Chapter 229: Popping Champagne at Halftime? As You Wish!

An eighth-rank Master Zongshi, and ordinary ability users—there is an enormous gap in life-tier between them.

The instant the blood-killing aura erupted, everyone present, including Xu Jingming—

—felt their bodies stiffen at once, as though pinned beneath the gaze of a peak predator, goosebumps erupting all over!

"Tianming Sect!"

Wang Gu's complexion turned slightly pale.

Judging from this aura alone, this was absolutely an eighth-rank Master Zongshi, someone even he couldn't handle!

Tap, tap, tap......

The entire vicinity of the Thunderstorm Zone entrance fell deathly silent.

Only the sound of Blood Kill's black combat boots striking the ground could be heard.

By all rights, he should have prioritized dealing with Wang Gu, the highest-ranked person present.

Yet he strolled toward Xu Jingming as casually as if taking a leisurely walk through a courtyard.

A teasing smile, like a cat toying with a mouse, played across his face:

"Tsk tsk, a nineteen-year-old at the upper third-rank, with actual combat power exceeding even the peak of the fourth-rank.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I truly wouldn't have believed it.

Give you another ten-odd years to grow, and you might really have become a Martial Saint with terrifying combat power.

Too bad—you die here today."

Blood Kill shook his head, then seemed to think of something and suddenly said:

"Oh right, I recall your school has a space-system Master Zongshi, doesn't it?

After that last research trip, she should have given you some life-preserving measures, right?

How about you call her out and give it a try?

Oh? Why aren't you moving? Could it be that the distance is too far, and your principal can't teleport over?!"

Blood Kill's face wore an exaggerated, wanton smile, as if the entire field were already in his grasp.

As a Cardinal of Tianming Sect, before acting, he had long since gathered his intelligence!

He knew that Mo Da's space-system Master Zongshi's maximum teleportation range was only about 400 kilometers.

Yet the Lei Ting secret realm was over 530 kilometers from Modu—far beyond teleportation range!

"Uh......"

Not far off, Xu Jingming watched the scene with a strange expression.

Why did it feel like this eighth-rank Master Zongshi from Tianming Sect wasn't quite right in the head?

No matter how confident, surely he wouldn't be this arrogant?

"Why does everyone love popping champagne at halftime? Since you're so eager to meet our principal, then—as you wish."

Xu Jingming shook his head.

He took out the black talisman plate given to him by Vice Principal Ling Shuang from his spatial ring, then applied a little force.

Crack—

The talisman plate shattered, and with a hum, the space beside Xu Jingming suddenly blurred, then formed a door!

Whoosh—

The spatial door opened.

A woman in a red classical long dress, with a tear mole at the corner of her eye and a cold, aloof beauty, stepped out barefoot on crystal-clear feet, treading the void.

It was none other than Mo Da's vice principal—Ling Shuang!

Her arrival scattered the blood-killing aura blanketing the entire field, letting everyone present finally breathe.

"This is... Mo Da's eighth-rank Master Zongshi!"

Wang Gu's eyes went wide as saucers, his face full of disbelief.

You have to understand,

among the hundred-plus countries on the entire Blue Planet, some small nations didn't even have a single eighth-rank Master Zongshi!

In other words, a single eighth-rank Master Zongshi was enough to wipe such a country off the map!

He knew Xu Jingming's talent was terrifyingly high, but he hadn't expected—

that Xu Jingming's talent was so high it could make a country-toppling eighth-rank Master Zongshi answer his summons at any moment!!

And this Master Zongshi also possessed an S-rank space-system ability, making her even more terrifying than an ordinary Master Zongshi!

After the shock, what followed for Wang Gu was a surge of delight.

With this big shot here, there was no need to worry about Tianming Sect's Blood Kill!

"Mo Da's Master Zongshi?"

Unlike Wang Gu's delight, not far off Li Canghai's old face instantly went deathly pale.

