Luo Yang couldn't quite put into words what it felt like to break through to the Clear Heart rank.
If he had to make a comparison, it was probably like an old engine that had run a hundred thousand kilometers suddenly being fitted with a brand-new turbocharger.
The total amount of blood energy had only increased by about five percent, but its operating efficiency had improved by an entire dimension.
A weapon that originally required three units of blood energy to drive now only needed one.
The precision of control that previously required his full concentration to maintain could now be achieved even while his mind wandered.
The limit of his mental power’s coverage had expanded to eight kilometers, and his sensory accuracy had improved accordingly.
He stood in the yard and tested it out. Closing his eyes, everything within a three-hundred-meter radius became crystal clear.
Next door, Old Wang’s orange cat was napping on the external air conditioning unit. In the cracks of the sycamore tree’s bark at the neighborhood entrance, a nest of ants was hidden. Further away, a girl in a red dress was giggling at her phone.
“Not bad.” He clenched his fist tightly.
Yan Zhi sat on the doorstep, holding a can of ice-cold cola with both hands.
In the past few days, she had completely adapted to modern life. With the trio of cola, anime, and potato chips on rotation, her life was even more comfortable than Luo Yang’s.
The only thing she was dissatisfied with was the size of Luo Yang’s television; watching anime on it wasn't satisfying enough.
“I’m heading out. There are frozen dumplings in the fridge; cook them yourself if you’re hungry,” Luo Yang said, picking up his jacket.
“Mm,” Yan Zhi replied without looking up.
Luo Yang watched her slacker-like behavior, his lip twitching.
When this girl first came back with him, she still had the mysterious aura of a thousand-year-old walking corpse. Now, she had completely turned into an ordinary shut-in addicted to happy water.
He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
...
The Ability Bureau was the same as always.
As soon as Luo Yang stepped through the main entrance, he bumped into the Logistics Section Chief, whose face looked even more haggard than before.
A woman in her early forties, the dark circles under her eyes were so heavy they looked like smoky eye makeup. The moment she saw Luo Yang, a look of “here comes another expense” despair flashed in her eyes.
“Luo Yang.” Her voice was terrifyingly calm.
“Good morning, Section Chief Li.” Luo Yang gave her an innocent smile.
“I am not good,” Section Chief Li said expressionlessly.
Luo Yang’s smile stiffened for a moment.
She quickly regained her composure, pulled another document from her pocket, and handed it over.
“The old director has already received the news. Since you’ve just broken through to the Clear Heart rank, the Bureau can approve a batch of new equipment for you. You can take five third-tier items and twenty items below third-tier. You can choose whatever you want; it goes on the public account.”
Luo Yang took the document, his eyebrows arching slightly.
That old man was certainly well-informed.
In the past few days, he had only mentioned his breakthrough to Zhang Xian. He hadn't even officially reported it to the Ability Bureau yet, but they had already approved the equipment.
“But there is a condition. Within the next three months, you must unconditionally accept up to three combat missions assigned by the Bureau. You cannot decline for any reason.”
“Sign this supplemental agreement, and you can take the equipment.”
Luo Yang stared at the agreement for a few seconds.
Yuanxing City was considered a relatively safe city in Shenzhou. There wouldn't be many high-difficulty missions, and even if there were, with his current strength, they wouldn't be too much trouble to handle.
More importantly, he really was short on equipment right now.
“I’ll sign.”
He picked up a pen, signed his name with a flourish, and slapped the agreement back to Section Chief Li.
The moment he signed, he thought he heard Section Chief Li let out a sigh of relief.
Ten minutes later, Luo Yang walked out of the Ability Bureau’s equipment warehouse.
His space ring now held five brand-new third-tier weapons: three longswords and two spears. To save the Bureau some money, he had chosen Punisher Longswords for all twenty items below third-tier.
They were all standard mass-produced goods—no customization, no special inscriptions, and no flashy additional functions. They looked as plain as if they had just come off the assembly line.
But Luo Yang didn't care. In his hands, the fate of all weapons was the same anyway.
“Three missions...” he muttered to himself as he walked out of the Ability Bureau’s main gate.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. It was a new mission notification from the Punisher app. Luo Yang tapped it open and took a look, a slight smile appearing on his face.
It was time to make some money.
...
