Chapter 185

Time slowly passed, and the number of people in the Task Building lobby continued to grow.

Most of them were third- and fourth-year students.

Even fourth-rank experts like Bingshan Yao Fang had already arrived.

Amidst the crowd's waiting, Xu Jingming finally arrived, stepping forward with calm, steady strides.

Compared to a month ago, Xu Jingming, now at mid-third rank, radiated a far stronger and more extraordinary aura.

This change was naturally noticed by several high-rank adepts in the hall.

"Has Xu Jingming advanced to mid-third rank?"

"From awakening to mid-third rank in just half a year? That's insane!"

"I heard S-rank abilities are powerful, but no one ever said S-rank adepts grow this fast!"

"......"

Magic City Adept University gathers outstanding students from across the nation.

Even so, among the university's 4, 00-plus students, fewer than 400 are third-rank adepts.

These third-rank adepts are almost all third- and fourth-year students.

Xu Jingming, a freshman who entered as merely an awakening-level adept, reached mid-third rank in just half a year.

To them, it was nothing short of a living miracle...

"Is that Xu Jingming? His aura feels even more unique than in the videos."

"True—he radiates righteous might, yet subtly carries danger. No wonder some call him 'Lei Di'."

"By the way, does he have a girlfriend yet?"

"......"

Most people in the hall were discussing Xu Jingming's strength.

Yet some young girls, eyes sparkling, focused instead on his personal life.

Xu Jingming naturally ignored all the murmurs around him.

He had come here solely to claim his Glory Rank reward.

"Jingming, over here."

As he prepared to find a corner and wait for the reward distribution, a voice rose from the crowd.

Xu Jingming turned instinctively and saw, in one corner of the hall,

the fourth-year senior Yao Fang, known as "Bingshan," smiling at him.

"Senior Yao." Xu Jingming walked over with a smile.

Since first meeting him while submitting his S-rank mission,

during his missions for the Mandate Cult, he had encountered Yao Fang several more times.

They had even shared a meal together—his relationship with him was quite good.

"Senior Yao, are you here for the reward too?"

As Xu Jingming approached, he noticed a woman standing beside Yao Fang.

The woman looked around twenty-two or twenty-three, with a mature makeup style and a lush, graceful figure.

If Song Qiuyun gave the impression of a womanly maiden,

this woman resembled a true, alluring married woman.

"Yes, Glory Rank rewards must be claimed in person, so I had to come."

Yao Fang shrugged helplessly, then introduced:

"By the way, let me introduce you—this is 'Blood Hand' Shen Dongling.

Dongling, this is..."

"No need to introduce—I know. The S-rank Xu Jingming who's been making headlines lately."

Before Yao Fang could finish, Shen Dongling cut him off.

Then her beautiful eyes turned toward him, faintly lit with realization:

"Mid-third rank, plus such a formidable physique and an S-rank ability—no wonder they call you 'Lei Di.'"

She seemed to possess a special ability, instantly recognizing Xu Jingming's unique constitution from his Thunder Unyielding Body cultivation.

The title "Lei Di" had only recently emerged on the student forum as a nickname for Xu Jingming.

Of course,

it stemmed from the university's official video showing Xu Jingming wielding golden lightning.

His combat style was brutal and unrestrained, earning him the moniker.

"Of course—Jingming's record is even better than that 'Iron Bear' guy. 'Lei Di' isn't a name given lightly."

Yao Fang said proudly.

Xu Jingming merely smiled slightly, saying nothing.

A month ago, he might not have known who these nicknames referred to.

But since befriending Yao Fang, he'd learned about the top combatants among the students.

The "Iron Bear" Yao Fang mentioned was Kong Shi, the young man currently ranked second on the Glory Rank, just below Xu Jingming.

Oddly enough, Magic City students seemed fond of giving nicknames to their strongest peers.

Nearly every one of the university's under-twenty fourth-rank adepts had their own unique nickname.

Even he, due to his recent standout performance, now had a new moniker on the student forum: "Lei Di."

"By the way, where are the two girls you're always with?"

Yao Fang glanced behind him, noticing neither Song Qiuyun nor Jiang Chu.

On previous encounters, Xu Jingming had always been accompanied by these two girls.

"They're preparing for the final exams. After I collect this reward, I'll head back too," Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

He only brought the two girls along during B-rank missions.

Otherwise, they operated independently.

And this was precisely the final exam period,

whether it was first-year Song Qiuyun or second-year Jiang Chu.

Both were frantically preparing for the upcoming final exams.

Of course,

Xu Jingming himself had no worries—his current strength made it impossible for him to fail.

"Final exams?"

Yao Fang blinked in surprise, then remembered Xu Jingming was merely a first-year freshman. He shook his head with a chuckle:

"Every time I see you, I unconsciously forget your age and year."

Indeed,

whether in physique, appearance, or strength,

Xu Jingming gave absolutely no impression of being a mere 19-year-old first-year student.

Shortly after Xu Jingming joined Yao Fang and Shen Dongling in casual chat, the clock struck nine.

A fifth-rank instructor descended from the second floor of the Task Building to the first-floor lobby.

"The Glory Rank refreshes and resets every thirty days. Today marks its first reset.

Before proceeding, I will distribute rewards to the top fifty on the Glory Rank."

The instructor's voice echoed through the hall, instantly silencing the entire crowd.

For it was known that,

to preserve mystery, the Glory Rank rewards had never been disclosed before.

Many students turned curious gazes toward the instructor.

"First, the student who completed three S-rank missions, six A-rank missions, and four B-rank missions,

killed a total of 978 Mandate Cultists, and destroyed one Mandate Cult branch—ranked first on the Glory Rank: Xu Jingming!

Congratulations! You receive an S-rank resource and 3, 00 academic credits!"

The instructor looked toward Xu Jingming in the crowd.

Simultaneously, murmurs of astonishment rippled through the students:

"Holy shit? Nearly a thousand killed in just one month? Is Lei Di really that brutal?"