Chapter 192

Xu Jingming's parents both perished in a beast surge when he was eleven.

They left behind only a house and one million in compensation.

One million may seem like a lot, but he was only eleven then; just surviving until eighteen cost tens of thousands.

Moreover, scholarship thrives in poverty, martial arts in wealth—something Xu Jingming, who aimed to take the Wu Ke exam, knew well.

Training the body, cultivating abilities, purchasing combat techniques and weapons—all required money.

Yet even one million was far from enough.

Xu Jingming's ability to learn a combat technique, acquire the Black Obsidian Spear, and successfully sit for the Wu Ke exam depended entirely on his aunt's family.

Before the Wu Ke exam, Xu Jingming had nothing.

Now that he had grown slightly wealthier, he naturally wished to repay his family.

"These… are all space rings?" Tang Qi's eyes widened.

"Yes, but their capacity isn't large—only one cubic meter." Xu Jingming nodded.

Among the spoils, there were smaller space rings too, but he sold them all to the Magic University Equipment Department for cash.

"One cubic meter? Still not big enough?"

"Good heavens! This capacity is larger than our instructor's space ring!"

Tang Qi was utterly stunned.

She felt Xu Jingming's worldview seemed somewhat different from her own…

After several deep breaths, her cousin Tang Qi finally calmed down.

In the end, she selected a silver-white women's space ring and slipped it onto her finger.

Then she took the suitcase back from Xu Jingming, using her space ring to store and retrieve items, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Before long, Zhou Mingyang and Meng Di arrived.

Like Tang Qi, the two were astonished to find Xu Jingming's aura had broken through again.

Zhou Mingyang, once the dazzling prodigy of Jiangcheng, now admired Xu Jingming utterly.

On the way to the Magic City high-speed rail station, he called him "Brother Ming" with practiced ease.

Thus, the group of four arrived at the Magic City high-speed rail station and boarded the train to Jiangcheng on time.

"Brother Ming, goodbye."

"Qiqi, let's part here."

"…"

Three hours later, Xu Jingming's group arrived safely in Jiangcheng.

Zhou Mingyang and Meng Di parted ways; Xu Jingming followed Tang Qi back to Jinghu Community.

As soon as he reached the community entrance, Xu Jingming noticed the security had improved significantly since last time.

The perimeter wall had been raised and thickened, with alarms installed every meter.

Even armed retired soldiers patrolled the area.

"My mom said the community was renovated a month ago, with enhanced defenses—I don't know why," Tang Qi said with a smile.

It must be the Magic University's family protection program.

Xu Jingming nodded slightly, planning to explain to them later.

"Qiqi, you're back?"

"Hello, Uncle Li."

"Qiqi, are you on winter break?"

"Yes, we got out yesterday."

"..."

After verifying their identities at the gate, the two entered Jinghu Community.

As soon as they stepped inside, neighbors familiar with Tang Qi warmly greeted her.

As for Xu Jingming beside her, they all knew him—thanks to the nationwide propaganda campaign that crowned him provincial top scorer.

But Xu Jingming had only lived here a few days before leaving, so the neighbors didn't know how to address him.

They could only offer him warm smiles.

"Mom, we're back!"

As soon as they reached the door, Tang Qi called out.

But Xu Jingming subtly sensed several hidden auras near his aunt's house.

'One, two, three—three people total.'

With his powerful spiritual force, Xu Jingming quickly identified three disguised energy users patrolling nearby.

They carried no malice—only silently moving in patrols.

'One fourth-rank lower, two third-rank peak—Magic University really went all out.' Xu Jingming nodded inwardly.

Jiangcheng had fourth- and third-rank energy users, but they were all high-ranking officials—who would come to guard ordinary people?

These energy users were surely specially hired by Magic University from elsewhere.

The tight security surveillance outside the community, plus these three energy users—

Even if Tianming Sect members came to retaliate, they'd have time to escape.

"Qiqi, Xiao Ming."

At that moment, a familiar, melodious voice rang out.

His aunt Xu Qingwan stepped out of the villa, followed by her husband Tang Daolin.

"Auntie, Uncle Tang." Xu Jingming smiled and called out.

"Good. Haven't seen you in half a year—you've grown taller."

"And stronger too. Magic University must feed you well."

Looking at Xu Jingming, who now towered over him by a head, Uncle Tang Daolin nodded in satisfaction.

"You've been on the high-speed train for so long—you must be hungry. Come in, let's eat."

Aunt Xu Qingwan, delighted, pulled Xu Jingming inside.

"After staying so long at Magic University, I've really missed your cooking, Auntie."

"Then eat plenty—you auntie went to the market early this morning and bought only the freshest ingredients."

"Yeah, I even helped out in the kitchen a bit."

"Yes, I just helped out in the kitchen for a bit."

