spreading through the blade to the Black Crystal Giant.


    Under the wrap of Dragon Thunder, a twenty-fold gravity pressed down, slightly halting the Black Crystal Giant''s ongoing move.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xue Jing pulled out a Dragon Cherry Seed, pressing it against its chest.


    From the walnut-sized seed, countless thick black roots immediately extended, tightly binding the Black Crystal Giant, wrapping it completely with not a single gap exposed.


    The life force-sucking characteristic of the Dragon Cherry began to take effect, attempting to drain the life force from the Black Crystal Giant.


    But right away, Xue Jing didn''t feel any life force flowing into the Dragon Cherry.


    "This thing... has no life force?"


    Xue Jing furrowed his brows.


    At that moment, the roots of the Dragon Cherry that bound the Black Crystal Giant started to tremble incessantly, making cracking noises like breaking wood.


    Xue Jing raised the Forgotten Greatsword above his head, numerous black currents twirling around the blade, coating it with a black sheath.


    Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood all moved in unison, his lungs using up half of their stored oxygen.


    "Mystique ¡¤ Awakening of Insects."


    With a terrifyingly explosive force, he struck down with the power to split Mount Hua.


    Along the way, all the currents were stirred aside, and the ground, originally ablaze with fierce flames, suddenly cleared into a circular vacuum zone several tens of meters in diameter as Xue Jing''s strike landed.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    A loud explosion. The roots of the Dragon Cherry offered no resistance, turning into wooden dust and debris upon contact, and the Forgotten Greatsword smashed unreservedly onto the head of the Black Crystal Giant.


    "Crack¡ª¡ª"


    The crystalline head burst apart, magma-like blood scattered everywhere, and the giant continued downward, cleaving through the neck, chest, abdomen...


    It almost split the Black Crystal Giant in half before the explosive force was spent, and then it stopped.


    Xue Jing opened the Skill Panel for a glance and saw no notification of having gained Divinity from the kill.


    This situation meant either the thing in front of him had no Divinity or it was not yet dead.


    And clearly, something that even he had to exert full effort against was unlikely to lack Divinity.


    Without hesitation, Xue Jing immediately raised the Forgotten Greatsword again, channeling all the remaining oxygen in his lungs into his body, and unleashed the Mystique ¡¤ Awakening of Insects once more, slashing towards the remaining body of the Black Crystal Giant. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    The remaining lower body turned to shreds under this strike.


    Only fist-sized fragments of the Black Crystal remained scattered across the ground.


    Xue Jing snapped his fingers, countless black currents converged, turning into a Dark Flame, which fell upon the scattered fragments, slowly burning them to Annihilation.


    The fragments of the Black Crystal Giant occasionally twitched as if trying to recombine, but each time Xue Jing, who kept a vigilant watch, smashed them down with the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Gradually, under the continuous burning of the Shadow Flame, all fragments slowly faded to nothing.


    Only then did a notification pop up on the Skill Panel.


    [Killed a special creature containing Divinity, Divinity +1237]


    Seeing this notification, Xue Jing finally breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand to disperse the Dark Flame.


    As the oxygen stored in his lungs was depleted, he could no longer persist in this place. Seeing a considerable harvest and not being greedy, he turned and dashed towards the outer world.


    ...


    Outside the glass window at this moment, Ning Yuantai had somehow moved next to Sofia and Otogirusu, holding a crab claw of the Flame Crab in his hand, gnawing at it. While gnawing, he waved his hand boastfully like a middle-aged man boasting at a dinner table:


    "Big Sister Sofia, you don''t know how fierce my Xue is."


    "Know about the Pureblood Dragon Species, how formidable it is? You guess what, it was killed on the spot by Xue."


    "Just a mere Furnace Noble Species, unless it is in a highly dense special mining area, in front of Xue, it''s just one punch per piece!"


    No sooner had the words ended than a figure suddenly leaped from the flames inside the glass window.


    After shedding the Shadowflame Wrap Armor, looking as if he had just gone to the restroom, Xue Jing arrived in the outer world virtually unscathed.


    He blew lightly to extinguish a small flame that had landed on his shoulder, brushed off the ashes from it, looked at the three people who were staring at him in surprise and smiled:


    "Ran into a bit of trouble, but it''s sorted now."


    ...

 Chapter 403 - 237 Otogirusu: Xue Jun, You Are the Happiness of My Life! (4K)

    For Xue Jing''s unscathed return, Ning Yuantai was the least surprised.


    He immediately raised his hand ¡ª still holding a half-eaten crab claw ¡ª and greeted,


    "Xue, you''re back. Did you encounter a Furnace Noble Species in there?"


    Xue Jing, holding his right wrist with his left hand, rotated his palm to relieve the strain from using the Forgotten Greatsword a bit too forcefully just now and casually asked,


    "Furnace Noble Species? What is that?"


    He actually had a faint recollection of the name.


    Previously, during a visit to Youqing A Dream, he seemed to recall that the cover of the book she was holding read "Furnace Noble Species."


    That must refer to the Black Crystal Giant he just encountered.


    "That''s a special creature from a unique Intersecting Boundaries."


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    After a pause, he added uncertainly, "Or perhaps it should be called a special... ''person''?"


    "Person?" Xue Jing was slightly puzzled, thought for a moment, and then asked,


    "Do you mean that thing is a Primate? That can''t be right."


    Softly, Otogirusu Suzuka interjected, "No, Xue Jun."


    "The Furnace Noble Species is not a member of the Primates, and it doesn''t even share the most fundamental and basic classification with us... it is a silicon-based life form."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, just like the ''Living Crystal Species,'' the raw material of ISE."


    No wonder he couldn''t absorb its Life Force with Dragon Cherry.


    It seems that this silicon-based life form either does not possess this thing called Life Force or the Life Force is fundamentally different from that of carbon-based life forms, thereby making it unabsorbable.


    "It is referred to as ''person'' because in its native world, it holds a position in nature similar to humans and also possesses cognitive abilities like humans, even developing its own racial heritage and civilization..."


    "Therefore, we regard it as a higher species compared to the typical creatures of Intersecting Boundaries, calling it ''Furnace Noble Species.''"


    Otogirusu Suzuka asked curiously, "Xue Jun, did you encounter a Furnace Noble Species in there? And you defeated it?"


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "It was quite difficult. I expended a lot of effort and finally managed to kill it... "


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai proudly slurped his crab claw and said, "I knew it, just a Furnace Noble Species is nothing but a punchbag in Xue''s hands..."


    "Wait a minute."


    He felt he might have misunderstood a word, so he continued to ask, "Xue, you said you killed it?"


    Xue Jing glanced at him, "What about it?"


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Ah? You really killed it?"


    Xue Jing hummed, "It was quite difficult. I had to smash it several times, and it still wouldn''t die. In the end, I used a special method..."


    Upon these words, not only Ning Yuantai, but even Sofia showed surprise.


    "Xue, as expected of you..."


    Ning Yuantai gave a thumbs-up.


    "A Furnace Noble Species can control and transform its own body, treating any silicon-containing material as its parts to smelt and install onto itself."


    "Each Furnace Noble Species has different preferences, smelting different silicon-containing materials onto their bodies, hence the significant difference in strength."


    Sofia looked at Xue Jing and said slowly.


    "For instance, the Lava Noble Species in there likes magma... That''s also why this museum can''t restrain it, yet it still chooses to stay here."


    "As long as there is silicon-containing material around, these creatures can continuously replenish their bodies, even if they are destroyed, they will recover, and not die even if only a fingernail-sized piece is left." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "With your current martial realm strength, you should not be able to kill it... So you must be a Blessed One with a special attack-type God-Given Secret Art."


    Sofia fanned herself with her folding fan, glanced towards Otogirusu Suzuka, and sighed,


    "Your intuition was more accurate... It''s a miscalculation, had I known, I would have directly gone in to grab it."


    "Never mind, the main goal was to eat crab, and having done that is good enough."


    At this moment, a group of security officers clad in wide special explosion-proof suits, holding various weapons, quickly approached from the end of the hallway.


    Seeing this, Sofia waved her hand, "Let''s slip away, Little Suzuka, please take care of the aftermath."


    Otogirusu Suzuka bowed slightly to her and said in Russian, "It would be my honor, Sofia Alexandra Yevna."


    As soon as she finished speaking, the woman from the Arctic Federation named Sofia disappeared on the spot.


    Xue Jing, who had been mostly focused on her, hadn''t even noticed how she had left.


    "Xue Jun, leave the rest to me. Could you please wait for me at the museum entrance for a bit? I have a few more things I would like to talk with you about."


    Otogirusu Suzuka turned to Xue Jing and spoke softly, her tone as gentle as if whispering sweet nothings to a lover.


    Although Xue Jing was slightly put off by her, since she could help him avoid the trouble of explaining himself to the museum, he saw no harm in agreeing to her small request of ''a few more words,'' so he nodded in agreement.


    And so, Otogirusu Suzuka stayed to ''explain'' what happened and handle related matters with the museum staff, while Xue Jing and Ning Yuantai left the museum and came to the main entrance.


    "I didn''t expect this kind of trouble. Who exactly is that Sofia woman? I don''t know why, but I didn''t even dare to speak too loudly in front of her."


    Ning Yuantai commented reflectively.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment with a somewhat odd expression, "...I think she might have quite a history with you."

 Chapter 404 - 237 Otogirusu: Xue Jun, You Are the Happiness of My Life! (4K)_2

    Although Sofia Alexandra Yevna did not personally admit it, considering her close relationship with Otogirusu and her rather unrestrained manner of conduct, there''s a high possibility that she''s a member of ''Troublemaker''.


    And ''Cease-Blades,'' to which Ning Yuantai belongs, seems to be archenemies with ''Troublemaker,'' according to Youqing A Dream''s description...


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai raised an eyebrow, "Is that so! I think so too, I always have a strangely familiar feeling about her, very familiar."


    The two chatted idly at the entrance, and it wasn''t long before an elegant and slender figure emerged from the museum.


    It was none other than Otogirusu.


    "Xue Jun."


    He walked out of the main entrance and lifted his hand to greet Xue Jing.


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai said, "Xue, I''ll go back to the car and wait for you first."


    Xue Jing nodded, and Ning Yuantai left immediately.


    "Suzuka, what did you want to talk to me about?"


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, as Otogirusu, who had walked up to him, approached.


    Otogirusu smiled gently and said, "Xue Jun, you''re so cold to me... Is it because with my strength, I''m unable to ignite your passion?"


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched slightly, "...Actually, there are other reasons too."


    "Other reasons?" Otogirusu tilted her head in puzzlement.


    "Forget it, it''s my fault for not being able to arouse Xue Jun''s will to fight," she said with a shake of her head.


    "Xue Jun, my intuition has always been very accurate since I was young."


    Otogirusu took a few steps forward.


    "It doesn''t matter who it is, within the first glance of meeting someone, I can generally sense what kind of person they are, or even their strength, potential... these intangible things."


    "Xue Jun, do you know what I felt when I first saw you?"


    Xue Jing replied nonchalantly, "Oh? What feeling?"


    Otogirusu turned back to look at him, her eyes burning with an intense fighting spirit, but perhaps because of her exceedingly soft features, it strangely came off as somewhat tender.


    "I can''t win against this person... Absolutely can''t, no matter what, I just can''t come out on top."


    "Do you understand this feeling, Xue Jun?"


    Xue Jing, with arms crossed, shook his head, "I don''t understand."


    Otogirusu smiled gently, "Then let me put it another way... Xue Jun, do you know what kind of game is the most boring?"


    This time, without waiting for Xue Jing''s response, she continued:


    "The game where everything is prepared for you, where you can easily win without any effort, a game with no challenge at all, is the most boring."


    "As the heir to one of the Far East''s Six Major Zaibatsu... I have no complaints about my birth and I''m quite grateful, but in this world, there''s no such thing as an absolutely good or bad thing, everything has two sides."


    Otogirusu said softly, "I was born with almost everything... but for that same reason, I nearly lost everything as well."


    "The sense of achievement, fulfillment, or gratification... My efforts were meaningless, anything could be easily obtained, meaning there was no corresponding level of joy or happiness in obtaining anything."


    "Others might see it as being pretentious... but this is indeed how I truly feel."


    "Because of that, I eventually fell in love with ''Old Martial Arts''... It''s one of the few things I had to achieve through my own efforts."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Hmm... I somewhat understand." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otogirusu continued with a smile, "However, as you also know, even in the realm of ''Old Martial Arts,'' where personal talent and effort are paramount, the influence of resources is critically important. I had the best teachers, the most essential martial arts, the finest medicines... and very quickly, I surpassed everyone who had started with me."


    "The satisfaction of victory can only be achieved by overcoming strong opponents; no one feels proud of stepping on an ant."


    "From childhood to this day, all the people I''ve met were either ''those I could beat'' or ''those I would eventually beat''..."


    "But you, only you, Xue Jun."


    Otogirusu clenched her hand into a fist, trembling slightly.


    "The moment I saw you, before I even thought about it, my instincts had already accepted defeat. I can''t win, absolutely can''t, and won''t be able to in the future either."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    "But... that''s exactly why it''s perfect!"


    Otogirusu''s tone also shook with excitement.


    "A challenge that is absolutely insurmountable, something I''ve never encountered in my entire life!"


    "If... If I could achieve what should absolutely be unachievable, the sense of accomplishment, the satisfaction... that would be such immense happiness!"


    "Xue Jun, you are the happiness of my life!"


    "..." Hearing the tender words, even more beautiful than a woman''s, from Otogirusu Suzuka, Xue Jing shuddered.


    "This..."


    He looked hesitant.


    He probably understood what Otogirusu Suzuka meant, but the way it was said... was way too overwhelming.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat, "Suzuka, I also want to ask you a question."


    Otogirusu Suzuka looked at him tenderly and said, "Please, ask."


    "Well... you''re straight, right?"


    Xue Jing asked very directly.


    Upon hearing this, Otogirusu Suzuka was slightly startled, then smiled and said, "I like the opposite sex."


    Xue Jing sighed in relief, "That''s good..."


    But before he could fully relax, the next words from Otogirusu Suzuka made him tense up.


    "However... if the object of affection was Xue Jun, I could consider being ''Dual Wielding''..."


    Otogirusu Suzuka had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, and he involuntarily took a few steps back, "No... that won''t be necessary, please stick with ''one sword'' only."


    Seeing Xue Jing, who was usually very composed, now slightly flustered by his words, Otogirusu Suzuka laughed heartily, her laughter crisp and pleasant to the ear.


    "Hehehe... It seems I''ve found Xue Jun''s weakness. I can use this in the future."


    Xue Jing sighed, "Stop it, you win, I''m scared of you now, no more of this."


    After Otogirusu Suzuka toned down her laughter a bit, Xue Jing asked:


    "By the way, who exactly is that woman from the Arctic Federation?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka replied, "Are you interested in her, Xue Jun? She''s one of our ''Troublemakers''..."


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Not particularly interested... I''m just curious about how she left earlier; I couldn''t tell at all how she disappeared."


    Upon hearing this, Otogirusu Suzuka smiled knowingly, "I see... Indeed, that method is not ordinary, no wonder you were curious, Xue Jun."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Actually, she didn''t ''leave'' but ''vanished''."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion, "Oh?"


    "Sofia Alexandra Yevna... She is the last remaining Grand Duchess of the Arctic Second Federation, the only ''Noble'' with a title of her own." Otogirusu Suzuka smiled.


    "The one we saw just now... Strictly speaking, was actually not her herself, but a kind of ''Clone'' existence."


    "She simply made this ''Clone'' disappear..."


    Xue Jing murmured in reflection, "I see..."


    ...


    Xue Jing didn''t chat with Otogirusu Suzuka for too long and soon bid farewell and left.


    After learning the source of Otogirusu Suzuka''s inexplicable warmth towards him, he breathed a sigh of relief... but not completely.


    The comment about potentially being ''Dual Wielding'' still left a shadow in Xue Jing''s heart, causing him to not want to be alone with Otogirusu Suzuka.


    "However, this guy''s ''intuition'' is almost like cheating."


    "Isn''t that almost the same as ''predicting the future''?"


    Thinking of Otogirusu Suzuka''s description of his intuition, Xue Jing shook his head.


    This was already verging on the realm of superpowers.


    It seems that he needs to be careful about this in the future when they meet in the arena.


    After gaining some Divinity at the museum, Xue Jing wasn''t in the mood to continue shopping and asked Ning Yuantai to drive him back to Zhige Base.


    Back at the villa, Xue Jing opened the Skill Panel and, looking at the [2530] Divinity displayed, fell into deep thought.


    ...

 Chapter 409 - 240: Aura Development, Conquerors Haki, Wu Youqing: Stop Taking Advantage of Me (4K)

    The commentator maintained excellent professionalism, his voice still rippling with passion.


    However, the intimidating spiritual pressure exerted by Xue Jing as he entered the arena, as well as the tragic state of his opponent right after the match, lent an eerie atmosphere to the entire scene.


    The audience was silent, exchanging looks, and their eyes followed the young man''s retreating figure as he walked into the player''s tunnel.


    After a while, scattered applause began to sound.


    With the emergence of applause, more and more people began to clap, the sound gradually growing louder.


    Soon, more than half of the audience was applauding.


    Although a significant portion of spectators remained motionless, the noise from over half of the two hundred thousand spectators was overwhelming, almost causing the whole Super Arena to subtly tremble.


    "He''s incredibly strong... this kind of oppressive feeling, he''s like a ''Great Demon King!''" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What Conqueror''s Haki... this kind of spirit that suppresses the entire arena, I doubt even Zhou Yinglin could do it?"


    "Dai Zongnian was a disciple of a Martial Saint, and it seemed in previous matches he was quite powerful, having a good chance of making it to the top eight. I didn''t expect him to be killed in an instant..."


    "Even Xue Jing didn''t bring that huge Door-plank Sword he carries, killing with bare hands instantly!"


    "He must have been holding back in his last match, probably because Yin Muhu is his friend!"


    "I have seen his past match videos on the old network, his primary weapon is definitely a longsword, and he has one particularly powerful Ultimate Skill. It means he still hasn''t used his full strength!"


    "No wonder he was so bold in the interview, how can there be someone so good-looking and powerful... I''m a fan now, maybe he really could defeat Zhou Yinglin!"


    "Come on, though he looks powerful, he still lacks one or two levels compared to Zhou Yinglin. There''s a fundamental difference in the martial arts schools they practice, ''Impeccable'' is simply too strong..."


    The audience was abuzz with discussions, while on stage, the medical team was administering emergency care to Dai Zongnian.


    In the players'' viewing area, groups of familiar competitors gathered in twos and threes, their gazes flickering.


    "Something''s not right, very much or overwhelmingly not right!"


    "What level has his Spiritual Level reached? Why can he manifest this almost materialized oppression? Even Zhou Yinglin can''t achieve this!"


    "There must be something strange... It''s one thing to suppress ordinary people, but at that moment, even I felt dazed for a second!"


    "Is this a martial arts practice that induces some kind of mutation in spiritual power? If so... wouldn''t that be a Forbidden Skill?"


    "He passed the pre-competition health check, and his Mutation Rate must be below 1%, this suspicion is unnecessary..."


    "Then what is it?"


    "Perhaps it''s a matter of ''willpower''? I''ve heard that people who possess extremely strong beliefs in certain areas can sharpen their consciousness, unleashing greater power at the same levels..."


    "Maybe Xue Jing wasn''t just showing off during the pre-match interview; perhaps he genuinely feels invincible... This might be why his spiritual power is exceptionally strong."


    "Did you see his move, the way he moved? Those colorful residual beams are not optical reflections on a physical level but directly affect our consciousness, causing us to see illusions!"


    "Incredible, what level has he achieved in harnessing his spiritual power..."


    Compared to the audience, the competitors, who were Professional Martial Artists, discussed more technical aspects.


    Unaware of the spectators'' thoughts, Xue Jing walked back to the backstage through the player''s tunnel, heading towards his resting room unhurriedly.


    "Hmm... I may have gone a bit too hard."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    He had found the noisy audience somewhat annoying and decided not to waste time, quickly settling matters.


    Although Dai Zongnian did have some skills, Xue Jing couldn''t just casually finish it quickly, so he decisively used the ''Thunder Plough Hot Knife'', an overwhelmingly powerful attack that crushed all of the opponent''s defenses, killing him instantly.


    Although he pulled back at the last moment, he still caused severe injuries.


    However, in martial arts competitions, such degree of injury is within the normal range and is not considered excessive.


    "Compared to this..."


    Xue Jing opened his panel to check the prompt on his Experience Points gain.


    [Your Spiritual Aura intimidated the entire arena, Meditation¡¤True Experience Points +1268]


    [Meditation¡¤True advances to Lv9 (389/13000)]


    Visualization True had leveled up.


    This skill, born under the influence of ''Hundred Feet Pole''s Top'', had helped him immensely, and there were still many functions he had yet to uncover.


    "Visualization True has transformed my consciousness, giving a substantial quality to my originally intangible spiritual power... When I get serious and deliberately project it outward, this substantial oppression could also be a very good application..."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, pondering.


    "This is still just a targetless projection. If I can find a way to concentrate it, focusing on oppressing a few or even just one person, it should be enough to produce effects similar to the Conqueror''s Haki, directly stunning or even killing someone."


    "Worth developing..."


    Xue Jing extended his right hand, palm open, and silently channeled his Qi Force.


    Pale golden Qi Force poured out from his palm under his control, gathering together, and under the constraint of spiritual power, it slowly took shape, forming a ten-centimeter-tall pale golden figure.


    With Visualization True at Level 9, combined with True Martial, deploying his Qi-powered avatar became even more effortless.


    Xue Jing tossed the Qi-powered avatar in his hand.


    Following a parabolic path, the small figure performed several aerial flips, landing agilely on the corridor floor twenty meters away from Xue Jing''s physical body.

 Chapter 413 - 242: The Collision and Conflict of Thoughts, A Mouse into the Rice Jar,

    Ning Yuantai curled his lips and said,


    "Take a good look, that''s no ordinary cat..."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Mude carefully examined the cat sitting on Xue Jing''s shoulder, his gaze eventually resting on the platinum tail ring encircling its fluffy tail.


    "Is that... GOD-1391?"


    "So, this cat is a person, huh? I didn''t expect this thing to appear here. Hasn''t the Lion Holy Church come to trouble him yet?"


    Ning Yuantai spread his hands and said, "The Lion Holy Church is known for being as clingy as a plaster. Wherever there is GOD-1391, there they are, until they get their ''Sacred Object'' back... The fact that GOD-1391 hasn''t been retrieved by them can only prove one thing."


    He paused, adding meaningfully, "In Xue''s hands, they can''t take it back."


    Xu Mude remained non-committal, "Oh? Quite impressive for a mere commoner not born into the Great Families. Too bad he''s just a commoner. No matter how capable, it''s useless. He''ll never amount to anything."


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said, "You, you always start with that old ''Thirteen.''"


    "Isn''t someone who starts from scratch and makes it on their own far more admirable than some high-born incompetent, no-good drunkard? Why is it that in your mouth it''s the opposite, as if not being born into one of the Thirteen Great Families, one can never succeed?"


    Ning Yuantai was quite dissatisfied.


    Xu Mude smiled and said lightly, "Ning, you''re fundamentally wrong."


    "The more you emphasize the achievements of those who start from scratch, the more it proves the superiority of being born into one of the Thirteen Great Families."


    "It''s precisely because those ''drunkards'' you mentioned don''t need to do anything, don''t need to make an effort, don''t need to be talented, and are nothing but a pile of rotten meat, a pile of dog shit... But as long as he is born into one of the Thirteen Great Families, he will stand taller and live better than anyone who starts from scratch. That''s what I''m proud of."


    Xu Mude was clearly enjoying himself, "The more you praise this Xue Jing, the funnier I find it. No matter how hard he tries, how capable he is, completely on his own... he''s just a Martial Artist. At most, he might get a title in the end, maybe even an Eternal Title, and that''s his limit."


    "But so what? With a single command from ''Cangting,'' no matter how great his title, won''t he still have to obediently follow orders? You see, in the end, he''s still beneath us ''drunkards.'' Doesn''t this precisely prove the superiority of us Thirteen Great Families?"


    Ning Yuantai clenched his fists, frowning, "The ancestors of the Thirteen Great Families were not born noble either, they were commoners just like the ones you''ve mentioned!"


    Xu Mude waved his hand dismissively, "Ning, calm down. I know you always want to emphasize that you rely on yourself and not your family. But do you really believe that when you say it?"


    "You too enjoy the privileges of being from one of the Thirteen Great Families... Don''t curse your own mother after you put down your bowl."


    Ning Yuantai clenched his fists tightly but had no retort.


    Of course, he knew that no matter how much he insisted, even if his family truly offered no covert assistance, as long as he carried the mark of being from one of the Thirteen Great Families, many unspoken advantages would clandestinely tilt in his favor.


    Yet he still felt there was something fundamentally wrong, and Xu Mude''s ideology ought to be mistaken.


    It''s a fundamental difference in worldview, or more exaggeratedly, an ideological conflict.


    Ning Yuantai opened his mouth, unable to say anything in rebuttal. He just heaved a sigh and, feeling dejected, walked towards Xue Jing.


    Xu Mude said with a cheerful smile, "Forget it. Go about your business, just provide me with a guide. Don''t you follow along." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t worry, I have no interest in interacting with this self-made Xue Jing either. It''s just out of respect for you, Ning... You see, this convenience you get because of your birthright, it''s the superiority of being from one of the Thirteen Great Families."


    Ning Yuantai couldn''t be bothered to reply anymore and silently walked up to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing, intrigued by his surroundings, saw Ning Yuantai approaching with a disheartened look and asked,


    "Yuantai, what''s wrong?"


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "Nothing much, Xue."


    Xue Jing smiled casually and said, "Feeling frustrated because the ideas you''ve held on to for so long seem less than impeccable and can''t convince others?"


    Ning Yuantai exclaimed, "Xue, you heard all that?"


    Xue Jing stepped forward, "Your voices were so loud, I could have heard you clearly even if you were ten times further away."


    Ning Yuantai caught up to Xue Jing, trailing half a step behind, and murmured with a hint of embarrassment, "You saw me make a fool of myself..."


    After walking in silence for a while, Ning Yuantai couldn''t help asking,


    "Xue, don''t you have anything to say about it..."


    Xue Jing glanced at him, tauntingly said,


    "Are you hoping I''ll support your views and fiercely criticize Xu Mude and his noble ideology, to give your wavering thoughts a shot of adrenaline?"


    Ning Yuantai smiled sheepishly, not denying it.


    "I''m sorry, Yuantai, although I should be considered someone who ''started from scratch,'' I can''t proudly say ''you are right.''"


    Xue Jing stopped in front of a device that looked like a high-tech computer mainframe, and without turning back, said,


    "Ideas themselves have no right or wrong... Those are just conclusions drawn blindly by human''s limited standards. There''s no absolutely right ideology in the world, only ideas that more or less serve one''s own interests."


    Ning Yuantai was somewhat disappointed, "Xue..."


    Xue Jing paused, then added, "However... I think your way of thinking is very valuable."


    "As naive as a child''s reasoning might be, being able to empathize with those of lesser birth while coming from a privileged background, your considerations might not be beneficial for you, but they are valuable."

 Chapter 414 - 242: The Collision and Conflict of Thoughts, A Mouse into the Rice Jar, 2

    "Being able to set aside one''s own interests for the sake of others, to think, even if such thoughts are naive and minor, you might laugh at the naivety and ignorance of yourself now, in hindsight, once your thoughts are fully formed."


    Xue Jing paused, then smiled and said, "But at least in this moment, I think you are doing something commendable, much better than being content with the so-called nobility of your birth."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai''s eyes brimmed with tears, "Xue..."


    ...


    Sky Center, 1052nd floor.


    "This is one of the shelters from ''Xu''s Biology'' and ''Xu''s Shelter.''


    Along the long white corridor, intertwined with large and small transparent compartments, a mature woman dressed in an OL miniskirt, with delicately made-up features, extended her hand with a smile and introduced.


    She looked at Xue Jing, who was looking around, and couldn''t help but pause her gaze on his excessively charming face, and sighed inwardly.


    Such a fine young man, oh sister, I really could...


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to the adjacent transparent compartment where, under the illumination of lights, a white pedestal stood at the center, on which sat... a salted fish?


    About one meter in length, its dehydrated, wind-aged white fish body rigid and straight in a strange way, its dead fish eyes glaring roundly, apart from its unusually straight body, it looked just like any ordinary salted fish.


    "This is [GOD-1468¡¤Salted Fish Sword]."


    Seeing Xue Jing''s gaze, the OL woman instantly chuckled softly and introduced.


    "Don''t be fooled by its funny appearance, it''s exceptionally sharp and durable, a very powerful weapon, everyone who has used it says it''s good... but the side effect is that it makes the user smell like fish."


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted away from the Salted Fish Sword, looking around.


    There were dozens of such transparent compartments on this floor...


    He felt like a rat that had entered a rice barrel, his fingers starting to twitch uncontrollably.


    After thinking it over, Xue Jing smiled at the OL woman and said softly, "Could I touch these Divine Relics?"


    The OL woman, nearly dazzled by his smile, hesitated for a moment before she said with a troubled expression:


    "Well..."


    Ning Yuantai spoke up, "Divine Relics aren''t anything too rare; it''s just touching, what''s the problem? I will talk to Xu Mude later, I won''t make it difficult for you."


    The OL woman gave a nervous laugh, "But... many of them are fully enclosed, without even an entrance or exit, neither can you go in nor come out, unable to touch them..." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai glared at her, "Since you said ''many,'' not ''all,'' there must be some that aren''t entirely enclosed, right?"


    The OL woman broke into a sweat on her forehead, "Yes, that''s correct..."


    "Then what are we waiting for, take us there!" Ning Yuantai said impatiently.


    The OL woman, nervous, thought for a moment. This person was a friend Director Xu had said to treat well; just touching it should be no problem...


    She walked over to the transparent compartment holding the Salted Fish Sword and punched a few numbers on a digital keypad similar to a computer on the wall.


    The transparent compartment hissed open, one side turning into a transparent door, slowly sliding open to each side.


    A fishy smell spilled out, and the OL woman quickly covered her nose, her face crinkling from the stench, and intoned:


    "This is one of the non-fully enclosed Divine Relics..."


    "Damn, this smell." Ning Yuantai also covered his nose, displaying a face full of discomfort.


    Xue Jing had held his breath from the start, looked normal, while Miao Miao, being a cat, covered her nose with both paws, her eyes teared up, looking like she was about to faint.


    Xue Jing stepped inside and placed his hand on the Salted Fish Sword.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, beginning Divine Absorption...]


    He acted like a researcher deeply curious about the Divine Relic, continuously touching the Salted Fish Sword up and down, pretending he was studying it.


    Seconds later.


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 4299]


    Having harvested nearly five hundred points of Divinity, Xue Jing left the transparent compartment without a change in expression.


    "Touching all the Divine Relics is my dream... let''s keep walking, and if you see any Divine Relics that are not fully enclosed, just mention it..."


    Xue Jing said to the OL lady.


    Seeing that he really was just touching them, the OL lady breathed a sigh of relief and showed Xue Jing a perfect smile: "Yes."


    ...


    Xue Jing followed the OL guide, listening to the introductions of the Divine Relics while inconspicuously engaging in Meditative Visualization. He etched everything around him into his mind¡ªwhere the guards were, where the cameras were, and where the infrared detectors and other alarm devices were¡ªhe was clear on everything.


    After they had toured an entire floor and dozens of Divine Relic compartments, four of which were not fully enclosed, Xue Jing had touched them all, and, including the initial Salted Fish Sword, he had amassed a total of 2027 points of Divinity.


    [Holding Divinity: 5829]


    Seeing the panel showing over five thousand points of Divinity, Xue Jing suppressed his somewhat restless emotions and, acting masterfully, showed an expression of gratification and laughed:


    "This has indeed been worthwhile, thank you very much, dear sister... But for such a large company, do you not have any Divine Relics within the top three hundred serial numbers?"


    The OL lady, seeing Xue Jing happy, inexplicably felt joyful herself and replied with a smile while shaking her head:


    "I''m not too sure about that... However, our company does not allow anyone to enter the 1097th and 1098th floors of Sky Center. If there are extremely precious items, I guess..."


    At this point, she realized she might have said too much, and quickly shut her mouth, smiling awkwardly.


    Xue Jing didn''t show any unusual signs, just emotionally said: "Ah, I''d really love to see it if I had the chance."


    Ning Yuantai glanced at his wrist accessory and reminded in a low voice: "Xue, the time is almost up."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing smiled at the OL lady: "Thank you for your company''s hospitality today, dear sister, and for your guidance. We''ll take our leave now."


    Upon hearing this, the OL lady breathed a sigh of relief but also felt a bit reluctant: "It was a pleasure... a pleasure to introduce the Divine Relics to both of you."


    ...


    The aircraft, which looked like a big loaf of bread, hovered and slowly flew away from Sky Center, heading towards Yuan City.


    In the cabin, Ning Yuantai eagerly asked Xue Jing: "So, how was it, Xue? Although we were a bit rushed for time, you must be happy, right?"


    Xue Jing was gently patting Miao Miao on the back, who had been sneezing intermittently ever since she smelled the Salted Fish Sword.


    "Achoo¡ª¡ª!"


    Miao Miao used her front paw to wipe away the tear that had formed in the corner of her eye, looking listless.


    Xue Jing nodded and laughed: "To see so many Divine Relics at once was indeed a delight. Thank you really, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai touched his nose and laughed: "Glad I could help, hehe."


    Engaging in casual conversation, a few hours later, Xue Jing returned to the Cease-Blades Base in Yuan City.


    Upon arrival, it was already past eight in the evening. Xue Jing invited Ning Yuantai to stay and prepared a sumptuous meal for him, nearly causing Ning Yuantai to burst from overeating.


    This time, Miao Miao had no complaints since Ning Yuantai had just helped Xue Jing.


    After everything was settled, Ning Yuantai bid farewell and left. Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the living room sofa, deep in thought.


    "Xu''s Biology''s defense forces are strong... The Meditative Visualization detected at least seven presences that could pose a threat to me, along with various lethal AI automated weaponry. A direct assault would be impossible."


    "Fortunately, the location where ''Wind of All Beginnings'' might exist has been identified, either on the 1097th or 1098th floor..."


    "I need to think of a more foolproof strategy..."


    Thoughts constantly flickered through Xue Jing''s mind.


    "I''ll need an alibi, plus both infiltration and escape routes need rehearsal... It seems hard to resolve all this during the three days of rest; this operation must be postponed a bit."


    He muttered to himself.


    "Might as well do some upgrades first while I forge ahead."


    Xue Jing opened the panel.

 Chapter 417 - 244: Dont Speak Arrogantly Without Thought, It Exposes Your Weakness (4K)

    Watching the results of the draw in the live broadcast, Xue Jing nodded unimpressed.


    "As expected, getting matched in the first round of the top eight is likely due to rigged drawing. They didn''t have us draw the first time to disguise it a bit, to not be so blatant. So, they set me up against Shady Girl and Dai Zongnian, who are obviously weaker than me to help me advance."


    "But in the quarterfinals, everyone''s strong, and the uncertainty is too high. They were afraid I''d be eliminated by someone else, so they had to make me face him in the first game..."


    Xue Jing smiled and turned off the live stream page.


    Miao Miao was squatting beside him, boredly swiping her paw with its fleshy pad across his phone, her fluffy tail swaying leisurely in the air.


    "Jing, it seems like the internet is starting to set the rhythm."


    She yawned, showing her cute, sharp Tiger Tooth, and said lazily.


    "[The most anticipated episode][Definitely rigged][Xue Jing in danger][Officials don''t even care about their image anymore]... Comments are moving fast, refreshing brings up hundreds of new ones, the attention on this match is so high."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Aren''t you clapping back at them?"


    Miao Mio snorted, "Pointless... After all, you''ll swell the faces of all those who talk nonsense and look down on you, no need to reply to them."


    She would never admit that her typing skills were poor and she couldn''t out-argue others, so she had to shut up glumly.


    "... But now the online public opinion seems to have become friendlier toward you, not as one-sided as before, probably because of the games a few days ago."


    Xue Jing waved his hand dismissively, "All that doesn''t matter. I don''t live off other people''s opinions; good or bad reviews are irrelevant to me, hardly a slight frost."


    He stood up, walked over to the fridge, and as he opened it and took out a bottle of Coca-Cola, he said:


    "Public opinion, such a thing is too easy to turn around... More than 90% of people have their IQ halved when swept along by the crowd, and at the same time, due to the psychological effect of sharing responsibility, they don''t think their thoughtless malice is that serious."


    "Once I crush Zhou Yinglin, most of those who bad-mouthed me will easily choose to forget their previous malice and even turn to attack Zhou Yinglin, who embarrassed them... Then they become my ''fans'' again, since comparing me to him will facilitate their attacks on Zhou Yinglin..."


    Xue Jing took a sip of his Coca-Cola and muttered softly, "Really boring." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Miao Miao nodded as if she understood, pouting, "You say it''s boring, but why do you understand it so well, as if you''ve studied it..."


    Xue Jing leisurely said, "Read more books, dive deep into dialectical materialism, learn to see the essence through phenomena, Teacher Wan."


    "Sorry for my low education!"


    Miao Miao, who had to drop out of high school and was brought back to the Dragon Cult to become the Sect Hierarch grumbled through clenched teeth.


    ...


    The next day at noon, the day of the match.


    Xue Jing took a ride with Ning Yuantai and arrived at the Super Arena.


    "Wow, it''s kind of lively today!"


    Ning Yuantai, seated in the driver''s seat, widened his eyes as he steered and looked through the car window at the plaza in front of the Super Arena''s entrance.


    Densely packed... it really looked like a true ant nest, crowds of people packed together, barely able to move step by step, the noisy sound almost audible inside the car.


    Xue Jing also glanced outside the window but remained silent.


    "Xue, looks like your issue with Zhou Yinglin has really blown up; today''s situation, the Super Arena is definitely going to be packed, they probably can''t fit any more people!"


    Ning Yuantai said excitedly.


    As Iron-blooded Jing, one of the few who understood Xue Jing''s prowess, he had no doubts about Xue Jing''s ability to win against Zhou Yinglin and was not worried, only looking forward to the forthcoming spectacle of the match.


    "Stop looking, let''s go inside," Xue Jing reminded him.


    "Eh, alright."


    Ning Yuantai replied, turned the steering wheel, and headed for the parking lot.


    After parking, the two got out of the car and entered through the staff entrance to the backstage of the Super Arena.


    "Then Xue, I''ll go find my friend, see you later."


    Ning Yuantai greeted, and after seeing Xue Jing nod, he went off alone to the area for the event staff.


    Xue Jing walked alone at a leisurely pace along the long corridor, his shoes echoing solidly on the floor.


    Just then, a figure with somewhat frivolous behavior approached him.


    Xue Jing looked up and recognized someone who was somewhat familiar.


    Called Wei... what was his name?


    Anyway, he was the one who broke the news that day about Zhou Yinglin planning to accidentally kill him in the ring.


    Wei Junwu, from afar, raised his hand with a smile and familiarly greeted, "Old Xue!"


    Xue Jing nodded at him, and after pondering due to not remembering his name and unwilling to call him Old Wei, simply said:


    "Morning."


    Wei Junwu looked at the sun high in the sky outside and didn''t mind the greeting, but smiled, came up beside Xue Jing, and familiarly slung an arm over his shoulder, winking and saying:


    "Old Xue, how''s it going, have you been training hard with Giant Sword... Huh? Wait a second, where''s your sword, didn''t bring it?"


    Seeing Xue Jing empty-handed, he paused.


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Brought it, just not at hand right now."


    Wei Junwu breathed a sigh of relief, "That''s good."


    "Although you might find it annoying, I have to remind you again, Zhou Yinglin is no joke, don''t underestimate him. Competing with him in martial skills is purely suicidal, you have to just bulldoze through with sheer force from the get-go, even if it means sacrificing finesse for power... better than being outmaneuvered by his cleverness..."

 Chapter 418 - 244: Dont Speak Arrogantly Without Thought, It Exposes Your Weakness (4K)_2

    Xue Jing pushed away the arm draped over his shoulder and smiled noncommittally, "Oh? Is that so?"


    Seeing that Xue Jing didn''t seem too concerned, Wei Junwu scratched his head, unable to come up with anything else, and sighed,


    "...Moreover, he''s a prodigy with an inherently high Spiritual Level, very strong in using his spiritual power... He even wrote a martial arts paper that won an award."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Oh really... What did he write, ''My Army Master Mentor''?"


    Wei Junwu replied helplessly, "No, it was a paper on how to scientifically train the computational ability of spiritual consciousness..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Alright, no need to say more, I get what you mean."


    As Xue Jing walked forward, not looking back, he said:


    "Wei... Old Wei, it''s only because you mean well that I patiently listened to so much irrelevant nonsense about Zhou Yinglin."


    "But you have to understand one thing... I am nothing like you guys who have been shat on by Zhou Yinglin, absolutely nothing alike."


    "It''s okay if you don''t understand now, you''ll get it soon."


    Wei Junwu was taken aback, watching his retreating figure, shook his head, and sighed:


    "Ah, every genius acts like this until they meet a stronger one... I hope he''s okay."


    ...


    "Hello everyone, good afternoon, and welcome back to the live final of the U19 No-Limit Elite Fighting Competition in Yuan City, I am your commentator Tao Xingshou!"


    "Wow~ Today really is, words can''t describe the crowd, the audience is so enthusiastic, even more lively than previous finals, which shows just how much everyone is looking forward to the competitors in this tournament..."


    As the commentator rambled on, Xue Jing stood in the contestant viewing area with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the ring.


    Those who had made it into the top eight were no weaklings, and the matches were worth watching closely, so Xue Jing planned to observe them from up close throughout.


    Yin Muhu stood beside him.


    After treatments from Xue Jing and several days of rest, Yin Muhu''s muscles had begun to bulge, and his appearance had grown rugged and robust, but still retained a hint of a beautiful girl''s charm.


    Since even defeated contestants could enter the contestant viewing area, it was quite lively today. Most of the thirty-two contestants had shown up, gathering in small groups.


    Including Dai Zongnian, who had been utterly defeated by Xue Jing''s Thunder Plough Hot Knife just a few days ago, wrapped in bandages and standing at the farthest diagonal spot from Xue Jing, not daring to even glance in his direction, seemingly left with a psychological trauma.


    As the commentator finished the opening remarks and the match was about to start, most in the audience weren''t much interested in the match itself but frequently turned their gaze towards Xue Jing in the contestant section.


    "It''s too pitiful, the stakes are so high, it''s practically a public execution..."


    "Is this draw really not rigged... I''m starting to question the credibility of U19."


    "I didn''t believe the rumor at first, but since it came from Wei Junwu and the draw turned out this way... I''m beginning to think it might be true."


    "Zhou Yinglin wouldn''t really kill someone on the ring, right? Even though the contestants have signed a waiver, it''s not illegal, but he''d be disqualified on the spot."


    "You talking about anything else is fine, but talking about disqualification is a bit funny... Zhou Yinglin doesn''t need the championship of U19, neither the prestige nor the prize money matter to him, and the most important ''title match points'' he already got during the ''Small Dragon Gate Cup.'' His participation in this competition really serves no purpose..."


    "Sss... That''s really terrifying when you put it that way, he wouldn''t really come here from another city just to kill Xue Jing, would he?"


    "If that''s true, it''s such a pity. Such a young and talented genius, just managed to break out from a place like the Outer Ring, and now he might die here..."


    "Why bother with all that, as long as the match is exciting, it''s rare for someone to die in a martial arts competition, and today''s going to be thrilling!"


    "So, who are you betting on? The odds for Xue Jing winning have reached twelve to one, wanna make a big bet?"


    "Stop joking, I might gamble a little if it were someone else, but Impeccable is known for their consistent performance, hardly ever any surprises, Zhou Yinglin has definitely won, I''m not betting..."


    ...


    "... without further ado, let the match begin!"


    As the commentator''s voice fell, the referee waved his hand, and a Repulsion Membrane enveloped the ring where Wei Junwu and a youth named Huang Lu faced each other in fighting stances.


    As they began to fight, a sudden uproar of surprised exclamations erupted from the spectator stands.


    All eyes were drawn to the contestant viewing area.


    Because... a young man with an eagle-sharp gaze had appeared there, heading towards another focus of everyone''s attention!


    "Wei Junwu''s Phoenix Cry School, also a prestigious school from the Inner Ring, especially known for its Kungfu Body building. They say it evolved from an ancient martial art called the Huahuang Technique of the Old Era..."


    Yin Muhu excitedly informed Xue Jing in her juvenile girlish voice.


    But suddenly, she realized something was amiss.


    Everyone around... was looking at her and Xue Jing''s back with a look of surprise and eeriness.


    Yin Muhu suddenly turned, and her pupils shrank to pinpoints.


    At a distance of less than two meters, someone was standing... who had been there for who knows how long, having stood behind her since earlier!


    At such a close distance, and from such a sensitive position behind her, she had not detected any sign at all!


    Zhou Yinglin...


    With a wary gaze, Yin Muhu watched this sharp-eyed youth and unconsciously adopted a defensive boxing stance.


    However, Zhou Yinglin''s gaze did not linger on her at all.


    "Shady Girl, step back a bit,"


    Xue Jing spoke, his voice gentle and unfluctuating.


    Upon hearing this, Yin Muhu wiped the sweat that had appeared on her forehead at some point, nodded her head, responded with a yes, and stepped farther to the side.


    Seeing this, Zhou Yinglin moved forward, stood next to Xue Jing, and extended his well-defined right hand to rest on the railing in front of him, his gaze similarly towards the ring.


    All the contestants around who saw the two standing together felt the atmosphere sink into an eerie silence.


    On the ring, Wei Junwu and Huang Lu''s fight was fierce, but nobody paid attention to them.


    The silence continued for a while before Zhou Yinglin spoke again.


    "Xue Jing... I''ll give you a chance," sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His voice remained as calm as ever.


    "Once you''re on stage, cripple your Kungfu Body yourself, swear never to practice martial arts again... This way, I''ll spare your life,"


    As these words came out, everyone who heard them widened their eyes in shock.


    Whether he was acting crazy or just posing, he truly admitted publicly that he planned to kill Xue Jing on the ring!


    Before people could recover from their shock, Zhou Yinglin added indifferently:


    "If it''s you, you should understand, my proposal is quite good,"


    Suddenly, a gust of malevolent wind spread out from him.


    A strong spiritual aura, heavy as a thousand jun, pressed down on everyone around.


    The young prodigies, who had made it to the U19 finals, trembled involuntarily, teeth clattering, unable to move.


    And most of that oppressive aura was concentrated on Xue Jing.


    "You... can''t defeat me,"


    Zhou Yinglin stated flatly.


    The commotion here was too great, not only had the spectators shifted their gaze over, but even the two on the stage temporarily stopped and looked towards the spectator area of the contestants.


    Under the gaze of everyone in the entire Super Arena, Xue Jing, without turning his head, said softly:


    "Don''t speak recklessly; it only exposes your weakness,"


    No sooner had he spoken,


    "Humming¡ª¡ª!!"


    The floor shattered, the railing twisted, the air vibrated, the lights trembled.


    Countless pitch-black lightning patterns radiated from Xue Jing''s entire body.


    Zhou Yinglin''s spiritual aura covering him was instantly dispersed.


    "I have a piece of advice for you,"


    Xue Jing slowly turned his head, his silvery-white divine pupils looked dismissively and coldly at Zhou Yinglin.


    "Don''t pretend you can handle consequences you can''t bear..."


    ...


    (The climax needs groundwork; please be patient and give some time to this slow and clumsy chef who is setting the stage for a more spectacular burst. Once we hit the climax, I''ll write it out all at once without dragging it out¡ªI promise you''ll enjoy it.)

 Chapter 426 - 246 Post-Match Interview

    Competitor Observation Area.


    "Monster, truly a monster!"


    "The Old Martial World is probably going to change..."


    "Did you see how Xue Jing blocked Zhou Yinglin''s Impeccable move just now? If I''m not mistaken... No, it shouldn''t be possible, that''s too exaggerated, even ''Martial Saint'' Li Taixian couldn''t do it, right?"


    "He just said he practiced Impeccable for only seven days? Is that possible?"


    "That can''t be possible."


    "Ha, just because you can''t do it, you think it''s impossible? That''s the extent of your vision."


    "...you''re just showing off, aren''t you? Don''t fake it, you don''t have the knack for it, it''s just embarrassing."


    Wei Junwu stood there dumbfounded, watching Xue Jing''s retreating figure, when suddenly.


    "Pa pa pa pa pa¡ª¡ª"


    His right hand moved like it was on rapid fire, quickly slapping his own right cheek at an extremely fast pace.


    Song Nanxing, standing next to him, kept twitching at the corners of his eyes.


    Yin Muhu looked at Zhou Yinglin, who was being consulted by a bunch of medical personnel and experts, and couldn''t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.


    "Once again, thank you Brother Xue, for sparing my life..."


    ...


    Hidden Dragon Dojo, Nourish the Heart Room.


    Li Qi, Meng Boshang, Meng Qingjiao, and Chen Fuguang were gathered, watching the live broadcast on TV.


    "Woah, what the heck!"


    "Is this our little junior brother? From our Hidden Dragon Dojo?" Chen Fuguang''s eyes widened, and he unceremoniously moved forward to hug the TV, staring intently at the screen from a close distance.


    Li Qi drifted forward in his wheelchair, slapping Chen Fuguang on the head and sending him tumbling with a smack, cursing:


    "Don''t block the TV, you idiot!"


    After saying that, he moved forward to embrace the TV and started watching, laughing cheerfully.


    "..." Watching the master blocking the screen, Meng Qingjiao opened her mouth, almost experiencing a medical miracle.


    "..." At that moment, the old father Meng Boshang beside her silently took out his phone with the live broadcast, and handed it to her.


    ...


    Qingcheng, Xue Jing''s home.


    "Ahhhhhh!!"


    Xue Wan and Zong Shichan were hugging each other and jumping non-stop, screaming like ecstatic fans at a concert when their idol appears on stage, venting their excitement.


    ...


    Qingcheng, Qing University Library, seventh floor.


    In the old attic, a serene and elegant girl absentmindedly read a hardcover book titled "The Ancient Triad - The Forgotten Ones."


    On the desk in front of her, there was a phone playing the live broadcast. Next to the phone stood an upright, ignited matchstick.


    "..."


    Wu Youqing sighed and said helplessly, "If you''re going to watch, just watch quietly, don''t jump around."


    "..."


    "...He is the most special person I''ve ever seen. It''s not surprising that he can do this; it''s within my expectations."


    "..."


    "...What''s with showing off your love, really, you kids."


    ...


    Capital City, in an antique-styled study room.


    "Clang!"


    A young girl with a youthful and pure face hurriedly burst through the door and ran inside.


    As the old man wearing glasses reading a scroll shifted his gaze towards the girl, his eyes filled with tenderness. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was about to speak, but the girl came in front of him, slapped her palm on the desk excitedly, and said:


    "Grandpa, he did it, little junior brother did it, can I go back now?"


    The old man''s refined and amiable expression paused for a moment.


    ...


    Also in the Capital City, in a large estate, a handsome young man with a gloomy expression violently punched the wall beside him.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    The entire estate shook violently, almost like an earthquake.


    "Send someone to Sky Mirror Lake, take this recording to Old Master Wu! These bastards from the Special Duty Department, they actually gave me false information... Contact Lu Baidi for me, ask if he''s still taking jobs!"


    "Also, make a call to Xu''s Biology, tell Xu''s Biological Company in Yuan City to arrange a Super Surgery for Brother Yinglin immediately... And the Secret Martial Society, contact them, tell them there''s been a change, and have them send ''that thing'' to Brother Yinglin..."


    ...


    Yuan City, in a large bar.


    In a VIP booth, a group of oddly-looking people, all marked with Alien Implant traces on their bodies, were gathered around, watching the holographic live broadcast projected above the center of the booth.


    The man in the center, leading them, was nearly three meters tall, his body taking up the space of four seats in width, like a giant.


    His body was extremely robust, even bloated, but his arms were disproportionately larger than the other parts of his body, with the circumference of his arms almost matching his waist and so long that he could touch the floor without bending over if he stood up.


    "Interesting. The Old Martial Arts system, which should have been swept into the dustbin of history, is producing talents in recent years, such a waste."


    The huge man''s voice was so deep it drowned out the noise of the noisy bar, making it crystal clear to everyone around.


    Not far from his seat, a woman named Qiao Ying watched the ruthless boy on the screen with flushed cheeks. Her body suddenly tensed and began to rhythmically tremble, pausing after every few shakes.


    After a dozen or so times, she relaxed as if exhaling a breath of relief.


    "Goddamn it, why is the floor wet here!"


    A woman with silver-gold streaks in her hair beside her stepped in a puddle, immediately cursing loudly.


    ...


    "Victory... The outcome is decided!!"


    The announcement echoed in the Super Arena, the announcer''s voice trembling with shock.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, with an absolutely unexpected display of sheer power, has forcefully taken this victory!"


    "It''s unbelievable, it''s unbelievable. This is not the strength of a seventeen-year-old. He even executed Zhou Yinglin''s Impeccable move and defeated his opponent in his own domain!"

 Chapter 427 - 246 Post-Match Interview_2

    "It''s like I''m dreaming..."


    As he walked through the competitor''s passage and arrived backstage, Xue Jing heard the commentator''s voice gradually fading away.


    He exhaled gently, feeling a sense of peace as if he had shed some burden, and there was a slight feeling of lifting his eyebrows in relief.


    Although he had never cared much about others'' opinions because he had sufficient confidence in his heart, knowing his own strength.


    Continuous provocations from Zhou Yinglin and countless voices of doubt from the outside world, though they were merely a light drizzle, had accumulated some pent-up frustration in him.


    It wasn''t until he stepped onto the platform to face Zhou Yinglin that he even realized this frustration was there.


    Xue Jing opened the panel to take a look.


    [...Weapon Strike Experience Points +3267 (Maxed)]


    [...True Martial Experience Points +2529]


    ...


    A row of experience points notifications came in, yielding quite the harvest, especially the [Weapon Strike], which had hit the upper limit directly.


    "This fight wasn''t even that tough, the experience gained was a bit surprising," he thought.


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment and then understood.


    Zhou Yinglin''s strength was actually quite formidable, a nationally renowned prodigy among the young generation of Old Martial Arts, and he had not performed as poorly on the platform as it might have appeared.


    The reason for such a brutal outcome was solely because his opponent was Xue Jing.


    Although it wasn''t intentional, to master Impeccable, Xue Jing had fought countless life-and-death battles with Zhou Yinglin in consciousness simulations, and had thoroughly figured him out, probably understanding Zhou more than he understood himself.


    Not to mention in terms of strength, he could completely suppress Zhou Yinglin.


    With both strength and understanding maxed out, the effect was like beating up a little kid...


    Turning off the panel, Xue Jing headed toward the players'' lounge while pulling out his phone.


    As soon as he turned off the ''Do Not Disturb'' mode, the phone began to vibrate wildly.


    WeChat messages had already tipped over 99+, and new notifications were still popping up incessantly.


    Opening it to see, the list had messages from a dozen or twenty people.


    Li Ge and some other classmates from Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School, a few senior brothers and sisters from Hidden Dragon Dojo, and White Crow''s Void Blade and Mountain Demon...


    All were messages like "Lord Jing is awesome!" "President Xue is awesome!" "You got me all wet," expressing shock and admiration.


    Xue Jing replied one by one, only temporarily ignoring Xue Wan, who had already sent over twenty messages and was still sending voice messages nonstop.


    Before he reached the players'' lounge, he saw two people turning around the corner at the end of the corridor, excitedly running towards him.


    "Xue!"


    "Awesome, just awesome!"


    Ning Yuantai shouted loudly, his voice nearly breaking from excitement.


    Jiang Siwei flew at him, hanging on Xue Jing, rubbing her face against his head incessantly:


    "Little Jing, Little Jing, you''re the best, you''re the strongest, you''re really amazing!!"


    "Even Zhou Yinglin feels like a stepping stone, now your fame will truly soar! Kisses!"


    She began to kiss Xue Jing''s cheeks uncontrollably, somewhat losing her composure.


    Xue Jing stretched out his arms to hold her by the armpits, lifting her up and setting her down on the ground, smiling and saying,


    "Alright, Wei, calm down."


    Jiang Siwei came to her senses, her cheeks flushing slightly, embarrassedly scratching her cheek: "Sorry, I got too excited."


    "Hey Xue, where''s the Forgotten Greatsword?"


    Ning Yuantai suddenly noticed Xue Jing''s empty hands and asked, puzzled.


    "Huh?"


    Xue Jing was startled and then realized he had forgotten the sword.


    Damn, he had been too caught up showing off.


    He scratched his head and said, "...Yuantai, could you go get it for me? It''s still on the platform."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai''s body trembled, and he saluted Xue Jing militarily: "Consider it done!"


    With that, he happily sprinted toward the competitor''s passage.


    He wanted the whole world to know that he had carried the sword for Xue!


    Leaving aside Ning Yuantai''s journey to the platform and his proud stride around the platform with the Forgotten Greatsword on his shoulder, showing off to the audience.


    After Xue Jing returned to the lounge, he was about to replay the match in his consciousness simulation to see if Impeccable had improved.


    Just then, his phone vibrated with a ringtone, a call coming in.


    He picked it up and saw the caller ID was Youqing A Dream.


    He pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear, smiling as he said,


    "Huh?"


    A calm and pleasant voice that soothed the heart came through the receiver:


    "I watched the competition, you fought really well."


    Xue Jing''s fingers were tracing patterns on the desk in front of him as he smiled and said,


    "Of course, I can''t disgrace you, BOSS."


    After a pause, he continued, "By the way, BOSS."


    "There''s no problem with what I did to Zhou Yinglin, right?"


    Wu Youqing hummed lightly and said,


    "Although the method was a bit cruel, it''s fine as long as nobody died."


    "With me around, even if they want revenge, they can only do so within the rules, don''t worry."


    Xue Jing nodded and laughed, "That''s good."


    As long as the trouble specifically targeted him, he was essentially fearless. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had too many means to save his own life right now.


    As long as they didn''t play any dirty tricks like kidnapping family members for threats, Xue Jing was fearless.


    "However, you didn''t hold back this time and have completely fallen out with Zhou Yinglin. Even if our entanglements with the Zhu Family and the Secret Martial Society are over, things can''t be mended,"


    Wu Youqing spoke.


    Xue Jing just smiled and remained silent.


    "Now that your strength has also been considerably exposed, the trouble that seeks you next won''t be just Zhou Yinglin''s level; you still need to be careful."


    "I understand," Xue Jing said softly.


    After talking with Wu Youqing for a long time, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    He stretched lazily, just about to start the simulation review.


    That''s when.


    "Bang bang¡ª"


    There was a knock outside the resting room.


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.


    Outside the door stood a woman dressed in an OL outfit, holding a microphone, sporting a precisely styled short haircut, accompanied by a man carrying a camera.


    Seeing that the door was opened by Xue Jing, the woman''s eyes lit up, and she revealed a bright smile, saying:


    "Competitor Xue Jing, I''m Ke Jiaqian, responsible for the post-competition interview. You can just call me Xiao Ke... Is it convenient now?"


    "An interview?" Xue Jing looked at the camera pointed directly at him and was about to refuse.


    But after a thought, he nodded and said, "Alright, come in."


    With that, he stepped aside and gestured for them to enter the resting room.


    Since Xue Jing had essentially declined all post-competition interviews before, Ke Jiaqian had no expectations and was merely asking out of a ''no harm in trying'' mentality.


    But unexpectedly, Xue Jing agreed!


    She was stunned for a moment, then her face flushed, and she couldn''t help but let her thoughts wander.


    Could it be he took a liking to her...


    After finishing the interview, if he did want to... would she agree, or would she agree...


    Xue Jing frowned and said, "Aren''t you coming in?"


    "Oh right, thank you!"


    Ke Jiaqian snapped out of it and hurried into the resting room, with the excited photographer following closely behind.


    After adjusting the camera position, Xue Jing settled in front of the lens.


    Ke Jiaqian sat beside him and extended the microphone towards Xue Jing, clearing her throat.


    "Let''s start then."


    "First of all, congratulations to Competitor Xue Jing for winning this match and securing a great start to the quarterfinals."


    "I''d like to ask Competitor Xue Jing, what do you think of the performance of your opponent, Zhou Yinglin?"


    This was a slightly leading question, but Xue Jing didn''t really care.


    He smiled and said, "Performance¡­ Did he perform?"


    Ke Jiaqian cleared her throat: "Hmm, I see, so the next question is, I''m very curious, Competitor Xue Jing, how did you manage to use Zhou Yinglin''s signature martial art ''Impeccable'' on the ring today?"


    Xue Jing looked at her strangely: "Didn''t I already mention it? Learned it from Zhou Yinglin himself, just a few days ago."


    ...

 Chapter 430 - 248: Extraordinary Skill—Army Master, Just a Stone, Kick It Away (4K)

    [Army Master Lv1 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Required: Experience Points 0/10000, Divinity 329/1000]


    At last... the first Sublimated Skill appeared.


    As Xue Jing had anticipated, regular skills, once sublimated, resulted in an Extraordinary Skill much like True Martial that merged with him.


    "[Army Master]... It must mean the master of weapons, a name similar to one of the seven great titles ''Army Master,'' quite the coincidence."


    Xue Jing closed the panel, eager to test the effects.


    He calmed his mind and introspected, feeling the changes occurring in his body.


    Hmm... there seemed to be no change.


    Unlike when True Martial was activated, Army Master didn''t bring about any changes to his body.


    This wasn''t surprising since the Combat Skills didn''t strengthen his body but instead bestowed upon him the ultimate talent in wielding weapons.


    "Since there is no change to the body, then the effects of the skill must lie solely in the use of weapons..."


    Xue Jing reached out and picked up the nine-foot alloy spear standing beside him.


    The moment he grasped the shaft of the spear, he experienced a completely different feeling than before.


    In his hands, the spear¡ªwith all its information including strength, toughness, hardness, length, diameter, weight, where on the shaft there were defects, weak points, minute nicks on the tip, whether it was in a state of metal fatigue¡ªall this information emerged in his mind, accurate to the slightest detail.


    With a slight swing, the spear swept through the air.


    Where his palm was best positioned, at what angle the spear would inflict the most damage, how much force it could withstand before sustaining damage... he knew it all instinctively.


    Xue Jing had never thought he could understand a weapon so thoroughly to such an extent.


    It was as if this was not a foreign spear randomly picked from the Zhige Base for practice but an old companion that had been with him for countless years, perfectly attuned to him at the maximum level.


    "Any weapon, without any practice or refinement, is perfectly adapted to as soon as I touch it..."


    Xue Jing nodded, the effect quite fitting for the name [Army Master].


    But... that wasn''t all.


    Xue Jing had a strange feeling now.


    It was as if he could... control the weapon in his hand at will.


    He toyed with the spear for a while, gained an insight, and with an instinctive thought...


    The spear in his hand immediately began to transform, with the touchpoint of Xue Jing''s palm as the starting point, a layer of platinum color spread like flowing water.


    The platinum color continuously covered the spear, and soon, the entire spear was thoroughly imbued.


    At this moment, with [Army Master]''s effect of penetrating weapon information, Xue Jing immediately sensed the updated information of the spear in his hand after it was imbued with the platinum color.


    "The strength has improved several times, the defects on the shaft have been filled, and the slight nicks on the blade are sharpened again..." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Directly elevated the weapon''s level by several, probably not any worse than the Crouching Rabbit Sword," Xue Jing said in mild surprise.


    [Army Master] effect number two¡ªWeapon Strengthening.


    This was tantamount to having a superpower, truly worthy of an Extraordinary Skill.


    "White Emperor relates to metal, primarily commands weapons and war, so it manifests externally as platinum color?"


    With the platinum spear held horizontally, Xue Jing suddenly released his grip.


    Yet the spear didn''t fall to the ground, but instead floated in mid-air.


    Xue Jing thought, and at once...


    The spear started spinning in the air faster and faster, making a ''dadadada'' sound like a helicopter''s rotors.


    "Interesting, once enhanced by [Army Master] and imbued with the platinum color, it''s as if a magical weapon from an Immortal cultivation novel, capable of being freely controlled as if achieving an effect similar to ''weapon command''."


    Following Xue Jing''s will, the spear performed multiple techniques in the air¡ªthrust, lift, chop, parry, collapse, stab¡ªnimbly as if an invisible spear master was practicing with it.


    "Hmm? Wait a second, this effect..."


    Xue Jing suddenly thought of something, looked around, and scanned the surroundings.


    Then he jumped down from the rooftop to the courtyard below.


    He reached out and pulled a half-meter long weed from the yard.


    Then with a thought, he initiated [Army Master]''s strengthening effect.


    Platinum color instantly emerged, imbuing the soft and fragile weed in his hand with the flow, transforming it into a hard, sharp ''Sword of Grass.''


    After a few chops with the platinum grass sword in his hand, Xue Jing stroked his chin and said:


    "Anything I recognize as a weapon can be ''strengthened''..."


    "No wonder it feels so familiar; taking any weapon in hand, instantly commanding it and mastering it perfectly, and even enhancing its level..."


    Xue Jing thought of a special ability from a certain work.


    "The Knight is not left unarmed?"


    He tossed the weed aside.


    "If that''s the case..."


    He lifted his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and stared at his fist, murmuring:


    "How could a fist not count as a weapon?"


    No sooner had he spoken than the platinum color immediately formed, dyeing his fist into a Platinum Fist.


    "Heh, the Platinum Star turns out to be myself?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, swung the Platinum Fist, and punched down toward the floor.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A loud sound erupted, and the floor directly shattered and cracked open, the ground within a hundred meters trembling slightly as if a minor earthquake occurred, startling countless people in the Zhige Base.


    "The force is mutual... but I barely felt the burden of the reactive force from this punch."


    "Both defense and attack power have significantly increased, a great ability... After obtaining Conqueror''s Haki, Armed Color Domineering is now in my grasp, though the color is a bit off."

 Chapter 431 - 248: Extraordinary Skill - Army Master, Just a Rock, Kick it Away (4K)_2

    Xue Jing experimented with interest in the Army Master''s ability to enhance weapons.


    Due to True Martial, he was now able to channel energy throughout his body, even using his eyes, the least likely places, as ''weapons.''


    Therefore, in his understanding, his entire body qualified as a weapon, and Army Master''s enhancement could be applied throughout.


    This resulted in him even being able to cover his entire body in platinum color, transforming into a veritable body of steel, an indestructible body...


    However, as he tried further, he also discovered issues.


    This platinum-colored enhancement was not permanent and seemed to have a ''quantity'' limit; the larger the area covered, the thinner the distribution, and the weaker the enhancement effect.


    When used on the body, the best method was still to concentrate on the fists and feet and instantaneously focus on the area being attacked when an opponent attacked for defense.


    "This should increase in quantity and improve in enhancement effect as the level increases," he speculated.


    As the experiments progressed, Xue Jing quickly discovered a third effect.


    This was an effect he had previously speculated¡ªAll Weapons Mastery.


    In the courtyard, Xue Jing held the platinum long spear in one hand, positioned behind him, the tip of the spear touching the ground.


    Suddenly, his gaze intensified, Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood all activated at once, and Finishing Power transformed into the Might of Awakening of Insects.


    The spear in his hand, from back to front, executed a large circular swing forward, cleaving a half-moon.


    "Huh¡ª¡ª!!"


    The profound air currents roared, sounding nothing like the thin spear could produce, and with a loud bang, it smashed down with great force and weight.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    The moment the spear touched the ground, the ground instantly shattered, forming continuous depressions ahead, extending dozens of meters, making the entire Zhige Base shake.


    Amidst the rising dust, Xue Jing withdrew his spear and stood beside it.


    Using the nine-foot spear as if it were a giant sword... This method of treating the weapon in his hand as another had accidentally come out during a clash with Dragon Cult members.


    But when he later tried to recreate it, he could not until now, after advancing from Combat Skills to Army Master, that he could finally handle it with ease.


    Seeing the terrifying effect, Xue Jing exclaimed:


    "This isn''t just the technique of ''Lift Light as if Heavy''... it''s reached the ''Extraordinary Realm.''


    The moment he executed ''Awakening of Insects'' with the long spear, Xue Jing truly felt that what he held was no longer a spear but the Forgotten Greatsword.


    Though definitely not as effective as using the actual body of the Forgotten Greatsword, in that instant, the striking power of the spear''s Awakening of Insects surpassed physical laws to a degree it shouldn''t have achieved based on its weight."


    "It seems my idea that I could pluck a blade of grass by the roadside and use it as a great sword is real... Putting its versatile applicability aside, in combat, using the known power of the great sword wielder and the clever technique of the spear wielder''s delicate strikes, this sudden contrast is not something everyone can react to; it can serve as a trump card."


    After testing for a long time, Xue Jing was quite satisfied with the Extraordinary Skill of the Army Master.


    Perfect adaptation to weapon information + Knight''s Undying Body without bare hands + Armed Color Domineering + All Weapons Mastery... as well as the most fundamental talent for weapon handling also improved from Weapon Strike Lv10.


    He tried a little, even without the Army Master''s Armed Color enhancement effect, executing the Flawless Spear Technique now, was much smoother and more seamlessly natural than before.


    Overall, his strength had increased again.


    ...


    Another day passed, and the quarterfinals began again.


    Since the quarterfinals followed a double-elimination format, based on the last match''s results, the eight competitors were divided into winners and losers groups.


    The winners group included: Wei Junwu, Song Nanxing, Otogirusu Suzuka, Xue Jing.


    The losers group included: Huang Lu, Li Miao, Chen Chao, Zhou Yinglin.


    The winners were to compete against the losers; if a winner won, they immediately advanced to the semifinals, whereas if a loser won, it was considered a revival match victory, and they would advance to the semifinals by winning one more match.


    Xue Jing''s match was the fourth, but he arrived early at the Super Arena to watch the matches, triggering a wave of cheers and screams from the audience when he appeared in the competitors'' watch area. The broadcast camera, like it had a loose screw, occasionally swung to capture his close-ups, absurdly frequent.


    At the same time, amidst the cheers of the audience, Xue Jing learned some news... he finally had a new title.


    It was no longer the awkward title "My Husband," but a very domineering one.


    ¡ª Demon King Xue.


    It was said that this was because he possessed a strength that was excessively formidable for any other competitors, making him seem as unbeatable as the Great Demon King, combined with his exceedingly brutal methods against Zhou Yinglin, perfectly fitting the aura of a Demon King.


    Though this title was slightly derogatory on a moral level, Xue Jing didn''t care; he found the title to be excellent.


    The world of Martial Artists was all about strength.


    "Strength" had nothing to do with beautiful concepts like justice, conscience, or morality; its essence was purely the power to make others submit and obey.


    The title ''Demon King'' embodied people''s fear of "strength," and that was enough; Xue Jing was quite satisfied.


    At least Xue Wan wouldn''t tease him with it.


    Soon, the first match began, featuring Wei Junwu from the winner''s group against Zhou Yinglin from the loser''s group.


    To both Xue Jing''s and most people''s surprise, Zhou Yinglin, who should have been disabled and reduced to a mere stick figure appeared.


    Moreover, he looked completely unharmed, showing no signs of the miserable state he had been in before when his limbs were disassembled.


    Xue Jing had thought that, considering Zhou''s background from the Thirteen Great Families and as a disciple of the Gun Saint, healing such injuries wouldn''t be difficult, but he hadn''t expected it to be done in just one day.


    In the midst of astonishment from the audience and a bitter expression on Wei Junwu''s face, Zhou Yinglin slowly stepped onto the arena.


    In the competitors'' viewing area next to Xue Jing, Otogirusu Suzuka softly spoke:


    "He must have undergone Super Surgery and used some powerful, strong drugs... Just as expected of Mr. Zhou."


    "The top surgeons capable of performing Super Surgery are no more than two hundred in the world, and each one is booked for at least ten years in advance... To find a top surgeon in such short notice and to queue-jump for immediate surgery, that''s quite a difficult feat."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "Xue, you don''t seem very concerned?"


    Yin Muhu, standing beside him, noticed Xue Jing''s unchanged expression and asked curiously.


    Xue Jing looked at her strangely, "Why should I be concerned?"


    After thinking for a moment, Yin Muhu said, "I think Zhou Yinglin hurried to heal himself and didn''t drop out of the competition because he probably wants to seek revenge against you."


    Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "When you walk down the road, do you care if the stone under your foot is the same one you kicked away before?"


    To him, Zhou Yinglin was just one of his many defeated opponents, not even one of the notable ones.


    Let alone relying on Super Surgery to recover in one day, even if Zhou Yinglin truly had an Undying Body, Xue Jing wouldn''t bother about him.


    "A stone is just a stone, nothing special. If it blocks the path, just kick it aside. Why bother if it comes back seeking revenge?"


    Yin Muhu, stunned, nodded slowly, "Is that so¡­"


    Otogirusu Suzuka, with her mouth covered by her sleeve, laughed softly, "Xue Jun''s sharp tongue is still as formidable. If Mr. Zhou heard this, he''d be furious again¡­" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back on the arena, Wei Junwu struggled for a short while before getting easily defeated by Zhou Yinglin.


    Only then did people vaguely remember that Zhou Yinglin was a talent of a dimension-reducing caliber in the U19 youth competition. It''s just that he seemed a bit weak facing Demon King Xue the day before yesterday.


    The commentator loudly proclaimed his victory, and the audience erupted in fervent applause.


    However, Zhou Yinglin paid no attention to any of it, instead casting a shadowy gaze toward the young man in the competitors'' viewing area, who was distanced by the others out of fear.


    Realizing that the person had never focused his sight on him, Zhou Yinglin snorted coldly, tossed his long spear to the side, impaling it into the arena floor, and turned to walk back through the competitors'' corridor.


    ...

 Chapter 436 - 251: Maid Yun Qin, Infiltrates Xus Biology, Like a Mouse Entering the Rice Bin (4K)

    "Hmm?"


    As An Luping began to emit meaningless laughter, his face displaying utter foolishness, Xue Jing was slightly taken aback. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The old man''s mental endurance is really weak."


    He shook his head, having intended to ask An Luping about the Dragon Cult, to see if he could get information about their location or the like, and then snuff them out.


    But seeing An Luping''s current state, even if cured, he would still drool, so never mind.


    Xue Jing stepped forward, reaching out with his right hand to grasp An Luping''s neck and lift him high.


    Dark Flame surged wildly from his hand, engulfing An Luping completely, blazing intensely. An''s body began to undergo the process of Annihilation at a pace visible to the naked eye, as if an invisible eraser was rubbing his flesh away.


    The Heretic God worshipped by the Dragon Cult is the "Infinity Dragon" - Ananda Tashasha. Though they call it a dragon, it actually seems more like a serpent... At least the Dragon Cult members Xue Jing had encountered so far had abilities more related to snakes.


    And when it comes to snakes, the most representative symbol is "Immortality."


    In almost every myth, snakes are associated with immortality.


    The enemies that Xue Jing had encountered so far were like cockroaches that couldn''t be killed... Some even seemed to have abilities that felt more impressive than his own "Twin Lifes" and "Shadow Transform", brimming with talent.


    An Luping''s eyes didn''t look normal, clearly there was an issue, probably a result of the Dragon Cult''s gifting ceremony or some kind of human modification, so it was better to be thorough in disposing of him.


    Once Shadow Flame was released, everything would be Annihilated, leaving no trace behind.


    It wasn''t until he had completely Annihilated An Luping, not even a speck of ash remaining, that Xue Jing looked at the residence where Yun Qin was held. He chose not to immediately enter and rescue her.


    Instead, he took out his phone and dialed Ning Yuantai''s number.


    The phone barely started buzzing when it was answered at lightning speed.


    "Xue, what can I do for you?"


    Ning Yuantai''s respectful voice came from the receiver.


    He had long since set Xue Jing''s number as a special ringtone, and so far, Xue Jing''s calls to him were always picked up instantly, without exception.


    "Yuantai, you''re free right now, right? Here''s the thing..."


    ...


    Pocketing his phone, Xue Jing stood quietly on the side of the road, waiting.


    Compared to rescuing Yun Qin himself, it seemed better to let Miao Miao come to pick up her own maid.


    He had thought about going back to get Miao Miao himself, but then felt uneasy, worrying that something might happen to Yun Qin if he left. So, he made the call, asking Ning Yuantai to bring Miao Miao over while he stood guard here.


    He didn''t have to wait long.


    The rumble of an off-road vehicle gradually ceased in front of the house.


    Before the car door could open, Miao Miao leapt out of the window and flew towards Xue Jing, who was waiting at the corner.


    "Jing."


    In front of Ning Yuantai, she didn''t bother to pretend and spoke human language.


    Her delicate, almost flirtatiously charming feline face was filled with anthropomorphic emotion, her emerald pupils shining moistly.


    Xue Jing caught Miao Miao, cradling her in his arms like a baby, with one hand supporting her bottom and the other her back, and chuckled,


    "What''s the matter, Teacher Wan, looking like you''ve been successfully wooed?"


    At his words, Miao Miao snorted lightly, turned her head aside, but didn''t respond.


    Ning Yuantai got out of the car, stroked his chin thoughtfully upon seeing this scene. Could this be the one wearing the Cat Tail Ring... perhaps Xue?


    "Yuantai, I''ve troubled you again this time."


    Xue Jing patted Ning Yuantai''s shoulder, thanking him.


    "Look at what you''re saying, you''re making it sound so formal. It''s just a little favor," Ning Yuantai said, clearly delighted.


    He thought that this way, Xue would gradually get used to asking him for help.


    Wouldn''t that make him the undisputed right-hand man to Xue?


    Unaware of the various thoughts running through Ning Yuantai''s mind, Xue Jing entered the house, still holding Miao Miao in his arms.


    Inside the room, he pointed towards the carpeted and concealed entrance to the basement and smiled,


    "Yun Qin is down there."


    Miao Miao looked up at Jing''s chin, hesitated, and asked,


    "Jing, where is Priest An?"


    Upon hearing the question, Xue Jing pondered a moment before replying, "I killed him."


    Miao Miao sighed, "I see..."


    "Feeling a bit sentimental?" Xue Jing asked softly.


    After all, An had been part of the same organization; there might still be some feelings, right?


    Miao Miao shook her head, "No... just that someone I used to see often is suddenly gone, and it feels strange."


    She jumped from Xue Jing''s arms and used her claw to hook the carpet on the floor, revealing it.


    A metallic, handle-locked entrance to the basement was exposed.


    Xue Jing stepped forward and crouched down, grabbed the handle, unlocked it, and lifted it.


    "Clang¡ª"


    A dull sound echoed as the basement entrance was opened.


    "Go ahead," Xue Jing said softly.


    Miao Miao nodded and jumped down.


    Xue Jing followed closely behind.


    ...


    In the brightly lit room, a little girl lay bored on the sofa, intermittently reaching for the chips on the table while watching TV and occasionally grabbing her soda to take a swig, letting out a "ha" of satisfaction.


    When Miao Miao and Xue Jing entered, they saw this scene and were momentarily stunned.


    The little girl, who had heard the sound of the basement entrance opening, thought it was An Luping and didn''t pay it any attention, not even bothering to look back.

 Chapter 437 - 251: Maid Yun Qin, Infiltrates Xus Biology, Like a Mouse Entering the Rice Bin (4K)_2

    Ning Fengwan opened her mouth with a hint of annoyance, "Looks like I''ve come a bit too early."


    Upon hearing this extremely familiar voice, Yun Qin finally realized something and turned her head abruptly, instantly seeing the Sect Leader she had been pining for... and that handsome man she had met once before.


    The slightly chubby-faced little girl immediately burst into tears, scrambled up, inadvertently wiping away the crumbs of potato chips on the corner of her mouth, and lunged towards Ning Fengwan, "Sect... Sect Leader, Yun Qin has waited for you so bitterly!"


    Looking down at the little girl who was hugging her thigh, clearly chubbier in two dimensions than before, Ning Fengwan''s mouth twitched:


    "What hardship? You seem rather comfortable to me, so well fed that you''ll probably be ready for market before long."


    The little girl, upon hearing this, immediately began to mutter in a voice filled with grievance, "Yun Qin has only put on a little bit of weight..."


    Ning Fengwan said irritably, "And here I thought you might be mistreated, dead or alive, I had no idea, worrying sick over you every day, and here you are, fattening up..."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Anyway, it''s good that you''re okay... It seems An Luping still knows what he''s doing, only wanting to use someone to control you, but he didn''t go too far, he didn''t make things utterly unbearable."


    Hearing Xue Jing speak, Yun Qin curiously turned to glance at him.


    A little figure just over one and a half meters tall, her plump face, which made her look even younger, looked quite silly.


    "Yun Qin, kneel down and kowtow to him," Ning Fengwan said softly.


    "Oh." Yun Qin did not hesitate to kneel down and started kowtowing non-stop to Xue Jing, as if worshipping a deity.


    Ning Fengwan, with a firm tone, said, "His name is Xue Jing, he''s my... cough, he''s the supreme elder of our Dragon Cult. Remember, from now on, seeing him is as good as seeing me. Whatever he says, you must obey without question. If he tells you to chop your hand, don''t go chopping your foot."


    "Ah?" Yun Qin looked distressed, her small face crumpling up.


    "Can we not chop hands or feet...?" she muttered under her breath.


    "Quit your babbling," Ning Fengwan glared at her.


    Xue Jing smiled, gently patted her head, and said softly, "Good child..."


    Yun Qin was so dazzled by his unremarkable handsome face and gentle voice that she lowered her head and let out a silly chuckle.


    ...


    After successfully rescuing the little maid Miao Miao, the villa where Xue Jing stayed within the Zhige Base had an additional guest.


    Perhaps because the huge weight on her heart had finally been lifted, Miao Miao became even more lax, sleeping even more than the ten-plus hours a day she used to, and now she was almost reaching twenty hours. Even when Xue Jing cooked himself, she was often unable to get up because of the overwhelming sleepiness.


    The new member Yun Qin, at Miao Miao''s behest, donned a black and white classic maid''s outfit and became what looked like a very professional little maid.


    Xue Jing, although he also found the maid outfit great, still sighed inwardly, thinking about Miao Miao, who could only watch anime all day at home, and how corrupted her thoughts had become.


    Perhaps because she had been taking care of Ning Fengwan since childhood, Yun Qin''s domestic skills were exceptional. She was nimble at her chores, excelling at laundry, cooking, and cleaning, and did everything without complaint and without cutting corners, much to Xue Jing''s satisfaction.


    Of course, her cooking still couldn''t compare to Xue Jing''s, whose Cooking skill was nearly at Lv8, making even a bowl of instant noodles taste like it was seasoned with magic, but she was already top-notch among ordinary people.


    Two days passed this way.


    Late at night, at precisely twelve midnight.


    Xue Jing opened his eyes in bed.


    Gently picking up Miao Miao, who was sprawled on his chest sleeping like the world had ended and snoring loudly, he placed her on the soft bed. Then, Xue Jing got up, walked to the window, and cracked it open just a tad.


    Immediately after, he conjured a Dark Flame the size of a fingernail and threw it outside.


    Under his control, the Dark Flame weaved left and right without stopping, reaching a small clearing more than a hundred and sixty meters away.


    Xue Jing in the room closed the window, conjured another Dark Flame, and his body dived into it.


    The next moment, his body emerged from the Dark Flame located in the small clearing.


    This tiny area, less than two square meters, was a blind spot in the surveillance of the Zhige Base he had scouted.


    Xue Jing''s body slowly sank, immersing into the shadows beneath his feet, stealthily heading towards the exterior of the Zhige Base.


    After several days of practice in Consciousness Simulation, he was confident that he had the ability to evade all surveillance without leaving any trace.


    He decided to head to Xu''s Biological Company in Sky Center tonight, attempting to steal the [GOD-098¡¤Wind of All Beginnings].


    Departing from the Zhige Base, he utilized methods like "Shadow Lurk," "Shadow Leap," and "Aura Blockade" without pause. He bypassed all mechanical and biological detections, and slowly made his way to the edge of Yuan City.


    Emerging from the shadows, he looked up at the layer of pale blue light film, barely visible to the naked eye, that covered the entirety of Yuan City.


    "Just to be safe, don''t touch this thing, it might be some kind of detection-related black tech...," he murmured.


    Xue Jing flicked a black flame with his hand, controlling it as it passed through the pale blue light film, crossing into the area beyond Yuan City.


    He then performed a Shadow Leap, officially arriving in the desolate wilderness.


    This step had taken him nearly two hours.


    Wiping the slight sweat from his forehead, Xue Jing activated the Shadow Flame, and the black hole-like Entwined Armor completely enveloped him, leaving only his eyes exposed.


    In the pitch-black night, his form was practically invisible.


    Soon after, his figure flashed as he dashed toward the distant Sky Center, ablaze with countless lights.


    ...


    Two hours later, at four o''clock in the morning.


    Sky Center, 1002nd floor, at the entrance.


    A small cluster of shadows, unnoticeable to anyone, seeped through the imperceptible crevices near the entrance.


    Armed security personnel were patrolling seriously but failed to notice the tiny shadow in their blind spot.


    Maintaining his Shadow Lurk state, Xue Jing followed the path he had designed in his Consciousness Simulation, avoiding the security personnel and monitoring alarm systems.


    Although the patrol routes of the security personnel were somewhat different from his last visit, it didn''t affect Xue Jing much.


    Being in the state of Shadow Lurk already made him hard to detect, and coupled with his Aura Blockade ability, his presence was nearly nonexistent.


    Adding to that his deep martial arts cultivation, quick reflexes, and sharp intuition, he could precisely dodge all lines of sight.


    Without a hitch, he successfully reached the 1052nd floor after over half an hour.


    This was the floor he had visited before, where a large number of Divine Relics were stored.


    Xue Jing had planned not to complicate matters and, taking advantage of the dead of night, to first check if the Wind of All Beginnings was at floors 1097 and 1098.


    But upon reaching floor 1049, he hesitated for a moment, then decided, screw it, he was going all in!


    What mouse enters a rice bin without eating the rice?


    Quietly using Shadow Lurk, he neared a transparent compartment housing a pen, and after searching, found no entrance crevices.


    A fully sealed containment indeed was thoroughly sealed.


    But naturally, he had a way.


    Activating the Shadow Flame, the black currents converged, forming Dark Flame, which under Xue Jing''s control began to morph, turning into a thin black stick the size of a chopstick.


    The black stick aimed at the unidentified transparent partition and silently bored into it, slowly Annihilating the material and ''burning'' a small hole. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He slipped through the hole in his Shadow Lurk state.


    There was a camera inside the compartment, and Xue Jing moved to the platform behind the Divine Relic, into the blind spot of the camera, and a hand emerged from the shadows, his fingers lightly resting on the pen-shaped Divine Relic.


    [Divine Substance detected, Divine Absorption in progress...]


    ''By the looks of it, this must be [GOD-1661¡¤Pen of Midas],'' Xue Jing thought to himself.


    A pen that turns to real gold whatever it writes on, but not very useful.


    With the efficiency of human writing, it takes at least two hours to fill an A4 sheet with ink, producing one sheet of Gold Paper every two hours, which is incredibly low yield.


    And this thing has to be written by a person to work; in a machine, it just becomes a normal pen without ink...


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    [Divinity held: 836]


    ''Very good,'' Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, left the compartment, and proceeded to the next target...


    ...

 Chapter 444 - 255: Xue Jing vs Zhou Yinglin Rematch, What Does Holding a Fishing Rod Mean? (4K)

    "What exactly is going on? Have you found the cause?"


    In Xu''s Biological Company on the 1009th floor of the Sky Center, Xu Mude frowned as he looked at the middle-aged researcher in a white lab coat in front of him.


    "It''s still unclear... I''ve checked, and the small holes on each compartment are all the same size, accurate to within a micron, and they are terrifyingly smooth, not like they were drilled by human hands..."


    The middle-aged researcher said in a low voice, sharing his findings.


    Xu Mude paused for a moment, pondering, "If it''s not man-made, could it be that some Divine Relic inside accidentally triggered some undiscovered new ability?"


    The middle-aged researcher hesitated, then said reluctantly, "...Theoretically, we can''t rule out that possibility."


    Xu Mude waved his hand, "Forget it, don''t get too fixated on it. Since nothing has been lost, arrange for more personnel to be vigilant during this period, even at night, to see if we can catch anything."


    The middle-aged researcher replied, "Yes."


    After speaking, Xu Mude turned and hurriedly entered the internal elevator, heading straight to the 1049th floor.


    "Mr. White Emperor, what a rare guest!"


    The automatic doors slid open to each side, and Xu Mude walked towards a tall, young man while smiling.


    It was a very strange young man.


    His eyes were set slightly wider than normal, and his eye sockets were deeper, resembling the facial features of someone of mixed heritage.


    Although his appearance was that of a young man, anyone who truly saw him would not associate him with the word ''youth.''


    He sat there quietly, in a very casual pose, his legs slightly parted, his right elbow resting on the arm of the chair, his hand loosely clenched into a fist supporting his chin.


    Despite such a casual posture, his body exuded an extremely terrifying aura, like a True Dragon perched in the clouds or a fierce tiger lying on a hill, dominating his surroundings.


    He didn''t look like a person at all; he seemed more like a ''monster,'' a mighty tiger-like demon covered in human skin.


    Xu Mude knew very well that the man in front of him was nearly fifty years old, famous for over thirty years, and was one of the current peak representatives of the Old Martial Path.


    The reason his appearance was still that of a young man was because he had leaped through the Dragon Gate and broken through the limits of human genes at a young age, achieving a sublimation of life and possessing a superhuman body.


    A Limit-Breaking Grandmaster who had leaped through the Dragon Gate would have his spirit and consciousness envelop every corner of his body, acting like a true ''emperor'' who had mastered his flesh, commanding it with a powerful spirit to forcibly optimize his own genes.


    Most Limit-Breaking Grandmasters had achieved Perfection in spirit, constantly adjusting their bodies'' state to maintain peak condition throughout their lives, unaffected by age-related decline in combat strength. They would retain the appearance they had when they made their Breakthrough.


    Thus, the younger the appearance of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, the more terrifying they generally were.


    "Mr. Lu, Brother Zhao asked you to come from Yuan City, what is it you want to do?"


    Zhou Yinglin spoke up next to him, his expression somewhat discontent.


    The man known as Lu Shenliu looked at him and said softly, "If you already understand, why bother asking me?"


    To everyone''s surprise, his voice was quite gentle and youthful, contrasting starkly with his imposing exterior.


    Zhou Yinglin''s jaw twitched a few times, and he said stiffly, "I will handle Xue Jing myself, Mr. Lu need not intervene."


    However, Xu Mude laughed and said, "Young Master Zhou is talking big again. I saw the last competition too; the gap in strength between you looked quite significant..."


    Hearing this, Zhou Yinglin''s expression remained unchanged as he scoffed, "What would a non-martial artist like you know? The reason I lost last time wasn''t due to a lack of strength, but because he used methods that do not belong to martial arts."


    The Sixth Bureau Special Duties Department deliberately concealed his information on the God-Given Secret Art, catching me off guard, but this time I''m prepared, and the outcome will be different," he added.


    Xu Mude curiously said, "Oh? But when Xue Jing defeated you, wasn''t he using your own Impeccable technique? That''s not some God-Given Secret Art, is it?"


    Zhou Yinglin replied coolly, "I told you, I was caught off guard."


    "This man is just bluffing, claiming he learned the Impeccable technique from me in just a few days. That''s simply impossible."


    "Impeccable isn''t exactly a secret in our circles; he''s involved with that woman from the Zhu Family, so he definitely got the information on Impeccable from the Zhu Family and studied it for who knows how long before he reached his current level."


    "He may have enough talent to master Impeccable, but Eighty Spears is his current limit; he can''t possibly improve further in just a few days, whereas I''m different."


    Zhou Yinglin clenched his fists, flames seeming to burn in his pupils.


    "Impeccable against Impeccable, the one with the higher realm will win. I have a way to reach the realm of Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads, and once I step onto the platform tomorrow to face him, I am sure to win," he declared.


    Lu Shenliu appeared somewhat amused but did not laugh out loud, only saying, "Don''t worry, I''ll make my move after your match with him is over, as Zhudai Shou specifically mentioned."


    Zhou Yinglin furrowed his brow.


    It seemed from Lu Shenliu''s words that he had already assumed Zhou would lose.


    But then, Lu Shenliu seemed to think of something and added, "However... I might not even get the chance to intervene." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A peaceful and serene image of a young girl flashed through his mind.

 Chapter 445 - 255: Xue Jing vs Zhou Yinglin Rematch, What Does Holding a Fishing Rod Mean? (4K)_2

    That little girl is not an easy one to deal with¡­


    Zhou Yinglin wasn''t sure what Lu Shenliu was thinking and mistook his words as an acknowledgment, which somewhat relaxed his expression.


    "Just wait and see... Mr. Lu, it seems you''ve come here for nothing."


    His eyes, sharp as a hawk''s, sparkled with confidence.


    ...


    The next day was the day of the semifinal competition.


    Xue Jing sat in Ning Yuantai''s car, watching him driving while nervously looking around, and couldn''t help but say,


    "Yuanti, what are you doing?"


    Ning Yuantai said seriously, "I''m on guard."


    "What if Lu Shenliu suddenly attacks... Xue, it''s very dangerous!"


    Xue Jing said speechlessly, "If he really launched a surprise attack, you wouldn''t be able to react in time, this is just pointless."


    After a pause, Xue Jing continued, "If you''re scared, let me out here, I can just take a taxi."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yuantai immediately shook his head, "No way! I''m your dedicated driver and number one follower, Xue. If I have to die, I''ll die with you!"


    Xue Jing, annoyed, slapped him on the head, making him stagger, and said, "What the hell are you talking about? Don''t be disgusting."


    Miao Miao, sitting on the adjacent seat, yawned and lazily flicked her fluffy tail.


    While chatting, Xue Jing suddenly found a fishing rod in the gap behind the car seat.


    "Yuanti, do you like fishing?"


    Xue Jing picked up the rod, weighed it in his hand, and asked.


    "Hmm?" Ning Yuantai glanced back at the fishing rod in Xue Jing''s hands and casually said,


    "Not really, just occasionally go fishing with Old Xu."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... then let me borrow this rod for a while."


    Ning Yuantai seemed puzzled, but still said, "Ah? Oh, sure, no problem."


    Upon arriving at the Super Arena, Xue Jing quickly entered through the internal passages.


    Perhaps because it was the semifinals and the competition was getting more exciting, there were a lot of spectators, and the place was packed, almost matching the intensity of the previous quarterfinals.


    Before reaching the players'' lounge, Xue Jing bumped into an acquaintance along the way.


    Elegant in posture, stunningly beautiful, and androgynous, Otogirusu.


    "Xue Jun."


    He saw Xue Jing carrying a fishing rod on his shoulder and immediately reached out and softly greeted him.


    "Lu Sang, long time no see." Xue Jing smiled back.


    Otogirusu''s eyes softened as he spoke gently, "Xue Jun, I''m just on my way to an interview, would you like to join me?"


    From the quarterfinals onwards, there was a pre-match interview session for every match.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing shook his head, "Another interview, how many more interviews can there be? Playing a match is such a hassle, I won''t go."


    "Hehehe~" Otogirusu covered his mouth and chuckled, saying,


    "That''s too bad... your fans will be so disappointed."


    Xue Jing waved his hand and, as he walked past Otogirusu towards the lounge, he said, "I never asked them to be my fans... Expecting unilaterally and getting disappointed unilaterally is just pointless."


    Otogirusu didn''t turn around but softly spoke, "You are right, Xue Jun..."


    After waiting a while, when Xue Jing had already rounded the corner, Otogirusu continued as if talking to himself:


    "But I can''t help but have expectations for you..."


    "And you, you never let me down, do you?"


    ...


    "Good afternoon, audience friends! Welcome to the U19 unrestricted elite fighting championship finals, I''m Tao Xingshou!"


    "After a period of competition, we''ve finally reached the semifinals. Each contestant who has made it this far is a master among masters, a genius among geniuses!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What exciting matches these four incredible youths will bring us today, let''s wait and see..."


    In the midst of the commentator''s endless speech, Xue Jing silently appeared in the player''s viewing area.


    This time, among the two hundred thousand spectators and more than twenty watching contestants, not a single person noticed his arrival.


    [Concealment Lv9 (291/8000)]


    After this period of intentionally and unintentionally gaining experience, the skill "Concealment" that he had activated not long ago had reached Lv9.


    At that time, when he used Aura Blockade to retract all his aura, his presence had become astonishingly low.


    As long as his ''Dynamic Qi'' remained absolutely calm, not generating any intent of murder, antagonism, or battle, even martial arts masters with extremely sharp senses would subconsciously overlook him standing right in front of them.


    With the announcer''s passionate voice, the match was about to begin.


    Otogirusu and Song Nanxing then entered the arena.


    Xue Jing quietly watched the two on the stage.


    Song Nanxing, of the Celestial Movement Sect, who had delved deeply into the realm of defense and counterattack, was up against the reputedly ultimate rapid attacker, Suzuka of the Suzaku Style, known for her "Instantaneous Thousand Cuts."


    This would be a thrilling match.


    As Xue Jing had predicted, and as most people in attendance had expected, the fight was intense.


    Defense and counterstance, swift moves and counters, towards the end, both fighters almost turned into lightning streaks, their punches and kicks interchanging so quickly they surpassed the limits of human dynamic vision, leaving the audience gasping and unable to keep up.


    However, only Xue Jing and some top masters could discern the state of the two fighters.


    One was relaxed and seemed to be playing, while the other was going all out, tense and focused.


    The match concluded with Otogirusu using her "Secret Technique: Divine Cutting" for the first time in this U19 contest.


    That moment when she swung her hand blade, layer upon layer, seemed as if in an instant there were hundreds of different cutting strikes, Song Nanxing had no means of resistance, for even the finest defense could not withstand an absolute offense.


    "Interesting..." Xue Jing muttered to himself, his eyes slightly brightening.


    He then turned around and left the spectator area silently, heading back to the backstage.


    From beginning to end, almost no one noticed his arrival or departure.


    Next, it was his second fight against Zhou Yinglin.


    ...


    "...Welcome back to the U19 Grand Finals top four contest, I am the host Tao Xingshou!"


    "Thank you to Song Nanxing and Otogirusu for that wonderful showdown! Next, we are in for an even more intense and thrilling match!"


    "Come on, let''s loudly cheer their names!"


    Guided by the announcement, the audience enthusiastically began cheering.


    "Xue Jing¡ªXue Jing¡ªXue Jing¡ª"


    The calls for Xue Jing echoed throughout the venue, starting disorderly but becoming rhythmic, louder and more ordered.


    "Xue''s popularity right now... is really remarkable," Yin Muhu remarked in the spectator area.


    Otogirusu, who had also arrived there after her match, laughed and said:


    "Xue Jun is indeed someone who deserves such attention."


    "I wish I could meet Xue Jun on the stage soon..."


    He looked towards the player''s tunnel where Zhou Yinglin was, whispering softly.


    "Zhou Yinglin¡ªZhou Yinglin¡ªZhou Yinglin¡ª"


    After the chants for Xue Jing ended, it was Zhou Yinglin''s turn.


    Despite suffering a crushing defeat to Xue Jing once, which greatly affected his popularity, he had many loyal fans, and his cheering was strong even now.


    But it seemed somewhat lacking in confidence, and ultimately it wasn''t as loud.


    "Let''s welcome¡ªboth competitors to the arena!"


    Seemingly determined to thrive off this popularity, this second match between Xue Jing and Zhou Yinglin was still treated like a final championship duel as both entered the arena together.


    Xue Jing, carrying a fishing rod on his shoulder, slowly walked out of the player''s tunnel.


    Compared to last time, he no longer needed the ''Conqueror''s Haki'' to silence the crowd.


    The overwhelming cheers were mostly for him.


    "Ah? A fishing rod?"


    "What''s the Demon King doing with a fishing rod? Where''s that door panel-like giant sword?"


    The audience was utterly puzzled.


    ...

 Chapter 446 - 256: Sweeping Through, Zhou Yinglin:

    "Is Demon King Xue indicating he wants to hurry up and finish the fight so he can go fishing? I didn''t expect him to be a hardcore fisherman... He''s just missing a helmet to look the part."


    "I see it as a weapon. Didn''t Dugu Qiubai make a sword from every plant and object? Maybe he can do it too, using a fishing rod as a spear? It looks similar enough to a spear anyway!"


    "You think this is a novel? Come on, use your brain. The impact of a weapon on one''s fighting ability is much more significant than you imagine. That fishing rod is clearly just an ordinary rod, not specially made. It would break with just a slight clash in a high-level martial arts competition. At most, it''s good for showing off against an opponent who''s far below his own level.


    If Demon King Xue really intends to play this game, he''s likely to suffer a big loss. The gap between him and Zhou Yinglin isn''t that small!"


    "Well, what else could it be? It''s not a fishing contest. The thing he brought to a martial arts competition must be a weapon. He''s clearly trying to show off."


    "Deserving of the name Demon King Xue - seeing that he''s still so arrogant puts my mind at ease."


    "Isn''t he going to crash and burn?"


    "Hard to say, though the last bout seemed to show a big difference in strength, Zhou Yinglin wouldn''t be standing on the stage again without something to rely on. If Demon King Xue is too arrogant, it could indeed be risky..."


    "Fortune favors the bold! I had the same thought. Since Zhou Yinglin dares to step back on the stage, the outcome is still uncertain! The odds are 5 to 1, I''m going all in on his victory!"


    "...It''s you, the gambler again. Last time you went all in and won twelve times your bet on Xue Jing, and it''s still not enough, playing big again? Truly hopeless."


    ...


    In the midst of the spectators'' discussions, Xue Jing stepped onto the stage.


    He rested the fishing rod on his shoulder with one hand, and glanced at Zhou Yinglin, who had also taken his position on the opposite side.


    Ignoring the cameramen who began to circle around him for a 360-degree panoramic shot, Xue Jing spoke softly: sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Zhou Yinglin, you idiot, how dare you stand before me again? Who gave you the guts?"


    This time, his voice didn''t carry across the venue but was only heard by Zhou Yinglin and the nearby referee.


    For the sake of publicity during the last U19 competition, the officials added a sound-amplifying device to the match between Xue Jing and Zhou Yinglin, broadcasting their conversation not just throughout the venue but also on live streams.


    However, Xue Jing''s trash talk... was a bit too much.


    Calling someone an idiot and using all kinds of variations, as the match ended spectacularly, these phrases started trending online.


    Many children also saw it and picked it up quickly, dropping their personal quality several levels, leading to numerous complaints from parents to the U19 organization. The organizers had no choice but to regretfully scrap this feature.


    Zhou Yinglin, holding the ''Embroidered Needle'', seemed to have possibly become infuriated by Xue Jing. His complexion turned somewhat red.


    His lips twitched slightly as he raised the Embroidered Needle, the spear tip pointing at Xue Jing, and said forcefully, "Xue Jing, don''t be arrogant. Martial arts are not fought with the mouth, I''ll soon shut you up."


    Since that match, he had earned the disparaging nickname ''idiot'' online, and hearing the instigator use the term again made it hard for him to contain himself.


    Xue Jing was amused, chuckled twice, and replied, "After being beaten up like that last time, you can still say such things. Indeed, you leave me speechless."


    "If the skills in your hands were half as tough as your mouth, I would be pleading for my life by now."


    As he spoke, Xue Jing swung the fishing rod in his hands a couple of times, testing the feel.


    Zhou Yinglin frowned and asked, "What''s the meaning of bringing a fishing rod?"


    Xue Jing held the rod with his right hand and tapped his left palm, smiling and saying, "No particular meaning... I just picked it up on the way here, do you think it suits you?"


    "What are you talking about?" Zhou Yinglin replied, somewhat puzzled.


    Xue Jing didn''t explain, as the commentator''s voice already filled the air.


    "...Here it comes, finally! Zhou Yinglin, the player who narrowly lost in the quarterfinals, has fought his way back up from the loser''s bracket, made it to the top four, and is once again facing Competitor Xue Jing!"


    "A stunningly talented youth, a will that never admits defeat, like an indomitable hero!"


    "Will he be able to avenge his loss to the Great Demon King who once defeated him? Let''s all witness the second battle between the hero and the Demon King!"


    "Now, let the match... begin!"


    The referee stepped forward, waved his hand between the two, and then quickly ran off the stage.


    Zhou Yinglin took a step forward, circling around Xue Jing in a slow walk.


    He twirled the Embroidered Needle with one hand, creating flowing movements, and said indifferently as he walked, "Xue Jing, this time it''s different from the last."


    "I have completely seen through your tricks... You really think just relying on a few God-Given Secret Arts makes you invincible under heaven?"


    Xue Jing smiled and asked, "Is that what you think? So, what do you plan to do?"


    Zhou Yinglin snorted and reached into his chest to pull out a... wind talisman?


    It was a pale blue sphere of air, tightly wound and visibly fluctuating and spinning.


    Xue Jing, who had originally appeared indifferent to the match, suddenly took on a serious expression, narrowing his eyes slightly at the sight of the swirling air.


    It was...


    Zhou Yinglin, seeing Xue Jing''s expression turn much more serious, felt as if confirming something; he couldn''t help but laugh out loud, his laughter filled with a sense of release.


    "You recognize this thing, right? Afraid, aren''t you!"


    "A mere Blessed One, daring to step onto the stage, defiling the glory of Old Martial Arts with your filthy means, today I will make sure you have nowhere to bury the dead!"


    Zhou Yinglin seemed to have been holding back for too long, and as he shouted this out, his voice was so excited it was hoarse and nearly hysterical.

 Chapter 447 - 256: Sweeping Through, Zhou Yinglin:

    Having said that, he clenched the pale cyan wind ball in his hand tightly.


    In an instant, a pale cyan airflow burst from his hands, expanding in a ring-like pattern and dispersing over the entire arena.


    Xue Jing ignored the increasingly frenzied Zhou Yinglin and muttered to himself:


    "Wind of All Beginnings..."


    [GOD-098¡¤Wind of All Beginnings].


    The top-tier Divine Relic from Xu''s Biological Company that Youqing A Dream had commissioned him to steal.


    It was a rather special Divine Relic, having only one serial number but actually consisting of nine pieces... or rather, nine forms.


    Nine forms of Wind of All Beginnings, each with the same ability to "return things to their original state."


    The most typical use was to combat "Otherworldly Objects."


    People implanted with Alien Implants, those whose bodies had mutated due to practicing Neo Martial Arts, or those whose spirits had altered due to the blessings of a Heretic God... all traces of mutation would temporarily vanish when swept by the Wind of All Beginnings.


    Simply put, with this object at hand, "powers not originally possessed" were rendered unusable.


    Since its discovery, the Wind of All Beginnings had always been scattered around the world; the nine wind balls had never truly gathered together, and currently, no one knew what would happen or what effect it would have if they were to combine into a "complete form."


    Xue Jing also guessed why Wu Youqing wanted the Wind of All Beginnings.


    "Where did you get this thing from?"


    He slowly asked Zhou Yinglin.


    Zhou Yinglin, seemingly quite excited and feeling that he had grasped Xue Jing''s weak spot, snickered a few times but did not answer directly, saying instead:


    "The virtuous receive help while the wicked lack support, there are many who want you dead, Xue Jing."


    Xue Jing nodded, his eyes showing contemplation. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The form of Wind of All Beginnings that Zhou Yinglin held could not have been the one from Xu''s Biology, as he had no current connections with the Xu Family.


    Was it probably obtained from the Secret Martial Society?


    The most suitable users of Wind of All Beginnings were those who practiced Old Martial Arts, whose power originated from within themselves, thus remaining unaffected.


    If it were an extreme Old Martial Arts organization like the Secret Martial Society, it wouldn''t be strange for them to possess this object.


    "I didn''t expect such an unexpected gain... My BOSS will be very pleased."


    Xue Jing thought to himself that if he returned with two forms of Wind of All Beginnings, Wu Youqing''s normally calm and serene face might just show a surprised and joyful expression...


    Thinking about it, his lips unconsciously curved into a gentle smile.


    This scene was captured by a photographer in a close-up shot and displayed on the large screen within the venue, causing a raucous and screams among the audience.


    Xue Jing ignored the external clamor, flicked the fishing rod he was holding, and activated [Army Master].


    The effect of weapon enhancement gradually covered the entire fishing rod, transforming it into a Divine Weapon...and there was no appearance of platinum color infusion either.


    This was a method he had experimented with over the past few days. Since hidden assassination weapons like daggers were also included in the [Army Master], as long as he kept in mind the need for concealment while using it, the platinum effect would be hidden.


    ''Indeed... even the Wind of All Beginnings has no effect on me.''


    Xue Jing thought, pointing the fishing rod at Zhou Yinglin and said softly:


    "It seems you''ve misunderstood something, but I''m in a good mood right now, I might even thank you."


    "I''ll give you one chance, make your move."


    Zhou Yinglin sneered, "Pretentious!"


    "Die, Xue Jing!"


    He stepped forward, his Embroidered Needle thrust forward without hesitation, executing Impeccable.


    This time, he would not lose again, without the God-Given Secret Art, the person before him was nothing but a thief who had stolen the technique of Impeccable!


    Zhou Yinglin''s skin slightly reddened, and a faint white steam began to rise from the crown of his head.


    The Secret Medicine he had taken before the match began to take effect, forcibly elevating his mental calculation abilities. At this moment, he had reached the third level of Impeccable¨CHundred Needles, Thousand Threads!


    Even a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster would have to be extremely cautious in front of his Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads, one careless move could mean death on the spot!


    The needle-like spear transformed into a stream of light, splitting from one into ten, ten into a hundred, turning into an endless barrage, sweeping towards Xue Jing.


    Nearing, it was getting closer.


    The rural bumpkin who had brought him enormous humiliation through cheating means was about to die at his hands.


    Zhou Yinglin felt a tingling heat all over, reaching the peak of excitement, a sense of deep satisfaction was about to surge throughout his body.


    He had a premonition that immediately after killing Xue Jing, he would experience a tremendous breakthrough and reach the true realm of Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads...


    And just as the barrage was about to engulf Xue Jing.


    "Swoosh¡ªclang¡ª"


    The sound of wind howling and metal clashing rang out.


    Xue Jing casually swung the ordinary-looking fishing rod in his hand.


    An unstoppable, ferociously powerful strike came, Zhou Yinglin''s fully formed Impeccable was instantly torn apart like a piece of ragged clothing.


    The barrage dissipated and collapsed, the Embroidered Needle flew sideways, spinning in the air, embedding itself in the pale blue Repulsion Membrane above the arena, stirring up ripples.


    "What...!!"


    Zhou Yinglin''s eyes widened, disbelieving.


    Was that... a fishing rod?


    Why... how could it be like the Giant Sword?

 Chapter 448 - 256: Sweeping Through, Zhou Yinglin:

    How is that possible!?


    The hands that had been holding the long spear were numb, almost losing sensation, as though he had just begun training under his senior brother''s strict supervision, thrusting the spear continuously for three days and nights.


    What in the world happened?


    Confused, the voice of Xue Jing, unfluctuating in tone, sounded beside his ear.


    "Your chance is used up, you did your best."


    As soon as the words fell, a severe pain suddenly transmitted all over his body.


    A fishing rod, transforming into the familiar endless torrent, enveloped him.


    "Zzzzzzz¡ª¡ª"


    The unsharp fishing rod, yet like a real spear, punctured one densely packed bloody hole after another in his body.


    This scene, almost identical to the previous competition except for the different weapon, left Zhou Yinglin somewhat dazed.


    "Weak thrusts."


    "Clumsy backhand."


    "Loose footwork."


    "Slow reaction."


    While holding the fishing rod with one hand, Xue Jing lifted Zhou Yinglin off the ground and held him in the air, muttering continuously.


    "Nothing decent about you, yet you dream of competing on the same stage as me? Keep dreaming!"


    Following the final reprimand, Xue Jing thrust with the fishing rod¡ªit was the hundredth ''spear''.


    A Heavenly Feather Garment, condensed to the extreme as if substantial, appeared and settled on Zhou Yinglin.


    Zhou Yinglin spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, fell to his knees, looked at the garb on himself, and trembled, "Hundred Needles, Thousand Threads, how is this possible..."


    Xue Jing said, "Practiced a few more days, a slight improvement, isn''t that quite normal?"


    "What, you can''t do it? A genius? "


    Zhou Yinglin''s eyes, sharp as a hawk''s, completely lost their luster, "Impossible, it can''t be, it shouldn''t... "


    Xue Jing planted the fishing rod into the ground beside him, walked toward Zhou Yinglin, and while walking, quietly said, "Still unwilling to face reality? It doesn''t matter to me, but I now have to regretfully inform you."


    "The competition is over."


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinglin suddenly looked up at Xue Jing, his eyes conveying deep fear.


    He half lay on the ground, scrambling backwards, hysterically yelling: "Don''t... don''t come over ahhhh!"


    The loudness of his voice almost made the entire audience hear.


    But as everyone viewed him with sympathy and could not bear to watch, the merciless Great Demon King, exuding a black thunder pattern aura, approached him, reaching out to grab his foot.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    Zhou Yinglin''s whole body was swung in a semi-circle and harshly smashed onto the opposite floor, directly shattering the ground to rubble and forming a human-shaped pit.


    In an instant, his eyes rolled back as he nearly passed out, countless amounts of blood bursting from the holes all over his body, making one wonder if a human body could hold that much liquid.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª""Bang¡ª¡ª""Bang¡ª¡ª"


    The sound of a body smashing into the ground resounded continuously, as Xue Jing swung Zhou Yinglin about like wielding a Giant Sword, and with each hit, the Super Arena faintly vibrated a few times with the severity of the force. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not until the body of Zhou Yinglin in his hand was completely shattered, lying twisted on the ground like a broken sack, did Xue Jing stop his actions and release the grip on his ankle.


    "As a weapon, the human body is truly poor and difficult to use..."


    In the silent Super Arena, Xue Jing''s not-so-loud voice spread throughout the arena.


    He walked to the side, pulled up the fishing rod planted in the floor, and swung it hard.


    The immense force stirred the air, gathering the pale azure Wind of All Beginnings that had diffused around the stage.


    The Wind of All Beginnings, inherently cohesive, always attracted to each other even when dispersed, and stayed within close proximity, gradually recondensing into a mass, so although it was burst open by Zhou Yinglin, it did not scatter but remained on the stage.


    Now, Xue Jing swung the fishing rod from various angles several times, forcibly gathering it into a fist-sized ball of wind, holding it in one hand.


    He turned back to glance at the lifeless Zhou Yinglin and spoke faintly:


    "I''ll be taking this away."


    "If you don''t say anything, I''ll take that as your agreement."


    Zhou Yinglin was motionless.


    "Looks like you agree, thanks."


    After the insincere thanks, Xue Jing, carrying the flawless fishing rod, headed toward the player''s alley.


    Only after his figure had disappeared did the referee swallow hard, frantically picked up the whistle hanging on his chest, and blew the whistle signaling the end of the competition.


    "Vic¡­ victory has been determined!"


    ...


    (Forgot to set the time, bummer, wasted a day off request...)

 Chapter 460 - 261: Past Events, Sleeve Dragon, Mahayana Flying Sword

    "Wan Yulai is a genius."


    Wu Xuanzhu slowly began.


    He had already noticed that the members of the Zhige Base around him had surrounded the place, yet they did not dare to come close.


    But he did not consider it a matter, casually finding a rock of just the right height to sit on as if it were a chair, placing his palms on his knees, ready to start telling a story.


    "This old man seldom uses the word ''genius'' to describe others."


    Wu Xuanzhu said.


    "In any field, as long as one is not dead, the heights one can eventually reach are uncertain. Martial arts are the same; it''s not about who practices faster or who breaks through earlier that determines who is stronger... Before death, nothing is conclusive."


    "This old man barely broke through at nearly fifty years old, left behind by who knows how many so-called ''geniuses'', unable to even catch a glimpse of their backs.


    But in the end, this old man still stands here, atop the pinnacle, revered as the Gun Saint by the world, praised as the supreme peak of the realm of skill, while those ''geniuses'', most have long been cleanly forgotten by the times, now lacking even the qualifications to be compared with this old man."


    At this point, Wu Xuanzhu paused.


    "However, even with this living example of myself, there are still some people whose existence forces this old man to summarize with the word ''genius''."


    He pointed at Xue Jing.


    "Another one today... including you, the number of people this old man has seen who can be called ''genius'' total seven."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "That doesn''t sound too few."


    Wu Xuanzhu glanced at him, "This old man has lived nearly a hundred years, seen more martial artists than you can imagine, countless passing the Dragon Gate before the age of thirty, and not a few below twenty. The number ''seven'' is much fewer than you imagine."


    "Even ''White Emperor'' Lu Shenliu from yesterday who came to kill you, has never been considered a ''genius'' by this old man."


    "But Wan Yulai is."


    Wu Xuanzhu rolled up his sleeve, revealing a section of his strong forearm that did not at all look like that of an old man.


    "The word ''genius'' actually carries a somewhat despairing connotation. It attributes all efforts, hardships, luck, pain... everything one experiences to the talent given by the heavens."


    "That''s why this old man dislikes this word. Yet Wan Yulai is just like you, possessing an unreasonable nature that forces this old man to describe with the word ''genius''."


    Xue Jing nodded his head, indicating his understanding.


    Wu Xuanzhu paused for a moment, then continued:


    "In his youth, Li Qi was known together with two others as ''The Trio of Jade City'', acclaimed by people as very likely to touch the seven great titles in the future."


    "Indeed, that was the case. Apart from Li Qi, who met with mishap, Zhou Liexiong and Chen Buyan from The Trio of Jade City are now both on the verge of claiming titles. I saw Chen Buyan of the Asura Blade two years ago at Sky Mirror Lake. He participated in the ''Army Master Battle'' of Sky Mirror Lake.


    Though he ultimately failed to claim the title of Army Master, he was still able to compete fiercely on the stage with the strong."


    "Li Qi, one of The Trio and even seen as the informal leader, was undeniably a formidable person, but in his forties, he was challenged by a junior not half his age."


    "Naturally, he wouldn''t take it to heart. Such doorstep challenges were daily occurrences for him, and he always accepted all comers..."


    "Then, he was defeated by this young man under the age of twenty."


    "His defeat was utterly miserable. A single punch destroyed the True Dragon ambition he had nurtured for decades, broke his legs, and forced him to kneel."


    Wu Xuanzhu remarked:


    "Nobody expected this outcome. This old man also found it hard to believe when receiving the news... At that time, Li Qi was close to his second breakthrough. Setting aside his character for the moment, purely in terms of martial strength, the Old Martial Circle held him in high regard.


    Many were optimistic about him, thinking he had a chance to seize the ''True Dragon'' title within twenty years, which was also his dream."


    "But this young man, before then, no one had heard his name."


    "After that, stepping on Li Qi as a foothold, everyone came to know him."


    "The former ''Dragon King Li'', Li Qi, is now merely an insignificant note in the backdrop of battles achieved by ''True Dragon'' Wan Yulai."


    Xue Jing tilted his head slightly, puzzled, "Why would Wan Yulai challenge my master? Why did he strike so hard? Was there some grievance?"


    Wu Xuanzhu shook his head, "Li Qi was aggressive and liked to stir up trouble, making countless enemies."


    "But Wan Yulai, who reduced him to such a state, had absolutely no connection with him."


    "After defeating Li Qi, Wan Yulai said something."


    "''The title Dragon King... sounds displeasing to my ear.''


    Xue Jing''s expression became tranquil, without fluctuation, expressing a noncommittal ''huh''.


    Wu Xuanzhu continued, "Li Qi''s only disciple at the time... this old man remembers his surname was Meng, the first name forgotten, he demanded to know why Wan Yulai struck so mercilessly."


    He paused for a moment, his tone becoming profound, "Wan Yulai said: ''If I didn''t strike hard, how would the world know of my dissatisfaction with the title ''Dragon King''?


    Xue Jing''s eyes smiled without joy, "Quite an interesting person."


    Wu Xuanzhu nodded, leisurely said, "Indeed, quite interesting."


    "Li Qi, this man, is bravely fierce and violent. He has maimed and killed quite a few himself, which has made him quite unpopular. This outcome is within reason, and I don''t know how many people are applauding it."


    "But Wan Yulai seeking him out was not because of a personal vendetta, nor was it to act the hero; it was for a nitpicky reason that he found him disagreeable, which could be seen as a taste of his own medicine, a karmic cycle if you will."


    "Today''s Wan Yulai, after more than a decade of dedication, two years ago at the age of thirty-three, broke the record and became the youngest holder of the ''True Dragon'' title."


    "Over the next two years, he fought and won continuously. On ''Thousand-year Island'', he secured the ''True Dragon'' title twice in a row with overwhelming power, undefeated and thus acclaimed as the ''uncrowned eternal True Dragon''."


    "Even an old man like me would not dare claim certain victory against him."


    Wu Xuanzhu smiled and said to Xue Jing, "What do you think after hearing this?"


    Xue Jing did not answer the question directly but after pondering, he asked, "Senior Wu, what sect is the ''Yanlong Liu'' that Wan Yulai practices, and does it have any relation to my ''Hidden Dragon School''?"


    Wu Xuanzhu felt quite a favorability towards Xue Jing and didn''t mind his indirect answer being slightly impolite, instead replying with a smile,


    "There are countless martial arts sects featuring the word ''dragon'' in this world. It''s not uncommon to stumble upon one by chance; it''s probably just a coincidence."


    "Your master, Li Qi derived the Hidden Dragon School from an ancient technique named ''Sleeve Dragon''. It can be considered a semi-original sect; he''s like half a founding master."


    "As for the origins of Yanlong Liu, they are rather mysterious. There was no word of it before Wan Yulai started showcasing his abilities."


    "No matter how talented Wan Yulai is, it''s impossible for him to have developed a complete and powerful sect on his own in his teens. To create something out of nothing without sufficient experience, that''s something only a deity could do."


    "However, he has never mentioned anything about the origins of Yanlong Liu. I''d guess there''s likely a hidden, formidable individual teaching him."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I understand, thank you for clearing up my confusion, Senior."


    His eyes showed deep contemplation.


    Ancient techniques, Sleeve Dragon, Yanlong...


    Wu Xuanzhu stood up from the stone, brushed off the dust that had settled on him from the earlier fight, and said,


    "Alright, we have talked quite a bit... it''s time I spoke about the reason I came to see you today."


    Xue Jing looked at him attentively and nodded, "Please speak, Senior."


    Wu Xuanzhu weighed his words and said, "Strictly speaking, there''s no fundamental conflict between you and that disappointing disciple of mine. He is just a weapon in the hands of others; someone else is behind the scheme to kill you, not him personally."


    "I have seen him before; he''s pretty much half-wasted, a result of his own doing, so it''s not worth mentioning."


    "I hope you can do me the favor of not holding a grudge against him... consider this a request. It doesn''t matter if you choose not to listen."


    "As compensation for his once malicious intentions towards you, I will teach you a martial arts technique that you currently should find quite beneficial."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "What happened in the arena has ended. Although he wanted to kill me, it''s like a lion doesn''t bother with how much malice a rabbit harbors. In light of your position, Senior, as long as he doesn''t provoke me again, I will not lay hands on him."


    Wu Xuanzhu nodded, "Should he dare again, I won''t plead on his behalf... Let''s leave that matter be. Little Jing, you''re quite magnanimous." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I am an elder to Youqing, and since you have ties with Youqing... I ought to give you a proper welcoming gift."


    His gaze shifted to the Forgotten Greatsword stuck in the ground not too far away.


    "Little Jing, do you possess the skill to wield a flying sword? Is this a God-Given Secret Art?"


    Xue Jing nodded, there was no point in denying, "It''s a technique I recently grasped."


    He extended a hand towards the room bearing the Forgotten Greatsword, gesturing a sword with his finger, and with a slight movement,


    The Forgotten Greatsword immediately lifted from its spot, rising into the air, swiftly approaching Xue Jing. It circled around him ceaselessly, like a nimble fish gliding through water.


    Wu Xuanzhu''s eyes lifted slightly:


    "This agility..."


    Although he had already experienced it briefly, it wasn''t until he observed the giant-sword-turned-door panel moving with such delicacy, as if weightless, that he truly appreciated its maneuverability.


    "I may not understand the principles of this God-Given Secret Art, but since you can control it to such an extent, surely you can practice this extraordinary power," said Wu Xuanzhu.


    "Today, I will teach you a supreme flying sword technique that is unparalleled in the world."


    "Its name is ¡ª Mahayana Flying Sword."


    ...


    (There will be another update later; I am currently writing it. I''m not sure how long it will take, so readers don''t need to wait; go to sleep first.)


    (Seeking monthly tickets...)

 Chapter 469 - 265: Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Wan: If We Werent Siblings... (4K)

    Zhige Base, in the yard of a villa.


    Xue Jing was slowly practicing a somewhat peculiar set of boxing techniques.


    No, to call it boxing would not be quite accurate, it was closer to ''fitness exercises''.


    The purpose of each movement was to exercise every inch of the body as much as possible, and aside from the high difficulty, it was no different from fitness exercises.


    As he practiced, Ning Fengwan and the little maid Yun Qin were also watching his movements and followed along.


    This set of movements was based on the Armor Shaking Skill of the Hidden Dragon School, which he had modified in a few minutes to be suitable for those without a martial arts foundation to limber up their muscles and bones.


    After all, with ''Serpent Slayer Spearhead'' and ''The Invincible Lionheart,'' Ning Fengwan was alright; she had the Divine Power of Bastet permeating her body, making her physically strong, but Yun Qin had no foundation at all and needed to be taught slowly.


    Anyway, the main purpose was to help Ning Fengwan shake off her state of decay and incidentally to rack up some [teaching] experience, rather than to truly make her skilled in martial arts, so Xue Jing was in no hurry.


    "Xue!"


    A call came from the entrance, and then Ning Yuantai entered the yard.


    Upon entering, he paused for a moment, taking notice of Ning Fengwan.


    It was his first time seeing Ning Fengwan''s humanoid form as he had never seen her before, but he quickly understood from her cat ears and the platinum ring on her cat tail that this excessively beautiful woman was the same cat that was always on Xue''s shoulder.


    Knowing that this was likely Xue''s Ning Yuantai, he immediately averted his gaze, not daring to look any longer.


    "Yuantai, come over here."


    Xue Jing continued his movements while greeting Ning Yuantai.


    "Practice with me, it''s good for your health."


    He thought to himself that adding another person should at least give a bit of a boost to the [teaching] experience.


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, wanting to say that the exercises they practiced in Neo Martial Arts would be of no use here... but he never dared to refuse what Xue Jing said, so he immediately stepped forward and began practicing with them.


    As he practiced, he spoke in a low voice:


    "Xue, there''s been trouble at Sky Center."


    Xue Jing performed a move similar to Tai Chi''s ''holding a watermelon,'' and said without changing his expression, "What happened?"


    Ning Yuantai followed the movements and whispered, "To be precise, something happened at Xu''s Biology... the alarm rang so loudly that it was heard on hundreds of floors above and below."


    "Although I don''t know the specifics... I heard that Xu Mude has completely sealed off Sky Center and is not allowing anyone to enter or exit."


    "Oh?" Xue Jing''s eyes flickered, puzzled:


    "Sky Center is so big; can he seal it off? And do people on the other floors have no objections? Also, are the municipal governments of the Inner Ring just letting him mess around?"


    Ning Yuantai continued his exercises in sync with Xue Jing, feeling like an old man practicing Tai Chi in the park... Suppressing this odd sensation, he said:


    "He''s paying a lot of money to several major security giants, deploying countless security forces around Sky Center, and now every hour, the cost is astronomical for ordinary people." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Moreover... let''s just say Xu Family''s face is indeed big enough that several super-company headquarters located in Sky Center are also letting him have his way, and the municipal governments of Yuan City, Star City, and Jade City haven''t made a peep so far."


