Chapter 228

During a study trip, Xu Jingming awakened his ability as an SS-rank Doushen Thunder.

He once obliterated Dong Sheng, a fourth-rank peak cultivator, with a single Heaven's Thunder Art.

But at that time, Dong Sheng had forcibly elevated himself from mid-second rank to fourth-rank peak using a divine blood technique—his power was heavily inflated.

His true combat strength barely reached mid-fourth rank.

Moreover, he was a fire-element ability user with abysmally weak physical constitution.

Li Shanglin, however, is a genuine fourth-rank peak enhancement-type A-rank ability user!

And he's wearing an A-rank battle suit with extremely formidable defense!

That's why he could withstand two Heaven's Thunder Arts from Xu Jingming, who had just entered third-rank upper.

In fact, the first Heaven's Thunder Art alone would have killed Li Shanglin if not for the damage reduction from his A-rank battle suit.

Even so, this scene left the onlookers near the Thunder Zone entrance utterly astonished.

"Two Heaven's Thunders killed a fourth-rank peak?"

"What kind of devastating attack is this?"

"Is this what an S-rank ability can do? It can instantly annihilate an entire rank gap!"

"......"

Xu Jingming's performance was simply too astonishing.

It made these people truly witness the terror of an S-rank ability.

Yet some ability users who had once glimpsed an S-rank ability before wore expressions of doubt.

Xu Jingming's S-rank lightning ability seemed excessively overpowered...

But regardless,

the two Heaven's Thunder Arts that crushed Li Shanglin revealed Xu Jingming's decisiveness and ferocity.

Keep in mind,

Li Wanying was merely a spoiled brat of the Li family, and the Li family never expected her to accomplish anything.

But Li Shanglin was entirely different—he was the strongest among the Li family's younger generation, their future heir!

If killing Li Wanying still left room for reconciliation,

then killing Li Shanglin was an irrevocable declaration of mortal enmity with the Li family!

Ordinary ability users, even if they possessed such power, wouldn't dare choose this path.

After all, a sixth-rank peak ability user was considered a major force across all of Greater Xia!

At this moment, Li family loyal servants had already moved—fifth-rank peak flames capable of melting B-rank alloy!

Xu Jingming, merely at third-rank upper, had no chance to resist!

Yet just then, the crimson flames dissipated—and Xu Jingming stood unharmed inside.

Upon closer inspection, they realized a faint, transparent energy barrier had appeared around Xu Jingming.

It was this barrier that completely blocked all the searing heat.

"Looks like I have to use the last card my teacher left me." Xu Jingming exhaled slowly.

His physical body was indeed terrifyingly strong after activating Thunder Extreme State, but against a fifth-rank peak ability user's flames,

one misstep would turn him to ash—he wouldn't be foolish enough to endure it head-on.

"An ancient civilization relic's protective talisman?"

Li Quan, standing nearby amid flickering flames, paled slightly—he recognized this artifact.

Judging by the heavy energy fluctuations emanating from the barrier, even his fifth-rank peak strength couldn't shatter it!

"At this point, I can only notify the family head."

Taking a deep breath, Li Quan no longer cared about the consequences.

He activated his smart bracelet's highest communication authority and contacted the family head, detailing the entire incident.

"Xiao Lin! My son!" Immediately after the call ended, a piercing scream erupted across the city.

Then, a terrifying blood aura surged from afar, rapidly approaching this location.

Within just two or three breaths, the pressure crossed two or three kilometers and appeared before Xu Jingming's eyes!

It was a middle-aged man with short hair, a massive, muscular frame, and blood aura swirling around him!

He was Li Canghai!

The current head of the Li family, sixth-rank peak, on the verge of breaking into seventh-rank Master!

Possessing a B-rank enhancement ability: Frenzied Blood Wolf!

"You little brat from Mo University—you've killed my daughter and now my son! How dare you!"

Li Canghai's eyes burned crimson with rage.

He had just been in seclusion attempting to break into seventh-rank Master, yet instead of success,

he received this nightmare.

"Worthless! You couldn't even protect him—what good are you?!"

Seeing Li Quan standing nearby, Li Canghai's fury boiled over.

