Chapter 17: Advancement

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[Artifact · Xuanyuan Arrow
Compatibility: 14%
Proficiency: 21]
[Current Mental Energy: 0/30]

The Xuanyuan Arrow dissolved into golden sparks before reappearing in Jiang Tang’s mental realm as a golden card.

After the Dingyuan was sunk by Sheng Huaian’s arrow, Jiang Tang sank to the seabed, torn apart by swarming alien creatures.

Lacking any cards usable underwater and outnumbered, she had no choice but to fight barehanded.

Yet the seabed was ultimately the aliens’ domain; the dense black creatures surged like a dark current, dragging her toward a massive whirlpool.

Outmatched, there was no use in regretting.

But unwillingness and fury roiled within her chest.

A flicker of madness gleamed in Jiang Tang’s eyes as she used her last mental energy to resonate with a card.

She refused to die passively—better to gamble than simply wait for death.

[You have resonated with a card!]

The golden card stood out vividly in the dark seabed.

It depicted a child pulling a bow with their feet.

“Nezha,” Jiang Tang immediately thought, but the card showed no response.

She calmed herself; the child had two round buns and wore a bellyband—it was definitely Nezha.

But something was wrong: this was not a character card.

“Xuanyuan Arrow!” she shouted silently.

Nezha was pulling the Xuanyuan Arrow!

[You have learned its true name!]
[Nezha has sensed you through the Xuanyuan Arrow!]
[Next resonance with Nezha increased to 60%]
[You have received Nezha’s blessing:
100% increased attack power against marine creatures
100% increased deterrence against marine creatures]
[Current Mental Energy: -12/20]

Her mental energy had turned negative again!

An irritability surged within her, as if a hand were squeezing her heart, suffocating her.

She instinctively inhaled, but seawater flooded her lungs, choking her and forcing out bubbles, breaking her breath hold.

She summoned the Xuanyuan Arrow, intending to disperse the surrounding aliens with a single shot—only to find that she could not even draw this divine weapon with her bare strength.

Are all immortals endowed with boundless strength?

Jiang Tang’s vision darkened, but her consciousness screamed for her to swim upward.

Driven by fierce will to survive, she mustered all her strength and slapped a nearby alien hard.

With the blessing of 100% increased attack power against marine creatures,

her slap smashed the alien’s brain out.

Yellow-green blood dispersed and faded in the sea.

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Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass rang in Jiang Tang’s ears.

[You have leveled up!]
[Current level: E]
[Current Mental Energy: 30/30]

The surrounding aliens, sensing the blood of their fallen comrade, grew furious, yet when Jiang Tang approached, they all recoiled as if seeing a ghost.

Jiang Tang smiled fiercely.

Great Sage, help me!

[Sun Wukong has possessed you!]
[Fiery Eyes activated]

A brilliant golden light exploded from Jiang Tang’s eyes, revealing the aliens wherever she looked, who then vanished under the golden glare.

[Current Mental Energy: 20/30]

Without pause, Jiang Tang stepped on the bodies of the aliens and swam toward the underwater whirlpool, leaving a trail of bubbles from her swift movement.

Here I come, you thief Sun!

Jiang Tang had long been lying in wait beside the boss. When Sheng Huaian released his arrow, she fired hers simultaneously, aiming to end the battle with one shot—primarily to mess with his mind.

When the exam’s end announcement sounded, her system pinged with a notification.

[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[Current level: C]

With the exam over, she and the remaining four were teleported out of the instance together.

Wang Laicai’s eyes were blank as he muttered, “Haha, failed, retake, haha…”

Jiang Tang threw her arms around Tianzhong Zhenli, wailing, “Ugh, failed, and lost so much money!”

Jiang Tang, the sly one, was truly number one!

She hadn’t even targeted Jiang Tang!

Chen Xu’s face remained calm; he glanced meaningfully at Jiang Tang. “I have other matters, I’m leaving first.”

Tianzhong Zhenli nodded at Jiang Tang. “We’re leaving too. Maybe we can talk sometime.”

With that, she dragged the crying Wang Laicai away.

Jiang Tang didn’t linger either, lifting her foot to leave.

Her mental energy drained to zero, her temples throbbed fiercely—she desperately needed rest.

Unexpectedly, Sheng Huaian grabbed her wrist, his expression flickering as he scrutinized her and demanded, “What did you do?”

In his subconscious, he refused to believe Jiang Tang could have become so strong.

How could his timid, quiet fiancée possibly match him blow for blow?

He gripped tightly, as if to crush her bones.

Jiang Tang smiled and placed her other hand on Sheng Huaian’s shoulder, pulling him closer, sweetly asking, “Want to know?”

A faint fragrance wafted to his nose, stunning him briefly before a tightness gripped his shoulder and a sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen.

He stifled a groan, released Jiang Tang, and bent over clutching his belly in pain.

Jiang Tang casually lowered her knee, as if she hadn’t just delivered him a knee strike.

“Clear now what I did?”

Her fists itched—she was tempted to take this chance to beat Sheng Huaian up and vent her frustration.

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Before she could act, Old Sun appeared.

“Jiang Tang, come with me.” Old Sun waved lazily.

Jiang Tang glanced regretfully at Sheng Huaian.

She’d have to wait until next time to teach him a lesson.

Turning away, she heard Sheng Huaian’s voice behind her: “Jiang Tang, tricks might work for a moment, but not forever.”

Her response was a middle finger raised behind her back.

Jiang Tang followed Old Sun out of the exam hall, attracting countless gazes.

“That’s Jiang Tang?”

“She single-handedly caused the entire grade to retake the exam. I declare her even more hated than Sheng Huaian.”

“My credits…”

Speaking of credits, Jiang Tang asked Old Sun, “How many credits will I get for this exam?”

Old Sun, holding a cigarette but not lighting it, replied, “Three.”

“Only three?”

Jiang Tang glanced at her neural interface—credits showed -30.

As bleak as her mental energy.

Her vision darkened—she needed 60 credits to graduate from Nebula Academy.

Missing an exam cost 5 to 10 credits.

Meaning she needed to earn 90 credits.

Old Sun suddenly said, “When the head instructor questions you later, don’t lose your temper.”

Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. “What will she ask?”

Old Sun hesitated briefly. “Well, better to be prepared now.”

“They suspect you of cheating.”

“Expected.” Jiang Tang smirked. “They sure take cheating seriously…”

Old Sun sighed helplessly. “Yeah, the official forces always cause trouble.”

Curious, Jiang Tang asked, “Are you a freelance card master?”

There were two types of card masters: those serving under the Federation’s orders, and freelancers.

The former mostly graduated from places like Nebula Academy, receiving Federation stipends and serving in the military; the latter mostly learned through trial and error, living on bounties and blood.

They didn’t exactly compete openly, but mutually looked down on each other.

So Old Sun, a freelance card master teaching at Nebula Academy, was quite a surprise.

Old Sun waved her off. “Don’t ask silly questions. We’re here. You go in.”

By then, they stood before the head instructor’s office.

Jiang Tang wasn’t one to pry too much; asking too many questions only annoyed people.

She boldly pushed open the door, glanced around, and smiled, “Everyone’s here?”