"The Ability Training Method needs no introduction. It's one of the school's only three top-tier Ability Training Methods."
"As for the other one, the Body Tempering Combat Skill Thunder Undying Body, I poured my life's work into it."
"Thunder Martial Hall and Violent Bear Martial Hall both assessed it and rated it S-Rank."
Yang Zhentian spoke slowly, but his words sent a jolt through Xu Jingming.
An S-rank Combat Skill?!
Seventh-Order Metahumans were also known as Grandmasters.
At that level, their understanding of abilities and martial arts had reached extraordinary depths.
They were qualified to create Ability Training Methods or Combat Skills of their own.
Combat Skills were ranked just like abilities, across nine grades: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS.
The higher the grade, the more powerful the skill!
Of course, that also meant it was harder to master!
Most Seventh-Order Grandmasters were doing well if they could create an A-rank Combat Skill.
S-rank Combat Skills and the even higher SS- and SSS-rank ones were the work of Eighth-Order Grandmasters or Ninth-Order Martial Saints!
Yet Yang Zhentian, only at the seventh order, had created an S-rank Combat Skill.
And of all the kinds of Combat Skills, it was a Body Tempering Combat Skill—the most complex kind, delving into the mysteries of the human body!
Yang Zhentian's martial arts talent was frightening!
"Thunder Undying Body is suited only to Lightning Type Metahumans. It has thirteen levels.
"Each time you advance, your physique undergoes a corresponding transformation.
"But even I've only reached the Tenth Level so far.
"The final three levels remain untested.
"Still, I believe that if you master all thirteen, your body can become truly imperishable!"
Yang Zhentian's eyes shone.
Thunder Undying Body embodied everything he understood about martial arts and Lightning Type abilities.
If he could not reach the pinnacle of Martial Sainthood himself, Xu Jingming was his best hope of proving the technique's full potential!
"Also, you must become a Metahuman before you can practice Thunder Undying Body. For now, use the Limit Ability Training Method to advance.
"Once you do, I'll help you lay the foundation for Thunder Undying Body."
Yang Zhentian thought for a moment, then added, "You'll also need to practice Fist Technique."
"Fist Technique?" Xu Jingming hadn't expected that.
"Of course. Once you practice Thunder Undying Body, your physique will grow much stronger.
"Combine that with close-quarters combat skills and your Lightning Type ability, and your fighting strength will soar.
"Besides, weapons are only one way we fight. You can't rely on them too much.
"If a beast destroys your weapon one day, are you going to turn and run just because you've lost it?"
Yang Zhentian continued, offering an example from his own experience:
"Years ago, my fight with an eighth-order Earth-Shaking Demon Python lasted into a second day.
"My spear, forged from SSS-Class alloy, shattered under the prolonged strain.
"Even my Lightning Type ability was nearly drained. On the final day, I had to rely on my body and my fists to kill it."
Yang Zhentian's tone was calm, but Xu Jingming could imagine how brutal that battle had been.
He nodded thoughtfully.
It was true. Learning more ways to fight could only help.
"Of course, I'll teach you Spear Technique at the same time.
"Once you've reached a certain level with both your fists and your spear, I'll teach you to use a saber and a sword as well," Yang Zhentian added.
"Teacher, may I ask how skilled you are with all those weapons?" Xu Jingming asked curiously.
"My Fist Technique and Spear Technique are both Grandmaster-level. My saber and sword skills are a little weaker—only Grandmaster-level."
Yang Zhentian said it casually, but Xu Jingming's heart skipped a beat.
Weapon proficiency had six levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced, master, grandmaster, and perfection.
For an ordinary Metahuman, raising just one weapon skill to the advanced level could take decades!
They might spend their entire life trying to reach the master level and still fail.
The higher realms of grandmaster and perfection were more elusive still.
Yet not only had Yang Zhentian reached grandmaster level with his fists and spear, he had also reached master level with other weapons...
"I only began studying other weapons because I could no longer improve my Fist Technique or Spear Technique. You've got a long way to go."
Seeing that Xu Jingming seemed a little overwhelmed, Yang Zhentian laughed. "During university, you only need to focus on Fist Technique and Spear Technique.
