Stronger with More Jobs

And in the center of that crimson air wave, the figure of Fang Qingyu seemed to be enveloped in a blazing, illusory red flame!

A terrifying aura of ancient dominance, capable of burning everything across the eight directions, faintly emanated!

A diagram silently unfolded deep within Fang Qingyu's consciousness.

A prompt suddenly popped up:

[Congratulations! Your profession's core skill "Red Bright Nine Revolutions Tribulation Jade Scripture·Third Turn" has reached Lv.5 (Max)!]

Perfection!

After countless life-and-death battles, consuming vast amounts of Qi Blood Crystals, and fueled by the higher-level Qi blood mastery brought by the surge in martial arts cultivation after devouring the Abyss Core, this top-level Qi Blood Technique from Hong Qitian's Third Turn finally reached the Realm of Perfection!

The surging river of Qi and blood within his body seemed to have been given new life.

In an instant, it became more refined, purer, and vast!

The running speed skyrocketed, and the transportation efficiency soared.

Each cycle of circulation was like the Red Bright Divine Bird soaring with wings through the meridians, delivering endless vitality and power to every part of the body.

The crimson light under the skin quickly retracted and settled like a tide.

Eventually, it turned into a gentle yet restrained jade-like luster, containing a volcanic force.

The fierce aura of heaven-burning and sea-boiling also receded in an instant.

What remained was a profound sense of weight and heat.

Fang Qingyu slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, it seemed as if two tiny red flames flickered and vanished, returning to a deep calm.

Feeling the seemingly endless Qi and blood power within, and the smooth, effortless control, Fang Qingyu's lips finally couldn't help but curl into a faint, satisfied arc.

Over a month has passed.

Since joining the Hidden Dragon Plan and entering the world of "Abyss," a month has already gone by.

The Thunder Source Material remains nowhere to be found.

But fortunately, progress in other areas is quite good.

Aside from the Qi Blood Technique reaching perfection today.

The Observation Method was also maxed out in two days using Skill Points.

Unlocked two new Power forms: Water and Earth.

In terms of Martial Techniques, both the Nine Prisons Shattering Mountain Fist and the Startled Swan Shadow-Stepping Technique have been successfully mastered, and the Thunder Instant Cloud Trace finally reached perfection without spending any Skill Points.

Only the Hard Skills were a bit slow.

However, it wasn't because Fang Qingyu didn't want to practice but was accumulating materials.

The materials needed for several Hard Skills...

Are rather challenging to describe.

Thinking of this, Fang Qingyu raised his hand, just about to wipe the sweat from his brow.

A calm and gentle voice, as precise as a fine needle, echoed in his ear.

"Qingyu, head to the Longyuan Martial Arts Hall. Old Hong is looking for you."

Yan Pavilion Master's voice!?

Fang Qingyu paused slightly, stood up, and was about to walk towards the Pavilion where Yan Shouzheng was, pondering who Old Hong might be.

Suddenly realizing something amiss...

Longyuan Martial Arts Hall!? Old Hong?

Memories of the past began to attack Fang Qingyu...

Longyuan Martial Arts Hall... was the alley he had gone to for the martial arts apprentice competition, Hong Qitian's martial arts hall!?

While Dragon Abyss Pavilion was where Wei Banmeng resided.

The only difference in their names was the suffix.

No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity when he heard it initially.

Fang Qingyu immediately chuckled wryly.

And Jiang Wei, who had already walked over, looked curiously at Fang Qingyu's changing expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

Wei Banmeng and the others also frowned.

"God Fang... is something wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Fang Qingyu snapped back to reality, waved his hand, his expression relaxed again, then looked at Jiang Wei, ruffling her small head.

"I'll step out for a while, you stay here and wait."

He wasn't sure how strong Old Hong was.

But he should be stronger than Yan Shouzheng.

Yan Pavilion Master couldn't tell Jiang Wei was a God, but Old Hong might, recalling the scene where he summoned thunder with just a raise of a hand — Fang Qingyu hasn't forgotten that.

"Oh... okay."

Jiang Wei listened in apparent thought and nodded her head.

And both Wei Banmeng and the others, hearing this, didn't speak further. Since Jiang Wei wasn't allowed to follow, it naturally wasn't possible for them to follow either.

...

It's still that ancient street paved with green stone slabs, its gray walls on either side weathered and mottled.

There weren't many people around.

Only inside the shops, occasionally, one or two storekeepers could be seen.

But this time, Fang Qingyu knew they were all actually Old Hong's people.

This ancient street.

Was specifically set up for that old man.

The street was so still that one could hear the echo of their own footsteps.

Passing through the familiar alleyway, the meandering river came into view.

The turbid river water flowed slowly, reflecting the clear sky.

A huddled figure with his back to the alley mouth sat on a small stool.

A thin fishing rod stretched out at an angle, dipped into the water.

At his feet lay a scatter of bottles and jars and an open bait box.

It was Hong Qitian indeed.

Fang Qingyu lightened his footsteps and walked to a spot several steps behind the old man, stopping.

Old Hong seemed unaware, or rather, unconcerned about who the visitor was.

He was utterly engrossed, concentrating entirely on handling the open bait box before him.

His withered fingers pinched a segment of bloody worm, then shook some grayish-white powder from a small brown bottle, mixing them together, his fingertips deftly kneading.

Their focused expression, as if engaged in something monumental, rather than mere fishing bait.

Fang Qingyu didn't make a sound to disturb him, his gaze passed over those bottles and jars, noting powders with an exotic herbal aroma, substances sticky like honey amber, and even a small box of finely shattered, glinting crystalline particles.

This level of equipment was way beyond what he saw last time, practically like a mobile bait shop.

It seemed the old man hadn't taken his previous comments to heart.

Fang Qingyu silently walked beside Old Hong and sat upon a low stone step by the riverbank, his gaze cast towards the still surface of the river.

The waters were muddy, bottomless, with only occasional ripples unbeknownst to be caused by fish or wind.

Time flowed silently.

Only the faint rustle of Old Hong kneading bait and the distant, indistinct city noise could be heard.

After an indefinite period, Old Hong finally hung his carefully mixed, oddly scented reddish-brown bait onto the hook.

Lifting the fishing rod slowly and steadily, he flicked his wrist.

The fishing line arced lightly along with the lead weight and bait, making a soft "plop," disappearing into the river's heart, leaving only a faint ripple that quickly spread.

Just as the float steadied, swaying lightly with the stream.

Old Hong's slightly hoarse and aged voice, without any warning, sounded, as casual as if asking about today's weather, yet its content was earth-shattering:

"Kid, if one day..."

Old Hong's clouded eyes still fixed on the barely moving float on the water.

"The Gods entirely descended. What would you do?"

Fang Qingyu froze upon hearing...

Because of their past easygoing interactions, without thinking, he reflexively blurted out a reply.

"Kill them!?"