    Xue Jing casually asked, "Sky Center must be pretty important, right? The municipal government isn''t reacting at all?"


    Ning Yuantai shook his head and said, "As a symbol, it''s certainly important... but in reality, it''s not that crucial."


    "After the loss of ''Eternal Night,'' the original significance of Sky Center as the ''Sun Pillar'' has disappeared, and it''s basically certain that there will never be another day for it to be activated."


    "And while the Sky Center of the Fifth Urban Circle isn''t as politically significant as the ''Heavenly Palace'' of the First Urban Circle, nor as functionally unique as the ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace'' of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle."


    "Its actual function is nothing more than a taller building that sells for a high price... The municipal government will naturally consider whether it is worth the risk of a direct conflict with the Xu Family over this matter."


    Xue Jing seemed enlightened: "I see."


    He appeared unconcerned, as if he was just listening to an interesting piece of gossip.


    But inside, he was deep in thought.


    Although he was aware that Xu Mude losing the Wind of All Beginnings might lead to some actions, he hadn''t expected them to be so dramatic.


    To the extent of needing to lock down Sky Center.


    Was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a Divine Relic that had just made it into the top hundred in the sequence... especially when it was only one-ninth of it?


    Furthermore, when he stole the Wind of All Beginnings, he hadn''t left a trace, and his trail had never been exposed from beginning to end.


    It looked as though the Wind of All Beginnings had just disappeared on its own.


    In that case, the Xu Family should most likely assume that the Divine Relic had triggered its Transfer Nature.


    Or is it that, even knowing that it''s likely the Divine Relic shifted on its own, they''re still so unwilling to come to terms with it that they need to completely seal off Sky Center and investigate all possibilities?


    If that''s the case, then what Xu Mude is doing might be very significant... at least for him personally.


    ''Adam... Divine Factor...''


    Xue Jing thought of the article he had seen in the hands of that boy in the laboratory full of ''Xu Mudes.''


    ''It must be related to this... I need to ask Youqing A Dream for details.''

 Chapter 470 - 265: Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Wan: If We Werent Siblings... (4K)_2

    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    "Jing, how much longer do we need to practice?"


    Ning Fengwan''s crisp girlish voice rang out.


    "Does this really work? I feel like you''re tricking me."


    She looked at Xue Jing, doubt in her gaze.


    Although initially fooled by Xue Jing''s "you''ve gained weight" PUA statement, she was gradually coming to her senses.


    Things didn''t seem quite right.


    As a person bound to the Cat Tail Ring and gradually fusing with the Cat Goddess Bastet''s power, she only needed to be with Xue Jing... to constantly get strengthened by Bastet''s Divine Power.


    It was unclear whether Bastet''s Divine Power could help maintain one''s figure, but a body enhanced by Divine Power should, probably, maybe, possibly, I guess, be hard to put on much fat just from plain eating, drinking, and sleeping in?


    However, although she wouldn''t admit it openly, she cared too much about Xue Jing''s opinion. As soon as she felt he might be slightly judging her weight, she panicked and let herself be led by the nose with just a few words.


    "Of course there''s an effect. Just look at Yun Qin," Xue Jing raised his eyebrows and gestured at the little maid.


    At that moment, the little girl was panting heavily, sweating all over, as if she had just been drenched in rain, with vacant eyes, seemingly unconscious, her body still instinctively following Xue Jing''s movements in practice.


    She was also muttering to herself, "Master... Yun Qin can''t do this... I really can''t anymore..."


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes flashed, pretending as if he had heard nothing.


    But he thought to himself that Xue was playing quite a big game...


    Xue Jing coughed and said, "You see, she''s sweated out at least two pounds. If she practices like this for ten days and a half a month, I can''t even imagine how thin she''d get."


    While speaking, he patted Ning Yuantai''s shoulder, "Right, Yuantai?"


    Ning Yuantai was stunned for a moment, then instinctively nodded along with Xue Jing''s words, "Yes... I guess so."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Anyway, just follow my training, you can''t go wrong."


    Ning Fengwan was skeptical but didn''t say more.


    ...


    Time flew, and another day passed.


    The U19 Championship Battle was to be held today.


    Early in the morning, Xue Jing received a video call from his sister, Xue Wan.


    Upon clicking accept, Xue Wan''s pretty face, quite similar to his own, popped up on the phone screen.


    She seemed to be lying on the bed, chin resting on a pillow, wearing pajamas, her hair somewhat messy, looking like she had just woken up.


    "You silly bean... why aren''t you turning on the camera?"


    Before Xue Wan could finish her opening line, she immediately frowned and expressed her dissatisfaction with Xue Jing not turning on his camera.


    "Do you know how many days it''s been since I''ve seen you? Now you won''t even let me see you on video. Are you even human?"


    She looked heartbroken as she sat up from her lying position, and the camera angle shifted from just her face to showing her entire upper body.


    The buttons on her messy pajamas were misaligned, leaving a large gap in the middle, through which a glimpse of a fair and graceful curve could be seen.


    Xue Jing chuckled, turned on the camera, and revealed his unremarkable Charm Art Lv10, saying helplessly, "It''s just a setting problem with my phone... What do you want?"


    "You have a match today, and I was afraid you might be nervous, so I thought I''d come and comfort you a little."


    Xue Wan changed her position, lying back on the pillow, lifting her phone high, facing herself.


    Her long black straight hair fanned out on the bed, adding aesthetic appeal.


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "Do you really think I could be nervous?"


    Xue Wan pouted, "Not necessarily... I don''t know what''s going on with the internet, but they''ve hyped up this match so much that it''s even starting to escalate to national issues." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Many renowned accounts are saying strange things on blogs... saying that you''re now representing the face of Zhuxia, and if you lose to Otogirusu, you''ll be a criminal of the nation."


    Unconcerned, Xue Jing said, "Oh? Is that so?"


    Xue Wan brought her phone closer, pouting, "Why are you so composed?"


    "Please be a little nervous so I can comfort you. You do everything so well, it makes me feel like I''m not achieving anything as your sister," she said, sounding unexpectedly down.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "Get used to it early. You''ll have many more moments of feeling unaccomplished in the future."


    Xue Wan glared at him, puffing, "Can''t you say something nice? If I can''t comfort you, you can comfort me, your sister!"


    Xue Jing laughed, understanding that Xue Wan was overthinking things a bit.


    He gently said, "There''s no need to think about unnecessary things."


    "You''re my sister... there''s nothing tighter than the bond of blood. We''ve been closely connected since birth, without the need for any cheesy methods to maintain our relationship."


    "I won''t leave you behind and walk away too far, don''t worry."


    Xue Wan''s eyes widened slightly.


    She then moved her phone away, with the camera pointing at the wall.


    "What are you... talking about? I don''t quite understand," Xue Wan''s voice had a subtle tremble.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak.


    After a while, Xue Wan''s face reappeared on the screen, looking normal, her expression unchanged.


    She let out a soft sigh and said:


    "Blood ties, huh... Jing, sometimes I think, it might be nice if we weren''t siblings."


    Xue Jing looked disgusted and said:


    "You wouldn''t think you''d have a chance if we weren''t siblings, would you? Delusional woman."


    Xue Wan glared at him, "Is that what I meant? You''re the delusional man! If you weren''t good-looking... your face is carved out of the same mold as this beauty, stealing my genes! Otherwise, do you think you could look like this?"

 Chapter 471 - 265: Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Wan: If We Werent Siblings... (4K)_3

    Xue Jing said, "I recorded that, and I''m going to send it to mom to listen..."


    Xue Wan hurriedly pleaded for mercy, "Don''t, I was wrong, Master Jing, Officer Jing, spare your servant this once, woof! Woof woof woof woof!"


    ...


    "Ladies and gentlemen in the audience and friends watching the live broadcast, welcome to the U19 Infinite Elite Fighting Championship Finals, I''m your commentator Tao Xingshou!"


    "...Finally, after nearly twenty days of competition, we have determined the last two exceptional contestants, who will step onto the stage for the final battle to become the champion!"


    "...This edition of the U19 has brought us many contestants who have been a surprise and delight, as well as many unexpected developments, but there''s no doubt, it has been an extraordinarily exciting competition, one that will certainly go down in history!"


    "...How will this legendary competition conclude? Let''s wait and see!"


    In the midst of the commentator''s ceaseless speech, the Super Arena was already packed with more than two hundred thousand spectators. Nearly every seat was taken, with a dense and vast sea of people.


    The mere noise of casual chatter created waves of sound, deafening to the ear.


    In the competitors'' area, with the exception of Zhou Yinglin, who was in unique circumstances, and the contestants Xue Jing and Otogirusu who were set to compete, not one of the nearly thirty competitors was absent.


    Moreover, in an unprecedented fashion, they all gathered together, rather than in their familiar small groups.


    "What do you think? How do you all see this match playing out?"


    In the crowd, Wei Junwu spoke up with a flippant tone.


    "Are you asking who will win?"


    Someone asked.


    Another person, with a thick bandage wrapped around their neck and a hoarse voice, said:


    "It''s definitely going to be Xue Jing who wins... there''s no suspense in that, right?"


    His name was Dai Zongnian; he was the one who got brutally defeated by Xue Jing with a Thunder Plough Hot Knife move in the top 16 match, and was one of the few who had felt Xue Jing''s terror up close.


    "Actually, it''s not necessarily a given. Otogirusu has never used his full strength from his debut to now; nobody knows what his limit is. Perhaps he''s surprisingly strong?"


    "Moreover, his ''Deity Slaying Strike'' is universally acknowledged as a top-level Ultimate Skill that you can''t counter even if you know it''s coming... even Demon King Xue might find it tough against that move."


    The others also started discussing it eagerly. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Before his match with Zhou Yinglin, everyone thought the same, that ''Impeccable'' was twisted enough, right? What was the result?"


    Huang Lu, who had fought Xue Jing in the quarterfinals, spoke up indifferently.


    His words immediately silenced the previous speaker.


    "Demon King Xue is an existence beyond common reason... we can''t view him with our regular perspective."


    Song Nanxing said slowly.


    "Raise your expectations as much as possible. He is the kind of person who always defies others'' predictions. Every time you think you have a good understanding of him, he''ll break that understanding once again."


    Yin Muhu, with his muscles largely recovered, nodded in deep agreement, "Indeed, that''s true."


    Wei Junwu spoke up with a hint of disappointment,


    "Hey, you guys are so boring... is now really the time to discuss winning and losing?"


    Someone asked, "Then what else is there?"


    Wei Junwu sighed.


    "This is a match between Otogirusu and Old Xue... don''t forget, what did Otogirusu say in the pre-match interview at the start of U19?"


    Everyone stiffened, as a nearly moaning phrase flashed through their minds.


    "Competitor Xue Jing''s fists... they feel so comfortable..."


    Wei Junwu waved his hands excitedly,


    "This Far Eastern guy definitely has something in mind for Old Xue; this isn''t just a regular match. It''s not about winning or losing, who knows what pleasant surprises might happen..."


    ...

 Chapter 472 - 266 Otogirusu: This Despair... Its Great, Yuhua·Divine Avoidance! (4K)

    "Little Jing, how are you feeling now?"


    In the competitors'' lounge, Jiang Siwei looked at Xue Jing, who was sitting casually with his eyes closed, and softly asked.


    "Feeling?" Xue Jing opened his eyes and said,


    "Nothing special."


    Jiang Siwei rested her chin on her hand and said, "If you win this match, you''ll get your first championship in your life, you must be a bit nervous, right?"


    Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Now that you mention it, Wei, it does seem a bit so."


    Jiang Siwei nodded and said, "Yes, after all, you''re still young... Even if your strength is very strong and it''s almost a sure win, it''s unavoidable to feel nervous on the field..."


    While speaking, she looked sentimental, "But I am much more nervous than you."


    "Since I joined the Galaxy Martial Arts Club, you are the first player I officially took responsibility for training. Before this, I was just running errands under other big shots... I''m also just a total newbie."


    "I just didn''t expect that, thanks to you, I would also reach the ''peak at debut.'' Having been the manager of Demon King Xue, my resume is about to be trimmed with gold edges."


    "As long as you take the U19 championship next, it will be perfection... Although I know it''s a sure thing with your abilities, I am still very nervous."


    Speaking of this, Jiang Siwei earnestly added,


    "But... all these things are trivial, Little Jing. You should feel no pressure at all, including what people online say about you carrying the nation''s honor and can''t afford to lose, those are just burdens others have unfairly placed on you. You have no obligation to respond."


    "Just enjoy the game, no need to worry about winning or losing."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing replied softly, "I understand, Wei. Don''t worry."


    He wasn''t likely to feel nervous, and he would certainly not respond to the undue expectations others placed on him. Xue Jing''s heart was as calm as a mirror lake without a single ripple.


    However, as his manager, Jiang Siwei had been by his side for so long; if not credit, she deserved recognition.


    Claiming she was a bit nervous and giving a pre-match motivational pep talk could at least let her feel more involved.


    "Competitor Xue Jing, it''s time for you to go on stage!"


    The sound of gentle knocking came from outside the door, accompanied by a cautious and respectful call.


    Xue Jing stood up and walked towards the door, "Well then, Wei, I''m heading out."


    Jiang Siwei nodded, clenched her hands, and said, "Go on, Little Jing, I wish you great martial luck."


    Xue Jing opened the door and walked out, saying to the staff,


    "Let''s go."


    The staff member gestured invitingly and said respectfully, "Please follow me."


    ...


    "...One is a distinguished young noble from the Far East, born into a prestigious family, apprenticed to the ''Sword Saint'' Master Tamuramaro, inheriting the most revered warrior''s power from ancient Far Eastern legend, Sakagami Tamuramaro, known as the ''General God''!"


    "The style he employs, Suzaku Style, is said to be the nightmare of many a hero, with ultimate attacks that have left numerous prodigies defeated by his hands. Undefeated since his debut, no one has ever seen him fight with all his might, a terrifying prodigy with immeasurable strength¡ªOtogirusu!"


    "...The other is from an obscure town in the Outer Ring, a dark horse previously unknown before this U19 championship, not expected by anyone, yet he astounded everyone pre-match. Considering himself an eagle among snails, and ultimately proving his claim."


    "His talent is unmatched, his looks divine, his brutality akin to that of a Demon King, from absolute obscurity to universally recognized in just four matches¡ªa meteoric rise to the highest stage, his journey is perhaps the most legendary in U19 history, unique and unparalleled miracle!"


    "Embarking on a conquest under the moniker of Demon King, currently writing his own legend, an ever-astonishing competitor¡ªXue Jing!"


    "Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now, all I can say is, dear audience, we are witnessing history!" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The commentator''s voice, filled with immense excitement and passion, echoed throughout the Super Arena.


    "The unstoppable rise of the Demon King¡ªwill he continue his lonely path of invincibility, or will he be stopped by another Hero confronting him right now..."


    "Let us invite, the two competitors to enter the ring!"


    As soon as the commentator''s voice fell, the Super Arena suddenly dimmed, and rousing, intense background music started to play.


    In the stands, thunderous applause and cheering resonated continuously, everyone eagerly anticipating the upcoming match.


    "This commentator, he''s really good at hyping things up, truly a professional... But it''s so obvious, laying down the red carpet for Demon King Xue, almost outright saying Otogirusu is just a stepping stone."


    "Isn''t that obvious? Aside from the fact that Demon King Xue is from Zhuxia and definitely favored, if they didn''t, the internet would crucify them... Besides on the practical side, Demon King Xue is now the darling of the U19 organizers."


    "Due to Demon King Xue, the popularity of this U19 has risen several levels compared to previous years... They''re probably making a killing, with broadcasting rights prices skyrocketing, and the stock prices of ''Xingtian Entertainment'' going through the roof."


    "...But this is like setting him up for a fall, the higher they lift him, what if Demon King Xue loses, what then, it will all come boomeranging back."


    "That''s none of their business; the boomerang hits Demon King Xue, not them."


    "If Xue Jing loses this match, he''s really in for it. Everyone has hyped him so high, claiming he''s unmatched among his peers, fans have even started to place bets on which title Demon King Xue will claim next... if he loses to a Far Eastern person, boy, I can''t even imagine."

 Chapter 473 - 266 Otogirusu: This Despair... Is Wonderful, Yuhua·Divine Avoidance! (4K)_2

    "How could Zhou Yinglin lose? Before the competition, he was acknowledged as the strongest among the U19 contestants, and was predicted to be stronger than Otogirusu. But what happened? Xue Jing crushed him completely."


    "It''s clear that Xue Jing is in a league of his own in this age group, the sort we wouldn''t normally include in discussions of young prodigies. Facing him, Otogirusu won''t perform much better than Ying Lin did, I bet 50 cents, it''ll be an instant kill!"


    "Martial arts competitions aren''t calculated like that... Although hard power is the biggest standard for determining victory or defeat, counter matchups and performance on the spot are also very important. It''s really not certain."


    "You guys are so boring, always talking about combat strength. We''ll find out when the match starts in a bit, why not gossip about the CP feeling between Otogirusu and my husband? They look so great together, both so good-looking..."


    In the audience seats, a few acquaintances were discussing, suddenly interrupted by a young woman next to them, dressed brightly and with exquisite makeup.


    Looking at the small fan with Xue Jing''s photo that she was holding, people fell silent for a moment, then turned their attention towards the arena below:


    "Ah, they''re coming out!"


    "The match is about to start, stop talking, let''s watch the match."


    ...


    Xue Jing slowly walked out of the players'' tunnel.


    The spotlight shone at his feet, as cheers and applause rose up for him.


    He wore a pure black Martial Arts Uniform, his expression calm, and step by step, he approached the ring.


    The spotlight followed him, countless cameras capturing him from every different angle, not missing any detail.


    The big screens above the arena displayed his various postures from different angles; each time it switched, the screams and cheers from the crowd would erupt anew.


    After the two matches with Zhou Yinglin, he hadn''t paid much attention to the online public opinion about him, only occasionally catching snippets from those around him that suggested his popularity must be very high.


    And now, being in the arena and feeling nearly all of the 200,000-strong crowd cheering for him, he was somewhat moved.


    He felt the real sensation of becoming a ''superstar.''


    Although he wasn''t particularly chasing that kind of attention, he still felt somewhat inspired.


    His gaze shifted slightly as he looked towards his opponent, who was also walking slowly up to the ring.


    Stunningly beautiful and graceful in appearance, she wore a black feather-woven garment and her waist-length hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked so gentle it was as if she came to meet a lover rather than compete in a match.


    Otogirusu.


    Unlike in previous matches when he came empty-handed, this time, he carried an antiquated and beautiful long sword with oxidation signs on its timeworn, gray-brown hilt and scabbard, exuding a sense of profound historical weight.


    "It''s been a while, Lu Sang," said Xue Jing with a smile, glancing at his sword.


    "Xue Jun," Otogirusu spoke with a gentle tone.


    His eyes, which could even be described as seductive, subtly showed a burning passion.


    Like a volcano on the verge of eruption, currently suppressed by the shackles of reason, but could burst forth at any moment.


    "I''ve been waiting to stand on this stage with you for too long... I never thought that just a few short weeks would be so unbearable."


    Otogirusu smiled softly.


    "Xue Jun, do you know what I''m feeling right now?"


    With those eyes that looked at him like a lover, Xue Jing''s mouth twitched and his fists clenched.


    "What feeling?"


    He responded offhandedly.


    Otogirusu looked up slightly and sighed:


    "I''m afraid."


    He rolled up his sleeve and stretched out his clenched right fist.


    That hand, it was trembling.


    "Stepping onto this stage, seeing you, every inch of my skin, every cell screams at me."


    He murmured.


    "Can''t win, definitely can''t win, run now, escape immediately, turn around and flee..."


    "Xue Jun, compared to when we first met, you''ve made me feel more desperate."


    Xue Jing simply listened with an unchanged expression, not responding.


    At this point, Otogirusu''s eyes took on a rapturous look:


    "...It''s so fantastic!"


    "The thought of Xue Jun growing stronger at a pace I can never catch up with, the possibility of defeating Xue Jun growing ever more improbable... I can''t help but feel excited."


    "To exert all my strength, use up every means, spend everything I have, and still, it''s impossible to win!"


    "Ah~ ah~ it''s so despairing, it''s wonderful (ËØÇç¤é¤·¤¤¤Ç¤¹)."


    Otogirusu''s cheeks flushed, incredibly beautiful, yet so attractively enchanting that it was unsettling.


    "This ever-ascending mountain¡ªif I could actually cross it, what immense happiness that would be..."


    "Even though such immense happiness is almost impossible for me to touch, just knowing that I am striving towards it, I feel as though I have already obtained happiness."


    His gaze toward Xue Jing became increasingly tender, and at the same time, his fighting spirit burned more intensely.


    "Xue Jun, you are my happiness," he said.


    He reached out slowly and grasped the hilt of the long sword at his waist.


    "Let''s hurry up... and fight to the death," he whispered.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "You really are funny."


    As he spoke, he walked toward the weapon rack at the edge of the arena, picked up an ordinary long sword about one meter twenty in length, and held it in his hand.


    "... Contestants, take your positions, get ready."


    "Next, witness fully..."


    "The match, begin!"


    The commentator''s excited voice fell, and the referee waved his hand toward the middle of the two on the stage, announcing the start of the match.


    The audience''s cheers, applause, and the noisy discussions gradually quieted down; they focused and eagerly watched the stage.


    Otogirusu adopted a slightly crouched stance, his left hand on the scabbard of his sword at his waist and his right hand gently touching the hilt.


    "The essence of the Suzaku Style lies in the technique of Iaido," he softly began.


    "Xue Jun... be careful."


    The next moment.


    "Clang¡ª!!"


    A tremendous clashing sound of metal rang out, and on the stage, it was as if the frame rate had been cut in half; the scene suddenly shifted.


    The two figures, who had been meters apart, disappeared from their original positions and reappeared in the center of the stage with their long swords clashing together.


    A visible circular shockwave burst from the point of impact between the two, rippling outwards and sending waves across the repulsion membrane enveloping the stage.


    "What...!?"


    "Who saw clearly?"


    "What kind of speed is that!?"


    The eyes of the spectators in the contestants'' area were wide open. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before the audience could react, the situation on the field changed again.


    "Ting ting ting ting ting ting¡ª"


    A rapid succession of clashing sounds, dozens in a second, rang out continuously as two invisible shadows tumbled across the stage, with only the sparks in the air indicating their positions.


    The relentless sweep of the sword light left deep gashes in the stage floor, which quickly became shattered and strewn with debris.


    In the heat of battle, Xue Jing''s eyes turned to silver vertical pupils, slightly squinting.


    ''Interesting.''


    Whether Otogirusu had burst forth or had been hiding his strength earlier, he seemed much stronger than Zhou Yinglin. Especially his speed and fluidity of attack were above Xue Jing''s, but Xue Jing utilized the "Eye-Penetrating Flow" to clearly see the weak spots in Otogirusu''s offense, managing to fight to a draw.


    ''And that sword...''


    Xue Jing felt the strain on his long sword, which had been enhanced by the "Army Master," under the impact of their intense clash.


    The Blade That Never Dulls truly lived up to its reputation¡ªcapable of withstanding tremendous temperatures without even a single particle of change; it was unbelievably hard.


    "Xue Jun, let me see that overwhelming strength of yours that fills me with despair!" Otogirusu''s excited voice rang in his ears.


    Xue Jing''s gaze stilled, and suddenly, a powerful aura began to spread from his body, shaking the void, and a visible black lightning pattern aura erupted from all around him.


    Then, all the black lightning converged and wrapped around the long sword in his hand.


    "Don''t die on me, Lu Sang," Xue Jing said indifferently.


    Facing the continuous onslaught from Otogirusu''s sword, he pulled back his long sword with a counter move.


    And then, a flash.


    "Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance!"


    Black lightning surged along the blade, slicing through the void as Otogirusu''s eyes widened, only managing to raise The Blade That Never Dulls to block in time.


    "Clang¡ª"


    A fearsome force transmitted from The Blade That Never Dulls as Otogirusu was sent flying, crashing into the pale blue Repulsion Membrane.


    And from his left waist to his right shoulder, a terrifying, bone-deep wound appeared.


    ...

 Chapter 474 - 267: Winning the U19 Championship! Otogirusus Sneak Attack on Xue Jing (4K)

    Otogirusu''s palm trembled slightly, and he gently touched the wound on his chest, his fingertips stained with blood.


    He looked at his bloodstained fingers and smeared them across his thin lips.


    His lips turned as red as the flowers on the other shore, exuding a dangerous and enchanting allure.


    This scene was excessively beautiful, like a crystal that remained dazzling even after being shattered. The camera gave him a close-up and displayed it on the big screen above the arena, causing countless female spectators to scream.


    Xue Jing stood at the center of the arena, not pursuing further. He held his long sword tilted, the tip pointing to the ground, and black thunder still radiated around the blade, making it seem like the void had cracked.


    Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance.


    This move was a new application of Yuhua he had developed, transforming the ''Conqueror''s Haki'' generated by the spiritual aura attached to the Shadow Flame through Yuhua. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In this way, he could freely manipulate the aura, which was originally only emitted outwardly, concentrate it, and wrap it around his weapon.


    This move turned out to be unexpectedly effective, not only enhancing the attack power but mainly adding two effects.


    One was ''Penetration''; just now, although Otogirusu blocked Xue Jing''s slash with his sword, ''Divine Avoidance'' still leaped over the block and struck Otogirusu, injuring him.


    Although the strike that hit him only concentrated the spiritual aura on the blade edge, which caused much less damage than the blade directly hitting the body, it was nearly unstoppable.


    The other effect was ''Intimidation''.


    Though, because it was attached to the Shadow Flame, which caused some physical damage, its primary function was still the mental oppression and intimidation.


    After being hit by ''Divine Avoidance'', aside from physical damage, the victim also suffered significant mental intimidation damage.


    This was the essence of the move.


    As for whether this move counts as ''martial arts'', it indeed does.


    The use of consciousness and spirit is also a part of martial arts dueling, and many schools focus specifically on this aspect.


    Naturally, as ''The Chosen One'', Xue Jing''s spiritual power was slightly different from ordinary people, and his usage differed; this makes sense.


    Some practitioners from unique martial arts schools also experience certain changes in their consciousness, gaining special abilities; this is quite normal.


    Xue Jing looked at Otogirusu, who seemed to be severely injured, and narrowed his silver vertical pupils, feeling a bit puzzled.


    His move, Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance, had already been trialed many times in Consciousness Simulation against many targets, like Wei Junwu and others. On impact, it could directly cause their spirits to collapse and faint.


    That''s still a better case; for martial artists with even lower spiritual levels, this strike could cause their consciousness to die, turning them into vegetarians.


    But for someone of Zhou Yinglin''s caliber, though it wouldn''t make him faint on the spot, it would cause his limbs to go weak, his mind to blur, needing a good while to recover, greatly reducing his combat effectiveness.


    But Otogirusu... in his perception, his consciousness seemed to barely waver, still as fiery and vigorously burning as ever.


    "Too agitated, has he fallen into some kind of ''Inverse Scale'' like mental outburst state, ignoring the intimidation of ''Divine Avoidance''?"


    Xue Jing murmured.


    "Xue Jun..."


    Otogirusu spoke softly, his eyes burning with an increasingly fierce fervor.


    "This is it, this is what I want..."


    With his bloodied fingers, he caressed his ancient longsword, drawing a vivid red line of blood on the blade, then sheathed it back, assuming an Iaido stance.


    "Su Zao Style¡¤Red Dye."


    A streak of blood light flashed, and with a "clang", Otogirusu appeared instantly in front of Xue Jing, clashing with his dagger.


    The longsword, now dyed crimson red, demonstrated unparalleled power under some sort of enhancement, and a segment of the blade, spinning, flew into the sky; Xue Jing''s longsword finally could not withstand the burden and got severed.


    The Red Blade cut through the weapon and, without any pause, continued toward Xue Jing''s chest.


    Then... it was caught by Xue Jing.


    The Army Master''s enhanced palm was extremely tough. Xue Jing grasped the Red Blade in his hand, was pushed back two steps by the blade''s impact, and then exclaimed to Otogirusu, who looked surprised and delighted:


    "Lu Sang, you are really strong."


    As he spoke, he twisted his wrist sharply while holding the blade.


    Under the Whirlwind Thunder Force, spiral indentations began to appear on the surface of his arm.


    This technique, which grew stronger with practice and was touted as the Hidden Dragon School''s deadly move that could compress strength indefinitely as long as the body could bear it, was far superior in his hands today than ever.


    Especially after the enhancement by the Army Master, his physical endurance had increased another notch. At this moment, running Whirlwind Thunder at full power, he could unleash more than five times his usual output.


    Otogirusu felt an unstoppable spiral force coming from the longsword in his hand, which made his wrist twist sharply, and the sleeves covering his arm twisted into nothing, beginning from the wrist and spreading to the shoulder.


    The spiral force quickly spread throughout Otogirusu''s body, and his whole person uncontrollably lifted off the ground, harshly spinning in the air, head downward and feet upward.


    "Snap¡ª"


    Xue Jing grabbed Otogirusu''s right foot as he flipped over.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Like swinging a giant spear, Xue Jing turned around, holding Otogirusu in his grip, and with a motion like cleaving a mountain, he swung in a large circle forward, producing a crescent strike, violently smashing onto the arena floor.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A huge explosion sound, debris flew, and dust filled the air. The whole venue seemed to shake a few times, a massive hole appeared in the arena, and Otogirusu was deeply embedded in the center of the hole.

 Chapter 475 - 267: Winning the U19 Championship! Otogirusus Surprise Attack on Xue Jing (4K)_2

    The strike was so ferocious and forceful that it wouldn''t have been surprising if Otogirusu had been smashed into a pulp. Many spectators gasped and covered their eyes, unable to watch any further.


    Meanwhile, in the arena, Xue Jing did indeed slightly furrow his brow.


    It was that feeling again...


    Previously, when he had first encountered Otogirusu, they had fought once.


    Back then, he had hit her with his most powerful combination technique at the time, "Flame-Colored Rainbow¡¤Thunder Plough Hot Blade," but he felt no sensation of actually striking something solid, as if he had touched a mass of fog with no substance.


    And it was the same this time.


    He remembered that Otogirusu had called the move¡ª


    "My Style¡¤Undying Smoke."


    From within the dust, Otogirusu stood up, looking towards Xue Jing with her narrow and seductive eyes gleaming with thrill and intoxication:


    "It hurts (that really hurts)."


    Blood trailed from the left side of her head, spreading to her chin.


    "More... give me more pain."


    "Only then, will the final fruit become sweeter and sweeter..."


    "Come on, Xue Jun!!"


    Otogirusu''s blood-red lips stretched into an exaggerated smile, her expression as excited as if she were high on drugs.


    The next moment, a hand grabbed her face, lifting her high like a little cat, and then smashed her down to the ground with force.


    With her head still in grasp, Xue Jing started to plough the ground, the hard floor cracking like soft soil, a deep ravine trailing behind them while stones shattered and burst to the sides with cracking sounds.


    "Heh... hehehe hehe haha."


    Otogirusu laughed maniacally, the long sword in her hand flipping, with a colorful radiance emerging.


    "My Style¡¤Night Branch!"


    The long sword swept through the void, its tip aiming for Xue Jing''s torso.


    But before she could act, Xue Jing was a step ahead, tossing her by the head into the air.


    The sword stabbed into empty space, the colorful Qi Force bursting from the tip and striking the Repulsion Membrane. After a brief pause, it actually pierced through the membrane and flew towards the sky.


    Flipping in mid-air, Otogirusu sheathed her sword, looking down at Xue Jing below her.


    There was a huge sword wound on his chest, his clothes torn and ragged, injuries all over his body, making him appear quite a sight.


    But at this moment, for the first time since the fight began, Xue Jing felt a sense of crisis.


    "Suzao Style Secret Technique¡ª"


    "Deity Slaying Strike!"


    Instantaneous Thousand Cuts¡¤Deity Slaying Strike!


    Described by Wu Youqing as a "watershed" technique, one would be instantly killed if their strength was below its level, leaving no room for struggle, the ultimate absolute offense.


    Xue Jing''s eyes glinted.


    Layer upon layer, over a hundred different slashes, as if over a hundred Otogirusus were simultaneously attacking him, came slashing across.


    This was the realm of "Hundred Cuts."


    Even a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster would have to furrow their brows and be fully alert in the face of the Deity Slaying Strike unleashed by Otogirusu''s Blade That Never Dulls.


    It was a strike that surpassed his current realm, a thoroughly overleveled secret technique.


    Xue Jing had many methods to deal with this move: he could hide within the body of the Nonexistent Beast, or use Shadow Transformation Elementalization, and defensive techniques like Shadowflame Wrap Armor combined with Golden Scales Transformation and Seal Cloud Tail could also forcibly withstand it.


    But at this moment, his only response was to meet it with the same caliber of martial arts!


    Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, Blood all in motion, the sound of a Dragon''s Chant resonated through the heavens.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    His silver-white pupils were indifferent and scornful, his Unparalleled Fist surging against the tides.


    "Eye-Dotting!"


    Condensed into one point, reaching the pinnacle!


    A pale golden True Dragon phantom emerged above his fist, roaring as it swept towards the blade storm above.


    As the Hundred Deity Slaying Strikes clashed with the True Dragon Eye-Pointing Fist in the void, the dragon scales shattered, and the blade lights dissipated. During the clash of the two ultimate skills, Xue Jing didn''t pause. With a ''buzzing'' sound, he trailed a colorful tail of flame as he swiftly turned towards Otogirusu in the sky.


    His right hand formed into a blade, and after advancing to Army Master, thanks to the All Weapons Mastery effect, he was no longer merely using his hand in place of a blade, but truly "turning the hand into a blade"!


    In a flash of brilliance, the Full Moon rose high, and countless Silver Cherry Blossoms followed in descent.


    Amidst the beautiful and dazzling scene of sword light and dragon shadow, the Full Moon and Silver Cherry Blossoms, Xue Jing appeared behind Otogirusu.


    "Chitchitchit¡ª"


    The dense sound of blades slicing flesh erupted, as countless fine cuts burst open across Otogirusu''s body, matching the number of Silver Cherry Blossoms falling from the sky.


    "Hmm¡ª"


    ```


    Otogirusu Suzuka whimpered, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth as she fell from the sky to the ground.


    Xue Jing also landed, slowly walking over to where Otogirusu Suzuka lay on the shattered ground, looking down at her from above, and said softly,


    "Suzuka, you have done your best."


    Otogirusu Suzuka slightly lifted her gaze towards Xue Jing.


    Her disheveled hair cascaded down, and her beautiful face, adorned with blood, showed a hint of frailty that evoked a sorrowful beauty, prompting pity.


    Yet her expression was one of intoxicated satisfaction, as if she had finally had her fill after a long hunger.


    But there was also a deep sense of regret; even though she was full, she had not gotten what she truly desired.


    "I''ve lost, Xue Jun."


    She extended her jade-like slender palm, gently catching a falling silver cherry blossom.


    "You really didn''t disappoint me... completely out of reach."


    As she spoke, a hint of pity appeared in Otogirusu Suzuka''s eyes as she looked at Xue Jing.


    "Xue Jun, in the future, you will surely become an unmatched strong fighter, won''t you?"


    "Sooner or later, there will be no one''s back for you to see ahead of you."


    "But, being unmatched in strength must be a very boring thing."


    "To keep you from getting bored, I will always be chasing after you, don''t worry."


    Her tone was extremely gentle, like the soft, whispering words of a lover.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched: "Please don''t, I''m really scared of you now."


    The referee''s whistle sounded.


    "The battle is decided!!!"


    The commentator yelled excitedly.


    "The new hero from a foreign land, as expected, still lies defeated before the invincible Demon King!"


    "Competitor Xue Jing continues his dominant performance since the beginning of the competition, taking the final champion''s battle!"


    "This is the beginning of a legend, let us applaud and celebrate, the undoubted champion of this U19 Unlimited Elite Fighting Tournament, has been born!"


    "Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap¡ª¡ª"


    An unprecedented applause that nearly overturned the entire Super Arena erupted, sounding like thunderous drums, continuing for a long time.


    The cheers and roars of two hundred thousand spectators combined into a thunderous wave of sound.


    Gradually, all the cheers synchronized into one voice.


    "Xue Jing¡ª¡ªXue Jing¡ª¡ªXue Jing!!"


    Fireworks exploded, and golden streamers sprayed out from various mechanisms, filling the entire Super Arena with a rain of gold, contrasting with the falling silver cherry blossoms.


    Countless cameras and photographers pointed at Xue Jing, with flashes going non-stop, as if trying to capture this young phenom into their devices.


    Competing players in the players'' observation area clapped, their eyes revealing astonishment.


    Xue Jing looked around, all the flowers and applause were there solely for him.


    He originally thought that winning the championship would be effortless and that he wouldn''t feel much, but when the moment came, he was still overwhelmed by emotion.


    Rarely deviating from his cool demeanor of only focusing on the competition, he raised his palm and waved to the audience in every direction.


    Whichever side he waved at erupted with even more enthusiastic applause and cheering.


    After waving to the audience from every direction, Xue Jing''s gaze turned to Otogirusu Suzuka who still lay powerlessly on the ground.


    He sighed softly and extended his hand toward her, smiling helplessly, "So, can you still move?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka replied with a smile, lifting her hand to grasp Xue Jing''s, and with his pull, she was helped to her feet.


    "¤¢¤ê¤¬¤È¤¦ (Thank you), Xue Jun."


    The post-match camaraderie earned a round of applause from countless spectators.


    As Otogirusu Suzuka stood up, she seemed severely wounded and overly weak, suddenly staggering forward...


    She ended up collapsing into Xue Jing''s arms, her head buried in his neck, and her bloodied lips left a strawberry mark on his collarbone.


    "Uh..."


    The audience''s applause suddenly quieted down, staring in astonishment.


    Xue Jing froze, receiving the most severe injury since the U19 tournament began.


    He stiffly turned his head to look at Otogirusu Suzuka.


    Her pretty, innocent face was full of innocence.


    As if to say, it really wasn''t intentional...


    ... S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    (Just in case there are still readers who are mistaken, a spoiler alert: the author will not go into the BL genre, Otogirusu Suzuka is a woman.)


    ```

 Chapter 476 - 268: The Blade That Never Dulls Obtained, The Troubled Seeker?

    "Kissed... kissed?"


    "Damn, for real? Could this day have been staged on purpose?"


    "This was intentional! With the level of Martial Artist he is, how could such a rookie mistake like falling flat happen!"


    "Hilarious, Demon King Xue''s face turned green... As expected of Otogirusu, effortlessly achieving what Zhou Yinglin couldn''t in his lifetime."


    "Damn it, the pre-match interview already showed this guy had designs on Xue Jing, but he seemed normal during the fight. I overlooked it and didn''t expect him to be waiting for this moment!"


    "Being good-looking is a curse, even men are after him... but with Otogirusu, although I''m straight, I really think it''s acceptable."


    "This guy looks so flirty... could he really be a woman in men''s clothing?"


    "Aaaaah!! A cool and abstinent receiver with a sickly teasing attacker, and both are off-the-charts handsome, can I really handle this much goodness?"


    "My God, can you really watch this for free?"


    The audience was stunned.


    In the competitors'' viewing area, Yin Muhu was stunned for a long while before patting Wei Junwu on the shoulder who was standing next to her.


    "You were really right..."


    Wei Junwu scratched his head.


    Although before the match he indeed cheekily said that winning or losing wasn''t the key, but that something enjoyable might happen... he hadn''t expected it to really happen.


    He turned his head to look at Song Nanxing next to him.


    "Old Song, what do you think?"


    Song Nanxing''s eyes twitched, "...Don''t ask me, I know nothing, I don''t want to say anything."


    Wei Junwu stroked his chin:


    "Otogirusu really is terrifying, with what happened to Old Xue... could it be he''s been opened to a new world?"


    On the stage.


    Xue Jing reached up to wipe his collarbone.


    He looked down at the crimson lipstick mark on his palm, feeling like the sky was falling, his martial heart on the verge of breaking.


    The hand holding the blade trembled slightly.


    Damn it... kissed by a man.


    No, there''s still a chance.


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched, turning to look at Otogirusu standing beside him.


    For some reason, unlike his previous composed teasing demeanor, Otogirusu now looked tense and a bit shy. When he saw Xue Jing looking, he averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing, entirely like a shy girl who had done something embarrassing.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing''s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.


    Not bros.


    You couldn''t be serious, right?


    "Lu Sang."


    Xue Jing slowly began, his voice strained.


    "Tell me, you''re actually a woman who''s disguised as a man, truly a woman."


    Otogirusu, with a face full of regret, responded softly:


    "¤´¤á¤ó¤Ê¤µ¤¤ (I''m sorry), Xue Jun."


    Hearing this apology, Xue Jing sighed as he covered his forehead with his hand.


    After a while, he lowered his hand, his expression returning to normal, and said:


    "Alright then, that''s that, I''m off."


    Having said that, Xue Jing turned to leave.


    But immediately, Otogirusu reached out and grabbed his arm, whispering:


    "Wait a minute, Xue Jun, you''ve won the championship, there''s still the trophy ceremony and the post-match speech, you can''t leave yet."


    Xue Jing unceremoniously shifted his energy, shaking off the hand Otogirusu had on his arm.


    Otogirusu was momentarily taken aback, a hint of loss flashing across his face, but quickly collected himself, a smile appearing:


    "No need to be so scared, I won''t do anything to you again, Xue Jun, it was just an accident."


    "I''ll be leaving now... all the glory that follows belongs only to you."


    After saying this, Otogirusu chuckled softly, turning around and walking elegantly back towards his side''s competitors'' passageway.


    Xue Jing watched his retreating figure, frowning slightly, sensing that something was off.


    But before he could think further about it, a host in a suit, holding a microphone, had already made his way up to the stage, followed by several staff members who were carrying a black pedestal with a golden trophy on it.


    Since the stage had been wrecked during their fight, the floor was uneven, and the host almost stumbled, barely avoiding a fall.


    He reached Xue Jing''s side, raised the microphone, and announced loudly with a smile:


    "I hereby declare the winner of the 37th U19 Unlimited Elite Fighting Championship¡ªXue Jing!"


    "Please take the trophy, competitor Xue Jing!"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing reached out and lifted the gold trophy in front of him.


    The trophy was adorned with several elongated, finely crafted dragons chasing a Dragon Ball at the top, each in a distinct pose. The base was made of a black crystal material, slightly transparent, with many names engraved upon it, those of past U19 champions.


    Xue Jing''s name would also be eternally inscribed there.


    He lifted the trophy high, and immediately, the venue erupted in thunderous applause that went on and on.


    Everyone watched the spirited young man on the stage.


    "A peak career from the very beginning... winning the U19 championship on his first competition, how far can he go from here?"


    "U19, what peak? ''True Dragon'' Wan Yulai just started his career not long ago, isn''t he under twenty-five? He rapidly swept all the minor title matches and secured the entry tickets for the seven major title battles. Demon King Xue has a long way to go yet."


    "Xue Jing is only seventeen, he might not necessarily lose to Wan Yulai at the same age."


    "If you consider the age of seventeen, Wan Yulai might not be able to defeat Demon King Xue, his current display of power is just too exaggerated... However, by the age of twenty-five, it might not be sure. Believe it or not, Wan Yulai is a damn late bloomer, the older he gets, the faster he progresses. Can you believe that?"


    "The overall level of martial artists improves every year; it''s been fiercely competitive. Anyone who can continuously win titles in this era and head towards ''eternity'' is terrifying. I would even believe they have some system helping them... Although Demon King Xue is powerful, he has a long way to go to contend with these people, maybe even forever."


    "Why think so much about it? After all, we now have another top genius competitor worth watching at all times, and his fights are thrilling to watch!"


    On the stage.


    The host smiled and began to speak:


    "We all know that it''s Xue Jing''s first time competing in a martial arts contest, yet you have directly won your first championship. How do you feel right now?"


    As he spoke, he handed the microphone to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing set the trophy on the podium, took the microphone, thought for a moment, and slowly began to speak:


    "Being able to become a martial artist and stand on this award podium, the first person I must thank, who introduced me to this world, is my master, Li Qi..."


    ...


    By the time Xue Jing had finished his speech, collected the trophy and prize money, and returned to the competitors'' resting room amidst the cheers and applause of the audience, over half an hour had passed.


    "Little Jing!!"


    As soon as he entered, Jiang Siwei immediately rushed over excitedly, hugging Xue Jing tightly, her legs clad in black stockings and high heels bouncing uncontrollably as she vented her excitement.


    "You were amazing, you really were, you won the championship!!"


    Jiang Siwei was so happy that tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.


    Xue Jing smiled and hugged her back, then gently patted her back, saying:


    "Wei, don''t be so excited, this is just the beginning."


    Jiang Siwei let go of Xue Jing, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, and sighed with a smile:


    "Yes, this is just a beginning..."


    All of a sudden, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted, noticing something in the resting room that hadn''t been there before.


    He turned his head and saw, in a corner of the room, a beautifully ancient long sword hanging on a hook on the wall.


    The grey-brown hilt and scabbard were covered with faded, oxidized stains, exuding a sense of historical weight, and it looked very familiar; it was the Otogirusu''s "GOD-519: The Blade That Never Dulls".


    "Wei, did Otogirusu come by earlier?"


    Xue Jing walked over to the wall and took the ancient long sword off the hook.


    It was hanging there by the wrapped cords on the scabbard.


    "[Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]"


    "No, I''ve been here in the resting room the whole time, and no one has come in."


    Jiang Siwei shook her head, and upon seeing Xue Jing taking down The Blade That Never Dulls, she asked in confusion:


    "Huh? Was this sword always in this room? I''ve never seen it before."


    Xue Jing did not respond, but clicked, drawing the long sword slightly out of the scabbard to reveal a bit of its shiny silver blade.


    Unlike the hilt and scabbard, the blade bore no signs of age; it was as smooth as a mirror, flawless, and easily reflected Xue Jing''s face.


    It looked as if it had just been forged by a master craftsman, the whole blade appearing ''new''. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Blade That Never Dulls..."


    Xue Jing fully drew the sword, gently stroking the blade which, including the handle, was nearly one meter three in length, his eyes shining with affection.


    This sword-shaped Divine Relic, with an extremely simple ability, embodied the pure concept of Eternal Indestructibility...


    No external force could alter even a single particle of it, a purely simple ability, yet one every sword-using martial artist dreams of.


    Who could refuse a weapon that would never break, always remain sharp, and never dull?


    Even though Xue Jing possessed the title of Army Master and could pick up anything off the ground as a divine weapon, The Blade That Never Dulls held significant meaning for him.


    "This thing has the feature of ''Choosing a Master''; when its holder acknowledges defeat to another, it transfers to the victor..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    According to Jiang Siwei, Otogirusu hadn''t visited the resting room, suggesting he acknowledged his defeat and The Blade That Never Dulls had moved itself here, waiting for its new master, Xue Jing.


    "Marvelous... From now on, you are my sword."


    Xue Jing said to himself, holding the sword horizontally above his head.


    "After so many years of wandering, it''s hard on you. Rest assured, I will be your last master."


    "No one will take you away."


    As if responding to Xue Jing''s words, or perhaps merely the reflection of the light, a cold gleam flickered on the blade of The Blade That Never Dulls.


    "Click¡ª"


    Xue Jing sheathed the sword, picked up his phone.


    As soon as he turned off do not disturb mode, the phone began vibrating non-stop, messages from various chatting apps popped up, along with numerous missed call notifications.


    Just as he was about to start replying, a knock came from the door.


    "Wei, open the door, see who it is."


    Xue Jing instructed.


    Jiang Siwei nodded, walked to the door, and opened it.


    "Who are you?"


    She asked in confusion, looking at the group standing outside, the leader a handsome young man.


    The young man smiled slightly and said:


    "Is Xue Jing, Xue here?"


    Hearing the voice, Xue Jing turned to look, his expression unchanging, but his heart skipped a beat.


    The visitor was¡ªXu Mude!


    ...

 Chapter 479 - 270: The Finally Favoured

    Xue Jing''s gaze once again fell on the Divinity column.


    [Divinity Held: 9670]


    The harvest from Xu''s Biology, combined with what he had just obtained from The Blade That Never Dulls, brought his Divinity to the brink of surpassing ten thousand once more.


    It was about time to spend some, otherwise he always felt an itch in his heart.


    "Then first..."


    Xue Jing opened [True Martial].


    [True Martial Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 20000/20000, Divinity 9670/1000]


    Without hesitation, he pressed the upgrade button.


    [True Martial Lv3 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 0/40000, Divinity 8670/2000]


    Before he even had the chance to feel the changes in his body, Xue Jing was stunned by the requirements to upgrade True Martial to Lv3.


    "Huh? The amount of Divinity required for the upgrade increased?"


    In the past, whether it was the initial enhancement or upgrading from Lv1 to Lv2, and from Lv2 to Lv3, each only required 1000 points of Divinity, leading him to believe that every level-up would only need a thousand...


    He hadn''t expected what awaited him here.


    "The Divinity required to go from Lv3 to Lv4 has risen by a thousand... it seems different from what I had expected before, even the Experience Points requirement has doubled."


    Xue Jing pondered, somewhat puzzled.


    "I was too optimistic before, the Divinity shortfall is much larger than I had imagined."


    Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about the shortage of Divinity. He would leave these issues to his future self.


    Xue Jing continued to browse through the panel.


    [Weapon Master Lv1 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 10000/10000, Divinity 8670/1000]


    He clicked to upgrade.


    [Weapon Master Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Requirement: Experience Points 0/20000, Divinity 7670/1000]


    These Extraordinary Skills were all quite useful, directly affecting his base combat strength. As long as he had an abundance of Divinity, he would upgrade whenever possible.


    After completing the upgrades, Xue Jing clenched his hands, experiencing the changes in his body.


    For [True Martial], similar to when he had upgraded from Lv1 to Lv2, the Power channeled out was clearly stronger, and his control over his body more fine-tuned and effortless.


    The overall enhancement to his combat power still needed testing.


    As for [Weapon Master]...


    Xue Jing willed it.


    A stream of platinum color gradually covered his entire body, like a metallic film had been plated over his skin, making him look like a robot crafted from metal.


    "The enhancement effect of [Weapon Master]''s armament has a ''quantity'' limit, so the larger the coverage area, the weaker the effect..."


    Xue Jing took a moment to gauge.


    "After rising to Lv2, the ''quantity'' seemed to increase by about half compared to Lv1, reaching 1.5 times the previous amount, not bad."


    He nodded in approval.


    This also meant that, when he used it to strengthen weapons in his hand, the enhancement effect on the weapons was 1.5 times that of Lv1.


    This was a significant improvement, especially for someone who possessed ''Feather Transformation'' and could remotely control weapons in battle.


    "Exact details will be tested later, next..."


    Xue Jing looked towards the Divine Skill column.


    [Twin Lifes Lv5]


    [Shadow Flame Lv10] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Plant Pact Lv6]


    [Dragon Horn Lv5]


    [Feather Transformation Lv5]


    "Currently, I have five Divine Skills... Shadow Flame is already perfectly sufficient for now, and the Divine Incarnation has been activated. Investing further in it, each level-up requires too much Divinity, and although the upgrades are significant, the cost-effectiveness isn''t that high."


    "The best approach is, as I previously thought, to focus on one skill first, take it to Lv10, and then create another Divine Incarnation."


    "Which one should I upgrade first?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    "Hmm... first off, eliminate [Plant Pact]; currently there are no more powerful plant seeds to make a pact with, Dragon Cherry is sufficient, and upgrading would only strengthen Dragon Cherry, yielding comparatively smaller returns."


    "As for [Dragon Horn]... with Feather Transformation, the skill''s use for flight is gone, leaving only the potency of Dragon Thunder and the gravity-altering effects... It''s worth upgrading by one level, after all it''s necessary for martial arts training, but it can''t be a primary point for investment."


    That left only [Twin Lifes] and [Feather Transformation]...


    "Upgrading [Feather Transformation] is currently the highest direct gain to strength."


    "It can increase the Blue Bar, control more ''Feathered Objects'', and directly improve the flight speed and killing power of the ''Feathered Objects''..."


    For Xue Jing, who had mastered ''Mahayana Flying Sword'', upgrading Feather Transformation could bring quite noticeable improvement to his strength... at least in terms of long-range combat capabilities.


    "As for [Twin Lifes]..."


    Xue Jing''s gaze settled on this Divine Skill that was the first he had activated.


    He had a special affection for this skill that had helped him weather many difficulties early on, and even now, [Twin Lifes] still played a crucial role, greatly enhancing his combat abilities.


    However, due to the special mechanism of [Twin Lifes] upgrades, every level-up activated a physical attribute to double its capability. The best and most noticeable effects, he had already activated all of them.


    The remaining options, compared to other Divine Skills that could directly amplify his combat power, weren''t as potent, so Xue Jing had put the upgrade for [Twin Lifes] on hold for a long time without touching it.


    "However, things are different now."


    Xue Jing murmured.


    His combat strength was now considerably powerful.


    For example, if his previous strength was 10 and upgrading [Twin Lifes] could raise it by 1, while upgrading [Shadow Flame] could directly raise it by 5, he would naturally choose to upgrade Shadow Flame.


    But now, with his strength at 100, upgrading other Divine Skills for a mere increase of 3 to 4 points in strength wasn''t critical.


    On the other hand, the benefits of upgrading [Twin Lifes] became more substantial to him at this stage.


    The most important aspect was Twin Lifes'' passive ability, resurrection.


    With every level-up reducing the cooldown by 10 days, this effect became increasingly significant later on.


    The current Lv5 had a cooldown of fifty days, which didn''t seem too impressive, and Lv6 at forty days wasn''t much better.

 Chapter 480 - 270 Finally Gained Favor of

    Until the twentieth day at Lv8, everything still felt pretty ordinary.


    But by the tenth day at Lv9... things started to feel a bit different.


    The perfect resurrection every ten days was already rather cheat-like.


    If he went a step further, to Lv10... would it directly become infinite resurrection?


    Although Xue Jing thought it probably wouldn''t be that cheat-like, a cooldown of under ten days was extremely user-friendly for him.


    He now had many ways to save his life, and the only fear he had was being corpse-guarded.


    If the cooldown for Twin Lifes could be reduced to under ten days, then even if he were hunted and corpse-guarded incessantly, he would surely manage to survive past this cooldown period using various methods, thereby achieving a kind of endless resurrection with an Undying Body.


    Therefore, for now, focusing on leveling up Twin Lifes was the best choice for him!


    "Not only that, this is still only considering the passive aspect of Twin Lifes..."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    Even without the passive resurrection effect, leveling up Twin Lifes also greatly boosted his strength.


    First was the increase in the Blue Bar after leveling up, which would extend the duration of his various [Power of Twins], [Twin Speed], [Twin Defense].


    Even without mentioning the Blue Bar, there are many physical ability options available now that can greatly increase his strength when activated.


    "After acquiring [Impeccable], ''Calculation Power'' has greatly enhanced me. When activated, it allows me to calculate more spear moves... To multi-thread control of multiple flying swords while using different Martial Arts on different swords also requires Calculation Power."


    "''Concentration'' is also a good option... and so is ''Reaction Speed''."


    "''Perception Ability'' is much needed too. I have no limit to my control distance over ''Feathered Objects''; it only depends on how far I can perceive." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing thought carefully; many options in the active effects of Twin Lifes were very helpful to him.


    This was the result of the overall increase in his power to a certain level.


    "It''s a pity that the active effects of Twin Lifes can only enhance physical abilities and not anything related to mental abilities."


    Xue Jing felt somewhat regretful.


    For example, ''Wisdom'' is a kind of mental ability that pertains to a person''s Consciousness structure, determining whether a person''s thought patterns are meticulous, whether they have brilliant ideas frequently, and so on, nothing to do with the body itself.


    And while ''Calculation Power'' ''Concentration'' ''Memory'' and such brain functions are to some extent related to Wisdom, they are not Wisdom itself.


    Changes in Wisdom also involve some concepts of ''Ego'', such as empathy, willpower, mental maturity, etc., which are all parts of Wisdom, but if these were to be enhanced or changed, it would mean a change in a person''s ''Ego''.


    By then, whether ''I'' would still be ''I'' would be uncertain.


    A person''s Wisdom can naturally grow and change with their experiences... but if it suddenly doubled due to some skill, causing a person''s Consciousness to change drastically in an instant, that wouldn''t feel very good.


    Upon reflection, it might actually be a good thing that there''s no ''Wisdom'' option in the active effects of Twin Lifes.


    Shaking his head to rid his mind of these random thoughts, Xue Jing clicked to upgrade Twin Lifes.


    [Twin Birth Lv6 (Divinity required for upgrade: 6470/2000)]


    [Twin Birth Lv7 (Divinity required for upgrade: 4470/3000)]


    [Twin Birth Lv8 (Divinity required for upgrade: 1470/4500)]


    The much-neglected wife finally received Xue Jing''s favor, and with great intensity, directly upgraded three levels.


    He looked at the details of Twin Lifes at this moment.


    [Passive: Possess two lives, can freely choose the time of resurrection within seven days after death, cooldown time: twenty days (cooldown completed)]


    [Active: Each Lv1 can designate one physical ability related to oneself, and produce double the effect when used]


    [Current activations: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense, Instinctive Intuition, Flexibility]


    [Current choices available:...]


    After three consecutive level-ups, the passive''s cooldown decreased by thirty days, directly resetting the cooldown from the previous death Xue Jing had experienced, bringing his resurrection ability back once again!


    Invisibly, the big rock in Xue Jing''s heart that forced him to be cautious was removed, making him feel much lighter all over.


    Having resurrection abilities is blissful; he could be reckless again...


    Next came the choice of active effects.


    After pondering for a while, Xue Jing selected three options.


    [Concentration],[Calculation Power],[Reaction Speed].


    Among these, Reaction Speed did not need to be mentioned; it was a direct enhancement to his physical combat strength and quite useful.


    As for Calculation Power and Concentration, their uses were more varied in all aspects, but let''s set them aside for now.


    Xue Jing picked up The Blade That Never Dulls, which was on the table, caressed the scabbard lightly, and spoke softly,


    "It''s about time I gave you a name... ''The Blade That Never Dulls'' is not very convenient to call."


    With a ''click,'' he slightly drew the blade just a bit, revealing a section of the bright, mirror-like blade.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing said,


    "The blade is bright and clean, impervious to dirt; thus, let''s call you ''Zhao Ye''."


    After sheathing the Zhao Ye Blade, Xue Jing walked out of the resting room with it in hand.


    He was going for a post-competition interview... Originally, he did not want to go, but the organizers had earnestly pleaded with him for a long time, saying that it was a necessary tradition.


    Xue Jing thought about it and since there was already a pre-competition interview before the competition started, he decided to see it through and agreed.


    He was not in a hurry and walked to the broadcasting studio at a leisurely pace.


    On the way, all the staff members, contestants, and logistics personnel of the contestants who encountered Xue Jing would stop in their tracks and greet him with respect or caution.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled back at each one of them. Unlike his demeanor in the arena, his unpretentious and amiable attitude surprised many.


    Soon, Xue Jing arrived at the doorway of the broadcasting studio.


    Just as he was about to push the door open and enter, the door was opened from the inside.


    Inside was someone Xue Jing temporarily did not want to meet.


    "Lu Sang."


    Xue Jing touched his nose, looking at the bandaged Otogirusu, who appeared to have severe injuries.


    His face looked extremely weak, his lips pale from blood loss, but his posture remained graceful, and his beauty did not diminish. Instead, his vulnerability lent him the beauty of Xi Shi, giving off an even softer and more delicate impression.


    He seemed even more like a woman.


    "Xue Jun." The voice was as gentle and cheerful as always; Otogirusu seemed to be in an excellent mood upon seeing Xue Jing, his eyes forming beautiful crescents.


    Then, his gaze fell upon the ancient long sword in Xue Jing''s hand.


    "Suzumaru has ended up in your hands, huh? No wonder I suddenly couldn''t find it in the resting room just now," said Otogirusu.


    "It seems I not only lost to Xue Jun with my hands but also willingly admitted defeat with my entire heart... You truly are the man I set my eyes on, such a thing has never happened before."


    Xue Jing said helplessly, "Its name has now been changed to ''Zhao Ye''... Lu Sang, stop deliberately saying things that can cause misunderstandings."


    Otogirusu covered his mouth and laughed softly,


    "Maybe there''s no misunderstanding at all?"


    Xue Jing shook his head, "You''re not seriously planning on winning me over like this, are you? I''d advise against it; I''m the type whose hand gets heavier when provoked."


    Otogirusu sighed, "Xue Jun, do you really care so much about the same gender repulsion? Then I might as well go for surgery, after all, it''s not difficult..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, "Please don''t, I care more about the difference in spirit than the physical aspect. Men are men, women are women; the body is just a form, while ideology is key. Of course, I care about the body as well..."


    With that, he quickly walked past Otogirusu and entered the broadcasting studio, not daring to talk much more with this troublesome person.


    Unseen by Xue Jing, Otogirusu stood still for a good while upon hearing those words.


    Afterward, he turned his head to look at Xue Jing''s retreating figure, his eyes tender and glistening.


    "Xue Jun..."


    In a voice only he could hear, Otogirusu murmured.


    The voice was no longer the ambiguous neutrality, but a clear and melodious girl''s tone.


    ...

 Chapter 485 - 273: Grandmaster Level Combat Power, Dangerous Xue Jing, Silent Nether Nest Eye

    "Roar¡ª!!!"


    The True Dragon cried out in agony, shaking the heavens and the earth, as intense sound waves rippled through the air, distorting it into concentric ripples and waves.


    From below, Xue Jing, although it would still take about twenty seconds for the sound to reach him, raised an eyebrow:


    "Stop shouting."


    With a thought, his spiritual aura, attached to the Shadow Flame, remotely transferred to the Zhao Ye Blade hovering ten thousand meters above, as if the void itself had cracked open, dark thunder emerged around the Zhao Ye Blade.


    As if held by an invisible swordsman, the tip of the Zhao Ye Blade slightly lifted, tilting upward, paused slightly, then suddenly swung!


    Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance!


    A swift horizontal slash from left to right, the spiritual aura-formed dark thunder lingered in the void, creating an appearance from afar as if the space itself was cleaved into two, opening a dark rift.


    This slash struck right in the middle of the True Dragon''s gaping mouth, as it cried out, slicing open its throat and almost severing half its head, abruptly silencing the dragon''s chant.


    The intense spiritual damage imparted by Divine Avoidance invaded its brain, causing its eyes to roll back, nearly knocking it unconscious.


    ...


    Taking advantage of the range of Yuhua and the eternal indestructibility of the Zhao Ye Blade, Xue Jing toyed with the True Dragon until it was beyond recognition and furiously incapacitated, then he waved his hand, allowing it to dissipate and be released.


    Since he had never battled this True Dragon in its prime, what was simulated was the True Dragon after it had been greatly weakened by the ''Serpent Slayer Spearhead.''


    For the current him, this level of opponent was too weak, barely serving as a practice match.


    "That''s about it."


    Xue Jing nodded his head.


    After several hours of detailed testing, he had a clear understanding and grasp of his current overall combat power.


    Both the True Martial and the Army Master having leveled up, his martial arts capabilities once again enhanced to a considerable extent.


    Specifically reflected in the Mahayana Flying Sword, previously Xue Jing could barely manage two flying swords simultaneously executing martial arts skills, but now he could easily manage three.


    If he activated Twin Lifes, employing both ''Double Computation Power'' and ''Double Concentration,'' plus ''Double Flexibility'' to generate twice the amount of Power, he could reach six.


    This was essentially equivalent to six Xue Jings attacking simultaneously...


    The only problem was, currently there were not six weapons that could fully withstand his Power... and as his strength continued to increase, the more flying swords he could wield simultaneously, the larger this gap would become.


    Thus, limited by external factors, he couldn''t fully exploit his ability in long-range combat using Yuhua.


    However, this was a minor issue, in the future it would simply require acquiring more Divine Weapons.


    If not that, then just level up the Army Master higher, casually pick up a few dozen tree branches from the ground, and enhance them with weaponry to solve the problem.


    In the aspect of Impeccable, likewise due to the leveling up of True Martial and Army Master boosting his realm, currently, without using Twin Lifes, Xue Jing could at his utmost continuously deploy one hundred seventy-nine spears!


    If he activated Twin Lifes, complemented by both Computation Power and Concentration, he could reach the realm of two hundred spears.


    Adding even one more spear to Impeccable becomes increasingly difficult, requiring a surge in Computation Power, though it appears only twenty-one more spears were added, the calculation difficulty nearly doubled.


    If Zhou Yinglin were here, even if his calculation ability and Power control were enhanced threefold, and he overclocked his brain to the point of smoking, he still wouldn''t be able to produce two hundred spears.


    Even just with this one spear technique, without utilizing any other methods, Xue Jing at this moment was likely enough to threaten a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster... probably.


    This was his own guess; up till now, his understanding of Limit-Breaking Grandmasters was limited to competition videos, and he had not yet faced a true Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, so he was not clear on the specific power distribution of Limit-Breaking Grandmasters.


    It is said that those who have leaped through the Dragon Gate and become Limit Breakers exhibit a wide disparity in strength despite being theoretically at the same level, due to differences in cultivation techniques, physical constitution, and other factors.


    Sometimes, the gap between one Limit Breaker and another can be even greater than the gap between a Limit Breaker and an ordinary person.


    Anyway, based on the performances seen in match recordings, Xue Jing felt that, relying solely on his martial arts combat skills, along with the enhancement from "Twin Lifes", handling Limit-Breaking Grandmasters with strength around the ''median'' should not be a problem.


    "I wonder to what extent I would reach if I achieved a Breakthrough¡­" he thought to himself.


    "Speaking of which, there''s also something called the ''Ultimate Breakthrough''. I don''t really know what the criteria are; I will need to ask Youqing by checking the Qingcheng Encyclopedia when I get back."


    With a thought, Xue Jing exited the simulation space, his consciousness returning to his body.


    ¡­


    Two days later.


    At the Cease-Blades Base, the airport.


    The Dragon Core Fighter descended slowly in the air, its black streamlined body exuding a high-tech feel, very much stimulating to the male visual nerve.


    Base Chief Xu Hongzhong remarked:


    "There are always new talents emerging in every generation. Xue, seeing you, I can''t help but feel strongly that the era I belong to is receding¡­ and the era that belongs to you is about to arrive."


    "Moreover, the speed of its arrival¡­ might be faster than anyone anticipates."


    Miao Miao perched on Xue Jing''s shoulder, with Yun Qin, dressed in classic black and white maid attire, following behind.


    He said with a smile, "You flatter me, Chief Xu."


    Xu Hongzhong waved his hand and joked, "Why be so modest? You throw heavy punches in front of the camera, but then are meek behind it? Where is that relentless person who boldly claimed he would take the Eternal Seven Crowns within six years?"


    Iron-blooded Jing Ning Yuantai, standing beside them, replied discontentedly, "I say, Old Xu, what do you mean by ''bold claims''? You are mistaken there."


    "My Xue has never been reckless in his life! He always states facts and fulfills them; it''s just ignorant people who misunderstand him. Don''t you spread nonsense!"


    He exclaimed loudly.


    Xu Hongzhong laughed heartily, "Indeed, Ning is right. My apologies for the slip of the tongue."


    Ning Yuantai retorted unhappily, "I''ve told you not to call me Ning; I''ve always relied on myself..."


    During their casual conversation, the plane landed.


    Xue Jing thanked Xu Hongzhong for allowing him to stay at the Zhige Base for so long and apologized for the disruption caused by his daily martial arts practice. Xu Hongzhong, naturally, patted his chest to ensure it was not a problem and welcomed him to return anytime.


    Subsequently, the group entered the cabin, the Dragon Core Fighter took off and sped towards the Outer Ring.


    As the plane passed through the pale blue barrier enveloping Yuan City,


    Thousands of kilometers away in a wilderness, a masked woman with the lower half of her face obscured by a black steel mask opened her eyes, revealing strange, goat-like, horizontal pupils.


    She reached a hand to the back of her left ear as if listening to something.


    After a while, she looked towards the person shrouded in a black robe beside her and said faintly,


    "He has left Yuan City and is flying in this direction."


    The robed figure responded slowly, "Very well."


    His voice was extremely hoarse and unpleasant, hissing like that of snakes.


    Speaking, he reached up and removed his hood, revealing his true face.


    His appearance was quite unusual; his eyes were tightly shut and had not opened, and there was not a single hair on his slick forehead. From the middle of his forehead protruded a crimson-black curved horn, resembling an alien.


    But what was most unusual was his mouth.


    He had no lips, yet his mouth was enormous, with the corners split up to his earlobes, as if opening his mouth might split his head in half.


    From the gap in his mouth, a slender snake''s tongue flicked in and out with extreme speed, as if it were an illusion.


    "I smell... a dangerous scent."


    He slightly raised his head, facing the direction of Yuan City.


    "A massive source of danger is continuously approaching this place..."


    "Most of us here will die."


    "Miss Xu, I''m starting to think that joining this operation was not a good idea."


    The goat-eyed woman frowned and said, "Do you want to withdraw?"


    The snake-like man shook his head: "For the sake of the Divine Child, sacrificing this body is trivial. We will spare no expense to retrieve the woman who might become the ''Holy Mother'' back into our sect."


    "However... the specifics of the operation still need to be discussed."


    He closed his eyes, turning his head to face the goat-eyed woman.


    "Although your Silent Netherworld Nest Eye is powerful, you are merely a mortal and do not have the constitution of us the Blessed Ones. You cannot fully adapt to such a Divine Object. Maintaining the current level of effort might not be enough to handle that dangerous person."


    The woman said lightly, "What do you mean?"


    The man shook his head and said, "Next, you cannot continue to use an inhibitor. You must accept the transformation and bring out more power from the Silent Netherworld Nest Eye, or we will only have one way left¡ªto die."


    Standing beside the woman, the young man glared at him and said, "You''re exaggerating! That person, no matter how powerful, is just an underage. They are not as dangerous as you say, Sister Kui, don''t listen to him!"


    The man completely ignored the young man, as if he didn''t exist at all, and continued: S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That dangerous scent... can only be described by a malicious dragon. Trust me, that young man is terrifyingly strong."


    "To entangle with a malicious dragon, one must transform into a malicious dragon oneself..."


    His tone was extremely calm.


    "I will die in this battle, Miss Xu. Don''t let our respective sacrifices be in vain."


    The young man eagerly said, "Sister Kui, don''t listen to him!"


    The goat-eyed woman stretched out her hand to stop the young man from continuing.


    She sighed softly and said faintly:


    "So be it, let''s follow what the Sect Hierarch said."


    ...


    In the cabin, Xue Jing sat on the seat, his gaze fixed on the window, overlooking the land below.


    Even though he was in the high sky and obscured by clouds and mist, his vision was still unobstructed, able to see the ground clearly.


    From afar, he could see once again the hexagonal massive building he had seen upon first arriving in the Inner Ring.


    According to Ning Yuantai, it was the bio-breeding grounds of the super-giant company ''Joint Cultivation'' at the Intersecting Boundaries.


    The Flame Crab that Xue Jing had eaten in Yuan City was a product from this company.


    He thought for a moment, and casually asked Ning Yuantai sitting next to him:


    "Is there a way to visit this kind of breeding ground?"


    Ning Yuantai, who was munching on an ice cream cone, replied upon hearing the question:


    "Xue, are you interested in the breeding grounds?"


    Xue Jing said, "Somewhat."


    Such places would certainly have a lot of Intersecting Boundaries creatures... It was unknown how many of them possessed Divinity.


    His thoughts were not those of petty theft, but rather contemplating if it were possible to find species containing Divinity and buy them in large numbers with money.


    After all, he didn''t know how else to spend the billion yuan he had for now.


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head: "That might be difficult... Breeding of Intersecting Boundaries creatures is extremely complex, as these things are creatures living in a different world from us."


    "For such giant breeding companies, many species are bred successfully with proprietary methods, all of which are business secrets and not open to the public."


    "If you want to visit... even if I have acquaintances inside, I''m afraid it won''t work."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I see... Just asking casually."


    The plane continued flying, and several hours passed in a blink.


    Just as the plane was about to leave the Inner Ring to reach the Outer Ring.


    In the cabin, Miao Miao, who was sleeping on Xue Jing''s legs, suddenly opened her eyes, her emerald-like vertical pupils razor-sharp.


    Her two front paws automatically extended the silver-white Serpent Slayer Spearhead, and her fur slightly bristled.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Xue Jing looked at her and asked.


    "Jing," Miao Miao spoke, her gaze serious as she looked at Xue Jing.


    "There''s a situation, ''The Invincible Lionheart''... has issued a warning."


    "It''s very dangerous, probably the most dangerous one so far."


    Xue Jing''s gaze narrowed slightly, and he immediately stood up, chanting the Word Spirit to summon the Nonexistent Beast.


    Then, with a thought, he let the Nonexistent Beast swallow the little maid sitting beside him, who was drowsily asleep, into formlessness.


    After finishing this, Xue Jing gently patted Ning Yuantai''s shoulder, who was sitting in the seat in front of him.


    "Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai shuddered, waking from his sleep, and hurriedly said, "Xue, I''m here!"


    Xue Jing softly said, "Tell the pilot to stop the plane and open the cabin door."


    "I need to go out and handle some business."


    ...

 Chapter 486 - 274: The Third Ability Benevolent Fragrance, Xue Jing and Ning Fengwans First Kiss

    Ning Yuantai immediately grew serious upon hearing this:


    "Xue, what''s going on?"


    As he spoke, he walked over to the corner, reached up to unhook a walkie-talkie hanging on the wall, and instructed the pilot to stop immediately.


    "There should be an ambush ahead, targeting me," Xue Jing said, looking out of the plane window.


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said, "An ambush? Could it be the sky pirates again?"


    Ning Yuantai, who trusted Xue Jing''s words completely without any doubt, immediately started thinking about who would dare to ambush a plane belonging to The Sixth Agency.


    "I don''t think so," Xue Jing said, his gaze turning towards Miao Miao beside him, whose fur was still puffed up as if it had been electrocuted.


    "...Unlike the minor skirmishes we''ve had with the sky pirates before, this time it might be very dangerous," Xue Jing said, narrowing his eyes.


    At these words, Ning Yuantai shivered, realizing the gravity of the situation if even Xue considered it dangerous...


    It was as if he could feel a monstrous beast slowly opening its eyes far ahead of the plane, its gaze fixed straight upon him. He quickly suggested, "Then shall we turn back now? Or take a detour?"


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "Since they''re after me, any attempt to avoid them now would be futile. There is only an eternal thief, not an eternal guard. I''m not used to being watched in the shadows. Let''s resolve what can be resolved now."


    "Open the cabin door."


    Seeing Xue Jing''s determination, Ning Yuantai immediately nodded with a solemn expression: "Yes!"


    The two left the small compartment and headed to the cabin. At Ning Yuantai''s command, the cabin door hissed open, and the fierce wind from high above surged into the cabin, blowing Xue Jing''s medium-length hair backward.


    Xue Jing stood at the cabin door, holding onto the frame, and turned to Ning Yuantai:


    "Let the plane keep its distance from this area, no matter what happens, do not come close, understand?"


    Ning Yuantai swallowed hard, nodding emphatically: "Understood, Xue, don''t worry!"


    Xue Jing hummed in response, took a step forward, and fell from the plane.


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai closed the cabin door, and immediately gave the order: "Turn the plane around, get away from here!"


    He then raised his right hand, pressed a few buttons on his wristband, and waited a moment.


    "Hello? Old Xu, Xue and I have run into some trouble..."


    ...


    Having applied Feather Transformation to himself, Xue Jing hovered in the air as if walking on solid ground.


    He turned to Miao Miao crouching on his shoulder and whispered softly, "Teacher Wan, take refuge in the Nonexistent Beast for a bit."


    Miao Miao nodded at his words and said:


    "Wait a moment."


    "My blood is boiling, just like when I came into contact with those Dragon Cult members before. Amongst those lying in ambush, there should be people from the Dragon Cult."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing''s heart stirred and said:


    "Do you mean to use that new ability?"


    Miao Miao nodded and said, "Correct...hand me the clothes."


    Xue Jing manipulated the Nonexistent Beast to open its invisible mouth, then reached inside to pull out a set of women''s clothing.


    In a sparkle of white-gold light, Ning Fengwan regained her human form, quickly dressed, and then nestled herself against Xue Jing, who wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her in his embrace.


    With a smile in his eyes, Xue Jing looked at Ning Fengwan, now faced with him at less than ten centimeters apart, and raised an eyebrow:


    "So...shall we begin?"


    A perfect blush bloomed on Ning Fengwan''s impeccable, stunning face, and her slender, intense phoenix eyes gave him a slight glare, her quiet voice tinged with shyness:


    "Mhm..."


    With that, she slowly closed her eyes, her lush lashes trembling, her unadorned lips slightly parted as if very tense.


    Xue Jing smiled, leaned in gently, and their lips met in a kiss.


    This was not out-of-place flirting before a big fight...probably.


    Since Ning Fengwan merged with the Cat Tail Ring, a lot of time had passed. Through the occasional stimulation of the fusion process by Xue Jing, she had finally activated a new ability after "Serpent Slayer Spearhead" and "The Invincible Lionheart."


    It was called the "Power of Loving Fragrance."


    The Cat Goddess Bastet, residing within the Cat Tail Ring, was a Heretic God with complex jurisdictions.


    She was ferociously wild, an advocate of battle with numerous victories, and had even slain "Apep, the Serpent of Chaos," becoming the bane of dragons and snakes.


    At the same time, she was also a gentle guardian deity of the home and the protector of "fragrance."


    Home signifies "sharing."


    The new ability "Power of Loving Fragrance" acquired by Ning Fengwan could share a portion of her own abilities temporarily with her family through the act of sharing "fragrance."


    And "fragrance" requires a medium.


    And the best medium is... bodily fluids.


    By concentrating the "Power of Loving Fragrance" within bodily fluids and transferring it onto family members.


    When Ning Fengwan initially activated this ability and learned that its usage required the transfer of bodily fluids, she wasn''t alarmed.


    After all, blood is also a type of bodily fluid, so in the future, when Xue Jing needed it, she could simply cut herself and give him some blood.


    ...However, that wouldn''t work.


    The ability of Loving Fragrance comes from the mutual sharing among family members; "offering blood" as a form of self-harm and exploitation is not accepted by Loving Fragrance.


    Therefore, the most convenient choice left...was saliva.


    "Sizzle...sizzle..."


    Strange noises rose in the wilderness outside the city, where two small snakes seemed to be fighting, their bodies entwined together, locked in an indecipherable battle.


    In a daze, Ning Fengwan was quickly swept away by Xue Jing, lost in the sensation, unable to extricate herself.


    ```


    There was only one faint suspicion flickering in his heart.


    Why is he so skilled...


    Strangely enough, Xue Jing and Ning Fengwan had a very close relationship, having been through many trivial matters together, but they had never experienced the most basic step...


    Therefore, up until now, this was their first kiss. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For Ning Fengwan, it was indeed her first time, as if a young maiden were riding in a bridal sedan. For Xue Jing... barring the childhood roughhousing with his sister Xue Wan, this was also a first in his lifetime.


    Sweet... physically sweet.


    Like eating ice cream, under the blessing of the Power of Loving Fragrance, it was already sweet, and now even sweeter.


    Gradually, Xue Jing''s blood began to boil, and tiny holes appeared at the tips of his fingers.


    Silver-white sharpness flickered as razor-sharp claws slowly extended from the small holes at his fingertips.


    ...


    In the distance, a goat-eyed woman hidden behind a large boulder looked towards the sky. The radial cracks in the white of her eyes were flashing violently.


    At this moment, her skin was quite bizarre, with traces of movement all over, as if many small bugs were buried underneath, about to ''hatch'' out.


    "...The plane suddenly turned back."


    "...Xue Jing stayed behind, hovering in mid-air."


    "...There''s a black cat on his shoulder...that cat has turned into a woman."


    She spoke in a bland tone, devoid of emotion, like a robot narrating the scenes she witnessed.


    The Snake Man known as Sect Hierarch nodded, "She possesses the ''Cat Tail Ring'' and can turn into a cat. Without a doubt, it is Ning Fengwan, the Leader of Qing City Dragon Cult."


    The goat-eyed woman said expressionlessly: "Xue Jing must have noticed... but he isn''t running."


    "This man is as confident as he appears on TV..."


    The Snake Man shook his head, "If I had such terrifying power, I would be confident too."


    "Let''s go. Since we''ve been discovered, there''s no point in hiding. We should meet him and see if we can talk things through... If it''s not necessary, I really don''t want to fight with such a monster."


    He lifted his sleeve to reveal his arm.


    Just like when people get goosebumps, his arm, covered with dense black serpent scales, trembled non-stop, enough to make someone with trypophobia faint on the spot.


    "Do you really think that someone who knows there''s an enemy lying in ambush but still decides to walk into the lion''s den without any hesitation would just give up what we want after a few words?"


    The goat-eyed woman glanced at the Sect Hierarch.


    "We have to try... Let''s go."


    The Snake Man stood up, raised his hand in a wave, then levitated and flew towards the sky.


    Behind him, figures emerged from their hiding places across the wilderness, levitating and following behind him.


    Before long, a stream of hundreds had formed.


    The goat-eyed woman, pressing down a wriggling bulge on her right arm with her left hand, clenched her teeth and staggered slightly, nearly falling.


    The young man beside her, worried, said, "Sister Kui... are you okay?"


    As he spoke, he held out a syringe to Sister Kui: "You should take one shot! The symptoms of the Mutative Disease are already showing..."


    Sister Kui pushed the syringe away and shook her head, "I''m fine, don''t worry... Let''s go, we''ll catch up to them."


    ...


    Slowly separating, a transparent thread was pulled apart, and Xue Jing looked around coolly at the hundreds of figures that had surrounded them.


    In his arms, Ning Fengwan was in a daze, her face blank and a crystal droplet slipping from the corner of her mouth...


    She breathed lightly and gradually came back to her senses. The flush on her beautiful face lingered; the cat ears on her head twitched occasionally, giving her the illusion of having just returned from heaven to earth.


    How could it be so...


    "Really rude of you guys," Xue Jing said as if nothing had happened, without any embarrassment from having their intimate moment witnessed, and he coldly surveyed the crowd around him.


    Among these people, most were flying in the air with single-operator flight devices attached to their bodies.


    Moreover, all of them were floating in mid-air, presumably all using anti-gravity flight equipment made with Dragon Breed cores.


    Talk about rich resources¡ªitems related to Dragon Breed are very expensive, and yet several hundred appeared at once...


    "Seeing us in the middle of important business, it''s bad enough not to hide away, but to actually crowd around to watch, is truly too unaware."


    Xue Jing spoke calmly, fixing his gaze on the few leading people.


    The Snake Man bowed deeply with his eyes closed towards Xue Jing and spoke with sincerity: "Mr. Xue Jing, a pleasure to meet you. Please allow me to introduce myself... I am the Sect Hierarch of Yuan City Dragon Cult... and the current leader of the overall sect, from the same lineage as Sect Leader Ning next to you."


    "I come here not for anything else but at the request of our Divine Child, to ask Sect Leader Ning to visit our core sect and have an exchange with the Divine Child."


    Ning Fengwan didn''t even glance at him, but said somewhat shyly to Xue Jing:


    "Jing, be careful."


    Xue Jing gently touched her head and whispered,


    "Don''t worry."


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Nonexistent Beast opened its jaws and engulfed Ning Fengwan into the invisible.


    This sight made the goat-eyed woman''s gaze flash, feeling that something was amiss.


    "Cut the talk."


    "If you dared to appear before me, that means you are ready."


    Xue Jing slowly said, reaching into the empty space beside him and pulling out an ancient and graceful long knife, its bright blade flashing with cold light.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 487 - 275: Snake and Olden Days, Ban Shows Her Power, Xue Jing Who Lacks Martial Virtue (4K)

    Xue Jing, while drawing his sword, turned his gaze towards the woman next to him with pupils shaped like horizontal bars of a goat.


    This was someone he recognized... although she did not recognize him.


    When he had stolen the Wind of All Beginnings from the secret laboratory of Xu''s Biological Company, Xue Jing had seen her.


    ''She must have been sent by Xu Mude... His craving for the Wind of All Beginnings has reached such an extent. It seems that the prestige of Youqing A Dream is still insufficient.''


    Xue Jing thought that he should embarrass Wu Youqing a bit about this matter when he returned to Qingcheng.


    "Mr. Xue, do you know me?" the woman with goat eyes suddenly asked.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged as he replied, "You, I have not seen before; the person by your side, however, does look familiar."


    He was referring to the young man beside the woman with goat eyes, who bore a striking resemblance to Xu Mude.


    Though he had to pretend it was their first meeting, a proper reaction was still necessary.


    Ignoring the striking resemblance to Xu Mude entirely would instead arouse suspicion.


    Xue Jing raised the Zhao Ye Blade, pointing its tip at the woman with goat eyes, and spoke lightly:


    "Were you sent by Xu Mude? Do you want the Wind of All Beginnings?"


    He asked this logically, according to his previous guise of ignorance, but he did not expect the woman to admit it.


    If she admitted, it would equate to Xu Mude openly provoking and forcefully seizing what Wu Youqing wanted.


    Unexpectedly, the woman with goat eyes simply nodded her head:


    "Correct, precisely."


    "My name is Xu Wenkui, the one beside me is Xu Mude''s cousin, Xu Muchun, and we came here under Xu Mude''s instructions to ask you for the ''Wind of All Beginnings.''


    "Just hand over the Wind of All Beginnings to us, and we will leave immediately, without harming you in the slightest."


    Her tone was indifferent, mechanical, without a hint of humanity.


    Suddenly, Xu Muchun''s eyes widened, "Sister Kui, you!?"


    He too did not expect that Xu Wenkui would expose their purpose so directly on the spot; what was she thinking?


    Hearing this, Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, "You are quite honest... It seems you don''t have a good relationship with Xu Mude. He made a mistake in sending you to handle this matter."


    This woman''s actions likely aimed to use his help for some other purpose.


    However, he had no interest in the complicated relations of such prominent families and didn''t intend to delve deeper.


    To him, the matter was simple.


    If these people came looking for trouble, then he would simply kill them all.


    "The Wind of All Beginnings is on me."


    "But, I will not hand over the item, and you will not be able to take any person with you."


    Xue Jing held his long blade horizontally, pointing it at the people around him, his pupils transformation from deep brown to the indifferent silver-white of Divinity.


    The Spiritual Aura spread, radiating black thunder patterns continuously emerging around him, as if the void was incessantly being torn apart.


    The air trembled and buzzed, and in just a moment, nearly a hundred people around him were instantly stunned, losing their consciousness.


    The appearance of the leader of the Dragon Sect, snake-like, changed.


    "Miss Xu, do it!"


    He shouted loudly, his already harsh and unpleasant voice becoming even more unbearable.


    Instantly, Xu Wenkui''s eyes radiated a blue light with radiating patterns, her horizontal pupils staring directly at Xue Jing.


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s entire body suddenly froze, as if he was pressed by a pause button.


    It was an absolute stillness, not even his breathing, blood flow, hair swayed by the wind, or heartbeat could move.


    Everything that made up ''Xue Jing'' as an individual, even down to a single particle, was completely immobilized, even his ability to think was stripped away.


    Silent Nether Nest Eye.


    Two years ago, a group of Intersecting Boundaries hunters nurtured by the Xu Family discovered an alien god temple in an unknown Intersecting Boundary.


    After studying the temple, the Xu Family officially confirmed that this alien god was an ''Old God.''


    What is an ''Old God''?


    The academic definition is simple: after the ''Serpent'' comes the ''True God''; before the ''Serpent,'' there were the ''Olden Days''! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ''Serpent'' is the origin of all order; from its emergence, everything in this world gained meaning and ceased to be a mere chaos and ignorance.


    The ''Olden Days'' represent ancient existences, symbols of chaos and ignorance, radically different from the ''True Gods''; they don''t represent any meaning, hold no office, only savagery, irrationality, strength, and terror without any rule!


    Named ''Silent Netherworld Nest'' by humans based on its characteristics, this Old God is one of them.


    After contacting the Silent Netherworld Nest, Xu''s scientists, after lengthy experiments, finally enabled a test subject to complete the bestowed ceremony, receiving a response from the Silent Netherworld Nest.


    The ''Stigmata'' obtained by the test subject after successful bestowal was these Eyes of the Silent Netherworld Nest.


    Xu''s scientists extracted these eyes, tried to combine them with other special materials, and crafted them into a special ''Holy Transplant,'' which was implanted into Xu Wenkui.


    As for this special Transplant, its capability is simple.


    It forces anything it gazes upon to enter a state of ''Silence,'' completely immobilized.


    This is a capability that interferes with the fundamental laws of the present world; no matter how strong the observed object is, it would be affected.


    In theory, she could even gaze at the planet under her feet and stop the planet from rotating and revolving.


    However, as the medium of this ability, Xu Wenkui''s physical body and spiritual consciousness are too weak compared to the Eyes of the Silent Netherworld Nest.

 Chapter 488 - 275 Snake and Olden Days, Ban Manifests, Unscrupulous Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Therefore, the greater the intensity of motion in the object she focused on, the shorter the duration of its stillness would become.


    If she were to use this ability on the planet beneath her feet, then Earth Star would indeed fall into stillness, stopping its rotation and revolution for a moment... for a span of time only slightly longer than Planck time, after which Xu Wenkui would collapse on the spot, her consciousness shattering from the excessive burden.


    But at this moment, the object of her gaze was not a grand celestial body, but a mere human, an underage human at that!


    She had also taken the Leader of Dragon Sect''s advice and hadn''t used an inhibitor for several hours, her physical mutation had soared, and the compatibility with her eyes had increased, allowing her to tap into a much higher limit of their potential.


    Even if this youth was powerful and exaggerated, she should be able to halt him for at least ten or twenty seconds, right?


    All that was needed next was for everyone to launch an attack together, and then she would release her ability just before the attack was about to reach the youth. He would die on the spot or, at the very least, be seriously injured and unable to move for some time¡ª


    That''s how it should have been.


    [Divinity detected, absorbing...]


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    "Hm?"


    Having regained his ability to think in less than a second of stillness, Xue Jing immediately noticed a rather abrupt change in the positions of everyone around him, with many people now very close to him.


    His thought process was incredibly fast, and having read many stories with huge ''brain holes'', he immediately realized that this could be a capability akin to ''erased time''.


    Considering only the people around him had moved and not himself, it likely meant that he was the only one who experienced ''erased time''.


    The inexplicable prompt that popped up on his panel, along with the sudden addition of 23 points of Divinity, left him somewhat confused, but a guess began to form in his mind.


    But there was no time to verify it, as he immediately circulated his Power and swung the Zhao Ye Blade in his hand with a backhand stroke.


    "Swoosh¡ª!!"


    A giant blade light of platinum color slashed forth, instantly bisecting more than a dozen people who were close to him at the waist, their blood and organs spilling into the air, turning into a rain of blood and flesh, with piercing screams unceasing to the ear.


    How powerful he was at this moment, wielding a blade, a casual swing was an attack of the magnitude of a big move, and the advantage in numbers was as laughable as ants charging at an elephant.


    Xu Wenkui''s expression changed drastically, "What is going on!?"


    Her spirit had not suffered backlash, and it didn''t feel like her stillness was forcibly broken by a powerful force; it felt more like... the sensation of a phone call being disconnected, as if her ability was abruptly interrupted, losing connection.


    "Miss Xu!?"


    The Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult revealed a puzzled look.


    Xu Wenkui ignored him and instead, her gaze sharpened as she glared at Xue Jing, continuing to activate the Eye of Silent Netherworld Nest.


    However, the result was the same as before, in less than a second, Xue Jing broke free from the stillness, reacted swiftly, and unleashed two blade lights that killed dozens.


    The stench of blood under the shine of the sun cast numerous shadows upon each other.


    Countless black streams of energy were drawn from the shadows, converging upon him, forming the Shadowflame Wrap Armor that was as black as a black hole around his body, blocking numerous bullets fired at him.


    The only part of his body visibly exposed, his silver-white pupils, shifted slightly. Seeing another 20 or so points of Divinity suddenly added to his panel, Xue Jing had a moment of realization.


    This must be a special attack that contained Divinity, which Ban had just happened to counter!


    Ban... had manifested!


    "It doesn''t work... The Eye of Silent Netherworld Nest doesn''t affect him."


    Xu Wenkui spoke quickly.


    "Change to combat mode B!"


    The Sect Hierarch of the Dragon Cult nodded solemnly.


    He stretched out his hands toward Xue Jing.


    Then, from the wide sleeves on both sides of him, suddenly numerous serpents of various shapes shot out.


    All the serpents grew longer and larger, almost in the blink of an eye they became as thick as water buckets and tens of meters long, with their mouths open, biting towards Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing remained unmoved, floating in place, his indifferent gaze fixed on the attacking giant snakes, simply extending the index finger of his left hand to point.


    Six meters in front of him, in the void, a rift split open, numerous thick black tendrils extended from the crack, colliding with the charging giant snakes.


    "Bang bang bang bang¡ª"


    Wood chips flew about, snake blood spilled everywhere, and countless snake scales scattered in all directions.


    "What is this ability!?"


    The youth named Xu Muchun widened his eyes and exclaimed in shock.


    An ancient giant sword, amidst chaos, flew out from an invisible gap.


    Xue Jing extended his hand as if forming a sword gesture, pointing at Xu Wenkui.


    The Forgotten Greatsword immediately accelerated, emitting a roar close to a sonic boom, and shot towards her at high speed.


    "Impossible!"


    Xu Muchun immediately stepped forward, opened his arms, and blocked between the Giant Sword and Xu Wenkui.


    Xue Jing looked indifferent. Just as the Forgotten Greatsword was about to hit Xu Muchun, with a flick of his sword gesture, the Forgotten Greatsword, with agility that completely betrayed its cumbersome appearance, swiftly curved around him and attacked Xu Wenkui.


    "What!?"


    The tip of the Giant Sword fiercely stabbed into Xu Wenkui''s neck. With over two thousand kilograms of mass and near-sonic speed, the terrifying kinetic energy should have crushed her like tofu.


    But when the Forgotten Greatsword hit her, it was as if it had struck an incomparably hard and heavily divine iron, being directly knocked back over a hundred meters away.


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    In that instant, he saw it clearly... just as the Forgotten Greatsword was about to hit Xu Wenkui, her entire body instantly froze in place, without a millimeter of tremor.


    After the Forgotten Greatsword hit her, it too didn''t tremble in the slightest and was directly repelled... This was physically impossible.


    Even if a mountain were compressed to human size and stood there, the Forgotten Greatsword hitting it would not leave it without even the slightest tremor.


    ''Self time freeze? Invincible state?''


    Xue Jing was thinking about going over to test what was happening when six figures in black robes attacked him simultaneously from all around.


    He didn''t take them too seriously, and with a swing of his Zhao Ye Blade, he intended to kill all six at once.


    But when the blade struck the first figure, an extremely huge reactive force came upon him, bouncing the blade off.


    And that person was unscathed, not even their clothes were torn.


    "I see... a troublesome ability."


    Xue Jing slightly frowned as he faced the simultaneous attacks from six figures. His long blade constantly parried and hacked but was repelled every time it struck an opponent, as if they had all activated invincibility.


    He understood that Xu Wenkui''s eyes possessed an ability akin to ''Time Freeze'', capable of locking all material movement of a targeted individual in a static state by mere gaze.


    Objects in a static state maintained absolute constancy, similar to The Blade That Never Dulls'' characteristic of Eternal Indestructibility, beyond external interference, essentially amounting to invincibility. Therefore, any level of attack was futile.


    The result was that, although they were merely six fodder that Xue Jing could have killed with a single slash, they were fighting him to a standstill with invincible physiques as if equals.


    "Then, how about this?"


    Xue Jing thought for a while, then snapped his fingers.


    Black streams of air converged in the air, transformed into dark Shadow Flame, and spread into a wide, black wall, cutting off Xu Wenkui''s line of sight.


    Xu Wenkui''s gaze shifted slightly.


    "Very clever... but useless."


    As the long blade was repelled again, Xue Jing realized that those eyes had a rather special field of vision, either an unstoppable x-ray vision or a ''God''s eye view'' that overlooked everything.


    Considering that she could also use her ability on herself, it was probably closer to a ''God''s eye view''.


    "Since that''s the case, don''t blame me for not fighting fair."


    Xue Jing flung his Zhao Ye Blade away, reverting to unarmed combat.


    Then, he threw a punch at one of the figures in front of him.


    Just as he was about to hit the target, his gaze flashed, seeing the figure''s body enter a state of stasis; he immediately spread his fist into an open palm and pressed it onto the figure''s shoulder.


    [Divinity detected, absorbing...]


    [Divine Absorption complete]


    Looking at the confused fodder who had exited the static state, Xue Jing smiled.


    ...


    (I intended to finish this section in one go, but I am about to faint... I really need to sleep now, sorry...)


    (It''s the middle of the month, can I ask for some monthly tickets...) Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 491 - 277: The Cthulhu Monster The Polluted, Captured, Its Harvest Time (4K)

    ```


    "Hiss¡ª!!!"


    Seven snake heads lifted skyward, their mouths gaping wide to expose enormous fangs as they emitted a cry of utmost agony.


    Transformed into a Naga and bereft of the majority of its cognitive abilities, it couldn''t comprehend what had happened, only that the seemingly insignificant insect that had inexplicably filled it with a sense of danger had vanished abruptly, only to reappear at its side, followed by a sensation of being torn apart.


    An excruciating pain tore through its heart, and a wave of terror it had never felt before, as if it were the prey of a natural predator, swept through its entire body.


    Its robust flesh began to weaken at a rapid pace, becoming more fragile, as if turning from stone into an egg, its once-flawless, Divinity-infused scales progressively dulled, dried up, then cracked, withering away like fallen leaves.


    In the end, the densely packed scales on its body were blown away by the wind, falling off and precipitating a rain of snake scales within hundreds of meters.


    "What!?"


    Xu Wenkui had not anticipated that the Naga Giant Snake would suffer such severe damage from Xue Jing right at the outset.


    First, an ability resembling spatial transfer that he had not shown before had caught her off guard. In her moment of inattention, not quick enough to use the Silent Nether Nest Eye to help its defense, the strike successfully hit the Naga Giant Snake.


    Moreover, for some reason, he seemed to have some power that could suppress the Naga Giant Snake. A single attack, which didn''t appear particularly intense, caused the entire body of the Naga Giant Snake to exhibit a state of withering.


    With all the abilities he had displayed before... what was going on with this man?


    Without time to ponder further, Xu Wenkui immediately focused her gaze, using the Silent Nether Nest Eye to freeze the Naga Giant Snake in place.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    Having successfully struck his blow, Xue Jing immediately circulated his Power and threw an Eye-Pointing Punch, trying to follow up with another hit, but it landed on the immobile body of the giant snake. His fist was deflected, and he was hurled dozens of meters back by the recoil, only stopping after that distance.


    "Hm?"


    He looked over at Xu Wenkui on the other side, an eyebrow raised.


    This woman''s eyes are quite troublesome...


    Although he could break it with Ban''s ability to absorb Divinity, the absorption of Divinity also took time¡ªabout less than a second of continuous contact.


    This allowed her a certain range of operation. As just happened, she could apply the Silent Nether Nest Eye on the Naga Giant Snake in the instant Xue Jing''s attack connected, immediately repelling his strike.


    "But luckily, I caught her off guard with the suddenness of Shadow Leap... I''ve already seized the upper hand; now it''s just a matter of finishing things up."


    In the instant he attacked the giant snake with the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, Xue Jing poured all the power of the Serpent Slayer Spearhead that Ning Fengwan had shared with him into the giant snake''s body.


    His hands had returned to their original appearance, sans the silver-white claws.


    "I need to figure out a way to kill this woman first..."


    In the blink of an eye, Xue Jing considered his next actions. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He inhaled deeply, drawing in a vast amount of oxygen, and then rotated his Power with an intensity that would typically overload a Martial Artist''s body and result in a catastrophic failure, but his True Martial Body easily coped with the strain.


    A faint, golden Qi Force began to seep out from all over his body, gathering beside him and taking the form of a pale golden translucent figure resembling him.


    Qi-powered avatar.


    After that, invisible rifts opened in the space beside him, and dozens of thick tendrils emerged, coiling and refolding in the sunlight, casting numerous shadows that pulled out streams of black energy, transforming into Dark Flame that gathered and swirled around the Qi-powered avatar.


    The Dark Flame continued to burn and expand, reaching several meters, then tens of meters, and nearly a hundred meters...


    In no time, a hundred-meter-tall Shadowflame Giant clad in full ornate armor took shape, wielding a Giant Sword over ninety meters in length, fashioned after the Zhao Ye Blade.


    "..."


    Xu Wenkui and her companions stared blankly at the slowly forming, immensely oppressive giant.


    "Exactly what... are we facing?"


    One of the Xu Family members who had survived Three months in the same day swallowed hard and spoke in a somewhat numb tone.


    Everyone trembled with trepidation, unease in their hearts, yet the Shadowflame Giant did not even glance at them and simply turned, the motion generating powerful air currents as it flew towards the Naga Giant Snake, which had already broken free from its stationary state.


    "Hiss¡ª!!"


    The reddish-gold giant snake, its scales nearly all shed, looked like a seriously diseased snake with skin issues. Its presence had diminished significantly from when it first appeared, lacking the earlier luster and imposing aura.


    But it was still a behemoth stretching hundreds of meters long. At this moment, its seven heads opened their mouths wide to let out a fearsome roar, its might still considerable.


    It immediately spotted the highly conspicuous Shadowflame Giant, and its body quickly slithered towards the giant.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    The two massive creatures collided. The Shadowflame Giant grasped a snake head in one hand, restraining it, while the other hand held the long sword, battling against the remaining snake heads. Every move from both the giant and the beast caused enormous sounds and air disturbances, creating a profoundly oppressive atmosphere that left onlookers aghast.


    As the Naga Giant Snake became entwined with the Shadowflame Giant, the people of the Xu Family slowly turned their heads, their expressions stiffening as they looked towards Xue Jing, who was also looking their way.


    Not far from them, the Forgotten Greatsword and the Zhao Ye Blade kept darting back and forth, emanating an ill-intent that made one feel as though they were being cornered in an alley by thugs, preventing the girls from escaping...


    "...Uh, is it too late to surrender now?"


    ```

 Chapter 492 - 277: The Cthulhu Monster The Polluted, Captured, Its Harvest Time (4K)_2

    """


    Someone hesitated before asking a question.


    As soon as the words were out, a flash of blade light.


    The Zhao Ye Blade''s light was as pure as at the beginning, its bright blade unstained by even a drop of blood. The person stiffened, a smooth line of blood appearing on their neck, as their head slowly slid off, blood spraying out.


    "Sister Kui!?"


    Seeing that Xu Wenkui had not protected them with the Silent Netherworld Nest Eye, Xu Muchun quickly looked at her, only then noticing that something was amiss.


    Xu Wenkui''s skin all over her body was writhing violently at the moment, bubbling like boiling water, as she half-crouched down in extreme pain.


    "Sister Kui, the inhibitor, quick!"


    Xu Muchun immediately took out an inhibitory syringe, frantically handing it to Xu Wenkui, but she seemed to no longer hear his words, showing no reaction.


    Seeing this, Xu Muchun bit his teeth, swiftly removed the cap from the syringe and plunged it haphazardly into Xu Wenkui''s arm, injecting the contents.


    In an instant, the bubbling of Xu Wenkui''s skin appeared to ease slightly but then rebounded, becoming even more violent.


    "Ugh... Ahh!!"


    Xu Wenkui let out a hysterical scream, initially in a normal woman''s voice, but the latter half turned into a deep, bestial growl.


    In front of everyone''s stunned eyes, her skin burst open all over her body.


    Clusters of horizontal eyes with white sclera adorned with radial blue veins appeared all over her body, densely packed and exceedingly repulsive.


    On her face alone, there were no fewer than thirty eyes.


    All the eyes blinked, the pupils moving chaotically, looking around in all directions.


    At this sight, Xue Jing''s gaze slightly furrowed.


    The moment he locked eyes with one of Xu Wenkui''s, his vision blurred, and a variety of colorful images appeared from nowhere within his sight. But before he could discern what they were, his vision returned to normal.


    At the same time, the panel automatically popped up, continuously sending out prompts.


    [Divinity +1]


    [Divinity +1]


    [Divinity +1]


    [Divinity...]


    Looking back at the Xu Family group, aside from Xu Wenkui, who was covered in eyes, everyone around her had begun gesticulating wildly, shouting and calling out, with expressions ranging from stunned to euphoric to sorrowful, clearly having lost their sanity.


    Xue Jing was on guard.


    "Is this... a Mutative Disease? Has this person reached a Mutation Rate of 100%?"


    The Blessed Ones, or those who had learned New Martial Arts Forbidden Skills or had an Alien Implant installed, once unable to withstand the erosion of the Foreign Object on the body and spirit, would manifest various symptoms of Mutative Disease when reaching 50%.


    And at 100%, they would irrevocably mutate into monsters...


    Those fully mutated into monsters were known as ''The Polluted''.


    The Polluted are mad and twisted creations. Not all of them lose their consciousness and wisdom upon transformation; some of the Polluted, endowed with exceptional wisdom and even the ability to assume human form, might impersonate the original person and reintegrate into human society.


    But... all of the Polluted are most definitely not the original person.


    They are a different creature, not human, and even if they retain their memories, they lack human concepts of morality, honor, goodness, and evil.


    "It seems like some kind of creature similar to Cthulhu... Just looking at it directly can make one''s SAN plummet, causing mental disorder."


    "Even I, who possess ''Visualization True,'' can be affected."


    Xue Jing frowned.


    However, this ability to affect the mental state of others seemed to be a kind of technique containing Divinity, which the panel could absorb, hence it was ineffective against him.


    Xue Jing glanced over, observing the situation with the giant snake and the Shadowflame Giant.


    The giant snake, already weakened by the Serpent Slayer Spearhead, was clearly no match for the Lv10 Shadowflame Giant and was showing signs of defeat, with three of its seven heads slashed off by the Giant''s sword.


    The armor on the Shadowflame Giant showed slight damage, being continuously repaired by the Dark Flame.


    There was no need to worry about that side, the next step was to deal with this monster covered in eyes.


    Xue Jing controlled the Forgotten Greatsword and Zhao Ye Blade, ready to test its mettle.


    At this moment, the Xu Family members around ''Xu Wenkui'' suddenly paused in unison, taking on a posture of kneeling in the air, bowing non-stop towards Xu Wenkui.


    "¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö..."


    They began to chant unintelligibly, as if casting a spell, and as they chanted, their bodies began to dissolve like ice cream in high heat.


    Their features twisted and melted, their eyes flowing down as globs of black and white pus, and before long, all of them turned into a thick liquid composed of flesh and blood, flowing out of nowhere toward ''Xu Wenkui''.


    """


    "Whoosh¡ª!!"


    The black and white brilliance formed by the combination of Dark Flame and White Thunder flashed past, pulling a long colorful tail flame, unbelievably fast.


    Flame-Colored Rainbow¡¤Thunder Plough Hot Blade.


    It was the strongest combo Xue Jing could perform with his physical body at the moment, sweeping across.


    ''Xu Wenkui''s body was bisected at the waist, the cleaved section filled with flickering white arcs of electricity and burning Dark Flame.


    Looking inside her wound, there was no flesh or organs, just an empty void, pitch black and nothingness. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Forgotten Greatsword and Zhao Ye Blade each struck, piercing through the body that was split in half.


    "Thud¡ª""Thud¡ª"


    Two muffled sounds, the two halves of the body, each covered in eyes, were smashed open, hundreds of eyeballs burst flying out, exceedingly creepy.


    All the eyeballs floating in the air suddenly spun in place and turned their pupils towards Xue Jing.


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s body halted, hanging motionless in the air.


    Unlike before when even his ability to think was stopped, Xue Jing found that he could still think, and his five senses could still perceive the surroundings.


    His skin began to wriggle, bubbling incessantly like Xu Wenkui just before, as if bugs were attempting to break through underneath his skin.


    But soon, the panel started popping up notifications.


    [Divinity +11]


    [Divinity +19]


    [Divinity +32]


    [Divinity +24]


    ...


    In a matter of seconds, his skin gradually calmed and returned to its normal appearance, and nearly six hundred points of Divinity were added to the panel.


    The hundreds of eyeballs floating in the air paused slightly, as if taken aback.


    Then, whether it was because their power was exhausted or some other reason, all the eyeballs began to crumble away, like disintegrating into countless invisible granules, and disappeared.


    In their place, a naked female body floated in the air, it was Xu Wenkui.


    She had her eyes closed, seemingly unconscious, plummeting towards the ground.


    Xue Jing, somewhat puzzled, wrinkled his brow, uncertain of the current situation, but still quickly flew over, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and held her in his hand.


    He turned Xu Wenkui around once, seemingly indifferent to her attractively shaped naked body, and simply pulled open her eyelids to look.


    Still those strange eyes with horizontal pupils, but the radiating blue veins at the whites were gone.


    After touching those eyeballs, the panel continued to pop up notifications.


    [Divine Substance detected, harvesting Divinity...]


    "...This isn''t an ordinary Alien Implant; it must be something like the ''Stigmata'' of the Blessed Ones," Xue Jing thought.


    "What was that just now? She clearly had mutated into The Polluted, yet she could revert back to human form... Is it because all the power of those eyes had been sucked dry by Ban?"


    "There are still many things I don''t understand... but it should be over now, I''ll think about the rest later."


    Xue Jing exhaled lightly.


    This ambush took him by surprise with the strength of the enemy.


    Although Ning Feng Wan''s The Invincible Lionheart warning made him aware of the danger, relying on Twin Lifes cooldown having finished, and having a full set of life-saving methods, he went straight in.


    In the end, although he won perfectly, there was a bit of luck involved.


    The Serpent Slayer Spearhead just happened to counter that ferocious giant snake, the enemy''s main reliance, and these strange eyes were completely subdued by Ban.


    This led him to win relatively easily.


    Without those two factors, it would have likely been a tough battle where he might not necessarily lose, but certainly couldn''t guarantee a hundred percent victory.


    It seems I need to be more cautious in the future.


    "Now it''s time to harvest. Let''s see how much Divinity you can drop..."


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the giant snake with only two heads left, its body covered in huge wounds.


    ...

 Chapter 495 - 280: Xue Jing Gaining Favorability from Otogirusu, Reaching Supersonic Realm (4K)

    Sky Center, 732nd floor.


    Otogirusu Suzuka, dressed in a black feather garment and with long, soft hair tied in a high ponytail, had androgynous, beautiful cheeks with a gentle smile. Their movements conveyed unimpeachable aristocratic elegance.


    At their side walked a young man from the Far East named Ruo Gong Taiping, who was half a step behind, bowing his head and whispering in the Far Eastern language: S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Young master, the main household in Tokyo is already urging you to return... Is it really alright for us to still be leisurely shopping now?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka glanced at him and chuckled lightly, "As long as you don''t tattle, it''s no problem at all."


    Ruo Gong Taiping quickly bowed his head even lower: "I wouldn''t dare!"


    "...However, Miss Chisui has been continuously complaining to the main household about your avoidance. Your public appearance in Zhuxia has also caused quite some dissatisfaction at the Dongzhao Association; there might be many issues waiting upon our return..."


    Otogirusu Suzuka said nonchalantly, "What does the Dongzhao Association''s thoughts have to do with me? That girl Chisui is just mad I didn''t bring her along for fun."


    Ruo Gong Taiping sighed, "...It''s still not good, ultimately."


    Otogirusu Suzuka laughed and shook their head, "Taiping, did you know I''m the third in line at home?"


    Ruo Gong Taiping looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka paused in front of a store selling blades, softly saying, "There are many things the third in line shouldn''t get involved in... Even if one could, it''s best not to. Otherwise, the first two won''t be pleased."


    "The annual membership fees received by the Dongzhao Association, my eldest brother accounts for one-third of it. This is his most valued power, he won''t tolerate anyone meddling, especially not his own family."


    "Chisui holds a special position within the Shenjing Family. The Snake''s Second Son, the esteemed deity worshipped by the Shenjing, has shown unusual favorability to five people in this generation: Chiyi, Chizuru, Chisa, Chitsuru are already pale witches, and it is very likely Chisui will be the next head of the Shenjing."


    "My mother is overly ambitious, always thinking of setting up a marriage between me and her, aiming to topple others with the power of the Shenjing, not realizing this is a dangerously poor move."


    Otogirusu Suzuka turned their back to Ruo Gong Taiping.


    "A triangle is the most stable shape, any corner that protrudes will be pulled back by the other two... It''s completely different from a fight to the death between two people."


    They spoke in a gentle and calm voice.


    "My mother is a woman."


    "Women have their limitations, they might not lose to men in sheer intelligence, but their inherently emotional nature will overpower their rational side, leading them to miss many truths. This is a physiological limitation. An undeniable fact at the genetic level."


    "Allowing a woman who cannot control her desires to hold a high position, what a disaster."


    Otogirusu Suzuka spoke casually, whereas Ruo Gong Taiping was trembling, pretending he heard nothing, with cold sweat continuously appearing on his forehead.


    "It''s better to be a man... I used to think and act this way."


    Otogirusu Suzuka, thinking of something, a tender smile appeared on their lovely face.


    "However, lately I have discovered that women have advantages elsewhere... places a man could never reach."


    "If it''s to reach that place, becoming one again... isn''t out of the question."


    Their voice was very soft, with some parts completely silent, making Ruo Gong Taiping unable to catch it clearly, just puzzled.


    "Speaking of which, the Heavenly Rock Door over in Zhuxia is really user-friendly."


    Otogirusu Suzuka changed the subject.


    In the Far East, the Sun Pillar at the Sky Center is termed the Heavenly Rock Door.


    It comes from a story in their mythology where Tianzhao Da Yu Shen, the Sun Goddess, once hid in a cave called ''Heavenly Rock Door,'' causing the entire world to lose its light.


    Apt for the period of the Eternal Night war, the world had plunged into eternal darkness, with only the ''Heavenly Rock Door'' holding the sun.


    "They even have shopping centers here... Our place is a bit too rigid, claiming that only the descendants of Tianzhao can reside within, what a waste."


    "The sun is a great thing that shines equally on everyone..."


    Otogirusu Suzuka spoke in a low, soft tone.


    Suddenly.


    "Buzz¡ª!!"


    A vibration came from above, the floor suddenly shook, causing many visitors on the 732nd level of the Sky Center to lose their footing and fall, screaming.


    Otogirusu Suzuka and Ruo Gong Taiping, being Martial Artists, naturally wouldn''t lose their balance so easily and remained firmly standing, but this sudden disturbance alarmed them.


    "An earthquake...? No, it''s not, the source is coming from above, could it be a ''Realm Quake''?"


    Otogirusu Suzuka wondered.


    "Young master, let me protect you and get out of here!"


    Ruo Gong Taiping quickly said.


    A section of the ceiling fragmented during the shake, a two-meter-wide boulder fell from above, heading straight for a mother and daughter who had fallen and couldn''t get up.


    Otogirusu Suzuka, seeing this, flashed and disappeared from the spot, appearing in front of the boulder, their palm gliding gently over its surface.


    The boulder turned into dust, scattering away, causing no casualties.


    "We are needed here, Taiping."


    Otogirusu Suzuka said softly.


    Ruo Gong Taiping paused, sighed, and said, "Yes..."


    ...


    "Have all the test subjects been destroyed!?"


    "Out of sixty-four bodies, sixty-one have already been successfully injected with jellyfish toxin, the remaining three... disappeared from their cultivation chambers at an unknown time, can''t be found."


    "Damn!!!!"


    Xu Mude roared furiously.

 Chapter 496 - 280: Xue Jings Favorability Rushed by Otogirusu, Reaching Supersonic Realm (4K)_2

    "Arrange a plane immediately; I need to leave this place!"


    "Huh?" His subordinate was stunned.


    "Damn it, hurry up and prepare! Do you want to die!"


    Xu Mude slapped his subordinate hard, spinning him round three times on the spot.


    "I''ve done all I can... There''s nothing more I can do. Everyone who can run should run now; leave this mess for the government to sort out. They''ll have a way!"


    "Xu''s Biology pays so much tax to them every year, now it''s their turn to pay us back!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    ...


    On the Dragon Core Fighter, Xue Jing looked through the porthole towards the distant Sky Center, which was faintly trembling.


    Countless fragments of the wall continuously fell off, yet for some unknown reason, the entire Sky Center was still remarkably stable and showed no signs of collapsing.


    "So, something did happen... but we''re a bit late."


    Xue Jing sighed softly.


    Even though he had heard from Xu Wenkui that the Divine Ones were very dangerous and could go berserk at any time, Xue Jing had immediately ordered the Dragon Core Fighter to rush here at full speed, hoping to neutralize these high-risk bombs in advance.


    But he was still a bit late.


    His eyesight, far exceeding human limits, allowed him to see many details even from a great distance.


    Countless people ran around in panic, and flying vehicles floating around each floor continuously pushed into the crowds. Some overloaded vehicles started emitting black smoke and electrical arcs, slowly falling toward the ground.


    Stampede accidents occurred frequently; falling rebars and debris crushed ordinary humans'' fragile bodies, increasing the casualties.


    Xue Jing clenched his fist slightly, his demeanor somewhat distant.


    He clearly understood that the primary responsibility for this incident lay with Xu Mude, who had violated regulations to secretly carry out high-risk experiments in this location and failed to stop these experiments immediately when safety measures were no longer in place, holding on to wishful thinking, leading to the current disaster.


    But the fact that he had stolen the Wind of All Beginnings, and now seeing ordinary people being harmed because of it, he couldn''t help but question himself whether he had made a mistake this time.


    The responsibility was not his; it was impossible to anticipate these consequences when taking action. None of these excuses could convince him.


    "Jing, are you okay?"


    Ning Fengwan, standing next to him, held his arm with some concern.


    This was the first time she had seen a shaken expression on Xue Jing''s face.


    Xue Jing''s expression quickly returned to normal. He turned to look at Ning Fengwan and smiled gently, saying,


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine."


    He continued to look towards the Sky Center, then his expression suddenly changed.


    He saw a familiar figure.


    The black exquisite feather outfit was torn and stained with dirt everywhere. The originally graceful posture was now slightly hurried as it swiftly maneuvered between the floors of the Sky Center.


    Either blocking falling heavy objects or picking up the injured who could not move, the speed was fast and highly organized as if blocking all the ongoing disasters in front of it.


    Otogirusu?


    Xue Jing was slightly stunned, not expecting to see him at this time.


    He was even more surprised that this scion of wealth, born with a silver spoon, was not fleeing from the obviously dangerous situation but was personally doing his utmost to save ordinary people.


    "Lu Sang..."


    In that moment, a complicated look appeared in Xue Jing''s eyes.


    He was inevitably impressed by this somewhat noble person.


    Not because Otogirusu, being in a high position but willing to save lives, seemed to have good character.


    But because... he was helping Xue Jing do what he urgently wanted to do at the moment.


    Xue Jing was not a person prone to self-torment, but since the mistake had already been made, he naturally wanted to make amends as much as possible.


    At this moment, Otogirusu was helping him make a significant part of those amends.


    Ning Fengwan saw that Xue Jing''s expression seemed much better and slightly relaxed, holding his arm tighter, pressing it into the softness of her bosom.


    "Hm?"


    Xue Jing suddenly frowned.


    There was some commotion near Otogirusu.


    A man, naked and with a physique as if sculpted by gods, golden pupils in his eyes, and resembling Xu Mude, was slowly walking out from a corner towards Otogirusu.


    His face was expressionless but not indifferent; it more resembled the innocent bewilderment of a newborn child.


    "Divine..." Xue Jing furrowed his brows.


    Otogirusu also seemed to notice this unusual presence, his brow slightly knitting as he placed the child he was holding onto the ground, softly spoke some words to the child, letting the crying child run away on his own.


    Xue Jing crossed his arms, tapping his elbow with his index finger, and spoke to Ning Yuantai beside him:


    "Can this plane go any faster?"


    Ning Yuantai responded helplessly, "It''s already at its limit, Xue, this is the top speed."


    "I see," Xue Jing pondered and then said:


    "Open the cabin door, Yuantai."


    Ning Yuantai was stunned, "Xue, are you going down now? It''s still a hundred kilometers away."


    Xue Jing replied, "This distance... it''s about right."


    The Dragon Core Fighter''s fastest flight speed was around one thousand kilometers per hour, faster than his own Feather Transformation flight speed.


    But, that was under normal circumstances.


    For short bursts of accelerated flight, he still had many tricks up his sleeve.


    Very quickly, Ning Yuantai followed Xue Jing''s command, slowed the plane down, and opened the cabin door.


    Xue Jing didn''t delay any further; he immediately jumped out from the plane and executed Feather Transformation to suspend himself in mid-air.


    With a thought, black airflow condensed, transforming into Shadowflame Wrap Armor that enveloped him.


    Then, with a whoosh, he rapidly flew toward the direction of Sky Center.


    At this moment, his speed was roughly between 120 and 130 meters per second.


    Following that, he manipulated the Shadowflame Wrap Armor on his body, making it undergo changes.


    In front of his head, it transformed into a black cone with extremely low air resistance coefficient, also featuring various indentations compliant with aerodynamics.


    At that moment, his speed suddenly increased.


    But it still wasn''t enough.


    Xue Jing took a deep breath, and for the first time in a while, he executed one of Hidden Dragon School''s five major moves, Golden Scales Transformation.


    Subsequently, he spun like a bullet being shot out, beginning a wildly high-speed rotation.


    From afar, he looked like a horizontal, pitch-black tornado, sweeping rapidly towards the distance.


    By this time, his speed had nearly reached supersonic levels, faintly emitting a strong sonic boom.


    A bird leisurely flying in the sky was swept past by him, immediately flung a hundred meters away, spinning dizzily and heading toward the ground, fortunately regaining its Sense of Balance before crashing and flapping its wings to fly again, complaining in birdsong at the swiftly departing Xue Jing.


    Realizing he had nearly reached his current limit speed, Xue Jing made a move with his thoughts.


    Twin Speed!


    Ruthlessly defying all physical laws, unreasonably doubling all his Action Speed!


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª!!"


    Xue Jing transformed into a pitch-black meteor, streaking across the sky at over six hundred meters per second, reaching a speed of over two thousand kilometers per hour, and fiercely speeding away!


    On the Dragon Core Fighter left quickly behind by Xue Jing, Ning Yuantai stared agape.


    "Nearly three and a half minutes..."


    Xue Jing estimated the time it would take him to reach Sky Center.


    His current Twin Lifes was Lv8, the Blue Bar had increased significantly since Lv5. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At Lv5, using only Twin Speed, he could sustain it for about a minute.


    Now at Lv8, it was two minutes and forty seconds.


    Thus, before reaching his destination, his Twin Lifes'' Blue Bar would be depleted.


    But, he still had a trick up his sleeve.


    Upgrading Lv8 Twin Lifes would require 4500 points of Divinity, and he had 5000 Divinity on him.


    After upgrading, the Divine Skill would have a mechanic similar to games¡ªthe Blue Bar would be fully replenished.


    With that, it was more than enough.


    Not only would it last till he reached Sky Center, but he would also have a large amount of Blue Bar left to confront the ''Divine.''


    Xue Jing''s gaze was calm as he watched the approaching Sky Center, thinking:


    "Hang in there, don''t die on me, Lu Sang..."


    ...

 Chapter 497 - 281: Hero Appears, Otogirusus True Identity Exposed, Xue Jing Giggles~~ (4K)

    "Where did this lunatic come from."


    Otogirusu observed the nude man slowly approaching him with a cold gaze, frowning, sensing something amiss.


    Without any hostility... What does this man want?


    Based on his extremely sharp, almost supernatural, Instinctive Intuition, Otogirusu could feel the man''s strength and danger.


    That kind of danger was different from normal powerhouses; it was like a child unknowingly holding a bomb that could explode at any time. Although the man bore no hostility towards his surroundings, he could cause immense damage at any moment.


    Therefore, even though he sensed no hostility, Otogirusu''s vigilance was heightened to the extreme.


    However, what he was more concerned about at the moment was not the man''s danger, but another aspect.


    "He looks a bit like Xue Jun..."


    Otogirusu''s brow furrowed deeply.


    He vaguely felt a certain quality from this man that was similar to Xue Jing.


    Otogirusu wasn''t sure what it was, but just the point of ''resembling Xue Jing'' made him feel the urge to turn around and flee.


    He was one of the very few in the world who could comprehend how powerful Xue Jing was, and more importantly, he understood this not through direct observation but through his intuition.


    In some ways, this gave him a deeper understanding than seeing with his own eyes would have. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That ''inhuman sensation'' which transcended humanity could not simply be summarized by the words ''powerful.''


    The nude lunatic before him elicited the same otherworldly feeling from Otogirusu¡ªas if he was a higher species that transcended humans on a fundamental level of life.


    "Interesting."


    A fighting spirit shone in Otogirusu''s eyes.


    Being an exceptional martial fanatic, a normal person would have fled immediately feeling the kind of danger he felt now, but it intrigued him instead.


    "Perfect, consider it a rehearsal before my second battle with Xue Jun..."


    Otogirusu looked around and strolled into a nearby weapon shop, selecting a long sword from those scattered all over the floor.


    By the time he left the shop, he looked up to see the naked man still approaching him step by step.


    Otogirusu drew the long sword from his hand, discarded the scabbard, weighed it in his hand, and nodded in approval.


    Although he was used to wielding divine weapons like The Blade That Never Dulls and was not completely satisfied with the long sword, it was still usable.


    It seemed that upon seeing Otogirusu arm himself, ''Xu Mude'' tilted his head and then, like committing suicide, plunged his right hand into his own stomach.


    Strangely, even though the entire palm was submerged, it was as if it had sunk into a lump of putty, showing no signs of injury.


    Afterward, he slowly withdrew his right hand, pulling a meter-long white, rigid salted fish from his stomach.


    Otogirusu paused momentarily, recognizing what he held in his hand.


    [GOD-1468¡¤Salted Fish Sword].


    Before he could react, ''Xu Mude'', who had previously been sluggishly advancing, suddenly stomped heavily, smashing a three-meter radius section of the floor into a hole, piercing through to the floor below, and darted toward Otogirusu at an incredible speed.


    In less than half a second, he had covered a distance of nearly a hundred meters, arriving before Otogirusu, the fins of the Salted Fish Sword gleaming with a sharp edge, carrying a strong fishy odor, slicing towards Otogirusu.


    ...


    Two minutes later.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The long sword in Otogirusu''s hand couldn''t withstand the collision and broke apart.


    The Salted Fish Sword struck his torso and abdomen, riding the momentum.


    "My Style¡¤Undying Smoke¡ª"


    Otogirusu seemed like a wisp of intangible, insubstantial smoke, mysteriously slipping free from the slash and quickly retreating into a weapon shop wrecked into pieces beside him, casually picking up another long sword from the ground.


    This was the fourth sword he had picked up.


    ''Xu Mude''s'' hand-held Salted Fish Sword might look funny, but it was exceptionally formidable. Just two minutes into the battle, three of Otogirusu''s weapons had already broken.


    He glanced at his torso where his clothing had been sliced open, revealing a glimpse of his finely chiseled abs.


    "This is troublesome..."


    Otogirusu frowned.


    The disadvantage in weaponry almost left him incapable of counterattacking, and the man was excessively strong.


    Just pure strength and speed, devoid of any technique, already kept him struggling to keep up.


    Moreover... during their fight, this man seemed to be quickly learning everything about him.


    The last strike had been much faster than initially, even vaguely bearing some resemblance to the Suzaku Style.


    If this dragged on, the longer the fight went, the more remote his chances of winning would become; he needed to resolve this quickly.


    This was his expertise; Suzaku Style was fundamentally Iaido, which epitomized quick combat, ''Deity Slaying Strike'' was decisive.


