Chapter 167: Opportunity! Why Is There Another Person?

Lin Qingyuan was the class monitor during Xu Jingming's high school years.

She was beautiful and kind, secretly looking out for him in high school, even considering inviting him to form a team for the Wu Ke college entrance exam.

But after the Wu Ke exam, they lost contact, and he never expected to run into her here.

"What a coincidence—you're here too, class monitor."

Though the timing was off, meeting an old classmate still lifted Xu Jingming's spirits.

Besides, he now remembered that shortly after the Wu Ke results were released,

their homeroom teacher had posted everyone's exam rankings and university admissions in the high school class group.

And their class monitor, Lin Qingyuan, had enrolled at an ability university in Jinning City, Zhe Province.

"We're old classmates—you came to Jinning and didn't even tell me?"

Lin Qingyuan walked up with long, graceful steps, feigning annoyance.

Unlike Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan, whose breathtaking beauty made most girls feel inferior,

Lin Qingyuan was also beautiful, but far from unattainable—she felt like a kind older sister next door.

Hearing this, Xu Jingming dared not reply.

He had completely forgotten she attended a university in Jinning City.

Even if he had remembered, he wouldn't have reached out.

He was here on a mission, not on vacation.

"Xiao Yan, who's this?"

The other teenagers with Lin Qingyuan also approached, all casting curious glances at Xu Jingming.

Under the controlled suppression of his upgraded B-rank technique, Concealment Art, Xu Jingming's aura appeared only at First Rank Mid-Level.

His ability rank wasn't particularly high.

Yet the cold, lethal aura forged through years of fighting in the wastelands, combined with the sacred aura bestowed by his SS-rank Heavenly Thunder,

made him stand out like a crane among chickens—impossible to ignore.

"Let me introduce you properly—this is my high school classmate, Xu Jingming.

He's also this year's Wu Ke provincial champion from Jiangnan Province, currently studying at the Metropolis Ability University."

Lin Qingyuan's pale, oval face beamed with delight.

"Holy shit? Jiangnan Province's provincial champion?"

"A prodigy from a top-tier university?!"

Though they'd guessed Xu Jingming's identity might be special, they never expected him to be the provincial champion!

They were all students at Jinning Ability University, all having taken the Wu Ke exam themselves.

They knew full well how prestigious the provincial champion title was.

Instantly, their previously calm expressions widened in shock:

"Wow, Xiao Yan, you've got such an impressive high school classmate."

"Hello."

Xu Jingming smiled and waved for the server to bring the menu.

"What would you like to drink?"

There were still over ten minutes before the operation began.

Blue Sea Tech Park was right across the street—just a crosswalk away.

Since they'd already decided to force their way in, Xu Jingming had no reason to rush off.

"I'll have orange juice."

"I want bubble tea!"

"I'll take lemon water."

"..."

Lin Qingyuan's group—two boys and two girls—each ordered a drink and sat around Xu Jingming.

They subtly studied the provincial champion with curiosity.

Lin Qingyuan, seated closest to him, now asked curiously:

"Jingming, aren't you in Metropolis? Why are you in Jinning? On vacation?"

"Sort of."

Xu Jingming offered no further explanation.

"Jinning does have a few decent sights."

Lin Qingyuan nodded with a smile, then sighed:

"It's only been half a year since we last met, but you've changed so much—I almost didn't recognize you."

Indeed, compared to high school, Xu Jingming had changed dramatically.

He'd grown taller, his physique more muscular, his aura no longer youthful and naive.

He was steady, yet carried a faint sense of pressure.

Even her university professors couldn't give her that feeling.

"And you're already an ability user, right?" Lin Qingyuan's eyes held a hint of envy.

The first semester of freshman year was already more than half over, yet she was still just an awakened.

Advancing to ability user still felt impossibly distant.

Though as an awakened, her weak spiritual power couldn't pinpoint his exact rank,

she could still sense he was at First Rank.

"Yeah."

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile, noticing her envy.

Lin Qingyuan, from the parallel class of Jiangcheng No. 2 High, was no genius.

Jinning Ability University was just an ordinary ability school.

Reaching First Rank peak before graduation would be a good outcome.

