Chapter 129: A Month Later! Breakthrough! Third Stage!

"Then I'll go wash up too."

After briefly admiring the scenery, Xu Jingming cleared his throat, averted his gaze, and walked toward the pool's edge.

"Why did Jingming's gaze just now feel so strange?"

Watching Xu Jingming's tall back, Song Qiuyun's delicate face twisted with suspicion.

She instinctively looked down and realized something was wrong—her cheeks instantly flushed bright red.

In the dormitory, she was used to stepping out of the bathroom in loose clothes right after showering.

Just now, she'd unconsciously done the same.

But she never expected this white T-shirt would become so sheer when wet!

By the time Xu Jingming stepped out of the pool, completely refreshed, Song Qiuyun had already changed into a silver-white battle suit.

Yet her refined, oval face still bore a faint blush of shyness.

"Let's go, we'll keep moving," Xu Jingming said, glancing at the time on his smart bracelet.

It was currently 1 p. .; after another three hours of travel, they'd reach the central zone of the Demon Cavern.

"Mm."

Still slightly shy, Song Qiuyun nodded gently and followed obediently behind Xu Jingming as they quickly departed.

As Xu Jingming and Song Qiuyun ventured deeper into the Demon Cavern, the strength of the beasts around them grew increasingly terrifying.

Xu Jingming felt nothing unusual, but Song Qiuyun had clearly reached the limit of her capabilities.

Thus, after running for over an hour, Xu Jingming decided to part ways with Song Qiuyun.

Before they parted, Song Qiuyun wanted to lend him her protective talisman or teleportation rune stone.

But these were her own life-saving items, and Xu Jingming naturally refused to accept them.

After a moment of hesitation, seeing Xu Jingming's firm resolve, she reluctantly gave up.

"Jingming, see you in a month."

Beneath a towering tree, the slender Song Qiuyun stood there, waving goodbye with a hint of reluctance.

"See you in a month."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly, cast one final glance, then turned away and plunged deeper into the forest.

As Xu Jingming's agile figure vanished from sight, Song Qiuyun's eyes, once filled with reluctance, hardened with determination.

"From now on, I'll push myself harder—even if I can't get first or second place, I'll take third!"

Song Qiuyun's slender form glowed brightly as she gripped her halberd and strode away.

After parting from Song Qiuyun, Xu Jingming's speed increased dramatically.

His lithe figure darted through the underbrush like a cheetah.

In just over an hour, he entered the central zone of the Demon Cavern.

Compared to the outer zone, the central zone was far more primitive.

Towering, dense trees loomed overhead, and distant, terrifying roars of high-tier beasts echoed periodically.

"Ji—"

"Ji—"

"......"

At that moment, a dense, shrill chorus of avian cries rang down from the sky.

More than a dozen birds, resembling eagles but far larger, soared overhead.

Their pale green eyes scanned the forest below with cold, lethal intent.

"Green-Eyed Gray Hawks!"

Xu Jingming, walking through the forest, grimaced and quickly ducked beneath a massive tree.

Only after the flock had flown away did he emerge, still shaken.

Those dozen or so Green-Eyed Gray Hawks were all fourth-tier beasts!

If they'd spotted him, even if he escaped, he'd waste precious time.

"No wonder this is the central zone of the Demon Cavern—danger lurks everywhere."

Xu Jingming slowed his pace, gripping his spear tightly.

Blue-purple Zixiao Divine Thunder flickered faintly across his skin, ready to erupt instantly at the slightest sign of danger.

Fortunately, he was already accustomed to this kind of wilderness environment.

Proceeding with caution, he headed toward the area where beast roars were most concentrated.

The central zone of the Demon Cavern teemed with numerous third- and fourth-tier beasts, and even several fifth-tier ones dwelled here.

Still, when Xu Jingming activated his Thunder Extreme State and used Thunder Flash, he could still escape from fifth-tier beasts.

Thus, while remaining cautious, Xu Jingming continuously hunted beasts and harvested ability points upon entering the central zone.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

December 8th, 9: 0 p. .

Inside a cave hidden deep within the dense forest.

On the cave floor stood a thick, black-and-blue spear.

Beside it sat a tall young man clad in black battle armor, cross-legged on the ground.

His eyes were half-closed, faint blue-purple lightning swirling around him.

As the lightning arcs flickered, the entire cave's illumination dimmed and brightened unpredictably!

At that moment, a jet-black beast resembling a leopard stepped silently into the cave.

Its paws touched the ground without making a single sound; even its breathing was suppressed to near nothingness!

A peak third-tier Nightshade Panther!

A natural assassin among beasts!

During the day, its threat level was moderate, but once night fell, its form blended seamlessly into darkness.

Its presence became nearly undetectable.

If unprepared, whether it's a ferocious beast or a power user, they are all easily killed by its sharp claws!

It crept soundlessly into the cave, its claws—hard as Class-D alloy—extending from its padded paws.

Just as it bared its fangs and lunged toward the young man with its claws raised—

Shhh!

A sharp whistling sound pierced the air.

Then came a wet *thwack*—the spear's tip pierced straight through its heart, emerging bloody from its back!

Overwhelming pain surged through it—the Nightshade Panther realized:

The human adept before it had opened his eyes, his expression calm and composed.

Crackling—

The next instant,

Blue-purple lightning erupted, completely engulfing the Nightshade Panther.

Then, with a flick of his spear, Xu Jingming flung the charred corpse aside.

【Ding! Defeated one peak third-tier Nightshade Panther. Ability Points +43.】

A pleasant notification chimed in his mind.

Having grown accustomed to the system's alerts over the past month, Xu Jingming showed no emotional reaction.

"Thunder Unyielding Body training complete. Next, it's time for Ability Cultivation Method."

"I wonder if this time, I can finally break through to third tier..."

A hint of anticipation flickered across Xu Jingming's face.

During the nearly month-long stay in the Demon Cavern's central zone, he'd spent every night after hunting beasts and collecting ability points practicing the Thunder Unyielding Body and the Ability Cultivation Method.

Just a few days ago, he'd vaguely sensed the bottleneck of a third-tier lower-level adept!

Unfortunately, his previous attempts to break through had all ended in failure...

"Since obtaining the Deep Blue System, my levels have always been boosted by points.

This time, I want to see if I can break through entirely on my own!"

Xu Jingming's gaze sharpened, then he closed his eyes.

He adjusted his breathing and spiritual energy according to the methods recorded in the Extreme Ability Cultivation Method.

Soon, he entered a meditative state, as ambient elemental energy flowed steadily into his body.

Time passed slowly; Xu Jingming's aura steadily strengthened until it reached peak second tier.

But his aura then seemed to hit a ceiling, unable to rise further.

Yet Xu Jingming continued frantically channeling the Ability Cultivation Method, absorbing ambient elemental energy!

The blue-purple lightning swirling around him flared wildly, flickering violently!

"Break through!"

Xu Jingming growled fiercely, face contorted.

Boom!

A muffled thud echoed within his body.

The color of Zixiao Divine Thunder deepened abruptly; lightning arcs surged violently, engulfing the entire cave.

The color of Purple Heaven's Divine Thunder suddenly darkened, and the lightning arcs surged violently, engulfing the entire cave!

At the very center of the restless thunder, Xu Jingming, like a sovereign of lightning.

The aura of his Peak Second Stage had ascended to an entirely new level!

Third Stage! He had broken through!