Long Rainbow of True Qi, Shadows on Campus

It was late at night, in the basement of a completely abandoned chemical plant on the outskirts of Jinling City.

Dongfang Yueming sat cross-legged on a dusty cement slab, surrounded by an invisible barrier of true energy that isolated all smells and sounds.

In front of him were several jade slips that he had "traded" from two martial arts university instructors.

"It's time to advance my cultivation to the Qi Gathering Realm."

Dongfang Yueming picked up the jade slip containing another Yellow Grade Qi Gathering Method and placed it on his forehead.

[Ding! Learned the "Blazing Sun Qi Gathering Art" (Yellow Grade) (0/180, Not Yet Entry)!]

"System, Point Allocation to Perfection!"

[Ding! Consumed 180 points, advanced to the first level of Qi Gathering!]

[Ding! Consumed 600 points, "Blazing Sun Qi Gathering Art" has advanced to Qi Gathering Perfection!]

With a series of rapid system notifications, the true energy within Dongfang Yueming's body, which had originally been as clear as a spring, instantly became scorching hot.

"Merge!"

With a thought, Dongfang Yueming clashed the newly Perfection "Blazing Sun Qi Gathering Art" with the "Origin-Returning Qi Gathering Method" he had previously learned in the Han Family's secret vault.

[Ding! Fusion successful! Obtained the Profound Grade Qi Gathering Method - "Primordial Blazing Sun Art" (Perfection)!]

"Boom!"

The instant this Profound Grade Qi Gathering Method was born, Dongfang Yueming felt a sudden, throbbing pain in his dantian. Immediately afterward, the pool of true qi expanded more than tenfold! The liquid true qi surged and roared wildly through the wide meridians like a river bursting its banks, producing a thunderous sound like the ocean tide!

[Middle-Tier Perfection: Qi Surges Like a Tide!]

The true energy was inexhaustible and continuous. Dongfang Yueming could even feel that a casual palm strike from him could generate a massive wave of energy.

But he was not satisfied with that.

He picked up the most precious Profound Grade Qi Gathering Method Jade Slip again.

[Ding! You have learned the "Heavenly Dipper Qi Gathering Great Method" (Profound Grade) (0/360, Not Yet Entry)!]

"Consumables have indeed doubled, but it doesn't matter."

"Point Allocation! Max it out!"

[Ding! 360 points consumed, advancing to the first level of Qi Gathering!]

[Ding! 540 points consumed...]

[Ding! Consumed 1200 points, "Heavenly Dipper Qi Gathering Great Method" has advanced to Qi Gathering Perfection!]

"Now, the moment of witnessing a miracle has arrived."

Dongfang Yueming's eyes sharpened as he once again merged the "Primordial Blazing Sun Art" (Profound Grade) within his body with the newly Perfection "Heavenly Dipper Qi Gathering Great Method" (Profound Grade)!

"Buzz--!!!"

At the moment of fusion, the ruins within a ten-zhang radius around Dongfang Yueming seemed to lose gravity, with countless pebbles and dust floating in mid-air!

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Fusion successful!]

[Obtained Earth Grade Qi Gathering Technique - "Taixu Heavenly Dipper Qi Gathering Art" (Perfection)!]

"Whoosh!"

A dazzling, solidified beam of true energy, as thick as an arm, shot directly from the top of Dongfang Yueming's head, even piercing a deep, unfathomable hole in the ceiling of the basement!

This true energy was no longer confined within his body, but rather Body Penetration forth, transforming into a magnificent yet deadly rainbow that swirled around him!

[Upper-Tier Perfection: Qi Transforms into a Long Rainbow]!

"Hoo..." Dongfang Yueming slowly exhaled a breath of white air as sharp as a sword, feeling his whole body filled with the power to tear everything apart.

After stabilizing his cultivation level, he turned his attention to the remaining four Xuan -Profound Grade Qi Technique.

[Ding! Learned the Azure Cloud Heaven-Covering Palm (Profound Grade) (0/24, Not Yet Entry)!]

[Ding! Learned the Great Might Dragon Fist (Profound Grade) (0/24, Not Yet Entry)!]

[Ding! Learned the Azure Cloud Sure-Kill Sword (Profound Grade) (0/24, Not Yet Entry)!]

[Ding! Learned the Great Might Dragon Seal (Profound Grade) (0/24, Not Yet Entry)!]

"All Point Allocation Perfection!"

[Ding! 1824 points consumed, all four Profound Grade Qi Technique Perfection!]

As points were deducted, the four Profound Grade Profound Truth instantly became clear in Dongfang Yueming's Sea of Consciousness.

"Begin fusion!"

"Merge the Azure Cloud Heaven-Covering Palm with the Great Might Dragon Fist!"

[Ding! Fusion successful! Obtained Earth Grade Qi Technique - "Great Wilderness Azure Cloud Heaven-Shattering Hand" (Perfection)!]

[Ding! You have mastered the ultimate Earth Grade Qi Technique - [Covering the Heavens with One Hand] (Active: True Qi transforms into a gigantic hand that covers an extremely large area, forcibly sealing off and crushing all energy and matter within the area)!]

