Chapter 792

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

Sensing the seven-story miniature tower guarding her consciousness sea, Song Qiuyun blinked and said.

Beside her, Jiang Chuxuan frowned slightly: "Jingming, why do 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 Chuxuan's eyes widened.

They had assumed that after their abilities evolved into S+ rank, the gap between them and Xu Jingming would narrow.

Yet it remained just as vast.

Xu Jingming was already Seventh Stage Mid-Level, while the two of them were still only Third Stage Peak.

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

"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 were S-rank ability users!

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

Thus, some claimed that ability rank truly 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 Master Zongshi realms.

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

"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, then find Ma Da's alchemist to brew them."

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

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

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, these resources offered him little benefit.

He could simply use his system to add points—he'd rather give them to Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan.

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

As for the SSS-grade cultivation resource, it was a mystical fruit that enhanced spiritual power and could only be consumed after reaching the eighth tier.

As an alchemist, Jiang Chuxuan didn't pretend modesty; she accepted both wooden boxes.

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

"Now that your ability transformation is complete, it's time for the real business."

Xu Jingming rose from the sofa.

Hearing this, the two girls 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 rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.

Casting a hazy glow, they also revealed the disarray on the spacious bed.

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

Yet faint smiles lingered at their red lips—a state of pain intertwined with bliss.

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

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

Then he donned loose training attire and headed to the training room.

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

First, spend half an hour completing the warm-up training, then open your system panel.

【Level】: Seventh Stage Mid-Level

【Ability】: Dou Tian Shenlei (SS)

【Physique】: Qi Blood (+)

【Spirit】: He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Master), Fist Technique (Grandmaster), Slave Mind Seal (SSS, Beginner+), Lei Shen Jiang Shi (SSS, Intermediate+)...

【Body Cultivation】: Shen Lei Bu Mie Shen (SS, Ninth Layer)

【Spirit Cultivation】: Lei Hai Guan Xiang Fa (SSS, Fifth Layer)

【Domain】: Lightning Domain (First Layer)

【Ability Points】: 356,000

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

"Yet there's still no plus sign after the body cultivation section—is it because my accumulated knowledge is insufficient, or because I lack enough ability points?"

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

When his body cultivation technique evolved from S to SS, it had cost him only 80,000 ability points.

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

"If I switch to another SSS-rank lightning-based body cultivation technique..."

"If I switch to cultivating another SSS-rank lightning-type body-tempering art.

The final effect may not be stronger than the Doushen Shenlei Body I crafted based on my own physique.

If that's the case, then I can only wait a bit longer and see if the Body Strengthening Art changes as I accumulate more Ability Points.

Xu Jingming silently thought to himself.

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

"S-class message: Su Laoshi sent you a note."

Immediately, a pale blue virtual window popped up, displaying the message content:

"Jingming, call me when you have time."

"Su Laoshi is looking for me?"

Xu Jingming raised his sword-like eyebrows. "Then I'll call her right now."

"Got it."

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

In a moment, the call was answered, and Su Qingli's pale, delicate face appeared on the holographic projection before him.

Though she was already in her thirties, her formidable strength had left no trace of time on her face.

Her complexion remained pale and tender, like a peeled egg, seemingly fragile enough to burst, brimming with collagen.

"Last night, I heard Sister Shuang say you returned to Greater Xia. Did I disturb you?"

Su Qingli softly asked, her crimson lips moving slightly.

In fact, she had been slightly surprised when she received this call.

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

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

The two women, now upgraded to S+ level, had grown considerably stronger, but compared to him, they were still pitifully weak.

Without Ling Shuang's cooperation, even if both exerted themselves simultaneously, they still couldn't endure past three in the morning.

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

"Yes, I have a Tianming Sect mission—wonder if you'd like to take it."

Su Qingli nodded slightly and briefly explained: "Lü Wenliang, the eighth-rank Zhongweida Master from Shanghai, is suspected to be the Red Robe Grand Preceptor of the Tianming Sect.

Tonight, the Tianming Sect will hold a ritual in the suburbs of Shanghai. If Lü Wenliang appears at the ritual, kill him on the spot!"

"Tianming Sect? Didn't Greater Xia's Tianming Sect get wiped out last year? How has it resurfaced?"

Xu Jingming frowned.

"There have been signs of revival recently."

Su Qingli's voice turned icy. "These vermin always rise from the ashes if we let our guard down."

Since the thorough purge last year, news of the Tianming Sect had largely vanished.

But over the past few months, the Tianming Sect has seemingly resumed operations, with scattered blood sacrifice incidents occurring across the nation.

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

If he didn't have Ability Points, he wasn't eager to go.

"The intel doesn't say, but most Red Robe Grand Preceptors are Divine Blood Envoys."

Su Qingli mused.

"Alright, I'll take this mission," Xu Jingming nodded.

Either way, these next two days I'll just be showing Catherine around—anything that earns Ability Points is fine.

"I knew you would."

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

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

"It's a forum for the strong of Greater Xia—only eighth-rank Weida Masters may join."

It occasionally posts missions; the forum administrators include Blood Sword, who once slaughtered his way through Sakura Nation."

Su Qingli explained.

Xu Jingming, at merely seventh-rank Zhongweida, normally had no qualification to join this forum.

But the forum doesn't judge solely by rank—it also considers actual combat power.

In terms of real combat power, Xu Jingming now far surpasses most eighth-rank Weida Masters.

PS: Working overtime today—I'm tired, owe two chapters, don't wait for them.