Chapter 706: Low-Tier Version of the Infinite Sword System! Preparing Gifts!

"This is just a special ability that comes with my Body Tempering Art.

My lightning-type ability proficiency is still only at the Liquid Condensation realm.

I haven't even reached the Crystal realm, let alone the higher Domain realm.

What I have here is essentially taking a shortcut — it doesn't mean I've truly reached the Domain realm."

Xu Jingming spread his hands helplessly. "Come to think of it, I'm actually the one losing out here.

Once my ability proficiency reaches the Domain realm, I'll naturally master the Domain ability.

In other words, the special ability brought by the ninth level of the Body Tempering Art is basically useless in the later stages."

This was a problem he only discovered after coming back.

The Thunder Domain of the ninth level of the Doushen Shenlei Indestructible Body was indeed formidable.

But undeniably, even without going through the Doushen Shenlei Indestructible Body, he could still master this ability naturally later on.

"You're the textbook case of getting a bargain and still complaining."

Hearing Ling Shuang replied, somewhat speechless. "You think just anyone can master a Domain?

Even among the ninth-rank ability users in our Great Xia, more than a third of them haven't mastered a Domain.

Expand that to the entire Blue Star, and the number of ninth-rank ability users who haven't mastered a Domain is even greater.

If I could master a Domain at seventh rank, I'd probably laugh myself awake in my dreams."

Of course, Hearing Ling Shuang also knew Xu Jingming was no ordinary person.

After thinking for a moment, she continued: "As for the issue you're considering, I don't think it's a major problem.

Once your ability proficiency reaches the Domain realm, you might release an overlapping Domain that's stronger than a normal one.

Besides, isn't your Body Tempering Art only at SS-rank right now?

Once your ability proficiency reaches the Domain realm, you'll also be roughly at eighth or ninth rank.

By then, you can optimize your Body Tempering Art to SSS-rank, and that should solve this problem."

Body Tempering Art is absolutely one of the most difficult types among all combat techniques.

An ordinary ability user who wants to create an SSS-rank Body Tempering Art will spend decades, or even a lifetime, researching it.

This is bound to slow down their cultivation progress.

But that's for ordinary people.

For Xu Jingming, who spent only a few months researching an S-rank Body Tempering Art up to SS-rank —

Hearing Ling Shuang felt this wouldn't delay him much.

"Thank you, Teacher Ling, for clearing that up — I understand now." Xu Jingming's eyes lit up at her words.

Hearing Xu Jingming call her Teacher Ling again, Hearing Ling Shuang couldn't help but glare at him.

But she couldn't be bothered to correct him anymore — he wouldn't listen anyway, and at times he even got more enthusiastic about calling her that......

"I've already booked a restaurant, over in the central district.

It's still early now — you rest for a bit. I'll head over to the martial arts hall to handle some things, and we'll go over in the afternoon."

Hearing Ling Shuang said softly.

"Alright." Xu Jingming nodded.

From leaving the wilderness area with Hearing Ling Shuang, to being sought out by Feng Kuan —

a lot happened along the way, but in reality, less than four hours had passed.

It was only 12 noon now, still a long way from nightfall.

After Hearing Ling Shuang teleported away, Xu Jingming released the Thorn Sword Grass, letting it continue absorbing nutrients.

He himself took out the spatial rings from the two seventh-rank peak Grandmasters and the eighth-rank lower Grandmaster he had killed along the way.

Four spatial rings in total — the contents were quite a mishmash: all sorts of rare flowers, exotic herbs, and pill resources.

But the actual value was only around 13 billion Blue Star coins.

"Are all Tianming Sect people this poor?" Xu Jingming muttered inwardly.

But then again, most of the ability users who joined the Tianming Sect were desperadoes.

Many of them were even still wanted by the Security Bureau — even if they'd reached seventh-rank Grandmaster or eighth-rank Great Grandmaster.

Any extra money on them had been poured into cultivating the Divine Blood Secret Art, leaving hardly anything.

"I'm heading back to Great Xia in a couple of days. These rare flowers, exotic herbs, and cultivation pills are too low-grade.

I can't use them myself, but I can bring them back for my aunt, Sister Qi, and the others."

The Lei Ting martial arts hall's Hall Master meeting — he was only going for the spectacle. The main purpose of returning to Great Xia was to see Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan.

