Chapter 183: Liu Ming Concedes! Must Go to the League!

"No need to guess—Principal Ling told me a few days ago that Jingming has already been pre-selected as a contestant for the league."

Yang Zhentian picked up the steaming tea on the coffee table and took a small sip.

His face bore none of the sternness he showed in class; instead, he looked relaxed and satisfied, clearly very pleased with student Xu Jingming.

"Me?!" Liu Ming's eyes widened. "He's already been pre-selected?!"

The league's contestant slots are entirely assigned by the school—virtually impossible to change through personal effort.

It's still months away from the league's start, yet Xu Jingming has already been internally chosen.

That alone shows how highly the school regards him.

"You're probably the first freshman in our school's history to compete in the university league!"

Liu Ming murmured in awe, then remembered another thought.

Xu Jingming is only a freshman this year—he can still enter the university league three more times!

And now he's already this strong; by then, he'll be even stronger!

"Thank goodness I'm at Magic University—otherwise, I'd be crushed every year... how miserable that would be..."

Liu Ming silently mourned for the other universities for a few seconds.

It was clear that as long as Xu Jingming remained at Magic University, no other school could ever win the league championship.

Next year, maybe there'd still be a chance.

"Teacher, during this mission, I noticed the side effects of the Thunder Indestructible Body seem to have intensified."

"During combat, I can't help but become furious and bloodthirsty—how do I suppress it?"

After a bit more casual chat, Xu Jingming asked his teacher Yang Zhentian for advice.

During missions, he preferred killing enemies by spearing them through the head.

One reason was that it eliminated any lingering threats.

The other was that it greatly alleviated his bloodthirsty urges.

Especially in Thunder Extreme Form, crushing someone's skull with his bare hands gave him a profound sense of relief.

"Your Indestructible Body is built on the blood of a Thunder Tyrant Dragon."

"Lately, you absorbed the blood of a ninth-rank dragon-class beast—so increased side effects are normal."

"There are many ways to suppress them: take Qingxin Pills, regularly clear your mind."

"But blocking is worse than channeling—you don't need suppression, you need release."

"In combat, as long as your methods aren't too extreme, just let yourself go."

"Once your rank rises further, these side effects will naturally fade."

Yang Zhentian paused briefly, then swiftly offered a solution.

"Let myself go? I understand." Xu Jingming nodded.

Headshots probably didn't count as extreme.

Only the cruel, playful torture of the weak by the strong qualified as extreme.

"By the way, I heard from the Weapons College instructor that you took a week off?"

Yang Zhentian looked at Xu Jingming, puzzled.

Though he was dean of the Weapons College, he primarily taught third- and fourth-year courses.

He hadn't been involved with freshman classes.

"I thought the S-rank mission would take time, so I requested leave—but it only took two days."

"Still, I'll be taking on a Heaven's Mandate Cult mission afterward, so I might need to extend my leave."

Xu Jingming replied.

With half the semester gone, he'd grown close to many instructors not just in the Weapons College, but in the Elemental College too.

Even if he missed an important class, he could simply visit and ask for help.

Of course,

since there were instructors in the Weapons College, he didn't need to bother others.

The ones he'd need to visit personally were mostly from the Elemental College.

"I see."

Yang Zhentian understood, waved his hand, and granted Xu Jingming special privileges:

"Then from now on, you don't need to request leave—just go do what you need to do. Saves the hassle."

In fact,

this was a privilege usually reserved for third- and fourth-year students like Liu Ming.

But freshman courses are just foundational—they're not essential.

With Xu Jingming already at Third-Rank Lower Tier, he could decide for himself which classes to attend and which to skip.

"Thank you, Teacher—I can now handle missions much more freely." Xu Jingming's face lit up.

"Aren't you planning to return to the Wild Zone?" Yang Zhentian was surprised.

A month ago, Xu Jingming was constantly heading to the Wild Zone.

"Not for now," Xu Jingming shook his head.

This S-rank mission earned him 4, 00 energy points in just two days.

That efficiency couldn't be matched even at the No. 7 Demon Cave.

Of course,

if his efficiency in harvesting energy points by killing Divine Blood Envoys drops later, he'd still consider returning to the Wild Zone.

Three months have passed—the ecosystem in the Source Water Wild Zone has recovered; he could hunt beasts there now.

"Fine. You've still a few months before the university league."

"Fighting human energy users will benefit you too."