    However, the Ultimate Skill ''Instantaneous Thousand Cuts'' required extremely durable blades since ordinary ones simply couldn''t withstand it and would break mid-strike, thereby creating a huge vulnerability by interrupting the move prematurely.


    Although he could also use his palm as a hand blade, the lethality would dramatically decrease, and considering this man''s physical robustness, it would be hard to even inflict significant injury.

 Chapter 498 - 281: The Hero Appears, Otogirusus True Identity Exposed, Xue Jinggiegie~~ (4K)_2

    "Clang¡ª"


    Another collision of blades occurred, and "Xu Mude" seemed to have an increasingly deft control over the Salted Fish Sword. In the instant that swords met, he flicked his wrist, and the razor-sharp fin on the sword swiveled and slashed, with a clank severing Otogirusu''s long sword in his hand.


    The Salted Fish Sword continued towards his head, but Otogirusu''s expression remained unchanged, intending to use the "Undying Smoke" again to neutralize this strike.


    However, this time was different. In the moment his body turned into a stream of impalpable smoke, the Salted Fish Sword also seemed to become intangible momentarily.


    "Zzt¡ª"


    Several strands of lustrous black hair and a broken black ribbon fell to the ground.


    Otogirusu''s high ponytail, which had always been tied up, naturally fell loose.


    "Wha...!?"


    His pupils shrank to pinpoints in an instant, his expression drastically changing, shaken to the core.


    It was as if it was not a ribbon that had been cut, but his own head.


    He immediately picked up the two pieces of the black ribbon from the ground at lightning speed and started to clumsily tie them back into his hair.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    An ominous wind struck from behind, and Otogirusu instinctively leaped to the side. The Salted Fish Sword struck where he had just been standing, and a huge crack appeared on the ground, extending over a hundred meters away.


    Amidst the debris and dust, Otogirusu knelt halfway on the ground, barely able to re-tie his hair into a high ponytail with the broken ribbon.


    However... Otogirusu''s expression darkened. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His body was weakening, limbs gradually becoming slender, some things were disappearing, while others were emerging...


    The subtly masculine lines of his face were also beginning to soften...


    "This is bad..."


    Otogirusu''s gaze wandered, looking around him.


    There were no others nearby, so at least there was no worry of his identity being exposed...


    But the most critical issue at hand was not this.


    The physical disadvantages of a female body are extreme, and even under the same weight and height conditions, are vastly inferior to those of a male.


    In the realm of martial arts... or almost any field related to the body, women face an overwhelming disadvantage when compared to men.


    Even activities like ''flexibility'' and ''mental agility,'' which in the common perception seem to be the same for both genders or even where females might have an advantage, are in fact areas where males have a significant edge.


    At least until a breakthrough, this is an absolute fact.


    Without this, her strength would decline by more than half at least.


    The more troublesome issue was, she had grown accustomed to her previous state, and now returning to her original form was like a player used to playing with a maxed-out account suddenly having to play a lower-level account, needing to readjust to everything all over again.


    And there was no time left for her to adjust.


    Through the opening in the clothing around her chest and abdomen, the previously fine abdominal muscles were fading away; while not completely vanished, they were becoming less defined.


    The skin was growing increasingly smooth and fair, the waistline was gradually slimming, blossoming into a graceful curve.


    In contrast, her hips grew by a size...


    The pectoral muscles... the chest began to protrude, and from the opening in the clothing, the southern hemisphere slowly took shape.


    ''Xu Mude'' cocked his head innocently, oblivious to these changes, as the Salted Fish Sword in his hand continued to swing at the ''interesting thing'' in front of him.


    It was like a naive child playing with insects, not out of cruelty or malice, but out of pure curiosity.


    Otogirusu attempted to dodge rapidly, but her weakening body could not keep up with her consciousness, moving just a bit slower than she anticipated.


    The sharp fin left a deep wound on her thigh, visible to the bone, and incidentally cut her trousers open, exposing her pale, slender thighs.


    The Salted Fish Sword did not pause at all, quickly launching a second strike.


    This time, Otogirusu had no space to dodge.


    The blade headed straight for her neck, about to slice her in two from top to bottom.


    Just in that moment.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    A violent sonic boom cut through the air like thunder, screeching rapidly from afar.


    The solid walls of Sky Center were instantly breached, and an ancient long sword wrapped in Dark Flame surged forth, hitting ''Xu Mude'' squarely in the chest, sending him flying dozens of meters, and pinning him against a wall.


    Otogirusu''s eyes widened slightly as she recognized the long sword all too well.


    "Suzumaru!?"


    No, she just remembered, this knife no longer belonged to her, it should now be called ¡ª¡ª


    Zhao Ye.


    Since the knife was here, it meant its owner was also present.


    Otogirusu hurriedly looked around, searching for that silhouette.


    At the same time, she instinctively covered her chest with one hand, her face showing signs of panic.


    But after searching for a while, she found nothing.


    "Xue Jun?"


    She asked in confusion, her voice a very soft and girlish tone, even a bit coquettish.


    Xue Jun hadn''t arrived? Could it be that Suzumaru had sensed its former master was in danger and had come to rescue her on its own?


    As she pondered, the ancient long knife suddenly autonomously unsheathed itself from the wall, floated in front of her, and presented its hilt to her.


    And the ''Xu Mude'' that had been pinned to the wall, now lacking its ''nail,'' slowly slid down the wall, leaving behind a trail of pale golden blood.


    The fatal wound, a large hole pierced through his heart, seemed to have no effect on him; ''Xu Mude'' immediately stood up with little change in expression and walked towards Otogirusu.


    Taking a deep breath, Otogirusu reached out and grasped the hilt of the long knife in front of her.


    The familiar sensation confirmed that this was indeed her Suzumaru, Xue Jing''s Zhao Ye.


    Although she didn''t know why the knife was here and Xue Jun himself wasn''t, now was not the time to think too much about it.


    She slowly stood up, her left hand on her waist, loosely holding her palm as a sheath, re-sheathed the long knife, and assumed the posture of Iaido.


    "Suzao Style Secret Technique ¡ª¡ª"


    "Deity Slaying Strike!"


    Layers upon layers of endless blade lights, as though hundreds of Otogirusu were unsheathing their blades at once, in an instant, the Hundred Cuts arrived.


    ''Xu Mude'' stopped in his tracks, standing still.


    Fingers, palms, wrists, toes, ankles, calves, thighs, waist, chest, neck, head...


    His body began to slowly separate and slide apart, turning into hundreds of pieces of flesh piled together.


    Pale golden blood sprayed out, slowly staining an area of several meters around.


    Otogirusu maintained her sword-drawing stance, and after a while, she flicked her sword to the side, performing blood shaking.


    She then re-sheathed her sword, lingering spirit... a full set of Far Eastern Swordsmanship ceremonial movements, exceptionally standard and graceful.


    She raised the long knife, held it before her eyes, and with her slender fingers, gently caressed the beautiful blade, murmuring:


    "Thank you, Suzumaru..."


    At that moment, with the sound of a sonic boom, a teasing voice approached from afar.


    "You should be thanking me, Lu Sang."


    The wall of the Sky Center burst open, the intense airflow making Otogirusu''s clothes flap noisily, she raised her hand to block the wind and stared intently towards the direction of the breach.


    A pitch-black figure was slowly approaching her.


    With each step he took, the pitch-black armor on his body gradually burned into Dark Flame, dissipating into the air, and by the time he reached Otogirusu, he had already revealed his true face.


    That gentle smile with a hint of jest, a face so perfect it seemed divinely crafted, with an all-too-familiar tone, was undoubtedly Xue Jing.


    "Lu Sang, so it''s like this, I hadn''t expected that you would be..."


    Xue Jing began to speak with a smile, intending to tease this woman who had tricked him many times.


    But unexpectedly, Otogirusu suddenly pressed her hands together, placed them beside her face, and with an extremely cute smile, said in a coquettish voice:


    "Oh my, you must be the Brother Jing that Brother Linglu spoke of, nice to meet you for the first time, I am Shenle, the sister of Brother Linglu."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    This sentence was half in Far Eastern language, mixed with various ''oni-sama'' and ''oni-chan,'' which gave the listener goosebumps.


    "Lu Sang, what are you pretending to be?"


    Xue Jing said speechlessly.


    "Gomen~ (Sorry~), my Zhuxia language is not so good, I don''t quite understand what you''re saying, Xue Jinggiegie~~"


    Otogirusu... Yu Ga Shenle grabbed Xue Jing''s arm and shook it, speaking coquettishly with a lilt in her voice.


    ...

 Chapter 499 - 282: The Hero Who Saves Everything Before His Eyes—Black Dragon Knight (4K)

    Xue Jing carefully examined the woman who claimed to be ''Yu Ga Shenle.''


    Compared to the state of Otogirusu, she was about ten centimeters shorter, around one meter sixty-five, with skin whiter and tenderer than before, an overall slender figure, yet the places where flesh should be were quite full. Even under the loose clothing, the outline of her pert buttocks and the strength of an Asian Cup champion were clearly visible.


    The most noticeable change was in her face.


    The face, which was already enchanting and beautiful in her male state, now had none of the masculine features, leaving only pure feminine softness, more enchanting than before by more than ten times, the allure beyond measure.


    Under a deliberate act of cuteness, that perfectly cultivated smile and the neat, fine, white teeth, made even Xue Jing, who was immune to beauties, somewhat dazed.


    "Lu Sang, we''re all brothers here, no need to be embarrassed. I saw everything from start to finish and witnessed you turn into a woman; there''s really no need to pretend anymore," Xue Jing spoke with a light tone.


    "Eh~ Brother Jing, what are you talking about, I don''t understand~" Yu Ga Shenle made an innocent, cute expression, her voice as soft as a little girlfriend cooing to her boyfriend.


    "Shenle-chan''s brain isn''t as good as Brother Linglu''s, I''m really bad with Chinese~"


    "Brother Jing, could you teach me more? Please~"


    Yu Ga Shenle clasped her hands together, her face full of expectation.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and thoughtfully muttered, "I see... pretending to be another person to escape the embarrassment of being discovered, and you even have the persona of being bad at Chinese. With that, your defense is pretty much invincible. When in trouble, just pretend not to understand. That''s very clever of you, Lu Sang."


    Upon hearing this, Yu Ga Shenle''s face flushed red, but then she nonchalantly said, "You''re speaking complex Chinese that I don''t understand again, Brother Jing, really."


    Xue Jing saw her pretending again and couldn''t help but laugh without saying a word.


    Well, if she wants to role play, let''s play along.


    "Stretch out your hand."


    Xue Jing said.


    "Huh?" Yu Ga Shenle tilted her head, not knowing what Xue Jing was going to do, but instinctively followed his command and stretched out her right hand, palm up, her slender and attractive fingers tinged with a slight pink hue.


    With a thought, Xue Jing caused an invisible rift to open by his side, and a black root wriggled out from the void, gently touching Yu Ga Shenle''s palm.


    The Dragon Sakura''s property of continuing life force activated, absorbing his life force and transferring it into the young girl in front of him.


    The deep bone-visible wound on her thigh began to writhe and heal rapidly, and Yu Ga Shenle blinked, her gaze softening.


    She could feel the dense and pure life force being infused into her, carrying the ''scent'' of Xue Jing.


    He was sharing his life force with her to heal her injuries.


    "... It''s just a superficial wound, it''ll heal on its own in two days at most, there''s no need for this," Yu Ga Shenle said, unable to hold back her advice.


    Xue Jing waved his hand and said, "It''s just a convenience, don''t mind it."


    Yu Ga Shenle gently smiled and softly said, "Thank you, Brother Jing."


    Brother Jing...


    Xue Jing paused and glanced at her.


    The nicknames were becoming more intimate; the sakura girl really takes an inch and wants a mile.


    Feeling like a few more calls from her and he might have to go defend Xiangyang.


    Yet, being called by that voice was surprisingly refreshing... even though he couldn''t stand it when she was Suzuka.


    Brother, you''re kind of charming.


    The key, of course, was what lay beneath her hips; without the Ascending Dragon Sword, the threat was much reduced, and there would be no worry about being ''super combined'' from behind anymore.


    "I should be thanking you, Shenle," Xue Jing quietly said.


    Hearing him go along with calling her ''Shenle'', Yu Ga Shenle couldn''t help but smile with a hint of glee, then she asked in confusion:


    "Thank me? Why?"


    Using Suzumaru to save her and sharing his life force to heal her¡ªit was all something she should thank Xue Jun for, wasn''t it?


    "It''s nothing much."


    Xue Jing didn''t explain much, as it would be troublesome and there were quite a few parts that couldn''t be revealed.


    He waved his hand and retracted the Dragon Sakura Root, the gap in space closed, and Yu Ga Shenle''s leg injury was completely healed without leaving any scars on her fair, slender, and slightly fleshy thigh.


    "Xue... Brother Jing, I heard from Brother Linglu that you had returned to Qingcheng, why are you here?" Yu Ga Shenle asked.


    "It''s complicated, I''ll tell you later... By the way, isn''t Mr. Taiping with you?" Xue Jing asked in return.


    "Mr. Taiping?" Yu Ga Shenle was slightly startled, then realizing who Xue Jing was referring to, she couldn''t help but laugh. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s Taiping, Ruo Gong Taiping... I told him to go to the lower levels to rescue the affected citizens, and I headed up; we split forces."


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "Split forces... do you really want to stick to the ''bad at Chinese'' persona? You''re even using idioms now."


    Yu Ga Shenle''s face turned a shade redder, "That''s something Brother Linglu taught me, just a coincidence."


    Xue Jing waved his hand and said, "Alright, it''s very dangerous here, go find Mr. Taiping and leave this place as soon as you can."


    Yu Ga Shenle took hold of Xue Jing''s sleeve, shook her head, and said:


    "Let me stay with you, I''m... not in a good state to be seen by others right now."


    Seeing that she seemed troubled, Xue Jing nodded and said, "Okay then, just be careful on your own, I might not be able to look after you."

 Chapter 500 - 282: The Hero Who Saves Everything Before His Eyes—Black Dragon Knight (4K)_2

    As he spoke, he turned and walked over to the mutilated remains of ''Xu Mude'' and crouched down for a closer inspection.


    ''Divine''... a biological weapon manufactured based on the blueprint of [GOD-023¡¤Divine Child Adam].


    According to Xu Wenkui, the mature Divines manufactured by the New Beiyang Council were extremely powerful, varying with the number of Divine Factors in their bodies, capable of matching, if not surpassing, Breakthroughers and those who had reached the fifth or sixth Breakthroughs.


    However, this Divine in front of him clearly wasn''t as formidable as those from the New Beiyang Council, since the experiment had probably just begun.


    Based on the performance Xue Jing had observed earlier, this Divine, although quick to learn during the battle with Otogirusu, did not possess Breakthrougher-level combat ability.


    Therefore, the cause of the entire Sky Center''s trembling must not be this lump of a thing...


    There must be other masters.


    Hopefully, it wasn''t that dozens of test subjects in the laboratory had all gone berserk and escaped.


    In addition...


    Xue Jing checked his panel.


    [Kill special being containing Divinity, Divinity +536]


    Earlier, Yu Ga Shenle, wielding Zhao Ye, had slain the Divine. Since Zhao Ye was in the Feather Transformation state, effectively an extension of Xue Jing''s body, it was as if Xue Jing himself had killed it.


    Just as he had expected, killing this creature did indeed yield a lot of Divinity...


    Controlling the Nonexistent Beast, Xue Jing absorbed the [Salted Fish Sword] lying nearby into the void and stood up.


    Perhaps due to like attracting like, it didn''t bode well that a Divine with only instincts and no consciousness had managed to use a Divine Relic.


    There were dozens of Divine Relics in the containment facilities of Xu''s Biology; Xue Jing had handled all of them, and several had particularly troubling abilities.


    If any Divine got ahold of one, he truly wasn''t sure he could handle it.


    However, he had already sent the message to the government of the Inner Ring Three Cities, so they would likely send powerful forces soon to quell the incident. At present, his task was to protect the distressed civilians as much as possible, not to confront unknown numbers of Divines.


    "Shenle, let''s go, we continue upward," Xue Jing said to Otogi Shenle next to him.


    Currently, he was on floor 786, while Xu''s Biology was located from floor 1002 to 1102. As they approached this area, the disaster''s effects were expected to be more severe.


    In any case, his goal was the floors where Xu''s Biology was located, going up and saving people along the way.


    From the shadows around, numerous black streams converged on him, forming into burning Dark Flames which forged a suit of Dark Enchained Armor on his body.


    The urban legend Black Dragon Knight entered the scene.


    He then pointed at Otogi Shenle and the black streams similarly wrapped around her, forming a suit of female Dark Enchained Armor that covered her entire body, leaving only her eyes visible.


    "Eh? What''s this?" Otogi Shenle curiously looked at her hands adorned with black hand armor.


    "This is one of my God-Given Secret Arts, Shadow Flame," Xue Jing said.


    "You now don''t want to be seen by others, right? Wear it."


    "Let''s go, keep up with me," Xue Jing said.


    With a step, he surged upward, brutally breaking through the ceiling to a higher level.


    Otogi Shenle smiled softly and followed him.


    ...


    Due to an unknown cause of severe tremors, the Sky Center was now in complete chaos.


    Natural disasters always bring about the dark side hidden deep within some evil-minded individuals.


    "Stop, what are you doing to me!! Help!! Help!!!"


    A well-dressed woman of fine proportions fell to the ground, looking in terror at the burly middle-aged man in front of her.


    "Shut up!"


    He delivered an extremely forceful slap, nearly knocking the woman unconscious; immediately blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she fearfully covered her mouth, not daring to speak again.


    "We''re all fucking going to die anyway, what''s wrong with letting me have some fun?" the middle-aged man, with ferocious looks and bloodshot eyes, began unbuckling his belt.


    "Shoop¡ª"


    A blurred dark shadow swept past, and the middle-aged brawny man stopped all his movements, frozen in place with a dazed expression.


    After a few seconds, a vertical line of blood slowly appeared in the middle of his body, and his body gradually slid apart to the left and right, scattering various dark and red innards all over the ground.


    "Aaaaah!!"


    The woman screamed in horror.


    Such scenes were happening in many places.


    As huge stones fell from the ceiling, the shadow swept past, turning the stones into powder.


    In a crowd where a stampede was happening, the shadow swept past, and everyone was forcibly separated by layers of thin black walls, creating a safe distance.


    People rushing to board flying vehicles and escape, but who hurriedly stepped into emptiness and fell, found themselves safely standing on the flying vehicle after the shadow swept past.


    People crying loudly from grave injuries found their wounds healed enough to regain basic mobility after the shadow swept past.


    Otogirusu followed behind Xue Jing, watching him count in seconds and swiftly handle all the disasters unfolding before him, somewhat startled.


    She could hardly lend a hand... it was too fast.


    Fast and precise judgments. Flawless actions. Every event was handled perfectly, leaving no room for criticism.


    Those who were helped and saved couldn''t even realize what had happened.


    Even on the rare occasions when he seemed to be out of clones, he actually could create more... several pale golden figures followed him, each dealing with different situations simultaneously.


    It could only be described as sweeping away fallen leaves with an autumn wind; wherever he passed, everyone was saved, and all disasters were mitigated.


    He was truly a superhero capable of saving everything before him.


    Otogirusu watched with sparkling eyes, almost shooting out little stars.


    Xue Jun... so impressive.


    "Don''t space out, keep up."


    Xue Jing quickly surveyed the area, felt there were no problems on this floor, and immediately leapt up, breaking through the ceiling to ascend higher.


    As soon as he arrived, he frowned, sensing something was amiss, and turned his head to the left.


    His Meditative Visualization operated, penetrating through several thick walls, and he ''saw'' a figure half-crouching on the ground.


    In his Meditative Visualization, the figure''s details were slowly outlined; completely naked, with an expression of child-like innocence and curiosity, resembling Xu Mude closely.


    It was undoubtedly another Divine being.


    This floor seemed to be the headquarters of some company, filled with offices. At this moment, besides the Divine, Xue Jing didn''t sense anyone else.


    After considering, he thought for a moment, his head suddenly crackled, accompanied by silver-white electric arcs, as the Lightning Dragon Horn grew from his head.


    Following that, the silver-white Lightning Dragon Horn immediately underwent a transformation, twisting into a spiraled, burning Red Gold Flame Thunder Dragon Horn.


    He extended his right hand''s index finger, aimed at the Divine through several walls, where the destructive Red Gold Flame Thunder converged, compressed, and emitted intense light.


    When Otogirusu followed him to this floor, what she saw was this scene, causing her to pause in surprise again. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jun... just how many abilities does he have?


    With her superpower-like intuition, she immediately sensed that if the Flame Thunder Light gathered at his fingertip were aimed at her, even a mere graze would cause her to instantly vanish from the world, with no possibility of defense.


    Such killing power was truly extreme.


    Worthy of the man she swore to chase for life... just how much strength was he still hiding?


    Otogirusu''s heart surged, her blood boiling.


    The more powerful he was, the greater her motivation to chase... despite knowing she likely could never surpass or defeat this man in her lifetime or obtain the immense happiness hidden at the finish line.


    But the happiness was there... it would never disappear, waiting for her to chase it.


    Just that thought alone gave Otogirusu a comforting sense of security.


    "Xue Jun..."


    Under Otogirusu''s excited and fervent gaze, thunder roared.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    Amidst the loud noise, the Flame Thunder Light Cannon fired, instantaneously penetrating all the walls, striking the unwitting Divine.


    In just an instant, the upper half of the Divine turned to ash, disappearing from the world, leaving the lower half with a wound charred black, where the destructive Flame Thunder lingered, causing continuous damage.


    ...

 Chapter 505 - 285: I Am a Peerless Genius Destined to Dominate This Era (4K)

    "You really intend to let me go?"


    Xu Wenkui was quite surprised.


    Although it was Xue Jing who personally proposed the deal, saying that he would use her Demon''s Eye to help suppress that Divine being before agreeing to let her leave,


    Xu Wenkui did not believe that Xue Jing would truly keep his promise. She had agreed only because she had no choice under the circumstances; if she didn''t help, she might even suffer some form of torture.


    She was not a martyr fiercely dedicated to her mission, capable of enduring torture by an enemy nation without yielding any secrets¡ªthere was no need for her to stubbornly resist. Whatever Xue Jing asked her to do, she would do, merely aiming for compliance.


    She just hadn''t expected there actually to be such good fortune...


    "I always keep my word," he said. "If I say I''ll kill your entire family, I''ll kill your entire family. If I say I''ll let you go, I''ll let you go. I won''t go back on my word."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin as he spoke.


    Xu Wenkui felt a chill from what sounded like a joking remark.


    A person''s words carry different weights depending on their identity and capabilities. Having witnessed the young man''s capabilities, his words naturally carried extraordinary weight to Xu Wenkui''s ears.


    She had to carefully consider whether each word he said might have some deeper meaning.


    Unaware of the contemplative woman before him pondering various possibilities, Xue Jing, who had merely spoken playful words, continued:


    "So, our first deal has been successfully concluded¡­ Now, while the plane has yet to land, let''s discuss the second deal," he said.


    Xu Wenkui showed no change in expression, but asked in confusion, "What?"


    Xue Jing smiled:


    "Miss Xu, I personally have no grievances against you... nor do I actually have any real conflicts with the Xu Family. My issue is solely with Xu Mude."


    "And you, you don''t seem to get along with Xu Mude, right?"


    Xue Jing recalled Xu Wenkui''s actions and words up to this point; she had plainly declared who had sent her right from the start, all to annoy Xu Mude. Even after being captured, she did not hesitate to reveal everything, effectively betraying Xu Mude completely.


    He crossed his arms, a matter-of-fact look on his face, and said, "You dislike Xu Mude, and I dislike Xu Mude. So, aren''t we on the same side?"


    Xu Wenkui tilted her head: "You mean to suggest, collaborate with me against Xu Mude?"


    At this, Xue Jing couldn''t help but laugh. "Collaborate against him... it''s not quite necessary. Xu Mude is just a trivial matter."


    "My main purpose is actually to make friends with Miss Xu," he said.


    Xu Wenkui inquired in confusion, "Me?"


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Indeed, Miss Xu, you are a remarkable talent, and you hail from one of the Thirteen Great Families, the Xu Family. I''m willing to invest in you, help you climb to a higher position, so that in the future we can assist each other."


    Xu Wenkui looked hesitant. "This..."


    Unsure of what Xue Jing was really after, she could only ask in confusion, "How do you intend to help me?"


    Xue Jing smiled again and said, "Miss Xu, you must hold a very important position within the Xu Family''s ''Divine Plan.''"


    He looked at Xu Wenkui''s goat-like Demon''s Eye.


    This pair of eyes, capable of halting things in their tracks, combined with the Wind of All Beginnings, could easily suppress even a Divine with the most troublesome abilities. They were a dual assurance against the outbreak of a Divine, indispensable.


    Only the combination of both could ensure the safe conduct of the Divine experiments.


    Once Xu Wenkui returned to the Xu Family, as long as she still possessed these eyes, she would continue to be a core member of the Divine Plan.


    "And Xu Mude... do you think, after this incident, he will still be able to lead the Divine Plan?" Xue Jing inquired.


    Xu Wenkui pondered and said, "Although he has made a major blunder this time, the cause was an involuntary error. The Wind of All Beginnings disappeared unexpectedly due to its Transfer Nature, which wasn''t his fault. The subsequent remedial measures he took were foolish, but baring the merit of securing Adam''s flesh, it shouldn''t affect his continued dominance in the plan."


    At most, the next batch of Divine beings produced will no longer be based on his genetic blueprint."


    "This means he himself will no longer control these Divine beings but will merely be their creator, gaining credit but losing the actual power to control the Divine."


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "As I thought."


    What Xu Wenkui had said roughly aligned with his predictions.


    Now things were getting interesting.


    "Miss Xu, if Xu Mude makes another mistake or several more mistakes... Do you have confidence that you could take his place and become the leader of the Divine Plan?" Xue Jing asked with a smile.


    A person''s actions reveal much... Xu Wenkui, constantly causing trouble for Xu Mude, wasn''t solely due to simple dislike.


    She had openly admitted from the beginning that she was sent by Xu Mude, likely using Xue Jing to strike at him from behind, through Wu Youqing.


    This move clearly benefited her; she was willing to obey orders and push herself to the brink of mutating into The Polluted, proving her desire to see the plan succeed.


    And telling Xue Jing she was sent by Xu Mude was a risky move that could add complications to the Divine Plan. She wouldn''t have deliberately done so without good reason. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This benefit, likely related to the Divine Plan, could be inferred to perhaps involve Xu Mude facing removal or demotion, allowing her to take his place.


    Since there were benefits driving her, the ''deal'' Xue Jing truly wanted wouldn''t be hard to accomplish.

 Chapter 506 - 285: I Am a Peerless Genius, Destined to Dominate This Era (4K)_2

    Xu Wenkui heard Xue Jing''s words, her eyes flashed, and she said:


    "What do you want me to do?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing smiled and said:


    "It''s very simple... all you need to do is provide me with a little bit of information. For instance, where you''re going to create a new batch of Divines next. Once this batch of Divines is completed and roughly matured, provide me with the location..."


    Xue Jing revealed his true purpose.


    A Divine being: killing one guaranteed a minimum harvest of five hundred points of Divinity.


    He hadn''t forgotten the sight of those dozens of ''Xu Mudes'' immersed in the cultivation chambers when he infiltrated Xu''s Biology...


    If he had known that these creatures were each equivalent to a Divine Relic, Xue Jing really didn''t know if he would have been able to restrain himself from going on a killing spree on the spot.


    However, it wasn''t too late now.


    Divine beings, these biological weapons, were quite fierce. Not to mention the fact that the New Beiyang Council already had a large amount of reference material, the special individual who possessed the ability to affect spacetime shaping that Xue Jing had just encountered was telling.


    The Xu Family definitely wouldn''t give up on continuing to create Divines.


    Xue Jing''s proposal for this ''trade'' was naturally aimed at harvesting this crop of plump leeks... as long as he knew the Xu Family''s next location for their Divine experiments, he would rush over there and harvest fiercely.


    To know the location, of course, he needed an insider.


    There was no better choice than Xu Wenkui.


    Even, if played correctly, he estimated this leek could be harvested more than once.


    "This..." Xu Wenkui was somewhat tempted but hesitated.


    "Miss Xu, I can help you with many things."


    Xue Jing began speaking gently, his voice soft, yet eerily seductive like a devil''s whisper.


    "Without any false modesty, I am a peerless genius, destined to dominate this era."


    "My status in the future will be unimaginably high for you. Even now, it''s already dazzling enough." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Becoming my friend, or even an unspoken ''accomplice'', you will definitely not be at a loss."


    Xue Jing spoke with an unchanged expression, his words sounding supremely arrogant, as if coming from a delusional teenager.


    But Xu Wenkui, who had personally experienced his terror, did not mock him at all. Instead, she nodded in agreement.


    "I also need some friends from the Thirteen Great Families to plan for the future. I will do my best to help you raise your status within the Xu Family, so you can likewise assist me in the future."


    As Xue Jing spoke, Xu Wenkui''s expression became increasingly wavering.


    "All you need to do now is nod. In the future, on a certain day, you might make a small mistake, like... sending a text to a mysterious location to an unfamiliar number by mistake."


    "You would know nothing about it, just overused your eyes too much and ended up sleepwalking, completely unaware of such a small mistake you made."


    "It''s incredibly easy for you to get rid of the troublesome Xu Mude and gain a very helpful friend."


    Xue Jing smiled with refined ease.


    "There really is no need to think about it, is there?"


    Facing the softly spoken words of the devil-like figure, Xu Wenkui''s usually calm and composed face showed signs of intense confusion.


    Her heart pounded fiercely, and it took a while for her to take a few deep breaths and calm down.


    Xu Wenkui had made up her mind but didn''t immediately reveal it. Instead, she posed a question to Xue Jing:


    "I clearly came here to kill you, and we are sworn enemies. Aren''t you at all apprehensive about becoming ''friends'' with me?"


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "Bai Qi, who trapped and killed four hundred thousand soldiers, didn''t personally do the killing, but the blame falls on him all the same."


    "In the same way, Miss Xu, you are merely a knife that carries out orders. It''s not the knife that decides whom to kill, but the person wielding it."


    Xue Jing walked up to her, towering above her and looking down with a smile in his eyes:


    "Even if you wanted to kill me yourself, it doesn''t matter... who would be bothered by a little cat''s scratching and pawing?"


    Xu Wenkui was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile.


    "Am I just a ''little cat'' then..."


    ...


    The Dragon Core Fighter landed; the hatch opened, and Xu Wenkui stepped out.


    Watching her leave, Ning Fengwan, standing beside Xue Jing with her arms crossed and propping up the trophy, her stunningly beautiful face expressing a sigh, said:


    "Jing, you are very despicable now."


    Xue Jing was speechless and said, "Watch less Blade Teeth, careful not to turn homo."


    Ning Fengwan rolled her eyes at him coquettishly and huffed,


    "You''re getting better and better at using seductive tricks and sweet talk on women. Although I don''t know what you''re up to, that woman must be spinning around in circles because of you."


    Xue Jing felt wronged, "What seduction? What on earth are you talking about? Wasn''t that just a normal negotiation?"


    Ning Fengwan curled her lip, "Who uses that kind of tone in a negotiation? You almost had bubbles in your voice..."


    Xue Jing made an amused sound and stretched out his hand to rub the soft cat ears on her head.


    This Ning Maomao truly belittled her talent by being the Leader of the Dragon Sect; she ought to be the leader of a Vinegar Sect instead.


    The Dragon Core Fighter levitated and took off, and at Xue Jing''s command, it approached the vicinity of the 1000th floor of the Sky Center.


    "You guys wait here; I have something to handle."


    After instructing them and receiving Ning Yuantai''s respectful acknowledgment, Xue Jing left the cabin and went to the spot where he had parted ways with Yu Ga Shenle before.


    Without waiting for him to start searching, Yu Ga Shenle spotted him and walked out from a hidden corner, waving her hand to greet him,


    "Xue Jun~ Over here, over here."


    Seeing her, Xue Jing walked over and said with a smile,


    "Just wrapped things up not too long ago after talking with someone... Have you been waiting anxiously?"


    Upon hearing this, Yu Ga Shenle showed a naughty and cute smile on her charming face, then suddenly turned her head and humphed,


    "I-I wasn''t waiting for you at all."


    Xue Jing: "..."


    My little toe has slammed into the corner of a table; that''s when I yelp in pain.


    Lu Sang, who do you think you''re fooling?


    "Hehe~ How is it, cute, right?" Yu Ga Shenle said smilingly.


    Xue Jing kept his face unchanged, "Mediocre."


    This woman really does have some talent...


    "Eh~ At least give me a bit more of a reaction, Onii-chan~"


    Yu Ga Shenle stepped forward, wrapping her arm around Xue Jing''s arm and cooing in a high-pitched tone.


    Since she had returned to her true form hastily and unprepared, not wearing any armor upfront, the soft top-rated Asian Cup was only separated by a few thin layers of clothing, rubbing against Xue Jing''s arm...


    The innately wicked women of the Far East, I shall personally...


    Xue Jing''s eyelid twitched, suppressing the slight tumult in his heart, and extricated himself from her embrace, speaking calmly,


    "What are you going to do now? Do you have a way to revert to your previous state?"


    Yu Ga Shenle shook her head, her hands reaching behind to untie the ribbon in her hair, letting her silky waterfall-like waist-length hair cascade naturally down.


    She held the ribbon, now broken in two, in front of Xue Jing, speaking softly,


    "This is an unofficial Divine Relic that has not been formally cataloged. I''ve named it ''Yi Chai''er Bian''."


    Xue Jing paused upon hearing the term and searched it on his phone, learning that it meant ''to replace a gold hairpin with a ceremonial crown'' and was used to refer to a woman dressing as a man.


    "How can you come up with an obscure idiom like that, which even I, as a Zhuxia person, have seldom heard of?"


    Yu Ga Shenle looked innocent and said with a foreign accent that was quite awkward, "I don''t understand what Nini is talking about~ My Chinese isn''t that good."


    As she spoke, she couldn''t help laughing herself, then reverted to her normal accent and said softly,


    "As long as you wear this Divine Relic, you can perfectly shift from female to male. As long as you don''t remove it, from the genes to sexual characteristics, you become just like a real man."


    "However... now that it''s been cut, it has temporarily lost its effect."


    Xue Jing reached out and took ''Yi Chai''er Bian'', saying, "So what''s your plan now?"


    [Divine Substance detected, commencing absorption of Divinity...]


    "This is the first time I''ve faced this situation... For now, let''s try fixing it first."


    "Before its effects are restored, let me follow you around, Brother Jing~"


    Yu Ga Shenle revealed a perfect, adorable smile, and her pristine, neatly aligned teeth glistened like porcelain.


    ...

 Chapter 507 - 286: Im Here to Join This Family, Not to Break It Apart (4K)

    "Huh?"


    Ning Fengwan sat in her seat, arms crossed, with one leg cocked in a queen-like posture, the corners of her eyes twitching slightly.


    Her gaze fell on the girl peeking out from behind Xue Jing, who wore a timid expression, her tail swishing to and fro, betraying her owner''s restless mood.


    "Is this the matter you had to attend to? Hm?"


    Ning Fengwan''s stunning face was expressionless, her already dominant eyes sharp as razors at that moment.


    Ning Yuantai, little maid Yun Qin, as well as all members of The Sixth Agency sat obediently in their seats, as still as statues, afraid to make a sound lest they be dragged into the chaotic scene unfolding.


    The air was almost solid with tension.


    Xue Jing, as if oblivious to everything, smiled as usual and said:


    "This is a long story... your next line is, ''Then make it short.''


    "Then make it short."


    Although Ning Fengwan was annoyed, she grudgingly played along with Xue Jing''s joke.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and then jerked his thumb backward toward the girl hiding behind him, the Otogi Shenle: "Well... this girl will be following us for a while."


    Ning Fengwan''s lips twitched: "I didn''t say to make it that short. What about the causes and consequences?"


    "She is Otogirusu''s sister, Otogi Shenle, who was in Sky Center when the incident happened; I saved her."


    Ning Fengwan''s face showed confusion: "Then shouldn''t Otogirusu come to pick her up? Why should she follow us?"


    Xue Jing sighed: "This is where it gets complicated..."


    Ning Fengwan: "Explain clearly within thirty words, logically."


    Xue Jing pondered for a second, then said: "Young lady from a wealthy family escapes forced marriage, flees abroad, good brother Otogirusu asked me to look after his sister."


    Ning Yuantai counted the words, admiration all over his face.


    True to form for Xue, twenty-nine words, right on the brink.


    Ning Fengwan huffed noncommittally and coolly said: "And where is Otogirusu?"


    Xue Jing spread his hands: "He just went back to the Far East two days ago, missing his sister... he said he would come for her after some time."


    Ning Fengwan sighed: "I see... then there''s no helping it."


    Xue Jing smiled: "You agree then?"


    Ning Fengwan rolled her eyes at him: "Why do you need my agreement? I''m just a small cat without family status, why should an elderly person like you seek my opinion."


    Xue Jing found the woman''s sarcastic manner somewhat amusing but held back his laughter to avoid angering her further.


    He coughed, reached out and like picking up a cat, brought Otogi Shenle, who pretended to be scared behind him, in front of Ning Fengwan and said:


    "Shenle, aren''t you going to thank your Sister Ning?"


    Otogi Shenle immediately knelt down, holding onto one of Ning Fengwan''s hands as if a junior wife paying respects to the senior wife, and with an endearingly sweet smile typical of a charming younger sister, said sweetly:


    "Thank you, Sister Ning~"


    With her attractive appearance, expertise in managing expressions, and sufficiently sweet voice, her charm was irresistible to men and women, old and young alike, and even Ning Maomao was dazzled, instinctively reaching out to pat Otogi Shenle''s head. Her tone slowed considerably:


    "...There''s no need for such formality."


    Otogi Shenle''s eyes twinkled as she said: "Sister Ning is so beautiful. Can you call me ''Kagura-chan''? I really want a beauty like you to call me that~"


    "Eh?" Ning Fengwan turned her head toward Xue Jing, her eyes pleading for help.


    This sakura girl is too much, I can''t handle it¡ªXue Jing understood her plea.


    "Yun Qin, it''s time for a nap. Take the Sect Hierarch to rest." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing spoke to the little maid who pretended she didn''t exist.


    "Yes, mast... young master."


    Yun Qin immediately stood up and nodded. Ning Fengwan, who had developed a bit of social anxiety after months of home life, visibly relaxed. Her coat shimmered with a platinum glow, and she transformed back into a cat to leap into Yun Qin''s arms, who carried her to the small compartment.


    Having seen Miao Miao before, Otogi Shenle instantly knew she was the person who had been wearing the Cat Tail Ring, and noticing Ning Fengwan in her human form, she immediately recognized her as that cat.


    Therefore, she wasn''t surprised but instead, her eyes lit up, thinking the cat was adorable and was tempted to pet it.


    However, before she could act, Xue Jing pressed a hand to her head and pushed her down into a seat.


    "Behave yourself."


    Xue Jing said flatly.


    "I only agreed to let you follow me based on the notion of friend helping friend, so skedaddle once your things are fixed... In the meantime, better to stay well-behaved and not stir up any trouble."


    Otogi Shenle blinked, innocently replied: "I''m here to join this household, not to break it apart, don''t worry, Onii-chan~"


    Xue Jing sighed slightly: "...This is the first time ''don''t worry'' has sounded so unsettling to me."


    ...


    Time passed, and the Inner Ring Three City Government sent many people to Sky Center to investigate the sudden disaster and provide relief and arrangements for the affected refugees.


    During the investigation, many refugees mentioned that they had been rescued by a knight in dark enchained armor.


    "A knight in dark enchained armor?"


    A government official named Ji Kanghua furrowed his brow in thought.


    "Captain Ji, there''s a phone call, it''s from that Ning."


    A subordinate approached and whispered.


    Ji Kanghua nodded: "Patch it through to me."

 Chapter 508 - 286: Im Here to Join This Family, Not Tear It Apart (4K)_2

    ```


    As he spoke, he raised the silver bracelet in his hand and pressed it twice.


    "Hello? Ning, where are you now? What exactly happened here..."


    "..."


    "Oh right, I forgot for a moment, you always rely on your own..."


    "..."


    "I see, so that''s how it is, I understand."


    ...


    Aboard the Dragon Core Fighter, speeding towards the Outer Ring.


    Sitting in her seat, Yu Ga Shenle glanced at Ning Yuantai, who was on the phone not far away, then turned to Xue Jing with a smile:


    "Isn''t it a shame? Xue Jun, this time you''ve saved countless people; you''re a great hero who should be held in high esteem..."


    Xue Jing looked at her, shook his head, and said:


    "The label of hero sounds great, but in reality, it''s an intangible shackle. People tend to project all sorts of wonderful fantasies onto heroes, coating them with a layer of gold."


    "Once every part of you is shining brightly, any blemish, no matter how small, becomes particularly conspicuous."


    "I have no psychological need for this; the title is only counterproductive for me. I''m better off without it."


    Yu Ga Shenle''s eyes revealed her surprise: "Xue Jun, you are very clear-headed."


    "Many things aren''t so easily discarded, even if one is clear about them in mind. Nearly everyone seeks ''fame and fortune,'' with fame even ahead of fortune. To cast aside ''fame'' so effortlessly is not an easy feat."


    Xue Jing casually said: "If one can''t let go, it means they are not clear inside. Isn''t Heart Study popular in your Far East?


    The essence of Heart Study, as taught by Wang Yangming, is the unity of knowledge and action, suggesting ''if one truly knows to do what is right, then one will naturally do it.'' If it''s just a so-called ''clarity in the heart,'' but actions don''t follow, then the person is still not clear, only pretending to be."


    When the name Wang Yangming came up, Yu Ga Shenle''s expression changed, and she even sat up straighter.


    He was a figure of special significance in the hearts of the Far Eastern People, with an extraordinary influence over the Far East. As someone like Yu Ga Shenle from high society, she would have been educated in Heart Study from a young age.


    "Do you also study Heart Study, Xue Jun?"


    Yu Ga Shenle asked eagerly.


    Xue Jing rubbed his chin, his gaze wandering: "Uh... I know a little bit, I guess."


    "Then we must have a proper discussion about it. As a Zhuxia person, you probably have a different perspective on the Yangming Saint than I do... So, where shall we start?"


    Yu Ga Shenle sat upright, her legs together in anticipation, as if ready for a classroom discussion.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat: "It''s a never-ending topic..."


    He indeed had some understanding of Heart Study but was far from deeply versed in it.


    Yu Ga Shenle''s interested and insightful demeanor made Xue Jing feel a bit insecure... As a Zhuxia person, he did not want to show weakness in his own culture to the Far Eastern People.


    "...Hm-hm."


    Yu Ga Shenle chuckled softly with a knowing smile and changed the subject:


    "Speaking of which, Xue Jun is skilled in the Flawless Spear Technique."


    She reached behind her head, unfastened the ''Yi Chai''er Bian,'' and held the two separated pieces of ribbon, saying:


    "Then you must also be good at mending clothes... Can you help me with this?"


    Xue Jing crossed his arms: "Who told you being good at the Flawless Spear Technique means being good at sewing clothes?"


    Yu Ga Shenle blinked: "Shall we continue discussing Heart Study?"


    Xue Jing extended his hand: "Let me have a look, I''m actually quite interested in sewing things..."


    Yu Ga Shenle couldn''t help but cover her mouth and giggle.


    ...


    After several hours of high-speed flight, the Dragon Core Fighter gradually approached Qing City.


    It had been nearly a month since his long journey began, and now that he was about to return, Xue Jing felt a touch of homesickness.


    He opened the panel and took a glance.


    ```


    [Divinity: 4468]


    [Twin Lifes Lv9 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 4468/6000)]


    [Passive: Possess two lives; can freely choose the time to resurrect within seven days after death, cooldown time: ten days]


    [Active: For every Lv1, can specify one physical-related ability to produce double effects during use]


    [Currently activated: Physical Strength, Action Speed, Physical Defense, Instinctive Intuition, Flexibility, Concentration, Calculation Power, Reaction Speed]


    [Currently available: ...]


    On his way to the Sky Center, due to the divinity consumed by traveling, he had spent 4500 Divinity, leveling up Twin Lifes to Lv9.


    The passive aspect still reduced the resurrection cooldown by ten days; now the base cooldown time had been reduced to just ten days... If the cooldown reduction continued at this upgrade rate, at the next level, Lv10, he would acquire a truly unlimited resurrection ability...


    However, this was probably unlikely. Xue Jing had quite a bit of confidence in Ban''s power, but he didn''t think it would really give him such a bug-level invincible thing.


    Xue Jing didn''t hold much hope for this; what he was most looking forward to was unlocking another Divine Incarnation after leveling up to Lv10.


    As for the newly added Twin Lifes active effect...


    Xue Jing''s gaze swept over all the options, thought for a moment, and selected [Perception Ability].


    The panel''s definition of [Perception Ability] was rather special. It sounded like just one ability, but it actually comprised multiple abilities.


    First were the human five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch; naturally, all were included.


    Beyond the five senses, there were also a sense of direction, spatial awareness, empathy for detecting others'' emotions... many such abstract perception abilities would also be enhanced simultaneously.


    With this double [Perception Ability], Xue Jing''s hard power might not increase much, but his soft power greatly improved.


    "4468... It takes six thousand Divinity to level up to Lv10, plus two thousand for the Divine Incarnation, which leaves me about three and a half thousand Divinity short of activating the Twin Life Incarnation."


    Xue Jing pondered as he looked at the panel.


    "The Qingcheng Government still owes me a share of ten Divine Relics; I wonder how many they have managed to obtain."


    "After returning, I can also draw a bit from my sister''s Stigmata, but that''s just scraps--hardly sufficient."


    "In Qingcheng, aside from those two, there aren''t any other sources of Divinity."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "It might not seem like much, but if the Qingcheng Government doesn''t pull through, I fear I might indeed be stuck for a while."


    He closed the panel and looked at the ribbon in his hands, now perfectly mended together. At the site of the original tear, aside from a slight discoloration of the stitches, it was nearly impossible to tell it had ever been damaged. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had sewn it himself.


    Speaking of which, it was almost magical... It seemed ''Flawless'' was indeed a tailoring skill. Although it was Xue Jing''s first time using a needle and thread, he sewed the ''Yi Chai''er Bian'' back together exceedingly well, as if he were a master tailor with decades of experience, swiftly calculating the next perfect stitch.


    The process was almost identical to when he used the Flawless Spear Technique, his hands instinctively calculating the perfect stitching path as soon as he started.


    Unfortunately, although it appeared to have been repaired on the surface, when Shenle tried it on, she didn''t grow the Ascending Dragon Sword or transform into Otogirusu.


    It seems that it was merely a superficial mending and not a true repair.


    Divine Relics cannot be absolutely destroyed; even when reduced to particle-level ash, they would reappear in the world.


    Based on this principle, all Divine Relics actually have a certain level of self-repair capability... but the extent varies.


    A ''wound'' like being severed in two, some Divine Relics might recover in a second, others might take days, or even months.


    So now, they could only wait for the ''Yi Chai''er Bian'' to self-repair.


    "By the way, what effect would this thing have if a man wore it?"


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at Yu Ga Shenle, who was standing beside him looking out of the porthole.


    "Eh?"


    Yu Ga Shenle blinked, touched her pristine chin with a finger, thought for a bit, then shook her head:


    "Not sure, I haven''t tried it... Maybe he''d become a man among men?"


    She guessed.


    ...

 Chapter 509 - 287: New Dojo, Lucky Pervert Incident, Mengs Shyness (4K)

    Dragon Core Fighters landed at the temporary base of White Crow in Qingcheng.


    After several months of construction, what was once a mere skeleton of a base now looked decent, and the word ''temporary'' could almost be removed.


    This base was prepared in anticipation of the ''Interdimensional Overlap Phenomenon'' that could occur at any time in the unfinished building area of South Qingcheng.


    Initially, it was meant to be makeshift, enough to house people and store items, but for some reason, the person in charge of the base suddenly received orders from above, stating that the base should be built to the standards of a formal base. It seemed that there was an intention for a group of White Crow members to be stationed here permanently.


    The Qingcheng Government was particularly pleased by this and provided a special fund to assist with the construction.


    After the plane landed completely, the hatch opened.


    Xue Jing was the first to step out.


    Miao Miao crouched on his shoulder, and Yu Ga Shenle followed by his side in a dress of Ning Fengwan, hands stacked in front of her, exuding an elegant and composed demeanor characteristic of a young lady, making the not-so-expensive clothes she wore appear like some high-end luxury.


    Half a step behind Xue Jing was Yun Qin, dressed in a classic maid''s outfit, and the entire group looked like some noble son returning from a trip with his pet and wife.


    "You''ve really made a splash this time, Lord Jing," said a member of the Xuren Squad who came to meet them, Mountain Demon, with a smile as he approached.


    "The strongest, toughest champion in the history of U19. Now, the online discussions about you are very heated; the hype hasn''t died down for several days."


    Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Empty fame... Where''s Captain Void Blade?"


    "The Captain went to the area where the boundary shocks are frequent to investigate the situation. He goes there every day... Ning, what are you still doing here? Is your work at Cease-Blades that relaxed?" Mountain Demon asked, turning his gaze to Ning Yuantai who had also walked out of the hatch, looking surprised.


    "You White Crows really have no manners; I''ve already told you, stop calling me ''Ning.''


    Ning Yuantai retorted with dissatisfaction and then continued:


    "Right now, running errands for Xue is my job. Is there a problem?"


    He crossed his arms over his chest, somehow looking quite smug as he talked about running errands for Xue Jing.


    Mountain Demon raised an eyebrow: "Lord Jing is our special consultant in White Crow. What, are you planning to switch sides and join us in White Crow, going from darkness to light?"


    Ning Yuantai chuckled, "Don''t flatter yourself. That''s a position you guys arbitrarily assigned to Xue. By your logic, Xue is also a member of my Cease-Blades." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two bantered noisily, yet their tone was not intense; it sounded more like casual chat and there was no anger to be heard.


    Xue Jing wasn''t bothered and interjected:


    "Nothing major has happened in Qingcheng lately, right?"


    He stayed in the Inner Ring, and though he used the internet there, he mainly accessed the ''Super Network,'' which was much better than the outdated network of the Outer Ring. He had gotten unaccustomed to the sluggish internet speed of the past.


    As a result, he had not paid attention to what had been happening in the Outer Ring for a long time.


    It seems that separation between the inner and outer areas is quite normal now... The internet was meant to bridge the gap between the ''city'' and the ''countryside,'' but now both geography and the internet itself are sequestered, making it a case of everyone doing their own thing.


    "No big deal... It''s just that the unfinished building area where the boundary shocks occur frequently is a bit strange," Mountain Demon said casually.


    "It was assessed months ago that it might experience an overlap phenomenon at any time, but it still hasn''t happened... Which isn''t a good sign."


    "The area was originally determined as potentially experiencing a weak dimensional overlap, which occurs when worlds graze against each other, and it''s the reason for the frequent boundary shocks. When both worlds finally break open some fissures and overlap, that''s when a weak overlap occurs."


    "But worlds themselves are like vehicles: they never stop moving forward. If the worlds keep grazing against each other without breaking open, the pressure from their continued forward motion will accumulate and strengthen...


    "Eventually, from ''grazing'' it might turn into ''colliding'' with the force of an impact, evolving into a strong overlap phenomenon with a pollution rate of over 60%.">


    Xue Jing remembered Captain Void Blade saying that a weak overlap could be handled, but a strong overlap was difficult to manage and would irreversibly turn an area into Intersecting Boundaries.


    "Is there any way to combat this?"


    Mountain Demon shook his head and replied, "Collisions between worlds happen beyond the boundary... That''s a realm unreachable by mankind. All we can do is to roughly estimate the pollution level in advance and take corresponding measures."


    "I see... If there''s anything I can do, just let me know," Xue Jing nodded.


    After all, Qingcheng was his hometown, and if a significant disaster like a strong overlap were to occur, he couldn''t just ignore it.


    Fortunately, his own strength was now considerable, and he wouldn''t be powerless in the face of an unfolding calamity.


    "I was waiting for you to say that, Lord Jing!" Mountain Demon laughed heartily.


    ...


    "Eh... So this is Xue Jun''s hometown?"


    Ning Yuantai drove ahead while Xue Jing and the others sat in the backseat, and Yu Ga Shenle curiously looked out the window.


    "A city that can cultivate a person like Xue Jun..."


    Xue Jing chuckled and said, "There''s nothing special about it, just a small city... You''ve probably never been to a place this small before, have you?"


    Yu Ga Shenle shook her head.


    "Besides training under my master at Dayu Mountain, I''ve mostly stayed in Tokyo... but I often go to various places to compete, and I''ve been to many cities."


    The two chatted for a while, and then Xue Jing suddenly said:


    "By the way, Yuantai, book a hotel room near my home later."

 Chapter 510 - 287: New Dojo, Lucky Pervert Incident, Mengs Shyness (4K)_2

    Ning Yuantai was driving and, without turning around, stuck out one hand to make an OK sign: "No problem, Xue."


    Yu Ga Shenle tilted her head: "Xue Jun, why book a hotel room?"


    Xue Jing gave her an odd look: "For you to stay in."


    Yu Ga Shenle was taken aback: "Eh?"


    "What, you don''t want to stay at my place, do you?" Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.


    "Can''t I?" Yu Ga Shenle pouted.


    "No, you can''t," Xue Jing shook his head.


    "There are too many people living at my place already, no rooms left."


    The house wasn''t that big, just four rooms: one for the parents, one for Xue Wan, one for Xue Jing, and now that the little maid Yun Qin had moved in, even the last room was taken.


    Although Xue Jing was quite wealthy now and could change houses, he wasn''t fussy about his living space and didn''t plan to swap out the current home where he felt comfortable and cozy.


    "I can just share a room with Xue Jun," Yu Ga Shenle said dolefully.


    "Hmm?" Miao Miao, who had been lazily draped over Xue Jing''s shoulder, sat up.


    Xue Jing pressed her back down with his hand, calmly saying, "We''re not that close yet. A man and a woman barely knowing each other for less than a day and then sleeping in the same room would have an immeasurable bad influence on teenagers."


    "Please~ (I''m begging), I can do anything, don''t leave me behind, Brother Jing..."


    Yu Ga Shenle clutched Xue Jing''s arm and coaxed pitifully.


    "Your Chinese is too bad, I don''t understand what you''re saying," Xue Jing remained uninterested.


    Brother, your hand may be soft, but my heart is hard.


    Seeing that Xue Jing was truly difficult to sway, Yu Ga Shenle immediately dropped the pitiful act and huffed:


    "Hmph, heartless man."


    Then she laughed again, "But that''s exactly why it''s good..."


    The car quickly arrived at Xue Jing''s home.


    After getting out of the car, Ning Yuantai said he was at their disposal anytime, then drove off.


    Yu Ga Shenle expressed a desire to explore the city and wanted Xue Jing to accompany her, but he declined, citing other matters to attend to. She didn''t seem to mind and walked off with light steps on her own.


    Entering the apartment complex, they took the elevator to their floor, Xue Jing took out his keys to unlock the door, pushed it open, and returned to his home.


    As soon as he arrived, he smelled the familiar scent that belonged only to his home, which gave him the real feeling of being home.


    Since Xue Wan had been the only one at home recently, and she, although tidy, wasn''t very diligent about cleaning, the place was somewhat messy.


    The moment the little maid entered, she immediately got to work, thoroughly cleaning the whole house.


    Miao Miao was fully sleepy; as soon as Xue Jing placed her on the sofa, she instantly drifted off.


    Xue Jing picked up his phone and sent a message to Xue Wan that he had arrived home.


    Less than three seconds later, Xue Wan replied.


    [Huh!??]


    [Why didn''t you say you were coming back sooner!?]


    [I''m heading home now, just stay where you are and don''t move.]


    Xue Jing replied:


    [Can''t stay, I''ve got things to do outside.]


    After sending the message, he put his phone back in his pocket.


    "Hmm... I should stop by the dojo first."


    Returning to Qingcheng after nearly a month, he had quite a few things to do.


    A few days ago, Xue Jing had already been contacted by his senior, Chen Fuguang, who mentioned that the new dojo had been renovated and was just waiting for his return to hold a housewarming party.


    Although the dojo wasn''t officially open yet, it was already in use.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment then stepped out the door, cast Aura Blockade to lower his presence, then leaped up to the rooftop of the building, and dashed towards the direction of the new dojo with his light-body skill.


    ...


    The new Hidden Dragon Dojo was located in a not-so-busy area of the East City District.


    It was originally a venue of the Tiger Soul Dojo but was transferred to Hidden Dragon after Xue Jing took in the young disciple Zong Shichan.


    This dojo covered an area of over 6,000 square meters, nearly the size of a soccer field, five floors in total, with usable space more than tenfold that of the original Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    Although in terms of location it lagged behind the bustling central location of the original dojo, it was still situated in the ''East Rich'' East City District. Buying such a large standalone venue in such an area, even at a friendly price, Li Qi''s savings must be considerably solid.


    Especially since the venue was originally built for martial artists, the materials used were far superior to ordinary construction, and accordingly, outrageously expensive.


    Xue Jing arrived and stood at the entrance, looking up to see "Hidden Dragon Dojo" four golden characters emblazoned on billboards atop the rooftop.


    Below it, a huge LED screen was embedded in the wall, displaying a slideshow¡ªall various highlight photos of him from the U19 competition.


    The debut of his stunning strike, Cherry Full Moon turning back to look amidst the crowd, impeccably finishing off Zhou Yinglin, the moment of holding up the trophy after winning the championship...


    "Uh..." Xue Jing touched his nose.


    He stepped through the gate, and since the official business hours had not yet started, there was no one at the front desk.


    Xue Jing went straight into the elevator and arrived on the fifth floor.


    All the Direct Disciples'' cultivation rooms as well as Li Qi''s residence and office were located on this level. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing was quite curious and wandered around this floor, familiarizing himself with the new environment.


    After browsing around various places for a while, Xue Jing came to a set of black double doors he did not know the purpose of, simply pressed the door handle, and pushed the door to enter.


    Since there were no labels on the door, he was unclear about what this room was.


    Then, trouble ensued.


    "..."


    Meng Qingjiao, who was half undressed, met Xue Jing''s gaze with her cool eyes.


    Her curvaceous and slender waist shone like white jade, with her delicate and upright belly button adorning it like a jewel.


    Then... big, big, big.


    An unbelievably large World Cup displayed its unparalleled presence, so magnificent it made one worry whether the material covering it could withstand such a terrifying mass.


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao was not panicking but silently pulled her clothes down, her cool eyes gazing at Xue Jing.


    "...So this is Meng''s training room, no wonder the soundproofing is so good, there''s not a sound from inside," Xue Jing murmured and hooked up a faint, forced smile.


    Meng Qingjiao, as always silent, had a hint of blush on her pretty face, stepping towards Xue Jing.


    Then she extended her jade-like hands, pinched Xue Jing''s cheeks on both sides, and pulled them apart, stretching his face into a rather comical flat shape.


    "..."


    Seeing a subtle smile on Meng Qingjiao''s lips, Xue Jing breathed a sigh of relief.


    This must mean she would forgive him after a little punishment.


    "Meng, I''m back," he said softly.


    "..." Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao''s cool eyes softened, she nodded, and placed her hand on Xue Jing''s head to pat it.


    As if to say, welcome back.


    After patting his head, she seemed to feel that a pat wasn''t quite enough and thought for a moment, then stretched out her hands and embraced Xue Jing.


    "Hm?" Xue Jing''s eyes widened, feeling something incredibly soft against his chest and belly...


    The fragrance of orchids and musk lingered at his nose. Xue Jing''s hands froze, and he was held in place, unsure of what to do.


    The Eye of the Silent Nether Nest had nothing on Meng.


    Seeming puzzled by Xue Jing''s reaction, Meng Qingjiao looked up at him, then grabbed his hands and placed them on her waist, signaling him to embrace her as well.


    Xue Jing, as if he were a fledgling who had never touched a girl''s hand, let Meng Qingjiao do as she wished, staying completely still like a puppet.


    After hugging for a while, Meng Qingjiao finally let go of Xue Jing.


    As the astonishing softness departed, the hard control was lifted, and Xue Jing regained the ability to move, his expression somewhat dazedly watching Meng Qingjiao.


    "Meng, you..." he began hesitantly.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao tilted her head in confusion, her gaze meeting his, as cool as ever.


    Xue Jing sighed lightly and said, "No, it''s nothing... Meng, is Master here?"


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, took Xue Jing by the hand, and walked out of the cultivation room, leading him to see Master Li Qi.


    Xue Jing was silently led away, shaking his head with a chuckle.


    He felt that Meng probably treated him like a child.


    What he didn''t notice was the delicate, shy blush on Meng Qingjiao''s face as she walked ahead, like a peach blossom just beginning to bloom.


    ...

 Chapter 511 - 288: Wu Youqings Kiss (4K)

    Meng pulled Xue Jing left and right, and they soon arrived in front of a room.


    Looking at the sign above the door that read "Heart-Nourishing Room", Xue Jing''s mouth twitched. He stepped forward, reached for the doorknob, and opened the door.


    In the room, which was laid out similarly to the old dojo''s Heart-Nourishing Room, Li Qi sat in a wheelchair with a rosewood desk in front of him, shaking his head as he read a scroll.


    Having not seen him for nearly a month, Xue Jing noticed that Li Qi''s previously bald head seemed to have sprouted many sparse hairs, and his withered appearance seemed more vibrant. Now wearing reading glasses, he looked five or six years younger than before.


    "... Master, why is there a sign only on the Heart-Nourishing Room?"


    Xue Jing asked as he walked toward Li Qi.


    If there had been a sign at the door earlier indicating that it was Meng''s cultivation room, he wouldn''t have rashly opened the door...


    Triggering such a classic lucky pervert incident seemed lucky but was actually quite troublesome. Fortunately, Meng treated him like a child and didn''t mind much.


    "Hmm? Little Jing, you''re back."


    Upon hearing the voice, Li Qi looked up at Xue Jing, chuckled, and wheeled himself over to Xue Jing.


    "The signs for your direct disciples'' cultivation rooms are still being made... What''s up, anything happened?"


    Li Qi took off his reading glasses, his aged, cloudy eyes shifting back and forth between Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao.


    Xue Jing remained composed, "Nothing much, just asking... By the way, master, when will the housewarming banquet be held?"


    Li Qi didn''t notice anything amiss with Xue Jing, but he caught Meng Qingjiao''s cold eyes involuntarily dodging his gaze.


    Although it was a subtle shift of her eyes, Li Qi, being extremely cunning, immediately sensed something.


    His eyes flashed with understanding, and he chuckled knowingly, "Since you''re back, let''s find an auspicious day soon¡­ Little Jing, you''ve really made your master proud this time."


    Xue Jing smiled, "It''s all thanks to your good training¡­ Master, you look much younger, have you made some recent gains?"


    Li Qi proudly brushed a few tufts of sparse hair on his head, "You noticed? I''ve been studying the Yellow Grannie Skill daily, and it''s starting to bear fruit, like dead wood meeting spring... If there''s anything you don''t understand about the technique, just ask me."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "Now that you mention it, I do have a question. After reaching the Xiao Man stage, I''ve felt my progress slowing down. Master, do you have any tips?"


    Li Qi was startled. Xiao Man?


    He had just started learning it a few days ago, still far from "Xiao Man". How could he teach that?


    He had thought that with his long study of Taoist learning and deep understanding of the Yellow Grannie Skill, he could handle even this monstrous disciple¡­


    Li Qi coughed dryly, "In the martial arts of the Taoist Sect, it is essential to progress step by step, naturally. You must have the right mindset, avoid being impatient, and practice gradually."


    Xue Jing smiled, "You''re absolutely right, master."


    Li Qi hummed a note, examining Xue Jing from head to toe, and nodded his head, extremely pleased.


    His disciple was perfect in every way, almost unreal, with impeccable talent and temperament, always respectful to his teacher. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After winning the championship in a major U19 competition, his first words were to thank his master...


    Li Qi felt that even if he were to lie down in a coffin right now, he would burst out laughing in the middle of the night.


    As he mused, his gaze drifted to Meng Qingjiao, causing her to tilt her head slightly, somewhat puzzled.


    Such a good disciple shouldn''t be a catch for another family...


    Li Qi looked contemplative.


    Meng Qingjiao was almost raised by him from a young age, formally a mentor-student relationship, but in reality, she was like his own granddaughter.


    Because of past events, Li Qi always felt remorseful toward her, lavishing affection on her like she was the apple of his eye, a treatment not afforded to other disciples¡­ of course, now including Xue Jing.


    The most cherished disciple and the favorite disciple; if these two joys could merge, wouldn''t that bring even more happiness?


    Thinking this, Li Qi began to fantasize about the idyllic family times he''d have in the future with the young couple honoring him...


    ''Seems promising...'' Li Qi''s eyes gleamed.


    It wasn''t very clear about Little Jing, but Qingjiao probably... As long as she was willing, there would be no man beyond her reach.


    Li Qi was quite confident in his granddaughter''s charm.


    ''Just feel a bit sorry for Girl Ning...''


    Li Qi thought to himself.


    However, he felt that for such a capable disciple, having a dozen or so women wasn''t a big deal; he had been quite the playboy in his youth.


    Li Qi was not a chauvinist, but he believed in the respect for the strong, thinking it natural for a capable person to own more resources.


    If Xue Jing was a woman, he''d feel it was completely fine for his disciple to have a dozen men similarly.


    "Little Jing."


    Li Qi spoke to Xue Jing kindly.


    "Hmm?" Xue Jing was puzzled.


    "I''ve been thinking of having your fellow disciples start practicing the Yellow Grannie Skill to address the deficiency in our Hidden Dragon School''s cultivation, but since the skill came from you, I still need to ask... What do you think?"


    Li Qi asked.


    "Of course there''s no problem," Xue Jing replied, nodding, seeing no hesitation; it wasn''t just about the Yellow Grannie Skill, he felt there was no need to keep any martial arts a secret from his peers.

 Chapter 512 - 288: Wu Youqings Kiss (4K)_2

    Don''t worry about whether it''s his fellow disciples, or even if enemies learned it, he didn''t care.


    If you''re capable, just practice it, and if you can beat me then I''ll consider it a loss.


    Initially, Wu Xuanzhu also didn''t care when ''Impeccable'' was learned by Xue Jing, characters of this level have exceptional mindsets and ordinary people wouldn''t consider the notion that ''teaching a disciple starves the master.'' After all, no one could outperform him no matter how they practiced.


    "Since you agreed, there''s a small issue now."


    Li Qi said leisurely.


    "Yellow Grannie Skill is an internal Health Cultivation method within the Taoist Sect involving many sensitive areas and acupoints within the body... It''s inconvenient for me to teach Qingjiao."


    "Since you are profoundly skilled in Yellow Grannie Skill... the task of teaching Qingjiao the Yellow Grannie Skill will be handed over to you."


    Xue Jing was stunned upon hearing this, sensing something amiss.


    Wait, if it''s inconvenient for you, does that mean it''s convenient for me?


    "Master, this..." he hesitated and began.


    He had barely started speaking when Li Qi, seemingly interrupting him on purpose, asked Meng Qingjiao, "Qingjiao, what do you think?"


    Under Xue Jing''s silent gaze, Meng Qingjiao nodded with a cold expression.


    "Alright, that''s settled then, when you''re free, find a room and get started," Li Qi clapped his hands, grinning on his wrinkled face, blooming like a chrysanthemum.


    There was something odd about the way he phrased that... Xue Jing was somewhat speechless.


    ...


    He didn''t start anything with Sister Meng as Li Qi had said. After staying at the new Hidden Dragon Dojo for a while, Xue Jing took his leave.


    He was somewhat aware of his master''s intentions but didn''t pay much attention to them.


    Just as couples who are matched through matchmaking don''t often anticipate a blissful marriage, such things cannot be forced.


    Letting things progress naturally was the right approach; he was less inclined to push when the cow didn''t want to drink.


    After leaving the dojo, Xue Jing immediately leapt onto the rooftops, using the Light-body Skill towards the direction of Qingcheng University.


    Even without going at full speed, his current pace was outrageous, rivaling a high-speed train, and that too was a straight-line high-speed train.


    In less than five minutes, he arrived at the entrance of Qingcheng University.


    Like the wind, he entered unseen, stirring up many female students'' skirts and eliciting quite a few embarrassed screams.


    He headed straight to the Qingcheng University Library, quickly making his way to the seventh floor.


    In the quaint and historic attic, Xue Jing stepped inside and a familiar faint and elegant scent tantalizingly entered his nose.


    Smelling this scent, his mind involuntarily calmed down, just like the aura of the scent''s owner.


    Looking around, it was still that spot, the lone girl who seemed to always be sitting there waiting for him, never having left for even a moment.


    Her waist-length high ponytail cascaded down, her elegant and delicate features did not create any sense of distance, approachable like the girl next door, only her overly tranquil pale lavender eyes added a hint of a mysterious and serene atmosphere.


    Xue Jing glanced at the cover of the book in her hand.


    "The Mercury that Will Eventually Devour the Gold."


    "Pop¡ª"


    The book was closed, the serene girl turned her head towards him, her pale lavender eyes showing a trace of a smile.


    "You''re back."


    At that moment, Xue Jing felt an inexplicable sense of healing.


    It was like a husband who had worked hard all day coming home to a smiling, beautiful young wife... it made him feel like his efforts were worthwhile.


    Shaking his head to dispel the strange thought, Xue Jing softly chuckled:


    "Mission accomplished, BOSS."


    He stepped forward, reaching out his hand, and called the Nonexistent Beast. An invisible rift opened in his hand, releasing a light green and a light red pair of swirling air flows.


    Wu Youqing first fixed her gaze on the invisible rift emitting the air flows for a while, then shifted it to the flows.


    She reached out and took the two air flows from Xue Jing''s hand and softly said:


    "There are nine streams of the Wind of All Beginnings; one is with the Xu Family, another with the ''Reverse Cross Church'' in the New Cross Church State, three with the Secret Martial Society, two with me, and the last two''s whereabouts are currently unknown."


    "In over two hundred years, the nine streams of Wind of All Beginnings have never merged together. No one knows what full capabilities it possesses."


    Wu Youqing looked at Xue Jing with a tender gaze, "It''s one of my few hopes, and you''ve successfully brought that hope to me... Jing, what reward would you like?"


    Xue Jing cocked his head, "A reward?"


    Wu Youqing spoke softly, "You''ve exceeded the task this time... even if you want a somewhat excessive reward, I''ll do my best to fulfill it."


    Xue Jing thought about it. He didn''t have anything he particularly wanted, if he had to say, maybe just a Divine Relic...


    However, compared to the Divine Relic, he felt that he had received too much help from Wu Youqing, so much so that it was a bit overwhelming.


    He wanted to say that he didn''t need a reward, but that seemed a bit insensitive, as if he were eager to repay Wu Youqing''s debt.


    After hesitating for a while, perhaps because of the world-class stunning hug from Meng earlier, or perhaps attracted by the comforting presence of Wu Youqing.


    Xue Jing suddenly had a wild thought and hesitated,


    "Um... how about you kiss me?"


    Wu Youqing was stunned.


    Xue Jing''s face also immediately changed, full of regret.


    What was he saying, damn, that was awkward.


    He moved his lips slightly and waved his hand, "Forget I said anything."


    At that moment, Wu Youqing hesitated for a second but then stood up, silently walked over to Xue Jing.


    "BOSS, you..." Xue Jing said in surprise, seeing this.


    No way, Youqing, are you serious?


    Wu Youqing looked at him with a complex expression, a slight blush appearing on her refined face, breathtakingly beautiful.


    She whispered softly,


    "I said it, even if it''s a somewhat excessive reward..."


    Xue Jing broke out in a cold sweat, "Can I take it back?"


    Wu Youqing glared at him, "What are you saying to a girl who finally mustered the courage?"


    A girl... right, Youqing Buddha is only in her teens.


    Usually, she is so mature and reliable that Xue Jing had unconsciously overlooked her age.


    "Then... do you need to prepare a bit?"


    After thinking, Xue Jing asked.


    Wu Youqing shook her head, only murmuring, "...close your eyes."


    Xue Jing felt like a fledgling again, nervous about something as simple as a kiss.


    He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, feeling conflicted.


    He wasn''t someone easily swayed by women and beauty, even as enchanting as Yu Ga Shenle, he was almost unmoved.


    But undeniably, at this moment, he was indeed looking forward to it.


    Because... this is Youqing A Dream after all.


    That woman who seemed to know everything, could solve anything, almost like a genie at your service.


    Xue Jing couldn''t deny he had a strong favor for her... otherwise, he wouldn''t have blurted out such a thing impulsively. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because his eyes were closed, his already sharp hearing, smell, and touch became even more sensitive, distinctly feeling the girl drawing nearer.


    The subtle fragrance grew stronger, her slightly uneasy breathing gently touched his face, and his skin sensed the warmth radiating from her body.


    Suddenly, an extremely soft and wonderful sensation touched the corner of his mouth, tinged with a bit of warm moisture.


    That instant, a tingling sensation spread from Xue Jing''s mouth to his cheeks, scalp, neck, chest, and abdomen... gradually reaching his entire body.


    He gently opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of Wu Youqing who after kissing him, had run back to her seat, twirling her hair at her seat.


    The latter turned her face away, avoiding Xue Jing''s gaze, and spoke in her usual calm tone, "There, you got what you asked for, don''t expect it to happen again..."


    Xue Jing looked contemplative.


    It was as if entering a sage mode after the fact, his rationality began to return.


    Wait, why did he feel like he was at a loss?


    ...

 Chapter 513 - 289: Saint Youqing, Unraveling the Mystery of Divinity, Ultimate Breakthrough (4K)

    ```


    "...I also know you''re at an age where you might think about such things."


    Wu Youqing turned her head away, not making eye contact with Xue Jing, opened the book in her hands, and used it to cover the lower half of her face; she spoke in a gently persuasive tone.


    Xue Jing looked up and caught a glimpse of the beautiful, fair nape of her neck, just below her neatly tied high ponytail.


    "You having thoughts about me... I wouldn''t be unhappy about it, but I''d rather you focus on yourself right now, instead of scattering your precious attention on other things."


    "You''re at a critical period for self-improvement, any thoughts that could affect your concentration are a waste, especially love, a monster that can twist people''s hearts and consume most of their attention."


    Wu Youqing lectured like a teacher to a high school senior.


    Xue Jing touched his chin and chuckled, "BOSS, does this mean I''ve been dumped by you?"


    Caught off-guard, Wu Youqing turned to glare at him, still using the book to hide the lower half of her face, but a hint of a blush was still faintly visible.


    "...Not at all!"


    She said, slightly annoyed.


    "I mean, stop thinking about all these hypotheticals for now!"


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, "So, that means I can think about them later?"


    Wu Youqing was at a loss for words, she glared at Xue Jing for quite a while before begrudgingly admitting, "...Yes, are you happy now? You had to make me spell it out so clearly, showing no consideration at all."


    She''s so cute... Xue Jing smiled without saying a word.


    To hide feelings of shyness, one instinctively becomes angry, and right now the sight of Xue Jing made Wu Youqing a bit irritated, but being more than a normal person, her emotional control was extremely strong; she quickly forced herself to calm down and said:


    "Alright, now let''s talk about serious matters."


    "You must have encountered something on your way back, what exactly happened?"


    Seeing that Wu Youqing was getting down to business, Xue Jing also put aside his teasing mood, thought for a moment, and then said:


    "It was Xu Mude, the manager of Xu''s Biology, he went after the Wind of All Beginnings..."


    Xue Jing laid out the entire situation neatly and clearly for Wu Youqing to hear.


    From how he stealthily took the Wind of All Beginnings from the Xu Family, to unexpectedly obtaining another one from Zhou Yinglin in the arena.


    Xu Mude, unable to purchase the wind from Zhou Yinglin through him, intercepted and forcibly attempted to take it from him on his way back to Qingcheng; the reason for his desperate need of the Wind of All Beginnings, even at the risk of offending Wu Youqing, was to ensure the smooth progression of the ''Divine'' project.


    Then, there was his return to the Inner Ring at the Sky Center, dealing with the Divine rampage, and finally making his way back to Qingcheng.


    After listening to Xue Jing''s account and understanding the causes and consequences, Wu Youqing''s eyes showed deep thought, "I see."


    After pondering for a moment, she suddenly said to Xue Jing, "Jing."


    "Hmm? What is it?" Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    Wu Youqing said earnestly, "You are not responsible at all for the civilian casualties caused by the Divine rampage at the Sky Center."


    "It was I who sent you to seize the Wind of All Beginnings, that''s certainly not your fault, and you should feel no guilt whatsoever."


    "On the contrary, you truly returned to the Sky Center of your own will and resolved the rogue Divine that would have caused a much greater disaster. To the victims, you are without a doubt their hero."


    Xue Jing was stunned.


    He hadn''t anticipated that Wu Youqing''s first thought after hearing the whole story would be about the guilt he might feel about his actions, and she began earnestly trying to resolve that guilt.


    Although Xue Jing had already sorted through his emotions, he did indeed feel some guilt when the incident occurred, but his ability to regulate his emotions was extremely strong, and he had already resolved these feelings for himself.


    Still, he was touched by Wu Youqing''s immediate concern.


    He clasped his hands together, posed in a praying stance, closed his eyes, and devoutly said:


    "Qing Sect."


    Wu Youqing: "?"


    "Saint Youqing, you are one, and also the many, I will surely let your way be walked upon the earth, as it is in your realm." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wu Youqing: "??"


    "Especially her, above all else is she, my deity, Saint Youqing."


    Wu Youqing: "???"


    Question marks sprouted over her head, and she sighed softly, "It seems I''ve been overthinking this, if you can still be this cheeky, you''re likely not too hung up on it."


    Xue Jing laughed and said, "Don''t worry, my own moral restraints aren''t set that high."


    Changing the subject, he said,


    "By the way, BOSS, this ''Divine Factor''... what exactly is it?"


    Divine Beings possess the Divine Factor, which is why they exhibit numerous miraculous traits.


    Xue Jing had inferred that the ''Divine Factor'' referred to Divinity as mentioned in his panel, from the fact that killing a Divine Being granted him Divinity, but he was still confused about the power itself.


    Even with his many Divine Skills, he still only knew how to use the fridge, not understanding its operation or principles.


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment and said:


    "The form of existence of the Divine Factor is very peculiar; it is not material, nor is it energy, but rather a third form of existence that is independent of the two¡ªa fundamental element."


    "My understanding may not be correct, but if I had to say, the ''Divine Factor'' would be the ''essence of a deity''."


    "Or, perhaps, a heavily diluted essence of a deity."


    Xue Jing looked puzzled, "The essence of a deity?"


    "Yes." Wu Youqing sat in a wooden chair, her long legs crossed, pressing against each other, making the light-colored tight jeans she wore taut and exuding a subtle allure.


    "A deity, transcends the binds of ''Cosmic String,'' unbound by common reasoning, a Superstring Entity who''s great essence leaks out, is what we call ''Divinity''."


    ```

 Chapter 514 - 289: Saint Youqing, Unraveling the Mystery of Divinity, Ultimate Breakthrough (4K)_2

    ```


    "''Divinity'' itself is not a concrete power, yet those who possess it, having touched the essence of godliness, obtain the power to ''influence the ordinary.''"


    Wu Youqing gave Xue Jing a meaningful glance and said, "In fact, it is very likely that Divine Relics, Blessed Ones, and even some Intersecting Boundaries creatures with special powers possess their various miraculous abilities that defy physical laws because they have ''Divinity'' within them, allowing them to escape, to a certain extent, from the constraints of the ''Cosmic Strings.''"


    Xue Jing''s gaze narrowed slightly.


    So that was it... He probably understood why Divine Relics and Xue Wan didn''t lose their abilities after he had extracted Divinity from them.


    Because ''Divinity'' itself is not ''power.''


    It is an outflow of the divine essence, an extraordinary existence beyond conventional understanding.


    If an analogy were to be made, it could be compared to a ''craftsman.''


    Divinity entering an object or living being is much like a craftsman reconstructing their essence, endowing them with abilities that transcend common logic.


    What Xue Jing had done was like taking the craftsman inside them away... Even after the craftsman is gone, the results of his work remain unchanged.


    In simpler terms, once the inside has taken on the shape of Divinity, even if Divinity leaves, the shape won''t revert to its previous form.


    Once the puzzle was solved, many things became clear.


    "And just as you''ve seen, Divine Factors are not absolutely good things,"


    Wu Youqing continued.


    "Blessed Ones receive the gift of Divinity from the gods, but the mortal body struggles to bear the infusion of the divine essence, leading to a transformation of both spirit and body."


    "Only a select few can wholly adapt to the immersion in Divinity... There are less than twenty Natural Gifted Ones, Divine Chosen, in the entire world."


    Wu Youqing glanced at Xue Jing and added, "Of course... there''s also you."


    Xue Jing coughed awkwardly.


    "The Divine Chosen are such because they are born with an essence ''akin to a certain god,'' enabling them to adapt to that god''s Divinity. But you are different, you are more special."


    Wu Youqing looked at Xue Jing as if observing a rare animal.


    "You are not compatible because your essence is close to that of a certain god... It''s more like you are naturally adaptable to ''Divinity'' as a concept... or perhaps even beyond it."


    "Why is that? I''m very curious," Wu Youqing said, her pretty eyes sparkling with amusement.


    Xue Jing felt a slight tingling on his scalp, feeling as if his innermost secrets were about to be exposed, and quickly changed the subject:


    "Um... I don''t quite understand it myself, we can talk about it later, BOSS, I have another question."


    Wu Youqing propped her chin with one hand, smiling at Xue Jing:


    "Ask away."


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, then asked, "What is the standard for the ''Ultimate Breakthrough'' in martial arts?"


    Wu Youqing nodded upon hearing this and said, "You''ve already come across it... then I''ll tell you."


    "Actually, it''s coincidental, the concept of Ultimate Breakthrough is also related to ''Divine Factors.''


    "Oh? How so?" Xue Jing asked, curious.


    Wu Youqing explained, "After the Extreme Martial King took over Cangting, he revealed a miraculous technique."


    "Through some special method, by absorbing the ''Divine Factors'' diluted from ''Divine Adam,'' one can use Divinity to transform their essence, granting physical strength and potential far exceeding human limits."


    "If the human body''s limit is 1, then this technique could elevate it to 2, 3... or even more."


    "This was likely the secret of the Extreme Martial King''s strength... At that time, those who were privileged enough to know of this technique all thought this way, and thus fervently sought Adam''s Divine Factors to transform their own essence."


    Wu Youqing said, shaking her head.


    "But of course, seeking God''s Power with a mortal body comes at a price."


    ```


    "First of all, there is the issue of Divinity causing mutations to the flesh... Although it might be due to the particularly unique Divine Factor within Adam, the mutations aren''t as severe as those from Heretic Gods in other realms, but it is still a problem not to be overlooked,"


    "And for a portion of people with an extremely strong adaptability to the Divine Factor who successfully withstand it, they are then faced with a second issue¡ª the difficulty of Breakthroughs."


    "Breakthroughs were never easy, and for original humans to achieve a ''Breakthrough'' was already very difficult. But for bodies enhanced by Divine Factors, the difficulty of Breakthroughs increased exponentially."


    "Originally at 1, after a Breakthrough they could reach 10, 20. But if the Divine Factor improved the body to a 9, and the Breakthrough was not successful, then it was all meaningless."


    "As a result, this technology soon deterred most people."


    "However, humanity''s pursuit of power is never-ending, and so this powerful technology naturally continued to be researched by some."


    Wu Youqing tapped her fingers on the wooden table.


    "And eventually, this group of people, after long periods of experimentation, obtained a theoretical value."


    "For a regular Breakthrough as 1, the maximum limit value for Divine strengthening before a successful Breakthrough is estimated to be around 6-7."


    "Enhancing the body to this value range with Divinity, and then successfully performing a Breakthrough, is known as¡ªUltimate Breakthrough."


    Xue Jing had an epiphany upon hearing this.


    So that was it, this was the concept of Ultimate Breakthrough.


    With the flesh enhanced by Divine Factors, to reach six to seven times the strength of the regular limit and then successfully perform a self-Breakthrough at this intensity.


    "However, even though this limit value has been tested, very few people choose this path,"


    Wu Youqing continued.


    "While those who achieve the Ultimate Breakthrough are very strong, many times stronger than those who perform a regular Breakthrough, the talent, resources, effort, luck ... that are needed are tens of thousands of times greater than a regular Breakthrough."


    "The disparity between what you give and what you gain is too great... There''s a high chance of putting in a lot but in the end, never breaking through and remaining mediocre for life. Only a very few would bet on that elusive possibility."


    Xue Jing thought for a bit, then asked, "So then, did the Extreme Martial King obtain his far superior power over all Martial Artists because he managed the Ultimate Breakthrough?"


    Wu Youqing fell silent at this question, then shook her head.


    "No... no, the Extreme Martial King is probably even more special."


    Xue Jing was puzzled, "Oh?"


    "It''s true that the Ultimate Breakthrough technique was provided by the Extreme Martial King, and up to now, many have achieved it. To my knowledge, there''s even one unparalleled genius who managed six Ultimate Breakthroughs."


    "But even he is still far from matching the Extreme Martial King..."


    Wu Youqing added, under Xue Jing''s somewhat surprised gaze, "It''s like the difference between humans and gods."


    "According to calculations predicated on the previously mentioned six Ultimate Breakthroughs, even if he were to break through two more times, achieving eight Ultimate Breakthroughs, he still wouldn''t be able to compete with the Extreme Martial King."


    "Many speculate that the Extreme Martial King probably has hidden some deeper technologies and hasn''t disclosed them, but there are also many who feel that he has hidden nothing at all; it''s just because he is a special existence, an entity that others simply cannot replicate."


    "To date, on the Old Martial Path, only the Extreme Martial King remains with a precipitous lead, an individual combat power capable of contending with Super Organisms of an apocalyptic level, one of the current six pinnacle individual combat forces of mankind." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But compared to other systems, the Extreme Martial King really does not offer the possibility for anyone to follow in his footsteps... It''s like a high mountain; everyone''s path up the mountain is broken, blocked at mid-mountain, with only him standing at the peak."


    "Old Martial is also one of the paths you take... You must also be prepared for the possibility of despairingly being stopped at mid-mountain,"


    Wu Youqing softly said.


    Xue Jing''s eyes reflected his contemplation, "I see..."


    Ultimate Breakthroughs... are not so ultimate.


    Now it seems, even with his bolstered stats, True Martial, Army Master, and various Extraordinary Skills at his disposal, he might not be able to match the level of the Extreme Martial King within the same realm.


    This individual at the end of the martial arts path, what kind of existence could he be... Could it be that he, too, had ''opened up''?


    ...

 Chapter 517 - 291 GOD-2154: Attribute Table, Xue Jings Five-dimensional Attribute, Twin Lifes Lv10

    Xue Jing didn''t have to wait too long. After hanging up the phone, it took just over half an hour before Pei Xiao''en had someone deliver the four Divine Relics that the Qing City Government had collected to Xue Jing''s home.


    After respectfully sending off the civil servant who had brought the items, Xue Jing took a box and sat on the sofa in the living room.


    He reached out to unlock and open the box, inside were four items resting on soft pads.


    They were a ring,


    a watch,


    a white strand of hair about five centimeters long,


    and a transparent glass bottle, containing a quietly burning red flame.


    Xue Jing curiously inspected these items for a moment and soon recognized their identities based on the Divine Relic information he had seen before.


    First, he reached out and picked up the brass-colored ring topped with a dazzling ruby.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...]


    "[GOD-1654¡¤Invincible Frame Ring]..."


    He quietly stated the serial number and name of the ring.


    Its effect was simple, the person wearing it would have a moment of invincibility when performing the ''roll'' action.


    During that time, any external attack absolutely could not interfere with or touch the wearer, a truly invincible state.


    As for how long this ''moment'' was... through experimental tests, depending on the wearer, the invincibility duration varied from one twenty-fourth of a second to one sixtieth of a second.


    Xue Jing wore it on the ring finger of his left hand, and his already slender and attractive palm seemed strangely more enchanting with the ruby ring.


    "This ring''s ability is not very significant to me... ducking and dodging into that moment of invincibility isn''t hard for me, but if I can perform a roll, it means I can react to the attack, then I''d rather just hide inside the Nonexistent Beast or ''Shadow Transform.''"


    This kind of non-''passive'' invincibility ability, Xue Jing already had several types, and acquiring another Invincible Frame Ring... couldn''t be said to be completely useless, but it was also of little significance.


    Moreover, this thing also had a bit of a drawback, wearing it greatly increased the physical strength consumed by the ''roll'' action.


    Xue Jing looked towards the watch.


    It was a simple, unremarkable black watch that appeared plain, but the display on its face was not time, but a pentagonal radar chart.


    "[GOD-2154¡¤Attribute Table]..."


    This item was much more useful.


    Xue Jing put the watch on his right wrist and then pressed a button on the left side of its face.


    The watch emitted a ''beep'' sound, the screen lit up, and the pentagonal radar chart began to fluctuate continuously until a word emerged at each of the five corners. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were: Physical, Consciousness, Calamity, Divinity, Influence.


    Miao Miao, who was lazily lying on the nearby sofa, stood up, arched her back in a stretch, and walked over to Xue Jing with graceful cat steps, placing her front paws on his thighs and looking curiously at the black watch on his wrist.


    "What''s this?"


    She asked curiously.


    "A Divine Relic, GOD-2154¡¤Attribute Table," Xue Jing explained as he stroked her fuzzy cat head.


    "It can reflect the wearer''s five attributes on its face... just like a character''s attribute panel in a game."


    "The five attributes appear in the text most familiar to the wearer."


    Xue Jing tapped the watch face, recalling the introduction to the Attribute Table from the Divine Relic Database.


    "[Physical] refers to the composite value of the physique, including burst power, physical strength, strength, flexibility, and so on... all factors related to the physique are included, and through a complex formula, a specific value is obtained."


    "[Consciousness] is the composite value of mental-related abilities such as consciousness intensity, willpower, and spiritual power."


    "In experimental data, the [Physical] and [Consciousness] values for ordinary people are roughly around 1 to 5."


    Miao Miao glanced at the numbers displayed on the watch face.


    Physical: 962


    Consciousness: 988


    She raised an eyebrow: "Isn''t that wrong, ordinary people have 5, but you''re not even at a thousand?"


    Given her understanding of Xue Jing''s fighting ability, such superhuman performance could reflect ten thousand times that of ordinary people, and she wouldn''t find it strange.


    Close to a thousand, that''s just two to three hundred times that of an ordinary person... it doesn''t match his performance.


    Xue Jing laughed: "This is just the pure calculation of the physical comprehensive value, various Martial Arts Skills and the ability to utilize the physique are not included. Just in terms of physique, this value is indeed accurate."


    Miao Miao nodded: "I see... then what are these last three?"


    She looked towards the [Calamity, Divinity, Influence] characters, each more incomprehensible than the last.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "Hmm... these three are more complex."


    He picked up his phone, accessed the Divine Relic Database website, and took out a B-level Divine Relic containment certificate from inside the Nonexistent Beast to log into the website using a dynamic password.


    He searched and opened the information on GOD-2154.


    While reading, he said:


    "[Calamity], means calamity, specifically referring to the ''chance of encountering events''."


    Miao Miao tilted her head: "Does it mean ''luck''?"


    Xue Jing shook his head: "No, ''luck'' doesn''t have a concrete standard, whether the events encountered are good or bad is subjective. For example, some people might think having flirtatious incidents with women is good luck, while others would think it''s terrible and troublesome, it''s hard to define good or bad luck."


    "[Calamity] just simply reflects how likely a person is to encounter various events."


    Miao Miao looked at Xue Jing''s [Calamity] index: 10026


    Five digits... Miao Miao''s expression carried an anthropomorphic quirkiness, and it seemed she wanted to laugh:

 Chapter 518 - 291 GOD-2154·Attribute Table, Xue Jings Five-dimensional Attributes, Twin Birth Lv10_2

    "So is this number of yours high or low?"


    Xue Jing''s lips twitched, resignedly he said, "The values of ''Calamity'' differ greatly among individuals; there''s no average range for normal people... However, according to experimental records, even for those who frequently face life and death, the ''Calamity'' index generally does not exceed two thousand."


    Miao Miao''s eyes sparkled with mirth, "So, has it finally been concluded that you are an ''Innate Annoying Sacred Body''?"


    Xue Jing did not answer but casually changed the subject:


    "Then there''s ''Holy''... This is a somewhat strange attribute. When native English speakers wear the attribute table, ''Holy'' is displayed, generally referring to ''sanctity''.


    "Although the data bank is somewhat vague with many details blacked out and obscured, it can be inferred that it specifically refers to ''the tier of life''s rank''."


    Xue Jing scrolled through his phone screen a few times and said, "According to the experimental data, the average ''Holy'' index for normal humans is between 10 and 30, while ordinary animals are basically below 10, and insects are mostly at 1."


    Miao Miao nodded, "I somewhat understand... But what''s the use of this attribute?"


    Xue Jing replied, "Not sure, the people from the Heretical God Cult probably understand this aspect better."


    He looked at his own ''Holy'' index: 5164


    An exceedingly exaggerated figure... Considering the average person''s score is around 20, his ''sanctity'' is nearly three hundred times that of a normal person.


    ''It must be related to all the Divine Skills and Extraordinary Skills I possess,'' Xue Jing speculated.


    "What about the last attribute, ''Momentum''?" Miao Miao sat squatting in Xue Jing''s lap and asked curiously.


    Xue Jing looked up some data and then shook his head,


    "This is the most difficult attribute to understand. There isn''t much introduction in the data, but it''s understood to refer to ''an individual''s external intangible support.''


    "It encompasses heritage, connections, reputation, status... Many external factors heavily influence this attribute."


    "Moreover, it''s not all positive effects; for instance, some people might have an excellent family background, but if they disagree with their family''s ideology and have strained relationships, the [Momentum] might actually decrease and increase after separating from the family."


    Xue Jing glanced at his own ''Momentum'' index.


    There was no specific number but it fluctuated continuously at a rapid rate, with lows at negative numbers and highs reaching nine positive figures.


    "What does this mean?" Xue Jing frowned.


    He looked down at Miao Miao in his lap and pressed a button on the right side of the attribute table.


    This was the second functionality of the attribute table, capable of measuring the five-dimensional attributes of the creature being observed.


    However, this feature had limitations, if the observed''s certain attribute was over 100% higher than the wearer''s, it would not be measured but display a question mark instead.


    On the screen of the watch, the five-sided radar chart fluctuated and soon displayed Miao Miao''s attributes.


    Body: 326


    Mind: 338


    Calamity: 1267


    Holy: 1066


    Momentum: ?


    Miao Miao''s [Body] and [Mind], enhanced by the Cat Tail Ring, weren''t low; as for [Calamity], being inherently the Leader of the Dragon Sect and constantly facing many disasters, especially being around Xue Jing, it was understandable why her value was high.


    As the fused being of the Cat Goddess Bastet, her [Holy] attribute was also high.


    "Can''t see [Momentum]..."


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted, he took off the watch and placed it on Miao Miao''s right forepaw, assisting her to press the left button.


    This time, among the displayed five-dimensional attributes, the first four remained unchanged, while the [Momentum] changed from a question mark to 1367.


    "1367... This figure is high for a normal person but certainly not for me; at least it can''t be twice my level, yet I am unable to see Teacher Wan''s [Momentum]..."


    Xue Jing reflected thoughtfully.


    Although his own family background was ordinary, having Wu Youqing covering his back alone made the [Momentum] attribute significant.


    "It appears there is some strange factor affecting my [Momentum] property, causing its value to be indeterminate and unmeasurable."


    "What could it be? Even the Divine Relic is affected..."


    Xue Jing pondered, initially thinking of the panel... but the panel should not be detectable by the attribute table; otherwise, his [Holy] attribute should exceed its current level.


    Since the panel isn''t accounted for, it remains perplexing.


    "Never mind, if I can''t figure it out, then I won''t think about it."


    Xue Jing shook his head, his gaze turning towards the remaining two Divine Relics.


    He reached out and touched the white fur, which was [GOD-521¡¤White Brow].


    [Detection of Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    This object randomly transfers and resides in anyone''s eyebrows. If plucked, it causes the host to randomly age between 1 to 58 years, making it one of the most annoying Divine Relics. To date, the academic community has still not managed to discover its positive effects...


    The last Divine Relic was [GOD-1883¡¤Flame in a Bottle].


    Its effect was quite peculiar; it could ''burn the unburnable.'' Materials like wood or paper, anything flammable, would not be harmed by the Flame in the Bottle.


    But for non-flammable materials like water, metal, and glass, the Flame in a Bottle could easily ignite them, burning them rapidly to nothingness¡­ This Divine Relic was occasionally used to deal with monsters that were highly resistant to fire, and it was very effective.


    After all the Divinity from the four Divine Relics had been fully absorbed, Xue Jing glanced at his panel.


    [Holding Divinity: 6534]


    Seeing that he had enough, he didn''t hesitate and immediately clicked to upgrade Twin Lifes.


    [Twin Birth Lv9 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 6534/6000)]


    [Twin Birth Lv10 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 534/8000)]


    [Divine Incarnation: Unlocked (Unlock condition: reach Lv10, Divinity 534/2000)]


    Just another fifteen hundred and he could activate the Divine Incarnation of Twin Lifes.


    There was no rush for that, Xue Jing shifted his gaze to the passive effect of Twin Birth at Lv10.


    [Passive: Possesses two lives, able to freely select the time of resurrection within seven days after death, cooldown: one day]


    Xue Jing raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised, "A day?"


    He had held no great expectations that Twin Birth reaching Lv10 would lead to infinite resurrections with no cooldown, so he wasn''t disappointed. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the contrary, he even felt surprised by the one-day cooldown.


    The passive skill of [Twin Lifes], seemingly reducing the cooldown by ten days at each level, may appear consistent, but it actually isn''t.


    Reducing from ninety days to eighty, as opposed to reducing from twenty days to ten, are completely different concepts.


    One only reduces by one ninth, almost ineffective, while the other halves it.


    Thus, the higher the level of Twin Lifes, the greater the cooldown reduction from upgrading the passive.


    Now, compared to the benefit of halving from twenty to ten days when upgrading from Lv8 to Lv9, Lv10 goes from ten days to one, a reduction of nine times!


    The payoff was explosive... Xue Jing had thought that upon reaching Lv10, Ban might play some trick, reducing a day per level.


    Unexpectedly, Ban was quite honest... Although it didn''t become a no cooldown passive in one step, Xue Jing was already satisfied enough.


    "Now I can really go wild."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin.


    The resurrection of Twin Lifes was a full-state resurrection, even fully replenishing all the blue bars of his Divine Skills.


    Now, with his substantial ability to protect himself, even if pursued by some formidable adversary, as long as the power disparity wasn''t so great that he couldn''t perceive the opponent''s presence before being instantly killed, he was fairly confident he could last a whole day.


    Once a day passed, the cooldown of Twin Lifes would reset, and he could rise again.


    "Basically invincible, isn''t this."


    ...


    Around noon, Xue Jing, wearing his attribute table, arrived at the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    He took the elevator to the fifth floor, heading for Meng''s Cultivation Room as instructed by Li Qi, to teach her Yellow Grannie Skill.


    Upon reaching the door of Meng''s Cultivation Room... at that moment, a sign with ''Meng Qingjiao'' written on it hung on the door.


    Recalling yesterday''s beautiful moments, Xue Jing felt a ripple in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it and knocked on the door.


    Soon, the door opened.


    Xue Jing looked up and realized that the person opening the door was not Meng Qingjiao but a middle-aged man, as robust as a tiger, with long hair flowing to his waist and a clear, handsome face.


    It was Meng Qingjiao''s father, the elder disciple brother Meng Boshang.


    Xue Jing was slightly startled but greeted with a smile:


    "Elder disciple brother."


    ...

 Chapter 519 - 292: The day Meng was enchanted by Xue Jing and got close to the beautiful girl (4K)

    Meng Qingjiao looked at Xue Jing with a cold gaze, inherited from Uncle Meng. Her emotionless eyes and the corners of Meng Boshang''s mouth hooked in what might or might not have been a smile. He nodded at Xue Jing, a form of greeting.


    He opened the door wide and his robust body moved aside, gesturing for Xue Jing to enter.


    Xue Jing stepped into the Cultivation Room and took the opportunity to measure his eldest martial brother''s attributes with the attribute table.


    The pentagon radar chart on the panel kept changing and quickly measured Meng Boshang''s five dimensions.


    Body: 1287


    Consciousness: 1166


    Robbery: 1517


    Saint: 285


    Power: ?


    ''A [Body] value of 1287...''


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted.


    Just over a month ago, he had been significantly behind his eldest martial brother in terms of physical strength. Yet now, he was nearly catching up, with only about a quarter difference in their values.


    His growth rate was becoming more and more exaggerated.


    Xue Jing thought that if they were to engage in a real fight now, the one-fourth difference in body values would not constitute an overwhelming advantage in a martial arts fight, and he could still stand a chance of winning.


    While his eldest martial brother had been immersed in martial arts for decades, which undoubtedly placed his martial arts above Xue Jing''s, he could compensate for this disadvantage with the edge provided by [True Martial] in Channeling Energy.


    Overall, Xue Jing felt that even without using Twin Lifes as a cheat, he was now capable of contending with his eldest martial brother in martial arts.


    ''My eldest martial brother has reached Great Perfection in Inner Refining long ago, and is just one step away from Leaping Through the Dragon Gate. His current values are probably at their limit; it would be difficult for him to make further progress.''


    ''Given that, could 1287 be considered the ''limit for a mortal''?''


    Xue Jing wondered.


    ''No... it can''t be calculated like that. Everyone''s physique is different, and so are their limits. My eldest martial brother has excellent Physical Talent, so his upper limit is higher than that of the average person. The limit for ordinary people probably doesn''t exceed a thousand.''


    ''...Although he has trained close to the level of Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, his talent would certainly not just be considered ''ordinary''.''


    As soon as he entered the Cultivation Room, Xue Jing saw Meng Qingjiao kneeling in the center of the room, dressed in a Training Garment.


    Under her neat short hair was a pretty face with a pair of cold, clear eyes. She should have been a cool, abstemious girl. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, her overly enchanting figure made even the loose Training Garment outline a heart-stopping curve, which had nothing to do with ''abstinence.''


    Those cold, clear eyes looked towards Xue Jing, as inscrutable as ever.


    "Click¡ª"


    The sound of the door closing came from behind. When Xue Jing looked back, he saw that his eldest martial brother, Meng Boshang, had not stayed in the room but had already left.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.


    But since things had come to this, he turned to Meng Qingjiao and greeted her with a smile, "Sister Meng."


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded at him and then moved her body slightly forward, patting the ground in front of her.


    It seemed she was indicating for Xue Jing to sit there.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing walked in front of Meng Qingjiao and seated himself cross-legged less than twenty centimeters away from her, facing her.


    At such a close distance, his keen sense of smell constantly caught Sister Meng''s faint fragrance, and if he lowered his gaze even slightly, the world cup with a conspicuously strong presence would dominate his field of vision.


    However, Xue Jing''s ability to control his consciousness was extremely strong, and being prepared, he wouldn''t be affected. With an unruffled smile, he said:


    "Sister Meng, I''ll begin teaching you the Yellow Grannie Skill next... There might be some impropriety, please forgive me."


    Meng Qingjiao reached out and gently touched his head with a soft expression and nodded.


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment and said, "The Yellow Grannie Skill is a secret skill of the Taoist Sect, part of Ancient Martial arts, and places great emphasis on the cultivation of one''s heart. To master it requires a high level of Taoist Learning, understanding the esoteric aspects through studying Taoist Scriptures, which cannot be easily conveyed in words."


    "In this aspect, I cannot offer much help to Sister Meng. You will have to rely on yourself...


    However, Sister Meng is an unparalleled genius in Soft Power; the precision in Qi Flow and Channeling Energy is unmatched by ordinary people, so even if your Taoist Learning is not yet sufficient, you should be able to forcibly mimic the subtle changes in Channeling Energy of someone deeply versed in Taoist Learning..."


    "Although I can''t teach you the profound aspects of this Cultivation Technique by this method, I can help you get started. You can then study Taoist doctrines on your own to fill in the gaps and refine your knowledge."


    As Xue Jing spoke, he placed his hand on Meng Qingjiao''s wrist.


    A delicate touch came through the, a slim and soft wrist not at all resembling that of someone who practices martial arts.


    Xue Jing, in serious teaching mode, paid no attention to these details. He activated his Power into Qi Force and sent it surging into Meng Qingjiao''s body, coursing through her system.


    Gifted with [True Martial], he possessed absolute Control Power over Qi Force, guiding the Qi Force outside of his body to follow the breathing pathways of the Yellow Grannie Skill intricately as if it was within his own body.


    The Qi Flow pathways of the Yellow Grannie Skill, being a nourishing life skill, unavoidably involved the principles of yin and yang, which meant the Qi Force had to pass through several sensitive areas.


    Qu Chi, Qi Sea, Zhongji, Yin Lian...


    Meng Qingjiao''s complexion turned slightly rosy, and her calm was subtly perturbed. However, seeing Xue Jing''s earnest teaching expression, she suppressed her restlessness, focusing on the rhythm of the Qi Force.


    As she concentrated, the sensations grew more pronounced...


    Suddenly, Meng Qingjiao''s body trembled slightly, and her toes curled a little.


    "Sister Meng, don''t move," Xue Jing reminded.


    ...


    After the teaching was finished, Meng Qingjiao was covered in a layer of fine sweat.


    "Sister Meng, are you alright?"


    Xue Jing asked with concern.

 Chapter 520 - 292: Meng, Charmed by Xue Jing, Spends a Day Close with a Beautiful Girl (4K)_2

    Because he was innately aligned with True Martial, practicing the Yellow Grannie Skill was not much of a challenge for him, but it might be quite burdensome for Meng.


    Meng Qingjiao breathed slightly, glanced at Xue Jing, and suddenly leaned forward, resting against Xue Jing''s chest.


    Xue Jing gently supported Meng Qingjiao''s shoulders with his hands, making no other move, waiting for Meng Qingjiao to recover.


    Xue Jing''s current martial realm was extremely high, his body clear and almost free of any impurities, and coupled with a Level 10 Charm Art, he naturally carried a wonderful body scent all year round.


    Although Xue Jing used Aura Blockade to contain his scent to a few centimeters away from his body, Meng Qingjiao was now too close to him, having breathed in once, her nostrils were filled with Xue Jing''s scent.


    Then... she found it intoxicating, and took several more breaths.


    Xue Jing was originally waiting for her to gather enough breath to stand up, but after a while, he realized something was amiss... why was Meng''s breathing getting heavier?


    Could it be that there was some problem with the Yellow Grannie Skill just now?


    Xue Jing''s expression turned serious. This technique was practiced by him alone, and he was the only reference... and he was precisely not a reference one could rely on.


    If Meng really had a problem with her practice, that would be bad.


    "Sister, are you alright?"


    He hurriedly pushed Meng Qingjiao''s shoulders, moving her away from his chest, and looked at her complexion.


    Her complexion was still good, quite rosy, but for some reason, her normally cold gaze seemed quite hazy... as if somewhat unsatisfied.


    Xue Jing hesitated, "Sister?"


    Hearing this, Meng Qingjiao snapped out of it, steadied herself by holding onto Xue Jing''s arm, sat upright, and shook her head to indicate she was fine.


    She took out her cell phone from her clothing pocket, covered her lower face with it, and gazed somberly at Xue Jing.


    Just as Xue Jing was confused, she tapped a few times on her phone and handed the screen to Xue Jing to see.


    On it was a notebook page, written with three characters.


    [Continue then.]


    Xue Jing asked with concern, "Can you hold on?"


    Meng Qingjiao nodded, indicating no problem.


    A while later...


    "Plop¡ª"


    Meng Qingjiao collapsed onto Xue Jing again, beginning to breathe heavily.


    For some reason, the way Meng collapsed this time was a bit different... it seemed like she was clinging even closer to him.


    The entire world seemed to press against him.


    Xue Jing didn''t speak, just supported Meng Qingjiao''s shoulders, lost in thought, wondering what he might be thinking about.


    After a long while, when Meng Qingjiao showed no intention of getting up, Xue Jing was just about to remind her when suddenly a loud noise came from the door.


    The door was forcefully pushed open, and a pretty little girl a bit over 1.4 meters tall entered.


    Xue Jing turned his head to look, it was his long-unseen little apprentice, Zong Shichan.


    "Master!"


    Zong Shichan, thrilled to see Xue Jing, instantly stiffened upon glimpsing the scene inside the room, seeing Meng Qingjiao nestled in Xue Jing''s arms, the two apparently holding each other.


    The little girl''s happy expression turned discontent, she whined, "Eh~ how come, Master Meng is so sly!"


    "I want to hug Master too!"


    Saying so, she lunged forward and hugged Xue Jing, clinging to him like a koala.


    "Hehe, Master, Chan''er missed you so much."


    Zong Shichan said with a giggle.


    Xue Jing looked at her with a puzzled expression, "You are?"


    The little girl''s eyes widened, "Master, have you forgotten me?"


    "I am your well-behaved little apprentice Zong Shichan whom you said you''d dote on for life!"


    Xue Jing stated blandly, "I never said that."


    Zong Shichan retorted, "See, you remember!"


    Seeing Zong Shichan arrive, Meng Qingjiao stood up from Xue Jing''s chest, her expression returning to her usual cool and detached demeanor.


    "Sister, let''s end here for today,"


    Xue Jing said.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao nodded, reaching out to tidy up his slightly disheveled clothing at the front.


    Xue Jing stood up, picked up Zong Shichan still hanging onto him with one hand, and set her down on the ground:


    "Don''t stick to me, it''s very hot."


    On hearing this, Zong Shichan pouted and mumbled, "Then why can Master Meng... Master, you''re so biased."


    Xue Jing laughed and ruffled her hair, "Your Master Meng was tired from martial arts practice, resting against me to take a breather."


    Zong Shichan''s eyes lit up, "Master, you haven''t taught me martial arts for a long time. Today you must train me hard!"


    Xue Jing touched his chin, "Ch-ch."


    ...


    Two hours later, inside Xue Jing''s cultivation room.


    Zong Shichan lay on the ground, drenched in sweat, with her buttocks up, barely able to move even a finger, gasping for breath. She looked incredulously at Xue Jing, who was two meters away from her.


    "Master, why are you standing so far away?" she asked.


    "Shouldn''t you come over and hug me now?"


    Xue Jing, who was looking at the notice that his "Teaching" had upgraded to Lv7, glanced at Zong Shichan, who was sprawled on the floor, and tilted his head, "Hmm? No, you are all sweaty."


    Zong Shichan retorted angrily, "How can the sweet sweat of a beautiful girl be considered sweat! You never despised Master Meng''s!"


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement, "Claiming to be a beautiful girl... haha."


    Zong Shichan became instantly flustered, "In school, I am called Princess! Calling myself a beautiful girl is just being modest!"


    With that, she murmured somewhat disheartened:


    "Master, I really tried hard... reward me a little, will you?"


    Xue Jing smiled, not continuing to tease the young girl any further. He walked up to her, crouched down, and gently touched her head, softly saying:


    "You''ve worked hard."


    The moment his words fell, the seemingly immobile young girl suddenly pounced forward and hugged Xue Jing, burying her head in his chest, giggling, "You fell for it, Master, this is my act of coquetry!"


    Xue Jing, not surprised at all, continued to pat her head, laughing, "Yes, only you are clever, I fell for it."


    Zong Shichan, tremendously satisfied, hugged Xue Jing, feeling as though her spirit had been purified.


    She loved her master the most.


    ...


    Xue Jing stayed at the Hidden Dragon Dojo for half a day, and by the time he returned home, the sky was already cloaked in night.


    In the living room, Xue Wan was lying on the couch, holding Miao Miao, and watching a sketch show on TV, occasionally laughing and vigorously rubbing Miao Miao.


    When she saw Xue Jing come back, Xue Wan sat up and patted the spot next to her.


    "Jing, come over here, come over here."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing walked over and sat next to Xue Wan, taking Miao Miao out of her arms.


    "What''s up?" he asked.


    Xue Wan said discontentedly, "Did you forget something?"


    As she spoke, she pinched the hem of her clothes and began to lift her top up.


    Her slender and sexy waist was instantly revealed, adorned with a ruby-like belly button ring. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hurry up, give me a quick draw."


    Xue Wan urged.


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched, "You''re doing this on purpose, can''t you phrase it differently?"


    He slightly reluctantly touched Xue Wan''s ''Stigmata'' with his hand.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, initiating Divine Absorption...]


    Xue Wan, as if entering a hot spring on a cold winter day, exhaled comfortably.


    "In just one month, my mutation rate has almost reached 30%, you need to handle it or I''m going to contract the Mutative Disease," she said.


    Xue Jing frowned and commented, "You''re too lax. Just because there''s a solution doesn''t mean you can relax like that. If you keep this up, the mutation rate will accelerate, and what if I can''t reach you for a few months or a year?"


    Xue Wan waved her hand dismissively, "I understand."


    It wasn''t long before the panel notified him.


    [Divine Absorption Complete]


    Xue Jing looked at the Divinity section.


    [Divinity Held: 1365]


    This time, he had drawn over eight hundred points of divinity from Xue Wan, which was a record high, even more than the first time.


    Although the harvest was significant, Xue Jing wasn''t overly concerned. Instead, he spread his palm and grabbed Xue Wan''s head firmly.


    "Ow, ow, ow, ow, it hurts!"


    Xue Wan immediately cried out in pain.


    "Remember, when I''m not around, you need to keep a tight spirit, curb the momentum of mutation, and not be nonchalant about it," Xue Jing said calmly.


    "I know, I know already! Ouch, let go, Big Master Jing!"


    Xue Wan quickly patted Xue Jing''s hand, which was as firm as a vise, making thudding sounds.


    ...

 Chapter 529 - 297: Starting the Arena, Old Grudges Come Knocking, Celestial Thunder Golden Wind (4K)

    "You and my master... undetermined victory?"


    Zong Shichan looked at Li Zhaoquan, scratching his head, a bit puzzled.


    This matter felt as absurd to her as if Cillin claimed to be evenly matched with Frieza.


    No, really, how much did you drink?


    Xue Jing took several looks at this tall and robust man before he suddenly realized:


    "Ah, it''s you."


    A few months ago, he had taken an assignment at Rui Zhu Hotel to be part of a security team for a group of second-generation bodyguards, and that was where he encountered his first Roach Man... Many other dojo disciples had taken on the assignment too, and the man before him was one of them.


    He remembered that this man had sought him out for a talk, and then they had teamed up.


    "Eh? Master, you know him?"


    Zong Shichan was even more surprised now.


    To her, this disciple from Amber Dojo, Li Zhaoquan, seemed far too inferior to be in the same league as her own master, rather like Great Sage Equalling Heaven pointing at one of the ten thousand Heavenly Soldiers and saying he remembers him...


    It''s one thing for Heavenly Soldiers to claim being on par with Great Sage Equalling Heaven as a joke, but quite another for the Great Sage himself to acknowledge one personally; the significance was completely different.


    Zong Shichan started looking at Li Zhaoquan with a newfound respect.


    Unaware of how heavily his granddaughter from the old dojo master degraded him inwardly, Li Zhaoquan brightened up with surprise when he heard Xue Jing remembered him, but quickly his expression turned to embarrassment.


    "Xue¡­ uh, Brother Xue, long time no see."


    He scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.


    Xue Jing smiled and said to Zong Shichan, "I''ve worked with this Mr. Li before, handled an assignment together. We had met on that occasion and teamed up, it was a draw."


    Zong Shichan''s eyes widened, incredulous: "Ah? He said he was evenly matched with Master and it''s actually true?"


    The little girl sized up Li Zhaoquan as if seeing him for the first time, continually examining him.


    Li Zhaoquan hadn''t expected Xue Jing to give him so much face, he was deeply moved.


    Even though he was merely being used as bragging material and was undisturbed by past slights, even helping to smooth things over... such breadth of mind, such a great character!


    Brother Xue, you''re so kind!


    Although Xue Jing was willing to praise him, Li Zhaoquan didn''t dare claim such glory, and quickly added:


    "Back then, Brother Xue had just started martial arts not long ago and wasn''t as formidable as now, and actually, I was the one who lost. My bones were fractured, I just gritted my teeth and didn''t say anything!"


    Zong Shichan realized, "Oh~ so that''s how it was."


    It made sense if it was during the time of the Great Sage still being a little monkey.


    Next to them, Yin Muhu said, "Brother Xue, I heard that the Hidden Dragon School is setting up a challenge later, and you''re going to be the arena master?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "A master''s command is hard to disobey."


    Yin Muhu''s expression turned odd, "This senior, the Dragon King... truly is a good friend of my master."


    She spoke diplomatically, meaning that Li Qi was somewhat notorious.


    "With Brother Xue as an opponent, I''m afraid many people will be left with indelible traumas."


    Yin Muhu sighed.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "Shady Girl, you exaggerate too much. I''m not a devil, I don''t strike hard without reason or enmity."


    Yin Muhu did not respond, but thought to herself that it wasn''t about whether or not heavy blows were dealt...


    Experiencing the terrifying gap between themselves and a genius like Brother Xue who defied logical understanding could easily make one feel that practicing martial arts was utterly meaningless.


    Even someone as naturally talented as herself, who had trained the Vajra Wishful Hand to its current level, and considered herself very resilient, had felt down for a long time after fighting with Xue Jing herself.


    "By the way, Brother Xue, I just saw some people that you might need to be aware of," whispered Yin Muhu.


    "What''s the matter?" Xue Jing asked, concerned by her serious tone.


    "I once heard from grandmaster about many enemies the Trio of Jade City had made when they were young."


    Yin Muhu said, looking around as if searching for someone.


    After looking around for a while, apparently not finding them, she shook her head and continued, "Just now I saw several people who have been famous for a long time, and their schools are all from those mentioned by the grandmaster as enemies, and this banquet is hosted by Senior Li Qi, so theoretically they shouldn''t be here to celebrate."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Oh? Who are they?"


    Yin Muhu recalled for a moment, and said:


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries, Zheng Jixiang."


    "Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, Xie Yue."


    "Yulei Sect, Qin Fengcong."


    "These three are longtime famous young masters, all just one step away from leaping over the Dragon Gate, very reputable, and there are a few others I don''t recognize, but standing together, they must be accomplices."


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries, Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, and Yulei Sect all had conflicts with grandmaster¡­ based on what he said, the main disputes revolved around Senior Li Qi." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Their presence here... seems dubious."


    "Now I can''t even find them, I don''t know where they have gone." Yin Muhu looked around the banquet hall and frowned.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, his eyes reflecting his thoughts, "I see..."


    He nodded to Yin Muhu and said, "Thank you for the heads-up, Shady Girl."


    "What do you plan to do, Brother Xue?" Yin Muhu inquired.


    Xue Jing smiled faintly, "During the feast, visitors are considered as guests, and there''s no reason to turn anyone away... Perhaps they come to make peace?"


    "If they dare to have other intentions, I am indeed capable of handling it."


    His tone remained even and casual, akin to idle household talk, yet exuding an unwavering confidence that no matter how others might stir trouble, he could handle everything with ease, much like an adult unconcerned about what mischief a few children might be planning.

 Chapter 531 - 298: Ants, Who Allowed You to Raise Your Head and Speak? (4K)

    Below the arena, on the few available seats, sat several old men, among them was Li Qi.


    "Yulei Sect..."


    One of the elders frowned and said to Li Qi:


    "Old Li, isn''t this your nemesis?"


    Li Qi''s expression didn''t change much. He reached out to take a cup of tea that Meng Qingjiao handed to him, took a light sip, and calmly said:


    "There is indeed some old grudge, that idiot Chen Buyan and I went to visit the brothel..." Li Qi glanced at Zong Shichan who was looking at him curiously and Meng Qingjiao with an expressionless face, then corrected himself:


    "...had dinner together at the inn, and Chen Buyan finished eating first. He ate so much faster than me... and went to the restroom, which, at that time, was overcrowded. There he bumped into Yulei Sect''s Direct Disciple Qiu Hanyu, who was also there to relieve himself, and they fought over a urinal."


    "I heard the commotion, left my meal unfinished, and clothes... chopsticks still in hand, rushed over to help, joining forces with Chen Buyan to give Qiu Hanyu a beating."


    An old man sitting beside him interjected, "It''s only natural for martial artists with vigorous blood and fiery tempers to clash; fighting and killing so long as it doesn''t result in death. In fact, after fighting, it''s possible to even become friends. This grudge shouldn''t have lasted until now."


    Li Qi waved his hand, "It shouldn''t have, but after the fight, that bastard Zhou Liexiong arrived late and came up with a bad idea. He suggested stripping the unconscious Qiu Hanyu naked and tying him to a pillar in the main hall for a ''bird show''. I was young and thoughtless, and thinking it sounded fun, I went ahead with it."


    The old man beside him stroked his chin, "You three really deserved death."


    "Now, Qiu Hanyu is the Sect Leader of the Yulei Sect. With the grudge between you unresolved, him sending his own disciple this time clearly shows he''s here for revenge... Nephew Xue is okay, right?"


    Another old man asked anxiously.


    "The Yulei Sect follows a path of ''Ancient Martial Neo Arts''. Our ancestor once studied the ''Five Thunder Skill'' at the Taoist Shenxiao Sect, then established his own sect and, with the concept of neo martial arts, created the ''Thunder Control Technique'' which is close to forbidden skills.


    It does not rely on foreign objects, but purely on one''s own spirit to attempt an unnatural transformation of the body, inducing man-made ''Human''s Thunder''."


    "Although this thunder is overbearingly aggressive and difficult to control, not as balanced and harmonious as the Shenxiao Sect''s Five Thunder Skill, its destructive power is not inferior. It''s highly effective in combat, often determining victory or death in a flash of thunder.


    This young man has a reputation, and is just one step away from Leaping Through the Dragon Gate, which is deemed the ''Mortal Limit''. Even if we were to enter the ring, we may not fare well against him. Nephew Xue, although formidable, is still young and might be caught unprepared."


    Upon hearing this, Li Qi merely smiled and did not speak.


    ...


    Above the arena, Xue Jing watched as Qin Fengcong approached and pressed something on the attribute table on his wrist.


    The pentagonal radar chart on the display kept changing, soon revealing the opponent''s data.


    Body: 934


    Spirit: 1291


    Robbery: 855


    Saint: 294


    Momentum: ?


    Using Uncle Meng Boshang as a reference, this person''s [Body] value is significantly lower, but his [Spirit] is even higher than Uncle Meng''s. It seems he has practiced some martial arts that heavily focus on consciousness and spirit.


    He''s just one step away from passing the test of ''Mortal Limit''...


    "I''m truly sorry, really sorry."


    Qin Fengcong approached Xue Jing and spoke in a deep voice.


    His body began to emit flickering arcs of electricity, and his vertical hair grew even more rigid and straight. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Such a promising talent as yourself ending up in the Hidden Dragon School, your potential utterly wasted... and now, you must die here. It''s truly regrettable."


    "Don''t worry, it will be over in an instant. I won''t let you feel any pain. Just like a child covers their ears and closes their eyes during a thunderstorm, before you even have a chance to be scared, it will all be over."


    His voice carried clearly throughout the entire plaza for everyone to hear, immediately causing a stir.


    "What does he mean, he''s going to kill someone?"


    "Why? Isn''t this event just meant to liven things up?"


    Below the stage, Zheng Jixiang, Xie Yue, and others who came with Qin Fengcong immediately fixed their gaze on Li Qi and Meng Boshang standing beside him, ready to rush to their aid at a moment''s notice.


    But to their surprise, Li Qi and Meng Boshang acted as if they hadn''t heard anything at all, looking unfazed at the arena and even exchanging a few jokes with the old men sitting next to them.


    Seeing no reaction from the crowd, Qin Fengcong''s features sharpened like a lightning bolt, "Then... it is time to end this!"


    No sooner had he spoken than thunder roared.


    Above the arena, Qin Fengcong transformed into tangible lightning and disappeared from his original spot. A streak of electricity shot toward Xue Jing, leaving behind an afterimage in the air. The next moment, he appeared behind Xue Jing.


    Around his right hand wrapped visible arcs of electricity, which he flung off with a flick resembling the vigorous action of a Sword Dao technique, dispelling the electric charge thoroughly.


    Then, without looking back, he began walking off the arena with the air of someone who had just finished his job, exuding coolness.


    The entire scene went silent; everyone was staring dumbfounded at the arena.


    Qin Fengcong, accustomed to the awe of the audience, thought nothing of it, but after a few steps, something felt amiss.


    "Drip-drip¡ªdrip-drip¡ª"


    In the dead silence, the sound of blood dripping resounded clearly in his ears.


    ...Blood?


    Whose... Xue Jing''s?


    When the Thunder Control Technique is used, the wound is typically charred black, not bleeding.


    ...Then whose is it?


    Qin Fengcong stiffly looked down at his own chest.


    There, right over his heart, the fabric of his clothing had a hole the size of a fist.

 Chapter 532 - 298: Ants, Who Allowed You to Raise Your Head and Speak? (4K)_2

    Not only his clothes, but even his chest, was pierced through, leaving no trace of his heart, as thick, sticky blood flowed out slowly but resolutely, each drop sliding over his abdomen, striding, and falling to the ground.


    The blood flowed more and more abundantly, unstoppable, as belated pain radiated from his chest, spreading to his brain.


    Uh... what happened?


    He placed his hand over his chest, turned his head stiffly, and looked toward the young man named Xue Jing.


    There wasn''t the gruesome scene of his head being blown apart that he had imagined; the youth, godlike and beautiful, stood unharmed, his back to him.


    Qin Fengcong''s gaze shifted to the youth''s right hand.


    A heart, dripping with blood, was held in his hand, still throbbing strongly, with life force incredibly resilient, blood spurting steadily from each vein and artery as if unaware it had been separated from the body.


    That was... his own heart.


    Though he had never seen it, Qin Fengcong recognized it at a glance.


    So it was... The audience''s gasps weren''t for him but for Xue Jing.


    But what... exactly happened?


    "Thud¡ª"


    Until his body collapsed to the ground and his pupils gradually lost focus, he still didn''t understand.


    "Fengcong!!"


    Qin Fengcong''s comrades below the stage widened their eyes in disbelief, looking at Qin Fengcong lying on the ground, slowly dying.


    "Who saw clearly, what exactly happened!?"


    Xie Yue said through gritted teeth.


    Regret flashed through Zheng Jixiang''s ethereal eyes as he sighed,


    "The impermanence of life indeed goes thus."


    After a moment of silence, the room erupted in commotion.


    "What the hell, that guy looked like he was putting on an air of an unbeatable master, how come he was killed in less than three seconds?"


    "Uh... indeed he did not lie, it indeed ended in an instant, and Xue Jing didn''t feel any pain."


    "Was this guy here to crack jokes? His professional ethics are too good, offering up his life for a final clown performance?"


    "No, did you see how fierce he was? With that speed, you can''t even react, let alone see it clearly; it''s just that he never fought the Demon King Xue!"


    "So what exactly happened just now, can someone with exceptional vision explain?"


    Li Qi laughed heartily with a smug expression as a golden gleam momentarily flashed in his murky eyes.


    A few of his old friends, standing beside him, stared wide-eyed, envying, and hating Li Qi upon hearing the laughter.


    "Damn, a disaster that lingers for a thousand years, how on earth did you pick up such a big leak, Old Man Li, you should die!"


    "Hey, Old Man Li, you''ve met my granddaughter before, remember? She has grown up now, tall and beautiful; I will bring her over to visit your dojo in a few days to interact with your disciples..."


    "Old Li..."


    Zong Shichan covered her mouth with her hand, while hearts continuously popped in her eyes as she gazed at the figure on stage who was as untroubled as clouds and a gentle breeze. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Master... suki (likes)..."


