Chapter 321: Aura Simulation! Final Preparations!

Even with Master-level proficiency in the Concealment Technique, you can only mimic an aura no more than two minor ranks below your own.

As if sensing Xu Jingming's thoughts, Eva added.

"I see..." Xu Jingming felt a pang of disappointment.

Then again, the aura of an Eighth-Rank Grand Master is formidable.

Even a casual burst of such an aura can shatter lower-rank psychics.

If the mimicked aura can't achieve that effect, it's useless.

"But for me, mimicking a Fourth-Rank Lower-tier aura to match Fourth-Rank Upper-tier is enough—it makes it harder to uncover my true identity."

A thought struck him, and Xu Jingming immediately upgraded his Master-level Concealment Technique to Grand Master level.

The Concealment Technique was only a B-rank combat skill, so the upgrade cost relatively few psychic points—just 4, 00.

After the upgrade, as the Concealment Technique activated, Xu Jingming's Fourth-Rank Lower-tier aura surged instantly to Fourth-Rank Upper-tier!

"Huh??"

On his shoulder, Eva, who had witnessed the entire process, widened her eyes, her doll-like face filled with confusion.

How could an S-rank aura change so quickly?

Could it be... Grand Master-level Concealment Technique?

But just moments ago, at Vice Principal Ling Shuang's office, it was still Master-level, wasn't it?

Realizing this, Eva couldn't help but praise:

"S-rank, you're hiding your true strength well—even the Concealment Technique has reached Grand Master level."

Xu Jingming merely smiled at this, saying nothing.

Who could know he'd just now added the proficiency points?

Moreover, through this combat skill, he confirmed one thing:

That proficiency matters just as much for combat skills.

The higher the proficiency, the more incredible the power it can unleash.

"It seems my decision to hold off on learning new combat skills for now was correct..." Xu Jingming thought silently.

Now that he'd reached Fourth Rank, he could already learn some SS-rank combat skills.

His system panel still had sufficient psychic points.

He hadn't learned any partly because the Magic University's combat skill library had few SS-rank lightning-based manuals.

And the SS-rank skills available at Fourth Rank weren't particularly powerful.

Better to save those points for leveling up instead.

Besides, the four S-rank combat skills he already possessed—

Lei Guan Demon Killing Spear, Lei Shen Finger, Heavenly Thunder Art, and Mingyuleikai —were all still at Beginner proficiency.

Upgrading their proficiency might make them just as strong as SS-rank skills.

After confirming the Smart Armguard's usage, Xu Jingming tested the Space Beast Bone's ability.

It was exactly as Ling Shuang said: the bone could split space and enable long-range teleportation.

His bloodline was strong, yet he could only use it twice.

If he forced a third use, he felt he'd likely be drained into a mummy.

Even so, two teleportations filled him with immense delight.

With the beast bone in hand, the whole world was open to him!

Amid his joy, he couldn't help but reflect.

Even a single fragment of bone after death could possess such power—how terrifying must a living Ninth-Rank Beast Emperor be?

Thinking of this, Xu Jingming felt the weight of his path ahead; he still had a long way to go before reaching the pinnacle of Blue Star...

The Ninth Civilization Ruin would open around April 10th.

It might open a day or two earlier, or a day or two later.

That meant he had to reach Hokkaido in Sakura Nation by April 8th at the latest.

Fortunately, the closest city in Great Xia to Sakura Nation was Magic City.

Departing from here minimized travel time and spared Xu Jingming the trouble of going elsewhere.

From Magic City to Hokkaido, there were two options:

One was a flight jet, taking about six hours, with a ticket costing 500, 00 Great Xia coins.

The other was a cruise ship, taking about twelve hours, with a ticket costing 300, 00 Great Xia coins.

The high cost was because crossing the vast East Sea was extremely dangerous.

Both jets and cruise ships were specially modified to prevent beast attacks.

Even onboard were psychic squads led by Seventh-Rank Grand Masters, providing full escort.

Those hundreds of thousands of Great Xia coins were merely their service fee.

Even so, safety couldn't be fully guaranteed.

If an Eighth-Rank beast attacked mid-flight or mid-voyage, annihilation was almost certain.

After careful consideration, Xu Jingming ultimately chose the cruise.

After all, the distance from Magic City to Hokkaido was over two thousand kilometers.

Even with the Space Beast Bone, if the jet failed mid-flight, two teleportations wouldn't save him.

But if the cruise failed, at least he wouldn't have to face the horror of being stranded ten thousand meters up.

In fact, most travelers heading abroad chose the cruise.

After deciding on his mode of travel,

Xu Jingming immediately used the fake identity provided by Vice Principal Ling Shuang to book a ticket for April 7th at 9 a. ., departing from Magic City to Hokkaido.

Of course, to Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu, he claimed he was going to the Sixth Demon Cave.

Upon learning Xu Jingming was leaving school again—and for over two months—

The two girls, as if prearranged, took turns visiting him every night, refusing to stop until they were utterly exhausted.

Of course, for Xu Jingming himself, the physical exertion wasn't excessive.

Aside from being drained at night, his days were much like usual.

Either training, or preparing for the Civilization Ruin.

First and foremost, fresh water and food—adhering to the principle of being prepared.

Xu Jingming stocked his 100-cubic-meter space ring with enough water and supplies for four months.

Besides food, the most important item was pills.

Since Jiang Chu was a member of the Magic University Alchemy Association,

And had recently passed the certification exam to become a Grade-3 Alchemist,

Xu Jingming purchased a batch of high-quality Grade-4 pills from the Magic University Alchemy Department at a 10% discount.

Also, his S-rank weapon, Flowing Gold Sword Spear, had been lightly modified at the Magic University Equipment Department.

Its original dark-gold color was changed to deep black, and certain patterns on the shaft were altered.

When he retrieved the spear from the Equipment Department, had it not been for its property of increasing weight when infused with psychic energy,

Even Xu Jingming himself wouldn't have believed it was his own spear, let alone anyone else.

Meanwhile, during all these preparations, news spread that the Ninth Civilization Ruin was about to open.

Teachers and students holding access permits began to act.

Xu Jingming's senior, Liu Ming, had recently broken through to Fourth Rank and, holding an access permit, wanted to venture in.

Upon learning Xu Jingming wouldn't go to the ruin, Liu Ming actually sighed in relief.

Besides Liu Ming, Magic University had four Sixth-Rank Lower-tier instructors and five students joining.

Thus, time quickly arrived at April 7th, the day Xu Jingming departed.

PS: Three chapters done. Begging for support through love and energy~~~