I Have Infinite Skill Points

The method Wang Lan described wasn't complex, but putting it into action was not easy. It required a very high level of skill in Spiritual Engraving.

Even for Professor Zheng Gong, a Level Seven Spiritual Engraving Master, after understanding the method, it took him more than ten attempts to successfully create a Soul Bead Grenade.

After successfully creating it, the smile on Professor Zheng Gong's face was like that of a child who had just received a beloved toy.

But in an instant, Professor Zheng Gong's expression turned serious.

"Teacher, what's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"Releasing Star Martial Skills with Soul Beads is indeed great... It's just that the road ahead is long and arduous!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"The item is good, but we don't have the conditions to mass-produce it in the short term! Although I'd love to have a million Soul Bead Grenades overnight... alas! Wang Lan, do you know how many Spiritual Engraving Masters in the Jade Country can imprint Star Martial Skills?"

"I don't know."

"Three thousand! Spiritual Engraving Masters are even scarcer than medical Star Martial Warriors. There might be seventy to eighty thousand medical Star Martial Warriors in the whole country, but there are only three thousand Spiritual Engraving Masters. Three thousand people, even if each person makes ten Soul Bead Grenades a day, might still not produce enough for our arsenal in a year! And among these three thousand, most are Star Martial Warriors specializing in spiritual power, and the elemental Star Martial Skills they've mastered are... generally average. Moreover, making Soul Bead Grenades and skill engraving are different. Skill engraving allows one to imprint Star Martial Skills from another person's mind into Soul Beads. However, Soul Bead Grenades can only be made using Star Martial Skills that the engraver themself possesses. If the engraver cannot cast a particular Star Martial Skill, they cannot imprint the spiritual power required to activate it into a Soul Bead. This raises the requirements for Spiritual Engraving Masters even further."

"Teacher, throughout human history, haven't we always been raising our standards?" Wang Lan said with a smile. "From simplicity to complexity, isn't this the process of human civilization's evolution? It applies to every trade and profession."

"You're right! That said, Wang Lan, you've been hiding your true strength all along, haven't you?" Suddenly, Professor Zheng Gong looked at Wang Lan with a smile, making Wang Lan feel uneasy under his gaze. "Every time I try to test your progress, you always surprise me. You not only meet my expectations in quality and quantity but also seem to do so effortlessly. I had thought that even if you exceeded my estimated level of strength, it wouldn't be by much. After all... you've only been studying for two months. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have known you've reached the level of a Level Seven Spiritual Engraving Master."

"Uh... what does Level Seven refer to in terms of ability?"

"It means being able to engrave A-rank Star Martial Skills! Creating a Soul Bead Grenade requires at least Level Seven proficiency."

Too bad, you've underestimated me again. Wang Lan thought.

"I will apply for a patent for you. Have you thought of a good name for this technology?"

"Let's just call it the Soul Bead Grenade. I think it fits well. As for the patent... never mind that. This is my contribution to the country. What use do I have for a patent?"

"Young man!" Professor Zheng Gong patted Wang Lan's shoulder gently. "You have a patriotic heart, and I am very pleased. But giving up benefits that are rightfully yours isn't patriotism; it's foolish. You say this technology is an unconditional contribution to the country? Why not register the patent and then license it to the country for free? A patent not only brings you substantial benefits but also many intangible yet real advantages. Consider this: thousands of years from now, when history teachers discuss the advent of the Soul Bead Grenade and its development, how could they not mention Wang Lan, its inventor? Throughout history, with five thousand years of written records, how many heroes and outstanding figures have there been? And how many of them are truly remembered by history? Even members of the Jade Country's Standing Committee might not be remembered by history thousands of years later. That's looking far ahead. More immediately, your contribution to the state will bring you unimaginable prestige. Prestige, in many ways, is even more important than strength. With prestige, others will take you seriously, willing to invest in you, willing to follow you through thick and thin. Because of your prestige, no one will dare to offend you or be disrespectful, because they cannot bear the consequences of public condemnation. Human society is very complex. In your eyes, there might only be Exotic Beasts and the Demon Clan. But in reality... there's so much more. Didn't you encounter that enemy from the Duanmu Family not long ago? With this patent, the Duanmu Family will never dare to lay a finger on you again."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Wang Lan bowed deeply to Professor Zheng Gong, although, even without it, the Duanmu Family wouldn't dare to touch him anymore.

Professor Zheng Gong handled the patent registration for Wang Lan. He was quite familiar with the process and could get it done in a few days.

By the time Wang Lan returned from Professor Zheng Gong's office, it was already three in the afternoon.

Just as he got back to his dormitory, his phone rang.

"Mr. Jun? This is Dong Feifei!"

"Mr. Jun?" Wang Lan snapped awake instantly. Could the plan be starting already? Why hadn't the Tianjian Bureau informed him at all?

But in an instant, Wang Lan calmed down.

"What's the matter?"

"It's about that matter you asked me to look into last time... there's been progress. The other party wants me to ask how much stock you have on hand."

"Two hundred!" Wang Lan's voice was curt, tinged with impatience.

"Two hundred... Mr. Jun, do your classmates have any?"

"Two hundred isn't enough for you?" A mischievous smile played on Wang Lan's lips. "How about I throw in an extra ten medium-grade Soul Beads? Would that be sufficient?"

