Chapter 6: I'm Getting a Little Panicked

The Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique requires five hundred units of Essence just to begin mastering it.

Stabbing myself with a knife is something I should avoid doing as much as possible in the future.

If it takes hundreds of stabbings just to level up, wouldn’t I have to endure a thousand cuts in the future?

It’s more reliable to find ways to gather Essence from other sources.

“The next step is the Martial Arts School.”

Jiang Changkong murmured to himself.

Now that he had cultivated Star Power, he could join a Martial Arts School.

But currently, Martial Arts Schools weren’t enrolling new students. He’d have to ask Zhou Wen and Ji Ziling about the specifics tomorrow.

Moreover, after entering the school, there would be three years of simulations and the five-year college entrance exam!

He didn’t think that entering the school meant it was all over.

If he couldn’t pass the one-year simulation, he’d be expelled.

If he failed to complete the number of Star Demons required by the school during the five-year college entrance exam, the consequences were unclear.

Online, there was only information stating that it must be completed.

He had only just cultivated Star Power, and compared to Zhou Wen and the others, he was still far behind.

The most urgent task now was to continue increasing his strength. He couldn’t rush into a Martial Arts School on impulse.

After thinking it through, Jiang Changkong calmed down and lay on the bed to sleep.

The next day, he woke up early.

Jiang Changkong went to the clinic and stayed for a while. There were no injured patients, and Zhou Wen hadn’t arrived.

“You…”

Ji Ziling glanced up at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Today, Jiang Changkong gave her a completely different feeling.

Before, Jiang Changkong only appeared sturdy on the outside.

But today, his temples were bulging, his complexion was rosy, and he gave off a warm, vibrant feeling.

Abundant vitality!

How was this possible?

Even if Iron Shirt were practiced to perfection, it shouldn’t bring about such a change or such abundant vitality.

“Doctor Ji, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Changkong’s heart tightened. Had she noticed?

“Nothing.” Ji Ziling glanced at him and said calmly, “Stay away from me.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Alright, beautiful comrade.

It seemed that after his breakthrough, Ji Ziling had grown even more distant.

His abundant vitality and masculine aura made her very uncomfortable.

Taking advantage of the fact that there were no customers in the clinic and Ji Ziling didn’t want to be near him, he could only head to the slaughterhouse.

Essence +0.1, +0.2…

As soon as he arrived at the slaughterhouse, his expression stiffened. He had already accepted the fact that Essence gains had shrunk.

But he hadn’t expected it to shrink this much.

By the time he finished slaughtering the cattle, his Essence was: 228.

An increase of 2.3. At this rate, how long would it take to gather five hundred?

Feeling frustrated, he returned to the clinic. Ji Ziling had just treated an injured patient and said again, “Stay away from me.”

“Ahem, Doctor Ji.”

Jiang Changkong cleared his throat and said, “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

If he didn’t know her secret, Jiang Changkong would have thought she was trying to drive him away.

“Go ahead,” Ji Ziling said calmly.

Jiang Changkong thought for a moment and asked, “Do you know when Martial Arts Schools will start enrolling students?”

Ji Ziling: “In two months.”

“If I join a Martial Arts School and fail to complete the five-year college entrance exam, what are the penalties?”

“If you fail to complete it, you’ll sign another five-year contract and continue until it’s done.”

Jiang Changkong asked a few more questions, and Ji Ziling answered each one patiently without showing any annoyance.

If he kept failing to complete the five-year college entrance exam, he would have to keep killing Star Demons for the school until he died.

If he completed it ahead of time, any Star Demons killed during the remaining years of the five-year period would be split evenly with the school.

“Do you know what kind of expert can seal Essence?”

Jiang Changkong finally asked the most important question on his mind.

Having a master over one’s essence, energy, and spirit sounds unbelievable.

Sealing off essence, energy, and spirit is easier.

If he encountered such a powerful individual, he would similarly be unable to extract their essence, energy, and spirit.

Unless he could break the seal.

Ji Ziling was somewhat surprised but still replied, “Beyond the Star Sea.”

He breathed a slight sigh of relief. He was only at the early stage of stellar qi now, with the Star Cloud stage still separating him from the Star Sea.

For now, he didn’t need to worry about such distant matters.

