It was now afternoon, and the sky was growing darker. The rain was also falling harder, and there were fewer people on the road.

Xu Jingming, wearing a raincoat and bamboo hat, walked silently alone.

"Without the targeting of the Blood Rain World, and with this vast rain outside the imperial capital, I shouldn't run into any Black Lotus Sect disciples."

Xu Jingming thought. He wasn't panicked. Even if he encountered Black Lotus Sect disciples in the distance, he could just run! Without the world targeting him, the Black Lotus Sect team shouldn't be so stubborn as to chase him endlessly.

As for encountering ordinary bandits? As a super-一流 (first-rate) expert, Xu Jingming felt that it was the bandits who should be afraid!

"Shua, shua, shua..."

The rain fell harder and harder.

Xu Jingming stepped on the yellowing grass, traveling through the wilderness. At this moment, the official road was very muddy and not suitable for walking.

He walked quite fast. Xu Jingming arrived after an hour, covering a distance of a hundred *li*.

"It went smoothly, I didn't encounter any robbery." Xu Jingming entered the mountain forest and began searching for the packages. Tu Ling and Zhang Qing had already sent videos to Xu Jingming after logging off. Through the videos, Xu Jingming knew the location where the two packages were hidden.

"On this small hilltop, next to a short, thick tree, it's here!" Xu Jingming quickly found the place where Tu Ling had hidden the package. He dug and found the hidden package.

Xu Jingming couldn't help but show a look of joy.

"I knew it, in a remote place, buried directly underground. Even with the Blood Rain World's intangible guidance... it won't be easy for the natives of the Blood Rain World to find it."

Xu Jingming thought to himself.

This was a stupid method, but it was also a highly efficient method. According to the information gathered in the virtual world network, many cosmic citizen players in the Blood Rain World chose to hide their goods in several locations.

Most of them were able to save a lot of their gains.

"Three thousand six hundred gold." Xu Jingming checked and was satisfied. He placed the gold into the belt he had prepared long ago. After placing the gold bricks, he fastened the belt around his waist! Gold had a high density. The thick belt Xu Jingming had prepared was only partially filled, and could hold quite a few more gold bricks.

"Go to the next place."

Xu Jingming found the place where Zhang Qing had hidden the package in just three minutes.

However, it was full of footprints. Many places had been dug, causing Xu Jingming's expression to change.

"It's gone." Xu Jingming also discovered that the place where Zhang Qing had hidden the package had a large pit dug! Everything was gone.

"Many people have been here." Xu Jingming observed the many muddy footprints around him and sighed inwardly, "This is the world's intangible guidance, guiding a group of bandits to pass by here? And a bandit just happened to discover the hidden package?"

Losing one package out of two was within expectations.

He didn't suspect that Zhang Qing would leak the news in the virtual world network, allowing other cosmic citizen players to dig it up in advance.

Because... Xu Jingming's speed in rushing to hide the packages was considered fast! Moreover, the muddy footprints here showed that a group of people had passed by. There was no need for so many cosmic citizen players to rush over, and after discovering the gold package, they had dug up many places around it.

Zhang Qing had also just become a cosmic citizen not long ago, and didn't know much about the virtual world network.

Moreover, as the number one female swordsman of Xia, Zhang Qing's character was also trustworthy.

"I have to return to the imperial capital before the city gates close."

Xu Jingming immediately returned quietly. In the heavy rain.

Xu Jingming was alone in the wilderness. The sky was dim and the rain was heavy. As long as they were a hundred meters away, even first-rate experts would have difficulty seeing clearly with the naked eye, which to some extent protected Xu Jingming.

Very smoothly, Xu Jingming returned to the imperial capital without encountering any robbery.

"Mission accomplished."

Xu Jingming returned to his permanent residence in the southern part of the city.

He divided the three thousand six hundred gold into three parts and hid them carefully! Unless someone came to tear down the house and dig three feet into the ground! Otherwise, they wouldn't find it.

"I won't deposit this gold in the bank. After all, it's not that much."

Xu Jingming lay down on the recliner, took a pot of wine and some snacks, and leisurely ate and drank, watching the heavy rain outside the house, "When I reach seventh order, I'll find a way to gather ten thousand gold and offer it as a sacrifice directly."

Virtual world network, Xu Jingming's personal space, inside the spaceship hall.

The mission was over, and Xu Jingming naturally hosted a banquet for Liu Hai, Tu Ling, and Zhang Qing.

"Brother Xu, were the two hidden packages found?"

Tu Ling asked.

"It's about what I expected."

"We harvested too much gold this time and were targeted by the Blood Rain World." Xu Jingming said with a smile, "My master and I encountered Black Lotus Sect teams on the way, and one of the packages we hid was discovered by bandits. I was lucky to get one package back."