"Enough, that's enough! My friend would like to invite you for a meal, Mr. Jun. I was wondering if you have the time and could grace us with your presence?"

"Where?"

Putting down the phone, Wang Lan took out a face-changing mask and placed it on his face. Suddenly, like the mask from the movie *The Mask*, it enveloped Wang Lan's head, transforming his face into that of a different person in the blink of an eye. This mask could not only change his face but also hide a Star Martial Warrior's aura. It could even shield him from the senses of perceptive Star Martial Warriors nearby. However, Wang Lan could not use Star Power; the moment he did, the mask would automatically fall off.

The Star Martial Warrior who crafted this mask clearly wasn't skilled enough, Wang Lan thought. With further refinement, such an Innate Ability could surely allow a Star Martial Warrior to remain hidden without affecting their combat strength.

He changed his clothes and picked up a briefcase to leave. But on second thought, he took out the protective case from the briefcase and casually tossed the regular and medium-grade Soul Beads directly into the briefcase before heading out.

Wangjiang Wind and Moon was a famous riverside restaurant in Modu City. Located on a triangular plot of land bordered by the river on three sides, it served as a landmark and the brand center of the Wangjiang Triangle area. Behind Wangjiang Wind and Moon was a bustling commercial street with various establishments integrating tourism, leisure, and entertainment.

The meeting Chen Xiaoping had arranged with Wang Lan was in a private room on the third floor of Wangjiang Wind and Moon.

As Wang Lan stepped out of the flashy sports car, a young man hurried over. "Mr. Jun, you're here?"

"Let's go!"

Wang Lan was playing the part of a rich, second-generation heir—the arrogant, domineering type who equated coolness with style. That's why his tone was deliberately blunt.

Carrying the briefcase, Wang Lan followed the young man into Wangjiang Wind and Moon and took the elevator straight to the third floor.

After several twists and turns, they arrived at the farthest private room. Its window faced the Huangpu River. In case of any sudden events, one could jump directly into the river. Whether for escape or suicide, it was an ideal spot, a place with good feng shui.

"Mr. Jun," Dong Feifei began, "let me introduce you. This is Ping. He's the one who buys all the extra Soul Beads we get, and his prices are very fair. Ping, this is Mr. Jun—Lu Shaojun, the second son of Modu City's Lu Family."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jun," Chen Xiaoping said. "I've met your older brother, Lu Changjun. I still get fired up thinking about the time he led a thirty-man squad into the heart of the Exotic Beast defensive line in the East Sea Pioneer Space. He charged in and out seven times—truly awe-inspiring!"

"It seems you don't know me very well?" Wang Lan said coldly.

"I don't quite understand what you mean by that, Mr. Jun."

"Anyone who knows me knows not to mention Lu Changjun's name in my presence! Enough chit-chat. Did you bring the money?"

At this remark, Chen Xiaoping's expression turned somewhat awkward.

"Mr. Jun, I invited you for a meal today... primarily to get acquainted."

"So, you didn't bring the money?"

"Mr. Jun, this is our first meeting. I thought we could get to know each other, perhaps become friends..."

"I have plenty of friends. I don't need another one." Wang Lan stood up, ready to leave.

"Mr. Jun, please wait a moment. It seems you brought the Soul Beads with you?" Chen Xiaoping said, his eyes repeatedly flicking to the briefcase in Wang Lan's hand. "May I see the merchandise?"

Wang Lan casually placed the briefcase on the table and opened it.

A pile of Soul Beads lay jumbled messily in the briefcase. The loud PINGING and PANGING as they knocked against each other made Chen Xiaoping wince just looking at them.

These are Soul Beads... and there are several medium-grade ones in there too! How can he just toss them together like marbles? What if they get chipped? Chen Xiaoping thought, distressed.

"Seen enough?" Wang Lan said coldly, snapping the briefcase shut. "I'm leaving. Call me when you have the money ready next time."

"Mr. Jun, perhaps you could leave your phone number? So I can contact you next time?"

"Dong Feifei has it. Contact him. I don't want any association with you. People like you don't last long. If you go down one day, don't drag me with you."

With that, Wang Lan left with the briefcase without looking back.

"Ping... please don't be upset," Dong Feifei said quickly. "Mr. Jun is always like that. But rest assured, he has quite a few Soul Beads. And at Zhenyu University, there are many students like him, scions of Star Martial families. Even if they haven't awakened their Innate Abilities, their status is special. They can get plenty of Soul Beads from their families..."

"Do I look upset to you?" Chen Xiaoping smiled faintly, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Wang Lan's performance indeed irked me. So what if Lu Shaojun is a scion of a Star Martial family? He's just a mundane after all.

However, Lu Shaojun's desire to avoid any connection with him seemed perfectly normal. In fact, it made Chen Xiaoping more inclined to believe Wang Lan wasn't trying to set him up. After all, if he really wanted to trap me, wouldn't getting closer be the logical approach?

Chen Xiaoping knew well that engaging in this kind of business was like being a grasshopper in late autumn—he wouldn't be around for long. Sooner or later, he'd get caught and end up picking up soap in prison for the rest of his life.

But what could he do? He was already on this pirate ship; there was no getting off. It was a choice between possibly ending up in prison picking up soap someday, or definitely ending up there tomorrow.