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ED Note: Hmm it seems that Ling Qingxue is having some thoughts about the Beast King Cult… but it's great to see Zhou Weiwei admiring and being genuinely curious about Ling Qingxue!
"Excellent! Receiving an SSS-rank admission letter from Beiming Martial Arts University before even taking the exam! Qingxue, you're the first person in Nanchuan Province to do this in nearly twenty years!"
Lin Zhennan was beaming with excitement, anticipating the astonished look on Governor Hong Lie's face upon his return.
An SSS-rank admission letter from Beiming Martial Arts University—if one survived to the end, they were guaranteed to reach the Imperial Rank!
There had never been an exception in all these years!
Ling Qingxue put away the admission letter and then looked at Lin Zhennan.
"Director Lin, what did Teacher Beiming mean by the traces of the Beast King Cult?"
Hearing this, Lin Zhennan sighed, his expression filled with worry.
"You must have heard about the Beast King Cult. It's one of the most powerful cults in our country. They believe in devouring the bloodlines of magical beasts to achieve beastman bodies. In recent years, they've committed numerous crimes across the country, and recently, they've reappeared in Nanchuan Province, researching a serum for beastmen hybrids.
These hybrids have already appeared in many cities in Nanchuan Province, including some in Lingtian City, so you absolutely must not leave Lingtian Middle School for now!"
Ling Qingxue nodded slightly, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
"Director Lin, the research on the beastmen hybrids serum not only requires a large number of magical beasts, but also the capture of ordinary people. I think the area near Langya Mountain has this potential. We can have the governor focus the search in that direction."
"Indeed, Langya Mountain is close to a medium-sized plain with lots of beasts and surrounded by several small cities, making it the most suitable place for research. Qingxue, you're quick-witted. I'll remind the governor. Keep up the good work and strive for excellent results in the martial arts exam!"
Lin Zhennan left with a beaming smile and humming a little tune, seemingly brimming with energy.
"Hmm/Hmmm~"
Shen Congwu sat down in his chair, instantly relieved.
Ling Qingxue received her SSS-rank admission letter from Beiming Martial Arts University. His Lingtian Middle School would definitely surpass Nanhua Middle School next year. The more Zhang Tiancheng jumped up and down, the happier he was.
"Principal Shen, I'm going back to cultivate."
"Wait a moment," Shen Congwu called out.
"Is there anything else, principal?"
Shen Congwu smiled. "There's something I need your help with, Qingxue. That old guy Zhang Tiancheng has been bothering me lately, even threatening to challenge me. I'm hoping you can lend a hand when those kids can't handle the situation."
Ling Qingxue smiled and nodded. "No problem. Just have someone call me when you need me."
...
On the way back to the Spirit Gathering Room, a beautiful figure approached.
Zhou Weiwei looked embarrassed.
"Miss Ling, I'm so sorry. We were narrow-minded and blocked the entrance earlier. I apologize."
Ling Qingxue shook her head. "That's normal. I'm here to compete with you for resources. It would be foolish for you not to."
Zhou Weiwei's lips twitched. She never expected Ling Qingxue to say that.
"You really are different. But I'd like to ask you another question. Do you have time now?"
"Go ahead," Ling Qingxue replied calmly.
Zhou Weiwei rubbed her hands, her face full of curiosity. "That day when you fought my cousin Qin Hongyan, you instantly set up three advanced spirit formations. How did you do that? Don't you need time to inscribe the formations?"
Setting up a spirit formation required inscription, spiritual connection, and final formation; each step was essential.
Instantly setting up three advanced spirit formations, and simultaneously at that, was somewhat reasonable for a Third Rank Spiritual Master, but it should be completely impossible for a Second Rank. She had tried for several days and couldn't even set up three intermediate-level spirit formations simultaneously.
"Setting up a spirit formation is simply a matter of 'practice makes perfect'. Once you've practiced a spirit formation a thousand or ten thousand times, you can easily set it up instantly. With the assistance of the Spiritual Master's Heavenly Eye, setting up three advanced-level spirit formations simultaneously is also very simple."
