Chapter 238: Combat Power Ranking! Virtual Training!

Xu Jingming naturally saw the forum discussions about whether he should be appointed team captain.

But he paid it no mind and went to see his teacher, Yang Zhentian, just after ten in the morning.

"Your Jiang senior told me a few days ago about what happened to you in the Thunder Secret Realm."

"You did well—when you encounter such people, you must strike hard; if you hold back, you'll only invite greater trouble."

In the villa's living room,

Xu Jingming sat facing his teacher, Yang Zhentian.

On the coffee table between them sat two cups of steaming tea.

A faint, pure fragrance drifted gently from the tea.

This was no ordinary tea—it was a Class-S heavenly treasure hoarded by Teacher Yang Zhentian.

Drinking it not only dispels mental fatigue but also leaves behind a rich, fragrant aroma.

Even Xu Jingming, who visits often, doesn't get to drink it every time.

"I only dared do it because I had the protective talisman you gave me, and Teacher Lingshuang's space token."

Xu Jingming smiled, lifted the tea, and took a small sip.

He spoke the truth:

Without those two items, he would still have killed Li Wanying.

But afterward, he'd have had to flee immediately.

Don't assume six-rank adepts are cheap just because Magus University has a dozen of them.

In reality, outside, a six-rank adept family's influence is terrifyingly powerful.

From this alone, it's clear that being backed by Magus University gives you real confidence.

"Giving you the protective talisman was meant for you to use—it's nothing."

Yang Zhentian waved his hand indifferently. "But you must properly repay Principal Lingshuang.

That eighth-rank Grand Master went to great lengths to protect you.

It was only because of her that the Eighth-Rank Red Archbishop sent by the Sect of Destiny didn't succeed—if not, the consequences would've been unimaginable."

"I understand," Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

"By the way, how strong are you now?" Yang Zhentian asked curiously.

He could tell Xu Jingming's rank had reached Third-Rank Upper, but his true combat power surely exceeded that.

"In normal form, I'm at Fourth-Rank Peak. In Thunder Extreme State, I can handle a Fifth-Rank Lower adept without trouble."

Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

Note: the Fourth-Rank Peak and Fifth-Rank he mentioned here refer specifically to A-rank adepts.

If facing B-rank adepts, his dominance would be even stronger.

"So high?"

Yang Zhentian, aware of this unspoken standard, blinked in surprise.

Remember: once an adept enters the Fourth Rank, each sub-rank brings earth-shattering power shifts!

Even Magus University's prodigies, with identical rank abilities, consider crossing one sub-rank their limit.

Yet Xu Jingming is only Third-Rank Upper.

He already possesses the power to fight across two major ranks against Fifth-Rank adepts—this is simply unbelievable!

"I wasn't this strong before, but I got lucky.

In the Thunder Secret Realm, I advanced the Thunder Indestructible Body to the Fifth Level." Xu Jingming explained with a smile.

"No wonder your vital energy is so vigorous—I thought it was from leveling up, but it's because your Indestructible Body advanced."

Yang Zhentian nodded in awe: "It seems this body cultivation technique suits you perfectly.

But then your combat power should completely crush Kong Shi—so why are there so many debates on the school forum?"

"They don't know my true strength. Disagreement is natural. When the competition starts, I'll silence them."

Xu Jingming wasn't affected by these rumors.

Facts would prove to them that Principal Lingshuang's choice was right.

"There's still over half a month until the league begins—these rumors won't hurt you, but they might hurt Principal Lingshuang.

She's only been at our school three years, and this is her first time handling school affairs.

If you get the chance, reveal your strength early—let others know Principal Lingshuang made the right choice."

Yang Zhentian mused.

Given Xu Jingming and Lingshuang's personalities, neither would react to public opinion.

But sometimes, public opinion shapes how others perceive you.

Especially for a deputy principal like Lingshuang, who's only been here three years, reputation matters.

"It affects Principal Lingshuang? Then how should I reveal my strength?" Xu Jingming frowned slightly.

The Sect of Destiny's tasks still remain, but completing tasks alone can't fully prove I'm stronger than Kong Shi.

And with the league approaching, Kong Shi probably won't take on any tasks.

If I go alone, it's just me performing solo.

The most direct way is to find Kong Shi and fight him—but he might not agree.

"Simple. Our school has a Combat Power Ranking.

Kong Shi is currently number one. Just replace him as number one."

Yang Zhentian smiled, then added with curiosity:

"I see your Combat Power Ranking is below four thousandth place—how could it be so low?"

The Combat Power Ranking uses a virtual training mode, measuring the combat strength of over four thousand students.

Virtual training requires a holographic immersion pod—similar to an immersive online game.

But students aren't playing games—they kill beasts and clear stages within the virtual trial.

The higher the stage cleared, the higher the Combat Power Ranking.

At Magus University, Kong Shi ranks highest—number one.

Xu Jingming ranks at the very bottom—he's never participated in virtual training.

This is one reason people believe Kong Shi is stronger.

"Combat Power Ranking? I forgot about that."

Xu Jingming suddenly remembered and shook his head:

"I always thought killing beasts in a virtual world was a waste of time—better to head straight into the wilderness."

"No wonder your Combat Power Ranking score is zero—it's because of this."

Yang Zhentian understood. "But you really should try virtual training—it's far more useful than you imagine.

Also, I'm the head coach for this league.

Team competition training will be conducted in virtual training—you need to adapt early."

The national university league's three events—solo and survival—test individual strength and require no special training.

Only the team event tests coordination and cooperation among adepts, requiring experienced coaches to lead training.

Moreover,

The virtual training system stores data from nearly a hundred past Magus University league teams.

He looked forward to seeing whether the Magus University team with Xu Jingming on it

could defeat the legendary "Divine Team"—the strongest team in Magus University's history.

"Prove my strength through virtual training? I understand—I'll go try it right away."

Hearing his teacher say this, Xu Jingming suddenly became interested.

Besides, Principal Lingshuang had helped him so many times—he didn't want public opinion to harm her.

Once he claimed the top spot on the Combat Power Ranking and crushed Kong Shi beneath him, all those forum debates would vanish.