Zhong Ming was delighted by the sudden surge in his cultivation efficiency, but at the same time, he felt it was reasonable.
'The Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme. This is a trait one can only acquire when the Longxi Breathing Method reaches the Fourth Realm, or even the Fifth Realm.'
'Although the trait I acquired is incomplete, my current cultivation level is also very low. Under these circumstances, its effect should be this significant.'
The sheer power of the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme even gave rise to a bold ambition in Zhong Ming's heart.
'With the boost from the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme, my cultivation efficiency is now five to seven times higher than before. That's even better than taking Elixir Pills. Maybe... maybe I can not only get a B-level Rating but also aim for an A-level Rating?'
Fueled by this newfound ambition, Zhong Ming immediately began a second cultivation session.
But then, his expression turned bitter.
During his second attempt, he didn't know what he did wrong, but... he failed to trigger the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme.
The third time... nothing.
The fourth time was the same.
By now, Zhong Ming understood. The Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme... wasn't coming back.
'Because the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme is incomplete, triggering it was the accident. Being unable to trigger it is the norm.'
'Sigh, and I thought I could get an A-level Rating.'
Sighing, Zhong Ming felt extremely frustrated.
Although his cultivation still made some progress by visualizing the stream turning into a Flood Dragon, it only increased the retained Spiritual Qi from one or two-tenths to two or three-tenths. Such a meager improvement couldn't satisfy Zhong Ming's needs, let alone support his ambition.
However, Zhong Ming's mood quickly recovered.
'Whew... I can't give up. Besides, I'm not completely without hope.'
'My previous cultivation session didn't just nourish my Qi Sea Acupoint; it also increased the progress of the Longxi Breathing Method.'
With this in mind, Zhong Ming opened his status panel and looked at the system log, which recorded the details of his cultivation improvements.
[You completed one full session of the Longxi Breathing Method. Skill Level +131]
[You completed one full session of the Longxi Breathing Method. Skill Level +7]
[You completed one... Skill Level +5]
[You... Skill Level +8]
The "+131 Skill Level" was, of course, from the session boosted by the Rhyme.
In the subsequent sessions, because Zhong Ming was focused and his visualization of the stream turning into a Dragon Flood Dragon was highly compatible with the Longxi Breathing Method, his Skill Level progress wasn't slow.
At this point, the Skill Level of Zhong Ming's Basic Technique had reached:
[Longxi Breathing Method: First Realm Initiation (165/800)]
'As a Cultivation Technique, the Longxi Breathing Method will likely grant some traits once it reaches the Second Realm of Insight.'
'If that's the case, and I cultivate from morning till night, then train hard again in the evening, I might be able to raise it to the Second Realm in a short time. If I get a good trait then, my cultivation speed will increase even more.'
Thinking this, Zhong Ming resumed his cultivation.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten about Dong Sea, who had accompanied him. Zhong Ming also told him the secret: the key to the Longxi Breathing Method lay in the "Dragon" aspect.
He did this for two reasons. First, Zhong Ming didn't care—he had always relied on Heaven Rewards Diligence, not on some secret of the Longxi Breathing Method.
Second, it was to repay a debt of gratitude.
After transmigrating, Zhong Ming had been very poor. The reason he was able to read hundreds of books in just a few months and raise his Reading Skill to the Fourth Realm of Minor Achievement was largely thanks to Dong Sea's help.
A small kindness should be repaid with a great one.
Because of Dong Sea's past support, Zhong Ming was willing to help him, as long as it didn't negatively affect himself.
"Zhong, thank you! I knew you were the smartest. There's definitely a spot for you in the B-level Rating."
"...Let's work hard together."
After agreeing with Dong Sea, Zhong Ming went back to his cultivation.
Then, another two hours later, he was forced to stop, an even more bitter look on his face.
'Why is Cultivation so damn hard!'
Zhong Ming had originally planned to grind day and night to max out the First Realm Initiation progress for his Longxi Breathing Method, then use the traits from the Second Realm of Insight to boost his cultivation efficiency.
But after cultivating for just one morning, he discovered his plan was impossible.
The prolonged cultivation made Zhong Ming's meridians ache faintly.
At this point, Zhong Ming knew he had to stop, even without anyone reminding him.
Otherwise, over-cultivating would inevitably damage his meridians.
Unable to train relentlessly, Zhong Ming couldn't increase his Skill Level even with Heaven Rewards Diligence. Naturally, his expression wasn't pleasant.
'No wonder Longxi Peak sets Initiation within seven days as the standard for an A-level Rating, and Initiation within eighteen days for a B-level Rating. It really is an effective way to screen for those with superior Talent.'
'But I can't give up yet. I can still think of other ways.'
Zhong Ming wasn't stupid. In fact, the vast number of books he had read had broadened his mind and way of thinking tremendously.
And right now, he had actually thought of a method.
'If my next move goes as planned, I still have a chance...'
Although he had a plan, what Zhong Ming needed to do now was... eat.
Only accomplished cultivators could abstain from food. The current Zhong Ming was not yet capable of that.