"Your Combat Skills should center on those two as well. Remember, don't take on more than you can handle."
"I understand, Teacher."
Xu Jingming nodded.
With the system at his disposal, he only needed to spend Ability Points to raise his weapon proficiency.
Even so, mastery mattered more than variety.
With limited Ability Points, specializing in one weapon was clearly the better choice.
I'll follow Teacher's advice and focus on Fist Technique and Spear Technique first.
Having made up his mind, Xu Jingming took a list from Yang Zhentian. It recorded the Combat Skills he needed to learn next.
All he had to do was find their manuals in the Library and study them.
Xu Jingming couldn't help feeling grateful.
Having a mentor to guide him really did make a difference.
On his own, he could never have worked out such a detailed study plan.
More than ten minutes later, Xu Jingming left the villa with plenty to show for his visit.
At the entrance, he ran into Tan Mingyang, who had also just come out of a villa.
The smile Tan Mingyang had worn earlier was gone. Only bitterness remained.
It looked like his latest attempt to find a mentor had failed.
Xu Jingming tactfully refrained from asking. He simply greeted Tan Mingyang and prepared to leave.
"Senior Tan, I'll be going."
"Wait. How did your meeting go? Did you succeed?"
Tan Mingyang asked as though grasping at a lifeline.
But instead of giving him the answer he wanted, Xu Jingming nodded.
"You actually succeeded?!"
Tan Mingyang's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Dean-level mentors generally did not take disciples before the Freshman Competition.
So what was going on?
Could he really be the Principal's son? They don't look alike, though.
Watching Xu Jingming walk away, Tan Mingyang, who had failed several times himself, sank into endless self-doubt...
Meanwhile, Xu Jingming returned to his villa and went straight to the second-floor training room.
Both floors of the student villa had identical rooms.
Besides the training room and bedroom, there was a shower room, a media room, a study, and his favorite—an open-air balcony.
Compared with Teacher Yang Zhentian's, this training room was a little smaller, only around eighty square meters.
It was more than enough for routine training, though.
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 far more profound.
It took Xu Jingming over four hours to understand the whole book.
Then he closed his eyes and followed its instructions, sensing the special energy that existed between heaven and earth.
Before long, countless white specks of light appeared within the range of his perception.
They were packed together, vast as a sea.
That was the special energy known as Origin Energy. Only by absorbing it could he transform his ability.
"No wonder it's a top-tier Ability Training Method. I can sense so much more Origin Energy than I could with an intermediate one!"
Xu Jingming's face lit up, and he opened his eyes.
Since he could sense Origin Energy with the top-tier method, he knew he was practicing it correctly.
There was no need to work through the training step by step now. He could spend points and advance directly.
"Deep Blue!"
At his silent summons, a pale-blue system panel appeared in his mind:
Name: Xu Jingming Level: Awakener (+) Ability: Purple Heaven Divine Lightning (S) Physique: 186 Blood Qi (+) Spirit: 187 Hz (+) Skills: Spear Technique (Advanced+), Lightning Gale Slash (Advanced+) Ability Points: 2534
"Add points!"
Without hesitation, Xu Jingming selected the plus sign beside his level.
The next instant,
Origin Energy from the surrounding air poured into Xu Jingming at a terrifying speed.
It circulated automatically according to the Limit Ability Training Method, steadily strengthening his ability, physique, and spirit!
Only when he broke through a certain threshold did the flow gradually slow to a stop.
Level: Awakener → First-Order Low-Rank Metahuman
"Whew. I broke through."
Xu Jingming clenched his fist slightly. He could feel several times as much power within him as before!
More importantly, his ability had grown stronger too!
"Purple Heaven Divine Lightning!"
At his low shout, blue-violet lightning appeared around Xu Jingming with a piercing crackle.
Compared with before his advancement, the bolts were noticeably thicker and their color deeper.
"If I ran into that second-order Bloodthirsty Tyrant Bear again, I probably wouldn't even need my spear. My lightning alone could kill it."
Watching the blue-violet lightning dance across his fingertips, Xu Jingming nodded in satisfaction.
With his advancement complete, he had finally taken his first step toward the pinnacle of Metahumans...
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