I will eventually become a god through sheer hard work.

Xue Jing reached out and scooped up the water ball; the texture was just like real water, and it even stuck to his hand.

He brought his hand, which was covered in liquid, to his nose and smelled it... There was no smell.

"...can't you?"

Xue Jing frowned.

He wasn't trying to activate the Shadow Flame into water, but rather imagining it turning into ethanol... that is, alcohol.

He even fully imagined the molecular model that makes up alcohol.

However, the finished product, a jet-black liquid, did not emit the pungent smell of alcohol.

Xue Jing, unwilling to give up, rummaged through the bedside table, pulled out a lighter, lit it, and waved it around in front of the dark liquid.

As a result, not only did nothing happen, but even the flame from the lighter did not go out when it touched the liquid.

"...It's not even water."

Xue Jing said helplessly.

"It has absolutely no chemical properties..."

"Or rather, while the activation of Shadow Flame may seem to be able to create many things, its physical properties remain the same throughout, and its essence is unchanging. This 'Shadow Flame substance' can only physically collide with real matter and cannot interact at the chemical level..."

Xue Jing pinched his chin, lost in thought.

It can transform into a cat, with the feel of fur to the touch; into a cloak, with the softness of clothing; and into a sword, with the hardness and sharpness of steel.

However, this is only a superficial change; Shadowflame has always been the same thing.

"I can't do any fancy tricks... Oh well, it's already pretty good."

Although somewhat disappointed, Xue Jing understood that being able to solidify into a physical object was already quite impressive.

The black liquid transformed into a shadowy hand in the air, floating forward, reaching out to open a refrigerator several meters away, taking out a can of chilled cola, and then floating back to Xue Jing's side with the cola.

He took the Coke, and a thin tentacle extended from the back of the black hand, hooked the pull tab on the can, and pulled it open with a snap, releasing gas.

Xue Jing gulped down a mouthful of soda and let out a satisfied sigh.

……

"Woo——"

The cruise ship's loud whistle shook the sea; the Infinite Nova was approaching Maple City Port.

Xue Jing, dressed in casual clothes, leaned on the railing with both hands, gazing at the unfamiliar city in the distance.

Seagulls circled in the sky, cawing and squawking, while a gentle sea breeze ruffled his hair, carrying a hint of saltiness.

"Hmm? It seems quite lively over at the dock."

Xue Jing suddenly spoke up.

Chen Liang, the security chief standing half a step behind him, paused for a moment and also glanced in the direction of Fengcheng Port.

However, with his eyesight, he could only barely make out the more conspicuous buildings on Maple City Port from this distance, and he had no idea about the specific situation there.

“Fengcheng is a city located in the central part of the coastal area with well-developed water transportation, so there are more people there,” Chen Liang said casually with a smile.

Then, as if remembering something, he added:

"Oh right, the U19 knockout stage is about to begin. I almost forgot that you, Mr. Xue, are also here to participate... Some famous players arrive in Fengcheng by boat around this time."

"Many reporters will be waiting at the pier at this time to interview the contestants, oh, and us too."

Chen Liang scratched his cheek.

"The incident of the Infinite Nova being attacked by a swarm of sea bees the day before yesterday has already made the news. Many reporters have received the news and know that the ship will dock in Maple City for repairs, so they will definitely come to interview the passengers on board."

Xue Jing slightly adjusted the focus of his pupils, looking at the two imposing figures approaching each other on the dock, and the fighting spirit on their faces.

After thinking for a moment, he took out his phone and called his sister, Xue Wan.

After two beeps, the phone was answered.

"Hey hey hey~ Have you arrived yet?"

A cheerful and pleasant voice came from the receiver.

"Sister, where are you?" Xue Jing asked, watching the situation at the dock.

"I'm in the waiting hall at the port, what's wrong?"

Xue Wan was somewhat puzzled.

Waiting hall...

