Digesting the "Gift" and the Silent Preparation

After the meeting with General Khang, Lam Minh was officially "released." He returned home to a tearful welcome from his family. Mrs. Mai hugged him tightly, patting him all over to see if he was missing any pieces. Mr. Lam Dao just looked at him silently, his eyes filled with both pride and heartache.

His life seemed to return to its normal rhythm, but in reality, it was no longer the same.

The incident at Tran Hung Dao High School, though covered up, still left consequences. The school had to be temporarily closed for repairs. The students were given an unexpectedly long winter break.

This, in turn, inadvertently gave Lam Minh a lot of free time.

He didn't waste a single second. During the day, he spent time with his family, helping his parents with the construction of the warehouse in the Z-7 sector. What was heavy labor for ordinary people was just a light physical workout for him. He also spent time continuing to "train" his "Seed Squad."

Under his guidance, the group progressed by leaps and bounds. Ly Thien Ba gradually learned to control his power, no longer letting it erupt recklessly. Quynh Nhu could now shoot arrows carrying "qi," increasing their penetrating power to a new level. To Quyen, with the support of data provided by her mother, began researching the creation of technological "formation arrays," using devices to amplify or interfere with "bio-energy." Diep Chi also became stronger and more confident, losing her arrogant, high-class lady demeanor.

Lam Minh became a true teacher, a true leader. He didn't just teach them how to fight, but also about teamwork and the responsibilities of those who possess power.

But when night fell, that was when his real world began.

He diligently ground away in the simulation, using the precious Immortality Points he had just earned to familiarize himself with the power of the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm. He was no longer tormented by the Early-stage creature in the simulation. Now, he could fight it on even terms, and even overwhelm it.

Every battle in the simulation was a chance for him to test the new techniques of the "Primeval Dragon God Art," to learn how to combine Dragon Qi with the Thuan Thien sword, and to find more efficient ways to "die" to farm points.

Meanwhile, his relationships with the three girls also saw some interesting developments.

The secret competition between them still existed, but it was no longer as fierce or childish as before. They seemed to have reached a tacit agreement to care for Lam Minh together, each in her own way.

To Quyen became his "intellectual housekeeper." She frequently brought him the latest research materials, discussing and analyzing them with him. Their conversations not only gave Lam Minh more knowledge but also gave To Quyen many breakthrough ideas for her own work. They were like a pair of soulmates, understanding each other through their thoughts.

Quynh Nhu took on the role of his "action partner." She often "kidnapped" him to carry out Blacklight "missions" (safe ones within the city, of course). They worked together to catch criminals and investigate minor cases. These "work trips" gave Lam Minh more practical combat experience in an urban environment, and also made their relationship as close as true comrades.

Minh Thu, the super hacker, remained an enigma. She rarely appeared, but her presence was always there. Occasionally, Lam Minh would receive a message from her, reporting a security vulnerability she had just patched, or an important piece of intelligence she had "accidentally" hacked from some satellite server. She was like a silent guardian angel, using her talent to protect him and everyone else from the shadows. And of course, Lam Minh still had to regularly act as her bubble tea delivery boy.

One day, while cultivating, he received a call from Lac Long Quan through the seal. The uncle's voice was still full of teasing and mystery.

"How's it going, kid? Having fun being a hero after school?"

"It's alright," Lam Minh replied. "Just a little troublesome. Hey, Uncle, why did you call? I'm busy leveling up."

"I have a gift for you," Lac Long Quan said. "I was taking a stroll around the Dragon's Abyss the other day and happened to dig up a thousand-year-old 'Frost Jade Spirit Ginseng.' It has a water attribute, very good for consolidating your Foundation Establishment realm. I've had someone secretly send it to your house. It's wrapped in a very ordinary-looking birthday gift box. Find it yourself."

Lam Minh's eyes lit up. A thousand-year-old Frost Jade Spirit Ginseng? That was a natural treasure, more valuable than the Golden Core he had once imagined!

"Thanks, Uncle!" he said quickly.

"No need. Consider it an investment in my direct descendant," Lac Long Quan laughed. "Oh, and by the way, I sense a major movement of the Ngu Tinh's forces. It seems they're preparing for an unprecedented large-scale attack. Be careful. This time, I might not be able to sit still either."

With that, he cut off the connection, leaving Lam Minh with a load of important information.

Lam Minh rushed around the house looking for the "birthday gift box." Finally, he found it on his desk. A box wrapped in blue paper, looking nothing special. His mother must have received it and thought it was a gift from one of his friends.

He opened the box. Inside was a snow-white ginseng root, shaped like a sleeping baby, exuding a cold aura and an astonishingly pure spiritual energy.

He looked at the ginseng, then thought of Lac Long Quan's warning.

"A large-scale attack..."

He knew his peaceful days were about to end.

He clenched his fist. "I have to get stronger, quickly. I have to break through to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment before that battle breaks out!"

He held the Frost Jade Spirit Ginseng. With it, his path to 80,000 Immortality Points would be significantly shortened. He had to make use of every second.

...

