Chapter 169: Xu Jingming

"Captain, what's the situation with Xu Jingming?"

In front of the Tiger Association's private martial arts gym, Zhang Tong and the others, who had arrived too late, hurriedly asked their captain Cai Ju anxiously.

The Jinning City Public Security Bureau had issued a strict order: the Tianming Cult branch must be completely eradicated.

They had barely managed to uncover these two leads that might lead them to the branch.

But unexpectedly, they had alerted the cult, causing one lead to be lost.

If they also lost the trail of Leng Chang, the difficulty of finding the now highly alert Tianming Cult branch would increase dramatically!

"He said on the phone he's found Leng Chang, but we don't know the actual situation on site."

Cai Ju's expression turned serious. "We're heading there now to assist Xu Jingming."

As captain, Cai Ju understood the gravity of the situation.

With a wave of his hand, he led his team into the official vehicle and sped swiftly toward the Blue Sea Tech Park.

"That's the CEO of Blue Sea Tech? His aura is quite strong."

"He's also a peak second-rank adept. Among all the corporate bosses, few have this level of power."

"True. He's probably the strongest corporate magnate in Jinning City, isn't he?"

"......"

When Blue Sea Tech's CEO Leng Chang appeared at the exhibition, Lin Qingyuan and the others immediately began whispering among themselves.

Judging by appearance alone, Leng Chang, with his slicked-back hair and tailored suit, indeed radiated powerful aura.

Far surpassing several of the pot-bellied business tycoons present.

In fact, many current students at Jinning City's Adept Universities.

View Leng Chang—the CEO who controls the massive Blue Sea Tech and possesses peak second-rank power—as their ideal goal.

Lin Qingyuan was naturally one of them; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to use her uncle's connections to attend the exhibition.

Her greatest ambition was to reach peak first-rank by graduation, then join her uncle's company.

After accumulating enough experience, she planned to start her own company and replicate Leng Chang's success.

'When Jingming graduates from Devil City Adept University, will he also have such a powerful aura?'

Unconsciously,

Lin Qingyuan's gaze subtly shifted toward Xu Jingming, comparing the two side by side.

Yet she was startled to discover.

Leng Chang, whom she had once regarded as her goal, even her idol.

Now, in front of Xu Jingming, seemed to instantly lose all charm, utterly dimmed.

"Huh?"

Lin Qingyuan blinked her phoenix-like eyes, puzzled.

Although Xu Jingming came from Devil City Adept University, he was still just a first-year freshman.

Neither his power nor his life experience came close to Leng Chang's.

Logically, she shouldn't feel such a strange sensation.

Yet Xu Jingming, standing casually there, radiated an aura stronger than Leng Chang, the business tycoon!

When Lin Qingyuan saw Xu Jingming's clear eyes, she understood the reason.

It was his gaze!

Xu Jingming's gaze was utterly different from Leng Chang's!

Like a carnivore versus a herbivore.

Even a newborn predatory beast cub would dare see a ten-year-old grazing water buffalo as prey!

And now, Xu Jingming's gaze toward Leng Chang held the same predatory light.

Prey?

Lin Qingyuan found the thought absurd.

Yet the next moment, Xu Jingming's low voice rang out:

"Class monitor, you all move aside. I have something to handle."

"Move? Move where?"

Before Lin Qingyuan could finish speaking, an overwhelming aura erupted from Xu Jingming!

Crackling—crackling~~~~

Amidst dense arcs of thunder, dazzling yet dangerous golden lightning swirled around his body.

Like ministers rejoicing at the emperor's arrival.

The next instant,

In Lin Qingyuan's stunned gaze, golden lightning flashed—and Xu Jingming vanished from his spot!

"CEO Leng, long time no see. Why haven't you been showing up lately?"

"Master Wu is as sharp as ever. With Master Wu around, no one can threaten you, CEO Leng."

"Of course. Master Wu's strength is top-tier across all of Jinning City."

"......"

At the exhibition entrance, upon Leng Chang's arrival, the bosses all rushed over, smiling and exchanging pleasantries.

Many also greeted Leng Chang's bodyguard, named 'Wu Hang.'

After all, this wasn't an ordinary bodyguard—he was a powerful mid-level fourth-rank adept.

