Except for the head that Chen Xiang controlled to avoid the black flames, Mandong's torso and limbs disintegrated into a pile of white powder, scattered by the wind.
"That was close..."
Chen Xiang sat slumped in the mud, staring at the charred head, feeling a lingering dread.
Mandong hadn't lost his combat ability immediately after being burned by the black flames; if he hadn't held back...
I might have already been dead.
Was the gap between levels in the Mystic Arts really that significant?
What about beings who tread the extraordinary path?
How terrifying must stronger beings be?
With a shiver, Chen Xiang lowered his eyelids and picked up the head from the ground:
"A visit... I'll make sure to bring a gift."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the black flames that had incinerated Mandong returned, bringing with them life energy several dozen times greater than what it had consumed.
This was the essence of a top-tier martial artist, someone nearing the third level of the Mystic Arts, with one foot already in the extraordinary realm!
Chen Xiang groaned, feeling himself enveloped by this overwhelmingly intense energy.
He quickly sat cross-legged, visualizing the Titan of Dusk while operating the refining techniques from the Giant Image Method, sorting, distributing, and integrating this terrifying energy!
Skin, bones, blood, spirit...
All were undergoing transformation.
The second level of the Mystic Arts, known as the Martial Artist, is defined by mastery over techniques and methods, allowing for precise control over the energy refining of the internal organs.
Having only engaged with the Mystic Arts for a day, even with a robust spirit, Chen Xiang lacked the mastery to refine his fragile organs.
He would have to forfeit some of this energy to avoid overwhelming his organs and causing damage...
But.
Though he couldn't control the subtleties, his immense spiritual force could grasp the bigger picture.
Under the constraints of his mental power, the heavy life energy posed no threat to his internal organs and was instead channeled into his skin and bones!
Chen Xiang's cracked right leg healed completely, and his mental state surged once again, the friction of his muscles and bones echoing like rolling thunder!
Time passed slowly.
When he opened his eyes again, he was still a first-level Mystic Arts master.
However...
"Defense."
Chen Xiang pressed the five-style hunting rifle against his forehead, pulling the trigger six times in succession, emptying the entire magazine.
Six bullets struck the same spot on his skin... turning it slightly red.
"Speed."
He bent his knees and surged forward, the air around him momentarily pausing before rolling into visible folds, a whirlwind erupting!!
He approached the speed of sound, comparable to the earlier Mandong.
"Strength."
He walked deeper into the alley, raised his foot, and stomped down.
'Boom!!!'
From his position, the mud within a ten-meter radius instantly began to churn before exploding, dirty water mixed with mud flying everywhere!!
The alley became chaotic, with numerous fat rats hidden in the shadows squeaking and scurrying around.
"And then..."
"Mentality."
Chen Xiang envisioned the Titan of Dusk, the deity standing atop a golden ancient war chariot,
A wave of indescribable aura emanated, rippling outward. Hundreds of squeaking rats suddenly fell silent, one by one, prostrating on the ground, motionless.
Those closer were crushed under the sheer might of his presence!
Yes, presence.
The third level of the Mystic Arts, where the extraordinary manifest their spirit into an aura.
With the addition of five hundred ghostly entities and Mandong's mental nourishment, Chen Xiang's own spirit had also solidified!
In just two days, he had transformed from an ordinary person to a being beyond human capabilities...
In less than that time.
"Abyss Black Flame..."
Chen Xiang felt a thrill in his heart. The thought of seizing other life forces for himself had crossed his mind,
For instance, if he consumed all the life in the Eighth Ring or even Great City, how strong would he become?
Would he turn into a bloodthirsty demon or a god through sheer power?
Of course, this thought was fleeting, but it still stirred something deep within him, both regarding the black flames and the Lord of the Abyss...
If he could achieve this, what about the Lord of the Abyss?
It was unimaginable.
"This world is vast; the Mystic Arts are merely a foundation; the extraordinary is just the beginning."
Chen Xiang reminded himself, seeking to calm the restlessness brought on by his surging power.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled, the murky air condensing into a white arrow, blasting a small pit into the mud beneath his feet.
Then,
Chen Xiang walked to the middle of the alley, picked up Mandong's head, and carried it out.
He found a suitable phone booth and dialed a number.
"Hello, is this the Academic Affairs Office? I'm Chen Xiang, assistant to Lecturer Lin Yulang, my ID number is 54249."
Chen Xiang recalled the numbers on his assistant ID, reciting them before continuing:
"There's a temporary issue with a project that I need to discuss with a student. Can you help me find the phone number of Wei Qingqiu from freshman year?"
After jotting down the number, he dialed Wei Qingqiu.
"It's me, Chen Xiang."
