Chapter 187: Eighth-Rank Mid-Tier Ling Shuang! Age 34!

After selecting the combat technique, the staff of the Combat Technique Library delivered the scroll to the private reading room shortly after.

Compared to S-rank combat techniques, the difficulty of mastering an A-rank technique was ridiculously low.

Xu Jingming spent barely over half an hour reading through the entire scroll and gained a general understanding of its contents.

He then immediately used the Deep Blue System to allocate points.

Psychic Points -300

Thunder Dragon Fist → Thunder Dragon Fist (Beginner)

This A-rank combat technique, which normally took ordinary psychics over half a year to learn, was fully mastered by Xu Jingming in an instant.

"I'll go find my teacher later and test the strength of this A-rank technique."

Teacher Yang Zhentian was proficient in all weapons and had reached master-level mastery in fist techniques.

He himself had thoroughly mastered the "Thunder Dragon Fist."

He was the perfect instructor for Xu Jingming.

As he rose to leave the Combat Technique Library and head for Teacher Yang's office,

a familiar, clear voice reached his ears:

"Jingming, come to me."

"Principal Ling?"

Xu Jingming blinked in surprise.

He hadn't expected Deputy Principal Ling Shuang to be capable of telephonic voice projection.

Though startled, he did not dare delay and hurried to Deputy Principal Ling Shuang's office.

"Principal, I've come."

When Xu Jingming entered the office,

Deputy Principal Ling Shuang, her figure still graceful and alluring, with a tear mole beneath her eye, lounged lazily behind her desk.

A pair of slender, rounded legs, faintly revealing a pale hue beneath her black classical robe, were visible.

Though Ling Shuang appeared languid, Xu Jingming keenly sensed that her aura had strengthened several-fold since their last meeting!

Had the deputy principal advanced?

Xu Jingming's heart lurched in silent shock.

Ling Shuang noticed his expression and was slightly surprised: "Your perception is sharp—not like a mere third-rank psychic."

"So it's true!"

Hearing her confirmation, Xu Jingming's heart pounded.

The entire Magic City Psychic University had only one chancellor and three deputy chancellors.

Aside from the chancellor, whose whereabouts were unknown and who rarely appeared on campus, he was an eighth-rank upper-tier master.

The other three deputy chancellors were all eighth-rank lower-tier.

Yet unexpectedly, it was Ling Shuang who broke through first.

Keep in mind,

the other two deputy chancellors looked much older than Ling Shuang—at least fifty or more.

No, not necessarily.

Xu Jingming suddenly recalled that with Blue Planet's pill technology and scientific advancement,

keeping a woman youthful was an easy matter.

Ling Shuang might be the same age as the other two deputy chancellors, despite appearing young.

Unconsciously,

Xu Jingming glanced at Ling Shuang's bare feet.

Her bare soles looked as tender as a baby's, pale with a faint blush.

They certainly didn't resemble the feet of someone elderly.

Had I guessed wrong? Is Principal Ling actually young?

Xu Jingming's thoughts scattered wildly; he unconsciously looked up—and met Ling Shuang's clear eyes.

Then, Ling Shuang's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile:

"Guessing a woman's age is hardly polite."

"Do you read minds?"

Xu Jingming tensed instantly, bracing for the wrath of an eighth-rank grand master.

Yet the normally icy, untouchable Ling Shuang—who no student dared provoke—

merely waved her slender hand calmly:

"I don't read minds. But eighth-rank grand masters possess immense mental strength.

Though I can't directly extract memories like a psychic of the mental discipline,

deducing thoughts from facial expressions is easy.

Remember this: in front of high-rank psychics, keep your expressions minimal."

"I understand, ma'am."

Seeing Ling Shuang wasn't angry, Xu Jingming exhaled in relief.

This deputy principal, who possessed an S-rank space ability, had only arrived at Magic City University three years ago.

She was immediately appointed deputy chancellor and entrusted with the critical duty of guarding the Combat Technique Library.

Though she spent most of her time in the library and rarely appeared outside except during major events,

rumors about her were plentiful.

Magic City University's #1 Beauty!

Magic City University's #1 S-rank Psychic!

Before Xu Jingming enrolled, Ling Shuang was the most sought-after figure on campus.

Had it not been for university rules forbidding discussion of instructors,

forum threads about Ling Shuang would have multiplied dozens of times over.

Yet her age remained a mystery.

No one knew—and no one dared ask.

"Also, don't guess. I'm thirty-four—not the old crone you imagined."

She paused, then added softly.

But even as she spoke, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

What am I doing? Why am I explaining this to a student?

"Only thirty-four?!"

Xu Jingming hadn't expected Ling Shuang to be so young.

In the Great Xia, the average age of an eighth-rank grand master was around forty-six.

His teacher, Yang Zhentian, was over fifty and still only at seventh-rank peak.

Ling Shuang, at thirty-four, was already an eighth-rank mid-tier grand master.

This proved her terrifying talent.

Seeing Xu Jingming's stunned expression, Ling Shuang's furrowed brows softened, and her mood seemed to lift as she turned to business:

"In two days, the school will begin winter break. What are your plans during the break?"

"I plan to return to Jiangnan and train for a month in the Thunder Secret Realm," Xu Jingming replied honestly.

"Eva, what's the straight-line distance from Magic City University to the Jiangnan Thunder Secret Realm?"

"Reply, Deputy Principal: 563 kilometers."

"563 kilometers? That's fine."

Ling Shuang nodded slightly, then turned her beautiful eyes back to Xu Jingming:

"Lately, the Mandate Cult has been launching fierce counterattacks.

Many students have been injured—or killed—on missions. I originally planned to keep you active within Magic City.

But now that I've advanced to eighth-rank mid-tier, my teleportation range has extended to 600 kilometers.

Training in the Thunder Secret Realm won't be a problem.

But remember: if you encounter any danger that threatens your life, shatter your talisman immediately."

In the past, Ling Shuang wouldn't have been this concerned.

But over the past month, Xu Jingming's performance in Mandate Cult missions had been exceptionally outstanding.

He had eliminated numerous Divine Blood Envoys—if the Mandate Cult sought revenge, Xu Jingming would be among their first targets.

"Thank you for your concern, Principal."

Xu Jingming hadn't expected Ling Shuang to call him in merely to care for his safety—his heart warmed slightly.

Though Deputy Principal Ling Shuang didn't offer daily guidance like Teacher Yang Zhentian,

she stood like an unshakable pillar, ensuring his survival.

At the same time, Xu Jingming couldn't help but reflect.

Six hundred kilometers of teleportation range.

That's only an eighth-rank mid-tier grand master—what would it be like at ninth-rank Martial Saint level? Would one be able to teleport globally?