8: Cousin Mo Xixi, eating secretly in the middle of the night

By the time Jiang Yuan woke up, it was already midnight.

At this moment, his entire body was covered in blood, sweat, and black Impurities. His stomach felt immensely hungry, yet he could feel a scorching wave of power surging within his body.

Before he could ponder his current situation,

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

Violent protests came from his stomach, followed by an extreme sense of weakness.

"I can't take it anymore, I'm so hungry, I'm going to starve to death."

Jiang Yuan forced himself to crawl out of bed and came to the living room. Tao Chunru was already asleep. Seeing the dining table in the living room laden with full dishes of food, Jiang Yuan immediately began to wolf it down ravenously.

In less than ten minutes, everything was swept clean.

"Half full."

After finishing, he went to the bathroom, turned on the tap to wash away the Impurities, and incidentally opened the System panel to check.

Immortal Body Tempering Method (SSS): A total of thirty-one forms, eliminating Impurities and refining the physique. Using the body as a furnace and Qi as the undying firewood, every single cell is refined into immortal particles. Cultivating body density to the extreme, transforming the body into immortal glazed glass, forming a Chaos Universe within the body itself, crossing galaxies with the Physical Body, and remaining undying even if stars are destroyed.

Hiss...

Jiang Yuan drew in a sharp breath.

"Did I actually create an SSS-rank body tempering method?"

He found it completely unbelievable.

"From what Chen Hao said before, the country's universally acknowledged strongest breathing technique is the Stellar Breathing Technique created by a demigod, which is SS-rank."

"An SSS-rank breathing technique? I haven't even heard of one. I'm afraid even the Martial Artist Association headquarters doesn't have it."

"It seems that the Supreme Analysis talent is even more terrifying than I thought," Jiang Yuan clicked his tongue.

After all, it was the product of his Comprehension Ability being amplified by one hundred thousand times.

"Let's give it a try."

Filled with anticipation, Jiang Yuan closed his eyes. While rinsing under the cold water in the bathroom, he performed the first form of the Immortal Body Tempering Method.

The difficulty of this body tempering method was extremely high. Aside from an ultimate understanding of this breathing technique, it also required perfect control over every muscle in the body to vibrate one's own Qi.

For every single movement, the body's Qi needed to vibrate dozens to hundreds of times without the slightest error.

Compared to the previous Boulder Body Tempering Method, it was countless times harder. Even if it were thrown to a demigod, they would probably have to spend several years studying and comprehending it before they could Cultivate it.

After failing thirteen times, Jiang Yuan gradually grasped the trick and successfully completed the first form.

The moment of success—

Jiang Yuan's entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. An invisible, heavy pressure assaulted him from all directions, and inside his body felt like it was being scraped by knives and burned by fire, as if even his bone marrow were burning.

Hot! So hot!

Pain! So painful!

Every pore on his body opened, and scorching heat rose from him. Upon contacting the cold water, it hissed and turned into white steam, filling the bathroom with mist.

"Damn it! Why is it so painful?!"

Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth tightly and persisted. Every second felt like a year. Massive amounts of sweat mixed with blood and black substances seeped out from his pores, only to be quickly washed away by the water flow.

Ten seconds later.

Jiang Yuan ended the cultivation, supporting himself against the wall and panting heavily.

After resting for a full five minutes,

Jiang Yuan finally recovered his wits. With lingering fear in his heart, he revealed a bitter smile.

"I almost thought I was going to die."

Checking his attribute panel, Jiang Yuan simply couldn't believe his eyes.

Strength +1, Speed +1.

The results of ten seconds were more than what Jiang Yuan had gained from desperately working out for a whole month previously!

"I can't even last ten seconds on the first form right now. If I skillfully complete all thirty-one forms... how fast would my improvement be?"

Jiang Yuan muttered.

With the blessing of the [Martial God] class's bug-level skills, plus the continuous enhancement and refining of the Immortal Body Tempering Method!

He didn't even dare to imagine how terrifying his Physical Body would become once he became a Martial Artist, killing monsters to level up and continuously raising his attribute points. Would there eventually be a day when his Qi turned into a Universe tide, his Physical Body crossed galaxies, and he became undying and indestructible?

Just thinking about it made him excited!

"Rumble, rumble, rumble."

His stomach protested again. The food he ate earlier had been completely digested. Consuming a breathing technique of this level naturally required massive energy expenditure.

Jiang Yuan quickly placed a food delivery order.

"Give me a portion of Black Feather Chicken Pot."

"Barbecued Spiked Pig Trotters."

"Moon Shadow Rhinoceros Grilled Steak."

"The Silver Fish set meal is also not bad."

...

These were all Vicious Beast meats rich in nutrients, and their prices were quite substantial.

After completing the order, a deduction of 3,902 yuan was made.

Jiang Yuan expressed that his heart ached a little.

A few minutes later.

Jiang Yuan tiptoed to the balcony. A small blue air shuttle was parked outside the balcony, and the person delivering the food was a girl wearing a helmet and a delivery uniform.

"Eatly Fast Delivery, at your service."

"You ordered the delivery, right?" the delivery girl asked.

"It's me."

After Jiang Yuan took the delivery, the delivery girl smiled at him.

"You're a candidate for the College Entrance Examination, right? Good luck on the exam. My name is Rena. Remember to give a five-star review."

"I won't chat anymore, I still have to deliver the next order."

With that, she twisted the throttle and shouted, "Overlay, accelerate!"

The air shuttle was covered by a wave of power, instantly turning into a streak of blue light that disappeared before Jiang Yuan's eyes.

"An acceleration-type talent..."

Jiang Yuan suddenly understood.

That delivery girl just now should be a transitioned Martial Artist who had awakened an acceleration-type talent, and her sequence probably wasn't low either.

