I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

Xue Jing walked into the living room and spotted a curled-up cat brooding on the sofa.

“Huh? You're back to this form?” he exclaimed in surprise.

It wasn't the beautiful black-haired cat-eared girl, Ning Fengwan, but rather a black cat with four white-gloved paws.

“Yeah,” Ning Fengwan muttered as she buried her head between the sofa cushions, her voice muffled and gloomy.

She didn't know how to face Xue Jing after everything that had happened.

To have such an intimate encounter in human form… and then, there was that brief graze with the unsheathed holy sword.

For a girl who'd never even held a man's hand, it was overwhelmingly exhilarating.

The thought of it made her want to bang her head against the wall.

Ning Fengwan extended her two cat paws and covered her face.

“Little Wan, how did you change back? Can you do it again?”

Xue Jing sat down beside her on the sofa.

“Call me 'Master Leader'…” Ning Fengwan weakly retorted, then sighed:

“…I don’t know. After I calmed down, I just reverted to being a cat.”

“Now I can't transform into a human anymore; it's just absurd.”

She felt a bit downcast, but there was also a faint sense of relief.

If she could fully return to her human form, there would be no reason for her to stay at Xue Jing's house any longer. She would have to resume her role as the esteemed leader of the Dragon Sect.

Even though she had triggered a special condition to briefly change back, the situation was still unstable, so she had to continue residing here.

“Hmm... I've recently met someone quite knowledgeable about divine relics. I'll seek her out tomorrow to inquire about the specifics,” Xue Jing contemplated.

Ning Fengwan nodded and didn't ask how Xue Jing had come to know such a person. She just looked at him with emerald-like vertical pupils, her gaze complex.

The atmosphere fell into silence, an awkward air gradually spreading between them.

Since stepping out of the bathroom, Xue Jing had been feigning nonchalance, but even he was struggling to keep it up.

He cleared his throat and awkwardly said, “I'm going out for a walk.”

Then he got up, took the keys, and went out.

Hearing the door close, Ning Fengwan lay sprawled on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Her mind replayed the scenes from the bathroom, causing her to toss and turn restlessly on the sofa.

The next morning, Xue Jing woke up, lifted the covers, glanced at the cat still sleeping beside him, and smiled.

Yesterday, each had taken some time to cool off separately, so by the time Xue Jing returned home, the awkward atmosphere had dissipated, and their interactions had returned to how they usually were.

At least on the surface, it seemed so.

As for how things might develop in the future, and what would arise from what happened in the bathroom last night, only time will tell.

As usual, after finishing breakfast, a notification popped up on the panel, indicating that Xue Jing's [Cooking] skill had finally reached Level 4.

After a morning run, a refreshing shower, Xue Jing then set off for Qing University.

Without any delay, he went straight to the seventh floor of the Qing University library.

In the dimly lit old library, there was still only one girl present, seated elegantly on a wooden chair, her attention absorbed in the book in her hands, exuding an aura of tranquility.

Today's girl was not wearing her usual slim-fit white T-shirt and tight jeans, but a black shirt paired with an off-white gray checkered women's cardigan, its lower edge tied at the waist, accentuating her slender waistline. Her lower body was dressed in sleek, fitted black trousers that hugged her long, shapely legs, and on her feet were simple white canvas shoes.

Intrigued by the freshness of her appearance, Xue Jing couldn't help but give her a second glance before pulling out "The Crown of the Evil Maiden" and "The Ordinary Glasses" from his backpack and placing them on Wu Youqing's table.

Wu Youqing closed the book in her hand and blinked, her pale purple eyes looking towards Xue Jing.

"You worked hard, and did very well this time," she said softly.

"I didn't expect someone else to interfere, causing such changes and putting you in danger, I'm very sorry," the girl added with a hint of apology on her face.

Xue Jing shook his head, saying, "You're not a god, how could you foresee everything? Since I chose to join the company and signed the contract, I was already prepared for this kind of danger; it's only to be expected, no need to worry."

