Within the ruins of a palace, as the black giant ape stepped into the core of the formation, a wave of coolness washed over.
The gathered energy seeped into the black giant ape through its pores, penetrating muscle and bone, slowly emanating a subtle sense of increasing strength.
No wonder that black-armored ferocious beast lingered here. The black giant ape's eyes revealed enlightenment, but soon after showed regret.
Because the energy transformation speed at this node is very slow, unless one stays here continuously to absorb, it wouldn't have much effect on the current black giant ape.
Of course, this place isn't completely useless; it could serve as a long-term energy gathering location.
Next, the giant ape circled the building front and back without any discoveries, then prepared to leave.
Previously, too much time was spent consuming the black-armored ferocious beast, and all the creatures around this area were killed, leaving uncertain opportunities to find new targets in the remaining time.
For safety's sake, it's better to come back again 'tonight' when there's ample time, avoiding any accidents due to haste.
......
Today, Jiang Hou came back a little earlier, before five, and slept for two hours.
When Jiang Hou sat down at school, Zong Zheng Nan Mo, buried in fiddling with three ancient coins, looked up: "Jiang Hou, did you go thieving last night? You look exhausted."
"No, just haven't been sleeping well lately, a bit tired." Jiang Hou said and yawned.
The nights were tense for several days, with only one or two hours of sleep. Even Jiang Hou's physique, improving daily, found it hard to bear.
Physically fine, it's mainly mental fatigue.
Just as Jiang Hou was about to lay down for a moment, Zong Zheng Nan Mo picked up the three ancient coins, clasped his hands, muttering, and then threw them onto the table again.
"What are you calculating?" Jiang Hou asked curiously, as this guy usually did before going out every day.
"Jiang Hou, I've discovered something very important these few days."
Zong Zheng Nan Mo's expression turned serious as he whispered, "Starting from that night, I've calculated four times when I went out, with two accurate and two inaccurate."
"Fifty percent probability?" Jiang Hou's tiredness vanished, surprised.
Divination is essentially akin to prophecy, and a fifty percent accuracy rate is terrifying—even hitting the lottery once a day would be fortune enough.
"But the problem is the good ones aren't accurate, only the bad ones are."
Zong Zheng Nan Mo grimaced: "Like the day before yesterday, I had a blood disaster, and then got beaten and bloodied. Yesterday it said I have a water misfortune, so I stayed away from water sources."
"Then I avoided the toilet and handwashing sink all day, only to have a basin of rice-washing water poured on me from upstairs when I got back..."
"Today, as I left, the hexagram indicated Xu on top and Li below, wind aiding fire, a grand auspicious sign."
"Before you came, I've calculated more than ten times, all yielding the same hexagram."
Good fortune isn't reliable while bad fortune is...so miserable. Jiang Hou didn't know what to say, offering a comforting word: "It's okay, today's hexagram sounds pretty good."
"That's the problem, I haven't thrown a top-grade hexagram like this for months, clearly an omen of extreme reversal."
"Whether the hexagram is good today or tomorrow, a few days later I might be highly unfortunate." Zong Zheng Nan Mo fretted.
"Why worry? They are just minor issues, just be more cautious when the time comes," Jiang Hou didn't mind much.
Getting splashed or having a bloody nose are trivial problems, not like encountering a ferocious beast or pollution monster.
True, Zong Zheng Nan Mo thought for a moment and nodded, then asked curiously: "By the way, Jiang Hou, has your physique improved today?"
"Want the truth or a lie?"
Jiang Hou's lips curled into a smile; this guy used to irritate him over receiving love letters, and now it's finally Jiang Hou's turn.
"Forget it, just don't tell me, not listening." Zong Zheng Nan Mo reversed his stand and covered his ears.
While the two whispered, the math teacher came in with a textbook...the day passed uneventfully.
As the school bell rang, Jiang Hou and Zong Zheng Nan Mo headed to room 501.
Upon entering, a handsome girl, as usual, sitting by the window, looked over, slowly speaking: "Your qi and blood surge, you've broken through to tier two."
"Yeah." Jiang Hou nodded.
"Wow, I knew this guy got stronger again, and even stepped into tier two," Zong Zheng Nan Mo's prettier-than-the-girl face showed a painful look.
Couldn't escape being teased.
Immediately Zong Zheng Nan Mo flattered: "But the president is stronger, noticing Jiang Hou's power change at a glance. By the way, president, being so incredible, do you have some unused Energy Crystal?"
"Yes."
The black-haired girl spoke lazily: "But I can't give them casually, that would break the regulations of the Celestial Punishment Special Operations Department. No reward without merit."
Zong Zheng Nan Mo's smile froze.
"Clear rewards and punishments are the foundation rules of the Celestial Punishment Department." Jiang Ruochan then looked at Jiang Hou, musing slightly, "Check your current data."
"Alright." Jiang Hou nodded, pressed the left key, and chose speaker audio.
"Basic physique 12.1, no traces of power lines inside, comprehensive realm early-tier two, combat strength 899, ranked 17th in the combat strength list."
"Tier two equates to over ten times ordinary physique, and yet no awakened abilities!" Jiang Ruochan's tone bore slight regret, then pondered.
"But perhaps this isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Jiang Ruochan looked at Jiang Hou, saying, "Awakening naturally to tier two within a few days shows your 'talent' is good, but the downside is apparent."
"Your sheer physical strength alone can't defeat even a late-tier one pollution monster, ranking bottom among the same tier."
"How about it, daring enough to take a risk? Once successful, you'll possess dual epoch inheritance, overpowering same-tier strength. If failed, with me around, at most severely injured."
Jiang Hou pondered: "...President, could you elaborate on how to take the risk?"
Fearless of risk, nothing could be more dangerous than yesterday's black-armored ferocious beast; a slight mistake would have left him there, devoured.
Noticing the calm in Jiang Hou's eyes, Jiang Ruochan nodded with satisfaction.
If Jiang Hou was too scared of danger to refuse, cultivating this club member would be futile.
"Recently, in the Yidu City Branch, they've acquired a broken slashing knife from the Divine Weapon Era, more precisely a Divine Weapon Fragment."
"This Divine Weapon Fragment is of the dark attribute, requiring high physical strength from the fuser, costing three thousand exchange points."
"But usually, each Awakened can inherit only one Era System power, trying to merge two causes intense conflict."
"This conflict is strong from the start; if it can't be suppressed, it will destroy the Awakened's consciousness, body collapsing, losing control and turning into a monster."
"So dangerous!" Zong Zheng Nan Mo exclaimed.
"Under normal conditions, yes it's very dangerous, but Jiang Hou is different. His physical strength reaches tier two, yet there's no trace of other Era System power inside, which lowers conflict probability."
"Of course, this is merely my personal theory, after all, Jiang Hou is already an Awakened, perhaps his talent relates to the Giant Beast Era inheritance."
"That era's power came from giant beasts; it's normal to have some differences from humans."
"How about it, dare to try?" Jiang Ruochan looked at Jiang Hou.