บท 10: Unnamed Martial Arts Card
The unnamed ninth-level martial arts card, characterized by its exceptionally vigorous internal energy, operates on the ninth layer of the Qi Jing Ba Mai chapter, enhancing internal power by 2048 points with each use. This incomplete set is missing the sixth, eighth, and tenth cards from the Qi Jing Ba Mai chapter, as well as the second and sixth cards from the Twelve Standard Meridians chapter.
Nevertheless, this is sufficient for my current needs. Just as I idly clicked on the first layer of the Qi Jing Ba Mai chapter, a prompt appeared in the Book of Demons: "Please select which martial arts card to cultivate first. It is advisable to start with the Twelve Standard Meridians, as it will fortify your internal energy and even extend your lifespan. Alternatively, commencing with the Qi Jing Ba Mai will yield a more domineering internal energy, granting you the benefits of eternal youth."
"Begin with Qi Jing Ba Mai!" I mused. "Living to such an old age can be quite lonely; eternal youth sounds far more appealing! Besides, I can practice up to the fifth card in Qi Jing Ba Mai, while the Twelve Standard Meridians is incomplete, which could hinder my potential."
I chuckled to myself and selected the first card of the Qi Jing Ba Mai chapter, which immediately vanished. A surge of overpowering energy surged within me, as a chilling aura coursed through my body like a snail racing along a freeway, tracing a slow circuit through the Qi Jing Ba Mai channels and engraving its path into my mind. Upon opening my eyes, I found the sun shining brightly outside, a clear and radiant day. The mere act of circulating my internal energy had consumed an entire night. Although I had barely slept, I felt invigorated. It seemed that this set of martial arts cards possessed remarkable efficacy.
The items that Julianna purchased had already arrived in my room. The three most expensive items included: a Level 1 Basic Spiritual Power Training Card, which could enhance spiritual strength and accelerate recovery after depletion; 100 pieces of Silver-Honed Demon-Breaking Bullets (Level 1), a weapon from the Western Church's Demon-Hunting Brigade used to target vampires, characterized by its ability to corrode evil life; and two Level 2 Cross Saint Spears, also from the Western Church's Demon-Hunting Brigade, designed for vampire hunting, resembling large handguns that fire special Silver-Honed Demon-Breaking Bullets, each magazine holding twenty-five rounds.
I noticed Julianna, fast asleep on the living room sofa, had changed into a light moon-white nightgown, its semi-transparent fabric revealing her lack of a bra. "Demon Island must be a place designed to tempt individuals into depravity and transform them into demons," I murmured, placing all the items into the Book of Demons before heading downstairs to buy breakfast.
In the hotel restaurant, I was astonished to see the icy beauty, Tianhong, engaged in conversation with another young girl wearing glasses. A five-foot-long sword was laid on the table before them, deterring anyone from approaching. After gathering my courage and acquiring my food, I finally sat opposite Tianhong and quietly expressed my gratitude, "Thank you so much for your assistance yesterday! And for the martial arts card."
"Hmph! That card was merely something I had no use for; discarding it is no different from giving it away," she replied coldly, leaving me momentarily speechless. I was not the most talkative of boys; otherwise, I wouldn't have spent half a year failing to approach Ye Ying.
"Um, I purchased a set of unnamed martial arts cards yesterday. Although it's not complete, it seems quite powerful! I just couldn't find the basic swordsmanship card..." After much deliberation, I finally conceived a topic of conversation and retrieved my Book of Demons to show off.
"If I were to gift you a basic swordsmanship card, would you consider joining our team?" the girl in glasses suddenly interjected. She appeared to be in her twenties, lacking the striking arrogance of Tianhong yet possessing a distinct charm that made her quite endearing. Though her glasses concealed part of her face, they did not diminish her beauty; she embodied the archetype of an intellectual beauty.
Scratching my head, I chuckled awkwardly, "I'm just a newbie without any real abilities!"
The bespectacled girl smiled, "Everyone starts as a novice. I believe you will demonstrate great strength within my team." As she spoke, she leaned slightly forward, exuding an enchanting allure; I had never seen a girl sit so gracefully. In contrast, Tianhong's posture was rather casual.
"Fang Lingxue, if you wish to recruit newcomers, feel free," Tianhong casually remarked as she stood up to leave.
I couldn't think of a reason to follow her or persuade her to stay, so I remained seated, scratching my head as I turned to the girl with glasses. "I would be delighted to join your team, but could you please share what the team's purpose is?"
I needed to return home and acquire the Wish Fruit, and to obtain it, I had to become sufficiently strong. Joining a team that welcomed newcomers would certainly be more advantageous than stumbling through this alone, and I wasn't in a position to be choosy.
"I am the agent for a mercenary group, and my task on Demon Island is to help find qualified members. Occasionally, I also scout for promising newcomers. If you are willing to sign this contract, guaranteeing your membership in our mercenary group after leaving Demon Island, I can provide you with a range of services."
A meticulously crafted contract materialized in my Book of Demons. I posed a critical question: "What if I fail to meet your requirements?"
Fang Lingxue suddenly smiled, replying nonchalantly, "Anyone who survives leaving Demon Island will be strong."
A chill ran down my spine as I grasped the underlying implication of Fang Lingxue's words: "Those who cannot meet the requirements will likely perish; there's little point in quarreling with the dead."
I lowered my head to scrutinize the contract presented by Fang Lingxue; its content was straightforward. She would provide me with the necessary resources to enhance my strength, while I would obey her directives. After departing Demon Island, Fang Lingxue would possess my first professional authorization. Most importantly, either party could terminate the agreement unilaterally at any time.
Though I was merely a high school freshman, I wasn't naïve enough to believe I had stumbled upon an easy mark. "If I were to unilaterally terminate the contract, would I likely face assassins sent by Fang Lingxue?"
Sighing inwardly, I contemplated this for a long time before ultimately deciding to sign my first demonic contract.
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