Wu Youqing nodded gently, speaking in a soft voice, "Even so... due to certain special circumstances with this containment mission, I'm upgrading it to a C+ rating. Your compensation share will also be increased as a reparation."

She pulled a document from a bag on the seat beside her and handed it to Xue Jing.

"The man you killed has been laid to rest as of yesterday, and his identity has been confirmed."

Xue Jing took the document and opened it.

The folder bore an identification photo that matched the man Xue Jing had killed the previous day.

His name was Zhu Yingkun, hailing from one of the three inner ring cities within the Fifth Urban Circle, Yuan City.

"This man was a C-level containment agent working for Xu's Containment Company," Wu Youqing leaned slightly forward, moving closer to Xue Jing as she spoke.

"However, I contacted Xu's Containment Company yesterday, and they assured me that Zhu Yingkun was not assigned to execute this containment task—it was his personal undertaking."

"This is quite a muddled account and can only be left as it is—I don't suspect Xu's Containment Company of dodging responsibility," she continued.

"Traveling far from his jurisdiction, all the way from an inner ring city to contain a Class C Divine Relic here doesn't seem like a company-directed mission."

The young woman's voice was soft and gentle as she stood before Xue Jing, her hair falling around her face with a faint, hidden fragrance.

"Whatever the reason, I will ensure you receive some compensation from Xu's Containment side."

Xue Jing nodded, "Whatever you decide is fine."

Anyway, it's not like he suffered any loss; the opponent had been thoroughly crushed by him.

"Speaking of which, Zhu Yingkun's autopsy report is a bit strange," Wu Youqing said, gazing intently at Xue Jing with a hint of intrigue.

"Apart from one eye being destroyed, there were almost no external injuries. Yet, the internal organs seemed to have been mysteriously consumed, completely vanishing without a trace."

"Those kinds of wounds... it's impossible to determine how it was even done..."

Xue Jing pinched his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... Can I not say anything? Good sister."

He was still unsure how others would perceive his Shadow Flame skill, which resembled a superpower. It seemed wise not to reveal it for the time being.

Wu Youqing nodded, unconcerned. "It's alright if you don't want to say. Everyone has their secrets. As long as we know you have the appropriate containment capability, that's enough."

She reached into her bag and took out something else.

It was a black identification card similar to an ID, made of a material akin to obsidian, subtly reflecting the dim light.

The front featured the words 'Death of a God' outlined in white strokes, with exquisite craftsmanship.

On the back, a few lines were written:

【Wu Corporation Divine Relic Containment and Research Co.】

【Specially Appointed C-level Divine Relic Containment Agent · Xue Jing】

Bo Shang sat nervously in his cubicle, eyes flicking back and forth between the clock and the door to the boss's office.

This was the moment of truth. He had been working tirelessly, hoping for a breakthrough that seemed almost within reach. The prospect of a promotion dangled tantalizingly before him, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and fear.

In the bustling office, colleagues whispered among themselves, exchanging speculative glances. Bo Shang knew that Chen, the senior manager, had already talked to the boss earlier in the morning.

There was a palpable tension, like the calm before a storm.

Finally, Bo Shang's phone buzzed with a message. It was time. He stood up, straightened his tie, and walked steadily towards the door. The few moments it took to cross the office floor felt like an eternity.

In the boss's office, he was greeted warmly. "Bo Shang, come in. Let's discuss your future at our company," the boss said with a reassuring smile.

The conversation that followed was both surreal and exhilarating. They spoke of his achievements, his potential, and then the words he had longed to hear: "You are being promoted, along with a raise."

Bo Shang left the office with a feeling of immense relief, the weight of countless late nights and early mornings lifted from his shoulders.

Outside, his colleagues erupted in congratulatory applause, the spontaneous celebration adding to the euphoria.

As the office slowly returned to its routine, Bo Shang couldn't help but reflect on the journey that had brought him here. This was just the beginning, and the future felt full of promise.

-(本章完)