Stronger with Crimson Modifier-Chapter 75: Cemetery [3]

Since he was in the car, Hu Qi chose not to upgrade his skills right away, planning to do so after he finished the lamb.

Later, on the way back, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

Hu Qi took it out and saw a pop-up notification. It was a message from Zhu Xi.

Tapping on it, he saw that the mission he had accepted earlier now had a team-up request.

[ (Anshan City) Xie Fei, Cultivation of Qi Blood Third Transformation, requests to join your team. Do you agree? ]

Based on the address in parentheses before his teammate’s name, he could tell the other person was also a member of Zhu Xi’s branch in Anshan City.

Hu Qi tapped ’agree’. The next moment, a message confirmed the team was formed.

His new teammate sent him a private message asking when he wanted to set out.

Hu Qi glanced at the bag containing the roast lamb beside him. After a moment’s thought, he replied, "Tomorrow afternoon."

With that, he put it out of his mind.

...

At noon the next day, Hu Qi finished off the last of the leftover lamb from yesterday.

In his room, he practiced his Pile Skill a few times, guiding his Qi and Blood to speed up digestion. Hu Qi only stopped when the feeling of being bloated was gone.

’Crimson!’

As he silently called out in his mind, lines of text appeared before his eyes.

———— 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

[Snake Form Posture (Fifth Layer) △]

[Cloud Iron Body (Mastery) △]

[Ghost Slaying Saber (Uninitiated)]

...

[Modification Points: 10 (41%)]

Aside from Ghost Slaying Saber, which was Uninitiated and thus couldn’t be modified, both Snake Form Posture and Cloud Iron Body displayed the Triangular Rune that indicated they could be upgraded.

Unless there were special circumstances, Hu Qi’s policy was to spend his Modification Points as soon as he got them, converting them into tangible strength.

His gaze immediately fell upon Snake Form Posture.

Snake Form Posture was a Limit-Breaking Technique. Upgrading it would increase his Qi and Blood, which in turn would strengthen his physique.

Therefore, he didn’t hesitate in the slightest.

’Crimson! Modify! Upgrade Snake Form Posture by one layer!’

Based on his previous experience, Hu Qi decided to upgrade it one layer at a time.

The familiar sensation of upgrading washed over him again. The Qi Blood Power within him swelled, continuously strengthening every part of his body.

————

[Snake Form Posture (Sixth Layer) △]

...

Modification Points: 8 (41%)

Hu Qi assessed his physical condition. Feeling no ill effects, he didn’t stop. With a thought, he chose to upgrade it again.

...

[Snake Form Posture (Seventh Layer) △]

[Modification Points: 5 (41%)]

————

[Snake Form Posture (Eighth Layer)]

[Modification Points: 2 (41%)]

"Hmm?"

Seeing he could no longer upgrade it, Hu Qi’s expression shifted slightly as he looked at his remaining Modification Points.

’Logically, I should have had more than enough Modification Points to raise Snake Form Posture to Ninth-Layer Perfection.’

But to his surprise, starting from the Seventh Layer, the cost to upgrade Snake Form Posture had increased from two points per layer to three.

As a result, the points that should have been enough to reach the Ninth Layer were now insufficient.

’Forget it. This should be enough anyway. If I push it too far, my body might not be able to handle it.’

With his newfound strength, Hu Qi closed his eyes to sense the Qi Blood Power within him.

He observed that his Qi and Blood, originally as thick as a chopstick, was now as thick as two index fingers combined, its volume having increased severalfold.

With a mere thought, he could direct this Qi Blood Power as easily as moving his own limbs.

He lifted his hand, gathering Qi and Blood into his palm.

Instantly, his palm seemed to swell. His fingers curled into a claw as he suddenly swiped forward.

PSSH!

His arm became a blur as it struck, and the air cracked with a sharp retort.

"Not bad!"

Feeling the change in his body, Hu Qi broke into a satisfied smile.

