Chapter 29: Mastery of Advanced Insight! Tiger Girl’s Second Divine Punishment?
[Page (1/3)]
[You have ignored various disturbances in the pitch-black night, pinpointed your target, and successfully triggered a new magical skill—Night Focus. (Advancement Sequence: Night Focus—Night Stalker—Domain of Absolute Darkness—Source of Darkness...)]
[Night Focus]: Increases your mental focus during the night. Beginner: 20%, Intermediate: 40%, Advanced: 60%, Mastery: 80%.
[Night Stalker]: Your stamina, lethality, reaction speed, and recovery ability at night are more than three times your usual levels, with an upper limit of ten times.
[Domain of Absolute Darkness]: You will control darkness, devouring all surrounding light to create a combat field where you are the master.
[Source of Darkness]: You will seize the source of darkness for your own use!
"Hmm... the style is indeed different!"
Xu Ran was slightly surprised.
The starting point of this first sequence of a magical skill was completely different from the others.
He recalled the magical skills he already possessed.
When they were first triggered, they were all basic life skills—like Crawling Fast, Hide and Seek, Running Fast... They were unremarkable, skills any child would possess.
It was only after Xu Ran "grinded" 10,000 points of progress that they crossed into the second sequence and became true magical skills.
But now... the first sequence was already beginning to be "magical"?
"Is it because I’m reading more books, my comprehension has significantly improved, so the benefits are starting to show? Or is there some other reason?"
"If it were purely because of comprehension, that wouldn't make sense. Because the 'Playing Dead' I used earlier was just a 'Basic Playing Dead' start..."
Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, thinking seriously for a moment.
"I get it! It must be because the trigger conditions for 'Night Focus' are more demanding and have a higher threshold, so the entry-level skill is naturally much more powerful."
"In any case, I have another practical skill!"
"Life is indeed full of surprises! Who would have thought that after a day of hard reading, I could trigger two magical skills at once at night?"
"Perhaps reading really can make one lucky?!"
Xu Ran suddenly thought of the saying and couldn't help but smile happily.
"I don't know if reading makes others lucky, but I know for sure that reading will steadily make me stronger!"
"Since that's the case, I'll be even more disciplined! Go to the library during the day, bring books home at night, and keep reading!"
Muttering to himself, Xu Ran's eyes suddenly lit up: "Great idea!"
"If I only read fifty books a day, it would take 145 days to promote 'Reading Ten Thousand Volumes' to the second sequence, 'Advanced Comprehension.' But if I grind seventy books a day, it would only take 99 days!"
"Ninety-nine days—what a beautiful and familiar number!"
"Alright, that’s the plan. Self-discipline has already become like breathing to me anyway."
Having been self-disciplined since the first day he was born, Xu Ran disregarded everything else.
He secretly formulated an even crazier plan for self-discipline in his heart.
At the same time, he tossed one hundred practice darts into a basket and strolled leisurely into the living room.
In the living room, his mother had already folded the clean laundry and placed it on the sofa.
"Baby, go take a bath. Go to sleep after you're done. Even though you're already 1.4 meters tall, I'm worried you won't grow if you sleep too late! It would be very bad if you don't reach 1.5 meters."
Xu Ran’s handsome face was full of pride: "...Mom, you're worrying too much. There is no way I’ll stay at 1.5 meters! I’ll easily reach 1.8 meters, nice and tall!"
His mother laughed: "If you still go to bed after ten tomorrow, 1.8 meters will be a struggle, baby."
"Then I’ll go to bed earlier tomorrow."
Xu Ran made an OK gesture and went to take his bath with his clothes in his arms.
After the bath, Xu Ran slipped into his bedroom.
Before going to bed, he smiled at his mother: "Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight."
"Snap—"
The lights went out.
In the pitch black, the handsome face shifted from the bed to the ceiling...
Gecko Wall-Climbing Technique progress +1...
Gecko Wall-Climbing Technique progress +1...
Gecko Wall-Climbing Technique progress +1...
After a few days of adaptation, Xu Ran's "magnetic adhesion technique" had reached a state of perfection; he would never fall off again.
The night passed without incident.
The next day: Reading Ten Thousand Volumes progress +70...
Qi and Blood value +16...
Another day passed: Reading Ten Thousand Volumes progress +70...
Qi and Blood value +16...
On the third day, his mother, who was acting as a study companion at the library, felt her phone vibrate.
She answered.