For an ordinary student, Yang Zhentian would have given detailed advice.

But Xu Jingming could already complete S-rank missions alone—there was no need to lecture him.

He patted Xu Jingming's shoulder and said:

"Come on, to the training room—your senior Liu Ming has recovered but never fought you yet. Perfect chance for a sparring session."

"Sure! I'd love to see just how strong my little brother is now," Liu Ming smiled and stood up.

"Then you'd better watch out, Senior."

Xu Jingming joked as he followed him into the training room.

In the training room,

Xu Jingming and Liu Ming stood facing each other, eight meters apart.

"Jingming, I'm going all out this time."

Liu Ming gripped his spear, unleashing the full aura of a Third-Rank Peak energy user.

Their last sparring session had been months ago.

Back then, he'd had to suppress his power to Second-Rank Upper Tier.

Now, if he held back again, he feared he'd be instantly obliterated...

"Alright." Xu Jingming's gaze sharpened.

Though Liu Ming was only Third-Rank Peak,

as one of Magic University's top students, his true combat strength likely surpassed even Fourth-Rank Lower Tier Divine Blood Envoys from Jinning City.

"Both sides ready... Begin!" Yang Zhentian acted as referee.

BOOM!

The sparring began—both Xu Jingming and Liu Ming entered Thunder Extreme Form simultaneously!

Wild auras erupted from each of them.

Their bodies transformed: Xu Jingming grew to two meters two, his eyes turning into dragon pupils!

Liu Ming's Thunder Indestructible Body was built on the blood of a Seventh-Rank Lower Tier Thunder Wolf King!

In Thunder Extreme Form, he grew to two meters one, his calves massively swollen with explosive power.

Faint, feral wolf fangs seemed to emerge from his mouth.

CRACKLE—POP!

Simultaneously, a deafening roar of thunder filled the air.

In an instant, the entire training room split into two halves, becoming a sea of lightning!

Xu Jingming's side blazed with majestic, brilliant Golden Doushen Thunder.

Liu Ming's side glowed with white Yushu True Thunder.

By rank, Liu Ming, a Third-Rank Peak energy user, should have completely overwhelmed Xu Jingming, who was only Third-Rank Lower Tier.

But reality was the complete opposite.

As soon as the golden thunder appeared, it crushed and devoured the white thunder without resistance, surging toward Liu Ming.

"This is the SS-rank ability—Doushen Thunder. Truly terrifying..."

Liu Ming took a deep breath.

He'd learned yesterday that Xu Jingming's ability had changed, and had mentally prepared himself.

But seeing the SS-rank ability before him, he still couldn't help but be stunned.

So strong!

My A-rank ability is completely on a different level from it!

Even if my rank is higher, I am utterly unable to resist the power of this thunder.

"To win, we must end this quickly!"

Liu Ming did not hesitate at all; he gripped his spear and charged forward!

"Come on then!"

Xu Jingming naturally did not fear.

Enveloped in golden Daitian Divine Thunder, he resembled a miniature sun and soon clashed with Liu Ming.

In terms of speed alone, Liu Ming, whose Immortal Body foundation was forged from Thunder Wolf King, held the advantage.

But he had only this one advantage.

In every other aspect—spear technique, physical strength, ability—he was utterly crushed by Xu Jingming's comprehensive superiority!

Under these conditions, he could not possibly secure victory by relying on his speed advantage.

Thus, merely a few minutes later, Liu Ming was defeated.

"No good, I lost. I can't beat you."

Liu Ming, having exited Thunder Extreme State, gasped heavily, drenched in sweat all over.

His hands even trembled slightly from the intense impacts moments ago.

"Senior Liu, your courtesy."

In contrast to Liu Ming, Xu Jingming—also having exited Thunder Extreme State—not far away—had not a single bead of sweat on his forehead.

"Courtesy? I didn't hold back at all. What you just saw was my full strength."

After struggling to catch his breath, Liu Ming slowly exhaled a long, foul breath.

Since the day Xu Jingming successfully forged his Immortal Body, he had known he would eventually be surpassed.

But he never expected this day to come so soon—it had been less than half a year.

"No good, I must go see this year's National University League in person!"

In the last National University League, Mo University took only second place.

So this year, Liu Ming had originally planned not to attend at all—but then Xu Jingming appeared.

Yet it subtly made him feel that this year, Mo University's chance of winning the championship was far higher than usual!