The grand Teaching Dharma Hall was unparalleled in its vast emptiness, with only Wu Mingyuan left, quiet as a statue.
"Hehe~"
Wu Mingyuan suddenly let out a harsh laugh and mumbled:
"Only two days left and there is no more hope. It turns out that among the four of us, I'm the only one with a Grade-C classification! Would Ling Yun look down on me for this?"
"How ironic!"
"It's all Ji Bochang's fault!"
With wide-open eyes, Wu Mingyuan roared:
"It's all because of his wager that I was distracted and couldn't learn the basics of the Visualization Method within seven days. It's all his fault!"
However—
Wu Mingyuan was aware that after achieving the Grade-B classification, Ji Bochang had become someone he couldn't provoke. Even if he was full of resentment, he had to swallow it.
Wait a moment!
"I can't offend Ji Bochang, and neither can I offend that guy named Zhang Jing... What if Ji Bochang finds out and makes things difficult for me in the Outer Academy?"
This is absolutely not worth it!
After much thought, Wu Mingyuan finally realized despairingly that he couldn't do anything!
At least for now.
"Don't get mad, Wu Mingyuan, you mustn't get mad! That Zhang Jing will definitely fail the test, this is retribution. And who says people who get Grade-C classification will definitely lose to those who get Grade-B classification in the future?"
"A momentary victory or defeat means nothing!"
Wu Mingyuan kept comforting himself, but he was getting increasingly agitated.
He clenched his fists and smashed them onto the ground.
...
Thump! Thump!
The sound of knocking on the door suddenly broke the silence in the room.
"Who is it?"
Zhang Jing got up and walked towards the stone house door, asking cautiously.
"Haha, it's me."
"Brother Ji?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing felt somewhat relieved, slowly opened the door, "Is it really you?"
"Yes, I neglected to congratulate Brother Ji on successfully achieving the Grade-B classification."
In the room, Zhang Jing laughed and handed Ji Bochang a cup of water.
"Haha, mutual congratulations."
Ji Bochang received the water with a smile on his face.
Across from him.
"Oh, mutually?" Zhang Jing contemplated and said, "Could it be the previous wager? In this case, Brother Ji, you really are swift and decisive."
"How did you get him to agree?"
"It's all a coincidence," Ji Bochang waved his hand and then said, "I came here today mainly to say goodbye to Brother Zhang."
"Farewell?" Zhang Jing was taken aback.
"Yes," Ji Bochang nodded and confirmed, "The tutor confirmed that I had learned the basics of the Visualization Method and told me someone would take me to select a Legacy tomorrow. Then I have to stay there to cultivate, waiting for the entire assessment to finish before I can officially enter the Outer Academy."
"So, that's why."
"I almost forgot," Ji Bochang put away the Painting Fan in his hand with a slap on his head, as if he suddenly remembered something, hurriedly said, "I have something for you."
"What is it?" Zhang Jing asked in confusion.
"Haha, this."
Ji Bochang took a small cloth bag out of his bosom, put it directly on the table, and said:
"There are five Spirit Stones in the bag, which should be enough for the needs of your Spiritual Beast meat during this period. Well, it's about time, I'll be leaving first."
As soon as the words were spoken.
Ji Bochang stood up and left neatly without any delay.
"Brother Ji, I——"
Zhang Jing wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ji Bochang.
"Brother Zhang, don't get me wrong, these are Spirit Stones paid to you in advance. If you really want to thank me, guide me in my Painting Fan later."
"I forgot to tell you earlier, I raised the wager to fifty Spirit Stones, you're going to hit the jackpot! Of course, that's based on the premise that you didn't deceive me..."
Behind the door.
Zhang Jing watched as Ji Bochang's figure disappeared into the night.
Zhang Jing couldn't help but feel moved in his heart, although what he had wanted to say earlier was: Brother Ji, I don't need the Spirit Stones for now.
As for guiding the Painting Fan.
For Zhang Jing, who had explored numerous networks in his previous life, naturally it was a piece of cake.
He could just design it casually for him later, whether it was wild, immature, or enticing...
Closing the door.
Zhang Jing couldn't help but pick up the bag on the table, pour the Spirit Stones into his palm, and examine them closely.
This was the first time he had seen Spirit Stones, and he was naturally curious.
"So these are the priceless Spirit Stones?"
Only at a first glance.
Zhang Jing realized that the Spirit Stones were not crystal-shaped as he had imagined, but were square shaped with a green body, roughly the size of a fingertip. The texture was more like jade, but it didn't have the lustrous warmth of jade's surface.
It felt cold to the touch.
Half a cup of tea later, Zhang Jing reluctantly put the Spirit stones back in the bag and stuffed it into his waist.
His eyes suddenly focused, his expression grave.
"I'll cultivate the Visualization Method tonight, then let the Phantom Jiao's Swallowing Void Dao rhyme restore my mind under cover of night, and cultivate once more tomorrow morning. Then my proficiency will be full."
Making a plan, Zhang Jing slowly closed his eyes.
"Spirit's Eye!"
...
...
[Pure Elemental Breath Visualization Method· Uninitiated (50/50)]
[Low-Level Dharma Seed: Spirit's Eye (Non Upgradeable)]
[Phantom Jiao's Swallowing Void Dao Contained· Incomplete (Non Upgradeable)]
On the Jade Talisman.
The golden characters began to flicker, reflected in Zhang Jing's pitch-black pupils, seeming to ignite golden sparks, making his eyes shine fiercely.
Sizzling hot blood was continuously flowing to his viscera and every corner of his body.
Burning hot!
An unbearable burning sensation instantly spread throughout Zhang Jing's body.
At the same time.
A storm surged suddenly in his calm sea of consciousness.
However, at this moment, Zhang Jing was preoccupied and all his attention was concentrated between his eyebrows.
It seemed as if there was a seed there, silently growing, accumulating strength, waiting for the moment of transformation.
Time passed by bit by bit.
Finally.
[Pure Elemental Breath Visualization Method· Level 1 (1/100)]
[Skill Characteristic: Gather Spirit Light (low level)]
Creak——
A faint crackling sound echoed in his ears.
The next moment, Zhang Jing felt the obstacles between his eyebrows disappearing completely. The seed rapidly rooted and sprouted, spreading outward.
A sense of mystery suddenly appeared.
This instant, beyond his five senses, Zhang Jing felt an additional perception. He could 'see' and 'touch', it was tangible yet intangible, capable of existing both outside and inside his body, and was extraordinarily mysterious.
"Spiritual Sense!"
Zhang Jing immediately realized that this was one of the signs of basic mastery of the Visualization Method, the Spiritual Sense!
Within the scope of the Spiritual Sense, Zhang Jing 'saw' the familiar Spiritual Energy, strand by strand, dot by dot, like light, like dew, surging around him.
Upon entering the Way of cultivation, he had finally reached the threshold!
Zhang Jing's expression was as calm as ancient well water as he muttered to himself:
"I originally thought that after mastering the Visualization Method, I would be so excited that I wouldn't be able to control myself. But when this moment really came, I realized——"
Peacefulness!
He was surprisingly calm in his heart.
It was not that he wasn't excited.
But, his gaze had already moved to a more distant place.
Mastering the Visualization Method was just a trivial starting point.
"Right, my Pure Elemental Breath Visualization Method upgraded to level one and it seems like a skill characteristic was awakened?" Zhang Jing's eyes shifted to the Jade Talisman.
ps: Sorry for the late release~