Chapter 392: Return! Gift of the Yuan Ling Fruit!

Shh—

The Lei Long Wings unfolded behind him, and with a gentle flutter, they carried Xu Jingming toward the Yuan Ling Fruit Tree.

He hovered before a single fruit, six meters above ground, its exterior a vivid crimson, roughly the size of an adult's fist.

"Fortunately, since I last collected an S-rank Earth Spirit Spring with Chu Xuan, I've carried various containers on me."

Otherwise, even if I obtained these Yuan Ling Fruits,

without proper preservation methods, half their potency would vanish by the time I picked them and brought them back."

A faint glow from his spatial ring revealed a black wooden box in Xu Jingming's hand.

It was crafted from sandalwood that had grown for over a century since the emergence of Yuan Energy.

Just this single wooden box cost over 200,000, maximizing the preservation of medicinal efficacy in all heavenly treasures.

"Pop~~"

He reached out, gripped the fruit's stem, and with a light tug, plucked it off the tree with effortless smoothness.

He swiftly placed it inside the wooden box, sealed it, and stored it in his spatial ring.

Then he retrieved another empty wooden box and flew to the next Yuan Ling Fruit.

In this manner, all six Yuan Ling Fruits were swiftly harvested by Xu Jingming.

"Whir—"

The instant the final Yuan Ling Fruit was picked,

the entire tree, once lush and densely foliated, began to wither from its crown.

Within just a few breaths, only a pile of yellowed, dead remains remained.

Xu Jingming felt no surprise at this.

Unlike Earth Spirit Springs, which are S-rank heavenly treasures born from the earth,

rare flowers, exotic grasses, and spirit fruit trees all evolved from ordinary plants.

The transformation is entirely random—moments ago, it might have been an ordinary tree.

The next moment, under sufficient Yuan Energy, it could become a Yuan Ling Fruit Tree.

Once all its fruits are harvested, the tree withers completely and leaves no seeds.

This is precisely why humans struggle so greatly to cultivate rare flowers, exotic grasses, and spirit fruit trees.

"If one day we could mass-produce SS-rank heavenly treasures,

humanity's entire strength would undergo a qualitative leap."

After this reflection, Xu Jingming retracted his Lei Long Wings and swiftly departed.

Today is July 26th; the day after tomorrow is the annual assessment test at Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym's Elite Training Camp.

He had promised Teacher Su he would participate, so he needed to hurry back.

Also,

after over a month of prolonged killing inside the No. 4 Demon Cave, he needed proper rest.

Xu Jingming raced across the terrain, avoiding most regions in the central No. 4 Demon Cave likely occupied by high-rank ferocious beasts.

It took him nearly nine hours before he finally exited the No. 4 Demon Cave.

By the time he returned to Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym's headquarters, it was already past ten at night.

Along the way, Xu Jingming called Teacher Su.

Learning she wasn't in the top-floor office but at her private villa, he went directly there.

"Teacher, I'm back..."

Since it was late, this time no Liu Wei accompanied him.

He entered alone through the villa gate, already opened for him in advance.

His gaze swept across,

and he saw Su Qingli, seemingly just finished bathing, seated on the sofa.

She wore loose, sleep-like attire, her black hair cascading down her back, appearing effortlessly casual.

Yet even so, her exquisite features imbued everything around her with an air of refined elegance.

Across from Su Qingli sat another woman.

This woman wore mature makeup, a tear-shaped mole beneath her eye, and a pale black ancient-style robe.

Her thighs crossed and pressed together, revealing long, full curves.

A pair of pink-tinged white feet lay bare and unconcerned in the air.

It was none other than Teacher Ling Shuang.

Xu Jingming hadn't expected Ling Shuang to be here, so he quickly bowed respectfully: "Teacher Ling."

"Your Teacher Su was just talking about when you'd return, and you called right away,"

Ling Shuang smiled at Xu Jingming.

Her features were already striking; now with that smile, she radiated breathtaking beauty.

"You stayed in the No. 4 Demon Cave for thirty-six days—how was it? Your harvest must've been good..."

Su Qingli's rosy lips also parted slightly to speak.

But before she finished, she sharply sensed Xu Jingming's aura had grown significantly stronger than before he left.

After a careful scan, her almond eyes widened slightly:

"You've broken through to the fifth rank?"

"Training between life and death greatly benefited me—I didn't even notice, and when I came to my senses, I'd already broken through."

Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

"Do you realize that your 'didn't notice' equals years of grueling cultivation for other fourth-rank peak adepts?"

Although she'd already heard from Ling Shuang about Xu Jingming's astonishing breakthrough speed,

seeing this talent displayed before her, Su Qingli couldn't help but feel astonished and impressed.

"If you stayed in the Wildlands another month, I'd suspect you'd emerge already at the sixth rank."

After a sigh of admiration, Su Qingli nodded approvingly:

"I was going to tell you about your tough opponents in tomorrow's assessment test,

but now that you've reached the fifth rank, there's no need."

Tomorrow's assessment test will draw most senior leaders of Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym,

as well as guests from top guilds, military legions, and powerful families.

The better Xu Jingming performs, the greater the influence of this newly appointed gym director—me.

Xu Jingming smiled but said nothing.

If he could stay in the Wildlands for one or two years, breaking through to the ninth rank wouldn't be an issue!

"Enough. You've been in the demon cave too long—you're tired. If there's nothing else, go rest."

Su Qingli waved her hand; Ling Shuang also nodded slightly: "I should be leaving too."

"Teachers, don't rush—I do have something else."

Xu Jingming quickly said.

A faint glow from his right-hand spatial ring revealed four black wooden boxes placed on the coffee table opposite the sofa.

Then, under the puzzled gazes of Su Qingli and Ling Shuang, he opened the boxes:

"Teacher Su, Teacher Ling, these are SS-rank heavenly treasures—Yuan Ling Fruits—I collected in the No. 4 Demon Cave.

I thought they'd be useful to you, so here are four—two for each of you."

PS: I owe 11 chapters for the Spring Festival. As a part-time writer, I have limited writing time—please give me a little more time; I'll slowly make up the chapters (sob)

P. S.: I owe 11 chapters for the Spring Festival; as a part-time writer, I have little time to write. Please give me a little more time—I'll slowly make up the chapters later (sob)