“Achoo!”
Su Mo was walking along when he suddenly sneezed.
Could someone be thinking about me?
Well, as a courtesy, I’ll think about them too…
An image of the “elegant lady” version of himself popped into his mind.
“Qingyi.” Xia Qingqing’s voice rang out from ahead.
Su Mo looked up to see her happily nibbling on a candied hawthorn stick, her big, innocent eyes sparkling with delight.
“You’re back! I thought you were—” She mimed wiping away tears.
Su Mo rolled his eyes. “I’m not dead.”
“So, are you cured?”
“No.”
“Aww—” Her disappointment was palpable. “Then how am I supposed to kiss you in the future?”
Su Mo snatched the candied hawthorn from her hand and held it high above his head. “What’s with you, always trying to take advantage of me at such a young age?”
Xia Qingqing leaped up but ended up dangling midair.
Su Mo dangled the treat in front of her face. “Do you admit you were wrong?”
She tried to lunge at him like a ravenous dog, but Su Mo had already predicted her move and swiftly stepped back.
After a few failed attempts, realizing she’d have to bid farewell to her beloved snack if she didn’t apologize, Xia Qingqing gritted her teeth and gave up. “Sister Qingyi, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have teased you. Only Su Mo is allowed to kiss you.”
Su Mo froze for a second, secretly pleased—but he couldn’t show it, so he feigned anger instead. “Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll smack you.”
“Sister Qingyi, you’re the best! You’d never hit me.” Clutching her reclaimed treasure, she clung to his arm and pouted.
“Hmph. At least you know your place…”
It was early winter in Jing City. The weather had turned chilly, though not cold enough for heavy coats. Su Mo wore just a jacket over his T-shirt.
A light breeze brushed past, sending a faint shiver through him.
Given his current physical condition, the cold didn’t bother him—the chill was just his body’s reflexive response.
Back in his apartment, Su Mo enjoyed a hot shower before settling down to practice the Jade Seed Technique.
Xia Qingqing had wanted him to come to her dorm, but considering he was at a bottleneck in his training—and might break through at any moment—he needed solitude. So, he turned her down.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Su Mo turned his focus inward.
His Qi Core floated serenely within the swirling energy inside him, its surface glossy and translucent, like a priceless pearl.
Overflowing energy—this is the precursor to forming a Qi Sea.
According to the Jade Seed Technique: Qi Refining Chapter, the more condensed the Qi Core, the vaster the Qi Sea it would create.
Most cultivation techniques were similar before the Qi Sea stage—only afterward did they begin to diverge.
As Ye Qingyi had explained, the Jade Seed Technique stood apart from others in its very name: “Jade Seed.”
What did that mean?
The technique described the human body’s five organs—heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs—each corresponding to one of the five elements: fire, wood, earth, water, and metal.
The Jade Seed Technique involved planting a “Jade Seed” in each organ. These seeds would grow alongside the cultivator’s progress, eventually reaching full maturity—marking the mastery of the technique and attainment of B-rank strength.
Of course, “planting the seeds” was a task for after reaching the Qi Sea stage. Right now, all he needed to do was steadily refine his Qi and solidify his Qi Core as much as possible.
At one point, a wild thought struck him: If a Qi Core can expand into a Qi Sea… could the same happen with the Green Core?
The idea seemed brilliant—if true, he’d have two Qi Seas.
Two Qi Seas… wouldn’t that make me unstoppable?
Excited, he tentatively “prodded” the Green Core.
As if sentient, the Green Core trembled before reluctantly releasing a wisp of Yin Fire.
Su Mo nearly laughed. Where’s your usual arrogance? Why so timid now?
Honestly, I preferred you when you were unruly.
Unlike the Qi Core, the Green Core hadn’t changed much since its last evolution—when it had drained that Japanese leader dry. If anything, it had remained completely static.
His theory? The Green Core was a condensation of Yin Fire, so only fire-attribute energy could fuel its growth.
He’d considered testing this with Sun Yuchen, but worried he might accidentally drain him dry, so he held back.
Ordinary flames didn’t work either.
Sigh. Looks like I’ll need another method to help the Green Core grow.
I can’t just keep absorbing people…
That’d make me no better than a demon.
…..
That evening, just after dinner, Su Mo received a message from Yang Jie, summoning him to the school’s administrative office.
The administrative office?
Why would he be there?
Su Mo had a hunch but needed confirmation.
When he arrived, he found the room packed—familiar faces like Yang Jie, Sun Yuchen, and Wang Ye were present, along with several well-dressed individuals who were clearly school administrators.
Oddly, none of them were seated—they were all standing, as if waiting for Yang Jie.
The moment Su Mo entered, an unfamiliar administrator beamed. “Ah, Qingyi! Our school’s pride and joy!”
Su Mo greeted them politely, then shot Sun Yuchen a questioning look—only to see the same confusion mirrored in his eyes.
“Now that everyone’s here, let’s begin.”
Under the administrator’s direction, they all took their seats—including Su Mo and Sun Yuchen.
Yang Jie, unsurprisingly, occupied the head seat.
“I assume you all know what I’m about to discuss.” He adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable as his gaze swept over the room.
“We’ve received orders from above. A select number of higher education institutions across Xia will be designated to nurture supernatural talents—and Jingjiang University is one of them.”
Just as I thought.
But Su Mo was still puzzled—why call him, a mere student, to such a meeting?
Sun Yuchen looked just as lost.
Yang Jie proceeded to outline the plan:
Only about ten schools in Chu Province had been chosen, distributed geographically. Jingjiang University would oversee the entire Jing City region.
Su Mo expected a lengthy speech, but Yang Jie stuck to the key points, skipping the fluff.
Very Yang Jie of him.
Finally, all eyes turned to Su Mo and Sun Yuchen. Yang Jie pushed up his glasses and said, “Given your strength and experience, traditional training would be a waste of time. So, I’ve arranged a special role for you both.”
Special role?
Don’t tell me they want us to… teach?
Su Mo braced himself.
“You’ll be assistant instructors.”
…Did I just inherit Qingyi’s ability to predict the future?
His face was a picture of disbelief.