Chapter 183: Level Three Dragon Blood

Chapter 183: Level Three Dragon Blood

Upon hearing Zhao Manying's agreement to stay, Ji Xinghuo's lips curved upwards as he asked, "Are you hungry? Should we order some takeout for a late-night snack?"

The two often enjoyed late-night snacks at this hour during their previous dates.

"Sure," Zhao Manying nodded. Seeing that Ji Xinghuo didn't exhibit any signs of impatience, she gradually relaxed.

They sat side by side on the sofa in the living room, gazing at the night view outside the window, chatting and laughing.

Soon, a drone delivered their late-night snack.

Along with the food, there were also personal toiletries, pajamas, and a few sets of casual home clothes for both men and women, all in couple styles. As Zhao Manying watched Ji Xinghuo sorting through the items, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, noticing the absence of a particular item she had dreaded.

"What were you expecting?" Ji Xinghuo suddenly turned and asked.

"Nothing!" Zhao Manying's eyes flickered with panic as she quickly replied, "Come on, bring out the takeout. I'm starving. We'll eat and then go to sleep. I still have training at the club tomorrow morning."

"Hahaha..."

Ji Xinghuo let out two peculiar laughs and took the takeout to the dining area.

After finishing their snack, Zhao Manying immediately picked up her toiletries and pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

Although the house was spacious, all the accompanying facilities were singular; there was only one bedroom and one bathroom, but both were quite spacious. The bathroom spanned over thirty square meters and included a dressing room, a toilet, and a large bathtub, allowing one to bathe while admiring the night view.

As Ji Xinghuo cleared the table, he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom, and his mind began to wander.

He couldn't help but use magnetic field sensing to scan the area.

"Tsk tsk..."

Although he could only see the magnetic field and not the actual scene, the shape of the magnetic field alone allowed him to appreciate Zhao Manying's perfect figure.

Her height of one meter and eighty centimeters was far from excessive, her proportions were perfect, and her curves were stunning. She had that rare balance where adding or subtracting even a little would make her either too plump or too thin. Especially her pair of long, slender legs—straight, well-proportioned, yet exuding a sense of robust beauty, as if she were heaven's most exquisite creation.

Ji Xinghuo sensed for a few seconds before forcing himself to shift his attention elsewhere.

Suddenly, he thought of Ren Jie (Ren, meaning "cotton").

Both women possessed rare, exceptional figures. Ren Jie stood at around one meter and seventy centimeters tall, not exceptionally tall, but her curves were more domineering, hidden beneath a modest exterior, and extremely alluring. Zhao Manying, on the other hand, was taller and more slender, with her legs being her standout feature. Every part of her body was just right, and she exuded equal charm.

It was a tough call to make between the two. They were like the spring orchid and autumn chrysanthemum, each with its unique allure.

"...Why am I thinking about Ren Jie at a time like this?" Ji Xinghuo suddenly felt guilty, and Ren Jie's beautiful face floated into his mind, refusing to leave.

He stood there motionless, his expression complex.

After a long while, the chaotic thoughts gradually faded, and he let out a soft sigh.

"Ai..."

"Why are you sighing?" Zhao Manying's voice sounded from behind him.

Ji Xinghuo turned his head, his eyes filled with admiration.

Zhao Manying had changed into a loose-fitting sleep skirt, her hair still slightly damp. The hem of the skirt fell just above her knees, and her bare feet padded softly on the ground. Her captivating beauty was laid bare, giving off a natural, unadorned vibe that made it hard for him to look away.

"You look so beautiful," Ji Xinghuo complimented sincerely.

"Of course I am..."

Zhao Manying was delighted inside but showed a hint of pride on the surface, "My looks have contributed at least half to my current success."

She had always been aware of her beauty and was proud of it, not hesitating to showcase it in front of Ji Xinghuo.

"I think it's more than half, at least seventy percent!" Ji Xinghuo laughed.

Zhao Manying lifted her chin, a hint of displeasure in her voice, "Hmph, are you underestimating my strength? Even if I were an ugly duckling, I'd still be able to dominate in the league."

"How dare I? You're the number one in the ladder, after all," Ji Xinghuo said.

After exchanging a few playful words, Zhao Manying suddenly said, "It's getting late. You should go take a shower and get some rest too."

Ji Xinghuo went into the bathroom and finished his shower in less than five minutes.

When he came out, he saw Zhao Manying sitting on the sofa in the living room, her hair already dried. She stood up and calmly said, "Good night."

"Good night," Ji Xinghuo replied.

Zhao Manying walked into the bedroom and closed the door, but she didn't lock it.

Ji Xinghuo lay down on the sofa and pulled the blanket Zhao Manying had prepared over himself.