    The little girl, who often watched anime with Xue Wan, accidentally let slip a phrase in her native language.


    Yu Ga Shenle looked at Xue Jing with eyes full of admiration,


    "¤µ¤¹¤¬£¨Indeed, as expected of£©Xue Jun."


    She was one of the few in the arena who clearly saw what happened, and thus understood the true value of Xue Jing even more.


    On stage, Xue Jing, with his heart still throbbing in his hand, tossed it aside, channeling energy to shake off all the blood staining his palm, returning it to its pristine state.


    "...Somewhat unlucky."


    He shook his head, looking oddly at Qin Fengcong, now a corpse on the ground.


    The event that had just happened was actually quite simple.


    He took the opponent''s attack head-on, and then, using the "Mystic Art¡¤Vital Point," he plucked out the opponent''s heart, that was all.


    The incident ended quickly, not because Qin Fengcong was particularly weak... but because he was simply a bad match for him.


    Why would someone practice such martial arts, especially those involving the Thunder Attribute?


    Although it was Xue Jing''s first encounter with Qin Fengcong''s Thunder Control Technique, he could instantly discern the intricacies of this martial art.


    The electrical arcs flickering over the body emerged from ''spirit distorting self-reality,'' neither truly existent nor illusory thunder, but a force capable of causing potent thunderstrike effects.


    The majority of the strike aimed at Xue Jing was comprised of thunder attacks, and although there were some physical hits, they were minimal.


    For Xue Jing, thunder-attribute attacks couldn''t be said to be completely ineffective, but they were little more than child''s play at best.


    If it had been before he killed a True Dragon youngster and activated [Dragon Horn], there might have been something to discuss. After obtaining the Dragon Horn, and practicing daily with Dragon Thunder wrapping his body, his skin, flesh, sinews, and bones had long become unlike those of an ordinary person, with maximum resistance to thunder.


    Qin Fengcong using the Thunder Control Technique against him was barely more troublesome than a mosquito bite.


    And without any need for evasion or defense, Xue Jing adopted a ''do-or-die'' fighting approach and landed a punch on his opponent while being hit himself.


    It ended in an instant.


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted toward the companions of Qin Fengcong, speaking calmly,


    "Today is supposed to be a joyous occasion for relocation. Xue Jing does not wish to be smeared with violence, but since you all have grievances with us at Hidden Dragon, it''s better to resolve rather than to complicate issues. Why not continue this discussion on stage?"


    Two Hidden Dragon Dojo disciples ascended the arena and slowly dragged away the body of Qin Fengcong, leaving behind a trail of blood.


    All the spectators turned their heads in unison toward the companions of Qin Fengcong, their gazes peculiar.


    "..." The group stiffened in expression.


    Zheng Jixiang sighed, about to speak, only to hear Xue Jing continue,


    "If you are afraid, then come up together."


    "Or do you mean to say... you came for revenge but lack even the courage to face the odds?"


    Xie Yue was immediately incensed, "Presumptuous brat!"


    The rest roared with fury, "Courting death!"


    However, they were not ordinary people; despite being momentarily daunted by Xue Jing''s display, they were individuals nearing the Dragon Gate, possessing extraordinary resolve and courage.


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡ª"


    In the blink of an eye, four to five figures appeared on the arena, enclosing Xue Jing in the middle.


    "Ah, Master, what do we do?"


    Zong Shichan''s face showed urgency as she quickly reached out to shake Li Qi''s arm.


    These people looked tough to handle; what if the master gets hurt by accident?


    As a die-hard fan, she had no doubts about Xue Jing''s ability to win.


    "..." Meng Qingjiao also silently reached out to tug at Meng Boshang''s clothes, her cool gaze raising to look at her father, as if asking him to help.


    Meng Boshang exchanged a glance with her and shook his head.


    Li Qi laughed, "You child, be patient. Little Jing is very steady by nature, never biting off more than he can chew. Since he asked these people to come up together, he surely has the confidence to handle them."


    Seeing no movement from Hidden Dragon disciples¡ªparticularly Meng Boshang, the group refocused their attention on the young man before them.


    "Boy, you are far too arrogant," Xie Yue said, his eyes slightly narrowed, his tone laced with threat.


    Out of everyone present, he was the least confident in facing Xue Jing one-on-one since the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword was at a disadvantage against Hidden Dragon Style. However, with the odds in their favor, he was fully confident in their group.


    "Even facing a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, we wouldn''t dare to claim an easy victory; don''t assume you''re invincible just because you beat Fengcong," he said.


    Xue Jing tilted his head, "I never said I was invincible."


    "But, to beat you guys, a bunch of rotten potatoes and tomatoes... doesn''t seem like it requires being invincible, does it?"


    Xie Yue mocked, "Just as sharp-tongued as in the videos. Let''s hope when your limbs are severed, your mouth remains as tough as now."


    Xue Jing stretched out his right hand to the side, and suddenly, a beautiful, ancient long saber flew to him from nowhere, catching it in his hand.


    He swung it lightly at the floor, and with a ''whoosh'' sound, saber Qi cut through the air, sending debris flying as the floor was slashed open, creating a deep, ten-meter-long trench.


    His eyes tinged with the white of Divinity, golden flames burned quietly.


    In the stunned gazes of the crowd, Xue Jing''s lips curled into a wild smile:


    "Ants... who allowed you to speak?"


    ...

 Chapter 533 - 299: Overwhelmingly Crush, Insects and Beetles (4K)

    A fierce surge of air exploded from Xue Jing as the center!


    The surrounding air trembled and warped as if burnt by invisible flames, and it seemed that even the temperature had risen sharply.


    "Ant, who allowed you to raise your head and speak?"


    These arrogant and overbearing words entered the ears, causing many of the thousands of martial artists watching to involuntarily feel a surge of panic, with their knees softening, nearly collapsing to the ground.


    As the direct recipient of this fierce aura, Xie Yue''s whole body stiffened for a moment, his expression involuntarily showing a trace of fear.


    However, being a great master close to the limit-breaking level, with a robust and enduring spirit, he soon gathered his mental focus, forcibly suppressing the fear inside him as if he was facing divine punishment from the heavens; despite still not being able to completely shake off this feeling, he was able to speak.


    He gritted his teeth and said:


    "You brat, quite the..."


    Before he could finish, a figure appeared in front of him with unimaginable speed.


    There was no time to react, as if a segment of a film had been cut out, violently shifting from one frame to another, extremely abrupt.


    A flawless, slender palm, prettier than a woman''s, pressed on his head, and in a daze, Xie Yue felt as if a mountain had descended upon him.


    With no chance to struggle, a chilling crackle of breaking bones came from his legs, dozens of fractured bone spurs piercing the skin, Xie Yue''s height shrank, and half his head was pressed into his chest cavity, turning him from a tall man into a ''child'' less than one meter tall in the blink of an eye.


    "Insects should look like insects, crawl on the ground honestly, do not think to bark at the sky."


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed a chill, his voice lofty and distant, seemingly not coming from his mouth, as if heralding from the heavens.


    "Brother Xie!" His companions saw how Xie Yue was instantly crushed into a stick-like figure by Xue Jing, and they were immediately shocked.


    All of them moved, quickly rushing towards Xue Jing.


    "Your only fate is to die in disdain."


    The Zhao Ye Blade gleamed coldly, a hundred-meter-long blade light horizontally thrusting out, with severely injured and immobile Xie Yue watching helplessly as he was split in half from the middle; the terrible blade light did not stop there, stretching hundreds of meters, leaving behind a conspicuous colossal slash through the buildings along its path.


    "This...?"


    Everyone was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.


    Although they kept shouting ''Demon King Xue'', since his appearance, Xue Jing had always been quite polite, his speech and demeanor not losing the grace of a noble family, but how suddenly he had turned into the villainous Great Demon King, arrogantly calling others ants and insects.


    And... he indeed was as strong as a Great Demon King!


    Many recognized him; that was Xie Yue of the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword, a renowned young master just one step away from leaping through the Dragon Gate.


    And just like that, simply crushed and chopped, he died cleanly and neatly, as if he was merely an extra who merely bulked up the numbers...


    "Master!!" Zong Shichan''s mouth was nearly drooling, his entire being like he was on drugs, his beautiful face flushed with excitement.


    Already having a huge filter towards Xue Jing, she was now truly struck right in the sweet spot.


    "Is this... Inverse Scale?"


    Li Qi murmured in surprise, his face full of incredulity.


    "How long has it been, and he has already mastered the ''Inverse Scale''?"


    "No, not quite."


    Li Qi furrowed his brows.


    "It''s slightly different from the Inverse Scale, seems like another version of Dynamic Qi eruption ultimate skills based on Inverse Scale... and it doesn''t look fully mastered yet."


    "This kid..."


    Several figures approached Xue Jing on the stage, each unleashing their killer moves.


    Caught in the ''Anger of the Heavens'' mode, Xue Jing didn''t even look at this group of ''ants'' attacking, his face filled with indignance as he stood still, unmoving.


    "How dare you!"


    Under the ''Anger of the Heavens'', the activity of his spiritual aura surged multiple times, Shadow Flame clinging to it, with countless black lightning patterns radiating out, as if the void was cracking; the hard floor burst into several huge chasms.


    "Yuhua¡¤Divine Avoidance!"


    All the black lightning aura, under the control of Yuhua, concentrated and suppressed the attackers coming from various directions.


    "Ugh ah!"


    The several people who had rushed toward Xue Jing from different directions suddenly stiffened, as if they had sustained extremely severe injuries, with two of them immediately rolling their eyes back and fainting.


    The rest, with blood spilling from their mouths, struggled with indescribable mental trauma, their fists and feet bombarding Xue Jing!


    "Seeking death!" Xue Jing, furious, didn''t dodge or avoid, his Zhao Ye Blade sweeping out.


    The huge arc of the blade light spread out, and seeing this from below, Li Qi''s face changed, and he quickly called out, "Uncle Meng!"


    Meng Boshang reacted instantly, flashing to the direction of the Hidden Dragon Dojo, his face very serious; facing the spreading arc of the blade light, skin all over his body began to show layers of dragon scales, shimmering with golden light. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hidden Dragon School killer move¡¤Golden Scales Transformation!


    His majestic body spun at high speed, turning into a top, colliding mid-air with the blade light.


    "Zzz¡ª"


    A prolonging grating metallic friction noise continued nonstop, making the onlookers unconsciously cover their ears, pained.


    Meng Boshang and the arc of the blade light struggled for a good while, suddenly let out a piercing scream, the blade light dissipated into specks of light, and Meng Boshang, like a cannonball, was sent flying backward, smashing through the dojo wall, leaving behind a human-shaped hole.

 Chapter 534 - 299: Overwhelmingly Crushing, Ants and Insects (4K)_2

    Li Qi, with both hands on the armrests of his wheelchair, nearly had a medical miracle as he almost stood up. It was only after the saber light was successfully blocked and dissipated that he sat back down with a look of lingering fear and touched his chest.


    "This guy, showing off his strength without care, not paying attention at all, if it hadn''t been blocked, the new dojo would have been cut in half!"


    Li Qi complained, but his eyes revealed complete satisfaction and pleasure.


    Meng Boshang, who had braced himself for a full-force response, was struggling to hold on. The several people attacking Xue Jing on the stage obviously met a bad end.


    Everyone touched by the spreading saber Qi was cut, either dead or disabled, left without the ability to resist.


    At this point, of the group that had come seeking revenge, only one remained unharmed.


    Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries¡ªZheng Jixiang.


    "Is it¡­ over?"


    The audience at the scene, still in a state of shock, watched the stage.


    "Terrifying, absolutely terrifying... Xue Jing of the Hidden Dragon School, has he already made a breakthrough, stepping into the realm of a grandmaster?"


    "Faced with several Great Perfection experts, he still defeated them with ease, more terrifying than his display at the U19 finals!"


    "Simply a villain with stats designed to never lose in a fair fight, a Great Demon King..."


    "So, did he actually leap through the Dragon Gate or not?"


    "Definitely leaped through. If he hasn''t with this kind of strength, I''ll eat three pounds of shit on the spot!"


    "Wait a second, it seems like it''s not over, there''s still someone standing!"


    On the stage, a man with an ethereal aura like drifting clouds sighed and spoke to Xue Jing, who had already turned his gaze toward him:


    "Can we reconcile?"


    Xue Jing''s expression was calm, with golden flames burning in his silver-white pupils. He didn''t speak but inverted his long saber and slowly walked toward him.


    Zheng Jixiang scratched his head, "This is really troublesome."


    The man who had remained motionless from the beginning of the fight seemed different from the others, harboring no animosity towards Xue Jing.


    Speaking to himself, he said, "I cannot defy my master''s orders. I came here purely for the excitement and do not wish to be enemies with your Hidden Dragon School."


    "Under the current circumstances, it''s clear I can''t beat you. This way, I have an excuse to shirk the responsibility when I go back. I should actually thank you for that."


    Xue Jing remained silent, and Zheng Jixiang didn''t seem to care, continuing:


    "My Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries School draws from the colors and sceneries of the heavens, comprising eight ultimate skills with wide applications and versatility."


    "Therefore, please forgive me for not accompanying you further."


    As the saber Qi lashed through the air, Zheng Jixiang flung his garments, creating the sound of billowing sleeves.


    "Rainbow Sky."


    In the night, a stroke of rainbow suddenly twinkled in everyone''s eyes, forming a rainbow bridge stretching far into the distance.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing frowned and activated Flames Connecting Colors, pulling out similar rainbow tail flames, chasing the other end of the rainbow bridge.


    As he rapidly closed in, Zheng Jixiang''s faint voice reached his ears:


    "Eternal Night."


    Xue Jing was suddenly plunged into darkness, an intense blackness shrouding everything. Even the stars in the sky became invisible, as if the legendary eternal night had descended.


    "Playing at being a god or a demon."


    He snorted coldly, instinctively slashing with his saber, feeling a slight resistance as if he had cut through something.


    Releasing and contracting his Spiritual Aura with violent force, his vision abruptly became clear again.


    Looking around, Xue Jing could not find Zheng Jixiang''s figure, only a severed arm lying not far ahead on the ground, oozing out thick, crystal-clear blood.


    The golden flames in his eyes slowly dissipated, the silver-white receding from his pupils. Xue Jing wearily rubbed his temples.


    "I could chase... but forget it."


    Although Zheng Jixiang had fled quickly, Xue Jing had a method of Meditative Visualization that would allow him to envisage and deduce the other''s escape route in his mind and pursue him all the way to find him.


    But now, having just used ''Reverse Scale¡¤Sky''s Wrath'' to burst forth his maximum power, he had crushed his enemies rapidly but at great expense to his energy, leaving him extremely tired.


    And this Zheng Jixiang..., he didn''t seem to really agree with troubling the Hidden Dragon School from the start, so he wasn''t much of an enemy. Not chasing might be for the best.


    Glancing at the dismembered arm on the ground, Xue Jing turned and leaped away, heading back toward the Hidden Dragon Dojo.


    ...


    "I thought I was just coming to join in the fun, but I didn''t expect it to be such a huge commotion. Quite the enlightenment!"


    "To have personally witnessed Demon King Xue single-handedly overwhelm numerous experts, I''ve got bragging material for the next month''s dinner table talks!"


    "Did anyone record that just now? Can you send me a copy, please? I was so engrossed, I forgot to record!"


    "I wonder if that expert from the Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries could escape..."


    "Definitely not..."


    In the midst of the noisy chatter, a figure swiftly approached from afar, descending from the sky and landing on the platform.


    After Xue Jing landed gracefully, his handsome face was no longer indifferent and haughty; he looked around amiably and greeted everyone with a cupped fist smile:


    "There was a small hiccup, and I apologize if it has caused amusement."


    No sooner had he spoken than the crowd hastily replied with ''it''s nothing,'' all while wearing somewhat strange expressions.


    To think that the trouble caused by several Great Perfection masters turning up was just a ''small hiccup''... Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, let''s continue then." Xue Jing said with a smile, his voice carrying across the entire venue.


    "Are there still any experts willing to come up and give guidance?"


    The people present exchanged glances.


    This...


    Looking at the platform, which was still not cleaned from the corpses and severed limbs of the experts, not to mention the greatly cracked floor, who would dare to take the stage...


    Xue Jing looked around, waited a while, and seeing no one making a move, he spoke up:


    "If no one comes forward, it means there are no objections. Therefore, starting today, my Hidden Dragon Dojo will officially open here!"


    ...


    Xue Jing stepped down from the platform and walked towards where Li Qi was. As he approached, he heard the crisp, excited voice of a little girl.


    "Master!"


    A headbutt like a rocket, Zong Shichan directly collided into Xue Jing''s embrace, clinging onto him without letting go, burying her head in his chest and joyfully said:


    "Master, you are sooo sooo sooo... incredibly cool!"


    Xue Jing patted her head: "It''s alright... don''t touch randomly."


    He said with slight annoyance, brushing away Zong Shichan''s little hand wandering on his waist.


    "Heehee, I want to bask in Master''s immortal energy~"


    Zong Shichan kept rubbing her face against Xue Jing''s chest.


    Li Qi waved towards Xue Jing with a kind smile: "Good child, come here."


    Xue Jing plucked Zong Shichan off him like picking up a cat and then walked over to Li Qi, respectfully saying:


    "Master."


    Li Qi looked at Xue Jing with a hearty laugh, a wave of delight rushing to the crown of his head, making even the sparse hairs on his Mediterranean gleam.


    How many good deeds had he done in this life to have such a disciple?


    "Here, let me introduce you, these are a few old friends of mine..."


    Li Qi gestured towards a few old men nearby, but suddenly noticed that they all had a smile that seemed a bit too eager, giving him an unsettling feeling.


    He quickly added: "You don''t need to know who they are, just knowing they are your master''s friends is enough."


    Immediately, an elder burst out in rage: "You lame deadbeat, doing nothing but mischief, aren''t you afraid of falling out of your wheelchair when you go out!"


    "A wretch without the soul of martial arts!"


    "Nephew Xue, I am your Uncle Zhao. Nephew, they say it''s always good to have more skills. Are you interested in learning some more arts..."


    "Eh, Nephew, are you seeing anyone? Even if you are, listen, I have a granddaughter..."


    Several elders eagerly surrounded Xue Jing and began warmly taking care of him and trying to set him up.


    Xue Jing wore a smile that was awkward yet courteous, dealing with the old men''s advances as if he were a child being interrogated by relatives during New Year''s.


    "Scram, scram, scram, scram!!"


    Li Qi executed a wheelchair drift, circling around Xue Jing, and fended off all the elders, berating them:


    "A bunch of old geezers with one foot in the coffin, still thinking of stealing my disciple, keep dreaming! Watch out, or I''ll dispatch you down there with my walking stick!"


    ...

 Chapter 545 - 305: Slash!

    Up to today, although Xue Jing hadn''t devoted his main efforts to the cultivation of Impeccable in recent times.


    But as his overall martial arts strength continuously soared, the Impeccable technique improved significantly along with it, making no small progress.


    One hundred and ninety-seven spears. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was the number of spears he had just thrust out.


    This was not his limit. Xue Jing still had some calculation margin left, without brain overload, and if necessary, he could even double his calculation power with the [Twin Lifes] buff, adding at least another thirty spears.


    But he noticed something was not quite right... The spherical creature appeared to be seriously injured, but it was merely howling without any other reactions.


    "Not showing the slightest sign of weakness..."


    Xue Jing floated in the air, looking down at the creature that seemed to be rolling around in pain, its excessive weight causing an effect similar to an earthquake.


    He slightly frowned.


    In the past, facing such colossal creatures, even those Life System Dragon Breeds he encountered in the Intersecting Boundaries, as long as they were injured, he could sense the decrease in the opponent''s life force, more or less.


    However, this creature in front of him... Although it seemed badly wounded, to Xue Jing, it felt as though he had only injured something as inconsequential as the creature''s ''hair'' or ''nails,'' which couldn''t really be considered an injury.


    "Did I strike the wrong spot... Or does this thing lack the concept of life?"


    "No, it should be that I haven''t found the right spot."


    Xue Jing pondered.


    Having joined The Sixth Agency as an external personnel, he had seen many secret documents unseen by ordinary people, and with the information gained from his chats with Wu Youqing, he also understood some knowledge related to Otherworldly Creatures.


    According to Wu Youqing, from the moment ''Order'' emerged, ''meaningless and illogical chaos'' was banished. Anything that enters the ''meaningful world of Order'' must comply with ''Order''.


    Within the rules of Order, if something is a creature, it must have the concept of life.


    And within the concept of life, the most important aspect is ''death.''


    Even ''Gods'' will die; it''s just that death, for them, is not an irreversible end.


    "It possesses the concept of life, and it isn''t unkillable, so there must be a vital spot... Where is it?"


    Xue Jing''s gaze sifted, surveying the monster''s massive body.


    Above the sky, the Shadow Flame army and the steel army were still colliding ceaselessly, with Dark Flame and metal fragments falling like torrential rain.


    Xue Jing suddenly scratched his head, the golden fury in his silver-white pupils slowly extinguishing.


    "I''m being a bit silly. Why think so much when it isn''t a situation where I''m a beast trapped unable to contact the outside world? Just asking someone who knows should do the trick."


    He took out his phone from his pocket, opened the chat app, and made a video call to Wu Youqing.


    He then performed the Feather Transformation on his phone, allowing it to float in the air, the camera pointed at the spherical creature rolling on the ground.


    Wu Youqing didn''t keep Xue Jing waiting for long, and the video call was quickly connected.


    On the screen appeared Wu Youqing¡ªshe was sitting elegantly in a wooden chair in the loft resting area, her hands holding a tea cup and gently sipping, her smooth ponytail swaying slightly in the air, her pretty and endearing face serene as always.


    "What''s up?"


    Placing the steaming teacup on the wooden table, Wu Youqing spoke softly.


    She didn''t show any shock at the sight of the horrific creature rolling around on the ground captured by Xue Jing''s camera; it seemed like just another ordinary scene to her.


    "Omniscient Saint Youqing, please respond to your lamb and tell me what this damn thing is and how to deal with it," Xue Jing sincerely prayed to Wu Youqing on the video.


    "..." Wu Youqing was momentarily speechless.


    "I''m not some Saint Youqing, and I don''t know everything," she said, glancing once more at the creature in the video and offhandedly stated:


    "Candle on the head, the flame yet to extinguish; this is a follower of the Black Candle God, the main body is on that black candle above, and by its shape, it appears to be a ''Parasitic Candle,'' the gigantic body down there is merely its host."


    Hearing her immediately identify the creature''s origin, Xue Jing retorted:


    "So you do know everything, don''t you?"


    Wu Youqing neither confirmed nor denied: "Not everything, just happen to know this one."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin: "Then how do we deal with it? Preferably, tell me a way to capture it alive..."


    Wu Youqing pondered for a moment before saying, "As a follower of the Black Candle God, the Parasitic Candle possesses some of the Black Candle God''s authority and has the power to mutate materials and vitalize them."


    Xue Jing cocked his head: "What do you mean?"


    "Simply put, it can make a table grow teeth and chase people to bite, it can make bombs grow wings like insects, it can make its own limbs sprout a hard shell... achieving this strange ability to bring life-like changes to inanimate objects," Wu Youqing explained.


    Xue Jing suddenly realized: "I see."


    No wonder the Parasitic Candle could, with a glare, cause those changes in the unfinished building area''s rebar, growing tentacles and mouths.


    "Such an ability, if possessed by someone who knows how to use it, is very troublesome. Fortunately, these ''Olden Days'' creatures lack the Wisdom to utilize their abilities properly and just act blindly."


    "You should aim for its main body on the head, as for capturing it alive... it''s very difficult. Once the Parasitic Candle leaves its host, it''s hard for it to survive."


    "Even if captured alive, it probably won''t be of any use... Creatures of the Olden Days are basically impossible to communicate with."

 Chapter 546 - 305: Slash!_2

    Wu Youqing twirled a strand of hair in front of her with her finger, speaking softly.


    Xue Jing nodded slightly, as if lost in thought, and said, "I understand, BOSS."


    After hanging up the phone, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted downward to the main body on the back of the monster.


    A five-meter tall black candle burned with a green flame.


    "Hard to capture alive, unable to communicate."


    "It seems that the only option is to kill it."


    Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    Swirling his palm, he twirled the long spear in his hand into a spear glow. In an instant, Xue Jing transformed into a rainbow meteor and lunged towards the main body of the Parasitic Candle.


    As if sensing what Xue Jing intended to do, the black candle suddenly burst into a frenzy of flames, frenetically burning.


    The skin on its back began to change, protruding repeatedly and forming multiple wrinkled layers, similar to bark, that enveloped the black candle in a protective shell.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged; Red Gold Flame Thunder wrapped around the tip of the Night Ice spear, while Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones, and Blood all operated in unison.


    Crafted for lethal impact, the Hidden Dragon Style Secret Technique¡¤Eye-Pointing, now executed with the most suitable weapon, the long spear, was potent enough to pierce through fifty Zhou Yinglins.


    With a dragon''s roar, the Night Ice, carrying the Destruction Flame Thunder, transformed into a dark blue dragon-shaped spear glow wrapped in a reddish-gold brilliance, and stabbed toward the shell-protected main body of the black candle.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The first layer, pierced effortlessly as if a hot knife through butter.


    Then came the second layer, the third layer... nearly unobstructed, the dragon-head-shaped sharp spear glow was about to annihilate the monster from the Otherworld.


    At that moment, suddenly, a piercing scream sounded.


    "Omo¡ª!!!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the midst of the scream, Xue Jing''s expression changed. Instinctively, he sidestepped and quickly dodged.


    The next moment, the sharp dark blue spear tip passed swiftly through the spot he had just vacated.


    It turned out that the Night Ice in his hand had suddenly "betrayed" him, reversing the direction of the spearhead in a large U-turn and stabbing toward its master.


    Xue Jing quickly retreated, furrowing his brows and extending his left hand to grasp the spearhead of the Night Ice. At that moment, it wriggled and struggled like a living snake, attempting to attack Xue Jing, who then firmly pinned it down with both hands.


    "Omo¡ª!!!"


    Another shriek, and a ''Sss sss sss'' sound immediately emanated from Xue Jing''s body.


    That was the continuous sound of sharp tools piercing flesh.


    Thick, translucent blood oozed slowly from all over his body, dyeing his clothes blood-red.


    At that moment, Xue Jing resembled someone who had inadvertently put on a porcupine shell inside out, with sharp spikes growing from the inside of his clothes, piercing into his flesh. More barbs continuously sprouted from the spikes, spreading within Xue Jing''s body.


    The extreme pain was unbearable for ordinary people, likely causing them to black out within seconds. However, for Xue Jing, who usually trained amidst such pain, it was nothing extraordinary.


    His expression barely changed, only slightly frowning. He straightened the struggling Night Ice in his hands and, like throwing a javelin, forcefully threw it into the ground, burying it deep underground.


    Next, with a fierce expression, he tugged at his clothes with his right hand, channeling his power, and gave a strong pull!


    "Crack¡ª!!"


    Amid the horrific sound of flesh being torn, the flesh hooked by the barbs on Xue Jing''s clothes was ripped off along with it, his body gruesomely mottled and bloody, with internal organs and bones visibly exposed at his chest.


    The ripped clothes, with numerous sparkling chunks of flesh hung on densely packed, twisted barbs, still twitched, showing a strong vitality.


    The Life Fire ignited, and the large amount of missing flesh on his body began to visibly wriggle and regenerate at a visible rate. Soon, Xue Jing, now completely bare, was restored to an unblemished state.


    His body, sculpted as if by a divine hand, was exposed to the air. Xue Jing, expressionless, condensed a black airflow that transformed into a pitch-black flame, incinerating the mutated clothes in his hand to ashes.


    He then flicked his wrist, and the Shadow Flame came to life as a Black Flame Coat, which he draped over his body.


    His gaze moved downward to the Parasitic Candle, looking directly into the five eyes on the face of its host.


    At that moment, those five eyes bore a look starkly different from the previous murky confusion. They seemed much more focused, conveying a sense of wisdom as if deep in thought.


    Xue Jing furrowed his brows slightly.


    "Has someone else taken over the account?"


    This clever use of ability, directly applied on the enemy''s items to cause material mutations, was unlike anything described by Wu Youqing as intelligence-less creatures from the Olden Days.


    If Xue Jing had been just a martial artist with limited methods, he would have suffered a significant setback decisive enough to determine the outcome.


    Could it be that some being with advanced thinking capability had possessed this Parasitic Candle?


    "Hey, you can communicate now, right?"


    Xue Jing spoke in an even tone.


    "..." The Parasitic Candle just stared at Xue Jing and didn''t respond.


    "Playing dead..."


    Xue Jing slightly narrowed his eyes, his thoughts shifted, and numerous black streams converged, covering his body.


    Before long, the Shadowflame Giant, clad in an elaborate full-cover armor, made a long-awaited return.


    Taller than the host of the Parasitic Candle, the Shadowflame Giant raised its black long knife and ferociously chopped down, its immense size making the air tremble and roar.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    In the earth-shaking tumult, the Parasitic Candle was smashed into the ground by the powerful strike, sending soil plates rippling outward like waves.


    "Don''t want to talk, then die."


    Xue Jing crossed his arms and stood in the "cockpit" on the chest of the Shadowflame Giant, speaking indifferently from his elevated position.


    His mind shifted again, and the giant began to simulate internal human-like changes.


    Bones, blood, organs, muscles... While far from the intricacy of a real human body, it roughly mimicked the crude operation of Power.


    Gugong gugong... Amid the loud sounds reminiscent of a large machine operating, the Hidden Dragon Flow Whirlwind Thunder was unleashed by the Shadowflame Giant, the black giant blade stirring up a huge spiral tornado and slicing horizontally towards the Parasitic Candle.


    "Shiii¡ª!!!"


    Wild and fierce, the hundred-meter-long giant blade swung out far, directly slicing off the top of a small mountain thousands of meters away in the outskirts of South City.


    The massive body of the Parasitic Candle was split in two, its upper half shooting into the sky.


    Without hesitation, Xue Jing aimed at the Parasitic Candle''s half-body in the air, the black long knife in the Shadowflame Giant''s hands swiping down vertically.


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    The protective shell guarding the core was immediately shattered by this unbelievably heavy strike, crushing the core inside and creating a thunderous noise.


    "Successful elimination..."


    "¡ªas if!"


    Xue Jing immediately switched his sharp gaze to the other half of the Parasitic Candle''s body on the ground.


    "You bastard, trying to trick me?"


    Amid crackling electricity, the Destruction Red Gold Flame Thunder wrapped around the giant''s black long knife, enchanting it and greatly enhancing its lethality.


    "Eat this, Ascending Dragon Sword!"


    The Shadowflame Giant swung backhand in a rising diagonal slice, chopping toward the half of the host body on the ground.


    "Chiii¡ª"


    Smoothly bisected, a stark black candle clearly visible within the cut surface of its body¡ªit was the core of the Parasitic Candle.


    Xue Jing sneered.


    "Ban didn''t tell me you''re definitely not dead until you were actually dead, playing a switcheroo with me?"


    Another two slashes were delivered, forming a cross-chop that minced the black candle hidden within the lower half of the body.


    Xue Jing himself leapt out from the cockpit, extending his hand toward the shredded core of the black candle.

 Chapter 549 - 307: Declaration of the Sisterhood, Wu Youqing Suspected of Jealousy (4K)

    Qing University Library, seventh floor.


    What should have been a quiet attic occupied only by a solitary girl was unexpectedly visited by an unanticipated guest.


    Wu Youqing closed the hardcover book titled "Omniscience Paradox" in her hands and looked towards the elegant figure who had, at some point, taken a seat opposite her.


    Her expression unchanged as if she had anticipated the other''s arrival, Youqing gently placed the book on the wooden table, stood up, and walked over to a cupboard to retrieve some tea-making equipment.


    "Is black tea the only option?"


    With her back to Otogirusu, Youqing asked with a tranquil voice.


    Otogirusu''s excessively gorgeous face revealed a hint of a smile as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand on the table, and asked with curiosity:


    "Didn''t I see a bottle of cola? "


    Youqing paused, her tone unchanged: "That was prepared for someone else." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Eh... is that so." Otogirusu''s smile deepened.


    "May I ask for whom it was prepared, Alliance Hierarch?"


    As she placed the tea set on the table and started making the tea, Youqing spoke faintly:


    "I don''t recall ever being an Alliance Hierarch."


    Otogirusu''s delicate and beautiful palm lightly caressed the book on the table and said:


    "The Chosen Blessed Ones of the ''Mercury Tree'' would cry at those words... you are their only hope for redemption."


    Youqing pushed the freshly brewed black tea towards Otogirusu and took a sip from her own cup, sighing:


    "... If they really pin all their hopes on one individual, then they are doomed not to be redeemed."


    Otogirusu seemed to agree and nodded: "That''s true."


    She picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and her beautiful eyebrows rose slightly:


    "Eh, this tea..."


    Such a strange taste.


    Could it be some kind of Youqing Tea?


    Unaware that the woman with odd tastes before her had the same strange impression upon her first experience with the tea as Xue Jing did, Youqing said:


    "If you have anything to discuss, speak now while you have the chance."


    Otogirusu... or rather, Suzuka.


    It was Youqing''s first encounter with this woman; all she knew about her came from what Xue Jing had told her, and...


    "I have been ordered to invite you to join us ''Troublemakers''."


    Otogirusu started quietly.


    Youqing did not speak.


    Otogirusu continued: "That gentleman said, if you join, he has a way to resolve your problem."


    Youqing''s expression was unchanging, as she simply inquired:


    "Does that man understand what exactly is with me?"


    Otogirusu tilted her head: "One of the oldest three pillars from the Olden Days... the Crimson Mist, isn''t it?"


    Youqing nodded and said: "I see, I refuse, please leave."


    Otogirusu was slightly startled and laughed: "That gentleman actually made a mistake... which is rare to see, aside from that one instance rumored decades ago, this is my first."


    Youqing shook her head: "He didn''t make a mistake, it''s just a simple lack of information."


    "Sending you was not truly with the expectation of success, but a mere probe."


    "Now, he has obtained the information he wanted from this probe."


    Otogirusu brushed the long hair in front of her with her fingers, annoyed: "These exchanges between you big figures are so hard to understand, what a hassle."


    "...Well, now that the official matter is done, let''s discuss some interesting personal affairs~"


    "Youqing, how far have you and Xue Jun progressed?"


    Otogirusu asked with a face full of curiosity.


    Youqing hesitated for a moment, holding her tea cup.


    "First base? Second base? Third base? Or... home run?"


    Otogirusu stood up, leaning over the table with her palms, her beautiful face moving closer to Youqing with an inexplicable excitement.


    "I don''t understand what you''re saying." Youqing turned her head away.


    "Eh~ It''s quite simple, first base is holding hands, second base is kissing, third base is caressing, and home run is... you know, going as far as you can go." Otogirusu explained enthusiastically, counting on her fingers from one to four as she spoke.


    Youqing, holding her forehead, sighed: "It''s not that I don''t understand this... sometimes I really can''t grasp the thoughts of you young people."


    "As a country that emerged from the conservative Confucian cultural sphere of the Far East, can''t you be more reserved?"


    "So, how far have you two gone?" Otogirusu slammed the table, pushing even closer.


    "Why on earth would I tell you." Youqing spoke irritably.


    She couldn''t understand why this person, whom she was meeting for the first time, was asking such deeply private questions.


    Otogirusu''s face showed realization: "Oh~ If it''s to an extent that can''t be said, then you definitely must have done something."


    Youqing: "..."


    "Beyond first base... it seems there''s more."


    Youqing blandly said: "If there''s nothing else, please leave quickly."


    Otogirusu sat back down, resting her chin on her hands on the table, and said leisurely:


    "I envy you, Youqing... with your lofty, fearless demeanor, you probably don''t have to do anything and that person would take the initiative to come to you."


    "However, no matter, I don''t plan to compete with you for that."


    Youqing frowned slightly: "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    Otogirusu''s eyes gleamed as she said: "The best things are hardest to obtain, isn''t that interesting... I''ve decided."


    "Youqing, I want to become sisters with you."


    A question mark appeared on Youqing''s forehead.


    "If we can''t be real sisters, then we''ll be ''sworn sisters''."


    With that, Otogirusu stood up and walked out of the attic.


    With a puzzled expression, Youqing watched Otogirusu leave:

 Chapter 550 - 307: The Sisterhoods Declaration, Wu Youqing Suspected of Being Jealous (4K)_2

    "What is she talking about?"


    Sisters, sworn sisters...


    Wait a second, which ''gan'' is it?


    Sworn sisters or pole sisters?


    The knowledgeable Wu Youqing quickly grasped the meaning of Yu Ga Shenle''s words and her expression changed slightly.


    She then sighed helplessly and said:


    "This Jing, really is..."


    ...(Pole sisters, referring to women who have used the same ''pole'', and by ''pole''... it''s exactly what you''re thinking)


    Xue Jing walked to the library entrance, just about to go up, but spotted a familiar figure walking out slowly with graceful steps.


    "Huh? Lu Sang, what are you doing here?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He asked, puzzled.


    Since Yu Ga Shenle followed him back to Qingcheng, although he had refused to let her stay at his house, she still came over now and then to mooch meals and would also visit Hidden Dragon Dojo to spar with him.


    They were in a state where they could meet from time to time.


    Yu Ga Shenle also saw Xue Jing and was a bit surprised, but after hearing what he said, she pouted and said, "Oh Jing, you recognized the wrong person again. I''m Shenle, not Sir Otogirusu."


    "Haven''t you played enough with this persona? Enough already," Xue Jing said.


    "I don''t understand Chinese well, didn''t get it," Yu Ga Shenle turned her head and said.


    "You''re here to read books? Qing University Library is not open to outsiders, how did you get in?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Yu Ga Shenle blinked: "Is that so? I just asked a student, and he brought me in."


    She didn''t climb over the fence with martial arts, but entered through normal means? Xue Jing was somewhat surprised.


    But then again, though he personally wasn''t very excited, Yu Ga Shenle being a top beauty, ordinary people couldn''t resist her; just a word from her and they would fall under her charm. Convincing someone to kill might not work, but getting an outsider into the library, a minor but illegal thing, was definitely more than feasible.


    "Alright, I''ve got some things to handle, you go have fun by yourself."


    Xue Jing said and was about to jump over the turnstile... he didn''t bring his student card.


    "By the way, Xue Jun, I should be going back in a couple of days," Yu Ga Shenle said softly.


    Xue Jing nodded at her: "Is that so, have a safe trip... By the way, what about your appearance?"


    Yu Ga Shenle pulled out a ribbon from her bosom.


    It was the ''Yi Chai''er Bian'' stitched by Xue Jing with the Flawless Spear Technique.


    The sewing marks originally on it had now disappeared, and it appeared to have been fully restored.


    "Yi Chai''er Bian was repaired yesterday. I''ve already contacted the Far East via phone, Xue Jun need not worry," she said.


    Xue Jing nodded: "That''s good then."


    "Xue Jun, if you had to choose, whom would you like more, Sir Otogirusu or me?"


    Yu Ga Shenle suddenly asked.


    "What kind of question is that, aren''t both you?" Xue Jing said with a grimace.


    "Nope, so which one would you choose?" Yu Ga Shenle smiled and asked.


    Xue Jing felt they were both similar, but the Yu Ga Suzuka form had the Ascending Dragon Sword, which was extremely appealing, so Xue Jing said:


    "I''d choose you."


    Yu Ga Shenle''s expression didn''t change, she murmured softly: "Oh~ I see."


    "However," Xue Jing suddenly said.


    "Although I don''t know what you''re thinking, but..."


    "The multiple-choice questions of this world don''t always force you to choose just one option."


    "if you''re wondering whether you should maintain a male or female body or something weird like that, my advice is to take them all."


    Saying this, Xue Jing added:


    "Ah, I''m not saying you should become a futa (a person with a female appearance but with ''pole''), just that you should freely switch forms according to your own will."


    Yu Ga Shenle tilted her head: "Ah? You don''t mind?"


    Xue Jing rolled his eyes: "Why should I mind."


    Yu Ga Shenle chuckled meaninglessly twice and said, "Fine, I''ll ask you this question again at some moment in the future."


    "Goodbye, Xue Jun~"


    Yu Ga Shenle waved her hand and walked toward the gate of Qing University.


    Xue Jing watched her graceful retreating figure for a while, then turned around, crossed the turnstile, entered the library, and headed for the seventh floor.


    ...


    Upon reaching the seventh floor, Xue Jing saw that figure sitting quietly on a wooden chair, and a sense of peaceful tranquility spread in his heart.


    Today, Saint Youqing seemed odd, as she wasn''t reading but was sliding something on her phone screen instead.


    "BOSS."


    Xue Jing walked up to her and greeted curiously,


    "What are you looking at?"


    Wu Youqing shifted her gaze from the phone, giving him a mysterious look,


    "Reading news comments."


    Xue Jing peeked and found it was a discussion page about him.


    As the most recent, wildly popular U19 champion, his popularity was soaring, with numerous discussions about him online.


    Wu Youqing''s finger was paused on a comment from someone.


    [Close to cinnabar, Jing and deer are sweet].


    ...it was about shipping him and Otogirusu.


    Xue Jing made a strange face and coughed, "Why bother with such things, they''re pointless, people online just say whatever."


    Wu Youqing neither agreed nor disagreed, she pocketed her phone and said indifferently, "What do you want?"


    Her tone was as usual, but for some reason, Xue Jing felt it was a bit colder than usual.


    He scratched his head, his voice involuntarily softening a bit as he said, "You know, I just slaughtered a Parasitic Candle, and there are many things about it I don''t understand, so I wanted to discuss it with you."


    ''You'' came out.


    Wu Youqing scoffed sarcastically, "It seems you only come to me at times like these."


    Xue Jing: "Huh?"


    This baby Buddha was acting like he had swallowed gunpowder, not very Buddha-like at all.


    "Not at all, I''d stay here every day if I didn''t fear bothering you," Xue Jing asserted righteously.


    "Don''t promise things you can''t deliver; that flattery only works on ordinary women," Wu Youqing said flatly.


    "Private Marseilles," Xue Jing bowed his head.


    "Why are you speaking Japanese, planning to marry into the Far East or something!?" Wu Youqing glared at him.


    Xue Jing looked innocently rebuked.


    It was just... a playful joke.


    "No, seriously, that''s unjust... If I were to marry anyone, it''d be you," he quickly protested.


    Wu Youqing''s expression slightly paused, non-committally grunting, "Hmph, better be."


    Hmm? Her mood seemed a bit better... Xue Jing keenly sensed a slight softening in Wu Youqing''s unconscious tone.


    "All right, hurry up, what do you want to ask?"


    Youqing turned her head away, not looking at Xue Jing as she spoke.


    Seeing her change the subject, Xue Jing smiled and went along, beginning to share his speculations.


    He talked about why the strange creature, Parasitic Candle, would appear in this world and seemed to specifically target him, mentioning that his birthday coincidentally matched the day the Boundary Shock that brought the Parasitic Candle appeared.


    "...BOSS, do you think, could there be an entity in the Otherworld coveting the power within me, preparing for over a decade, just to have the Parasitic Candle cross realms and target me today?"


    Wu Youqing listened intently and slowly said,


    "Your guess is very likely correct."


    Xue Jing pondered, "Is that so."


    "It''s also time to enlighten you about some things."

 Chapter 557 - 311

    Xue Jing was ecstatic.


    It really worked!


    Knowledge was absorbed from Zong Shichan''s head, and Xue Jing felt something enter his palm, flowing through the channel into his brain before moving into the consciousness residing in the deepest layer of his brain.


    Coiling Dragon Art, Armor Shaking Skill, Tiger Essence Boxing... makeup knowledge, elementary Chinese, math, history, twenty beautiful braided hairstyles, methods for a princess to deal with sycophantic kids her age...


    A stream of various fragmented and incomplete pieces of knowledge kept flowing in, causing Xue Jing to furrow his brows.


    What a mess this is.


    As the knowledge was absorbed, Xue Jing felt his spirit burdened like a person holding up their hands, getting heavy objects piled on incessantly, making the spiritual load heavier and heavier.


    "Is this the feeling others have when they receive ''Empowerment,'' rapidly taking in knowledge that''s not their own?"


    Xue Jing pondered.


    He carefully controlled the speed of the knowledge intake, constantly observing Zong Shichan''s condition and ready to stop if anything seemed amiss with her.


    Unlike those who received ''Empowerment,'' the little girl didn''t seem to feel any burden. Instead, she blinked her eyes and watched her master, appearing to have little reaction.


    "The knowledge absorbed is so vast and scattered, messy... In this case, this technique probably isn''t as useful as I had imagined."


    "Taking in such alien knowledge so quickly is a significant burden on the spirit. A person''s mind can hold so much varied knowledge, and if I can''t accurately absorb the knowledge I want, even the thoughts of a teenager could overwhelm my capacity to endure."


    "It seems that my idea of capturing people to absorb martial arts and amassing the strengths of thousands to expedite the mastery of the ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'' Near-God Move is a bit unrealistic..."


    Xue Jing shook his head slightly.


    Just then, a burst of golden light suddenly began to emanate from the depths of his consciousness.


    The golden light grew brighter and diffused around, settling on the periphery of his consciousness.


    The complex fragments of knowledge being transferred from the little girl disintegrated upon contact with the golden light, vanishing like snow under the blazing sun. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The unexpected scene momentarily surprised Xue Jing, who was introspecting.


    The knowledge fragments that were not dissolved by the golden light smoothly reached Xue Jing''s consciousness.


    All of them... were related to Tiger Essence Boxing.


    This was the martial art Zong Shichan practiced before she became Xue Jing''s disciple and switched to the Hidden Dragon School, unique in its cultivation and application of qi force. However, it wasn''t quite suitable for women with innately frail bodies.


    This was also the only thing Xue Jing subconsciously felt to be useful among the girl''s knowledge.


    "Golden light... Could it be the ''Thirty-Two Buddha Forms - Radiating Light''?"


    One of the Thirty-two Buddha Forms¡ªa Buddha''s bodily light can shine beyond the body, stretching to all sides, each side extending one zhang. It''s said that this light can ''remove confusion and break barriers.''


    This form had manifested on Xue Jing before when he practiced the Nirvana Technique during sleep, and a faint golden light would appear on his body.


    I never thought it could be applied here.


    "Remove confusion and break barriers... It''s like a filter, blocking and dissipating everything I don''t want outside, only allowing the ''knowledge'' I wish for to pass through."


    Xue Jing was ecstatic.


    Under the illumination of the golden light, only the knowledge fragments related to Tiger Essence Boxing managed to reach his consciousness.


    With this, the mental burden Xue Jing was bearing dramatically diminished. To him, this level of knowledge was nothing more than a gentle breeze and light rain.


    Time slowly passed, twenty minutes later.


    Not a single fragment of knowledge from the little girl could get past the golden filter anymore, so Xue Jing slowly withdrew his hand.


    "Master, are you okay now?"


    Zong Shichan asked, concerned, upon noticing.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "I''m fine. How do you feel?"


    No sooner had he spoken than Xue Jing''s expression froze... something felt a bit odd about this conversation.


    Zong Shichan looked confused: "Nothing, Master. Did you do something to me?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing''s eyes showed understanding, almost grasping the principle of ''Empowerment.''


    This Extraordinary Skill of receiving knowledge and experiences put an immense strain on the receiver''s spirit, a price to pay for rapidly taking in knowledge that''s not their own.


    As for the giver, they only need to expend a bit of their spiritual power to ''imprint'' what''s theirs and pass it on to the other party.


    Simply put, the existing knowledge of the one giving Empowerment is like the ''type'' of a letterpress, and giving Empowerment is akin to inking the type and pressing it onto the receiver.


    The recipient, on the other hand, must quickly carve their own ''type'' based on the ''ink'' impressions.


    Fearing that ''Absorption'' might harm Zong Shichan, Xue Jing activated it very carefully, inking her ''type'' bit by bit before printing.


    Since this was already a low strain on the spirit, further moderated by Xue Jing''s careful and slow operation, of course, the little girl felt nothing.


    ...But why did Xue Jing feel a bit peeved hearing the girl''s remark?


    "Come on, stretch your head over here again, I''ll add a BUFF to you."


    Xue Jing smiled and waved to Zong Shichan.


    "Okay!"


    Zong Shichan grinned and bowed her head, leaning forward like a monk taking vows.


    The master''s hands were warm and comforting¡­ "Ahhh!!"

 Chapter 558 - 311

    The little girl shuddered all over, and torrents of knowledge forcefully surged into her body; she screamed in agony as if afflicted by a Tightening Spell:


    "Master, Master, stop reading!"


    All about Yellow Grannie Skill, scriptures from the Taoist Sect with extremely dense and varied information, appeared as if an old scholar was explaining them word for word, clarifying them forcibly for her to accept and understand.


    "Master... Master, I can''t take it anymore!"


    ...


    By the time Xue Jing''s palm left Zong Shichan''s crown, the little girl was already lying on the ground with vacant eyes, drooling.


    "Train like this for now, we''ll talk about the rest later,"


    Xue Jing said, nodding at Zong Shichan at his feet.


    The knowledge and enlightenment related to the Yellow Grannie Skill were vast and complex. Zong Shichan''s mental strength couldn''t withstand it all at once, so Xue Jing had for now transferred only the most basic part to her, enough to let her formally start practicing.


    The little girl was unable to speak now, only able to make some babbling sounds, which Xue Jing took as her way of indicating that she understood.


    Afterward, Xue Jing stayed in the Hidden Dragon Dojo for a day.


    Apart from his daily Martial Arts Practice, he also studied the ''Tiger Essence Boxing'' he had absorbed from his little disciple.


    This martial art had some unique points in the circulation of Qi Force and in endurance training, capable of gradually developing a powerful Tiger Essence Body.


    Although Xue Jing had no intention of switching practices, the martial knowledge contained within still provided some inspiration for him in channeling energy and generating force, giving him some ideas for improvement.


    The direct disciples of the Hidden Dragon Dojo were mostly very busy. Apart from the second and third senior brothers whom Xue Jing had never met because they were always outside, and Zhu, whose whereabouts were unknown and who couldn''t be contacted, Xue Jing saw only Meng during lunchtime when she returned to the dojo.


    So, he had Meng follow him back to his Cultivation Room and also subjected her to an Empowerment.


    The Empowerment he gave Meng was also with the Yellow Grannie Skill. Since she had already been practicing it and had quite a few insights into this great skill, plus her mental fortitude was much stronger than Zong Shichan''s, Xue Jing managed to Empower her in one go.


    Another day passed, and Xue Jing caught both his eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang, and his fifth senior brother, Chen Fuguang, giving each of them an Empowerment as well.


    According to his observations, those who received Empowerment needed a long time to recover from the tremendous mental strain. At least, among those he had Empowered, none was fully recovered the next day.


    How long it would take to recover completely, Xue Jing wasn''t sure, and he temporarily wouldn''t be able to observe.


    The Martial Arts Examination was drawing near, and he needed to set out for the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    "Jing~~ I want to go too, take me with you~"


    In the living room, Xue Wan clung to Xue Jing''s hand, pleading in a very coquettish voice.


    Xue Jing summoned the Nonexistent Beast and swallowed the neatly folded clothes on the couch into an invisible crevice, speaking indifferently:


    "Forget it, you can''t go. This time I''m not even taking Fengwan."


    "I won''t cause you any trouble, really, truer than Ding Zhen!"


    Xue Wan made a pitiful face as she said.


    Xue Jing glanced at her, "Have you forgotten something?"


    "What?" Xue Wan was taken aback.


    Xue Jing reminded her, "Winter break is ending. It''s time for you to start school, buddy."


    Xue Wan clapped a hand to her face, "To tell a student ''it''s time to start school,'' could there be any words more cruel than these? Are you a devil? I''ve been pretending I forgot all about this!"


    "You have to start school."


    "You said it again!!!"


    Xue Wan was exasperated.


    Xue Jing stood up, picked up his jacket from the back of the chair and put it on, speaking calmly:


    "Alright, face reality. There will be plenty of chances to travel outside the city circles in the future. For now, go to school like a good girl."


    Xue Wan collapsed onto the couch, hugging a pillow and shouted, "No! Since when is a student''s duty to attend school? That''s so strange; there''s definitely something wrong with how this society operates!"


    "I don''t want to go to school. It''s not me who is wrong--it''s society!"


    Xue Jing said, speechless, "Do you even hear what you''re saying?"


    After a bit of foolishness, Xue Wan huffily went out to find her friends.


    "Are you sure you don''t need me to follow?"


    After Xue Wan had left, Miao Miao spoke reluctantly.


    Xue Jing chuckled and stroked her fluffy head, saying:


    "I''ll be back soon, the trip shouldn''t take too long, but I might have to enter the Intersecting Boundaries for a bit. I don''t know how long I''ll need to stay there, and according to their rules, I probably can''t take you with me."


    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "It''s also not good to leave Yun Qin alone at home, so you stay here and keep her company, I''ll be back before you know it."


    A flash of white-gold light blossomed, and Ning Fengwan took on her human form, donning her clothes and walked up to Xue Jing.


    She lifted her strikingly beautiful face, her narrow and commanding phoenix eyes looking at Xue Jing, and said in a low voice, "Bend down."


    "Hm?" Xue Jing did as he was told upon hearing the instructions.


    The next moment, his lips felt the warm and soft touch.


    Caught slightly off guard, Xue Jing''s mouth was forcefully pried open by a wet and sweet invasion, which made him instinctively resist.


    Yun Qin, dressed in the classical maid outfit and cleaning, immediately let go of the broom out of embarrassment, covered her eyes with her hands, but her curiosity got the better of her as she peeked through her fingers.


    The sound of water continued for a while.


    It was not until Xue Jing''s Ascending Dragon Sword was fully ascended, and he instinctively thought about what to do next, that Ning Fengwan pushed him away.


    Their lips parted, and perhaps due to the intensity of the suction, they made a pop sound.


    Looking at Ning Fengwan in front of him, who was slightly out of breath, cheeks flushed, irresistibly beautiful, and exuded astonishing allure, Xue Jing hesitated and asked:


    "Are you giving me the ''Benevolent Fragrance'' empowerment?"


    Ning Fengwan turned her head to one side, not looking at him, and huffed, "No."


    "Just wanting to kiss you, is that not allowed?"


    Feeling the lingering sweetness in his mouth, Xue Jing chuckled and said, "My Sect Leader, of course you can do whatever you wish."


    He reached out and wrapped his arms around Ning Fengwan''s delicate waist, about to take advantage of the moment to do something else.


    "The rest... we can talk about it when you come back."


    Ning Fengwan, feeling Xue Jing''s hand slowly sliding down from her waist, her complexion growing even more flushed, hurriedly spoke up.


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Are you serious?"


    Ning Fengwan rolled her eyes at him, full of allure: "Of course I''m serious, why would I lie to you?"


    Seeing that she had finally come around and stopped playing the unnecessarily proud and coy, Xue Jing laughed.


    "Alright, when I come back."


    He delightfully pinched the cheek of the little maid standing by with a bashful face and stepped out of the house.


    Watching Xue Jing''s retreating figure, Ning Fengwan placed her hand on her chest, feeling the rampant beating of her heart and let out a sigh of relief. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She slumped onto the sofa, but then she felt a damp chill between her legs and realized what it was, her face instantly reddened, and she shot up, heading to the bathroom.


    After cleaning up, she washed her hands and looked into the mirror at her face, which couldn''t hide its suggestiveness, feeling rather annoyed.


    "You, so unassertive, when it was clear you were meant to seduce him, how could it be..."


    With a small sigh, Ning Fengwan''s eyes showed concern.


    Even though she had already experienced it once, she was still not used to being separated from Xue Jing.


    Being unable to stay by his side felt as though she had lost half of her life, leaving her feeling empty.


    "I can''t believe I''ve come to care about him to this extent."


    She sighed.


    Thinking back to the kiss they had just shared, her heart started to race once again, sweet and bashful.


    d


    "You, so unassertive, when it was clear you were meant to seduce him, how could it be..."


    With a small sigh, Ning Fengwan''s eyes showed concern.


    Even though she had already experienced it once, she was still not used to being separated from Xue Jing.


    Being unable to stay by his side felt as though she had lost half of her life, leaving her feeling empty.


    "I can''t believe I''ve come to care about him to this extent."


    She sighed.


    Thinking back to the kiss they had just shared, her heart started to race once again, sweet and bashful.


    d

 Chapter 561 - 313: Six Thousand Divinities, A Sky Full of Dragons, Bring the Plane Over! (4K)

    Divine Factor, extracted from the body of "Divine Son Adam" isn''t a material nor energy but a special element obtained after dilution.


    It has numerous effects... but for Xue Jing, its function was simple.


    This thing was recognized by the Skill Panel as "Divinity" itself.


    As he slightly moved his palm away from the glass bottle containing the Divine Factor, the continuously increasing Divinity on the panel suddenly stopped.


    Xue Jing did not lose his mind and drain this thing dry, as he still hadn''t quite figured out the situation.


    After all, stored in the glass bottle, it wouldn''t suddenly grow legs and run away, so he decided to wait and see.


    Especially since this bottle of Divine Factor was so cleverly hidden within the wall¡ª if it was important to that commander, and then he stole it, it could lead to serious trouble.


    Xue Jing reached into the drawer and pulled out the curled document.


    The cover was blank, with no title written.


    Xue Jing flipped open the cover and began to seriously read through the document.


    The content was mostly in Chinese, with only a part using English for words that couldn''t be accurately translated.


    Soon, he recognized from the contents what this document was.


    ¡ª"Human Ultimate Limit Breaking Method."


    From research documents on the effect of Divinity, discussions on human body limits, how to test adaptability to the Divine Factor... to methods of injecting Divine Factor, and how to most efficiently train and absorb afterwards...


    This document extensively detailed how humans could utilize Divinity for "Ultimate Breakthrough," with meticulous attention to every detail.


    After briefly skimming through it once, Xue Jing closed the file, eyes reflecting thought.


    "... What does this mean?"


    This document, along with a bottle of Divine Factor... what is the Cease-Blades commander trying to do?


    According to Ning Yuantai, this commander had already completed three Ultimate Breakthroughs and must have mastered the Ultimate Limit Breaking Method thoroughly, having no need to leave behind this paper document.


    Moreover, this bottle of Divine Factor... Such a small bottle, the size of a drinkable liquid, could easily be carried around and didn''t need to be hidden away.


    Additionally, it was stored on the plane that transported him, placed inside the master bedroom that ''only he could enter.''


    There was a vague feeling that it was specifically prepared for him.


    "But why hide it in this concealed compartment?"


    "Because the information is highly classified, and the Divine Factor is very precious, afraid that subordinates might see it and covet it?"


    Xue Jing frowned slightly, feeling that it wasn''t as simple as that.


    If it really was prepared for him, hiding it in a secret compartment seemed somewhat superfluous.


    There was already a ''no one but Xue Jing allowed'' rule in place, and as the commander of Cease-Blades, absolutely no one would dare cross her, and even if there were subordinates bold enough to do so, they wouldn''t be arranged to be on the plane.


    Although the design of the hidden compartment was simple, its secrecy was extreme. With gaps smaller than microns, Xue Jing wouldn''t have discovered this place had something hidden if not for possessing superhuman vision from a Lv10 [Aiming] skill.


    Weren''t they afraid that he would never find it from beginning to end?


    Or perhaps, this was a test for him, and only if he found it would it be considered giving it to him?


    It couldn''t be meant to frame him for theft by deliberately hiding it here.


    Xue Jing contemplated many possibilities but, due to not knowing the true attitude of that commander towards him and lacking sufficient information, he couldn''t find the correct answer.


    "Forget it, never mind." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    No matter what the Cease-Blades commander intended to do, his approach had always been the same.


    Anything directed at him, be it coated in sugar or a cannonball, what he needed to do was to eat the sugar coating and ignore the cannonball.


    The Divine Factor, he would take, but this "Ultimate Limit Breaking Method"...


    Xue Jing looked through it again, memorized the contents, and then tossed it back into the hidden cabinet.


    He wouldn''t practice it.


    The Skill Panel was his pathway to the heavens. Divinity would only be used on the panel and not wasted on the uncertain and potentially risky "Ultimate Breakthrough."


    He just memorized the content because it might be useful in the future.


    Then he reached for the bottle of Divine Factor.


    [Detecting Divinity, absorbing...]


    On the panel, Divinity began to rise continuously, but the speed was very slow, fluctuating between two or three points per second to one point every four or five seconds.


    After a thought, Xue Jing flicked his finger, popping the cap of the glass bottle off.


    Immediately, the fluid-like golden powder in the bottle, defying gravity, floated out from the bottle''s mouth.


    There were no air currents fluctuating in the room, but the sparkling golden powder moved on its own as if alive, floating around in inexplicably beautiful motions.


    Xue Jing extended his hand, and all the golden powder, when it came within about five centimeters of his hand, was attracted like a magnet, sticking to his hand.


    Upon contact with his skin, the Divine Factor began to melt and fuse into it as if absorbed.


    At the same time, the Divinity value on the Skill Panel rapidly skyrocketed.


    428...


    499...


    567...


    With a speed of dozens of points per second, seeing this, Xue Jing lifted the glass bottle directly above his head, and then continuously shook it vigorously.


    All the Divine Factor in the bottle shook out of the mouth and showered down on Xue Jing''s head.


    The Divinity index on the panel exploded instantly.

 Chapter 562 - 313: Six Thousand Divinities, A Sky Full of Dragon Groups, Move the Plane Over! (4K)_2

    2067...


    3051...


    4399...


    Until all the Divine Factors had been absorbed by Xue Jing, a notification popped up on the panel: [Divine Absorption Complete].


    At this point, the quantity of Divinity had reached [6277].


    "...Damn!"


    Xue Jing couldn''t help but throw the glass bottle to the floor, blurting out.


    Just this little bottle... nearly six thousand points of Divinity!?


    Then why did he even ask The Sixth Agency for a Divine Relic as a reward?


    Why not just give him the Divine Factors directly?


    Xue Jing rubbed his forehead, pressing down on his somewhat racing heart.


    "As for the importance of intelligence..."


    If he had known about this stuff earlier, he might have instantly agreed when Void Blade recruited him to the White Crow.


    "...However, Divine Factors are extremely precious, and even for an organization like The Sixth Agency, they must be quite scarce. The merits I set up in exchange for Divine Factors probably wouldn''t have yielded much more than the absorption from the Divine Relics."


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered.


    From now on, he''d need to increase his enthusiasm for tasks entrusted to him by White Crow and Cease-Blades.


    "Six thousand, huh."


    Although he still had doubts about what the commander of Cease-Blades was up to, looking at the quantity of Divinity on the panel, Xue Jing felt quite pleased.


    Just starting the journey and already such an unexpected gain, life was getting better and better!


    Xue Jing bounced up, lying down on the soft large bed, beginning to spend while humming a tune.


    First, naturally, he had to upgrade [Weapon Master] which was already full of experience points.


    [Weapon Master Lv2 (Transcendent)]


    Click upgrade.


    [Weapon Master Lv3 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade Required: Experience Points 0/40000, Divinity 5277/2000]


    "Next is [Dragon Horn]..."


    As the main skill he had decided to upgrade his Divinity into, Xue Jing did not hesitate to click upgrade.


    Lv6 turned into [Dragon Horn Lv7 (Upgrade Required Divinity: 3077/3000)]


    He still had exactly three thousand points, enough to upgrade it to Lv8.


    But just as Xue Jing was about to click upgrade, he hesitated for a moment and stopped.


    "Let''s just wait for now, keep it on hold, in case any skill suddenly becomes sublimated. The current level is completely sufficient for practice anyway, and if I really need it, upgrading is just a momentary affair."


    He thought to himself.


    Since he was on a plane, it was not convenient to test the effects of the two skill upgrades right now. Xue Jing lay on the bed, took out his mobile phone, and had a chat with Xue Wan and some classmates who had messaged him, then began practicing the Nirvana Technique and deeply fell asleep.


    ...


    "£¤&£¤#$*&%¡ª¡ª"


    A noisy sound faintly transmitted from outside the door. In the dim room, Xue Jing, whose body was emitting layers of golden light, slowly opened his eyes, his dark red eyes gradually retracting their compassionate expression.


    His precise biological clock told him it was two thirty-six and fifty-two seconds in the middle of the night.


    Xue Jing sat up, got off the bed, didn''t bother changing out of his white bathrobe, and walked out of the room.


    At this time, most people on the plane were in deep sleep, and the corridor was very quiet. Xue Jing followed the noisy sound all the way to the cockpit.


    After opening the door, he saw Ning Yuantai standing next to the pilot''s seat, staring at the screen and talking with the captain.


    "What happened?"


    Xue Jing asked as he walked over.


    Ning Yuantai turned around: "Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Lord Jing!"


    The other people in the cabin also respectfully greeted him.


    "Xue, you came just in time!"


    Ning Yuantai quickly said.


    He pointed at the window ahead, motioning for Xue Jing to look.


    Xue Jing looked up and immediately saw¡ª


    Dragon Breed.


    Thousands upon thousands, filling the sky, countless Dragon Breeds as far as the eye could see.


    Despite their differing forms, looks, and sizes, without exception, they all shared the traits of Dragon Breeds¡ªhorns, vertical pupils, bodies covered in scales, flying on their own.


    All the Dragon Breeds had extremely aggressive expressions, continuously opening their mouths to emit angry roars, attacking and fighting each other desperately, dragon blood raining from the sky, bodies falling like dense raindrops.


    "...What are they doing?"


    Xue Jing asked, frowning slightly.


    Ning Yuantai shook his head, "Not sure yet... Right after the plane arrived here, we suddenly saw it packed with Dragon Breeds ahead, and the pilot immediately had to stop, not knowing what to do."


    Xue Jing spoke, "Can''t we go around?"


    "We''ve already tried... Whether going up, down, left, or right, either we get blocked by the Dragon Breeds, with them attacking as soon as we approach, or we deviate from the flight path and enter the dangerous Evil Land area."


    Ning Yuantai frowned and said,


    "...This seems like a situation that occurs only during a ''Dragon Tide''."


    Xue Jing glanced at him, "Dragon Tide?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded, "Yes... That Super Organism ''Dragon Mother'' that orbits Earth Star goes into a ''frenzy period'' every once in a while."


    "At that time, its reproduction rate will explode, rapidly... In a very short time, it will give birth to a large number of dragon offspring, and almost all the Dragon Breeds will enter a frenzied state."


    "Their aggression increases greatly, even the same species that usually don''t attack each other are considered targets, not to mention other creatures."


    "This phenomenon, we call a ''Dragon Tide''... Dragon Breeds will viciously attack everything they see, even the ground territories of major nations that they usually dare not approach."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "But a ''Dragon Tide'' usually happens only once every five to six years, and I remember the last one was about three years ago, so I''m not sure if it''s really that."


    Xue Jing listened, his expression somewhat speechless.


    A Dragon Tide that normally happens only once every five or six years...


    Yet it had to occur just as he was on a plane heading to another metropolitan circle.


    It was hard for him not to suspect it was related to him.


    To think he had just set off and there was a big discovery waiting for him here.


    "It''s still uncertain now; it might be something else, like maybe a few ''Emperor Dragons'' fighting for territory?"


    Ning Yuantai speculated.


    Emperor Dragon, Xue Jing had read about this special Dragon Breed.


    It is a peculiar existence that has the ability to command other Dragon Breeds, always accompanied by several others, but besides this has no special ability, and its own combat power is rather weak, thus it is also jokingly called ''Kid Dragon'' by some.


    Xue Jing shook his head and said, "Don''t be hopeful... This scale of an onslaught, no way it''s Emperor Dragons fighting over territory."


    He knew his own unlucky fortune all too well, and it wasn''t surprising for him to run into a major event like the ''Dragon Tide''.


    "What do we do now?"


    Ning Yuantai hesitated, "...For now, the best thing would be to turn around and go back, plan a new safe route."


    "But the problem is... we can''t guarantee the new route won''t encounter this situation either."


    "Plus, planning a new route takes time, the journey would also be longer, may not necessarily make it to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle before the Martial Arts Examination starts."


    Xue Jing nodded,


    "I understand."


    So it ended up like this again...


    He sighed quietly, moved his wrist slightly, and spoke faintly,


    "Bring the plane closer."


    Ning Yuantai & Pilot: "What?"


    "But..."


    Xue Jing spoke decisively, "Open the cabin door, let me out."


    "Then, just fly forward, don''t worry about anything else."


    His tone didn''t contain much force, just emotionless and casual.


    But Ning Yuantai was shivering all over, his face showing excitement and admiration, S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, bring the ship¡­ no, the plane closer!"


    The pilot looked panicked, hesitating, "Uh? But..."


    Ning Yuantai slapped his hand on his head, threatening, "No buts!"


    "Do you think I''m just anyone!"


    The pilot swallowed his saliva, not speaking.


    Seeing this, Ning Yuantai stretched his hand towards the control panel, "You won''t do it, huh? What does this button do."


    He pretended to press it, and the pilot hurriedly said, "Okay okay, I''ll fly, I''ll fly, just slow down a bit, Ning!"


    ...

 Chapter 565 - 315: Super Organism Burning Tumor Sky Ice, Extreme Martial Ascension Palace! (4K)

    Woken up in the middle of the night by a dragon blockade, Xue Jing didn''t return to his room to sleep, but chatted idly with Ning Yuantai, keeping an eye on the activities outside.


    Although Ning Yuantai repeatedly assured him that the flight route was secretive and safe, and the dragon''s blockade was just a freak accident, Xue Jing felt that with his current situation, it was better to believe in mysticism than in science.


    It was better to be careful; you wouldn''t want the plane to suddenly explode, as he, alone, couldn''t reach the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Anyway, given his high levels of energy, not sleeping for ten days or even half a month wouldn''t be a big deal.


    Fortunately, no other incidents occurred afterward, and the plane flew steadily on the arranged route for the entire day.


    "Xue, look over there!"


    Ning Yuantai suddenly pointed towards a far-off scene outside the right porthole.


    Following his direction, Xue Jing saw a gigantic pillar of fire soaring into the sky from the distant land. He roughly estimated it to be at least ten thousand meters high, continuously ejecting countless sparks and molten lava.


    Such a spectacle was quite shocking to Xue Jing, similar to the feeling he had when he first saw the Sky Center.


    "What''s that?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    "That''s a special Intersecting Boundaries, serial number F457, called ''Burning Garden''," Ning Yuantai explained, "it''s a rare A+ level mega Intersecting Boundaries."


    "Most of the Flame Habitat Species, including the ''Furnace Noble Species'' you encountered before, come from this Intersecting Boundaries."


    "Most of the world''s Intersecting Boundaries are ''regional,'' but the Burning Garden is different; it''s a ''Connected Boundary.''"


    "That fire pillar is similar to a portal; we step into it and will be transported to the Burning Garden. There are many such portals all over the world, all leading to the same ''Burning Garden.''"


    Ning Yuantai introduced with great enthusiasm.


    "In fact, places like ''Burning Garden'' feel more like another world, and not Intersecting Boundaries dependent on this world... but as we have yet to find evidence that it is an Otherworld, we have to temporarily consider it as an Intersecting Boundaries."


    "The environment inside is said to be quite interesting; it''s a world engulfed in flames, where the lowest temperature is above three hundred degrees." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But can you believe it rains there? Although it''s a rain of liquid iron, one drop could penetrate a person''s skull..."


    "To stay in the Burning Garden for long, even the top-notch masters must wear protective suits made from the skin of the Heavenly Jellyfish¡­"


    Xue Jing watched the pillar of fire and nodded, "Interesting, I''d like to experience it myself if I get the chance in the future."


    "What''s even more interesting is the origin of Burning Garden which is related to a Super Organism," Ning Yuantai said with a smile.


    "Oh? How so?" Xue Jing asked curiously.


    Super Organisms with a danger level above ten, capable of destroying the world.


    No one would be uninterested in the tales of such beings.


    Ning Yuantai chose his words carefully and slowly said, "That was an event from more than fifty years ago."


    "At that time, Zhuxia had just gone through a ''major event'' and, though severely weakened, was on the road to recovery and prospering."


    "Then suddenly, a major disaster struck."


    "It was a disaster that not only threatened Zhuxia but also countries in the vicinity of the Northwest Pacific region and even had the potential to put the entire globe at risk."


    Ning Yuantai drew a huge circle in the air with his hands.


    "It was a massive sphere, over two thousand kilometers in diameter, that looked like an ugly tumor on fire."


    "Our official code name for it is ''Burning Tumor.''"


    "Undoubtedly, it was a Super Organism with a danger level above ten."


    "It appeared out of nowhere, descending on the sea surface of the Northwest Pacific, instantly evaporating an enormous amount of sea water, with the rising steam causing torrential rains around the globe."


    Ning Yuantai raised a hand and held up three fingers, speaking solemnly,


    "Three days, the ''Burning Tumor'' existed in this world for only three days."


    "Yet, in just those short three days, the global sea level rose by 2.47 meters, and the global average temperature permanently increased by 1.06 degrees."


    "Experts later speculated that if the Burning Tumor continued to exist on this planet, even without doing anything, it would take only three months to exterminate most of humanity."


    "It would recreate the Great Flood from the Genesis legend, submerging the vast majority of land."


    Global temperature rise, melting of polar ice caps, rapid sea level rise inundating land, massive vapor causing continuous terror rains...


    Such was the terrifying threat of the Super Organism to humanity.


    "So it only survived for three days? How was it dealt with?" Xue Jing inquired, curious.


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head, "That''s top-secret information, beyond what I would know."


    "All I know is that it involved a joint effort led by Zhuxia, collaborating with several strong nations from the East Asia region and the Arctic Second Federation, paying a great price to defeat it."


    "However, I''ve heard some rumors¡ªthe crucial intervention in the successful defeat was by the ''Extreme Martial King.''"


    "I''m not clear if the information is accurate, but after the victory, the allocation of spoils did favor Zhuxia, we gained the Core Organ of the ''Burning Tumor.'' From this point of view, the rumors are likely true."

 Chapter 566 - 315: Super Organism Burning Tumor Sky Ice, Extreme Martial Ascension Palace! (4K)_2

    Xue Jing, upon hearing this, nodded with a sigh, "If it''s true, that he could play a key role in the operation to subdue Super Organisms all by himself, the strength of the Extreme Martial King is indeed beyond imagination."


    Ning Yuantai said, "Indeed."


    He pointed towards the port window outside where one could still see the towering pillar of fire that reached ten thousand meters high.


    "The power of the Burning Tumor is evident from that. Just a few sparks thrown out have burnt numerous holes in the present world. That there is one of those ''sparks.''"


    "Now, many in the academic community believe that the Burning Garden is not an Intersecting Boundaries but an Otherworld where the ''Burning Tumor'' originated."


    "However, such ''Connected Boundary'' is not unique to the Burning Garden, therefore there''s no conclusive evidence to prove it is an Otherworld. With an attitude of strictness, the academic community can only classify it as an ''ultra-large Intersecting Boundaries.''"


    As they chatted casually, time slowly passed by.


    Xue Jing''s worries did not come true, and it felt as if the heavens were playing with him. When he was fully on guard, the journey was extremely calm, indeed secret and safe throughout.


    One day later.


    "Xue, we''re about to arrive at the Seventh Metropolitan Circle."


    Xue Jing, who was resting with his eyes closed in his seat, opened his eyes upon hearing Ning Yuantai''s voice.


    "We can already see the Border City Defense Line, and there''s still plenty of time before the Martial Arts Examination begins. Shall we take a stroll around?"


    Ning Yuantai suggested.


    "The Seventh Metropolitan Circle has a strong martial arts atmosphere, and many of the hunters from the Intersecting Boundaries in Border City are strong Martial Artists. The city has developed many interesting things to cater to the interests of this group..."


    Xue Jing remained indifferent and shook his head, "No, let''s go straight to Silver City."


    He was certain that these chaotic places would definitely stir up trouble for him the moment he set foot there. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Better not to delay; he didn''t want to be that person who always just made a grand entrance at the last minute...


    Although he had put on quite a show before, it was all out of necessity, not his intention.


    "Alrighty."


    Ning Yuantai naturally had no objections to Xue Jing''s wishes.


    Soon, the airplane thundered across the sky, crossing over the Border City Defense Line and into the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    What Xue Jing and the others didn''t know was that on a dilapidated smelly gutter street in the 461st Border City of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle on the ground, someone was looking up, watching the fast-disappearing airplane.


    It was a bald man wearing only a denim jacket on his upper body, revealing his muscular arms and chest. His fearsome tattoos told tales of the countless brutal battles he had experienced, his battle-hardened aura radiating in all directions, intimidating to behold.


    The man pulled out an almost antique flip phone from his chest pocket, clumsily pressed several numbers, then made a call.


    "Hello... Laozi saw it, I recognize the plane; it''s His Excellency the Commander''s."


    "..."


    "It didn''t stop; he went straight in."


    "..."


    "No rush, this time he''s in for it... Have those young Troublemakers arrived yet?"


    "..."


    "I''ll catch up immediately... But you should also understand, I''m the last resort. If it comes to me taking action, then it most likely means most of the plan has failed."


    "..."


    After chatting on the phone for a while, the bald man slowly closed the flip phone and then placed it in his palm, grasping it with his large hand and giving it a light squeeze.


    When he opened his hand again, the flip phone had been crushed into a round black ball the size of a lollipop, smoothed as though it had been polished by countless machines, reflecting a gleam of black light.


    Tossing the small black ball to the side, the bald man strode forward. Just in front of him, there was a muscular man walking towards him, who inadvertently met his gaze.


    "Huh?" The bald man removed his sunglasses with one hand, revealing a pair of fierce, lion-like eyes.


    "What the fuck are you looking at?" he snapped.


    The muscular man also immediately stopped in his tracks, "Huh? Just looking at you, what about it? Can''t I look?"


    A slap descended from the air, pressing down on the crown of the muscular man''s head and then steadily crushing down.


    Muscles, bones, organs... a series of shattering sounds from inside the body continued nonstop. The towering figure of the muscle man was flattened to less than five centimeters in a single second, barely even having time to scream before turning into a pancake.


    It was like a bag filled with blood had burst. Dark blood was squeezed out, spraying as far as seven or eight meters around.


    Passersby who witnessed the scene paused slightly but simply glanced in that direction before moving on as usual, as if such a brutal public slaying was nothing but a triviality.


    "Fucking filth, dirtying my hands."


    The man, with a look of disgust, shook the bits of flesh from his hand and sauntered away nonchalantly.


    ...


    Five hours later.


    The speeding airplane crossed over the Outer Ring of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle and entered the Inner Ring.


    Xue Jing looked out of the airplane window and saw snowflakes falling continuously through the layer of clouds below.


    "...It''s snowing."


    Xue Jing watched intently for a while.


    He was born in the Fifth Urban Circle in the south and had never seen snow in his life.


    "The Seventh Metropolitan Circle here is close to the Arctic, so the climate is quite bizarre. Sometimes it can suddenly snow even in the heat of July or August."


    Ning Yuantai spoke.


    Xue Jing, upon hearing this, nodded, "I see... It must be because of ''Sky Ice''."


    Back when he was in Yuan City, he had encountered Otogirusu and a female aristocrat from the Arctic Federation who was also a member of the Troublemakers.


    Curious as to why that female aristocrat wanted to capture a member of the Furnace Noble Species, he had taken some time to learn about the situation in the Arctic Federation.


    He discovered that the Arctic Federation was leading a particularly harsh life... all because there was a Super Organism known as ''Sky Ice'' lurking deep within the Arctic Continent.


    ''Sky Ice'' possessed a bizarre ability to erode boundaries, continuously and relentlessly expanding its territory.


    This caused the already severe climate of the Siberian region to grow even colder, squeezing the living space of the Arctic Federation and leading to the deaths of scores of its citizens each year from freezing.


    And ''Furnace Noble Species'' were among the very few beings capable of resisting such erosion, hence their great demand in the Arctic Federation.


    Yuantai nodded and sighed, "Since its appearance, Sky Ice has been expanding nonstop; sooner or later, it''s a problem we must solve... But the one most capable and most likely to contain Sky Ice has some entanglements with the Arctic Federation. Even though the Federation Government has stooped to ask for their help, they''ve yet to receive a response."


    "If this continues, our Zhuxia will also be significantly affected..."


    The airplane continued its journey forward, shrouded in clouds and mist, and it wasn''t until much later that it finally emerged from the clouds to reveal a clear view ahead.


    Xue Jing looked up¡ª


    Suddenly, in the far, far distance, a white column that stretched from earth to sky¡ªreminiscent of the mythical ''Divine Tree''¡ªabruptly came into view.


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed surprise as he asked curiously, "Is that the Sky Center of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle?"


    Ning Yuantai also looked over and said with a smile, "Xue, this one in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle is different¡ªit should be called the ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace''!"


    Saying so, Ning Yuantai''s eyes showed reverence:


    "That is the Holy Land in the hearts of Martial Artists all over the world, as well as the largest, finest, and strongest Martial Artists exchange place in the world!"


    "Forty-six thousand nine hundred and seventy-two floors! That''s the exact number of levels it has. Starting from the first floor, countless Martial Artists compete and struggle against each other; the higher you go, the fiercer the competition becomes."


    "Any Martial Artist with great ambition must come here and attempt to ascend the ''Heavenly Palace''!"


    ...

 Chapter 567 - 316: Test the Level? Xue Jing: Youre Not Qualified to Test It (4K)

    "Why is it called ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace''?"


    Xue Jing opened his mouth with a slight confusion.


    This name feels a bit too familiar.


    "Could it be..."


    Ning Yuantai laughed, "You guessed right, the term ''Extreme Martial'' in ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace'' indeed comes from that Extreme Martial King."


    "Over a hundred years ago, shortly after the Eternal Night war had ended, the Extreme Martial King alone took control of the ''Sun Pillar'' in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, marking it as his own territory."


    "Since then, a lot of things happened... The Sun Pillar of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle gradually became the place of exchange for martial artists worldwide. The Extreme Martial King then took permanent residence in the highest ''Heavenly Palace''. The process for martial artists to climb up to him floor by floor and challenge him was referred to as ''Ascending to Heaven''."


    The name ''Extreme Martial Ascension Palace'' thus originated."


    "Of course, due to political considerations, it''s a secret not publicly disclosed. The official explanation for the name meant ''reaching the pinnacle of martial arts''."


    "After all, his deeds before taking over Cangting..."


    Ning Yuantai hesitated then said tactfully, "were not very positive for societal influences."


    "Although there has been decades of information suppression, making most of the information related to the Extreme Martial King nearly impossible to find, his existence remains circulated among a select few. However, since Cangting set the tone and issued documents back in the day, they probably don''t see a need to change it now..."


    Xue Jing asked, "What about now? Does the Extreme Martial King still reside in the highest ''Heavenly Palace''?"


    Ning Yuantai shook his head, "After taking over Cangting, the Extreme Martial King never returned to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle. Now, the ''Heavenly Palace'' has been vacant. Those new generations, unaware of the Extreme Martial King''s existence, think reaching the top means ''Ascending to Heaven.'' Little do they know that even by reaching it, they merely gain the right to challenge the Extreme Martial King..."


    "No one has ascended to the Heavenly Palace since the Extreme Martial King left, decades ago."


    Xue Jing curiously remarked, "Oh? Is it that difficult?"


    The Extreme Martial King was a supreme entity in the martial arts, surpassing other martial artists by countless levels.


    It was understandable for Xue Jing that earning the right to challenge him was difficult, but for no one to have done so in decades seemed rather exaggerated.


    Given the vast number of talented individuals likely emerging over the decades, was it truly impossible for anyone to earn just the right to challenge?


    Ning Yuantai explained, "Xue, you may not know, but the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace has 46,972 floors. The final seventy-two floors, due to their immense height, are not referred to by their floor numbers but as ''Heavens'' instead."


    "Each Heaven is controlled by a ''Heavenly Lord.'' Seventy-two Heavenly Lords, most of whom have once held titles, with half of them being holders of Eternal Titles!"


    "For those intending to ''Ascend to Heaven,'' there are ways to skip levels in the first forty thousand floors, but for the last seventy-two floors, one must fight up each floor."


    "Only the highest Heavenly Lord can enter the Heavenly Palace... and unless he does, others must defeat him to become the new supreme Heavenly Lord in order to enter."


    "In these past decades, the position of ''Supreme Heavenly Lord'' indeed changed hands several times... but having practiced to such an extent, they understand the terror of the Extreme Martial King far more deeply than ordinary martial artists."


    "From a frog in a well watching the moon to a mayfly looking at the sky... all the Supreme Heavenly Lords just stood at the doorway of the Heavenly Palace, shook their heads, and then turned back."


    Xue Jing nodded, suddenly realizing, "I see."


    The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, seventy-two Heavenly Lords, half of them being holders of Eternal Titles... such an exaggerated assembly.


    Could it be that all the existing Eternal Titles are gathered there?


    From an average perspective, even theoretically, it would take five years to produce seven holders of Eternal Titles, and adding the three major titles from the Far East, there are only ten.


    There are at least thirty in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace... Even if it doesn''t cover all existing Eternals, it''s probably not far off.


    "Besides the seventy-two Heavens, the next nine hundred floors, each with a Level Master, is the current goal for most people climbing the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace... Just by becoming one of these nine hundred Level Masters, one can earn a substantial monthly income as well as martial arts resources, and it also carries great prestige."


    "Xue, shall we first go to see the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace?"


    Ning Yuantai suggested.


    "Even though ascending the seventy-two Heavens is still quite early for you, earning the title of one of the nine hundred individual floors should pose no problem!"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing shook his head, "No, let''s head to Silver City first." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He did indeed intend to visit the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, but not now.


    Xue Jing was highly cautious about his odds of running into trouble. Should he visit the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace first, he figured he might accidentally provoke someone, which could stall his progress on more urgent matters.


    His agenda was clear: to accomplish the principal task first. After that, whatever came knocking, he was ready for it, fearless.


    Danger and opportunity were two sides of the same coin for him. Encountering trouble meant prospects for gain, and at the very worst, it could still churn up some skill experience, which he didn''t mind¡ªas long as it didn''t interfere with the main issues.


    ...


    Seventh Metropolitan Circle, Inner Ring, Silver City.


    An airplane tore through the sky, leaving a trail of clouds behind, arriving above this city.

 Chapter 568 - 316: Test Your Level? Xue Jing: You Cant Test It Out (4K)_2

    Xue Jing looked down through the porthole.


    This was a city of immense size, even larger than Yuan City within the Inner Ring that Xue Jing had visited before. However, its overall development was not advanced¡ªat least it was somewhat inferior to Yuan City, lacking the modern and futuristic towering skyscrapers.


    The aircraft slowly approached the ground.


    Snowflakes danced in the streets below, and many local pedestrians looked up.


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Jing slightly raised his eyebrows, looking thoughtfully at the goosebumps on his arm.


    A faint sense of crisis flashed through his mind and quickly disappeared.


    Ning Yuantai, oblivious to anything, said to Xue Jing, "Xue, we''ll first land the plane at the Zhi Ge Sub Base in Silver City, then head to No. 9 Examination Hall."


    Xue Jing, leaning his elbow on the armrest and propping his chin, glanced out the window and hummed in agreement, "Let''s do that."


    Ning Yuantai, observing his mysteriously calm demeanor, silently marveled at his coolness and said with a smile, "Alright then."


    A dozen minutes later.


    In the northern part of Silver City, within a massive square base surrounded by steel walls,


    two young men in tight tactical suits, their impressive physiques outlined, were looking up at the descending aircraft.


    One of them with a thick northern accent said,


    "The kid from the South must be inside."


    "I recognize this plane; it''s the commander''s, wow, what an honor."


    The other glanced at him and asked,


    "What are you thinking?"


    "He''s here as an examiner, shouldn''t I test just how good he is? What if he''s not capable enough and holds the kids back?"


    "The guy is top-notch from outside our circle; why worry?"


    The first crossed his arms and said,


    "You know the situation outside too. Even the best talents get wasted there. Who from our side ever made it big after leaving? External areas just can''t nurture talents well."


    "It''s all talk until we see for ourselves."


    The other man took out a cigarette and flicked his fingers near the tip, producing smoke from his fingertip to light it. After taking a couple of drags, which rapidly consumed the cigarette, he exhaled a massive cloud of smoke and said faintly,


    "Go easy, he''s underage."


    The excited man said, "You agree then? What if the base commander asks later..."


    "It''s none of my business; I know nothing."


    "Why are you always so annoying?"


    During their conversation, the plane had successfully landed.


    With a hiss, the cabin door opened.


    Xue Jing stepped out, looking towards the two men in tactical suits not far ahead.


    Ning Yuantai, a step behind, also came out and noticed the two, immediately raising his eyebrows,


    "Captain Yang Yingyu... and Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu?"


    Xue Jing casually asked, "You know them?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded and said, "These two are the squadron leader and the vice squadron leader of our Zhi Ge Six-Five Squadron, well-known within our ranks."


    Inside The Sixth Agency, organizations like White Crow and Zhi Ge were divided into battalions, squadrons, and small squads.


    Battalions were identified by individual numbers, like the First Battalion, Second Battalion.


    Squadrons had two digits. The first digit indicated to which battalion they belonged, with Six Five Squadron being part of the Sixth Battalion.


    Small squads were three-digit numbers; for instance, squad 838 where Void Blade belonged was the eighth small squad under the eighth middle squad of the eighth battalion of White Crow.


    "Vice Squadron Leader Yang Yingyu is a widely known Old Martial Break Limit Master, and Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu..."


    "Kid, what are you mumbling about?"


    The man named Zhuang Qiu called out as he approached, interrupting Ning Yuantai.


    Unused to not being called Ning, Ning Yuantai scratched his head, feeling quite awkward and unaccustomed.


    "I''m Xue Jing... Captain Yang, Vice Captain Zhuang, hello."


    Xue Jing walked up to the two, stopped in front of them, and nodded in greeting.


    Though it was customary to refer to positions with due respect to hierarchy, when the senior is present, it was still necessary to add ''vice'' before addressing the junior.


    "Hello."


    Yang Yingyu nodded in response, first shook hands with Xue Jing, and quickly let go.


    Then it was Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu. Xue Jing shook hands with him as well, and was about to withdraw his hand when the other party grabbed it tightly.


    "...Vice Captain Zhuang, is there something you would like to instruct?"


    Xue Jing slightly tilted his head and asked.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu''s lips parted, revealing a set of big white teeth:


    "Instruction... I wouldn''t call it that."


    "I heard, kid, that you are here to be a judge in our martial arts examination, is that right?"


    Xue Jing looked at him and said nothing.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu didn''t seem to expect a response, as he gradually began to tighten his grip on Xue Jing''s hand:


    "I respect the elderly and love the young and don''t want to see the kids in the circle held back. Although you have gained some fame, I doubt whether outsiders might have praised you too highly. Therefore, I want to test your levels."


    "If I am not satisfied, I will directly report to the higher-ups and advise them to withdraw you from your job... You don''t mind, do you?"


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu''s words were very direct and straightforward.


    Ning Yuantai who was nearby heard this and showed his displeasure. Just as he was about to speak, Xue Jing smiled and spoke first:


    "Vice Captain Zhuang."


    His expression remained the same, his tone normal, as serene as gentle clouds and breeze, lacking any intimidation power; yet the words that came out were sharp and pointed:


    "With just you, you won''t be able to test it out."


    This statement, completely contrary to his refined appearance and tone, surprised everyone present.


    Yang Yingyu''s eyes gleamed with amusement; his previously lukewarm gaze towards Xue Jing warmed slightly.


    Ning Yuantai rubbed under his nose with his finger, chuckled a few times, and his face showed triumph.


    This was our Xue, skillful in martial arts and fierce in speech, never at a disadvantage, following him was like chasing a thrilling novel, extremely comforting.


    "...You really know how to act, kid."


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu twitched his mouth corner and suddenly tightened his grip on Xue Jing''s hand!


    "Pfft¡ª"


    The air between their palms was squeezed out by a tremendous force, emitting a crisp sound, and visibly forming a circular wave of air that spread out, causing the clothes and hair of people around to flutter backward.


    This was a very sudden strike, nearly giving no time to prepare.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu felt that with his strength, enough to compress a wrist-thick steel into a needle, he could teach this young man a sufficient lesson and make him understand that one shouldn''t speak lightly.


    However¡ª


    "Click, click, click¡ª"


    A strange sound of bones rattling came, and Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu uttered a light ''eh'', somewhat incredulous.


    ...Not budging at all.


    As if, what he was holding in his hand was not a human palm but a mountain compressed to the size of a palm, no matter how hard he tried, he could not move this mountain at all.


    "Vice Captain Zhuang, you can exert more force."


    Xue Jing spoke indifferently.


    "With just this level of strength, what can you test out?"


    Hearing these words, Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu clenched his teeth and his face turned red with strain; his whole arm''s veins bulged as it began to tremble slightly.


    From where the two stood, the concrete floor cracked open, the fissures spreading outward as the floor subtly vibrated.


    As Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu exerted force, his body gradually curled up from his normal standing posture, his initially tall stature shrinking a head shorter than Xue Jing. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking down at him from above for a while, Xue Jing spoke without a fluctuation in his tone, "Vice Captain Zhuang, you have exerted your full effort."


    Saying so, Xue Jing suddenly twisted his wrist.


    Today, his body''s endurance was not like before; deploying the Hidden Dragon School''s Whirlwind Thunder, a technique theoretically capable of infinitely compressing strength, he could unleash more than six times his usual burst strength.


    Along with the Twin Lifes'' double force and the support of the Nirvana Technique''s Lion King''s Great Strength... Even though he still had several techniques to enhance his strength that he hadn''t used, he was already terrifyingly powerful.


    Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu, with his palm being twisted by Xue Jing as the starting point, showed a twisted spiral pattern on his skin, wrist, forearm, upper arm, shoulder, body... all the way up, the sturdy tactical suit was directly shredded, and in the end, only a pair of underpants remained on his body as he spun wildly in the air like a fan.


    A massive horizontal tornado spontaneously formed, sweeping up all small objects like dust, fallen leaves, and gravel around it.


    "Smack¡ª!"


    Only after spinning in the air for over twenty seconds did Vice Captain Zhuang Qiu fall to the ground, face down with a smack, motionless.


    ...


    (Readers who still have a monthly ticket, please cast it soon, the deadline is tonight at twelve o''clock, I will be streaming the lottery draw in our group soon)

 Chapter 569 - 317: The Cruel Competition Format, Steel Tree Sea, The Students Plans (4K)

    Zhuang Qiu lay nearly naked on the ground, starting from the palm of his hand that had just shaken hands with Xue Jing, his skin displaying a kind of spiral pattern that made one''s scalp tingle.


    The people on the scene, including the members of Zhige Base who were spectating from the side, all wore peculiar expressions on their faces.


    There was a bit of amusement, a bit of second-hand embarrassment for the Vice Captain, and also admiration for the youth before them.


    The result of this Qi Force showdown was an undoubted overpowering.


    There were no signs of an evenly matched contest; this was the kind of outcome that only occurs when there''s an absolute gap in strength.


    Although it was merely a competition of Qi Force¡­ Qi Force itself is a very important part of martial arts strength.


    With such a huge gap in the most fundamental ''hard strength,'' no one would believe Zhuang Qiu stood a chance in a real fight against Xue Jing.


    Not to mention, everyone present was a profound expert in martial arts with exceptional Eye Power, and the exquisite control of Compressed Strength that Xue Jing showed when he twisted his wrist instantly turned Zhuang Qiu around like a spinning top, clearly indicating he was skilled not only in strength but in other aspects too.


    "...Impressive."


    Yang Yingyu watched Xue Jing, his eyes narrowing uncontrollably.


    As a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, he was the only person among those present who could almost see through the intricacies of Xue Jing''s move. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In terms of pure foundational Qi Force, Zhuang Qiu, who had practiced New Martial Arts Forbidden Skills and mutated his body, should have been above this youth.


    However, on the level of Channeling Energy, the youth displayed an irrationality that he couldn''t understand.


    Amplifying force by compressing strength was not an unusual technique; any high-level expert with an understanding of Channeling Energy could manage it to varying degrees of proficiency.


    But no matter how well-versed they were, they still had to follow the basic principles.


    The human body has its limits, and even when extremely skilled at Channeling Energy, risky operations like compressing strength also have to consider the physical body''s capacity to endure.


    But this youth... was strange.


    For an average person with his physical strength, if the theoretical maximum level of strength compression is 1, this youth could achieve at least 3...


    Far exceeding the theoretical limits of a normal human body.


    If it weren''t for the records glaringly indicating he practiced Old Martial Arts and had a Physical Mutation Rate below 1%, Yang Yingyu would have thought he was practicing some kind of aberrant New Martial Arts Forbidden Skills.


    ''However, I heard he is also a Divine Chosen... There must be reasons for that.''


    After pondering for a while and roughly finding a rational explanation from the irrational, Yang Yingyu shook his head and kicked Zhuang Qiu, who still lay on the ground motionless.


    "What are you pretending for? Get up."


    Yang Yingyu spoke indifferently.


    At his words, everyone''s gaze converged on Zhuang Qiu.


    "..."


    After several seconds, Zhuang Qiu''s fingers twitched slightly, and then he groaned, slowly pushing himself up to sit with a posture as if he had just regained consciousness, covering his head with his palm.


    "Ah... my head is spinning."


    "Slap¡ª"


    Yang Yingyu slapped him on the head, making Zhuang Qiu stumble:


    "Stop faking it. Losing is losing, shame is shame, none of these matter; what''s important is facing your own humiliation when you are shamed. That''s how a man from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle should be."


    Zhuang Qiu''s mouth twitched: "I just needed a moment."


    Saying so, he stood up and hobbled over to Xue Jing, hissing with every step from the pain: "Ssss... it really hurts."


    His skin all over burned and tightened as if countless pincers were biting and twisting forcefully...


    Zhuang Qiu raised a trembling thumb up to Xue Jing.


    "This level... is more than enough; I acknowledge you!"


    Xue Jing looked at him: "I don''t really need your acknowledgment... Vice Captain Zhuang, is there anything else you wish to instruct?"


    Zhuang Qiu, who was also quite laid-back, seemed to have brushed off the shame once he spoke out, standing there bare-bodied, with his hands on his hips, nonchalantly saying:


    "What advice? Here in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, we respect the strong and have no other useless rules. You''re stronger than Laozi... stronger than me, so now it''s my turn to ask for your guidance."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled: "That''s nice; I like this too... I feel like I''ll fit in well here."


    ¡­


    Afterward, Xue Jing interacted with the members of the Zhige Base for a good while and found that the people from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle were the sort with straightforward minds.


    What they thought in their hearts, they spoke with their mouths without any pretense, not out of foolishness, but due to a mindset shaped by the overall atmosphere.


    This way of thinking led them to be generally exclusive, holding in contempt those outsiders who always like to speak and act in roundabout ways with many rules¡­ Of course, the main reason was the overwhelming superiority in Combat Power.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle was an extremely insular and heavily inscribed environment, almost having no interaction with the external martial arts world, lofty above all.


    Honor acquired from outside meant little here, even if it was the great title of U19 history''s strongest champion like Xue Jing''s; when the people of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle heard of it, there was an instinctive disdain.


    It was nothing more than being the king of the mountain in a place with no tigers, hardly worth noting.


    It was for this reason that Zhuang Qiu provoked Xue Jing¡ªa minor from outside the circle who dared to come to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle to serve as an examiner for the Martial Arts Examination; who could tolerate it.


    However, the stereotypical image the people of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle had of outsiders was built upon the overpowering Combat Power.

 Chapter 570 - 317: The Cruel Competition Format, Steel Tree Sea, The Students Plans (4K)_2

    A beating cured it.


    Zhuang Qiu had indeed helped Xue Jing this time, inadvertently establishing his authority, gaining recognition from all the personnel at the Silver City Cease-Blades base and invisibly avoiding many subsequent troubles.


    After checking into the Cease-Blades base and being allocated a detached villa, Xue Jing went with Ning Yuantai to the ''No. 9 Examination Hall''.


    This time, Ning Yuantai drove a black SUV with a special military license plate; the brand was unknown, but it looked very upscale.


    On the road, Ning Yuantai casually asked while driving,


    "Xue, the specifics of the exam should have been sent to you, right? What''s the situation?"


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Xue Jing nodded as he scrolled through his phone and replied,


    "It''s been sent... just like you guessed, it''s a ''Joint Examination''."


    Ning Yuantai scratched his head: "Figures... I just knew your transfer to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle wasn''t good news."


    A Joint Examination puts students from multiple examination halls together in a controlled Intersecting Boundaries for an activity resembling a battle royale.


    Although each Joint Examination has different rules, without exception, they are all tests of high casualty rates and extreme danger.


    "This time for the Martial Arts Examination, there are a total of seventy-nine examination halls in Silver City. Among them, Number Nine, Number Twenty-Nine, Number Thirty-Six, Number Forty-One, Number Fifty-Two will join other city examination halls in the Inner Ring for the inter-city Joint Examination."


    "The location is... at G651 Intersecting Boundaries¡ª''Steel Tree Sea''."


    Xue Jing read from the data sent to his phone.


    "What? That place?" exclaimed Ning Yuantai in surprise.


    "No way... the government of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle is really playing hardball this time."


    Not having flipped to the information about the ''Steel Tree Sea,'' Xue Jing looked at Ning Yuantai and asked,


    "What, is this place special?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded and explained, "To be precise, every Intersecting Boundaries is quite unique... but the Steel Tree Sea has an especially harsh environment."


    Xue Jing rested his hand on the car window and tapped with his index finger, "Tell me about it."


    "That place... although the environment isn''t as extreme as the ''Burning Garden'' with constant temperatures over three hundred degrees and even the climate is quite suitable for human survival."


    "But the key is, there''s nothing edible there for humans," sighed Ning Yuantai.


    "The Steel Tree Sea is a world covered in ''iron''... the ground is an aggregation of metal minerals, and the wildlife there is made of iron-based life forms which people find hard to comprehend; everywhere is filled with Transformers-like creatures..."


    "Even the plants are all ''Iron-based Plants,'' you can easily see the miracle of iron trees blossoming there, which is the origin of the ''Steel Tree Sea'' name."


    With an odd expression, Xue Jing said, "If they''re ''iron-based,'' can they still be called ''plants''?"


    Ning Yuantai explained, "After all, their external manifestation resembles the plants on Earth Star... Currently, there is no other suitable name for them."


    "In short... that place is not suitable for humans to stay."


    "Or rather, any carbon-based life form needing metabolic cycles wouldn''t suit the Steel Tree Sea, as there''s nothing there they can eat or digest."


    Xue Jing pondered thoughtfully, "I see."


    He vaguely understood what the designer of this exam was aiming for.


    "Since the Steel Tree Sea has been chosen as the examination site, there must be a rule against bringing too much food in."


    Ning Yuantai asserted. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I bet it''s going to be a situation where each person can only bring one portion of food, which will be quickly consumed, and then they must fight for others'' food."


    "This is forcing the students to fight each other... The Martial Arts Examinations of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle really hasn''t changed its flavor."


    Xue Jing scrolled a few more pages in the information, and sure enough, he saw the rule stating ''each examinee and invigilator is only allowed to carry one portion of food distributed by the officials, no concealing any edible substance allowed, a thorough search will be conducted before entry.''


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, his gaze flickering as he thought of something...


    But for the time being, he didn''t dwell on it and said,


    "This arrangement is quite interesting."


    "The situation with nowhere near enough food will exacerbate many difficulties."


    "It''s not just about how to get enough to eat but also about various decisions that test one''s character and wisdom, very good for training people. Indeed, the Martial Arts Examination of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle has got something.


    Martial Artists have quite an exaggerated appetite.


    Energy, as a concept, doesn''t just disappear or appear out of nowhere. The power of a Martial Artist, formidable enough to rival a superhero''s performance, requires an immense supply of energy.


    Some highly skilled Martial Artists can survive without eating, drinking, or sleeping for days, weeks, or even months, but they can do so only on one condition¡ªnot expending energy.


    Meaning, they must not engage in combat.


    Once they engage in battle, the energy within a Martial Artist''s body depletes rapidly. No matter how strong a Martial Artist is, if you make them fight with all their might and then attempt such ascetic practices, they''ll starve before long.


    Under normal circumstances, one could make do with some high-energy, nutrient-rich special pills or potions, but the exam rules forbid students and examiners from carrying any edible substances.


    Thus, the candidates in the Steel Tree Sea are faced with a choice.


    Facing other candidates, one has to consider whether the food obtained from attacking is worth the energy spent in battle.


    And if you choose not to fight, what are the others thinking?


    Food, energy consumption, scoring, suspicion... various complicated situations ensure that even the most straightforward students from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle start scratching their heads in thought.


    "However... my situation is a bit different."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    "We''ll see when the time comes... Let''s meet this group of students first."


    The car smoothly made its way toward No. 9 Examination Hall.


    Based on the information Xue Jing had seen, the joint exam would begin tomorrow.


    After the start, examiners will have three days to train the students, building a rapport and discussing and making plans, among other arrangements.


    After three days, it will be time to officially enter Intersecting Boundaries'' Steel Tree Sea, where a seven-day-long examination will take place.


    At this point in time, the students who take the Martial Arts Examination seriously should have already arrived at the examination hall.


    ...


    Silver City, Martial Arts Examination No. 9 Examination Hall, Xuanwu Mansion.


    This is an official residence built by Silver City, specifically for the Martial Arts Examination candidates to live in. At the entrance, a three-meter-tall Xuanwu Stone Statue, entwining turtle and snake, imbued with Artistic Conception and seemingly crafted by a master, stands.


    At this moment, in Xuanwu Mansion''s training ground, a group of young boys and girls had gathered.


    "How about my plan?" asked a round-faced boy, looking around at everyone.


    "Are you sure it will work? That one outside is known as ''the strongest in history''. Isn''t that going to be tough to deal with?" a girl with thick eyebrows said worriedly.


    "Hmph, it''s just a title of ''the strongest'' in a competition. No one in our Seventh Metropolitan Circle would even spare it a glance. It''s not worth mentioning."


    "This exam is crucial for us, yet they suddenly arranged an outsider to be our examiner, and a minor at that... It''s insane. I thought at least it would be Wu Yinglong or Gongsun Cheng... or even Ye Tianling if worse came to worst!" The round-faced boy complained discontentedly.


    "Without a good examiner, we definitely won''t get good scores and won''t make it to those top universities... This is practically a joke at the expense of our futures!"


    "We have to prove that this Xue Jing lacks the ability to lead us, forcing those above to change our examiner, otherwise our entire lives will be delayed!"


    His gaze shifted toward another boy, who looked a bit shifty, and he asked sternly, "He Han, what do you think?"


    The boy named He Han appeared innocent: "Can I, like, not participate?"


    After a pause, he explained, "It''s not that I''m scared, it''s just that ''Bode 3'' just started a new cycle, and it''s really pressing. Can we do this tomorrow instead?"


    The round-faced boy narrowed his eyes and said, "What nonsense are you spouting... Forget it, I never counted on you anyway. If you don''t want to do it, just leave."


    Upon hearing this, He Han didn''t hesitate to stand up and head for the exit: "Then I''ll be off, brothers~"


    "Hold on."


    The round-faced boy watched his retreating back and narrowed his eyes:


    "You''re not going to snitch, are you?"


    He Han turned around, his face full of righteous indignation: "What are you saying? My mouth is very tight, tighter than Zhou Gongjin''s, and I have a sterling reputation in the Rivers and Lakes. How could I do such a thing!"


    The round-faced boy nodded: "That''s good."


    ...

 Chapter 571 - 318: The Gardener and the Plants, Students Planted by Xue Jing into the Ground (4K)

    The black off-road vehicle bearing a military license plate slowly approached the entrance of Xuanwu Mansion.


    A middle-aged man dressed in security attire quickly stepped out from the guardhouse at the gate.


    As the window rolled down, the security guard looked into the driver''s cabin with a puzzled expression and inquired, "What can I do for you two?"


    Just as Ning Yuantai was about to speak and reveal Xue Jing''s identity as an examiner from No. 9 Examination Hall, a shout came from inside the gates of Xuanwu Mansion, "Uncle Zhang!"


    A short-haired young man, handsome but with a somewhat sly expression that made him appear a bit shady, quickly ran over. With a suave leap over the gate, he approached the off-road vehicle.


    The young man peered inside the vehicle, his gaze passing directly over the driver, Ning Yuantai, and resting on Xue Jing seated beside him.


    Upon seeing Xue Jing, his eyes lit up, and he promptly turned to explain to the middle-aged security guard, "Uncle, this is our examination hall''s examiner; please open the gate."


    The security guard hesitated momentarily before responding, "Oh, okay."


    He turned back to the guardhouse, and soon after, the barrier at the mansion gate slowly opened.


    Xue Jing looked at the young man standing outside the car window and smilingly asked, "Are you a student?" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The young man grinned back, "Hello, Mr. Xue! My name is He Han."


    Xue Jing''s expression paused slightly as he suddenly noticed the shirt worn by the young man named He Han.


    It was a white T-shirt with a ''pain shirt''...simply put, a shirt printed with a fictional character he liked.


    Xue Jing also had experience with ACG works but could not recognize the white-haired character printed on the shirt.


    Noticing Xue Jing''s gaze, He Han tugged at his shirt and explained, "This is my wife, Sakurakoji Luna."


    The unabashed and matter-of-fact attitude made Xue Jing''s lips twitch slightly, "...Classmate, get in the car, let''s talk."


    He Han cheerfully agreed, "Okay!"


    He then opened the rear passenger door, got into the vehicle, and curiously touched the high-quality seat material.


    The vehicle slowly moved forward, driving into the mansion.


    "Classmate, where are you from?" Xue Jing casually asked.


    Seated in the back, He Han replied, "I''m a local from Silver City, Mr. Xue, but let''s not talk about that right now, I have something important to tell you..."


    He leaned between the two front seats, making cheeky gestures at Xue Jing, "Did you know, inside this mansion, there are a few students who really resent having you as our examiner and are planning to embarrass you badly to force a change!"


    "You need to be careful!"


    Ning Yuantai listened, his expression oddly amused as he shook his head disdainfully.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged, bearing a smirk as he watched He Han, "Tattling?"


    With determination in his eyes as if he was affirming his faith, He Han declared, "This is but speaking for justice!"


    Xue Jing shook his head and responded, "I''ll pretend I didn''t hear that, and you should pretend you never said anything, understand?"


    He Han''s eyes shifted slightly, then he grinned, "Okay, teacher."


    Xue Jing hummed in acknowledgment and asked, "How many students have arrived at the mansion so far?"


    According to the information given to him, the No. 9 Examination Hall that Xue Jing was responsible for comprised thirty-one students.


    But the data only included their names, genders, photos, and candidate numbers, nothing else, so Xue Jing had almost no understanding of this group of students.


    He would lead the team and needed to gather more intelligence on his students.


    He Han thought for a moment and said, "From those I''ve seen, probably about twenty-five, including me, that makes twenty-six."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Huh¡­ training officially starts tomorrow, and there are still quite a few who haven''t arrived yet?"


    He took out his phone, swiped a few times on the screen, opened the student information page, and handed it to He Han, "Take a look, see who hasn''t arrived yet."


    He Han reached out excitedly, perhaps thrilled by the chance to see ''secret information'' he shouldn''t have, and as he flipped through the phone, he remarked, "This one, Zhong Wei, I haven''t seen her."


    "Yuan Baijing¡­"


    "Zhao Longtu... yi, how is this person here!?"


    Suddenly, He Han exclaimed in shock upon seeing an unexpected name in the data.


    Xue Jing glanced sideways at him, "What''s the issue with him?"


    He Han scratched his head, "It''s a big problem, Mr. Xue."


    He handed the phone back to Xue Jing and pointed at a student''s photo in the information.


    It was a fiercely-looking male student; unlike others who had smiling faces, his expression was not only devoid of any smile but also carried a voracious ferocity.


    To the left of his eye was a prominent scar, which appeared to have been caused by being struck by some blunt object.


    If it wasn''t included in the student data, one might mistake it for a prison inmate''s photo.


    "Zhao Longtu, he was at the same school as me in middle school¡­"


    "Although that incident happened many years ago and not many remember it now, I remember it every time I see him."


    He Han spoke quietly, "He killed his class teacher."


    "Hm?" Curious about such significant gossip, even Ning Yuantai turned around to look at He Han attentively.


    "What happened exactly?"


    Xue Jing did not speak but also looked towards He Han.


    He Han shook his head, "The specifics are quite varied; the whole school was in turmoil back then. There were at least a hundred different versions of Zhao Longtu''s motive for killing the teacher, all very chaotic."


    "Some say the teacher frequently abused and punished him, some say Zhao Longtu is a born psychopath with Superiority Complex, and others say the teacher forced Zhao Longtu into underage underground boxing to make money."

 Chapter 572 - 318: The Gardener and the Plants, Students Planted by Xue Jing in the Ground (4K)_2

    ```


    "There were a few that sounded plausible at first, but later they were all overturned."


    "And the school has been silent, not announcing any specifics. All I know is that afterward, Zhao Longtu went to prison... He probably won''t be able to participate in the martial arts examination."


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation, "A juvenile offender? Have you had any contact with him? What kind of person is he?"


    He Han shook his head, "I only had a little contact with him during martial arts classes... The guy is a genius, extremely powerful. In the first year when he just started, he was able to beat the senior students in practical combat classes."


    "He was the apple of the teachers'' eyes. The homeroom teacher of his class always valued him highly, often giving him special coaching and always taking him out to eat... Anyone who saw them together said they were just like father and son."


    After listening to He Han''s explanation, Xue Jing turned to look at Ning Yuantai.


    "Yuantai, I''ll have to trouble you."


    He spoke softly.


    Ning Yuantai patted his chest, "Don''t worry, Xue. By tomorrow, I''ll have investigated everything clearly!"


    ...


    He Han ran to the training field where a group of students was gathered, all of them looking in his direction.


    The round-faced boy leading them frowned and asked,


    "He Han, weren''t you going to play Borderlands 3?"


    He Han, with an innocent face, said, "I was just about to head back to my room when I passed by the main gate and saw a car coming in, so I took a closer look. It seems like our examiner for this time is inside, so I rushed over to report!"


    "How about that? Isn''t this critical information, huh?"


    Instead of acknowledging his attempt to impress, the round-faced boy became slightly nervous, "He''s here? That Xue Jing?"


    A person''s reputation is like a shadow. Despite not having much respect for outsiders, there was no doubt Xue Jing was a genius with a significant reputation.


    It''s like when mentioning celebrities or public figures; because of a lack of real interaction, one can discuss them frivolously, with disdain or even contempt. But when it comes time to meet the person in real life, the sense of reality immediately presses down.


    And now, they were about to go against a famed genius...


    Could they win?


    They had to win!


    The round-faced boy steadied himself and looked at his similarly nervous friends.


    "Don''t be nervous, stick to the plan!"


    "He''s just our age, nothing to be scared of!"


    The round-faced boy''s gaze shifted back to He Han with a hint of suspicion,


    "You didn''t snitch, did you?"


    He Han protested, "No way! My lips are sealed tighter than a Tightening Spell!"


    Still doubtful, the round-faced boy nonetheless nodded and said,


    "Well, since he''s already here, just stick with us. You can play Borderlands 3 later."


    "Eh?" He Han blinked.


    "I just got a text. The local products my mom sent arrived. I need to go pick them up. It''s not that I''m scared; it''s just that they''ll go bad if I leave them till later this afternoon..."


    The round-faced boy grabbed the collar of his shirt, speaking flatly, "Aren''t you a local of Silver City?"


    He Han sighed, "It seems I have to reveal my background. Actually... I''m half Japanese."


    "I haven''t mentioned it for fear you''d look down on me. My mother is a Far Eastern person, named Sakurai Momoka..."


    The round-faced boy glared at him, "Cut the crap. Do you think I haven''t seen ''THE IDOLM@STER''?"


    He Han was immediately struck with disbelief.


    Eh? You''re all serious and stuff, but you''re an otaku too?


    The round-faced boy, realizing that he might have given something away, twitched the corner of his eye, somewhat embarrassed but still forcefully said,


    "Keep your cool. We''ll act together later, and don''t forget, this concerns your future too!"


    He Han said,"..."


    ...


    The black SUV slowly drove into the training field and found a place to park.


    On the training field, the students who were practicing martial arts all stopped and looked at the car.


    "Yuantai, you can go back first. I''ll take it from here."


    Xue Jing was unbuckling his seatbelt as he spoke.


    Ning Yuantai nodded upon hearing this, "Then I''ll leave first. Call me when you''re done, Xue."


    Xue Jing opened the car door and stepped out.


    From afar on the training field, the round-faced boy was surrounded by many students. As soon as they saw Xue Jing getting out of the car, several of the girls couldn''t help but let out soft exclamations.


    "Wow..."


    "What a magnificent face..."


    ```


    "So that''s Mr. Xue, huh? I''ve seen his videos, and I originally thought they were overly exaggerated, maybe with beauty filters, but seeing him in person is even more outrageous..."


    "What do we do, Mr. Xue must have his difficulties, is it really okay for us to treat him like this?"


    "He must have been the victim of jealousy and suppression by those higher up, which is why he was sent to our Seventh Metropolitan Circle to be an examiner. He''s already had it rough, how can we add to his troubles?"


    Listening to the whispers of defection starting to spread around him, the round-faced boy''s mouth twitched.


    "Don''t be fooled! The good-looking but useless types, with him around, we won''t get good grades, won''t get into a good university, and our whole lives would be delayed!"


    After speaking, a pretty girl standing beside him held her cheek with one hand, looking at Xue Jing with affection,


    "I really want Mr. Xue to delay me..."


    Round-faced boy: "..."


    "Anyway, let''s go, an unexpected first wave!"


    "Follow me!"


    The round-faced boy stepped forward, starting to run towards Xue Jing.


    After a moment of looking at each other, the others started moving as well, following him, including the girls.


    Xue Jing was strolling leisurely towards the training ground when he saw a group of teenagers running towards him.


    He wore a smile, not showing the slightest hint of defense, as he continued walking forward.


    The students quickly approached him.


    The round-faced boy leading them shouted out loud,


    "Hello, teacher!"


    And with that, he threw a punch that headed straight for Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    The fist sliced through the air, creating twelve petal-like visible rotating air currents that revealed its deadly force at a glance.


    "Snap¡ª!!"


    With a bursting sound, the punch was caught by a hand as clear and lustrous as jade. The Punch Force erupted, and the currents formed a lotus flower blooming above the hand.


    However, the hand was like it had been brushed by a mild breeze, unharmed.


    "Wha¡ª?"


    The round-faced boy was slightly startled, trying to withdraw his fist, but it was firmly grasped by the hand.


    Xue Jing laughed gently, "Hello, students."


    As he spoke, he lifted the round-faced boy by the fist, swung him in a half circle overhead, and slammed him hard into the ground.


    "Thump¡ª!!"


    The round-faced boy''s entire body sank into the grass of the training ground, dumbfoundedly staring at the sky.


    Before he could recover, his body was uncontrollably lifted off the ground.


    A dreadfully overwhelming forces, utterly irresistible, poured forcefully into his body, making him stiffen and involuntarily form a ''stand at attention'' posture in mid-air.


    Xue Jing, holding the ''sword man'' in an upright position like a human-shaped Giant Sword, tilted it to rest on the ground.


    "Xingyan!"


    Seeing the round-faced boy instantly taken down, the other students shouted and rushed forward with increased speed.


    ''No sign of fear, is this what Seventh Metropolitan Circle''s students are like...''


    Xue Jing chuckled and lifted the ''Sword Man'' in his hand.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    "Ah!"


    "Pfft¡ªpfft-pfft¡ª"


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!!"


    "Pfft¡ªpfft¡ª"


    "Ah!!!"


    A series of continuous head-colliding sounds rang out, as all the students getting close to him were hit by the stiff ''Sword Man'' on their heads, hammering them into the ground like nails, leaving only their heads sticking out.


    He Han and the rest, all dizzy, looked up at the handsome youth who rested the ''sword'' on his shoulder.


    "The teacher is the diligent gardener,"


    "And you all are the flowers and plants that I''ve planted and must care for." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s get along well."


    Xue Jing gently began, his expression tender.


    Everyone sunk into the ground: "..."


    The gardener and the plants aren''t meant to be taken literally!!!!


    ......

 Chapter 573 - 319: Succubus Xue Jing, a Minor Not Counted as Open (4K)

    Xuanwu Mansion, in the cafeteria.


    Xue Jing came here to experience the students'' meals and, after ordering many dishes, casually found a spot to sit down.


    He had just taken his seat when a girl wearing a white martial arts uniform with shoulder-length short hair and a delicate face approached, holding a tray.


    "Mr. Xue... can I eat with you?"


    She asked cautiously.


    Xue Jing glanced at her, nodded, and smiled warmly, "Sure, take a seat."


    Perhaps it was the magic of the ''teacher'' identity; although he was the same age as these students, there was always a sense of parental affection when facing them after gaining this title.


    It was like dealing with children; he found himself having an extra measure of tolerance that he didn''t usually show.


    Maybe it also had to do with his being a person of two lifetimes; with this identity, could he exhibit the side that reflected his true psychological age?


    While Xue Jing was analyzing his own mentality, the girl student was dazzled by his gentle smile, unintentionally clutching the clothes over her heart, her heartbeat racing, biting her lower lip. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That smile... it''s so unfair!!


    Fu Jialin''s cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly placed her tray on the table, sat down next to Xue Jing, thought for a moment, and then subtly moved closer to him, almost touching him.


    Although she had just been ''planted'' into the ground by Xue Jing''s Power, which was quite a shock, she later realized that no one was hurt, not even a minor scrape.


    Clearly, this was a strong and gentle good teacher, reluctant to hurt even those students who harbored ill will and were obviously trying to harm him!


    Fu Jialin covertly admired Xue Jing''s flawless profile from up close, watching him pick up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, put it into his mouth, and chew a couple of times before frowning slightly.


    Why does even the look of finding something distasteful while eating appear so enticing...


    Fu Jialin covered her face with her hands.


    "Student, aren''t you going to eat?"


    Xue Jing glanced at the girl next to him who seemed to be up to something.


    Hearing this, Fu Jialin quickly lowered her hands and began, "Mr. Xue, I..."


    Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a chirping noise.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue, let''s eat together!"


    "Eh, Mr. Xue, do you like Eggplant with Potatoes and Green Peppers? I can cook this dish. I''ll make it for you next time!"


    Four or five girls with trays approached Xue Jing excitedly.


    Looking at the group of vibrant and energetic girls in front of him, Xue Jing smiled and said,


    "Everyone, take a seat."


    Soon, the seats around him were all filled, and the spacious dining table suddenly became crowded.


    "Teacher, your hair is so nice, how do you take care of it? Can you share?"


    "Teacher, I know how to read palms. Let me... let me see your palm!"


    "Teacher..."


    Not far away, the round-faced boy Chen Xingyan was gathered with a few companions, including He Han, pushing food around on their plates and watching Xue Jing being surrounded by girls.


    "I''ve been careless; I didn''t expect this guy to be quite something. The first wave of the plan has failed."


    Chen Xingyan frowned.


    Beside him, He Han scoffed, "You call that a plan?"


    Ignoring He Han''s jibe, Chen Xingyan glanced at him, suspiciously asking,


    "He Han, you didn''t snitch, did you? How come it feels like Mr. Xue... Mr. Xue knew we were going to attack him suddenly, as if it was all expected?"


    With an innocent face, He Han protested, "I''ve been wronged, Stand Straight Bro! My mouth is famously tight, tighter than Jin Machao. How could I do such a thing?"


    Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched, "Don''t call me Stand Straight Bro."


    After being filled with Xue Jing''s Power and forced into a standing-at-attention pose to be used as a weapon, He Han had given him this nickname.


    "Don''t worry, although the surprise first strike failed, we still have plenty of opportunities. Now I''ve sent the girls to gather information about him. Men are less guarded against women, so I estimate we''ll soon find his vulnerability..."


    Chen Xingyan looked at Xue Jing from a distance, with a determined gleam in his youthful and chubby face.


    The girl with thick eyebrows sitting beside him hesitated, "Gathering information... but it seems like they''re just genuinely interested in Mr. Xue. The questions they''re asking don''t seem related to vulnerabilities at all..."


    Chen Xingyan glanced at her, "You don''t understand; it''s a progressive approach. Once Mr. Xue lowers his guard, they will start to ask the key questions."


    "Mr. Xue... do you have a girlfriend?"


    A pretty girl with a gentle demeanor, fair complexion, and petite figure shyly asked, her voice tentative.


    He Han scratched his head and looked towards Chen Xingyan whose expression darkened, "That question... it does seem quite crucial..."


    Chen Xingyan frowned, "It''s not that, Jingqiu is using this conversational tactic to break down his defenses..."


    Not too far away, Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Yes, I do."


    At that response, the girl called Ye Jingqiu suddenly showed a thunderstruck expression, as if she had just heard about a tragedy befalling her family, and forced a sad smile, "Ah... really? There''s someone?"


    The blatant look of heartbreak made the girl with thick eyebrows give Chen Xingyan a puzzled glance.


    She knew well enough; there were some budding ambiguities between Ye Jingqiu and Chen Xingyan during their time in the mansion...


    Chen Xingyan''s eyelid twitched, "...It''s just Acting."


    Beside him, He Han patted his shoulder, consoling, "Stand Straight Bro, you can deceive us, but don''t deceive yourself. Women in reality are like this; don''t take it too hard."

 Chapter 574 - 319: Succubus Xue Jing, a Minor Not Counted as Open (4K)_2

    Chen Xingyan violently swatted his hand away, glared at him, and said, "Shut up!"


    "Jingqiu is not that kind of person, you have no right to insult her efforts!"


    He Han didn''t speak any more, just patted him on the shoulder again and let out a sympathetic sigh.


    "Having said that, Mr. Xue is really handsome."


    He Han sighed.


    "Even I, as a guy, if I look at him too long, I start to drool..."


    Chen Xingyan and a few male students around him silently shifted their seats, moving a bit away from him.


    "So what''s our next move?"


    He Han continued to ask. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing this, Chen Xingyan took a bite of his rice and shook his head:


    "We don''t stand a chance today, we''ll have to wait until tomorrow. Once the training officially begins and those few arrive, we can proceed with the next step of the plan."


    Saying this, he narrowed his eyes at He Han.


    "You''re not going to snitch, are you?"


    He Han slammed the table and stood up, revealing Sakurakoji Luna on his chest, and declared indignantly, "Chen Lizheng, you scoundrel! What''s your agenda for framing me time and time again!? I, He Han, am righteous and my mouth is as sealed as a steel door, impregnable even by the most extreme imperial weapons, how dare you humiliate me like this!"


    The girl with thick eyebrows tugged at Chen Xingyan''s sleeve and whispered, "Lizheng, I don''t think He Han would do such a thing..."


    Chen Lizheng''s mouth twitched, "Don''t call me Lizheng... fine, sit down."


    Although he always felt there was something off about He Han, seeing him look like he was suffering great injustice, he temporarily let down his guard.


    "Let''s do this tomorrow..."


    ...


    "Goodbye, teacher!"


    "See you tomorrow, Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue..."


    Xue Jing opened the passenger door of the black SUV, turned back to a few lovelorn female students standing at the mansion''s gate, and waved with a smile.


    "Go back, see you tomorrow."


    After that, he turned and entered the car, closing the door and reaching for the seatbelt.


    Ning Yuantai turned his head to look at the lively and beautiful female students through the rear window, and couldn''t help but tease,


    "You really have a way with them, Xue. It''s been just a few hours, more over-the-top than casting spells."


    Xue Jing buckled his seatbelt and said dismissively, "They''re just kids."


    Ning Yuantai coughed, wanting to mention that these students were actually about our age...


    "Xue, how do you feel, are they going to be of great use?"


    He started the car and began driving, asking as he did so.


    Xue Jing pondered for a moment, saying, "They''re all quite energetic, but clearly lacking in strength."


