Chapter 179: Lin Qingyuan

"Divine Blood Secret Art? Could this be the secret behind the Divine Blood Envoys' sudden power surge?"

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up, and he quickly pulled it out from his space ring, examining it closely.

"The Divine Blood Secret Art was created by the Supreme Master of our Sect of Destiny."

"To cultivate the Divine Blood Secret Art, one must be a Divine Envoy blessed by the Heavenly Gods; the birth of a Divine Envoy requires..."

As Xu Jingming had suspected, the content of the manual was indeed related to the Divine Blood Envoys' explosive power growth.

But the most crucial pages had been torn out, rendering them unreadable.

There was no way to know how to begin cultivation.

Yet Xu Jingming was not empty-handed—he found the method to create Divine Blood Envoys within this manual.

It required preparing a vial of Divine Blood and a large quantity of human ability users' blood to form a blood pool.

Then, a person would enter the pool and use the secret technique within to absorb the mixed blood into their body.

One vial of Divine Blood could create at least five Divine Blood Envoys, and up to ten.

Of course,

becoming a Divine Blood Envoy was not without risk.

During the blood absorption process, one might explode from inability to withstand the violent energy of the Divine Blood.

Additionally, having absorbed beast blood, one would naturally develop a craving for human flesh.

One had to drink the blood of human ability users periodically to suppress this urge.

"The birth of Divine Blood Envoys is this bizarre? No wonder the Sect of Destiny is an anti-human organization."

Xu Jingming frowned slightly.

Those transformed into Divine Blood Envoys, though still physically human, behaved no differently from beasts.

"Then again, if you gain ability points after killing them, they're probably not human anymore."

"But this manual is useless to me..."

Xu Jingming had originally been very interested in the Divine Blood Secret Art for its potential to boost power.

But the Divine Blood Secret Art could only be used by Divine Blood Envoys.

Whether it was the method of creation or the need to regularly drink human ability users' blood, he found it unacceptable.

Compared to these extreme side effects, the emotional instability from cultivating the Thunder Indestructible Body was child's play.

"This Divine Blood Secret Art is nothing but a useless burden."

After flipping through the entire manual, Xu Jingming concluded, and casually tossed it deep into the recesses of his space ring to gather dust.

He then began examining the remaining three space rings.

These three space rings each held only one cubic meter, and their contents were not abundant.

They contained only some pills, equipment, a few D- and C-rank combat technique manuals, and miscellaneous items.

Xu Jingming glanced through them casually, transferring the useful items into his own space ring.

The useless items he moved into a single space ring.

He could submit them as mission materials when he returned to school.

Notably,

space rings cannot be stored inside other space rings.

Thus, besides wearing his own space ring on his hand, he kept the other four directly against his body.

After completing the inventory, Xu Jingming opened his system panel.

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Third Rank Lower Tier

【Ability】: Dou Tian Divine Thunder (SS)

【Physique】: 2047 Qi (+)

【Spirit】: 1535 He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Master), Heavenly Thunder Art (Beginner+), Mingyuleikai (Beginner+), Thunder God Finger (Beginner+), Fist Art (Intermediate+), Thunder Spear (Advanced+), Chain Lightning Gun (Intermediate+), Thunder Flash (Advanced+), Thunder Prison (Intermediate+), Lightning Gale Break (Master+), Concealment Art (Advanced+)

【Body Cultivation】: Thunder Indestructible Body (Fourth Stage)

【Ability Points】: 6909

"6909 ability points—the level doesn't show a plus sign."

Xu Jingming rubbed his chin; this was within his expectations.

Advancing from Second Rank Upper Tier to Third Rank Lower Tier had already required over seven thousand ability points.

Now, advancing from Third Rank Lower Tier to Third Rank Middle Tier would require even more.

Additionally, his combat techniques needed upgrading too.

The three S-rank techniques he mastered had all remained at Beginner level due to insufficient ability points.

"The power of these three S-rank techniques is sufficient for now; ability points should primarily go toward leveling up."

Xu Jingming silently planned in his mind.

An ability user's rank and combat techniques were like internal energy and martial arts—neither could be lacking.

"Ding ling ling~~~"

At that moment, the phone on the coffee table suddenly rang.

Xu Jingming picked it up—it was a video call request from Song Qiuyun.

