As soon as he spoke, every school leader was aghast, stunned by Chen Xiaozhangâs bold speculation.
âIt seems... he actually has a point?â
If she had truly earned the Federationâs utmost attention based on her own potential or that of her Contracted Beast... then that was a terrifying thought!
"But... this mosquitoâs Bloodline is High-Level at best, isnât it?"
The vice-principal remained skeptical. "Even with such a special ability, its future potential is limited. At most, it might reach King-level combat strength. Thatâs hardly enough for the Federation to attach so much importance to it, is it?"
"Its limit?"
Chen Xiaozhang retorted, "What makes you so certain youâve seen its limit? Are we to assume that what weâve witnessed is the full extent of its abilities? What if itâs just the tip of the iceberg?"
The others fell silent. âHe really does have a point.â
"So... I want to take a gamble!"
Chen Xiaozhangâs gaze sharpened as he came to a decision. "If we lose this gamble, weâll be out two of our schoolâs most precious treasures. But weâll have saved the Spirit Medicine Base, so our gains and losses will cancel each other out."
"But if we win?"
"We would have used two portions of King-level Essence Blood to get on the good side of a supreme existence whose future achievements are destined to be immeasurable! What would that mean for the future of Du Nan First Middle School? Have you even considered it?!"
The school leaders exchanged glances. They had to admit that while Chen Xiaozhangâs analysis was bold, it was also perfectly logical.
âIf they won... the payoff would be astronomical!â
ăA short while later.ă
When Principal Chen approached Gu Yuexi again, his expression was exceptionally grave and sincere.
"Gu, we agree to your terms."
"Iâll go retrieve a portion of the Mountain-Shaking Demon Apeâs Essence Blood right now to serve as a down payment."
"After youâve dealt with the Spirit-Devouring Worms, we will provide the other portionâthe Deep Sea Profound Turtleâs Essence Bloodâalong with a treasure of equivalent value, as the final payment."
A trace of surprise flashed through Gu Yuexiâs cold eyes.
âShe hadnât expected Principal Chen to be so decisive. Not only had he agreed to her terms, but he was also offering a portion of King-level Essence Blood as a down payment?â
âA clever man...â
She gave a slight nod, agreeing to the proposal.
âNot bad. I like this guy!â Chu Sheng praised inwardly. âAs expected of a principal. His vision and decisiveness are on another level!â
Principal Chen said no more. He nodded to the other school leaders and hurried out of the meeting room, clearly on his way to the schoolâs vault to retrieve their priceless treasure.
Seeing this, Chu Sheng decided not to wait around either. âThe deal is done. Time to upgrade my Skills!â
âThe current control limit of one thousand minions definitely wonât cut it!â
Chu Sheng immediately opened his system panel.
[Evolution Points: 123]
âThis is my entire stash... Letâs just go for it!â
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a series of system notifications rang outâ
[Ding! 20 Evolution Points consumed! âNether Flame Insect Nestâ has been upgraded to lv6! Insect storage capacity increased to 2,000!]
[Ding! 30 Evolution Points consumed! âNether Flame Insect Nestâ has been upgraded to lv7! Insect storage capacity increased to 4,000!]
[Ding! 50 Evolution Points consumed! âNether Flame Insect Nestâ has been upgraded to lv8! Insect storage capacity increased to 8,000!]
[Remaining Evolution Points: 23! Insufficient points to upgrade this Skill further!]
âEight thousand... Thatâs enough.â
Chu Sheng confidently nodded and closed the system panel.
Compared to the swarm of hundreds of millions, eight thousand was still a paltry number.
But he had a plan.
âItâs as they say: make up for a lack of numbers with superior control!â
He had plenty of ways to make those eight thousand as effective as ten, or even a hundred times their number!
Meanwhile, Zhou Zheng, Master Wang, and the others still regarded Chu Sheng with skepticism, adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
The mosquitoâs previously demonstrated ability was certainly bizarre, but the idea that it could completely solve the insect plague still seemed far-fetched.