Life is not easy; even Martial Artists are running out to deliver food...

Shaking his head, Jiang Yuan hugged a large pile of takeout and returned to his room.

Just as he was about to open his room door,

the door to the neighboring room opened. His cousin, wearing pajamas, rubbed her eyes and walked out to use the restroom. The two of them locked eyes.

...

"That little boy just now was quite handsome," Rena thought to herself while riding the air shuttle and weaving between high-rise buildings.

"Ordering so much Vicious Beast meat, is he reaching the critical moment of tempering his Qi?"

Her watch rang.

[You have a new incoming call from the Boss.]

"Connect."

"Rena, where did you run off to?" A cold, clear female voice sounded.

"I'm delivering food."

"Why did you go deliver food again... A level 3 abyss has been newly discovered here, come over quickly."

"Wait a minute, I'll come right after I finish delivering this order."

...

Inside Jiang Yuan's room.

He and his cousin Mo Xixi were heartily devouring the takeout.

"Brother Yuan, keep your voice down. Don't let my mom hear you. She doesn't let me eat at night."

"Then why are you still eating?"

"I, I couldn't help it. Besides, you ordered way too much. Can you finish eating all of it?"

"Rest assured, I'm as hungry as a ghost right now."

"...Is there anyone who talks about themselves like that?"

...

"I'm full, I'm full."

Mo Xixi quickly filled her stomach. She lay on the bed, rubbing her little belly with a satisfied expression.

Looking at Jiang Yuan, who was still wolfing down his food, she found it somewhat incredible: "Brother Yuan, you can eat way too much! You've eaten so much and you're still not full? Could what you awakened today be a black hole stomach?"

"Right, how was your transition ceremony today? What talent did you awaken?"

She lay prone on Jiang Yuan's bed and asked with interest.

"E-Rank Talent, Assassin," Jiang Yuan said without even lifting his head.

"E, E-Rank Talent? That's way too low," Mo Xixi said in shock, then looked at Jiang Yuan with sympathy. "I understand why you can eat so much today. It turns out you're turning grief and anger into appetite. I get it."

Jiang Yuan: "..."

"But it doesn't matter."

"As a new generation Prodigy, a future S-rank talent holder, and a rare class professional."

Mo Xixi patted her budding chest and said proudly, "I, the great Devil King Xixi, will cover you from now on."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Not lingering in Jiang Yuan's room for too long, and afraid of being discovered by Tao Yufeng, she quickly returned to her own room.

Jiang Yuan ate for another half an hour before finishing all the takeout.

The portion that used to last a week could now only make him seven-tenths full. Every single cell in his body craved nutrients like a gluttonous beast, hard to satisfy.

"My appetite is too huge right now. This is both the influence of the [Martial God] class and the factor of cultivating the Immortal Body Tempering Method."

"I need to figure out a way to make money."

Jiang Yuan thought to himself.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow..."

Returning to his room, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

Too many things had happened today; both his physical strength and spirit were incomparably exhausted.

...

Early the next morning.

Jiang Yuan stood shirtless in front of the bathroom mirror.

The youth in the mirror had handsome and upright facial features with flawless, fair skin. His originally black pupils had turned a pale gold, exuding a trace of majesty.

His semi-long black hair and fine bangs rested casually across his forehead, and his eight-pack abs were faintly visible. Although he didn't have an excessive amount of muscle, his physique appeared incomparably symmetrical.

Compared to after his Awakening yesterday,

after a night had passed, his entire person seemed to have shrunk and become a circle thinner.

"I've gotten a lot thinner, and it seems I've also become a bit fairer and shorter."

Originally, Jiang Yuan was 1.75 meters tall, but now he was only around 1.7 meters.

Jiang Yuan slightly clenched his fist, clearly feeling the terrifying power flowing within his body.

"With my current strength, under normal conditions, blowing up a truck with a single punch shouldn't be much of a problem."

Jiang Yuan thought to himself.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to vent his power, and came to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast.

...

While eating breakfast,

Jiang Yuan told his aunt's family about his Awakening of the E-Rank Talent and transitioning into an Assassin.

Although his aunt Tao Yufeng and uncle Mo Lingfeng felt regretful, they didn't say anything. After all, they had seen Jiang Yuan's hard work on ordinary days, and the matter of Awakening a talent was truly predestined and hard to force.

"Then what do you plan to do next?" Mo Lingfeng asked.

"I plan to properly temper my Physical Body over the next month, participate in the College Entrance Examination, and try my best to get into a Martial University," Jiang Yuan said.

Mo Lingfeng nodded slightly.

Tao Yufeng also said, "Getting into a Martial University is fine too; it will be easier to sign contracts with guilds after graduation."

Several of them assumed that Jiang Yuan meant getting into a tier-three Martial University.

Only Jiang Yuan himself knew.

What he meant were the four top-tier Martial Universities in Great Xia.

Divine Martial University.

Kunlun University.

Civilization University.

Xinghai University.

These four Martial Universities were established one hundred and fifty years ago, holding a massive amount of dungeon Secret Realms, equipment, skill Cultivation Techniques, and all kinds of resources.

As long as the students graduating from these four Martial Universities were still alive, none of them were lower than fourth-tier Martial Artists! The big figures who shook various regions mostly came from these four universities! It could be said that the people cultivated by them were the backbone of Great Xia in resisting the abyss!

This was also the reason why the status of these four universities within Great Xia was extremely lofty.

One had to rank at least in the top hundred within the province to enter these four universities.

In this world of the jungle, to filter out powerhouses suitable for surviving in the abyss, the College Entrance Examination tested only one thing.

Secret Realm survival!

Killing Vicious Beasts within dungeon Secret Realms to earn scores; the higher the score, the higher the ranking.

Simple and direct.