On the other end, Tiger Girl's mother spoke with rapid urgency: "Xiao Ran's mom... Xiao Liuli fainted again! It's a bit like last time! Could you let Xiao Ran come over? We need his help!"
Lin Qian stood up immediately: "Xiao Ran, hurry, hurry, Xiao Liuli fainted, it's the same situation as last time!"
"Received, leaving immediately."
Xu Ran didn't even close his book; he sprang up from his chair, deep in thought as he walked quickly: "Strange, how could Tiger Girl faint again? Haven't her foundation bones already formed?"
Ever since Tiger Girl's last fainting spell, when she swallowed 20 drops of high-tier Crystal Beast true blood at the hospital, he hadn't observed the crimson gold light in her chest for two and a half years!
Xu Ran had been keeping an eye on this matter.
While observing Tiger Girl, he also kept an eye on other geniuses in the kindergarten.
But after observing for two and a half years, he had never seen the light of any other genius.
In other words, the only foundation bone light Xu Ran could see was Tiger Girl's.
And that created a problem.
Why could he only see Tiger Girl's?
He didn't understand. Could there be some kind of bond? But he and Tiger Girl had no blood relation, and their two mothers didn't even know each other until the children were eight and ten months old—what kind of bond could there be?
"If it's because of the System... I can see Tiger Girl's foundation bones. Then, relying on the System, I should be able to see other geniuses' foundation bones too!"
"But last time, during the battle with Zhu Yuheng and the others, I guessed their foundation bones through their abilities; I couldn't directly see the light blooming from their bones."
Tiger Girl's uniqueness sparked Xu Ran's intense curiosity.
But he couldn't find an answer, so he had originally set it aside and left it alone.
As a result... Tiger Girl was actually awakening a second time!
Now he was even more curious!
On the way, Xu Ran’s thoughts raced dozens of times.
Without realizing it, he and his mother had arrived at Director Qin's research lab.
He pushed the door open.
[Page (1/3)]
[Page (2/3)]
Entering, everyone's eyes turned toward them.
Director Qin was the first to speak: "Xiao Ran! Come take a look, is this situation calling for the same method as last time?"
Xu Ran: "..."
Good grief, the research director of a prestigious Demigod Kindergarten asking for the advice of a four-year-old child?
That’s completely topsy-turvy!
"Although I am indeed very impressive."
Muttering to himself, Xu Ran walked quickly to the hospital bed to observe Tiger Girl.
At this moment, Tiger Girl’s small body was curled up like a cooked shrimp, her pretty little face pale, her naturally lively and spirited features twisted in pain, sweat soaking her long eyelashes and the strands of hair on her forehead, while white steam rose from her head.
"Her chest is glowing!"
Xu Ran narrowed his eyes.
After two and a half years, he saw the crimson gold light in Tiger Girl's chest once again.
"But it seems I'm the only one who can see it?"
He looked up at the Principal, Director Qin, his mother, Aunt Chen, the guards, the assistant Xiao Liu, and the other staff... without a doubt, they were completely oblivious to the brilliant light emanating from Tiger Girl's chest.
"As expected, only I can see it."
"But why can't I see the light of other geniuses?"
Xu Ran was puzzled.
Unfortunately, he didn't have extra time to think; he had to save Tiger Girl first.
"Aunt Qin, Xiao Liuli's foundation bones need more energy. Just give her 7th-tier or higher Crystal Beast true blood, just like last time."
"Alright, no problem."
Director Qin nodded; she had already had her assistant, Xiao Liu, fetch the Crystal Beast true blood, waiting to the side.
The treatment began immediately.
A sharp scalpel sliced open the tip of Tiger Girl's toe.
Drops of 7th-tier Crystal Beast true blood dripped into the wound and were instantly sucked into her body by the baptism of her foundation bones.
"Principal, twenty drops of true blood don't seem to be enough."
The Principal waved his hand: "Then make it fifty. Spend whatever resources it takes."
To be able to suppress other geniuses for two full years at the Demigod Kindergarten at two years younger than them—what were a mere 300 million in resources?
Assistant Xiao Liu immediately brought over fifty drops of true blood, and before long, the new batch was completely consumed.
Having absorbed a full seventy drops of true blood, Tiger Girl was like a sponge that had soaked up enough water; her curled-up body relaxed, the expression of pain vanished, and her little face returned to its healthy, rosy-white glow.
Seeing this scene, Tiger Girl's mother felt her heart settle: "Thank you, Principal, thank you, Director Qin, thank you, Xiao Ran..."
Director Qin: "Don't mention it, as long as she's okay."