Upgrading Snake Form Posture had enhanced his Qi Blood Power, making his physical burst and reaction speed stronger and faster.

He glanced at the impurities his body had secreted. There were far fewer than the previous two times—an almost negligible amount.

He stepped into the bathroom, letting the cool water wash the grime from his body.

Hu Qi’s gaze returned to the Cloud Iron Body skill on his panel. He still had 2 (41%) Modification Points remaining.

Thinking about the upcoming mission and the possibility of fighting a Black Blood Species, he decided not to save them.

’These points are like money. What’s the use of saving them if you don’t spend them?’

With a flicker of his will, the word "Mastery" next to Cloud Iron Body blurred.

The next moment, a tight, burning sensation spread across his skin.

However, under the spray of the shower, the feeling wasn’t as intense.

Once the sensation faded, the text on his panel had changed.

[Cloud Iron Body (Great Success)]

...

[Modification Points: 0 (41%)]

Cloud Iron Body had reached the Great Success stage, but the cost in Modification Points had also increased, going from 1.5 to 2.

Still, it was only logical for the cost to increase along with the level.

...

「A little after three in the afternoon.」

The crisp autumn wind swept away the last vestiges of summer’s heat.

It was nearly October, and while the sun was still bright, it no longer carried the scorching heat of midsummer.

Hu Qi walked out of the Anshan Academy gates with a black Sword Bag slung over his back.

Since it wasn’t far, he didn’t take a vehicle, instead walking along the sidewalk.

About fifteen minutes later, after crossing two streets, he arrived at the designated meeting spot: the Anshan Science and Technology Park, right at the entrance to Zhu Xi’s headquarters.

He scanned the area and quickly spotted a figure standing by a flower bed near the entrance.

It was a Young Man with a cherubic baby face, wearing black-rimmed glasses.

Seeing him, Hu Qi walked over.

"You must be Xie Fei?"

"That’s me."

Xie Fei smiled shyly.

It was easy to tell the guy was an introvert with social anxiety, not one for small talk.

"Okay. How many missions have you been on?"

Hu Qi got a bad feeling. ’Don’t tell me this guy is a rookie, just like me,’ he thought.

"Three."

Xie Fei scratched his head sheepishly.

"That’s not too bad. You should know the basic procedures, right? You can walk me through them. This is my first time."

Hu Qi nodded.

"I’ve heard about you," Xie Fei said. "Developing Qi and Blood in just seven days. That’s incredible."

Perhaps because of Hu Qi’s easygoing attitude, Xie Fei seemed less reserved and gradually began to open up.

His gaze flickered to the Sword Bag on Hu Qi’s back before quickly looking away.

To be honest, he was quite curious about Hu Qi.

He had heard that Hu Qi was the most talented student in his cohort, with potential that rivaled even the legendary senior disciple, Du Wang.

Hu Qi remained noncommittal in the face of Xie Fei’s praise.

Jiang Zuo’s earlier warning proved that showing off too much talent could attract danger.

Yet, the Shexin Sect hadn’t hidden his achievements. ’They must be doing this intentionally, as a form of trial,’ Hu Qi surmised.

He had a vague sense of the Shexin Sect’s intentions.

They likely didn’t want their disciples to become hothouse flowers who only knew how to practice their Cultivation.

Afterward, the two of them got into a car and headed toward their destination.

It was worth noting that they weren’t in a taxi, but in Xie Fei’s personal car.

"Hey, uh, you mind if I have a smoke?"

Xie Fei glanced at Hu Qi beside him and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

After Hu Qi gave him the okay, Xie Fei cracked a window to let the air circulate before lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag.

A look of relaxation spread across his face.

"Our mission is to capture the Black Blood Species that’s hiding somewhere."

"Judging from the grave robbing, we can’t be sure of the numbers yet, but it’s highly likely we’re dealing with recently turned Blood Slaves. They shouldn’t be too strong."