Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Seventh Grade (Happy Holidays, Everyone!)
A slight tremor came from the ground, sounding so clear in this quiet night.
The disciples of the Iron Armor Sect were already familiar with such noise; it belonged to General Wei.
Wang Ran’s expression changed, glaring at Xu Guang, he hissed through gritted teeth, "I will kill you before he arrives!"
Under the moonlight, Xu Guang’s smile grew even brighter.
"Really want to kill me? That’s... great!"
Wang Ran intended to move forward swiftly, yet halted abruptly at these words.
Through the courtyard wall, he could already make out General Wei’s figure; he knew the opportunity to kill Xu Guang was gone.
Wang Ran turned and, without any hesitation, swiftly flipped over the wall on the silent side of the ground.
Xu Guang watched his silhouette, squinting his eyes with some regret.
General Wei couldn’t catch up with such speed.
But this person...
Cannot be left alone.
He took another look at Zhu Zhenzhen. His Pharmacist level was already Level 4. Though he primarily focused on alchemy, he understood a bit of medicine, and Zhu Zhenzhen’s appearance clearly showed she was drugged.
He sighed helplessly.
Fortunately, he came today to inform the Zhu siblings about the Iron Armor Sect’s big move; otherwise, with Zhu Zhenzhen’s character, she might not have survived afterward.
Xu Guang pondered, but did not leave, instead picking up Zhu Zhenzhen.
"You..."
Zhu Zhenzhen was a bit embarrassed, feeling weak all over, and Xu Guang directly tossed her onto the bed.
Afterward, Xu Guang didn’t speak to her but turned and closed the door.
Zhu Zhenzhen lay on the bed, her mind clear, but entirely weak, feeling a slight vibration from the earth.
General Wei had arrived.
Her heart, which was originally somewhat tense, finally settled down.
Looking at the silhouette outside the window, Zhu Zhenzhen felt conflicted.
"Miss, on this paper are the words I wanted to say to you today. Also, this medicine, though meant for General Wei, can counteract the drug. It’s quite large, so bear with it."
Xu Guang said, knocking on the door, holding something akin to a stone in his hand.
Zhu Zhenzhen, eyes wide, looked incredulously at the ’big black lump’ in Xu Guang’s hand, full of resistance.
This... is medicine?
Such a large pill, wouldn’t swallowing it be fatal?
"Don’t..."
"Don’t worry, the medicinal effect is very strong."
Having said that, Xu Guang reached out, lifted Zhu Zhenzhen up and, not gently, pushed the fist-sized pill he concocted into her mouth.
The medicine was prepared for General Wei, who, after his realm improved, spoke clearly about how he was bullied and drugged.
Xu Guang, immune to hundred poisons, thus prepared a detoxifying pill specifically for General Wei.
Zhu Zhenzhen’s cheeks bulged instantly, feeling discomfort in her mouth; the initial sense of gratitude she felt instantly turned to resentment with Xu Guang’s actions.
Did it have to be so rough?
After administering the medicine, Xu Guang got up and went to the courtyard to stand guard.
To a hero, saving a beauty is a good deed; to an ordinary person like him, it’s trouble.
Just now, when saving Zhu Zhenzhen, the implication in her eyes made his scalp tingle.
For now, he didn’t want to be entangled in such trouble.
Zhu Zhenzhen had clearly stated earlier that she didn’t like him, and now, due to gratitude, acted impulsively.
It’s not good for either of them, and it’s troublesome.
Xu Guang guarded until there was movement from Zhu Zhenzhen’s room, then brought General Wei to wait outside the courtyard.
This year, Zhu Zhenzhen was the only one in the courtyard, a lone man and woman, not good for her reputation.
Until dawn.
Zhu Zhenzhen opened the door and, seeing Xu Guang, paused before speaking. Xu Guang yawned, as General Wei’s long nose coiled him onto its back.
"Miss, I’m heading home to rest. Destroy the things I gave you last night after reading them."
With that, without waiting for Zhu Zhenzhen to speak, he hurried General Wei away.
...
Back home, Xu Guang sat in his room, reflecting on the events of the previous day.
He vaguely understood why Wang Ran harbored a murderous intent towards him.
But none of it mattered anymore; only a few days were left until the original time for him to advance to the Seventh Grade. But Wang Ran’s actions yesterday completely infuriated him, thinking he was a waste, yet unexpectedly able to create so much trouble.
Consumed over four hundred experience points, White Crane Longevity Technique Level 5-Level 6!
He took a deep breath, recalling all the changes after breaking through the White Crane Longevity Technique.
The Seventh Grade is the Blood Marrow Realm; blood marrow undergoes mutation, heavy like mercury, bearing stronger explosive power.
