Burning Fire — Mysterious-grade Mid-tier Cultivation Method

Jiang Donghua stood at the center of the encirclement of light spheres, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He felt like a fisherman herding fish in the shallows, exhausting himself to drive the school into his net, only to haul up everything everyone else wanted.

"Twenty-seven light spheres have already been surrounded..."

Shi Lie had obtained a copy of the Mysterious Rock Body, Zhao Wuchen had chosen an unknown medicinal pill, and Lin Xiuyuan and Ouyang Xue had each gotten something they wanted.

But as for himself...

"They're all combat skills!"

Jiang Donghua gritted his teeth as he stared at another crimson light sphere forced into the encirclement.

No matter how good the combat skills within these light spheres were, they were useless to him.

"What the AFK System needs most is high-tier cultivation methods..."

"Again!"

He abruptly mobilized the Dou Qi within him, turning into a red streak of light as he forcefully drove three wandering light spheres in the distance toward his teammates.

"Brother Jiang?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked at him in surprise.

"You've driven them over twenty times in a row already..."

"I'm fine."

Jiang Donghua wiped away the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Keep going."

Shi Lie suddenly pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

"Let me drive them this time."

Without waiting for a response, the taciturn tribal youth had already charged out.

The muscles all over his body bulged. Every step he took kicked up dust from the ground, and he used the most savage method possible to ram the light spheres toward their designated positions.

Ouyang Xue suddenly cried out softly.

"Azure gold!"

Everyone followed her gaze and saw an azure-and-gold light sphere slowly descending from the dome.

This light sphere was a full size larger than the others, and the runes flowing across its surface were clearly far more intricate.

"A cultivation method light sphere, at least Mysterious-grade Mid-tier!"

Zhao Wuchen cried out in shock.

Jiang Donghua's pupils contracted sharply. That's it!

The azure-gold light sphere hovered in midair, its energy fluctuations seeming to mock everyone's greed.

"Take it!"

The three brocade-robed students from Chixiao City struck first. They had already tasted the benefits earlier—anything they snatched could be traded with others!

Something this good would be easy to trade away.

With a flip of his palm, the leading youth ignited a crimson talisman. He grinned viciously at Jiang Donghua and the others.

"Get lost. This light sphere is ours!"

Boom—

The talisman exploded, and a violent wave of blazing air swept toward them, forcing Shi Lie and Zhao Wuchen to retreat several steps.

Frost condensed at Ouyang Xue's fingertips as she tried to block it, but the fire wave was so scorching that her ice evaporated the instant it came into contact with it.

"These bastards..."

Lin Xiuyuan gritted his teeth. Green light flashed from the jade pendant at his waist, and a wall of air formed before them, barely stabilizing their position.

However, before they could catch their breath, a black shadow suddenly darted out from the side with astonishing speed!

"A guy from the Mysterious-grade class!"

Shi Lie growled.

The black-robed student stepped through the air, releasing the aura of a Five-star Dou Master without restraint. Black Dou Qi curled around the fingers of his right hand as he reached for the azure-gold light sphere like an eagle's claw.

A disdainful sneer hung on his face. Everyone present was beneath his notice.

"A bunch of trash, and you think you're worthy of fighting over this?"

His figure flashed, and he was just about to touch the light sphere.

Bang!

Suddenly, violet-blue flames exploded from the side. Jiang Donghua appeared before him like a ghost and lashed a sweeping kick fiercely at his waist!

The black-robed student's pupils shrank. He clearly had not expected anyone to dare stop him. He hurriedly raised an arm to block, but the kick still knocked him off balance and sent him away from the light sphere.

"Courting death!"

He shouted angrily and abruptly drew his sword with his left hand. Cold light flashed as the blade shot straight for Jiang Donghua's throat!

Jiang Donghua had been prepared. His body twisted strangely, and the sword grazed his neck, leaving a bloody mark. Ignoring the pain, he charged forward again with the momentum.