Meanwhile, at the Yuanxing City Punisher Academy, in the Principal’s office.
Zhang Xian sat behind his desk, holding a cup of steaming tea.
Standing before him were four people: Qiu Shubai, Chu Zimo, Tang Xuan, and a boy who had just been summoned.
The boy had an ordinary appearance, the kind that would get lost in a crowd. He was of medium build, with regular features but no distinguishing characteristics. He stood there neither nervous nor relaxed, like a quiet stone by the roadside.
“Li Qiang, Middle Division second-year, Core Consolidation Level 4,” Zhang Xian said, setting down his teacup. “Ability: ‘Flowing Cloud Stardust,’ Peerless rank. A composite ability with both support and long-range combat capabilities.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the four faces.
“I know you’re all wondering why it’s the four of you.”
Tang Xuan was chewing bubblegum. She blew a large red bubble that popped with a loud “snap.”
She was indeed wondering about that.
“Because the four of you combined can deliver the purest form of offense.” Zhang Xian stood up, walked to the whiteboard on the wall, and drew four circles with a marker.
“Qiu Shubai, Bloodfall, Transcendent rank ability. The primary front-line attacker. Once you let loose with your sword, almost no one at the same level can stop you head-on.”
He wrote “Main Attack” in the first circle.
“Tang Xuan, Light Flame, Peerless rank ability. Your ability doesn't have flashy tricks; it’s pure stats. Attack power, range, and destructive force. You are the team’s turret, responsible for fire suppression and precision elimination.”
In the second circle, he wrote “Firepower.”
“Chu Zimo, Shadow Bind, Sharp Edge rank ability. Although your ability rank is a bit low, the domain ability you possess is the key.”
“Once your domain unfolds, you enter optical stealth within a five-meter radius of your original position. Unless the opponent uses mental power or has information-gathering abilities, they will be forced to divert a massive amount of energy to deal with you. You are the blade hidden in the dark, specialized in flanking and harvesting.”
In the third circle, he wrote “Assassin.”
“Li Qiang.” Zhang Xian pointed to the fourth circle.
“Flowing Cloud Stardust can simultaneously provide blood energy recovery, mental power amplification, and long-range fire support. You are the team’s support, responsible for ensuring the sustained combat capability of the other three.”
He took a step back and used the marker to circle the four circles together, drawing a large arrow pointing to two words written on the other side of the board.
“Offense.”
Zhang Xian turned around and looked at the four young people.
“Your team has no defense. Once a battle starts, you only have one thing to do. That is to tear the enemy to shreds before they can touch you.”
He tossed the marker back into the holder.
“That is the reason for your existence. A pure blade that doesn't need a sheath.”
The office fell silent for a few seconds.
Qiu Shubai looked at the four circles on the whiteboard. Beneath her ash-white bangs, a faint light flickered in her eyes.
A blade that doesn't need a sheath... that description reminded her of a certain someone.
Tang Xuan’s chewing slowed down.
Pure offense—that was exactly what her ability was best at. For a moment, she felt that this old man actually understood her.
Chu Zimo remained expressionless, but his fingers hanging at his sides curled involuntarily.
A blade hidden in the dark—that phrase accurately struck his own understanding of his ability.
Li Qiang still had that calm look, but a very faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
As a support, every team needed someone to do the dirty work, and he was long used to taking that position.
After all, no matter how beautiful a red flower was, it still needed a few fresh green leaves to complement it.
Zhang Xian pushed four sets of documents to the edge of the desk. “Sign this team confirmation form.”
“From today on, the four of you are the No. 1 Seed Team of the Yuanxing City Punisher Academy. Choose a team name yourselves and report it to me in three days.”
He sat back in his chair, picked up his tea, and added leisurely.
“By the way, the rules for the preliminary rounds of the league just came out. The first round is still arena matches, but they are team arena matches. In your young people’s terms, 4v4.”
Qiu Shubai lowered her head to look at the confirmation form, the corners of her mouth curling up almost imperceptibly.
Pure offense?
She thought of that guy who always had an indifferent look on his face. If he were here, he would probably say with a smile, “Isn't this tailor-made for me?”
What a pity.
She picked up the pen and signed her name on the form. The sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper was very light, like the sound of a blade cutting through the wind.
Rate on N.U.