After all, using that ability clearly consumed Mental Power. Its Spiritual Realm was only at the Second-Grade Early Stage, meaning at most it could probably only control a few tens of thousands of Spirit-Devouring Worms.
Faced with a swarm numbering in the hundreds of millions, that was hardly enough to make a difference...
âWasnât Principal Chen a bit too rash, offering a portion of King-level Essence Blood as a down payment?â
Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. After more than ten minutes of silence, the meeting room door was pushed open again, and Principal Chen returned.
He cradled a box in his hands. It was crafted from Thousand-Year Cold Jade and inscribed with countless arcane runes. Wisps of frigid air radiated from it, clearly meant to preserve its contents.
Even through the Jade Box, everyone in the room could feel a profound, ancient, and terrifying aura, as if it hailed from a primordial age.
"Gu, this is the complete set of the Mountain-Shaking Demon Apeâs Essence Blood... for the down payment!"
Principal Chen gravely handed the jade box to Gu Yuexi. The pain in his voice was almost palpable as he said through gritted teeth, "I hope you and your Contracted Beast will not disappoint us!"
Gu Yuexi took the Thousand-Year Cold Jade Box. It was ice-cold in her hands, and the profound, ancient, terrifying aura became even more distinct.
She could clearly sense that the box contained the real deal: authentic King-level Essence Blood!
âSuccess!â
A flicker of joy went through Gu Yuexiâs heart. This was the first time since her rebirth that she had come into contact with a King-level treasure.
âWith these two portions of King-level Essence Blood, the mosquito and I probably wonât have to worry about Qi Blood Cultivation Resources until we reach the Fourth-Grade!â
Of course...
â...provided this damned mosquito was actually reliable.â
âIâve already done all the posturing for it. If it drops the ball now, weâll be a complete laughingstock.â
Gu Yuexi subtly glanced at Chu Sheng on her shoulder, her eyes conveying a clear message: âItâs all on you now. Donât screw this up!â
However, Chu Shengâs attention was now completely captivated by the Jade Box.
âHoly shit! King-level Essence Blood!â
âThis aura, these Energy fluctuations... theyâre countless times stronger than the blood from that Three-headed Red Flame Lion!â
âWho gives a damn about anything else?â
âScrew it! Iâm getting a taste first!â
Chu Sheng flew right off Gu Yuexiâs shoulder and landed on the Jade Box. Without a momentâs hesitation, he plunged his ferocious proboscis into the crack in the lid!
SSSLURPâ!
An immense and pure wave of Energy, far more potent than anything he had ever absorbed before, flooded into his body like a bursting dam!
[Ding! King-level (Three Stars) Bloodline detectedâMountain-Shaking Demon Ape (Adult)! Beginning absorption...]
[Warning! Warning! Blood Energy concentration is too high! Exceeds hostâs physical tolerance! A portion of the absorbed Energy will be automatically used to repair the hostâs body!]
[Ding! Host has absorbed 528 Qi Blood Points! Current Total Qi Blood: 1167!]
[Ding! Hostâs Qi Blood Realm has advanced to the Second-Grade Middle Stage!]
[Estimated digestion time: 10 hours. Estimated Evolution Points to be gained: 105!]
BOOM!
As the system notifications rang out, the aura emanating from Chu Shengâs body surged dramatically!
His Qi Blood fluctuations, which had been at the Second-Grade Early Stage, shattered their bottleneck in a single second, stabilizing firmly at the Second-Grade Middle Stage!
âHoly hell!â
âOver five hundred Qi Blood Points in a single sip?!â
Chu Sheng was utterly floored! The quality was simply outrageous!
âAnd that was without even fully absorbing it! Some of the Energy was used by the system to repair his body!â
âThis is so damn powerful!â
âIf I drink this entire portion of Essence Blood, wonât I just shoot straight to the Fourth-Grade?!â