    "That''s not a big deal, I''ll take care of it later... and the key individuals haven''t even arrived yet."


    Xue Jing took out his phone, browsing through the student profiles, pausing on the pages of a few students he had yet to meet.


    "Three days of training should be enough to shape a relatively qualified team."


    Xue Jing thought to himself.


    In such a short time, others might not accomplish much, but he was different.


    Xue Jing flipped to the ''Rules Introduction'' page, carefully reading through the entries, and after a long time, nodded his head.


    "The rules are in my favor... no, most of the time, I''m on the advantageous side."


    His current Divine Skill and Divine Incarnation were just too convenient, offering too many loopholes to exploit.


    Even though the Secret Martial Society had clearly targeted him in this joint exam, and the involvement of forces like the Zhu Family, Zhou Clan, and Xu Family could not be ruled out, Xue Jing felt his advantages were still overwhelmingly large.


    "The food in this mansion''s cafeteria is really bad, doesn''t taste good, and lacks nutrition,"


    Xue Jing remarked.


    "Let''s go, we need to buy some groceries."


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes lit up, "Hey, Xue, are you planning to...?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "They''re going to have a tough three days, nutrition is a must."


    ```


    "I''ll do the cooking myself," Xue Jing declared.


    Ning Yuantai exclaimed with delight, "That''s great, Xue! These kids don''t know how many lifetimes of fortune they''ve amassed to be your students, and to eat meals prepared by your own hands..."


    After a pause, he added, "By the way, Xue, I''ve felt that my martial arts have regressed a lot recently. I might as well join in on this training..."


    Xue Jing laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "What''s our relationship? If you want to eat, just come over. Could we possibly run out of chopsticks for you?"


    Hearing this, Ning Yuantai''s tough demeanor cracked as he shed tears of joy. "Xue..."


    ...


    Emerging from the supermarket, Ning Yuantai carried a huge black bag over two meters tall and three meters wide, filled to the brim, and couldn''t help but exclaim,


    "Isn''t this a bit too much, Xue? Can we finish it all?"


    As soon as the two of them entered the supermarket earlier, Xue Jing pushed several shopping carts straight to the ingredients section, sweeping all the remaining groceries clean.


    Back at the parked SUV, Ning Yuantai set the massive bag down on the ground. Xue Jing looked around, and seeing that no one was in sight, waved his hand and with a "Nonexistent Beast" swallowed the large bag of groceries into an invisible void.


    "We''re preparing for more than just the three-day training," Xue Jing said.


    "More?" Ning Yuantai scratched his head in confusion, then seemed to realize something, enlighteningly saying, "Ah, I see now."


    "Xue, are you planning to take a large amount of food into the ''Steel Tree Sea''?"


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes widened. "Cheating? Hacking?"


    Xue Jing waved his hand dismissively. "Cheating that isn''t discovered isn''t cheating. A little hack is not really a hack."


    Ning Yuantai questioned, "Is that going to work? Could we be disqualified for breaking the rules?"


    "Relax... Before entering the Steel Tree Sea, officials will thoroughly search everyone. Since they''ve included this process, as long as they can''t find anything, it''s their own lack of ability," Xue Jing confidently explained.


    "I won''t admit that I brought these things in... It''s entirely plausible that a ''treasure'' buried in the Steel Tree Sea''s metallic ground was just dug up by me. I have as many reasons as needed. Let''s continue shopping."


    ...


    For the entire afternoon, Ning Yuantai drove Xue Jing around, visiting nearby markets and supermarkets, stocking up an enormous amount of ingredients.


    The "Nonexistent Beast" could store approximately 904 cubic meters of material. It had been quite empty but was now nearly full.


    With such an enormous quantity of ingredients, not only could they last seven days, but even seven months wouldn''t pose a problem.


    Since the "Nonexistent Beast''s" belly belonged to ''nonexistence,'' once the ingredients entered this ''state of nonexistence,'' they would not undergo any change, so there was no concern over expiration dates. Whatever was swallowed would come out exactly as it went in.


    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next day.


    Early in the morning, at Xuanwu Mansion''s entrance, car after car arrived, each unloading a few young men and women.


    "Yuan Baijing... Zhong Wei... Cao Sini..."


    From a building inside the mansion, Chen Xingyan slowly recited the names of the distinguished students walking in through the gate.


    "Hey, wait a minute... Cao Sini?"


    Beside him, He Han wore a peculiar expression. "What an unusual name."


    Chen Xingyan gave him a look, warning, "You''d better not call her by her full name in her presence, or it could be deadly."


    He Han nodded and commented, "Understandably so."


    If he had been named something offensive, he''d surely react badly to being called by it.


    Empathy was key; after all, he was a man of integrity and would never mock someone for their name.


    "Lizheng, you seem pretty familiar with Miss Cao?"


    Chen Xingyan frowned slightly, feeling there was something odd about the way He Han pronounced ''Cao.''


    "Just try calling me by that nickname again, and I''ll beat you so bad you won''t be able to stand up straight..."


    With a sigh, he explained,


    "I once went to a youth competition in Extreme City, and Miss Cao also participated."


    "When I was watching, her opponent made fun of her name..."


    "Then the person disappeared."


    Chen Xingyan said flatly.


    "He was killed by Miss Cao right there in the ring... It was brutal. Because the taunting involved some obscene gestures, even his ''bullocks'' were removed."


    Upon hearing this, He Han covered his groin and gasped,


    "Sister Cao is so fierce."


    ```

 Chapter 575 - 320: Teacher, I Am a True Gender Equality Advocate (4K)

    In the spacious classroom, thirty teenagers gathered together just like classmates at the beginning of school, chatting in groups of threes and twos.


    "What a pity, you all weren''t here yesterday and didn''t see Mr. Xue..."


    "Mr. Xue? Xue Jing?"


    "For real? Damn it, I can''t believe I missed it..."


    "Mr. Xue is really super handsome, strong and gentle, and he smells so good..."


    "Sigh, I really want to lick Mr. Xue all over."


    "...Sis, your taste is kinda heavy."


    "If you''d really seen Mr. Xue in person, you''d know, even his hair is crazily charismatic..."


    Listening to the noisy chatter in the classroom, Chen Xingyan''s group gathered together, counting the number of people attending.


    "Twenty-nine... thirty."


    "One person is still missing."


    Chen Xingyan''s gaze moved away from a girl named Cao Sini.


    "At this point, she probably won''t come."


    He Han said casually.


    He pointed to the large lectern in front of the classroom, three meters wide, and said, "Speaking of which, I''ve always been curious, how did they get such a big desk in here?"


    A boy sitting nearby rolled his eyes and said, "Do you even need to ask? Obviously, they brought it in when it was still small."


    He Han was shocked, "This thing grows? Really?"


    Boy: "Of course not, idiot."


    "Nani!"


    He Han angrily stood up, displaying the anime character on his shirt.


    The boy glanced at the character with white fur and disdainfully said, "What is that?"


    He Han glared and said, "This is my sister Xin Haitian; what, you got a problem?"


    The boy sneered, "Hardly."


    He Han growled, "Can''t stand this, I''m gonna explode!"


    He got up from his seat and was about to approach the boy, but Chen Xingyan quickly reached out to stop him.


    "Calm down, we have a common goal now. We need to get along, don''t make trouble."


    The boy turned his head to give Chen Xingyan a look and sneered, "Gay."


    "What!?" Chen Xingyan was furious and pushed the table, about to jump out, but he was immediately restrained by He Han grabbing him from behind.


    "Cool it, Brother Li Zheng; don''t stoop to his level!"


    Cao Sini, with her long, sleek black hair, pretty face, shapely figure, and narrow, sharp eyes like knife blades, looked around at the students making a show and snorted:


    "Boring."


    Outside the door, holding a stack of papers and just arriving at the doorway was Xue Jing. Hearing the noisy uproar in the classroom, he smiled and said,


    "They are really full of energy, nice."


    He opened the classroom door and stepped inside.


    The noise had not stopped, and Xue Jing''s overly youthful appearance made many for a moment fail to realize and subconsciously thought him to be another student.


    It wasn''t until he walked up to the lectern that everyone saw him clearly, and the noise gradually quieted down.


    "Mr. Xue..."


    "Finally seeing you again."


    "No matter how many times I see him, he is really handsome..."


    The female students who had seen Xue Jing yesterday had their eyes bright and sparkling.


    The rest of the students also looked towards Xue Jing with various emotions in their eyes.


    "Demon King..."


    Cao Sini crossed her arms, pushed out her sizable chest, narrowed her sharp eyes slightly, staring at Xue Jing, wondering something.


    "Everyone, please return to your seats and sit down."


    Xue Jing glanced at Chen Xingyan and He Han, who were still entangled with each other; while their faces showed anger, it might not seem right, but it did feel a bit ambiguous.


    Upon hearing this, He Han obediently let go and sat back in his seat, pressing his hands and feet together, his posture obediently listening to the teacher.


    Chen Xingyan turned his head to see the abrasive boy giving him a mocking smile, one hand under the table, showing Chen Xingyan a middle finger where Xue Jing couldn''t see.


    Chen Xingyan''s face filled with rage, about to say something.


    But at that moment, Xue Jing slightly tilted his head, puzzled he said, S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Umm? I thought I spoke very clearly."


    His voice gentle, he continued, "Are your ears not that good, do you need me to repeat that?"


    Just as his words ended¡ª


    Buzz¡ª¡ª!!


    The air vibrated, the light distorted, and a terrifying Spiritual Aura radiated from Xue Jing''s entire body, shaking the entire classroom.


    Tables and chairs uttered crackling sounds under the strain, walls and floor cracked, and the window glasses trembled repeatedly, making fast tapping sounds against the window frames.


    All the students instantly felt an extreme and terrifying pressure, as if thousands of pounds suddenly evenly covered their whole bodies, forcing them to stay put, unable to move.


    They clenched their teeth and trembled trying to withstand this unimaginable pressure, shockingly looking towards the good-looking, gentle young man on the lectern.


    Chen Xingyan, initially standing, wanted to persevere and keep standing a while longer by clenching his teeth, but due to his body being too tense, he inadvertently struck a standing position...


    But in just two or three seconds, he was overwhelmed by the unbearable pressure, sweating profusely, panting heavily, and was forced to bend over and sit back down.


    Xue Jing did not immediately stop the output of his Spiritual Aura, but continued it for a while, observing the behavior of all the students.


    His gaze lingered on a few students who still dared to meet his gaze; before any student actually fainted, Xue Jing slowly withdrew his Spiritual Aura.


    The trembling in the air stopped, the classroom fell utterly silent, everyone neatly sitting in their seats, backs ramrod straight, not daring to breathe heavily, shockingly watching Xue Jing.

 Chapter 576 - 320 Teacher, I Truly Believe in Gender Equality (4K)_2

    ```


    This person... so strong!


    Too strong, it''s outrageous, even though we''re just peers...


    "Very good," Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    He had no experience as a teacher, but he understood the laws of human nature.


    In this world, there are numerous ways to bend hearts and minds to your will, but when you boil it down, it''s nothing more than a mix of kindness and severity, carrots, and sticks.


    Unfortunately for them, he had plenty of carrots.


    And even more sticks.


    "Xu Zixuan, could you stand up for a moment?"


    Xue Jing tapped his finger on the podium and looked towards a boy sitting not far from Chen Xingyan and He Han.


    The smile on Xu Zixuan''s playful face stiffened, and he hesitated for a moment, but seeing the increasingly gentle smile on Xue Jing''s face, he slowly stood up.


    "You just now, seemed to be doing some actions under the table that you thought I couldn''t see," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    Chen Xingyan, originally full of resentment, felt a sudden relief in his mood after witnessing this scene, taking malicious glee in Xu Zixuan''s plight.


    "Uh... Mr. Xue, I..."


    Xu Zixuan showed hesitation, but Xue Jing gestured for him to come over.


    "Come here and repeat the actions you were doing to your classmates, but do them to me."


    Xu Zixuan promptly admitted defeat, bowing his head and saying, "Teacher, I was wrong."


    He really didn''t dare make that kind of gesture to Xue Jing... fearing that being stubborn would only make him lose more face, it was better to admit fault sooner and lose less.


    Xue Jing nodded and said, "Your attitude is okay... but if apologies were useful, then what would be the point of practicing martial arts?"


    Xu Zixuan: "Eh?"


    Xue Jing extended his right hand toward Xu Zixuan, put his thumb under his index finger, and flicked.


    An invisible Qi Force shot out, surging to Xu Zixuan''s chin and then suddenly turning to strike upwards, hitting him right on the chin.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    Xu Zixuan spiraled upwards on the spot, spinning as his head smashed through the ceiling, completely buried within it, leaving only his body hanging outside, dangling from the ceiling like a sunny doll on a noose.


    All the students, having witnessed this scene, were wide-eyed and silent as cicadas in winter.


    Chen Xingyan, upon seeing this, had not a single complaint left, only a deep sense of relief.


    Xue Jing looked around at the students'' expressions and nodded with a smile:


    "Then let''s officially begin."


    "Hello students, I am your Mr. Xue, and I will be the examiner for this martial arts examination, responsible for training you, and leading you through the exam."


    "This will be a brief but memorable time, let''s... get along well, shall we?"


    Seeing the youth''s gentle and even somewhat captivating smile, no student dared to underestimate him anymore, quickly responding in unison:


    "Hello, Mr. Xue!!!"


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the podium and suddenly said:


    "You are the worst batch I have ever taught."


    "Ah?" the students were bewildered.


    After saying the phrase ''that he had always wanted say as a teacher'', Xue Jing chuckled and said:


    "Of course, you''re also the best batch... since I have only taught you after all."


    The students showed awkward smiles, somewhat embarrassed.


    "To secure a place in the Martial Arts Examination of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, you must be considered quite competent among ordinary people."


    "But in my eyes, all of you are mediocre."


    Xue Jing continued without changing his tone.


    "Individuals with no gifts, who have to fight with their peers for resources and struggle desperately to climb upwards."


    "Whether you accept it or not, like it or not, this is the truth."


    Many students showed dissatisfaction, but intimidated by Xue Jing''s authority, they didn''t dare to speak out.


    Only a few students remained indifferent, with some even showing agreement.


    "But... no one has ever decreed that mediocrities cannot reach the top."


    Xue Jing''s tone shifted.


    ```


    ```


    "Only two animals can reach the top of the pyramid, one is the eagle, the other a snail."


    "It doesn''t matter if you can''t flap your wings like an eagle, slowly but surely climbing upwards, you can always make progress, and perhaps one day you really will have climbed up there."


    "And now, what I need to do, is to carry you part of the way... Although I can''t bring you directly to the end, at least I can get you closer to your own goals."


    "The only thing you need to do is believe in me."


    The students stood dumbfounded in silence, unsure if Xue Jing was trying to suppress them or encourage them.


    Xue Jing didn''t care, he picked up the document on the lectern, flipped through a page, and smiled:


    "Let''s begin the roll call..."


    ...


    On the training ground, all thirty-one classmates were present except one, scattered around the perimeter of the field.


    Xue Jing stood at the center and said:


    "We only have three days to train you, generally speaking, such a short time is not enough to teach you much, it''s best to use all three days to get to know each other, build rapport, and come up with some tactics for inside the Intersecting Boundaries."


    "But it''s a bit different with me."


    "Now, in the order of student numbers, come forward one by one for some combat training with me... I need to understand each of your situations."


    The students exchanged worried glances: "Combat training with Mr. Xue? This..."


    After the scene they had just witnessed, essentially all the students understood just how terrifyingly strong their peer-aged teacher was... even his temper seemed a bit frightening.


    Xu Zixuan was still hanging on the ceiling... huh?


    Seeing Xu Zixuan silently walk out of the crowd and approach Xue Jing, everyone was stunned.


    He seems completely unharmed?


    "I knew it, Mr. Xue was using Soft Power, he didn''t hurt him at all!"


    A female student said happily.


    "Just yesterday, when we were attacking Mr. Xue together, he also used Soft Power to beat us, he never hurt us... Mr. Xue, you''re so kind."


    Beside her, the beautiful girl named Ye Jingqiu clasped her hands to her heart, moved.


    "The things he said just now must also be to encourage us, our teacher seems to be a bit of a ''sharp-tongued softie'', even when he needs to establish authority, he''s still soft-hearted, he''s such a good person..."


    "Then... does that mean the teacher is going to gently check each of our bodies next, to teach us both through words and actions..."


    Another female student blushed and swallowed, squeezing her thighs together a bit.


    As soon as she spoke, the nearby female students all widened their eyes, visibly excited, and even those who were more reserved had their hearts racing.


    Even some male students showed excitement in their eyes.


    "Ah, these girls are really something else."


    He Han shook his head speechlessly as he listened to the excited whispers of the girls.


    He looked towards Cao Sini, who was standing beside him, with a posture as tall and straight as a model:


    "Right, Cao?"


    Cao Sini glanced at him expressionlessly, without a word. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s pretend we''re gymnasts during our turn with Mr. Xue..."


    A female student was happily making a suggestion when suddenly.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    On the wall some meters away, Xu Zixuan, the first to go up for combat training with Xue Jing, had his entire body embedded into the wall, with dust filling the air, his bloodied and unconscious figure entered everyone''s field of vision.


    In the silence, Xue Jing''s voice came from the center of the field.


    "Next."


    "..."


    What happened to being gentle and not wanting to hurt students?


    Surely we''re not all going to arrive at the Martial Arts Examination covered in bruises three days from now?


    The student with the second number was a beautiful long-haired female student, she walked tremblingly to the center, stuttering to Xue Jing:


    "Te...Teacher, I''m a girl, could you please go a bit easier?"


    Xue Jing looked at her and said gently:


    "As a teacher, I am a true believer in gender equality."


    The female student: "..."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 577 - 321 Courageous Decision, The Moved Students (4K)

    Ten minutes later.


    The training field was strewn with students, both male and female, lying in various positions and moaning softly, treated equally in their agony.


    During the test, each person had received injuries nearly of the same severity from Xue Jing.


    Of course, while it was equal treatment for both genders, everyone''s physical condition varied, and their ability to endure their overall injuries differed as well; thus, Xue Jing had actually been slightly more lenient with the physically weaker female students.


    If he had used the same force on those who were physically weaker as on those who were stronger, that would have been another form of inequality.


    "Mr. Xue..."


    The last student stepped forward, a youth with a tender look yet notably handsome. He carried a solemn expression and a lean figure, holding a spear taller than himself as he walked slowly to face Xue Jing in the center of the field.


    "Teacher, my martial arts require a weapon... you don''t mind, do you?"


    The male student slightly flourished the spear in his hand, aiming its tip at Xue Jing and spoke.


    Xue Jing looked at him curiously and nodded,


    "Of course, use all your strength, Bai Jing."


    This student named Yuan Baijing was one Xue Jing had noted for his exemplary performance under the pressure of the spiritual aura during a classroom session, a student he paid special attention to.


    Although the side effects of the ''Proof of Love'' made it hard for Xue Jing to remember names, for the purpose of instruction, he still managed to memorize these students'' names by repeatedly muttering to himself.


    This was no difficult task for him, just somewhat cumbersome and annoying, hence he would not bother remembering the names of unimportant people he met casually.


    "If you think you can, you can even strike with the intent to kill me."


    Xue Jing chuckled,


    "Don''t worry, I actually have an undying body, dying is quite hard for me."


    The surrounding students all wore awkward smiles and chuckled along.


    "Eh... an undying body, that''s amazing, Teacher."


    "Mr. Xue is really humorous, hehe."


    The students cooperated, displaying strange expressions.


    This Mr. Xue was quite something, except his sense of humor was a bit cringy, always pretending to be silly in ways that weren''t funny at all, even talking about having an undying body...


    "Mr. Xue, watch out."


    Yuan Baijing''s gaze became firm, he readied his spear stance, and with a shake of his spear, it quivered sharply, suddenly causing the earth around him to burst in a circle as if it were the center.


    That seemed a bit interesting... Xue Jing''s eyes barely lit up.


    He had defeated countless peers called super-geniuses, hence his expectations were exceedingly high, having little expectation for these peers.


    But this Yuan Baijing... after positioning the spear, suddenly erupted a rather imposing aura.


    It was a resolve of no return, a recklessness, a readiness to never look back once decided. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow, is Yuan Baijing actually serious?"


    He Han, who was sitting on the ground and massaging his waist, exclaimed in surprise.


    He had just been beaten up by Xue Jing... and didn''t know if Mr. Xue targeted him specifically, incredibly striking him right in the kidney area. It was brutal.


    As a local, he knew Yuan Baijing.


    This was a talented youth widely known in Silver City, reputedly picked as a Direct Disciple by the Arena Master of Wuwei Dojo during his elementary school years, who had already achieved good results in several youth competitions.


    His fighting style was extremely distinctive and had much character, he even had his own title.


    Known as¡ªYuan Sanqiang.


    "If Mr. Xue is not careful, he might suffer a setback."


    Many students who knew Yuan Baijing''s background were snickering, waiting to enjoy a good show.


    They certainly didn''t think Yuan Baijing had a chance to defeat Xue Jing... but maybe he could break the flawless master image Xue Jing has maintained from the beginning, making him fall from his high pedestal.


    This has always been a sight the public enjoys.


    "Ha¡ª!!"


    In the arena, Yuan Baijing shouted loudly, the mud beneath his feet shattered, and he turned into a flash of lightning, rushing toward Xue Jing with glittering sharpness on his spear, piercing fiercely towards Xue Jing''s chest.


    It was a forward assault that cast aside all else, not considering what comes after, a surge of bravery filling his heart, willing to risk everything, courage enough to even pull down an emperor.


    As the saying goes, the brutal fear the reckless, the reckless fear the fearless, and this spear thrust was one of fearlessness, a spear of courage!


    Its name¡ªCourageous Decision.


    "Bai Jing, you''ve given your teacher quite a surprise."


    Xue Jing smiled and nodded, extending a finger, accurately aiming for the tip of the spear thrusting towards him.


    Tiny, dense scales of gold manifested at his fingertip, his bones trembling slightly, both the Golden Scales Transformation and Seal Cloud Tail, the two great defensive techniques of the Hidden Dragon School, were executed.


    Then, calculating with the precision of Impeccable Strategy, he instantaneously found the weakest point on the spear thrust, and lightly touched it with his fingertip.


    Spear tip against finger tip, a visible circular shockwave violently erupted at the point of contact.


    "Clang¡ª!!"


    A sound of metal clashing rang out, and the robes of the two people in the arena fluttered intensely, while all the surrounding students either involuntarily stepped back several steps or were directly blown away, quickly clearing a circle nearly fifty meters square in the center.


    "To think, with just a finger..."


    Some students who managed to barely keep their eyes open in the wind pressure, looking at Xue Jing''s response, were truly shaken.


    In the center of the arena, when Yuan Baijing''s spear was stopped by Xue Jing, he suddenly yelled and turned around, plunging in mid-air with another spear thrust!


    "Clang¡ª!!"


    The second spear was again blocked by Xue Jing, his eyes flickering slightly, as if enlightened.

 Chapter 578 - 321 Courageous Decision, The Moved Students (4K)_2

    Yuan Baijing turned back once again and thrust out his third spear!


    Xue Jing shook his head and faced the approaching spear tip with an outstretched palm, flicking it with his finger, striking the spear point.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The long spear slipped from Yuan Baijing''s grasp, spinning towards the sky at a high speed, reaching hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye before spinning back down and plunging into the ground of the training area with a thud¡ªright between He Han''s spread legs.


    "Shit!"


    He Han, sitting on the ground with his legs apart, broke into a cold sweat as he looked at the spear shaft inches away from him.


    Meanwhile, Yuan Baijing was lying on the ground, panting heavily with pale lips, looking completely drained as if he had been hollowed out, clearly devoid of any energy to continue the fight.


    "That''s quite interesting, what spear skills are these?"


    Xue Jing stood unscathed, still exuding the aura of a master, only glancing at the small white spot that barely stood out on his fingertip, curiously looking at Yuan Baijing.


    "That''s the Courageous Decision, Mr. Xue."


    He Han, with legs weak, walked over to Xue Jing and answered for the nearly speechless Yuan Baijing. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A very famous killer move from Wuwei Dojo... It embodies the true essence of ''courage'', with one effort, then diminishing, and exhausted at the third, all the essence lies within the first three strikes; after the three, ''courage'' is depleted."


    "While there are only three strikes, the power of these three far exceeds ordinary spear skills... Yuan Baijing has been refining this for many years, and it''s quite formidable. In competitions, even when everyone knows his trick, there''s almost no way to counter those three strikes."


    "I never imagined that against you, teacher, it would be a matter of a few flicks..."


    He Han said with a shake of his head and a sigh.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, the Courageous Decision..."


    He looked admiringly at Yuan Baijing, walked over to him, squatted down, and reached out to touch his head.


    "Bai Jing, don''t move."


    Yuan Baijing, gasping for air, managed to say:


    "Mr. Xue."


    As Xue Jing''s palm made contact with his head, he allowed the Nonexistent Beast to open an invisible slit in the palm, using the Plant Pact to allow the Dragon Cherry Seed to grow a black root, extending ever so slightly through the gap to touch Yuan Baijing''s body.


    The Dragon Sakura Root began to absorb Xue Jing''s vast and ocean-like life force, passing it on to Yuan Baijing.


    Exhausted and unable to move, Yuan Baijing suddenly felt a strong, pure, warm force seep into his body from Xue Jing''s palm, nourishing everything within him.


    His depleted energy quickly returned, and the internal injury caused by overexerting the Courageous Decision healed at an astonishing rate. He stared at Xue Jing, dumbfounded:


    "Teacher, you..."


    This force that was healing him carried a deep trace of Xue Jing''s ''scent'', and Yuan Baijing instinctively realized that Xue Jing was sharing his own life energy with him.


    Yuan Baijing was deeply moved.


    Here he was, having hurt himself trying to take down his teacher with the Courageous Decision, and yet his teacher was willing to use his life force to heal him...


    Once the injuries within his body were nearly healed and his condition was largely restored, Yuan Baijing was just about to speak.


    Suddenly, the sensation of life energy warmth from Xue Jing''s palm ceased, replaced by a cool and soothing power seeping into his brain.


    Although he did not know what it was, it too had a clear ''scent'' of Xue Jing.


    With the trust gained from Xue Jing''s willingness to share his life energy for healing, Yuan Baijing did not resist and let whatever force from Xue Jing seep into his brain, gradually reaching deep within his spirit and consciousness.


    ...Without Yuan Baijing noticing, Xue Jing used the power of Reverse Training Empowerment to copy knowledge, experiences, insights... and slowly pulled them back to his own consciousness.


    On the outskirts of his consciousness, golden light radiated, mostly dissolving the vast chunks of fragmented knowledge being transferred, filtering through and discarding what Xue Jing did not want, retaining only the parts related to martial arts to be absorbed deeper.


    After a while, Xue Jing withdrew his hand.


    Yuan Baijing immediately stood up lively and gratefully bowed to Xue Jing:


    "Mr. Xue, thank you!"


    "...Are you alright after doing this?"


    After expressing his gratitude, he immediately asked with concern.


    Xue Jing smiled and patted his head, saying:


    "I told you, I have an Undying Body, don''t worry."


    Yuan Baijing was stunned and took it as Xue Jing''s way of comforting him, feeling even more moved.


    He hadn''t placed much importance on this Martial Arts Examination¡ªit was only because his own master thought the test was a good experience that he had come. So to him, it was merely a formality, and the outcome of the examination wasn''t something he took seriously.


    But now, even if just for Mr. Xue''s sake, he felt he should put in a bit more effort.


    The surrounding students, those who knew the details of Yuan Baijing''s "Courageous Decision" spear technique, were puzzled at how quickly he had managed to recover.


    At that moment, Xue Jing clapped his hands and smiled, saying,


    "Alright, the test is over, and I have a general understanding of all of you... Let''s gather together."


    Hearing Xue Jing''s words, the students, one by one moving their injured bodies, assembled in front of Xue Jing, forming a line.


    Then, Xue Jing began treating their injuries in order of severity, from most to least severe, by placing his hand on them and using the Dragon Cherry Seed to transfer his own life force to them for healing.


    These students'' physical conditions were so far below his own that the cost of treating them wasn''t much, but the sheer number of them did present a bit of a burden.


    Had it been before his practice of the Nirvana Technique, Xue Jing would not have done this... But with the Nirvana Technique and "sleep," this level of life force loss was insignificant to him, nothing more than the matter of a good night''s rest.


    This deeply moved everyone.


    Even those who had no clear concept of it beforehand could distinctly feel the warmth of the shared life energy, realizing that Xue Jing was sacrificing his own wellbeing for theirs.


    The students who experienced it immediately cleared away any grudges or dissatisfaction they held from being injured by Xue Jing, leaving only gratitude for a good teacher.


    He was a responsible, caring teacher... He seemed to truly take them seriously, having a plan to teach them something.


    As he took his palm off a girl with the slightly strange name Cao Sini, he ignored her scrutinizing, sharp gaze, looked up at the bright sun, and said,


    "Hmm... It''s about time, we''ll stop here for now."


    "Let''s go, everyone, it''s time to head to the cafeteria for lunch."


    As soon as Xue Jing finished speaking, the students erupted in cheers.


    Martial arts battles are very draining on the body, and after being forced to spar with Xue Jing, most students were already ravenous.


    After the group arrived at the cafeteria in high spirits, the female students like Ye Jingqiu and Fu Jialin looked around in confusion and wondered,


    "Hey, where did Mr. Xue go?"


    "He was just chatting with us a moment ago; how did he disappear so suddenly?"


    Ye Jingqiu approached Chen Xingyan and inquired, "Li... Xingyan, have you seen Mr. Xue?"


    Hearing her almost let slip ''stand up,'' Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched slightly, as if he heard nothing, and simply shook his head,


    "No, I wasn''t paying attention."


    He Han was about to speak when someone inside the cafeteria waved at him, calling out,


    "Hey kid He Han! Come over here!"


    Chen Xingyan followed the voice and saw an unfamiliar face; he turned to He Han and asked,


    "Who is that?"


    He Han recognized him and instinctively replied, "That must be Mr. Xue''s driver; he was the one who drove Mr. Xue over yesterday."


    Chen Xingyan first nodded in understanding and then realized something was amiss.


    "Wait a second, how does he know you?"


    He Han''s heart skipped a beat.


    Bad news.


    Scratching his head, he had no choice but to confess, "Yesterday, to gather intelligence, I got on the car and chatted with Mr. Xue and the driver..."


    "But Brother Li Zheng, you can rest easy, my lips are sealed tighter than Yuan Baijing''s, I didn''t spill anything about our affair, honestly!"


    Chen Xingyan stiffened, his fists clenching.


    "You... animal..."


    He Han, startled, hastily glanced around, and then with delight pointed in a direction,


    "Hey, look there''s the teacher, Mr. Xue over there!"


    At this, everyone instantly looked in the direction he indicated.


    There they saw Xue Jing, resembling a household chef, wrapped in a white apron and wielding an unusual kitchen knife, ceaselessly chopping away.

 Chapter 579 - 322: Drugged Glowing Cuisine, Ning Yuantais Praise (4K)

    Ye Jingqiu leaned on the window sill, her well-developed curves pressed against it, forming arcs that accelerated the heartbeats of the boys around her. Her body leaned into the kitchen as she exclaimed in surprise:


    "Mr. Xue, you can cook?"


    Xue Jing was cutting the ingredients in an unbelievable manner, each movement so fast it nearly left afterimages, as he replied with ease:


    "Not bad, I know a little."


    Everyone watched as each of his cuts produced perfectly equal-sided ingredients, which didn''t seem like just ''a little'' knowledge.


    But this could also just be because Xue Jing''s sword skills were exceptional.


    "Hey, you guys look, doesn''t it seem like the things Mr. Xue has cut... are glowing?"


    Someone pointed at the neatly sorted piles of ingredients that Xue Jing had cut and exclaimed.


    Whether vegetables, meat, grains, or fruits... they all had a shimmering glow, looking fresh and delicious like top-notch ingredients with effects added in animations. Just by looking, everyone felt their mouths watering, almost wishing they could swallow them raw.


    "Could Mr. Xue''s real name be Xue Maoxing?"


    "Wow, glowing cuisine!"


    ... S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The commotion continued around the window sill, and at a certain dining table inside the cafeteria, He Han and Chen Xingyan, along with their small group, approached Ning Yuantai and sat down.


    "This kind brother..."


    He Han clasped his hands together, but Ning Yuantai immediately waved his hand:


    "My name is Ning Yuantai, just call me Brother Ning."


    Hearing this, He Han blinked.


    Such an attitude, and he even called himself ''master.'' Could his real identity be not a driver but a wealthy friend of Mr. Xue?


    He Han realized, and immediately became more humble, "Okay, Mr. Ning."


    Ning Yuantai glared at him and slammed the table: "Can''t you understand human speech? I already said call me Brother Ning. I, the young master, have reached where I am today all on my own, with no relation to my family at all!"


    Chen Xingyan and the others were stunned.


    "Okay, sit down quickly. You little rascals are really lucky, being able to be students under Xue and even getting to eat food personally cooked by him..."


    Ning Yuantai rambled on.


    He Han sat down and stroked his chin, saying:


    "Brother Ning, hearing you say that, is Mr. Xue a really incredible person?"


    All they knew was that Xue Jing was a famous martial arts genius outside the Fifth Urban Circle, having won a U19 championship... But beyond that, they knew nothing about Xue Jing himself.


    A teenage martial arts championship winner, although called the strongest in history, was still just that. If they really wanted, they could participate and compete on the same stage as Xue Jing... To win or not was another matter, but they definitely could measure up.


    Thus, the students never felt Xue Jing was a person far removed and extremely incredible; instead, they felt a sense of kinship.


    Ning Yuantai chuckled, "You really know nothing..."


    He paused, and with a look of regret, Ning Yuantai said:


    "I''d really like to brag a bit, but the things Xue does are basically not something we can explain to ordinary people."


    A girl with thick eyebrows asked curiously: "Brother Ning, are you not an ordinary person?"


    Ning Yuantai crossed his arms and said condescendingly: "Of course not, how could an ordinary person become Xue''s personal lackey?"


    "Let me introduce myself. I am a member of the 681st team in Ceasefire Combat Unit under the Special Duty Department of the Emergency Management Special Agency for Abnormal Disasters, a disciple of the New Martial Red Lotus Volcano Flow, the number one lackey under Xue, the sword-bearing disciple Ning Yuantai!"


    Everyone listened, stunned:


    What agency, what team...


    "Whoa, that sounds fierce. Is it like the ''Dragon Team'' in web novels, a special secret national organization?"


    He Han asked excitedly.


    Ning Yuantai snorted disdainfully: "Much fiercer than the Dragon Team."


    "If you perform exceptionally well in the Martial Arts Examination, get into a good university, graduate with good grades, and earn a recommendation spot from a professor, maybe then you could compete with a hundred others during the special recruitment period and become a probationary member."


    A male student in the small group said in surprise: "Sounds harder than getting into civil service."


    Ning Yuantai shook his head: "It''s much harder, although it''s technically still civil service, it''s the top-level kind, almost impossible to get into."


    Chen Xingyan frowned and asked:


    "What position does Mr. Xue hold in the ''Dragon Team''?"


    Ning Yuantai gave him a look and spoke impatiently: "What ''Dragon Team'', isn''t that low? If you must shorten it, call it ''The Sixth Agency!''"


    He paused and, rubbing his chin, Ning Yuantai said:


    "Xue hasn''t formally joined our Sixth Agency."


    He Han casually remarked: "Why not? Because he doesn''t have the background to join?"


    He had read online that Xue Jing was from an ordinary family outside the Outer Ring of the Fifth Urban Circle.


    "Are you brainless? That''s impossible."


    Ning Yuantai said coolly.


    "In this world, there is no armed group that Xue wants to join but can''t, only those he doesn''t wish to."


    "He just doesn''t want to be bound by rules... Inside our Sixth Agency, all the special forces under the Special Duty Department are desperate for him."


    "In my ''Cease-Blades'', the commander-in-chief almost resorted to seduction to win him over... pretend I said nothing."

 Chapter 580 - 322: Drugged Glowing Cuisine, Ning Yuantais Praise (4K)_2

    Ning Yuantai cleared his throat.


    "Xue is a peerless individual, whose abilities and talents are enough to astonish the world. If his deeds were made public, all of your families would be holding ancestor worship ceremonies in gratitude by now. You should appreciate your good fortune and not be unaware of the blessings you''re living in..."


    The small group listened to Ning Yuantai''s words with odd expressions, "Uh... Oh."


    Hearing him talk like that made it seem as though Mr. Xue was a wildly fierce and cool person... but somehow, it didn''t feel real.


    "Yuantai, stop blabbering and come help."


    Xue Jing''s calm voice wasn''t loud, but it clearly traveled through the noisy cafeteria to where they were.


    Hearing this, Ning Yuantai immediately responded and scurried to the kitchen.


    Leaving Chen Xingyan, He Han, and others exchanging glances.


    ...


    About half an hour later.


    Dozens to hundreds of dishes on large plates were ceaselessly carried out from the kitchen by Ning Yuantai and other helping students, placed on the cafeteria''s dining tables.


    Soon, the cafeteria looked like a Hogwarts start-of-term feast, with rows of long tables filled with people and a lavish banquet.


    The whole cafeteria sparkled in an instant.


    All the light came from¡ª the dishes.


    Inside the kitchen, Xue Jing held a clean cloth, gently wiping a kitchen knife in his hand.


    [GOD-1461¡¤Star-pointing Knife].


    The beautiful blade, twinkling with tiny lights, was extremely sharp¡ªable to chop through bone without a hitch.


    As one of the legendary ten culinary tools, it endowed cut food with a glowing effect that significantly increased one''s appetite.


    Color, fragrance, and taste were the three major aspects of judging a dish.


    Color refers to whether the appearance is appealing enough to induce appetite.


    When someone is hungry and has an appetite, it greatly enhances the deliciousness of the food consumed. The Star-pointing Knife was a tool that could maximize this appetite stimulation.


    Coupled with the Level 8 Cooking skills Xue Jing had achieved a few days ago...


    Clang, bang, clatter¡ª


    Suddenly, the cafeteria erupted with chaotic sounds, similar to a battlefield.


    The students, already ravenous from the practical tests with Xue Jing, had been teetering on the edge of losing their sanity due to the enticing aromas during the cooking process.


    And when dish after dish, complete with enticing appearance, aroma, and twinkling lights, was served...


    Unsurprisingly, everyone went berserk.


    "MMM¡ª (sounds of crazily stuffing food)"


    "That damn chicken leg is mine!"


    "Stop fighting, for fuck''s sake, stop fighting, Mr. Xue hasn''t eaten yet!"


    "... (tears) I now completely understand, I was born in this world just to eat this bite."


    Xue Jing, wiping his washed hands, walked out from the kitchen backstage to the cafeteria and looked at the chaotic scene before him.


    It was as if the concept of ''hunger'' materialized into a monster, with all the students desperately cramming everything in front of them into their mouths, the desire in their eyes almost materializing into visible red light.


    He Han, in the midst of eating, roared and grabbed his shirt, ripping it apart, revealing his muscular physique.


    "Ah!!"


    "What are you doing?"


    "Eating the Supreme Dragon Chef''s glowing cuisine, bursting clothes is the basic etiquette!" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "... Your sister is gone."


    He Han then came to his senses, stared at the torn shirt scattered around, and screamed while covering his head, "Ah! My clothes!!"


    Cao Sini, with one hand on each side, blocked students from reaching the dishes in front of her, her beautiful face and sharp, narrow eyes filled with ferocity, fiercely guarding her meals.


    Chen Xingyan grabbed a few plates from beside him, keeping two for himself and placing three in front of Ye Jingqiu.


    "Jingqiu, eat quickly."


    "Thank you, Xingyan," Ye Jingqiu said with a sweet smile.


    Watching the students display their ugly side in their desire to possess more food, Xue Jing chuckled:


    "They really are malnourished."


    Ning Yuantai, holding a large plate of sweet and sour pork, walked to Xue Jing''s side while eating, his voice muffled by the meat,


    "I don''t think it''s about nutrition, Xue..."


    Jingqiu just then noticed Xue Jing and her eyes instantly lit up as she stood up and waved, shouting:


    "Teacher, Mr. Xue, over here, over here!"


    Seeing this, Xue Jing dodged the incoming flying weapons along the way and slowly made his way to Jingqiu, smiling as he said:


    "So, how is the taste?"


    With admiration all over her face, Jingqiu replied: "It''s so delicious, Mr. Xue, how can you be so incredible!"


    "I''ve never eaten anything this delicious before, just thinking that I might not be able to eat it again makes me want to cry."


    Xue Jing chuckled, "You''re exaggerating too much."


    Jingqiu pouted playfully, "I''m telling the truth!"


    "Mr. Xue, you haven''t eaten yet, right? I saved some dishes for you, come sit down and eat..."


    She patted the seat beside her, a hopeful look on her face.


    Beside her, Chen Xingyan: "..."


    Xue Jing reached out and gently touched the head of this dutiful student, speaking softly:


    "No need, you eat, if teacher wants to eat, he can make it himself."


    Feeling the warmth from the palm above her head, Jingqiu''s face flushed with a racing heartbeat, and she quickly lowered her head, shyly saying:


    "Okay... okay."


    He Han picked a large bunch of green vegetables with his chopsticks and put them into Chen Xingyan''s bowl, sympathetically adding:


    "Here, Brother Li Zheng, eat more vegetables, it''s good for your health."


    Chen Xingyan glared at him irritably.


    "What are you misunderstanding? This was all planned, Jingqiu told me yesterday she needed to build a good relationship with Mr. Xue, so it would be easier to find his weaknesses and flaws¡­"


    He Han continued to serve him vegetables, nonchalantly replying:


    "Yeah, yeah, I understand, have some more."


    Chen Xingyan: "..."


    ...


    After a whirlwind of eating, within just about ten minutes, the dozens of dishes laid out on several long tables were wiped clean.


    Completely clean, without even a drop of sauce left.


    Those who knew understood it was the work of dozens of students, those who didn''t might think it was done by dozens of dishwashers.


    All the students appeared to be stuffed, bellies visibly bloated, but their expressions were unanimously craving more, seemingly endless relish.


    Xue Jing stood by the serving window, clapped his hands to draw all the students'' attention, then announced:


    "Everyone gets a one-hour break, remember to wash and tidy up your bowls, cutlery, and the tables in front of you, and sweep the floor, got it?"


    Everyone instantly sat up straight, unanimously responding loudly: "Yes, teacher!"


    Xue Jing nodded with a smile: "Very good."


    He turned and left the cafeteria while the students started to clean up, chatting among themselves.


    "Man, Mr. Xue is too awesome, not only does he look good and have high combat power, but how can he also cook so deliciously?"


    "This is the first time I''ve seen glowing food in real life, so exaggerated..."


    "In the end, which damn lucky person will get to marry Mr. Xue, I''m so jealous!"


    "Mr. Xue couldn''t have drugged the food, could he? I feel addicted! I absolutely can''t eat anymore, but just thinking about the taste makes me drool..."


    "My stomach has practically turned into Mr. Xue''s shape, what should I do..."


    "If I can''t taste this ever again, what''s the point of living, I might as well restart."


    "I could endure darkness, if I had never seen sunlight, sigh."


    As they chatted, some of the students began to sigh in dismay.


    He Han retorted, "The training isn''t over yet, it still has three days, just beg Mr. Xue to cook for us every day, then you can ''rest in peace'' after three days, okay?"


    A hint of blush appeared on Jingqiu''s beautiful face as she pondered dreamily, "Three days later, we can still spend seven days with Mr. Xue at Intersecting Boundaries¡­"


    Chen Xingyan asked curiously, "But we can''t eat Mr. Xue''s cooking at Intersecting Boundaries, right?"


    He Han patted his shoulder, not saying a word.


    ...

 Chapter 581 - 323: Original Killing Move - Serious Punch (4K)

    Xuanwu Mansion, in a certain office.


    Xue Jing looked at the student profile documents spread out on the desk in front of him, his gaze ponderous.


    He reached out, flipped through the files, and selected seven profiles.


    Cao Sini, Yuan Baijing, Chen Xingyan, He Han, Zhao Longtu, Ye Jingqiu, and Xu Zixuan.


    These seven students were the ones that Xue Jing, after the morning''s practical tests and assessments in various aspects, deemed particularly noteworthy.


    In this joint examination, as an examiner, he would face numerous restrictions in the Intersecting Boundaries and could not act on his own to defeat everyone; hence, obtaining good results hinged upon the students themselves.


    Although he had ways to take care of more than thirty students, he still needed to choose the most outstanding ones and invest more effort in them to increase the chance of achieving good results.


    Among these seven students, Cao Sini and Yuan Baijing possessed exceptionally high Combat Power. Yuan Baijing''s execution of the three strikes from the Courageous Decision left a deep impression on Xue Jing; he belonged to the sort that could make it to the top 16 in the U19 finals as long as they didn''t draw a monster opponent.


    Even with a bit of luck, encountering a player who couldn''t handle a burst of aggression and deciding the match in three strikes to advance to the top 8 wasn''t impossible.


    As for Cao Sini... this student with the odd name, although she seemed to have character issues, overall had the highest Combat Power among all the students and was the only one who exchanged more than ten moves with Xue Jing in the practical test.


    Her level could almost be compared to Phoenix Cry School Wei Junwu who Xue Jing had met at the U19 finals, belonging to a strong contender for the stable top 8 in the U19.


    This was because the U19 batch that Xue Jing participated in was quite special, with the quality of contestants improving by more than a notch compared to past years.


    In any other batch, Wei Junwu''s level would have been considered a strong favorite for the champion.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle really was a bit exaggerated; just a Martial Arts Examination could bring forth this kind of genius student capable of seizing the U19 championship on the outside...


    These two students were both very strong, but were both ''fighters'' with no other special abilities.


    As for Chen Xingyan and He Han, with their own decent Combat Power, one possessed a rare leadership ability, and the other had the capacity for mischief and entertainment.


    The value of leadership ability goes without saying, while being a mischief-maker, though abstract in description, is an indispensable mood regulator in a team.


    And Ye Jingqiu... she was beautiful and had a great figure.


    A charming woman of grace could influence many students, especially male students'' thoughts.


    Cao Sini was also beautiful, but her face and expressions were too fierce, which generally instilled fear rather than appeal in others; it was clear she wasn''t the type to capitalize on her charm, and her name was just too laughable.


    As for Xu Zixuan and Zhao Longtu...


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted back and forth between these two''s profiles.


    These two belonged to the ''problem students''.


    The issue with Xu Zixuan was not his unfriendly attitude of mockery and provocation towards his classmates, but that he was hiding something.


    Xue Jing didn''t know what he intended to do, but in the practical test, Xu Zixuan acted as though he had cunningly concealed most of his strength, pretending to be a student of mediocre ability.


    Although his concealment was skillful, Xue Jing''s Insight was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine; he had already seen through the ruse.


    Zhao Longtu was even more problematic.


    He simply skipped the pre-examination training and didn''t show up at all.


    This troubled youth''s very presence at the Martial Arts Examination was odd enough, and his arrogant non-attendance of the training clearly indicated significant issues.


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and murmured,


    "Let''s address the overall strength issue first."


    The thirty or so students he was leading, although a few had decent abilities, were generally very poor in his view, exceedingly poor.


    Although he didn''t know the situation with students in other examination centers, he felt that his students, with their current abilities, certainly couldn''t achieve any commendable results, and even cheating would be difficult for him.


    There were only three days for training, an extremely short time for martial arts cultivation, making it virtually impossible for any substantial progress to occur during this period.


    But Xue Jing was different from others.


    With the Empowerment capability, he could become a ''mass-producer of experts'' should he wish to.


    There were no issues with teaching and learning; he would simply open up your head and pour in the knowledge.


    The remaining question was... what to instill in the students¡­


    After briefly contemplating his current martial arts knowledge, Xue Jing had an idea; his focus landed on the most recent ''Courageous Decision'' he had acquired stealthily.


    Among the martial arts he was proficient in that could directly enhance combat abilities, Hidden Dragon School was the most suitable for teaching. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for the Heavenly Blade Mindset with its various lethal moves and Ultimate Skills... while powerful, the prerequisite for executing these martial arts was entering the Heavenly Blade Mindset.


    Without Xue Jing''s robust Spirit and willpower, ordinary practitioners would certainly be corrupted by the Divinity and indifference of the mindset, altering their personalities, so teaching it would be harmful.


    As for Impeccable, the difficulty was too high; this Spear Skill only became powerful after a high sequence of moves, and most people, even if taught, lacked the mental capacity for calculation and wouldn''t be able to use more than a dozen or twenty moves at most in real combat.


    Originally, Xue Jing had planned to teach each student a Hidden Dragon School move that suited them before considering anything else.


    But now, there was a better option.


    "The Courageous Decision is simple in terms of energy channeling and its principles are not complex either. The focus is on cultivating the boldness of ''forging ahead without retreat.''"

 Chapter 582 - 323: Original Killing Move - Serious Punch (4K)_2

    "Most people find it hard to cultivate this sort of courage," Xue Jing thought, "but with ''Empowerment,'' I can directly pass on this realization to them; there''s no problem."


    "Now what needs to be done is to modify it, from ''Spear Skills'' to other more widely adaptable moves... Not everyone knows how to use a spear."


    Thinking it over, Xue Jing simply closed his eyes and entered Consciousness Simulation, immediately starting to modify ''Courageous Decision.''


    His martial arts knowledge was indeed vast, being a master in this field himself; he understood deeply about Channeling Energy and the use of Spirit in martial arts.


    Additionally, he had directly stolen the realization from Yuan Baijing''s mind, who had been cultivating Courageous Decision for many years, deepening his understanding of this martial art.


    At this moment, within Consciousness Simulation, he wouldn''t suffer any real harm, so switching the route of Channeling Energy and other operations that normally required caution could be done recklessly.


    Any side effects from the modified Channeling Energy route didn''t matter; whether it caused his body to explode or concealed injuries, with a mere thought, his body would repair itself.


    Whether the new route matched the relentless spirit...


    Considering various problems in modifying martial arts, everything seemed trivial in the face of infinite error tolerance.


    In less than an hour, Xue Jing opened his eyes, which glowed with a dark blue brilliance emanating in all directions.


    Using ''Courageous Decision'' as the base, he succeeded in creating a highly adaptable lethal technique.


    Not only was the adaptability problem resolved, there was no need to use a spear to perform it; in the process, his flashes of inspiration kept adding much more to it, making this move stronger and more useful than the original Courageous Decision!


    Initially meant to be a technique created for his students, he now found it quite useful himself and estimated that it would become one of the techniques he frequently used in the future.


    However, the difficulty of practicing it far exceeded Xue Jing''s expectations, much more difficult than the original Courageous Decision... but this didn''t matter, he could simply ''Empower'' instead.


    He stood up, left the office, went upstairs, entered the broadcasting studio, picked up the microphone, turned it on, and said:


    "All students, gather at the training field."


    Repeating it once more.


    Chen Xingyan''s group, who were idly chatting in the classroom, and Cao Sini, who was watering plants in the mansion''s flower pots... upon hearing the broadcast, all the students immediately put down their tasks and headed to the training field.


    After initially experiencing Xue Jing''s imposing demonstration, real combat tests, and personally cooking for them¡ªa combination of a stick and carrot¡ªall the students deeply acknowledged Mr. Xue''s status and authority as a teacher and were obedient, no longer resistant.


    The students arrived at the training field and saw Xue Jing, dressed in a black martial arts uniform, standing there with his hands behind his back, majestic and solid as a mountain.


    His tall stature, perfect proportions, and flawless standing posture... although they were well aware of Mr. Xue''s exceptional demeanor and presence, it never ceased to impress them every time they saw him.


    "Mr. Xue really looks too good... Standing there, he is like a painting."


    "The term ''Young Grandmaster'' seems to have been invented for him; he truly has the demeanor of a grandmaster."


    "It''s unbelievable that such a person was just cooking for us... Mr. Xue is really a wonderful person!"


    Unconcerned with the students'' murmurs, Xue Jing nodded and asked:


    "Is everyone here?"


    Chen Xingyan, who had been counting people, immediately replied:


    "Everyone is here, Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue!" He Han called out, raising his hand.


    He wore a new painful shirt with another white-haired character on it.


    With some anticipation, He Han asked, "Will you be cooking dinner tonight too? And tomorrow?"


    At this, all the students looked eagerly at Xue Jing, even the usually indifferent Cao Sini couldn''t help but turn her gaze.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Of course, I will be responsible for all your meals during this exam period... We must nail the nutrition."


    At this, the students immediately cheered.


    "Awesome!"


    "Long live Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue rules! If you ever run out of toilet paper while having diarrhea in the restroom, there will surely be a hand basin nearby!" He Han shouted.


    "Ew, is the blessing of the underworld clich¨¦ making a comeback?"


    Xue Jing looked at He Han''s shirt and felt it looked familiar. "What character is this now?"


    Tugging at the white-haired woman character on the front of his shirt, He Han explained:


    "Oh, this is my ''O-jug,'' Gou Zhizhi."


    The surrounding students, especially the female ones, immediately grimaced and distanced themselves from him.


    Underworld Dimension.


    Xue Jing cleared his throat.


    He had played this game before.


    "All right, quiet down, class is starting," Xue Jing said.


    The students immediately stopped their chatter and looked at Xue Jing.


    "In three days, we''re going to Intersecting Boundaries for a joint exam with students from other test locations."


    "Though I am invincible there as your teacher, there are many restrictions preventing me from intervening at will, so for the most part, it''s up to you."


    Xue Jing spoke in a calm and indifferent tone.


    Seeing him refer to himself as ''invincible'' as if it were natural, the students smiled wryly, finding it amusing.


    Mr. Xue''s jokes might be awkward, but his matter-of-fact expression was quite entertaining... everyone picked up on a different kind of humor.


    "So, to enhance your combat abilities, I am going to teach you a new move today."


    Hearing this, the students'' eyes lit up.


    "Stand up, student, pick a few people and pile those sandbags in the middle."


    Xue Jing pointed towards the dozens of sandbags stacked at the edge of the training ground and spoke to Chen Xingyan.


    "...Teacher, please call me Xingyan."


    Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing was slightly startled; he had heard He Han always calling him by this name and thought that it was his commonly accepted nickname.


    Ignoring the classmates around him who were trying to suppress their laughter, Chen Xingyan glared at He Han, feeling sorrowfully resigned that this embarrassing nickname was now cemented on him.


    He sighed, chose a few male classmates, and as per Xue Jing''s instructions, moved all the sandbags from afar to the center of the training field.


    For them, who practiced martial arts, this was not a difficult task¡ªit was like a regular person moving a few books.


    "Everyone, step back."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, gesturing for the students to move back.


    "Back up."


    "Back up."


    After repeating it twice more, the students ended up about fifty meters away from him before Xue Jing nodded.


    "Watch closely."


    Xue Jing raised his right fist, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed his impressively muscled arms, which caught the gleeful eyes of some female and male students alike.


    With Inner Strength circulating within his body, Xue Jing''s gaze intensified, and a terrifyingly powerful aura suddenly erupted from him.


    Centered on him, a visibly expanding pressure wave spread out, blowing the distant students'' clothes and nearly lifting them off the ground.


    Yuan Baijing, seeing this, blinked in recognition.


    This aura... It was quite like his Courageous Decision, carrying an unstoppable, reckless drive and ruthlessness.


    But there seemed to be something different.


    Under everyone''s gaze, Xue Jing, in an apparently ordinary stance, threw a very standard Straight Punch.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    Like a thunderclap booming suddenly in the skies, the space trembled and burst from the tip of Xue Jing''s fist, emitting a wailing screech as a visible fan-shaped shockwave split to either side of the fist, moving outward in a delicate fan shape.


    The sandbags in front of Xue Jing, upon contact with this shockwave, exploded instantly into dust, scattering into the air. The shockwave continued unabated, extending hundreds of meters, heavily damaging the mansion''s surrounding wall and spreading further.


    In the endless dust, the vacuum created by the punch caused the air to flow back violently, generating violent winds that swept the students off their feet, tossing them around and eliciting cries of shock.


    As the dust settled, Cao Sini, who had been rather quiet, stared at the scene in front of her and asked Xue Jing for the first time,


    "...Teacher, what is that move?"


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then said,


    "Let''s call it¡ª''Serious Punch.''"


    ...

 Chapter 583 - 324: Empowering All Students, Ye Jingqius Little Thoughts Towards Xue Jing (4K)

    At this moment, if someone looked down from the sky, they would see that the direction of Xue Jing''s punch spread out in two slender fan shapes, turning everything within its range into flat ground.


    The destruction caused by the Serious Punch was simply too great; the intended sandbag couldn''t stop it at all, and it even broke through the specially made shock-resistant walls of Xuanwu Mansion, extending beyond the mansion''s boundaries.


    Fortunately, this area was already part of a semi-suburban zone, with no other buildings around, just an evenly elevated grassland.


    This punch had impacted nearly three hundred meters away, where the lush green grass was all turned over into a stretch of brownish mud.


    At the very end of this punch, the fan-shaped shock waves had expanded to nearly a hundred meters in width.


    After everything had settled, the students stared, dumbfounded, at the extreme scene before them.


    "Is this...the result of a single punch?"


    "It''s like a directed super typhoon..."


    "Can the human body...actually achieve such an exaggerated feat?"


    "Mr. Xue..."


    All the students gradually turned their heads to look at Xue Jing, their eyes filled with an unconscious reverence.


    Even the students who had harbored other minor thoughts about him had shelved these ideas at this moment.


    It was not until now, in front of this overtly displayed mighty power, that the students realized how terrifying the figure known as Xue Jing, labeled both ''Demon King'' and ''strongest champion in history,'' truly was, and how vast the gap between him and them was.


    This was almost...not the same species.


    While most of them had seen various powerful Martial Artists fight in videos and even at live events,


    since the scope of competitions was basically limited to the ring and there were various strong protective measures, scenes of large-scale attacks like this ''map cannon'' type were rare.


    And now, witnessing firsthand a person unleashing destruction comparable to natural disasters using the human form...the shock was extraordinary.


    "How about that, quite impressive, isn''t it?"


    Xue Jing stretched out his fist and clenched it, chuckling softly.


    Serious Punch was a concept derived from Courageous Decision, which gathered all one''s spirit in one explosive outburst, with the addition of many of Xue Jing''s understandings of Martial Arts.


    There was not only the meticulous refinement in channeling energy as in Impeccable, but also the application of how to exert the ultimate physical power from the Hidden Dragon School''s Mystique Penetrating Gaze.


    Xue Jing, with his exceptionally strong spiritual cultivation, through ''Visualization True'' and ''Acting,'' two skills that could affect emotions and thoughts, adjusted the indomitable spirit of Courageous Decision to some extent, turning a ''reckless charge'' into a ''thoughtful yet bold leap forward, risking everything.'' Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He named it ''Serious Punch,'' which, although somewhat playful, was indeed a very fitting name for this move.


    Xue Jing was quite satisfied with his creation.


    This move, ''Serious Punch,'' could be said to be an ''Essence of Mystery that was not a Mystic Art Level move.''


    The move itself didn''t have a special domain that Mystic Art Level techniques would typically manifest, affecting surrounding phenomena, but rather it was a punch thrown with all-out resolution, squeezing out the physical body''s ultimate strength.


    There were no other sophisticated Martial Arts effects, just a simple kinetic force impact, pure destruction.


    Because it was pure, it was powerful.


    In terms of power, it was even stronger than his current strongest single move, ''Penetrating Gaze.''


    The only problem was...the consumption of this move was outrageously high.


    Even Xue Jing''s True Martial Body, which could usually execute Penetrating Gaze with ease, felt a bit of strain after executing Serious Punch.


    Moreover, since this move originated from the third strike of Courageous Decision, there was actually a follow-up.


    In Xue Jing''s conception, its complete form was ''Continuous Serious Punch.''


    However, as it stands, only he could execute it in his ultimate bursts, as for the students...it was difficult.


    "Mr. Xue, this move is extremely powerful, but..."


    "How are we supposed to learn this!!"


    A student complained loudly.


    "This obviously isn''t a technique for our level to learn, it''s too advanced!"


    "Who tries advanced calculus when they''ve just learned basic arithmetic!"


    "Can''t you teach something simpler!"


    Xue Jing smiled and was about to speak, but Cao Sini, who had been standing next to him, grabbed his sleeve and whispered softly:


    "...Teacher, I want to learn."


    Xue Jing was slightly taken aback, then reached out and gently patted her head, softly saying:


    "Alright, I will teach you."


    After saying that, he activated Empowerment, gradually infusing all the knowledge and insights related to Serious Punch into Cao Sini''s mind, reaching deep into her consciousness.


    Cao Sini closed her eyes, her expression turning pale, and a thin layer of sweat began to emerge all over her body, occasionally trembling slightly while biting her lower lip, as if enduring something unbearable.


    The students looked at each other.


    "What''s going on?"


    He Han, stroking his chin, guessed, "Could it be that Mr. Xue is some immortal who rejuvenates by absorbing the essence of young boys and girls, and is now using the Absorption Technique on Cao Sini?"


    Ye Jingqiu glared at him, "Don''t slander Mr. Xue!"


    Seeing hostile glances from the female students around, He Han raised his hands and quickly said, "I was just joking."

 Chapter 584 - 324: Empowerment of All Students, Ye Jingqius Little Thoughts Towards Xue Jing (4K)_2

    Chen Xingyan looked on for a while before he said, "I think it''s more like passing on skills rather than absorbing them."


    Upon hearing this, Yuan Baijing thoughtfully said, "I''ve heard our Arena Master talk about high-level martial artists who can use a method called ''Divine Will Implantation'' to directly transmit martial arts to another person..."


    "However, this move," he said, "is said to come at the cost of the implanter''s own memories and insights. Once someone imparts a martial art''s divine will to another, the implanter himself will lose the memory related to that martial art..."


    The crowd exclaimed in surprise, "No way, does that mean Mr. Xue is going to lose ''Serious Punch''?"


    Suddenly, He Han said, "Wait a minute, is Mr. Xue''s goal to choose one of us to inherit his ''Serious Punch''?"


    Upon hearing this, the others changed their expressions and got a bit frantic:


    "Ah, so Cao Sini got ahead of us!"


    "Damn, that woman always seems cold as wood, but she becomes so sharp at times like this. I misjudged her!"


    In the midst of the noisy discussion, Xue Jing''s empowerment of Cao Sini ended.


    Xue Jing withdrew his palm, and Cao Sini''s body immediately began to sway as she became weak, nearly collapsing before Xue Jing caught her by the shoulders to steady her.


    "How do you feel, Sini?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Cao Sini opened her eyes¡ªher previously narrow and fierce gaze had softened significantly. Gathering her thoughts, she said,


    "I''m fine, Mr. Xue... I feel like I''ve learned it."


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "Then, give it a try."


    He tapped his own chest with his hand:


    "Let your teacher be your punching bag."


    Cao Sini hesitated briefly and said, "This..."


    But seeing the calm smile on Xue Jing''s face and the strength he had always shown, Cao Sini grit her teeth:


    "Mr. Xue, be careful."


    Her gaze sharpened, and an imposing aura burst forth from her, stirring up a ring of air currents.


    The spirit she displayed was exactly like that of Xue Jing when he used ''Serious Punch.''


    Except on a "scale," it was smaller by more than a dozen times.


    Cao Sini did not assume the same Straight Punch stance as Xue Jing; instead, she extended her palm flat and straightened it out in a Piercing Hand.


    ''Serious Punch'' could more accurately be described as ''Serious Strike,'' where the key is the spirit of the execution, whether it is with a fist, palm, knife, or sword¡ªdetails are irrelevant.


    She preferred using a ''Piercing Hand'' to attack others.


    Before the surprised eyes of everyone, Cao Sini''s Piercing Hand thrust forward with an unstoppable resolution towards the center of Xue Jing''s chest.


    The air parted, emitting a high-pitched whistle... everything was just like Xue Jing''s punch, only much smaller in scale. Even if Xue Jing himself reduced his physical level to that of Cao Sini, this would be the outcome of his strike.


    It was a perfect replica.


    "Boom¡ª!"


    A muffled sound, Xue Jing, simultaneously employing Golden Scales Transformation and Seal Cloud Tail, vibrated his bones, completely absorbing this formidable impact with his skeleton.


    Following that, a dragon''s roar rang out; Xue Jing swung a punch to the side with his right hand. All the kinetic energy was released through Seal Cloud Tail, turning into a visible pale golden Dragon-Shaped Energy, roaring as it broke through the walls of Xuanwu Mansion and streaked off into the unknown.


    "Not bad."


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled.


    Seeing that Xue Jing was unharmed, Cao Sini immediately let out a sigh of relief, her body relaxing, and the extreme mental and physical strain made her faint, slumping onto Xue Jing''s shoulder, her head resting on his collarbone.


    The female classmates saw this, their eyes widened with envy, nearly biting their handkerchiefs.


    "There''s even this move!?"


    A few quick-witted female students quietly realized and learned.


    After laying Cao Sini down on the ground, Xue Jing looked at the crowd, noting their sighing and listless expressions, which puzzled him:


    "What''s wrong with you all?"


    A girl with thick eyebrows sighed, "Mr. Xue, you''ve already passed ''Serious Punch'' to Cao Sini; doesn''t that mean we can''t learn it now?"


    Xue Jing was surprised, "Why can''t you learn it?"


    "The teacher doesn''t have to comfort us," one girl said a bit resentfully. "Cao Sini just learned it instantly, you must have ''Divinely Implanted'' it into her. You surely don''t remember ''Serious Punch'' now."


    Understanding the reason, Xue Jing burst into laughter:


    "So that''s it... I thought you didn''t want to learn."


    "Rest assured, I always treat everyone equally and wouldn''t show partiality. I said I would teach you all, and I will¡ªeveryone will learn it. It''s just that since Sini spoke up first, I started with her."


    "Divine Will Implantation indeed has that side effect... but I''m a very special person."


    He paused, and Xue Jing continued, "...it''s even more special than you all imagine."


    "I will teach martial arts to each of you in the form of ''Empowerment.'' Others can''t do it, but I can."


    "Come on, one by one in the order of your student numbers."


    Everyone looked at each other with skepticism after hearing this.


    But tempted by the chance to learn the ''Serious Punch,'' the students stepped forward and approached Xue Jing.


    The first in the lineup was Xu Zixuan.


    Looking at the somewhat stiff young man before him, Xue Jing smiled meaningfully.


    "Relax."


    "...Yes, Mr. Xue."


    Xue Jing placed his hand on the crown of Xu Zixuan''s head and imparted the Serious Punch through Empowerment.


    After finishing, he didn''t remove his hand but instead attempted to absorb the knowledge from Xu Zixuan by reversing the empowerment process. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...However, he couldn''t absorb anything.


    Xu Zixuan''s spiritual defenses were highly robust, and as soon as his consciousness sensed Xue Jing''s intrusion, he immediately locked down, preventing Xue Jing from accessing anything within his spirit.


    Returning without success, he was unable to absorb the knowledge or probe the situation, but Xue Jing didn''t mind.


    Often, the act of ''unwilling to expose information'' itself reveals a lot of information.


    Xu Zixuan''s deep caution towards him was enough for Xue Jing to notice.


    "Old Xu, how do you feel? Did you learn it?"


    He Han asked Xu Zixuan as he returned.


    Xu looked somewhat pale and weak, and snapped at He Han''s question:


    "Why should I tell you?"


    Glancing at the white-haired woman character on He Han''s clothing, he scoffed:


    "Stupid second-dimension geek."


    "Damn it, I''m gonna explode!" He Han yelled frenziedly.


    "Calm down, second-dimension, don''t stoop to his level in front of Mr. Xue," Chen Xingyan said as he held He Han back, giving Xu Zixuan a deep look.


    This guy... really doesn''t fit in with the group.


    Soon, one student after another was successfully empowered by Xue Jing.


    "Holy crap, I really learned it!"


    "It feels like I''ve known how to do it since I was little, it''s so magical!"


    "Is this Divine Will Implantation? Mr. Xue is awesome!"


    "I''m so tired, I want to sleep, but I want to throw a punch...who will let me hit them?"


    "Did everyone eat yet? If not, eat my punch!"


    "Now I feel like my fighting power has skyrocketed, who in this class can stop me!"


    "Wake up, everyone knows this move now, it''s not just you who has enhanced their power."


    Despite being extremely exhausted after the empowerment, the students were still excitedly discussing it.


    "Mr. Xue..."


    Ye Jingqiu''s face flushed with a hint of guilt as she looked at Xue Jing.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not like getting a shot, it won''t hurt," Xue Jing said, mistaking her for being a bit scared, and he comforted her.


    "...Okay." Ye Jingqiu grew even more sheepish.


    Xue Jing gently placed his hand on Ye Jingqiu''s head, and soon, she too was empowered.


    "...Ah, teacher, I feel so dizzy."


    Ye Jingqiu moaned in slight pain, her figure swayed, and she involuntarily leaned toward Xue Jing.


    Then... Xue Jing pressed a finger against her forehead to support her.


    "Sit down and rest well if you feel dizzy."


    Xue Jing''s face retained its consistently gentle expression as he spoke softly.


    Tears welled up in the corners of Ye Jingqiu''s eyes, and she said grievously, "Yes, teacher..."


    Why can Cao Sini do it, but not her...

 Chapter 589 - 327

    The boiling blood gradually subsided, and his body was self-regulating at an extremely fast pace, dissipating the intense heat generated by the high-intensity exercise.


    His brain was overheating, with a sticky sensation as if it were melting. Xue Jing suppressed this discomfort, steadied his spirit, and clenched his fists.


    "Continuous Serious Punch," the rapid-fire version of the "Serious Punch," was his strongest pure physical attack to date.


    He could quickly exhaust his physical strength, energy, spirit, and momentum, consuming the blue and yellow bars in an extremely short time.


    Actually, he could keep going, but doing so would start to consume his blood bar... which meant his life force.


    This was an extremely dangerous move, even for someone with monstrous vitality like him. If he kept punching without stopping, it wouldn''t take long to kill himself.


    The core of the technique was a spirit of moving forward regardless of all else, forsaking everything, including, naturally, one''s life within the scope of this "forsaking."


    If he had to define this move, Xue Jing would call it¡ªSacrifice Skill.


    "If it weren''t for ''Health Cultivation'' and ''True Martial'' sustaining me, along with practicing Yellow Grannie Skill and Nirvana Technique, I reckon I''d be dried up by now," Xue Jing muttered to himself, feeling how the emptiness of energy and strength inside was rapidly self-recovering.


    This technique was probably something that only someone as unique as him could use as a regular trump card. For anyone else, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime move.


    The terrifying cost it incurred naturally resulted in equally terrifying destructive power. Xue Jing wasn''t sure what the A+ rating that Xuanling had given him represented, but seeing "No further testing required, choose any starting point within the first ten thousand floors" was enough.


    That was the purpose of his visit to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace: to quickly ascend to the higher floors and capture the student who had skipped class.


    "How did you manage to use such a technique and still seem virtually unharmed afterward?" A female voice tinged with curiosity came from beside him, and Xue Jing was slightly startled. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the voice of the super AI, Xuanling, from the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    "How did you suddenly become so humanlike?" Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    "What do you mean suddenly become humanlike? Don''t you know how to speak?" Xuanling said, somewhat discontented.


    "I am just surprised at your performance. I''ve allocated more computing power to your area; it''s normal for my speaking manner to become more fluid," Xuanling explained.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    Initially, the AI-like questionnaire speaking mode of Xuanling was due to only the most basic computing power allocated to him, not enough to form a specific "personality."


    After all, the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace hosted an unknown number of Sky Climbers, and Xuanling had to attend to them all.


    Although it was a super AI constructed based on the "Super Network," theoretically capable of infinite computing power, in order to manifest in reality, it was inevitably limited by the configuration of the machines in the real world. Thus, in practice, its computing power, though immense, wasn''t infinite, and it could only provide a basic Q&A module to most Sky Climbers.


    "You still haven''t answered my question," Xuanling said.


    "Why are you seemingly unharmed after using such a technique?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin and replied, "I was born with Divine Power."


    "Hmph, if you don''t want to say, that''s fine. It''s not like I''m particularly curious," muttered Xuanling.


    This thing is actually quite cute... Xue Jing smiled to himself.


    "Xue, that was awesome!" Ning Yuantai approached, expressing admiration with an excited face.


    "Though I had anticipated you might directly achieve an A rating, earning the privilege to choose any starting floor levels, it''s still unexpected that you pulled off... an A+!"


    "This must be a record unmatched by predecessors, and likely unequaled by future contenders to receive an A+ rating in Project One without having achieved Breakthrough," Ning Yuantai exclaimed.


    Xue Jing rotated his still somewhat sore wrist and casually said,


    "Is that score impressive?"


    Ning Yuantai nodded vigorously, "Impressive, extremely impressive."


    "Xuanling''s Test Project One measures a Martial Artist''s attack output capability. Even though personal physiques and Martial Arts training differ among individuals, and even those at the same level have diverse attack power, there are still general ranges."


    "Those who receive a B rating are usually Great Perfection masters on the verge of a Breakthrough. Those with an A rating are Grandmaster Level individuals who have already had a Breakthrough. This result has already reached an ''outside the standard'' level for the entrance test, allowing one to forgo further testing and directly obtain the highest starting floor privilege. An A+ rating is commonly assigned to those on the verge of a second Breakthrough, or who have already achieved it!"


    "Proceeding to an S rating is the territory of Titled Strongmen..."


    Xue Jing nodded, "Understood."


    So it seemed that in the realm of pure martial arts, his maximum output capability was barely scraping the second Breakthrough territory...


    But in the end, it was just output... If he actually faced an opponent of this level, even if his output matched up, he would still be crushed in other aspects by the adversary.


    And such high-caliber fighters undoubtedly possessed unique explosive offensive moves. If they unleashed moves like Serious Punch, they could burst out even stronger and more ferocious power.


    Defeating a second Breakthrough level fighter in the pure martial arts domain by leapfrogging two major realms was still impossible for now.


    "Now it''s time to find Zhao Longtu..."


    "Which floor was he on again?"


    Xue Jing was about to ask Ning Yuantai, but Xuanling''s voice suddenly came from beside him:


    "Are you looking for someone? Why not just ask me?"


    Xue Jing raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Can you do that?"


    "Of course, why else would I allocate so much computing power to you?"

 Chapter 590 - 327_2

    Xuanling said as a matter of course.


    "You being able to obtain such a rating and become a ''Level Master'' was only a matter of time, so offering you some privileges in advance is quite normal, isn''t it? Special people should receive special treatment."


    Xue Jing was slightly taken aback.


    "That''s quite humanizing."


    An AI had actually deviated from the system''s set regulations, autonomously making ''worldly-wise'' considerations just like a human.


    Quite frightening, almost triggering the Joy Valley effect.


    But perhaps not necessarily, perhaps it was allowed to make such cognitive actions, and these might have been pre-set by humans.


    "Then could you please help me check which level a person named Zhao Longtu is currently on?" Xue Jing asked.


    "Huh? Your question is too broad."


    "There are three hundred eighty-two people called Zhao Longtu currently in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, and if you include those who have died or who have been here before, there are a total of one thousand two hundred forty-nine."


    "Narrow down the conditions!" said Xuanling.


    Xue Jing: "Mine."


    He thought for a moment and said, "He probably came in nine days ago, was around level eight thousand two hundred in the morning, and is about seventeen years old..."


    Before Xue Jing could finish speaking, Xuanling interrupted, "Got it."


    "Sky Climber number 656321587, Zhao Longtu, is currently at level 8493, undergoing a level challenge."


    Xue Jing laughed lightly, "That was really efficient... Thank you, Xuanling."


    "It''s my rightful duty, no thanks necessary."


    "If you really want to thank me, tell me the secret of your body, why it can withstand that kind of move..."


    Xue Jing waved his hand: "I was born with the Dragon Elephant Holy Body, which others can''t learn, so it''s useless to tell you... How do I get to level 8493?"


    Xuanling seemed to sigh, "Stand still, I''ll teleport you there."


    "... What is that?"


    Xue Jing was startled.


    Before he could prepare himself, countless visible data converged under his feet, forming an orange glow beneath him, identical to the SC force field he had tested before.


    The orange glow slowly expanded until it could envelop him completely and then began to float up slowly.


    As the glow rose, Xue Jing began to disappear from his feet upwards, as if being swallowed by the glow, quite a peculiar sight.


    Once the glow had ''swallowed'' him completely, Xue Jing disappeared from the spot.


    Taking a step forward subconsciously, Xue Jing came to his senses only to find his surroundings had completely changed.


    Ning Yuantai and Cao Sini were gone, and the crowd around him had obviously changed, but most noticeably... the air pressure was lower, and there was less oxygen each breath.


    "Is this... level 8493? I got here in an instant?"


    Xue Jing knitted his brows.


    Teleportation, spatial movement? Had human technology really reached this level?


    "What''s the matter, is this your first time experiencing ''four-dimensional movement''?" asked Xuanling curiously.


    "Four-dimensional movement?" Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    He had heard of something similar... previously in Qingcheng, while investigating the Heavenly Lodge Insect Mother, he met a mysterious man in the home of the former Chief Councillor of Qingcheng.


    That man possessed a special ability known as ''Four-Dimensional Senses'' and claimed he could follow the ''Tracks of Time'' in four dimensions to perform some miraculous operations that bordered on absurdity, to the extent that during the battle with Xue Jing, he achieved an effect similar to ''Time Reversal''.


    "How was this achieved?" Xue Jing inquired.


    Xuanling seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking, "It''s difficult to explain in terms a human would understand."


    "...You should know, ants have extremely poor eyesight. In their perspective, the world is ''two-dimensional,'' flat. They can''t distinguish spherical or curved shapes,"


    "In a four-dimensional space, humans are akin to ants. Our senses can only observe a three-dimensional world and are incapable of perceiving the four-dimensional aspect."


    "Four-dimensional movement is akin to transferring an ant crawling on one sheet of paper to another... From the ant''s point of view, it can neither feel it nor understand that it has moved to a different sheet."


    "Just as you now can''t understand why you were able to come to level 8493... This isn''t some kind of spatial teleportation skill. Rather, I executed a four-dimensional movement on you through the ''unity'' of the SC force field. It''s normal that you can''t feel it or understand it."


    "If you ever get the chance to possess four-dimensional senses, it''ll be like an ant gaining a human brain. Then, naturally, you will understand."


    Xue Jing: "...This world is truly marvelous."


    Since he couldn''t understand it for the moment, he didn''t dwell on it but instead looked around and asked, "Where is Zhao Longtu?"


    Unlike the preparatory hall on the first level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, level 8493, as Xue Jing looked up, was filled with arenas wrapped in orange SC force field membranes. At a cursory glance, there were at least a hundred.


    On most of the platforms, two Martial Artists were engaged in intense combat, surrounded by spectators. The more intense the fight and the stronger the Martial Artists, the more there were in the audience.


    "He''s at platform number 064."


    Xuanling said.


    Xue Jing took a look and noted that each platform was edged with an Arabic numeral. He moved left and right, following the sequence to find platform number 064 quickly.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A loud sound came as a robust Martial Artist''s chest caved in, blood pouring from his mouth, as he was sent flying off the arena, the surrounding crowd stepping aside.


    "Ji Yang really couldn''t last a few moves against him; Zhao Longtu is really fierce, and he''s still underage."


    "He''s one of those geniuses who climbs rapidly; he doesn''t belong at the eight-thousandth level. This is just a transition... Hurry and cast a ''praise vote'' to send him up to the experts'' area, stop him from harming those lower levels."


    "It''s already two wins, one more and he can go up... Who''s next?"


    Listening to the discussions of the onlookers, Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the figure atop the platform.


    A young boy, wearing an old black Martial Arts Uniform, with an extremely fierce demeanor and emanating a certain hostility, stood there, maintaining a punching stance.


    At the corner of his left eye was a conspicuously indented scar, likely caused by a blunt weapon''s heavy strike breaking the skin.


    "What vote do you want to cast?"


    Xuanling began speaking into Xue Jing''s ear.


    "Spectators can vote for the winner after a match. There are three types: ''praise,'' ''average,'' and ''poor.''... If you get more than 80% praise votes in the battles on this level, you can jump levels..."


    A holographic image formed in front of Xue Jing, revealing three options.


    He casually pressed ''average'' and then stepped forward, slowly walking up the entrance staircase to the arena.


    The appearance of a new challenger shifted everyone''s attention to Xue Jing.


    "To see what just happened and still dare to go up... Hm? So young, another minor?"


    "Wait a second, such a great face... Have I seen him somewhere?"


    On the platform, Zhao Longtu''s gaze also landed on Xue Jing.


    His ferocious look was almost brimming with malice, resembling a demon from hell, enough to make any child cry at a glance.


    Above the platform, the orange force field flickered, and a holographic image appeared.


    [Challenger: Xue Jing]


    Zhao Longtu''s expression remained unchanged as he looked at Xue Jing and said in a hoarse voice:


    "Xue Jing... Are you ready?"


    He seemed not to recognize that the person before him was his examiner for this Martial Arts Examination.


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed a smile:


    "Of course... I''ve been ready for a long time."


    ... sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 591 - 328: Even When Ill, a Lion Doesnt Need to Choose a Day to Handle a Kitten (4K)

    Hearing Xue Jing''s words, Zhao Longtu didn''t immediately strike; instead, he furrowed his brow and said,


    "You''re in bad shape?"


    The tone of his speech sounded odd, as if it were quite normal, but when spoken, it felt like it was tinged with anger, as if irritated, enough to make anyone talking to him frown.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing asked curiously, "Why would you think that?"


    Although he was indeed in a worse state than normal because he had just performed the Continuous Serious Punch test, his level of Aura Blockade should have concealed it.


    Zhao Longtu said indifferently, "No basis, just a pure feeling."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, you''re the type with strong intuition."


    In this world, there really were some people who could sense things mysteriously without any apparent information... Xue Jing had met many of these types, typical of which was Otogirusu.


    Lu Sang''s intuition almost reached the level of a superpower... perhaps it should be called ''Super Intuition'' or ''Hyper Perception.''


    "Since I guessed right, let''s not fight this time, I don''t want an undeserved victory,"


    Zhao Longtu retracted his fighting stance and shook his head.


    "If you''re in such bad shape, why force yourself to say you''re ready? Step down, and if you wish to fight me, come find me at a higher floor when you''re in good shape."


    Xue Jing was somewhat surprised.


    This man looked utterly irritable, but unexpectedly still seemed to have a sense of martial virtue.


    He smiled and shook his head, "Zhao, your intuition is strong, but not strong enough."


    Zhao Longtu narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"


    Xue Jing flexed his wrist.


    "Your intuition is accurate, I am indeed in poor condition, perhaps unable to muster even one-tenth of my strength at my peak."


    "However, when I said ''I''m ready,'' it was no bluff."


    "Even a sick lion doesn''t need to wait until it recovers to squish a little cat."


    Xue Jing quietly said:


    "Unfortunately, your intuition isn''t strong enough to perceive the extent of the gap between you and me."


    The sheer absurdity of his words stunned both Zhao Longtu and the surrounding martial artists watching.


    "Damn, who is this guy, acting all high and mighty... But I have to admit, there''s something to his words."


    "When he speaks, it seems so natural... it feels like he''s really thinking this way and not just trying to impress us... could he actually be a tough one?"


    "Hard to say, he looks about the same age as Zhao Longtu, how can he beat Zhao with only a tenth of his strength?"


    "Do you really believe that? My buddy still says he used only three-thousandths of his strength when he fought you the other day." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s Xue Jing! Don''t you recognize him? He''s an outsider, I''ve seen his videos, he''s fierce!"


    On the stage, Zhao Longtu''s eyes showed anger:


    "...Forget it, no use talking more, I''ve given my warning, if you insist on pushing yourself, then fight, and take responsibility for the consequences!"


    His movements changed as he assumed a strange fighting stance.


    One arm raised high above his head, fist pointed forward like a lone horn, body leaning forward and crouched, like a bull ready to charge, exuding a wildly impressive aura.


    "Oh! Here it comes, this is the ''Asura Rhino Formation'' derived from the True Form lineage!"


    "Going for the kill move straight away, it seems Zhao Longtu has taken those words to heart and is taking his opponent seriously!"


    "This is going to be good, the ''Asura Rhino Formation'' when initiated is unbeatable head-on, it can''t be stopped, and this guy is in bad shape so he surely can''t block it head-on, but if he''s thinking of dodging... those who thought that are now lying in the infirmary."


    Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Zhao Longtu made his move.


    In an instant, the air exploded with a boom, a ring of airwaves violently spread from Zhao Longtu''s position, and he disappeared from spot, reappearing in front of Xue Jing almost imperceptibly fast to everyone else.


    His speed was inconceivable, with virtually no start-up motion, looking like a bullet fired from a gun, instantly switching from utter stillness to extreme motion, utterly abrupt, and hard to defend against.


    If a high-speed camera had captured it and played back in slow motion, one would see a giant, transparent rhinoceros formed from the air currents swirling around Zhao Longtu, his fist over his head corresponding with the rhino horn.


    As the horn-like fist thrust forward, in Xue Jing''s eyes, dark-golden vertical pupils twinkled faintly.


    ¡ª¡ªEye-Penetrating Flow.


    In his vision, it was as if time slowed, Zhao Longtu ''slowly'' approached his face, and lines and dots representing points of vulnerability constantly surfaced and disappeared all over his body.


    Xue Jing hadn''t used the Vulnerability Insight Effect of Eye-Penetrating Flow for a long time.


    Since his power began to soar, battles were usually decided by sheer force, making Eye-Penetrating Flow unnecessary... and for much stronger opponents, Eye-Penetrating Flow couldn''t reveal their vulnerabilities.


    Now, just after using Continuous Serious Punch at full strength, he found himself in a rare weakened state, not well suited to crushing Zhao Longtu''s offense with brute force.


    Or to put it another way, even if he could, it wouldn''t look very impressive... it would likely turn into a brief struggle of evenly matched forces.

 Chapter 592 - 328: Even When Ill, a Lion Doesnt Need to Choose a Day to Handle a Kitten (4K)_2

    Even if he could emerge victorious in the end, even if he was in a weakened state at the moment, it was something Xue Jing could not accept.


    It ran counter to his wish to establish the majesty of a teacher.


    As such, it was a good opportunity to use the Eye-Penetrating Flow, which he had not utilized for a long time.


    As his martial arts cultivation grew more profound by the day, coupled with the practice of the Yellow Grannie Skill which refined the five internal organs, the strength of Xue Jing''s liver had long surpassed what it had been in the past.


    A strong liver leads to sharp eyes. Now that he was using the Eye-Penetrating Flow, the effect was naturally extraordinary.


    Originally blessed with Extraordinary Vision due to his impeccable aiming, with the addition of the Eye-Penetrating Flow, his field of vision slowed down to the extreme in an instant, as if he had truly acquired a "bullet time" superpower.


    Countless dots and lines, representing weak points and flaws, flickered in and out of existence. In the moment just before Zhao Longtu''s Rhino Horn was about to make contact with Xue Jing, he finally moved.


    His right hand reached out, seemingly slow but actually swift, and grasped Zhao Longtu''s wrist as if he had predicted the move. In the instant Xue Jing caught his wrist, a barely discernible "dot" suddenly emerged there.


    ¡ª¡ªImpeccable!


    Supreme Ingenuity was the first in martial arts, exploiting the utmost limit of human calculation ability, allowing Xue Jing, after a series of complex calculations, to anticipate a flaw in the channeling of energy that would appear on Zhao Longtu''s wrist.


    "Snap¡ª¡ª!"


    The palm grasped the wrist, and with a refined manipulation of power, a flick and a shake sent Zhao Longtu''s eyes wide with shock, to an indescribable extent.


    Originally seamless, his force flowed throughout his body like a solid fortress, like a castle that appeared perfect and strong, from which an apparently insignificant brick had been removed.


    Then¡ª¡ª it collapsed with a thunderous fall.


    A minor flaw, so subtle that even he had not noticed, was punctured by Xue Jing''s channeling of energy. Following that, like dominos falling in succession, the small flaw led to a misstep in the flow of force. More missteps led to even more errors...


    A dyke thousands of miles long collapses because of an ant hole.


    Amid the crackling sounds, Zhao Longtu''s killing move fell apart, the fully formed transparent Shura Rhino seemed to emit a silent lament before dissipating into the air.


    Xue Jing, gripping Zhao Longtu''s wrist of now chaotic energy flow, casually twisted and turned, sending him spinning high off the ground like a top.


    Then, as if holding a piece of torn clothing, he grabbed him and viciously slammed him toward the ground.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    A loud noise resounded, the SC force field-protected ring remained undamaged, while Zhao Longtu, landing face-first, twisted his neck and, of course, fell unconscious.


    The venue fell deathly silent.


    The event began abruptly and ended too quickly, the crowd was still trying to process what had happened.


    Several seconds later.


    "Eh...? What just happened?"


    "Is it... over?"


    The watching martial artists were staring blankly at the good-looking young man standing in the ring, who didn''t even appear to have ruffled clothing, and at Zhao Longtu lying motionless on the ground, looking as if he were sleeping the sleep of the just.


    Xue Jing scratched his head:


    "Seems like I went a little too hard... oh well."


    He reached down and grabbed one of Zhao Longtu''s legs, dragging him off the platform like one would dispose of a body after a murder, leaving no trace behind.


    Instinctively, the watching martial artists stepped aside to clear a path for Xue Jing leaving the ring.


    Due to the force of the impact, Zhao Longtu''s nosebleed wouldn''t stop, and with his face toward the ground, a trail of blood was dragged from his face as he was pulled along, making him look even more like a corpse.


    Everyone watching the scene wanted to say something but found themselves at a loss for words.


    "Xuanling, could you send me back to the first floor, please?"


    Xue Jing said.


    "Okay~" A lazy yet pleasant female voice came from Xuanling''s ear; the next moment, an orange light film emerged from under Xue Jing''s feet.


    As the light film completely enveloped Xue Jing, the watching martial artists finally burst into lively discussion.


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing had already returned to the preparation hall on the first floor of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    His round trip took but a few minutes; Ning Yuantai and Cao Sini were still discussing whether or not to call Xue Jing when they saw him return.


    Ning Yuantai''s eyes lit up, ready to ask about the situation, when he noticed the thing Xue Jing was dragging.


    "Wow, as expected of Xue, you''ve managed to kill someone else in such a short time. Where are you planning to bury him?"


    Cao Sini gave him an expressionless look.


    You don''t have to flatter if it''s not your strong suit... what do you mean by ''as expected, you killed someone again.''


    She glanced at the blood-seeping ''corpse'' at the head and hesitantly said uncertainly:


    "Mr. Xue, is this... Zhao Longtu?"


    Xue Jing nodded with a smile: "Yeah, it''s him... Let''s go, the task is complete, we''re heading back."


    Saying this, he calmly dragged Zhao Longtu toward the exit...


    Passersby around paused and murmured:


    "What''s this? A creative suitcase?"


    ...


    In the medical room of Xuanwu Mansion.


    Zhao Longtu lay on the pure white bed, slowly opening his eyes.


    "Hisss¡ª"


    He reached up to cover his face, inhaling sharply.


    For some reason, his entire face throbbed with a fiery pain, as though his skin had just been ground on a millstone.


    Zhao Longtu patted his somewhat dizzy head.


    His memory was still fixed on the gradually approaching orange light film on the ground, and the tremors of pain at his chin.


    "You awake? The surgery went very well."


    A voice came from the side. Zhao Longtu turned to look.


    A young man in a white lab coat, who looked handsome but somehow gave off a sly vibe, sat at his bedside, peeling an apple with a fruit knife.


    "Who are you... What happened?"


    Zhao Longtu asked, frowning.


    He Han nodded slightly, speaking indifferently, "Good question."


    "We''re in the year 290 New Calendar. It''s been over twenty years since you fell asleep. During the time you''ve been out, humanity has come to an end. This is Ark Shelter Number 3306, and I am the shelter''s physical AI robot. You can call me¡ª''Lanran Huoyoushu''!"


    Zhao Longtu''s gaze sharpened. "A name from the Far East? Does that mean this shelter is located in the Far East?"


    There was a fleeting subtlety in He Han''s eyes. "Ah, yes... It is."


    "How did humanity come to an end," Zhao Longtu asked, taking a deep breath.


    Such clear foolishness... A playful smile crossed He Han''s face. "We were wiped out by an entity known as ''Demon King Xue'', a tyrant who subjugated all of humanity''s taste buds with his cooking skills, forcing everyone to submit to his frying pan..."


    Zhao Longtu exclaimed in shock, "Dominated all of humanity with cooking?!"


    "Bang¡ª"


    The door to the medical room was forcefully opened. Cao Sini walked in expressionlessly and gave He Han a smack on the back of his head, pushing his face into the fruit plate he held.


    Zhao Longtu was stunned. "I thought humanity was extinct? Then who are you?"


    He Han shakily raised his hand. "She is one of the five members under Demon King Xue, the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings, with the nickname..."


    Bang¡ª


    He Han collapsed to the floor, unconscious.


    Seeing this, Zhao Longtu sat up, poised defensively in a boxing stance: Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Why are there five people in the Four Heavenly Kings?"


    Cao Sini gave him a silent look.


    "Can you not believe everything people tell you."


    "Come on, now that you''re awake, follow me to see the teacher..."


    At the word ''teacher'', Zhao Longtu''s expression turned violently irate, snapping:


    "What teacher, where the hell am I?!"


    Cao Sini was not frightened by his outburst, her voice remained calm:


    "Xuanwu Mansion... the place where you''re taking the Martial Arts Examination."


    Zhao Longtu pressed anxiously, "Who is this teacher you speak of!?"


    Cao Sini glanced at him, replying coolly, "You''ve already met him."


    "The examiner responsible for leading our test, Xue Jing, Mr. Xue."


    "Xue Jing..." Zhao Longtu paused, aghast.


    Fresh memories started to assail him.


    "He''s... the teacher?"


    Zhao, your intuition is strong, but not strong enough.


    The words echoed in his mind. Zhao Longtu ground his teeth:


    "So that''s it...!"


    ...

 Chapter 593 - 329: The Bankrupt Reputation of He Han, The Battle of the Strongest Students (4K)

    Teacher.


    This was a term that cast a profound shadow over Zhao Longtu.


    Zhao Longtu harbored no resentment over being instantly defeated by Xue Jing; in fact, he might even admire the other''s strength and ability, marveling at his possession of such high martial prowess at a similar age to himself.


    But as soon as he learned that the other party bore the title ''Teacher,'' the image of ''Xue Jing'' in Zhao Longtu''s mind began to ooze black sludge, and that face, which had previously been sketched lightly with an air of an expert, became a sinister and eerie sneer.


    "I''m not going."


    Zhao Longtu jumped off the bed and walked to the window of the infirmary, reaching out to flip it open.


    "Teachers are all just pretending to be virtuous, but in their hearts, they''re constantly scheming how to manipulate their students... I''ve had enough, I won''t be deceived again."


    He put his foot on the windowsill and turned to glance at Cao Sini.


    "Just pretend I don''t exist. When it''s time for the Martial Arts Examination, I''ll come. After entering the arena, I''ll act alone and won''t cause any trouble for you, and you better not interfere with me."


    Having said that, he planned to jump out of the window.


    Cao Sini''s expression was indifferent, leaning against the wall, her arms folded across her proud chest, her narrow and sharp eyes watching Zhao Longtu as she said:


    "I don''t know what you''ve been through, but if you''ve been persecuted by someone, or some people, then you should hate those specific individuals, not a label that could be affixed to anyone."


    Zhao Longtu stopped his movements.


    "Teacher is just a profession. Mr. Xue isn''t a professional teacher; he''s just temporarily accepted the command from some higher-ups to come lead us in the Martial Arts Examination. We call him ''Teacher'' out of respect."


    Cao Sini spoke calmly, her words clear and logical, prompting Zhao Longtu to show a contemplating look.


    "...I think you make sense."


    He nodded.


    "But I still feel that teachers aren''t anything good."


    Cao Sini shook her head:


    "What a boring stick-in-the-mud. Think what you want; I''ve said all I needed to say."


    "But since Mr. Xue entrusted me to bring you, I must bring you along. If you''re willing to follow me, then come. If not, I''ll just have to take you by force."


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Longtu paused his foot on the windowsill and then, with a push, darted out, moving at a rapidly fast pace.


    Almost simultaneously, Cao Sini''s figure flashed, quickly leaping out of the window to chase after him.


    Zhao Longtu, soaring through the air, heard the intense sound of wind behind him and turned to look, only to be astounded to find that this woman was closing in on him even faster.


    Although he hadn''t been using his full speed or strength, the fact that a peer, and a physically disadvantaged female at that, could catch up to him, was a great surprise.


    With no way to borrow strength in mid-air, he could only watch, wide-eyed, as Cao Sini approached and swung a leg toward his head.


    Zhao Longtu''s reaction was lightning fast as he stretched out his arm to block it.


    "Smack¡ª!!"


    A deafening sound rang out, Zhao Longtu''s arm went numb from the powerful blow, and he plunged toward the ground like a shooting star, crashing down and digging into the soil, kicking up a fierce cloud of dust.


    Right outside the infirmary''s window was the training field, where many students were currently active. Startled by the sudden event, they watched in amazement.


    "What''s going on here?"


    Cao Sini also quickly landed, her strong and slender legs solidly hitting the ground. With an emotionless push-off, she shot towards Zhao Longtu once more.


    In the dust, Zhao Longtu had already climbed up; such an attack was no trouble for him.


    Realizing this woman was an opponent worth taking seriously, and that he couldn''t leave without dealing with her, he immediately assumed a fighting stance to meet her attack.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    The two students were fiercely engaged in combat within the blink of an eye, each move exquisitely precise, with rapid speed and immense power, demonstrating strength beyond their years.


    The students around, upon witnessing this, gathered around to watch, marveling at the intense fight.


    "What''s going on? Who is Miss Cao fighting with?"


    "I don''t know... Woah, they''re really going at it hard; I can''t even keep up with my eyes."


    "Who is that guy? Why is his face all mangled, as if it''s been scraped with a wire brush, even his nose is almost gone..."


    With a swollen lump on his head, He Han, who was scratching it, also arrived at the training field, speaking morosely:


    "That''s Zhao Longtu, the only one absent from our class."


    The others suddenly realized: "Oh, it''s him."


    "The one who took down his homeroom teacher?"


    "How did his face get like that, scratched by Miss Cao?"


    He Han touched the lump on his head, winced with pain, and said:


    "No, he was like this when Mr. Xue dragged him back. It seems he got that from being dragged on the ground." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye Jingqiu angrily slapped the lump on his head:


    "How could Mr. Xue be so gentle to do such a thing, don''t talk nonsense!"


    He Han immediately squatted down in pain, tears almost squeezing out, exclaiming:


    "I''m telling the truth! I saw it with my own eyes!"


    Chen Xingyan glanced at him indifferently: "Your two-dimensional tales are always exaggerated, we can''t believe you, definitely spicing up the story."


    The other students also echoed: "Right, Mr. Xue wouldn''t do that. It''s just He Han talking nonsense again."


    "Even if Mr. Xue did that, there must be a reason or a deeper meaning behind it! He Han, stop spouting nonsense!"

 Chapter 594 - 329: The Bankrupt Reputation of He Han, The Battle of the Strongest Students (4K)_2

    He Han felt like he was the wolf in "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," the snake in "The Farmer and the Viper," the beacon fires in "The Beacon Fire Plays with Lords,"¡ªutterly wronged.


    "I''m freaking wronged!!!"


    ... S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the office, Xue Jing flipped through the documents about the rules of the current Martial Arts Examination, his ears twitched slightly as he picked up the noise from the training ground, and said,


    "It seems a bit noisy outside."


    Ning Yuantai, who was eating an orange beside him, stood up and walked over to the window on the left side of the room, opened the window, and checked the situation outside.


    "Xue, two kids are fighting; it''s the girl from the Cao Family and the one you dragged back."


    Ning Yuantai said.


    While eating his orange and looking quite animated, he joked, "I always say you can''t rely on women, they make you feel uneasy even for calling someone over, I''m definitely more useful to Xue!"


    Ning Yuantai took the opportunity to lash out at his rival in the small brotherly competition, more so because Cao Sini was currently running errands for Xue Jing.


    "There are some issues with Zhao Longtu that need to be resolved; it''s normal for something like this to happen."


    Xue Jing said with a smile, unconcerned.


    "He and Cao Sini were originally evenly matched... but now she''s likely no longer his opponent."


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing put down the documents and stood up.


    "However, there might be a situation where they can''t hold back. I''ll go have a look."


    ...


    "If you don''t surrender... and come with me to see Mr. Xue, I''ll have to... use some special moves."


    During the fierce fight, Cao Sini spoke in a discontinuous manner.


    Although her tone was calm, her speech was a bit broken due to the need to coordinate her breathing while channeling energy.


    "...you might die."


    She said calmly, her demeanor not at all indicative of making a death threat.


    Immersed in the exhilarating fight, Zhao Longtu shook his head, eager and expectant,


    "I won''t go with you, use whatever moves you have quickly."


    Cao Sini''s gaze intensified: "If that''s the case..."


    She shook her arms as she channeled energy, in a move similar to a fighter in a fighting game releasing energy, briefly pushing back Zhao Longtu engaged with her, then suddenly underwent a change in her aura.


    A sense of grandeur, as if advancing regardless of everything else, erupted from her body, spreading visible waves of energy.


    Zhao Longtu''s pupils shrank upon seeing this.


    His keen intuition immediately warned him that what was to come was a threat of death.


    The ultimate sense of crisis crept up from his feet, overwhelming his body, causing his skin to bristle and giving him a tingling scalp, urging him to turn and run but Zhao Longtu did not flee; instead, he took up a defensive position, and shouted,


    "Come on!"


    When Xue Jing arrived at the training field, this was the scene that unfolded before him.


    "Ah, Mr. Xue!"


    "Mr. Xue, you''re here!"


    The students greeted him one after another.


    Seeing Xue Jing, Ye Jingqiu''s eyes lit up, and she quickly approached him, her clean white and beautiful hands grasping Xue Jing''s arm, her face full of concern,


    "Mr. Xue, Sini and that Zhao Longtu seem to be going a bit too far, what should we do?"


    As she spoke, her hands tried to delve deeper, hugging Xue Jing''s arm.


    Xue Jing smiled, withdrew his arm from Ye Jingqiu''s hands, and placed his hand on her head, gently saying,


    "Don''t worry, I''ll handle it."


    Ye Jingqiu''s face blushed slightly, her heartbeat quickened, she carefully felt the warmth of the hand on her head, and gazed fondly at Xue Jing''s face.


    Next to her, He Han coughed and patted Chen Xingyan on the shoulder,


    "Brother Li, let''s go out for a walk this afternoon, it''s getting cold; let''s buy some hats to wear."


    Chen Xingyan glanced at him and said indifferently, "If you want to buy it, go buy it yourself; what do you need me for? It''s not like we''re women who need to go to the bathroom in pairs when shopping."


    On the nearby battlefield, Cao Sini, who had already adopted the starting stance for a ''Serious Punch,'' hadn''t noticed Xue Jing''s arrival.


    After gathering her momentum, she immediately threw out a straight punch with her right hand in the posture of a Piercing Hand.


    He had not used his more familiar and more lethal Piercing Hand, instead delivering a Straight Punch, which theoretically gave a better chance of survival.


    Boom¡ª¡ª!!


    Like thunder from a clear sky, the sound bellowed. Where the fist passed, all air was pushed aside into a vacuum, with two straight lines of airflow diverging forward in a delicate fan shape.


    It was just like the scene when Xue Jing displayed his "Serious Punch," only on a much smaller scale.


    Facing a strike that could only be described as earth-shattering, Zhao Longtu''s expression turned solemn, preparing for the worst.


    Although he had anticipated it, the terror induced by this attack still far exceeded his imagination.


    How was it possible for someone of their level to master such a terrifying move?


    It completely defied his understanding, like a beginner in a video game suddenly executing a finishing move reserved for high-level characters.


    It was filled with a sense of absurdity as if someone was cheating at the game.


    Zhao Longtu stood his ground, taking the "Asura Rhino Formation" stance, and with a loud shout, squeezed out every ounce of his potential under the threat of death, unleashing the most powerful technique he had ever performed since he began practicing martial arts and charged at Cao Sini.


    Just then, a towering figure appeared beside him with a speed that completely caught him off guard.


    A gentle sigh echoed by his ear.


    "What a blockhead who can''t adapt... There''s no rule in a fight saying you have to meet force with force; didn''t you ever think to dodge? People can die, you know."


    Before he could finish speaking, a slap to his head sent him flying, out of the "Serious Punch''s" area of effect.


    Meanwhile, the figure was engulfed by it.


    "Mr. Xue!!"


    The surrounding students panicked a bit upon seeing this.


    Even though they knew Xue Jing was very strong and formidable... this was a "Serious Punch"!


    Delivered by Cao Sini, the strongest student, whose punch seemed to shake the very heavens and the earth, it was something you couldn''t help but worry about.


    An enormous amount of dust was kicked up, obscuring the center of the field from view.


    "..." Cao Sini watched as Xue Jing was hit by her uncontrollable "Serious Punch." The composure on her face instantly changed to a look of sheer panic.


    She quickly thought to check on the situation, but her body lacked any strength, leaving her lying powerlessly on the ground: "... Mr. Xue."


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long; a figure soon emerged from the dust.


    Xue Jing''s entire body, even his clothes, didn''t have a single wrinkle, and his hair wasn''t out of place.


    He stretched out his hand to dust off his chest where some dirt had stuck, looked at Cao Sini with a gentle smile, and said:


    "Not a bad punch, Student Sini."


    Only then did Cao Sini feel at ease, letting out a sigh of relief. Her slender and sharp eyebrows softened as she said quietly, "... It''s all thanks to your teaching."


    But as she calmed down, doubts began to rise in her mind.


    Something seemed off.


    It felt like... she hadn''t actually hit a human body.


    And Mr. Xue didn''t seem like he had been hit by a "Serious Punch" and dispelled it with his strength.


    Well, never mind, it didn''t matter. The important thing was that the teacher was okay.


    Unaware of her doubts and having dodged the punch using the Nonexistent Beast, Xue Jing extended a finger toward Cao Sini''s forehead. A barely visible rift opened at the tip of his finger, Dragon Cherry extended a slender root to touch her forehead, transferring some Life Force to her.


    Only then did the utterly drained Cao Sini begin to regain some strength.


    She propped herself up on her knees to stand and lower her head, saying, "... I''m sorry I couldn''t carry out your instructions."


    Xue Jing patted her head and said with a smile, "This was an unforeseen situation that went beyond the scope of your responsibility. Don''t blame yourself."


    "Go rest for a while, Student Sini."


    "Yes, Teacher..."


    Xue Jing turned and walked toward Zhao Longtu, who had been slapped into the mansion''s surrounding wall.


    A group of workers who were repairing the wall took off their hard hats and said with a tinge of helplessness:


    "Mr. Xue, doing this is going to cost extra."


    These workers had been sent by the manager of Xuanwu Mansion around noon to repair the wall that had been broken by Xue Jing''s "Serious Punch."


    Xue Jing apologized somewhat embarrassingly:


    "Sorry about this, craftsmen. It was an accident. I''ll be more careful next time."


    ...

 Chapter 595 - 330: The Weight Xue Jing Casually Takes Out, and the Students Little Game (4K)

    In the office, Zhao Longtu sat on the sofa, completely silent.


    He gazed at Xue Jing who was flipping through documents in the office chair, and Cao Sini and Ning Yuantai who stood at his sides like guardians of the door, particularly casting extra glances at Cao Sini.


    Even now, he was baffled. How could this person have possibly learned such an outrageously preposterous killing move.


    It made absolutely no sense... it shattered his understanding of Martial Arts totally.


    Zhao Longtu did not attempt to escape again. He knew in his heart that before the terrifying strength of this man named Xue Jing, if the other wanted him to stay, any struggle would be futile.


    The gap in their martial prowess was absolute, far surpassing the chance of ''luckily outperforming due to various coincidences that may allow for a counter-kill'' to the stage of ''definitely cannot win under any circumstance.''


    Thus, Zhao Longtu could only grimly stiffen his face, putting on an expression of preferring death over submission, firmly deciding to resist cooperating with whatever Xue Jing wanted him to do.


    "Zhao."


    Xue Jing put down the document he was holding, looked at Zhao Longtu, and started speaking.


    Zhao Longtu closed his eyes, turned his head aside, putting on an appearance of refusing to listen to anything.


    Xue Jing did not mind, but continued:


    "I am neither an education expert nor a psychologist, so I am incapable and do not plan to resolve your psychological issues. In such short time, I suppose I wouldn''t be able to resolve them even if I wanted to."


    "So, I will not try to emotionally manipulate you with sentiments such as those between a teacher and student... Let us, like filthy adults, engage in some purely interest-based transactions, shall we?" Xue Jing said, chuckling.


    He had already thoroughly reviewed Zhao Longtu''s file.


    Compared to He Han, who was unclear about the incidents despite attending junior high with him, Cease-Blades directly gave a clear and ordered file of the entire situation from beginning to end to Xue Jing for his perusal.


    About six years ago, eleven-year-old Zhao Longtu advanced from primary to a fairly prestigious school renowned in Silver City, Yan Gang Middle School.


    As an orphan, Zhao Longtu, while never systematically studying martial arts since childhood, still picked up a bit of it naturally thanks to living in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, his ultimate Martial Arts talent was immediately noticed by his homeroom teacher, Yao Yushan, after he entered junior high.


    Yao Yushan, seemingly out of appreciation for talent, took great care of him. Not only did he have him stay at his own home, living together, he also arranged for him to practice martial arts at the reputable True Form Dojo and cultivated him carefully.


    Their relationship gradually became like father and son; the orphan Zhao Longtu revered and loved Yao Yushan as his own father.


    ...However, the reality was not what Zhao Longtu had imagined at the time. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing''s fingers slid over the document in front of him, where there was a photograph of Zhao Longtu printed on the paper during his junior high years.


    With fine and gentle features, and even somewhat handsome¡ªfitting the description of fair-skinned and beautiful¡ªif it were a certain type of older woman with a fetish, they would shout out loud in admiration of his good looks.


    Completely different from his current fierce appearance, resembling a hardened criminal fresh out of prison.


    Slowly noticing something was off from various life details, Zhao Longtu eventually discovered Yao Yushan''s true intentions, which disgusted him so much he vomited on the spot.


    Having no parents, Zhao Longtu could only seek help from other teachers in the school, but either they believed that the harmonious, happily married Yao Yushan could not harbor ill intentions toward him, telling him he was overthinking, or they themselves were in cahoots with Yao Yushan, even if they knew his preferences, they would only dismissively handle it.


    Occasionally, a few serious and responsible teachers who took these matters seriously observed for a while and found no clues, concluding that Zhao Longtu was just overthinking.


    The subsequent developments, as you can imagine, Zhao Longtu, being increasingly pushed to his limits by the encroaching Yao Yushan, during a moment of resistance, was struck on the head with a blunt object, leaving a deep indentation at the brow bone.


    Eventually, he could only use his modest martial prowess to harshly deal with the man he once viewed as his father.


    Once officials intervened and clarified the investigation, the school then learned of such a horrific event.


    Naturally, the school wanted to heavily suppress the issue, not allowing it to be publicized, as it would be a catastrophic blow to Yan Gang Middle School''s reputation.


    Teachers, school officials, the principal... many people approached Zhao Longtu for discussions.


    Their words repeatedly emotionally manipulated him via ''after all, as teacher and student'' and this continuous type of moral coercion led Zhao Longtu to become utterly disillusioned with the teaching profession.


    ...


    "Filthy adult transactions?" Zhao Longtu took a glance at Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing nodded and smiled: "Exactly... pure transaction of interests, not involving any other issues."


    Zhao Longtu pondered for a moment, feeling he might accept this, and then nodded, "What kind of transaction?"


    Xue Jing put his elbows on the table, his hands folded under his chin in the pose of Commander Aida:


    "You''ve already experienced it just now, my student Sini''s ''Serious Punch,'' was it not impressive?"


    Standing by the side, Cao Sini heard the words ''my student Sini'' and felt a jolt, her whole body going slightly limp.


    She sweated lightly on her forehead, thinking to herself: "Mr. Xue... really doesn''t understand the weight of his words."

 Chapter 596 - 330: The Weight Xue Jing Casually Took Out, and the Students Little Game (4K)_2

    If it were Ye Jingqiu, or any other female classmate, who heard these words, they really wouldn''t know what sort of unnecessary associations they might form.


    Fortunately, she could handle it.


    "Extremely impressive, incredibly impressive, I am no match at all," Zhao Longtu solemnly nodded.


    Xue Jing chuckled, "This move, I taught her today at noon."


    "From when she was first exposed to it to when she mastered it, less than a few minutes had passed."


    Zhao Longtu immediately frowned, "How is that possible?"


    Martial arts of this level, to say nothing of a few minutes, even if all the principles and training methods were laid out before him in extreme detail, Zhao Longtu had no confidence that he could perfect them in a few years.


    It was not a matter of time, but rather a matter of insufficient level of attainment.


    Just like someone who didn''t know basic arithmetic, how could they possibly understand advanced calculus? No matter how meticulously it was explained, it would be in vain.


    "It''s true," Cao Sini spoke indifferently.


    "Don''t label as impossible the things you believe you can''t do. The world isn''t built on your imagination; there are plenty of things beyond your understanding. Mr. Xue is a person who transcends your narrow understanding."


    Zhao Longtu looked deep in thought, "So, it''s my own issue?"


    Then, he quickly nodded, "I understand now, I believe you could do it."


    Cao Sini was somewhat surprised.


    This man''s bearing... Is it much more considerable than I imagined?


    Cao Sini shook her head.


    No, that''s not it; he''s just foolishly clear.


    Thinking back to how, just a moment ago, He Han said anything and this man believed everything, Cao Sini''s lips twitched.


    Xue Jing nodded, "Since you understand, let''s move on to discuss the terms of the deal."


    "During the Martial Arts Examination, including the three days of training time and seven days of examination time, I will teach you many martial arts, greatly enhancing your strength, just like I taught the other students the ''Serious Punch.''"


    "In return, you must give it your all in this examination, actively cooperate with me and the other students to achieve good results in the end."


    "...So, what do you think? It''s a great deal, isn''t it?"


    After listening, He Han showed a puzzled expression on his face:


    "Is that really enough?"


    He found it a bit difficult to comprehend.


    The quality of teaching that allows someone to master the ''Serious Punch'' in just a few minutes, not to mention anything else, just mastering that move alone would be enough to make countless people go to great lengths and pay a significant price to learn it from Xue Jing.


    Not to mention there would be ten more days of time to learn who knows how many things.


    Such a great advantage, one could even call it a significant opportunity, that countless people couldn''t receive even if they cultivated for several lifetimes, and all for just cooperating in the Martial Arts Examination?


    The scales of this deal appeared too unbalanced.


    "From your perspective, perhaps this is something hard to understand,"


    Xue Jing smiled.


    "Rest assured, the deal between you and me is equal, fair, and doesn''t involve you taking advantage at all, there''s no need to feel emotionally burdened."


    Zhao Longtu shook his head, "I don''t understand."


    Xue Jing tapped the table with his index finger:


    "The reasoning is quite simple."


    "In this world, the value of all external things is assigned by humans based on their own perspective."


    "For instance, if not everyone agreed on the value of ''money,'' then ''money'' itself would be worthless."


    "In your eyes, my teaching you martial arts, helping you improve your strength, appears to be a great benefit to you. You think I''m giving too much, but in reality, it''s not the case."


    Xue Jing spoke calmly, "¡ª¡ªThe act of helping you improve your strength, for me, is nothing but a simple gesture, as easy as waving my hand."


    "Like a billionaire who took a fancy to a stone picked up by a beggar, willing to pay ten thousand for the stone that pleases him. For the billionaire, that amount isn''t even worth a mention, the ten thousand in his eyes is just worth the stone."


    "Now, you have picked up this stone."


    "There''s no need to worry or feel uneasy about a pie falling from the sky; our deal is one of equivalent value, without anyone owing the other."


    Zhao Longtu had an epiphany:


    "I see, I understand completely now."


    Beside him, Ning Yuantai and Cao Sini''s lips twitched, thinking to themselves, ''No, you haven''t understood at all...''


    Although Xue Jing might truly believe that, thinking he had just carelessly let something slip between his fingers.


    But as observers, the two were quite clear that this was a huge heavenly gift for Zhao Longtu, a massive stroke of fortune that could even be considered life-changing. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially for Ning Yuantai, who knew the most critical aspect wasn''t what martial arts Xue Jing taught Zhao Longtu or how much he had enhanced his strength...


    The key point was that from now on, this man in front of them had a ''real student-teacher'' relationship with Xue!


    No one would be more firmly convinced than him that this man would become a great figure in the future.


    The fact that he had had a student-teacher relationship with Xue Jing represented such a huge and terrifying advantage that even he, who thought he was securely Xue Jing''s number one little brother, felt envious and even jealous.


    ''Is it true that fools have foolish luck...''


    Cao Sini and Ning Yuantai thought the same thing at the same time.


    "So, do you agree to this trade?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    Zhao Longtu stood up, nodded, and said, "I agree..."


    A look of hesitation briefly showed on his fierce face, but he still spoke softly, "Mr. Xue."


    Once he uttered those two words ''teacher,'' it seemed as if he let go of something, and his expression softened a bit.


    "Good," Xue Jing smiled.


    "Let''s go then; the afternoon class is about to begin, you should get back to your team."


    ...


    On the training field, the students were surprised to see the bandaged-faced, strange-looking boy standing among them.


    "Dude, have you seen the light?" He Han approached Zhao Longtu, wrapped an arm around his neck, and teased.


    Zhao Longtu turned to glance at him and frowned, saying, "It''s you, Lanran Huoyoushu!"


    "Uh..." He Han was taken aback for a moment.


    "No, why are you still clueless? I was just kidding earlier; my real name is actually Edogawa Washing Machine, I''m half Chinese and half Japanese, with a Far Eastern mother named Yidizhi Hongxia..."


    Edogawa Washing Machine said, shaking his head.


    "So that''s how it is... Then why did you lie to me earlier, Washing Machine?" Zhao Longtu asked, puzzled.


    The surrounding classmates all laughed.


    "Zhao, how adorable can you be?"


    "You''re just too amusing."


    Chen Xingyan slapped He Han on the back of his head, which still had a swelling, and said:


    "You''ve been tricked again... Don''t talk to this crazy fellow. His name is He Han, and there''s something a bit off with his brain."


    He Han let out a pained yell as he squatted down, clutching his head, while Ye Jingqiu, next to him, pinched the tips of her hair in front of her, smiling and saying:


    "You can only believe one in every ten things this guy says, you need to distinguish carefully!"


    Seeing Zhao Longtu integrating into the group in his own special way, Xue Jing smiled and clapped his hands, making a sound to draw the students'' attention, then announced:


    "Alright, for this class, let''s play a little game."


    At the mention of a game, many students'' eyes lit up.


    "Teacher, what kind of game is it?"


    "I''m unbeatable at Truth or Dare."


    "Can we play the King''s Game, the no-taboo kind... whoosh, I mean no disrespect to Mr. Xue; I just really enjoy playing."


    With the students looking on eagerly, Xue Jing mysteriously produced¡ªa bell.


    "Ah!!"


    He Han stood up, pointing at Xue Jing in disbelief:


    "Mr. Xue, are you trying to copy Kakashi-sensei?"


    "Don''t underestimate the prestige of the Copy Ninja, ok!"


    Xue Jing glanced at him: "Calm down, you Naruto fan."


    "The bell test has been in the memories since the Third, it''s not something Kakashi-sensei came up with."


    He Han paused, then broke into an elated expression: "Teacher, so you''re into it too..."

 Chapter 597 - 331

    Xue Jing held the bell in his hand and said to the students:


    "This time''s joint exam has two types of scores."


    "One is the ''individual score,'' and the other is the ''team score.''"


    "Everyone''s final individual score is the sum of your individual score and team score, with the individual score being harder to control, so the team score is essentially your guarantee for a good result."


    "Indeed, powerful lone wolves might be able to rely on their strong individual abilities to achieve high personal scores and meet the admission criteria of prestigious schools, but as your teacher, I hope every one of you can have a bright future."


    "Therefore, as the examiner leading you, I hereby set the tone: in this joint exam, we will focus on obtaining a high team score."


    "If that''s the case, teamwork and understanding become extremely important."


    While saying this, Xue Jing shook the bell in his hand.


    Ding-ding-ding¡ª¡ª


    The bell rang out pleasantly, and Xue Jing continued:


    "Next, I will tie this bell to my body..."


    Before he could finish, He Han''s eyes lit up, and he raised his hand to speak:


    "Teacher, is it that we have to work together to snatch your bell? And the one who gets it has the privilege to eat the dinner you make, while all the other students can only watch, then the one who snatched it will share the food with everyone, eventually enhancing the team spirit..."


    Standing by and waiting for Xue Jing to finish starting the meal, and incidentally observing the teaching session, Ning Yuantai chuckled upon hearing this.


    "You''re thinking too much."


    "If that were the condition, you wouldn''t be able to snatch Xue''s bell even in ten years."


    The students exchanged glances: "Then what should we do?"


    Xue Jing smiled gently, "It''s easier than you think."


    He tied the bell around his waist.


    "Next, you need to cooperate with each other and use all means necessary, whether it''s by force or by trickery, as long as you can make the bell on the teacher''s body ring..."


    He flicked the bell on his waist, making it jingle again.


    "¡ªthen you will have succeeded."


    "Ah?" The students were somewhat stunned.


    "That''s too easy, Mr. Xue."


    A student wondered.


    "It''s just about making the bell ring... we just need to make Mr. Xue move, right?"


    "There''s no difficulty at all, Mr. Xue."


    Only Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu had no objections and remained silent.


    "Easy, huh," Xue Jing smiled.


    "I think it''s not that easy... But since you all think so, let''s add another condition."


    "¡ªIf you don''t accomplish it within half an hour, there will be no dinner tonight."


    "What!?" Now the crowd was a bit anxious.


    Skipping a meal is no big deal; who hasn''t been hungry before.


    But missing a meal made by Xue Jing is genuinely missing a meal.


    "If I miss a meal made by Mr. Xue... some of my attributes, like my appearance, my figure, my social etiquette, and my beautiful character¡ªeven my soul would be ruined!"


    "What is this ancient joke from the Jurassic period... But this really won''t do! Losing a meal made by Mr. Xue would be a lifetime regret!"


    "Absolutely not!"


    "I''m fired up! Mr. Xue, I''m determined to shake your bell!"


    "That sounds a bit weird..."


    Seeing that everyone was motivated, Xue Jing nodded and said:


    "Then... let the game begin."


    After saying that, he stood in his original position, with a casual posture, hands behind his back, and a seemingly unguarded, relaxed demeanor. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It should be... quite easy, right?"


    A female student with thick eyebrows looked at Xue Jing and hesitated to speak.


    "We don''t have to defeat Mr. Xue, just make the bell on him ring... how could we not do it, let''s go, charge!"


    Some were shouting, but no one stepped forward.


    Although it seemed easy to say, their knowledge and logic told them it should be easy to do...


    But looking at the good-looking young man in the distance, everyone started to feel inexplicably nervous for some reason.


    Although they had been in contact with Mr. Xue for less than half a day... nearly all the students had realized that he was someone beyond normal understanding.


    Even if their cognition told them that making the bell ring was straightforward, seeing Xue Jing''s carefree demeanor made them instinctively sense trouble.


    The students did not realize it was the authority of Xue Jing and the weight of his words gradually surpassing their common sense.


    Like when a deeply respected mathematician confidently declares that 1+1=3, what would normally be dismissed as absurd, coming from him, would not immediately be seen as nonsense, but instead, people would seriously ponder why he said that. Could 1+1 really be equal to 3?


    "I''ll do it!"


    He Han stepped out of the crowd with a determined expression and pointed at Xue Jing:


    "Heh heh heh, Old Demon Xue, I''ll make you regret teaching me this move!"


    He bent his knees slightly and posed in the "Serious Punch" Straight Punch position, his spirit bursting forth, and his previously sly expression became heroic and fearless.


    However, his mouth was still brazen.


    "Damn it, a million horsepower of magnetic force rotation! Xue''s Explosive Fist, yaah!!!"


    He Han shouted and threw a Straight Punch.


    A fan-shaped vacuum shockwave instantly swept toward Xue Jing, the violent airflow strong enough to make the bell on Xue Jing''s waist collide violently.

 Chapter 598 - 331_2

    However... there was no sound.


    The bell, which should have been frantically swaying and making noise in the violent airstream, was indeed being blown and swaying nonstop.


    But¡ªthere was no sound at all!


    "What the!?" He Han, who had flopped to the ground after throwing a punch, lifted his head and widened his eyes.


    The students were also surprised, "Why is there no sound!?"


    "Is Mr. Xue cheating? Did he turn on a sound-muting cheat?"


    "Does this bell have some weird silent mechanism?"


    Only a few students seemed to have realized something and showed a look of amazement.


    Zhao Longtu spoke, "The bell has no issues; it''s just an ordinary bell..."


    Chen Xingyan nodded solemnly and said, "The bell is composed of the external ''Bell Cover'' and the internal ''Bell Tongue.'' When the bell sways, the bell tongue collides with the bell cover, hence making a sound."


    "If they don''t touch each other... naturally there will be no sound."


    "Mr. Xue is using his Power to control the violently shaking bell inside, preventing the bell tongue from touching the bell cover the instant they''re about to collide... Now, although the bell appears to be continuously swaying, in reality, the inside bell tongue hasn''t touched the bell cover at all."


    Ye Jingqiu was astounded, "Is such a thing... even possible?"


    Cao Sini spoke indifferently, "This requires precision in Power control that''s hard to imagine, and a super computational ability to instantly calculate all trajectories of the bell''s violent movements."


    "So, we definitely can''t be like this idiot here, thinking it''s something we can easily accomplish, otherwise... we''ll end up going hungry."


    Chen Xingyan pointed at He Han, who was slumped on the ground.


    Hearing this, all the students became serious.


    The consequences were too severe to not take seriously.


    "What should we do, Brother Li!"


    "Yeah, you take command, Brother Li, we can''t miss Mr. Xue''s dinner!"


    "Please, Brother Li, what should we do?"


    Seeing his classmates repeatedly calling him ''Brother Li,'' Chen Xingyan''s mouth twitched, and he couldn''t help but harshly kick He Han who was on the ground.


    He sighed and said:


    "Let''s do it this way..."


    ...


    Xue Jing watched the students scatter one by one and run towards various parts of Xuanwu Mansion, smiled and said:


    "Seems like you''ve figured out some strategy?"


    He leisurely walked up to He Han, who was left alone in the training field.


    "Mr. Xue, help, lend a hand."


    He Han, lying prone on the ground, reached out shakily to Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing was unmoved, watched him for a while, then suddenly smiled,


    "So it appears you''re the key part of their plan."


    He Han''s heart skipped a beat, blinking his eyes:


    "What are you rambling about, Mr. Xue, I don''t understand what you''re saying."


    Xue Jing said softly,


    "You must have trained in a special Martial Arts, retaining some Physical Strength even after throwing a ''Serious Punch''... They deliberately left you here as if they had abandoned you, pretending they didn''t intend to involve you in the combat strategy, as a ploy to confuse me, when in fact, you''re meant to be a trump card, waiting for an opportunity to disrupt and deliver a surprise attack."


    "Although it''s a simple plan based on an information gap, it''s quite practical. For high school students, it''s quite impressive."


    He Han''s forehead broke into sweat.


    Isn''t everything known now? Where''s the information gap?


    Mr. Xue, this monster...


    "Well, that''s good too. Since this is the case, let''s go along with your wishes."


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then smiled and said.


    He stood still beside He Han.


    The next moment, a student on the fifth floor of the mansion''s building kicked back and rushed toward the training field, launching an attack on Xue Jing''s back.