In the past, many had offered high prices to recruit Wu Hang, but all failed.

"I've been busy with matters at the building lately."

Leng Chang smiled and greeted several bosses; the atmosphere remained harmonious.

Yet suddenly, a commanding voice exploded across the open-air exhibition:

"Tianming Cult's Leng Chang! Surrender now!"

As the words ended, Xu Jingming's towering figure, wreathed in golden Heavenly Thunder, shot forward like lightning and halted just before Leng Chang.

He stood tall, gripping the two-meter-one-long Qingxiao Black Dragon Spear, his cold, piercing black-and-white eyes fixed on Leng Chang.

"According to the Jinning City Public Security Bureau's investigation, Blue Sea Tech's Leng Chang is linked to the Tianming Cult. All bystanders, evacuate immediately!"

He then turned to Leng Chang's bodyguard: "Please step aside for investigation. If you choose to continue protecting Leng Chang, you will be treated as a Tianming Cult member."

Xu Jingming was never one to confuse right and wrong. If the bodyguard had no ties to the Tianming Cult, he had no reason to act.

"Tianming Cult? Leng Chang is a cultist?"

"What the hell! No way?!"

"The Public Security Bureau showed up—how could this be fake?!"

"......"

Everyone present was still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

But upon hearing the words "Tianming Cult," several bosses who had been near Leng Chang immediately scrambled back five to six meters.

Among them was Lin Hai Ma, Lin Qingyuan's uncle.

"I'm sorry, I only know I'm CEO Leng's personal bodyguard. I don't know anything about the Tianming Cult."

Facing Xu Jingming's sudden attack, Wu Hang first froze.

After sensing Xu Jingming's rank aura, his face twisted into a cruel, mocking smile:

"Has the Public Security Bureau run out of people? Sending only a low-level third-rank kid to investigate my boss?"

Earlier, after the state issued the execution order, every province and city had frantically publicized the Tianming Cult's cult nature.

As a result, even ordinary citizens now knew about the Tianming Cult.

Wu Hang, as a mid-level fourth-rank adept, couldn't possibly be unaware.

His words were an open declaration of his identity.

Wu Hang hadn't bothered to conceal his voice.

Upon learning Xu Jingming's rank, most present weren't surprised.

After all, he was from the Public Security Bureau—third-rank was normal.

But Lin Qingyuan and the others who knew Xu Jingming's true background were stunned.

Xu Jingming wasn't first-rank—he was third-rank?!

"Are top-tier universities that insane? In less than a semester, they turn adepts into third-rank?"

One of them swallowed hard.

Even learning Leng Chang was a cultist didn't shock them as much.

Lin Qingyuan, stunned, furrowed her delicate brows.

Even if Xu Jingming was a low-level third-rank, he couldn't possibly defeat a mid-level fourth-rank bodyguard...

"So you're with the Tianming Cult too. Then I'll deal with you both."

Xu Jingming, at the front of the exhibition, was unaware of Lin Qingyuan's thoughts. Seeing the bodyguard reveal his identity,

He no longer hesitated. His space ring flickered slightly; a black recorder appeared in his left hand, then was flung into the air:

"Eva, activate mission recording."

"Eva received."

The recorder in midair shifted form, transforming into a drone.

It flew through the air, its camera capturing every scene below.

Humans are fundamentally different from ferocious beasts, and even during missions, Xu Jingming cannot kill at will.

Use this recorder to capture the battle footage; afterward, it can serve as proof of mission completion and demonstrate that all those he killed deserved to die.

"Deal with me? Who gave you the courage to speak to me like that?"

The guard opposite, Wu Hang, nearly laughed in anger at Xu Jingming's brazen tone.

He let out a cold snort, drew a greatsword from his space ring, and immediately activated his C-rank Enhancement ability!

His skin flushed crimson, his body swelled outward by a full circle, revealing his formidable physique.

Then,

he tensed his muscular calves and instantly crossed six meters, appearing before Xu Jingming, raising his greatsword high:

"Die! Blood Tiger Slash!"

Aaaoo!

Crimson blood aura coiled around the greatsword, accompanied by a deafening roar like a great tiger, as he slashed downward!