Principal: "Is she really alright? Check her thoroughly, we must ensure there are no lingering side effects!"
Assistant Xiao Liu: "No problem, I'll do a full-body checkup immediately."
Amidst the concern, Tiger Girl opened her dark, gem-like eyes and looked around, her voice thick and soft: "Principal, Mom, Aunt Lin, Brother Xiao Ran, Aunt Qin, Sister Xiao Liu..."
"Did I faint again?"
Director Qin smoothed out Tiger Girl's messy hair: "You must have become stronger again. Do you feel anything different?"
Tiger Girl shook her head blankly: "I don't know. I'm just a bit hungry, I want to eat meat."
The group burst into laughter: "Alright, alright. After the checkup, you can go eat meat."
Tiger Girl hopped off the bed: "Yay!"
Seeing this, Tiger Girl's mother didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In the blink of an eye, she had forgotten the danger and pain from just a moment ago—she really was a bit simple-minded.
Assistant Xiao Liu checked seriously: "Everything is normal. Only the magnetic field of the high-nuclear energy cluster at the foundation bone location has intensified several times."
She picked up the data point by point.
When she saw the Qi and Blood value, her expression froze.
"Jiang Liuli, 4 years and 10 months old, Qi and Blood value: 1299.66."
Director Qin was incredulous: "Are you sure? This is over 100 points higher than Zhu Yuheng at five years old! Even Adam only had 1130 points at five!"
Assistant Xiao Liu: "I'm sure, the instrument doesn't make mistakes."
Director Qin took a deep breath: "So, what kind of quality foundation bones does little Liuli have?!"
She was stunned.
Judging by the data and performance, the quality of little Liuli's foundation bones seemed comparable to Zhu Yuheng's?
And Zhu Yuheng possessed the most special Time Foundation Bone!
Little Liuli could compare to that?!
For a moment, Director Qin was so curious she even wanted to dissect Tiger Girl.
But she held back.
She just stared at Tiger Girl, wide-eyed and unblinking.
Hearing the data, the Principal was laughing uncontrollably: "Good, good, good! Zhu Yuheng, Xu Ran, Jiang Liuli—I’ve actually found several super treasures at once! Good, good, good!"
He was beaming with joy, looking nothing like his usual stern self.
His mother excitedly grabbed Aunt Chen's hand: "Lizhen, don't be so excited! Don't be!"
Aunt Chen: "No, no, Xiao Ran's mom, I think you're more excited than me, you're hurting my hand."
His mother: "..."
To the side, Xu Ran observed Tiger Girl carefully.
He really wanted to know what kind of divine entity a foundation bone that could undergo two awakenings actually was.
But looking at Tiger Girl's dazed expression, she probably didn't know herself... He'd have to wait until she turned six!
Xu Ran smiled faintly: "Bye Principal, bye Aunt Qin... I'm going back to the library to keep reading."
Director Qin suddenly grabbed Xu Ran, striking a pose of "I want to study your foundation bones": "Xiao Ran, you read dozens of books every day, can you actually remember the knowledge points inside?"
Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, his expression guarded: "I don't remember them, I just read them without seeking deep understanding, swallowing them whole."
After saying this, Xu Ran slipped away immediately.
Nothing was more important than grinding progress.
Reading Ten Thousand Volumes progress +50...
Reading Ten Thousand Volumes progress +20...
Qi and Blood value +16...
Facts proved that self-discipline is addictive. For the next period of time, Xu Ran couldn't stop.
Every day, Reading Ten Thousand Volumes progress +50...
One hundred days passed in a flash.
The 1841st day of early childhood!
[Page (2/3)]
[Page (3/3)]
By the window of the library, the sunset hit the side of Xu Ran’s handsome, small face.
His slender fingers closed the 10,000th book of his life.
As he let out a long sigh, the smile on his face became brighter and more sunny and cheerful.
It’s coming!
It’s coming!
After one hundred days of hard grinding, the long-awaited sound of nature rang out in his mind—
[Congratulations, you have carefully read 10,000 books, the progress of Reading Ten Thousand Volumes has reached its maximum, and it has been automatically promoted for you—Advanced Comprehension (Beginner)...]
[Advanced Comprehension]: Your comprehension has been greatly improved. You have transformed from an ordinary human into a practitioner with superior comprehension. You will find twice the result with half the effort when studying martial arts, unique skills, formations, alchemy, etc.
[Advanced Comprehension (Beginner): 0/10000... (Your alchemy, martial arts training, creation of martial arts, reading, and other activities will increase the progress of Advanced Comprehension...)]