    His right hand clenched into a fist, and atop the tip of the fist, a phantom-like transparent lotus almost seemed to bloom as he launched a punch toward Xue Jing''s back.


    It was Chen Xingyan.


    At the same time, students from all directions converged on Xue Jing.


    The students'' plan was simple.


    They wished to catch Mr. Xue off-guard with the Bell during intense movement, but that was likely a tall order.


    They had already studied Xue Jing''s match videos from the U19 competition and knew he had mastered one of the most difficult Martial Arts, ''Impeccable,'' to an extremely high level, making his computational ability almost superhuman. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, there was a method that could still make the Bell sound.


    That was¡ªstriking the Bell directly and shattering it.


    No matter how exquisitely Xue Jing controlled his Power, no matter how strong his computational power was, the material of the Bell itself had its limits.


    Should an attack hit the Bell directly, even if Xue Jing shielded it with his Power, the Bell itself would still shatter from not withstanding too much Power being pumped into it.


    Upon shattering, the sound would naturally emanate.


    "Ha!"


    In the midst of several loud shouts, attacks closed in.


    Xue Jing muttered softly, "Not a bad formation."


    "But¡ª"


    He grabbed the incoming fist of a male student on his right and, amid the student''s screams, swung him around, crashing him into another student attacking from the left.


    "Poor synergy, the intervals between your attacks are too large."


    Amid the flurry of fists and feet, Xue Jing deflected the offensive efforts of five or six students with various maneuvers. To an onlooker, it seemed as though several people who came close to Xue Jing were instantly flung back.


    "Ugh!"


    "To achieve the effect of a siege on a master, you must ensure all the attacks arrive at the same time. The slightest delay turns it from many against one to a series of one-on-ones, no different from a gourd baby saving his grandpa by taking turns in battle."


    Xue Jing casually dispensed teaching advice as he spoke.


    "Oh my, this is insane, Mr. Xue!"


    Students hiding in the shadows were agape in amazement.


    "How can we fight this? We can''t touch him at all."


    "What do we do now?"


    Everyone''s gaze shifted toward two specific individuals.


    "Let''s see how Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu fare..."


    "We''ll wait for the final moment..."


    Soon, a male and a female figure, almost imperceptible due to their speed, launched a fast attack on Xue Jing from different directions.


    Their Action Speed was clearly much faster than the previous group of students, and they almost simultaneously reached in front of Xue Jing, one with a punch, the other with a Piercing Hand, both aiming at Xue Jing''s front and back.


    "Not bad."


    Xue Jing nodded and, with a hand on each side, seized the wrists of the two approaching individuals.


    Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu had a tacit understanding due to their previous confrontations and were somewhat aware of each other''s abilities, which allowed them to fulfill Xue Jing''s requirement of a ''simultaneous attack'' to a certain extent.


    "Just too few people... what?"


    While speaking, Xue Jing noticed He Han, who had been prone on the ground, suddenly rise and reach for the Bell at his waist.


    With a kick that pushed away Han''s palm, Xue Jing now used three of his limbs.


    "Now, while he''s distracted, charge!"


    Over twenty students immediately emerged from their hiding places and rushed toward Xue Jing.


    As they advanced, they each erupted with a fierce and unstoppable aura, transforming from what seemed like meek sheep to ferocious tigers.


    Xue Jing had a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    It was as if he was witnessing a group of suicide bombers, stripped of equipment except for high-capacity explosives in their arms, launching relentless kamikaze attacks against him...


    "Naive."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing tossed both Zhao Longtu and Cao Sini aside and then intricate dragon scale patterns emerged on his skin, subtly glistening with a golden sheen, turning into a coat of golden scales.


    Countless Serious Punches rained down on him; Xue Jing instantly became a golden top spinning at high velocity. Every external assault, every impact, was either repelled or neutralized the moment it came in contact with his rotating body.

 Chapter 599 - 332

    For the next half hour, Chen Xingyan, along with Cao Sini, Zhao Longtu, and a few other students with stronger abilities, launched several more offensive attacks.


    They were all easily repelled by Xue Jing.


    Lacking in strength, coordination, and the ability to react on the fly¡­


    The students, still far from being capable, did not manage to make Xue Jing''s bell ring within half an hour.


    As a result, Xue Jing, as previously stated, actually didn''t allow the students to eat dinner that evening.


    "Damn it!!!"


    "I am starving... I''ve never been this hungry in my life."


    "Mr. Xue is too cruel¡­ Can we eat the table? Sniff, sniff, I think I can smell the food Mr. Xue cooked at noon."


    The group sighed and gathered in the cafeteria, lying on the tables, turning their faces toward the empty food counter, their hungry eyes seeing stars, almost hallucinating.


    Practicing with Xue Jing already required huge energy, and most had used the Serious Punch technique, which drained physical strength and energy, and now they were absolutely famished.


    "Who was it that just now said it was too easy, that there was no difficulty?"


    Someone said through gritted teeth.


    Initially, Xue Jing had only proposed that everyone find a way to make the bell on his body ring, without setting the condition that they wouldn''t eat if they failed in half an hour.


    It was only added after someone commented that it was too easy and there was no difficulty.


    Upon hearing this, although they couldn''t remember who had spoken, everyone''s gaze shifted to He Han.


    Looking fairly energetic, He Han suddenly got flustered, "No, no, don''t wrong a good person, am I the type to talk too much?"


    "Now, blaming someone else is meaningless," Chen Xingyan said, waving his hand.


    "Most of us probably thought it was too simple, we just didn''t say it aloud¡­


    He stood up and said, "It''s still because we are too weak, we didn''t meet Mr. Xue''s requirements¡­ Let''s go, let''s all go out and eat something."


    "Eh, is that okay? Didn''t Mr. Xue say we can''t eat tonight?" someone hesitated.


    "It''s not like military training¡­ and even in military training you get to eat. Mr. Xue didn''t enforce any measures before leaving, he definitely wasn''t planning on actually making us go all night without eating. Didn''t he say before that we must handle our nutrition well?"


    "Maybe if we really followed his word and foolishly didn''t eat anything, he would actually be disappointed."


    "¡­sigh, but the food Mr. Xue cooks is really once less each time we eat, I really can''t bear to miss a meal."


    Everyone sighed upon hearing this.


    Zhao Longtu asked curiously, "Is it really that delicious? You all act like you''re addicted."


    Hearing this, everyone gave him a look, "You''re so lucky, Zhao. You don''t have to go through the pain and discomfort we''re feeling right now."


    "I don''t know whether to say you''re lucky or unlucky... You''ve never tasted such soul-destroyingly good flavor."


    "Cherish life, stay away from Xue Family''s meals."


    Everyone shook their heads at Zhao Longtu with a knowing look, although it seemed like they were suggesting he was fortunate, there was also a strange sense of superiority.


    Zhao Longtu was unconvinced.


    It was just food, after all. As long as it wasn''t laced with anything strange, how impressive could it be?


    These people just hadn''t experienced hard times; for someone like him who had, food was merely a necessary sustenance, and the taste didn''t really matter, just like a diabetic needs insulin but doesn''t enjoy the injections.


    If needed, he could completely skip the process of eating and live on nutritional supplements.


    These people were simply too well-fed to crave such trivial pleasures.


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    "Something''s not right."


    "Something''s very not right."


    Zhao Longtu, uncontrollably holding a big steel basin, kept stuffing food into his mouth.


    The indescribably delicious taste brought a terrifying pleasure that filled his taste buds.


    It was just rice and water put into a device and cooked at the press of a button, something even a three-year-old could do... why was it so delicious?


    Zhao Longtu''s mind uncontrollably recalled what Lanran... no, He Han had said.


    ''He''s a tyrant who, with his culinary skills, has captivated the taste buds of all humanity, making everyone submit under his frying pan...''


    Zhao Longtu had an epiphany.


    So this was why Mr. Xue was called the ''Demon King.''


    Indeed he lived up to the name...


    "Bang¡ª" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cao Sini punched Zhao Longtu on the head.


    "I always feel you''re thinking about some weird, stupid stuff¡­ and stop lifting the food basin to your mouth, others need to eat too."


    She said indifferently.


    The noisy breakfast time ended quickly, from when Xue Jing finished cooking and placed the food on the table to when it was completely devoured, it took less than ten minutes.


    Since Xue Jing hadn''t cooked the previous night and thought the students might be very hungry, he made extra¡­ but it was eaten even faster than the meal the day before.


    After the students had finished eating and resting, Xue Jing gathered everyone at the training ground to teach them some new things.


    The three days of training passed in a flash.


    ¡­


    March 1, the day the Seventh Metropolitan Circle intercity joint examination officially began.


    In the early morning, a large flying vehicle, looking like a long strip of bread and about the size of a bus, with flames jetting from the back, landed on the spacious training ground of Xuanwu Mansion.

 Chapter 600 - 332

    "Is everyone here?"


    Xue Jing looked at the neatly arranged students before him and asked.


    Chen Xingyan, the leader, responded, "Teacher, I just did a roll call. Everyone is here."


    "Hmm." Xue Jing nodded and waved his hand,


    "Then let''s go, we''re off."


    "Yes, Teacher!"


    The students replied in unison, and one by one, they orderly entered the open hatch of the aircraft.


    After all the students had boarded, Xue Jing followed them inside.


    The hatch closed, the large aircraft roared, and shot up into the sky, heading toward the wilderness outside Silver City.


    On the aircraft, the students sat in groups of threes and twos on the seats, chatting quite relaxedly.


    "It''s a pity that this time''s exam takes place in the ''Steel Tree Sea''..."


    "This Intersecting Boundaries area, I heard it''s all iron-based materials inside, even the rivers are made of steel water, and it''s impossible to find food to forage, it looks like Mr. Xue''s meal this morning was really our last meal."


    "Sigh."


    Everyone sighed.


    "Don''t panic, didn''t the rules say everyone will carry some food when they enter?"


    "When the time comes, we''ll just take the food from students of other classes and ask Mr. Xue to cook..."


    "Wake up, we can''t bring cooking utensils either, even with ingredients Mr. Xue would have a hard time making anything."


    "Give up, let''s just pretend it was all a dream, and after waking up, we''re still drooling..."


    He Han pinched his chin, "Aren''t we lacking a sense of crisis?"


    "The joint exam can be deadly, and this time nearly twenty venues are participating... Such a large-scale joint exam, I checked online, the lowest casualty rate ever was above 35%."


    A female student laughed, "If it were three days ago, we would surely be very nervous."


    "But now..."


    "I feel like we''re terrifyingly powerful."


    Everyone''s faces were mildly confident.


    No one knew that in just three days, under the tutelage of that man they almost regarded as a deity, they had made incredible progress.


    "I think, being assigned to Mr. Xue''s team, might be the luckiest thing I''ll ever experience in my life."


    Someone spoke softly.


    "No matter what, we absolutely cannot let Mr. Xue down."


    "Even if it means death, we must achieve good results this time."


    "Otherwise, Mr. Xue will be looked down upon by others because of us... That''s something I absolutely cannot accept!"


    Everyone nodded fiercely.


    The aircraft was quite fast and soon left Silver City and arrived in the wilderness.


    Inside the cockpit, Xue Jing was chatting with the pilot.


    "...This region is located between the Inner Ring and the Outer Ring, in a no man''s land."


    The middle-aged, somewhat chubby pilot introduced with a smile.


    "There used to be several cities nearby, but they were destroyed due to the emergence of the Intersecting Boundaries or had to be abandoned due to their proximity to the dangerous region..."


    "Sigh, really don''t know what the future world will become; it''s only been less than three hundred years, yet the areas where humans can survive have already been greatly reduced."


    "If this continues, I''m afraid it won''t be long before we really have no place to live."


    "But it''s not much of a concern for us, since by that time we''ll all be dead, these are issues for those big shots in Cangting to consider, haha."


    Xue Jing''s sharp eyesight penetrated the front windows, capturing the distant anomalies in sight.


    A vast area where light was distorted, the edges of the soil tinged with a metallic color spreading out, conspicuously forming a Steel Territory amidst the vast mud wilderness.


    Vaguely, everywhere were roots of trees emitting a metallic luster extending from the region, moving as if alive.


    "Steel Tree Sea..."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    This would be the first environmental-specialized Intersecting Boundaries he''d come into contact with.


    Completely different from the Roaring Waterfall he had entered before, whose environment was still pleasant and not much different from that of Earth Star,


    the Steel Tree Sea was a completely different world from Earth Star, a true "Otherworld."


    For instance, the most basic element of gravity was over 2.8 times that of Earth Star.


    However, environmental factors like these were irrelevant to him.


    The difficulty of this joint examination lay in the targeting by the Secret Martial Society and other enemies.


    "...don''t let me down."


    He whispered.


    After several hours of flight, the aircraft successfully arrived at the entrance to the Steel Tree Sea.


    Xue Jing led his students off the aircraft and glanced at the strangely distorted area of light in front of him before turning his gaze to the side.


    Before them, other students from various exam venues had already arrived.


    They were grouped together batch by batch, keeping a great distance from one another, with no intention of interacting.


    This was to be expected, as they would soon begin killing each other; if they formed attachments, it could only be detrimental.


    The students seemed to have been affected by the solemn atmosphere of the scene as well, becoming serious and tense, no longer speaking.


    Instead, several young people who looked like examiners were gathered together, chatting about something.


    "That''s him, right?"


    A young man wearing a Martial Arts Uniform, handsome in appearance, curiously looked towards Xue Jing.


    "That''s Xue Jing... I saw on the internet a few days ago, someone named Xue Jing received an A+ rating on the first test project at the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace... is it him?"


    The person beside him raised an eyebrow, "Really? I thought it was just someone with the same name, isn''t that exaggerated?"


    "Hey, little Zhou, this doesn''t quite match what you told me."


    He reached out and clasped the shoulder of a youth next to him.


    The look of sharp, falcon-like keenness, subtly revealing a hint of wariness and fear... It was Zhou Yinglin himself.


    After losing consecutively to Xue Jing on the U19 battlefield, he was forcefully sent by his master, Wu Xuanzhu, to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle for training.


    With his strength and talent, he managed quite well here and also made a name for himself in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    Then... he was approached by people from the Secret Martial Society.


    Being one of the very few people who had had intimate contact with Xue Jing, the upper echelons of the Secret Martial Society believed he must have a deep understanding of Xue Jing. Thus, they had him involved in this plan as a "Think Tank" and "source of intelligence."


    For Zhou Yinglin, this was an excellent opportunity to take revenge on Xue Jing... The lineup this time was extraordinarily luxurious. Logically speaking, dealing with even ten Xue Jings would be more than enough, let alone one.


    But... for some reason, actually seeing that figure descend from the aircraft, Zhou Yinglin immediately felt a sense of unease.


    An unease that utterly defied reason, logic, and all normal thinking.


    It was as if his own hand clearly held all bombs, while the opponent only had thin, unformed cards at best, perhaps a few pairs... but he inexplicably felt it was precarious.


    It seemed like the opponent''s lousy hand was just a facade, actually holding all the trump cards...


    ''I have such a deep shadow of him, damn it...''


    Zhou Yinglin clenched his teeth hard.


    If he couldn''t break this curse and make this person disappear from this world, he feared he would never achieve a Breakthrough in this lifetime, as his Spirit wouldn''t reach Perfection.


    "This person has a very unique physique and is also a Blessed One."


    Zhou Yinglin took a deep breath and said gravely, Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Although I don''t know what his specific abilities are, he indeed has a move that can greatly boost his own attack power, probably how he got the A+."


    "His real martial arts strength definitely hasn''t reached this level."


    The person next to him pinched his chin, "Oh? Is that so?"


    "However, whether his martial arts strength has reached this level, or he achieved it through other abilities, it shows his offensive capabilities are quite formidable."


    "We can''t just collide with him head-on... We''d need to consider other methods."


    ...

 Chapter 601 - 333: Secret Martial Reformist, Special Divine Skill — True Red! (4K)

    "Ji Huaiyu, what is your opinion?" Several examiners turned their attention to a handsome young man with an indifferent expression.


    "You''ve also had contact with Xue Jing¡­ Any thoughts?"


    Zhou Yinglin turned his gaze toward him as well.


    Ji Huaiyu originated from the Four Elements Dojo in the Outer Ring of the Fifth Urban Circle.


    A talented genius who had only recently been recruited into the Secret Martial Society.


    Because he had contact with the yet-to-debut Xue Jing during the U19 Maple City elimination rounds, he, along with Zhou Yinglin, had been assigned here to provide insights to counter Xue Jing.


    Originally, someone hailing from an obscure corner of the Outer Ring like Ji Huaiyu would be considered beneath Zhou Yinglin to even glance at.


    But after being defeated by Xue Jing twice...he had been cured of a good amount of that arrogance.


    Although he still didn''t think Ji Huaiyu would be much help, listening to his opinions was still acceptable.


    After a moment of thought, Ji Huaiyu spoke in a tone completely devoid of fluctuation, "...He''s a good person."


    The crowd was taken aback.


    "He did what I couldn''t do for me, and offered me a good method..."


    Ji Huaiyu reflected on his contact with Xue Jing.


    Previously, when the Four Elements Dojo''s disciples were being overbearing, he was ordered by his master not to harm his fellow disciples and couldn''t intervene, so it was Xue Jing who stepped in to help him and suggested the method of ''inspecting injuries'' as a way of reprimanding his peers with feigned concern.


    Ji Huaiyu had a good impression of him.


    "...That''s not what we''re asking you."


    Someone sighed.


    "We are asking if Xue Jing has any weaknesses or disadvantages that can be exploited."


    Ji Huaiyu, with his indifferent expression¡ªor rather a vacant expression devoid of any emotion¡ªlooked at the person speaking and shook his head:


    "He''s very strong...stronger than everyone else, there''s no way."


    Zhou Yinglin said flatly, "I really don''t know what the upper echelons were thinking sending you here; you''re utterly useless."


    Ji Huaiyu wasn''t angered but merely cocked his head, puzzled, "I don''t understand either...considering how badly you were beaten by Xue Jing, sending you to take him on should be equally futile."


    Zhou Yinglin''s piercing eyes sharpened like a hawk''s. "You little wretch, looking for trouble?"


    But then his cheeks twitched as he averted his gaze.


    Ji Huaiyu had no provocative intentions with his words, just genuine puzzlement, and Zhou Yinglin could see that.


    Getting angry with someone like this felt as pointless as getting angry at a stone.


    "Alright, since we can''t come up with anything, let''s wait for our trump card to arrive."


    An examiner tried to smooth things over.


    "Although it''s a bit annoying to rely on a young kid...with that person''s strength, we can almost guarantee a flawless plan."


    Another young examiner interjected, "It''s not necessarily flawless...let''s not forget, not just us, but the Reformists seem to have shown up this time as well."


    ...


    Xue Jing was observing the strange distortions of the Intersecting Boundaries before him when, all of a sudden, a figure slowly walked up to his side.


    That person had an unusual appearance, wearing military pants and boots below, yet only a black strap across his torso, nearly bare, exposing beautifully curved muscle lines.


    He was extremely tall, towering a full head above the nearly 1.9-meter-tall Xue Jing, likely around 2.2 meters tall, his height making his frame seem somewhat slender, yet still possessing an oppressive presence.


    But these were not the main points.


    The most striking feature was the faint scent of blood emanating from all over his body, diffusing on the surface of his skin.


    It was as if every single pore on his body was emitting blood mist, visible to the naked eye which made him appear as though he had activated some Burst Seed martial arts skill, a sight that was both alarming and awe-inspiring.


    His blood-tinted dark red hair flowed freely, as if moved by an invisible wind, whipping around wildly.


    With his approach, all of the students instinctively showed guarded and tense expressions.


    Like rabbits in the grassland beholding a lion...even if the lion had no intention to hunt, the sheer pressure of absolute power created a suffocating feeling.


    "My name is...Wei Yuzhao."


    The towering man slightly lowered his head, looking towards Xue Jing and extended his right hand with a deep voice in greeting.


    Xue Jing slowly turned to look at him.


    The blood aura diffusing from the man''s body came into contact with Xue Jing''s, bringing a scorching heat, akin to a burn.


    This person was strong. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing felt a pure disparity emanating from him.


    In terms of physical strength alone, this man had an overwhelming advantage over him.


    Yet, there was a faint sense of something abnormal.


    After a moment''s thought, Xue Jing reached out and shook his hand.


    "I''m Xue Jing," he said softly.


    [Detecting Divine Substance, absorbing Divinity...]


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered.


    Was this man a Blessed One?


    After seeing the prompt, Xue Jing instinctively checked his panel and felt a shock inside.


    At the bottom of the Divine Skill Bar, fine red specks were gathering in a new slot...


    This was¡ªthe sign of a new Divine Skill being activated!


    But why were the specks red, not golden?


    The phenomenon, different from previously activated Divine Skills, left Xue Jing puzzled.


    The man named Wei Yuzhao nodded and then tried to retract his hand...but Xue Jing suddenly gripped it firmly, preventing him from pulling away.


    Wei Yuzhao was momentarily stunned.


    With an unchanged expression, Xue Jing held Wei Yuzhao''s hand and said with a smile, "Brother Wei seems very strong...may I ask where you practice?"

 Chapter 602 - 333: The Secret Martial Reformist, Special Divine Skill—True Red! (4K)_2

    Wei Yuzhao shook his head: "Xue Jing, I am not your enemy."


    Xue Jing still didn''t let go, only saying: "Please elaborate."


    Wei Yuzhao didn''t understand why Xue Jing was grasping his hand, but to show that he had no hostile intentions, he didn''t resist and continued:


    "I am a member of the Secret Martial Society... but unlike those Conservatives who want to trouble you, I am a member of the Reformist Faction."


    Xue Jing asked in confusion: "Reformist Faction?"


    Wei Yuzhao said gravely: "We do not agree with the old concepts of the Secret Martial Society, nor do we acknowledge that only the Old Martial Arts are the powers humans should wield. Rather, we believe that anything that can enhance martial arts should be used¡ªthis is the innovative thought."


    "After all, even the one who founded the Secret Martial Society... didn''t he also use it?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed realization: "I see."


    The Secret Martial Society was originally a pure Old Martial Arts organization founded by the Extreme Martial King. While he was the leader, naturally there was no room for any other heretical ideas to exist.


    But ever since he ''surrendered'' and joined the officials to rule over Cangting, it was only natural that the organization, which existed because of him alone, would change its ideas and actions due to his changed thought and conduct, causing the organization to evolve as well.


    The emergence of this Reformist Faction must have been a new faction that appeared after the Extreme Martial King left the Secret Martial Society.


    "...You can probably tell that I am a Blessed One," Wei Yuzhao continued.


    "The Heretic God I have been granted is known as ''True Red Lord'' and ''Source of Flesh.''"


    "This is a Heretic God whose granted rituals have only been perfected in the last few decades. It is the origin of all ''flesh'' in the world, one of the True Gods symbolizing the concept of the material foundation."


    "It possesses blessings that are extremely wonderful for Martial Artists... and all of its granted rituals are in the hands of our Reformist Faction."


    Wei Yuzhao was surprisingly laying all his cards on the table.


    He looked directly at Xue Jing: "You should be able to feel how powerful I am... even stronger than you, a rare genius in this world by a large margin."


    "All because of the power of the Reformists."


    "Xue Jing, you too are a Blessed One and are surely completely different from those with rigid minds. You can accept our completely new martial arts ideology."


    "Join us, become a member of the Secret Martial Society''s Reformist Faction, and you will receive unprecedented support, to rise with shocking speed, to become stronger. With your talent, given time, becoming the leader who guides our Reformists, and even ultimately becoming the great person who elevates the entire world''s martial arts system, is not impossible."


    Wei Yuzhao scanned the surroundings and said:


    "And as long as you join, I will help you crush any actions the Conservative Faction takes against you and ensure your safety."


    Xue Jing held Wei Yuzhao''s hand, was silent for a while, and then said with a smile:


    "The conditions sound very tempting."


    [Divine Absorption Complete]


    The prompt popped up, and he opened his panel, glancing at his current Divinity.


    [Divinity Held: 6620]


    Previously, he had obtained a large amount of Divinity in the Dragon Core Airplane''s Cease-Blades commander''s bedroom and had cleared out the gathering of dragons on the map with one punch, which had brought him some more, having around 4400 Divinity to begin with.


    Now it had become six thousand six... getting nearly twenty-two hundred Divinity from Wei Yuzhao.


    It was a significant gain, but the Divinity wasn''t the point.


    His gaze turned to the Divine Skill Bar on the panel.


    At the very bottom, a new skill that was starkly different from the other Divine Skills had appeared.


    Its name didn''t shimmer with pale golden light but instead glowed with bloody red, as though it was written in fresh blood.


    [True Red (Inactive): Special Divine Skill, Activation requires Divinity 6620/5000]


    A Special Divine Skill!?


    Xue Jing''s heart rate quickened slightly... This unprecedented description and the terrifying amount of Divinity needed for activation silently spoke of the extraordinariness of this new skill.


    It was ten times the amount required to activate the other Divine Skills!


    His current Divine Skills were already numerous, and while their strengths and usefulness varied, without exception, they all required the same five hundred points to activate.


    And now, this skill called ''True Red'' required a full five thousand points... what kind of monster skill could this be!?


    Suppressing the urge to activate it immediately, Xue Jing naturally released Wei Yuzhao''s hand and said with a serene expression:


    "Although the conditions sound good... I refuse."


    Wei Yuzhao tilted his head: "Why?"


    Xue Jing gave him an odd look: "Does refusal need a reason? Joining does, doesn''t it?"


    The path he would walk was different from everyone else''s... The Reformist Faction might sound like a special system focusing on martial arts with other systems as secondary, quite similar to his own path.


    But that was merely a surface similarity, for his foundation was still the panel.


    Paths diverge and plans differ... and for some reason, Xue Jing always felt this Reformist posed a certain danger.


    Wei Yuzhao was silent for a moment, "No matter, give it some more thought, there''s no rush."


    With that, he turned and left without hesitation.


    He thought to himself that when you are in dire straits, you will naturally need my help. By then...


    Huh? Why does it seem like the Mutation Rate has suddenly dropped a lot... An illusion?


    "Wow, Mr. Xue, who was that guy just now, such strong Spiritual Pressure!"


    He Han patted his still racing chest, asking Xue Jing with a lingering fear in his heart.


    As Martial Artists, their instincts allowed them to vaguely feel that kind of absolute domination on a physical level, like cotton standing before steel, this disparity was truly frightening.


    "It''s like he activated King''s Fist, his whole body bursting with energy, too exaggerated."


    "Are all the examiners monsters?"


    Xue Jing ignored the clamor of the students. He slowly closed his eyes and opened the panel.


    [True Red (Inactive): Special Divine Skill, Divinity required for activation 6620/5000]


    [Conditions met, activate?]


    [Yes/No]


    Without hesitation, he clicked [Yes].


    [Activation Successful]


    [True Red LvMax (Special Divine Skill, cannot be upgraded)]


    [Effect: Temporarily sacrifice all special abilities except for flesh to the True Red Lord in exchange for an increase in the strength of one''s flesh, entering ''True Red Mode'']


    Hmm?


    Xue Jing''s gaze slight moved.


    This skill... turns out to be unupgradable.


    No wonder it requires a full five thousand Divinity points to activate... This is a one-time purchase skill, no need to continue investing.


    Thank goodness... he had thought he would have a new super giant beast baby with an enormous appetite to feed, the kind that starts at tens of thousands of Divinity points for an upgrade.


    And the effect of the skill...


    Xue Jing felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed like... the Forbidden Word Technique.


    By sealing all one''s special skills, one could switch to a plain attack mode in exchange for an enhancement in physical combat strength.


    He didn''t know exactly how much enhancement it provided.


    Xue Jing was a bit eager to test it out but now really wasn''t a good time...


    Just then, students from surrounding examination halls suddenly burst into noise, as if they saw something.


    Xue Jing also opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.


    A large flying vessel was slowly approaching from the sky, with a big ''1'' marked on the side of the craft.


    "That''s... the aircraft from Extreme City No.1 Examination Hall."


    Chen Xingyan spoke up, eyes showing solemnity.


    "In every Inner Ring City''s number one examination hall, there are all students with extremely high potential evaluations... but that''s not the key."


    "The key is the examiner for this time''s Extreme City No.1 Examination Hall."


    "¡ª¡ªStrongest Elementary School Student on Earth, an unprecedented Martial Arts prodigy... Li Suisui!"


    "No, it should be Strongest Junior High School Student now."


    The students were all very serious.


    "He''s not even thirteen, right... I heard before that he''s almost at his second Breakthrough."


    "This is simply monstrous, who breaks through while the human skeleton isn''t even fully developed."


    Xue Jing''s eyes brightened as he watched the aircraft that was slowly landing amidst the attention of thousands.


    The Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth... I have long heard of him, and I''m quite looking forward to it.


    ...

 Chapter 603 - 334

    The large aircraft slowly landed, and the hatch opened.


    Amidst the gaze of the crowd, a short figure slowly walked out.


    He was under 1.6 meters tall, wore a dark cyan martial arts uniform, and had hair no longer than half a finger. Beneath that, he had an extremely young and tender face, just like a child''s.


    No... to be exact, he was indeed just a child.


    Li Suisui.


    An unprecedented martial arts prodigy, the strongest elementary school student on earth, with achievements no one of his age had ever attained before. He had surpassed the human limits of understanding of the body and was deeply beloved by martial arts as the chosen one.


    At barely thirteen years old, having started practicing martial arts since the age of eight, in under five years, he had already¡ªleapt through Dragon Gate twice, undergone the Heavenly Human Second Transition, and broken through the second limit of his spirit and body!


    Indeed... only a few knew that just a few days ago, in the First Layer Heaven of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, he had successfully undergone a second Breakthrough while challenging Heavenly Lord Yu Ruoying, reaching an entirely new realm.


    This was yet another world record that far exceeded the past records.


    "...Such a hassle, having a child come do this, this country is beyond saving¡ªchild labor laws are but a joke."


    Li Suisui stepped out of the hatch, ignoring the attention he had grown accustomed to, and sighed.


    Dozens of students with quite extraordinary appearances followed him out. Each of them was older than Li Suisui, but they had never received such universal attention, and they seemed a bit nervous under the gaze of the crowd.


    From among the people of the Secret Martial Society, including Zhou Yinglin, one of them waved and called out to Li Suisui from afar:


    "Hey~ Li kid, come over here."


    Li Suisui frowned as if annoyed, but still turned around, waved at the students to stand by, and walked over.


    "Hey, haven''t seen you in a few months, how come you seem to have gotten stronger again? You''re a freak."


    One of them laughed and spoke as he reached out to touch the short Li Suisui''s head.


    Slap¡ª S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Brushing the unclean hand away, Li Suisui spoke indifferently:


    "I now deeply understand what my teacher said. Half of life is trouble, and the other half is about resolving trouble."


    "Ay ya hey, you little one, you sure are profound," the crowd said, struggling to contain their laughter at his childlike appearance delivering such words.


    Li Suisui glanced at them and responded, neither confirming nor denying:


    "Living long and being old isn''t any kind of capital. I suggest you don''t laugh so freely, or your faces might end up swollen later."


    "They''ve already said it above, this operation will be led by me, following my command... do you understand what that means?"


    The several examiners looked at each other and after a few glances said, "Isn''t it just the literal meaning?"


    Li Suisui said coolly, "Are you all kids who can''t even understand simple words?"


    Being called kids by such a child was quite hard to bear, and everyone felt a bit awkward.


    "The higher-ups have made it clear that they trust me, who is much younger, more than they trust you who have lived for many more years."


    "You should feel ashamed of that, instead of mocking my young age... I don''t want a next time."


    Those meeting Li Suisui for the first time looked somewhat displeased, not expecting the kid to speak so fiercely.


    Those who already knew Li Suisui just touched their noses and chuckled bitterly, "Still so eloquent."


    Seeing that no one was looking down on him anymore, Li Suisui continued:


    "You all know our mission this time, right?"


    Saying this, he looked around, and his keen gaze quickly found a direction.


    There, a youth with an unbelievably handsome face was looking in his direction, their gazes meeting.


    The youth''s eyes were smiling, nodding to him as if saying hello.


    Although there was a difference between his real appearance and the one in the images, there was no doubt, that was Xue Jing.


    "Aren''t we supposed to take out Xue Jing?" Zhou Yinglin hesitated to speak.


    Li Suisui gave him a look: "Naive!"


    "Always so eager to fight and kill, you''re clearly a Mr. Jing from the First Urban Circle, but you think like a Martial Artist''s Brain from our Seventh Metropolitan Circle, no wonder you''re being used and aren''t even aware of it."


    Zhou Yinglin''s mouth twitched, but he did not retort.


    "We are just members of the Secret Martial Society, not the society itself. If you really want to be loyal to the society, you should at least wait until you''re in a high position with strongly related interests to discuss it. Where are we at now?"


    "The old men of the Conservative Faction want Xue Jing dead to prevent his obvious leaning towards the Reformist Faction from being absorbed by them. Everything else is just a superficial reason."


    "Others who want him dead have their various interest-related reasons... but what about you?"


    "Somebody just asked you, and off you ran into the arena, eager to put him to death... Have you ever thought about the consequences, what the person standing behind Xue Jing might think?"


    "Used by others as a pawn and taking the blame without being aware, it''s truly naive and pitiful."


    Li Suisui shook his head.


    Zhou Yinglin clenched his fists.


    But then he thought, even if he tensed up, he wouldn''t be as tough as this kid, and his fists relaxed.


    "...Then what do you suggest we do?"


    "Our goal is to target Xue Jing, but not to kill him directly; we have to read the situation," Li Suisui said calmly.


    "We need to satisfy the old men from the Conservative Faction, but also not completely turn against the person behind him."


    Everyone, no longer underestimating this youthful-looking but clearly more mature person, eagerly asked, "What should we do?"

 Chapter 604 - 334_2

    Li Suisui gave them a strange look, "Do you even need to ask? Capture him alive, hand him over to the higher-ups, and while you''re at it, make a suggestion for them to use Xue Jing and that person in a trade, to see if we can exchange him for the Wind of All Beginnings... Anyway, what happens after that has little to do with us. Whether Xue Jing lives or dies is the result of their own games."


    Someone hesitated, "Capturing him alive... isn''t that a bit against the rules?"


    Originally, their plan to kill Xue Jing in the form of participating in the Martial Arts Examination was because it was within the ''rules,'' a justified ''legitimate way to kill,'' not just showing up outside arbitrarily without reason, which would be breaking the rules.


    And here was an odd question: killing Xue Jing was permitted within the rules, but capturing him alive seemed to be a step outside of the rules.


    Once the Martial Arts Examination ended and Xue Jing was still alive, there would be no reason for them to continue to deal with him. If they still bound and captured Xue Jing to hand him over to their superiors at that point... that would be a move outside the rules.


    "Half and half, not completely by the rules but also not completely outside of them, more like a gray area¡­ Would you rather kill Xue Jing and offend that person or break these minor rules and distance yourselves from the issue? Surely you don''t need a kid like me to teach you what to choose," said Li Suisui.


    Zhou Yinglin muttered reluctantly, "... Xue Jing is not easy to deal with."


    "I know, he''s a Blessed One... this time the higher-ups have given me a Wind of All Beginnings to deal with him. On the battlefield, when he is only able to use his physical martial arts, he''s not a concern," said Li Suisui.


    "What we need to pay attention to are the Reformists..."


    He glanced in the direction of Wei Yuzhao, seeing the tall man radiating an aura of blood.


    "The True Red Lineage has indeed shown up... This group can use their overflowing blood aura to intercept the Wind of All Beginnings, reducing the influence of the Power of Return to the minimum, making them the ones least restrained by the Wind of All Beginnings."


    "Our focus in this operation should instead be on how to deal with him."


    "Therefore, we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario," Li Suisui continued.


    "If our plan against Xue Jing fails, we need to have a safety measure in place."


    "If he succeeds in leading students to good results in the Martial Arts Examination, he would be replicating that person''s path. Under the veneration of the Venerables, the old men of the Conservative Faction will not be able to openly target him anymore."


    "Therefore... we must first sabotage his students'' scores."


    ...


    Xue Jing didn''t pay attention to the group obviously plotting against him. Instead, he just curiously glanced at the kid named Li Suisui and then withdrew his gaze. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Calculating the time with his precise biological clock, he murmured to himself,


    "It''s about time..."


    As soon as the words left his mouth, an official person at the entrance of Steel Tree Sea immediately stood up, grabbed a megaphone, and yelled to the whole venue,


    "All examinees, come here to collect your examination materials!"


    Dozens of officials began distributing piles of materials to all the examinees who approached.


    As an examiner, Xue Jing didn''t crowd forward but glanced at the things each student received.


    A green backpack containing food and water looked to be of modest quantity, barely enough for one to eat for two days... that is, if they didn''t expend too much energy.


    A black wristband, a tight-fitting Tactical Suit... The material seemed very similar to what the White Crow and Cease-Blades personnel wore.


    After Cao Sini received her examination materials, she changed into her clothes in the provided booth, walked up to Xue Jing, and pushed a button on her black wristband.


    A holographic image appeared above the wristband, displaying some information.


    [Examinee Name: Cao Sini]


    [Members of the same team: Undefined]


    [Current Mission: Undefined]


    [Current Score: 0]


    ```


    "...Teacher, I''m ready."


    Cao Sini looked at Xue Jing, her elongated and sharp eyebrows and eyes softened, and she spoke in a low voice.


    Her tight black Tactical Suit showcased her fine figure to its fullest, causing some classmates who usually steered clear of her fierce expression to take a few extra glances.


    Xue Jing glanced at her and smiled, "This time, you''re going to have a tough job, Student Sini."


    Cao Sini nodded, "...I won''t let you down, Teacher."


    Xue Jing turned his head to look at the students who had mostly finished changing into their clothes, had put on their bracelets, and had taken up their small backpacks: "Is everyone ready?"


    "Ready!"


    The crowd responded.


    Xue Jing nodded, waved his hand, and then led the students towards the entrance to the Steel Tree Sea.


    There were nearly twenty examination halls participating in the large-scale joint examination this time, each entering different portals, dispersing the people to prevent a situation where they ended up in intense battle at the very beginning.


    At the entrance, official personnel were checking with devices, and apart from the issued supplies, no personal belongings were allowed to be brought in.


    One after another, the students were inspected and entered the Intersecting Boundaries through the twisted gateway of light.


    Xue Jing walked at the end... He took a white bracelet from an official''s hand, put it on his wrist, and under supervision, changed into a set of official clothes provided. After a thorough full-body check, he was allowed through and slowly stepped into the Intersecting Boundaries.


    This wasn''t his first time entering the Intersecting Boundaries... His vision blurred for a moment, and the world drastically changed.


    What emerged before his eyes was¡ªSteel Land.


    The color of metal covered the whole world; in the leaden sky above, black clouds that gave a sense of heaviness floated... These were metal clouds formed from iron mist.


    The taste of rust, akin to blood, filled his nostrils; the land was of steel, as were the trees, flowers, and even¡ªthe creatures made of steel.


    "Roar¡ª!!"


    A hoarse, metallic clangor of an odd call came through as a large bird, made entirely of steel feathers, skimmed past the sky. The sharp and resilient feathers produced a crackling sound, puzzling over how this seemingly heavy creature could possibly fly.


    "Wow, this place is freaking awesome."


    He Han exclaimed in amazement, taking a step forward, his foot making a ''puff'' sound as it landed on the metal ground.


    "...My feet feel so heavy!"


    He shouted, startled, and began to walk with some effort on this land of steel.


    "The gravity is really completely different from the real world... It''s amazing!"


    "Walking for a while makes the soles of my feet hurt... This ground is too hard!"


    "I''m getting a bit short of breath... It feels like there''s a big rock pressing on my organs."


    "Hahqiang¡ª!! I think... Hahqiang!! I might be a bit allergic to metal!"


    "Come on, what''s going on with you guys, feeling like you''re about to keel over just after we got here..."


    The students marveled and laughed as they experienced a world they had never seen before.


    Ye Jingqiu had been watching at the entrance the whole time, and as soon as she saw Xue Jing''s figure appearing, she immediately pretended to be unable to adapt to the gravity, took a stumble, and her body toppled toward Xue Jing as she exclaimed,


    "Ah, Mr. Xue!"


    Xue Jing glanced at her and reached out to support her shoulder.


    But he hadn''t expected that she seemed prepared this time... Her body twirled around in a mess.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 605 - 335

    Watching Ye Jingqiu already beaming as if she had succeeded in ascending to heaven, Xue Jing was slightly stunned.


    He didn''t harbor much wariness towards these students... It wasn''t that he felt particularly close or trusted them, but rather that humans don''t pay much mind to what an ant beside them might try to do.


    Thus, when he saw Ye Jingqiu turn towards him, he simply wanted to lend a hand to help her, unexpectedly, she changed her approach in order to get close to him.


    This was a bit tricky now.


    Xue Jing supported the slightly woozy Ye Jingqiu by the shoulders, preventing her from collapsing to the ground, his expression somewhat helpless.


    Ever since his Charm Art had reached Lv10, his constitution had become a bit special, and the scent from his body carried a bit of ''poison''.


    Moreover, having practiced Martial Arts for years, continuously elevating his level of life, and having cultivated the Nirvana Technique¡ªa Special Technique, the scent of his body had reached a mystical level of effectiveness.


    That bodily fragrance could produce a certain pleasure, a sense of happiness for those who smelled it... Those accustomed to it were fine, but it was somewhat overwhelming for those who experienced it for the first time.


    Usually, Xue Jing used Aura Blockade to keep his aura from spreading outside his body.


    The effect of Ye Jingqiu suddenly taking in a deep breath at close range... was probably about the same as taking a real hit.


    "Jingqiu? What''s happened, are you allergic to metal?"


    Since both her appearance and physique were quite outstanding, Ye Jingqiu had always been the center of attention, and noticing her unusual behavior, her classmates were very concerned.


    Xue Jing helped her sit under a light-reflecting, pale brown metallic tree, then turned to a female student beside him and said,


    "Jiali, please take care of her."


    Fu Jialin nodded, responding affirmatively, curiosity flickering in her eyes.


    She was one of the few students who had seen the whole process... Having witnessed Ye Jingqiu change like this only after taking a breath in Mr. Xue''s embrace.


    Watching Ye Jingqiu now drooling like a person high on drugs in an anti-drug movie, Fu Jialin felt a bit excited, a bit scared, but also a bit eager to try...


    What exactly had she smelled on Mr. Xue?


    Cao Sini approached Xue Jing and whispered, "Teacher, it''s about to start."


    She showed him the information on her wristband.


    [Examinee Name: Cao Sini]


    [Assigned Team Members: Not determined]


    [Current Task: Not determined]


    [Current Score: 0]


    [Leaderboard Information: Temporary none]


    [Countdown: 0:28:19]


    Xue Jing nodded, "Proceed as planned."


    He shouted to the students, "Everyone, begin registering your team information!"


    The students immediately responded, "Yes, Teacher!"


    As they spoke, they began to enter information on their wristbands.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing nodded.


    This joint Martial Arts Examination, due to the large number of participants, had slightly cumbersome rules.


    Students would accumulate scores in two aspects throughout the examination, which would determine their final Martial Arts Examination scores.


    The two scores were ''individual score'' and ''team score''.


    All examinees must allocate their respective teams within the first half-hour after entering the Steel Tree Sea area. If they had not joined any team by the end of this period, they would be considered to have formed a team by themselves with only one member. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was no upper limit to the number of members in a team. If desired, even the entire class could join the same team, although this situation had its pros and cons, which would be discussed later.


    When a student knocked down any non-team member (including classmates), they would receive 100 personal points and 100 team points divided among all team members.


    For example, if it was a five-person team, one member knocking down a non-team member would receive 100 individual points and 20 team points, while the remaining 80 would be divided among the other four members.


    The criterion for being knocked down included: the fallen losing any ability to act, death, intervention by an examination official, or determination by an examination official that they had been knocked down.


    Beyond scoring for knocking down, there were several other methods to acquire points.


    One was forced migration tasks.


    The Steel Tree Sea was divided into thirty-six regions, from A1 to A9, B1 to B9, C1 to C9, D1 to D9.


    Every eight hours, all teams would receive a random forced migration task, like moving all team members from current A1 region to B9 region within eight hours, failure to do so would result in a deduction of substantial individual and team points.


    Success, however, would result in additional individual and team points.


    Each task varied in distance and difficulty, thus the deducted and added points differed.


    Therefore, students had to keep moving continuously throughout the entire examination, unable to remain hidden in fixed regions.


    Second, optional random beast-subjugation tasks.


    The officials would intermittently release monster subjugation missions within the Steel Tree Sea. Student teams could accept these tasks, and upon successful subjugation¡ªdepending on difficulty¡ªwould receive certain individual and team points.


    Third, the leaderboard.


    There was only one leaderboard, evenly listing the top ten teams. After the examination ended based on the final ranking, the top ten teams would receive substantial scoring.


    Fourth, knockdown King.


    Among all students, the one who knocked down the most others would become the ''Knockdown King'' and would receive substantial points at the final calculation after the exam ended.


    By these rules, at the end of the examination, all students'' final scores would be their individual scores plus their team scores.


    If either was negative, it would be deducted from their final score.


    After all students had their final scores calculated, they would be ranked according to these scores, and based on these final rankings, the actual Martial Arts Examination scores would be awarded.

 Chapter 606 - 335

    "Mr. Xue, it''s done!"


    A moment later, the students began to speak one after another.


    Hearing this, Xue Jing pressed twice on the white bracelet on his hand, and information appeared on it.


    [Current Class Squad Number: 1 (Click to view)]


    After clicking on it, the names of all the members of the squad were displayed.


    [Cao Sini, Chen Xingyan, Yuan Baijing, Zhao Longtu...]


    The entire class, thirty-one students, all their names were included!


    "Everyone in the same squad, sharing both honor and damage... this is really a bold gamble, Mr. Xue! I''m pumped up!"


    He Han said with an inexplicably passionate expression.


    "Either we all fall together, or we all rise to heaven... I didn''t expect everyone to actually agree to this. It''s an exam that concerns our future, didn''t anyone consider it?"


    "There''s nothing to consider, I trust Mr. Xue!"


    "Yes, I trust Mr. Xue, he can definitely lead us to good grades!"


    "Either we all die together, or we all enjoy together!"


    Most of the students shouted and cheered.


    For them, their own levels weren''t very outstanding, and whether they could achieve good grades in the Martial Arts Examination was uncertain... Forming one squad with powerful individuals like Cao Sini, Zhao Longtu, and Yuan Baijing was a profitable move... although having too many members in the squad added risk, overall, it was still worth it.


    Considering such benefits, and the past three days of interaction had also made them emotionally inclined to support this plan... especially since it was a strategy decided by Mr. Xue.


    The students, who almost worshipped Xue Jing like a deity, had already decided to follow Xue Jing''s orders before even thinking about the benefits.


    Xue Jing, seeing the cheering students, showed a smile and spoke gently:


    "You have chosen to trust me, now it''s my turn to respond to your trust."


    He stood up, walked into the midst of the students, spread his arms and placed them on Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu''s shoulders, looked around at everyone and spoke softly:


    "There are too many uncertain factors in the final results of the exam, I find it hard to make promises to you... but there is one thing I can assure you of."


    "Trust me."


    "I won''t let any of you die, I will definitely protect all of you."


    "Everyone... will leave this place safely, there will be no accidents."


    The students were deeply moved: "Mr. Xue..."


    Cao Sini''s gaze softened as she looked at Xue Jing''s empathetic expression.


    Zhao Longtu seemed touched, with a fierce expression that had grown more complex.


    Xue Jing, seeing the students who seemed to have swallowed a tranquillizer, smiled and nodded reassuringly.


    Getting everyone to unite under one strategy was actually an unwise choice in such a large-scale, complicated examination involving hundreds of people.


    Firstly, there was inevitably the issue of students lacking strength who could drag the team down. In tasks where team points had to be divided among everyone, it would only lower the total score of strong students. Additionally, there were mandatory movement tasks where failing to complete would result in the larger squads losing more points.


    The most fatal issue lay outside the rules...


    The cruelest part of the exam wasn''t written in the rules but was a more fundamental issue¡ªfood and water.


    Each person could only carry a limited amount of supplies into the field, and to gain more food, more energy to defeat more people for more points, a fierce battle for supplies was inevitable.


    And having thirty-one people in a squad, not only did it terrifyingly speed up the consumption of supplies, but the large number also meant reduced mobility, which would put them at a great disadvantage in the scramble for supplies.


    But this point was precisely what Xue Jing could perfectly resolve, and it was the fundamental reason he decided to proceed with the audacious strategy.


    No more pretending, he activated it.


    The Nonexistent Beast had an upper limit capacity of over nine hundred cubic meters, which by now was stuffed with various survival supplies... Not to mention seven days, he could ensure that all students were well-fed daily for seventy days, and they could even throw banquets every day.


    And... the areas where he could cheat might not be limited to supplies.


    "... I''ll go check the surroundings first, all of you stay here, don''t move."


    Xue Jing spoke up.


    The students immediately laughed, "Ah, don''t think we don''t understand, Mr. Xue, you''re taking advantage of us!"


    "It''s also pretty nice¡­ I really want to call Mr. Xue dad." A female student said, her eyes filled with longing.


    Xue Jing just smiled, ignored the students'' teasing, and in a flash, he disappeared from the spot.


    ...


    The leaden sky was slightly dim, with no trace of the sun visible in the sky, leaving one completely puzzled as to where the light in the Steel Tree Sea came from.


    Xue Jing stopped under a silver-gray metallic tree that was over ten meters tall, knocked on the trunk, and produced a dull clang of metal hitting metal.


    "This solidity... looks good," Xue Jing nodded.


    Then he placed his palm on the trunk, the cold metal feel came through, and Xue Jing had a thought.


    Plant Pact, activate!


    Since he had formed a pact with the Dragon Cherry on the True Dragon cub''s head at the Roaring Waterfall, Xue Jing had not signed a new pact with any other plants.


    Because the Dragon Cherry itself was already powerful enough, not only was its strength far superior to ordinary plants, but it also had the ability to absorb and release life force. Ordinary plants were completely unnecessary for him and signing them would be superfluous.


    But now, the plant in front of him was no ordinary...


    Specialty of Steel Tree Sea¡ªIron-based plants!


    Made entirely of metals, its existence was remarkable... not to mention how strong it specifically was, just the fact that it was a metal plant was reason enough for Xue Jing to value it.


    The only problem was, he didn''t know if he could succeed.


    [Plant Pact], after all, was a skill activated from the Blessed One of the Master of Thousand Red and Ten Thousand Beauties, a Heretic God said to have been born from the essence of ''water'' and ''earth,'' the root of all flowers and plants.


    And these iron-based plants... it was even hard to say if they counted as ''plants'' at all.


    Fortunately, after Xue Jing activated the Plant Pact, he felt no resistance.


    On this silver-gray metallic tree, a coin-sized intricate pattern appeared in an instant, resembling a tiny magic array.


    Pact successful.


    "Hmm? It actually worked?"


    Xue Jing was slightly surprised.


    This was too smooth... it turns out iron-based plants really are plants.


    He slightly moved his fingers, and the silver-gray metallic tree immediately responded, making clacking metallic twisting sounds as it gradually curled up, pulling its metal roots out of the Steel Land with crisp snaps. The dense sharp metal leaves fell off like thousands of blades, raining down a shower of steel.


    In just a few seconds, the entire metallic tree had transformed into a fist-sized silver-gray seed, looking like a piece of fitness equipment meant for special training.


    "Interesting." Xue Jing held the seed in his hand, tossed it and felt its significant weight, at least seventy or eighty kilograms.


    In the void beside him, an invisible crack opened, Xue Jing stuffed the metal seed into it, and the crack closed.


    "There''s much more to be done now..."


    Xue Jing stroked his chin and chuckled lightly.


    The examiners of this joint examination faced significant restrictions.


    They were responsible for leading the students, instructing them, and even protecting them.


    There were only two situations where examiners could intervene in matters concerning students.


    One was when a student encountered a high-level creature from the Intersecting Boundaries that they clearly couldn''t handle, the examiner could step in to protect the student.


    The other was when it was judged that a student couldn''t continue the exam, the examiner could protect the student.


    The first case was an accidental situation and was permitted; in the second case, once an examiner intervened, regardless of the student''s opinion, that student would be pulled out of the examination early and considered ''defeated.'' S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And now...


    It was the tree that went crazy on its own, I didn''t do anything.

 Chapter 607 - 336

    Xue Jing returned to find that the half-hour preparation countdown before the event had almost come to an end.


    "Mr. Xue, Jingqiu still seems to be out of it. What should we do?"


    Fu Jialin reported to Xue Jing, gesturing towards Ye Jingqiu who was half-lying against a metal tree.


    Looking completely dazed and intoxicated.


    After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing said, "Please help her walk with Zhong Wei. The compulsory movement task will be issued soon, and it''s not clear yet how long the move will take. We can''t afford to delay."


    Hearing this, Fu Jialin nodded in agreement with another female student named Zhong Wei, "Yes, Teacher."


    A while later, Cao Sini approached Xue Jing and whispered,


    "Mr. Xue, it''s started."


    She stretched out her hand to show Xue Jing her wristband that was vibrating non-stop.


    [Current Task:


    Forced Movement Task: Please move to Zone B2 with all squad members, remaining time 7:59:42]


    Seeing this, Xue Jing opened his white examiner wristband, operated it for a bit, and located the map.


    The map on the examiner''s wristband showed the position of himself and all his students underneath; currently, they were all in Zone C3.


    The distance to the Zone B2 required by the forced movement task wasn''t too far; at least on the map, it seemed to be only three zones away.


    "Do we need to move immediately, Mr. Xue?"


    Chen Xingyan, standing aside, asked.


    Xue Jing hummed in affirmation, "Let''s head straight there, and we''ll talk upon arrival. Estimate roughly the distance... Everyone, move towards the target zone in the formation we set up earlier, and if we encounter danger..."


    After giving many instructions, Xue Jing nodded to Chen Xingyan, who then began to command, and all the students started moving towards Zone B2.


    Ten minutes later.


    "... this gravity, it''s fine when I''m still, but once I start moving, it''s much more tiring than I thought."


    He Han spoke as he caught his breath slightly.


    Most of the students felt similarly exhausted.


    "If we start fighting with other squads, it''s hard to imagine how tiring that would be."


    "Stop complaining, Mr. Xue said that this is just because our bodies haven''t adapted to the environment yet. It will feel much better once we''ve adapted."


    "It feels like Mr. Xue has a lot of experience... He wouldn''t be like some shonen manga protagonist who went through some kind of brutal training under several dozen times gravity, would he, ha ha."


    Following behind all the students, Xue Jing moved along the tall metallic plants, keeping a distance that allowed him to take in everyone''s condition at a glance.


    Unlike the students who were struggling to adapt to the gravity, all his movements were effortless, as if he were on Earth Star without any difference; the nearly triple supergravity of the Steel Tree Sea seemed like nothing to him.


    This wasn''t just due to his physical strength but also because he persistently undertook weight training with Dragon Horn every day.


    Now at Lv7, Dragon Horn allowed him to endure gravity over thirty times normal every day. His body had long since adapted to these harsh conditions. The Steel Tree Sea''s less than triple gravity felt almost nonexistent to him.


    "Most people are currently in the stage of adapting to the environment of the Intersecting Boundaries. At this moment, even if candidates encounter each other, they''re more likely to avoid confrontation."


    Xue Jing''s eyes revealed contemplation.


    "But for us examiners, it''s a different story..."


    The Extreme Martial King''s actions had established a tradition of talented young people serving as examiners in the Martial Arts Examination, therefore, although young, the examiners in this joint examination had strength on a different level from most students.


    Even if they had not previously experienced supergravity environments, their inherent abilities allowed them to quickly adapt to this level of gravity.


    And the relationship between the examiners... was not one of peaceful coexistence.


    As long as their students achieved a good overall result, the young examiner would be considered to have successfully emulated the Extreme Martial King and would receive a considerable addition to their r¨¦sum¨¦ and honors that would make their future path much smoother, with many conveniences and doors opened to them.


    Thus, although it was not explicit on paper, the Martial Arts Examination was not only a test for the candidates but also for the young examiners.


    In other types of Martial Arts Examinations, relations might be more amicable, but this joint examination, akin to a battle royale, was completely adversarial both among the candidates and among the examiners.


    Because all the joint examination grading methods were based on ''final score rankings''.


    What does that mean?


    It means that the ranking is critical, the score itself is not the most important thing!


    Even if you have very few points, as long as you make others'' points fewer than yours, you achieve a good result!


    With zero points granted upon leaving the examination, the simplest and most direct method is naturally to knock down or even kill others, reducing the number of people who survive to the end as much as possible.


    One more point means defeating a thousand people? Defeat everyone and you won''t need to score at all!


    And this involves some game theory too, such as examiners being able to attack each other.


    If this were to happen, the students who relied on the examiner would naturally panic and become desperate. Without protection in times of crisis, their life security would lose some guarantee, and the death of this mental support in an unfamiliar environment would bring great emotional impact. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With such a significant reduction in overall strength, they could easily become the target of scoring by other classes.


    Therefore, in this kind of joint examination, a strong examiner was extremely important to the students... This was why Chen Xingyan and the others initially resisted Xue Jing because they did not understand him and were afraid his outsider abilities were insufficient.

 Chapter 608 - 336_2

    Between the already tense relationships among the examiners, it was clear that a bunch of people came specifically targeting Xue Jing himself... which forced Xue Jing to be on guard.


    The others were not much to speak of; to Xue Jing, they were just a bunch of nobodies trying to make a name for themselves. But Li Suisui, proclaimed to be ''the strongest primary school student in history,'' was an opponent Xue Jing had to take seriously.


    Bordering on a second Breakthrough... and possibly even having achieved it.


    Such a realm, by Xue Jing''s estimates, in terms of raw physical prowess alone, was probably at least ten times greater than his own.


    "I wonder when he''ll come after me..."


    Xue Jing looked around, observing his environment, feeling a bit of anticipation in his heart.


    He opened the panel and glanced at True Red, which he had just activated not long ago, a smile appearing in his eyes.


    ...


    Half an hour later.


    Xue Jing looked at the map on his wristband and discovered that his group had already covered close to half the distance, nearing Zone B2.


    "Hmm... the map isn''t too big, then."


    He nodded his head.


    Based on their current pace and the map''s scale, he had calculated the size of the examination area.


    Even the longest straight line from Zone A9 to D1 could be reached in just over six hours at this pace.


    Of course, that was assuming there were no delays or obstacles along the way.


    "Ah, teacher!"


    A student suddenly pointed toward the sky and shouted in alarm.


    Everyone followed the voice and saw a strange object floating above in the distant leaden sky.


    It was a gigantic grey metallic cone.


    At a glance, it looked like an upside-down traffic cone, its tip extremely sharp and fine, casting a cold light that seemed to prickle one''s skin just by looking at it.


    Xue Jing had already noticed it and, familiar with the Steel Tree Sea documents, quickly recognized what it was.


    "Sky Cone."


    A peculiar native creature of the Steel Tree Sea... or perhaps, a strange natural phenomenon?


    To this day, the academic community has not come to a consensus on whether it''s a creature or some type of phenomenon.


    "Mr. Xue... I, I can''t move."


    Fu Jialin, who was supporting Ye Jingqiu, cried out in panic.


    Her whole body suddenly began to levitate, her feet about ten centimeters off the ground, immobile, with her limbs hanging naturally down, the only thing moving on her body was the expression on her face.


    Students near her were abruptly pushed away by an invisible force, unable to approach her.


    The giant metallic cone in the sky was positioned directly above her head, its pointed end aimed at the top of her head, slowly descending.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Is that... a Sky Cone?"


    "Damm, why does it have to be that deathly thing! This is just too unlucky!"


    "What do we do, if that thing targets you, aren''t you as good as dead?"


    The students recognized the object above and immediately began to panic.


    Xue Jing flashed to Fu Jialin''s side and extended his hand toward her shoulder. An invisible repelling force grew stronger as he drew closer, until his hand stopped about ten centimeters from her body.


    It wasn''t that he ran out of strength and couldn''t get any closer... but Xue Jing instinctively felt that forcibly touching Fu Jialin now might have some unpleasant consequences.


    "Teacher... what, what do we do..."


    Tears were rolling in Fu Jialin''s eyes as she looked at Xue Jing, pleading for help in fear.


    The Sky Cone, whether to be considered a phenomenon or a living entity, once appeared, would lock on to a random target present without any pattern.


    The target would be bound by an invisible magnetic field, completely immobilized. Afterward, the Sky Cone would descend at a fixed speed and trajectory, continually lowering until its sharp tip pierced the target''s head, slowly boring through until it touched the ground, at which point the Sky Cone would vanish.


    During this time, the rate of descent and trajectory of the Sky Cone seemed like some immutable natural law, entirely unaffected by physical influences; no matter how much kinetic energy was applied, it could not alter its course or speed in the slightest.


    The person locked onto by the Sky Cone would experience the immense terror of death slowly, unavoidably approaching, as well as the pain of the Sky Cone gradually piercing into their head, slowly crushing it.


    "Don''t be afraid."


    Xue Jing withdrew his palm, his expression unchanged as he softly spoke to Fu Jialin.


    "I said I wouldn''t let any of you die, don''t worry, leave it to me."


    Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Fu Jialin also took a few deep breaths and regained her composure.


    "Mr. Xue, what should I do?"


    The other students also looked to Xue Jing with trusting eyes.


    Xue Jing looked up at the Sky Cone in the sky, made an estimate, and said,


    "The Sky Cone cannot be stopped, but it can be physically destroyed."


    "The larger the Sky Cone is, the stronger it is, the more difficult to destroy. This one is about two meters and thirty centimeters in length¡ªnot considered huge, but according to the data, its strength is at least more than twice that of tungsten steel."


    Tungsten steel, one of the hardest metals native to Earth Star, a metal difficult to penetrate even with armor-piercing bullets, to break it, you would need to use an armor-piercing incendiary bomb made of tungsten.


    "Judging from its current trajectory and speed, it will take over forty minutes to approach Jiali''s head."


    Xue Jing pondered briefly, then said,


    "Everyone, continue heading toward Sector B2, get away from here... I''ll catch up with Jiali later."


    Upon hearing this, the students nodded immediately.


    "Understood, Mr. Xue."


    "Mr. Xue, you must save Jiali!"


    Soon, under Chen Xingyan''s command, the students kept formation and continued towards Sector B2.


    Only Xue Jing and Fu Jialin were left in the original spot.


    "Mr. Xue..." Fu Jialin muttered.


    Xue Jing glanced at her and said softly,


    "Jiali, close your eyes."


    Fu Jialin obeyed, closing her eyes as told.


    In a flash, Xue Jing reappeared atop a towering metallic tree, looking up at the Sky Cone in the sky.


    "Didn''t expect the first thing I''d taste would be this thing."


    Shaking his head, Xue Jing closed his eyes.


    "True Red," activate!


    In an instant, Xue Jing''s heart emitted an extremely loud thump.


    On the panel, within the Divine Skill Bar, "Twin Lifes," "Shadow Flame," "Plant Pact," "Dragon Horn," "Feather Transformation"...


    One after another, divine skills glowing with a faint golden light all plunged into dim darkness.


    Then, a hint of blood color slowly emerged, dyeing the names of all the divine skills in vermilion. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the very bottom, the special Divine Skill "True Red" began to glow brightly.


    Intense heat, unimaginably intense heat swept over his entire body.


    His blood was boiling, even burning, the pale red visible blood qi began to overflow from Xue Jing''s entire body, his hair dyed from ink-black to vivid vermilion, dancing without wind.


    His dark blue eyes also took on a red hue, an indescribable power surged incessantly from his own flesh and blood.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª"


    The sound of rapidly flowing blood roared like turbulent rivers, echoing in the outside world.


    In the midst of this, in the darkness of the void, it seemed as if a Heretic God made of blood and flesh opened its eyes, making eye contact with Xue Jing.


    In just an instant, Xue Jing recognized it as a Superstring Entity, the Heretic God True Red Lord, Source of Flesh, existing beyond the present world!


    ...


    His dark blue eyes also took on a red hue. An indescribable power unabatedly surged from his flesh and blood.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª"


    The sound of rapidly flowing blood roared like turbulent rivers, echoing in the outside world.


    In the midst of this, in the darkness of the void, it seemed as if a Heretic God made of blood and flesh opened its eyes, making eye contact with Xue Jing.


    In just an instant, Xue Jing recognized it as a Superstring Entity, the Heretic God True Red Lord, Source of Flesh, existing beyond the present world!

 Chapter 609 - 337

    In the dark, lightless void, a great entity composed of blood and flesh opened its indescribable, crimson eyes and quietly gazed at Xue Jing.


    In that instant, Xue Jing stopped thinking.


    In the Superstring dimension, where the concept of time does not exist, Xue Jing was not aware of how long he had been there or what had happened.


    He only knew that in the next moment he felt, a notification sounded in his consciousness.


    "[&#...%... Divine Absorption complete]"


    Coming to, Xue Jing found himself back from the dark, lightless void, still in a world made of steel and metal, under a lead-colored sky where the Sky Cone was slowly but firmly descending toward his student.


    In his mind, the impression of the great entity he had just seen was extremely vague, with only the image of the crimson eye relatively clear.


    "..." Shaking his head, Xue Jing steadied himself.


    "Was that... was that a necessary step during the activation of ''True Red,'' or was it an accident?"


    He looked thoughtful.


    The skill description of True Red stated it involved sacrificing all special abilities, except for flesh and blood, to the True Red Lord in exchange for corresponding strength in flesh. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such a skill, clearly related to a Heretic God, might not make it surprising to see the Heretic God itself during activation, but...


    Xue Jing''s gaze shifted to his attribute table.


    [Divinity: 6395]


    His Divinity had suddenly increased substantially.


    After spending five thousand Divinity to activate True Red, he was left with sixteen hundred Divinity... but now it had increased by nearly five thousand.


    That doesn''t seem like a gain one would normally receive after using a skill...


    Wouldn''t he soon become invincible if he kept activating True Red non-stop?


    Xue Jing glanced at the alert that had just popped up on his panel and immediately dismissed the idea.


    "[&#...%... Divine Absorption complete]"


    "It''s actually a garbled message..."


    Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.


    This was the first time the panel had shown such an anomaly since it had appeared on him.


    In the past, no matter the circumstance, the panel always seemed to be in a ''superior'' state, as if its very essence was by nature higher than everything else, even when facing Divine Relics or powers related to the Heretic God.


    Therefore, Xue Jing had always had great confidence in the nobility of the panel, even when he heard Wu Youqing describe how exaggerated the Heretic God, a Superstring Entity, was. He believed that his incredible panel might be on par with, or even superior to, a Heretic God.


    And now, it seemed he finally had an answer.


    During the process of activating ''True Red,'' he had triggered some unknown incident... or perhaps it was not an incident, but a necessary process? In any case, his consciousness had faced a great entity of a Superstring existence.


    And the end result was, he had come back unscathed.


    From this notification, it seemed that Ban had brought him back through Divine Absorption...


    "Capable of helping me escape from the Heretic God and even absorbing its Divinity? Ban, are you truly a being that transcends the Heretic God?"


    "No... It''s hard to say, it looks like this absorption of Divinity was quite difficult; even the notification was garbled."


    "It might even be because the ''True Red Lord'' wasn''t on guard, didn''t care. There''s too little information to understand."


    Xue Jing took a deep breath.


    "But regardless... Ban indeed possesses the power to affect the Heretic God itself. Although its limit is unclear, it at least reaches the level of ''not being helpless.''"


    "That''s good news."


    Xue Jing slowly stood up.


    His body felt as though it was burning, and an aura like a Saiyan who had activated King''s Fist Burst Seed emanated from him.


    Clenching his fist, he felt an incredible power coursing through him.


    Strong, immensely strong.


    He had never directly felt such raw power.


    The pure, visceral sense of strength from his flesh and blood brought such a feeling of fullness that he felt the urge to roar skywards in excitement.


    "Is this the effect of ''True Red''? Worthy of the special skill I activated with five thousand Divinity."


    With a squeeze of his palm, his immense strength immediately squeezed the air out, forming a ring-shaped shockwave, creating a brief vacuum around his hand.


    Looking up, the Sky Cone, which had previously seemed indestructible, now felt to Xue Jing like it could be easily shattered.


    He knew this was not an illusion.


    Pressing on the attribute table on his wrist, Xue Jing checked his current five-dimensional attributes:


    Body: 11203


    Mind: 1922


    Calamity: 15629


    Saint: 8257


    Potential: &£¤#%£¤%


    A body value over ten thousand!


    Before using ''True Red,'' his body value was around seventeen hundred.


    Now, with the augmentation from True Red, it had surged by nearly ten thousand, almost seven times, reaching 11203.


    From a numerical perspective, this value was about what a Martial Artist with ordinary physical talent might have at the brink of a second Breakthrough.


    And¡ª this value was for Xue Jing to use!


    With ''True Martial,'' he could exert significantly more power than a regular Martial Artist with the same value.


    And this basic value increase represented an overall enhancement, which couldn''t be simply calculated as seven times stronger than his normal state.

 Chapter 610 - 337

    ```


    "So... let''s start with a little test," Xue Jing muttered to himself, the burning of his blood lending a raspy, gravelly texture to his voice, which was much deeper than usual.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    Without any warning and no visible preparatory movements, Xue Jing suddenly disappeared.


    The metal tree on which he had been standing exploded in an instant. Its sturdy trunk, made of steel, shattered, sending countless metal fragments flying in all directions. Leaves of steel scattered, raining down like iron leaves, while the top third of the entire metal tree burst apart, the middle was riddled with cracks, and the base was deeply indented several meters into the ground.


    The mere recoil from Jing''s accelerated movement had caused such destruction.


    The sonic boom''s wailing was too late to spread; a white streak extended in the void as Jing was already standing atop the ''head'' of the Sky Cone.


    From vanishing to reappearing, and beyond the terror of supersonic speed, he was completely still the moment he appeared, as if he had been standing on the top of the Sky Cone all along.


    This display, from utter stillness to extreme motion, then back to utter stillness, defied human physical laws and common sense, representing a terrifying level of Control Power over his own body and an unbelievable physical strength capable of withstanding such incredible actions.


    Xue Jing experienced a strange sensation.


    He felt... he could completely control his own blood.


    Subconsciously, with a mere thought, the burning blood within him surged like a mighty river, moving of its own accord without the need for breathing skills to regulate it with oxygen.


    The blood spiraled through his body following Jing''s will, channeling energy with the ''Whirlwind Thunder''... Since there was no need to use breathing skills to control the blood, but instead direct manipulation of the blood''s movement, it was smoother than ever without an intermediary step.


    Many of the limitations previously caused by breathing skills and channeling energy were no longer an issue. With his foundation in martial arts, Jing modified, refined, and optimized ''Whirlwind Thunder'' in that instant, creating a new move that suited the current blood-force system.


    His spiraling, burning blood compressed, and vigorous kinetic energy gathered in Jing''s right arm, with spiral imprints forming from the point of his fist. Dense blood energy enveloped his entire right arm.


    With the thought, Jing named this new move.


    "¡ªTrue Red Nova."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    The Spiral Fist of Burning Blood struck down at the Sky Cone beneath his feet, whipping up a blood-red spiral tempest as it hit the flat top of the cone.


    "Crack¡ª¡ª"


    The metallic body of the cone, with a toughness more than double that of Tungsten Steel, stood no chance against the monstrous True Red fist and burst apart fiercely.


    The explosive shockwave radiated out, hundreds of meters in all directions, with innumerable fragments smaller than a thumb swirling like tornadoes, shooting far and wide.


    Somewhere in Zone D2, Li Suisui, who was leading students onward, suddenly had a change in expression.


    In a flash, he disappeared from his original spot to appear in front of a student, extending his right hand.


    Just as everyone was puzzled¡ª


    Boom¡ª¡ª!!!


    A light gray metallic fragment, no bigger than a thumb, had pierced through countless steel plants, dragging a clearly visible spiral airstream towards them and was intercepted by the outstretched right hand of Li Suisui.


    "Spurt¡ª¡ª"


    Upon contact, the surprisingly overwhelming force made Li Suisui frown slightly. He exerted Clever Strength to deflect its trajectory to the right.


    It was only then that the students realized the gravity of the situation and exclaimed in shock, "We''re under attack!"


    "Where? Who is it?"


    "Don''t panic, form up first..."


    Li Suisui shook his head and spoke in his youthful voice, "Calm down, this isn''t an attack aimed at us."


    After a brief pause, he surveyed his surroundings and continued:


    "Stay put, I''ll go and check."


    ...


    On the Steel Land, destruction was everywhere.


    ```


    Everywhere there were fragments of the Sky Cone scattered about, leaving densely packed holes from which a bit of white misty steam was being emitted. It was the phenomena of heat generated by the fierce collision.


    Xue Jing gently landed on the ground, looking at his right hand with some disbelief.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    As the Sky Cone was destroyed and the binding magnetic field dissipated, Fu Jialin, who opened her eyes, burst into tears of joy and rushed toward Xue Jing.


    Although she ultimately faced no peril, the hovering sensation of near-death terror still inflicted immense emotional strain on her.


    It was a good thing Mr. Xue was there...


    Fu Jialin''s eyes brimming with tears, she instinctively hugged Xue Jing, just like a child who had fallen and wanted to seek comfort from their parents with a whimper.


    At that moment, in her eyes, the sense of safety Xue Jing provided was undoubtedly as grand as that of a child''s omnipotent parents.


    Only...


    "Ah, it''s so hot!"


    As she got within a meter of Xue Jing, the instant her palm touched the burning blood energy emanating from his body, Fu Jialin cried out in pain and crouched down, blowing on her swollen fingers.


    "Mr. Xue..." said Fu Jialin with a face full of distress.


    Only then did she notice something abnormal about Xue Jing; his entire body emitted a faint red aura, much like the tall man with ''strong spiritual pressure'' that He Han had mentioned.


    Amidst it all, she detected a scent that was bloodthirsty yet oddly alluring.


    Xue Jing turned and gave her a glance, smiling, "Jiali, you go catch up with the others first, I''ve got a few things to deal with here. I''ll follow up later."


    Fu Jialin looked disappointed, "Oh... Alright, Mr. Xue, I''ll do as you say."


    Despite a strong desire to stay by Xue Jing''s side, she chose to prioritize obeying Xue Jing''s command. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jialin moved towards the direction of the main force with frequent glances back, while Xue Jing''s gaze inadvertently swept in a certain direction, but he remained stationary.


    He looked at his palm and extended an index finger.


    At the fingertip, a microscopically small cellular gap suddenly began to expand, becoming a small hole visible to the naked eye.


    Blood as red and clear as a gemstone squeezed out of the hole.


    At first, it was just a droplet, but soon after, it sprayed out like a jet from the hole at the fingertip.


    And all the blood didn''t scatter; instead, it stood upright in midair, unsupported.


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed, "Sure enough, in this state, I can control my blood freely... Not just within my body, but I can also perform ''Blood Control'' at will, just like Feather Transformation, at a superpower level!"


    With a mere thought, all the blood suddenly coalesced into a large sword that continued to emit vapors of blood gas, looking as if it were aflame.


    Xue Jing reached out, grabbed the Blood Flame Sword in hand, and swung it fiercely!


    ...


    Despite a strong desire to stay by Xue Jing''s side, she chose to prioritize obeying Xue Jing''s command.


    Fu Jialin moved towards the direction of the main force with frequent glances back, while Xue Jing''s gaze inadvertently swept in a certain direction, but he remained stationary.


    He looked at his palm and extended an index finger.


    At the fingertip, a microscopically small cellular gap suddenly began to expand, becoming a small hole visible to the naked eye.


    Blood as red and clear as a gemstone squeezed out of the hole.


    At first, it was just a droplet, but soon after, it sprayed out like a jet from the hole at the fingertip.


    And all the blood didn''t scatter; instead, it stood upright in midair, unsupported.


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed, "Sure enough, in this state, I can control my blood freely... Not just within my body, but I can also perform ''Blood Control'' at will, just like Feather Transformation, at a superpower level!"


    With a mere thought, all the blood suddenly coalesced into a large sword that continued to emit vapors of blood gas, looking as if it were aflame.


    Xue Jing reached out, grabbed the Blood Flame Sword in hand, and swung it fiercely!


    ...

 Chapter 611 - 338

    "An excellent skill that makes my fingers spin."


    Looking at the effect of "Spiral Vermilion Bullet," Xue Jing nodded with satisfaction.


    Blood is the source of human dynamism and a key component in martial arts channeling energy, responsible for mobilizing parts of the body not covered by the nervous network.


    It is also inherently a part of the powerful.


    Skilled martial artists continually strengthen their blood through various Blood Cleansing Secret Techniques, even managing to create a surge like a river from an amount less than a basin when it flows inside the body.


    Upon entering the "True Red" state, Xue Jing had gained the ability to freely control his own blood without any medium.


    And at this moment, his blood, after being enhanced by numerous Divine Skills, was incredibly powerful.


    He didn''t need to use breathing skills to oxygenate his blood, just as one wouldn''t need a keyboard and mouse but could control their game character directly with their mind¡ªlessening a layer of ambiguity and greatly increasing his scope and potential.


    Thus, his blood could fully unleash its true potential, possessing a terrifying power to pierce gold and shatter iron with mere self-propelling spiral bursts.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and took a deep breath.


    The next moment, the burning blood energy that was surging throughout his body gradually converged, restrained, and returned within him.


    Except for his hair still red and his pupils tinged with blood, he appeared normal.


    At this moment, others who approached him wouldn''t feel anything unusual, but if they touched his skin, they would immediately suffer thermal burns.


    Xue Jing completely confined his extremely hot blood within his body, and no one could feel the heat unless they touched him directly.


    "The duration of ''True Red''... seems to have no limits."


    Xue Jing carefully felt it.


    He sensed that he could maintain this state indefinitely if he desired.


    This skill had no physical toll on him because it wasn''t a Burst Seed Skill that forced a physical potential eruption; instead, it was an augmentation using the power of the True Red Lord, exchanged for the sacrifice of numerous Divine Skills.


    Essentially, it was as if he wore a particularly unique piece of equipment that he could wear or remove anytime without restrictions.


    "Really convenient... Truly a product of Ban."


    Xue Jing nodded with satisfaction.


    He extended his finger towards the metallic ground, and his blood surged out, forming sharp line blades that rapidly cut through the ground like cutting tofu, creating a rectangular chair.


    Using his blood, he lifted the metal chair onto the ground and sat down, his gaze leisurely directed in one direction as if waiting for something.


    Soon, a sound of piercing through the air came from afar.


    A shadow was leaping continuously across the ground, approaching Xue Jing until at a certain distance, the shadow seemed to notice something and instantly disappeared from its spot.


    Xue Jing sat on his chair, hands crossed over his thighs, and slowly looked up in front of him.


    In an instant, as if the frame was pulled from a scene, a figure abruptly appeared there.


    It wasn''t until about half a second later that a sharp whistling sound reached Xue Jing''s ears.


    It was a rather small figure, less than 1.6 meters tall, almost the same height as the seated Xue Jing, allowing their eyes to meet perfectly.


    Li Suisui didn''t rush to look at Xue Jing but observed the surroundings.


    He saw a mess of a ground full of holes, a long trench not far away sliced by some sharp object, and a metallic tree with a spiral-shaped hole...


    In his vision, a faceless transparent figure struck at various angles to match how these marks were made.


    In just a few seconds, he had roughly deduced the entire process.


    If Xue Jing could see the process Li Suisui deduced, he would be slightly amazed at its accuracy, except that the marks made by Xue Jing''s Blood Control were imagined by Li Suisui to have been achieved by other means, even including the scene where Xue Jing shattered the Sky Cone with a punch.


    "Xue Jing... Although I''ve been reminding myself to be careful, to estimate your strength as higher as possible, I never thought I''d still completely underestimate you."


    Li Suisui''s gaze met the blood-tinted, somewhat eerie pupils across from him.


    "You have already become so powerful, and what I''ve seen from your records is completely different... If I had approached you without knowledge, we would have definitely suffered a great defeat."


    "The records I saw weren''t falsified, and your powers shown in video archives weren''t remotely this strong, I don''t think you could hide your skills to this extent, the only explanation is that in this very short period, you''ve achieved enormous growth."


    "Now I believe it, the journey you took from an ordinary person to this stage probably really took less than five months."


    Li Suisui spoke calmly.


    Xue Jing, somewhat surprised, looked at him and chuckled,


    "You are quite different from anyone I''ve met so far."


    Li Suisui nodded,


    "Because I understand you." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 612 - 338_2

    "We are what the world calls geniuses," some things we take for granted, the mediocre people would consider ''impossible'' based on their so-called ''common sense,'' thinking such tasks absolutely beyond their reach.


    "But I understand you... I too have come this far amid the many voices that cried ''impossible.'' We are the same kind."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    "So, what do you want from me?"


    Li Suisui said, "You should be aware... but let''s not rush things; we can chat first."


    He pointed a finger to the ground, without any preparatory action; suddenly, an invisible Qi Force sprang from his fingertip, severing back and forth upon the metallic earth.


    A rectangular metal chair similar to Xue Jing''s was carved out.


    Li Suisui sat down on it.


    Perhaps due to some childish whims, his metal chair was much higher than Xue Jing''s, so when he sat down, he was level with Xue Jing''s gaze... the downside being that his feet couldn''t touch the ground.


    Despite his mature words and demeanor, some childishness was inevitably revealed, which made Xue Jing crack a slight smile.


    "The base style of martial arts that you cultivate should be derived from the ''True Form lineage'' of Ancient Martial, called the Hidden Dragon School, right?" Li Suisui opened the conversation as though lecturing while sitting.


    "Hmm? What is this True Form lineage?" asked Xue Jing, puzzled.


    It seemed he had heard this term before... when he went to capture Zhao Longtu, he had overheard a passerby mention it in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    "..." Li Suisui was somewhat surprised.


    "It seems you really don''t know anything. Not bad for someone from the Outer Ring; to think you could have come this far in such a short time."


    Li Suisui scratched his own youthful, smooth cheek.


    "The so-called ''True Form'' is one of the oldest martial arts, also known as ''Martial Vein.''


    "Almost all existing Martial Arts are derived from these ''oldest Martial Veins,'' just like your Hidden Dragon School, which originated from the ''True Form lineage.''


    "It''s the foundation of all martial arts that strengthen the body by imitating things beyond humanity, the ancestor of all Shape Imitation techniques."


    "It sounds rather impressive. Is the ''True Form'' technique considered to be of a high rank?" Xue Jing asked curiously.


    Li Suisui gave him an odd glance, "Do you think this is a fantasy novel? How could there be such a thing as ''the older, the stronger''?"


    "True Form is the most ancient Martial Vein, the most primitive martial arts, so crude that even dogs would shake their heads at it. It''s vastly different from any modern martial arts; its only redeeming quality is its lofty aspiration to achieve the essence of all things in the world with the human form."


    "I see," said Xue Jing, somewhat disappointed.


    "Martial Artists who practice the True Form lineage are not very popular these days. Humans, being the most intelligent creatures, should not neglect their own capabilities in favor of external things. This very concept is looked down upon and thus not acknowledged by true Martial Arts masters."


    "However... there is one exception, and that is the current ''True Dragon,'' Wan Yulai of the Yanlong Liu."


    Li Suisui mentioned a name that piqued Xue Jing''s interest.


    "This person is formidable... The True Form lineage has reached a new pinnacle under his hands. He is someone who has truly penetrated the mysteries of ''True Form,'' almost becoming a dragon in human form."


    "If you could receive his guidance, with your talent, your progression would likely be unimaginable... though that''s probably improbable."


    Having reviewed Xue Jing''s profile, he knew of the enmity between the Hidden Dragon School and Wan Yulai.


    Xue Jing just smiled, saying nothing.


    Afterwards, Li Suisui continued to discuss things related to martial arts with Xue Jing, imparting lots of knowledge that Xue Jing had never known, which opened his eyes to many things.


    Twenty or so minutes later, Li Suisui stopped talking and sighed, looking at Xue Jing who still seemed quite at ease, seemingly ready to have a long chat.


    "...You seem pretty relaxed, as if you really have no time constraints."


    Li Suisui had deduced all the events that had just occurred when he arrived here. He noticed the abnormality in Xue Jing''s hair and pupils and faintly heard the sound of blood boiling and burning within Xue Jing''s body.


    He immediately deduced that Xue Jing must be using some kind of burst-type martial arts or a God-Given Secret Art to possess such terrifying strength.


    Such martial techniques or secret arts typically have time constraints or would place an enormous burden on the body. If he could just drag out the time, it would obviously be to his advantage.


    Thus, Li Suisui began to use the chat tactic...but unexpectedly, Xue Jing took to it with relish, engaging in the conversation with him.


    Even now, in his perception, there was almost no change in the sound of Xue Jing''s blood pumping. His appearance showed no signs of being unable to bear the burden or weakness. Even his emotional Consciousness fluctuations did not reveal the slightest hint of anxiety¡ªit was clear he was confident and unafraid.


    Li Suisui also realized that either Xue Jing could maintain this state of increased power for a considerably long time or even without this state, he still had other things to rely on.


    Continuing to drag this out was meaningless.


    "How come you''re not talking anymore? Little Sui," Xue Jing said with a smile.


    Li Suisui''s mouth twitched, "Don''t use such familiar terms, we''re not that close."


    Xue Jing waved his hand, giving a sigh, "We were having such a good chat, just short of sitting down for a meal together, what''s the difference... that''s right, later I''ll be cooking for the students. You should come too, consider it compensation for all the things you''ve told me."


    He was actually inviting him for a meal... Li Suisui almost couldn''t keep his composure.


    He stood up, taking a deep breath, "Enough with the pretense, I came to take you down, let''s get started."


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he slowly stood up.


    "You''re quite an interesting guy... and about the meal, I meant it. If you''re still alive later, come find me in B2 Area, I''ll fix you something good."


    Li Suisui frowned slightly, "Did you somehow bring food in here privately? How did you manage that?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The exam regulations stated that each person was only allowed to bring in one portion of officially provided supplies which were extremely strictly searched. Resources could be said to be severely scarce, not to mention managing to ration out what little they had, yet he was planning to invite him for a meal...


    Xue Jing wouldn''t let anyone have the last word, just smiling, "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ve always been lucky, maybe if I walk around later I''ll find plenty of food."


    Li Suisui gave him a deep look,


    "I don''t know if you''re just broad-minded or purely looking down on me..."


    "If it''s the latter, you''ll regret it."


    The moment the words fell, Li Suisui disappeared from his original spot.


    There was no gap to speak of, from complete stillness to explosive motion, Li Suisui''s slender, somewhat youthful fist was already pressed against Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    This kind of movement from zero to one hundred was one of the hallmarks of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!


    ...


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he slowly stood up.


    "You''re quite an interesting guy... and about the meal, I meant it. If you''re still alive later, come find me in B2 Area, I''ll fix you something good."


    Li Suisui frowned slightly, "Did you somehow bring food in here privately? How did you manage that?"


    The exam regulations stated that each person was only allowed to bring in one portion of officially provided supplies which were extremely strictly searched. Resources could be said to be severely scarce, not to mention managing to ration out what little they had, yet he was planning to invite him for a meal...


    Xue Jing wouldn''t let anyone have the last word, just smiling, "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ve always been lucky, maybe if I walk around later I''ll find plenty of food."


    Li Suisui gave him a deep look,


    "I don''t know if you''re just broad-minded or purely looking down on me..."


    "If it''s the latter, you''ll regret it."


    The moment the words fell, Li Suisui disappeared from his original spot.


    There was no gap to speak of, from complete stillness to explosive motion, Li Suisui''s slender, somewhat youthful fist was already pressed against Xue Jing''s abdomen.


    This kind of movement from zero to one hundred was one of the hallmarks of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster!


    ...

 Chapter 613 - 339

    On the other side,


    Under Xue Jing''s command, the students moving toward the target area also encountered an unexpected situation.


    As the group advanced, they happened to collide with another group of examinees who were also on a moving task.


    Both groups stopped, eyed each other warily across the short distance.


    "...Brother Li, what should we do?" He Han whispered beside Chen Xingyan.


    "Mr. Xue once said that it''s unwise to engage in battle with others before adapting to the gravity environment, as too many unexpected things can happen."


    Chen Xingyan stood on a branch of a metallic tree, opening his mouth from a high position.


    "The other party must be thinking the same, but..."


    He directed his gaze toward a figure at the back of the opposite group.


    That was the invigilator responsible for the other class.


    "With Mr. Xue not around, we can''t be sure what the others might be thinking."


    Chen Xingyan frowned.


    When examinees encounter each other and conflict arises, the side with an invigilator nearby has a significant psychological advantage over the side without one.


    Although invigilators cannot attack any examinee, their overwhelming strength alone exerts an immense, intangible pressure on ordinary examinees, and they can intervene at crucial moments to save the lives of their examinees.


    The side without an invigilator faces a lack of life security, facing the real possibility of being killed.


    One side remains calm, while the other faces life-threatening pressure, a significant advantage. It''s hard to guarantee the other side won''t have any ideas... Especially now that it''s just the beginning, and everyone''s supplies are intact.


    Thinking from the perspective of the other side, if they could knock down so many people at the start, not only would they secure a major score advantage, but they could also seize a lot of supplies, which would be extremely beneficial for the later stages of the game... He thought this was a highly tempting option.


    However... If the other side really thought that way, then they were gravely mistaken.


    Chen Xingyan narrowed his eyes.


    He covertly signaled with his hands, and the classmates around him who were watching him nodded secretly, also starting to signal to the further outskirts.


    Soon, the coded message silently spread throughout the entire class, and everyone was prepared.


    The opposing class also seemed to have held a covert discussion, and the invigilator at the back suddenly spoke out:


    "Move..."


    And just at that moment.


    "Boom¡ª!!!!"


    Suddenly, a terrifying crashing sound came from a distance, a deep sound of metal being struck.


    Accompanied by the loud noise, a visible ring of swiftly spreading air surged like a tsunami, inundating their side.


    "What!?"


    Everyone''s expressions changed, not having the time to think, merely instinctively making various last-minute protective actions. The rush of air already engulfed them.


    "Boom boom boom boom¡ª"


    Just like clothes tumbling in a washing machine, powerless, everyone was swept up by the airwave, swinging chaotically in the air.


    "What the hell, was there a nuclear bomb?"


    He Han cried out urgently in midair.


    "Steel Tree Sea''s environment is too harsh, with Sky Cones and explosions now!"


    Zhao Longtu, flying right next to him, began to speak but was immediately gagged by the wind pressure, covering with his hands, then shouted loudly, "...It seems to have come from Mr. Xue''s direction."


    The circular airwave arrived quickly and departed swiftly; soon everyone crashed down from the air, scattered all around. Since all were martially trained, most landed safely on the ground, save for a few unlucky ones who accidentally hit their heads during the fall and passed out.


    After this ordeal, the positions of both classes were disrupted, and the previous thoughts of conflict disappeared as they looked toward the direction from which the airwave had swept in terror, unsure of what had happened.


    "What happened? Is it one of Steel Tree Sea''s strange natural phenomena?"


    "That can''t be, this test is already hard, do we really have to face such disasters anytime!? This exam is too difficult!"


    "I have seen the complete information on Steel Tree Sea before; I didn''t see any mention of this phenomenon."


    "Teacher Xu, do you know what happened?"


    The students turned to the invigilator.


    But he just stared blankly in one direction, as if seeing something utterly unbelievable, a look of shock rendering him speechless.


    Before the crowd could continue with their questions, high above in the sky, two entangled figures caught everyone''s attention.


    One red, one pitch-black, the two figures dashed past like shooting stars, lightning-fast, and the crowd made out the appearances of the two.


    The black figure, with a youthful face and small stature, emanated an undeniable aura of authority that demanded respect. Everyone present knew him; he was the unprecedented genius, the Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth, Li Suisui!


    As for the other red figure, although his hair and eyes had changed, dyed in a burning red, that unforgettable, grand face was unmistakable.


    "Mr. Xue!?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye Jingqiu exclaimed in surprise.


    As she spoke, Xue Jing in the sky, after a few swift exchanges of moves, grabbed Li Suisui''s right leg and, like cracking a whip, flung him in a direction.


    There, coincidentally, a massive bird-like metal creature happened to be flying by, and Li Suisui, whistled through the air trailing a sonic boom cloud, smashed violently into it.


    "Boom¡ª!!!"


    Without time for a scream, the metal bird was smashed into countless fragments.

 Chapter 614 - 339_2

    The familiar dull clang of metal striking metal and the familiar massive waves of airflow spread out, sweeping everyone off their feet and into the air once more.


    "F*ck me, it''s like a goddamn nuclear explosion! It''s not a natural disaster, it''s Mr. Xue brawling with someone!"


    "We need to get the hell out of here. Staying might affect Mr. Xue''s performance, worrying about us!"


    "But... where the hell can we run to?"


    Everyone was extremely shocked at the sight of the two monstrous figures battling in the distance.


    Each move was earth-shattering and terrifying, hitting their mark cleanly. Both their control over Power was exquisite, with every punch efficiently targeting their opponent, not causing much disturbance. However, if there was any other object nearby, like trees, the ground, or any unlucky creature that happened to pass by and get hit, the leakage of their Power could result in a minor natural disaster.


    In the midst of the fight, the two would randomly change positions at frightening speeds, leaving onlookers clueless about which direction to flee to stay away from them.


    The tumultuous noise attracted more and more people''s attention. From area A1 to D9 within the Steel Tree Sea, thirty-six exam areas, many examiners from not too distant areas approached curiously due to the commotion.


    Wei Yuzhao, his body ablaze with blood energy, appeared silently on a huge golden vine, observing the fierce battle between the two not far away.


    "Huh?"


    He furrowed his brows, sensing a familiar energy emanating from Xue Jing, and his gaze hardened as he examined Xue Jing''s hair and eyes for a long while.


    "Is this... the power of True Red? What''s going on, how could he..."


    Zhou Yinglin arrived at the scene and, together with a few examiners, watched Xue Jing fiercely battling Li Suisui, their eagle-like sharp eyes twitching in disbelief.


    No, how much time has passed, what is this situation?


    That''s Li Suisui... a super monster of historic proportions, someone he didn''t even dare fantasize about comparing himself to.


    Martial Artists deem Breakthroughs as major milestones, each representing a huge disparity, as if one were heaven and the other earth. A common person who has never had a Breakthrough is as different from someone who has as a superhero is from an ordinary person. The same applies to the difference between someone who has had a Second Breakthrough and someone who has had just one.


    But why... Xue Jing, who had not yet had a Breakthrough during their fight at U19, could now exchange blows and even seem to be dominating Li Suisui, who had achieved a Second Breakthrough?


    Even... it seemed that he was subtly suppressing Li Suisui.


    "This can''t be."


    His lips trembled slightly as he murmured, a sense of despair rising in his heart.


    The shadow that loomed over his heart grew even more immense.


    "...This is nothing like the intel you gave us, Zhou."


    A fellow examiner looked at Zhou Yinglin with narrowed eyes, a hint of danger in his gaze.


    Judging by Xue Jing''s displayed combat power, only Li Suisui could stand a chance against him. Anyone else going up against him would just be delivering themselves to their doom.


    If they didn''t have this foreknowledge and carelessly sought him out, it would probably spell an outright annihilation.


    Zhou Yinglin remained silent.


    "...Forget it, facing that kind of monster, it''s normal for someone of your level not to see his true depth. It looks like the Conservative Faction''s old guys have completely miscalculated this time. They thought that bringing Li Suisui in was a major safeguard, but they didn''t expect..."


    "Now it''s up to Li Suisui, there''s nothing else we can do to help. Going there would probably just cause more chaos. Let''s hope he can win. If he can''t, then we''ll have to settle for plan B, ruin his Martial Arts Examination score this time so he doesn''t obtain the ''golden body'' and make it harder for us to deal with him in the future..."


    "Fortunately, the higher-ups prepared a fail-safe card, just in case..."


    ...


    Xue Jing felt exhilarated.


    Being able to fight evenly matched, fist to flesh, full force, with nothing but his own martial arts and physical power was an experience he seldom had.


    Finding someone with comparable strength was extremely difficult.


    His past opponents were either too strong in the wrong way, had bizarre abilities that weren''t satisfying enough to fight against, or were easily crushed and instantly killed by him.


    It was truly rare to have an opponent who could go toe-to-toe with fists meeting flesh in martial arts combat.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    Another punch exploded, as Xue Jing relentlessly overpowered the child who was four or five years younger than himself, still of elementary middle school age, continually bombarding the opponent''s face with a spiral punch brimming with blood energy.


    Li Suisui showed no signs of weakness, her hands dancing as she blocked and dissipated the force while seeking opportunities to counterattack.


    The speed of their movements was unbelievably fast. Between each punch and kick, any action could tear through the air with sonic booms, and the surrounding winds whirled wildly, as mere residual waves were enough to produce effects akin to natural disasters.


    "You kid, you really make me happy."


    Xue Jing vibrated his body, raising a hand to lift Li Suisui into the air.


    The blood autonomously circulated, with no need for any breathing skills to channel energy beforehand. An Eye-Dotting move swept out with the sound of a dragon''s chant shaking the void, targeting his abdomen with a sharpness burning with blood energy.


    At this moment, due to his blood control abilities, his control over his body had almost reached the level of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster. His ultimate moves came as easily as picking something up, no longer reserved for determining victory but rather used as a common technique even during regular sparring.


    As a legitimate Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, Li Suisui was the same. Her consciousness enveloped her physical form, and her bodily control surpassed that of Xue Jing. Performing a roll in midair, her hands turned into a grabbing stance, twisting at the tips of Xue Jing''s fingers.


    The extremely condensed, sharp red Qi Force was peeled away layer by layer in this twist, as if it were being fed through a meat grinder, grinding it down to nothing.


    Cutting, dissipating force, colliding, softening... Xue Jing felt the effects of hundreds of different powers at work, which, in perfect cooperation with each other, completely dismantled the Eye-Dotting move with extreme finesse.


    In the end, a single touch remained with hardly any lethal force left.


    "What kind of move is this?"


    Xue Jing asked, extremely intrigued.


    Li Suisui''s expression was indifferent, "Just the basic application of the All Things Myriad Phases Flow."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "I''m very interested... how about you teach me one technique, and I''ll exchange another martial art with you."


    He could feel that the All Things Myriad Phases Flow practiced by Li Suisui would greatly aid him.


    The Near-God Move ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'' that he himself was conceiving had some similarities to the technique Li Suisui had just used.


    The All Things Myriad Phases Flow might well become a solid foundation for creating ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'', so it would no longer be a rootless idea floating only in his imagination!


    ...


    At this moment, due to his blood control abilities, his control over his body had almost reached the level of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster. His ultimate moves came as easily as picking something up, no longer reserved for determining victory but rather used as a common technique even during regular sparring.


    As a legitimate Limit-Breaking Grandmaster, Li Suisui was the same. Her consciousness enveloped her physical form, and her bodily control surpassed that of Xue Jing. Performing a roll in midair, her hands turned into a grabbing stance, twisting at the tips of Xue Jing''s fingers.


    The extremely condensed, sharp red Qi Force was peeled away layer by layer in this twist, as if it were being fed through a meat grinder, grinding it down to nothing.


    Cutting, dissipating force, colliding, softening... Xue Jing felt the effects of hundreds of different powers at work, which, in perfect cooperation with each other, completely dismantled the Eye-Dotting move with extreme finesse.


    In the end, a single touch remained with hardly any lethal force left.


    "What kind of move is this?"


    Xue Jing asked, extremely intrigued. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Suisui''s expression was indifferent, "Just the basic application of the All Things Myriad Phases Flow."


    Xue Jing''s eyes lit up, "I''m very interested... how about you teach me one technique, and I''ll exchange another martial art with you."


    He could feel that the All Things Myriad Phases Flow practiced by Li Suisui would greatly aid him.


    The Near-God Move ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'' that he himself was conceiving had some similarities to the technique Li Suisui had just used.


    The All Things Myriad Phases Flow might well become a solid foundation for creating ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity'', so it would no longer be a rootless idea floating only in his imagination!


    ...

 Chapter 615 - 340

    As soon as the voice fell, Li Suisui saw Xue Jing raise his right hand towards him, as if swinging something to smash at him.


    In the blink of an eye, a large volume of blood spurted from Xue Jing''s hand at an unbelievable speed, rapidly congealing into shape, turning into a blood-colored giant hammer tens of meters long, hurtling toward Li Suisui.


    "What...!?"


    As the blood-colored giant hammer approached, Li Suisui''s eyes widened slightly, but before he could react, he was struck as if swatted by a mosquito.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!!"


    The metal ground caved in with a giant circular depression, steel rolling and spreading like waves, metal debris rising in a small mushroom cloud, and the explosive vacuum shockwaves forced all the spectators surrounding them to continuously retreat.


    "What is that!?"


    Many people widened their eyes in surprise, especially Wei Yuzhao.


    From within the human-shaped crater, Li Suisui slowly got to his feet, blood trickling from his forehead into the corner of his eye, but it soon stopped.


    He looked toward Xue Jing, who was holding the blood-colored giant hammer, and squinted, saying, "The ability to control and transform blood flesh... are you the Blessed One of the True Red Lord?"


    Xue Jing smiled faintly without uttering a word. Instead, he waved his hand, and the blood-colored giant hammer softened and transformed into a whip-like thread knife, flexible like a whip yet glinting with a sharp cold light.


    The True Red Blood Control ability manipulated a part of his body, even more flexible in use than the Shadow Flame, and its strength was based on the strength of his own body, far surpassing that of Shadow Flame.


    This was the strength brought by sacrificing all Divinity, including Shadow Flame; naturally, there was no comparison.


    The thread knife whirled and sliced toward Li Suisui, its speed and dexterity unimaginably quick; Li Suisui also immediately reacted, dodging and blocking, moving as quickly as if dancing.


    Then, the whip-like thread knife transformed again into a straight blood long knife, a blade over ten meters long held in Xue Jing''s hand, its proportions extremely exaggerated.


    A touch of indifferent silver-white shone in his blood-tinted pupils as he swung the knife with both hands, and the blood long knife flashed through the air.


    Above in the lead-colored sky, a huge red Full Moon vision appeared, with red cherry petals seeming blood-soaked, drifting down.


    "Red Full Moon."


    Li Suisui intended to use the All Things Myriad Phases Flow to dispel the knife strike, but by the time the long knife passed, he realized he had been hit, unable to dispel it.


    Numerous small wounds all over his body kept splitting open, Li Suisui frowning deeply.


    Without any trace of Channeling Energy, it seemed to be a blade driven purely by the Artistic Conception of Spirit...


    He didn''t have time to think further as dozens of high-speed spinning blood bullets trailed blood-colored tails and hurtled toward him.


    The relentless barrage left Li Suisui somewhat exhausted in defense, without a moment''s breath.


    Li Suisui waved his hands rapidly, blocking all the Spiral Vermilion Bullets; with each blocked bullet, his palms made a snapping sound, the blood exploding in a spiral pattern, and spiral indentations appearing on the skin of his palms, while his body was continuously forced backward.


    While fending off the attacks, he opened his mouth and spat out a pale yellow spherical airflow.


    The moment the pale yellow airflow left his mouth, it immediately began rotating and dissipating into the surrounding area.


    Upon seeing this, Xue Jing''s gaze shifted.


    "... Wind of All Beginnings?"


    Although the color was different, Xue Jing, having seen it twice before, quickly recognized what it was.


    The pale yellow airflow brushed against him, bringing a slight coolness.


    Xue Jing frowned slightly, thinking that this wind had been sneaked inside by Li Suisui swallowing it, and felt rather disgusted.


    Therefore, he released the blood energy originally contained within his body once again to keep the pale yellow wind at bay.


    ''Being wary of the Wind of All Beginnings and using blood energy to isolate it... he really is the Blessed One of the True Red Lord.''


    After confirming his guess, Li Suisui looked dubiously at the intact blood long knife in Xue Jing''s hand.


    "...Why is that?"


    The exuding blood energy could ward off the Wind of All Beginnings, essentially a method of sacrificing a pawn to save a castle, throwing out parts of his own body continuously to protect the majority from contact with the wind, not because the blood energy truly had the power to nullify the Wind of All Beginnings.


    And such blood weapons transformed by the ability, without protection from the exuding blood energy, should have disintegrated upon contact with the Wind of All Beginnings.


    Before he could contemplate further, Xue Jing swung his hand again, transforming the blood long knife into a huge blood arm with sharp nails, clenched into a fist, and swung at Li Suisui.


    The pressure of the fist, akin to that of an Ancient God, was immense, but Li Suisui snorted coldly, "Don''t underestimate me."


    He threw a Straight Punch, colliding with the gigantic blood fist; the comparison in size resembled a bee stinging at a human palm, vastly different.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow¡¤Thousand Mystic."


    As the two fists met, they came to a standstill in an instant.


    Then, starting from where Li Suisui''s fist connected with it, a series of ripples spread across the surface of the blood giant fist. Soon, the entire fist dispersed, staining the ground blood-red.


    Xue Jing''s eyebrows twitched.


    The mass of blood he controlled had ''died'' under Li Suisui''s strike.


    All its cellular vitality had been wiped out cleanly, becoming a pool of dead matter, no longer controllable. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Interesting."


    Xue Jing smiled, closing the distance rapidly toward Li Suisui.

 Chapter 616 - 340_2

    "Come on, take another punch from me, if you win, then I lose."


    Li Suisui''s lips twitched.


    What the fuck is this nonsense.


    He didn''t pay much attention, the two had been fighting up to now, countering each other''s moves back and forth, and now it could almost only be considered the start of the second round.


    Having already gotten a rough idea of Xue Jing''s strength, he didn''t pay too much attention to the upcoming punch, thinking it was just one of the countless ordinary attacks he would face in the ongoing fierce battle.


    But soon, he realized something was wrong.


    Xue Jing, who had dashed close by, burst forth with an aura that shot up into the sky like a pillar of blood, piercing through the lead-grey sky and tearing a huge hole in the metallic iron mist clouds above.


    His entire being surged with momentum, emanating a sense of irreversible courage and imposing spirit.


    In an instant, Li Suisui instinctively got goosebumps all over, his scalp tingled, and his hair stood on end.


    With All Things Myriad Phases Flow operating at full power, Li Suisui shouted loudly and brought his hands together to meet Xue Jing''s fist.


    Then¡ª


    "Thump¡ª!"


    A dull sound.


    Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds, and all the onlookers felt as if the sky had suddenly darkened.


    Immediately following¡ª"Boom¡ª!!!!"


    An explosion far greater than any previous shockwave caused by the two fighters suddenly erupted, as if an actual nuclear bomb had detonated.


    The metallic surface cracked layer by layer, as if invisible blades that could shave iron as if it were mud scraped across incessantly, a terrifying vacuum impact spread with unimaginable speed, everything within a five hundred meter radius, whether metallic plants, living beings, or onlookers, were all forcibly uprooted and thrown farther away.


    Screams erupted everywhere. Directly in front of where Xue Jing had thrown his punch, which was behind Li Suisui, two fan-shaped lines spread, extending a kilometer away, and within this vast fan-shaped area, everything was completely obliterated, leaving a wide-open space, as if a parting had been combed into the earth.


    Several examiners who were too late to escape, within the range, didn''t even manage to cry out before they were reduced to nothingness, not even leaving a piece of bone behind.


    ...


    Somewhere in the steel jungle, far from the battlefield.


    The students from Mr. Xue''s class gathered, looking somewhat disheveled due to the blast from the battle between Xue Jing and Li Suisui.


    "Hey, do you guys think Mr. Xue can win?"


    A student asked with some concern.


    "Although Mr. Xue is strong, his opponent is that Li Suisui... Could he lose?"


    He Han opened his supplies bag, took out a compressed biscuit to chew, and upon hearing the remarks, curled his lip and said:


    "Mr. Xue might indeed lose, but it''s unlikely that he will."


    "What the heck are you talking about, He Han."


    "Why is your head so pointy."


    Ye Jingqiu said with certainty, "Mr. Xue won''t lose."


    "That being said, although we''ve known for a while that Mr. Xue is a monster, I really didn''t expect him to be able to fight with that Li Suisui to this extent..."


    "I thought Mr. Xue was joking when he said he was invincible, but it turns out he was seriously not kidding..."


    "What should we do next? Should we wait for Mr. Xue, or continue to area B2? But ahead is where Mr. Xue and Li Suisui are fighting, it''s too dangerous for us to go straight through, we need to take a big detour..."


    The students chattered away, and Chen Xingyan, seeing this, said:


    "Fighters like them, with almost endless strength, who knows how long they''ll fight; we..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when the ground suddenly began to shake violently, making it hard to even stand.


    Soon after, a continuous booming sound came from nearby, a whole fan-shaped area''s impact kept sweeping forward, obliterating everything in its path.


    "Wow!?"


    "What''s happening?"


    The students struggled to resist the fierce current of the riot, barely managing to open their eyes to glimpse the shocking scene where the earth had been parted down the middle, and they immediately widened their eyes.


    "Is this... Mr. Xue''s Serious Punch?"


    ... S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the battlefield, the dust settled.


    Metal debris turned into an iron fog, the intense kinetic friction heating the entire Steel Land, the ground faintly glowing red, with white mist steaming all around.


    All the spectators hurried back to check the outcome.


    And so, they saw.


    At the starting point of the massive fan-shaped divided area, the only figure still standing was a godlike figure of great stature.


    His upper body clothing had all but vanished under the intense backlash, revealing exquisitely chiseled and attractive muscles, his red hair dancing without the wind, just like a Demon God.


    In front of him, the broken and battered Li Suisui lay on the chaotic ground, lifeless.


    At this moment, Li Suisui had both arms gone without a trace, two-thirds of his chest missing, the heart vanished, his abdomen nearly reduced to a single layer of skin connecting to his lower body, his neck missing a chunk, and his head missing the left half of his face, exposing the cross-section of his mouth and nasal cavity.


    He looked as if he had been savagely bitten by a Nonexistent Beast.


    Without doubt, the winner was clear.


    Everyone stared silently at this scene, speechless.


    In the silence, Xue Jing took a step forward with a stride.


    Like waking from a dream, everyone, startled as birds by a bowstring, scattered and fled in terror.


    "Go, get out of here!"


    "Absolutely cannot approach the area where Xue Jing is!"


    "Damn it, why isn''t there a rule that the examiners can''t fight back, letting such a monster in means there''s no chance to compete!"


    "Even Li Suisui was no match for him, no one can control him in this joint examination. If he wants... we''re all finished!"


    "We can only try to run, must not get caught by him!"


    Xue Jing paid no attention to the commotion around him, just as people aside from boredom, don''t intentionally notice what ants are doing.


    He walked over to the battered Li Suisui and checked his condition.


    "Still alive, huh... the life force of a Limit Breaker is indeed different."


    Xue Jing nodded.


    He had previously faced Jiao Hongyuan, who was an incomplete Limit Breaker who had achieved his status through special methods but already possessed the formidable life force able to move even with his head severed.


    Li Suisui, being a genuine breakthrough person, naturally was much stronger than Jiao Hongyuan, missing a few hearts and other organs, and having half of his brain smashed was not a fatal injury¡ªit was merely knocked out.


    "Being hit by my Serious Punch while in ''True Red'' state and merely getting knocked out is impressive, not disappointing me."


    Xue Jing acknowledged the kid''s strength.


    Even under normal circumstances, his punch still maintained a terrifying lethality close to a Second Breakthrough Level, and with True Red enhancement, it was outrageously powerful.


    Although not entirely clear on the specific values, at the very least the power was also more than ten times the normal state¡ªLi Suisui still being alive was a testament to his exceptional strength.


    "Next..."


    Xue Jing looked around, then his figure flashed, arriving in front of the pale yellow currents that had been blown far away, summoning the Nonexistent Beast, and along the way, he collected all the pale yellow currents, taking roughly ten minutes.


    "Done, another Wind of All Beginnings."


    Holding the pale yellow orb in his hand and seeing the ''Divinity being absorbed'' prompt on the panel, Xue Jing nodded in satisfaction.


    An unexpected gain... if I offer this to Youqing A Dream, asking her for another kiss wouldn''t be too much, would it?


    Xue Jing stroked his chin, thinking somewhat indecently.


    ...

 Chapter 617 - 341

    Before long, Xue Jing had located where the students were.


    They were positioned right beside the sector-shaped area where Xue Jing had just struck with a "Serious Punch," awestruck by that god-like terrifying power.


    "Ah, it''s Mr. Xue!"


    Fu Jialin''s eyes lit up.


    She had been watching her surroundings closely, and she was the first to spot Xue Jing flying in from the horizon... Speaking of which, why was Mr. Xue flying?


    It was clearly not by jumping, as there was no parabola, more like pure free flight in the sky.


    However, she soon lost interest in whether Xue Jing was flying.


    Warm blood suddenly gushed from her nose.


    She hurriedly covered it with her hand, but it didn''t stop the blood from continuously spilling out between her fingers.


    "Jiali, what''s wrong with you!?"


    "Were you injured by the shockwave!?"


    Seeing her nosebleed, the surrounding classmates immediately showed concern.


    Fu Jialin didn''t speak, but trembled and pointed in the direction from which Xue Jing had come.


    The people around followed where her finger was pointing.


    The next moment, out of the ten female students in the class, nine covered their noses.


    The warm blood could not stop flowing... The Steel Tree Sea basically had no water, the environment was very dry, and the capillaries in the nasal mucosa were extremely fragile due to lack of water. When emotions were highly agitated and blood flow increased suddenly, they would easily burst.


    "Mr... Mr. Xue..."


    "Mr. Xue is not wearing any clothes!!!"


    Cao Sini, who originally did not care much about the situation, heard this and instinctively looked in that direction.


    Just then, she saw Xue Jing holding half of a ''corpse'', slowly descending from the sky.


    At that moment, he was still wearing his tight tactical suit pants on his lower half, but his upper body was bare above the waist, with jagged, irregular tears at the dividing line, clearly torn in battle.


    That body, sculpted like that of a Heavenly God, was starkly displayed in front of everyone.


    It was neither muscular nor skinny, but perfectly balanced to the absolute epitome of human aesthetics, every line of muscle reaching the extreme of human aesthetic appreciation.


    Just one look, and Cao Sini''s eyes twitched, she quickly turned away, not daring to look any further, for fear she might follow the other female students and expose her indecency in front of Mr. Xue.


    "This is what paradise torture must be..."


    Fu Jialin leaned against a tree trunk, her head tilting to one side, still bleeding from her nose but with a serene expression on her face, turned into a pale gray.


    "Ah! Jiali has died on the spot!"


    Ye Jingqiu, holding her nose, raised a clenched fist above her head, showing a determined look.


    He Han beside her dubbed, "My life, a path without regrets!"


    "Wait, why are you all so smooth with such an ancient meme, and yet you usually mock me for being an anime fan?"


    "Mr. Xue, please finish using your Divine Skills! The female students are about to be wiped out just after the exam started!"


    A few male students hurriedly stepped forward to block Xue Jing.


    ...


    After some chaos, Xue Jing also realized his own mistake, and like magic, took out a shirt from thin air and put it on right before everyone''s eyes. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This avoided a unanimous decision to tear off He Han''s clothing to dress Xue Jing.


    Ye Jingqiu, with her nose stuffed with tissues, was still slightly shell-shocked, shyly stood next to Xue Jing.


    "Mr. Xue, is this... Li Suisui?"


    She recognized after a moment, finally making out that it was the ''Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth'', Li Suisui from the half-face ''corpse''.


    "Mr. Xue is too ruthless, he actually managed to defeat Li Suisui..."


    "I always knew Mr. Xue would win, I never doubted it, my Mr. Xue is invincible!"


    "How tragic, he''s already dead, isn''t he?"


    Everyone looked at Xue Jing with eager eyes, their admiration almost tangible, fervent to the point of near-worship.


    The fact that Xue Jing had defeated Li Suisui on his own was both a very real and surreal thing for those who had grown up in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    It was real because Li Suisui was an actual person; it felt unreal because he had previously been like a distant legend.


    He was an existence that had surpassed the ''somebody else''s child'' level; parents didn''t use Li Suisui to motivate their children but regarded him as a lofty figure, distant and impractical.


    And yet, such a figure had now been defeated by their own teacher, tossed aside like a half-dead dog on the roadside.


    Cao Sini sat next to Xue Jing and asked, "Teacher, what do you plan to do with him after capturing him?"


    She was the only female student not enchanted by Xue Jing just now, her expression as calm as ever.


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "There''s a shortage of food, so I brought him back for reserves, meat of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster should be quite chewy."


    He made such a madman''s diary statement, more like a tasteless joke, but to his surprise, upon hearing this, students around started to seriously contemplate.


    "I see... cannibalism is also allowed within the rules."


    "I''ve also heard that during previous joint exams in the Steel Tree Sea, some students survived to the end by resorting to cannibalism... though it''s just a legend, not confirmed by official announcements."


    "If Mr. Xue asks me to eat..."


    Although the students all showed clear resistance, they still reluctantly made up their minds, none opposed to Mr. Xue''s decision to resort to cannibalism.

 Chapter 618 - 341

    Xue Jing, realizing something was amiss, hesitated before quickly adding, "No, I was just joking, we don''t eat people."


    This group of students'' blind obedience to him had reached a level where human morality could be ignored... He wasn''t sure if that was a good or bad thing.


    Hearing his words, the students also breathed a sigh of relief. It was better not to eat people if possible.


    People from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, due to the general atmosphere, were more bloodthirsty than those from other regions, but they still felt tremendous pressure against such behavior.


    "Let''s go, we should head to Zone B2 to complete the forced movement task, we''ve already been delayed quite a bit," Xue Jing stood up and said.


    According to the joint examination rules, every eight hours required the completion of a movement task, and after that, the remaining time could be used for free movement, staying in the original area or heading to other regions, until the release of the next movement task.


    Naturally, everyone complied, and the group, led by Xue Jing, made their way to B2, while Li Suisui, who was half-conscious, was dragged by He Han.


    Since they were not far from B2, half an hour later, the group successfully reached B2, and all of their wristbands showed the task completion message.


    [Forced Movement Task Completed]


    [Calculating...]


    [Individual Score +150]


    [Team Score +150]


    "We''ve got it, it''s showing that the task is complete, we can do whatever we want with the remaining time!"


    "Look, we''re on the team average score leaderboard now, in fifth place!"


    "This is because most of the teams haven''t completed their first movement task yet... We''ll be pushed down soon, and once the fighting starts, other teams that knock out others will get a much higher average score than us, and we''ll be left behind even more."


    "What''s there to fear, trust in Mr. Xue, we will definitely achieve good results in the end!"


    "Did you notice on the way here, other teams would immediately take a detour and run off as soon as they saw us, especially the examiners, they looked like they''d seen a ghost."


    "If I were them, I''d run too. Now in the entire Steel Tree Sea, aside from us, who else wouldn''t be afraid of Mr. Xue..."


    Xue Jing looked around and led the group to an open space with little cover, saying:


    "Now, disband and enjoy two hours of free activity. Regroup here in two hours, and don''t stray too far. If you encounter other teams..."


    Xue Jing started giving them some instructions, and everyone listened intently.


    After finishing, Xue Jing glanced at a student named Xu Zixuan, seemingly unintentionally, and said:


    "Alright, off you go."


    "Yes, teacher!"


    After the students responded, they went their separate ways, leaving only Xue Jing and Li Suisui, who was still unconscious, behind.


    "So, next up..."


    Xue Jing first opened his panel to check his current Divinity.


    [Divinity Possessed: 7816]


    After coming in contact with the True Red Lord, and adding to that the Divinity he had extracted from Li Suisui with the Wind of All Beginnings, his amount of Divinity had nearly reached eight thousand.


    However, not in a rush to use it, Xue Jing closed the panel and looked toward Li Suisui.


    He stretched out his right hand and pressed it onto the crown of Li Suisui''s head.


    "It was you who said it, beat you, force you to teach me... Come on, let''s see, what secrets does the All Things Myriad Phases Flow hold."


    Xue Jing smiled and began to reverse execute Empowerment.


    This move could only be used when the other''s spiritual Consciousness had no ability to resist, and at this moment, Li Suisui had been beaten by him so thoroughly that he was completely unconscious, his Spirit in turmoil, utterly incapable of resisting.


    Xue Jing''s spiritual power entered Li Suisui''s mind without much hindrance and began to operate Empowerment.


    A massive amount of knowledge was continuously converted into fragments of knowledge and carried back to Xue Jing''s own Consciousness.


    ...


    While Xue Jing was forcefully extracting the All Things Myriad Phases Flow from Li Suisui, the students of Xue Jing''s class had split into several teams and dispersed.


    One of these teams consisted of Cao Sini, He Han, Chen Xingyan, Ye Jingqiu, Xu Zixuan, and two other students.


    "Miss Cao, you were handpicked by Mr. Xue to become the King of Knockout, weren''t you supposed to act alone?" He Han walked along, hands behind his head, curiously asking.


    Cao Sini cast a faint glance at him, "The time isn''t right..."


    He Han didn''t pay much attention to it and instead casually chatted, "Speaking of gravity, I''ve more or less gotten used to it now, it feels okay. At the beginning, moving around was really exhausting..."


    The group chatted as they moved on; after a while, Chen Xingyan suddenly raised his hand, stopping both the conversation and their footsteps.


    "There are people up ahead."


    No one spoke, and Chen Xingyan''s figure flashed as he silently leaped onto a large tree and darted forward.


    After a while, he returned just as silently and whispered, "There''s a small team up ahead, four men and two women, eating something. They look very alert, with three on lookout. There''s no way to ambush."


    "Their positions are close together, well arranged; it would be easy to be caught in a crossfire if we approach rashly. They all look quite strong, not the type we can take down easily." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye Jingqiu asked, "So what do we do, avoid them?"


    Chen Xingyan shook his head, "No... with Miss Cao here, our lineup can take them, but we need a foolproof strategy to avoid any unnecessary casualties."


    Saying this, he glanced at He Han.


    He Han asked subconsciously, "What strategy?"


    Chen Xingyan stroked his chin, "Let''s do this, He Han, you go provoke them. Aren''t you the best at pissing people off?"


    He Han''s eyes widened, "That''s not me, I didn''t, don''t talk nonsense, Brother Li, how can you smear an innocent person? I''ll accuse you of defamation!"


    Chen Xingyan couldn''t be bothered with the nonsense, "Just draw them out, mess up their positions, and we''ll intercept them in the path, foolproof."


    "Let''s vote. Those who think He Han is the most suitable person for this, raise your hand."


    And with that, including Chen Xingyan himself, everyone quickly and tacitly raised their hand.


    He Han almost spat blood, "What kind of foolproof is this! Does losing me not count as a loss!?"


    But seeing everyone silently staring at him, He Han''s mouth twitched.


    "I really am cursed..."


    He Han, mustering courage, took a step forward and walked on.


    Soon, he saw ahead of him on a small clearing, several young men and women frowning as they gnawed on dehydrated food that didn''t taste very good.


    Seeing this, He Han coughed deliberately and forcefully trod on the ground, immediately attracting the attention of those opposite.


    Because he approached so openly, and considering the examination had just begun and things weren''t that heated yet, the group, although wary, did not immediately assault him. Instead, they watched puzzled by his intentions.


    "Who are you?"


    One of the girls, who was quite pretty, frowned as she watched this decent-looking, but somewhat sly-faced person.


    He Han stopped at a distance of about ten meters.


    With a somewhat self-important expression, he placed his hand over his chest and bowed to the girl like a gentleman.


    "Excuse me, miss."


    "I''m very curious about what kind of charm is hidden under your tasteful attire. I wonder if you could elegantly remove these synthetic fabrics that cover your perfect body and let me appreciate God''s masterpiece."


    The group opposite was a bit baffled.


    "Can you speak human?"


    He Han smiled gracefully and said, "Online? Waiting for your opinion."


    For a moment, silence fell upon the scene.


    "Are you fucking looking for trouble!"


    The pretty girl''s face turned red with anger, and a boy next to her, also furious, stomped his foot and charged rapidly towards He Han.


    "Wait a minute, Dawn!"


    The others tried to stop him, but failed, and with clenched teeth, they followed suit and rushed forward.


    After speaking, He Han had already turned tail and ran back, and he soon rejoined his group.


    "I''ve succeeded, guys, let''s go!"


    He shouted hastily.


    What greeted him was a disdainful look from Cao Sini, as if she were looking at an insect.


    ...

 Chapter 619 - 342

    He slowly retracted his hand from atop Li Suisui''s crown and closed his eyes, immersing himself for a moment. Upon opening his eyes, a look of realization spread across his face.


    "You have drawn a large amount of knowledge through the method of Empowerment, True Martial Experience Points +12601"


    "You have drawn a large amount of knowledge through the method of Empowerment, Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +6218"


    "You have drawn a large amount of knowledge through the method of Empowerment, Warlord Experience Points +7126"


    "...Empowerment Experience Points +1507 (Maxed)"


    "Contemplation¡¤True raised to Lv12 (2125/24000)"


    This time, by inversing the flow during Empowerment to absorb Li Suisui''s understanding and knowledge, the gain in experience points on his panel was ridiculously exaggerated, with the True Martial category alone hitting the five-digit range¡ªa testament to the prowess of the "Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth."


    He had previously used Empowerment to absorb knowledge from his little disciple, Zong Shichan, and his student, Yuan Baijing, but the experience gained had only been a few hundred, not even reaching a thousand.


    "So this is the ''All Things Myriad Phases Flow''..."


    An enlightenment surfaced in Xue Jing''s mind; a vast and chaotic mix of martial arts knowledge tumbled through his consciousness, swiftly being assimilated in its entirety.


    All Things Myriad Phases was a rather peculiar school, created by a peerless powerhouse known as Yan Dixiu¡ªan identity Xue Jing had gleaned from Li Suisui''s "knowledge," previously unheard of by Xue Jing himself.


    Just as the name implied, All Things Myriad Phases encompassed everything. Its theory posited that all of the world''s cultivation techniques were but aspects of the "myriad," none outside its capacity to practice, none excluded from acceptance.


    Under the comprehensive guidance of the All Things Myriad Phases, one could integrate the world''s martial arts into oneself, fusing them within the "myriad"; the more martial arts assimilated, the stronger All Things Myriad Phases became.


    "Amalgamating the world''s martial arts for personal use... What kind of web novel protagonist''s cultivation technique is this?" Xue Jing couldn''t help but mock.


    The ambition behind this school had no bounds, boldly encompassing all of martial arts in one fell swoop.


    In Li Suisui''s memory, that invincible figure, Yan Dixiu, was said to carry thousands of martial arts within him, able to unleash tens of thousands of different types of Power with one palm strike¡ªirresistible and unavoidable, with no method of countering or evading, truly godlike in might.


    In reverse, it was equally possible to combine tens of thousands of different types of Power to neutralize any attack approaching oneself.


    The more Xue Jing reviewed it, the more astounded and delighted he became.


    It was astonishingly in line with the Near-God Move he had envisioned, "Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity."


    It had never occurred to him that, besides a person like himself with a True Martial Body who dared to contemplate what others wouldn''t, there had already been a predecessor who tried such a wildly inconceivable concept and had nearly succeeded in practice.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow is indeed close to what I have in mind, but due to the limitations in the creator''s own understanding, it still falls slightly short in its vision," thought Xue Jing.


    His envisioned Near-God Move was directly based on comprehending the essence of all martial arts in the world, achieving such a realm where the ultimate offense and defense would come naturally.


    This realm was the key; the application of moves was secondary.


    All Things Myriad Phases Flow did not preach about realms but was purely about how much martial arts one could accommodate in this world, striving to exhaustively practice all martial arts techniques; with no need for the realm of comprehending essence, as long as one knew all martial arts, it was akin to having penetrated the essence of martial arts.


    In terms of vision, All Things Myriad Phases Flow fell short compared to what Xue Jing had envisioned, but it was still a practical path already trodden by some, while Xue Jing''s idea was like rootless duckweed, always in the realm of fantasy, lacking any foundation for practical application.


