"Hint: Acquired 'Seed of Skill (Blue)'"
"Hint: Acquired 'Skill Cultivation Card (Blue)'"
"Hint: Acquired..."
A quick tally revealed:
A total of three Seeds of Skill!
Two blue-tier Skill Cultivation Cards!
Apostle of Reality · Ilosi!
Purple Cursed Artifact 'Flesh and Blood Flying Bird'!
Purple Cursed Artifact 'Tears of the Angel'!
A High-tier Skill Selection Scroll!
And a single golden item!
Five blue, four purple, one gold!
Though the number of high-tier items was more than last time, "Last time was truly lucky, this time it's just average."
Suppressing the urge to inspect the golden item, Fang You first opened the only Selection Scroll.
This was a new type of scroll he had never seen before.
"High-tier Skill Selection Scroll (Purple)"
"Description: This scroll has two usage modes. The first is to select a purple-tier skill, from which you can choose one of three skills. The second is to select blue-tier skills, from which you can choose three out of ten skills."
Choose one of three or three of ten.
Purple-tier skills were something Fang You hadn't encountered, but...
After a moment's thought, he chose mode two.
"Ding!"
"You can select three from the following ten skills to generate a one-time skill book."
The purple scroll burned fiercely, and ten symbols floated within.
"Immovable as a Mountain," "Yin-Yang Healing," "Flame Transformation," "Body of Steel," ...
The most infuriating part was that these skills had no specific descriptions, and Fang You could only infer their effects from their names.
Finally,
He selected three skills.
"Yin-Yang Healing," "Explosive Cards," "Phantom Step"!
...
Outside Water Marsh City, in a training base shrouded in mist.
Director Pei Hongjing, like other newcomers, was engaged in running, sword practice, fencing, and wrestling.
His training performance ranked among the best of the newcomers, yet Pei Hongjing still felt a growing anxiety.
What were these newcomers?
Were they outer members, or among the selected ones? As for himself, he was a formal member of the Blaze, even among the rookies, someone had said he possessed potential, that he was special.
Yet, he still couldn't widen the gap with these newcomers, and was even far behind the top trainee, 'Master Bright Lamp'.
Did he truly possess such potential?
Pei Hongjing began to doubt himself.
At that moment,
A familiar, long-awaited voice echoed in his mind.
"Come to Training Ground Number One."
Pei Hongjing froze, his face lighting up with excitement.
...
"Beep!"
"Formal Apostle Pei Hongjing, identity verification passed. Entry granted."
The silver gate slowly opened, and Pei Hongjing stepped inside.
This was a base that possessed both ancient charm and modern traces, existing in the crevices of space.
No matter how many times he visited, Pei Hongjing was still awestruck.
But today, he wasn't here to marvel. He walked all the way to Training Ground Number One and indeed found his mentor standing there, his back to him.
Slowly turning around, "You've arrived."
Today, the mentor wore a white robe and did not possess the same oppressive aura as when he was enveloped in golden light. He appeared gentle and young, but his eyes were still as deep as the starry sky, having witnessed much.
This mentor was nowhere near as young as he appeared.
His age might be greater than Pei Hongjing's, possibly even greater than his grandfather's.
He lowered his head slightly, respectfully, "Mentor."
"Your performance these past few days has been excellent. Don't be self-deprecating. Your talent does not lie in physical fitness, but training your body is necessary. Physique and spirit are the foundations of everything, at any time."
Fang You paused, "Now, I intend to grant you an ability in advance, to equip you to deal with strange evils. Of course, you can also choose to follow the path you desire..."
"I choose this one!"
If he hadn't exercised restraint, Pei Hongjing would have shouted.
This was a skill personally bestowed by the mentor. Compared to those on the exchange list, this was undoubtedly a hidden skill.
Even though the Blaze had rules that skills granted by mentors also required contribution points, he wouldn't hesitate for a moment.
Only a fool would refuse a skill chosen by the mentor!
He could barely contain his excitement.
Finally, he would possess true extraordinary power... Even with Pei Hongjing's composure, his heart surged with emotion.
He suppressed his excitement and waited for the mentor to extend a finger and gently tap his forehead.
Bestowal!
Transmission!
In a daze, Pei Hongjing entered a special space.
He was not unfamiliar with it, but this time was different. His figure was quickly engulfed in the chaotic turbulence of an explosion.
...
"Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh—!"
In Training Ground Number One, Pei Hongjing gasped for air, his eyes filled with terror. Not only was his body weak and devoid of strength, but the fear in his heart was even greater.
It was as if he had truly died... No, it was as if he had died hundreds, thousands of times.
Dying, then living, living, then dying.
A mechanical voice sounded in his ear,
"Ding!"
"Your skill 'Explosive Cards' learning progress is at 33%. The second learning session will begin in five hours. Please rest well."
Pei Hongjing: "..."
His face immediately turned even paler.
...
Next to Training Ground Number One, in Training Ground Number Two.
A man and a woman.
The woman's eyes were hazy, her body drenched in sweat.
"Men-mentor, I almost couldn't take it! Can't you go a little slower!"
"Don't worry, I think it's fine."
"As Black Blade would say, if you don't die from it, you can train yourself to death."
Silver Bell: "..."
She was too tired to speak. She took out a stamina potion and an energy recovery potion from her bag and gulped them down.
Licking her lips, they tasted fine, so why did everyone complain about the bitterness?
It must be that you're all too unaccustomed to hardship. I'm the one who's truly good at enduring hardship, hmph!
However, hearing the mentor's inquiry, she began to carefully analyze.
"Regarding the 'Yin-Yang Healing' skill, its primary ability is healing. It can release a healing chain to link with the target. After the link is established, the skill itself possesses healing effects, and can also carry other skills... Hmm, it's pretty much as you predicted, mentor. 'Water of Healing' and 'Purification,' these two healing-oriented skills, can be paired with 'Yin-Yang Healing'."
"If I use 'Water of Healing' on the healing chain, I can get double the healing effect. If I use 'Purification,' it's equivalent to extending the skill's release range."
"Well, of course, the above are secondary. The most important thing is the Yin-Yang Reversal effect."
"It can convert healing into damage, and purification into removing beneficial effects. This way, dealing with strange evils becomes much easier for me. But I'm a physician!"
But to annihilate all enemies and create a world where no one gets hurt, that is the strongest physician.
Fang You felt that Silver Bell's sentiment was valid.
After discussing the usage of this skill with Silver Bell for a while, he also took breaks to eat, train, and inspect a few items.
When it was about time, he then headed to Training Ground Number One to check on Pei Hongjing's condition.