As for having a master over one’s essence, energy, and spirit—such beings likely weren’t something Ji Ziling had encountered either.

He had already asked a lot of questions, so he decided not to ask further.

“This is Zhou Wen’s KeNet number. You can contact him if you have any questions in the future.”

Ji Ziling wrote down a string of numbers and handed it to Jiang Changkong.

Jiang Changkong took it and noticed that Ji Ziling showed no signs of discomfort despite being in close proximity to him.

Her earlier request for him to keep his distance must have been purely a reaction to a comrade.

“Dr. Ji, how about we also add each other as friends?”

Jiang Changkong took out his phone and added Zhou Wen.

KeNet, this world’s internet, allowed each person to register only one number.

It was used for online communication, similar to the QQ platform from his previous life.

Ji Ziling hesitated for a moment, then nodded and added him.

Ji Xue Ling.

Ji Ziling’s KeNet name—this “Xue,” could it be Ying Yanxue?

Jiang Changkong’s name was Changkong Wanli.

Zhou Wen’s was rather provocative: Han Kong Dong.

If he hadn’t known about Ying Yanxue, it wouldn’t have seemed like anything.

But was this “Han Kong Dong Yan Xue”?

Try moving her and see?

Aren’t you afraid Ji Ziling will beat you to death?

After adding him as a friend, Ji Ziling returned to her seat.

Over there, Zhou Wen also accepted the friend request and sent a message: “Changkong?”

Jiang Changkong suddenly had a mischievous idea: “Brother Wen, have you heard of ‘Han Kong Dong Yan Xue’?”

Zhou Wen: “…”

Jiang Changkong: “Didn’t Dr. Ji beat you to death?”

Zhou Wen broke into a sweat: “She has my real name in her contacts and doesn’t know my KeNet name. I only dared to change it after seeing her note. Yours is even more provocative.”

Jiang Changkong: “What about mine?”

Zhou Wen: “‘Eagle Strikes the Sky’—Ying Ji. Impressive.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Now I’m a little nervous.

Although he hadn’t meant it that way, hearing Zhou Wen say it inevitably made him think of the connection.

If Ji Ziling found out, would she beat him to death?

But Zhou Wen wouldn’t get off scot-free either.

Thinking of this, he felt a bit better.

“Brother Wen, I’ve never even met Ying Yanxue. I didn’t mean anything by it.” It was necessary to explain.

Zhou Wen: “I understand. But if you dare tell Ziling my KeNet name, you’re finished.”

Of course, he knew Jiang Changkong hadn’t meant it that way.

Even if he had, it wouldn’t matter.

The senior sister wouldn’t like a junior brother with such weak strength. Jiang Changkong was too weak.

Jiang Changkong breathed a sigh of relief: “Brother Wen, I won’t tell Dr. Ji. Could you do me a favor?”

Zhou Wen: “Speak.”

Jiang Changkong: “The Martial Arts School should have fresh Star Demon corpses, right? Can you let me take a look?”

Star Demons contained vast amounts of essence, energy, and spirit.

He didn’t dare hope for Star Stones—he didn’t have the nerve to ask Zhou Wen to give them to him for free.

The three from before were only exchanged because he had taken four slashes to help him.

The essence, energy, and spirit at the market were almost gone. He just wanted to see a fresh Star Demon.

Even a piece of meat would do.

As long as it was fresh and the essence, energy, and spirit hadn’t completely dissipated.

Zhou Wen sent an uneasy emoji: “Just to look?”

Jiang Changkong: “Really, just to look. You saw me at the slaughterhouse. I just want to understand Star Demons, how to kill them, and prepare for the future.”

Zhou Wen: “No problem. The Martial Arts School brings in new Star Demons every half month to serve as student meals. They kill a lot at once. I’ll take you to see it then.”

Killed for meat!

Student meals!

How many people are in the Martial Arts School?

He wasn’t sure, but definitely no fewer than a thousand!

Even though most students weren’t at the school, having left for the college entrance exams.

But this was still a large-scale slaughter of Star Demons. How vast would the Essence that scattered be?

It had already been twelve days since the last time Star Demons were killed.

Only three days left!

The meals at this Martial Arts School are really good—I must get in!

To openly watch the slaughter of Star Demons, or even pick up a knife and do it myself!

Oh, and there are free senior sisters handed out too…