The group entered the villa, laughing and chatting; Xu Jingming, for once, fully relaxed and shared lunch with his aunt's family.

As Xu Jingming returned to Jiangcheng and reunited with his aunt's family,

in a remote, abandoned factory on the outskirts of Magic City,

"By heavenly mandate, the Heavenly God endures!"

A group of Tianming Sect followers bowed before the blood-moon banner hanging on the factory wall, praying earnestly.

After a long while, the prayer ended, and the sect's chief priest at the front slowly spoke:

"Brothers, under the joint crackdown of Magic University and the Public Security Bureau, our Tianming Sect has suffered heavy losses."

"But we are not soft targets. If you wish to exterminate us, prepare to face our wrath!"

The chief priest's eyes blazed with fury.

He was the chief priest of Tianming Sect's Magic City branch.

Yet his entire branch base had recently been annihilated by a seventh-rank master dispatched by Magic University!

At this moment, he had only one thought:

Revenge!

Must have revenge!

"The Public Security Bureau is merely a nuisance—ignore them for now. The real target is Magic University."

"To destroy us, they've even created special missions!"

"Rewarding students based on mission completion—this is an unforgivable humiliation!"

The chief priest's eyes were bloodshot; his emotions spiraled, and his body grotesquely mutated with beast-like features!

"The hands of Magic University's Xu Jingming, Kong Shi, and Yao Fang are stained with our comrades' blood!"

The chief priest roared like a beast, filled with rage:

"Especially Xu Jingming of Magic University—he didn't just destroy our branch in Jinning City."

"He also inflicted massive damage on us here in Magic City."

"I've already petitioned headquarters to eliminate him completely!"

"Our Magic City branch is shattered—we can't hope to kill Xu Jingming ourselves."

"But killing his family in Jiangcheng will make him feel the same pain!"

The chief priest smiled cruelly—he had clearly researched Xu Jingming's background.

Yet someone below spoke up:

"Magic University has special protections for students' families. We once tried targeting Kong Shi's family."

"We were detected by guarding energy users the moment we infiltrated the community and had to retreat."

"Among those guards are fourth-rank users—only a fourth-rank peak could strike swiftly enough to kill."

Among these stationed adepts, there are Fourth-Stage ones; to swiftly eliminate them, only a Fourth-Stage Peak could be deployed.

"Deploy a fourth-rank peak? That's too much trouble?" The bishop frowned tightly.

A fourth-rank peak adept is essentially the highest combat strength of an ordinary Sect of Destiny branch.

Our Shanghai branch has plenty of high-level combatants—fifth-rank, even sixth-rank.

But recently, nearly all of them were hunted down and killed by Magu's seventh-rank master; only he was lucky enough to escape.

And among all those present—including him—

Only six meet the condition of fourth-rank peak or higher combat strength.

But all these people must remain in Shanghai to rebuild the Sect of Destiny branch.

Moreover, their identification documents are all on the Public Security Bureau's blacklist.

Traveling from Shanghai to Jiangcheng, Xu Jingming's hometown, they'd be easily caught en route—it's impossible to get there.

"Then forget it. Don't target Xu Jingming's family yet. Prioritize nearby targets in Shanghai."

Though furious, the bishop had no choice but to temporarily abandon the plan.

At that moment, someone suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and spoke:

"My lord, can I handle Xu Jingming?"

"I remember you—you were only rescued yesterday. You're Leng Chang, the former bishop of the Jinning branch. What's your plan?"

The bishop's face showed approval and gestured for him to continue.

"We can't touch Xu Jingming's family, but we can target his high school classmates."

Compared to his earlier suit-and-tie appearance a month ago, Leng Chang was now utterly disheveled.

His hair was a tangled nest, his beard like wild grass, yet his eyes burned with deep malice.

"High school classmates? That seems useless."

The bishop frowned slightly—killing classmates caused far less pain than killing family.

"Ordinary classmates? No. But the one I intend to strike has a very special relationship with Xu Jingming."

Leng Chang sneered.

Ordinary people might not know, but he remembered—a month ago,

when Xu Jingming captured him, he was closely associated with a girl called "class president."

"Fine. I'll assign this to you. I'll give you four third-rank peaks.

Once the job's done, hide in Jiangcheng and build up branch influence."

Before this, Jiangcheng, in the impoverished north of Jiangnan Province, was never a target for the Sect of Destiny.

But now, with all factions crushing the Sect of Destiny, even places once ignored must be cultivated.

"Also, avoid direct conflict with Xu Jingming—you can't beat him."

The bishop paused, then added:

"Don't worry. Leave it to me—he'll never suspect I'd strike at his classmates."

Leng Chang wore a cruel, bloodthirsty smile.

Xu Jingming, you destroyed my Sect of Destiny branch.

Now I'll make you suffer the pain of innocent people dying because of you!