Since Hu Qi was in the car, he didn't choose to immediately Cultivate. Instead, he planned to wait until he finished eating the lamb.
Afterward, on the way back, his phone in his pants pocket vibrated.
Hu Qi opened it and saw a pop-up notification from Zhu Xi.
After clicking it, he found that the mission he had previously accepted now displayed a team request.
【(Anshan City) Xie Fei, Cultivation Qi Blood Three Transformations, requests to join the team. Do you agree?】
Based on the address in the parentheses before the teammate's name, it could be confirmed that the other party should also be a member of Zhu Xi's Anshan City branch.
Hu Qi clicked to agree, and the next moment, it showed that the team was successfully formed.
At this moment, the teammate sent him a private message, asking when he would depart.
Hu Qi looked at the bag containing the roasted whole lamb beside him, thought for a moment, and replied, "Tomorrow afternoon."
Then, he didn't pay it any more attention.
...
The next day at noon, Hu Qi completely finished the leftover lamb he had packed the day before.
In his room, he practiced the Snake Form Stake a few times, guiding his Qi and Blood Power to accelerate the digestion of the lamb in his stomach. Only when the bloated feeling disappeared did Hu Qi stop his movements.
"scarlet!"
As he silently chanted in his mind, lines of text immediately appeared before his eyes.
---
【Snake Form Stake (Fifth Layer) △】
【Cloud Iron Body (Proficient) △】
【Ghost Killing Blade (Uninitiated)】
...
【Modification Value: 10 (41%)】
Aside from Ghost Killing Blade being uninitiated and thus unmodifiable, Snake Form Stake and Cloud Iron Body both displayed a triangular rune indicating they could be modified.
Unless it was a special circumstance, Hu Qi would usually use the Modification Value immediately once he had it, transforming it into a part of his own strength.
Immediately, he focused his gaze on the Snake Form Stake first.
The Snake Form Stake is a Breaking Limit Method. After improving, it can drive the growth of Qi and Blood Power, thereby enhancing one's physique.
Therefore, he didn't hesitate at all.
"scarlet! Modify, raise Snake Form Stake by one layer!"
With his previous experience, Hu Qi prepared to improve it layer by layer this time.
The familiar sensation of improvement came again. The Qi and Blood Power within his body expanded, and at the same time, various parts of his body were continuously strengthened by this power.
---
【Snake Form Stake (Sixth Layer) △】
...
Modification Value: 8 (41%)
Seeing this, Hu Qi felt his physical condition and did not stop. With a slight thought, he chose to continue modifying and improving.
...
【Snake Form Stake (Seventh Layer) △】
【Modification Value: 5 (41%)】
---
【Snake Form Stake (Eighth Layer)】
【Modification Value: 2 (41%)】
"Hmm?"
Seeing that he could no longer improve, Hu Qi's eyes moved slightly, and he looked at the Modification Value.
Logically, with so much Modification Value, raising the Snake Form Stake to the Ninth Layer Perfection should have been more than enough.
But what he didn't expect was that from the seventh layer of Snake Form Stake onwards, the Modification Value required for each modification had increased from 2 points to 3 points.
This also made the Modification Value, which was originally enough to raise the Snake Form Stake to the Ninth Layer, insufficient.
"Forget it, this should be enough. If I improve too much, my body won't be able to handle it."
As his strength grew, Hu Qi closed his eyes and felt the Qi and Blood Power within his body.
Originally, his Qi and Blood Power, which was as round and thick as a chopstick, now reached the thickness of two index fingers, and its volume had increased several times.
With a thought, this Qi and Blood Power was as easily controlled as an arm.
He raised his hand, and Qi and Blood Power gathered in his palm.
In an instant, his palm suddenly expanded by a circle, his five fingers curled into a claw shape, and he suddenly grabbed forward.
Whoosh!
His arm struck out as an afterimage, and a burst of explosive sound instantly echoed in the air.
