Chapter 69 See You There
Just as Gu Yunqing was sorting out her thoughts, Jun Xiangbei's communication rang. His tone was still calm, but with a hint of barely perceptible concern: "Yunqing, breaking through the mental strength bottleneck is no small matter, especially forcibly trying to break through in a short period of time."
"The Pure White World has a 'Mental Strength Training Tower' with comprehensive testing and simulation training functions. Before entering the [Heart of Molten Core], you can go there for a preliminary assessment and adaptation training, which may help you and me to better understand the current situation and avoid risks."
Gu Yunqing's heart stirred; this was exactly what he wanted.
He immediately replied, "Brother Bei has considered everything thoroughly. We'll do as you say. See you at the cultivation tower."
A moment later, the two met in front of the towering giant tower in the core area of the pure white world, which was constructed entirely of some kind of spiritual energy crystallization.
Jun Xiangbei was still dressed in his sharp combat uniform, his posture upright and his temperament aloof. However, when he saw Gu Yunqing, his icy eyes softened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
"Brother Bei." Gu Yunqing stepped forward, her tone tinged with appropriate gratitude, "Thank you for your help again."
"It's alright." Jun Xiangbei nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, as if trying to assess his mental recovery.
"This is a 'battle for glory,' so it's only right to be cautious."
He paused, then cautiously uttered:
"Since you called me Master back then, I will naturally protect you for the rest of your life."
These words were simple, yet they carried an undeniable sense of commitment.
Gu Yunqing's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't know how to answer.
The atmosphere fell silent as the two silently entered the training tower.
The space is vast and filled with a pure and gentle flow of spiritual energy.
They went directly to the testing area.
Following the instructions, Gu Yunqing placed her hand on the testing crystal in the center and concentrated.
Crystal light swirled, and a set of data was projected into mid-air:
[Player: Gu Yunqing]
[Mental Strength Level Rating: A+]
Energy Capacity: Grade A (Peak value close to S-)
【Control Accuracy: Grade A】
Recovery speed: B+
[Overall Assessment: Excellent potential and good stability, but still some distance from S-level qualitative leap. Recommendation: Seek breakthrough under extreme pressure, or supplement with special concentration items. Forced attempts carry certain risks and require reliable protection.]
“A+…” Gu Yunqing stared at the data, understanding dawning on her.
This level is enough to put him ahead of most players, and even allows him to control three different characters simultaneously in regular battles.
However, in order to perfectly control four unique and powerful avatars and perform precise multi-tasking in the "Battle for Glory," S-rank is a necessary threshold to cross.
The system's prompts about "extreme pressure" and "special concentration items" confirmed the correctness of his choice of [Heart of Molten Core] and purchase of [Starry Concentration Incense].
“Just one step away.” Jun Xiangbei’s cold voice rang out from the side. He was also looking at the data, his brows furrowed slightly. “The leap from A+ to S is a fundamental leap, involving a transformation of the very essence of the spirit. Forcing it, as the system said, is indeed quite risky.”
He looked at Gu Yunqing, his gaze focused, "The environment of [Molten Core] is extreme enough, but I will need to focus all my energy on dealing with the dangers of the dungeon, and I may not be able to protect you at all times. Are you sure you want to break through in this way?"
Jun Xiangbei's concerns are very real.
In high-risk dungeons, when teammates break through the mental strength bottleneck, other team members often need to bear greater defensive pressure, and may even be put in danger because of the guardian.
Gu Yunqing met his gaze, her eyes resolute: "I know the risks. But the 'Battle for Glory' is imminent, and this is the fastest way. Besides..."
He paused slightly, revealing a perfectly timed "trump card" smile, "I'm not entirely unprepared. Besides you, Brother Xiangbei, I've also invited a rather special friend to come along."
"With him around, our defensive pressure will be much less, and it will also create a safer environment for me to break through."
"A special friend?" A hint of surprise flashed in Jun Xiangbei's eyes.
He understood Gu Yunqing and knew that he wasn't someone who spoke without reason.
Those who are praised in this way and entrusted with such a heavy responsibility of "defense" are by no means ordinary people.
Is it Qiu Zangxue, the fierce warrior wielding dual swords? Or Zhuge Jin, the mysterious and unpredictable one with accurate prophecies? Or perhaps a completely new face?
Gu Yunqing didn't answer directly, but instead suggested, "He should be here soon. Why don't we go to the training room and wait for him?"
"It's also a good opportunity for me to familiarize myself with the precise control of A+ level mental power, laying the foundation for future breakthroughs. You can also meet Bei Ge, since we'll be fighting side by side later."
Jun Xiangbei gave Gu Yunqing a deep look and nodded: "Okay."
His curiosity about the people around Gu Yunqing was rekindled.
Another "special" existence... Yun Qing seems to always be surrounded by various mysteries and extraordinary people.
The two arrived at a highly private, high-class training room.
Gu Yunqing first conducted some basic mental energy manipulation exercises, such as condensing energy blades, constructing simple defensive barriers, and simulating multi-target locking.
Jun Xiangbei watched quietly from the side, occasionally pointing out details such as the energy flow not being smooth enough or the distribution of mental energy being better optimized.
His keen insight and accurate comments greatly benefited Gu Yunqing, deepening her understanding of her own spiritual power.
As the practice came to an end, Gu Yunqing had just withdrawn her released spiritual energy when there was a gentle knock on the door of the training room.
"They've arrived," Gu Yunqing said to Jun Xiangbei, then called out, "Please come in."