"Then I'll fuse the Great Might Dragon Seal with my previous Purple Nether Lightning Seal!"

[Ding! Fusion successful! Obtained Earth Grade Qi Technique - "Purple Extreme Heavenly Might Dragon King Seal" (Perfection)!]

[Ding! You have mastered the Earth Grade Qi Technique - [Lightning Dragon Destroys the World] (Active: Summons a Purple Thunder Dragon imbued with heavenly might, causing a wide-range, devastating thunderstorm attack with an extremely powerful soul-shaking effect)!]

Having acquired two Earth Grade Qi Technique and Ultimate Skills in succession, Dongfang Yueming was in high spirits.

"System, bring up the control panel."

[Character: Dongfang Yueming]

[Physical Realm: Blood Transformation Realm (Perfection) (Top Level: Rebirth from a Drop of Blood)]

[True Qi Realm: Qi Gathering Realm (Perfection) (Superior: Qi Transforms into a Long Rainbow)]

[Physical Cultivation Technique: The Chaos Indestructible True Dragon Body (Heaven Grade)]

[True Qi Cultivation Technique: Taixu Heavenly Dipper Qi Gathering Art (Earth Grade)]

[Blood Skills: Taixu Extreme Ice Sword Scripture (Heaven Grade), Chaos Heaven-Opening Prison-Subduing Great Compassion Seal (Heaven Grade), the Horizon Within Reach Distance-Free Step (Heaven Grade), Xukong Formless Concealment (Heaven Grade)]

[Qi Technique: Great Wilderness Azure Cloud Heaven-Shattering Hand (Earth Grade), Purple Extreme Heavenly Might Dragon King Seal (Earth Grade), Exhale Qi into Arrows (Yellow Grade), Azure Cloud Sure-Kill Sword (Profound Grade), Illusion-Breaking Void Pupils (Yellow Grade)]

[Points:999,999,977,467]

Looking at the dazzlingly gorgeous control panel, Dongfang Yueming nodded in satisfaction.

"Buzz--"

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Dongfang Yueming took out his phone; it was a mass text message from the Jinling Martial University administration office:

[Important Notice: To strengthen exchanges with top universities, our school will select a group of outstanding students to audit classes at Demon Capital Martial University for six months. Interested students should submit their applications to the Academic Affairs Office tomorrow...]

A glint of light flashed in Dongfang Yueming's eyes as he read the message.

"Demon Capital Martial University..."

"Those two instructors just said that the methods for the Meridian Opening Realm are only the core inheritance in top martial arts universities like those in Demon Capital and Capital. I've already squeezed almost all the resources out of Jinling City, this newbie village."

"Now that I have a legitimate opportunity to go to Demon Capital, how can I miss it?"

Having made up his mind, Dongfang Yueming put away his phone, and with a flicker of his figure, disappeared into the basement.

Late at night, Jinling Martial University.

Moonlight spilled across the quiet campus, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

Dongfang Yueming strolled along the tree-lined paths of the campus without deliberately activating any concealment techniques.

He looked up at the familiar teaching building and couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

"Who would have thought that just a few days ago, the original owner of this body was just a commoner student struggling at the Fifth Level of Blood Nourishing, worrying about a few tens of thousands of Federal Credits?"

Now, he is one of the few, if not the most powerful, experts in Jinling City at the Qi Gathering Realm Perfection! He possesses four Heaven Grade Blood Techniques and Earth Grade True Qi protecting his body, allowing him to create clouds and rain with a flick of his wrist.

"However, the darkness hidden in this world is far deeper than I imagined. Simply Qi Gathering is far from enough."

As Dongfang Yueming's thoughts wandered, he walked to a secluded grove of trees on the back hill of the school.

His steps suddenly paused slightly.

With [Illusion-Breaking Void Pupils] activated, he saw two figures through the gaps in the leaves.

One of them was a middle-aged man with a large belly and a bald head; he was Vice Principal Liu of Jinling Martial University, who was in charge of student files and overseas internships.

The other person was dressed in a sharp black Zhongshan suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and exuding an extremely subtle yet profound aura of true energy.

This man was none other than Judge, a senior investigator for the Night Watchers.

"Principal Liu, things haven't been peaceful in Jinling City lately. You've probably heard about the Xiahou Family and Han Family ' affairs." The Judge pushed up his glasses, his tone calm yet exuding the authority of a superior.

Vice Principal Liu took out a handkerchief and kept wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, his face plastered with an extremely obsequious, even humble, smile.

"I've heard, I've heard! Rest assured, sir, no matter how chaotic things are outside, Jinling Martial University will absolutely continue to steadfastly cooperate with the ' Night Watchers's ' great operation!"

"The files of those students from underprivileged backgrounds, their blood types, physical examination reports, and maps of their field training routes... I will send them to your people on time and confidentially through special channels!"

Vice Principal Liu patted his chest and made a solemn promise, even bending his back at a ninety-degree angle.