In fact,

most ability universities in the Great Xia Nation aimed to graduate students as First Rank ability users.

That's why Metropolis Ability University, which produced Fourth Rank graduates, was considered a top-tier school.

"No wonder you're from a top-tier school—you've become an ability user in just half a year."

Lin Qingyuan marveled at his confirmation.

Who could have imagined that Xu Jingming, once an unremarkable student who needed her help, would achieve this?

"Xiao Yan, from your tone, Xu Jingming wasn't an ability user before entering school?"

The others were puzzled—wasn't it common knowledge that provincial champions were ability users?

"Yes."

Lin Qingyuan proudly puffed out her chest:

"Jingming isn't just Jiangcheng's first provincial champion—he achieved it as an awakened."

"An awakened won the provincial championship?"

The other three stared, stunned, exchanging glances.

Historically, every provincial champion across the nation had been a First Rank Upper-Level ability user.

They'd never heard of an awakened provincial champion before.

"Holy shit—I just remembered! During the Wu Ke exam season, I saw news about your province's awakened champion.

I didn't believe it, but it's actually true!"

One of them suddenly slapped his thigh in realization.

"Holy shit! I remember now too!"

"I thought that was fake news."

"So cool."

Filled with awe, their gazes toward Xu Jingming now held the reverence usually reserved for elites.

"Sir, here are your drinks."

The server arrived with the beverages.

"By the way, Brother Jingming, can you tell us what top-tier universities are like?"

After receiving their drinks, one of the boys asked curiously.

Lin Qingyuan and the others also turned to look, clearly interested.

"Sure."

Xu Jingming readily obliged.

He gave them a general overview of daily life and training at Metropolis University.

When they learned every student lived in a villa and was taught by Sixth Rank instructors, they marveled and envied him.

During the conversation,

Xu Jingming learned Lin Qingyuan's group had come to attend a tech expo hosted inside Blue Sea Tech Park.

And Blue Sea Tech's CEO, Leng Chang, would also be present at the expo.

"Tech expo? You can enter Blue Sea Tech Park?"

Xu Jingming's heart stirred.

"My uncle runs a tech equipment company; he was invited, and we came along with him."

Lin Qingyuan smiled lightly.

Precisely because of her uncle's connection, she chose this Zhejiang province energy university.

That way, after graduation, even if she didn't want to become a risky adventurer with abilities, she could still opt for corporate work.

"Can I go in with you?" Xu Jingming blinked.

If he could go in with them, he wouldn't need to risk alerting them by forcing his way in.

"Of course you can. My uncle's arriving any moment—just tell him."

Lin Qingyuan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Not long after, Lin Qingyuan's uncle, Lin Hai, arrived in a car.

He was a middle-aged man with a slightly stocky build, his face warm and approachable.

When Lin Qingyuan mentioned this to her uncle, he gave an immediate and enthusiastic reply.

Xu Jingming hadn't expected such an unexpected turn of events.

So after sending a message via his communicator to the Special Operations Team—"Hold position"—

he followed behind Lin Hai and walked toward the main entrance of Blue Sea Tech Park.

Outside Blue Sea Tech Park, only small squads of energy users patrolled.

At the main entrance, however, a full five-member second-rank squad stood constant guard.

"Hello, please show your credentials."

When Lin Hai and the group reached the gate, a short-haired, sharp-looking energy user stepped forward.

"I'm Lin Hai, owner of Yuan Yang Tech, invited to attend the exhibition."

Lin Hai handed over his credentials.

"Beep. Identity confirmed: Yuan Yang Tech, Lin Hai. Four accompanying personnel: Lin Qingyuan..."

The sharp-looking energy user scanned the credentials on the device, and a voice sounded.

Immediately, the identity and facial data of Lin Hai and the other four appeared on the screen.

"Identity is clear."

The sharp-looking energy user nodded, his gaze sweeping over Lin Qingyuan and the others.

But when he saw Xu Jingming, his brow furrowed:

"Mr. Lin, your submitted exhibition roster listed only four accompanying personnel. Why is there a fifth?"

As soon as he spoke, the other four energy users immediately closed in, alert.