"Not bad!"
Feeling the changes in himself, Hu Qi revealed a satisfied smile.
After the Snake Form Stake was improved, his Qi and Blood Power strengthened, making his body's explosiveness and reaction speed stronger and faster.
He glanced at the Impurities secreted from his body; compared to the previous two times, there were even fewer, almost negligible.
He walked into the bathroom, letting the cool water wash away the dirt from his body.
Hu Qi once again looked at the Cloud Iron Body in the skill section of the panel. He still had 2 (41%) Modification Value left.
Thinking that he was about to go on a mission and might encounter Black Blood Species, he didn't plan to save it.
This thing was similar to money; what was the point of just saving it without spending it?
With a slight thought, the word representing proficiency behind Cloud Iron Body blurred slightly.
The next moment, a tight, burning sensation came from his skin.
However, this sensation was not as obvious under the rinsing of the water.
When this feeling disappeared, the text on the panel also changed slightly.
【Cloud Iron Body (Major Achievement)】
...
【Modification Value: 0 (41%)】
Cloud Iron Body had been raised to Major Achievement, but the consumption of Modification Value also increased, from the original 1.5 to 2 points.
However, as the level increased, the increase in consumption was also reasonable.
...
Around three in the afternoon.
The autumn breeze was refreshing, dispelling the lingering heat of summer.
It was already nearing October. Although the sun was still present, it was no longer as scorching and oppressive as in midsummer.
Hu Qi, carrying a black blade bag, walked out of the Anshan Academy gate.
Because the distance was not far, he did not take a vehicle but walked along the sidewalk beside him.
After more than ten minutes, having crossed two roads, he arrived at Anshan Science and Technology Park, which was the entrance of Zhu Xi, where he had agreed to meet his teammate.
He scanned his gaze and saw a figure standing by the flowerbed at the entrance.
This was a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses and with a youthful, baby face.
Seeing this, he walked forward.
"You are Xie Fei, right?"
"That's me."
Xie Fei smiled shyly.
It was clear that this guy was very introverted, socially anxious, and not good at talking much.
"Hmm, how many missions have you executed?"
Seeing this, Hu Qi had a bad feeling, thinking, "Could this guy also be a newcomer like me?"
"Three times."
Xie Fei scratched his head awkwardly.
"That's fine. You should know the basic procedures, right? Tell me about them; this is my first time."
Hu Qi nodded.
"I've heard of you. Cultivating Qi and Blood Power in seven days is very impressive."
Perhaps because Hu Qi's attitude was gentle, Xie Fei was no longer as reserved as before, and he gradually started talking more.
His peripheral vision fell on the blade bag on Hu Qi's back, then moved away.
To be honest, he was quite curious about Hu Qi.
He heard.
The other party was the most talented Genius among this batch of Disciples, even rivaling the rumored Senior Brother Du Wang.
Facing Xie Fei's praise, Hu Qi remained noncommittal.
Jiang Zuo's earlier reminder to him proved that he also knew that acting too much like a Genius would lead to danger.
However, Snake Heart Gate did not hide his information, which suggested an intention to temper him, doing it on purpose.
He also vaguely understood Snake Heart Gate's intention.
It should be that they don't want their Disciples and students to become mere hothouse flowers who only Cultivate.
Subsequently.
The two got into a car and headed towards their destination.
It's worth mentioning that they didn't take a taxi but Xie Fei's own car.
"Um, do you mind if I smoke a cigarette?"
Xie Fei glanced at Hu Qi beside him and smiled a little awkwardly.
After getting Hu Qi's permission.
He opened the window on one side to let the air circulate, then took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep puff.
A relaxed expression appeared on his face.
"Our mission this time is to capture that Black Blood Species lurking somewhere unknown.
From the grave-robbing behavior, it can be inferred that although the quantity cannot be determined for now, it is highly likely to be a newly transformed blood slave, and its strength should not be very strong."