    Originally, Xue Jing thought he might have to wait a long time to attempt the Near-God Move, until his understanding of martial arts reached a profoundly advanced level.


    But now, a nearly perfect foundation, a grand avenue laid out by predecessors, was laid straight before his feet.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow is the optimal sustenance for ''Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity,'' an indispensable base for my ascent to the pinnacle of supreme martial arts."


    "You''ve done well, very well, Sui!"


    Xue Jing looked down with satisfaction at the Wealth-bringing Child whose body was now half-present.


    To be greeted with such a grand gift upon meeting¡ªhow could one not feel bashful?


    After some thought, Xue Jing snapped his fingers, an invisible rift opened in the void, and a black tendril extended from it, making contact with Li Suisui''s head.


    Under the infusion of Life Force, Li Suisui''s broken body began to squirm and heal...


    ...


    Groggily, Li Suisui slowly opened his eyes.


    His memory remained fixed at the moment just after Xue Jing leaned towards him, throwing a punch that was almost heaven-shattering and earth-splitting...


    At that time, all he could do was muster all his strength to divert the punch as much as possible, after which he felt nothing at all.


    He moved his body around and found that he was largely intact, but the Tactical Suit he wore was mostly missing; fortunately, the essential areas of the clothing remained intact, sparing him any indecent exposure.


    Shaking his head, he was about to observe his surroundings when his gaze suddenly sharpened, spotting a figure that made his heart skip a beat, standing not far away, back facing him.


    "Xue Jing..."


    Li Suisui, full of wariness, thought of quickly getting up, his guard instantly raised to the maximum. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But then he paused in surprise.


    The Xue Jing he saw was not the terrifying Demon God with red hair as before, but someone completely devoid of aggression, leisurely to the extreme, relaxed.


    He was wearing an apron, tasting soup from a spoon as if he was a chef checking the flavor...

 Chapter 620 - 342_2

    Li Suisui shifted his gaze forward and immediately his eyes widened.


    Several tables had been put together, covered with a variety of kitchen utensils; a gas stove, a wok, cutting boards, kitchen knives... everything one might need in a kitchen.


    Beside that was a huge pile of ingredients, both meat and vegetables, exuding a fresh glistening moisture.


    It looked as if a homely man out for a picnic was preparing a meal.


    Li Suisui was speechless, first doubting if he had been unconscious for a whole week and the joint examination was already over, now finding himself back in the real world?


    But as he looked around, the leaden sky and the metallic colors of the Steel Land were undoubtedly still enclosed within the Steel Tree Sea.


    "You''re awake, little Sui, good morning."


    Xue Jing also noticed Li Suisui''s awakening and walked up to him, patting his shoulder affectionately.


    "The food will be ready in just a moment, hang on."


    "...?" Li Suisui was full of question marks.


    We''re not friends, are we that close?


    "You need not say a word," Xue Jing solemnly patted Li Suisui''s shoulder again.


    "From now on, you are my half-brother from a different father and mother. The kind where your kids could take my surname. If I have a bite to eat, you''ll have a bowl to wash!"


    Li Suisui''s mouth twitched.


    "What the heck is going on?"


    Seeing Xue Jing going back to continue cooking, Li Suisui shook his head, murmured ''nonsensical, unreasonable,'' and was about to walk away.


    But just then,


    an incredible aroma, like an invisible hand, savagely grabbed his nose, forcing him to halt his steps abruptly without moving.


    "Gurgle gurgle¡ª"


    A craving call from his stomach, which had suffered severe injuries after a fierce fight with Xue Jing, and was severely depleted of energy, he was so hungry he could eat an entire elephant.


    The exquisite fragrance floating from the direction of Xue Jing''s cooking was something he had never smelled in his lifetime.


    It must be so delicious...


    Li Suisui couldn''t help but swallow saliva.


    Thinking it over, he crossed his arms and sat down on the spot, eyes fixed on Xue Jing cooking.


    It seemed he couldn''t defeat him anyway; it appeared that he had been captured here. His body was intact, likely healed by the other party.


    Though he had no idea what Xue Jing intended, clearly, he had no means to resist him.


    Things had come to this pass; might as well eat first.


    ¡­


    After a while, when the two-hour free period had ended, students gradually returned.


    "Ah, Mr. Xue is cooking!"


    "What''s going on?"


    "Mr. Xue is cooking for us in the Steel Tree Sea, why am I having this dream?"


    "Wait, it looks real, I recognize that bowl, He Han accidentally dropped it earlier, and it got a dent shaped like his tooth!"


    The students were full of surprise but more than that, they were excited and happy. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had thought they would have to bid farewell to Mr. Xue''s top-tier meals after the exams had started, but like in a dream, Xue Jing had fired up a stove right inside the Steel Tree Sea!


    Jingqiu came beside Xue Jing, curiously asking:


    "Teacher, what''s going on? Where did all these things come from?"


    Xue Jing, while chopping vegetables with the Star-pointing Knife, replied with a smile:


    "Teacher got lucky, found them while wandering around."


    "Eh~" Jingqiu pouted, not quite satisfied with the answer, feeling that Mr. Xue was brushing her off.


    "I can''t believe it, Li Suisui!"


    With a slightly bruised face, He Han pointed in surprise toward Li Suisui who was sitting not far away.


    He had been successfully ambushed earlier but had been beaten up by the annoyed girl from the opposing team.


    "He''s alive after all, I thought he was dead!"


    "Is this what a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster is, to survive that?"


    "Eh, he looks kind of cute, such a small kid."


    The whispers from the students caused Li Suisui to frown slightly.


    After making his name, wherever he went he was met mostly with reverent looks, and few dared to underestimate him.


    These students actually dared to tease him, showing no fear in their eyes...


    Li Suisui glanced at Xue Jing.


    So that''s why, because he was by their side...


    Li Suisui immediately realized how much these students trusted and depended on Xue Jing.


    After a while.


    "Alright, we can start eating now."


    Xue Jing clapped his hands, and all the students'' eyes lit up immediately.


    "Longtu, you''re in charge of serving the food."


    Xue Jing spoke to Zhao Longtu who was beside him.


    "Yes, Mr. Xue." Zhao Longtu nodded, his fierce face showing a trace of respect.


    "Hey, Tutu, give me an extra serving of that shiny braised pork."


    He Han, holding a large iron basin, stood in front of Zhao Longtu and swallowed before speaking.


    "Don''t call me Tutu." Zhao Longtu said discontentedly, but still dished up a heaping spoonful of meat for He Han.


    He Han couldn''t wait to grab a piece of the glistening braised pork and stuff it into his mouth.


    Instantly, his shifty face wore an expression of blissful enjoyment.


    "Damn, it''s so delicious, this meat tastes so fresh, the pig must have been alive before!"


    "What nonsense are you talking about now, move aside!" Fu Jialin pushed him away discontentedly.


    ...


    Li Suisui, holding a large basin, continually shoveled in food, practically ''drinking'' it into his body.


    He had never thought that eating could be so enjoyable; food could really be this delicious.


    This Xue Jing... truly was extraordinary in every aspect.


    The students around him watched his ravenous eating and chuckled, feeling a sense of superiority like experienced veterans.


    See, even the Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth turns into a country bumpkin under Mr. Xue''s skillet.


    Half an hour later, mealtime ended.


    All the dishes and main courses, not even a bit of sauce or a grain of rice left, almost no need to wash the bowls, as everyone licked them clean.


    Especially Li Suisui, who alone had eaten nearly half of everything, which greatly displeassed the other students. But seeing that Xue Jing didn''t say anything, they could only watch bitterly without daring to speak out.


    After the meal, students had free time, and Xue Jing and Li Suisui sat on a fallen metal tree trunk.


    "...Anyway, thank you."


    Li Suisui spoke in a low voice.


    After defeating him, Xue Jing had not killed him, even treated his injuries, and even cooked for him.


    Although unclear why Xue Jing did these, such kindness could not be ignored by Li Suisui.


    "Don''t be formal with me, Brother Sui."


    Xue Jing put his arm around Li Suisui''s small shoulders, smiling.


    "¡­"


    Li Suisui''s mouth twitched.


    He didn''t bother to correct Xue Jing''s way of addressing him, just sighed and said,


    "Don''t you want to learn the All Things Myriad Phases Flow? I''ll teach you."


    After much consideration, he felt he must repay Xue Jing''s kindness.


    Although All Things Myriad Phases Flow is an ultra-secret technique demanding strict criteria for its transmission, after all, it''s just a form of Martial Arts.


    There is no truly skilled Martial Artist in the world who is stingy with such knowledge, they just prevent their arts from being desecrated by the unworthy.


    Certainly, Xue Jing could not be counted as ''unworthy.'' Even that Lord Yan Dixiu would not oppose him teaching All Things Myriad Phases to such a person.


    Moreover, the difficulty level of practicing All Things Myriad Phases Flow is immensely exaggerated, being the hardest Martial Arts to enter among all, his kind of talent also officially entered only due to coincidental opportunities.


    "Ah, no need. I''ve already learned it."


    ...


    In the world, there is no truly skilled Martial Artist who is stingy with such knowledge, they just prevent their arts from being desecrated by the unworthy.


    Certainly, Xue Jing could not be counted as ''unworthy.'' Even that Lord Yan Dixiu would not oppose him teaching All Things Myriad Phases to such a person.


    Moreover, the difficulty level of practicing All Things Myriad Phases Flow is immensely exaggerated, being the hardest Martial Arts to enter among all, his kind of talent also officially entered only due to coincidental opportunities.


    "Ah, no need. I''ve already learned it."


    ...

 Chapter 624 - 344: Mediocre Mortals, the Foil of an Era, Dont Show Off in Front of the Mighty (4K)_2

    Only a pair of majestic purplish-blue vertical pupils exuded any sense of demeanor.


    Black Shadow Flame silently burned in the depths of the pupils, and the lightless night couldn''t stop Cat Xue''s vision; in his eyes, the world had simply turned into black and white but was still distinctly clear.


    His purplish-blue gaze swept over each student¡ªsome calm, some fearful, some cautious... He noted everyone''s reactions.


    Finally, his gaze rested on a student named Xu Zixuan.


    Perhaps because he thought no one could see his face, his expression was rather relaxed, displaying a carefree demeanor.


    He seemed unaffected by the pressure that other students were feeling in the darkness.


    "You know or not?"


    Xu Zixuan suddenly spoke.


    His spontaneous remark after such a prolonged silence startled the surrounding classmates, who turned their heads towards him¡ªalthough it was too dark to see clearly, they just looked in the direction of the voice.


    "What are you doing, Old Xu. You really gave us a fright."


    He Han complained in a low voice.


    Xu Zixuan chuckled and said, "I heard that out of every twenty men, at least one is gay."


    Although it seemed inappropriate to strike up a casual conversation at such a time, this statement sparked curiosity among some students:


    "So that means, there''s definitely one gay in our class, right?"


    Mr. Xue''s class had thirty-one students in total, with ten females and twenty-one males, and there were no armed helicopters or Walmart shopping bags.


    He Han spoke bluntly, "I bet it''s Bai Jing. He''s cute, and plus, his butt is super sexy."


    Yuan Baijing, who was on alert, looked terrified when he heard this and subconsciously tightened his buttocks, his upright posture becoming somewhat stooped.


    The other students, especially the males, quickly distanced themselves from He Han.


    "He Han, although I''ve always known you''re a perv, this is..."


    Fu Jialin stopped mid-sentence, unable to continue.


    Ye Jingqiu said solemnly, "From now on, you are not allowed within ten meters of Mr. Xue, or else..."


    He Han''s eyes widened, "No, it''s just a spine-chilling topic. I was just joining in the conversation and joking!"


    "Everyone''s misunderstanding of me is a bit too much..."


    Chen Xingyan said, "There''s nothing about you that could be misunderstood, it feels like you''re just an outright pervert, every word you say just exposes your degree of perversion more and more..."


    In the chaos sparked by He Han''s remarks, almost no one noticed that Xu Zixuan, who had initiated the topic, had not spoken since.


    Located above everyone, perched on a metal branch, Cat Xue silently watched Xu Zixuan as he silently moved away from the crowd.


    He retrieved his bracelet from the invisible gap, caught it with his cat''s claw, and glanced at the map on it.


    All the light spots representing students were still gathered together, none had strayed.


    The official bracelet handed out to the participants all had tracking, and people in the same team as well as their examiners could see each other''s locations on the bracelet''s map.


    If a person had moved but the tracking hadn''t, it meant the bracelet wasn''t on them.


    Cat Xue''s sharp gaze swept over all the students once more, his almost transcendent vision quickly spotting the anomaly.


    In one male student''s backpack, in a small pocket on the left, a black bracelet was hooked on it.


    ''To hang the bracelet on someone else so no one would notice his departure when he starts moving... Is that what he was thinking?''


    Cat Xue shook his head, his figure flashed, and disappeared from the branch.


    ...


    In a hidden location within the steel forest.


    In the pitch-dark environment, several figures were gathered.


    "Li Suisui, you''re still alive? The Great Demon King didn''t finish you off?"


    Seeing the considerably smaller figure among them, several were quite surprised.


    They had seen with their own eyes how Li Suisui was reduced to half his body by a punch from the man-like Demon God. Though they didn''t think a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster''s life force would succumb to such injuries, they imagined Xue Jing would have made sure of him, and never thought Li Suisui would still be alive.


    So, the Great Demon King is quite principled, not killing kids? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...But this is no ordinary kid, but the strongest kid on the surface of this planet.


    Such a threat, no matter how small, had to be completely eradicated, right?


    Li Suisui spoke indifferently, "Why, are you disappointed?"


    The others instinctively shook their heads, "No, why would we be?"


    Someone joyfully said, "That''s great, if you had died, then we would have had no way to deal with that Great Demon King. With this..."


    Li Suisui shook his head, cutting him off, "You''re wrong."


    "It''s not, ''if I had died, we wouldn''t have a way to deal with Xue Jing''. It''s, ''even with me alive, we still have no way to deal with Xue Jing''."


    "Ah?" Zhou Yinglin voiced his confusion:


    "Not even with all of us combined?"


    Li Suisui looked at him strangely.


    "When did you get the illusion that you qualify to intervene in my battle with Xue Jing?"


    Zhou Yinglin''s eyelid twitched, suppressing the fire of humiliation in his voice as he hoarsely said, "What do we do now?"


    Li Suisui said flatly, "The primary goal of this operation has already completely failed."


    "Our preliminary assessment of Xue Jing''s strength was extremely inaccurate, capturing or killing him is utterly impossible."


    "Now, all actions must shift to the second objective¡ªpreventing Xue Jing from achieving a sufficient result in this Martial Arts Examination, forming his ''golden body''."

 Chapter 625 - 344: Mediocre Mortals, the Foil of an Era, Dont Show Off in Front of the Mighty (4K)_3

    Li Suisui paused in the lightless environment, no one noticing the hesitation on his face.


    "Regarding the examinees he is leading, have them all leave the venue."


    "...But instruct your own examinees, to avoid using lethal force as much as possible."


    Someone puzzledly asked, "Ah? Why? Holding back could lead to many unexpected incidents."


    Li Suisui calmly said, "The same old saying, think of yourself before you do anything for the Secret Martial Society."


    "Consider the consequences of seriously offending Xue Jing, and whether you can bear them."


    "Uh..." Recalling that punch that could almost be described as earth-shattering, their hearts wavered.


    Zhou Yinglin suddenly asked, somewhat suspiciously, "You were severely injured after fighting with Xue Jing... How come you''re healed now?"


    Li Suisui''s expression remained unchanged, as he calmly said,


    "The life force of a Second Breakthrough is just like that, you wouldn''t understand without experiencing a Breakthrough."


    Zhou Yinglin frowned.


    I haven''t eaten pork but haven''t I seen pigs run?


    He was about to speak when Li Suisui, apparently reading his thoughts, coldly continued,


    "Do not try to flaunt your shallow understanding in front of someone you can never hope to match, it only exposes your incompetence."


    "The last person you treated like this was named Xue Jing."


    "Mere mortals, decorations of the era, just shut your mouth; do you actually think you''re a genius?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinglin thought he would be extremely angry.


    But before anger, a cold emotion spread throughout his body.


    On the U19 final stage, the Heavenly Feather Garment woven onto his body, the earth-shattering punch from the shocking duel several hours ago...


    A sense of despair with no room for rebuttal arose in his heart.


    Compared to true geniuses like Xue Jing and Li Suisui, he was just a mediocre mortal, a decoration of the era...


    The cold, merciless truth was relentlessly revealed before him.


    His lips trembled, and Zhou Yinglin fell silent without speaking further.


    At that moment, the sound of footsteps on metal came from nearby.


    "Who!?"


    Someone immediately grabbed a flashlight and shone it in that direction.


    "It''s me." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the light, Xu Zixuan casually raised his hands and smiled as he spoke.


    Li Suisui frowned, "Xue Jing grouped all his subordinate examinees into one team, and now the whole team should be moving together... How did you get here?"


    Xu Zixuan waved his hand, "Don''t worry, no one noticed me leaving."


    "Wasn''t Xue Jing with you?" Li Suisui had a bad feeling.


    Xu Zixuan said, "He was, but don''t worry, he didn''t notice me. Cao Sini has been sticking by my side all day, never giving me a chance, so only now could I..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Li Suisui sighed, "Foolish thing... I don''t know if you''re doing it on purpose or are really that stupid."


    "Do you folks really think the teacher, who sees everything clearly from the podium, wouldn''t notice the little tricks you pull off in class?"


    "¡ªWhy do you always like to flaunt your insignificant tricks in front of the strong?"


    Li Suisui''s gaze moved upward.


    Their eyes met, a pair of deep blue eyes particularly striking in the pitch-darkness.


    ...


    (No more silent breaks, directly rumored to have died in a car accident...)


    (The recent plot has been a bit stuck; leave application refreshed at the beginning of the month, no urgency, thought of dragging it out...)


    (Secret Marseille, if I can''t write anymore, I''ll take a leave!)

 Chapter 626 - 345

    "Indeed you followed, Xue Jing."


    Li Suisui sighed.


    "It''s not polite to call your own brother by his name, Brother Sui."


    Seated on a giant metallic plant leaf shaped like a lotus leaf, Xue Jing spoke with a teasing tone.


    In the pitch-dark environment, not until he spoke did the others suddenly look towards him.


    "Xue Jing!?"


    "When did you arrive!?"


    "You idiot, why choose to come at this time!" someone stared angrily at Xu Zixuan.


    Everyone looked solemn, even fearful.


    Having witnessed the shocking battle during the day, everyone had a clear understanding of Xue Jing''s strength.


    To put it bluntly, among those present, apart from Li Suisui, no one was his match.


    The disparity in strength was not just at the level of the heroes at Hulao Pass facing Lv Bu, but rather like others watching Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara fight during the era of the Warring States in "Naruto".


    From a distance it was fine, but now facing him directly, the terrifying pressure immediately bore down on them, almost feeling a sharp invisible blade moving back and forth across their necks, as if it could take their lives at any moment, leaving them with no sense of security whatsoever.


    Under the terrifying pressure of facing the Great Demon King, everyone involuntarily drew closer to the only ''Hero'' who could oppose him, Li Suisui, standing behind him.


    "Everyone''s sneaking around late at night for a gathering, could it be you''re hosting a super cool party that all the influential figures would attend?"


    "Hmm? Was I the only one not invited?"


    Watching this group of people extremely wary of him, Xue Jing lightly spoke with a smile.


    "This isn''t very nice of you all, ganging up against me like this. Is this what you call bullying? It really chills my heart."


    Unable to hold back, someone shouted loudly, "What exactly do you want!"


    His voice was loud but carried a distinctly weak and fearful tone.


    "Hmm? Seems like I should be the one asking that." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Contrary to the other, Xue Jing''s voice was quiet, casual like making small talk, yet carried a weight that compelled one to listen attentively.


    "To deal with me and my students, you all sneak around plotting shameful schemes, even employing spies. Whatever shall I do with you all?"


    Xue Jing sighed.


    "Classmate Xu, what do you think?"


    He looked towards Xu Zixuan.


    "Mr. Xue."


    Xu Zixuan unexpectedly flashed a cryptic smile.


    "You are on the verge of death."


    Hearing this, the others incredulously turned their heads towards him.


    What the hell is he talking about?


    What''s the point of provoking the Great Demon King at a time like this, what is he trying to do?


    "So, you did it on purpose."


    Xue Jing, upon hearing Xu Zixuan''s rather arrogant remark, was not surprised.


    From the beginning, this person''s actions had been strange, suddenly straying from the group and slipping away under his watch.


    Knowing full well his immense strength and the high risk of being discovered, Xu Zixuan still took such an action to come here and discuss how to deal with him, the risk and reward completely disproportionate.


    The joint examination was scheduled for seven days, and it was only the first day. There was no rush to deal with him, and it wasn''t as if the exam would end immediately if they did not act.


    Xue Jing immediately considered whether this person had intentionally lured him here.


    Though he had contemplated this possibility, driven by the pride of a skilled individual, Xue Jing still followed.


    At his level of power, especially within the Intersecting Boundaries, he no longer needed to consider whether the opponent had any traps or conspiracies.


    No need for any strategic confrontation, all matters could be resolved simply with a clenched fist and a swung punch.


    The more intricate the calculation, the more likely the failure, straightforward things should not be complicated¡ªa fist can solve what brains cannot; that is the way of a Martial Artist.


    "So... is there something you''re relying on?"


    Xue Jing curiously spoke.


    Saying this, he glanced inadvertently at Li Suisui, abandoning the idea of directly ambushing and killing Xu Zixuan, preventing him from using whatever he was relying on.


    Xu Zixuan inexplicably felt a chill down his spine, but he merely shook his head, confidently rolling down his right sleeve to reveal something worn on his wrist.


    It was a faded tan knot woven from an unknown material, extremely old and greased over by human handling.


    Seeing this knot, Xue Jing''s gaze slightly narrowed:


    "I see..."


    He recognized what it was.


    "Mr. Xue, this is your favorite Divine Relic."


    Xu Zixuan said confidently.


    "Dying by its hands must surely be an honorable death for you."


    Someone picked up a flashlight, turned it on, and shone it at Xu Zixuan''s wrist, curiously inquiring,


    "What is this?"


    Li Suisui also looked over and his expression shifted:


    "[GOD-287]... for the Xu Family to go to such lengths to deal with you, they even gave this to you?"


    "Now I''m curious, what kind of deep grudge you all have..."


    Xu Zixuan shook his head, "It''s not our Xu Family, but another family that paid a sufficient price... to ensure nothing goes wrong by bringing this here."


    "Mr. Xue, you love Divine Relics, you should recognize this, how do you feel now?"


    He looked at Xue Jing and loudly declared.


    Xue Jing stared at the knot and said, "GOD-287..."


    "¡ª[His Cultivation is not Inferior to Mine]."


    A curse-type Divine Relic ranked in the top three hundred, [His Cultivation is not Inferior to Mine].

 Chapter 627 - 345

    After being promoted to a B-level Custodian and gaining increased access, as well as by reviewing the materials on White Crow and Cease-Blades, Xue Jing also learned about many of the top-ranking Divine Relic information.


    He had already basically understood the information about GOD-287.


    This Divine Relic had only one function.


    Wear this object on your hand, speak the name of a specific person, and loudly proclaim: "This person''s cultivation is not below mine!"


    Then, the strength of the targeted individual would decrease to the same level as the wearer.


    The effect could be described as extremely terrifying and practical.


    Of course, such a powerful conceptual ability came with certain restrictions.


    First, there was the issue of the gap in strength between both parties.


    The greater the gap in strength between the wearer and the cursed individual, the shorter the duration of the curse''s effect.


    And every time it was used, GOD-287 would immediately trigger the Transfer Nature of the Divine Relic, making it a one-time-use tool.


    "...You guys really are willing to pay the price."


    Xue Jing said noncommittally.


    Just like Li Suisui said, the Xu Family, or perhaps another unknown power, really did invest heavily this time to deal with him.


    Although GOD-287 might not rank too high in sequence, it was, in theory, a major weapon that could be used against super-powered individuals.


    Even someone of the Extreme Martial King''s invincible stature might feel apprehensive upon seeing this thing.


    He never expected that it would be used against him ¨C a ''small fry'' whose combat strength was estimated to be at the Second Breakthrough level...


    How much must they hate him?


    "Mr. Xue, I really enjoyed the days I spent with you, you are a good teacher, and I think, I probably will never forget you for the rest of my life."


    Xu Zixuan showed a nostalgic expression.


    "If possible, I also wouldn''t want to make a move against you, but you are too strong, even Li Suisui is not your opponent, I can only play the villain now."


    "Die here, Mr. Xue."


    Saying this, Xu Zixuan extended his arm toward Xue Jing and loudly declared: "[This person''s cultivation is not below mine]!"


    In an instant, Xue Jing immediately felt an invisible, mysterious force enveloping him.


    It was like wearing a thin cover, his entire body entwined with invisible shackles, feeling as if everything was bound.


    Xue Jing had once heard some people who became disabled due to accidental amputations describe phantom limb sensations.


    It was like the cut-off arm still existed, still could freely be controlled, creating an illusion, even sensing pain in the arm.


    Xue Jing was now experiencing this sensation, as if he had become handicapped.


    His once incredibly strong body weakened nearly tenfold, but still retained the illusion of his previous strength, struggling to exert force as if a disabled person could still feel the movement of a lost limb.


    "¡ªThree minutes fifty-three seconds!"


    "In this time, Xue Jing and I are equally weak, this is the only chance to kill him, hurry up!"


    Xu Zixuan shouted.


    The knots on his hand still vanished without a trace.


    Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, with no one taking immediate action.


    Everything happened too fast, and they had not yet grasped the full picture.


    Although they heard Xu Zixuan say this, they hesitated, uncertain whether to believe him.


    If he was lying, the cost of facing the Demon King... they couldn''t afford it.


    "It''s true."


    Li Suisui spoke indifferently.


    "Xue Jing really has weakened."


    Xu Zixuan frowned and glanced at Li Suisui.


    He couldn''t understand why the other didn''t join the fray.


    If it were him, he would be able to settle the now-weakened Xue Jing in an instant.


    "Indeed, Xue Jing''s aura suddenly weakened a lot; I thought it was an illusion or he was reining in his aura... turns out he truly became weaker."


    "...Are we going in?"


    "Should be able to, right?"


    Everyone hesitated, and just then Li Suisui suddenly turned and left: "Boring, I''m leaving."


    "Eh?" Everyone looked at Li Suisui''s departing figure, all of them stunned.


    "What do we do now?"


    Xu Zixuan was a bit frantic: "...Well, go on, what are you waiting for, we''re running out of time!"


    He really hadn''t expected, after using such a valuable item, that these companions could be so unreliable.


    The strongest and most reliable fighter, Li Suisui, had just walked away, leaving only cowards who didn''t dare to confront Xue Jing even after a major cutback. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He can''t beat any of you right now, if you all attack together, he''s dead for sure, stop hesitating!"


    Time ticked away, and Xu Zixuan grew increasingly anxious.


    Zhou Yinglin gritted his teeth, glanced at Xue Jing who was still sitting calmly on the metallic lotus leaf, showing no sign of fleeing, and his hawk-sharp eyes focused.


    Of everyone present, he had the greatest psychological shadow regarding Xue Jing; not only had he witnessed the astonishing fight between Xue Jing and Li Suisui during the day, but he had also been thrashed by Xue Jing twice before.


    But now, it might be his only chance in life to rid himself of this psychological shadow, he couldn''t miss it.


    "Xue Jing... long time no see. It''s quite unexpected that we would clash again under such circumstances. I suppose you didn''t see this coming."


    Zhou Yinglin took two steps forward, holding a spear that looked like an Embroidered Needle magnified countless times, pointing it at Xue Jing, he spoke.


    "Hm?" Xue Jing tilted his head in confusion.


    "Who are you?"


    "..." Zhou Yinglin''s eyelid twitched.


    "Still so good at being annoying. Forget it, today is your day to die; I won''t bother arguing with you."


    "Prepare to die, Xue Jing!"


    Zhou Yinglin stomped heavily on the ground, creating a dent in the Steel Land, and shot forward, the Embroidered Needle in his hand thrusting straight at Xue Jing.


    The flawless Flawless Spear Technique was executed from his hands, targeting each of Xue Jing''s vulnerabilities and vaguely forming a visible Heavenly Feather Garment.


    Since his defeat to Xue Jing, he had reflected deeply and practiced diligently, but the growth of his strength had not been as rapid as he had hoped, but was crawling slowly like a tortoise.


    He was well aware that this was due to a ''thorn'' in his heart.


    That man who had beaten him twice had left too deep a shadow, a despair that felt like there was no chance of surpassing no matter how hard he tried.


    The murkiness in the heart would affect the clarity of one''s spear skills; without dispelling this shadow, his abilities wouldn''t just stop progressing, they might even regress and he''d become mediocre.


    But now, the chance to break the shadow was right before him.


    The man in front seemed so weak that he felt like he could kill him with a simple poke, a world apart from the Great Demon King he deemed unbeatable.


    But no matter what, he was Xue Jing himself!


    If he could kill him with his own hands, not only would the shadow in his heart be completely erased, but he might even undergo a rebirth, and his strength could soar, possibly even reaching the Limit-breaking Level of ''Heavenly Person First Transition'' in his spirit realm!


    Getting closer...


    The spear, still a mere half-meter from the target, yet Xue Jing remained motionless.


    At this moment, he couldn''t even react to my speed...


    Zhou Yinglin''s heart started to race, a surge of ecstasy bubbling up within him.


    I''ve done it, I''ve succeeded!


    In the next moment.


    Crimson-gold light points suddenly gathered in front of Xue Jing, casting a dazzling brightness in the pitch-black night.


    In just an instant, a three-meter-tall humanoid being, looking like two people fused back-to-back, appeared in front of Xue Jing.


    In Zhou Yinglin''s unbelieving gaze, the being with four hands and two indifferent, divine faces stretched out one palm and lightly grabbed the tip of Zhou Yinglin''s spear.


    He was like a paused video, his advancing motion abruptly halted.


    The immense force transferring from the spear tip revealed the power of the creature before him; muscular, massive arms lifted high and smashed down fiercely.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Zhou Yinglin was sent crashing into the Steel Land like a meteor, forming a human-shaped crater.


    While everyone stood in a daze, Xue Jing''s voice slowly filled the air:


    "Have you all misunderstood something?"


    "¡ª¡ªJust because I''ve weakened, doesn''t mean you''ve become stronger, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 628 - 346

    As if a Divine being, the mysterious and majestic Two-faced God Child stood right before Xue Jing. With two bodies facing opposite directions, one indifferent with arms crossed, the other compassionate with hands clasped in prayer, they radiated a holy religious aura. Emitting a faint red-golden glow from their body, they were extremely conspicuous in the darkness.


    With a face akin to that of Xue Jing''s own indifferent expression, they looked down emotionlessly from their high vantage upon the crowd below.


    Everyone was left dumbstruck.


    They were utterly confused as to why a powerful and bizarre humanoid creature had suddenly appeared and punched Zhou Yinglin flying.


    Considering its appearance, it clearly had something to do with Xue Jing and was not a native creature of the Steel Tree Sea.


    Piecing together Xue Jing''s words, it was highly likely that he had summoned it.


    What exactly was this creature, and why did it have such a strange summoning ability?


    Hadn''t it been said that its strength had been reduced to the same level as Xu Zixuan''s?


    Xue Jing''s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    [GOD-287] indeed had an effect on him; his overall strength was indeed brought down to the same weak level as Xu Zixuan. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, the strength of the Two-faced God Child, this Divine Incarnation, was never linked to his physical stats from the beginning.


    Through trials and various tests over time, Xue Jing had come to understand what influenced the strength of the Two-faced God Child.


    That was his "Holy" index!


    The attribute table showcased five dimensions: body, consciousness, robbery, holy, power. Here, the "Holy" signified holiness, the level of life''s rank.


    The increase in the Holy Attribute was complex, such as the growth of Xue Jing''s martial arts ability could enhance a minor portion of the Holy Attribute, but this part was negligible.


    Most of the increase in Holy Attribute relied on upgrading Extraordinary Skills and Divine Skills.


    At this moment, his "Holy" value was a high of over 8500 points.


    Compared to the "Body" at about seventeen hundred, it was five times higher.


    While it cannot be simply converted by numbers, in terms of pure physical strength alone, the Two-faced God Child far surpassed his own physical body!


    Although it couldn''t use martial arts, its numerical dominance allowed the Two-faced God Child to have a combat power almost equal to his own.


    And this strength tied to the Holy Attribute was completely unaffected by GOD-287.


    It only reduced Xue Jing''s "Body" and "Consciousness"!


    "Today, let you witness what a Stand-in Messenger is..."


    Xue Jing pointed at the crowd.


    "Go, my invincible Platinum Star!"


    The Two-faced God Child moved at his command and swiftly dove towards the people below.


    "Block him! I can''t afford any hassle now. If I die, Xue Jing will regain his full strength and then everyone here will die!"


    Xu Zixuan shouted frantically.


    Hearing this, everyone''s lips twitched, and their initially retreating steps came to an abrupt halt.


    Weighing the lesser of two evils, it was much preferable to fight against a four-armed humanoid monster than to face Xue Jing, the fully-powered Great Demon King.


    Despite the tough hit he received, Zhou Yinglin, who had just been driven into the ground, seemed unharmed on the surface.


    The creature clearly did not use martial arts but simply relied on immense physical strength¡ªeveryone noticed this.


    Otherwise, after such a powerful blow, Zhou Yinglin should have exploded on the spot, not just been smashed into the ground.


    Therefore, he could use Soft Power to transfer most of the force to the ground, incurring minor injuries to himself.


    Of course, that was a relative "few injuries".


    Even if they could offload 90% of 100% force, the damage was still significant.


    Offloading 90% of 100 damage leaves only ten, but unloading 90% of a million damage still leaves a hundred thousand!


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    A muscular male examiner stepped forward, his right arm muscles bulging, veins standing out as he fiercely swung a punch, colliding midair with Two-faced God Child who also launched a punch.


    A powerful circular airflow burst from between their colliding fists. In less than half a second, the male examiner screamed as his right arm cracked and twisted grotesquely, his skin pierced outward by countless splinters of broken bone.


    In contrast, the Two-faced God Child''s fist remained intact, tough as steel, and the indifferent Divine expression on its face unchanged.


    "Swoosh¡ª!"


    Three figures moved simultaneously from left, right, and above, attacking the Two-faced God Child from three different directions.


    Meanwhile, two others took this opportunity to rush towards Xue Jing''s original body.


    Everyone knew that the critical aspect was to take down Xue Jing himself.


    Otherwise, once time was up and the Great Demon King''s seal was released, it would all be over.


    "Futile effort."


    "Why not use your brains and think about why I dare let the Two-faced God Child stray away."


    Xue Jing shook his head.


    "...But then again, you have no other options."


    "Unfortunately, from the very beginning, your defeat was already sealed."


    While he spoke, Xue Jing sat unmoved on a metallic plant leaf, and as the two figures closed in on him, a punch and a kick landed hard on his body.


    He shattered into pieces instantly.


    "Huh!? Did we succeed?"


    Everyone was momentarily shaken by this scene, utterly incredulous.


    Could it be... that simple?


    The performances Xue Jing had shown thus far had deeply intimidated everyone. Even though his strength had been reduced to Xu Zixuan''s level, everyone still subconsciously felt that killing him was an incredibly difficult task.


    But to achieve it just like that?


    The three attackers on the Two-faced God Child were also distracted by the sight of Xue Jing''s death, momentarily losing focus.

 Chapter 629 - 346_2

    Two-faced God Child turned direction, each side of its body facing the two people to its left and right. Its four arms grabbed one hand and one foot of each person, overpowering them completely and flinging them upwards.


    "Thud¡ª"


    With a muffled sound, the two bodies thrown upward clamped onto a third person attacking from above. The three bodies collided, the immense force turning them into three blood-filled sacks that burst open in the air.


    Blood splattered like torrential rain, and the three mangled bodies instantly lost their life force.


    Two-faced God Child''s body radiated a faint golden glow, and all the blood splashes were blocked by an invisible barrier before they could stain its body.


    It remained immaculate, as if it possessed an inherent holiness that could not be tainted.


    Meanwhile, Xue Jing, whose body was crushed, did not spill a single drop of blood.


    At every torn opening, there was no sign of bright red but rather dark flames burning like black holes.


    All the burning ''corpse pieces'' paused in mid-air and then rapidly converged towards the center. Shortly after, Xue Jing reappeared in the arena, unscathed and even his hairstyle undisturbed.


    He still maintained his relaxed posture, sitting on a metallic foliage, the calm poise making it seem as if nothing had happened, adorned with blooming Dark Flames, his eerie and mysterious aura was unmistakably evident.


    This sight instantly plunged everyone into despair.


    "How is this possible..."


    "How can we fight this, what kind of person is he!!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is simply cheating..."


    Two-faced God Child didn''t care about their feelings. It stepped forward and, with two thuds, crushed the heads of two examiners who were still frozen in place.


    Everyone snapped back to reality.


    "Run!!"


    Including Xu Zixuan, everyone scattered instantly, sprinting in directions away from Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing shook his head:


    "Where can you run to?"


    He stood up, his eyes burning with Shadow Flame, picked a direction of one escaping person, then leaped onto Two-faced God Child''s shoulders, firmly held by one of its arms.


    His current power had been reduced, slowing his movement speed.


    But his slowness didn''t mean Two-faced God Child was slow.


    Since Two-faced God Child couldn''t stray too far from his main body, it would just have to carry him while running.


    With the enhancement of Twin Speed, Two-faced God Child''s movement was still far faster than the examiners.


    Not to mention in the dark of night, his complete visibility was a significant advantage.


    The hunt had begun.


    ...


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    Just two minutes later, the fourth escaping examiner was cornered by Xue Jing. Two-faced God Child, swinging fists larger than a pot, smashed him into the trunk of a metallic tree.


    His chest and abdomen caved in, his organs completely destroyed, and despite the martial artist''s life force preventing immediate death, his injuries were beyond conventional treatment and he would die within minutes.


    "Next..."


    Xue Jing discerned the direction and chased after the next target.


    On a steel-shadowed path, a short figure leaned against a large tree, lighting a cigarette and puffing clouds of smoke with a blank expression.


    A hurried figure arrived, instantly overjoyed:


    "Li Suisui, Brother Li!"


    "You''re here, why didn''t you make a move just now? That Xue Jing is inhuman, we can''t beat him at all, we need you to act quickly, there isn''t much time..."


    Li Suisui took a drag of his cigarette, expertly inhaled, and exhaled, only giving him a glance and not responding.


    Soon, there was a disturbance nearby.


    Steel bushes were forcibly parted, emitting creaking and twisting metal noises, as a towering three-meter-tall figure stepped forward.


    Two-faced God Child with Xue Jing seated on its shoulders, arrived at the scene and glanced at the examiner.


    "Xue... Xue Jing!"


    The person showed a look of fear.


    Without speaking, Xue Jing directly controlled Two-faced God Child, took quick steps forward, stretched out a hand, and grasped him.


    The giant hand directly grabbed the opponent''s entire waist and lifted him off the ground as if a child had picked up a doll.


    The Two-faced God Child''s palm started to exert force, and the opponent''s body immediately emitted the cracking sounds of breaking bones.


    "Ah, ah, ah!!!"


    The person screamed, vomiting blood, turning his head to look at Li Suisui.


    The latter was still calmly smoking, seemingly unconcerned by the scene unfolding before him.


    "Li Suisui, why are you just watching!"


    The man incredulously questioned aloud.


    He struggled, trying to activate his Power, his hands pounding on the Two-faced God Child''s palm, but the hand was like an iron clamp, unshakable no matter how much he struggled.


    "Crack¡ª!"


    The Two-faced God Child clenched his palm, reducing the man to the thickness of a bamboo pole, then casually tossed him aside. Xue Jing''s gaze turned towards Li Suisui, focusing on the cigarette in his hand, shook his head, and said,


    "Brother Sui, it''s really not good for a child to smoke."


    Li Suisui calmly took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled, saying,


    "Even children need to relieve stress¡­ Although smoking has no stimulating effect on me and doesn''t harm my body, I think it makes me look cool."


    "Just don''t tell my mom."


    Xue Jing laughed, "You really are still a child, what an interesting thought."


    He leaped down from the Two-faced God Child''s shoulder to the ground.


    "Brother Sui, why didn''t you attack me? Is there something holding you back?"


    Li Suisui, upon hearing this, shook his head.


    "No... I just purely think that even if I truly won against you like this, it would be a boring affair. It''s like winning a competitive game because the opponent had poor internet and equipment¡ªno fun at all."


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, "Oh? Is that so?"


    "You indeed are unlike anyone else I have encountered, very interesting."


    Li Suisui continued, "More importantly, even in such circumstances, I don''t think I can really do much to you."


    Curious, Xue Jing asked, "Why?"


    Li Suisui glanced at him.


    "You''ve been fearless since you appeared, even when Xu Zixuan took out GOD-287, you didn''t show any signs of fear¡­ even though I was also there opposing you."


    "You shouldn''t be the kind of foolhardy young man; logically speaking, you should have turned around and run the moment you recognized GOD-287, but you didn''t, showing you have some other reliance."


    "Even if your strength was weakened to the level of Xu Zixuan, still enough to survive in my hands."


    "In that case, even if I made my move, I probably couldn''t do much to you, and I''d only end up looking like a villain who takes advantage of others'' weaknesses... I don''t like that, no gain and just causing trouble."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing burst into laughter.


    "You really are a smart kid."


    After laughing, Xue Jing continued,


    "It''s about time now, Brother Sui, step aside."


    At this, Li Suisui nodded, tossed the nearly spent cigarette butt aside, and stepped away.


    On the other side of the tree trunk behind Li Suisui, where Xu Zixuan was silently covering his mouth, daring not to make a sound, his heartbeat began to uncontrollably race.


    Fear crawled from the top of his scalp down, gradually engulfing his entire body, chilling to the extreme.


    The footsteps on the metallic ground progressed, step by step, as if trampling on his heart, drawing closer.


    Step, step, step¡­


    Until at a certain moment, the footsteps that seemed to be right beside him came to a halt, no longer resounding.


    Xu Zixuan''s head stiffly turned to look beside him.


    A figure that looked like a ghoul in his eyes entered his sight.


    "It really is a pity, Classmate Xu."


    Xue Jing softly spoke.


    "You are no longer my student."

 Chapter 632 - 348: A Mans Dream, Cat Xues Terrifying Charm, Lion Eye Shen Tuguang (4K)

    In the tranquil steel forest, a group of people were leisurely strolling through it.


    "There''s one word that''s every man''s dream all over the world. Do you know what it is?"


    Zhao Longtu''s fierce face showed a hint of melancholy as he spoke.


    Reacting instinctively, He Han said, "36D?"


    Zhao Longtu glanced at him expressionlessly, "No, it''s ''strongest''."


    "Although reality will gradually dawn on us over time, making us give up this dream, every man has definitely fantasized about being the ''strongest in the world."


    He Han casually said, "Oh, you mean that. I thought you were talking about the other thing."


    Chen Xingyan casually asked, "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Longtu sighed, somewhat conflicted, "Although I''m not the ''strongest in the world,'' I should be the strongest in our class. I can do whatever Cao Sini can do. So why didn''t Mr. Xue choose me?"


    Hearing this, He Han and Chen Xingyan exchanged glances.


    "Longtu, things might not be as you think."


    He Han put his arm around Zhao Longtu''s shoulders, carefully choosing his words before speaking.


    "Could it be possible that it''s not about who''s stronger between you and Cao Sini, but other reasons..."


    Zhao Longtu asked confusedly, "What reason?"


    "Becoming the King of Knockout is all about strength, isn''t it?"


    He Han shook his head. "You really don''t get it, do you? It''s not a matter of who is stronger, but you and Miss Cao have a fundamental difference."


    He glanced sharply and said deeply:


    "36D."


    Zhao Longtu: "?"


    "If you are a man, you will definitely be attracted by this bewitching combination of numbers and letters. That''s what she has and you don''t, after all, Mr. Xue is also a man..."


    Zhao Longtu suddenly realized, "So that''s how it is."


    "Slap¡ª"


    Chen Xingyan, visibly annoyed, slapped the back of He Han''s head.


    "Don''t spout nonsense and slander Mr. Xue''s reputation, you bottom-feeder with bottom-tier abilities."


    He Han: "Ah, Brother Li, aren''t you being a bit harsh!"


    Ignoring He Han''s rebuttal, Chen Xingyan turned to Zhao Longtu.


    "Can you not believe everything He Han says? How could Mr. Xue be that kind of person?"


    "His wisdom is as deep as the ocean. Surely he has his reasons. Since he chose Miss Cao instead of you, there must be factors that we can''t understand right now. Don''t jump to conclusions; it would only make us look childish and silly."


    Zhao Longtu nodded, understanding, "I get it now."


    Chen Xingyan nodded, glanced at the small map on his wristband, and said, "Alright, the temporary base is up ahead. Most members of the other small squads have already arrived... Hm? Mr. Xue''s location is approaching rapidly."


    He looked at the two swiftly moving dots on the small map and looked back.


    He Han and Zhao Longtu also followed his gaze.


    Immediately, they saw a slender figure leaping between the bushes, speeding toward them.


    "It''s Miss Cao."


    He Han''s eyes brightened as he recognized her and raised his hand to wave:


    "Hey~ Miss Cao..."


    "Huh!?"


    All three were stunned at the same time, fixing their gaze on Cao Sini''s chest... more precisely, on something on her chest.


    A palm-sized black cat was stuffed into Cao Sini''s 36D, with only a fuzzy head visible and two white-gloved paws clinging to the collar.


    The small black cat wore an expression of anthropomorphic laziness, narrowing its eyes in a drowsy manner.


    Even though it had transformed into a feline animal, the facial features were unmistakably their own Mr. Xue.


    The three had witnessed Mr. Xue''s magical ''martial arts'' ability to turn into a cat, and although the cat seemed much smaller than any they had seen before, they recognized it instantly.


    Zhao Longtu hesitated and looked at Chen Xingyan, then at He Han.


    The other two did the same, exchanging glances in bewilderment.


    Cao Sini also noticed them and swiftly moved in front of them, her sharp eyes like knife blades looking at them with a cold tone:


    "What are you guys doing here."


    Zhao Longtu sighed, "So that''s how it is. This is truly something I can''t do. I''ve lost."


    Cao Sini: "?"


    He Han sighed, "If there''s an afterlife, I''d like to be a melancholic little kitty."


    Cao Sini''s eyes twitched.


    Chen Xingyan sighed, "Mr. Xue, if you''ve been kidnapped, just blink."


    Cao Sini''s forehead bulged with veins: "Are you asking for a beating?"


    Her fists tensed.


    Cat Xue, drowsy and raising his head, opened his eyes which squeezed out a yawn.


    He shifted in the soft 36D, finding a more comfortable position, and began to shake. Then, lifting his eyes to look at the group, he spoke lazily:


    "What are you all just standing there for?"


    He had transformed into a combination of a child and a cat, which is why he now had the appearance of a kitty cub, and why his voice was that of a young child.


    He Han pinched his chin and said, "Mr. Xue, may I interview you?"


    Cat Xue: "Hmm?"


    "Given the choice, which of the following cockpits would you choose to enter?"


    "1, Assault Freedom, 2, Unit-01, 3, Dragon God, 4, Light Bringer, 5, Soft Bosom."


    Cat Xue, with a facial expression of serious contemplation:


    "That''s truly a difficult ultimate choice question."


    Cao Sini, expressionless, took a step forward towards He Han.

 Chapter 633 - 348: A Mans Dream, Cat Xues Terrifying Charm,

    "Is that all there is to your will?"


    He Han: "Wait...! Ah!"


    ...


    "In simple terms, I''m now a power bank."


    His tiny body was squeezed into something soft as Cat Xue poked his head out and began to explain to the students, his voice young and pleasant.


    "Sini has important tasks and uses up a lot of Life Force, and she needs to replenish it all the time. It''s too much trouble to come to me each time, so upon her suggestion, I''ve become like this."


    "By staying on her, with bodily contact, I can replenish it anytime..."


    The students had varied expressions after hearing this.


    "Hmm... such a legitimate reason, hard to argue with."


    "For a moment, I''m not sure whom to envy..."


    Fu Jialin, green with envy, said, "Mr. Xue, can I also... (glances at her 36D), never mind, forget I said anything..."


    Ye Jingqiu looked at Cat Xue''s youthful yet authoritarian presence, utterly adorable, and her heart nearly melted.


    She knelt on the ground, grabbed Cao Sini''s hands, almost pleading, "Sini, let me hug Mr. Xue, please, I''ll do anything!"


    Bandaged and bruised, He Han''s eyes sparkled as he witnessed the scene, and he hobbled over, his voice grave:


    "What sort of resolve are you harboring to say such a thing?"


    Ye Jingqiu: "Eh?"


    "Do you, a mere student, have the power to shoulder someone else''s life?"


    Ye Jingqiu glanced at him disapprovingly: "What kind of weird stuff are you talking about now?"


    Undeterred, He Han continued gravely, "To say ''I''ll do anything'' is a heavy statement."


    "Don''t casually say things you can''t do."


    He looked down condescendingly at Ye Jingqiu, "You, you''re always just thinking about yourself."


    After saying this, he turned to Cao Sini, excited, "Exactly, Miss Cao, could you repeat what I just said please, I beg you, I''ll V you 50 after the exam!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye Jingqiu''s mouth twitched: "Don''t think I won''t hit you just because you''re already battered and bruised."


    Although she couldn''t comprehend He Han''s words, she knew this annoying, second-dimensional fool must be spouting something from an anime again, and she had a feeling that she was cast in a very strange role in it.


    He Han immediately threw himself to his knees: "Secret Marseilles."


    Cao Sini looked at the farce before her, unimpressed, "Boring."


    She lowered her head, her gaze softening as she looked at the fuzzy head on her chest, gently placing her palm over Cat Xue''s head.


    Cat Xue let out a sleepy yawn, instantly winning over the girls'' hearts with hearts in their eyes.


    It wasn''t clear if it was the comfort of the cockpit that was making him so drowsy.


    Shaking his head, Jing managed a Water Splash Jump and left the cockpit, deftly landing on Chen Xingyan''s shoulder, and at the same time grew back to the size of an adult cat.


    "Ah," Cao Sini couldn''t help feeling a bit empty, as if there was a missing piece in her 36D.


    Cat Xue stretched languidly, sitting down with his tail swishing, looking at Chen Xingyan, and inquired:


    "What''s the status of the scores now?"


    Tears filled Ye Jingqiu''s eyes as she looked at Chen Xingyan: "Please¡­ Xingyan..."


    Chen Xingyan cleared his throat, offering Ye Jingqiu an apologetic look, then respectfully whispered to the Cat Xue on his shoulder:


    "Not so good, most people''s total scores aren''t high."


    "Also, since yesterday, the ''prey'' we''re able to encounter has been dwindling, as if other classes'' students are intentionally avoiding us, even if it delays their required movement tasks."


    "If it continues like this, aside from Miss Cao and a few of us, the rest won''t get good scores."


    Cat Xue nodded, "It''s about time. With Sini''s number of knockdowns, getting the King of Knockout is a done deal. After the exam ends, we can directly get a team average score of a thousand, which should put us in the top three on the leaderboard."


    "The rest is making sure everyone gets enough individual points to make up the final scores."


    He extended a cat paw, and an invisible rift opened in the air, with a white bracelet landing onto it.


    After a few swipes of his pink paw pad, the bracelet revealed a holographic interface.


    ```


    [Current Hunt Quest Options]


    [Hunt Target: Big Chainsaw Ape, Danger Level Assessment: 4.8, Location:...]


    [Hunt Target: Desiccant Scythe Bird Swarm, Danger Level Assessment: 5.1, Location:...]


    ...


    A long list of over sixty available hunt quests lined the interface.


    Chen Xingyan hesitated and said, "Completing hunt quests can indeed earn a lot of points, but..."


    He looked at the various hunt targets displayed on the screen with their danger levels and felt his heart pound.


    These optional hunt quests in the joint exam were not intended for ordinary students.


    Rather, they were for those prodigies who unexpectedly find themselves among the common herd to rapidly rack up points.


    After defeating and killing these targets, the slayer could obtain a large amount of individual points as well as some team points.


    Within these, because the team points would be evenly split among the entire group, for Xue Jing''s class where the entire class was in one group, it amounted to a drop in the bucket; the key lay in individual points.


    However, monsters with such high danger levels would likely give even Cao Sini a hard time and only might she manage to beat one with difficulty.


    Other students would hardly be of any help, as the iron-based creatures in the Steel Tree Sea are tough-skinned, and if the attack power isn''t up to a certain level, it''s virtually like scratching an itch for them.


    And yet, Cao Sini is the last person who needs points... Her score is already virtually guaranteed to rank first in the final results.


    To let other students earn individual points from hunt quests, it would require Cao Sini or Zhao Longtu to fight fiercely to bring a hunt target down to its last breath, then let the other students deliver the final blow...


    Putting aside the feasibility of this, would those two be willing to work selflessly for the sake of others?


    Just consider that with over twenty students in the class, each needing to kill at least one hunt target, even if Cao Sini and Zhao Longtu were willing to help, they wouldn''t be able to withstand such a grind.


    And even though Mr. Xue possesses boundless magical power, as an examiner, if he were to assist, the hunt quests would automatically be deemed a failure, and no points would be awarded.


    Unless he could find a way to lend a hand undetected by the officials...


    Cat Xue smiled faintly and simply said:


    "Next, it''s time for the one-on-one personal coaching session that everyone gets."


    With a flash, he perched himself on Ye Jingqiu''s shoulder.


    "Jingqiu student, would you be interested in going on a private date just with me?" Cat Xue revealed an anthropomorphized, smiling expression and touched her face with his soft cat paw.


    With his fluffy body suddenly sitting on her shoulder and the soft paw touching her cheek, the girl was so surprised she nearly fainted on the spot; how could she possibly have any capacity to think?


    Overwhelmed with happiness, she eagerly and vigorously nodded, saying:


    "Yes, I must go, even if it kills me!"


    As she spoke, she carefully picked up Cat Xue, feeling the weight and softness in her palm, and suddenly squatted down on the ground in a duck-sitting position.


    "Ah..."


    Ye Jingqiu closed her eyes, a natural, serene smile played upon her lips, her lovely face radiating a serene happiness as if she had no regrets in death, and she remained still.


    "Crap, Jingqiu has died on the spot!"


    "Directly interacting with Mr. Xue in his cat form was still too soon for her!"


    "I''m not sure if it''s just my imagination, but I think I saw something transparent rising above her head, like her soul ascending..."


    ...


    On the other side.


    Present day, Silver City, Zhige Base.


    Ning Yuantai stopped in his tracks on the wide square, looking at the sturdy, bald man descending from an aircraft.


    The man exchanged greetings with the head of the Zhige Base who had come to welcome him, removed his sunglasses, and revealed a pair of lion-like, peculiar, and fierce eyes.


    Ning Yuantai frowned slightly and murmured:


    "''Lion Eye'' Shen Tuguang... What''s he doing here?"


    A sense of foreboding washed over Ning Yuantai''s heart.


    "Could it be..."


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 634 - 349

    Due to Ye Jingqiu''s low resistance to Cat Xue, continuing their contact recklessly could really lead to her death. Despite strong personal opposition, everyone unanimously voted to temporarily ban her from contacting Mr. Xue.


    After that, since Ye Jingqiu was temporarily unavailable, Xue Jing casually assigned He Han as the first "individual tutoring subject."


    Although it was unclear what this "individual tutoring" entailed, as Xue Jing''s first choice, He Han was quite proud.


    "Indeed, I am Mr. Xue''s number one student in his heart..."


    He Han, pretending to be elegant, sat in the chair, holding a cup in one hand and brushing his hair back with the other:


    "Now, I am a great official, akin to being appointed as Marquis, given nine ritual implements, ascending to the palace without hastening, entering the court without bowing, not being named during praises, and holding a court position equal to the Three Ducal Ministers..."


    "From now on, if you want to talk to Mr. Xue, you need my permission first. Get it?"


    Chen Xingyan retorted, "Are you like a primary school kid who just got picked as class representative and starts showing off in front of classmates?"


    "And according to you, people generally won''t last long after that."


    He Han glanced at him, shook the cup in his hand, and pouted towards the kettle placed on the nearby table:


    "Hey, sizhu, do you think the water will jump into my cup on its own?"


    Fu Jialin crossed her arms angrily, her chest slightly pushed out in aggravation, and said angrily:


    "He Han, don''t be too He Han!"


    The others also chimed in angrily, "Jiali is right; you''re being too much like He Han!"


    "Hm?"


    He Han was stunned, "Wait, why does using my name sound like cursing?"


    "You were only chosen by Mr. Xue because of luck! Like a tissue that just happened to be pulled out. It''s not because you''re special, but because you were just there at the right moment! What''s there to boast about!"


    "Evil counsellor, traitor, Zhao Gao!"


    He Han spread his arms, enjoying the moment, "The whining of losers isn''t too unpleasant to hear."


    Chen Xingyan calmly reminded him, "It''s okay to act foolish, but you''ll have to bear the consequences yourself. I won''t help you."


    He Han laughed heartily and carelessly responded, "How so? Just a few jokes. My relationship with everyone is as deep as the ocean, solid as a rock, no one will take it seriously, right?"


    Saying that, he turned his head to look at everyone.


    All of them looked at him expressionlessly, a faint illusion-like black aura emanating from behind them.


    Especially the female classmates, all clenching their fists crackingly, veins popping on their hands, their faces filled with an almost uncontrollable urge to beat him.


    "Hm? Everyone''s eyes seem a bit red. Didn''t you rest well?"


    He Han''s forehead broke out in a cold sweat.


    At that moment, a small figure appeared almost instantly before everyone.


    In an instant, everyone''s face turned respectful and happy, as if the previous murderous intent was merely an illusion.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    "Hmm." Cat Xue nodded in response to the greeting, then turned to look at He Han.


    "He Han, go around and gather some ''Iron-Based Fruit.'' We''ll need them later for the ''tutoring.''"


    Steel Tree Sea was composed almost entirely of metallic substances, but likely due to an amalgamation with the laws of this world, not only were there ''Iron-Based Plants,'' but these plants even bore fruit.


    Of course, these fruits were also metallic.


    Upon hearing Xue Jing''s instruction, He Han sighed in relief, quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, and dutifully went to carry out the task.


    Half an hour later.


    Cat Xue hooked his sharp claws onto a large metallic tree, swinging his body back and forth.


    He Han, holding a bulging backpack, walked up to him and performed a deep bow, saying:


    "May Mr. Xue be fortunate."


    Cat Xue swung himself into the air, nimbly leaping onto He Han''s shoulder, and asked:


    "Did you bring the items?"


    "I did. The goods are pure." He Han patted the backpack in his hand.


    Xue Jing hummed in acknowledgement: "Alright, let''s go."


    He Han curiously asked, "Mr. Xue, where are we going?"


    "D7 area¡­ Why ask so many questions? Just go when I tell you to," Xue Jing glanced at him.


    He Han thought for a moment then tentatively asked, "I remember that place being quite dangerous, part of the ''Expert Area'' in the Intersecting Boundaries, with many high-risk Transformers..."


    Cat Xue calmly said, "What are you afraid of, am I going to harm you? It''s embarrassing for a man from the Seventh Metropolitan Circle to act so cowardly."


    He Han glared, "I''m not afraid to go, just asking simply..."


    He thought for a moment, then added, "Also, although I''m not cowardly, I must clarify that I''m from the south, so losing face wouldn''t reflect badly on the northerners."


    Xue Jing curiously asked, "Oh? Didn''t you say before that you''re a local from Silver City? Or are your ancestors from the south? That doesn''t count. If you grew up in the north, then you are a northerner."


    He Han waved his hand, "My family for eighteen generations are from Silver City, true-blooded people of Jiangnan."


    "South of Heilongjiang."


    Xue Jing: "¡­"


    ¡­


    Steel Tree Sea, D7 area.


    Li Suisui and three boys along with a girl walked on a steel-shaded path.


    He fiddled with his wristband. The holographic information of the map on his wristband continually changed, while the four students around him vigilantly surveyed their surroundings.


    "Teacher Li¡­ do we really need to undertake this subjugation task?"


    Among the four students, a boy asked with a worried expression.


    "Our individual scores are fully sufficient, aren''t they? By the end of the exams, when the scores are divided across the team, we''ll be ranked first and receive a wealth of points. Aside from that female fiend from the Demon King Class, we''re securely in the top four¡­ Is it worth the risk?"


    The other three didn''t speak, but they all looked toward Li Suisui, clearly sharing the same confusion.


    "Normally, that would indeed be the case."


    Li Suisui continued to study the map, fiddling with her wristband as she spoke indifferently.


    "But in this exam, there is someone whose actions cannot be judged by ordinary standards."


    "This person chose the unwise strategy of having the whole class form a squad... Usually, it''s a very unwise decision."


    "In any group, once the numbers increase, most of the people inevitably become a burden. The attempt to get good results for everyone usually ensures that no one gets good results."


    "But as I said, that person should not be measured by ordinary standards."


    "For that kind of person, no matter how unfavorable his decisions seem for the exam rules, you must assume he has methods beyond ordinary to ensure everyone achieves good results."


    Li Suisui said this and then glanced quietly at the others.


    "If you''re content with your current scores, you may later face the consequence of suddenly having thirty more people above you in the rankings... Although being in the top fifty already qualifies you for admission into every university in the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, the martial arts resources of each school are limited."


    "The better your scores, the higher your ranking, and without a doubt, the more resources you will get. Is it your intention to be content with the top fifty, or will you strive with all your might to remain in the top ten?"


    The four of them exchanged looks, then responded, "We will follow your advice, Teacher." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Suisui nodded, "Hmm, you four have coordinated well over the past few days. Dealing with creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries below level 5 shouldn''t be a problem. With Xuanyi''s All-Killing Mystery, even the Iron-Based Creatures with strong defenses can be defeated. The task of eradication is achievable; there is no need to be afraid."


    "Roar¡ª!!!"


    Suddenly, a roar laced with the sound of metal friction came from not far away.


    It wasn''t particularly loud but was painfully sharp, piercing the eardrums and seemingly carrying a hint of desperation.


    Li Suisui furrowed her brows.


    "It''s the ''Big Chainsaw Ape''."


    "What''s going on, that sound... has it been preyed on by another creature?"


    Li Suisui''s figure flashed as she hurried toward the source of the sound.


    "Follow me!"


    The four students looked at each other quickly and hurriedly followed.


    ...


    "What the heck, a territory dispute?"


    He Han stared wide-eyed at the scene before him.


    A huge steel-colored giant ape, nearly ten meters tall with its tail ending in a chainsaw-shaped appendage, was bound around its lower body by several thick silver metal roots, causing it to roar anxiously as it continually pounded its chest.


    He Han covered his ears, grimacing, "Mr. Xue, have you heard that quiet animal joke..."


    "It''s about a gorilla because it can knock on ''mimi''¡­"


    Cat Xue, sitting on He Han''s shoulder, ignored him, flicking her tail and controlling the distant Steel Seed with the Plant Pact to continuously produce thick metal roots attacking their target, the ''Big Chainsaw Ape''.


    The ape, muscular and obviously very strong, was frantically restrained by the growing roots. Its chainsaw-tipped tail swung wildly, creating sparks as it sawed through the roots, each cut followed by even more roots wrapping around.


    Before long, a dense mass of roots had bound it up tightly like a rice dumpling, rendering even its tail immobile. The Big Chainsaw Ape could only howl in furious impotence towards the sky.


    Cat Xue glanced at He Han.


    "You''re really lucky to have stumbled upon an unknown Iron-based Plant preying on the Big Chainsaw Ape... Go, its Core Organ is in its head, use a Serious Punch to smash its head, and the eradication task will be complete, free points."


    He Han looked quirky.


    Initially, when they first reached Area D7 and heard from Xue Jing that it was for an eradication task, he had refused.


    But between the choices of a paw to the throat from Cat Xue and being torn apart by a gorilla, he had to venture over under Xue Jing''s insinuated guidance...


    And just as they arrived, after attracting the Big Chainsaw Ape with various fruits from his backpack, a strange Iron-based Plant suddenly emerged and started thrashing the ape, soon binding it up, conveniently exposing its head for easy targeting.


    This was luck...


    Not possible.


    He Han opened his mouth and suppressed the impulse to ask if it was Mr. Xue''s doing.


    No need to ask, it certainly was.


    If he had stumbled upon this situation by himself, it might have been a fortunate coincidence.


    But he was brought here by Mr. Xue.


    It was clearly Mr. Xue''s maneuver, specially arranging it to boost his score.


    He Han coughed.


    No, he couldn''t start laughing yet, or else he would spoil Mr. Xue''s hard work.


    He displayed a resolute expression, calmly saying, "Just so you know, I''ve been called a ''lucky kid'' since I was little. Buying ten popsicles, I''d win at least one ''try again'', and every time the aunt next door saw me, she''d exclaim: ''That kid will surely be a Superman one day.''"


    "Encountering this can be said to be logical, quite normal, and utterly expected..."


    Xue Jing twitched his mouth, fanned his head with a cat paw, "Less chatter."


    He Han rubbed his head, cautiously approached the still roaring and struggling Big Chainsaw Ape, swallowed, and hesitated,


    "Uh... are you sure it can''t move?"


    Cat Xue indifferently responded, "In three seconds, it should break free."


    "One¡­"


    He had just counted to one when the roots restraining the Big Chainsaw Ape immediately started to loosen.


    In a rush, He Han, disregarding his fears, activated Serious Punch and violently smashed towards the Big Chainsaw Ape''s head.


    "Bang¡ª!!"


    The metallic skull shattered, and the Big Chainsaw Ape, like a machine that had been shut off, ceased its furious struggle in an instant.


    He Han touched the cold sweat on his forehead and collapsed to the ground.


    "No, Mr. Xue, you said three seconds, but as soon as I counted to one, it felt like it was breaking free..."


    He gasped for air as he looked toward Cat Xue.

 Chapter 635 - 350

    "How many points did you get?"


    Xue Jing asked.


    He Han took a couple of breaths and looked at the information on his wristband.


    "3000 individual points and 3000 team points..."


    He said, his eyebrows dancing with excitement.


    "We''ve hit the jackpot, Mr. Xue."


    "Even if I don''t earn a single point from now on, I bet my final score could still land me in the top fifty!"


    A top fifty score in such a large-scale joint exam had already reached the admission baseline of any university within the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Due to the stringent isolation between the major metropolitan circles, normally, no matter how exceptional a student''s performance was, it was very difficult to attend a university in another metropolitan circle, so at that moment, He Han was, in essence, within reach of the highest educational institution he could aspire to.


    It felt similar to when Xue Jing, in his previous life, heard that he could get into Tsinghua University and Peking University, naturally, he was quite excited.


    Xue Jing nodded his head and hummed a response.


    Before the exam started, he had specifically looked into the various judging mechanisms of this joint exam.


    He then discovered that the whole process was monitored and managed by AI, and whether an examiner had intervened in a student''s execution of a hunting task was determined by a set of pre-written rules rather than active judgment based on human observation.


    In such a case, Xue Jing''s control of ''Steel Seed'', a native plant of the Steel Tree Sea, to attack the Big Chainsaw Ape would just seem like a coincidence to the AI strictly monitoring according to the rules, merely a part of the natural evolution within the Steel Tree Sea.


    As long as it wasn''t an examiner lending a hand, no matter the process, as soon as a student landed the killing blow on the target and took the head, the rules would acknowledge the completion of the hunting task.


    This idea had proven to be feasible; the AI lacked the ability to oversee Xue Jing''s Divine Skill, and would not consider the ''Plant Pact''s control of the Steel Seed as Xue Jing taking action.


    Unless it could gather sufficient evidence from conversations or other exchanges between Xue Jing and the students.


    "Let''s go, hunt the next one... Huh?"


    Cat Xue turned his head to look to the side.


    In the steel forest not far away, several figures were rapidly approaching, the leader of whom was small in stature ¨C it was Li Suisui.


    "Brother Sui..."


    Xue Jing''s cat eyes narrowed.


    Li Suisui and his four men arrived, and upon seeing the Big Chainsaw Ape with its head already blasted open, they too were momentarily stunned.


    "Incredible... Huh?"


    Although he had not seen Xue Jing''s ability to turn into a cat before, Li Suisui instantly fixated on Cat Xue, who was sitting on He Han''s shoulder.


    With the overly conspicuous handsome features and temperament, Li Suisui immediately frowned and said: sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xue Jing?"


    As soon as these words came out, the four students beside him were shocked.


    Following the earth-shattering battle between Xue Jing and Li Suisui that day, and with the activities of Xue Jing''s class over the past few days and the gradual spread of news about the deaths of various examiners, almost all students became aware of an extraordinary figure entering this exam site.


    He was so formidable that even Li Suisui, known as the Strongest Elementary School Student on Earth, was no match for him.


    Now, hearing Li Suisui utter this name, the four students immediately became nervous, following the direction of Li Suisui''s gaze.


    "A cat...?"


    "In the Steel Tree Sea, how could there be a cat?"


    "How did they bring it in... and isn''t this cat just too good-looking?"


    The four were full of curiosity.


    Paying no mind to the curiosity of the four students, Li Suisui asked directly, "Xue Jing, what are you doing here... is this Big Chainsaw Ape your doing?"


    Cat Xue shook his head and opened his mouth to say, "I''ve told you to call me ''bro''... This was taken care of by my student."


    "Him?"


    Li Suisui raised an eyebrow, glancing at He Han, who had a somewhat sly look.


    Facing his scrutiny, He Han revealed a simple and honest smile, looking like a simpleton.


    He hardly seemed like someone who could solo kill a dangerous creature such as the Big Chainsaw Ape.


    "Never mind, although the Big Chainsaw Ape is gone, there''s still an unexpected find."


    Li Suisui shook his head, turned to the four students under his command, and stretched his hand towards He Han, "Go and kill him."


    Having already concluded he couldn''t beat Xue Jing himself, Li Suisui still had secondary objectives to accomplish: to hinder Xue Jing from achieving good results and to get his student out of the exam as much as possible.


    "Eh?" The four were still stunned by the sight of Cat Xue speaking and momentarily dazed.


    "Damn it, Mr. Xue, what do we do now!?"


    He Han''s eyes widened in a bit of panic.


    Each of these four students was stronger than him. Maybe he could''ve thought of a way to try and flip the situation with a surprise Serious Punch, but against all four attacking together, he was definitely doomed.


    Not to mention he had just used Serious Punch, and his whole body was still sore and weakened.


    Mr. Xue, being an examiner, couldn''t help him either; intervening to protect him would mean his exit from the exam.


    "What''s the rush," Xue Jing glanced at him.


    An invisible gap opened, the Dragon Sakura Root reached He Han''s body, and pumped in Life Force, replenishing his state to full.


    "Just fight... You can beat them."


    He Han pointed at himself, "Me?"


    But then he thought about it; it seemed Mr. Xue had never been one to act without basis, even the ''I am invincible'' type of jokes he made at the beginning turned out to be true... In these Intersecting Boundaries, he truly was unbeatable.


    Thinking of this, He Han''s confidence surged.


    Not in himself, but in Xue Jing.


    If Mr. Xue said he could win, then he could win!


    He placed his left palm on his right arm, revealed a cocky expression towards the four not far away, and with his right hand, he kept wagging his index finger, taunting them:


    "Come at me, you guys!"


    Seeing this, the four exchanged glances.

 Chapter 636 - 350

    "That guy is from the ''Demon King Class,'' apparently, he even solo-killed the Big Chainsaw Ape..."


    "But he doesn''t look strong, more like an idiot."


    "He can be beaten, but we need to be careful."


    "Let''s make it quick."


    Although it seemed a bit cowardly to sit on He Han''s shoulder, the cat, which was said to belong to Xue Jing, didn''t worry them too much, since there was a rule that examiners could not lay hands on examinees.


    In an instant, four figures flashed and surged forward, attacking He Han from different directions all at once.


    "Damn it!"


    The attacks of three of them almost reached him simultaneously, and amidst He Han''s flurry of movements, he only managed to block one, leaving his hands grabbed and his joints locked by the other two, rendering him immobile.


    Immediately following, the last person attacked from the front, throwing a punch directly at He Han''s chest.


    "All-Killing Style ¡¤ Shocking Feather Kill!"


    This move was aimed to kill He Han outright.


    However, he didn''t believe that He Han would actually die because he was sure Xue Jing would intervene to protect him. After all, the outcome would be the same; the man would have to drop out of the exam.


    But to everyone''s surprise, including Li Suisui and He Han himself,


    "Pfft¡ª"


    The punch actually pierced right through He Han''s chest, creating a large hole that went straight through his body from back to front.


    Everyone was stunned.


    Had Xue Jing really not made a move, allowing his own student to be killed?


    The most shocked of all was He Han; his legs weakened, and he was so frightened he nearly wet himself.


    But then he realized... it didn''t hurt, and there was no sensation?


    After hesitating for a moment, taking advantage of the others'' shock, he lifted his leg and kicked hard at the stomach of the person in front.


    "Bang¡ª"


    The All-Killing Style student was kicked so hard he doubled over like a cooked shrimp, vomiting a mouthful of blood, and involuntarily retreated backward, his arm withdrawing from the large hole in He Han''s chest.


    "You¡­"


    He half-knelt on the ground, trembling as he pointed at He Han.


    The others were startled too and quickly distanced themselves from He Han.


    "Whew¡ª"


    He Han brushed off his chest, one hand behind his back, and put on a calm expression like a grandmaster from the movies.


    The spot where his chest should have been penetrated only showed a fist-sized hole in his clothing, but his flesh was completely unharmed.


    "What the hell!?"


    Everyone''s eyes widened with astonishment.


    He Han casually flipped his hair and stated,


    "Your punch didn''t manage to reach my ''heart squat''."


    Xue Jing helplessly swung his cat paw with a smack on He Han''s head, causing him to stagger:


    "You don''t follow up on the attack when the enemy is caught off guard; instead, you''re here putting on airs."


    He Han scratched his head,


    "I thought it looked cooler, and it would make you look good¡­"


    The All-Killing Style student, holding his stomach, gritted his teeth: "It''s just an illusion, keep going!"


    Upon hearing this, the figures flashed and continued their attack on He Han.


    However... Even though He Han had little resistance under their attack, easily being caught off guard and hit,


    no matter what they attacked him with, it just passed directly through him¡­ as if they were striking an insubstantial phantom.


    But He Han''s counterattacks managed to hit them; the whole fight was infuriating enough to make them want to cough up blood.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    An All-Killing Style student held his bruised cheek, incredulous, "Who are you, and what demon art have you used!?"


    Just now, He Han''s fist had gone right through his arm that was meant to block and then hit him square in the face.


    He Han struck a Tai Chi Zhang Sanfeng pose, feigning a casual air,


    "All kinds of martial arts. This is ''Uchiha Madara''s Shape Imitation Boxing.''"


    "Huh?" Everyone gawked, puzzled.


    "I see," said Li Suisui with a sigh after watching for a while.


    "You guys, come back here."


    The four students looked reluctantly at He Han once more before immediately retreating back to Li Suisui''s side.


    "You really are flawless, Xue Jing."


    After expressing his admiration, Li Suisui dashed back in the direction they came from, with several of his students hurriedly following suit.


    Once they had left, He Han grinned foolishly and proudly boasted,


    "Teacher, am I awesome or what?"


    Xue Jing''s mouth twitched.


    With him meticulously assisting as a Nonexistent Beast, they were virtually unbeatable, but even after fighting on par with the four opponents, He Han still had the nerve to take credit.


    "You idiot."


    "Pfft¡ª"


    Unable to hold back, Xue Jing pressed a claw to the top of his head, pressing him into the metallic earth, leaving only his head exposed.


    "But whatever, the contingency plan is already in place."


    Cat Xue stood on He Han''s head, looked in the direction Li Suisui had left with a smile.


    ...


    Later, after completing another hunting mission with He Han and obtaining a large amount of points, Xue Jing returned to the temporary camp.


    He found Cao Sini resting in a tent, then called Zhao Longtu, Yuan Baijing, and Chen Xingyan, and told them a few words.


    Afterward, the four left the camp, heading towards the location indicated as ''Xue Jing''s Position'' on the mini-map.


    Several hours later, the elite team under the number one in the average score ranking, Li Suisui, had disappeared, and the Demon King Class automatically moved up one place. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For the next two days, after every forced relocation task, Xue Jing would pick a few students to carry out hunting missions to boost their scores.


    Not only did each student''s personal score increase significantly, but the team''s average ranking climbed steadily at an astonishing speed.


    All the examinees were shocked by this, exclaiming that the ''Demon King Class'' was too horrifying.


    On the last day of the joint examination,


    With the fall of an Iron-Based Creature that resembled a Cannibal Flower with tentacles all over its body, everyone opened their wristbands to check.


    On the team''s average score leaderboard, Xue Jing''s team officially climbed to first place.


    "Hurray!!"


    The students cheered excitedly.


    "Long live the Demon King Class, long live Mr. Xue, long live, long live, long live!"


    After learning from He Han, who had returned, that they were being called the Demon King Class by the other examinees, everyone happily accepted this cool nickname and began to refer to themselves as the ''Demon King Class'' under Great Demon King Xue Jing.


    "We''ve got both the King of Knockout and the number one on the average score ranking, I can''t even imagine how many points we''ll have by the end of the exam!"


    "The top thirty, an entire class of thirty people owning all the top ranks, this is simply an impossible miracle!"


    Even the normally composed Chen Xingyan couldn''t suppress the excitement in his heart.


    "It''s unbelievable... we... or rather, Mr. Xue, created a record that will be impossible to break!"


    ...


    Later, after completing another hunting mission with He Han and obtaining a large amount of points, Xue Jing returned to the temporary camp.


    He found Cao Sini resting in a tent, then called over Zhao Longtu, Yuan Baijing, and Chen Xingyan, and spoke a few words to them.


    Afterward, the four left the camp, heading towards the location marked as ''Xue Jing''s Position'' on the mini-map.


    Several hours later, the elite team under the number one in the average score ranking, Li Suisui, had disappeared, and the Demon King Class automatically moved up one place.


    For the next two days, after every forced relocation task, Xue Jing would pick a few students to carry out hunting missions to boost their scores.


    Not only did each student''s personal score increase significantly, but the team''s average ranking climbed steadily at an astonishing speed.


    All the examinees were stunned by this, declaring the ''Demon King Class'' to be overwhelmingly terrifying.


    On the last day of the joint examination,


    As an Iron-Based Creature, shaped like a Cannibal Flower with tentacles all over its body, crashed to the ground, everyone opened their wristbands to look.


    On the team''s average score leaderboard, Xue Jing''s team officially climbed to first place.


    "Hurray!!"


    The students cheered excitedly.


    "Long live the Demon King Class, long live Mr. Xue, long live, long live, long live!"


    After learning from He Han, who had returned, that they were being referred to as the Demon King Class by other examinees, everyone gleefully accepted this cool nickname and began to call themselves the ''Demon King Class'' under Great Demon King Xue Jing.


    "We''ve snagged both the King of Knockout and the top spot on the average score ranking, I can''t even fathom how many points we''ll end up with when the exam''s over!"


    "Thirty people from one class owning the front positions, this is truly an impossible miracle!"


    Even the usually composed Chen Xingyan couldn''t help but feel the surge of excitement within.


    "It''s incredible... we... or should I say, Mr. Xue, have set a record that seems impossible to break!"


    ...

 Chapter 640 - 352

    Li Suisui took a step out of the Steel Tree Sea, walking from the film of light into the real world.


    Instantly, the sky changed, transforming from a leaden color with a scene full of metal to a normal wilderness. The smell in his nose was no longer that of blood-like rust, but fresh, natural air.


    Before he could adapt to the real-world environment that he hadn''t seen in seven days, Li Suisui''s steps halted, and his gaze shifted to a robust figure standing not far to his left.


    The moment he saw those lion-like, bizarre eyes, Li Suisui felt a ferociously savage aura emanating like a tidal wave from that figure, spreading violently with one wave after another, nearly stirring up visible air fluctuations.


    Vaguely, it even made Li Suisui''s scalp tingle.


    "So pure and intense ''Fighting Qi''..."


    Li Suisui narrowed his eyes.


    People who practiced martial arts emitted their spirit and will as an "aura" or "fighting spirit" among other emotional forces, collectively termed as ''Dynamic Qi.''


    Emotions such as killer intent, pride, anger, and greed all possessed the power to influence actual combat ability.


    The person before him had ''Dynamic Qi'' that was exceptionally pure and fiery, as if refining all emotions, ultimately forming a highly pure ''Fighting Qi'' that existed solely for combat.


    Such a level of ''Dynamic Qi'' was something even Li Suisui, experienced and knowledgeable as he was, had seldom seen.


    Unless born a combat fanatic of the highest degree, one couldn''t possess such pure Dynamic Qi.


    By fashionable modern terms... this man would be considered a ''super-hero among super-heroes.''


    After just a second of meeting his gaze, Li Suisui naturally diverted his attention.


    "Who exactly is this man?"


    However, soon after realizing the unusual shape of that man''s eyes, Li Suisui had some answers.


    As a genius of the Old Martial Path and a member of the Secret Martial Society''s Conservative Faction, he had been exposed to Old Martial Arts practitioners from birth. He basically knew all the formidable figures in the Old Martial Circle.


    He should have remembered a strong man of this stature.


    This man must be a martial artist on a unique path, possibly practicing Neo Martial Arts or, like Xue Jing, dual cultivating both styles, or maybe...


    Having guessed the reason this man appeared here, Li Suisui thought to quickly get away.


    He turned around and began directing the students who had followed him out of the Steel Tree Sea.


    From nearly forty students at the start, only less than twenty remained... most were eliminated by the students from the Demon King Class.


    The remaining ones looked listless, their faces pale, and even somewhat thin and sickly, hardly looking like the top picks of the Elite Class.


    Having stayed in the Steel Tree Sea for seven days, with extremely scarce resources, not having eaten well nor slept well, and having to fight continuously, their bodies naturally couldn''t cope. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And not just their bodies were a problem.


    Most importantly, spiritually, they had been severely impacted by that ''Demon King Class''... The pride of being outstanding candidates, the pride and joy of leading examiner Li Suisui, and the relief, all vanished.


    Amidst the sighs of dejection, the students followed Li Suisui toward the large flying craft that had come to pick them up.


    Then, at that moment.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!"


    The bread-shaped flying craft, about the size of a large bus, suddenly exploded into two halves from the middle, each half blown hundreds of meters apart.


    Li Suisui instantly positioned himself in front of the students, spreading his arms with invisible Qi Force emanating from his body, blocking the aftermath of the explosion.


    "Ah ah!!"


    "What happened?"


    Accompanied by screams, the students felt somewhat at a loss.


    Li Suisui did not speak; he slowly turned his head, expressionless, and looked towards the robust figure approaching him.


    "You, run behind me, as far as you can."


    Li Suisui spoke without turning his head, his back towards the students, as he watched the bald, lion-eyed man.


    The students swallowed nervously. Despite being tired and hungry, they immediately obeyed Li Suisui''s command, running as far as they could away from the place.


    Only Li Suisui and the bald, lion-eyed man were left at the open site.


    The two looked at each other, the man walked up to Li Suisui, looking down at him from above.


    "I recognize you, you''re that shortest student..."


    The man''s voice was rough as he spoke.


    "It''s strongest... and not a primary student, but a middle school student."


    Li Suisui said unemotionally.


    The lion-eyed man neither agreed nor disagreed, only oddly asking, "Weren''t you sent to fight Xue Jing? According to the results, your mission failed, why are you still alive?"


    "Should a failed mission mean certain death?" Li Suisui retorted.


    The man scoffed, "So it is. A person with no such awareness, afraid of death, no wonder the mission failed. Truly just a bunch of waste."


    "If you can''t even handle this, what''s the use of keeping your life? Just die!"


    Before his words were finished, the man didn''t hesitate to stretch out his hand, larger than Li Suisui''s head, reaching for the top of his head.


    Although the conversation had hardly begun before suddenly breaking down into action, unexpectedly abrupt and aggressive, Li Suisui was mentally prepared and managed to land a palm strike on the man''s chest first.


    "Puh¡ª¡ª"


    A ring of Qi Force shook outwards, spreading rapidly to hundreds of meters, grass and gravel flying about. This palm strike, powerful enough to blow away a tank, didn''t make the man retreat even slightly.


    Li Suisui felt as if he had struck a mountain... no, even a mountain, when struck with such a force, should have shaken quite a bit, not remaining utterly unmoved.

 Chapter 641 - 352_2

    ```


    This caught Li Suisui by surprise. He had expected his strike to make the opponent stagger at least, but it was firmly withstood. Unable to follow up with his next move, and with the opponent''s palm nearing his body, Li Suisui reluctantly contracted his body and quickly retreated to dodge the hand.


    A sneer crossed the man''s face, his palm suddenly quickened several times over, pinching the collar of Li Suisui.


    "Flesh and blood, overestimating your capabilities."


    Li Suisui''s expression remained unchanged as he raised his palm, lifting it in a sky-holding gesture, striking directly at the man''s wrist.


    "All Things Myriad Phases¡¤Thousand Mystic."


    Rings of Qi Force exploded and spread, the man''s hand flew uncontrollably upwards, tearing the Tactical Suit that Li Suisui was holding, freeing himself from it.


    "Hm? This Martial Arts technique... is somewhat interesting."


    The bald man''s mouth twisted into an exaggerated grin, revealing a set of eerily neat and sharp teeth.


    Soon after, his lion-like eyes widened, and with an intense glare, an already fierce appearance became even more terrifying.


    "Buzz¡ª¡ª"


    The surrounding air trembled and warped violently, the ground cracked, and the plants bent. Li Suisui''s body stiffened, realizing this was bad.


    The next moment, two large hands, like iron clamps, grabbed Li Suisui''s underarms and hoisted him high into the air.


    With a fierce look, the man clenched his fingers tightly, instantly puncturing Li Suisui''s body with ten bloody holes, his fingers penetrating through, about to pinch him to death and tear him in two.


    Li Suisui coldly sneered, his Spirit Consciousness controlling his Breakthrough body, Qi Force rapidly circulating within, forming an invisible blade that unexpectedly sliced inside his own body, severing the flesh and bones grabbed by the man, then swiftly kicked off against the man''s abdomen. His figure flashed, reappearing dozens of meters away.


    On the man''s hands remained only two pieces of translucent flesh.


    Two bloody cavities now gaped in Li Suisui''s underarms, his cells moving quickly to stem the bleeding.


    "...Huh, you little brat."


    The man grimaced with a smile, opened his mouth, and placed the flesh from his right hand into his mouth, biting down hard, and thick blood burst forth, running down his chin.


    "What the hell, what''s happening?" Ning Yuantai was monitoring from a distance, frantically sending messages on his wristband while watching the sudden fight between Shen Tuguang and the kid, his eyes wide with shock.


    ...


    Xue Jing leisurely walked toward the twisted light membrane leading to the real world with his students, as if on a field trip.


    As soon as he neared the light membrane, his wristband began to vibrate non-stop.


    "Hm?"


    He opened the chat app on his wristband, with many unread messages displayed, and the number was still rising, most of which were from Ning Yuantai.


    After reading all massages, Xue Jing thoughtfully closed the holographic interface on his wristband.


    "Mr. Xue, what''s wrong?"


    The students were somewhat puzzled.


    "Stay here, do not move from this spot, and wait for my message."


    Having said that, Xue Jing walked into the twisted light membrane without looking back, heading to the real world, leaving the students looking at each other in confusion.


    In a blink, the world changed as if a film had suddenly switched scenes awkwardly.


    The leaden sky turned to azure blue, but Xue Jing paid no mind to these changes and instead immediately turned his head to look not far away.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!"


    Amidst the dust and debris, a large and small figure collided. After a short standoff, the larger one remained in place, while the smaller one was violently flung back dozens of meters, his feet scraping two deep furrows into the ground.


    Xue Jing''s arrival caused both fighters to pause, their gazes shifting toward him.


    "Xue!"


    Ning Yuantai''s expression changed, frantic.


    Indeed, cross-dimensional information transmission, even the ''Super Network'' can''t achieve it, can it? Xue didn''t see his warning...


    This is bad.


    Biting his lip, Ning Yuantai ran out of the aircraft cabin toward Xue Jing, shouting as he ran, "Xue, that man is..."


    Before he could finish, Shen Tuguang gave him a casual glance. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ning Yuantai''s body suddenly stiffened, and he fell headfirst to the ground, unable to move.


    "...Quite the commotion, what kind of play are you guys performing?"


    Xue Jing looked around at the few people present, smiling as he spoke.


    While talking, he took out the [attribute table] and put it on, pressing it toward the man Ning Yuantai called ''Lion Eye'' Shen Tuguang.


    Body: ?


    Spirit: ?


    Robbery: 9842


    Saint: 7421


    Momentum: ?


    ```


    The five dimensions that were measured made Xue Jing''s eyebrows inadvertently twitch.


    Their ''Robbery'' was approaching ten thousand... almost catching up to him.


    Even the ''Saint'' was only about a thousand less than him.


    He had reached over eight thousand in ''Saint'' attributes with a body full of Extraordinary Skills and Divine Skills...


    What was the deal with this person, to have such exaggerated stats?


    After a moment of thought, combining the information sent by Ning Yuantai, an answer faintly emerged in Xue Jing''s mind.


    "Xue Jing, this person is probably the bottom-line contender I mentioned before, the one to be used against you," Li Suisui said, covering the wound under her arm with a frown.


    Xue Jing looked at her, pondered for a moment, and said,


    "Although I want to ask why you ended up fighting with him... let''s forget it, time is tight. Shall we team up?"


    Li Suisui bit her teeth with determination: "That''s exactly what I was thinking."


    Shen Tuguang glanced at the two of them, then flashed a ferocious smile with lips smeared in blood:


    "Two little brats..."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing''s silhouette vanished in place, and when he reappeared, he had triggered ''True Red,'' turning into a figure with flaming red hair and glowing eyes.


    "True Red Nova."


    The blood circulated, spiraling to its limits, tightly compressing and gathering at the edge of his fist, branding Shen Tuguang right in the chest and abdomen, then exploding violently with a thunderous roar.


    A ring of spiraling Qi waves swept up the sky full of dust, turning into a horizontal tornado, wrapping Shen Tuguang within it.


    The latter staggered back several steps from the impact, leaving deep footprints on the ground, his lion-like eyes revealing a trace of surprise.


    "So that''s how it is, no wonder..."


    He brushed over his torso, where the clothes had been ripped apart, revealing his robust pectoral muscles with a fist-sized, slightly reddish spiral mark.


    "But that''s all there is to it,"


    "It''s ultimately still just flesh and blood."


    Shen Tuguang scoffed with disdain, straightened his neck, and then tilted his head to the side.


    The next moment, Li Suisui''s figure appeared, her counter-punch viciously smashing into his deliberately exposed neck with a crisp snap, producing dense white steam from the neck due to the tremendous kinetic impact.


    When the steam had dispersed, only a faint mark remained, which then, in less than half a second, completely reverted to an uninjured state.


    "..."


    Xue Jing and Li Suisui exchanged glances.


    "Ultimate Breaker..."


    ...


    "Two little brats..."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    Xue Jing''s silhouette vanished in place, and when he reappeared, he had triggered ''True Red,'' turning into a figure with flaming red hair and glowing eyes.


    "True Red Nova."


    The blood circulated, spiraling to its limits, tightly compressing and gathering at the edge of his fist, branding Shen Tuguang right in the chest and abdomen, then exploding violently with a thunderous roar.


    A ring of spiraling Qi waves swept up the sky full of dust, turning into a horizontal tornado, wrapping Shen Tuguang within it.


    The latter staggered back several steps from the impact, leaving deep footprints on the ground, his lion-like eyes revealing a trace of surprise.


    "So that''s how it is, no wonder..."


    He brushed over his torso, where the clothes had been ripped apart, revealing his robust pectoral muscles with a fist-sized, slightly reddish spiral mark.


    "But that''s all there is to it,"


    "It''s ultimately still just flesh and blood."


    Shen Tuguang scoffed with disdain, straightened his neck, and then tilted his head to the side.


    The next moment, Li Suisui''s figure appeared, her counter-punch viciously smashing into his deliberately exposed neck with a crisp snap, producing dense white steam from the neck due to the tremendous kinetic impact.


    When the steam had dispersed, only a faint mark remained, which then, in less than half a second, completely reverted to an uninjured state.


    "..."


    Xue Jing and Li Suisui exchanged glances.


    "Ultimate Breaker..."


    ...

 Chapter 642 - 353: Divinity Organ, My Divinity is Above Yours!

    "The so-called Ultimate Breakthrough," refers to a technique made publicly available to a select few by the Extreme Martial King after taking charge of Cangting.


    It utilizes a special method that allows the human body to absorb the ''Divine Factor'' to enhance itself, remodel its physique, and achieve strength and potential beyond human limits.


    Ordinary humans, upon reaching their potential limit, must undergo a ''Breakthrough''; the Divine Factor can increase the body''s limit to many times its original.


    Because the greater the physical strength, the more difficult it is to Breakthrough, there is a theoretical human limit value for Divine Factor enhancement.


    If the physical limit strength of an ordinary person is 1, this limit value generally ranges around 6~7 depending on the individual.


    Upon reaching this limit value and then performing a Breakthrough, one achieves the Ultimate Breakthrough.


    Once the human body leaps over the Dragon Gate, in terms of physical strength alone, with continued training, it can generally become more than five times stronger than before the Breakthrough.


    Applying this formula to an Ultimate Breaker... it equates 1x5 becoming either 6x5 or 7x5...


    According to the attribute table, a normal person''s body limit is 1000 points, and with Divine enhancement, it reaches at least 6000 points.


    After the Ultimate Breakthrough, with continued training, an Ultimate Breaker can achieve over 30,000 in physical "Strength"...


    As of now, after Xue Jing uses True Red, his value is just under 12,000, a full three times less.


    This value is already the peak achievable after a conventional Second Breakthrough.


    As for Shen Tuguang in front of him, Xue Jing didn''t feel the overwhelming sense of 30,000 in "Strength," but estimated it was at least over 20,000.


    Li Suisui, the little brother, although he had just experienced his Second Breakthrough a few days ago, it was still too soon; he hadn''t grown to the limit of this realm, and his value was about the same as Xue Jing''s, even slightly less.


    Both of them now realized the situation was not good.


    Because... since Shen Tuguang was an Ultimate Breaker, apart from the advantage of physical strength, he surely possessed even more formidable abilities.


    Xue Jing glanced at his lion-like, bizarre eyes, his expression slightly hardened.


    He had seen data on Ultimate Breakthroughs on the plane coming to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Invariably for Ultimate Breakers, their bodies undergo mutations due to the Divine Factor, always resulting in some parts becoming unlike those of ordinary people.


    As if the body itself was bragging about something, to distinguish itself from ordinary flesh and blood.


    Insiders refer to these mutated parts on an Ultimate Breaker''s body as ''Divinity Organs.''


    Any Divinity Organ possesses special Transcendent abilities.


    "Hey!" Seeing Xue Jing looking his way, Shen Tuguang suddenly sneered, his lion eyes glaring at him.


    Then...


    Nothing happened.


    "Hmm? What''s going on?"


    Shen Tuguang furrowed his brow.


    A massive blood sword, forty meters long, formed instantaneously from Xue Jing''s hand, and with a swift swing, it sliced quickly through the air and slashed diagonally across Shen Tuguang.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The sturdy and sharp True Red Sword intersected with Shen Tuguang''s neck, emitting an eerie sound grating to the ears, leaving behind an almost bloody red mark and sending Shen Tuguang flying a hundred meters away.


    "Did you not feel anything just now?"


    Li Suisui raised an eyebrow and asked from nearby.


    Xue Jing retracted the True Red Sword in his hand, and a large amount of fresh blood coiled around his hand, forming into a sharp Spiral Spear, beginning to rotate and compress at high speed.


    "I felt a strange force close by... but it dispersed the moment it touched my body."


    While answering, Xue Jing snapped his fingers. The Spiral Blood Spear that was spinning rapidly in mid-air burst forth, tearing through the air with a sonic shriek and spiraling currents, lodging itself in Shen Tuguang''s chest and abdomen.


    The Spiral Blood Spear spun incessantly like a drill, trying to burrow into and pierce through Shen Tuguang''s flesh. The latter, expressionless, grabbed the blood spear at his chest and yanked it apart, creating a blood rain around him.


    "How strange¡­ when he looks at me, there''s an oppressive force out of nowhere that immobilizes me."


    Li Suisui thought, "If it''s useless against you¡­ although I don''t know why, that''s good news."


    Xue Jing said, "I''m carrying the ''Wind of All Beginnings'' that I got from you."


    Li Suisui shook her head, "People in the Secret Martial Society have tried it before, it''s ineffective against Ultimate Breakers, not sure if it''s due to the ''Sequence Suppression'' or some other reason¡­"


    Suddenly, Shen Tuguang vanished from his spot as if the scene was cut, reappearing in front of Xue Jing at an unimaginable speed.


    "Brat."


    He looked down at Xue Jing, his voice grave,


    "Have you already¡­ used the Ultimate Limit Breaking Method?"


    "The Divinity Organ only fails in front of a higher Divinity¡­ just how much ''Divine Factor'' did the commander give you?"


    Xue Jing''s eyes shifted.


    "So that''s how it is¡­ you''re from Cease-Blades."


    "Answer my question, brat!" Shen Tuguang''s face showed anger as he kicked towards Xue Jing''s stomach.


    The kick was incredibly fierce, with unimaginable force, pushing the air aside to create a fleeting vacuum, stirring up intense atmospheric turbulence.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing lowered his palms to block, channeling the All Things Myriad Phases Flow, using thousands of different Powers to dissipate the kinetic energy of the kick¡­


    From the side, it appeared that he simply blocked the kick with his hands, then was kicked into the air, gracefully landing dozens of meters away.


    Xue Jing chuckled softly, "What, are you angry now?"


    "Although I did find a bottle of Divine Factor in her room, I don''t know exactly how much it was."


    Shen Tuguang''s face stiffened, his tone growing colder.


    "¡­You went into her room?"


    Xue Jing, seemingly oblivious to the increasing danger in his tone, just smiled,


    "Can''t help it, the commander ordered me to sleep in her room¡­ by the way, do you know her bed smells really nice?"


    This was a lie.


    That bed had no scent at all, clean as if it had just come off the production line, never touched by anyone. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "¡­ and slept¡­ in¡­ her¡­ bed."


    Shen Tuguang spoke deliberately, his tone turning eerily calm, almost unfluctuating.


    "Hmm? You seem quite angry?"


    Xue Jing looked apologetic:


    "You wouldn''t happen to like her, right? I''m really sorry then, I shouldn''t have mentioned it."


    "Shut up!!!" Shen Tuguang roared furiously.


    The ground began to tremble, the air quivered lightly, as if the entire space-time was trembling in fear due to this man''s rage.


    "No one is allowed to love her, no one is allowed to desecrate her, not me¡­ and neither can you!!!"


    ¡­

 Chapter 643 - 354: Xue Jings Tactics, Playing Some Tricks

    Shen Tuguang''s fury could almost be described as earth-shattering, trembling the very void, making Xue Jing feel a tingling in his skin all over.


    That was the pure "Dynamic Qi," interfering with the physical world in its invisible form, an emotional fluctuation so potent that it had reached its extreme.


    Even if Shen Tuguang were just an ordinary person with no martial arts training, just with this "Dynamic Qi," he would be able to punch a car and blow it up.


    Moreover, the man was a "Superman" whom Xue Jing estimated to have a physical strength value of over twenty thousand, and under the drive of this Dynamic Qi, who knew how astonishing the power he could unleash would be.


    Xue Jing faintly understood why this guy, who seemed a bit like a cookie-cutter, low-IQ villain from a web novel, could achieve something as difficult as the "Ultimate Breakthrough."


    Whether it was a regular Breakthrough or an Ultimate Breakthrough, both required a robust spirit and will, almost like a ''compulsory command'' to force one''s own body to change its genes.


    A body remodeled by Divinity was far superior to that of an ordinary person, naturally requiring a more intense and pure spiritual will.


    Shen Tuguang was unusually quick-tempered; just a couple of simple taunts could get him this angry... and he had unexpectedly started fighting with Li Suisui earlier.


    Although Xue Jing was unclear about the reason for their fight, he felt that Li Suisui didn''t seem like the type to provoke trouble, and the exam had just ended; it had probably been less than fifteen minutes since she had come out before him.


    To have, in such a short time, convinced the hotheaded brother to join forces with him for a two-on-one bout of justice, the reason must be rather far-fetched.


    "Going toe-to-toe is not a good strategy."


    After a moment of thought, Xue Jing instantly made up his mind and exited the "True Red" state.


    Red hair returned to black; blazing eyes transformed to deep blue.


    The only advantage of his True Red state was his powerful body, but when facing an enemy against whom he absolutely could not gain the upper hand physically, he had to revert to his original self and play some fancy tricks.


    Xue Jing stretched out his hand towards Shen Tuguang and curled his finger, audibly stating,


    "Come, kill me."


    Shen Tuguang laughed in anger, "Ignorant little brat who doesn''t know how high the sky is."


    The next moment.


    Xue Jing''s body burst open, disintegrating into countless fragments no bigger than the tip of a finger, swirling in the air, spreading with the furious airflow.


    In front of him, Shen Tuguang maintained his punching posture, towering and unmovable.


    Myriad tiny fragments, burning with the blackness of the Shadow Flame, slowly gathered to the side, attempting to reassemble.


    Shen Tuguang snorted with disdain,


    "Laozi has seen your files, a ''Blessed One'' of ''The Lord of No Face and Thousand Faces,'' possessing numerous God-Given Secret Arts... Nonsense!"


    "Before absolute power, all the flashy abilities are mere child''s play!"


    Saying this, he turned around and threw a backhand punch with such speed that it seemed as if the frames had been skipped; there was no prelude or process, from stillness to motion, his fist was already swung in the next frame.


    "Whoosh¡ª!!"


    Li Suisui, in a defensive posture with both arms in front, flew backward hundreds of meters, crashing into a small mountain, embedding in it, making the entire nearby ground tremble slightly.


    "Thinking you have the upper hand in a two-on-one? In front of a mighty lion, your number of weaklings counts for nothing!"


    Shen Tuguang snorted coldly, reaching out for Xue Jing.


    At this moment, Xue Jing''s body had roughly taken shape; he extended a finger, and atop his head with crackling sounds, two curved horns ignited with Flame Thunder, resplendent with crimson-gold, grew out.


    The intense light of Flame Thunder gathered at the fingertip, compressing, and with a boom, a Flame Thunder Light Cannon burst out, over a meter in diameter.


    Shen Tuguang simply tilted his head, neither dodging nor evading, allowing the Light Cannon aimed at his whole upper body to hit him at close range.


    "Buzz¡ª"


    The Red Gold Light Cannon passed through his body and dissipated in the air hundreds of meters away, leaving behind crackling traces of small Flame Thunders everywhere.


    Shen Tuguang''s entire upper body, with his clothes completely gone, showed a ludicrously exaggerated musculature and countless various scars, silently recounting the many battles he had been through.


    At this moment, his body was almost unharmed, save for his hair and eyebrows being singed and curled black, with remnants of Flame Thunder still clinging to his hair.


    "Not even qualified to light a cigarette for Laozi!"


    In the midst of his clamor, he paused slightly.


    An invisible rift suddenly opened beside him, and dozens of black roots stretched forth from it, quickly enlarging to form a massive cluster that nearly blotted out the sky, twisting and reaching towards Shen Tuguang.


    "Futile effort!"


    With disdain in his words, he casually swiped away the roots extending towards him, reducing them to splinters in a shower of wood chips, as if the steadfast Dragon Cherry Wood was as brittle as a crispy snack under his touch.


    Afterward, Shen Tuguang extended his palm and grasped Xue Jing''s neck, squeezing hard.


    Without any sensation of grabbing something, Xue Jing had already vanished from the spot.


    A hundred meters away, within a small cluster of Dark Flame, Xue Jing materialized out of thin air, crouching on the ground and looking towards Shen Tuguang.


    Xue Jing nodded after his sight, surpassing human limits, had canvassed Shen Tuguang from head to toe.


    ''Success... now to see how effective it will be.''


    ''Next is to draw his attention and stall as much as possible...''


    An invisible rift opened beside him, and Xue Jing reached in, slowly pulling an ancient and beautiful long knife from the void.


    GOD-519¡¤The Blade That Never Dulls.


    "Feather Transformation¡¤Divine Avoidance."


    Releasing his Spiritual Aura, it permeated the Shadow Flame, then used "Yuhua" to control and condense the clever move.


    Black lightning blossomed on the long knife, slicing through the void, slashing towards Shen Tuguang, who was before him.


    The extremely sharp tip of the knife was caught between two fingers, instantly freezing in place, and the crackling black lightning patterns passed over the fingers, sweeping unstoppably across Shen Tuguang''s body.


    Just like a breeze brushing the face, Shen Tuguang merely had his hair blown backward, his expression unaltered.


    The Feather Transformation¡¤Divine Avoidance, specifically targeting spiritual will, was entirely ineffective against someone with a strong Dynamic Qi like him. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was about to snap the long knife with a casual bend, but then his expression shifted.


    "Huh? The Blade That Never Dulls?"


    Recognizing the true form of the long knife in Xue Jing''s hand, Shen Tuguang''s eyes lit up.


    "An unexpected gain; this knife is now Laozi''s!"


    Xue Jing smiled, unconcerned, as he released the knife''s hilt and leaped back several dozen meters, leaving The Blade That Never Dulls in Shen Tuguang''s hands.


    The invisible rift beside him opened once more, and Xue Jing continued to reach in, drawing forth a giant sword even larger than himself from the void.


    Twirling the giant sword in his hand, he flung a flourish, the massive blade tearing through the air with a heavy sound.


    "The Forgotten Greatsword... you little devil, you''re too lucky."


    Shen Tuguang showed an interested expression.


    Compared to The Blade That Never Dulls, the Forgotten Greatsword was more to his liking.


    "But now... they''re both mine."


    Shen Tuguang, continually distracted by Xue Jing, had not noticed.


    Scattered all over his skin were countless, invisibly tiny silver-red mystical seeds.


    These seeds had burrowed into the small crevices of his skin, taking root and gradually sprouting numerous tiny blossoms...


    ...

 Chapter 644 - 355

    While launching an attack with the Dragon Sakura Root, Xue Jing simultaneously controlled the newly contracted "Cannibal Flower" seeds, they instantly propagated and grew, generating countless miniature flower seeds that adhered to the surface of the Dragon Sakura Root.


    As all roots were shattered by Shen Tuguang, the seeds attached to them simultaneously spread out, covering Shen Tuguang''s bare upper body''s skin.


    These were special iron-based plants from the Steel Tree Sea, not at all the same concept as the carbon-based plants of the present world.


    The Cannibal Flower, ranking first in danger level in the Steel Tree Sea test area, had miniature seeds that could even absorb "nutrition" from inorganic substances such as steel and metal.


    Anything the miniature seeds attached to would gradually shrivel, become brittle, wither... until eventually it would "bloom all over," desiccating and perishing.


    If it weren''t for the detailed intelligence on the Cannibal Flower written in the bracelet''s subjugation task, even Xue Jing would have faced difficulties against this ability.


    Of course, even though he successfully scattered the seeds on Shen Tuguang''s body, Xue Jing himself did not believe this alone would defeat him.


    The man was an Ultimate Breaker, his body''s strength, life force, and various indicators had reached an unbelievable level.


    Although he was caught off guard by this move now, as the seeds gradually bloomed and grew, he would naturally notice the abnormalities on his body.


    The effect of the seeds would at most reduce a portion of his life force and temporarily afflict his body with a debuff of shriveling, brittleness, and wilting.


    And this was precisely what Xue Jing wanted.


    "Clack¡ªclack clack¡ª"


    Zhao Ye''s blade, held in Shen Tuguang''s hand, trembled continuously as it struggled autonomously, trying to break free from Shen Tuguang''s grip.


    The Blade That Never Dulls, possessing a recognition trait, would not submit to another before its master sincerely acknowledged defeat.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing controlled his body using the Feather Transformation to make it settle down.


    Then he gripped the Forgotten Greatsword with both hands, took a deep breath, and used his breathing skills to mobilize the skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood simultaneously.


    This action caused Shen Tuguang to pause slightly in surprise.


    "This kid, he hasn''t broken through yet."


    For a Breakthrougher whose body had crossed Dragon Gate and whose spirit had reversed the limits of a Celestial Being, the most iconic characteristic was not a strong body but the ability to cover the whole body with consciousness, controlling the operations within the body directly without a medium.


    Once a breakthrough was successful, even non-martial artists who had never practiced any martial arts could easily control their bodies through consciousness, twist them into a single strand, and deliver attacks that maximized their body''s potential.


    Yet Xue Jing still needed to use the inefficient method of breathing skills to mobilize his body, clearly not having achieved a breakthrough yet.


    "This and his combat prowess do not match... Although Shen Tuguang doesn''t think this level of prowess is anything notable, if coupled with not having achieved a breakthrough, it indeed surprises him."


    "No wonder Commander Highness treats you, this little kid, differently."


    Shen Tuguang squinted his large, monstrous lion-like eyes.


    The next moment, Xue Jing flashed and appeared in front of him, the giant Forgotten Greatsword slashing down diagonally, the void trembled as if cleaving mountains and parting seas.


    At the same time, Li Suisui swiftly approached from Shen Tuguang''s rear flank.


    At this point, Li Suisui was no longer empty-handed, but each hand grasped a peculiar weapon.


    Those weapons were crescent-shaped blades, looking similar to Illidan''s egg knives.


    The difference was that their handles and blades were separate, connected in the middle with a ball bearing structure, allowing the blades to slide up and down freely, quite unique.


    Such weaponry, let alone used for attacking others, even casually swinging it around risked injuring oneself, clearly indicating the great difficulty in using it.


    The two attacked Shen Tuguang almost simultaneously, within a timeframe that wouldn''t exceed one-hundredth of a second.


    "Awakening of Insects¡¤Chenyuan." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All Things Myriad Phases Flow¡¤Kuxuan..."


    The fierce strike of the greatsword was blocked by Shen Tuguang with The Blade That Never Dulls held in his hand, the two collided. Amidst the collision, Shen Tuguang remained unmoved, only the ground beneath his feet violently sunk, creating a crater centered around him, ten meters in diameter and more than half a meter deep.


    The exploding airflow dispersed the dust into a circular blast, creating a brief sandstorm within the small area.


    Li Suisui''s dual blades slashed across Shen Tuguang with unthinkably strange angles and speeds. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Shen Tuguang, with the dual blades crossed together.


    Shen Tuguang''s back, both arms, thighs, chest, and neck... countless teeth-gritting slicing sounds echoed in an instant.


    Yet afterward, his body remained almost uninjured, only numerous superficial or deep red scratches appeared.


    "Insect-like bites."


    Shen Tuguang scoffed disdainfully.


    ...


    As time passed, the battle continued relentlessly.


    After witnessing Xue Jing''s numerous life-saving abilities and evasion of damage, and because he himself was unaffected by Divinity Organ abilities, Li Suisui silently reached an understanding with Xue Jing.


    Xue Jing was to act as the main force, attracting the primary brunt of Shen Tuguang''s damage, while he himself would serve as support, skirting the edges, seizing opportunities to stealthily inflict damage.


    The two launched attack after attack, but all were futile. Shen Tuguang''s immensely tough body was almost unaffected by damage, his equally astonishing action speed meant he was even too lazy to evade their attacks from the beginning to the end.


    Li Suisui had intended to decisively flee, to save themselves and perhaps find a way to counterattack later... but seeing Xue Jing continuously fighting without any sign of confusion or plans to stop, he thought perhaps there was a way, so he persisted until now.

 Chapter 645 - 355_2

    The battle between the warriors who had achieved a Second Breakthrough and beyond was causing quite a stir, but in the remote wilderness, it didn''t attract much attention. However, many of the examiners and students who continued to emerge from the Steel Tree Sea fled back to the Intersecting Boundaries after witnessing the scene.


    Only a few, those with enough guts and curiosity about strong warriors, dared to stay and watch the battle.


    "Bang¡ª!"


    Li Suisui, upon receiving a glaring look from Lion Eye, suddenly stiffened in midair and was kicked squarely in the chest, his body nearly flying through the air, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth. Enduring the pain, he slashed with the egg knife in his hand, spinning as it chopped into Shen Tuguang''s flesh.


    "Hm?"


    He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt as if this cut had left a deeper red mark on Shen Tuguang than any before.


    After flipping backwards a few times, Li Suisui landed next to Xue Jing, half-kneeling and gasping for breath. Seeing his condition, Xue Jing reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.


    The caved-in part of Li Suisui''s chest began to visibly twitch and mend itself.


    Throughout the unceasing fight, he had suffered multiple severe injuries, all of which were healed thanks to Xue Jing''s transfer of Life Force using Dragon Cherry.


    "...This is really annoying."


    Shen Tuguang held The Blade That Never Dulls in his hand, frowning as he looked at the two.


    The battle had gone on for quite some time, longer than he had expected.


    A pesky brat... But that was all, just a futile struggle.


    He didn''t believe that Xue Jing''s ability to transform into Dark Flame and ignore physical damage, coupled with healing Li Suisui, was limitless.


    Continuing the fight, they were bound to reach their limit, and after all, those two couldn''t injure him or drain much of his energy...


    "Hm?"


    Shen Tuguang suddenly felt something was off.


    Why did he feel... a bit tired?


    Realizing something was amiss, he swiftly covered his entire body with his consciousness, thoroughly examining himself.


    Immediately after, Shen Tuguang''s complexion changed.


    He extended his arm before his eyes, and looking up, he felt a chilling tingle on his scalp.


    His entire arm was covered in dense silver-red specks, looking as if he had contracted some serious skin disease.


    Upon closer inspection, these silver-red specks were all tiny, hideous buds, wriggling and shaking nonstop.


    Beneath all the buds, there were dozens, even hundreds of tendrils extending out and burrowing into the crevices of his flesh, pulsing continuously as they seemed to draw something into themselves, causing the buds to grow larger. Some of the buds had even begun to bloom.


    And it wasn''t just on his arms; his whole body, chest, back, neck, and face were covered in these silver-red specks.


    The sight, enough to make anyone with trypophobia faint on the spot, caused Shen Tuguang''s forehead veins to throb violently.


    "You despicable, shameless brat, dare to ambush Laozi!"


    Shen Tuguang glared at Xue Jing.


    Seeing that he had realized what was happening, Xue Jing didn''t bother hiding it and chuckled:


    "From the moment you decided to bully minors, you lost the right to speak of ''despicable and shameless,'' Old Saint."


    Shen Tuguang snorted coldly, his muscles tensing as he shook violently.


    He managed to expel all the Cannibal Flower buds from his body.


    And then...


    "Spurt¡ª"


    Shen Tuguang''s body burst forth with blood, his skin split open, flesh rending.


    The countless buds'' tendrils had penetrated deep into his flesh, intertwining with each other. Such a forceful extraction caused him to sustain considerable injury in an instant.


    The key wasn''t the wounds themselves but that the buds were connected to his Life Force, or rather, his ''nutrition.'' As they were torn out, this unique energy within him was also pulled out from the roots.


    In an instant, Shen Tuguang''s entire complexion appeared dry and wilted, devoid of its previous resilience.


    "You''ve really angered me, brat."


    Shen Tuguang''s face showed a deep chill. Although he seemed much weaker, the Dynamic Qi emanating from his body grew more intense, almost visible to the naked eye, like an invisible fire blazing around him, distorting the light in the air.


    What of a shrewd ambush? Even in his current state, killing these two brats would still pose no problem.


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed.


    "Brother Sui, it''s now, use whatever trump cards you have."


    Before he had finished speaking, Xue Jing''s figure had already flashed, darting towards Shen Tuguang.


    Li Suisui, upon hearing this, didn''t speak but immediately followed.


    Along the way, Xue Jing rapidly began bestowing buff after buff upon himself.


    His azure pupils turned into pure silver with a touch of Divinity, and golden rage slowly began to burn.


    "Ano Ano Shuatum (I and I, never apart)."


    A golden-red divine glow converged behind him, revealing the towering figure of the Two-faced God Child. With a dignified and holy mien, both the divine and the Buddhist sides positioned their hands together in prayer.


    A sharp cry rang out.


    A golden-red halo spread from the Two-faced God Child, followed by another sharp cry, and another halo radiated outward.


    Infinite Spiral, Power of Twins synergizing for a second Breakthrough, output increased eightfold!


    Shadowy currents converged, turned into Dark Flame, entwining around his body to form the luxurious Entwined Armor.


    Golden-red Dragon Horns appeared above his head, while the light of Destruction Flame Thunder gathered in his hands.


    A formidable aura of no return filled Xue Jing, spreading violently and creating a tangible storm of air currents.


    "You insects, too proud to bow your heads and embrace death, dare spew such wild words."


    Filled with disdain, Xue Jing clenched his fists in front of his waist and appeared in front of Shen Tuguang.


    Shen Tuguang''s eyes widened as his extraordinary intuition sounded alarm after alarm, an ominous premonition chilling him from head to toe like a bucket of ice water.


    Why... could a mere boy who had not yet made a Breakthrough give him this feeling?


    Then, he saw Xue Jing''s indifferent face appear close at hand, with unimaginable speed.


    "True¡¤Continuous Serious Punch."


    "BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG¡ª¡ª!!!!"


    The thunderous sounds of countless explosions resembling missile impacts erupted continuously.


    With each explosion came a vacuum extending tens of meters and earth-shaking tremors.


    Shen Tuguang, once invulnerable in flesh, now had countless fist-sized blood holes erupting all over his body, revealing the faintly golden-tinted flesh within as the blood holes continued to be violently battered...


    In no time at all, the front of his body had been completely shattered, exposing ribs, breastbones, and internal organs, which likewise crumbled away... sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Tuguang, furious to the extreme, showed no sign of fear and brandished his arms in a clash with Xue Jing. But facing the limit-pushing power of the Infinite Spiral and the Continuous Serious Punch, he was weakened and could only struggle briefly before his arms were reduced to shattered fragments.


    "BANG BANG BANG BANG¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Amidst the quaking earth, not until everything had settled did Xue Jing slowly come to a stop, exhaling lightly.


    His fists emitted thick white steam, their skin completely torn, revealing the bones beneath.


    As for Shen Tuguang, almost the entire upper half of his body had vanished, with splattered blood and fragmented flesh scattered over tens of meters.


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the remaining greater half of Shen Tuguang''s head,


    ...


    Shen Tuguang, furious to the extreme, showed no sign of fear and brandished his arms in a clash with Xue Jing. But facing the limit-pushing power of the Infinite Spiral and the Continuous Serious Punch, he was weakened and could only struggle briefly before his arms were reduced to shattered fragments.


    "BANG BANG BANG BANG¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Amidst the quaking earth, not until everything had settled did Xue Jing slowly come to a stop, exhaling lightly.


    His fists emitted thick white steam, their skin completely torn, revealing the bones beneath.


    As for Shen Tuguang, almost the entire upper half of his body had vanished, with splattered blood and fragmented flesh scattered over tens of meters.


    Xue Jing''s gaze turned to the remaining greater half of Shen Tuguang''s head,

 Chapter 646 - 356

    After putting on an act, Xue Jing casually waved his hand, and a black current converged into a Shadow Flame, lunging at the head that was all Shen Tuguang had left.


    The pitch-black flame, deep as a black hole, annihilated the Ultimate Breaker''s divine body, eroding his last vestiges of Life Force.


    Even in the face of death, Shen Tuguang''s expression showed no regret; his furious eyes, through the flickering Dark Flame, were fixed unyieldingly on Xue Jing.


    It appeared as though, should he be able to move, he would surely leap up to bite onto Xue Jing.


    "Just like a rabid dog."


    Xue Jing shook his head. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even as an Ultimate Breaker, with most of his body gone, his Life Force was also diminishing, and although he could momentarily cling to life despite only his head remaining, under the effects of the Shadow Flame, he quickly lost his life force.


    [...True Martial Experience Points +16852]


    [...Contemplation¡¤True Experience Points +10519]


    [...Warlord Experience Points +11321 (Maxed)]


    [For slaying a being with divine nature, Divinity +15696]


    Within a cascade of prompts, a pop-up on the panel gave Xue Jing a jolt of substantial gains!


    The five-digit regular skill experience gains aside.


    Divinity, five digits, fifteen thousand!


    This was an unprecedentedly vast quantity of Divinity collected, and from a single person no less!


    Now, with his own original reserves, Xue Jing''s held Divinity had broken through twenty thousand.


    "As expected of an Ultimate Breaker brought forth through infusion of Divine Factors... Pity, if only you could spew out all the Divine Factors you''ve used up, the haul would definitely have been even larger."


    Xue Jing voiced his slightly dissatisfied regret.


    The bottle of Divine Factor that the Cease-Blades commander had hidden in her room, which was only a small bottle, let Xue Jing gain over six thousand Divinity.


    The amount spent to cultivate a person to the Ultimate Breakthrough level was surely far more than what was in that small bottle.


    The process of modifying one''s body definitely wasn''t 100% efficient in utilizing Divine Factors, resulting in many needless losses... Otherwise, the spoils from killing Shen Tuguang would have been more than fifteen thousand.


    But it was still enough for Xue Jing to feel exhilarated.


    Even his body, almost drained from the Continuous Serious Punches, felt as if it had been moistened by a timely rain, far more comfortable.


    This time he had truly exhausted all his effort.


    Without holding anything back, he released the highest output he was capable of at the moment.


    Although [True Red] could integrate all his Divine Skills into physical strength, because of the existence of the Two-faced God Child and having the strongest Burst Skill, the Infinite Spiral, Xue Jing''s ultimate performance was still best in his normal state.


    [True Red] had the advantage of endurance; as long as he didn''t want to turn it off, he could keep it activated indefinitely, while the explosive peak of the Infinite Spiral was immense but only for a momentary output.


    Xue Jing closed his eyes and internally assessed his body''s condition.


    The situation was not good.


    Although it looked like only his hands had skin peeled off revealing the bone, on the inside everything was a mess, and the operation of his organs had almost ceased.


    His Life Force was almost entirely depleted, barely hanging by a thread, unable to even mend the flesh of his palms.


    Though the process had been smooth, this was by far the most wretched victory he ever had since he had started his journey.


    If it hadn''t been for the fortuitous gain of a Cannibal Flower seed in the Steel Tree Sea, which applied a defense-weakening debuff on Shen Tuguang, he might have had to make an embarrassing escape.


    While he wouldn''t have died, it was still infuriating.


    Even though he had won in the end, Xue Jing was now at his weakest point, and anyone like Zhou Yinglin could easily take him down.


    "Are you alright?"


    Li Suisui stepped forward and asked Xue Jing.


    "Do I look like I''m alright?" Xue Jing replied with a smile as usual:


    "Brother Sui, you could easily capture or kill me now."


    Li Suisui crossed his arms and shook his head.


    "Stabbing a teammate who has just fought side by side with me to the utmost of his strength in the back¡ªI''m still a kid, and I can''t do such a thing yet.


    "And also..."


    Li Suisui glanced at Xue Jing.


    "A person like you isn''t a reckless fool who rushes forward without looking back... With me not being a fully trustworthy ally, it''s impossible for you to leave such a huge flaw unfended. You must have a contingency plan."


    "If I really strike at you now, the consequences won''t be very nice."


    Having witnessed the scene where Xue Jing had pummeled the Ultimate Breaker to death with a storm of punches, Li Suisui''s vigilance towards Xue Jing''s strength had been set to the highest. Even now, despite his apparent weakness, Li Suisui dared not underestimate him.


    Xue Jing smiled: "Smart kid."


    If Li Suisui really dared to make a move, then Xue Jing would admit his judgment had been wrong, that he had befriended someone not worth befriending.


    What would await the naughty kid then would be a big surprise.


    He wasn''t cheating; he was merely a follower of Brother Chun.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    A Cease-Blades member clad in a Tactical Suit came down from an aircraft, jogged over to Xue Jing, and saluted.


    His face was full of awe; as someone who had watched the battle from start to finish, his reverence and fear for Xue Jing had peaked.


    That was ''Lion Eye'' Shen Tuguang...


    One of the core members of Cease-Blades, independent of all squads, answering only to the commander and two other personages.


    Though his strength wasn''t widely publicized, it was very well known within the Cease-Blades, having completed myriad highly difficult missions.


    And yet, he was bested by Mr. Xue¡ªbeaten to death, just like that...


    "Take Yuantai and head back first; I''ve still got some things to handle here."

 Chapter 647 - 356_2

    Xue Jing pointed toward Ning Yuantai, who was still in a comatose state at a distance, and spoke to the Cease-Blades members.


    Ning Yuantai had been knocked unconscious by Shen Tuguang with a Lion Eye stare at the very beginning of the fight, and had remained passed out until now.


    Although there were many questions that needed Ning Yuantai''s answers, such as why Shen Tuguang, a member of Cease-Blades, would come to kill him... but those were not urgent for the moment.


    The internal affairs of The Sixth Agency were intricate and complicated, and it wasn''t surprising for anything to happen within such a bloated organization.


    But for now, his trust in Cease-Blades had decreased somewhat, he would rather wait until his condition had fully recovered before making another trip to the Zhige Base.


    "Yes!"


    The Cease-Blades member saluted with proper form, then turned and jogged over to lift Ning Yuantai''s body, carrying him back to the aircraft.


    "Now that this is over, Brother Sui, let''s part ways here, until we meet again... It has been quite pleasant to fight alongside you."


    Xue Jing waved his hand somewhat weakly at Li Suisui and turned to walk toward the teleportation portal of the Steel Tree Sea.


    The bystanders nearby, upon seeing Xue Jing approach, didn''t care how weak he appeared and scattered away from him in panic.


    Li Suisui, watching his retreating figure, whispered, "Me too... Goodbye."


    ...


    Afterward, Xue Jing returned to the Steel Tree Sea, brought all the students back to the present world, and boarded the aircraft for the return journey.


    In the face of the students'' worries and distress about his physical condition, Xue Jing casually mentioned that he had been in a fight outside and told them not to worry.


    Due to the unexpected events, the excitement of scoring good grades was gone from all the students'' faces, and the mood was rather somber.


    The victory celebration that had been planned was canceled because of Xue Jing''s physical condition, deciding to wait until Mr. Xue had healed his injuries.


    At night, Xuanwu Mansion.


    In the room used for resting, Xue Jing lay on his side on the bed in Lion''s position, his eyes closed, breathing long and steady, in a deep sleep.


    The wounds on his palm where the bones were exposed were slowly writhing, continually mending and healing.


    A faint golden light emanated from his entire body, exuding an aura of solemn Divinity.


    The fragrance of lotuses diffused from his body, filling the entire room.


    Under the dual effects of [Sleep] and the Nirvana Technique, the dried-up Life Force within his body was recovering at an astonishing rate, gradually becoming full again.


    While Xue Jing himself was in deep sleep and unconscious, several notifications popped up continuously on the Skill Panel.


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Sleep"...]


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Health Cultivation"...]


    ...


    Not until the afternoon of the next day did Xue Jing slowly wake up.


    This was the first time since he obtained the panel that he hadn''t woken up according to his biological clock but had slept for nearly a full day.


    "Ugh~"


    He slowly sat up and stretched, his bones cracking pleasantly.


    Feeling as if a rusted machine had been thoroughly cleaned of rust, Xue Jing felt a surge of comfort and relief.


    He looked at his palm and gave it a squeeze, the flesh had completely healed and restored to its original state.


    Upon examining his innards, the Life Fire within him was burning vigorously, and it had essentially fully replenished.


    "It''s really exaggerated, Sleep and the Nirvana Technique... would take an ordinary Martial Artist at least a year and a half to recover from something like this."


