Chapter 95: Advancing to Silver

With the help of the power of the Thunder Element, the meridians were constantly strengthened. The life factors became stronger and stronger amidst repeated destruction and regeneration.

This was the most typical promotion process. A human’s bottleneck was like being inside a water vat. Only by breaking the water vat and creating a sturdier, larger water vat could one become more powerful. It could be said that every promotion and evolution for a human was a process of destruction followed by establishment.

The extreme desire for power, the catalysis of the Crystal Core, and a cruel life-and-death battle. Unknowingly, these helped Lei Qing deliver the final kick and finally break the bottleneck. In the last few moves of the death match with Zong Wuji, Lei Qing had actually completed the breakthrough. But with a breakthrough, power did not surge all at once.

The process that followed was merely a process of establishment. With the massive and endless supply of energy from the Crystal Core, as well as the nourishing restoration from Li Baobao’s wood-attribute Fighting Qi of the Eternal Spring Secret Art.

Lei Qing was becoming stronger bit by bit. Various organs in his body also began to undergo a metamorphosis. The body tissues after the metamorphosis would bring Lei Qing more powerful strength, speed, reaction, and keenness, and even his memory would be significantly improved.

Dead life factors were discharged from the body through the pores, forming streams of foul-smelling breath. However, Li Baobao did not dislike it in the slightest; instead, she was happy for him.

Although Li Baobao had gradually developed some fondness for Lei Qing before, that subtle romantic feeling was faint. The impression Lei Qing gave her was mostly that of a dissolute and uninhibited, or arrogant and domineering man. And the reason why she later somewhat actively cooperated with Lei Qing’s kidnapping, and even helped him openly or secretly, was mostly just to thank Lei Qing for not truly taking advantage of her or humiliating her during her crisis. Also, she felt that doing so seemed very exciting and fun.

But in the battle just now, Lei Qing did not say too much from beginning to end; he was just fighting, fighting with incomparable determination. Facing the powerful Zong Wuji, who could take his life at any time, he was afraid, but he never retreated even a tiny bit.

For what? Just to protect her, Li Baobao. In her life, there were many people willing to pay the price of their lives to protect her. But those were all dead soldiers and loyal servants carefully cultivated by the family. They were instilled from childhood with the idea of giving everything for their Master, even their lives.

But who was Lei Qing? Li Baobao knew clearly that he was not related to her, and they were even in the positions of kidnapper and kidnapped. However, to protect her, he disregarded his own life.

This made Li Baobao feel extremely painful, yet also indescribably moved. For the first time, she truly looked at Lei Qing from another angle. The back view of him unhesitatingly blocking in front of her and using his body to shield her from a fatal blow was like a brand, mercilessly searing into the deepest part of her heart.

In that instant, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. Even if she never saw Lei Qing again from now on, she was afraid she would never be able to forget this man, this back view.

Just as Li Baobao was helping Lei Qing, Zuo Qianqian was also extremely busy. Lei Qing’s eight Personal Guards were all lying on the ground. Even the bear-like and robust Li Sanba was currently lying on his back like a dead bird, breathing in less air than he was breathing out.

Zuo Qianqian knew that Lei Qing treated these Personal Guards like his own brothers. The final explosion of consuming the Crystal Core just now was probably largely because he watched helplessly as his brothers were killed, severely injured, or even humiliated.

For every death, Zuo Qianqian knew that her Brother Lei would definitely feel heartache and discomfort when he woke up. What she could do now was to save them as much as possible.

In fact, on the battlefield, not many people died instantly from a single fatal blow. Most just suffered severe injuries and died because the injuries were difficult to heal. Under her grandfather’s cultivation since childhood, Zuo Qianqian possessed quite decent battlefield first aid skills. For an assassin, getting injured was a common occurrence; if one didn’t even know how to treat injuries, one wouldn’t live long.

Moreover, an assassin’s understanding of various parts of the human body was also very deep, which was also very helpful for first aid. Any qualified assassin could kill people and also save people.

Fortunately, these Personal Guards were all young and strong guys, and their vitality was quite tenacious. Especially Li Sanba, who was injured horribly, yet he was still alive like a cockroach.