After all, he'd already been in Dayangzhou for roughly four-plus months; it was time to go back and check in.

Also, he needed to go back and check on his aunt.

As a seventh-rank Grandmaster, the boost from taking these A-rank and B-rank rare flowers and exotic herbs was minimal for him.

But if given to Sister Qi and Qiuyun, who were still at second or third rank —

it would be different; it would absolutely greatly accelerate their cultivation speed.

"Too bad it's only been three months — the elemental essence on Catherine's side hasn't fully repaired yet.

Otherwise, I could've brought it back this time. But it's fine — I can make another trip back in a month."

Having sorted his loot, Xu Jingming opened his system panel.

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Rank】: Seventh-rank Lower

【Ability】: Dou Tian Shen Lei (SS)

【Physique】: Qi and Blood (+)

【Spirit】: He (+)

【Skills】: Spear Art (Master), Fist Art (Master Zongshi), Wan Leitian Yin (SSS-rank, Beginner+), Lei Shen Jiangshi (SSS-rank, Beginner+)......

【Body Tempering】: Doushen Shenlei Indestructible Body (SS-rank, Ninth Layer)

【Spirit Refining】: Lei Hai Visualization Method (SSS-rank, Fourth Layer)

【Domain】: Lightning Domain (First Layer)

【Ability Points】: 126,000

Xu Jingming's current system panel could be called luxurious; the only pity was that his ability points were down to just over 120,000.

"Ability points are too few; the most important body-tempering art and spirit-refining art can't be upgraded.

In that case, then I'll upgrade combat techniques."

At present, Xu Jingming's most frequently used close-combat killing techniques were only two.

One was an SS+ rank "Cang Lei Ba Wang Spear," and one was an S+ rank "Lei Guan Mo Sha Spear."

Both of these were only at the lowest beginner proficiency.

As for ranged spell-type combat techniques, naturally the optimal upgrade choice was "Lei Shen Jiangshi," which comprehensively amplified casting speed.

"First upgrade the SSS-rank Lei Shen Jiangshi; once it can't be upgraded any further, then upgrade the close-combat killing techniques."

Xu Jingming's heart stirred, and he clicked the upgrade option behind the combat technique.

Ability Points -40,000!

Lei Shen Jiangshi (Beginner → Intermediate)!

Ability Points -80,000!

Lei Shen Jiangshi (Intermediate → Advanced)!

After two consecutive upgrades, in an instant, countless details regarding the release of Lei Shen Jiangshi appeared in Xu Jingming's mind.

The SSS-rank combat technique "Lei Shen Jiangshi" was as if he had cast it tens of thousands of times — thoroughly mastered in his heart!

"Truly worthy of being an SSS-rank combat technique; just upgrading it to advanced proficiency cost me 120,000 ability points."

After digesting all the memories, Xu Jingming let out a long breath. He had originally wanted to upgrade close-combat killing techniques, but now it seemed that wouldn't be possible.

"Go into the virtual world and try it out; let's see how powerful an advanced-proficiency Lei Shen Jiangshi is."

Taking out the neural helmet from his spatial ring, Xu Jingming quickly entered the virtual world's arena and began actual combat.

It had to be said, an advanced-proficiency Lei Shen Jiangshi was indeed ferocious.

After casting the combat technique, the casting speed of all other spell-type techniques was about a third faster than before!

Previously he could simultaneously fire 21 Lei Mao in one second; now he could fire 28 in one breath!

"A low-spec version of Unlimited Blade Works. I wonder who'll be the first to try my advanced-proficiency Lei Shen Jiangshi."

A smile appeared on Xu Jingming's face.

After finishing his experiment with Lei Shen Jiangshi, he didn't rush to leave the virtual world, but stayed in the arena.

Having entered the Seventh Tier and devoured an SSS-rank exotic fruit, his strength had surged explosively, and he needed to determine his own combat power.

Soon, three or four hours passed, just as Xu Jingming was thoroughly enjoying himself killing in the arena.

Eva's voice suddenly rang out beside his ear: "S-rank, Hearing Ling Shuang has sent a message.

She says she's still preparing a gift for you, and told you to go to the Rhine Commercial Street in the central city district to wait for her."