Upon hearing these words, a terrifying killing intent flashed in Dongfang Yueming's eyes, who was hiding in the shadows!

"I see!"

Dongfang Yueming sneered inwardly.

He had always found it strange how those cannibalistic Variants from the Xiahou Family and Han Family could so accurately target those common martial artists with no background and no one to rely on, and how they managed to deliver their so-called "opportunities" right to them.

It turns out, the biggest inside man was none other than himself!

These very same high-ranking officials at Wuhan University, who should be role models for students and protect them, are parasites in the Ministry of Education. They deliberately delivered students' data to the table of Variants, like takeout!

"You've done very well. The Night Watchers never fails to reward the loyal."

The Judge nodded slightly, took out an exquisite porcelain bottle from the pocket of his Zhongshan suit, and casually tossed it to Vice Principal Liu.

"This is a specially approved ' Blood Dragon Pill,' enough to Vitality your stagnant blood and qi that have been dormant for many years, making it a breeze to break through to the Late Blood Transformation Realm."

Vice Principal Liu hurriedly caught the porcelain bottle, opened it, took a sniff, and his face immediately lit up with ecstatic joy.

"Thank you so much for your kindness, sir! Thank you so much! I will serve you with my life!"

Without another word, the Judge turned and left, disappearing into the night in a few leaps.

Watching the other person leave, Vice Principal Liu happily hid the porcelain bottle close to his body, humming a little tune, and turned to return to the faculty dormitory.

However.

He had just turned around.

"Bang!"

A hand, as strong as an iron clamp, suddenly emerged from the darkness and gripped his fat neck tightly!

"Ugh!"

Vice Principal Liu's eyes bulged out, and before he could even circulate his qi and blood, he was abruptly lifted into the air.

A figure with a black cloth covering his face and wearing a black hoodie stood before him like the Grim Reaper.

"Who... who are you?!" Vice Principal Liu struggled in terror, only to find that his Blood Transformation Realm Qi, which he was so proud of, had solidified like stagnant water under the other party's palm!

"Who I am is unimportant," Dongfang Yueming's voice was hoarse and cold. "What matters is that I overheard your deal with that person just now."

"Selling students like livestock to those monsters... Vice Principal Liu, this is a very profitable deal, isn't it?"

Vice Principal Liu was terrified, but as a high-ranking official in the school, he tried to intimidate the other party by using his connections at this critical juncture.

"You... you dare to attack a school leader?! I am the vice president of Jinling Martial University! If you kill me, the Great Xia Ministry of Education and the Night Watchers will never let you off!" Vice Principal Liu threatened, his voice trembling with fear.

"Threatening me?"

Dongfang Yueming sneered, his five fingers tightening slightly.

"Click click..."

Vice Principal Liu's neck bones groaned under the strain, the intense feeling of suffocation made his eyes roll back, and the shadow of death completely enveloped his heart.

He finally realized that the masked man in front of him was a madman who didn't care about any rules at all!

"I... I said... please don't kill me!"

Unable to resist, Vice Principal Liu completely broke down, and he hesitated before preparing to reveal everything.

"Those documents... we did indeed submit them... because the higher-ups said they needed to..."

The crucial half-sentence had just been uttered.

"Buzz--!!!"

An extremely deadly sense of crisis, enough to send chills down even the Qi Gathering Realm, suddenly attacked Dongfang Yueming from behind!

There was no sound, no fluctuation of qi or blood.

That was an absolute, pure killing intent of true qi!

"Not good!"

Dongfang Yueming's pupils suddenly contracted.

[The Ends of the Earth Are Within Reach!]

In a fraction of a second, his body reacted at its absolute limit. He flung Vice Principal Liu aside, and his entire body transformed into a distorted afterimage, shifting several feet to the left!

"Laugh--!"

An extremely thin, yet perfectly condensed, invisible strand of true energy sliced past Dongfang Yueming's afterimage almost imperceptibly, disappearing silently into the ground in front of him.

There was no explosion, no roar.

But on the ground, there was a terrifying, bottomless hole with smooth, mirror-like edges!

Dongfang Yueming suddenly turned his head.

The man in the Zhongshan suit and gold-rimmed glasses, who should have left earlier, had somehow reappeared behind where he had been standing, like a ghost!

He didn't leave at all!

Dongfang Yueming was slightly startled.

This person actually discovered his previous spying?!

Meanwhile...

The Judge pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, and a rare look of astonishment flashed in his usually calm eyes behind the lenses.

He was a senior investigator for the Night Watchers, and this assassination technique, named ' Deadly True Silk,' was extremely well-concealed in terms of internal energy, making it virtually impossible for anyone of the same level to dodge.

The man in black in front of me actually dodged it in the blink of an eye?!

"His reactions were incredibly fast, and his movement techniques were absolutely exquisite."

The Judge did not continue his attack. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, gave Dongfang Yueming a deep look, and a meaningful, cold smile appeared on his lips.

"The thing you just used to spy on me..."

"It's Yellow Grade Qi Technique — 'Illusion-Breaking Void Pupils ', isn't it?!"