"Chen the Warrior?"
Wei Qingqiu sounded surprised on the other end.
"How did you get my number? Never mind, what's up? If you're accepting the invitation, you might want to wait until after tomorrow's secret class to discuss it; it's not convenient to talk about it over the phone."
"No, I wanted to ask you..."
Chen Xiang hesitated before continuing, "Is being a teaching assistant at the Giant Academy prestigious?"
"If it's for ancient mysticism, then yes, it's quite high up, second only to practical instructors, professors, and the dean."
After a pause, Wei Qingqiu elaborated, "Practical instructors are all extraordinary beings at the third level of the Mystic Arts, and professors are even those who have stepped onto the extraordinary path."
"I meant outside," Chen Xiang said softly.
"Then it's even more prestigious. Outside, you represent the Giant Academy; even the head of the Eighth Ring's governance would hesitate to offend you."
"Would the leader of the Crocodile Sect dare to hurt or kill me?"
"Of course not. If he attacked you, it would be a slap in the academy's face. The Crocodile Sect is a major power, but it means nothing in front of the academy... What's going on?"
Chen Xiang pondered but didn't elaborate, instead changing the subject.
"What level is the leader of the Crocodile Sect? You should know."
Wei Qingqiu seemed puzzled.
"Officially, he's an extraordinary being, but the Crocodile Sect has some issues behind the scenes, possibly involving the Cult of the Evil God. It's not something to discuss over the phone... Are you looking for trouble?"
"Yeah."
"Go ahead, but don't initiate an attack on Wu Jinlu. Don't let it escalate to too many casualties; otherwise, he'll retaliate openly."
Chen Xiang considered this.
"And his son?"
"Assistant Wu?" Wei Qingqiu thought for a moment, then said, "As long as you don't kill him, Wu Jinlu can't harm you either, but... don't expose that thing."
She was referring to the black flames, knowing that the phone was not secure enough for direct mentions.
"Got it... Thanks."
After sincerely thanking her, Chen Xiang hung up, tidied himself, and set off toward District 10.
The Wu family estate, known throughout the Eighth Ring, awaited him.
Sometimes, one must show their claws and teeth.
At the Wu estate, the bodies at the entrance had already been cleared away. A small round table was set up in the empty space, with Wu Jinlu and Li Dongyun sitting across from each other, while Wu Shangpin stood dutifully by, serving tea.
As for the estate's villa...
It had turned to ruins at some unknown time.
"Where is Mandong?"
Wu Jinlu muttered to himself, taking a sip of tea.
"Li Sect Master seems quite determined to wait; I merely invited that kid over for a visit. What's all this fuss about?"
After a pause, a mocking grin crossed his face:
"Or do you want to show off in front of that kid, wagging your tail? This doesn't seem like you, Li Dongyun."
Li Dongyun lazily raised his eyelids, uninterested in responding, also sipping his tea.
Wu Jinlu clearly wasn't about to stop:
"Li Sect Master, perhaps you should just leave? You've wiped out my estate's security and demolished my villa; I wouldn't hold it against you, but..."
He stroked the rings on his left hand.
"If you don't leave soon, I might just pay a visit to the Fire Gate headquarters tomorrow. What do you think?"
Li Dongyun finally looked up, casually stating,
"Chen Xiang has arrived; I'll be taking him with me."
Wu Jinlu squinted dangerously.
"What if I say no?"
Li Dongyun lifted his gaze, and the two middle-aged men locked eyes in a silent standoff, the air between them rippling, causing the small round table to tremble slightly.
Li Dongyun said coolly,
"What, didn't we finish our match earlier? Want to go another round?"
Wu Jinlu smiled thinly, his expression layered with meaning.
"There's no point in fighting if we can't use our true abilities."
They both took another sip of tea.
Wu Shangpin looked on, confused, and was about to speak when both his father and Li Dongyun frowned in unison, then shifted their focus.
In the distance, a youth was approaching slowly.
It was already night, and the moonlight cast a long shadow behind the boy.
"That's... Chen Xiang?"
Wu Shangpin exclaimed.
The newcomer was indeed Chen Xiang, carrying a wooden box half his height, the kind typically used for storage, while cradling a ball wrapped in black cloth.
Li Dongyun's brow furrowed, while Wu Jinlu wore a calm smile:
"Little Mr. Chen has arrived? Why bring something? No need to be so formal... Hm? Where's Mandong?"
He looked up, puzzled, glancing behind the boy.
Seeing nothing.
Chen Xiang glanced at the collapsed villa, then turned his calm gaze back to the three in front of him, shaking the black cloth.
A head rolled out from within.
It landed directly at Wu Jinlu's feet.
"Is this who you were talking about?"