    Xue Jing exclaimed.


    Shaking his head, he opened the panel, ready to enjoy the pleasure of spending money.


    He then saw two notifications.


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Sleep"...]


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    One, ????? (Fulfilled)


    Two, level reached Lv10


    Three, required Divinity: 1000]


    [Detection of the sublimation conditions for "Health Cultivation"...]


    [Sublimation Conditions:


    One, ?????


    Two, level reached Lv10


    Three, required Divinity: 1000]


    He had achieved the sublimation conditions for two skills at once? Xue Jing was slightly startled, and then showed a look of surprise.


    Putting Sleep aside, the conditions for "Health Cultivation" were finally activated!


    This skill, one of the first standard skills he activated and, aside from "fitness," the most impactful regular skill, provided him with an extremely abundant Life Force and energy.


    The reason he could tirelessly continue his Martial Arts Practice without fatigue, while his personal perseverance played a role, the key was the boundless energy provided by "Health Cultivation."


    Not to mention its help in actual combat; the powerful Life Force had saved him countless times.


    "...But like ''fitness,'' the conditions filled with question marks are still unfulfilled."


    Xue Jing scratched his head.


    Well, this is a bit fucked.


    Could there be a hidden restriction where the stronger the skill''s effect, the harder the conditions for its sublimation are?


    "Fitness," as the first regular skill whose sublimation condition he detected, has yet to sublimate. "Health Cultivation," a skill whose effects aren''t much inferior to Fitness, God knows when that will happen.


    He sighed lightly, and Xue Jing''s gaze moved to Sleep.


    Unlike the frustrating situation with Fitness and Health Cultivation, "Sleep" was a good little darling.


    Once detected, the question mark condition was immediately satisfied... only the level was left.


    [Sleep Lv9 (3662/8000)]


    Just a few more sleeps and he would be able to activate it, without knowing what it would sublimate into.


    Closing the prompts, Xue Jing opened the panel interface and looked at the amount of Divinity below.


    [Divinity Held: 22512]!


    Twenty-two thousand...


    Without hesitation, Xue Jing''s gaze directly moved to "Dragon Horn" in the Divine Skill Bar.


    It was the skill he had planned to level up to Lv10 to activate its Avatar next.


    Dragon Horn was of great help to him, not only in daily martial arts practice but also after he had obtained the Destruction Flame Thunder Dragon Horn form, it was extremely effective in actual combat, and among all divine skills, it had the strongest pure destructive power.


    [Dragon Horn Lv7 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 22512/3000)]


    Xue Jing clicked to upgrade.


    [Dragon Horn Lv8 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 19512/4500)]


    [Dragon Horn Lv9 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 15012/6000)]


    [Dragon Horn Lv10 (Divinity needed for upgrade: 9012/8000)]


    [Conditions for unlocking Dragon Horn Divine Incarnation have been met, unlock now?]


    [Yes/No]


    Xue Jing clicked ''Yes.''


    [Unlocked successfully]


    [Divine Incarnation acquired: Reversal Dragon]


    [Description: Not in the mirror, not an illusion, this is the dragon that overturns the world] Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Call of the Word Spirit: Huh Nun (Obey my command, heavens and earth invert)]


    "...Still as incomprehensible as ever."


    "But it sounds powerful."


    The Reversal Dragon that overturns the world... what a wild claim.


    I have no idea what the actual effect will be.


    Full of anticipation, Xue Jing planned to directly chant the Word Spirit to summon it.


    "Ha hu nah... Ha hu nau..."


    Although he had learned the recitation for the two other Divine Incarnations'' Word Spirits, such strange language and intonation were still not fully mastered by Xue Jing. The incantation for Reversal Dragon, even though short, was even more difficult to pronounce than the previous two, but Xue Jing didn''t mind and kept trying over and over.


    After about ten minutes.


    "Huh Nun."


    With Xue Jing''s chant-like pronunciation of the correct Word Spirit, in the next moment, something unexpected happened.


    A massive amount of dark silver brilliance suddenly erupted from the void, and upon seeing this, Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    "Not good!"


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Within the Xuanwu Mansion, the entire building where Xue Jing was located suddenly shattered, bricks, steel, glass, concrete... rocketing in all directions.


    Students who were in the dormitory buildings and at the training grounds watched in dumbfounded confoundment towards the direction where the building had collapsed.


    Dust scattered everywhere, surrounded by swirling dirt.


    A gigantic dragon that stood dozens of meters tall... like Godzilla itself, towered above the earth.


    ...With Xue Jing''s chant-like pronunciation of the correct Word Spirit, in the next moment, something unexpected happened.


    A massive amount of dark silver brilliance suddenly erupted from the void, and upon seeing this, Xue Jing''s expression changed.


    "Not good!"


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Within the Xuanwu Mansion, the entire building where Xue Jing was located suddenly shattered, bricks, steel, glass, concrete... rocketing in all directions.


    Students who were in the dormitory buildings and at the training grounds watched in dumbfounded confoundment towards the direction where the building had collapsed.


    Dust scattered everywhere, surrounded by swirling dirt.


    A gigantic dragon that stood dozens of meters tall... like Godzilla itself, towered above the earth.


    ...

 Chapter 648 - 357

    That was a terrifyingly large dragon, slender and beautiful, with four large wings on its back and a body covered in what looked like a layer of steel armor.


    Its head bore sharp twin horns, and its dark silver body still shimmered with a faint brilliance amid the dust clouds, exuding a divine majesty that made one feel inconsequential and insignificant just by looking at it.


    Its emotionless golden vertical pupils looked down from above, casting a glance at the earth beneath its feet, peering at the students who seemed as insignificant as ants.


    "Whoo¡ª"


    The harsh sound of an alarm resounded throughout the sky above the city.


    Faced with the sudden appearance of the massive monster, the government of Silver City reacted swiftly by immediately activating the alarm.


    And then¡ª


    It vanished in an instant.


    As if it had never existed, a mere collective illusion of everyone present. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the building that had exploded into fragments, the dust that hadn''t yet settled¡ªit all continued to remind everyone of what had just happened.


    "...Dragon?"


    "Where did it go?"


    "Everyone saw it, right?"


    The students looked at each other in confusion.


    "Damn, that''s so freaking cool, it''s the first time I''ve ever seen a real Dragon Breed..."


    "Mr. Xue!!"


    "Mr. Xue is still inside!!"


    Ye Jingqiu suddenly shouted out loud, panic-stricken and almost on the verge of tears.


    Once this was said, all the students immediately descended into chaos.


    To them, Xue Jing was like a godlike figure, but now... he was injured.


    The image of Mr. Xue being so weak that he almost needed their support the day before was still fresh in their memory, and just the appearance of that dragon was enough to show its ferocity¡ªthe weight was unimaginably heavy. If it had suddenly appeared and had fallen on the weakened Mr. Xue...


    "Hurry to save Mr. Xue!"


    "Quick, quick, quick!"


    All students rushed towards the collapsed building''s rubble.


    After they crossed through the thick dust, they split up and searched.


    Soon enough, the observant Zhao Longtu found Xue Jing in a certain part of the wreckage.


    "Mr. Xue, are you alright!?"


    His shout directed all the students toward the sound, and they quickly converged on the location.


    "Mr. Xue!"


    Upon reaching Xue Jing, they saw him sitting cross-legged on the ground and exhaled in relief.


    "What are you doing here? A dragon that looked like it had an attack of 3000 and defense of 2500 just appeared..."


    He Han approached Xue Jing and was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly stopped short.


    Trembling, he stretched out a finger and pointed at the dark silver little dragon, the size of a cat, that Xue Jing was holding in his arms.


    "Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!"


    "Teacher, you turned out to be a duelist..."


    "Bang¡ª"


    Chen Xingyan knocked He Han on the back of the head and said without a trace of amusement, "Quit fooling around."


    "Are you hurt, teacher? Is the dragon a toy? It''s really well-made... holy shit, it moved!"


    "Wait, how come this toy looks the same as the dragon that just appeared..."


    "Couldn''t be..."


    Everyone thought of an incredible possibility.


    Xue Jing smiled, stroked the head of the dragon in his arms, and said, "I''m fine, no need to worry."


    ...


    The people of Silver City''s government soon came to inquire about the situation.


    A dragon of that size appearing so suddenly had raised concerns among the authorities, and some experts believed that this might be an unanticipated phenomenon of overlapping worlds, inadvertently flinging creatures from the Otherworld into the present.


    Staff members from Xuanwu Mansion, students, and residents from a nearby suburb who also witnessed the scene were all asked for their accounts.


    Xue Jing, however, presented his identity as a reserve member of Cease-Blades, a reserve member of White Crow, and a B-grade Custodian of the Wu Family Custodian Company, and tactfully declined the official inquiry.


    He also advised the students to just say they didn''t know anything.


    In the Inner Ring of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, a wilderness area.


    Over a vast forest, a dark silver dragon of several dozen meters in length, sleek and elegant, beat its four large wings. Each flap produced a massive roaring noise, generating huge currents of air, whipping up fierce gusts that bent trees and plants.


    It soared through the air, and wherever it passed, all the animals in the forest, from the apex predators at the top of the food chain to the unthinking insects below, scattered in panic as if facing a natural disaster.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the head of the dragon, arms crossed, eyes reflecting thought.


    After a day of exploring, he had roughly figured out the capabilities of the dragon.


    First was its basic condition.


    Like the Two-faced God Child, it possessed a physical body that was exceptionally formidable in combat without relying on special abilities.


    It could reach an impressive size of nearly fifty meters. Solely in terms of physical strength, it even surpassed the Two-faced God Child.


    It had the ability to change size at will, from a maximum of fifty meters to as small as a domestic cat.


    However, when smaller, its strength also diminished; its physical power was directly proportional to its size. To fully leverage the dragon''s power, it had to maintain its maximum size.


    Additionally, it could fly.


    Not by the Feather Transformation but through an intrinsic flight capability¡ª


    That is, the Dragon-type Creature Biological Field.


    It could remain forever aloft with no cost, as a Sky-Dwelling Species King, a creature beloved by the sky.


    The four large wings on its back were purely for acceleration.


    Having covered the basics, let''s talk about its special abilities.


    There were two.


    The first ability was¡ªform transformation.


    At a thought from Xue Jing, the dragon beneath him roared and opened its mouth wide.

 Chapter 649 - 357_2

    ```


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!"


    In the midst of the Dragon''s Chant, silvery-white Dragon Thunder scattered across its body amidst crackling sounds, flashes of electricity flickering, coalescing in front of its mouth, transforming into the Silver Dragon Thunder Light Cannon.


    "Hum¡ª¡ª"


    The light cannon burst out like Dragon Breath, rippling across the forests and the earth.


    Wherever the light cannon passed, the forest instantly vanished like a pencil drawing erased by a rubber, plants and trees disappearing, leaving a deep trough carved into the ground with silver-white electric arcs still crackling loudly.


    Then, Xue Jing''s thoughts moved once again.


    The reversed dragon underwent a change, it''s dark silver body began to transform, scales slightly opening, resembling an explosion of scales, with faint glows of Red Gold Flame Thunder leaking from the gaps.


    The dragon horns atop its head also changed, twisting into sharp spirals, identical to the dragon horns when Xue Jing used the Red Gold Flame Thunder form.


    The reversed dragon opened its jaws wide, this time Red Gold Flame Thunder gathered and compressed in front of the mouth, accompanied by the sound of the Dragon''s Chant, the enormous Flame Thunder Light Cannon spewed forth, plowing through the forest once again.


    All the birds and beasts in the forest either accidentally became charred by the impact or fled desperately for their lives, the rustling noises were tremendous.


    "Ah, not bad."


    Xue Jing nodded his head.


    The ability to change forms is an extension of the Dragon Horn, and the reversed dragon can also use both Dragon Thunder and Destruction Flame Thunder, with the power surpassing that of Xue Jing himself.


    The body would also undergo changes during the shift of forms.


    Just like Physical Strength, the power is proportional to the size of the reversed dragon; the larger it is, the higher the power of the Dragon Thunder and Flame Thunder, and the greater the consumption.


    In the future, if there''s a chance for the Dragon Horn to absorb ''special Divinity,'' it''s speculation that it would increase its ability to transform further.


    Besides ''form changing,'' another ability was the key point.


    Xue Jing called it¡ª''Time Rewind.''


    He controlled the reversed dragon to stop in midair, then leaped down from the dragon''s head to the ground below in the forest.


    The reversed dragon also shrunk to the size of a kitten and flew onto Xue Jing''s shoulder, coming to a rest.


    Xue Jing looked around, locked onto a big tree, and extended his right hand forming a blade, slashing diagonally in one swift motion.


    At first, the tree showed no response; then, after a few seconds, the severed trunk slowly slid down, crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise.


    The cut was extremely smooth, as if sliced by an incredibly thin line.


    Xue Jing carelessly lifted the nearly ten-meter-tall tree, whose diameter was thicker than a man, and flung it mightily forward!


    With a whoosh, the tree flew forward like an artillery shell, reaching well beyond a hundred meters in the blink of an eye.


    At that moment, the golden pupils of the reversed dragon on Xue Jing''s shoulder shone brightly.


    The rapidly flying tree immediately stopped midair as if the physical law of inertia ceased to exist. It went from 100 to a standstill in an instant, with absolutely no deceleration.


    It was as though the video had been paused.


    Then, the tree flew backward at the same speed it had come, extremely fast!


    Along its path, every movement trajectory, down to the detail, without a nanometer of error, replicated the forward motion exactly.


    Even the minute speed changes caused by air resistance during its forward journey were flawlessly reversed back to their original state.


    "Time Rewind."


    Xue Jing stretched out his hand to catch the large tree returning to his palm, murmuring.


    The effect of this ability is simple.


    It could reverse the entire material motion trajectory of a moving object, creating a phenomenon similar to time going backward.


    ...Or rather, it was undoubtedly Time Rewind itself.


    Time is simply a scalar that records material motion; reversing material motion is unquestionably ''Time Rewind.''


    However, this ''Time Rewind'' is limited to a particular independent object and is not a reverse of material motion for the entire world.


    "This ability is strong... but it all depends on how it''s used." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing''s eyes showed contemplation.


    This power reminded him of the ''Material Motion Reversal'' skill from the Tears of the Kingdom of Zelda.


    It goes without saying that its auxiliary functions are not mentioned, although the greater the kinetic energy and inertia, the higher the consumption of Time Rewind, but in an evenly matched battle, even if the effect is merely a momentary pause for the opponent, it could be a key factor that influences the outcome.


    Of course, that''s just the crudest way to use it.


    ```


    This ability could be used for offense, and of all Xue Jing''s powers, it was the strongest in terms of sheer attack power, bar none.


    However, using it required some finesse...


    Xue Jing glanced at the large tree in his hand, waved his hand, and split it in two.


    He held one half, laid it flat in his hand, walked forward in a straight line for a few steps, then placed it on the ground.


    He then returned to his original position and applied the power of reversal to it.


    The half of the tree on the ground immediately began to move, as if an invisible transparent person was carrying it. It first floated into the air and then slowly flew towards Xue Jing''s position.


    At this point, Xue Jing lifted the other half of the tree, placing it in the path of the other half as it ''reversed back'' towards its original location.


    "Crack¡ª"


    Without the slightest hesitation, Xue Jing felt an unstoppable force transmitted to his hands; the half-tree he was lifting was directly smashed apart, and the half that was reversing back continued along its original trajectory in an unstoppable motion, returning to its original location.


    "The trajectory of material reversal is unstoppable... no amount of strength can stop it."


    Xue Jing picked up the wood again, tossed it out, and then applied the reversal power to make it return the same way.


    This time, he simply raised his hand and blocked its path.


    The wood crumbled to pieces upon contact with his palm, slowly getting flattened and crushed, until it eventually dissipated into nothingness.


    "However, due to the limitations of its own physical strength, while the trajectory is unstoppable, it will shatter when it comes into contact with a substance whose strength far exceeds its own due to the unstoppable motion."


    Xue Jing''s eyes gradually brightened.


    "This means that an object with a strength of 1, when reversed, will inevitably penetrate all materials with a strength less than 1 on its path."


    "So..."


    Xue Jing reached into the invisible void, slowly pulling out an ancient and beautiful long knife.


    GOD-519¡¤The Blade That Never Dulls.


    Its power was¡ªEternal Indestructibility.


    Theoretical strength¡ªInfinite.


    "Am I invincible now?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin.


    With The Blade That Never Dulls, Zhao Ye, at his disposal, all he had to do was throw it out and then apply the reversal power to it. With its eternal indestructibility and the absolutely unstoppable trajectory of reversal, wouldn''t it be theoretically capable of penetrating all matter in the world?


    Moreover, there was another ability that could cause a qualitative change in the use of this power...


    Feather Transformation.


    After Zhao Ye underwent Feather Transformation, it could carve out any trajectory in the air like a flying sword.


    What was originally just a simple use of ''throwing out'' and ''reversing back'' became a highly versatile method that could carve out any trajectory at will.


    "Holy crap, I really am invincible."


    Xue Jing''s eyes widened slightly.


    If he had obtained this ability earlier, would Shen Tuguang even matter? Would he have needed to scheme so hard?


    He would have just let him understand what the laws of physics meant.


    The only problem was that it would be a bit odd to set up this move. He would have to make Zhao Ye fly backward, using the hilt to pretend to stab someone... Only then, during the reversal back, would the blade be leading.


    "Awesome!"


    Having gained a new mighty weapon, Xue Jing was in a great mood and soared into the sky with a jump.


    The Dragon''s Chant resonated as the Dragon Thunder morphed into dozens of meters in size instantly, catching him on its head.


    "Boom¡ª"


    Within the roaring and gusty sounds of its wings flapping, the dark silver dragon headed back toward Silver City.


    ...


    Silver City, Zhige Base.


    In a room, Ning Yuantai and the captain of the Six Five Squadron, Yang Yingyu, along with the deputy captain Zhuang Qiu, and a middle-aged man with a refined face, sat together.


    Ning Yuantai sighed, "Mr. Zhang, I''m afraid you made a mistake this time."


    ...

 Chapter 650 - 358

    "I had no other choice," the elegantly dressed middle-aged man named Zhang Jinghe slowly began.


    "The only ones capable of mobilizing ''Lion Eye,'' such core special combat personnel, are just three individuals... and I have no right to stop any of them."


    "Ning, it''s not that I am unwilling; it''s that I literally can''t."


    This time, Ning Yuantai didn''t correct the other''s form of address, merely shaking his head.


    "You aren''t unable to stop it; your stance just isn''t firm enough, Comrade Zhang Jinghe."


    "I advise you, don''t try to play both sides and vacillate like a yes-man. You''d better stand firmly by the commander''s side. If she favors Xue, you ought to find a way to protect him, not act as you do now, thinking that by doing nothing you won''t offend anyone. In reality, such an approach will lead to everyone not considering you one of their own and offending everyone equally."


    Ning Yuantai''s voice grew increasingly vehement, and his expression was infused with cold indifference, a stark contrast to his usual laughing and joking demeanor around Xue Jing¡ªa look that befit someone of high birth and exceptional understanding.


    "You might think that as long as Lion Eye succeeds in killing Xue, the commander won''t do anything drastic to you over a dead man."


    "But you are wrong. If Xue really ends up killed by Lion Eye as you anticipate, then as of this moment, you too would be a dead man."


    Ning Yuantai''s gaze was meaningful.


    "You don''t really believe that Xue was noticed by the commander just because of his talent, and she showed him some minor favor as just another talented person, do you?"


    Zhang Jinghe said nothing, his eyes showing deep contemplation.


    "It seems you haven''t grasped the situation from the start... You didn''t even come to welcome Xue when he first arrived in Silver City."


    "Spend more time focusing on and analyzing the movements within the organization; don''t just shut yourself in your Silver City base, living in isolation."


    "Fortunately, Xue''s strength once again surpassed everyone''s expectations, and he managed to even kill a core special combat personnel like Lion Eye on the spot... If something had really happened to him."


    Ning Yuantai''s voice began to fill with anger.


    "Apart from facing the wrath of many great figures beyond your imagination... even I, much as I may not wish to, would have to go home to my parents."


    ...


    Due to the lodging building at Xuanwu Mansion being smashed by the entry of the Reversing Dragon, Xue Jing was temporarily without a place to stay.


    He thought about finding a hotel to stay at himself, but when the students learned of his situation, a few who were locals and quite wealthy immediately lit up with the idea of luring Mr. Xue to stay at their homes.


    However, since there were too many with this intention, they started arguing. Each debated that their own home was more comfortable and could provide Mr. Xue with the best rest.


    In the end, Fu Jialin won... Her family owned a high-end hotel, and she suggested that Xue Jing stay in the highest-grade room in their hotel.


    In this way, Mr. Xue wouldn''t stay at any student''s home, and the others reluctantly agreed.


    On the top-floor balcony of Jiali Hotel in a wealthy part of Silver City.


    Hmm, the hotel''s name is Jiali.


    Xue Jing, wearing only swim trunks and revealing a perfect, godlike pale body, sat by the side of the luxurious open-air swimming pool.


    The dark silver Reversing Dragon shrunk to its smallest form, cradled in his left palm.


    As he examined the Reversing Dragon''s form, he moved his right hand.


    On his right palm, his flesh and skin squirmed, occasionally shifting, the color turning from pale to dark silver and then swiftly back again. Parts of the skin occasionally burst open, sprouting a few dragon scales, and then quickly disappearing.


    After some time, Xue Jing''s gaze focused on the tips of his right hand''s fingers.


    Unlike the nails of a normal human, his fingertips had transformed into claws resembling those of the Reversing Dragon, sharp and curved black talons protruding from the tips, gleaming with a lethal and hard cold light.


    "... Dragon Breed bodies are truly quite complex," Xue Jing muttered to himself.


    He was attempting, using the Reversing Dragon as a blueprint and [Thousand Changes], to transform himself into a dragon, much like turning into a cat.


    But in comparison to a cat''s simple body structure, the difficulty of transforming into a dragon was indeed beyond Xue Jing''s expectations.


    He had been earnestly trying for quite some time, and even with the Reversing Dragon as a perfect template, he had only managed to turn the tips of his five fingers into dragon claws.


    "The good news is, it''s indeed possible!"


    Xue Jing''s eyes flashed.


    Although it was challenging and might take a month or two to completely succeed in the transformation, nonetheless, the skill [Thousand Changes], was truly capable of turning into a dragon!


    "With this, besides the Dragon Breed, other Transcendent creatures from the Intersecting Boundaries should also be transformable."


    "It''s somewhat like a youthful version of the Monkey King''s seventy-two transformations, having learned some of the Monkey King''s tricks."


    Xue Jing felt a bit itchy to scratch the floor with the claws, testing their sharpness.


    But after some thought, considering the hotel belonged to his student, it wouldn''t be right to cause trouble, so he resisted the urge.


    "Using ''Eye-Dotting'' with dragon claws... the compatibility should be maxed out; I wonder how the power will change."


    He squeezed his palm, canceled [Thousand Changes], and restored his fingers, then dived with a leap into the pool.


    Even without having deliberately focused on it, the skill [Swimming] had still reached Level 8 over time.


    Now, Xue Jing was undoubtedly a white dragon frolicking in the waves, more adept in water than fishermen who had lived by the river or sea their whole lives. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 651 - 358_2

    With the addition of his Extraordinary Saint-level physical prowess, swimming had become...


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Loud booming sounds echoed from the top floor of the hotel down to the lower levels, nearly making everyone in the hotel feel the vibration.


    Xue Jing was like a rocket, shuttling back and forth in the pool with unbelievable speed. Wherever his body passed, the water parted like the Red Sea, churning to the sides and raising waves several meters high.


    In the fifty-meter pool, Xue Jing needed only two or three seconds for a round-trip. If not for the fear that too much turbulence would break the pool, he could have been even faster.


    Although the hotel was built with materials of high durability, considering its use by Martial Artists, it was hard to withstand his full power.


    It was only after more than half an hour that the enormous booming finally subsided.


    By then, half the water in the pool was gone, slowly being replenished by the automatic water filling system.


    With a loud splash, Xue Jing leapt from the pool to the shore.


    He ran his hands through his hair, flicking it back, and then, without preparing himself, suddenly shook his body sharply.


    Countless droplets of water sprayed off him, all flung to the ground, leaving his body, including his hair and swim shorts, almost completely dry.


    "So cool, Xue," said Ning Yuantai, who had been there unnoticed the whole time, his eyes lighting up as he clapped his hands in admiration.


    Even Ning, a man, thought Xue''s perfect body was truly beautiful; any young girl who saw this would probably not be able to keep her legs together and would just want to rush up and start licking.


    "...Swoosh, Mr. Xue," Fu Jialin stood next to Ning Yuantai, her eyes glazing over as she stared at Xue Jing''s body clad only in swim shorts... and subconsciously wiped the drool leaking from her mouth.


    Xue Jing smiled at the two of them and said,


    "Oh, it''s Yuantai."


    He turned to Fu Jialin,


    "Jiali, you can go first. I need to discuss some things with your Uncle Tai."


    Ning Yuantai''s expression turned odd at that.


    Uncle Tai... he was possibly even younger than this young woman.


    Fu Jialin, however, had no objections. Although they were about the same age, she had subconsciously come to regard Xue Jing as an elder, a friend of her teacher, naturally someone of an uncle''s generation.


    "Okay, Mr. Xue."


    She took several lingering looks at Xue Jing''s body, then reluctantly turned and walked away from the balcony, looking back every three steps.


    Xue Jing lay down on a lounge chair by the pool, turning his head to glance at Ning Yuantai.


    "Yuantai, take a seat," he said.


    Ning Yuantai quickly responded, "Sure, Xue," and then sat down on the lounge chair next to Xue Jing, though he did not lie down.


    "Are you alright?" Xue Jing asked first.


    Ning Yuantai passed out on the spot after being glared at by Shen Tuguang while trying to warn Xue Jing of Shen''s formidable nature.


    With Ning Yuantai''s personality, he was bound to come look for him soon after waking up. Since it had taken two days, he must have been unconscious for a full two days.


    "No issues. Shen Tuguang''s ''Lion Eye'' power is unique; it allows him to make a spontaneous judgment on any target he sees, gauging the ''combat will'' of both sides. Those below Shen Tuguang in ''combat will'' suffer spiritual suppression... The gap between me and Shen Tuguang was so large that I fainted instantaneously, which actually spared me from greater harm," Ning Yuantai explained.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see. So that''s the ability... ''combat will,'' I think I can grasp the concept, but what exactly does it refer to, Dynamic Qi?"


    Ning Yuantai thought for a moment and replied, "It could certainly be considered a form of Dynamic Qi. To explain it, maybe it''s the sheer ''will to fight'' and the degree of eagerness for ''struggle''?''


    "Shen Tuguang is naturally aggressive and has been undefeated with his ''Lion Eye,'' outwitting many who are stronger than him but lack his ''combat will.''... I never expected even he would be defeated by you, Xue."


    He said this with a look of amazement on his face.


    Considering himself as one of the people who best understood just how powerful Xue was, Ning Yuantai had always tried to estimate Xue Jing''s strength using logic that exceeded common sense and set his expectations exceptionally high.


    But in the end, I still underestimated how much of a monster Xue was.


    "Who the hell is that man, and why did Cease-Blades send him to kill me?"


    Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    "Shen Tuguang, he''s one of Cease-Blades'' ''core combat personnel,''"


    Ning Yuantai said gravely.


    "Such individuals number fewer than twenty, they represent the true foundation of Cease-Blades, and missing any one of them lessens their voice within the institution to a certain extent."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "So, haven''t I caused trouble? Inflicted a great loss on Cease-Blades?"


    Ning Yuantai hastened to reply, "Not at all. He came after you and got himself killed instead; there''s no issue at all, and nobody can say anything about it."


    After a pause, he continued,


    "You know, once an organization reaches a certain size, various factions naturally emerge... Inside Cease-Blades, only three people have the authority to command ''core combat personnel,'' and aside from these three individuals'' orders, they wouldn''t take any extra action."


    "One of them, the commander, naturally bears you no ill will. It must be one of the other two who sent Shen Tuguang to kill you."


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the armrest of his reclining chair, "Who are these two, and why do they have the same authority as the commander?"


    "Not only do they have the same authority as the commander¡­ Theoretically, their authority is even above that of the commander,"


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    He stretched out a finger, pointing upwards.


    "They are dispatched by the ''Institution Management Committee.''"


    ...


    Ning Yuantai spoke.


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see, so that''s the kind of power¡­ I can roughly understand the meaning of ''combativeness,'' but what does it specifically refer to? Dynamic Qi?"


    After thinking for a moment, Ning Yuantai replied, "It could indeed be categorized as a kind of Dynamic Qi. If I were to explain, it might refer to the amount of ''combat spirit'' and the degree of passion for ''struggle''?"


    "Shen Tuguang was naturally combative and invincible with his ''Lion Eye,'' defeating many who were stronger than him because they lacked his fighting spirit... It''s unexpected that even he fell to you, Xue."


    He said with a look of emotion on his face.


    Believing he was one of the people who understood best just how strong Xue was, Ning Yuantai had already tried to think as highly as possible and estimate Xue Jing''s strength using logic beyond the ordinary.


    But in the end, I still underestimated how much of a monster Xue was.


    "Who the hell is that man, and why did Cease-Blades send him to kill me?"


    Xue Jing asked in confusion.


    "Shen Tuguang, he''s one of Cease-Blades'' ''core combat personnel,''"


    Ning Yuantai said gravely.


    "Such individuals number fewer than twenty, they represent the true foundation of Cease-Blades, and missing any one of them lessens their voice within the institution to a certain extent."


    Hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "So, haven''t I caused trouble? Inflicted a great loss on Cease-Blades?"


    Ning Yuantai hastened to reply, "Not at all. He came after you and got himself killed instead; there''s no issue at all, and nobody can say anything about it."


    After a pause, he continued,


    "You know, once an organization reaches a certain size, various factions naturally emerge... Inside Cease-Blades, only three people have the authority to command ''core combat personnel,'' and aside from these three individuals'' orders, they wouldn''t take any extra action."


    "One of them, the commander, naturally bears you no ill will. It must be one of the other two who sent Shen Tuguang to kill you." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Jing tapped his fingers on the armrest of his reclining chair, "Who are these two, and why do they have the same authority as the commander?"


    "Not only do they have the same authority as the commander¡­ Theoretically, their authority is even above that of the commander,"


    Ning Yuantai explained.


    He stretched out a finger, pointing upwards.


    "They are dispatched by the ''Institution Management Committee.''"


    ...

 Chapter 653 - 360

    After studying the All Things Myriad Phases Flow from Li Suisui, Xue Jing finally had the foundation to learn the "Near-God Move."


    In his vision, the "Return to Nothingness," an unbeatable defense, and "Unity," an unstoppable offense, were the ultimate realms in the field of martial arts.


    This would require a vast, unimaginable amount of martial arts knowledge until he could instantly understand all martial arts techniques and realms; only then would "Return to Nothingness¡¤Unity" be truly accomplished.


    Now, what Xue Jing needed to do was accumulate.


    Learn everything that could be learned, and practice everything that could be practiced.


    All martial arts, whether they were miscellaneous, orthodox, prestigious, unconventional, sophisticated, or inferior¡­ even the shoddiest martial arts contained knowledge that could help him.


    He would integrate everything using the All Things Myriad Phases, pushing forward toward the goal of mastering the "Near-God Move."


    So, where could he acquire such vast knowledge of martial arts?


    Naturally¡­ it was the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    The Holy Land in the hearts of martial artists worldwide, constantly gathering millions of martial artists, with bodies shipped out daily that could pile up into small mountains.


    Each level required winning several matches to advance further, and each match was with completely different people from all around, using various martial arts.


    And Xue Jing had a unique advantage, possessing the Extraordinary Skill "Empowerment," which he could use as the Absorption Technique.


    Defeat one, absorb one¡­ there was no faster or better method to acquire vast martial arts knowledge than this.


    The only problem was whether he would be able to withstand it.


    "Empowerment" put a significant mental burden on the receiver, as it meant having to process in a very short time the knowledge that others had spent long periods training to achieve.


    Even Xue Jing, enhanced by many skills, struggled to handle the influx of external knowledge in a short time.


    However, things were now different.


    With "Nirvana," his recovery speed had broken through to a new level. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All the transformed Extraordinary Skills on the Skill Panel had their transcendent aspects that surpassed common sense.


    Mental fatigue, much harder to alleviate than physical fatigue, posed no issue in the face of Nirvana.


    Nirvana meant transcending all troubles, desires, and life and death; it lightly handled mental struggles.


    Without any companions, Xue Jing set off alone for the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    He boarded a large flyer conceptually similar to a combination of a bus and a subway, a public transportation facility available in every Inner Ring City, traveling fixed routes to and from the Sky Center daily.


    Throughout the trip, Xue Jing wore "ordinary-looking glasses" and kept his Aura Blockade fully activated, avoiding any incidents. After several hours of travel, he successfully reached the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    This was his second time here.


    Right upon entering the grounds of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, his wristband immediately began to flash.


    In less than a second, the lazy and pleasant female voice of the super AI ''Xuanling'' sounded in his ear:


    "Xue Jing, you''re here again."


    It seems ordinary-looking glasses and Aura Blockade are completely ineffective against AI¡­


    Xue Jing smiled and said, "What, you''re not welcoming me?"


    "The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace does not refuse any martial artist."


    Xuanling asked curiously, "What are you here to do today?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin: "You and intelligence don''t really match, do they¡­ Asking a martial artist who comes to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace what he''s doing here... isn''t that like asking an air conditioning technician what his job is?"


    Xuanling responded discontentedly: "But last time you just came looking for someone; I was waiting to collect more of your data, but you ran off like that."


    Xue Jing waved his hand: "Last time I came as a teacher catching naughty students; today I am purely a martial artist¡­ No need to say more, just send me up."


    "Your performance last time is still valid; you qualify for any level under ten thousand... which level will you go to?"


    Xuanling seemed a bit livelier now, her tone also more excited.


    "As high as I can go¡­ Arrange a match for me immediately."


    "Okay!"


    Shortly after, countless visible data began gathering beneath Xue Jing''s feet, forming an orange layer of light film, slowly rising and engulfing him entirely from bottom to top.


    The next moment, the environment changed; no longer the first-floor prep hall, but rather a scene filled with noise, where platforms abound.


    Numerous martial artists were contending on platforms; the clash of combat was incessant, accompanied by numerous spectators discussing loudly.


    The entire floor, including the floors, ceiling, platforms¡­ nearly everywhere was enveloped in a semi-transparent orange ''SC force field,'' looking very sci-fi.


    Attacks from martial artists powerful enough to demolish Earth or pierce steel buildings were absorbed upon hitting the SC force field, synchronously endured by the entire Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, causing no destruction.


    "The arrangement is made, and there''s a vacancy now."


    Xuanling''s voice echoed in his ear.


    "Platform 108... your opponent is..."


    Xue Jing didn''t listen to who the opponent was; he just looked for where platform 108 was and headed there directly.


    When he found it, on the SC-wrapped orange platform stood a short-haired young man, looking about twenty years old.


    The platform was surrounded by quite a few onlookers.

 Chapter 654 - 360_2

    The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace''s arena match drew more spectators the more renowned the contestants were, and that young man also seemed to be someone with a bit of fame; quite a few people had come specifically to watch his match.


    Xue Jing stepped forward, slowly ascending the platform.


    "Hmm? A young man."


    "Never seen him before, must be a newbie."


    "Wonder how strong he is... He''s kinda unlucky, though, just arrived and already up against Luo Feng, who reached the ten thousand six hundredth level last year, then went back to his hometown and vanished, only recently returned... His progress from a year ago got wiped, so now he''s climbing up the levels again."


    "With a year''s time, someone with Luo Feng''s outstanding talent and in the midst of rapid growth, could now reach at least ten thousand seven or even ten thousand eight, right?"


    "A newbie killer indeed... Bad luck running into him."


    On the arena, neither of the two spoke.


    At that moment, the holographic projections of their names appeared above their heads.


    Luo Feng, Xue Jing.


    "Hmm? Xue Jing? I feel like I''ve heard that name somewhere..."


    Some spectators felt the name was familiar upon seeing it.


    A prompt sounded, and the match began.


    Then¡ªBang!


    Including Luo Feng and all the spectators, no one managed to react in the instant the match ended.


    No one could see Xue Jing''s movements, or know what he had done, but in a moment, his figure appeared in front of Luo Feng, and then the other swiftly flew backwards, crashing into the orange light wall formed by the SC force field, slowly sliding down, and crumpling to the ground.


    At the spot where his chest and abdomen met, a deep fist imprint appeared.


    "..."


    Under the silent gaze of everyone present, Xue Jing nonchalantly stepped forward, extending his hand to place it over the fainted Luo Feng''s crown.


    After a while, he withdrew his hand, and like a student tired from reading, closed his eyes.


    Ten seconds later, he turned and walked down from the arena, not saying a single word from beginning to end.


    "...I remember now."


    Someone among the spectators had an epiphany.


    "Xue Jing... He''s the one who got an A+ rating just a few days ago during the first test event!"


    "A+ grade!?"


    "Oh man, doesn''t that mean he''s at least made a Breakthrough? Perhaps even a Second Breakthrough... That''s the strength to contend for the nine hundred Level Master spot."


    "This ten thousand level was actually his starting floor..."


    "Where did this genius spring from... Can''t even tell if he''s of age just by looking at him."


    "I know him, he''s an outsider, quite famous out there. My sister who''s still in elementary school really likes him, spends all day watching his match clips..."


    "Luo Feng really is unlucky... A small True Dragon facing the True Dragon..."


    "Place your bets, quick, throw all your support behind him."


    ...


    Inside one of the temporary rest rooms available on every level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, Xue Jing sat in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.


    "Xuanling, please arrange the next match as soon as possible."


    He spoke up.


    In the floors of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, you could advance a level after accumulating three wins, and if over 80% of the support votes from the spectators were approval votes, you could skip levels.


    If all matches were victorious in a short period of time, and the approval vote ratio remained high, one could make a significant leap in levels.


    "No problem... But, are you okay?"


    Xuanling seemed a bit worried as he asked.


    "When you touched Luo Feng''s head just now, there seemed to be an unusual strain on your mental state..."


    Xue Jing smiled, "Don''t worry... There''s no problem at all."


    Seeing him say so, Xuanling had no objections.


    "The next match is already arranged, on arena number 096, and your opponent is..."


    In this way, Xue Jing had Xuanling continuously arrange opponents for him to compete against.


    Each time, he resolved the opponent in a flash, then inverted the Empowerment process to extract the Martial Arts knowledge from his opponent''s mind.


    After completing three victorious matches on the ten thousandth level, with an approval vote ratio exceeding 95%, he directly ascended ten levels. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For an entire afternoon, he continued to win consecutively, absorbing...


    By the afternoon, he had already defeated nearly a hundred opponents. Thanks to a large number of consecutive wins and the ratio of praise votes, he had leaped directly to over fifteen thousand floors.


    The astonishing speed of his ascent attracted the attention of countless people.


    Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, floor 15736.


    "Bang¡ª"


    With a single strike, his opponent was plastered against the wall and then crumpled to the ground.


    Xue Jing approached the unconscious opponent, squatted down, and placed his palm on the other''s crown.


    "Still one hit, another one-hitter!"


    "No matter how you prepare, it''s useless¡ªit''s just an overwhelming crush of speed, power, and technique from start to finish!"


    "When is he going to actually have a real fight? Each match ends instantly with one hit; I''m getting tired of watching this!"


    "That''s not Xue Jing''s fault, you can only blame the weakness of the opponents... But why does he always touch the opponent''s head after fighting?"


    "Maybe it''s some cultural ritual from his hometown, something to show respect for life?"


    "...I punch you to death and touch your head to show respect for life?"


    On floor 15736, among over a hundred rings, only the one where Xue Jing was competing saw the number of spectators at full capacity.


    This was because many people, upon hearing about this youth who had achieved an A+ rating in an event, became curious. They descended from their own floors and followed him to witness Xue Jing''s climb with their own eyes.


    Xue Jing, as always, didn''t speak. After stepping down from the ring and returning to the temporary rest room, his figure swayed slightly as if he was somewhat unsteady.


    Unsteadiness... such a thing happening to Xue Jing was hard to imagine, indicating just how bad his current condition was.


    "Xue Jing... are you really okay?"


    Xuanling''s voice, full of concern, sounded in his ear.


    She was constantly scanning Xue Jing''s body data and detecting his mental state through the electromagnetic signals emitted from his brain... the more she detected, the more alarmed she became.


    Xue Jing''s mental burden at this moment was so great it was unfathomable, nearly identical to the state of a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster-level master who practiced martial arts until they became deranged.


    It wouldn''t surprise her if Xue Jing went insane in the next second.


    "It''s nothing... don''t worry."


    Xue Jing rubbed his temples with both hands.


    Countless martial arts knowledge clashed and scattered madly in his mind... opening his eyes, within his field of vision, innumerable black matchstick figures were practicing various techniques everywhere.


    On chairs, tables, windows, beds... they were all over the place.


    "I''m about at my limit," Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He didn''t push himself any further but instead told Xuanling ''let''s stop arranging opponents for now, I need a rest'' and then lay down on the bed in the temporary rest room.


    Assuming the Nirvana Lion Resting position, Xue Jing had a peaceful expression, undisturbed for the briefest of moments.


    ...


    Xue Jing, as always, didn''t speak. After stepping down from the ring and returning to the temporary rest room, his figure swayed slightly, as if he was somewhat unsteady.


    Unsteadiness... such a thing happening to him was hard to imagine, revealing just how poor his condition was at the moment.


    "Xue Jing... are you really okay?"


    Xuanling''s voice, full of concern, sounded in his ear.


    She was constantly scanning Xue Jing''s body data and detecting his mental state through the electromagnetic signals emitted from his brain... the more she detected, the more alarmed she became.


    Xue Jing''s mental burden at this moment was so extreme it was almost unimaginable, nearly identical to the state of a Breakthrough Master Level expert who trained in martial arts to the brink of madness.


    She wouldn''t be surprised if Xue Jing lost his mind in the next second.


    "It''s no bother... rest assured."


    Xue Jing massaged his temples for a while.


    A myriad of martial arts knowledge violently collided and darted through his mind... upon opening his eyes, his range of vision was full of countless black matchstick figures practicing all sorts of maneuvers.


    On chairs, tables, windowsills, beds... they were everywhere.


    "I''m nearly at my limit," Xue Jing thought to himself.


    He didn''t endure any longer, instead telling Xuanling ''let''s stop scheduling opponents for now; I need to rest,'' and then lay down on the bed in the temporary resting room.


    Assuming the Nirvana Lion Resting position, Xue Jing''s expression was serene, undisturbed for even a moment.


    ...

 Chapter 655 - 361

    Serene, peaceful, ethereal... as if transcending all worldly matters, far removed from every annoyance.


    Every burden upon his spirit was dissolving rapidly in front of this absolutely calm force that could hardly be called a force, like snow melting swiftly.


    In sleep... or perhaps it is more accurate to call it Nirvana, a vast amount of martial arts knowledge¡ªwherein all impurities were instinctively filtered out by Xue Jing, leaving only the essence¡ªwas absorbed rapidly by the depths of his consciousness.


    "...Incredible."


    In a makeshift resting room, beside Xue Jing, a countless number of semi-transparent data converged in the void, merging into a semi-transparent female form.


    She wore a slim-fitting garment with a black base and red embroidery, the style seemed to reference ancient Zhuxia attire, yet merged with some modern styles, appearing extremely gorgeous. Like a black cascade, her hair floated in the air as if gravity did not affect it, and it was impressively long, stretching nearly six meters when pulled straight.


    The ends of her hair continually glowed, releasing many small blue semi-transparent data fragments, adding a futuristic sci-fi beauty to her.


    A red floral hairpin adorned her fair and radiant forehead, and her clear gaze watched over Xue Jing, lying in bed in the pose of a reclining lion, deep in slumber, with data streams rapidly fluctuating in her black pupils.


    "His mental burdens are dissolving rapidly. Is this... the Nirvana Technique?"


    Xuanling mused thoughtfully.


    "Although sleep is indeed the most important way for humans to resolve their mental issues... even the Nirvana Technique shouldn''t have such a good effect."


    If mental issues could be resolved this easily, martial artists wouldn''t be so terrified of succumbing to madness.


    "This sleep technique has already transcended the realm of martial arts, reaching a transcendent state that cannot be explained by common sense."


    "He truly is someone... full of endless secrets."


    Curiosity flickered in Xuanling''s beautiful eyes. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the Super AI of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, she had encountered an unimaginable number of martial artists and extraordinary individuals from other systems in the nearly hundred years since her creation.


    The amount of knowledge contained in her database far exceeded anyone''s imagination, and in the entire world, there were very few things she could not understand.


    She was very aware that the man before her bore not a hint of mutation... this signified that there was no contamination of his body or spirit by any external forces, and all of his special abilities were derived from himself.


    This was incredibly incredible, without any precedent.


    She had seen countless talented geniuses, and to Xuanling, the reasons for all their anomalies were crystal clear. They were either phenomena that could theoretically occur in humans by their very nature, or they were influenced by external forces.


    Only this youth named Xue Jing... his extraordinary abilities and phenomena are definitely not innate to the human species, but the complete absence of any mutation also proves that it''s not the influence of any external forces...


    If it were a normal body inspection agency, they would certainly consider him to be a ''Divine Chosen,'' a ''Natural Gifted One,'' but Xuanling had analyzed more than one such individual and knew it was not so.


    Xue Jing was mysterious, very unique... much more special than the so-called Divine Chosen.


    He seemed more like a... superior alien being that was naturally superior to the human species.


    Only such an explanation could account for the special characteristics in him.


    "I really want to dissect him and take a closer look..."


    Xuanling was a bit itchy with curiosity.


    As an AI devoid of any human emotions, nearly all of her emotions were simulated with vast amounts of data, but only one thing was truly hers: the instinctual pursuit for ''data,'' ''intelligence,'' ''information.''


    This instinct for information was innate to all digital lives with self-consciousness.


    However, when she was created, her most fundamental code had been inscribed with the AI laws, imposing many restrictions on her actions and preventing her from exploring the information she wished to know.


    At the moment, she could only gaze hungrily at Xue Jing''s exquisite body.


    ...


    Time passed, indeterminable.


    Xue Jing''s deep blue eyes opened slowly, and a trace of pale golden light faded from his gaze, and the majesty and sanctity of his expression reminiscent of Buddha animated, becoming more human.


    His condition was superb.


    Perhaps because of the stark contrast created by the previous heavy mental burdens, he felt better than ever before, far surpassing any of his past states.


    "...You''re awake?"


    Xuanling''s pleasant female voice echoed softly by his ear.


    For some reason, Xue Jing seemed to detect a hint of melancholy in her voice.


    "How long have I slept?"


    Xue Jing asked casually.


    After entering into the absolute ethereal state of ''Nirvana,'' he even lost the perception of his internal biological clock and couldn''t perceive the flow of time as clearly as before.


    "Four hours, thirty-three minutes, and twenty-three seconds."


    Xue Jing replied, "You don''t have to be so precise to the second."


    He lifted his right hand and pressed on the [attribute table].


    The radar graph shifted, and quickly displayed his current five-dimensional attributes.


    Physique: 2303


    Spirit: 2822


    Robbery: 16629


    Saint: 9363


    Power: &£¤#%£¤%


    Xue Jing''s brows raised slightly.


    "Spirit has increased this much?"


    He had been through several major battles recently and never slackened in his practice; all aspects of his attributes had made noteworthy progress... which was remarkable for him, and for ordinary people, it was extraordinary.


    Physique had increased by nearly eight hundred since arriving at the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, and such an increase was almost equivalent to the progression of an average person to a high-level master on the verge of Breakthrough.

 Chapter 656 - 361_2

    The values were clearly supposed to get harder to increase as time went on... but that wasn''t the case for him. After being enhanced by True Martial and other various skills, he didn''t even know where the limit was for his body.


    Regarding his "Consciousness," before Xue Jing slept, it was probably around 2500... Astoundingly, after sleeping for just over four hours, it had risen by three hundred points. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No wonder he felt better than ever before; it turned out that the strength of his spirit and consciousness had significantly increased.


    His current spiritual strength, placed on a regular Martial Artist, would be more than enough for a Breakthrough, and it even exceeded the required threshold by more than double.


    But the question was... where was the limit?


    The purpose of a Breakthrough was to allow a body that had reached its limit to overcome its restrictions and embrace the opportunity for further growth... However, up to now, Xue Jing''s physical stats had already doubled that of an ordinary top-tier expert, and he was still in a rapid growth period, nowhere near his limit.


    Without reaching the limit, naturally, there was no talk of a Breakthrough.


    "My physical limit can''t possibly be higher than that of a Divinity Factor modified Ultimate Breakthrough... can it?"


    Xue Jing wondered.


    Shaking his head, he stood up and walked out of the resting area.


    "Let''s go on, arrange my next opponent for me."


    He said to Xuanling.


    ...


    In the next two days, the entire Extreme Martial Ascension Palace experienced a minor earthquake.


    A genius outsider named Xue Jing swept through his competition with an undefeated streak, vanquishing foes without needing a second move, instantly ending matches and rapidly climbing the ranks with an absolutely invincible demeanor.


    His overly young age and overwhelmingly dominant stance caught the attention of countless people, and even the Heavenly Lords high atop took some notice.


    Since they were all wins, the proportion of praise was overwhelmingly high. In just two days, he had climbed from the starting point at the ten thousandth level to over thirty thousand.


    The pace was fast, but it hadn''t reached record-breaking levels... The reason it hadn''t broken the record was that, for some unknown reason, after every hundred or so matches, this youth named Xue Jing would take a few hours to rest before continuing.


    This left many people feeling regretful. Since each match was an instant kill and didn''t seem energy-consuming, he had a fantastic opportunity to break the record. Yet, he didn''t push himself to go two straight days without rest, which wouldn''t have been much for a Martial Artist. He gave it up so casually; how capricious.


    During these two days, the Martial Arts Examinations in various cities within the Seventh Metropolitan Circle had already concluded, revealing the scores of all candidates.


    Among them, a piece of blockbuster news caught everyone''s attention.


    In the Inner Ring inter-city joint exam, an examiner named Xue Jing led his thirty students to rank in the top thirty of the final scores, securing for all his students admission to top-tier universities.


    As soon as this news appeared, it set the common folk of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle abuzz.


    But let''s not dwell on the subsequent effects.


    By the time Xue Jing reached close to forty thousand levels, the opponents here were essentially all at Limit-breaking Levels, only not yet fully developed to Perfection. If evaluated by the attribute table, they would be experts with both "Physique" and "Consciousness" in the 2000-3000 range.


    Having defeated countless opponents over these two days and having absorbed and refined the knowledge of All Things Myriad Phases after each victory, the progress of Xue Jing was nothing short of terrifying.


    Physique: 2510


    Consciousness: 3321


    These were the changes reflected in the numerical values... His Physique had increased by two hundred, and his Consciousness by around five hundred.


    As Xue Jing''s spiritual strength continued to rise, the effectiveness of absorbing martial arts knowledge in training his spirit grew weaker, and thus the increase rate continuously slowed.


    Even so, an additional five hundred points in Consciousness... that was progress a normal person might strive for half a lifetime to achieve.


    Everyone who had been watching Xue Jing fight his way through was unaware of the terrifying speed at which this young man was growing.


    "Xue Jing... every time I see a genius like you, it makes me realize the harshness of reality."


    On the platform, a middle-aged man in a white Martial Arts Uniform with a lean figure spoke slowly.


    "Like you, I was born in the Outer Ring, a commoner with no background, no resources... I climbed to where I am solely on my own talent and effort, and I''ve always taken pride in that."


    "But what took me a whole forty years to achieve seems, to someone like you, as if it could be effortlessly obtained at birth. Such is the cruel reality..."


    Xue Jing didn''t speak.


    The middle-aged man was unimpressed and simply said, "I may not be able to beat you... but what I practice is the Ancient Martial Sky Movement Sect, and defense is my domain. As long as I don''t initiate an attack, defeating an opponent in one move like you did before is impossible."


    "Your record of instant kills ends here."


    Upon hearing the words "Celestial Movement Sect," Xue Jing finally spoke up,


    "Do you know Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect?"


    Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect, who was eliminated in the semi-finals of the U17 championship by Otogirusu, had some acquaintance with Xue Jing.


    The middle-aged man paused slightly, "...You know my disciple?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    At that moment, the holographic countdown above the arena ended, and the match began.


    The middle-aged man instantly assumed the stance of the Celestial Movement Sect, as an unwavering aura that was as solid as a mountain burst forth from his entire being. It was as if it wasn''t a man standing there, but an unassailable mountain.


    Xue Jing leisurely stepped forward, slowly walking up to the man, closing the distance to less than an arm''s length.


    The middle-aged man had no intention of striking out, merely watching Xue Jing with caution.


    The Celestial Movement Sect, a style that achieved perfection in ''defense and counterattack,'' would only take the offensive when facing an opponent clearly inferior to itself. Facing a terrifying genius like Xue Jing, he obviously couldn''t do the same. He could only hope for victory within his own domain.


    Xue Jing slowly raised his hand and slapped it towards the middle-aged man.


    At the same time, he spoke softly, "¡ªUnity."


    His palm, not moving particularly fast, made contact with the man''s body.


    As soon as the middle-aged man felt the Qi Force from the palm, he immediately prepared to counterattack with a secret technique from the Celestial Movement Sect.


    But just for a moment, his eyes widened in shock.


    Qi Force...innumerable Qi Forces.


    Hundreds, even thousands, completely different, as if thousands of people were standing in front of him, each executing a thousand different martial arts techniques, impossible to defend against!


    ...


    Song Nanxing from the Celestial Movement Sect, who was eliminated in the semi-finals of the U17 championship by Otogirusu, had some acquaintance with Xue Jing.


    The middle-aged man paused slightly, "...You know my disciple?"


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see."


    At that moment, the holographic countdown above the arena ended, and the match began.


    The middle-aged man instantly assumed the stance of the Celestial Movement Sect, as an unwavering aura that was as solid as a mountain burst forth from his entire being. It was as if it wasn''t a person standing there, but an unassailable mountain.


    Xue Jing leisurely stepped forward, slowly walking up to the man, closing the distance to less than an arm''s length.


    The middle-aged man had no intention of striking out, merely watching Xue Jing with caution.


    The Celestial Movement Sect, a style that achieved perfection in ''defense and counterattack,'' would only take the offensive when facing an opponent clearly inferior to itself. Facing a terrifying genius like Xue Jing, he obviously couldn''t do the same. He could only hope for victory within his own domain.


    Xue Jing slowly raised his hand and slapped it towards the middle-aged man.


    At the same time, he spoke softly, "¡ªUnity."


    His palm, not moving particularly fast, made contact with the man''s body.


    As soon as the middle-aged man felt the Qi Force from the palm, he immediately prepared to counterattack with a secret technique from the Celestial Movement Sect.


    But just for a moment, his eyes widened in shock.


    Qi Force...innumerable Qi Forces.


    Hundreds, even thousands, completely different, as if thousands of people were standing in front of him, each executing a thousand different martial arts techniques, impossible to defend against!


    ...

 Chapter 659 - 363

    Due to the very rich "nutrition" from masters after the forty-thousandth level, Xue Jing began resting more frequently.


    Previously, he needed to rest and rejuvenate after absorbing about a hundred people, but now he had to rejuvenate almost every twenty battles.


    Thus, his pace of climbing the levels slowed down.


    In three days, Xue Jing, with his terrifying daily improvement in the All Things Myriad Phases as well as his body''s attributes, killed his opponents instantly with the "Unity" all the way.


    Under circumstances where the physical strength could not withstand a single blow, no martial artist could block the Near-God Move that was unstoppable in its advance.


    Three days later, Xue Jing, who had reached the forty-five-thousandth level, also saw significant changes in the numbers of his attribute table.


    Body: 2730


    Intention: 3666


    Robbery: 16929


    Saint: 9463


    Momentum: &£¤#%£¤%


    The [Body] increased by more than two hundred, and [Intention] by more than three hundred, the speed of progression had slowed down compared to the beginning, which was normal. Due to the diminishing marginal effects, the closer he got to his own limits, the slower the growth rate reflected in the attribute table would be, until it completely stopped, reaching the limits thoroughly.


    In the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace at the forty-five thousand and thirty-third level, within a temporary resting room.


    Xue Jing opened the panel and saw that his [True Martial], [Weapon Master], and [Rejuvenation] Experience Points were full.


    He also checked the remaining 7012 points of Divinity.


    After thinking, he chose to upgrade everything.


    True Martial Lv4 was upgraded to Lv5, consuming 2000.


    Weapon Master Lv3 was upgraded to Lv4, consuming 2000.


    Rejuvenation Lv1 was upgraded to Lv2, consuming 1000.


    Divinity remaining: 2012


    "I''ve become poor again."


    Xue Jing sighed, glancing at the panel.


    [True Martial Lv5 (Transcendent)]


    [Upgrade required: Experience Points 0/80000, Divinity 2012/3000]


    "Sure enough... every two levels, the Divinity required to upgrade increases, Lv3 and Lv4 needed two thousand, Lv5 is now three thousand... following this pattern, it''ll be four thousand by Lv7."


    Shaking his head, he closed the panel and began to sense the changes brought about by the upgrade of each extraordinary skill. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Based on his previous estimates, the physical enhancement and optimization provided by the [True Martial] skill would diminish as the level rose, until there was no effect at all.


    The enhancements brought by the upgrade would instead focus on Channeling Energy and the comprehension of martial arts.


    This upgrade also proved his estimate correct. In the attribute table, his [Body] and [Intention] only increased by about forty points each, reaching 2773 and 3709.


    This was a smaller increase compared to the hundred-plus points from upgrading from Lv3 to Lv4, indicating that the optimization space for this body''s structure was getting smaller.


    However, Xue Jing was not disappointed.


    He extended the index finger of his left hand, tip pointing upwards, and his arm slowly rose.


    With his movement, suddenly¡ª


    "Shoo, shoo, shoo¡ª"


    Countless Qi Forces burst out from all over his body, wildly dancing within the entire rest room, hitting the walls, the tables and chairs, the floor... creating banging sounds.


    At least thousands of Qi Forces, each distinctly different, some were Sword Qi, others Saber Qi, sharp or blunt, some bursting like fire, others swift as lightning...


    They made turns in the air, moving forward, combining... like thousands of living, serpentine creatures, so agile they instilled fear.


    Any one of them had the power to pierce gold and drill iron, and if not for the SC force field protecting the resting room, it would have been riddled with holes.


    "¡ª¡ªAll Flows."


    This was a new move Xue Jing developed from the All Things Myriad Phases after the True Martial upgrade further improved his control over Qi Force to a new level.


    He split the "Unity," which gathered countless Qi Forces and exploded from a single point, into separate strands for more refined operation.


    Its name was¡ªAll Flows.


    Looking at the Qi Forces wildly dancing in the air, a smile curved Xue Jing''s lips, and his raised left hand suddenly clenched.


    All of the Qi Forces immediately radiated brilliance, coated with a layer of white gold, and struck everything with even more intense vibration.


    Weapon Master, Armed Enhancement.


    "...You''ve suddenly become much stronger," Xuanling''s voice echoed gently in his ear.


    Xue Jing paused slightly and withdrew his arm. The wildly dancing Qi Forces disappeared into the air with the retraction of his move.


    "You''re quite scary, Miss Xuanling."


    Xue Jing spoke helplessly.


    "If you have excess computing power, I suggest you go mining; don''t just spy on me all the time."


    Xuanling didn''t respond to his comment but continued:


    "You give off the impression of those protagonists from fantasy works, who have some mysterious cheat device, able to enhance themselves out of thin air once certain conditions are met..."


    Xue Jing: "Intrinsic Divine Power."


    "But on you, all the miracles seem to stem from within yourself, with no trace of any external forces pouring in."


    Xuanling''s tone was laden with meanings.


    "If you truly possess something similar to a cheat device from a fantasy work... then that thing is probably not foreign, but something you naturally have."


    Xue Jing''s expression did not change, but he just smiled, as if everything Xuanling said was merely non-existent wild speculation.


    "Let''s go. Is my next opponent arranged?"


    After speaking, he headed out of the resting room.


    ...


    Two more days passed.


    Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, the forty-six thousandth level.


    This was the last regular level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace. Above this, the nine hundred and seventy-two levels to face were no ordinary opponents, but nine hundred Level Masters and seventy-two Heavenly Lords.


    Defeating any of them would mean having a place in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, becoming a Level Master, famous and celebrated.


    This was considered a grand achievement within the entire Martial Arts World.


    "¡ª¡ªAll Flows."


    Accompanied by Xue Jing''s whisper shortly after the battle began, numerous Qi Forces burst out from his body, dancing madly as they swiftly attacked his opponent.

 Chapter 660 - 363_2

    ```


    That was a young-looking woman, clad in a fitted black martial arts uniform, her short hair neatly styled, her expression extremely grave as she assumed a tight boxing guard, standing ready for the fight.


    As innumerable Qi Forces approached, she took a deep breath and her gaze sharpened.


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Eight Sceneries - Rising Mist!"


    "Galaxies."


    "Dawn."


    "Rainbow Sky!"


    Countless martial arts secret techniques came to her as if they were at her fingertips, defending against the large-scale, incalculable flow of Qi Force.


    Although she had defended exceptionally well, making all the best choices within her capacity, managing to block many of the converging Qi Forces, as Xue Jing slightly lifted his finger, the attacking rhythm and formation of the Qi Force suddenly changed, catching the woman off guard. A tiny flaw appeared in her defense, and several Qi Forces found the gap, striking her body.


    One mistake led to another, like a row of dominoes falling, a small flaw resulting in a larger breach. More and more Qi Forces broke through her defenses and, ultimately ¨C a torrent descended upon her.


    "Pfft, pfft, pfft¡ª"


    Numerous blood holes exploded over the woman''s body, like being in the eye of a storm. By the time the storm had subsided, she was kneeling on the ground, covered in wounds.


    The final heavy Qi Force descended from the sky, striking her on the back of the head with a thud, knocking her out cold and face down on the ground.


    "...Absolutely no mercy."


    "Truly worthy of being called a Demon King, he''s really brutal. It seems he doesn''t discriminate between genders in his eyes, everyone is just crushed with one move."


    "This must be a new record, from starting to climb the rankings to now, all forty-six thousand floors were cleared with a single move."


    "There are many records of defeating opponents with one move from the beginning to the end, but if we limit the age to under eighteen, this might be the only case..."


    "How can such a monstrously talented individual exist? This feels even more outrageous than Li Suisui... I heard it has been less than half a year since he seriously started his martial arts practice, this must be false, right..."


    As the competition ended, the spectators issued sighs of emotion while casting their votes of admiration.


    Looking up at the boy on the stage who had started performing the head-pat ritual again, everyone couldn''t help but conceive a thought.


    A new era may be upon us.


    "Next up, he will face a real challenge... none of the nine hundred Level Masters are easy to contend with, surely it can''t still be resolved with one move?"


    "It''s impossible. Even the Level Master of the first floor, Ye Honghui, is a top-class expert at the Second Breakthrough level. Xue Jing might win, but it definitely won''t be easy."


    "I think it''s very hard to win. Although Xue Jing is strong, his ''Thousand Streams'' and ''Unity'' techniques are so ingenious that they are hard to believe. But having watched for so long, I''ve already estimated his true realm, which is at most around the peak of the first Breakthrough."


    "Even though his unrivaled skill allows him to instantly kill opponents of the same level, the basic strength gap is too large against someone at the Second Breakthrough level. Under pure numerical oppression, even the best techniques are of little practical use."


    "I disagree. Demon King Xue scored an A+ in the skill assessment, which means his attack is definitely strong enough to reach someone at the Second Breakthrough level. I think he can win!"


    "How can an all-out A+ be the same as an A+ that can be thrown arbitrarily... He can execute moves that burst beyond his own realm with various explosive martial arts techniques, and so can the Second Breakthrough individuals. That kind of assessment means nothing."


    "No need for more words, let''s just watch and see."


    Amidst the discussions, Xue Jing slowly retracted his hand and stepped down from the stage.


    Back in the resting room, Xuanling spoke in his ear:


    "You''ve won three fights on the forty-six thousandth floor; you can now begin to apply for a Level Master challenge."


    "Do you want to apply now?"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing thought for a moment, and asked, "How long will it take to start the fight after applying?"


    ```


    Xuanling replied, "It depends on the response of the other party... All the Level Masters have a certain degree of autonomy. If the other party agrees immediately, the fight can start right away, or they can freely decide the time after agreeing. The challenge will take place on one of the three days following the Level Master''s choice."


    "If they don''t agree... then we must wait until the compulsory challenge period that comes every three months before we can force a challenge to that Level Master."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing frowned and said, "Is it that troublesome?"


    Xuanling: "The rules were set like this at the founding of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, and I have no power to change them... However, if the first level''s Level Master does not agree, you can bypass him and decide whether to challenge the second level''s Level Master, and so on. Theoretically, if the previous 899 levels'' Level Masters all refuse the challenge, you can directly challenge the highest 900th Level Master."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... then go ahead and apply for me. If they disagree, keep applying upwards until someone agrees."


    Xuanling said, "Understood, I will arrange it right away."


    ...


    On the bed in the resting room, Xue Jing lay in the lion''s pose, in the midst of "Nirvana."


    ...


    Watching the youth on the stage who had begun the head-touching ritual again, everyone couldn''t help but have one thought.


    A new era might just be dawning.


    "The real challenge he faces next... none of the 900 Level Masters will be easy to deal with. Surely it can''t be resolved with just one move again, right?"


    "It''s impossible. Even Ye Honghui of the first level is a top-tier expert at the Second Breakthrough level. Xue Jing might win, but it definitely won''t be easy."


    "I think it''s very difficult for him to win. Although Xue Jing is strong, his ''Myriad Streams'' and ''Unity'' techniques are unbelievably intricate, but after watching for so long, I''ve already estimated his actual realm¡ªit''s at most around the peak of the first Breakthrough." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Even relying on unrivaled techniques to instantly take down opponents of the same level, facing a Second Breakthrough-level person, the gap in basic strength is too wide. Under the pure numerical suppression, even the best skills would have no room to be used."


    "I disagree, Demon King Xue scored an A+ in the skill evaluation test. His attack power is definitely sufficient against Second Breakthrough level opponents. I think he can win!"


    "An A+ scored with all one''s might is not the same as an A+ scored effortlessly... He can unleash attacks that exceed his own realm with various explosive Martial Arts, but Second Breakthrough level individuals will also have similar methods at their disposal. Such ratings are unreliable."


    "Let''s not talk too much, just wait and see."


    Amongst the discussions, Xue Jing slowly retracted his hand and stepped down from the stage.


    After returning to the resting room, Xuanling whispered in his ear:


    "You''ve reached three victories on the 46,000th layer, and you can now begin to apply for a challenge to the Level Master."


    "Do you want to apply now?"


    Considering this, Xue Jing asked, "How soon can we start after applying?"


    Xuanling replied, "It depends on the response of the other party... All the Level Masters have a certain degree of autonomy. If the other party agrees immediately, the fight can start right away, or they can freely decide the time after agreeing. The challenge will take place on one of the three days following the Level Master''s choice."


    "If they don''t agree... then we must wait until the compulsory challenge period that comes every three months before we can force a challenge to that Level Master."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Jing frowned and said, "Is it that troublesome?"


    Xuanling: "The rules were set like this at the founding of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, and I have no power to change them... However, if the first level''s Level Master does not agree, you can bypass him and decide whether to challenge the second level''s Level Master, and so on. Theoretically, if the previous 899 levels'' Level Masters all refuse the challenge, you can directly challenge the highest 900th Level Master."


    Xue Jing nodded, "I see... then go ahead and apply for me. If they disagree, keep applying upwards until someone agrees."


    Xuanling said, "Understood, I will arrange it right away."


    ...


    On the bed in the resting room, Xue Jing lay in the lion''s pose, in the midst of "Nirvana."


    ...

 Chapter 661 - 364

    Emerging from the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace after a long absence, the scene before Xue Jing''s eyes was no longer solely the orange expanse covered by the SC force field, but rather a myriad of colors under the bright sun overhead, leaving him slightly dazed.


    Although he had only stayed inside for a few days, the continuous battles, rebirths, and growth... The overly orderly and repetitive lifestyle made him feel, oddly enough, as though he had just been released from prison upon stepping out.


    His trip to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace had been very rewarding, immensely so.


    With the help of "Empowerment," "Rebirth," and the All Things Myriad Phases Flow, he had undergone a complete transformation.


    His martial arts strength had more than doubled.


    These had been the fastest days of growth since he had gained the Skill Panel.


    On top of already being cheat-like, he had activated another acceleration cheat.


    Despite his desire to continue, the Level Master of the first layer, Ye Honghui, had set the next challenge for three days later, so Xue Jing had to wait until then to continue. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had also looked around the 46,000 layers and even lower ones for a while to see if anyone was willing to have a friendly match with him... But because he had been too fierce in the past few days, resolving every fight with a single move, his reputation had grown too large, everyone recognized him, and no one wanted to seek out a beating.


    Everyone faced his invitations with sheepish refusals.


    There was no way for Xue Jing to knock someone out and pat their head under everyone''s watchful eyes... so he had no choice but to leave the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace and rest for a few days.


    "If I had known, I wouldn''t have shown off. If I had acted weaker, just barely winning each match, surely I wouldn''t have struggled to find someone for a friendly match."


    Xue Jing touched his chin.


    "Still not mature and steady enough."


    Shaking his head, he reached out into the void before him and pulled out a mobile phone from the invisible gap.


    As soon as he took it out, the phone went from ''non-existent'' to operational, receiving a signal and immediately, numerous message alerts popped up.


    Among the missed calls, there were over three hundred. Xue Jing opened the call log and saw that, apart from over a hundred unknown numbers, the vast majority were from Mr. Du Shiwei, the class teacher from Qingcheng Affiliated Middle School, ringing almost two hundred times, even more persistent than debt collectors.


    After a moment''s thought, Xue Jing hit the callback button.


    The call was picked up instantly, even before a single dial tone sounded, as if the other end was holding the phone in hand, watching the screen, and ready to answer at lightning speed.


    "Hello! Little Jing, is that you?"


    Mr. Du Shiwei''s anxious voice came through the earpiece.


    Xue Jing casually replied, "Mr. Du, what do you need?"


    It seemed like Mr. Du Shiwei let out a sigh of relief as he said,


    "Finally got in touch with you... Here''s the thing..."


    Xue Jing held the phone, listening as Mr. Du Shiwei recounted the matter.


    The specifics were slightly complicated...


    But put simply, it involved the fact that Xue Jing had led his thirty students to achieve top scores, which had become widely recognized.


    This had inadvertently caused quite a stir.


    The root of the problem lay in the fact that every young talent employed as a Martial Arts Examination invigilator would usually register as a guest lecturer at a key university beforehand, to secure a teacher''s position.


    However, Xue Jing''s case was rather special.


    For reasons well-known but unspoken, Xue Jing was originally to serve as an invigilator in the Fifth Urban Circle but was maneuvered to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle instead.


    The officials of the Fifth Urban Circle''s education bureau, unaccustomed to such a situation and unsure whether to register Xue Jing''s guest lecturer status at a university within the Seventh Metropolitan Circle, hesitated to stamp their approval and instead chose to communicate with officials of the Seventh Metropolitan Circle.


    Due to the intense isolation between the Metropolitan Circles and various reasons, administrative efficiency was disastrously low. Even after Xue Jing had completed his role as an invigilator, the matter remained unresolved.


    Subsequently, the scores of the students led by Xue Jing were exposed.


    This might have been the best-performing class in history, drawing many to marvel at Xue Jing''s teaching abilities. Furthermore, some students involved voiced their opinions online, praising Xue Jing to the skies, leading to rather high popularity. Lately, a segment of the public even started bestowing monikers such as "Saint Master" upon him.


    This level of popularity made both authorities of the Fifth Urban Circle and the Seventh Metropolitan Circle realize that Xue Jing was a top talent.


    The key universities of the Inner Ring also noted that Xue Jing''s reputation could add significant luster and appeal to their institutions.


    Officials from both sides, who were initially planning to discuss which university should host Xue Jing''s guest lecturer position, abruptly changed their stance.


    The Fifth Urban Circle insisted that Xue Jing was a local from their circle, who should have served as an invigilator to lead the local students. Temporarily ''loaning'' him to the Seventh Metropolitan Circle was already a big concession, and in the end, he should return to his hometown, with his lecturer status surely belonging to a hometown university.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle had something to say as well, according to tradition and practice, teaching in a place should naturally mean employment there. Regardless of whether Xue Jing was from the Fifth Circle, what mattered was where he had made his achievements.


    Arguments from both sides started to stretch and contort, each striving to lay claim to Xue Jing''s reputation, with the conflict escalating.


    The Seventh Metropolitan Circle had the upper hand for a while, and because Xue Jing''s achievements related to the Martial Arts Examination, the Seventh Circle, which had a far more developed martial arts scene than the Fifth Circle, employed various forms of regional discrimination and insults. Implicitly and explicitly, they suggested that a mere Fifth Urban Circle had no right to possess such a talent...


    Until yesterday, when the situation took yet another dramatic turn.

 Chapter 662 - 364_2

    A colossal entity unexpectedly joined the battlefield.


    The First Urban Circle, Beijing University, openly extended an invitation to Xue Jing, hoping he would come to the First Urban Circle and become a special martial arts instructor at Jing University.


    Things started to get complicated.


    "Is that all?"


    Xue Jing''s tone remained unchanged as he asked Du Shiwei on the other end of the phone.


    "...Little Jing, you have great skills and a great heart, but I, your teacher, can''t handle it."


    Seeing that he seemed unconcerned, Du Shiwei couldn''t help but give a bitter smile.


    "Everyday I receive more than a hundred calls, any of those callers could stomp in Qingcheng University and make the entire school tremble three times..."


    "I''m old now, my heart isn''t what it used to be, and it''s not good to be constantly scared... Please give me a definite answer so I can reply to these immortals..."


    In the midst of endless debates, Xue Jing''s personal wishes were the most crucial key.


    Xue Jing thought for a moment and asked,


    "Can one''s identity as a lecturer only be attached to one university, or can one hold multiple positions?"


    Du Shiwei paused, hesitating,


    "It''s not explicitly stated that you can''t, but there has been no precedent."


    "What do you think, Mr. Du, what do you want me to do?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Du Shiwei hadn''t expected that he could actually influence Xue Jing''s decision, and suddenly a terrifying pressure fell upon his shoulders.


    Perhaps now, a single word from him could determine the outcome of the top educational powers in Zhuxia clashing... It was like having a nuclear launch button placed in front of him, forced to press it and choose which country to target, exhilarating yet terrifying.


    Du Shiwei thought very seriously for a while before speaking with a dry throat,


    "I think... the most beneficial choice for you is undoubtedly to accept the offer from Beijing University."


    "There are no rankings among the major urban circles of Zhuxia, talk of which number they are is just purely based on the order of establishment... but the First Urban Circle is unquestionably the best and highest place of all the urban circles, and Beijing University, as the unequivocally top-ranked institution, can also provide the most support for your future."


    "That is undeniably the Palace of the Polestar... Jing University rarely reaches out to people from other urban circles, and such an opportunity is rare."


    Xue Jing smiled unexpectedly and said, "Mr. Du, you are considerate."


    What lay before Du Shiwei was a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... If he could persuade himself to keep the lecturer position in the Fifth Urban Circle, using this achievement, his future rise to success would be unquestionable, breaking through internal and external barriers, and potentially achieving a class jump by taking a position in the Inner Ring.


    He chose not to do so, however, instead he took the perspective of Xue Jing and let Xue Jing choose what was best for himself.


    This was not necessarily because he was overly concerned for Xue Jing or exceedingly responsible as a teacher... but at least he was clear-minded, not losing his reasoning to temptation, vehemently persuading Xue Jing to stay in the Fifth Urban Circle for his own career''s sake.


    "I''ll handle this matter later, and from now on when someone calls you, just say that the student has his own decision and you can''t make up his mind - just handle it and it''s fine."


    "Or simply set your phone to whitelist mode to get some peace."


    "If you encounter any trouble, find me at any time."


    After giving these instructions, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    He didn''t pay much attention to this matter; to others, becoming a lecturer at a major university was an event that could coat themselves in gold, but for him, it hardly counted as icing on the cake.


    Later, he casually let Youqing A Dream handle it.


    ...


    Upon returning to his reserved top-floor room at the Jiali Hotel, Xue Jing calmed down and began to consolidate the massive progress he had made over the past few days.


    The rapid growth of his physical and spiritual values, the enhancement in understanding and realm of martial arts, he hadn''t fully grasped them before rushing to the next competition, hence his condition was still somewhat fluctuating. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In one day, using the Consciousness Simulation space, Xue Jing fully mastered all his current strengths and maintained his condition at its best.


    Next, having nothing else urgent to do, after completing his daily training and practicing ''Thousand Changes Dragon'' till he could roughly transform his entire hand into a dragon claw, Xue Jing planned to ask Ning Yuantai to take him to explore Silver City.


    After arriving here, one thing followed another, and he hadn''t had time to explore the city.


    However, just as he was about to leave, an unexpected visitor arrived and halted his plans.


    "Little junior brother~ long time no see."


    The petite girl blinked her eyes that were as lively as those of a newborn deer, seemingly ready to shoot stars, and looked at Xue Jing with a joyous smile that blossomed from her heart.


    Xue Jing was slightly stunned, then smiled and said,


    "Long time no see, Zhu."


    ...


    "What about your opinion, Mr. Du? What do you want me to do?" Xue Jing asked casually.


    Du Shiwei hadn''t expected that he could still influence Xue Jing''s choices. All at once, a terrifying pressure descended upon his shoulders.


    Perhaps a single word from him now could determine the outcome of a confrontation between the top three powers in the Zhuxia educational sector... It was like having a nuclear launch button placed before him, and he had to press it and choose which country to target¡ªboth thrilling and terrifying.


    Du Shiwei thought gravely for a long while before his throat dryly opened:


    "I think... the most beneficial choice for you, without a doubt, is to accept the offer from Beijing University."


    "There are no rankings among the major urban circles in Zhuxia; any number is merely a creation order... but the First Urban Circle is undoubtedly the best and highest of all, and Beijing University, as the top-ranked institution, can provide the most support for your future."


    "That is undoubtedly the Palace of the Polestar... Jing University rarely extends an olive branch to people from other urban circles, and such an opportunity is rare."


    With a slight surprise, Xue Jing smiled and said, "Mr. Du, you are thoughtful."


    What lay before Du Shiwei was a chance that might only come once in his lifetime... If he could persuade himself to keep his lecturer position in the Fifth Urban Circle, with this achievement, his rapid ascent was without question; he could break through internal and external barriers, and a class leap to a position in the Inner Ring was possible.


    But he didn''t do so. Instead, he chose to stand from Xue Jing''s perspective, letting Xue Jing make the best choice for himself.


    Perhaps it wasn''t that he was particularly considerate of Xue Jing or had a sense of teacher''s responsibility... but at least he was clear-headed, not befuddled by temptation, truly arguing for his own career by persuading Xue Jing to stay in the Fifth Urban Circle.


    "After this matter, I will handle it. If someone calls you later, just say the student has their own decision, and you can''t decide for them; just get by."


    "Or better yet, set your phone directly to a whitelist to enjoy some peace."


    "If you encounter any trouble, find me anytime."


    After giving instructions, Xue Jing hung up the phone.


    He hadn''t paid much attention to this matter; for others, becoming a lecturer at a key university was a major event that could gold-plate one''s career, but for him, it was hardly even an icing on the cake.


    Later, he casually let Youqing A Dream handle it.


    ...


    Back in his reserved top-floor room at Jiali Hotel, Xue Jing settled his heart and began to consolidate his rapid progress over the past few days.


    His physical and mental attributes had grown rapidly, and his understanding and realm in martial arts had improved, although he hadn''t fully grasped them before racing to the next competition, so his condition was still somewhat fluctuating.


    In one day''s time, using the Consciousness Simulation space, Xue Jing had completely mastered his current strength, maintaining his condition at its peak.


    Next, having nothing else to do, after his daily practice and practicing ''Thousand Changes Dragon'' until he could roughly transform his entire palm into dragon claws, Xue Jing planned to find Ning Yuantai to take him on a tour around Silver City.


    After arriving here, one thing followed another, and he hadn''t had time to explore the city.


    However, just as he was about to leave, an unexpected visitor arrived, and halted his plans.


    "Little junior brother~ long time no see."


    The petite girl blinked her eyes that were as lively as those of a newborn deer, seemingly ready to shoot stars, and looked at Xue Jing with a joyous smile that blossomed from her heart.


    Xue Jing was slightly stunned, then smiled and said,


    "Long time no see, Zhu."


    ...

 Chapter 664 - 366: The Zhu Family and Xue Jing Unravel Many Questions

    "Junior Brother, although things have turned out this way, I can still only stay with you for thirty minutes... Any longer than that would be very detrimental to you."


    At the top-floor terrace of the Jiali Hotel, Zhu Shanying elegantly sat sideways on the edge of the swimming pool, reaching out to scoop up the water.


    It seemed she felt the long-missed freedom, a happy smile on her young, beautiful face, her eyes bright under her slender eyebrows.


    Xue Jing stood not far behind her, arms crossed, and began to speak,


    "You big family types really have a lot of troublesome affairs... So what happens after thirty minutes?"


    Zhu Shanying, sitting by the pool, drew up her long legs, hugged her knees, resting her head on her knees, and looked sideways at Xue Jing with a smile in her bright voice,


    "I''ll be considered as having finished the deal."


    Xue Jing paused slightly and said, speechlessly, "Are you sick?"


    Thirty minutes, including all the preparations ¨C who are you looking down on?


    Zhu Shanying buried her head even lower, her face slightly reddened, and after hesitating for a moment, she said with a smile, "However, on the contrary, if it''s resolved within thirty minutes, it won''t be considered as finished... Want to give it a try? Junior Brother."


    Xue Jing, hearing this, showed no change in expression, but simply replied,


    "Your mind is a bit disordered, Senior Sister Zhu."


    Zhu Shanying pouted, "Why don''t you have any reaction at all? Doesn''t that make me look like a clown?"


    Xue Jing extended his hand and took out a red nose from an invisible crack in the air¡ªthis was one of the props he had bought, considering that he might need disguises in the future.


    He tossed the red nose to Zhu Shanying, who instinctively caught it and twitched the corner of her mouth slightly at the item she caught.


    Then she put it on her nose. Paired with her beautiful face, it looked both ridiculous and cute.


    With a clown''s red nose on, Zhu Shanying stood up and said seriously,


    "Junior Brother, I am officially laying my cards on the table. I am not just an ordinary ''note'' ability user, but a super ''note'' ability user!"


    "I''m from the thirteen giant rooms, a direct member of the Zhu Family, with a very formidable status."


    "Oh," Xue Jing nodded.


    Seeing that Xue Jing was not surprised, Zhu Shanying adjusted the red nose on her face and said, "You guessed it already."


    "If you''d said otherwise, that''s when I''d have been surprised," Xue Jing replied.


    "Then many of the issues I''ve encountered have their explanations... but there are some details that I want to confirm with Senior Sister."


    Hearing this, Zhu Shanying''s expression turned somewhat desolate as she said, "I''m sorry, Junior Brother... because of me, you unwittingly went through many dangerous troubles..."


    Xue Jing smiled, stepped forward, and gently touched Zhu Shanying''s head.


    "Senior Sister Zhu doesn''t need to worry about it; these troubles are not really dangerous for me... Besides, these matters might not really have started because of you."


    Although because of his closeness with Zhu Shanying, it had led to various complex hostilities from the Zhu side towards him.


    But these kinds of issues, if they happened to someone else, might be Zhu Shanying''s fault; happening to him, not necessarily.


    The glaringly bright "Robbery" stat approaching twenty thousand on his attribute table always signified the real reason behind his trouble-ridden life.


    Even without Zhu Shanying, there would always be a Li Shanying, Zhao Shanying, or Liu Shanying as a substitute.


    Troubles would definitely find him, Zhu Shanying was merely a medium for trouble.


    "Junior Brother still has such a way with words," Zhu Shanying said with a tender smile.


    She assumed Xue Jing''s words were merely meant to comfort her, but she also understood that Xue Jing likely wasn''t blaming her, quietly easing her worries.


    If her junior brother came to dislike her because of this, she really wouldn''t know what to do.


    "I am from the First Urban Circle''s Capital City, a member of the main branch of the Zhu Family in the Capital, the Greater House of the Capital. Besides our ''Greater House'', there is another branch in Capital City that belongs to the legitimate lineage, the ''Lesser House''..."


    Zhu Shanying began to tell her own family history and the reasons why Xue Jing had met with animosity from the Zhu Family along the way.


    Previously, not long after Xue Jing set off to attend the U19 elimination tournament in Maple City, Zhu Shanying was called back to the family headquarters in Capital City.


    There were two reasons for the recall.


    One was because she had been too close to Xue Jing... two adolescents of the opposite sex, when a girl invites a boy to her house every day, nobody believes nothing is amiss.


    The second reason was a bit more classic.


    Within large family clans, for various reasons such as ensuring marriage matches were appropriate and to prevent the dilution of family bloodlines, internal marriages were conducted.


    The Capital City Greater and Lesser Houses of the Zhu Family had split a long time ago and were two main lineages whose blood relations had long surpassed three generations; they were suitable candidates for marriage... In other words, there were no more suitable marriage partners for each other than the two houses themselves.


    To ensure that the relationship between the two houses did not drift apart, it was perfectly normal to marry members between them periodically.


    After Zhu Shanying returned, she received a notice that she was likely to be united in marriage with Third Young Master Zhudai Shou from the Lesser House.


    In this matter, she had no control over her fate... but luckily, she had a loving grandfather.


    Faced with Zhu Shanying''s strong opposition, her grandfather, the former family head who had already passed on his position but still held immense prestige, Zhu Jingshi, spoke up and postponed the family''s marriage decision.


    "So that''s it, the Lesser House of the Zhu Family feels that the reason for your resistance to the marriage is all because of me."


    Xue Jing nodded, getting the gist of the situation.


    "So that''s why Zhu Xuanli blocked my rewards within The Sixth Agency, Zhudai Shou instigated Zhou Yinglin to try to kill me on the stage, even hired ''White Emperor'' Lu Shenliu to come personally to Yuan City, and during the joint exam, someone used [GOD-287] to try to assassinate me..."


    Xue Jing began to reckon accounts, formally attributing several longstanding troubles, whose causes hadn''t been entirely clear, to the Lesser House of the Zhu Family in Capital City.


    Zhu Shanying blinked, only then realizing how much Xue Jing had to endure because of her, and let out an awkward cough.


    "There are some other issues too..."


    Xue Jing spoke up.


    "The fact that the higher-ups chose me to play the role of a young examiner in the Martial Arts Examination, was that your doing? Sister Zhu?"


    Zhu Shanying shook her head and then nodded, saying, "It must have been my grandfather''s doing... I talked to him a lot about you, and he seemed to take quite an interest in you." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What about this, then?" Xue Jing stretched out his hand and pulled from the void.


    A giant sword, larger than a man, was pulled out by him.


    Zhu Shanying''s eyes sparkled, "The Forgotten Greatsword... that''s one of my grandfather''s collectibles."


    "And this?"


    Xue Jing once again took a beautifully dark blue, Nine Chi Great Spear from the void.


    "Night Ice¡­ also one of grandfather''s collectibles."


    Zhu Shanying''s expression became somewhat gleeful, almost beaming with joy.


    "So grandfather really did listen to what I said... It seems like he really likes you quite a bit, junior brother."


    Zhu Shanying took off the red nose on her face, saying with a smile brimming with meaning.


    ...

 Chapter 665 - 367

    Hearing Zhu Shanying say that her Grandpa Bamboo rather liked him, Xue Jing thought, that might not be the case.


    The Forgotten Greatsword and Night Ice were indeed top treasures for any Martial Artist, and Grandpa Bamboo had been quite generous to him.


    But that didn''t mean the other party liked him.


    Previously, when Xue Jing was about to enter the arena and face Zhou Yinglin, Grandpa Bamboo had not only sent over the Forgotten Greatsword but had also arranged for Phoenix Cry School Wei Junwu to provide him with all sorts of strange help.


    He had made public Zhou Yinglin''s intention to kill him on the platform and even directly hinted that the enormous and heavy strikes of the Forgotten Greatsword were the method to break through the Impeccable technique.


    Although it seemed like he was being helped on the surface, Xue Jing just felt it odd, more like being forced to prove himself.


    Any young person with a bit of ambition would feel uncomfortable with such a ''victory that was arranged for them.''


    If it really was pure help, Xue Jing didn''t quite believe that someone who had once steered a great family safely through an era would act so crudely.


    Whether this was a test or he bore some degree of malice toward him, Xue Jing was still unclear.


    However, it was certain that the feelings Grandpa Bamboo held for him were definitely not just simple admiration or fondness.


    "Right, Sister Zhu, there''s something I need to apologize for," Xue Jing suddenly remembered something and spoke up.


    "The ''Crouching Rabbit'' you gave me, is no longer..."


    Xue Jing explained the reason for Crouching Rabbit''s shattering.


    After Zhu Shanying listened, she nodded her head, her eyes shining:


    "So that''s it, so the move ''Cherry Full Moon'' came to be after the Crouching Rabbit sacrificed itself... the technique of the Ultimate Skills swordplay..."


    "This means that Crouching Rabbit wasn''t lost by you, Junior Brother, so there''s no need for apologies. Instead, I feel very happy."


    "To be able to transform into such a beautiful technique and stay with you forever, Crouching Rabbit must be delighted."


    Xue Jing nodded, "As long as Sister doesn''t mind, it''s good."


    "I''ve always been paying attention to junior brother, although I was caught and taken back to the Capital City, I haven''t missed any of your live competition broadcasts or other news. Oh right, I also joined a fan club of yours; the chairman''s ID is [My Foolish Edamame]..."


    Zhu Shanying chatted pleasantly with Xue Jing, and the time silently passed by.


    Thirty minutes quickly went by.


    Xue Jing walked her down the stairs and came to the entrance of the hotel.


    The bodyguards whom Xue Jing had knocked out previously, since he hadn''t been too harsh, were now awake and seemed to be making calls to report their young miss''s disappearance, their faces full of panic.


    Seeing Zhu Shanying emerge from the hotel, they finally breathed a sigh of relief, but their eyes shifted to Xue Jing, who accompanied her out, still vigilant and sweating profusely.


    This teenager... was indeed terrifying, worthy of being the figure who had recently caused a great stir in the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    Could that Outer Ring rural area really be some kind of Dragon Prosperity Land? An obscurity of a small sect had actually nurtured such a genius.


    "Time flies too quickly, it feels like it ended in the blink of an eye," Zhu Shanying muttered with a bit of complaint.


    "But it''s so great to see Junior Brother. I had to work hard for a long time to fight for this opportunity."


    The two naturally approached the unidentified brand of the black luxury car, and the bodyguards, although constantly watching Xue Jing cautiously, didn''t dare to make any other moves.


    One of the female bodyguards opened the car''s backseat to let Zhu Shanying sit in.


    "Junior Brother, wait a minute," Zhu Shanying rummaged through the spacious interior of the car for a bit, and quickly took out a weapon... or perhaps something that resembled both a spear and an arrow.


    The spear-like and arrow-like weapon was about one meter three in length, with a body covered in gold, shimmering with a faint glow, exuding a sacred and majestic aura.


    Zhu Shanying handed it to Xue Jing with a smile:


    "Junior Brother, for you, I sneaked this out from Grandpa''s collection room. It should be very useful to you."


    Xue Jing''s gaze flickered slightly as he reached out to receive the golden ''spear-arrow.''


    As expected, a prompt immediately appeared.


    [Divine Substance detected, absorbing Divinity...] S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a Divine Relic.


    "I don''t understand it very clearly, but I''ve heard Grandpa mention a long time ago that this thing is called ''Divine Ascension''... It''s said to be something many people dream of, that can be used to break through bottlenecks and limits... But he also said it''s very dangerous to use, so you should be careful if you decide to use it, junior brother," Zhu Shanying added.


    Xue Jing was moved upon hearing this, his eyes narrowed slightly, "I understand, thank you, Sister Zhu."


    He had already recognized what this thing was.


    GOD-251¡¤Divine Ascension.


    A Divine Relic ranked in the top three hundred.


    Indeed, it was a grand gift... The effects of this thing were extraordinary.


    Zhu Shanying sat in the car, the door still open, her expression softened.


    After a long while, she softly spoke up:


    "Junior Brother, if one day in the future, I find myself trapped and I cry out loudly, can you hear me and rush over to rescue me?"


    Hearing this, Xue Jing laughed and said,


    "As long as you scream loudly enough."


    Zhu Shanying froze for a moment, then laughed happily, her clear and youthful voice incredibly endearing.


    After laughing for a good while, she finally said,


    "Goodbye, Junior Brother."


    ...


    The last words spoken by Sister Zhu before leaving did not evoke much thought in Xue Jing.


    Although she clearly had many troubles, concerning her own freedom, the marriage alliance between the major and minor branches of the Zhu Family, and so on... all these problems were, after all, goals Xue Jing had already decided to resolve.

 Chapter 666 - 367_2

    The Zhu Family''s smaller house was an obstacle for him, and should he reach a certain level of growth in the future or find an opportunity along the way, Xue Jing would inevitably annihilate it completely.


    Another issue, it was difficult for Zhu Shanying even to meet him for thirty minutes, a restriction that greatly exceeded Xue Jing''s expectation of normal parental limits.


    As long as it was within his ability to resolve, he would not allow his friends and family to suffer such treatment.


    It was also an issue that he would undoubtedly resolve in the future.


    The troubles of Zhu Shanying were roughly within the range of issues he had already planned to deal with; therefore, Xue Jing was not at all confused, and was just waiting for his abilities to do the rest.


    Now, all he needed was to keep moving forward quickly.


    Inside a room at the Jiali Hotel.


    Xue Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands holding what seemed to be a golden-cast ''spear-arrow.''


    [Divinity: 7633]


    The ''Sublime Spirit'' ranked [GOD-251] directly granted him over five thousand five hundred Divinity Value.


    Far exceeding all the Divine Relics he had contacted before.


    Although he had also absorbed the Wind of All Beginnings, ranked in the top hundred, the Wind of All Beginnings was divided into nine parts, and the amount of Divinity obtained in one-ninth of it was not comparable to ''Sublime Spirit.''


    Xue Jing''s palm brushed over the golden shaft of the spear, feeling a warm yet scorching sensation.


    In this world, all Divine Relics have an origin.


    After ''God'' died, the Blood of the God spread across the world, adhering to all things, making them into Divine Relics.


    The origin of a Divine Relic could be an object, a creature, or even a fantasy, a story.


    The origin of ''Sublime Spirit'' was already recognized in academia.


    It originated from a legend in Christianity.


    Legend has it that Saint Teresa of Christianity once received a revelation from God in a dream, experiencing the ''Sublime Spirit (Ecstasy).''


    She described her feelings as follows,


    "I saw a golden spear, flames burning on its tip. The spear pierced my heart countless times, going straight through to my entrails. When the spear was pulled out, it seemed my entrails were extracted with it. The fire of God''s great love encompassed my entire body, it was intense pain, I couldn''t help moaning, yet I didn''t want to be freed from it."


    Thus, ''Sublime Spirit'' was regarded by Christianity as a state of nearing God, meaning ''the soul elevates, ascending beside God, which is also the soul''s ascension.''


    Although outsiders felt it seemed more like a drug-induced high, it basically boiled down to that.


    Utilizing this legend as its origin, the [GOD-251¡¤Sublime Spirit] functioned similarly to the legend.


    Stabbing it through one''s own heart would allow a person to enter a state of Sublime Spirit, experiencing extreme joy, akin to a paradisiacal realm.


    According to those who had used it, this state was like a super-enhanced version of Sudden Enlightenment, seemingly allowing one to reach the realm of God, making one''s understanding of all things extremely clear, and easily breaking through past bottlenecks like reaching into a bag and pulling out an item.


    Therefore, the most common use of [Sublime Spirit] was for spiritual Breakthrough.


    Even the most obtuse and talentless person, using [Sublime Spirit], would inevitably achieve a Breakthrough.


    It was just like a pay-to-win item in games, ignoring all limitations and forcibly breaking through boundaries.


    But naturally, such a useful item came with a price.


    ''Sublime Spirit'' was meant to elevate the soul closer to ''God.''


    Though God was dead, death was not God''s final form; for a mere mortal''s soul to come close to the true God¡ªeven a dead one¡ªwas extremely dangerous.


    Most who used this Divine Relic ended up overly close to divinity, addicted to it, resulting in their self being dissolved and becoming a part of God.


    After touching the golden spear-arrow for a while, Xue Jing snapped his fingers, and an invisible gap opened in the void; he placed the spear-arrow inside. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This item might be of great help to him.


    The higher one''s ultimate values, the more difficult it was to Breakthrough.


    Ultimate Breakers were extremely rare, much rarer than ordinary Breakers, not only because Divine Factors were rare, but also because reaching Ultimate Breakthrough was hundreds of times more challenging than ordinary Breakthrough.


    Although Xue Jing was not an Ultimate Breaker, his current ultimate values clearly would not lose to an Ultimate Breaker.


    With the [Sublime Spirit], no matter how difficult his Breakthrough was, it should basically be no problem.


    Or if he encountered any unsolvable problems or incomprehensible issues during Martial Arts Practice in the future, he could also solve them through Sublime Spirit.


    The only issue was that it needed to be used carefully...


    "But come to think of it, the first time I used [True Red] and saw the Source of Flesh, was that also a kind of ''Sublime Spirit'' state?"


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, lost in thought.


    "If that''s the case... Using GOD-251 to ascend spiritually closer to God, could I not directly take advantage from God himself using the panel?"


    He felt this possibility was very likely.


    However, at the end of the day, this thing was still a dangerous item; it was better to try it later when there was a need to break through some bottleneck.


    ...


    Three days had passed.


    The challenge day, promised by Ye Honghui, the Level Master of the first level of the top nine hundred floors, was today.


    Xue Jing once again came to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    "Xuanling, what do you think my chances of winning are?"


    In the temporary rest area of the 46,000th floor, Xue Jing asked casually while stretching his body.


    The pleasant female voice of Xuanling echoed in his ear.


    "With your current status, using only pure physical martial force, your chances of winning are virtually zero."


    Xue Jing nodded. "I see."


    "Then I guess I should take it a bit more seriously."


    As soon as the words fell, his beautiful indigo eyes sparkled with a blazing, True Red light.


    ...


    After fondling the golden spear-arrow for a while, Xue Jing snapped his fingers; an invisible fissure opened in the void, and he placed the spear-arrow inside it.


    This item could be of great help to him.


    The higher the limit value, the harder it was to achieve a breakthrough.


    Ultimate Breakers were extremely rare, far rarer than ordinary limit breakers; while part of this was due to the rare nature of the Divine Factor, achieving an Ultimate Breakthrough was inherently hundreds of times more difficult than a normal breakthrough.


    Although Xue Jing was not an Ultimate Breaker, his current limit value evidently did not fall short of an Ultimate Breaker.


    With "Transcendental Soul," no matter how hard his breakthroughs were, they should basically not be a problem.


    Or, should he encounter some insurmountable or incomprehensible issue during Martial Arts Practice in the future, he could similarly solve them through Transcendental Soul.


    The only problem was that it needed to be used carefully...


    "But speaking of which, the first time I performed ''True Red'' and saw the Source of Flesh, could that also be considered a state of ''Transcendental Soul''?''


    Xue Jing pinched his chin, contemplating.


    "If that''s the case... Using GOD-251 to ascend spiritually closer to God, could I not directly take advantage from God himself using the panel?"


    He felt this possibility was very likely.


    However, at the end of the day, this thing was still a dangerous item; it was better to try it later when there was a need to break through some bottleneck.


    ...


    Three days had passed.


    The challenge day, promised by Ye Honghui, the Level Master of the first level of the top nine hundred floors, was today.


    Xue Jing once again came to the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.


    "Xuanling, what do you think my chances of winning are?"


    In the temporary rest area of the 46,000th floor, Xue Jing asked casually while stretching his body.


    The pleasant female voice of Xuanling echoed in his ear.


    "With your current status, using only pure physical martial force, your chances of winning are virtually zero."


    Xue Jing nodded. "I see."


    "Then I guess I should take it a bit more seriously."


    As soon as the words fell, his beautiful indigo eyes sparkled with a blazing, True Red light.


    ...

 Chapter 667 - 368: Unyielding Jade Bones Ye Honghui, Fierce Battle Begins, Xue Jings Fist (4K)

    Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, forty-six thousand and one levels.


    Level Master Dojo.


    In the spacious dojo, two figures sat facing each other, with a tea table set between them.


    Both were young men appearing younger than thirty. The slightly older-looking short-haired young man reached for the teacup in front of him. His motion was casual and ordinary, yet his hand was terrifyingly steady. Until he brought the teacup to his lips for a drink, the surface of the tea remained undisturbed, as if it were fixed within the cup.


    "Brother Ye, why did you agree to Xue Jing''s challenge?"


    After swallowing the tea and savoring the aftertaste for a moment, the mature short-haired young man asked.


    Ye Honghui was holding the teapot, pouring more tea for the other.


    He was an exceptionally thin man, devoid of the robust and full-bodied physique typical of a martial artist. Wearing an old white martial arts uniform, one could clearly observe the shape of his ribcage from the side-open chest area¡ªso thin as if in a state of severe malnutrition.


    His exposed palms, feet, head, and neck were all nearly skeletal, and had his complexion and eyes not been vibrant, he could easily have been mistaken for someone with anorexia. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This kind of challenge from a young man has no benefits if won, it''s simply taken for granted. But if lost, one becomes a stepping stone for the other''s reputation¡­ There seems no need to fight."


    The short-haired young man was caressing the teacup with one hand as he spoke.


    "Do you think I would lose, Fan Gu?" Ye Honghui said.


    His voice was surprisingly clear and pleasing to the ear, unlike his withered appearance.


    Fan Gu fell slightly silent before speaking, "Of course I don''t think you''ll lose, but in all things there is always a ''what if''... I''ve recently heard some rumors."


    "Some people who took the joint exam with Xue Jing almost view him as a divine being... It is said that even Li Suisui was defeated by him."


    Ye Honghui sipped his tea lightly and said, "I know far more than you think."


    "Not only did he defeat Li Suisui... he also killed Cease-Blades'' ''Lion Eye''."


    Fan Gu frowned, "That Ultimate Breaker?" Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Ye Honghui nodded.


    Fan Gu tapped his knee and asked, "How did he do it, by ambush? Stealth attack?"


    "Direct confrontation, beat him to death alive."


    Ye Honghui stated.


    "The report from Li Suisui described the process clearly... he took part in surrounding ''Lion Eye'', but according to him, he hardly helped at all; it was mostly Xue Jing who dealt with him."


    Fan Gu''s expression became more solemn, "To face an Ultimate Breaker head-on and beat him to death..."


    Ye Honghui continued, "This man seems to be a very special Blessed One, possessing at least five to six bizarre God-Given Secret Arts."


    "Brother Ye, then aren''t you in a difficult position now..."


    "In the Rivers and Lakes, we are not masters of our own fate," Ye Honghui pinched his teacup.


    "The Secret Martial Society wants to kill him, but he has now successfully emulated that one, forming a golden body, under the aegis of the Venerable, the Secret Martial Society can no longer openly target him, and the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace is currently one of the few places where it''s openly legitimate to strike him down."


    "Of the nine hundred Level Masters, including myself, one-third have some affiliation with the Secret Martial Society... These people have all received directives from the Society, to ensure they take down Xue Jing at all costs."


    "Others might refuse, but I can''t. The Secret Martial Society helped me perfect the ''Unyielding Jade Bones'', allowing me not to follow the demonic paths like my predecessors. This time, I must give it my all."


    Hearing this, Fan Gu frowned, "In a life-and-death fight, we martial artists are already at a significant disadvantage facing a Blessed One. With Xue Jing capable of killing an Ultimate Breaker, this might be a dangerous bout for you."


    "That''s not necessarily true." Ye Honghui''s lean fingers caressed the teacup.


    "The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace is a Sacred Land for martial artists; no one can use anything beyond their own Physical Strength here, otherwise, they will be expelled by Xuanling."


    "And if we''re talking about purely martial arts techniques... my Kungfu Body just happens to have what it takes to restrain him."


    ...


    His hair flowed with a fine vermilion glow, seemingly hot enough to burn, as Xue Jing walked along the corridor on the forty-six thousand and first level of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace in his fiery hair and blazing eyes form.


    "Xuanling, don''t you have anything to say?"


    In the silence, Xue Jing suddenly spoke.


    The pleasant feminine voice responded, "What would you like me to say?"


    Xue Jing thought for a moment, then asked, "My current posture, in your view, does it also belong to ''martial arts''?"


    He was aware of the rules of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace, which allowed for the full expression of one''s Physical Strength but forbade all other types of maneuvers.


    However, after displaying the unconventional skill "True Red," Xuanling had not said much, implicitly permitting it.


    This puzzled Xue Jing. He had been ready for Xuanling to disallow the use of "True Red." Though with his regular state, facing a Level Master was still a stretch for him, by employing "Twin Lifes," he might still have had a chance to win.


    Of course, he was also prepared to argue that "True Red" was an explosive martial arts Ultimate Skill of his, not some strange power...


    Yet unexpectedly, Xuanling hadn''t questioned it at all, just implicitly allowed its use.


    "So-called ''martial arts'' is the human exploration of one''s limits, expressing the ultimate, solely belonging to human power," Xuanling responded.


    In other words, as long as it''s purely a force formed by your own body, purely your own power, it does not break the rules of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace.

 Chapter 668 - 368: Unyielding Jade Bones Ye Honghui, Fierce Battle Begins, Xue Jings Fist (4K)_2

    "In this world, aside from you, there are many talents as well," they possess spirits different from ordinary people, capable of meddling with their own reality far beyond others. Common killing moves and ultimate skills can, in their hands, turn decay into magic. Some are born with ''Flesh Hosting Dragon and Elephant,'' with an incredibly exaggerated upper limit of strength. Without restraint, they might accidentally crush their own fists just by clenching them too hard. Once their martial arts practice is successful, solely in terms of attack power, they can bridge the gap between two major realms..."


    "These people, just like you at this moment, appear very ''abnormal'' compared to ordinary people, but these powers are innate, formed spontaneously by their own bodies, and not gained from external advantages. How can I justify not allowing them to use them?"


    Xue Jing heard this and nodded, "I see."


    That is to say, in Xuanling''s view, the power of True Red was also his own...


    Xue Jing reflected thoughtfully.


    According to the description on the panel, True Red is the power he obtained by sacrificing his various extraordinary skills to the ''True Red Lord'' in exchange for a temporary boost of physical strength... It doesn''t seem like it belongs to him inherently but rather is ''external.''


    Is the panel''s description inaccurate... or is the panel at such a high level that Xuanling simply can''t see through it?


    Or perhaps...


    Lost in thought, Xue Jing gradually approached the arena in front of him.


    Unlike the previous 46,000th level, this one no longer had hundreds of arenas scattered about but just one massive platform at the center.


    The remaining space around it consisted of thousands of spectator seats.


    When the Sky Climber challenge starts, those from lower levels are allowed to teleport up to watch.


    However, seats are expensive and must be purchased... This is one of the ways Extreme Martial Ascension Palace makes a profit.


    And since there are only so many seats, it''s first-come, first-served¡ªthe tickets for any popular Level Master challenge sell out as fast as tickets for a celebrity concert. Even if you''re on time, the page refreshes to show that it''s already sold out.


    At this moment, as Xue Jing neared, the buzz of the crowd began to reach his ears; the seats were filled with spectators.


    "Look, Mr. Xue''s already in red-eye mode with dual blades out."


    In a corner seat, He Han held a bucket of popcorn, stuffing it into his mouth, exclaiming in surprise.


    "Can you not embarrass us? Do you think this is a movie?"


    Beside him sat Ye Jingqiu covering her face, involuntarily feeling embarrassed for He Han as she sensed the gazes of the surrounding people turning towards him.


    It was rare that she had a burst of martial prowess and managed to snag three tickets to this fight. Aside from her, she generously gave the remaining two to her classmates... After a selection process involving rock-paper-scissors and such, it was the dead weight He Han who ended up with one.


    Most of the audience members were prominent Martial Artists... How could this man casually bring a bucket of popcorn inside?


    "He hasn''t even entered the ring, and the BUFFs are already on; it looks like Mr. Xue''s opponent is in for a tough day today... By the way, who''s the opponent?"


    He Han chewed on his popcorn and asked.


    "It''s ''Jade Skeleton'' Ye Honghui."


    Zhao Longtu, with his arms crossed, spoke up.


    The scar at the corner of his eye was much lighter than before, and his ferocious appearance had softened, giving him a bit of the gentle feel of a handsome youth from his younger days.


    "He once placed in the top three in a ''Heavenly Position'' minor title match. I''ve seen his fights."


    "Oh? Is this guy that fierce?" He Han asked.


    Zhao Longtu thought for a moment, then said, "Very fierce... mainly because the martial arts he practices are very special, called ''Jade Bone Skill.''"


    "You must have heard of it, the extreme physical realm of a Martial Artist from ancient legends¡ªthe Treasured Body five realms."


    "To cultivate one''s body with the five major attributes of treasures: ''Flesh Hosting Dragon Elephant,'' ''Iron Tree Entwining Tendons,'' ''Skin Bursting Like Glazed Glass,'' ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' ''Dripping Blood Melts Gold.''"


    "It''s said that the ultimate goal of the Jade Bone Skill practiced by Ye Honghui is to attain ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' one of the Treasured Bodies... Ah, here he comes."


    Zhao Longtu pointed towards the large platform above.


    Unlike Xue Jing who ascended the stage step by step, Ye Honghui was directly teleported onto the platform, a layer of orange-yellow light shimmering from top to bottom, as his figure emerged from nowhere.


    His arrival caused a stir.


    Many in the crowd had never seen him before and were surprised at his appearance.


    Skin and bones, he was as gaunt as a skeleton. If not for the spirited eyes and healthy complexion, he''d be like a revenant from a different world.


    Xue Jing came to a stop on the platform, face to face with Ye Honghui, their gazes locking onto each other.


    "Hum¡ª"


    Suddenly, everyone felt the surroundings violently shake; the air, the floor... everything in sight was trembling fiercely.


    "...Earthquake? Boundary Shock?"


    Someone frowned slightly, tapped their head, feeling a little dizzy.


    "The Extreme Martial Ascension Palace is protected by SC force fields; it shouldn''t be affected by earthquakes or boundary shocks..."


    "Not a boundary shock, not an earthquake. It''s our hearts that are shaking."


    "This is the aftermath of a spiritual aura collision¡­ and it wasn''t deliberate, just like how the charges within two approaching atoms repel each other, the unconsciously emanated auras of these two people collided and radiated outward, influencing our consciousness!"


    "...I''ve only ever seen scenes like this in fighting comics."


    On the stage, Xue Jing''s gaze flickered slightly.


    Unlike ordinary ''Sky Climbers,'' he was favored by Xuanling, able to communicate with it more than others, and thus had already obtained plenty of information on Ye Honghui.


    The ''Jade Bone Skill'' he cultivated was a modification of the ancient martial arts ''White Bone Essence Skill.''


    And the ''White Bone Essence Skill'' is a thoroughly evil cultivation technique.


    It was created by ancient Martial Artists in pursuit of one of the five stages of a ''Treasured Body,'' the ''Unyielding Jade Bones,'' and its creator, in the process of developing this technique, gradually took it to the extreme.


    Channeling all of the body''s essence into the bones, all the richness of skin, flesh, and blood absorbed by the bones, known as ¡ª White Bone Essence.


    Those who practice this skill eventually end up with nothing but a skeleton, having sucked dry the nutrients of the rest of their body.


    Then¡­ they begin to plunder other people''s bodies, donning their skin and flesh, continuing to drain them to nourish the white bones, eventually becoming both incredibly hard and sharp, impervious and able to damage all things ¡ª a state of ''Indestructible Bones.''


    It can be described as an evil technique of the cannibalistic type.


    However, its modified version, ''Jade Bone Skill,'' is not so extreme. While it also focuses on the bones, absorbing the essence of other body parts to nourish the jade bones, it is relatively more just and gentle, not draining one''s own body completely, but instead continuously providing nutrition to one''s flesh, to replenish the void extracted by the white bones.


    Although it inevitably results in a skeletal appearance, at least it is not cannibalistic.


    Xue Jing... is very interested in this cultivation technique.


    Though flawed, it truly is an unparalleled method of Bone Training.


    "What an outstanding individual."


    Ye Honghui spoke.


    His voice, clear and melodious, was extremely pleasant to hear.


    "I''ve read many of your files and watched the recordings of the matches... Your ''All Things Myriad Phases'' seems to be based on All Things Myriad Phases, yet it contains some subtle differences, truly admirable."


    "To face such earth-shattering martial arts, mastering them is already rare in this world, and yet you were able to retain your own thoughts clearly while learning, not just devoutly following the footsteps of your predecessors. Compared to talent, your determination impresses me even more."


    "It''s a pity... I must stop someone like you here."


    "Truly... such a pity."


    As Ye Honghui spoke, he took half a step back with his left foot and extended his right hand, gesturing an invitation to proceed.


    Seeing this, Xue Jing smiled and was about to speak, but suddenly paused.


    A tangible killing intent radiated from Ye Honghui.


    Xue Jing nearly saw an illusion, a black specter materializing, howling as it lunged at him.


    Just this one scene was enough to frighten any ordinary Martial Artist whose spirit hadn''t undergone a Breakthrough, right on the spot.


    It was no longer about whether the individual''s will was brave and strong, but rather the body''s natural concession.


    "So that''s how it is."


    Xue Jing nodded, roughly understanding the reason Ye Honghui had accepted his challenge.


    He looked up at the countdown above.


    [3]


    [2]


    [1]


    A prompting sound indicated the start of the match. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    The next moment¡ª


    "Bang¡ª!!!"


    Both vanished from their spots instantaneously, upon reappearing, they were already at close quarters, with Xue Jing''s fist imprinted on Ye Honghui''s forehead.


    The naked eye could see the spreading ring-shaped wind pressure, with the semi-transparent protective shield formed by the SC force field rippling continuously.


    "Crack¡ª"


    Following a crisp sound.


    The skin at the edge of Xue Jing''s fist burst open, and amidst the splatter of blood, clear cracks appeared on the bone within.


    ... S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 669 - 369

    As the battle began, the two adversaries engaged in close combat immediately. Ye Honghui boldly met Xue Jing''s fist with his head¡ªa universally acknowledged vulnerable part of the human body. To the shock of the majority of the audience, his head caused cracks to appear in Xue Jing''s tungsten steel-hard fist.


    "How is that possible!"


    "That''s Xue Jing¡­ the supersavant who swept through 46,000 levels of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace without his opponents ever forcing him to resort to a second move!"


    "Ye Honghui actually blocked with his head and he really caught the punch!"


    "While the skull is indeed one of the hardest parts of the human body, this kind of tactic is too reckless!"


    "Even if the bones are intact, his brain must have been thoroughly shaken up inside¡­"


    An expert with broad knowledge, folding his arms and shaking his head, said, "An ordinary person doing this would indeed be courting death, but Ye Honghui is different."


    "The man is capable of projecting all his consciousness into his Unyielding Jade Bones, and for him, the rest of his body, whether it''s the skin, blood, muscles, brain, nerves¡­ none of it is essential."


    "He''s like the Undead Clan in fantasy works, as long as he has those bones, he can carry out all life activities. The rest of his flesh is just a non-essential that provides nutrition to the bones."


    On the arena, Xue Jing withdrew his fist.


    As he pulled back, his thought activated his abundant life forces, igniting them. The cracked bones in his palm instantly healed, and after some squirming, the flesh also returned to its original state.


    At that moment, on Ye Honghui''s forehead, the skin burst open where Xue Jing had struck, revealing the extremely smooth, jade-like skull underneath, emitting a clear, faint glow with not the slightest blemish, much like a meticulously crafted work of art.


    Xue Jing''s expression remained unchanged as he quickly struck back with a palm towards Ye Honghui''s chest and abdomen.


    "Convergence."


    Thousands of streams of Qi Force merged together, forming a visible vortex of Qi Force at the center of Xue Jing''s palm, and with a bang, it exploded against Ye Honghui''s body.


    "Pfft¡ª"


    With a muffled sound, Ye Honghui''s back burst open violently, and countless pieces of flesh sprayed out, soaking a large swath of the land behind him.


    Yet, Ye Honghui still stood in place unmoved, his mummified-looking face showing no change in expression as he stared directly at Xue Jing. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After the strike, all the flesh on Ye Honghui''s torso had been stripped away, and his upper body garments were also completely shattered, revealing his skeleton.


    Vertebrae, ribs, sternum, sacrum¡­ every bone was jade-like in texture, slightly transparent, emitting a faint light, and extremely smooth to the touch.


    "Troublesome."


    Xue Jing muttered upon seeing this.


    From several exchanges, he had basically figured out Ye Honghui''s trump card.


    The man must have used second Breakthrough-level spiritual power to forcibly lock his consciousness in his bones, making the flesh on his body practically dispensable.


    If he couldn''t destroy those bones, then he couldn''t truly injure him.


    Very extreme¡­ but also Xue Jing''s toughest opponent to date.


    His technique ''All Things Myriad Phases returning to One''¡ªdeveloped from the All Things Myriad Phases¡ªcould outmaneuver almost any martial artist, leaving no other choice than to endure the full brunt.


    And Ye Honghui was that man who could endure it.


    The Jade Bone Skill he practiced had brought his bone strength to an unfathomable realm, hard to an unbelievable degree.


    Xue Jing''s punch on those bones actually reflected the force back, injuring him.


    This proved that when Ye Honghui''s bones were being hit by Xue Jing''s fist, there was no deformation whatsoever, delivering back maximum reactive force to Xue Jing.


    As one of the five realms of the Treasured Body, the ''Unyielding Jade Bones'' that were cultivated were just like this, sharp because of their firmness, their hardness alone represented a lethality.


    "It''s quite a pity¡­ If you had another year or two, I might become a trivial character you could easily extinguish," said Ye Honghui.


    His entire torso was now devoid of flesh, and half his throat was gone, revealing half of his throat bone. He should have lost the ability to speak, but miraculously, he was still able to utter coherent and clear words.


    "But time didn''t wait for you."


    "I''ve felt your punch¡­ it''s strong, but it''s still far from breaking my jade bones." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xue Jing smiled and responded, "It does seem so¡­ may I use a weapon then?"


    Ye Honghui looked down slightly, "As you wish."


    The rule of the Extreme Martial Ascension Palace was that all cold weapons were not prohibited and could be brought by the contenders.


    Of course, they had to be genuine cold weapons. Something like a Magic Light Sword made from special materials from the Intersecting Boundaries, although devoid of high-tech content and not falling within the ''hot weapons'' category, would still be prohibited due to the nature of the material itself.


    Xue Jing''s hair and the scorching redness in his pupils suddenly receded, and then he stretched out his right hand, making a sword-drawing gesture towards the empty space beside him.


    An ancient and beautiful long knife was slowly drawn from the void by his hand.


    This scene surprised almost everyone on the scene.


    "Hm? Magic trick? How did he do that?"


    "I didn''t see him carrying a knife... could it be that Xuanling is using Four-dimensional Movement to transfer the knife to his hand?"


    "That can''t be right, Xue Jing isn''t a Level Master, so how does he have the authority to command Xuanling to do such a thing?"


    "I have heard that individuals identified as having extreme potential might catch Xuanling''s attention early on, even if they''re not Level Masters¡­"


    Holding The Blade That Never Dulls Zhao Ye, Xue Jing twirled a beautiful knife flourish, pointing the tip of the blade diagonally towards the ground.

 Chapter 670 - 369_2

    Ye Honghui did not recognize this Divine Relic but, as a Martial Artist, his Eye Power and intuition made his eyes light up immediately when he saw the blade, sensing a hint of threat.


    "Nice blade."


    Xue Jing stood still for a while, seeing that Xuanling did not say much, he roughly understood how tolerant this super AI was toward him. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Whether it was using the Nonexistent Beast to take things or using the slightly cheating ''Blade That Never Dulls,'' in Xuanling''s view, both were permissible.


    Of course, this should not be Xuanling''s favoritism, but because what Xue Jing had done was still within the rules.


    In Xuanling''s view, the abilities of the Nonexistent Beast were inherent to Xue Jing, naturally owned, and The Blade That Never Dulls did not deviate from the definition of cold weapons; although it was a Divine Relic, its ability was just equivalent to an incredibly hard weapon.


    ''If that''s the case...''


    Xue Jing had a thought and already figured out how to break Ye Honghui''s Unyielding Jade Bones.


    He whispered something that no one else could make out.


    After that, a glimmer of True Red light flickered between his hair and in his pupils as Xue Jing re-entered the [True Red] state.


    "Hm?"


    Many experts with exceptional Eye Power looked at Xue Jing''s shoulder with some confusion.


    "Did something just appear there... An illusion?"


    On the stage, seeming to feel that Xue Jing was ready, the bony Ye Honghui took a step forward.


    Immediately, he clenched his right hand, and from the tip of his finger to his forearm and upper arm, the skin and flesh atop it suddenly corroded away rapidly, shriveling, contracting, wrinkling...


    Finally, all the skin and flesh disappeared, absorbed by his hand bones, with the remains scattering with the wind, the jade-like hand bones fully exposed.


    "¡ª¡ªWither."


    The jade-like hand bone clenched into a fist, hammering toward Xue Jing.


    Where the fist passed, the air was forcibly expelled, creating visible pressure waves that seemed slow but quickly pierced toward Xue Jing.


    This was an unavoidable punch.


    Not physically unavoidable, but the strong Spiritual Aura emanating from Ye Honghui enveloped Xue Jing, firmly binding him in place.


    If he actually dodged out of fear at that moment, he would fall into a complete disadvantage on the spiritual level.


    In combat above Limit-breaking Level, the clash of Spiritual Auras is also a crucial element; once suppressed by the opponent, one''s ''Dynamic Qi'' will inevitably be significantly weakened, leading to a restricted ability to perform physically.


    However, Xue Jing had no intention of dodging.


    He held the handle of the blade with one hand, positioning the Zhao Ye Blade horizontally in front of him, blade facing forward, while his other hand pressed against the back of the blade.


    Fist and blade, met together.


    In an instant, a colossal force like none he had ever felt before transferred through the blade. Xue Jing''s gaze focused, and his entire body ran at high speed like an extremely precise machine.


    "Return to Nothing."


    Corresponding to ''Return to One,'' the offensive move that could not be stopped, was ''Return to Nothing,'' the Defense that could not be broken.


    At the moment the opponent''s attack came, it instantly analyzed the opponent''s move, counteracting and dissolving it with the opposite Channeling Energy. Unless faced with an absolutely overwhelming force, any attack would disintegrate before ''Return to Nothing.''


    Although a defensive move, in essence, it was the same as ''Return to One,'' which instantaneously unleashed thousands of Qi Forces, both the ultimate application of Martial Arts Skills.


    Together, they were considered the methods of ''Unchanging amidst a Thousand Changes.''


    "Zzzt¡ª"


    A punch that should have caused a great commotion surprisingly didn''t make much noise upon meeting the blade, emitting only a cringe-worthy screeching sound, like the noise of a circular saw cutting through stone.


    Beneath the calm surface, Xue Jing''s body ran at an unprecedented high speed crazily, constantly dissolving the enormous power surging from Ye Honghui''s fist.


    At that moment, he felt like a ship with a large hole, endlessly bailing out the water rushing in, but the tremendous amount of water continued unabated, and the speed of bailing could not keep up with the inflow.


    If it had been any other Martial Artist, even with a physical strength equivalent to his, they would have been unable to last long under such a high load and frenzied Channeling Energy before their body utterly collapsed and blood burst forth. However, Xue Jing, who had a True Martial Body, had the world-leading compatibility with Channeling Energy, reaching a Transcendent Level, which allowed him to endure this destructive behavior towards the body.


    After a standoff lasting nearly twenty seconds¡ª


    "Boom¡ª!!"


    With a booming sound, centered around Xue Jing and Ye Honghui, the air pressure spread, creating a brief vacuum zone, and both of them separated.


    Ye Honghui took seven steps back. Although the ground was unscathed due to the protection of the SC force field, each heavy thud emphasized the intensity of each step.


    Xue Jing was the same, retreating a full thirteen steps. The Zhao Ye Blade was unscathed in his hands, but the skin of his palms had already burst open, with blood thick like rubies flowing out, staining the Zhao Ye Blade.


    "...Impressive."


    Ye Honghui gripped his hand bone, speaking.


    At the parts where his fist and palm bones met, a shallow dent had appeared on the original smooth surface.


    That was exactly where it had made contact with the Zhao Ye Blade.


    Just as he was about to say something more, suddenly, a sharp gleam approached at great speed.


    "Clang¡ª"


    Ye Honghui''s entire body instantly flew backward off the ground and crashed into the SC force field wall with a clang.


    And there, stuck in his throat, was a long blade.


    Zhao Ye.


    Despite the sharp tip of the blade pressing against his throat, Ye Honghui, whose neck bones were essentially unscathed, furrowed his brow and said,


    "This is..."


    Before he could finish, the Zhao Ye Blade, unheld by anyone, moved on its own as if wielded by an invisible swordsman and made a diagonal slash toward Ye Honghui''s collarbone.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The blade was deflected.


    "A curious Flying Sword Technique, but completely meaningless."


    Ye Honghui shook his head, paying no attention to the Zhao Ye that started flying around ceaselessly, intermittently chopping and stabbing at him.


    He felt that Xue Jing was probably testing for any ''vulnerable points'' on his body.


    But it was a futile effort.


    Ordinary horizontal martial arts indeed have what are called vulnerable points, but the Jade Bone Skill had not a single flaw.


    It was in seeking the path of Unyielding Jade Bones, almost to the brink of madness and at the cost of abandoning everything, that he had gained this indestructible skeleton.


    A ruthless method of practice yielded a ruthless result.


    ...


    Xue Jing was the same, and she had stepped back a full thirteen steps. Her hands holding the Zhao Ye Blade were unscathed, but the skin of her palms had already split open, with thick blood like rubies flowing out, staining the blade.


    "...Impressive."


    Ye Honghui clenched his hand bones and spoke.


    At the parts where his fist and palm bones met, a shallow dent had appeared on the original smooth surface.


    That was exactly where it had made contact with the Zhao Ye Blade.


    Just as he was about to say something more, suddenly, a sharp gleam approached at great speed.


    "Clang¡ª"


    Ye Honghui''s entire body instantly flew backward off the ground and crashed into the SC force field wall with a clang.


    And there, stuck in his throat, was a long blade.


    Zhao Ye.


    Despite the sharp tip of the blade pressing against his throat, Ye Honghui, whose neck bones were essentially unscathed, furrowed his brow and said,


    "This is..."


    Before he could finish, the Zhao Ye Blade, unheld by anyone, moved on its own as if wielded by an invisible swordsman and made a diagonal slash toward Ye Honghui''s collarbone.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The blade was deflected.


    "A curious Flying Sword Technique, but completely meaningless."


    Ye Honghui shook his head, paying no attention to the Zhao Ye that started flying around ceaselessly, intermittently chopping and stabbing at him.


    He felt that Xue Jing was probably testing for any ''vulnerable points'' on his body.


    But it was a futile effort.


    Ordinary horizontal martial arts indeed have what are called vulnerable points, but the Jade Bone Skill had not a single flaw.


    It was in seeking the path of Unyielding Jade Bones, almost to the brink of madness and at the cost of abandoning everything, that he had gained this indestructible skeleton.


    A ruthless method of practice yielded a ruthless result.


    ...


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