Chapter 792

"Is this the Soul-Subduing Tower? It feels strangely calming."

Song Qiuyun blinked as she sensed the seven-story miniature tower guarding her consciousness sea.

Beside her, Jiang Chu looked puzzled: "Jingming, I feel your aura has grown even stronger."

"Of course it has—I've broken through to Seventh Stage Mid-Level," Xu Jingming grinned.

"Seventh Stage Mid-Level?!" Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu widened their eyes.

They had assumed that after their abilities evolved into S+ rank, they'd be closer to Xu Jingming's level.

But it turned out they were still far behind.

Xu Jingming was already Seventh Stage Mid-Level, while both of them were still at Third Stage Peak.

"With S+ rank abilities, you two are already among the top prodigies on the entire Blue Planet."

"All you lack now is time," Xu Jingming said with a smile.

Although there was no concrete evidence linking ability rank to an adept's future achievements,

the reality was clear: the higher the ability rank, the more likely one could reach higher stages.

For instance, most Seventh Stage Masters possessed B-rank or higher abilities.

Most Eighth Stage Grand Masters had A-rank or higher abilities.

As for the higher Ninth Stage, nearly half of them possessed S-rank abilities!

Though there were still C-rank and B-rank adepts among the Ninth Stage, their numbers were minimal.

Thus, some claimed that ability rank essentially reflected one's cultivation potential.

D-rank ability awakeners were doomed from the start to find it extremely difficult to break through to Master or Grand Master levels.

But since Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu's abilities had risen to S+ rank, their future ceilings had also risen significantly.

"These are the SS-rank rare herbs: Moonlight Flower and Phosphorescent Grass."

"These two rare herbs are the primary ingredients for crafting the Eighth-Rank pill: Moonlight Essence Pill."

"Take them, and find a Magitech Alchemist to refine them."

"With this Moonlight Essence Pill, you should both break through to Fifth Stage within a year."

Xu Jingming pulled out two wooden boxes from his space ring and handed them to Jiang Chu.

These two rare herbs were the two SS-rank cultivation resources he had obtained from the Spirit Fox Guild's warehouse.

Though useful for accelerating cultivation, they offered little benefit to him.

He could simply use his system to boost directly—better to give them to Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu.

As for the SSS-rank cultivation resource—a spirit fruit that enhances spiritual power—he would wait until reaching Eighth Stage to consume it.

As for that SSS-grade cultivation resource, it's a mystical fruit that enhances spiritual power and can only be consumed after reaching the eighth tier.

As an alchemist, Jiang Chu didn't hesitate; she accepted the two wooden boxes.

She knew that only if their levels caught up would they not hold Xu Jingming back.

"Now that your ability transformation is complete, it's time to get down to business."

Xu Jingming rose from the sofa.

Hearing this, the two women blushed slightly but obediently pressed close, following him into the bedroom...

Upon hearing this, the two women's cheeks flushed slightly, but they readily pressed close and followed him into the bedroom...

The first ray of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.

It cast a hazy glow, revealing the disarray on the wide bed.

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu lay sprawled, asleep, their delicate brows slightly furrowed—as if they had endured pain before falling asleep.

Yet their red lips still curled in a satisfied smile—this was the state of pain intertwined with bliss.

Xu Jingming awoke from sleep and did not disturb the exhausted women.

Gently, he covered them with a clean blanket, shielding their snow-white bodies.

Then he slipped on loose training gear and headed to the training room.

He spent half an hour warming up, then opened his system panel.

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Seventh Stage Mid-Level

【Ability】: Dou Tian Divine Thunder (SS)

【Physique】: Blood Qi (+)

【Spirit】: He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Master), Fist Technique (Grandmaster), Slave Heart Seal (SSS, Beginner+), Thunder God Descends (SSS, Intermediate+)...

【Body Cultivation】: Divine Thunder Indestructible Body (SS, Ninth Layer)

【Spirit Cultivation】: Lei Hai Contemplation Method (SSS, Fifth Layer)

【Domain】: Thunder Domain (First Layer)

【Ability Points】: 356, 00

"I've studied the SSS-rank body cultivation technique and several SS-rank ones thoroughly."