Lam Minh looked at the thousand-year-old Frost Jade Spirit Ginseng in his hand, unable to help but marvel at the "wealth" of his Uncle Lac Long Quan. This kind of natural treasure, in other cultivation worlds, would be enough to cause a bloody war.

He didn't rush to absorb it immediately. He knew that with such a huge and pure amount of spiritual energy, if absorbed recklessly, his body wouldn't be able to handle it and might even "overeat" and explode.

He carefully used his Blacklight dagger to cut a slice as thin as a cicada's wing. Just a small slice, and a cold spiritual energy radiated out, causing the temperature in the room to drop by several degrees.

He put the ginseng slice in his mouth.

Instantly, a pure, cool, but incredibly powerful stream of energy melted and flowed straight to his dantian.

"Wonderful!"

He quickly sat cross-legged and operated the "Primeval Dragon God Art." The ivory-white Primary Core in his dantian began to spin at high speed, frantically absorbing this stream of spiritual energy.

If absorbing spiritual energy from the air was like drinking water through a small straw, then absorbing from a Spirit Stone was like drinking from a faucet. But absorbing this Frost Jade Spirit Ginseng was like standing under a giant waterfall.

Lam Minh didn't use this energy to "level up." He knew it was useless, as the system's rules couldn't be broken. Instead, he used it for "tempering."

He directed the cold spiritual energy to wash and cleanse every meridian, making them more resilient and wider. He used it to temper his Primary Core, compressing it to become even more solid, removing the last traces of impurities, making its ivory-white color even more translucent, like a precious gem.

This was an extremely important process of consolidating his foundation. It was like building a very solid foundation for a house before building the upper floors. The stronger the foundation, the more powerful he would be after a breakthrough, and the greater his future potential.

And so, for nearly a month, Lam Minh lived a double life.

By day, he was still a normal student, still went to class, still "trained" the Seed Squad, and still had to deal with the sweet troubles from the three girls.

By night, he became an ascetic cultivator. He used the Frost Jade Spirit Ginseng to temper his realm and used the battlefield simulation to farm Immortality Points.

This combination yielded unexpected results.

His Mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm was consolidated to near perfection. His Primary Core became unusually hard and pure. His ability to control spiritual energy also reached a new level. He could now condense qi into small objects, like a needle or a thin blade, though only for a few seconds.

And most importantly, his Immortality Points were also increasing steadily.

[Name: Lam Minh]

[Cultivation: Mid-stage Foundation Establishment (Foundation Perfected)]

[Immortality Points: 78,550/80,000]

[...]

"Only 1,450 points left!" he murmured after a night of "dying and reviving." "Just a few more 'suicides' and it'll be enough."

While Lam Minh was silently preparing, his friends were not standing still either.

Under his guidance, and with him "accidentally" using Dragon qi to clear their meridians, their "cultivation" speed also increased greatly.

Ly Thien Ba could now condense a thin layer of "qi armor" around his body, significantly increasing his defense. Quynh Nhu could now shoot arrows that could "track" targets within a small range. To Quyen, with her enhanced brain, had begun researching how to hack into the Madakaros drone systems.

They were gradually becoming a formidable force.

But the calm before the storm never lasts.

One morning, General Khang suddenly called him. His voice was extremely urgent.

"Lam Minh, get to Blacklight headquarters now! Something big has happened!"

Lam Minh had a bad feeling. He immediately rushed over.

In the command room, the air was tense enough to explode. On the large screen were satellite images from the Northern Front, the section of the Great Wall bordering the old China.

Thousands, tens of thousands of tiny red dots were moving, converging like a tide, heading straight for a single point on the Great Wall: Thang Long Fortress.

"This is..." Lam Minh was stunned.

"That's right," General Khang said, his face grim. "An unprecedented large-scale general offensive. The initial estimate is over 50,000 troops, and it's still increasing. They are concentrating all their forces on a single point."

Quynh Nhu, who was also there, added, "Intel says that this time they don't just have Golden Core cultivators. Leading this attack are three Nascent Soul Realm creatures!"

Nascent Soul Realm!

Those two words were like a bomb dropping in Lam Minh's mind. One was enough to cause a catastrophe, and now there were three.

"What is their target?"

"To destroy Thang Long Fortress," General Khang said. "It is the command center and the most important defensive link of the entire Northern Front. If it falls, the entire defensive line will collapse in a domino effect. The Madakaros will pour into the interior."

This was a life-and-death battle. A battle that would decide the fate of all humanity.

"All of our most elite forces have been deployed there," General Khang said. "But... it's still not enough. We need a miracle."

He looked at Lam Minh. His gaze was not an order, but a plea.

Lam Minh said nothing. He just looked at the screen, at the sea of ant-like Madakaros. He looked at the symbol of Thang Long Fortress, which was under siege.

He knew this was no longer a small skirmish. This was real war.

He also knew this was the "opportunity" he needed. An opportunity to earn the last few points, an opportunity to break through, and an opportunity to face the strongest enemies.

He turned to General Khang, his voice showing not a hint of hesitation.

"General, I want to go to the front."