Another Divine-Level Ability, The Classic of Difficulties

"Wanyue, I've got something new for you. Take a photo of it."

Xu Mu took out the manual for the Phantom Sword technique, which was also inscribed on a metal plate.

Meng Wanyue lowered her gaze to the object in Xu Mu's hand, her reddened eyes widening in shock.

"The Phantom Sword!" she exclaimed in awe.

"You know about it?" Xu Mu asked, curious.

"This is a Profound-tier technique! Sister Ran once told me that during a mission back home, she was injured by the Phantom Sword and nearly died."

Meng Wanyue covered her mouth in disbelief. "Boss Xu, where did you get this?"

"I recently met an old man. Traded it for some good liquor. Now, hurry up and take a picture."

Xu Mu grinned at her.

[Affection Points +20]

Meng Wanyue didn’t reach for her phone. Instead, she quickly stood up and backed away. "No, no, Boss Xu. This is too valuable. I can’t accept it."

A Profound-tier technique, just handed to her like this? She wondered if Xu Mu had lost his mind.

Last time, after nearly dying on a mission for the Dragon King, she’d only been rewarded with a Yellow-tier technique.

But here was Xu Mu, giving her a Profound-tier one without her even lifting a finger.

Her heart swelled with gratitude.

"Wanyue, do you want a beating?" Xu Mu feigned anger.

"Boss Xu, no rewards without merit. This is far too precious."

Meng Wanyue shook her head vigorously, still refusing.

Xu Mu clicked his tongue. If she reacted like this to a Profound-tier technique, what would happen if he gave her an Earth or Heaven-tier one later?

"Fine, since you insist on ‘no rewards without merit,’ I’ll give you a chance to earn it."

Xu Mu looked at her seriously.

Meng Wanyue nodded firmly, already resolved to dedicate herself to him.

After all, even the Yellow-tier technique from the Dragon King had nearly cost her life.

"My back’s been hurting lately. Give me a massage."

Xu Mu lay face-down on the sofa. "This is a critical mission—it concerns the future of the Xu family. Once you’re done, I’ll reward you with a Profound-tier technique."

"Huh?"

Meng Wanyue was stunned. Wasn’t this just giving it to her outright?

"Hurry up!"

Xu Mu glared at her.

[Affection Points +10]

"O-okay, Boss Xu."

Meng Wanyue nodded softly and began massaging his back.

As she worked, her eyes lingered on his broad shoulders, lost in thought.

If only she’d met him sooner—before Ye Tong—maybe she could’ve been his wife.

Suddenly, she shook her head violently. What was she thinking?

A killer like her, who belonged in the shadows, could never be worthy of Xu Mu.

She massaged him diligently for over an hour.

When Xu Mu felt it was enough, he took out the manual again. This time, Meng Wanyue didn’t refuse and snapped a photo with her phone.

Xu Mu stretched lazily. Next time, he’d have her massage his front.

"Wanyue, don’t tell anyone about this technique," Xu Mu warned.

Especially since techniques like Profound and Yellow-tier could be learned just from a photo.

He didn’t want it leaking out and becoming common knowledge.

"I understand. I’ve already deleted the Mountain-Splitting Palm manual—it’s all memorized now."

Meng Wanyue nodded. She knew the stakes.

"Go on, then. Train hard."

Xu Mu’s expression turned solemn. "Wanyue, I want you to grow stronger. When you’re powerful enough, you won’t have to bow to anyone. You can live as you please."

Meng Wanyue trembled at his words.

She truly felt blessed to have met Xu Mu. Her entire life, she’d been ordered around—first by her old organization, then by the Dragon King.

Xu Mu was the first person to ever say something like this to her.

[Affection Points +20]

"Boss Xu, I won’t let you down."

Meng Wanyue understood his meaning. She wasn’t yet strong enough to break free from the Dragon King.

That’s why Xu Mu was helping her grow stronger.

As she opened the office door to leave, she resolved to stop lazing around at home.

Once Meng Wanyue was gone, Xu Mu collapsed back onto the sofa. Thanks to the affection points she’d provided, he could perform another 10-draw.

The Xiao Ran he’d met earlier was undoubtedly stronger than him.

At the time, he hadn’t been using his perception, too focused on Meng Wanyue in the distance.

But even so, he should’ve sensed an ordinary person approaching.

Yet Xiao Ran had gotten right behind him before he noticed.

Opening the system, Xu Mu clicked the draw button. He wasn’t in a rush—his plans were progressing steadily.

As his network grew, earning justice points would become easier, speeding things up further.

The roulette spun for the 10-draw.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You’ve obtained 50 cultivation points.]

Xu Mu nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."

Compared to low-tier rewards, he’d take higher cultivation points any day.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You’ve obtained 20 cultivation points.]

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You’ve obtained a Divine-tier ability: Mastery of the Classic of Difficulties.]

Xu Mu froze. Another Divine-tier ability!

The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Was it another cultivation manual?

He decided to wait until the draws finished before checking.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You’ve obtained 20 attribute points.]

…

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You’ve obtained 20 cultivation points.]

When the draws concluded, all eleven were baseline rewards—except for the Classic of Difficulties.

Sitting on the sofa, Xu Mu first examined what this "Classic of Difficulties" was.

As he focused, a flood of memories surged into his mind, as if he’d always known them.

His eyes widened in realization. He’d thought it was a cultivation manual, but it was actually a medical text!

The Classic of Difficulties, along with the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, Treatise on Cold Damage, and Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica, were known as the Four Great Classics of ancient Chinese medicine.

From what Xu Mu could tell, the version he’d obtained was the original.

Legend claimed it was written by Bian Que, the founding figure of Chinese medicine.

After studying it, Xu Mu learned that its greatest strength lay in the four diagnostic methods: observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking.

He stood up and opened his office door, observing the employees passing by.

Just by looking at their complexions and listening to their breathing, his mind automatically diagnosed their ailments.

"Boss Xu."

A woman in uniform walked past, greeting him with a smile.

Xu Mu nodded. Endocrine imbalance—her period was likely a week late.

"Good afternoon, Boss Xu."

A man in a suit greeted him cheerfully.

Xu Mu nodded again. Severe kidney yang deficiency.

"This is incredible!"

Xu Mu marveled.

With the Classic of Difficulties for diagnosis and his pharmaceutical mastery for treatment, he could handle almost anything—except modern surgical procedures.

Truly worthy of a Divine-tier ability.

Returning to his office, he sank back into the sofa.

He still had baseline points left to allocate—160 cultivation points and 60 attribute points. After adding them all, black text flashed before his eyes.

【Congratulations, Host Has Reached Mid-Stage Gang Qi】

Sensing the changes in his body, Xu Mu immediately checked his attributes.

Name: Xu Mu

Identity: Villain Saint Body, HR Manager of Xu Corporation

Realm: Mid-Stage Gang Qi

Physique: 390

Spirit: 390

Cultivation Points: 60 (Max: 400)

Destiny Power: 195

Xu Mu nodded to himself in satisfaction. Not bad—his strength had advanced yet again.

...

After work in the afternoon,

Xu Mu got into his car, ready to head home. He pondered whether he should bring Meng Wanyue along if he went out.

Just as he drove away from the company, he noticed someone by the roadside waving at him.

Squinting, he recognized the person—none other than Xiao Ran, the Dragon King’s right-hand man.