“It’s truly infuriating how people compare themselves to others; I used to be one of the top geniuses in the club.
Yet, I still haven’t condensed my Qi and Blood, while someone else has already achieved a Qi and Blood Breakthrough to the Second Transformation. The gap is simply too wide.”
Another person’s face was filled with melancholy, looking utterly devastated.
Seeing this, his companion patted his shoulder and consoled him, “Try to be more open-minded. Don’t burden yourself. You should consider that everyone who comes here is a Genius, right? We are already much luckier than most ordinary people. At least we have a chance at the extraordinary.”
“Sigh, I now understand why some people say it’s better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a Phoenix. This feeling is too demoralizing!”
Soon, their voices faded, and their figures disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
They didn’t notice Simms, who stood frozen in place.
“Qi and Blood Second Transformation? How is that possible…?”
A dry, hoarse voice sounded.
Simms’s originally tall figure deflated like a punctured ball, his face turning ashen.
He understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the humiliation he had suffered earlier might never be avenged in this lifetime.
…
Gossip is human nature.
As time passed, within half a day, the news of Hu Qi’s Qi and Blood Second Transformation Breakthrough spread.
Everyone who heard this news was instantly in an uproar.
However, now, besides shock, everyone had begun to feel somewhat numb.
This terrifying Cultivation speed was almost second only to that of the Great Master, Senior Brother, in the legends.
For a time, Hu Qi’s name was known to all students. This speed made people feel despair, making it difficult to even think of catching up.
This also led to all new students who encountered Hu Qi bowing their heads respectfully and calling him Senior Apprentice Brother Hu.
Whether it was previously sending Cai Shizhu flying with a single punch.
Or the speed of achieving a Qi and Blood Second Transformation Breakthrough in just nineteen days.
Among the new recruits, he was already the undisputed number one.
…
In the dormitory, Hu Qi finished the poached egg in his bowl, then took a sip of the carbonated drink placed beside him, feeling the sensation of individual bubbles bursting on his tongue.
He looked before him.
— — — —
【Snake Form Stake (Fifth Layer)】
【Cloud Iron Body (Minor Achievement) △】
【Ghost Killing Blade (Not Initiated)】
…
Modification Value: 1 (72%)
After the Zhangcha Duck returned to normal these past few days, although its egg-laying frequency didn't increase, some other changes occurred.
Previously, one duck egg could only provide Hu Qi with about fifty percent of the Modification Value; now, it had increased to around sixty to seventy percent.
Although the increase wasn't significant, if the quantities were stacked, it would be a very considerable amount.
Additionally, he had raised the Snake Form Stake to the fifth layer.
A new skill called Cloud Iron Body appeared in the skill column.
This was the new Qi and Blood Skill he chose after his Qi and Blood Second Transformation Breakthrough.
Unlike Ghost Killing Blade, as the name suggests, this is a Qi and Blood Skill that increases defense.
“scarlet, modify, enhance Cloud Iron Body.”
Hu Qi’s thought moved.
Instantly, he felt his skin and membranes grow slightly hot, as if being roasted by a raging fire.
This was somewhat similar to the Qi and Blood changes caused by a Breakthrough in his stake cultivation, but also different.
After the Cloud Iron Body was enhanced, the most crucial part was the strengthening of the skin and membranes.
The enhancement of the Snake Form Stake, on the other hand, would lead to the strengthening of the entire body’s physique.
In comparison, the former has stronger enhancement but a singular direction.
While the latter is slightly less potent, it is more comprehensive.
A few minutes later, the burning sensation receded.
— — — —
【Cloud Iron Body (Proficient)】
…
【Modification Value: 0 (22%)】
This modification consumed 1.5 Modification Value.
Hu Qi raised his palm and subtly circulated his Qi and Blood.
In an instant.
His original skin seemed to be coated with a layer of wax, turning a faint bronze color.
At the same time, several grayish-white winding lines appeared on it—those were cloud patterns, the mark of Cloud Iron Body reaching Proficiency.
Hu Qi picked up the knife and fork he had just used to eat the duck egg and pricked the sharp end towards his arm.
Immediately, a sense of resistance appeared. As he increased his strength, the resistance grew stronger until the tip of the knife and fork bent slightly, at which point Hu Qi released it.
All that was visible on his skin was a faint red dot.
As the knife and fork were removed, and with the passage of time, within a few breaths, this red dot faded and disappeared.
“It actually reached this level…”
Hu Qi was somewhat surprised.
Just now, he had used half of his strength, yet only managed to prick out a red dot.
One must know that with his current strength, he was far beyond what ordinary people could compare to. The force he used just now was enough to pierce through an ordinary person’s flesh.
“This level of defense, I’m afraid, is already sufficient to withstand some blade slashes!”
This realization surged in Hu Qi’s mind.
“According to the description of this Cloud Iron Body, once Cultivated to Perfection, it can even resist ordinary pistol shots.”
Thinking of this, he lowered his head to look at the horizontal blade placed beside him, frowning slightly.
“It’s just a pity that this Ghost Killing Blade still hasn’t been initiated…”
The difficulty of this combat Qi and Blood Skill exceeded his imagination.
Moreover, he always felt that something was missing, just that one sliver of opportunity; if he could grasp it, he should be able to initiate it.
But it was easy to say, yet extremely difficult to grasp.
The Modifier was good, but if it wasn't initiated, he couldn't use the Modification Value to enhance it.
He had asked Wang Luo about this, but the other party didn't seem too clear, only saying that perhaps practical combat experience might help.
“Practical combat?”
Hu Qi muttered to himself, according to the records of the Ghost Killing Blade.
Everything proved that this was a Dao created for killing enemies.
Without practical combat, how could there be progress?
As he was thinking this, his ears twitched, and he turned to look at the door.
The next moment, knock, knock, knock…
A rhythmic knocking sound rang out, and at the same time, a female voice came from outside.
“Is Senior Apprentice Brother Hu there?”
Hu Qi frowned. Because each person had a private room in this dormitory, there were no separate male and female dorms, so it was normal for there to be girls.
However, he was usually alone and didn't socialize much, rarely interacting with people.
He didn't understand why someone would come looking for him.
Thinking this, he got up and walked over.
The door opened, and a short-haired woman stood at the entrance.
The woman had an ordinary face, fair skin, and a good figure.
Her loose martial arts uniform was somehow stretched into a tight-fitting one due to her chest.
“Is there anything?”
Hu Qi recalled in his mind and found that the woman’s appearance was somewhat familiar; she should be a student in the same class as him, but he didn’t know her specific name.
“…Um, Teacher Wang is looking for you and asked me to call you…”
The short-haired woman, who was about to raise her hand to continue knocking, saw Hu Qi open the door, and her hand involuntarily froze in mid-air.
Perhaps because Qi and Blood had been generated within his body, his twenty-one-year-old body began to develop again, causing Hu Qi’s height to break through to over 1.8 meters, coupled with his increasingly handsome face.
At such close proximity, the short-haired woman immediately felt a strong, fiery masculine aura wash over her.
This caused her usually carefree cheeks to flush slightly, and her voice uncharacteristically became a stutter.
“Okay, I understand. Thank you!”
After understanding what the woman wanted to convey, Hu Qi nodded, thanked her, and then closed the door again.