Jiang Yue's Gesture of Goodwill, Everyone's Confusion

The sudden surge in cultivation efficiency delighted Zhong Ming, though at the same time, he felt it was only natural.

"Dragon Flood Resonance—this is a trait that can only be gained when the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique reaches Stage 4, or even Stage 5."

"Though the trait I obtained is incomplete, my cultivation is still very low. Under such circumstances, its effect ought to be this great."

The excessively domineering Dragon Flood Resonance even stirred a wild ambition within Zhong Ming.

"With Dragon Flood Resonance empowering me, my cultivation efficiency is now five to seven times greater than before. That's even more effective than taking pills. Perhaps I can do more than earn a Class B rating—I might even get a glimpse of a Class A rating?"

With ambition sprouting in his heart, Zhong Ming immediately began a second round of cultivation.

Then, his expression turned bitter.

For his second cultivation session, he did not know what he had done wrong, but... he failed to trigger Dragon Flood Resonance.

Not the third time... either.

The fourth time was the same.

By then, Zhong Ming understood that Dragon Flood Resonance... would not come again.

"Because Dragon Flood Resonance is incomplete, triggering that resonance was the accident. Failing to trigger it is the norm."

"Sigh, and here I thought I could earn a Class A rating."

Zhong Ming sighed, feeling deeply frustrated.

Although visualizing the stream transforming into a flood dragon had still improved his cultivation somewhat, it had merely raised the retained Spiritual Energy from one or two parts in ten to two or three parts in ten. Such a meager increase could not satisfy Zhong Ming's needs, much less support his ambitions.

Still, Zhong Ming's mood soon recovered.

"Whew... I can't give up. Besides, it's not as if I have no hope at all."

"During my earlier cultivation, I didn't just nurture my Qi Sea Acupoint—I also increased the progress of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique."

Thinking this, Zhong Ming opened his Attribute Panel and looked at the system log. It recorded in detail the improvements he had gained during cultivation.

You completed one full cultivation session of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique. Proficiency +131

You completed one full cultivation session of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique. Proficiency +7

During the several cultivation sessions that followed, because Zhong Ming had been focused and because his visualization of the stream as a dragon flood fit the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique so well, his proficiency continued to increase at a decent pace.

By now, the proficiency of Zhong Ming's Fundamental Cultivation Method had reached:

"As an immortal cultivation technique, the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique will most likely gain some traits once it reaches Stage 2: Proficient."

"If that's the case, then if I cultivate from morning to night and push myself through another arduous session at night, I may be able to raise it to Stage 2 in a short time. If I gain a good trait then, my cultivation speed can increase even further."

With that thought, Zhong Ming continued cultivating.

Of course, he had not forgotten Dong Hai, who had followed him here. The key to the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique lay in the word "dragon," and Zhong Ming told him this secret as well.

He did so for two reasons. First, Zhong Ming did not care—what he relied on had always been Heaven Rewards Diligence, not the secret of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique.

Second, it was to repay kindness.

Zhong Ming, who had transmigrated here, had been desperately poor. The reason he had been able to painstakingly read hundreds upon thousands of books in just a few months and raise his Reading Skill to Stage 4: Minor Accomplishment was largely thanks to Dong Hai's help.

A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.

Dong Hai's earlier support meant that, so long as it did not affect himself, Zhong Ming was willing to lend Dong Hai a hand.

"Brother Zhong, thank you. I knew you were the smartest. There will definitely be a place for you in the Class B assessment."

"...Let's work hard together."

After responding to Dong Hai, Zhong Ming resumed cultivating.

Then, another hour later, he was forced to stop, his face filled with bitterness.

"Why is cultivating the Dao so difficult?!"

Zhong Ming had originally planned to cultivate day and night, grinding out the progress for Stage 1: Novice of the Dragon Creek Breathing Technique. Then, he would rely on the traits of Stage 2: Proficient to boost his cultivation efficiency.

But after cultivating for only one morning, he discovered that his plan could not be carried out.

The prolonged cultivation had left Zhong Ming's meridians faintly aching.

By this point, no one needed to remind Zhong Ming that he had to stop.

Otherwise, excessive cultivation would inevitably damage his meridians.

Unable to cultivate relentlessly, Zhong Ming could not increase his proficiency even with Heaven Rewards Diligence. Naturally, his expression was unpleasant.

"No wonder Dragon Stream Peak lists entering the path within seven days as Class A, while entering within eighteen days is Class B. It really can weed out those with exceptional talent."

"But I still can't give up. I can think of other methods."

Zhong Ming himself was not stupid, and the vast number of books he had read had broadened his thinking and ideas immensely.

At this moment, he truly thought of a method.

"If what I do next goes as planned, I still have hope..."

Though he had thought of a solution, what Zhong Ming needed to do now was... eat.

Only after achieving success in cultivation could one go without food. The current Zhong Ming was still unable to do that.

After following the main group to the Dragon Stream Peak cafeteria, Zhong Ming discovered that although the assessments here were strict, and failing to receive a Grade A or Grade B rating could even be life-threatening, Dragon Stream Peak did not shortchange them when it came to food and lodging.

