Stronger with More Jobs

Chapter 544 - 258: Target—Jiang Chengyue

"Something’s definitely off."

Wei Banmeng walked over to Fang Qingyu, who was frowning, and with her cold eyes scanning the overly serene environment, she said softly, "Logically, as reinforcements, upon arrival, we should first connect with the front-line command or the City Defense Army, get familiar with the defensive area, understand the enemy situation, clarify our mission sequence, and then proceed to our station or directly take turns on the city wall."

"Instead, we’ve been directly taken to the core area of the City Lord’s Mansion, set up in this isolated ’Observatory’ to enjoy the night view."

The novelty and excitement on Chu Kuanglan’s face also faded away.

With a muffled voice, he chimed in, "Yeah! This place is comfortable, but it feels like a luxurious birdcage. We’re here to fight, not to vacation! That fatty Chen smiles like a flower, but why do I feel he’s setting us up as if we’re relics to be revered, rather than for combat efficiency?"

Fang Qingyu slowly exhaled, the light in his melted-gold vertical pupils swirling and finally settling into calm.

"Since we’re here, let’s make the most of it. Chen Ming’s words left some room; he mentioned there would be tasks assigned. The Jiang Family has stood against the Arctic Front for a century, with a decent reputation. Pavilion Master Yan and Su Wanqing have both mentioned it. Maybe... they have some special internal arrangement, or maybe the front-line pressure isn’t so urgent right now?"

He paused, his eyes sweeping over the four teammates: "No matter the case, strength is fundamental. Let’s settle in and utilize the time to train, responding to change with constancy."

"Glazed Light City is right there in front of us, the front lines aren’t going anywhere; it’s unlikely they’ll keep us trapped here just to sightsee."

Upon hearing this, although the doubts in their hearts remained, they understood Fang Qingyu’s reasoning.

Arriving in unfamiliar territory, rash questioning or actions might be unwise.

Enhancing strength and observing developments is the most prudent choice for now.

"Alright, we’ll follow the captain’s lead!"

Chu Kuanglan scratched his head and quickly returned to his carefree demeanor. "This place is big enough, there’s no training ground, but plenty of rooms. We can each find a Meditation Chamber for training, right? Heh, with these large glass windows, resting with a good view isn’t bad either!"

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan nodded, expressing agreement.

Jiang Wei silently tugged on Fang Qingyu’s coat, indicating her desire to join him.

Without further words, they each casually chose a suite on the upper circular corridor.

Fang Qingyu selected a room with the widest window view, while Jiang Wei quietly chose the one next to his.

Upon entering the room, the interior’s luxury was no less than the living room’s.

Giant floor-to-ceiling windows, soft carpets, a private bath, and a Meditation Chamber inside.

Fang Qingyu was uninterested in admiring the room, sitting cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the chamber’s center, mind diving into his sea of awareness.

Deep within his consciousness, an ancient and mysterious chart unfurled slowly.

After the battle in the Glacial Ruins, although the process was fraught, the rewards were substantial.

Defeating the Apostle-level He Manhe’s "Curse Corpse" and the Pantheon operative codenamed "Gray Shadow" earned a hefty reward of 12 Skill Points.

His gaze landed on the newly illuminated skill icon on the chart:

[True Meaning of Thunder Lv.1 (0/1000)]

"10 points, invest in True Meaning of Thunder!"

Fang Qingyu made his decision without hesitation.

Buzz—!

The chart glowed, 10 Skill Points vanished instantly, turning into ten streams of radiant purple light, pouring thunderously into that minuscule thunderbolt.

BOOM—!!!

Fang Qingyu’s sea of awareness seemed to explode in a soundless thunderstorm, a surging tide of cognition and insight flooding through.

Countless ancient mysteries about thunder, its pathways, the truth of destruction and vitality, washed over his consciousness like a torrent.

His understanding of Bone-Eroding Thunder elevated, expanded, and deepened infinitely.

The pale electric light of the Bone-Eroding Thunder began undergoing a qualitative transformation amidst the insight torrent.

Fang Qingyu clearly "saw" the restructuring within the pale electric light, becoming more refined and concentrated, faintly emitting a deeper glaze of purple.

A destructive luster, capable of penetrating all things to reach the soul’s depths, was gestating at the electric light’s core.

Simultaneously, his perception of thunder underwent an earth-shaking change.

Grasping a thread...

The difference from initially mastering the True Meaning of Thunder was immense.

Now, Fang Qingyu could not only activate Bone-Eroding Thunder through his own Qi Blood.

He also preliminarily gained the ability to manipulate, perceive, and even slightly control stray charges in the external environment.

This undoubtedly broadened the dimensions and sustainability of combat.

The upgrade process felt like a soul-level thunder baptism, tumultuous and profound.

Fang Qingyu closed his eyes, with no electric light escaping his skin, but beneath, tiny purple electric patterns flashed like living creatures.

His breath grew long and imbued with a peculiar rhythm.

Time unknown, the thunderstorm in his sea of awareness gradually subsided.

The minuscule thunderbolt had already multiplied several times in size, taking on a more solid form, the core’s glaze-purple light stable and profound.

The text on the chart also changed accordingly.

[True Meaning of Thunder Lv.2 (0/2000)]

Fang Qingyu slowly opened his eyes, the melted-gold vertical pupils briefly flashing a faint glaze of purple so fast it seemed an illusion.

One could feel the Bone-Eroding Thunder’s power increased by at least thirty percent.

Outside the window, Glazed Light City’s artificial aurora continued its flowing transformation, as time slid by quietly.

The next morning.

The door of the suite was lightly knocked, the rhythm carrying a barely perceptible urgency.

Fang Qingyu had just finished his morning exercise and walked to the door at the sound.

Opening it, standing outside was Director Chen Ming.

His face still bore the professional smile, yet a sheen of fine sweat was on his forehead, his eyes carrying a hint of anxiety and urgency deep within.