Chapter 43: Advancement! First-Rank Ability User!

"The ability training method needs no further explanation—it is one of only three top-tier ability training methods the school possesses."

"As for the other body-tempering combat art, *Thunderbolt Indestructible Body*, it condenses the lifelong efforts of your teacher."

"Recognized by both the Lei Ting Wu Guan and the Berserker Bear Wu Guan, it has been rated S-class."

Yang Zhentian spoke slowly, yet Xu Jingming's heart jolted at his words.

An S-class combat art?!

A seventh-rank ability user is also called a Grandmaster.

Because ability users at this level have already reached an extremely profound understanding of abilities and the martial path.

They are qualified to create their own ability training methods or combat arts.

Combat arts, likewise, have ratings—same as ability ratings, divided into F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, these nine grades.

The higher the grade, the greater the combat art's power!

Of course, correspondingly, the difficulty of cultivation is also higher!

Most seventh-rank Grandmasters would already be doing very well to create an A-class combat art.

S-class and above—SS and SSS combat arts—are all created by eighth-rank Great Grandmasters, or ninth-rank Martial Saints!

Yet Yang Zhentian, who is only seventh-rank, has created an S-class combat art.

And it is a body-tempering combat art—the most complex kind among the many types of combat arts, involving the mysteries of the human body!

It must be said, Yang Zhentian's martial talent is terrifyingly high!

"*Thunderbolt Indestructible Body* is only suitable for lightning-system ability users to cultivate; it has thirteen layers in total.

Each time you advance, your physique will undergo a corresponding metamorphosis.

However, even I have only cultivated to the Tenth Layer so far.

The final three layers have not yet been verified.

But based on my speculation, once cultivated to the full layers, the physique can truly achieve eternal indestructibility!"

Yang Zhentian's eyes gleamed.

*Thunderbolt Indestructible Body* condensed his entire understanding of the martial path and lightning-system abilities.

If in the future he cannot climb to the peak of Wu Sheng, then Xu Jingming is his greatest hope for verifying this art!

"Also, *Thunderbolt Indestructible Body* requires a certain ability-user rank to cultivate. During this period, you should first use the *Extreme Ability Training Method* to advance your rank.

After you advance, I will help you lay the foundational groundwork for *Thunderbolt Indestructible Body*."

Yang Zhentian paused in thought, then added, "Additionally, you need to practice fist arts."

"Practice fist arts?" This was something Xu Jingming had not expected.

"Of course, once you cultivate *Thunderbolt Indestructible Body*, your physique will be greatly enhanced.

Paired with close-combat techniques and lightning-system abilities, your combat power will receive an enormous boost.

Moreover, weapons are only one of our combat methods; we cannot rely on them excessively.

If one day your weapon is destroyed while fighting a fierce beast, and you have no weapon left, are you just going to turn and run for your life?"

Yang Zhentian spoke at length and gave a real-life example:

"Back then, I fought an eighth-rank fierce beast, the Earth-Shaking Demon Python, into the second day.

My spear, forged from SSS-class alloy, had already been shattered outright by prolonged extreme load.

Even my lightning-system abilities were nearly drained. On the final day, it was only by relying on my body and fist arts that I completed the final kill."

Yang Zhentian's tone was calm, but Xu Jingming could imagine the ferocity of that battle.

He nodded thoughtfully at the same time.

Indeed, learning more combat methods can never hurt.

"Of course, I will also teach you spear arts in parallel.

Once your fist arts and spear arts reach a certain proficiency, I will also instruct you in the use of battle sabers and long swords." Yang Zhentian continued.

"Teacher, may I ask—to what level have all these skills of yours reached in proficiency?" Xu Jingming was somewhat curious.

"Fist arts and spear arts are both Grandmaster-level. As for the other saber arts and sword arts, they're a bit weaker—only Master-level."

Yang Zhentian's tone was very calm, yet Xu Jingming could not help his heart skipping a beat at his words.

Skill proficiency is divided into six grades: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Master, Grandmaster, and Perfection.

An ordinary ability user, just raising the usage technique of a single weapon to Advanced, would need to spend several decades!

Master-level might not be reached even with an entire lifetime's effort.

As for the higher Grandmaster and Perfection, those are even more unfathomable realms.

Yet Yang Zhentian has not only reached Grandmaster-level in fist arts and spear arts, but even his other weapon-usage techniques have reached Master-level......

"It's because I could no longer progress in fist arts and spear arts that I turned to studying other weapons. As for you, it's still far too early."

Seeing that Xu Jingming seemed a bit intimidated, Yang Zhentian could not help but laugh heartily: "During your university stage, you only need to focus on fist arts and spear arts.

