Chapter 28: Chapter 27: Returning to the Scripture Pavilion, Spirit Stream Finger: Jie Mai

"Ten times the resource allocation!"

The moment First Senior Sister Mo Shuying said this, Zhong Ming’s already firm gaze grew even more resolute.

Zhuang Yi gave a sharp smile and said, "First Senior Sister, rest assured. We will give it our all."

"Besides, it’s not like we don’t have a chance. Among the Seven Profound Sect, our Longxi Peak has the sharpest offense. It’s not impossible for those at a Low Realm to defeat those at a High Realm."

After him, Zhong Ming, Yi Yunya, and Xue Yao also nodded, indicating that they would do their utmost to fight for a top-three spot for Longxi, or even first place.

"...Do your best."

The group’s declarations made Mo Shuying happy for a moment.

However, Zhong Ming noticed that the expression on his First Senior Sister’s face... was still dominated by worry.

Clearly, she didn’t believe that Zhong Ming and the others had any chance of winning a top-three spot.

He thought about the Seven Peaks grand competition, which judged overall strength. And Molten Fire Peak, Cuixiang Mountain, and Dharma Seal Peak... each had a disciple at the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation.

Besides their top combatants, those three peaks also had seven or eight A-Class Disciples each, double the number on Longxi Peak.

’The number of disciples with a B-level Rating could also be double ours...’

Faced with such a huge gap, he could understand why his First Senior Sister was so dejected.

’Under these circumstances, it’ll be really difficult to push Longxi Peak up the ranks... But it’s not time to despair just yet.’

As he thought this, Zhong Ming considered his Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme and his Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique.

’If my Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique advances to the Fourth Realm and I complete my Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme, so what if they’re at the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation? I could still slay them with a single strike.’

’So, the problem now is how to quickly advance the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique to the Fourth Realm and complete the Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme.’

’Hmm... I can’t neglect the Longxi Breathing Method either. If I can raise it to the Third Realm of Refinement, then even with a third-class Spiritual Root, I’d have a decent chance of raising my cultivation to the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation by the end of the month.’

Thinking up to this point, Zhong Ming shook his head, speechless.

’Why do I feel like after being rated A Class, the things I have to worry about haven’t decreased, but have instead piled up, making me busier and busier?’

’Is this the so-called "with great power comes great responsibility"?’

Considering that his own rights and status were also increasing with his power, Zhong Ming wasn’t too averse to the added responsibility.

While Zhong Ming was pondering how to quickly increase his strength, Zhuang Yi turned to him and the others, his eyes burning with intensity, and spoke.

"If we can take fourth place, all four of us can become Inner Sect Disciples. If we make it to third, we’ll get one more spot."

At this, a wild smile spread across Zhuang Yi’s face. "My goal is to aim for the top three. What about you all? Do you want to fight the other six peaks, or do you know victory is hopeless and, like cowards, only want to compete amongst yourselves on our own peak?"

The moment he said this, a cold snort rang out. "A clumsy attempt at goading us."

It was Yi Yunya who spoke. "You don’t have to tell me. My goal is the top three as well."

Xue Yao said, "I promised First Senior Sister I would fight for the best ranking possible."

As the two women finished speaking, everyone’s gaze turned to Zhong Ming. His response, naturally, was to present a united front.

"The sect pouring its resources into you, training you with all its might... I’d like to experience such a wonderful thing for myself."

"Everyone, I look forward to working with you."

...

Now aware of Longxi Peak’s current situation and having agreed to face their enemies together, Zhuang Yi, Yi Yunya, and Xue Yao all went off to cultivate, filled with motivation.

Zhong Ming also headed back to his original spot.

Seeing him approach, Jiang Yue immediately stood up and pulled his sister along, preparing to greet Zhong Ming together.

However, halfway there, Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but stop.

This time, it wasn’t her spoiled temper acting up, making her not want to go. It was... she couldn’t squeeze through.

"Sir Zhong Ming, you’re amazing."

"Lord Zhong Ming, you must be tired. Would you like some water?"

"Senior Brother, I’m confident I can be rated B Class. If you take me as a follower, I’ll do everything in my power to assist you."