The sound of surging like mighty rivers slowly flowed within his body, and Xu Guang took out the already prepared Eighth-Grade Elixir, swallowing nine in succession.
The medicinal power spread within, unleashing a vast heat flow of qi and blood, steaming towards every part of his body.
Xu Guang closed his eyes, guiding the power of the elixir to surge into his blood and marrow.
Two hours later, Xu Guang opened his eyes.
Seventh-Grade Blood Marrow, accomplished.
Unknowingly, more than half of the small flowerbed in the courtyard had bloomed, indicating the approach of summer.
Last August, he awakened his Innate Wisdom, and in November went to Qingshuo.
Now, it’s already halfway through March...
He spent a total of five months achieving the Seventh-Grade accomplishment, something ordinary people might never reach in their lifetime.
Thinking about it, an inexplicable pride rose in Xu Guang’s heart, even though it was a cheat-like achievement.
But the cultivation was real; who cares how it came about.
Gently guiding the blood marrow within, the power of Blood and Qi flowed through him, eventually forming a faint layer of blood qi on his body surface—a characteristic of the Seventh Grade, some call it Blood Armor.
It significantly amplifies destructive power, making bare hands comparable to weapons.
...
Late at night.
Wang Ran, with a face full of drunkenness, walked out from Red Workshop Street, and the managers he encountered all bowed and greeted him.
Tonight, he was wantonly venting the frustration from encountering Xu Guang yesterday.
He held two women in his arms, appearing somewhat dissolute, and pushed them away upon reaching the street corner.
Just when he was about to continue forward, he suddenly sensed something was off.
Above him, a dark shadow resembling a giant bat suddenly appeared, and when he focused his eyes, the opponent was already right in front of him.
Such speed!
Wang Ran was greatly shocked; his drunkenness instantly vanished, and his whole body retreated backward.
The shadow seemed aimed at him, unleashing a punch wrapped in a blood-colored stream, with the force of a vast ocean, carrying a fierce momentum.
Seventh Grade!?
Wang Ran’s heart trembled as he turned around and punched back, clashing with the opponent’s fist.
Suddenly, it felt like being hit by a raging bull, causing him to fly backward.
His eyes were filled with disbelief; he was a genius, having cultivated Eighth Grade Great Cultivation, which was already high. In Songjiang Prefecture, he had sparred with Seventh-Grade experts but was never completely defenseless.
But now...
The opponent’s speed and power surpassed him entirely.
With just one strike, his arm seemed to lose all strength and support, falling freely.
He...
No time to think, the shadow pressed forward again, fists alternating in rapid succession, and a Soft Sword like a serpent emerged, eerily stabbing his shoulder.
Wang Ran grunted, but the shadow was relentless.
Bang bang bang!
Several consecutive punches, with the Soft Sword occasionally piercing his body like a crazed serpent.
Pooh!
Wang Ran vomited blood, sent flying by the opponent’s elbow strike, colliding with the wall and creating a human-shaped crater.
His eyes widened, filled with unwillingness, staring hard at the shadow advancing step by step.
As the shadow was about to deliver the final blow, Wang Ran’s body suddenly turned scarlet, and his pupils became blood-red, with a violently destructive force flowing through him.
The once handsome features became ghastly, as countless minute fleshy nodes surfaced, as if... turning from human to beast!
Squirt!
A thick tongue covered in viscous fluid suddenly lashed out towards the shadow’s face.
The shadow retreated, a hint of surprise in his eyes. Although Wang Ran’s method was bizarre...
As the savage aura was about to spread from Wang Ran, a more terrifying pressure emanated from the shadow, forcibly suppressing the brutal energy back.
To avoid unnecessary complications, the shadow swiftly stepped forward, and the Soft Sword in hand flashed like lightning.
Squelch.
The Soft Sword sliced through Wang Ran’s throat; he could clearly feel the life-essence within him slipping away.
He reached out, trying to grasp the shadow.
But before his hand could touch the opponent, it abruptly lost all strength and fell.
The shadow quickly approached, searched through his belongings, and then threw the body into a nearby dog hole, covering it slightly before swiftly retreating.
After the shadow left, a strange blood-colored tattoo on Wang Ran’s corpse slowly faded away...
...
In the room.
Xu Guang slowly removed his black clothes, turban, and face cloth.
He cleaned the Soft Sword stained with a bit of blood, reminiscing about the extremely brief battle just now.
It was rather easy; he initially thought that a genius like Wang Ran could offer him some challenge and mount a decent counterattack, but he was disappointed.
Under "Horizontal Pressure," there are no geniuses.
However, that last bizarre method seemed inhuman, and he still didn’t know what it was.