"Yet the '+' option hasn't appeared—do I lack accumulated knowledge, or just not enough ability points?"

Yet the plus sign still hasn't appeared after the body cultivation technique—is it because my accumulated knowledge is insufficient, or because I don't have enough ability points?

When his body cultivation technique evolved from S-rank to SS-rank, it had cost him only 80, 00 ability points.

Now his system panel held over four times that amount—yet still no '+' option appeared.

"If I switched to another SSS-rank thunder-based body cultivation technique,

its final effect might not surpass the Divine Thunder Indestructible Body, tailored to my own physique."

"So I might as well wait—see if accumulating more ability points triggers a change."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

At that moment, Eva, whom he had just rebooted, floated out of his smart armband and reminded him:

"S-rank: Professor Su sent you a message."

A pale blue virtual window popped up, displaying the message:

"Jingming, call me when you're free."

"Professor Su wants me?"

Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow. "I'll call her now."

Xu Jingming raised his sword-like brows, "Then call her right now."

Eva giggled, and soon the phone rang with a steady beeping sound.

Moments later, the call connected, and Su Qingli's fair face appeared on the holographic projection.

Though she was over thirty, her formidable power had left no trace of aging on her face.

Her skin remained pale and delicate, like a peeled egg—soft enough to burst, brimming with collagen.

"Last night, I heard from Shuang-jie that you returned to Greater Xia. Didn't I disturb you?"

Su Qingli asked softly, her lips barely moving.

Actually, she had been surprised when she received this call.

At this hour, wasn't Xu Jingming still asleep?

"Of course not," Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

Though the two women had grown significantly stronger after their S+ evolution, they were still weak compared to him.

Without Ling Shuang's assistance, even both of them together couldn't endure past 3 a. .

"Did Professor Su need something?" Xu Jingming asked next.

"Yes, I have a Mandate Cult mission—would you be willing to take it?"

Su Qingli nodded briefly. "Lü Wenliang, an Eighth Stage Mid-Level Grand Master in Magitech City, is suspected to be the Red-robed Chief Priest of the Mandate Cult."

"Tonight, the Mandate Cult will hold a ritual in the suburbs of Magitech City. If Lü Wenliang appears, kill him on the spot."

"The Mandate Cult? Didn't the Mandate Cult in Greater Xia get wiped out last year? How is it resurfacing?"

"The Celestial Mandate Sect? Didn't the Celestial Mandate Sect of Great Xia get destroyed last year? How has it reappeared?"

"It's showing signs of revival."

Su Qingli's voice turned icy. "These vermin always rise again the moment we let our guard down."

After the thorough purge last year, reports of the Mandate Cult had nearly vanished.

But in recent months, they've begun stirring again—sporadic blood sacrifice incidents have appeared across the nation.

"Is Lü Wenliang a Bloodline Envoy?" Xu Jingming asked again.

If there were no ability points to be earned, he wasn't eager to go.

"The intel doesn't say, but most Red-robed Chief Priests are Bloodline Envoys."

"The intelligence doesn't say, but most Red Cardinals are Divine Blood Messengers."

"Fine, I'll take the mission," Xu Jingming nodded.

He'd be showing Catherine around anyway—any chance to earn ability points was welcome.

"I knew you would."

Su Qingli's lips curved into a smile. "First, register an account on the Swordbearer Forum—I'll transfer the mission to you."

"The Swordbearer Forum? What's that?" Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

"The Swordholder Forum? What's that?" Xu Jingming asked in confusion.

"Our Great Xia has a powerful forum; only eighth-rank Grand Masters may join."

"Irregular tasks are posted there, and the forum administrator is Blood Sword, who once carved his way through Sakura Nation."

Su Qingli explained.

Xu Jingming, merely a seventh-rank mid-level cultivator, originally had no right to join this forum.

But the forum does not judge solely by rank—it also considers actual combat power.

In terms of actual combat power, Xu Jingming today far surpasses most eighth-rank Grand Masters.

PS: Working overtime today left me tired—I owe two chapters; no need to wait.