Invitation

Song Mingyue had only just returned to her villa at Yunhu Villa, without even having time to shower and change, when she received a Feixin message from Gao Wu.

"Friend, the Strange Spirit in Bailin Lake is dangerous. What if someone else accidentally falls into the water? That's a huge hidden danger!"

Looking at the message, Song Mingyue's bright eyes held a complicated expression. This young man truly took other people's lives to heart.

Song Mingyue found it hard to understand Gao Wu's particular eagerness to help others. Yet at the same time, she could see in him a powerful, surging energy, a blazing passion for life and for the world.

As someone who had benefited from it, she did not approve of Gao Wu meddling in so many matters. But she also envied the intense life force within him.

Just like the short videos Gao Wu filmed, they were always filled with an uplifting energy.

Such a person was truly very charming, and very infectious.

Ever since her mother passed away, Song Mingyue had developed a sense of resistance toward everyone. Only Gao Wu made her feel close to someone. When she was around him, she felt relaxed and at ease.

Song Mingyue quickly replied to Gao Wu's concern. "Only I can resonate with the Strange Spirit. Only I can draw it out of the Void Realm. Even if someone else falls into the water, they won't attract it."

Gao Wu breathed a sigh of relief when he received the reply. Swimming was forbidden in Bailin Lake, but every summer, hordes of students still went there to play in the water.

If a Strange Spirit truly caused trouble there, who knew how many people would die.

But this also meant that his plan to use the Strange Spirit to temper his spiritual power had fallen through.

If he wanted to temper his spiritual power, it seemed he could only do it together with Song Mingyue. Surely she would be willing to keep trying?

Gao Wu was not actually certain about that. Song Mingyue had been in an extremely bad state after contacting the Strange Spirit. Without the support of his Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation, it would not have been strange if she had died on the spot.

With such enormous risks, Song Mingyue might not be willing to try every day.

Never mind. He would ask her again tomorrow. Maybe she would be willing...

Gao Wu did not dwell on it. He injected himself with another Blood Dragon Agent. Before the Flying Squirrel Serum arrived, he needed to digest all ten Blood Dragon Agents as quickly as possible.

Imitation Blood Dragon Agents had severe side effects, but their effects were genuinely excellent. However, the efficacy of the Blood Dragon Agent would definitely continue to diminish.

Like this Blood Dragon Agent: even after injecting the entire dose, Gao Wu only felt heat course through his body. He no longer had that previous feeling of his blood surging and his insides and outsides burning like fire.

Clearly, his body had already developed a resistance to the Blood Dragon Agent.

Even if he injected thirty Blood Dragon Agents, his strength probably would not rise to nine points.

Though he had expected it beforehand, Gao Wu was still somewhat disappointed.

By his calculations, once his strength reached eight points, his punching force would steadily reach one thousand kilograms.

But one thousand kilograms of punching force was only the lower limit for an Advanced Martial Artist. Powerful Advanced Martial Artists could even reach two thousand kilograms...

In truth, a mere ten percent advantage in punching force was enough to open up a gap between two sides. A difference of double meant there was a vast disparity in combat power.

If he could reach nine points of strength, then combined with his formidable physique, he would be enough to reign supreme among the students of Dongjiang Middle School.

Fortunately, he had met Song Mingyue today. He could obtain Flying Squirrel Serum from her, which could greatly improve his speed and reactions.

Gao Wu had originally been quite resistant to using serums. Only after using them did he realize they were truly irresistible.

No wonder so many people knew full well that serums had enormous side effects, yet still pressed forward one after another without retreating.

He had the Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation and was absurdly tough. He should find a way to get some other imitation drugs from his coach...

After using the Blood Dragon Agent, the immediate consequence was extreme hunger. Fortunately, Gao Wu had experience now and had long since ordered a box of energy bars online.

The quality of this small-brand energy bar naturally could not compare to a major brand like Taiji, but it won on price. A box of one hundred cost only a thousand yuan, working out to ten yuan per bar.

He wolfed down more than ten chocolate-flavored energy bars in one breath, the sweetness cloying his throat tight. Then he gulped down more than half a bucket of water before finally feeling full.

While he was in good condition, Gao Wu practiced the Nine Dragon Forms several more times.

Before going to sleep, Gao Wu opened the Boundless Merit Book and found that his Merit was still just over fifty thousand, with almost no increase.

Clearly, the rescue video had run out of traffic. The viewing count for his one-against-five video was even lower, and its efficiency at converting Merit was terrifyingly poor.

As for exercise videos, they probably could not earn Merit at all.

The next morning, Gao Wu went to Bailong Mountain to train as usual. He also used a selfie stick and action camera to film his training.

Even if the videos could not earn Merit, gaining some fame would still be good. Fame meant money, and money could buy all sorts of serums and acquire all kinds of martial arts resources.

After a hundred years of development, the martial arts system had become highly complete and mature. As long as one had enough money, even someone with mediocre talent had a chance of becoming a Warrior.

That evening, Gao Wu decided to go to the Seahorse Buffet Restaurant after all.

He still had more than seventy thousand yuan in hand. At five hundred yuan a day for food, it would be enough to feed him for several months.