"Senior Brother, my family is in the Spiritual Artifact business. Let me be your follower, and I’m willing to offer 500 Spirit Stones up front, with more Spirit Materials to come later..."

The moment Zhong Ming returned, the ordinary disciples of Longxi Peak swarmed around him.

Among them were quite a few noble ladies from Cultivation Families.

Even Liu Wanyu cast aside her reservations and came to Zhong Ming’s side, indicating that she was willing to become his follower.

One could only say that after being rated A Class, Zhong Ming’s status on Longxi Peak, and even in the entire Seven Profound Sect, had changed in an instant.

Now, he could no longer call himself a Lower-class Youth, but a core disciple of one of the Renowned and Righteous Sects.

If someone with his status appeared in the outside world, even the direct heirs of mid-tier families would have to curry favor with him.

The crowd’s enthusiasm and adoration also made Jiang Xiaoyu come to a complete realization: Zhong Ming’s status was now far above her own and her brother’s. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Under these circumstances, any chance between the two of them was completely gone.

"..."

Zhong Ming was oblivious to Jiang Xiaoyu’s complex and unspeakable feelings.

Zhong Ming was very impatient with the crowd’s fawning and flattery.

Knowing Longxi Peak was in a tough spot, all he wanted was to continue his cultivation; he was in no mood to enjoy the attention.

Thus, he drove away all those who had gathered around him, those who only wanted to ride his coattails.

However, while Zhong Ming didn’t care for those people, his attitude toward his old friend, Jiang Yue, was still very good.

Of course, Jiang Yue’s attitude was even better.

"Brother Zhong, congratulations on being rated A Class."

At this, he added with a touch of flattery, "From the first day I met you, Brother Zhong, I knew you were no fish in a small pond. But I never imagined your ascent would be so fast. A third-class Spiritual Root, yet you broke through before me. I am no match for you."

While he was expressing his admiration, Zhong Ming clasped his hands and said, "Brother Jiang, don’t say that. I was just a step faster, that’s all. Besides, you have a chance too."

"Right now, I, Zhuang Yi, Yi Yunya, and Xue Yao are all trying to find ways to increase our strength. We’re striving to get Longxi Peak ranked third in the Seven Peaks competition by the end of the hundred-day assessment. If we do, we’ll have five spots for Inner Sect Disciples."

At this, Zhong Ming said no more, but Jiang Yue’s eyes lit up.

"Five..."

After glancing at Zhong Ming, Xue Yao, Zhuang Yi, and Yi Yunya and confirming there were only four of them, Jiang Yue’s gaze grew even more fervent.

Seeing this, Zhong Ming nodded in satisfaction.

Motivating the other disciples of Longxi Peak and inspiring them to be ambitious was a very necessary thing to do.

After all, it wasn’t just A-Class Disciples like Zhong Ming who would participate in the grand examination at the end of the month; everyone else would too.

In this situation, the strength and attitude of Jiang Yue and the others would also have some impact on the overall ranking of the Seven Peaks.

...

After encouraging Jiang Yue, Zhong Ming didn’t delay for even a second. He ran to the Longxi Peak Scripture Pavilion to search for Cultivation Techniques and Magic Techniques that complemented the Longxi Breathing Method.

’Although the Swordsmanship and Magic Techniques of Longxi Peak originate from the same source, even if I cultivate them to the Second or Third Realm, the trait I gain is mostly just the Flow of Water.’

’But the Flow of Water can be stacked. With each new instance, my comprehension of the Flow of Water will deepen slightly.’

’If I stack enough of them, the True Intent of the Flow of Water won’t be any weaker than a Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme.’

’In fact, at that point, it would no longer be the simple Flow of Water, but Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water...’

Thanks to his A-level Rating, Zhong Ming’s process of acquiring the Cultivation Techniques was completely unobstructed.

This time, he could even take the Cultivation Technique manuals outside, as long as he didn’t spread them indiscriminately.

And so, very quickly, Zhong Ming retrieved the [Wave-Surging Dragon Stream Step], the [Longxi Swordsmanship], and the [Spirit Stream Finger: Water Dragon Technique].

In addition, on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, he also found a Finger Technique, one that looked quite extraordinary—[Spirit Stream Finger: Jie Mai].