Absorbing Resources, Mental Power Surges!

"I wonder how much I'll improve this time."

Chen Ming felt a surge of excitement.

The [Azure Flame Flowing Fire] alone had already given him a significant taste of its benefits.

And that was merely the flowing fire formed from a single wisp of azure flame that had fallen from the night sky of that valley.

The molten fire he had swallowed, however, was azure flame already condensed into a liquid state!

It was a rare resource formed only after that Giant Wolf, a beast above level 40, had exhaled mysterious Moonlight Essence countless times.

The gap between the two was undoubtedly massive.

"If I can fill the deep pool of absorbed elemental energy, I'll be able to awaken a mental skill right now."

Chen Ming allowed himself a moment of anticipation.

He had already pushed himself to this extent; if he still couldn't perfect the process of 'absorbing elemental energy before reaching 21%,' then there was truly nothing more to be done.

Chen Ming exhaled, the air in the room turning scorching hot.

He could feel the elemental energy within his body swelling, becoming increasingly intense.

His body felt like a pressure cooker at this moment, frantically containing all that energy.

Fortunately, his 'pressure cooker' didn't mind the pressure...

Otherwise, such a violent baptism would have likely destroyed his internal organs.

Chen Ming closed his eyes slightly, forcing himself into as calm a state as possible.

Soon, he felt as if he were being pulled by some unseen force.

His consciousness sank deep into his body.

Before him lay a small, confined area, surrounded by a hazy, misty void.

"Is this... my mental space?"

Chen Ming looked at his surroundings.

This was the mental space he had opened up when his mental power broke through the 20% threshold.

Inside, he could still see various resources he had collected.

But the most eye-catching object was a special little orb suspended in the space.

[Azure Flame True Core]: ???

This was a mysterious item Chen Ming had discovered while stealing the azure flame and Moonlight Essence resources from the pool in the depression.

The fact that it couldn't be inspected meant it was beyond the range of Chen Ming's mental detection.

It was just like how his 20% mental power couldn't inspect the information of a class-transferred individual above level 40.

However, Chen Ming estimated that this was also a rare resource.

Just looking at the names... Flowing Fire, Molten Fire, True Core.

If viewed by their states, wasn't it just the sublimation from gaseous to liquid to solid?

This was also the reason he felt confident he could achieve 'perfection' this time.

Chen Ming then began to focus on absorbing the Azure Flame Molten Fire.

Once his consciousness entered the mental space, he seemed to cut off his external senses.

However, his perception of the elemental energy accumulated within his body became even clearer.

In the room, Chen Ming's body began to change.

His skin, previously red as a branding iron, gradually cooled, and the scorching aura retracted.

At the same time, a blurred light intertwined outside his body, as if he were shrouded in a layer of smooth, flowing air—a truly astonishing sight.

Inside the mental space.

Chen Ming had just finished absorbing a portion of the elemental energy and his consciousness returned from its deep state.

[Mental Power +50!]

"Hiss..."

"This is working!"

Chen Ming was thrilled.

The effect of the Azure Flame Molten Fire had even exceeded his expectations!

He had only absorbed a small fraction, yet it had directly added 50 points to his mental power.

If he absorbed the rest, wouldn't that add several hundred points of mental power?

That was equivalent to leveling up several times over!

His mental power was skyrocketing!

One must know that the function of rare resources is to awaken skills; attribute bonuses are merely incidental.

Even the incidental bonuses could reach several hundred points of mental power, so its "primary function" would certainly have an even better effect.

And the progress of the process that Chen Ming could perceive had also increased by a significant margin!

By his estimation, it was roughly around 10%...

"Continue!"

Chen Ming was incredibly invigorated.

He calmed his mind and began to focus on absorbing the attribute energy of the Azure Flame Molten Fire.

[Mental Power +50!]

Progress 22%...

While Chen Ming was immersed in the absorption of mental resources.

On the other side.

At the city border.

A giant Metal Crow carrying four figures pierced through the clouds and returned to the border.

The four were none other than the Inspector and the three principals who had rushed back from the Exotic Beast Forest.

However...

At this moment, the appearance of several of them was somewhat less than composed.

Especially the principals, whose auras were chaotic and who bore bloodstains on their bodies.

It was clear they had already been wounded.

"Cough, cough--"

Principal Wu's clothes were disheveled, and he clutched his chest, coughing violently.

"What on earth was wrong with that Pale Moon Wolf King? It acted as if someone had suddenly cut off its manhood!"

Back in that valley, they had already been prepared to retreat.

As a result, that Pale Moon Wolf King acted as if it had suddenly caught rabies, charging over to fight them.

It even used life-risking moves, launching extremely violent attacks.

It was as if it had encountered an irreconcilable, mortal enemy.

Judging by that stance, it was prepared to fight them to the death.

The most critical part was that they wanted to leave, but the Pale Moon Wolf King wouldn't allow it.

If they attempted to flee directly, the wolf king would pounce toward the direction of Cloud Sea City.

After the Inspector noticed this, he ordered them to cooperate in battle to suppress the wolf king.

Thus, they had no choice but to fight.

Several people of advanced age were forced into a heart-stopping, thrilling battle.

Fortunately, with the Inspector present, they eventually beat the Pale Moon Wolf King into a state of severe injury, forcing it to flee.

Otherwise, their old bones would have been in real trouble.

"Pah!"

Principal Wang spat out a mouthful of tainted blood, his expression somewhat gloomy.

In this battle, he was the one who had suffered the most severe injuries.

That Pale Moon Wolf King seemed to hold a particular grudge against him, specifically targeting him!

Damn it, wasn't it just taking a wisp of Azure Flame?

Although that wisp of Azure Flame was precious, to a level 49 Pale Moon Wolf King, it shouldn't even have been enough to fill the gaps in its teeth.

Was it really necessary to hunt him down and bite him?

It was as if he had stolen its entire household.

"In the coming days, the defense of Cloud Sea City must be strengthened; the wolf king may return."

"The higher-ups have already sent word; the reinforcements will arrive in Cloud Sea City before long."

The Inspector reminded them.

He gazed toward the direction of the Exotic Beast Forest, his cold, stern face devoid of any extra expression.

"Also, regarding the Cloud Sea City assessment mentioned previously, you may begin the arrangements."

Hearing this, the expressions of the several principals shifted.

Principal Wang looked at the Inspector, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked tentatively:

"My lord, I wonder in what manner this special assessment will be conducted?"

Up ahead.

The Inspector stood on the head of the Metal Crow, his cloak snapping in the wind.

"Selection."