The Blood Dragon Agent stimulated the development of his bones and muscles. He had to replenish enough energy and nutrients in order to bring out the medicine's effects completely.

Before Gao Wu had even left the school gates, he received an invitation from Song Mingyue, asking him to have dinner with her.

Gao Wu generally never refused when someone treated him to a meal. That would be too impolite. And since it was Song Mingyue treating him, he could refuse even less.

As her lifesaver, it was perfectly reasonable for him to eat a few meals from Song Mingyue!

When he exited the school gates, he saw that black luxury Pegasus sedan already waiting there. The golden winged Pegasus emblem on its hood gleamed brilliantly, attracting the eyes of countless passersby.

It was Gao Wu's first time riding in a luxury sedan worth millions, and he was quite curious about the exquisite interior.

"Aunt Lan, this is Gao Wu. He was also the one who saved me at Bailin Lake."

Song Mingyue took the initiative to introduce the driver to Gao Wu. "Aunt Lan raised me from childhood. She is the family member closest to me."

Aunt Lan looked to be around forty. Her features were proper, her temperament gentle, and her attire elegant and appropriate. Aunt Lan was quite courteous to Gao Wu, repeatedly thanking him for saving Song Mingyue.

Gao Wu could tell that Aunt Lan was far more sincere than Song Yunhe. The nearly one hundred Merit points that had suddenly appeared in the Boundless Merit Book were the best proof of that.

He could also tell that although Aunt Lan was mild-tempered, she had a composed bearing and a natural rhythm in every movement. She was very likely a formidable Warrior. At the very least, she was stronger than Huang Hai!

Aunt Lan had an extremely favorable impression of Gao Wu. She felt that this young man was sunny and cheerful, open and warm-hearted. He was well suited to be Mingyue's friend, and at the very least could make Mingyue more cheerful.

Along the way, Aunt Lan chatted with Gao Wu, while Song Mingyue barely spoke.

When they arrived, Gao Wu discovered that it was an upscale restaurant called Yunhu Pavilion.

The private room was exquisitely and elegantly decorated, apparently in a traditional Song Dynasty style. This kind of style was not commonly seen in Dongjiang.

Every dish served used ingredients from the Otherworld. Whether vegetables, meat, or even the drinks brewed from Otherworld fruits, all were rich in source energy particles.

There were eight dishes in total, all normal portions. Song Mingyue ate very little, while Aunt Lan did not enter the private room at all. Gao Wu had to force himself to finish all eight dishes, and he was so stuffed that he felt a little uncomfortable.

Only after Gao Wu had finished eating did Song Mingyue say, "You used Blood Dragon Agent, didn't you?"

"Mm." There was nothing to hide. Gao Wu nodded and admitted it.

"Blood Dragon Agent can stimulate the rapid growth of skeletal muscle and tendons. Especially at our age, when we're at the end of our development period, Blood Dragon Agent truly has miraculous effects."

Song Mingyue said softly, "There are thirty million skeletal muscle fibers, four thousand tendons, and two hundred and six bones. Under the stimulation of Blood Dragon Agent, bone density can increase dramatically, while tendons and muscle fibers become tougher and more powerful. Their number can increase by as much as forty percent.

"This includes the blood vessels, heart, and gastrointestinal tract, which are mainly composed of smooth muscle. Blood Dragon Agent can likewise strengthen those smooth muscles."

At this point, she paused and looked deeply at Gao Wu. Though a drug like Blood Dragon Agent was low-grade, its medicinal effects penetrated every part of the human body.

Especially for adolescents, the side effects of Blood Dragon Agent could damage the stability of the body's genes, very easily causing deformities in muscles and bones, which could then trigger deformities in internal organs.

According to investigations, the physical deformities of the overwhelming majority of adolescent Martial Artists were caused by Blood Dragon Agent.

Gao Wu had dared to use Blood Dragon Agent directly without a Neutralizing Agent. That could be called bold. What was miraculous was that his body had not become deformed. Every change had trended in a positive direction, which was extremely impressive.

Perhaps it was precisely this unique talent that allowed Gao Wu to withstand the Strange Spirit's invasion, and even help her dispel the Strange Spirit's cold aura.

"This is a process of rebuilding the body's foundation. It is extremely crucial and extremely dangerous."

Song Mingyue said, "During this process, you absolutely cannot use any other drugs. On the other hand, you must use a cultivation method to guide the changes inside your body as much as possible, allowing those changes to develop in an orderly manner according to the logic of martial arts..."

She asked Gao Wu, "Your cultivation method is the Nine Dragon Forms, right?"

"Yes." Gao Wu was beginning to admire Song Mingyue. Shang Hongyi had once been a source energy Warrior, yet his understanding of Blood Dragon Agent and the body seemed inferior to Song Mingyue's.

"I cultivate the Nine Transformations of the White Snake. It happens to correspond with the Nine Dragon Forms, making us well suited to cultivate together. During this period, we can train together and spar with each other."

Finally, she said, "At night, we can also go together to Bailin Lake to challenge the Strange Spirit and use it to temper our spirits..."