His blood aura surged violently, instantly engulfing Li Quan.

When the aura dissipated, Li Quan—the fifth-rank peak ability user—lay like a desiccated corpse.

His face still bore a look of terror, as if he never expected to be the first to be eliminated.

"Next, it's your turn!"

Li Canghai turned to Xu Jingming, a massive blade materializing in his hand.

Just as he prepared to break through the protective talisman's barrier, a thunderous shout came from afar:

"Li Canghai! What are you doing?!"

Eight men clad in Thunder Martial Arts Academy's lightning uniforms approached—their leader stood tall and upright.

The aura he subtly emitted was even stronger than Li Canghai's.

It was he who had shouted the rebuke.

Among the others, several possessed aura levels equal to Li Canghai's.

Wu Chuang, Xu Jingming's senior brother Jiang Luo, was also among them.

"Whoa—is that Director Wang?"

"Wu Chuang is here too—Thunder Martial Arts Academy's top combat force is all gathered!"

"Looks like Thunder Martial Arts Academy is stepping in for Xu Jingming!"

"Of course—they're the only academy in Greater Xia that offers free access to high school students.

Protecting this S-rank prodigy makes perfect sense."

It's understandable to protect this S-rank prodigy now.

Wang Gu was the branch director of Thunder Martial Arts Academy in the Thunder Secret Realm.

His strength was formidable—seventh-rank mid-level, the only Master currently in the Thunder Secret Realm.

Compared to Wang Gu, even if Li Canghai broke into seventh-rank, he'd still be crushed!

"Director Wang."

Seeing Wang Gu, Li Canghai's expression changed. Though his heart burned with resentment,

he retracted his blood aura, turned his gaze away from Xu Jingming, and bowed respectfully.

"Little brother, don't worry. With Director Wang here, Li Canghai can't stir up trouble."

Senior brother Jiang Luo strode over.

"Senior Jiang." Xu Jingming relaxed, shutting down the protective talisman's energy barrier.

"Xu Jingming, I heard from Instructor Wu about your achievements earlier. Now I see for myself—you're truly exceptional."

On the other side, Wang Gu ignored Li Canghai's greeting and walked over, smiling lightly.

The Li family didn't know Xu Jingming's background—but as branch director of Thunder Martial Arts Academy, how could he not?

A seventh-rank peak mentor, plus special attention from an eighth-rank Grand Master vice-principal.

If Xu Jingming were harmed in his Thunder Secret Realm, it wouldn't just be the Li family—he'd be implicated too!

So as soon as Jiang Luo informed him, he immediately brought the academy's top combat force here.

"With Thunder Martial Arts Academy intervening, Xu Jingming should be safe now."

"Obviously—Li Canghai only dares to be arrogant in front of us. Would he dare challenge a seventh-rank Master? They'd slap him dead on the spot!"

"Speaking of which, Mo University's S-rank, the Li family, Thunder Martial Arts Academy—so many big figures gathered in the Thunder Secret Realm at once."

Talk is cheap—Li Canghai only dares to be arrogant in front of us. Would he dare jump around in front of a seventh-rank Master? They'd slap him dead on the spot!

The ability users watching from afar whispered among themselves.

After this incident ended, it would become their greatest topic of gossip.

"Brother, you've been standing here this long—why haven't you said a word?"

Among the whispering crowd,

only one burly man with wild, long hair remained silent, drawing others' curiosity.

The man paid no attention—he merely tilted his lips slightly, revealing a faint, elusive smile:

"Everyone's gathered. Convenient for me."

The man paid no heed, only slightly tilting his lips into a faint, almost imperceptible smile:

"Everyone has gathered—this makes things convenient for me."

Then, with a thunderous boom, a powerful and terrifying aura erupted from him all at once!

Boom! Boom! Boom!...

Merely the eruption of his aura crushed a group of nearby adepts, exploding them into clouds of blood mist!

"Blood Kill, Red Cardinal of the Heavenly Fate Cult, has come to destroy the Thunder Secret Realm! Wang Gu! Xu Jingming! Your end has come!"

Blood Kill, his face twisted with bloodthirsty malice, spoke in a low voice that echoed throughout the entire Thunder Secret Realm.