Chapter 113: Speculations on Abilities! Study Trip!

"What are you all muttering about? You're lucky if you reach Xu Jingming's level before sophomore year! How dare you gossip!"

With the instructor's roar, the classroom fell silent instantly.

Then, the instructor's expression softened as he spoke to Xu Jingming:

"Student Xu, your demonstration is over. Return to your seat."

"Alright, let's continue. Just now, Student Xu demonstrated for us..."

The instructor resumed his lecture; Xu Jingming paid no mind to the stares from the new students and walked straight back to his seat.

"Two months—finally, I've mastered the Purple Thunder Divine Lightning to the point of effortless control."

Xu Jingming thought silently as he returned to his seat.

He had originally believed his control over his ability was already precise enough.

But after taking the Element Academy's course on Elemental Ability Manipulation,

he realized how far he still was from true finesse.

Thus, for these two months, he practiced according to what was taught in class and occasionally sought advice from this instructor.

Hard work pays off—his command of the Purple Thunder Divine Lightning had finally reached a high level.

"Funny—the system can't add points to improve my ability manipulation proficiency."

This was something Xu Jingming hadn't expected.

Unconsciously, he opened his system panel:

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Second Rank Upper (+)

【Ability】: Doushen Shenlei (S)

【Physique】: 1452 Qi (+)

【Spirit】: 1107 He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Master), Tianlei Shu (Beginner+), Mingyu Mingyu Lei Kai (Beginner+), Fist Technique (Intermediate+), Lei Mao (Advanced+), Linked Thunder Gun (Intermediate+), Lei Shan (Advanced+), Lei Yu (Intermediate+), Lightning Gale Break (Master+)

【Body Cultivation】: Thunder Indestructible Body (Third Stage+)

【Ability Points】:

Compared to two months ago, Xu Jingming's system panel hadn't changed much.

His physique and spirit had each increased by about a hundred points.

Of course, the most important thing was that his Ability Points had reached a staggering thirteen thousand plus!

"But there's still no plus sign after the Ability field—did I guess wrong? Or are the Ability Points not enough?"

Xu Jingming frowned slightly.

A month ago, when his Ability Points reached 6,000, he could have chosen to advance to Third Rank.

But just as he was about to click the plus sign, he suddenly thought:

If level and combat techniques could both be upgraded using Ability Points,

then why shouldn't the ability itself be upgradable?

After all, S-rank isn't the limit—there are even higher SS and SSS-rank abilities!

Once this thought took root, it spiraled out of control.

So Xu Jingming suppressed his urge to advance, hoarded his Ability Points, and waited to see if a plus sign would appear after the Ability field.

But even now, there was still no change.

"One more month of hoarding—if no plus sign appears, I'll abandon this attempt and use the points to raise my level directly."

Xu Jingming thought to himself.

Although he hadn't spent a single one of these accumulated Ability Points,

his strength had still more than doubled compared to two months ago!

This was clearly evident when fighting beasts in the Yangcheng Wilderness Zone.

His strength increased partly because he trained relentlessly.

He also spent Xia currency and academic credits to buy cultivation resources, boosting his Qi and spiritual power.

On the other hand, the school's courses had greatly benefited him.

He learned how to use his ability with precision, reduce consumption, and strike fatal blows at beasts' weak points.

"Ding ding ding~~~"

The lesson continued, and several minutes passed.

The bell rang, and the instructor announced:

"Alright, class is over for today. Dismissed."

Students rose and filed out; Xu Jingming followed the crowd toward the door.

Right after class,

outside the classroom hallway stood a tall, graceful girl with a lovely, alluring face and a voluptuous figure, waiting.

Passing new students understood who she was waiting for.

Those who knew they were far inferior to this second-ranked new student naturally didn't dare approach and risk embarrassment.

"Jingming, your precision in controlling lightning abilities has improved even more."

Seeing Xu Jingming step out of the classroom, Song Qiuyun smiled warmly and walked over.

She had been there for a while and had clearly seen his demonstration on stage.

"I've made slight progress lately."

"Slight progress? That's equal to a month's worth of my training."

Song Qiuyun unconsciously muttered a complaint.

But fortunately, she was already used to Xu Jingming's prodigy status, and quickly regained her composure, smiling sweetly:

"By the way, the annual mandatory study trip for new students is about to begin—there should be an official notice soon."

"As our top new student, you definitely can't escape."

The so-called study trip was in fact a special event organized by the school to take students out of classrooms and campus.

Into real-world social environments, to personally experience the culture and societal conditions of different regions.

Of course,

ordinary universities typically chose historically rich cities as destinations for their study trips.

But Magic Capital Institute of Esoteric Abilities was different—its study trip destination was the Wildlands...

Moreover, it wasn't just Magic Capital Institute of Esoteric Abilities.

Qingjing Institute of Esoteric Abilities and Jincheng Institute of Esoteric Abilities would also send their new students to the same location.

With all three top-tier schools' new students gathering together, it was naturally more than just a study trip.

It was often accompanied by competitions, designed to test the new students' standards across institutions.

"The study trip is entirely voluntary, but most new students won't refuse."

"Given your nature, you'll definitely join."

Song Qiuyun declared with certainty, as if she understood Xu Jingming perfectly.

Hearing this, Xu Jingming also felt a flicker of anticipation.

The study trip's destination was the Wildlands—this was a prime opportunity to harvest Esoteric Points, and he certainly wouldn't refuse.

Moreover, he was eager to see what kind of prodigies the other two top-tier schools had recruited.

Just as Song Qiuyun had guessed, that same afternoon the school released the official notice regarding the study trip.

The study trip would depart on November 10th, one week from now.

Lasting one and a half months, it followed the principle of voluntary participation—students could choose to join or not.

However, every participating new student would receive a basic reward of 20 academic credits.

Those who performed well during the study trip would earn additional academic credits.

And at the exact same time the notice was released,

Xu Jingming, Song Qiuyun, and the other top fifty new students from the Freshman Competition also received simultaneous meeting notices from the school.