Qinghong crawled out of his hair and revealed its true form, curling up in a four-meter-long coil by his feet.

With the lights turned off, the living room was plunged into darkness, but the neon lights from the distant skyscrapers shone through, casting colorful halos on the walls that constantly flowed and rotated, much like his current state of mind.

The reason was simple; the time wasn't right.

Ji Xinghuo was well aware that they had only known each other for a little over two months and had been together for just a couple of weeks. Taking the next step at this point would be rushing things.

Whether considering his perspective or Zhao Manying's emotions, it would be unwise to act impetuously. All the flirtatious remarks they had exchanged were merely playful banter.

Most importantly, Ji Xinghuo hadn't forgotten about their hundred-day relationship agreement. Even if something were to happen between them, it wouldn't be until after those hundred days had passed.

Most men would find it hard to resist the temptation of being so close to Zhao Manying and might not bother to consider her feelings, mistaking her actions as a woman's ploy to play hard to get. They would likely make an impulsive move and end up being kicked out.

But Ji Xinghuo remained calm and collected.

He had always been a rational person, never letting his desires control him. Additionally, there was someone else on his mind, and if he were to give in to temptation tonight, it would completely sever any possibility with Ren Jie.

"Perhaps, I'll have to make a choice someday," he thought to himself. "But not now."

His emotions gradually settled, and he used his phone to control the glass window, blocking the view and plunging the living room into darkness, with only the sound of his breathing in the silence.

Through his magnetic field sensing, he could tell that Zhao Manying was still awake in the bedroom, tossing and turning in bed.

Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

He then opened the interface of the Myriad Phenomenon Star Eyes.

Earlier that day at the competition, he had slain the eccentric genius with a single sword strike, reaping the highest amount of spiritual source energy he had ever gained from a single source—a whopping 1,150 points! However, upon returning to Earth, the rate of spiritual source energy acquisition had decreased significantly.

Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but miss the days when he was hunting the Beiluoshimen tribe in the Star Realm, reaping spiritual source energy daily.

He examined the information displayed on the interface.

Over the past few days, the aspect that had improved the most was his stellar force, which currently stood at 765 points.

His other abilities had also progressed slightly during training, but the increases were negligible. In fact, this was the typical rate of improvement for an Esper's abilities; any ability would require long-term usage and practice before it could be upgraded.

The Myriad Phenomenon Star Eyes, by absorbing spiritual source energy, had expedited this process.

Even now, whenever Ji Xinghuo thought back to the day he merged with the Myriad Phenomenon Star Eyes, he felt like he had used up several lifetimes' worth of luck to obtain this heaven-defying treasure!

He refocused his thoughts and began to utilize the spiritual source energy.

With over a thousand points of spiritual source energy, he could upgrade the Titanium-Cobalt Dragon Blood to the next level.

[Ability: Titanium-Cobalt Dragon Blood (Level 2: 387/1499)]



As the spiritual source energy was channeled, the progress bar rapidly filled up. Ji Xinghuo felt his blood coursing faster through his veins, infusing his entire body with a robust energy that strengthened every organ, from his skin and bones to his internal organs! His physique was becoming more robust, and his power was surging.

Defense, burst, endurance, recovery, and all other aspects related to his physical condition were experiencing an all-around enhancement.

Additionally, his abilities, Rotating Magnetic Field and Golden Spine, also saw some progress in their advancement.

Soon enough, the Titanium-Cobalt Dragon Blood reached Level 3!

The information on the Myriad Phenomenon Star Eyes interface updated: [Ability: Titanium-Cobalt Dragon Blood (Level 3: 1/7639)].

Ji Xinghuo decided to go ahead and use the remaining 30-plus points of spiritual source energy to nudge the Titanium-Cobalt Dragon Blood's progress at Level 3 a little further.

"Haa..."

He lay still on the sofa, feeling the surging power within his body.

The advancement of the dragon blood from Level 2 to Level 3 brought about the most noticeable enhancement in his physical condition. Additionally, Ji Xinghuo discovered that he had gained a new ability. When he focused his mind, he could consume stellar force to unleash an invisible mental intimidation that affected all living beings around him.

"Is this the Titanium-Cobalt Dragon's aura?" Ji Xinghuo wondered, though he felt it resembled the ability "Mental Intimidation."

This ability's effect was quite limited.

Due to the existence of mental hackers, many Espers underwent specialized training to counter mental attacks on their spiritual will. Some even wore equipment that provided spiritual protection.

However, this ability proved to be incredibly useful when hunting monsters, especially when facing hordes of low-level creatures.

A single glance could send countless monsters fleeing in terror.

"I'll have to find an opportunity to test out its effectiveness," Ji Xinghuo thought. He couldn't help but wonder how many Titanium-Cobalt Dragon-blooded individuals in the Great Summer Army had reached Level 3 like him.