Tu Ling and Zhang Qing nodded slightly.

"The more money you get in the Blood Rain World, the more targeted you become," Liu Hai nodded. "I'm still too weak. If I also had the strength of a super-一流 (first-rate) expert! Maybe I could have escaped from the Black Lotus Sect team's interception."

"A super-一流 (first-rate) expert's combat power bonus must be at least a 倍 (multiple), right?" Tu Ling exclaimed, "I've only just passed one 倍 (multiple) after cultivating until now."

"I haven't even reached one 倍 (multiple)," Zhang Qing shook her head.

"Those of us who rely on ourselves to break through and become cosmic lifeforms can quickly reach sixth order," Liu Hai said, "After reaching sixth order, our lives in reality can also transform to the middle stage of cosmic life! At that time, it's still very easy to reach a combat power bonus of two 倍 (multiple)."

Zhang Qing nodded.

After all, she had only broken through not long ago and was only a fifth-order cosmic lifeform.

"There are so many delicacies in the virtual world," Tu Ling happily ate, praising, "There are all kinds of delicacies in the universe, even delicacies that don't exist in reality. It's definitely a dream place for foodies."

Xu Jingming also ate heartily.

"This meal today must cost at least 100,000 cosmic dollars," Liu Hai said, "I can't bear to spend that much."

"Master, you've also reached the first-rate level now, and you can earn at least a million cosmic dollars a month."

"It's okay to be extravagant occasionally."

Xu Jingming smiled, "Have you reached the super-一流 (first-rate) level, kid?"

Liu Hai looked at his disciple. Before, when he watched his disciple fight from a distance, he could feel that his disciple's strength far exceeded that of ordinary first-rate experts.

Zhang Qing and Tu Ling also looked at Xu Jingming.

"I barely reached the threshold."

Xu Jingming said.

"Wow!" Zhang Qing widened her eyes and said, "Super-一流 (first-rate) experts, whether they're sparring partners in the virtual world or hired by others, can easily find a job that pays at least ten million cosmic dollars a month."

That's right.

The eighth-order experts Xu Jingming and the others had invited before cost 10,000 cosmic dollars per person per month. But Xu Jingming, as someone with a combat power bonus of two 倍 (multiple), also cost more than 10,000 cosmic dollars to hire. In terms of combat skills alone, Xu Jingming was not much worse than an eighth-order expert, but he lacked a lot in terms of mental strength.

In the Blood Rain World, three experts like Xu Jingming, working together, were stronger than one hired eighth-order expert.

"It's easy to earn at least ten million cosmic dollars a month."

Zhang Qing also sighed, "The gap between cosmic citizens is really big."

"In the universe, the gap between different levels of evolution is astonishing."

"Jingming was able to reach the super-一流 (first-rate) level. Even though he's young and his mental strength is a little weak, he should be close to seventh order," Liu Hai said.

"It's still a little short."

Xu Jingming said immediately.

"Seventh-order cosmic lifeform, eighth-order cosmic lifeform."

Liu Hai said with emotion, "The higher the order, the smaller the number, and the income naturally increases dramatically! Many elementary cosmic civilizations don't even have an eighth-order cosmic lifeform. If you become a ninth-order Origin lifeform, having three or five life planets as territory is common."

Xu Jingming and the others all fell silent.

Ninth-order? Don't think that Xu Jingming is only a sliver away from seventh-order now, the more he understands the path of evolution, the more he understands how difficult it is to break through and become a ninth-order Origin lifeform.

The entire Blue Star civilization is also yearning... yearning for a ninth-order Origin lifeform to appear! This is also the miracle that countless elementary cosmic civilizations most look forward to!

"We still have to cultivate and evolve step by step. Ninth-order is still very far away from us."

Xu Jingming said, "Master, Sister Zhang, Sister Tu Ling, in a few days, I should have a chance to make you all Blood Rain Guards of the imperial capital."

Liu Hai and Tu Ling's eyes lit up.

"The imperial capital is becoming more and more chaotic."

"The Blood Rain Guards are also making money more frantically. You can go in and take the opportunity to earn a fortune," Xu Jingming said.

"Are you confident?" Liu Hai asked.

"I'm somewhat confident. I'll tell you when things are settled,"

Xu Jingming said.

"Brother Xu, thanks!" Tu Ling immediately raised her glass, feeling wonderful. "It feels so good to hug a thick thigh."

Zhang Qing also raised her glass, "Xu Jingming, thanks."

"There are very few cosmic citizens in our Xia, so we naturally have to help each other,"

Xu Jingming said with a smile.

In the following time, Xu Jingming focused more on his spear techniques, diligently practicing every day, wanting to reach seventh order sooner! But after his *Hua Hong* (Rainbow Transformation) spear technique reached the sixth-order 99%, it seemed to be stuck and stagnated.

