Chapter 44: Preparation for Exchange! SS-Rank Resources!

Xu Jingming briefly tested his strength in the training room.

Transitioning from an Awakened to an Adept, his power had nearly quintupled!

He then opened his system panel:

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Rank】: First Tier Lower (+)

【Adept Power】: Purple Heaven Doushen Shenlei (S)

【Physique】: 283 Qi Blood (+)

【Spirit】: 289 He (+)

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

【Adept Points】: 2234

"Promoting to First Tier only cost me 300 Adept Points."

"The Adept Point consumption isn't too high, but the increase in my base attributes exceeded my expectations."

Xu Jingming couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe.

If he had used the "Deep Sea Adept Training Method" to break through, his Qi Blood and Spirit would have increased by at most thirty to forty points.

But with this top-tier Adept training method, both his base attributes had risen by over a hundred points each!

This was truly a world apart!

"No wonder Adepts all crave higher-grade Adept cultivation methods—this gap is simply too vast."

Xu Jingming couldn't help but shake his head.

He was also deeply grateful that, after obtaining the "Deep Sea Adept Training Method," he hadn't rushed to level up.

"I still have plenty of Adept Points left, but I can't raise my rank any further for now," Xu Jingming thought silently.

On one hand, he'd need Adept Points to learn combat techniques later.

On the other hand, he needed time to adapt to his new strength before making further advancements.

"Next, let's take a closer look at this S-rank body-cultivation combat technique."

Xu Jingming opened the scroll of "Lei Ting Immortal Body" and read it in detail.

As a Seventh-Tier Adept, Yang Zhentian possessed profound understanding of martial arts and lightning-based Adept Powers.

All of his insights were woven into this body-cultivation technique.

Thus, upon first encountering the scroll, Xu Jingming was instantly immersed.

"No wonder it's an S-rank technique—truly exquisite!"

Two hours later, Xu Jingming reluctantly closed the scroll, still eager for more.

"Lei Ting Immortal Body" had Thirteenth Layer, but he could currently understand only the first three.

The content beyond the first three layers was far too profound—he couldn't comprehend it yet.

Yet even just the first three layers had opened a whole new world to him.

Ordinary body-cultivation techniques required different methods to forge the body through relentless pounding.

Only after thousands of hammerings would the body gradually grow stronger.

But this body-cultivation technique added one extra step—forging the foundation!

The first layer of "Lei Ting Immortal Body" required the blood of a lightning-type ferocious beast to forge the foundation of the Immortal Body.

Only afterward would one use one's own lightning-based Adept Power to forge the body.

The final strength of the Lei Ting Immortal Body depended entirely on the quality of the lightning-type ferocious beast blood used to forge the foundation.

If forged with high-tier ferocious beast blood, the physique's strength would grow ever stronger.

If forged with low-tier blood—or worse, ordinary ferocious beast blood—the physique's strength would be further diminished.

"Lightning-type ferocious beast blood… that's troublesome," Xu Jingming muttered, stroking his chin.

On Blue Star, low-tier ferocious beasts relied solely on their physical bodies to fight.

High-tier ferocious beasts, like Adepts, possessed incredible, almost unimaginable abilities.

Take the famed Silver Moon Nine-Tailed Fox—it had a charm ability similar to that of a spirit-type Adept.

If you failed to react in time, death was the only outcome.

Lightning-type ferocious beasts, like lightning-based Adepts, controlled thunder and lightning.

But such beasts were at least Fourth-Tier or higher.

By himself, Xu Jingming currently had no way to obtain such beast blood.

Fortunately, he had a mentor.

"Teacher said yesterday that once I became an Adept, I should come to him to forge the foundation—so tomorrow I'll go straight to him."

Early the next morning, after washing up, Xu Jingming found Teacher Yang Zhentian again.

Upon learning Xu Jingming had leveled up, Yang Zhentian was slightly surprised:

"So fast?"

In over twenty years teaching at the Metropolis Adept University, he had seen countless prodigies.

Yet even those prodigies had taken considerable time to transition from Awakened to Adept.

But Xu Jingming had gone from receiving the scroll yesterday to now—less than twenty-four hours!

And he'd already succeeded in leveling up!

"Perhaps it's just accumulated potential finally bursting forth," Xu Jingming replied with a humble smile.

"Alright, since you've succeeded, today I'll forge the foundation of your Lei Ting Immortal Body."

Yang Zhentian, upon hearing this, didn't press further; he nodded and continued:

"The foundation of the Imperishable Body I prepared for you is made from the essence blood of a seventh-rank high-tier lightning beast, the Storm Giant Bear."

A faint glow flashed from Yang Zhentian's ring, and a transparent glass bottle instantly appeared in his hand.

The glass bottle held about 800ml, its crimson blood gently rippling, with faint silver-white Lei Guang flickering within.

"High-rank lightning beasts are extremely rare; over the years, the highest-level lightning beast I've slain is this Storm Giant Bear."

"The school's resource vault does have eighth-rank lightning beast blood, but it's an SS-class resource—I, even as your teacher, can't easily exchange for it."

Yang Zhentian looked somewhat helpless.

Although he was the dean of the Weaponry Academy, he couldn't freely use the school's resources.

But the school does grant them a large sum of credit points each year, usable for exchanging resources.

Yet as a seventh-rank high-tier adept, his own cultivation expenses are enormous.

The credit points on his account were already nearly spent; his balance couldn't possibly afford an SS-class resource.

Of course,

the seventh-rank high-tier Storm Giant Bear essence blood is already exceedingly rare, classified as a premium S-class resource—more than sufficient to forge a foundation.

But since he knew Xu Jingming was an S-class energy awakenee, he'd instinctively wanted to use better essence blood.

"By the way, I heard from Zhang Chaoyang that you receive one S-class resource every year?"

Yang Zhentian suddenly brightened and asked.

"Mm."

Though slightly confused, Xu Jingming nodded.

"Excellent! Your S-class resource, combined with my Storm Giant Bear essence blood, might just be enough to exchange for that SS-class resource!"

Still, though he said this, Yang Zhentian chose to first seek Xu Jingming's opinion:

"Jingming, do you have other uses for your S-class resource?"

"Whatever you decide is fine, Teacher," Xu Jingming shook his head.

Come on,

even if that S-class resource had other uses, someone else had already offered a premium S-class resource.

And the final SS-class resource would still benefit him—refusing would be outright foolish.

"Alright, wait here for me—I'll be right back."

A flash of lightning—Xu Jingming hadn't even reacted—and Yang Zhentian's figure vanished from where he stood.

"This movement technique feels almost like teleportation."

Xu Jingming inwardly marveled.

But he knew it was merely an illusion caused by the other's excessive speed.

"Student Xu, the dean will return shortly—please have some fruit."

Not long after Yang Zhentian left, the butler who had opened the door yesterday approached with a tray of fruit.

"Thank you, Fu Bo."

Xu Jingming politely thanked him.

Fu Bo wasn't just the villa's butler—he had once shared life and death with Teacher Yang Zhentian.

That's what the teacher told him yesterday in the training room.

And Fu Bo's own strength was formidable: a sixth-rank mid-tier adept.

Thus, even toward this butler, he remained somewhat cautious...