Xue Jing paced back and forth on the deck, adjusted his view, and found the building with the words "Waiting Hall" written on it.

The distance between them and those two people who looked like they were about to fight was a bit too close...

"Just in case."

Xue Jing thought to himself.

He then said into the phone, "Just stay in the lobby and don't go to the dock; it might be a bit dangerous outside."

"What danger?"

Before Xue Wan could ask for clarification, Xue Jing hung up the phone.

Then he turned to Chen Liang beside him and said:

"Director Chen, I'll go ashore now. Could you please watch my luggage for me? I'll come back to collect it once the ship docks."

"what?"

Chen Liang looked completely bewildered.

Get ashore first? How exactly?

It's at least a nautical mile (1.85 kilometers) from here to the dock...

Does Mr. Xue intend to swim across? What's the rush?

Before Chen Liang could figure it out, he saw the boy in front of him hurdle over the railing, take a few quick steps on the deck below, rush out of the bow of the ship, and head towards the sea.

Just when Chen Liang thought Xue Jing was really going to swim across, what happened in front of him made his eyes widen instantly.

As the ship was about to dock, many passengers were enjoying the scenery and chatting near the bow when suddenly one passenger pointed to the sea ahead and exclaimed in surprise:

"Look!"

"Holy crap, walking on water?"

"Wait, that's Mr. Xue!"

"Oh, it's Mr. Xue. Then it's not surprising."

"After all, he's Mr. Xue. This kind of operation is quite normal for him."

Upon recognizing Xue Jing, most passengers immediately suppressed their surprise and adopted an expression of complete indifference.

On the vast sea, a figure, resembling a dragonfly, gracefully treads the water.

It's not the kind of water-walking that involves frantically stomping and creating miracles.

Instead, it was just like the legendary light-footed skill; with a light touch of the foot on the water's surface, the person floated forward several meters without even a splash, only a ripple gradually spreading outwards.

Xue Jing nimbly and quickly waded across the water towards Fengcheng Wharf.

Naturally, this is neither a display of lightness skill nor an application of strength.

He simply used his Shadow Flame to materialize when he stepped onto the sea surface, instantly forming a thin black plate the size of his foot beneath his feet, which he then used for leverage.

They weren't actually walking on water.

"What a convenient skill..."

He couldn't help but sigh.

……

Meanwhile, at the dock.

"Du Mingluan, how did a short guy like you get selected as a seeded player? Has the Xuanjiao Club really declined to this extent?"

A young man with long gray hair, dressed in a black outfit, with large knuckles and a youthful face, spoke sarcastically.

The boy he mocked, named Du Mingluan, had a youthful and delicate face, wore a casual t-shirt and shorts, and was rather short, appearing to be only a little over 1.6 meters tall.

He narrowed his eyes and said, "Kou Chengjian..."

Looking at Kou Chengjian, who was a head taller than him, Du Mingluan raised his head slightly to meet his gaze. Despite being much shorter, Kou Chengjian's aura was in no way weak.

"You managed to dodge the last Southern Exchange Competition, but you won't be so lucky this time."

Du Mingluan's tone was laced with undisguised malice.

"I'll break your legs in the ring."

Kou Chengjian chuckled, seemingly amused.

"You shorty, you're so small, but you talk big."

Kou Chengjian crossed his arms and looked down at the other person.

"On the arena? I'm afraid you won't even get to draw me; you'll just get killed by someone else halfway through!"

"Why don't you come now? Do you dare?"

Du Mingluan gave him a look of utter disbelief, as if to say, "Are you out of your mind?"

"Are you out of your mind? Making a move here, with so many ordinary people around, if you cause trouble, you'll be disqualified from the competition."

Kou Chengjian chuckled.

"What, you don't dare?"

"He signed an 80 million yuan contract for one year, and was hailed as the most expensive teenage prodigy in the outer ring last year. That's it?"

"A marketing genius, how come he's so short and timid?"

Du Mingluan took a deep breath.