Chapter 399: A year later, the golden age arrives

However, Luo Gang thought to himself, for a strong person of that level, earning points should be a breeze.

Back in the early Elemental Infant stage, he only managed to come here two or three times a year. The stronger one's abilities, the more ways there are to earn points, leading to a qualitative change.

Even now, his ability to earn points is ten times faster than before, let alone that mysterious master's.

"I was really short-sighted."

Luo Gang sighed inwardly. How could he judge that mysterious expert with his limited perspective? Ridiculous.

"We've met twice in a row, which must be fate. In that case, let me give you a hand."

Luo Gang was decisive. Seeing the other person's intentions, he decided to lend a hand and form a good relationship.

At this high-star level, you often encounter the same people in rankings, and after a few battles, you might get to know them, and who knows, you might meet again.

Although, there are some who, in a fit of anger, would fight to the death upon meeting. Especially in team modes, where many grudges are formed.

"Kid, take your time to comprehend."

Luo Gang sat cross-legged on the ground, a strand of mysterious yellow mark appeared on his forehead, and in an instant, a faint desolate aura emanated from it.

This time, he deliberately controlled his power, releasing it very weakly.

Xu Hei quickly calmed his mind and stepped forward to comprehend.

"Thank you, senior. May I know your name?"

"Since I've chosen to remain anonymous, there's no need to mention my name. You've comprehended my aura, and if we meet again, you'll recognize me at a glance."

Upon hearing this, Xu Hei nodded quickly, carefully sensing the invading aura.

It wasn't that Luo Gang was unwilling to reveal his name, but his name was too common. In any small village, there might be a bunch of people with the same name.

However, his title, Real Sun True Person, was known by everyone.

Even though this title was also quite ordinary.

Real Sun True Person, Luo Gang, was the first expert to impart an aura to Xu Hei.

As a stick of incense burned, Xu Hei turned into a withered corpse, and as the breeze blew, his body turned to ashes.

Inside the battle tower, Xu Hei suddenly awoke, his eyes still filled with shock.

"Desolate aura, so this is the desolate aura! Even though he deliberately controlled his power, I could only withstand it for a stick of incense."

"Terrifying."

Xu Hei was still in shock. If he encountered this in reality, he would have no place to die.

He didn't rush into the next battle but closed his eyes, quietly reflecting on his gains.

Unknowingly, Xu Hei's fourth dragon vein suddenly showed a sign of movement.

After a year and a half of no progress in seclusion, this interaction with an external expert brought about change, growing a small segment.

Dragon vein, what is a dragon vein? Even Xu Hei himself didn't understand.

…………

Time flew by.

Several months passed, and the year-end conference was drawing closer.

Unknowingly, Xu Hei had been in the Penglai Sea for a year. His cultivation remained at the peak of mid-stage Core Formation, without attempting a breakthrough.

However, his strength had made significant progress compared to six months ago.

During this period, he had been in seclusion for a total of two and a half years, experienced over a hundred simulated battles, nineteen ranking battles, and his star count dropped from one hundred and eight to ninety-one.

As for why he still won one match, it was because an opponent forfeited.

Xu Hei's dragon veins also successfully opened four, but progress on the fifth slowed down.

On a full moon night, Xu Hei returned to the island given to him by Mo Xuan, observing the cave dwelling's stone walls for cultivation.

He had mastered the first move of the Azure Dragon Combat Technique, Dragon Tail Swing, and the second move, Sky-Tearing Claw.

However, he made no progress with the Azure Dragon Immortal Spell. He couldn't even master the first move, Summon Wind, let alone the second move, Call Rain.

The reason being, the Azure Dragon Immortal Spell was a divine ability. Without an aura, it couldn't be performed!

The Summon Wind Xu Hei used before was merely a pseudo-divine ability, relying on a fourth-grade magical treasure to barely execute it, which wasn't his aura.

"Aura, aura... I've sensed the auras of seventeen different experts, and my own aura is on the verge of breakthrough, but I still can't comprehend it." Xu Hei fell into deep thought.

He still lacked experience, and this year-end conference would be the best opportunity for training, one he wouldn't miss.

Others' paths ultimately belong to them; his own path requires his own exploration.

Now, with only half a month left until the year-end conference, Xu Hei wandered around the Penglai Sea.

However, one thing continued to puzzle him.

Every team of the Shark lineage was carrying out missions, ranging from once a month to once every three months.

But the third team, which Xu Hei was part of, hadn't executed a single mission since the captain was replaced, and Yu Jianqiu was nowhere to be found.

Since the last gathering, he hadn't been seen, and it had been almost a year.

Eventually, Porcupine Fish couldn't hold back and asked Elder Tiger Whale, but the latter was also unaware.

"Where did the captain disappear to?"

"Should we go look for him?"

"Look for what! I don't have a good impression of him anyway. Not doing missions is fine, we can focus on seclusion and prepare for the year-end conference."

Without missions, although contribution points decreased, the members of the third team were happy to be free, just in time to prepare for the conference.

Unlike previous years, this year, the year-end conference would be jointly held by the Penglai Sea and Penglai Island, with all the new generation participating, making it a rare grand event.

It's said that the prodigies traveling outside would return, making the competition unprecedentedly fierce.

As the higher-ups said, this is a golden age.

…………

Under the Meteor Waterfall of the Sea Serpent lineage.

This waterfall, the most perilous in the Penglai Sea, falls like a meteor, incredibly fast, with each drop of water comparable to a meteorite impact, hence the name Meteor Waterfall.

Those without strong willpower can't approach this place, let alone train under the waterfall.

At this moment, two figures stood in the core area of the waterfall, enduring the most intense impact, their bodies emitting rhythmic vibrations.

One figure, covered in azure snake patterns, stood motionless in the waterfall, the first Chosen of the Sea Serpent lineage, Hai Teng.

The other figure was his arranged fiancée, also a sea serpent, but with incredible strength, having sparred with Hai Teng several times, only slightly losing.

Hai Teng reluctantly allowed her to follow.

The family wouldn't overlook Hai Teng's exceptional bloodline, planning to let him propagate as soon as he had the idea. After all, he was an unparalleled Chosen in a millennium, with a Perfect Core Formation, and his offspring would surely be extraordinary.

"Xiao Cai, when are you planning to cancel the engagement?" Hai Teng asked.

Xiao Cai, beside him, looked speechless, "Why would I cancel the engagement? And how many times have you asked this ridiculous question!"

Lin Cai was very satisfied with her family-arranged fiancé's bloodline and talent, but his personality was something she couldn't handle.

His behavior, words, and actions all exuded an indescribable aura. If not for her mission, she would have left long ago.

"I'm going to take first place in the year-end conference. If you don't cancel the engagement, I feel like something's missing from my victory," Hai Teng said.

"Go get treated if you're sick!" Lin Cai retorted angrily.

…………

Outside the Penglai Sea, in a deep, dark seabed.

This was the external industry of the Penglai Sea, the Netherworld Mine.

The name was eerie, but it was a top-grade spiritual vein that had been mined for five hundred years without being exhausted. Over the centuries, it produced billions of lower-grade spirit stones and a large number of top-grade spirit stones.

It even produced the legendary supreme-grade spirit stones, used only in the Divine Transformation stage, though only a few and just rumors, but still astonishing.

Today, a young fierce beast in the Netherworld Mine opened its eyes.

"Year-end conference, golden age?"

"Heh, it's been a long time since I participated. I wasn't interested in previous years, but this time, I'll reluctantly join in the fun."