“Howl~” After a suppressed growl, the long roar that erupted from Lei Qing shook the sky as if it were trembling. His inner energy was thick, and his Qi mechanism was powerful. Although his body was covered in filthy blood, his spirit was full and abundant. His whole body seemed to contain endless strength and power.

Silver. Lei Qing examined himself internally and discovered that the Thunder Element Fighting Qi in his Qi Sea was pure and thick. Compared to the previous Bronze Peak, it was at least fifty percent denser and more solid.

This was a qualitative leap. It not only represented a substantial increase in the total amount of Lei Qing’s Fighting Qi, but also a surge in the power of the Fighting Qi. Moreover, the evolution of the body was not just about the increase of Fighting Qi. Including strength, sensitivity, reaction, and so on, there would be a significant improvement. Especially the promotion from Bronze Peak to Early-stage Silver, which was simply a huge leap.

Its evolutionary effect far exceeded the small promotions within the same Bronze rank. Don’t underestimate this nearly fifty percent increase; even purely in terms of strength, if a person’s strength suddenly increased by fifty percent, their combat power would definitely have a substantial boost.

However, before Lei Qing could enjoy the joy of advancing to the Silver rank, he suddenly thought of something. He immediately leaped up with an extremely gloomy face. After glancing around, he ran awkwardly to Zuo Qianqian, who was performing first aid. With a terribly dark expression, he asked, “Qianqian, how are the brothers?”

“Brother Lei, the situation is not good.” Zuo Qianqian had consumed too much energy and Fighting Qi, and was cleaning the wound for Li Sanba, who was screaming like a pig being slaughtered. “Zong Wuji’s weapon is very vicious. Not only is its killing power strong, but it also has toxins. We need to use Fighting Qi to help them detoxify. Brother Lei, don’t talk for now, hurry up and help.”

Lei Qing nodded repeatedly and began to join the ranks of saving people. Theoretically, these were all his subordinates, but Lei Qing had always treated them like his own brothers. Although this was a strategy for leading troops learned in the family, after being together day and night, they worshipped him and were willing to follow him. They were loyal and righteous, so how could Lei Qing be a heartless person?

Li Baobao also ran over with an exhausted face. Originally, she wanted to congratulate Lei Qing and say many words of gratitude. But right now was really not a good time.

As the daughter of the Li Chamber of Commerce and the most popular heir, Li Baobao’s status had always been honorable. In the past, she would not have given a second glance to these crude soldiers who came from bandits. But firstly, she loved the house and its crow; these were Lei Qing’s brothers and Lei Qing’s soldiers. Secondly, these soldiers had just fought with their lives against powerful enemies to protect her, Li Baobao.

Li Baobao had an anxious and worried look on her face, helping those soldiers heal without any hint of disdain. She even asked Lei Qing for a wood-attribute Crystal Core to replenish her Fighting Qi and help them drive out the toxins and heal their wounds.

Unfortunately, although the rescue was timely and adequate, two ordinary Personal Guards and the captain, Miao Renjie, still breathed their last during the treatment. The others were lucky enough to be temporarily out of danger.

Watching the painful and expectant eyes of Miao Renjie and the others before they died, Lei Qing’s heart felt as if it were being cut by knives. These were young people who, because they trusted him and worshipped him, wanted to struggle and venture with him to fight for a future. As a result, their ambitions were unfulfilled, and they died in this wilderness Canyon.

“Zong Wuji!” Lei Qing’s eyes were cold enough to make one shiver. Coupled with his current dirty appearance, he looked particularly hideous and terrifying. He gritted his teeth and said, “If I, Lei Qing, do not kill you and avenge my brothers, I swear I am not a human.”

“Brothers, wait. I, Lei Qing, swear to the heavens that I will bring Zong Wuji’s head to offer a sacrifice to you.” Lei Qing’s voice was low, like a broken gong, filled with a sense of desolate killing. Although the oath was light, it allowed no doubt.

“Dong dong dong~”

A series of hoofbeats seemed to approach from afar, shaking the nearby weathered rocks and causing sand and soil to rustle down.

……