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 preselected as a contestant for the league."

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

His face bore none of the usual sternness from classroom lectures; instead, he looked relaxed and satisfied, clearly very pleased with student Xu Jingming.

"Me?!" Liu Ming's eyes widened. "Already preselected?!"

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

Even though the league is still months away, Xu Jingming has already been internally chosen.

This clearly shows the school's high expectations for him.

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

Liu Ming murmured in astonishment, then immediately thought of another issue.

Xu Jingming is only a freshman this year—he can still participate in three more university leagues!

And now, Xu Jingming is already this strong; later on, he'll undoubtedly 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's foreseeable that as long as Xu Jingming remains at Magic University, no other school will ever win first place in the league.

Next year, maybe there's still a chance to win.

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

"During combat, I keep involuntarily becoming berserk and bloodthirsty—how should I suppress it?"

After chatting a while longer, Xu Jingming asked Teacher Yang Zhentian about the issue.

During the mission, he preferred killing enemies by piercing their heads with his spear.

On one hand, this method leaves no lingering threats.

On the other hand, it greatly alleviates his bloodthirsty urges.

Especially in Lei Jitai, crushing someone's skull directly with his hands gives him a strong sense of relief.

"You originally built your Indestructible Body on the foundation of Thunder Tyrant blood."

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

"There are many ways to suppress them: take Qingxin Pills, regularly empty 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 vanish."

Yang Zhentian paused, then quickly offered a solution.

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

Piercing heads probably doesn't count as extreme.

Only when a strong fighter toys with and tortures a weak one does that count as extreme.

"By the way, I heard from the Weaponry Academy's instructor that you took a week's leave?"

Yang Zhentian looked at Xu Jingming, puzzled.

Although he's the dean of the Weaponry Academy, he primarily teaches third- and fourth-year courses.

He hasn't been involved with freshman courses.

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

"Still, I'll be taking on a Jietianming Sect mission afterward, so I might continue taking leave."

Xu Jingming replied.

With half the semester gone, he'd grown familiar not just with Weaponry Academy instructors but also with many from the Elemental Academy.

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

Of course,

since there were instructors in the Weaponry Academy, he didn't need to disturb others.

The ones he'd need to visit personally were likely from the Elemental Academy.

"I see."

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

"In that case, you no longer need to apply for leave—just go do what you need to do, no hassle."

In reality,

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

But freshman courses are merely foundational.

Xu Jingming, now at Third-Rank Lower Tier, can fully decide 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 every few days.

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

This S-rank mission earned him 4,500 energy points in just two days.

That efficiency can'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'll still consider going to the Wild Zone.

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

"That's fine too. It's just a few months before you go to participate in the university league.

"Fighting more against human ability-users will be good for you too."

If it were an ordinary student, Yang Zhentian would still have given a few earnest reminders.

But Xu Jingming was already capable of independently completing S-rank missions, so there was no need for him to say more.

After speaking, he patted Xu Jingming on the shoulder:

"Come on, let's go to the training room. Your Senior Brother Liu hasn't sparred with you since recovering. Perfect time for a real-combat drill."

"Sure, I'd like to see just how strong you are now, little junior brother." Liu Ming rose with a smile.

"Then Senior Brother, you'll have to be careful."

Xu Jingming said jokingly as he followed along into the training room.

Training room,

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

"Jingming, this time I'll be going all out."

Liu Ming gripped his long spear, and the aura of a peak third-tier ability-user erupted fully.

Their last sparring had been a few months ago.

Back then, he still had to suppress his own strength down to upper second-tier.

Now, if he suppressed his strength again, he was afraid he'd be instantly killed...

"Alright." Xu Jingming's gaze sharpened slightly.

Although Senior Brother Liu Ming was only at peak third-tier,

as an outstanding student of Mo Da, his true combat power should be even stronger than a lower fourth-tier Divine Blood envoy of Jin Ning City.

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

Boom!

The sparring officially began. Xu Jingming and Liu Ming both entered Thunder Extreme State at the same time!

Ferocious auras erupted from each of them.

Both men's physiques changed simultaneously. Xu Jingming shot up to two meters and two centimeters, his eyes transforming into dragon pupils!

As for Liu Ming, the foundation of his Thunder Indestructible Body was built from a lower seventh-tier Thunder Wolf King!

After entering Thunder Extreme State, his height shot up to two meters and one centimeter, his calves becoming immensely sturdy, seemingly bursting with explosive power.

Faint, savage wolf fangs also seemed to be growing in his mouth.

Crackle-crackle—

At the same time, accompanied by deafening thunder rumbling.

In just an instant, the entire training room was split into two parts by thunder, like an ocean of Lei Ting!

On Xu Jingming's side was the vast, dazzling golden Doushen Shenlei.

On Liu Ming's side was the white Jade Pivot True Thunder!

By rank, Liu Ming, as a peak third-tier ability-user, should have completely crushed Xu Jingming, who was only at lower third-tier.

However, the reality was the exact opposite.

Once the golden thunder appeared, it crushed and devoured the white thunder in an overwhelming manner, spreading toward Liu Ming.

"This is the SS-rank ability Doushen Shenlei — truly terrifying..."

Liu Ming took a deep breath.

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

But when this SS-rank ability truly appeared before his eyes, he still couldn't help being shocked and moved to exclaim.

Too strong!

His own A-rank ability was on a completely different level from it!

Even with his higher rank, he was completely unable to resist the might of this thunder.

"To win, I have to end this fast!"

Liu Ming didn't hesitate at all, gripping his long spear and launching a charge!

"Come on!"

Xu Jingming naturally wouldn't flinch.

Wrapped all over in golden Doushen Shenlei, he resembled a small sun, and soon clashed with Liu Ming.

In terms of pure speed, Liu Ming, whose Indestructible Body foundation was shaped from the Thunder Wolf King, had the edge.

But that was his only advantage.

In every other aspect — spear technique, strength, ability — he was comprehensively crushed by Xu Jingming!

Under such circumstances, naturally there was no way to claim final victory through a speed advantage.

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

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

Liu Ming, who had exited Thunder Extreme State, was panting heavily, drenched in sweat all over.

Even his hands were trembling slightly from the intense collisions just now.

"Senior Brother Liu, you let me win."

Contrary to Liu Ming, Xu Jingming, who had likewise exited Thunder Extreme State not far away, didn't even have a single drop of fine sweat on his forehead.

"Let you win? I didn't let you do anything. What you saw just now was my full strength."

Liu Ming, who had finally caught his breath, slowly exhaled a mouthful of stale air.

From the day Xu Jingming successfully shaped his Indestructible Body, he had known he would definitely be surpassed.

But he hadn't expected this day to come so quickly—it had been less than half a year.

"No way, I have to go to this year's National Collegiate League in person!"

In the last National Collegiate League, Magic University only managed to take second place.

So this year Liu Ming had originally planned not to go in person, but then Xu Jingming appeared.

And it vaguely gave him the feeling that Magic University's chances of winning this Collegiate League were unusually high!