******

Blood Rain World.

Inside a restaurant.

"Try it, their ingredients are really fresh and delicious,"

Qiu Tong said.

Xu Jingming also tasted the food, praising it endlessly. Qiu Tong was truly a foodie in the imperial capital, discovering so many delicious places.

"Have you heard?" Xu Jingming said as he ate, "His Majesty has finally dispatched Lord Wang Jiuyan to lead the expeditionary army."

"I know, it's already spread throughout the Nanfu headquarters,"

Qiu Tong said, "Lord Wang was originally the *Zhenfu Shi* (Garrison Envoy) of our Nanfu, but now he's being transferred to suppress the Western Regions rebels. Actually, Lord Fei is the most suitable to lead the army. After all, Lord Fei is most familiar with the army dispatched from the empire's Eastern Region, and he can take over and command them as easily as his own limbs."

"Lord Fei is still in the imperial capital and hasn't been able to return to the Eastern Region," Xu Jingming said in a low voice.

"These power struggles are too troublesome. Food is better. Eating food is the most enjoyable thing,"

Qiu Tong said. She hadn't been in the imperial capital for long and was tired of the power struggles. Most of her attention was on the food in the imperial capital.

The delicacies in the imperial capital were a hundred times more plentiful than in her hometown of Lanyue City.

"Food is good."

Xu Jingming also enjoyed eating and drinking, no longer mentioning Lord Fei's affairs.

After all, they couldn't help Fei Qing with the power struggles of the empire's high-ranking officials.

Time passed, and more than two months passed in a blink of an eye. Xu Jingming's spear technique was still stuck at sixth-order 99%.

On the streets of the imperial capital.

"Victory! Victory!"

"General Wang Jiuyan led his army to conquer the empire's Western Regions, winning six battles in a row and defeating the main force of the Western Regions rebels."

"The Western Regions' King Wei, King Su, and eighteen other self-proclaimed kings, General Wang Jiuyan has killed six and captured nine. The Western Regions' rebel army is not far from being annihilated."

The news had just arrived in the palace in the middle of the night, and by daybreak, it had spread throughout the streets of the imperial capital! For a time, the whole city celebrated.

"General Wang Jiuyan is really amazing."

"He has fought in the Western Regions so many times before, and the Western Regions have become increasingly糜烂 (rotten). But as soon as General Wang Jiuyan took over, he won one battle after another. He's really remarkable."

"General Wang Jiuyan is simply a military god."

Countless people in the imperial capital praised and touted him. They worshiped General Wang Jiuyan from the bottom of their hearts. Because the Western Regions rebels were defeated, they would no longer threaten the imperial capital, and the imperial capital could have some peaceful days.

What the common people wanted most was for life to be peaceful.

"A great victory?" Xu Jingming carried some packed pastries on the street, listening to the news with some surprise. Was this Lord Wang Jiuyan also so powerful in leading troops to fight? "Lord Wang Jiuyan has only been away from the imperial capital for more than two months, and he's already defeated the main force of the Western Regions rebels. My spear technique is still stuck at sixth-order 99%."

Xu Jingming shook his head, carrying the pastries back to his residence. He picked up a spear and practiced again in the training ground.

*Hu! Hu!*

*Hu!* The spear moved, tearing through the air. Although Xu Jingming had just learned of 'Wang Jiuyan's great victory,' it didn't affect him. He was still wholeheartedly immersed in his spear technique. To him, life evolution was the most fundamental thing! Since igniting the light of his heart, Xu Jingming had become even more focused on practicing his spear.

Using the power of his heart to control his whole body, his intention was completely condensed and unique, poured into the spear in his hand! Each move not only condensed the strength of his whole body, but also infused his own mental will! The condensation and uniqueness of mental will was just a word, but in reality, 'condensation' was a process! Just like forging iron, it required a process of becoming steel after being tempered a hundred times.

Only after being tempered a hundred times could it become steel. Mental will condensation... every battle, every practice of spear technique, every mind-cultivation, was a process of 'condensation.'

It had been nearly three months since he ignited the light of his heart.

Xu Jingming could feel himself slowly improving.

Finally, when Xu Jingming thrust out a spear, the degree of his intention's condensation finally broke through a boundary.

At this moment, Xu Jingming only felt his brain ethereal. This spear was no longer just a simple spear technique! It was also Xu Jingming's spear of mental will!

"Hong!" When he thrust out this spear, Xu Jingming's eyes were fiery and filled with joy.

He understood that he had broken through!

(End of this volume) Preparing for one day tomorrow, and starting to update the fifth volume the day after tomorrow.

The title of the fifth volume is: Seventh Order!