He accepted it casually; pale blue virtual light projected from the phone, coalescing into a holographic image before him.

In the hologram, Song Qiuyun's slender, alluring figure sat on a white bed, wearing pajamas.

She had just finished bathing; her black hair hung loosely down her back.

Her delicate, exquisite face still carried a rosy flush from the bath.

Her full, prominent chest could not be fully concealed by the loose pajamas, revealing a hint of snowy skin.

Seeing Xu Jingming's hologram appear, Song Qiuyun—who hadn't expected him to answer—immediately brightened.

Then she frowned slightly:

"Huh? Jingming, aren't you busy with your mission?"

"The mission is already done."

"Already done? So fast?!"

Song Qiuyun's almond eyes widened.

She knew the difficulty of an S-rank mission.

Many senior students at school who took S-rank missions had failed, some even sustaining severe injuries.

Yet Xu Jingming had only gone to Jin Ning City yesterday—and today he'd already completed the mission.

His efficiency was extraordinary.

"This mission was relatively simple; I encountered no difficulties."

Xu Jingming gave a brief explanation.

"I see. I hope my and Chu Xuan's mission tomorrow goes smoothly too."

"You've already taken a mission?"

"Yes, an A-rank mission. The location is here in Magu."

"..."

After organizing the space rings,

Xu Jingming, exhausted from a full day's work, had no desire to train, so he simply chatted with Song Qiuyun.

Song Qiuyun clearly delighted in this; her laughter rang like silver bells as they talked.

She laughed until she shook, her full chest swaying with each giggle—giving Xu Jingming quite the view...

The next day, 8: 0 a. .

The bustling waiting hall of Jin Ning City's high-speed rail station.

Lin Qingyuan, who had received word the night before, came to see Xu Jingming off.

She wore a thick autumn outfit that perfectly concealed her slender, tall figure.

"I was going to take you around Jin Ning City after you finished your mission, but you're leaving so soon.

We'll have to wait until next time.

But next time you come to Jin Ning City, don't forget to tell me."

Lin Qingyuan said with a playful smile on her clear, fair oval face.

"I promise." Xu Jingming nodded with a smile.

Of course,

by the time he returned to Jin Ning City, it might be years or even decades.

"By the way, winter break is coming soon.

I'm planning a class reunion in Jiangcheng—will you be able to attend?"

Lin Qingyuan looked at Xu Jingming with her clear, hopeful eyes.

She knew that someone like Xu Jingming might spend the entire winter break at school—even through the Spring Festival.

"If the reunion is held right after winter break starts, I should be able to make it."

Xu Jingming planned to train in the Thunder Secret Realm located in Hedong City, Jiangnan Province during winter break.

Hedong City was less than one hundred kilometers from Jiangcheng.

So after winter break, he wanted to return to Jiangcheng first, then head to Hedong City.

"Alright, I'll let you know once I've set the exact date," Lin Qingyuan said, a smile on her delicate face.

"Train G-103 has arrived. Passengers bound for the Magic Capital, please proceed to ticket inspection and board promptly."

"Train G-103 has arrived. Please..."

At that moment, the waiting hall echoed with the announcement of the train's arrival, and passengers seated waiting rose to their feet.

Xu Jingming also stood up:

"Then, class monitor, see you in winter break—I'm off now."

"Goodbye."

Lin Qingyuan waved farewell.

Watching Xu Jingming's tall, receding figure, her fair, lovely face betrayed an expression as if she had awoken from a dream long past.

Who could have imagined she would run into Xu Jingming by chance?

Even more surprising was that it had only been half a year since they last met.

The Xu Jingming she once pitied in high school—whose parents had both died—had grown into this very person.

"When the Wu Ke college entrance exam results were announced, everyone said Xu Jingming would surely become a powerful figure after graduation."

"But why do I feel he's already a powerhouse—even before he graduates?"

In Lin Qingyuan's eyes, Xu Jingming, with his fourth-rank combat power, was unquestionably a force she had to look up to.

"I need to work harder too—at least become an Ability User before the end of my freshman year..."

Only after Xu Jingming's tall, slender figure passed through ticket inspection and vanished from sight did

Lin Qingyuan withdrew her gaze, silently encouraging herself, then turned and walked away with long, graceful strides.

【119】 Lin Qingyuan drew her gaze back, silently encouraging herself, then turned and walked away with long, graceful strides.