As the prompt faded, "Whoosh—"
Streams of cool, flowing water surged from the core deep within his brain, like a mountain spring, constantly washing and cleansing his 100 billion brain cells.
The speed of the cleansing was extremely fast.
In just an instant, Xu Ran felt as if his brain had been taken out, cleaned, and upgraded.
The books he had browsed now left a much deeper impression.
And the magical skills he had mastered also had more insights in an instant; from now on, using them would surely be more elegant, smooth, and effortless.
"Good grief! I'm going to grow an even more perfect brain!"
Xu Ran was slightly startled.
Because at this moment, he discovered that his perspective on all things had become several times calmer and sharper.
"Now, grinding for the mastery progress will definitely be several times easier."
Xu Ran narrowed his eyes and used his 'Careful Observation' to start observing everything around him.
The direction of the wind, how to move within the wind...
The angle of the light, how to perform the 'Mysterious Steps' within the light...
[Insight into Flaws progress +1...]
[Insight into Flaws progress +1...]
[Insight into Flaws progress +1...]
Xu Ran smiled, his expression extremely pleased.
"The progress gain is exactly the same as before! It matches my prediction—the higher the comprehension, the faster the progress increases!
At this rate, it will only take 500 days for me to grind all dozen of my magical skills into the third sequence!"
Third-sequence skills...
There was Invisibility! Air Wall Manipulation! Three Thousand Thunderbolts! Divine Weapon Throw! Paper-Folding Sealing! Severed Limb Reattachment!
All high-end stuff!
In Xu Ran's view, the second-sequence magical skills had a bit of a Wuxia flavor.
But the third-sequence magical skills were high-end Xianxia! They would give him much more confidence.
Admittedly, when he had the second-sequence skills, Xu Ran had already slaughtered his way through the Gouhuo-Chang.
But the second kidnapping had been slow to arrive.
Xu Ran began to be vigilant! He began to be "paranoid"!
Could a big one be coming?
Therefore, for the sake of safety, he had to grind out the third sequence!
At the very least, he had to obtain Invisibility and Severed Limb Reattachment!
"500 days from now, I will be six years and six months old. I'll be able to break the second life shackle, and my conversion rate from Qi and Blood to Qi-Power will increase to over 50%!"
"Only then will I be able to safely leave the mountain to gain experience and complete the two golden achievements: 'Youthful Supreme' and 'Killing Intent into Fire'."
Muttering to himself, Xu Ran glanced at the Daoist interface.
[Name]: Xu Ran
[Age]: 1841st day of early childhood (5 years and one month)
[Qi and Blood]: 11696/100,000
[Spirit]: 56/100
[Appearance]: 100/100 (Already at maximum, you will possess a celestial appearance in adulthood...)
[Fortune]: 108 points/∞ (Your fortune is top-tier, with constant fortuitous encounters.)
[Foundation Bones]: None
[Divine Abilities]: None
[Achievements]: ...
[Achievement Tasks]...
"Very good, the ultimate goal for the next 500 days is to grind out a series of third-sequence magical skills!"
"To complete a more perfect transformation."
Xu Ran nodded secretly.
"Brother Xiao Ran~ Brother Xiao Ran~"
Tiger Girl suddenly poked her little head out, grinning, her dark, gem-like eyes fixed on Xu Ran.
She lowered her voice, not daring to shout with her full energy, clearly having been taught by her mother.
"What is it?"
"Brother Xiao Ran, I’ve learned your footwork!"
Xu Ran laughed, not taking it to heart, but his expression was that of someone teasing a little kid: "...Is that so? Why don't you show me right here. I want to see what kind of footwork you've learned..."
Tiger Girl was very serious and earnest: "Brother Xiao Ran is looking down on me! Hmph!"
Xu Ran spread his hands: "I’m not looking down on you. It’s just that my footwork is very hard to copy..."
Tiger Girl pouted: "You are looking down on me!"
"Hmph! If I’ve learned it, you have to teach me more combat techniques, deal?!"
As she spoke, Tiger Girl, who had always conquered opponents with brute force, had a glimmer of slyness in her bright, twinkling eyes.
Xu Ran was slightly stunned.
Wait... did Tiger Girl grow a new brain too?
She’s actually starting to play mind games with me?
Although the mind games of such a small child were easy to see through at a glance.
But... she wouldn't have actually learned the 'Mysterious Steps,' would she?
[Page (3/3)]