Xu Xin

Cao Bing and Feng Yuzi left, officially taking up residence in the Zhendong Royal Mansion.

On the day Cao Bing and Feng Yuzi began studying, Cao Bing dispelled the effects of the "Bone-Shifting Skill" and returned to his original appearance.

Although Cao Bing had moved into the Zhendong Royal Mansion with Feng Yuzi, and everyone treated him with friendly expressions as if he were an honored guest, Qin De and the others still did not lower their guard against him.

By Cao Bing's instincts, at least three experts were keeping watch near his residence. Other than when he went to Feng Yuzi's courtyard, those people were always there.

Cao Bing did not mind. After all, he was a man of unknown origins. If Qin De, a formidable figure like him, could be put at ease by a few benefits alone, then Cao Bing would truly be underestimating him. Still, he and Qin Yu had gotten along quite well during this time.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.

Cao Bing had gained enormously during this period.

Although he had not learned any techniques from Feng Yuzi's sect, he had read many books on immortal cultivation through him and learned quite a few things about cultivation from Feng Yuzi.

The basics of pill refinement, basic medicinal principles, the foundations of formations, the foundations of artifact forging—whenever Cao Bing asked, Feng Yuzi answered without holding anything back.

Of course, what made Cao Bing happiest was that, under Feng Yuzi's guidance, his internal energy cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. In addition, Qin De had kept his word and generously gifted him three advanced martial arts manuals.

One was the internal energy manual, the "Pure Yang Canon"; one was an advanced saber technique; and the last was a decent movement technique. Cao Bing's collection of manuals had successfully been upgraded.

Over these ten days, Cao Bing had not yet reached the Houtian Peak, but he estimated that it would not take much longer.

What surprised Cao Bing most, however, was Zhao Yunxing, that middle-aged man in his forties.

Logically speaking, at his age, his physical functions and cellular vitality should no longer have been at their peak, leaving him with limited cultivation potential.

Yet once he truly began cultivating, Zhao Yunxing stunned Cao Bing. In just two days, he successfully cultivated the "Gene Primal Energy Cultivation Method." During his very first session, his strength increased by a full 1,800 jin.

His strength immediately soared to the Intermediate Warrior stage.

Cao Bing's jaw nearly dropped.

And his subsequent cultivation was not slow either. By Cao Bing's estimate, Zhao Yunxing would likely reach the Warrior General level within two years.

When Qin De undergoes his tribulation, the Wu Family brothers will probably be in for quite a shock. I really want to see their expressions then. Cao Bing chuckled maliciously to himself.

It's time to return to Devouring Starry Sky. The internal energy cultivation over there needs an upgrade too!

Night had fallen outside. As usual, Cao Bing lay down on his bed.

But his consciousness passed through the point of light and left this body.

XXXXX

Devouring Starry Sky World

Today, Cao Bing was not sweating away in the training room as usual.

Today was the day he had agreed to enter the wilderness with the Divine Arrow Squad. Early that morning, Cao Bing took the train to the HR Alliance Mall in the main urban district.

"Cao Bing?" The moment he stepped into the skyscraper, a crisp female voice called out to him in apparent delight.

Cao Bing turned around in confusion and saw a beautiful woman in professional attire standing behind him.

"Xu Xin?" Cao Bing's gaze froze when he saw her. But he quickly recalled that Xu Xin was the eldest daughter of the Xu Family within the HR Alliance. She should have been interning here, gaining experience in managing the family business, so it was not strange for her to be here.

But Xu Xin seemed to be that kid Luo Feng's secret crush.

"It really is you. I didn't expect to run into you here." Xu Xin smiled. However, seeing the exhaustion on his face, she assumed he had been working for quite some time.

"As a Martial Artist, it's not strange for me to come here, is it?" Cao Bing said with a smile.

Xu Xin paused, but quickly figured out how to continue. "Then congratulations! But you became a Martial Artist without telling any of us. None of us even knew."

"Haha, I've just been busy." Cao Bing gave an embarrassed laugh. Aside from Luo Feng, Wei Wen, and a few others, no one knew he had become a Martial Artist. His relationship with his high school classmates had actually been rather distant, so he had not told any of them.

"That makes sense. You're such a busy man. Back in school, you were always skipping class to go to the martial arts hall." Xu Xin smiled.

"Could you stop exposing me?" Cao Bing rubbed his nose, feeling embarrassed again. Why had he never noticed that Xu Xin was so good at talking before? It seemed workplace experience really did make a person different from before.

"By the way, Xu Xin, did you know that Luo Feng became a Martial Artist too?" Cao Bing suddenly asked.

"Luo Feng?" Xu Xin hesitated slightly before replying, "I know."

"Want to hear a secret?" Cao Bing suddenly lowered his voice and spoke to Xu Xin in a mysterious tone.

"What?" Xu Xin furrowed her brows slightly, not understanding.

"Luo Feng has a crush on you!" Cao Bing leaned close to Xu Xin's ear and suddenly dropped that line before turning to leave. He had already spotted his teammates from the Divine Arrow Squad.

"We'll talk later. My teammates are here."

Yet Xu Xin did not hear anything he said afterward. The moment she heard Cao Bing say that "Luo Feng has a crush on you," she was completely stunned. Her face flushed red with shyness, and there was even a hint of anticipation.

Who knew what was going through her mind.

It took Xu Xin a long while to recover, but by then Cao Bing had already disappeared. She could only stomp her foot twice in annoyance before hurrying away.

"Little Cao, over here!" Song Shengnan stood and waved both hands at Cao Bing.

"Sister Song, Uncle Yan, Uncle Xie, hello, everyone!" Cao Bing jogged over to the squad and greeted them one by one.

"Little Cao's here. Everyone's been waiting for you!" Guan Yong said with a cheerful smile.

"By the way, Little Cao, I just saw you chatting with a beautiful woman. Are you interested in her?" Even Song Shengnan, a Warrior General level Martial Artist, could not escape a woman's natural love of gossip. She leaned toward Cao Bing and asked curiously.

"Don't say things like that, Sister Song." Cao Bing hurriedly smiled bitterly. "She's my friend's girlfriend, and also my high school classmate. We just happened to run into each other and chatted for a bit." Cao Bing gave a half-true, half-false bitter smile. In truth, Luo Feng and Xu Xin were not even close to being together yet.

"Then when are you going to find yourself a girlfriend, Little Cao? If you don't have anyone, Sister Song can introduce you to one. I know quite a few wonderful girls." Song Shengnan began teasing Cao Bing, sounding as though she was seriously about to introduce him to a girlfriend.

Cao Bing's expression immediately turned awkward. He quickly explained that he only wanted to focus on cultivation right now and had no interest in dating.

Instead, this earned him another round after round of roaring laughter from the squad members, leaving Cao Bing deeply embarrassed and helpless.

Fortunately, they did not chat for long. After casually eating something, they prepared to head for the wilderness. They still had to gather supplies later, so they did not have much time to rest.