Not only was all the food in the academy free, there was even free spirit rice here.

Most people also chose spirit rice as their staple food—and ate nothing but that.

Containing Spiritual Energy, spirit rice was fragrant, sweet, and delicious, more than ten times tastier than ordinary food.

It also contained very few impurities and could supply every nutrient the human body needed.

After eating it, a warm current would even arise within one's body, along with a trace of mild Spiritual Energy.

"One bowl of Spirit Rice Meal lets me cultivate one more time... Unfortunately, each person only gets one free bowl a day."

Ordinary people ate Spirit Rice Meals, while disciples from Cultivation Families had even better Spirit Meals.

Naturally, those required Spirit Stones.

Since everyone was eating at the same time, Zhong Ming ran into some familiar faces in the cafeteria.

Lu Mingfeng and Xia He, the two people Zhong Ming had just met that morning, passed by him carrying their bowls.

As he walked past, remembering how an excellent opportunity to get close to Young Master Jiang Yue had been ruined by Zhong Ming's "arrogance" and "stupidity," Lu Mingfeng shook his head in disappointment.

"Hmph, foolish. If you had known what was good for you and accepted Young Master Jiang Yue's kindness early on, you could have had some of the Spirit Meal he bought too, instead of merely staring at it longingly like you are now."

As soon as he said this, many people chimed in.

Nearly all the Commoner Disciples felt that Zhong Ming's refusal of Jiang Yue's invitation was an incredibly foolish act.

They also believed that Zhong Ming would surely regret it in a few days.

"A chance to escape the pit of fire, yet he threw it away with his own hands. Sigh..."

"Damn it, why wasn't an opportunity like that given to me... Hm?!"

Yet just as everyone was shaking their heads and sighing, they all froze at the same moment.

After buying a Spirit Meal, Jiang Yue did not eat it alone. Instead, he brought Jiang Xiaoyu over to Zhong Ming.

The next moment, he said with a smile, "Brother Zhong, do you mind sharing a table? Also, I seem to have bought too much of this Spirit Meal. The two of us can't finish it. If you don't mind, Brother Zhong, could you help me out?"

These words left Lu Mingfeng, Xia He, and all the others watching Zhong Ming dumbfounded.

"???"

"What? Why? Zhong Ming already rejected him, so why is he still eagerly going over to him?"

"Could Young Master Jiang Yue have some strange fetish?"

A disciple from a Cultivation Family, rather than waiting for Zhong Ming to "kneel" and "yield," repeatedly showed him goodwill. This utterly shattered Lu Mingfeng and the others' worldview.

They could not understand what was so special about Zhong Ming, with his Third-grade Spiritual Root, that made Jiang Yue go to such lengths to befriend him.

Lu Mingfeng and the others could not figure it out no matter how hard they thought. Wei Jie and Liu Wanyu, two Cultivation Family disciples of the same standing as Jiang Yue, were also briefly stunned.

After recovering from his shock, Wei Jie was overjoyed.

"To be manipulated by a Commoner Disciple—Jiang Yue is too useless. Someone like him is not worthy of standing alongside us at all."

Wei Jie, who liked Liu Wanyu, was still using Zhong Ming as an excuse to attack Jiang Yue.

But Liu Wanyu did not join in.

As she looked at Zhong Ming and Jiang Yue, a trace of contemplation appeared in her eyes instead.

Although Jiang Yue is gentle, he would never show such goodwill to a Commoner Disciple for no reason. There must be some secret behind this...

Zhong Ming, just what is so extraordinary about you?

Liu Wanyu had begun to take an interest in Zhong Ming.

Other people's discussions did not affect Zhong Ming.

Seeing Jiang Yue sit down and hearing his words, Zhong Ming did not touch the Spirit Meal. After pondering for a moment, he said to Jiang Yue, "It seems Brother Jiang has discovered something."

Though the remark came out of nowhere, Jiang Yue's pupils suddenly contracted.

At that point, Zhong Ming became even more certain of something.

Seeing this, he took the lead in leaving the cafeteria and said to Jiang Yue, "This is not the place to talk. Let's speak outside."

"You rude—talk..."

Her brother's repeated goodwill toward Zhong Ming had already made the looks others gave her extremely strange, and those looks had made Jiang Xiaoyu rather unhappy.

Now Zhong Ming was acting like the master, ordering both her brother and herself around. Jiang Xiaoyu could no longer hold back.

However, before she could finish calling him rude, Jiang Yue rebuked her.

"Xiaoyu, shut up!"

His stern tone, along with the exceedingly grave expression on her brother's face, startled Jiang Xiaoyu and made her afraid to speak carelessly again.

She knew that her brother normally doted on her, but when major matters were involved, he would not allow her to act willfully.

With her brother looking so serious now, what Zhong Ming was about to say was clearly extremely important.

Still, just like Lu Mingfeng, Xia He, Wei Jie, and the others, Jiang Xiaoyu could not understand what secret Zhong Ming, a Commoner Disciple, could possibly possess.