Advancement! First-Order Metahuman!

"The Ability Training Method goes without saying—it is one of the school's only three top-tier Ability Training Methods."

"As for the other Body Tempering Combat Skill, the Thunder Undying Body, it embodies my life's work."

"Certified by both the Thunder Martial Hall and the Violent Bear Martial Hall, it has been rated S-rank."

Yang Zhentian spoke slowly, but Xu Jingming's heart jolted at his words.

An S-rank Combat Skill?!

Seventh-Order Metahumans were also known as Grandmasters.

This was because Metahumans at this level possessed an extremely profound understanding of abilities and martial arts.

They were qualified to create their own Ability Training Methods or Combat Skills.

Combat Skills were likewise graded, following the same system as abilities: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SS-rank—a total of nine ranks.

The higher the rank, the greater the Combat Skill's power!

Naturally, the difficulty of cultivation increased accordingly!

Most Seventh-Order Grandmasters were already impressive if they could create an A-rank Combat Skill.

S-rank Combat Skills and the SS- and SS-rank Combat Skills above them were all created by Eighth-Order Grandmasters or Ninth-Order Martial Saints!

Yet Yang Zhentian, who was merely Seventh-Order, had created an S-rank Combat Skill.

And among the many types of Combat Skills, it was even a Body Tempering Combat Skill, the most intricate kind and one that involved the mysteries of the human body!

It had to be said that Yang Zhentian's martial talent was frighteningly high!

"The Thunder Undying Body is suitable only for Lightning Type Metahumans. It has thirteen levels in total.

"With every breakthrough, your physique will undergo a corresponding transformation.

"Even I have only cultivated it to the Tenth Level so far.

"The final three levels have yet to be verified.

"However, according to my estimates, once it is cultivated to completion, the physique can truly achieve eternal indestructibility!"

Yang Zhentian's eyes gleamed.

The Thunder Undying Body contained all of his understanding of martial arts and Lightning Type abilities.

If he could not one day reach the pinnacle of the Martial Saint realm, then Xu Jingming would be his greatest hope for verifying this technique!

"Also, the Thunder Undying Body can only be cultivated after you become a Metahuman. For now, use the Limit Ability Training Method to advance.

"After you advance, I'll help you lay the foundation for the Thunder Undying Body."

Yang Zhentian pondered for a moment before adding, "Also, you need to practice Fist Technique."

"Practice Fist Technique?" Xu Jingming had not expected that.

"Of course. Once you cultivate the Thunder Undying Body, your physique will greatly improve.

"Combined with close-quarters combat techniques and Lightning Type abilities, your combat power will rise enormously.

"Besides, weapons are only one of our means of fighting. You cannot rely on them too heavily.

"If one day your weapon is destroyed while fighting a ferocious beast, are you going to turn and run for your life just because you no longer have a weapon?"

Yang Zhentian spoke at length, giving a real example.

"Back then, I fought an Eighth-Order Earth-Shaking Demon Python until the second day.

"My spear, forged from SS-rank alloy, shattered outright under the prolonged extreme strain.

"Even my Lightning Type ability was nearly drained dry. On the final day, I relied on nothing but my body and Fist Technique to complete the final kill."

Yang Zhentian's tone was calm, but Xu Jingming could imagine just how brutal that battle had been.

At the same time, he nodded thoughtfully.

Indeed, there was no harm in learning more methods of combat.

"Of course, I'll teach you spear techniques at the same time.

"Once your Fist Technique and spear techniques reach a certain level of proficiency, I'll also teach you how to use battle blades and longswords," Yang Zhentian continued.

"Teacher, may I ask what level of proficiency you've reached in all these techniques?" Xu Jingming asked curiously.

"My Fist Technique and spear techniques are both Grandmaster-level. As for blade and sword techniques, they're somewhat weaker—only Grandmaster-level."

Yang Zhentian's tone was utterly casual, but Xu Jingming's heart skipped a beat upon hearing it.

Technique proficiency was divided into six levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced, master, grandmaster, and perfection.

For ordinary Metahumans, merely raising a single weapon technique to advanced level could take decades!

They might spend their entire lives without ever reaching master level.

As for the even higher realms of grandmaster and perfection, they were even more mysterious and elusive.

Yet Yang Zhentian had not only brought his Fist Technique and spear techniques to Grandmaster-level—he had also reached Grandmaster-level in his other weapon techniques...

"I only began studying other weapons because my Fist Technique and spear techniques could no longer improve. As for you, you're still far from that point."

Seeing that Xu Jingming seemed somewhat stunned, Yang Zhentian laughed. "During university, you only need to focus on Fist Technique and spear techniques.