After following the crowd to the Longxi Peak cafeteria, Zhong Ming discovered that although the assessment was strict, with a life-threatening risk if one failed to achieve the A and B Ratings, Longxi Peak didn't skimp on food or lodging for them.
Not only was all the food in the Daoist School free, but they even provided free Spirit Rice.
Most people chose Spirit Rice as their staple and ate nothing else.
Infused with Spiritual Qi, the Spirit Rice was fragrant, sweet, and delicious—dozens of times tastier than ordinary food.
Moreover, it contained few impurities and could supply all the nutrients the human body needed.
After eating it, a warm current would even flow through one's body, providing a bit of gentle Spiritual Qi.
'One bowl of Spirit Rice lets me cultivate one extra time... Unfortunately, we only get one free bowl a day.'
The commoners ate Spirit Rice, while the disciples from Cultivation Families had better Spiritual Meals.
Of course, those cost Spirit Stones.
Since everyone ate at the same time, Zhong Ming ran into some familiar faces in the cafeteria.
Lu Mingfeng and Xia He, the two he had just seen that morning, also walked past him with their bowls.
As they passed, Lu Mingfeng thought about the excellent opportunity to get close to Jiang Yue that had been thwarted by Zhong Ming's "arrogance" and "stupidity." He shook his head, frustrated by Zhong Ming's poor choices.
"Hmph. Foolish. If you had been a little more sensible and accepted Young Master Jiang Yue's kind offer earlier, you could have had some of the Spiritual Meal he bought, instead of just staring wistfully like you are now."
Lu Mingfeng's remark earned a lot of agreement.
Almost all the lower-class youths felt that Zhong Ming's refusal of Jiang Yue's invitation was an incredibly foolish act.
And they believed that in a few days, Zhong Ming would definitely regret it.
"He threw away a chance to escape the fire pit with his own hands. Sigh..."
"Damn it, why wasn't I given a chance like that... Huh?!"
But as everyone was shaking their heads and sighing, at a certain moment, they all froze in unison.
After buying a Spiritual Meal, Jiang Yue didn't enjoy it alone. Instead, he walked over to Zhong Ming with Jiang Xiaoyu.
The next moment, he smiled and said, "Zhong, mind if we share a table? Also, I bought a bit too much for this Spiritual Meal. The two of us can't finish it. If you don't mind, you could help us out."
These words left Lu Mingfeng, Xia He, and everyone else who had been watching Zhong Ming completely dumbfounded.
"???"
"What? Why? Zhong Ming already rejected him, so why is he still fawning over him?"
"Don't tell me Young Master Jiang Yue has some kind of fetish?"
A disciple from a Cultivation Family, not waiting for Zhong Ming's "kowtowing" or "submission," but instead repeatedly showing him goodwill—this shattered the worldview of Lu Mingfeng and the others.
They couldn't understand what was so special about Zhong Ming, who only had a third-rate Spiritual Root, that would make Jiang Yue go to such lengths to befriend him.
While Lu Mingfeng and the others were completely baffled, Wei Jie and Liu Wanyu, two disciples from Cultivation Families on the same level as Jiang Yue, were also stunned for a moment.
After the initial shock, Wei Jie was overjoyed.
'He's actually getting wrapped around the finger of some lower-class youth. Jiang Yue, he's such a loser. Someone like him doesn't deserve to stand with us.'
Wei Jie, who had a crush on Liu Wanyu, was still using Zhong Ming as an excuse to belittle Jiang Yue.
But Liu Wanyu didn't agree.
Instead, her eyes held a thoughtful expression as she looked at Zhong Ming and Jiang Yue.
'Jiang Yue might be gentle, but he wouldn't show such goodwill to a lower-class youth for no reason. There must be a secret here...'
'Zhong Ming, what is so special about you?'
...
The chatter of others didn't affect Zhong Ming.
Seeing Jiang Yue sit down and hearing his words, Zhong Ming didn't touch the Spiritual Meal. After a moment of thought, he spoke to Jiang Yue, "Jiang, it seems you've discovered something."
The out-of-the-blue remark made Jiang Yue's pupils shrink abruptly.
At this, Zhong Ming became even more certain of something.
Seeing this, he was the first to leave the cafeteria, saying to Jiang Yue, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go outside."
"You insolent...! Talk..."
Her own brother repeatedly showing goodwill to Zhong Ming had caused others to look at her strangely, which already displeased Jiang Xiaoyu.
Now, Zhong Ming was acting like a master, ordering her brother and her around. This was the last straw for Jiang Xiaoyu.
However, the word "insolent" had barely left her lips before Jiang Yue reprimanded her.
"Yu, shut up!"
The stern words and her brother's incredibly solemn expression startled Jiang Xiaoyu, making her afraid to speak out of turn again.
She knew that her brother usually doted on her, but when it came to important matters, he wouldn't let her act foolishly.
Her brother's expression was so grave now; it was obvious that whatever Zhong Ming was about to say was extremely important.
But just like Lu Mingfeng, Xia He, and Wei Jie, Jiang Xiaoyu simply couldn't understand what secret a lower-class youth like Zhong Ming could possibly possess.