[Wu Yunzhong, Chairman of the Superstar Alliance, has withdrawn from the Jiangnan District Committee due to health reasons and will no longer serve as a committee member.]

[Superpower Group is suspected of tax evasion, and President Wu Yongxin has been detained. They may be forced to pay taxes amounting to 487 million Huaxia Coins.]

Bai Pu skimmed through the news on the virtual screen, quickly picking out a few key headlines.

"It seems the state doesn't want the oligarchic forces to continue their reign, so it tacitly allows the media's exposure, perhaps even fanning the flames on purpose."

Bai Pu pushed open the heavy bronze gate of the underground base and stepped into the White Bone Cave dungeon.

After clinching the top national spot, the high-ups in the Divine Strategy Army have raised their expectations for Bai Pu. It is said that negotiations are underway to revise Bai Pu's contract, significantly boosting his benefits.

Su Xiaoxiao also asked Bai Pu to prepare for a meeting with a top military official from the Jiangnan District soon.

For Bai Pu, a tangible benefit is that he can now enter the White Bone Cave to hone his combat skills without spending significant Honor Points.

Of course, since entry doesn't cost any Honor Points, killing monsters won't yield Virtual Treasure Chests.

Bai Pu's aim is not the Virtual Treasure Chests, but Combat Specialization.

Fighting in the Three Kingdoms: Chibi Plane scene allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of specialties like Two-Handed Swordsmanship, Shield Mastery, and Fighting, which now needs to be internalized.

After merging the Genetic Fragments of powerful individuals, Bai Pu could forcefully memorize the attacking patterns and habits of enemy experts with his abnormal observation and memory, using low-level combat specialties to contend with opponents of high combat proficiency.

But this is not a long-term solution.

First, forcibly observing and memorizing drains Heart Power heavily, and unlike mechanical patterns, enemies' attacking moves are fluid. If they notice this and suddenly change tactics, Bai Pu would suffer greatly!

Second, in an encounter, enemies won't give Bai Pu the chance to observe moves—victory and defeat, life and death, could be decided within a round or two.

For instance, the Blood Spider gave Bai Pu quite a scare. If it hadn't been for his foresight, utilizing Gan Ning and other native experts to besiege it, the Blood Spider would have finished him off decisively.

Before entering the Spirit Realm next time, Bai Pu plans to train his main Combat Specialties to Advanced Level 3 or above, at least to match his Professional Level!

As for which Plane World he'll visit next, Bai Pu has already decided—

He is now Level 3, nearing the threshold of a Mid-level Awakened.

The Spirit Realm Wonders needed for his second profession change have a target—the Boundary Lands controlled by Superpower Group's core organization, the Superstar Alliance!

Bai Pu has already asked Li Ling to search for information on these Boundary Lands. He plans to choose the Spirit Realm Plane belonging to these Boundary Lands to make some preliminary preparations.

The Living Tissue of the Primordial Heart, I've set my sights on it! Bai Pu said to himself.

...

Xicheng Seventeenth Middle School.

The long-awaited summer vacation finally arrived.

Shiyi and a few classmates convened to visit the school.

But they couldn't play as planned. Around a hundred acres surrounding the school were fenced off, with groups of hard-hat-clad construction personnel bustling around, pointing at various plots on the campus.

"Sir, what's happening? Isn't the school supposed to be shut down in a few years?"

Shiyi asked the security guard.

"It's not being shut down; it's being expanded!"

The elderly security guard beamed with excitement, "Our school did well in exams this year. I heard we even had a national top scorer! The Education Department has already allocated funds for expansion over the summer, and they'll bring in many excellent teachers to instruct! Soon, our Xicheng Seventeenth Middle School will earn the title of a Regional Key High School, haha!"

The security guard's grandson also attended Xicheng Seventeenth Middle School, just entering his second year. Having worked as the school guard for many years, he was the happiest to see the school's turnaround.

"National top scorer?" Shiyi was surprised, "Was it... Bai Pu?"

"I think that's the name."

With confirmation from the security guard, Shiyi and her peers were rendered speechless, their eyes wide as if they were wearing colored contacts.

"I didn't expect him to bring such change to the school..." A girl's gaze became contemplative, as if recalling Bai Pu's image, but the impression was so faint, only remembering those starry eyes that never focused on anyone.

"Shiyi, are you still in touch with Bai Pu?" a boy asked.

Shiyi shook her head.

Another girl said, "Shiyi dislikes fighting. She was forced into the Combat Squad, planning to apply for a dance major... She and Bai Pu don't share common interests."

Shiyi lowered her head, feeling a trace of unexplainable melancholy.

"I've changed my mind. I want to major in combat." Shiyi silently resolved.

She wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was to close the gap with the figure that frequently haunted her dreams.

...

Northeast Region, Heihe Base City.

Inside a villa.

"My grade ranking is finally out… Hiss! This ranking!"

The petite Cuttlefish opened her personal terminal, checked her ranking, just about to rejoice, she received a call.

It was from her childhood friend, Iron Crocodile. They hadn't spoken since the argument over the Spirit Realm exploration course.

"What... rank did you get?" Iron Crocodile's voice on the line was somewhat hoarse.

"You first," replied Cuttlefish.

"I didn't do well, total score of 551, ranked 643rd nationally, Bronze List." Iron Crocodile's voice carried a hint of bitterness, "You've been with Gangxin, your score shouldn't be low."

"Yeah... I scored 689, ranked 10th nationwide," Cuttlefish said.

"Gold List?!"

Iron Crocodile was incredulous, "No way, how are you over 130 points higher than me?"

"Three reasons. First, I participated in the 'killing' of the Blood Spider, earning a reward equivalent to 15% of its score based on contribution. Second, Gangxin sent me under Gan Ning's command, engaging in the pivotal Fire Attack at Chibi storyline, gaining a lot of Reputation. Third, during subsequent pursuits of the Cao Army, I also gained Reputation and Treasure Chests," explained Cuttlefish.

Originally, Cuttlefish and Iron Crocodile were complementary, with Iron Crocodile handling offense while Cuttlefish delayed and controlled enemies. After Iron Crocodile left, Cuttlefish's independent combat prowess was significantly weaker.

But with the help of two Mutant slaves from the Cao Army controlled by Bai Pu, her offensive capability was stronger than Iron Crocodile's! This allowed Cuttlefish to reap many benefits in the subsequent pursuit of the Cao Army.

"How did he know Gan Ning was the executor of the decoy plan?" Iron Crocodile realized he asked a foolish question, promptly excusing himself with an incoming call and hung up.

Ending the call, Cuttlefish looked at her national ranking of 10th but couldn't stop thinking about Bai Pu.

She opened an article about the new top scorer Bai Pu, which included a large picture of him.

The young man's appearance was clean and handsome, his smile appealing and heartening, perfectly aligning with the public's expectations.

"That smile is so fake."

Cuttlefish flicked away the page of the report, muttering to herself, "His phantom appearance in the Chibi scene was far more attractive than the real one."

She hadn't forgotten Bai Pu's businesslike attitude, strictly for mutual benefit.

Yet, Cuttlefish's fingers moved involuntarily, browsing more reports about Bai Pu, unconsciously breaking into an auntie-like smile.

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