The most distinctive feature of the Titanium-Cobalt Dragonfolk was their tall and robust physiques; each of them stood at a height exceeding two meters and twenty centimeters.

The stronger they were, the taller they became.

This was due to another super-limit ability of the Titanium-Cobalt Dragonfolk, called the "Thunder Giant." This transformation-type ability allowed their bodies to shift towards a giant form, granting them strength and talents comparable to that of giants. While not as rare as Titanium-Cobalt Dragon's Blood, it was still extremely uncommon and highly valued.

"I also have a tube of Red Worm Essence, which can be used to fuse with another exotic species."

Ji Xinghuo's mind became active.

He actually didn't like Thunder Giant very much because he didn't want his body to become so exaggeratedly large; it would be inconvenient for daily life and too conspicuous.

There were many giant subspecies in the Star Realm, and different giant transformation-type exotics conferred different abilities.

The Thunder Giant came with lightning abilities.

This overlapped with his Rotating Magnetic Field and Thunderclap Hand.

If he didn't need the lightning ability, then the biggest advantage of the Thunder Giant for him would be the enhancement of his strength, which could also be achieved through magnetic field sensing and Titanium-Cobalt Dragon's Blood. It wasn't worth wasting an opportunity for fusion.

Moreover, just like Titanium-Cobalt Dragon's Blood, the Thunder Giant ability should be prioritized for the Great Summer Army.

Ji Xinghuo didn't think that the Sharp Sword Bureau could apply for another super-limit species for him.

After careful consideration, he abandoned the idea.

"If there aren't any better exotics, I'll have to choose between 'High-Frequency Thought' and 'Block and Counterattack.'"

The success rates for fusing with High-Frequency Thought and Block and Counterattack were 92% and 93% respectively, both very high.

Ji Xinghuo leaned more towards High-Frequency Thought.

This was because this ability was one of the constituent templates for the Magnetic Field Maniac.

Although the acceleration ring he had also possessed High-Frequency Thought, which he frequently used and found to be exceptionally effective, enhancing his neural response and thought speed, the ability on the ring was only level one, and there was much room for improvement.

Especially when manipulating the Purple Lightning Sword.

Ji Xinghuo felt that the sword's speed limit was far from what it could achieve, and his current level of High-Frequency Thought was insufficient, requiring him to have faster neural responses.

If not for the Myriad Phenomenon Star Eyes, even with the Purple Lightning Sword in hand, it would have been difficult to slay a Legend with a single strike.

Moreover, the acceleration ring was ultimately an external object with limited potential.

Ji Xinghuo's mind grew more and more active, and he felt no sleepiness at all. He took out his phone and entered the Exotic Species Platform, browsing through the information on various exotics.

Before he knew it, it was already past two o'clock in the middle of the night.

"Xinghuo."

Suddenly, a very soft and low voice sounded from the bedroom, asking, "Are you still awake?"

"Yes." Ji Xinghuo immediately replied.

"I can't sleep either," Zhao Manying said, after a few seconds of silence. Finally, as if mustering her courage, she said softly, "Can you come in? I don't mean it in that way... " With a click, the bedroom door was opened by an invisible kinetic hand.

Ji Xinghuo put down his phone, a look of surprise on his face.

He thought for a moment, then walked into the bedroom, not turning on the lights. But the darkness did not hinder his vision; he could see clearly. At this moment, she lacked her usual absolute confidence and strength, revealing a soft vulnerability that needed comfort.

"What's wrong?"

Ji Xinghuo asked with concern, his tone devoid of urgency or elation, conveying only pure care.

"It's nothing, I just missed you," Zhao Manying said, sitting up in the darkness. She patted the empty space next to her on the bed and said softly, "It's not good for you to sleep on the sofa, you might catch a cold. Anyway, there's plenty of space here, enough for two people, but you're not allowed to get frisky."

Catch a cold? Ji Xinghuo almost laughed out loud.

With his physical condition, even if he streaked through ice and snow for a whole day and night, he wouldn't fall sick, let alone catch a cold.

But he didn't expose this clumsy excuse, and it was obvious that he had won her complete trust.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Ji Xinghuo smiled and climbed onto the bed, lying down next to her.

He could clearly sense Zhao Manying's body tensing up, and when she realized that he wasn't making any moves, she gradually relaxed and then proactively shifted closer, turning her back to him and snuggling into his embrace.

Neither of them spoke, and the bedroom was filled only with the sound of their breathing.

Ji Xinghuo wrapped his arm around her, hugging her a little tighter, inhaling the fragrant scent of her hair, his mind gradually calming down, feeling a sense of peace.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end