Chapter 315: Proportional Distribution and Material Processing

Things around him were moving in a good direction.

When Xia Nan and the Oath-Sworn Blackwood squad walked out of the Mist Forest, the proficiency of his 【Ember Afterimage】 had already reached (6/100).

Just as he had guessed, the acquisition path of proficiency for this powerful combat technique from an exotic secret realm was not limited to that precious once-a-month use opportunity.

Although it was a bit slow, it could also be accumulated through daily training.

As for the specific training method, it was the same as when he tried to enter the threshold a few days ago.

Through the route of energy infusion and demonstration of the flame crystal on the 【Ember Teaching Staff】, he controlled the energy flow suspected to be remaining fire in his body to circulate fixedly.

Perhaps because the acquisition time was still short, or perhaps because it required concentration, Xia Nan had to maintain a state of full concentration during training and could not be distracted.

To a certain extent, it looked like the meditation of a spellcaster.

It was a pity that he had tested it slightly on the way back these few days. Although such training did not have much impact on physical strength, the state of mental concentration that he tried his best to maintain would continue to consume his focus.

After a whole training process, it was not much easier than practicing 【Spinning Slash】 and 【Tooth Hunting】 in the past.

So he still needed at least six hours of sleep every day to recover his energy.

It could not replace daily rest through the meditation training of 【Ember Afterimage】 as imagined.

Fortunately, 【Tooth Hunting】 was already maxed out; although it wouldn't be completely put down, it was clearly no longer the focus of training.

The extra time was just right to be allocated to 【Ember Afterimage】.

"Hmm... the improvement speed of this combat technique is much faster than 【Gravity Control】, so it can be focused on training."

"It's just that both of these combat techniques consume a lot of mental power during training. With my current state, I might not have the conditions for long-term repeated training."

"Perhaps I can intersperse some sword practice in between?"

After all, he hadn't returned to a safe town yet, and even the outskirts of the forest needed to guard against possible dangers around, so Xia Nan on the road just arranged a training plan while ensuring that his own state was enough to fight.

The specifics would have to wait until later to flexibly adjust according to the actual situation.

Perhaps all the bad luck had been exhausted in the battle with that infernal Devil, and Xia Nan did not encounter any difficult opponents on the way back.

The few teams of Goblins he occasionally bumped into were also beheaded by him as a temporary pastime; he had originally thought about following the vine to find the melon and going to their nest to have a good relaxation.

But considering that Margaret and Suoerding were still following behind, Xia Nan suppressed the desire that had accumulated slightly in his heart.

It is worth mentioning that these two adventurers who were injured in the battle performed very "obediently" on the way back, not only taking the initiative to carry many loot materials for him, but also doing things within their power such as setting up camp and lighting campfires on the road, giving people a feeling of having a sense of proportion.

Before resting at night, they would even discuss some past adventure experiences, mysterious rumors in the nearby area, and even gossip about celebrities in the town, making Xia Nan listen and feel very interesting, and his impression of the two gradually rose.

He knew clearly that the two had a certain purpose in doing so; after all, being in the wild, without the supervision of the order of civilized society, power became the foundation of everything, and the strong could ride roughshod over the weak without any scruples.

Xia Nan's murderous intent had dissipated the moment the two proposed to share the mission reward, but Margaret and the others still tried their best to show their value on the road to reduce the hostility that the stronger person in the team might have due to previous unpleasant experiences.

Nothing to be surprised about; this is the way of survival for adventurers.

And as the group walked out of the forest, the number of adventurers encountered on the road became more and more frequent, buildings appeared on both sides, and the distance to Hegu Town became closer and closer.

The expressions of Margaret and Suoerding under their disguise were also obviously relieved, no longer as tense as they were in the forest, as if they were under high pressure at all times.

Not because they were in a safe human gathering place did they perform perfunctorily; after returning to Hegu Town, Margaret took the initiative to suggest going to the Adventurer Association first to deal with the mission reward with the transfer ratio discussed earlier.

Seeing this female swordsman so straightforward, Xia Nan, who had originally thought about whether the other party would default on the debt, had no objection.

A group of three, carrying large and small bags, didn't even return to the inn, and walked directly into the gate of the Adventurer Association.

"Okay, thank you again for your support to the Adventurer Association, Mr. Xia Nan!"

In the small conference room, across the wooden table, the association receptionist Molly put down the recording pen in her hand, closed the mission report written full of content, and carefully put it aside.

Standing up from her seat, she saluted Xia Nan across the table with a serious expression.

And then she returned to the soft and intimate smile just now, bending her eyes and saying:

"Regarding the confirmation of the mission results, the association will complete it within three days, please rest assured."

"How do you plan to allocate the exchange ratio between gold coins and points for the mission reward?"

"Oh, the recent rate market in Hegu Town has not changed; it is still the same '1:30' as last time."

"If you haven't chosen yet, I can also help you keep it for a while and decide after three days."

For commissions with official level numbers on the second floor of the association, mission rewards are usually composed of "gold coins" and "association points." The former goes without saying, while the latter can be used to exchange for various benefits within the association, such as special-priced potions, rare materials, official combat techniques, special intelligence, etc.

Xia Nan was exactly in need of money, and had already made a decision before this mission trip, so he didn't need to think about it anymore, and nodded immediately:

"Just help me exchange it all into gold coins."

"Okay, Mr. Xia Nan!"

Molly's face was full of smiles, nodding vigorously, her short golden hair swaying, revealing the metal earrings on her earlobes.

The enthusiastic and intimate appearance formed a sharp contrast with the half-dead, sleepy look when she sat behind the counter on weekdays.

One could see the worker's scorching desire for performance and bonuses.

Very considerately and sensibly, she refilled the hot water for the tea that was only one-third left in front of Xia Nan.

"Mr. Xia Nan, it's still the same kind of soaked fragrant leaves as last time. How is it? Are you still used to drinking it? Do you need me to help you change to something else?"

The business was over, and Molly keenly felt the atmosphere in the room, grasped the timing, and tried her best to maintain the relationship with the client.

For her, Xia Nan was undoubtedly the type of adventurer with a very high priority.

As early as before the other party obtained the professional level, she had an impression of this black-haired young man.

And later, she even witnessed the whole process of the other party from the promotion mission at the beginning, to climbing to the second floor of the association later, and completing one commission after another.

To a certain extent, Molly could almost be said to have witnessed the whole process of Xia Nan from an ordinary bottom-tier adventurer who lived on Goblin bounties to now being able to sit in the conference room on the second floor of the association and calmly choose official commissions.

She could even remember the changes in the equipment on the other party, the armor that was replaced from time to time, the inexplicably upgraded arm shield, and even the longsword that was carried behind his back in the past and suddenly disappeared a while ago.

And on the other hand, Molly also clearly knew that Xia Nan didn't have any fixed team and often completed those tasks that required a whole adventurer squad as a lone wolf. ===== CHAPTER 316 =====