Chapter 2: S-Level Ability, Doushen Shenlei!

"Twelve years of bitter study—all for this moment!"

"The college entrance exam is coming; you must still stabilize your mindset!"

"Those taking the humanities exam, go home tonight and check that your stationery is complete and usable."

"Those taking the Wu Ke exam, also prepare your battle attire and weapons..."

Teacher Chen Fan's voice echoed through the classroom, and Xu Jingming, seated in his spot, recalled the information in his mind regarding the college entrance exam.

In the Great Xia Nation, universities fall into two categories.

One is cultural knowledge universities; the other is universities that cultivate supernatural martial power for humanity.

Correspondingly, the college entrance exam is naturally divided into the Wen Ke Gaokao and the Wu Ke Gaokao.

The Wen Ke Gaokao needs no explanation—you simply sit in the classroom and answer questions.

But for the Wu Ke Gaokao, examinees must wear battle armor, wield weapons, and enter designated locations to fight to the death against ferocious beasts!

Final scores are determined by the number and types of ferocious beasts slain.

Students choose between these two exams independently; if they lack confidence in their strength or have awakened a worthless ability,

they can simply choose the Wen Ke Gaokao and become an ordinary person.

Although his predecessor had awakened only an E-level ability, he still chose the Wu Ke Gaokao.

Xu Jingming fully endorsed this decision of his predecessor.

After all, taking the Wu Ke Gaokao still offers a chance to fight for it.

If one dares not even take the Wu Ke Gaokao, then they truly can only become an ordinary person...

"I'll emphasize this one last time: the Wu Ke Gaokao carries a risk of death. I do not recommend it for anyone whose awakened ability is below D-level."

"You still have until nine tonight to change your application. If anyone wants to change their mind, feel free to come see me."

"Alright, that's it for today. Class is dismissed."

Before leaving, Teacher Chen Fan emphasized it again, his gaze sweeping over Xu Jingming.

This made the latter unconsciously rub his nose.

Xu Jingming knew exactly what his teacher meant—because among all the awakened students in Gao San (5) taking the Wu Ke Gaokao,

he was the only one who had awakened only an E-level ability...

According to past Wu Ke Gaokao records, most who died in the exam hall were students with abilities below D-level.

"I know Old Chen is worried about me, but in this world, without martial power, you truly can't survive..."

To prevent beast invasions, every city in the Great Xia Nation is equipped with strict defensive measures.

Such as high-voltage electric grids, firearms units, and ability-user squads.

But these measures are not foolproof—every so often, cities are overrun by beast hordes, with countless citizens perishing inside.

Xu Jingming did not want to face such a scenario in the future without any means of resistance.

"Even if I have only an E-level ability, I will take the Wu Ke Gaokao—let alone that I am about to obtain the far rarer S-level ability."

Xu Jingming's gaze sharpened as he began packing his backpack.

"Jingming, you really won't change your application?"

The boy in front, with a bowl cut, turned around and asked.

"No." Xu Jingming shook his head.

The bowl-cut boy was his best friend Zhang Hao, who had also awakened an E-level ability.

The two shared the same fate, but two years after awakening their E-level abilities, Zhang Hao had entirely shifted his focus to cultural studies.

He would be taking the Wen Ke Gaokao.

"You're awesome!" Zhang Hao gave a thumbs-up. "Out of all six or seven E-level awakened students in Class Five, you're the only one bold enough to pick the Wu Ke Gaokao."

"What, you thinking of joining me?" Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.

"Heh, I'm going to cultural university, spending four peaceful years with the girls."

"Heroic duties like defending the homeland? Those are for abilities like yours, my lord."

Zhang Hao grinned.

"Get lost."

Xu Jingming rolled his eyes, ignored him, and left the classroom with his backpack slung over his shoulder.

Xu Jingming's parents had both perished in a beast horde when he was still a teenager.

All they left behind was a house and over one million in compensation.

Thus, when he returned home, Xu Jingming was utterly alone.

Fortunately, before his transmigration, he had been an orphan—he was already accustomed to this atmosphere.

Besides, Xu Jingming now had something far more important to do.

"Newbie gift pack, here I come!"

Gazing at the blue virtual frame in his mind, Xu Jingming no longer hesitated—he slammed the claim button!

"Newbie gift pack distributed. 200 ability points credited."

"S-level ability: Doushen Shenlei now distributing. Progress 10%... 20%... 30%..."

Boom!!

With a low rumble, as if infinite power exploded within Xu Jingming's body.

Countless blue-purple lightning arcs flickered and danced across his skin, flashing on and off.

He himself seemed to transform into a ball of blue-purple lightning.

Crackling and popping~~~

Amidst the piercing shriek of lightning arcs, endless thunder surged outward from Xu Jingming, swallowing the entire living room!

Sofa, television, coffee table......

Everything the lightning arcs touched instantly exploded apart!

Lei Ting, laced with raging flames, smashed straight through the window into shards and blasted outward!

"Mommy, the big brother's place across the way is on fire."

"Quick, call the fire department!"

"That direction — isn't that the Xu family's kid's place?"

"......"

Such an obvious explosion naturally drew the attention of the neighborhood's residents, and quite a few of them dialed the fire department.

However, Xu Jingming, inside the room, knew none of this.

He only felt a warm, pleasant sensation throughout his body, as if it were brimming with power.

"50%... 60%... 70%......"

The metamorphosis was still ongoing.

It seemed to be because of the ability's metamorphosis.

Outside, the originally clear afternoon sky around three or four o'clock had become overcast with dark clouds, as if night had suddenly fallen!

No raindrops fell, but dull rolls of thunder sounded one after another.

What's more, streaks of purple lightning could even be seen weaving through the dark clouds like flood dragons!

"Why did the sky suddenly go dark?"

"What terrifying lightning! I feel like some kind of heavy pressure is bearing down on me."

"Jiangcheng Third Legion, enter alert status and stand ready!"

"......"

Such an uncanny change in the weather plunged the entire city of Jiangcheng's citizens into panic, worried that some ferocious beast capable of controlling thunder and lightning was about to invade.

The legion stationed in Jiangcheng also mobilized, entering combat readiness.

"80%... 90%... 95%... 98%... 99%......"

Inside the room, Xu Jingming's ability metamorphosis had also reached its final step!

Crackle!!

At that moment, the sky flashed, and a bolt of purple lightning came crashing down from outside the window, pouring into Xu Jingming's body like a flood dragon!!

As if it had fulfilled its mission, once the lightning bolt struck, the dark clouds outside receded and the sky returned to clear.

And inside the room, Xu Jingming's ability metamorphosis had also reached 100%!

The blue-purple lightning swirling around his body, like a tide, withdrew entirely into his body.

After quite a while, Xu Jingming, standing at the very center of the living room, suddenly opened his eyes wide — a flash of purple Lei Guang streaked through his pupils and vanished.

"The ability metamorphosis succeeded!"

At this moment, Xu Jingming felt his entire body brimming with power, and subconsciously raised his right hand.

With a mere flicker of intent, countless strands of purple lightning arcs swirled forth.

Unlike the previous blue-white lightning, this purple lightning contained an ancient, simple yet overwhelmingly powerful energy that made one's heart palpitate.

"This is the S-class ability — Doushen Shenlei!"

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up slightly; he had a premonition that if this bolt of lightning struck a person, it probably wouldn't be as simple as a stun baton.

The whole person might just be blasted to pieces!