Chapter 157: Xu Jingming Is All Talk and No Substance? I

The young man's name was Zhong Dan, a fourth-year student at the Weapons Academy.

He naturally knew of Yang Yuanzhang's S-rank disciple, Xu Jingming.

After all, over half the posts on the student forum right now were discussing Xu Jingming's recent battle records.

If it were a real combat match, Zhong Dan would never consider himself a match for Xu Jingming.

But in pure physical confrontation, he himself possessed an A-rank enhancement-type ability and had reached peak third-rank.

He truly wasn't afraid of Xu Jingming, who had only a third-rank low-tier lightning-type ability.

"No problem, go all out—I'll just watch from the side."

Yang Zhentian smiled and waved his hand.

Nearby, Xu Jingming, whose Thunder Unbroken Body had reached the fourth level and whose blood qi had soared past two thousand points, naturally had no objection.

"Alright then."

Seeing this, Zhong Dan no longer hesitated; he stepped to the center of the training hall and stood facing Xu Jingming.

"Lao Fu, who do you think will win?"

Yang Zhentian smiled and asked Fu Bo beside him.

"In overall strength, Xu Jingming is clearly stronger, but in pure physical power, Zhong Dan has the edge."

After a moment's thought, Fu Bo replied.

As a sixth-rank adept, he could clearly see how formidable Xu Jingming's physical body was.

It was no less impressive than that of a third-rank low-tier enhancement-type adept of the same rank.

But Zhong Dan was peak third-rank—two minor tiers higher than Xu Jingming.

The physical blood qi gap this created was not easily compensated for.

"Not necessarily. During this study trip, Jingming had some extraordinary encounters and greatly strengthened his physical body."

"Oh? Really?"

Fu Bo's heart tightened—he hadn't noticed this at all.

"Junior, since the dean told me to go all out, I won't hold back."

"Senior, please do as you wish."

Since this was a test of physical strength,

the two men standing in the center of the training room used no weapons—just bare fists.

On the right, Xu Jingming stood tall, expression calm.

On the left, Zhong Dan swiftly activated his ability, his body swelling by a full circle.

Gray-white wolf fur sprouted across his exposed skin, and his eyes became as sharp as a lone wolf's!

Enhancement-type beast ability—Azure-Eyed Gray Wolf!

"Here it comes!"

Zhong Dan growled and launched the first attack.

Though Dean Yang had told him to go all out, the opponent was still Dean Yang's favorite disciple.

And he was S-rank—recently, rumors said he'd even caught the attention of the Grand Master Vice Principal who controlled space-type abilities.

What if he got hurt? That would be disastrous.

Thinking this, Zhong Dan instinctively held back several tenths of his punch's power.

"This much force shouldn't be enough to injure him, right?"

Zhong Dan silently praised his own cleverness.

On the other side, to test his physical strength, Xu Jingming didn't dodge.

Instead, he swung his right fist forward like lightning!

BOOM!!

When their fists collided, Xu Jingming felt no strong impact.

Instead, he felt it was unexpectedly weak?

On the other side, Zhong Dan felt a torrent of overwhelming force and searing pain surge through his fist.

His face changed instantly; his body instinctively staggered back three or four steps to dissipate the force.

"Such formidable power!"

Zhong Dan exclaimed in shock, instinctively glancing at Xu Jingming across from him.

Though Xu Jingming said nothing, Zhong Dan clearly saw a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

As if wondering why his punch had been so weak?

Damn it! Is it my power that's weak? It's YOURS that's too strong!

Reading the emotion behind that glance, Zhong Dan felt ten thousand grassy horses gallop through his mind.

I'm peak third-rank! And I activated my A-rank enhancement ability!

Even if I held back a bit, this punch should've crushed him!

"Alright, I underestimated you."

Shaken, Zhong Dan took a deep breath, focused his mind, and stopped holding back entirely.

He charged forward toward Xu Jingming.

BOOM!

Their fists collided again—this time, the power was evenly matched.

"Now that's more like it."

Xu Jingming's lips curled slightly upward as he pressed forward.

Compared to the Grandmaster-level spear technique, his fist technique had only been upgraded twice.

It was merely intermediate—not very high.

But for this kind of practical training, it was more than enough; the two quickly locked into close combat.

In raw power, they were evenly matched.

But Zhong Dan wasn't a specialist in fist techniques—his fist skill was only beginner level.

Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded inside the training room.

Zhong Dan, peak third-rank and wielding his enhancement ability,

was being dominated by Xu Jingming—who used no ability at all, relying solely on raw physical strength.

"Xu Jingming's blood flow rate is 1. times Zhong Dan's—likely due to that unknown Beast King's blood.

His neural response speed is about 1. times higher; his strength is roughly equal to Zhong Dan's..."

Yang Zhentian continuously analyzed Xu Jingming's combat data while recording it.

After several minutes, once he'd recorded sufficient data, he called out:

"Jingming, activate Thunder Extreme State."

"Thunder Extreme State? Dean, maybe we don't need to activate it?"

Zhong Dan jumped up like a cat stepped on its tail.

As a senior fourth-year at the Weapons Academy, he knew his dean had a special state that enhanced physical strength and abilities.

But even now, he was already being dominated by Xu Jingming—what if he activated Thunder Extreme State?

Before he could refuse, he saw Xu Jingming's blazing golden dragon eyes...

"Brother Jingming, can we go easy from now on?"

Zhong Dan swallowed hard, nearly in tears.

He'd known it—Dean Yang the Devil had summoned him for trouble!

"Fine, no problem."

Xu Jingming offered a friendly smile.

But he didn't realize that, in Thunder Extreme State, his aura had become ferocious and violent.

Paired with that smile, it only made Zhong Dan feel an inexplicable bloodthirsty brutality...

Minutes later,

Yang Zhentian, his inspiration surging, went to his study to refine his combat techniques.

Zhong Dan, drenched in sweat, sat on the floor, gasping for breath.

"Senior Zhong, thank you for your effort."

Xu Jingming walked over, smiling, and handed him a second-grade Blood Qi Pill to restore stamina.

This Blood Qi Pill was also made by Senior Jiang Chuxuan—its effects were excellent.

"Thank you."

Zhong Dan painfully extended his left hand to take the pill.

Why not his right? Because after entering Thunder Extreme State, Xu Jingming's strength had rendered his right hand completely numb...

He smashed his right hand into a state of complete numbness...

"Phew—"

After swallowing the Blood Qi Pill in one gulp, Zhong Dan finally felt a little better.

"Damn it—if anyone posts again saying you're all talk and no substance, I'll be the first to roast them to death!"

As the study trip ended and the Heavenly Mandate Cult's surprise attack occurred,

With the end of the study trip and the occurrence of the Heavenly Fate Cult's surprise attack.

Many posts on the official website forum are discussing these two events, with numerous speculations about Xu Jingming's strength.

There is no video footage available.

Although most posts praise Xu Jingming's power and predict that Mo University will welcome a new dominant figure,

some claim Xu Jingming is overhyped, and that his victories over S-rank Jilan and Dong Sheng of the Heavenly Fate Cult were purely due to luck.

Before this, Zhong Dan would simply scroll past such posts without giving them much thought.

But now, having actually fought Xu Jingming, he deeply felt the overwhelming suppression of his strength.

More terrifyingly, Xu Jingming did not use his prized lightning-based ability at all—he relied solely on pure physical dominance.

It is unimaginable what a disastrous state he would have been in if Xu Jingming had unleashed his ability...