Zhou Weiwei stood there, stunned. A spirit formation practiced a thousand or ten thousand times!
Was this something a high school student could do? How much time would that take?
At the same time, she also grasped a key point: Ling Qingxue had already activated her Spiritual Master's Heavenly Eye!
"Incredible! You're practically superhuman. While maintaining such a high level of Physical Cultivation, you also excel as a Spiritual Master. That's true genius!"
Compared to Ling Qingxue, they couldn't even be called talented.
The gap was just too vast...
A moment later, Ling Qingxue returned to the Spirit Gathering Room to cultivate, while Wu Liang ate voraciously in the secret place.
"I've been eating for seven days straight, and this low-level secret place is completely empty. Time to move on to another one!"
Wu Liang didn't relax at all and continued towards the next low-level secret place.
His goal was to devour everything in all eight secret places!
[Attack: 4620]
[Defense: 4870]
[Speed: 3800]
[Spiritual Power: 1820]
[Evolution Points: 640]
[Skills: Gluttonous Stomach Lv14, Greed Lv12, Damage Reduction Lv12, Size Control Lv10, Supernatural Smell Lv10, Devouring Mark Lv10]
Even the first secret place gave Wu Liang a significant boost. Although his evolution points value was low, his skill levels had increased.
He was going all out to defeat the Thunder Flood Dragon in a month.
"I'll level up my skills first. I refuse to believe that someone with cheat codes like me can't beat a mere Thunder Flood Dragon!"
......
Kyoto No. 2 Middle School, outside the Sea Thunder Tide Secret Place.
The school principal held Xuan Tianwen tightly, preventing him from entering.
"Tianwen, you can't do this! The Sea Thunder Tide is extremely dangerous even among advanced secret places. While your Thunder Flood Dragon can indeed accelerate the activation of its bloodline inside it, the danger is immense. You really don't need to take this risk!"
Xuan Tianwen's expression was grave, his eyes filled with an unyielding fighting spirit.
"Principal, don't stop me! Martial arts cultivation is inherently dangerous. Being afraid of danger will prevent you from becoming a powerful martial artist. If I want to fully activate Thunder Flood Dragon's Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon bloodline within a month, the only way is through the Sea Thunder Tide Secret Place. I must go in!"
The principal glared at him. "You've already received your SSS-rank admission notice from Longshen Martial Arts University. There's really no need to compete with her. Even if you lose by one point, it doesn't matter. You can win it back later."
"No!" Xuan Tianwen said in a deep voice.
"I'm not a sore loser. I'll accept defeat if she can beat me, but a martial artist must fight for their honor. How can I admit defeat before the battle even begins? I must fight her at my peak, to live up to my martial spirit!"
He never considered himself invincible, but anyone who wanted to defeat him had to show their true skill.
Losing is acceptable, but they must defeat me convincingly!
Now that there was a chance to win, he had to seize it, otherwise it would be a betrayal of his martial spirit.
Xuan Tianwen pulled away from the principal's hand, then resolutely led Lei Jiao into the Sea Thunder Tide Secret Place.
A high-level secret place, capable of housing up to Ninth Level magical beasts, its danger was self-evident, but the danger wasn't the beasts themselves.
The No. 2 Middle School principal had already sent people to wipe out all Fourth Level and higher magical beasts in this secret place, precisely so that Lei Jiao could undergo a baptism of lightning.
The Sea Thunder Tide Secret Place was very special; it was a sea of lightning, perfectly suited for lightning-attribute magical beasts like Lei Jiao to cultivate.
Deep within the secret place lay a Thunder Pool. Absorbing the Thunder Pool Liquid could speed up the activation of the Thunder Flood Dragon's Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon bloodline. Moreover, the Thunder Pool Liquid dissipated as soon as it left the pool; to absorb it, one must personally enter.
However, approaching the depths of the secret place was extremely difficult. Xuan Tianwen attempted it half a month ago, only managing to penetrate a few thousand meters before having to turn back.
He tried again after only half a month, but the damage from the lightning was too great, which was why the principal of No. 2 Middle School had been consistently preventing him from entering.
"This kid's temper is just like his father's—truly stubborn!"