However, before he could reach the light sphere, the three from Chixiao City had already pounced again. Talismans, fist force, and sword Qi struck at him all at once!

"Brother Jiang!"

Lin Xiuyuan shouted. Green light from his jade pendant surged as a wall of air swept forward, barely blocking one of them.

Shi Lie roared, the muscles in his arms knotting as he smashed his fists into the ground. A rock wall burst from the earth, blocking another.

Throwing knives shot from Zhao Wuchen's sleeves and formed a Spirit-Locking Formation, trapping the third person for an instant.

Ouyang Xue condensed frost at her fingertips and shot an ice spike straight at the black-robed student's back, forcing him to turn and defend himself.

For a moment, the entire scene descended into chaos.

The black-robed student's expression darkened. He had thought that with the strength of a Five-star Dou Master, he could easily crush this group, yet the five of them worked together so seamlessly that they had actually forced him back.

Especially that brat—his movement technique was bizarre and his combat skills vicious, making it difficult for him to get close for the moment!

"Damn it..."

He gritted his teeth and swept his gaze around. Not only were Jiang Donghua's group of five blocking him firmly, but the three from Chixiao City were also watching him like tigers. Even several students from other classes in the distance were beginning to stir.

"Eight against one? Do you really think I'm afraid of you?!"

He roared, black Qi surging around his body as he prepared to pounce.

However, in the next instant, his body suddenly halted. He unexpectedly withdrew his momentum and sneered.

"A bunch of idiots. Fight over it, then. Let's see what you can get!"

With that, he turned without hesitation, kicked off the floor, and darted toward another wandering violet light sphere, abandoning the fight over the azure-gold one.

Jiang Donghua was briefly stunned, then immediately understood.

This guy had seen the situation was unfavorable and decisively given up!

"Ran pretty fast..."

He snorted, then quickly composed himself and locked his gaze onto the azure-gold light sphere once more.

For now, the greatest threat had withdrawn, but the three from Chixiao City were still there, and the other students in the distance had already begun closing in.

"There's no time. We have to take it now!"

The instant Jiang Donghua's five fingers closed around the azure-gold light sphere, a violent repulsive force erupted!

Boom—!

Blinding lightning exploded along his arm, instantly numbing his entire right arm. The Dou Qi inside him intertwined with the lightning, producing a sizzling burn.

The excruciating pain made veins bulge on Jiang Donghua's forehead, but he clenched his teeth and refused to let go.

"Come out!"

He growled as the Dou Qi within him circulated madly. Purple Spirit Flame poured through his meridians into his palm, forcibly tearing open a crack in the light sphere!

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out. The azure-gold light sphere abruptly contracted and turned into a crimson jade slip that fell into his hand.

Several ancient characters were engraved upon its surface.

Burning Fire — Mysterious-grade Mid-tier Fire attribute cultivation method.

"It worked!"

Ecstasy flashed through Jiang Donghua's eyes as he swiftly tucked the jade slip into his robes.

On the other side, the three from Chixiao City immediately darkened at the sight.

The leading brocade-robed youth gnashed his teeth.

"Damn it, he actually got it!"

They had intended to snatch it again, but with a sweep of their eyes, they saw Shi Lie, Lin Xiuyuan, Zhao Wuchen, and Ouyang Xue gathering at Jiang Donghua's side. The five stood shoulder to shoulder. Though they had expended quite a bit of Dou Qi, their fighting spirit remained undiminished.

"Still want to fight?"

Shi Lie clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking loudly. A ferocious look was on his rugged face.

Lin Xiuyuan toyed with his jade pendant, smiling faintly.

"You couldn't gain an advantage when it was three against five earlier. Want to try again now?"

The three from Chixiao City exchanged glances before finally snorting coldly.

"Consider yourselves lucky!"

With that, they turned and rushed toward another wandering light sphere, no longer pressing the matter.