Chapter 230: The Dust Has Settled! The Doomed Decline of the Li Family!

As Xu Jingming had anticipated, although both were eighth-rank mid-level experts.

But Ling Shuang, with her S-class ability, was far stronger than Xue Sha, who possessed only a B-class ability.

Even though Xue Sha unleashed all his techniques and swallowed an eighth-grade Blood Surge Pill.

He was still slain on the spot by Ling Shuang within a little over half an hour, inside the isolated space.

"If I kill an eighth-rank grand master who has cultivated the Divine Blood Secret Art, how many ability points will I gain?"

Gazing at the corpse lying in a pool of blood within the isolated space, Xu Jingming rubbed his chin, silently guessing.

Killing a fourth-rank peak Divine Blood Envoy already granted 4, 00 ability points.

An eighth-rank should at least give five?

"No wonder Vice Principal Ling is our Mada's vice principal—truly formidable."

"Xue Sha couldn't fight back, couldn't escape, and was just killed outright."

At that moment, Senior Jiang Luo, who had just finished evacuating civilians, spoke with a sigh.

"Senior Jiang, have you ever seen Principal Ling fight before?" Xu Jingming asked curiously.

"No," Jiang Luo shook his head. "Principal Ling joined Mada when I was a third-year student."

After arriving, she never took on a mentor role; instead, she directly replaced another vice principal to guard the Combat Techniques Library."

I've barely encountered her on campus, let alone witnessed her fight."

In fact, on campus, Vice Principal Ling was even more elusive than Mada's legendary, rarely-seen principal.

Aside from knowing she was stunningly beautiful and possessed an S-class spatial ability, no other information was known.

"But speaking of which, Principal Ling has been quite generous to you—she gave you a Spatial Talisman."

Jiang Luo said with envy.

It's equivalent to having an eighth-rank mid-level grand master as a bodyguard you can summon at any time!

And this bodyguard has a spatial ability—even if you face an opponent you can't defeat, she can teleport you away.

It's practically the ultimate artifact any ability user would desire!

"Principal Ling only gave me this one, to use only when my life is in mortal danger."

"Once it's used, I lose this privilege."

Xu Jingming shrugged helplessly.

Ling Shuang isn't his mother—having received one Spatial Talisman and one powerful chance to survive was already more than enough.

Like this time—if not for this Spatial Talisman,

Not only would he have died, but the entire Thunder Secret Realm might have been destroyed by Xue Sha.

Of course,

If Ling Shuang were willing to give him a second Spatial Talisman, he wouldn't mind calling her "Mom Ling."

"One is already plenty—do you want a second? Then Principal Ling might as well become your nanny!"

Jiang Luo laughed and punched Xu Jingming lightly on the chest, then noticed Vice Principal Ling walking toward them.

He cleared his throat, instantly adopting a solemn expression, and bowed respectfully:

"Principal Ling."

Ling Shuang, after the fierce battle, showed no sign of fatigue; her face remained cold and exquisite.

After a slight nod, she turned to Xu Jingming, extended her slender hand, and softly spoke:

"The remnants of the Heavenly Fate Cult remain rampant. Take this Spatial Talisman—crush it immediately if you face any danger."

A flash of light appeared, and a Spatial Talisman materialized in her pure white palm.

"Huh?"

Xu Jingming blinked in surprise—happiness had come so suddenly—he quickly said:

"Thank you, Mom... Principal Ling!"

"What?" Ling Shuang's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Nothing, nothing—I just spoke without thinking."

Xu Jingming cleared his throat, gave a vague excuse, and quickly took the Spatial Talisman.

Fortunately, Ling Shuang didn't press further; she nodded slightly and walked toward Wang Gu.

Beside her, Jiang Luo's eyes widened in disbelief.

Holy hell—another Spatial Talisman? She really is becoming his nanny!

"You're the branch director of Thunder Martial Arts Dojo?" Ling Shuang asked Wang Gu.

"Yes."

Wang Gu immediately bowed respectfully, even daring not to meet her gaze.

"I require you to keep the details of today's battle completely confidential, and spread a false rumor."

"Say that although I killed Xue Sha, I was severely wounded and cannot use my spatial ability for a long time."

Ling Shuang ordered.

"Understood." Wang Gu nodded quickly.

In his heart, he silently mourned the Heavenly Fate Cult for one second—this was baiting them into a trap!

If the Heavenly Fate Cult believed it, they'd likely send another eighth-rank Red Archbishop to their doom.

Remember, eighth-rank grand masters aren't common as cabbage.

Even for the Heavenly Fate Cult, they're elite combat power.

They've already lost one Xue Sha—if they lose another, the Heavenly Fate Cult will be driven mad with rage!

"By the way, Xu Jingming's combat record in your Thunder Secret Realm during this period must also be kept secret."

Thinking of the upcoming National University League, Ling Shuang added.

"Understood."

Wang Gu nodded, then hesitated slightly:

"By the way, Principal Ling, there's something regarding Student Xu I'd like to tell you..."

If Ling Shuang hadn't come, Wang Gu would have handled Xu Jingming's matter with the Li family himself.

Now that she was here, it was naturally her responsibility.

So Wang Gu briefly recounted the entire incident to Ling Shuang.

"Killed someone to seize their treasure, then got killed in return—and still tried to kill again?! Where is Li Canghai?"

After hearing the account, Ling Shuang's eyebrows sharply lifted, her voice icy.

Her overwhelming aura made Wang Gu's heart tremble—he bowed even deeper.

"Principal Ling, I'm here."

Li Canghai forced himself forward from a distance.

He had none of the arrogance he showed earlier toward Xu Jingming—now he was deeply uneasy.

"Tolerating your children's murder and theft is negligence in upbringing."

"Knowing full well your side was in the wrong, yet still attacking Xu Jingming—that's willful misconduct!"

"Li Canghai, I sentence you to twenty years in the Public Security Bureau's detention. Do you accept this?"

Ling Shuang's beautiful eyes locked onto Li Canghai, her tone freezing.

He who kills shall be killed.

Had Xu Jingming initiated this, she would never have handled it this way.

But from start to finish, the Li family relentlessly pressured him—Xu Jingming merely defended himself.

Had he been an ordinary ability user, he would have been dead the moment Li Wanying's guards seized the spear.

"Twenty years?"

Li Canghai froze, then sighed and nodded reluctantly:

"I... I accept."

Li Canghai didn't even consider holding Xu Jingming responsible for killing his children.

He knew it wouldn't make Ling Shuang punish Xu Jingming—it would only worsen his own punishment.

"Twenty years! That's such a long prison sentence!"

"I have to say, Mada still protects its own as fiercely as ever."

"Protect its own? Nonsense! If the Li family hadn't been so extreme, would Xu Jingming have been forced to fight back?"

"True enough—but the Li family is finished now."

"..."

Li Shanglin had been killed; Li Canghai now faced twenty years in prison.

With two core figures lost in succession, the Li family—once dominant in the Thunder Secret Realm—was doomed to decline.

It might even be swallowed by other ability-user clans.

By the time Li Canghai was released after twenty years, how much power the Li family still possessed remained uncertain.

Unconsciously, everyone turned to look at the tall, resolute young man standing nearby.

All of this began because the Li family provoked someone they should never have touched...