[Ding! Second Level early-stage Blazing Tiger digestion complete. Strength +25, Defense +14, Speed +20, Evolution Points +25!]
[......]
[Ding! Second Level early-stage Overload Black Turtle digestion, complete. Strength +18, Defense +30, Speed +8, Evolution Points +28!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for breaking through to the Second Level early-stage!]
A stream of pure vital energy flowed into Ling Qingxue's body, slightly boosting her own. She was now just a hair's breadth away from completely advancing to the First Rank peak.
"Taotie's upgrade speed is simply too rapid. He has broken through again in such a short time!"
Ling Qingxue felt helpless.
She was the one who was reborn; obviously, she should have been the one leaving everyone else in the dust.
Now, however, she was being thoroughly crushed by Wu Liang, with no hope of surpassing him whatsoever.
Reborn into a new life, she'd become a freeloader who won without lifting a finger...
If the people from her previous life had known about this, wouldn't they have mocked her?
"No worries, my Spiritual Master talent surpasses my Physical Cultivation. Now that I've mastered the "Divine Star Ten Thousand Manifestations" technique, my spiritual power's growth rate is definitely faster than his. With the Spirit Nourishing Pill, I can quickly break through to the Spiritual Master Second Rank!"
Wu Liang was in high spirits after his level breakthrough. He opened the System panel and checked his attribute values.
[Attack: 590]
[Defense: 680]
[Speed: 521]
[Spiritual Power: 268]
[Evolution Points: 185]
All three attributes were over 500, and his defense was still far ahead.
It was only the second day, and he had already obtained 185 evolution points. Reaching 1000 points in the remaining time shouldn't be a problem.
After all, the closer he got to the center, the greater the number and strength of the beasts.
If he didn't have enough Second Level magical beasts, he would use more First Level beasts to make up for it, using quantity to compensate for quality.
"That's the territory of the Storm Wolves ahead. There are quite a few, probably no less than thirty. If you eat them all, your attribute values should increase significantly. I'll stay here and consume a Vitality Pill. I'll break through to the First Rank peak in one fell swoop!"
Hearing about the number of wolves, Wu Liang's eyes lit up immediately.
Even if they're all First Level beasts, thirty-odd of them should give two or three hundred evolution points!
His evolution points would then exceed four hundred!
"No problem, I'm going! Call me if you encounter any danger!"
With that, he vanished in a blur.
Ling Qingxue found a large tree to sit under, ate some dry rations and water, and began consuming Vitality Pills.
She had already used up all the Vitality Pills she found in Lin Lang's storage ring. The ones Zhao Xin had given her now weren't enough to support her breakthrough to the Second Rank.
Her hopes for breaking through to the Second Rank were the Crystal Ginseng and the Star Stone in her storage ring!
Each time the "Ten Thousand Sources Return to One" technique fused elemental spirits into her body, it enhanced her vital energy. The more spirits fused, the greater the enhancement.
Enhancing vital energy was merely a minor effect of this Imperial Rank technique; its greatest power lay in altering the physical body through the use of elemental spirits.
By fusing stellar spirits, she could draw upon stellar power and unleash stellar-attribute martial arts.
In her previous life, she fused over twenty different elemental spirits, enabling her to wield almost every martial art of her time!
This ability caused her opponents considerable suffering, as she consistently defeated them by utilizing opposing elemental powers.
Back then, many had nicknamed her "The Rogue Cultivator Empress" due to the fact that she had learned all kinds of martial arts, making her attacks unpredictable and elusive.
...
The Vitality Pill slowly dissolved within her body, releasing a surge of vital energy.
At this moment, Ling Qingxue's level also broke through to the First Rank peak, her surging vital energy coursing through her body.
"The First Rank peak is achieved. After the joint examination, I will refine the Star Stone and use the power of the Crystal Ginseng to break through to the Second Rank!"
Being able to become a Second Rank martial artist guaranteed her admission to one of the top 100 Martial Arts Universities in the national martial arts examination.
And her only goal was Beiming Martial Arts University, so ideally, she should reach the Third Rank!
The sound of hurried footsteps came from hundreds of meters away, and Ling Qingxue's gaze turned in that direction.
"Brother Chao, you have to help me get justice! That bitch Ling Qingxue's magical beast should have been mine, but she stole it! You have to help me get revenge here, in this secret place trial!"
Sun Chao's large hand gripped her waist, his face filled with confidence.
"That's easy! I'm only a hair's breadth away from the First Rank peak. A few more pills and I'll break through in a few days. Then, I can even compete with that Chu Yuansheng for first place, and killing Ling Qingxue will be a piece of cake!"
Sun Chao's family was incredibly wealthy; they supplied a third of the Vitality Pills in Linjiang City. Only the City Lord could rival their wealth.
He had been taking pills nonstop since he started cultivating.
Zhang Yuan's pills were also provided by Sun Chao. She even artificially enhanced her physical appearance, making it easier to get more resources.
And her ability to seduce men was indeed strong. In less than half a year, she completely brought Sun Chao under her control, extracting millions of yuan worth of resources from him, for her cultivation.
"Yuanyuan, after we deal with the wolves, come with me to a place…"
Zhang Yuan feigned shyness. "Brother Chao, you're so naughty! If you can help me kill Ling Qingxue, I'll do whatever you want."
Sun Chao swallowed hard, completely swayed by Zhang Yuan's charm.
"So, you want to kill me?"
A clear, cold voice rang out, causing Sun Chao and Zhang Yuan to become alert.
But when they saw that there was only one person, a mocking sneer spread on their faces.
Seeing Ling Qingxue, Zhang Yuan's heart raced with excitement.
"Ling Qingxue, I've been searching so hard for you, and you've actually delivered yourself to my doorstep!"
Sun Chao, standing beside her, was slightly taken aback, then took a step forward.
"You’re Ling Qingxue? Our school actually has a beauty like you!"
Hearing this, Zhang Yuan was furious.
"Brother Chao, you just promised to help me kill Ling Qingxue!"
Sun Chao glanced at her. "But you didn't say beforehand that Ling Qingxue was so beautiful! How could I possibly lay a hand on such a beautiful lady!"
Zhang Yuan's face twisted in hatred. She despised Sun Chao, that damned rich kid, with every fiber of her being.
He was so easily swayed by beautiful women. Had all those times she spent with him been for nothing?
Sun Chao smiled at Ling Qingxue.
"Don't be afraid, Miss Ling. As long as you become my girlfriend, I absolutely won't lay a hand on you. And I can provide you with a vast amount of cultivation resources—more than you could ever use in your lifetime!"
"No way!" Zhang Yuan cried out.
Sun Chao frowned and slapped her to the ground.
"I've only spoiled you because you're good in bed. Do you really think I'm stupid? If you dare utter another word, I'll crush you!"
With a new target, Zhang Yuan was nothing more than a used prostitute in his eyes, someone he could discard at any time.
"Miss Ling, you only get one chance, so I hope you cherish it."
Ling Qingxue raised an eyebrow slightly. "What if I don't?"
Sun Chao grinned.
"Then, I'll cherish you properly today!"