An eighth-rank Master Zongshi!

Xu Jingming could actually summon an eighth-rank Master Zongshi?

If I had charged in just now, wouldn't I have been directly slain by this eighth-rank Master Zongshi?!

At the thought, Li Canghai broke out in a cold sweat, and even the fury over his children's deaths ebbed considerably.

"Tianming Sect's remnant......"

Vice Principal Ling Shuang tread the void, her long black hair streaming behind her in the wind.

That distinctive sickening stench of blood belonging to those who'd cultivated Tianming Sect's Divine Blood Secret Art let her identify Blood Kill's identity at once.

"Mo Da's Ling Shuang?! How can you teleport over?!"

At this moment, the arrogance on Blood Kill's face had vanished, his expression shifting slightly.

Spatial abilities are among the most difficult to counter of all abilities.

Not only are their attack methods bizarre, but their escape techniques are unparalleled.

Ling Shuang appearing here means Xu Jingming has absolutely no chance of being killed by him!

One of the two targets assigned to him by the Master Zongshi has already failed!

"I knew you Tianming Sect remnants wouldn't give up.

So I deliberately concealed the news of my breakthrough—turns out you fell for it."

Ling Shuang's cold voice echoed across the entire open ground.

"Breakthrough?"

Xue Sha slightly froze, then realized the aura emanating from Ling Shuang was nearly equal to his own!

"You've broken through to Eighth Stage Mid-Level?!"

Xue Sha's face instantly darkened, faint traces of panic creeping in.

He possessed only a B-rank ability, while Ling Shuang wielded an S-rank ability!

Even with his level one stage higher than Ling Shuang's, he could still fight.

But now their levels are equal—he would lose if they clashed!

No, he must flee!

Thinking this, Xue Sha's body suddenly swelled, sprouting limbs like those of a ferocious beast.

He had simultaneously activated his Enhancement B-rank ability and the Bloodline Secret Art!

Yet even so, without hesitation, he turned and fled!

For ordinary Bloodline Envoys, activating the Bloodline Secret Art boosts combat power by one or even two stages.

But for an Eighth Stage Master Zongshi, the Bloodline Secret Art cannot bridge the gap caused by ability rank differences!

"Trying to escape? Too late!"

Ling Shuang sneered, her jade hand pointing slightly at Xue Sha: "Space Yin-Yang Realm!"

Hum—

Amid strange spatial ripples, Ling Shuang and Xue Sha seemed to enter another dimension.

Those around could see them, yet could not touch them at all!

Inside this space, Xue Sha still frantically ran—but only trod in place.

Soon, Ling Shuang caught up, and the two clashed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!...

Terrifying energy surges erupted within the isolated space.

Though Ling Shuang possessed an S-rank ability, Xue Sha was still an Eighth Stage Mid-Level Master Zongshi—killing him would take considerable time.

"Director Zhou, Director Zhao, Instructor Wu, stay here and support Principal Ling.

Director Jiang, take the others and notify our Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym brothers—have them organize civilian evacuation in order."

Ling Shuang now holds the upper hand, but no one knows how the final battle will turn out.

If Xue Sha wins, the entire Lei Ting Secret Realm will be plunged into bloodshed.

Though the probability is low, it cannot be ignored—so Wang Gu, as the gym's head, swiftly made arrangements.

"Yes!"

All members of the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym, including Jiang Luo, sprang into action.

"Xu student, you should evacuate with Director Jiang first."

Wang Gu looked over, treating Xu Jingming not as a junior, but speaking with solemn gravity.

"No need—I'll wait here." Xu Jingming shook his head.

On one hand, he didn't believe Xue Sha could defeat Ling Shuang.

On the other, even if Xue Sha won, Ling Shuang's spatial ability could easily carry him away.

If he ran around blindly and Ling Shuang lost track of him, that would be troublesome.

"Alright then."

After a moment's thought, Wang Gu also realized this point, and ceased urging him.