The door slid open, and a figure moved in hesitantly.
In that instant, a clear look of astonishment flashed across Jun Xiangbei's almost perpetually calm and icy eyes.
The newcomer appeared to be young, thin, even somewhat frail, dressed in ordinary casual clothes. His eyes darted around, avoiding direct eye contact, and his hands were nervously clasped in front of him, exuding timidity and cowardice.
He lowered his head, his voice barely audible: "Mr. Gu... I... I'm here."
This... is the "special friend" Gu Yunqing mentioned? A reliable teammate who can shoulder the heavy responsibility of defense?
Jun Xiangbei's gaze swept back and forth between Gu Yunqing and the young man who called himself "Yan Kongshan," and the sense of unease in his heart reached its peak.
This Yan Kongshan had no aura of a strong person, not even the sharpness honed by life and death like an ordinary high-level player. He was just like a frightened rabbit that had stumbled into a world of strong people.
Compared to the other extraordinary individuals who had accompanied Gu Yunqing before, he was worlds apart.
However, amidst this extreme sense of incongruity, Jun Xiangbei subtly detected a hint of disharmony.
He sensed a strong malevolent aura emanating from this person, and beneath that trembling exterior, something even more dangerous seemed to be lurking.
This feeling made him even more wary than when he faced Qiu Zangxue's overwhelming murderous aura.
Gu Yunqing took in Jun Xiangbei's reaction, secretly amused, but on the surface remained calm. She said gently to Yan Kongshan, "Kongshan, don't be nervous. This is Jun Xiangbei, Brother Bei, our teammate from now on."
He then turned to Jun Xiangbei, “Brother Bei, this is Yan Kongshan, whom I mentioned to you. He… is a bit shy, but his abilities are very special, and he is extremely reliable in critical moments.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Kongshan dared to slightly raise his eyelids, quickly glancing at Jun Xiangbei. Meeting the other's cold, scrutinizing gaze, he immediately lowered his eyes again as if startled, his voice even softer: "Mr. Jun..."
The way they looked made them want to disappear into the ground.
Jun Xiangbei remained silent and did not respond immediately.
Looking at Yan Kongshan's appearance, and then at Gu Yunqing beside him who had a calm expression, even with a hint of "my child is like this, please forgive him," he felt a strange tightness in his chest.
Another one... Just how many other "special" men like this are around Yun Qing?
Moreover, this one, seemingly fragile and vulnerable, gave him an ominous premonition even more so than Qiu Zangxue's straightforward ferocity.
This inexplicable feeling of irritability was completely foreign to him.
Jun Xiangbei forcibly suppressed the strange feeling and maintained a calm demeanor. He nodded slightly to Yan Kongshan as a greeting, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Hmm."
Gu Yunqing seemed oblivious to the awkward atmosphere between the two, and smiled as she tried to smooth things over: "Alright, everyone's here. Kongshan, you should get used to the environment here too."
"Brother Bei, we can discuss the specific action plan for [Molten Core] together."
The rest of the time was mainly spent by Gu Yunqing and Jun Xiangbei discussing the choice of route in the instance, the types of dangers they might encounter, and their coping strategies.
Yan Kongshan remained huddled in a chair in the corner, head down, silent, as if he cared nothing about the discussion or simply couldn't understand it.
Only when Gu Yunqing specifically asked him, "Kongshan, will your abilities be affected by this high temperature?" did he suddenly startle, like a student who had been daydreaming in class and was called on by the teacher, stammering, "It's...it's okay...it's just...I'm a little afraid of fire..."
Jun Xiangbei's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Afraid of fire? Wanting to go to the [Heart of Molten Core] but afraid of fire? What kind of bizarre combination is this? He increasingly couldn't understand Gu Yunqing's hiring standards.
As the discussion drew to a close, Gu Yunqing confirmed, "Then, let's proceed with this plan. Once inside the instance, Brother Bei, you will lead the way and spearhead the main attack, while I will provide support and seek opportunities for breakthroughs. Kongshan..."
He looked at the young man in the corner, "Your task is to stay close to us and ensure my safety when I need to break through, understand?"
Yan Kongshan nodded vigorously, his face pale, his eyes filled with fear of the unknown danger. He murmured softly, "I...I understand...I...I will try my best..."
Seeing that he looked like he was about to cry at any moment, Jun Xiangbei finally couldn't help but ask as he left the training room, leaving only him and Gu Yunqing, "Yunqing, are you sure... he really can do it?"
He wasn't questioning Gu Yunqing's judgment, but Yan Kongshan's performance made it impossible to associate him with the word "reliable."
Gu Yunqing stopped and looked at Jun Xiangbei, a meaningful smile on her face: "Brother Bei, you can't judge a book by its cover. Kongshan... he's a bit special. His abilities will only be revealed when he's truly facing a desperate situation. You'll see then."
He paused, his tone carrying a subtle, yet profound meaning, "Believe me, he will be an unexpected trump card for us in the 'Battle for Glory'."
Looking at Gu Yunqing's confident yet mysterious gaze, Jun Xiangbei swallowed back the question that was on the tip of his tongue.
He chose to believe Gu Yunqing.
However, the unease she felt because of Yan Kongshan, and the subtle emotions she had about the "special" men constantly appearing around Gu Yunqing, quietly subsided.
"Hmm." He finally just responded with a sound of agreement, suppressing all his thoughts beneath his frozen exterior. "In that case, see you at the dungeon entrance tomorrow."
"See you there."
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