"Your Combat Skill studies should also revolve mainly around those two areas. Remember: don't bite off more than you can chew."

"Teacher, I understand."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Although he had the system panel and only needed to spend Ability Points to raise his weapon proficiency,

weapons were not about quantity, but refinement.

With his Ability Points limited, specializing in a single weapon was clearly the better choice.

I'll follow Teacher's advice and focus on Fist Technique and spear techniques first.

Xu Jingming thought silently.

Yang Zhentian then handed him a list that recorded the names of the Combat Skills Xu Jingming needed to learn next.

He only needed to go to the Library, find the Combat Skill manuals, and study them.

Xu Jingming could not help but sigh inwardly.

Sure enough, having a mentor's guidance was much better.

Without one, he could never have mapped out such a detailed training path by himself.

More than ten minutes later, Xu Jingming left the villa, feeling richly rewarded.

However, at the entrance, he ran into Tan Mingyang, who had also just left the villa.

The smile Tan Mingyang had worn earlier was gone, replaced only by bitterness.

It seemed that his attempt to take a master had still failed.

Xu Jingming did not tactlessly ask about the result. He merely greeted him briefly and prepared to leave.

"Senior Tan, I'm heading out."

"Wait. How did your attempt go? Did you succeed?"

As though grasping at a lifeline, Tan Mingyang asked.

However, not only did Xu Jingming fail to give him the answer he wanted, he nodded.

"You really succeeded?!"

Tan Mingyang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Dean-level mentors generally did not accept disciples before the Freshman Competition.

What was going on now?

"Could he really be the Principal's son? But they don't look alike..."

Watching the retreating figure, Tan Mingyang, after suffering several failures, fell into endless self-doubt...

Meanwhile, Xu Jingming returned to his villa and headed straight to the Training Room on the second floor.

The rooms on both floors of the student villa had identical layouts.

Besides the Training Room and bedroom, there was also a shower room, media room, study, and his favorite open-air balcony.

Compared with Yang Zhentian's Training Room, this one was a little smaller, only around eighty square meters.

Still, it was more than sufficient for ordinary training.

Xu Jingming sat cross-legged on the floor, opened the Limit Ability Training Method, and began reading.

Compared with the intermediate Abyssal Sea Ability Training Method, this top-tier Limit Ability Training Method was obviously far more profound.

It took Xu Jingming more than four hours to fully grasp the entire book.

He then closed his eyes and began sensing the special energy that existed between heaven and earth according to the method recorded in the Limit Ability Training Method.

Before long, numerous white points of light appeared within his range of perception.

They were densely packed, as vast as a sea.

That was the special energy known as Origin Energy. Only by absorbing it into one's body could one's ability undergo transformation.

"As expected of a top-tier Ability Training Method. It can sense far more Origin Energy than an intermediate Ability Training Method!"

Xu Jingming's face lit up with delight, and he immediately opened his eyes.

Since the top-tier Ability Training Method could sense Origin Energy, that proved there was no problem with his cultivation.

There was no need to cultivate step by step from here on. He could directly add points and advance.

"Deep Blue!"

With a quiet call in his heart, the pale-blue system panel appeared in his mind:

Name: Xu Jingming

Level: Awakened (+)

Ability: Purple Heaven Divine Lightning (S)

Physique: 186 Qi-Blood (+)

Spirit: 187 Hz (+)

Skills: Spear Technique (Advanced +), Lightning Gale Slash (Advanced +)

Ability Points: 2534

"Add points!"

Without hesitation, Xu Jingming tapped the plus sign after his level.

The next moment,

Origin Energy in the surrounding air poured into Xu Jingming's body at an incomparably terrifying speed.

It automatically circulated according to the cultivation method recorded in the Limit Ability Training Method, continuously strengthening his ability, physique, and spirit!

Only when it broke through a certain boundary did it gradually come to a halt.

Level: Awakened → First-Order Low-Rank Metahuman

"Whew, I broke through."

Xu Jingming lightly clenched his fist and could feel that the power contained within his body was several times greater than before!

More importantly, his ability had also been strengthened!

"Purple Heaven Divine Lightning!"

With a low shout, accompanied by the piercing crackle of leaping electric arcs, blue-violet lightning appeared around Xu Jingming.

Compared with before his advancement, the Purple Heaven Divine Lightning was clearly much thicker, and its color had deepened as well.

"If I ran into that Second-Order Bloodthirsty Tyrant Bear again, I probably wouldn't even need to use my spear. My lightning alone could kill it."

Xu Jingming looked at the blue-violet lightning dancing across his fingertips and nodded in satisfaction.

With his advancement complete, he had finally taken his first step toward the pinnacle of Metahumans...