Chapter 201: Do People from Top-Tier Universities Really This Cowardly?

The next day, Xu Jingming planned to go to the Thunderstorm Zone alone.

But unexpectedly, his senior Jiang Luo drove over early in the morning, insisting on giving him a ride.

This made Xu Jingming feel a bit embarrassed:

"Senior Jiang, you're too kind."

"Kind? In the Thundering Realm, you've got only me as an acquaintance—I ought to look out for you, right?

Come on, get in the car, I'll take you there."

Jiang Luo remained as warmly enthusiastic as ever, saying nothing more and immediately ushering Xu Jingming into the car.

In just five or six minutes, they arrived at the entrance to the Thunderstorm Zone.

At the entrance, several vehicles bearing lightning emblems from the Thunder Martial Arts Academy were parked.

Beside the cars, besides a man in Thunder Martial Arts Academy uniform, resembling an instructor, stood over a dozen young men and women.

"Instructor Wu, you're here in the Thunderstorm Zone too?"

As Xu Jingming stepped out with him, Jiang Luo greeted the man in the academy uniform.

"Can't be helped—I'm in charge of the new recruits' evaluation."

Instructor Wu smiled, then noticed Xu Jingming's tall, imposing figure beside Jiang Luo, and asked curiously:

"He looks unfamiliar—who is this?"

"Xu Jingming, my junior from Devil's College. He's planning to train in the Thundering Realm during winter break."

Jiang Luo introduced: "Jingming, this is Instructor Wu Chuan from our Thunder Martial Arts Academy."

"Instructor Wu," Xu Jingming nodded and greeted.

This Instructor Wu's aura was similar to Devil's College's lecturers—he was likely a sixth-rank energy user.

"So you're Devil's College's prodigy—no wonder your aura is so sharp," Instructor Wu's eyes lit up.

Hearing this, the dozen or so young people behind him couldn't help but glance over curiously.

"It's someone from a top-tier university!"

"His aura feels the same as ours—just mid-third rank, maybe."

"Say, who's stronger—Devil's College or us?"

"Obviously us—we're from the Elite Training Camp, so obviously we're stronger."

"I don't know about strength, but his looks suit me just fine."

"..."

This group, like Cai Ju and the others before them, were recruited without taking the Wu Ke Gaokao.

They were absolute core members of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy, and those from the Elite Training Camp were prodigies in their own right.

Xu Jingming came from a top-tier university, and his rank was roughly the same as theirs.

Naturally, they began to compare themselves to him.

Each of them stared curiously, as if trying to gauge Xu Jingming's combat power with their eyes alone.

Xu Jingming naturally heard their murmurs, but he paid them no mind.

After saying goodbye to Senior Jiang Luo, he walked alone into the Thunderstorm Zone.

"You all go in too. Remember, this evaluation lasts six days.

If you can't kill one third-rank peak Thunder Beast, don't come back to see me."

Instructor Wu ordered.

"Got it."

"Don't worry—third-rank peak? We'll take down fourth-rank ones too!"

The dozen or so youths laughed and entered the Thunderstorm Zone.

"One third-rank peak Thunder Beast per person? That's a high bar," Jiang Luo said, surprised.

These people were all around mid-third rank, with the highest being only third-rank peak.

The beasts in the Thunderstorm Zone were far stronger than those in ordinary wilderness zones—even within the same rank, victory wasn't guaranteed.

Never mind defeating a higher-ranked foe.

"They're all from the Elite Training Camp—this requirement means nothing to them."

Instructor Wu smiled and pointed to the man walking at the front:

"See that guy leading the way? His name is Lei Ting. He possesses an A-class Lightning affinity ability.

He's third-rank peak—he can handle fourth-rank Thunder Beasts without trouble."

Lei Ting was the top student of this year's Elite Training Camp at the Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

Whenever he mentioned Lei Ting, Instructor Wu's face lit up with pride.

"By the way, your third-rank mid-level junior—his aura feels extraordinary. Isn't his true combat power at least third-rank peak?"

Instructor Wu asked curiously.

"Third-rank peak?"

Jiang Luo recalled Liu Ming's assessment of Xu Jingming's fourth-rank peak combat power, and nodded:

"That's accurate."

"No wonder—he's truly Devil's College's prodigy."

This strength was within Instructor Wu's expectations. "By the way, in a few days I'm heading deep into the Thunderstorm Zone—want to come with me?"

"No thanks—the lightning deep inside is too violent; I couldn't withstand it," Jiang Luo quickly waved off.

"Alright then, looks like I'll have to go alone."

Instructor Wu sighed and shook his head.

Boom—!

Crack! Crack!

On the other side, as Xu Jingming stepped into the thunderstorm zone, deafening thunder roared toward him like a tidal wave.

Even the ferocious beasts' roars became barely audible beneath the thunder.

"This is the true Thunder Secret Realm!"

Gazing at the lightning continuously striking from the sky, Xu Jingming wore a look of satisfaction.

As a lightning ability user, the active thunder energy in the air caused him no discomfort whatsoever.

Instead, it stirred every cell in his body.

"First, kill the ferocious beasts, then find a place with active lightning to observe natural thunder closely."

Xu Jingming had not forgotten his purpose for entering the Thunder Secret Realm: to enhance his control over lightning abilities.

Of course,

it would be best if he could also harvest a batch of ability points while improving his control.

"Hey, brother from Mo University, wait up."

As Xu Jingming planned his next moves, a group of young people caught up from behind.

They were the same group that had followed Instructor Wu earlier.

"What is it?" Xu Jingming looked at them.

The group totaled eleven people, men and women, all relatively young.

"It's like this—we've always been curious about the strength of top university geniuses.

If possible, could we have a contest to see who kills more thunder beasts in the next few days?

We mean no harm; you can treat this as nothing more than a friendly sparring match."

A young man in white casual clothing stepped forward from the group, eager to ask.

"A contest?"

Xu Jingming frowned.

This was the brand effect of top universities.

Wherever he went, someone always wanted to prove they were stronger than those from top universities.

This group came from the Thunder Martial Arts Gym, had not taken the Wu Ke Gaokao—such thoughts were likely even stronger in them.

But for this group, whom he could completely crush with Lei Shen Zhi, Xu Jingming felt no fighting spirit at all:

"Sorry, I'm not interested."

After saying that, he turned around without hesitation and walked toward the depths of the thunderstorm region.

"Refused so outright?"

Everyone froze slightly. The white-clad youth tried to chase after him, but someone in the group shouted:

"If they don't want to, let it go. Don't force it."

"Tsk. Are top university people really this cowardly? They won't even accept a sparring match."

Though frustrated, the white-clad youth stopped and walked over with a smile to the one who had spoken earlier:

"Our Lei Ge has such a good temper. In my opinion, we should've fought him anyway."

"Refusing doesn't mean cowardice—it could just mean they find it troublesome."

Lei Yaoyang shook his head. "Enough. Don't overthink it. We have our own assessment tasks—don't waste time here."