The study of combat arts should also mainly revolve around these two aspects. Remember: bite off more than you can chew, and you won't digest it well."

"Teacher, I understand."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Although he had the System by his side, raising weapon-skill proficiency only required investing ability points.

Yet weapons are not valued for their number, but for their mastery.

With ability points limited, clearly specializing in a single weapon is better.

'I'll follow the teacher's advice and focus on fist arts and spear arts first.'

Xu Jingming said silently in his heart.

Afterward, Yang Zhentian handed over another list, which recorded the names of the combat arts Xu Jingming needed to learn next.

Just find the combat technique scrolls in the library and learn them.

This made Xu Jingming silently sigh.

Indeed, having a mentor guide you is much better.

Otherwise, relying solely on oneself, one could never devise such a detailed learning path.

More than ten minutes later, Xu Jingming walked out of the villa, his pockets full of gains.

Yet he encountered Tan Mingyang right at the entrance, also just leaving the villa.

But his face no longer held the earlier smile—only bitterness remained.

It seemed his attempt to find a mentor had failed again.

Seeing this, Xu Jingming did not rudely ask about the outcome; he simply gave a brief greeting and prepared to leave:

"Senior Tan, I'm off."

"Wait—how did your mentor application go? Did you succeed?"

Tan Mingyang asked, as if grasping at a lifeline.

Yet Xu Jingming did not give the answer he wanted—he merely nodded.

"You really succeeded?!"

Tan Mingyang nearly popped his eyeballs out.

Department-head-level mentors rarely take apprentices before the Freshman Competition.

What's going on now?

"Could he really be the principal's son? But he doesn't even look like it."

Watching the receding figure, Tan Mingyang, having failed multiple times, sank into endless self-doubt...

On the other side, Xu Jingming returned to the villa and went straight upstairs to the training room.

The student villa's upper and lower floors had identical room layouts.

Besides the training room and bedroom, there was a shower room, a media room, a study, and his favorite open-air balcony.

Compared to Teacher Yang Zhentian's training room, this one was slightly smaller—only about eighty square meters.

But it was perfectly fine for regular training.

Xu Jingming sat cross-legged on the floor and opened the "Extreme Energy Training Method," beginning to read.

Compared to the intermediate "Deep Sea Energy Training Method," this top-tier "Extreme Energy Training Method" was far more profound.

Xu Jingming spent over four hours to fully comprehend the entire book.

Then, with eyes half-closed, he began sensing the special energy present in the heavens and earth, as recorded in the "Extreme Energy Training Method."

Soon, numerous white dots appeared within his sensing range.

Dense and countless, vast as the ocean.

These were the special energies known as "Yuan Energy"—only by absorbing them into the body could one's ability undergo transformation.

"No wonder this is a top-tier energy training method—the Yuan Energy sensed is vastly more than the intermediate one!"

Xu Jingming's face lit up with joy, then he opened his eyes.

Since the top-tier energy training method could sense Yuan Energy, it proved his cultivation was correct.

There was no need to follow the step-by-step routine anymore—he could just add points to level up.

"Deep Blue!"

A silent mental call, and a pale blue system interface instantly appeared in his mind:

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Awakened (+)

【Ability】: Doushen Shenlei (S)

【Physique】: 186 Qi (+)

【Spirit】: 187 He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Advanced+), Lightning Gale Break (Advanced+)

【Ability Points】: 2534

"Add points!"

Xu Jingming unhesitatingly tapped the plus sign beside his level.

The next instant,

The Yuan Energy in the surrounding air surged into Xu Jingming's body at an utterly terrifying speed.

Automatically, it circulated according to the cultivation method recorded in the "Extreme Energy Training Method," continuously strengthening his ability, physique, and spirit!

Only when it breached a certain threshold did it slowly cease.

【Level】: Awakened → First-Rank Lower-Grade Ability User

"Phew—broken through."

Xu Jingming clenched his fist slightly, feeling the power within him had multiplied several times over!

More importantly, his ability had also strengthened!

"Doushen Shenlei!"

With a low cry, accompanied by the sharp crackle of electric arcs, blue-purple lightning appeared around Xu Jingming.

Compared to before leveling up, the Doushen Shenlei was noticeably thicker and darker in hue.

"If I encountered that Second-Rank Bloodthirsty Rampage Bear again, I wouldn't even need to draw my gun—my lightning could kill it outright."

Watching the blue-purple lightning dancing on his fingertips, Xu Jingming nodded in satisfaction.

With the successful level-up, he had finally taken the first step toward the pinnacle of Ability Users...